I really am terribly sorry for the delay, but I am on holidays as of half and hour ago, so I promise I will update more frequently to make up for my horribleness! Thank-you all for your lovely reviews and suggestions, I will hopefully get around to using some of them soon! Don't forget to review if you liked it!
"BONES! CHRISTINE! YOU'VE GOT A PACKAGE!" Booth yelled from their front door as the parcel man drove away. Booth ran his fingers over the writing scribbled on the front of the large box, 'Miss Christine and Tempe Booth'. The return address informed him that his suspicions form from the messy writing were correct, the box was from Max. Booth heard Christine's little footprints running down the stairs, closely followed by a much heavier sounding, slower Brennan. Christine launched herself towards the box that was slightly taller than her as Brennan waddled into the room. Booth smirked at the sight before him.
"IT'S FOR ME! IT'S FOR ME! THE BIG BOX IS FOR ME!" Christine chanted as she jumped up and down excitedly.
"Who's it from?" Brennan asked curiously, coming up beside Booth. Booth wrapped his arms around his heavily pregnant girlfriend and she happily leaned into him.
"Max." Booth replied. "Do you know what it might be?" Booth asked, his curiosity getting the better of him. Brennan shook her head as she tried to think back to recent conversations with her always mysterious father. As far as she knew he was currently on a romantic getaway in the wilderness with one of his lady friends. Christine had resorted to hitting the box with her tiny fists after her attempts to pick up the box had failed.
"How do I open it!? I want to see what's inside!" Christine whined as she fell on her backside in defeat. Laughing at her daughter's actions, Brennan moved closer to inspect the large box, noticing the writing on the front she rolled her eyes.
"Why must he insist on calling me Tempe Booth?" Brennan asked aloud, turning towards Booth as if he was in on it too.
"Don't look at me!" Booth defend himself, amused. "I was surprised you even let Christine have my last name. I figured it would be the 'Great Name Debacle of 2012'!" He joked. Brennan shook her head and returned her attention back to the box.
"Well, I suppose you should get this open for us Booth." Brennan announced.
"Anything for my girls." He said as he bent over to pick up the heavy box.
"Bend with you knees!" Brennan said as she hit him on the behind teasingly.
"Wow! Mommy! Daddy! Look!" Christine exclaimed as she took in the sight before her. In the middle of the living room lay a beautiful four story doll's house, decorated with miniature furniture and tiny people, every little detail painted in carefully by hand.
"I'm going to go get my dollies so they can see!" Christine said as she raced out of the room. Booth turned to see Brennan sit, shocked, on the couch. Her mouth was agape as she stared at the doll's house, unconsciously rubbing her baby belly with her hand.
"Hey." Booth said softly, sitting down next to her. "You okay?" He asked, grabbing her hand from her belly and holding it in his own. She nodded sheepishly and slowly turned her head so she was looking at Booth. "It was you mom's?" Booth guessed. Brennan nodded again.
"I never though I'd see it again." Brennan stated simply. "I was never fond of playing with it, but I always found it quite beautiful." She smiled, remembering happier times. Her face dropped suddenly, "When Russ left, and social services came, they only let me take any clothes and photos I could fit in a bag, and I always figured they just sold the rest." Brennan recalled. "I wonder how he found it." Brennan wondered aloud.
"Do you think it's the same one?" Booth asked, rubbing his hands up and down Brennan's back.
"Help me up?" Brennan asked, and seconds later he was helping her to her feet. She took the few steps that were between her and the house and lifted the left side of the roof, opening it on its hinges. She laughed as she saw whatever it was she was looking for, and reached in to run her finger over some writing on the wall.
"This is it." She determined, pulling away and leaning into Booth's side.
"Russ is a neanderthal." Booth read out, and laughed. "I take it that was you there Bones?" Booth teased.
"Yes." Brennan agreed. "I remember very clearly writing that after Russ had ruined one of my experiments on purpose. My mother was not impressed when she saw it." Brennan smiled again at the memory as Christine came racing back into the room, her arms full of dolls.
"Look Molly! Look how pretty it is!" She said to one of her dolls as she sat herself and the dolls down in front of the house. "Poppy do you see it? Are you looking Olivia?" Christine continued as she organized her dolls around the house. Brennan leaned into Booth even more. Booth gently tapped his finger under her chin and turned her face towards him. He noticed a tear rolling down her face, and wiped it away with his thumb before kissing her sweetly on the mouth. Brennan smiled and turned back to observe her daughter, and pouted as she felt Booth leave her side. Booth quickly returned with a chair in hand, and placed it next to Christine and her dolls.
"Sit." He said, motioning Brennan towards the chair. Brennan smiled and silently thanked him. As Booth turned to leave the two to play, he couldn't help but overhear his daughter's question to her mom.
"Mommy? What does that say? Rrr.." Christine asked as she attempted to sound the words out. Booth grinned as he made his way to the kitchen to prepare them some snacks, silently thanking Max for the gift he gave to his girls.