The entire town of Winchester seemed to have gathered up for the funeral in the small cemetery. From her seat, Temperance could barely see the end of the crowd. They had run out chairs and at least thirty people were standing behind the rows of chairs. She never thought so many people, most of whom didn't even know the victims personally, would show up. She couldn't help the smile that stretched on her face, despite the sad circumstances. She turned to Booth and smiled. He smiled back.

They watched as Lucy Robertson slowly made her way up to the microphone. The mother stood, shakily, in front of the crowd, her eyes red and puffy, her face skinnier than it had ever been. She suddenly seemed aware of how hug the crowd really was. She took a deep breath and, glancing briefly at the wooden casket beside her, she began her speech.

"Mickey was a great girl, really bright and energetic, really the best daughter a mother could ask for and I'm not saying that just because I'm her mother."

The crowd chuckled softly.

"Never once did I hear a single negative comment about my daughter's behavior or manners from her teachers and even from strangers. Everyone seemed to agree that Mackenzie was a special girl with a bright future ahead of her. She loved everyone and was always so kind to others. It pains me to think that I'll never know what kind of person she would have grown up to be or what she would have done with her life. It saddens me to think of the friends she would never make, the boyfriends she will never have and the proms she will never go to. But the one thing that pains me the most is that I'll never be able to tell her how proud she has made me during her brief life."

Lucy sniffled and wiped the tears from her eyes.

"Losing a child in this way is horrible. I'm sure the parents here present will understand what I say. Nothing can prepare you for the death of your child, no matter what the circumstances are but to know that there are people in this world, running free, that can hurt a child is a difficult thing to bare. Fortunately for us, those who have lost the love of our lives because of those people, there are others who are willing to help us in any way they can. And so, on behalf of all the parents of the victims here today, I would like to say a few thanks."

Somewhere in the crowd, someone coughed. Temperance turned to the row in front of them to see Mrs Bennett grabbing her husband's hand and laying her head on his shoulder.

"First, I would like to thank our friends who stuck by us through this difficult time. To everyone who was there for us, comforted us when all we wanted were answers to our questions- we will never forget what you have done for us. Your words, your encouragement were all that we needed. We needed to know that we were not alone in this, there were still good people out there who loved and cared about us. We will be forever thankful.

To Mickey's friends- Thank you for coming down here today to pay your respect to your beloved friend. It just shows how many of you loved my daughter and are sad to see her go so soon.

To the whole town of Winchester, to everyone who has come down here today- I have to admit, I'm quite surprised to see so many of you here. I stand here and I see different age groups, young and old. I see children, parents, grandparents and probably some great-grandparents. Some of you knew the victims. They were your childhood friends, your siblings, your neighbors, your best friends. Some of you didn't even know Mickey, or Hope, or Raine, or Melanie or even Laura. Still, you decided that the death of a child something worth taking time out of your agenda for, to honour a short life taken away so drastically, a life you weren't even aware existed until recently. This proves that love and compassion is still present in a world led by crime, hatred and war. It shows that, whatever happens, kindness can still find its way back into our hearts and that we should look forward to the future and not fear it. To all of you, thank you very much."

Lucy smiled kindly at the parents sitting in the front row. Then, looking up at the next row, her smile turned appreciative.

"And finally, a very special thanks to Special Agent Seeley Booth and his wonderful wife, renowned forensic anthropologist, Dr. Temperance Booth. I met the Booths when they moved to Winchester two years ago. Their daughter, Riley, was my daughter's best friend. They were family friends, always so kind to my husband and I, and also to my daughter who spent half of her time over at their house."

Booth and Temperance smiled.

"But in the last couple of weeks, I came to know them as the FBI agent and the doctor. These two do incredible work together. Along with the entire forensics team at the Jeffersonian Institution in Washington, DC, they worked very hard to bring us closure in a dramatic even in our lives, to give us the answers we desperately needed. Even though there are still questions to be answered, your determination, your intelligence and your trust have given us the greatest gift of all. I speak for all the victims' parents when I say thank you. Thank you for everything. You two are really the greatest!"

A harpist began a sad melody as Lucy came back to her seat. The priest replace Lucy at the microphone and proceeded with the ceremony.

Temperance tore her gaze from the stage and slowly brought it four seats down. She found Lucy already staring at her, tears now falling freely from her eyes.

Thank you. Lucy mouthed.

Her own lump formed into her throat and Temperance forced a smile, as she nodded polietely. She felt a hand on hers and she turned around to find Booth staring down at her, his face still scratched from the beating.

"It's okay to cry, Temperance." He whispered in her ear, before kissing her temple.

She was about to reply that she didn't want to cry but the words caught in her throat. Then, instead of arguing, she laid her head on her husband's shoulder and let the tears fall. She let the tears fall not only for the five girls staring at her on the photographs hanging above their casket but also for those other children who, at this instant, might have been suffering the same fate. She cried for Riley who, on the other side of Booth, cried freely for a friend Temperance knew she missed awfully.

When, fifteen minutes later, the Booth family made their way back to the SUV, Temperance pulled her daughter aside. She stared down at her, who's eyes were still red from all the crying. And, without the awkwardness always so present whenever she tried showing her kids affection, she gathered Riley in her arms and rested her chin on top of her head.

"I love you, Riley. Don't ever forget that."

Riley extracted herself from her mother's arms and looked up at her.

"I know, Mom." She said, as though her mother had just stated the obvious.

"I know I might not show you often but..."

"Dad said that everyone shows their feelings in a different way. He said that it's not because you don't hug us very often or give us a lot of kisses that you don't love us. You show us in your own way."

"Your dad said that?" Temperance asked, looking up at her husband who was standing in front of the SUV, staring at them.

"Yup. And he said that we should never be mad at you because of that."

Temperance smiled at her husband before bringing her gaze back to her daughter.

"But you know what Mom? It doesn't matter to me. I don't need to hear you say you love me to know that you do."

Temperance frowned, wondering exactly when her daughter had gained so much insight on love and life. She didn't question it too long. Her daughter had the ability to surprise her when she expected it the less. Today was one of those days.

Taking a deep breath, she turned her frown into a smile.

"How about some ice cream to make up for the rough day we just had?"

Riley's face lit up.

"Ice cream at Great Big Scoop?"

Temperance nodded.

"With sprinkles and chocolate fudge and everything?"

"And everything." Temperance replied as she took her daughter's hand and made her way to the SUV.

Temperance let herself fall onto the bed, obviously exhausted. Booth looked up from the file he had been reading.

"What is it with these children and bed time? Is there some kind of secret rule now that children don't go to bed before eleven?"

Booth chuckled.

"Well maybe it's from all the ice cream and candy you fed them since we came back from the funeral. I don't think they ate real food since lunch."

"They're only children for a short period in their lives. Might as well make the best of it."

"Did Mickey teach you that?"

Temperance frowned.

"No. Why?"

"Because, Bones, sometimes there are events in our lives that make us reconsider everything we thought we knew about life. Deaths like Mackenzie's are one of them."

"I guess you're right."

"Of course I'm right."

Temperance glared at him, making Booth chuckle. But her annoyed expression only lasted a few seconds before her lips morphed into a smile.

"I love you."

Booth smiled tenderly at her.

"I know."

"I was thinking about going to see Angela tomorrow." Temperance said as she stood up and began preparing for the night.

"Oh yeah?"

"I got a message from her yesterday. She says that Kyle is now breathing on his own and that he's gained some weight. The doctors think that a few more weeks and she'll be able to bring him home."

"Good."

Grabbing an old T-shirt from her drawer, she put it on before climbing back into bed.

"Booth, about the job..."

"I think you should take it."

"What?"

"I think you should take it. It's a good opportunity and, besides, it'll get you out of the lab which is something I certainly won't be complaining about."

"But I like my job at the lab." Temperance replied, indignantly.

Booth sighed. Crawling out of the sheets, he laid down on his stomach beside her.

"Yeah but you know what? I think you've done your time. Maybe the time has come for something new, something different. You've spend so many years in that lab, working your butt off to fight criminals and that's a good thing but you can't make it all your life. Taking that professor position in Florida will give you more spare time. You can even start writing again."

"But I'll miss working at the lab."

"Bones, it's not like you'll never work in a lab again. I'm sure Miami has a forensics lab where you could do your thing?"

Temperance chuckled softly.

"I guess. But what about you? I can't impose you anything."

"Don't worry about me, Temperance. I'll figure something out."

"But I thought Cullen wanted you to become Deputy Director? You can't possibly give that up. It's a good opportunity for you, too."

"So what, Tempe? You want us to get a divorce? Or maybe you just want to take the kids down to Florida with you and send them up north every other Christmas and during the summer?"

"I never said that, Booth." Temperance replied, offended.

"I know." Booth said, realizing that his tone might have been harsher than what he had intended it to be. "What I mean to say is that wherever you go, I'll follow. You're my life, Bones. And you're far more important than any job position."

Lowering her head, Temperance captured his lips with her own.

She wasn't quite sure what had awoken her but she was suddenly aware of how cold the room had grown. Even the heat from Booth's body wasn't enough to heat her up and she cuddled closer to him. His heart beat slowly against her ear and the sound of it would have been reassuring usually but wasn't tonight. A shiver ran down her spine and she suddenly got the impression that they were no longer alone in their bedroom.

Carefully, as though afraid of what she might find when she opened them completely, she opened one eye then the other. It didn't take long for her to figure out what had awoken her. At the foot of her bed stood a little girl, a little girl she recognized easily.

Momentarily stunned, Temperance didn't move. Then, as her mind registered what her eyes were seeing, she closed her eyes only to reopen them moments later. Melanie Pharatt was still staring back at her but, this time, she wasn't alone. Temperance recognized Laura, Raine, Hope and Mackenzie. All five girls stood staring at her, a happy smile on their faces.

"Thank you."

Melanie's voice came out as a hoarse whisper, sending more shivers down Temperance's spine and making the hair on the back of her neck rise to its fullest. Shaking slightly, Temperance nodded numbly.

Before she could completely process what was going on, she watched the little girls take off running towards the open door in a fit of laughter. Then, before her eyes, the girls vanished down the hallway.

Still unsure about what had just happened, Temperance laid back down and snuggled even closer to Booth and tried to fall back asleep. But sleep wouldn't come. Her mind kept replaying what had just happened. She saw Melanie again, standing at the foot of her bed, her brown breads hanging on each side of her head, much like the day she had seen her sitting on the edge of the catwalk. Then again, she wasn't sure if she had seen Melanie that day.

Ghosts don't exist, Temperance reminded herself.

If they didn't exist, then why had she just seen Melanie, along with the other four girls, a moment ago? Had her mind played tricks on her? Had she just had an hallucination due to her mind clouded with sleep? Booth was still asleep, why was she the only who had been awaken?

She couldn't understand why Melanie would appear to her, or even why she would thank her. Sure, they had proved the innocence of her father but they hadn't even been able to catch the real killer. Symmes had gotten away, after beating the hell out of Booth, giving him a broken nose, two broken ribs and a few cuts and bruises that were still apparent even after two weeks and sending him three days to the hospital. He had taken his maid with her and a nation-wide arrest had been made in his name, for abduction, sequestration and murder. Temperance still didn't understand why Miranda had followed his orders but Booth had told him Symmes could be a very convincing man. If he had been able to convince the hospital staff that he was normal and his family that he was a schizophrenic, he could convince anyone of everything.

Then, it hit her. Maybe it didn't matter. These girls had finally been heard. It didn't matter which way you chose to acknowledge that fact. It didn't matter if the information was gathered from their bones, or from their pictures by a so-called psychic (whom they hadn't heard from in more than a month, much to Temperance's happiness), or even by a doctor's confession. All these restless spirits, if they existed, wanted was to be heard and their wish had been granted.

Temperance let out a groan. Booth had a bit too much influence on her. But, as she watched him sleep, his chest rising up and down with each breath, his features relaxed, the cuts and bruises slowly healing and disappearing, she didn't care. She loved him, he loved her and he would always be there for her to argue with over their different beliefs. And, even if Symmes was still out there, their personal lives weren't going to change and that she was thankful for. Whatever laid ahead for them in Florida, they would make it through just like they always did.

Temperance fell her eyes grow heavy and she laid her head back on her pillow. Closing her eyes, she listened to the sound of the outside world, coming in from the open window. Soon, sleep claimed her.

In his bedroom, Lukas mumbled something in his sleep before turning on his back. His hair was plastered by sweat against his forehead and, despite the hotness of the night, he pulled the blankets up to his chin.

On the other side of the wall, Riley pulled her stuffed penguin closer to her.

In her crib, two doors down, Brina slept soundly, her thumb in her mouth, her index resting on top of her nose.

The entire house was quiet, the only sound coming from the kitchen where water dropped from the tap.

Somewhere across the country, a maid was being pushed out of a rolling car.