FREFERNA2008 had an idea for one more 'Daddy's Handbook' chapter. I hope you enjoy reading it.

I definitely don't own Bones.

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Leaning against the door frame, Booth watched his daughter close her suitcase. Feeling sad, he watched as she carried the case to the dresser and placed it with the others. "Getting packed I see."

Looking over at her father, Christine flashed him a smile, "Almost done. Mom told me to bring them down as soon as I'm done."

Joseph, leaning into the room, held onto his father's arm while he looked around the room, "I think we should paint the room camouflage."

Frowning, Christine walked over to the doorway, "What's that supposed to mean?"

Releasing his father's arm, Joseph smiled, "Mom says when you move out I get to move in. I'm tired of sharing a room with Hank. He snores and he's a slob."

Glaring at her brother, Christine shook her head, "This is my room. You can't move in here."

Placing his arm between his children, Booth frowned."Okay, now let's calm down now. Christine, Joseph is not going to take over your room."

Spluttering, Joseph complained, "But Dad, she's going to be at college and the room isn't going to be used. Mom says I can move in as soon as Chrissy moves out."

Stepping back out of the doorway, Booth held up his hands, "Where is your mother?"

Shrugging his shoulders, the teenager replied, "She's in her office."

Pointing to Christine, Booth frowned, "You finish packing up your stuff and bring it downstairs." Pointing to Joseph, he continued, "You go mow the lawn, it's your turn." Walking away, Booth heard his son say, "Mom says that I can move in Chrissy."

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Entering Brennan's office, Booth walked over to the desk and leaned over his wife. Kissing her on the cheek, he asked, "Did you tell Joseph he can have Chrissy's room when she moves out?"

Looking up, Brennan frowned, "Of course. She's going to be gone most of the time, so I don't see why we should have a room unoccupied while she's away. Joseph tells me he's sick of Hanks personal habits and wants a room of his own. We can store what ever Christine doesn't take with her in the garage. When she comes home for the holidays she can stay in this room. It is the guest bedroom, not just my office."

Sitting on the chair next to her desk, Booth rested his arm on the desk, "Look Bones, Chrissy doesn't want anyone living in her room while she's gone."

Irritated, Brennan closed the file she had open and gave her complete attention to her husband, "Booth, Christine is going to be gone to college for four years. After that she plans to join the FBI and she'll be in the training program for at least six months. After that she will be assigned a position somewhere and odds are it won't be in the District. Our daughter doesn't need the room, our son does."

Staring at his wife, Booth finally smiled, "I'll let you break that news to her then." Standing, Booth leaned over and kissed her, "I have to go to the store to buy storage boxes for Christine's things. I'll be back in a couple of hours."

Wise to his ways, Brennan noted, "It doesn't take two hours to buy storage boxes."

Chuckling, Booth walked over to the door, "It does if I'm trying to avoid Christine's meltdown."

Calling after him, Brennan informed him, "You're not very brave when it comes to confronting your own children, Booth."

Waving his elbows, Booth imitated a chicken, "Bwak bwak." Laughing, Booth walked into the living room, spied his daughter coming down the stairs and held up his truck keys, "Got some errands to run, Honey. Go talk to your mother."

Realizing that her father was abdicating responsibility about her room, Christine sighed and walked over to her mother's office. Taking a deep breath she released it slowly and entered the room.

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"Mother, how can you just give my room away?" Crossing her arms, Christine glared at her mother, "It's like once I leave I'm no longer going to be a part of this family."

Turning to face her daughter, Brennan looked in disbelief at her daughter, "Christine, if you wish to have a rational discussion about your room, exaggerating the significance about the status of your room will not win you this argument." Pausing, Brennan studied the stiff way her daughter held herself and frowned, "Christine, you're going to be gone for four years while at University. At the very most, you may come home for three months each year. After University you plan to apply to the FBI and after that, if you are accepted and you become an FBI agent it is more than likely you will be posted away from the District. Why would we leave a room unoccupied knowing that it is unlikely that you will ever live here again and at the most will visit for a short period of time in the summer and during Christmas Break? That hardly seems reasonable."

Feeling like her childhood was slipping away, Christine protested, "But I do plan to come back in the summer and Christmas break and maybe Spring Break, although I'm not sure about that one. Where am I supposed to stay? Here? This is the guest bedroom. I'm not a guest, I'm your daughter."

Seeing her child in distress, Brennan stood up and walked over to where she was standing. Placing her hands on her child's arms, she drew her into her embrace, "Honey, you're an adult now. You have a future ahead of you that will force you to live separately from your family. We love you and you will always be welcome here whenever you wish to come, but all of this is part of growing up. Things change. They have to change. If there is no change then they're is stagnation. Do you really wish to deprive your brother of his own room? Do you really think it's fair to keep a room unoccupied because you don't want things to change? Honey, things are changing and you can't stop them."

Sniffing, Christine laid her head on her mother's shoulders, "I know they're changing mother. I just didn't expect them to start changing the minute I graduated from High School. I thought I still had time . . . I thought I still had time."

Rubbing her child's back, Brennan smiled, "You're my daughter and my oldest child. You will always be part of this family and if you really need to, you can always come back to us. Joseph will move into your room, but in the future, if you need to, you can come back and reclaim the room." Looking around, Brennan smiled, "We can always convert this room into a bedroom for Joseph if we have to. We are going to store your things in the garage. When you get your own place, you will be able to take them from here and use them in your new home."

Laughing quietly, Christine replied, "This is why Dad lets you handle us most of the time. You use logic on us and it's hard to negate what you say."

Chuckling, Brennan released her daughter and stared into her blue eyes, "Your father loves you so much and he doesn't want to hurt you. He's never struck you and I can count on my hand the few times he's raised his voice to you. You know what his childhood was like and he has always been very careful to make sure that you had the childhood that he didn't have. He lets me handle most punishments because he knows I will be fair and I will have a logical reason for the decisions I make. It's not that he abdicates his authority to me, he counts on me to balance his emotional responses. Do you understand?"

Nodding her head, Christine smiled, "Yes, I do."

"Good." Returning to her desk, Brennan sat down, "Your room is your room until you go to University. Joseph will not move in until after you leave. Remember you are not being shut out of the family and you will always be welcome here."

Wiping her finger under her eyes, Christine rushed across the room and kissed her mother, "Thank you, Mom. I love you."

Returning her kiss, Brennan smiled, "I love you to, Honey, remember rule number one."

Laughing, Christine quoted the rule, 'Mommy and Daddy love you now and always will. I won't forget the rules, Mom. I promise."

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