Booth couldn't help but grin as he and Brennan got out of the cab that had stopped in front of Pops' retirement center. He'd looked forward to this visit for weeks, knowing that the gift they were bringing Pops for his birthday was going to be greatly appreciated. He was bouncing on the balls of his feet, giddy with excitement. "This is gonna be great, Bones. I can't wait. C'mon, let's go in. I'm sure Pops is getting impatient." His excited smile faded a bit as he watched Brennan twist a strand of hair around her finger as she chewed the inside of her lip. "What's wrong? Listen, things are gonna be great, okay? You'll see…"
Brennan studied the sidewalk for a few seconds before raising her eyes to Booth. "I'm feeling uneasy about our visit to your grandfather, Booth. I feel like I'm intruding on your time together…and I don't know how he's going to react to our news, either."
"Bones, you know how much Pops loves you. If he was twenty years younger, I'd have to worry about him trying to steal you away from me. He thinks you can practically walk on water, you know? He made it clear last time I visited that I shouldn't come back unless I brought you with me." Booth grinned as he reached out to clasp Brennan's hand. "He's really excited about seeing you. The hard part is going to be fighting off all of the residents who want an autograph. Pops says your books are really popular with the residents here. I guess he has some sort of minor celebrity status at the center because he knows you personally."
"It's nice to know that people enjoy my books. I might have time to sign a few for the residents if Pops doesn't mind." Brennan smiled shyly at Booth. "I guess we should go in, then, and see Pops. I imagine lunch will be served soon."
"Exactly. Let's go." They walked hand in hand to the front door of the retirement center. Booth pulled the door open to let Brennan through, and they were met with an enthusiastic greeting.
"Shrimp! Finally! And Temperance! Let me look at you. You're just as pretty as ever. I knew my boy Shrimp would be smart enough to hang on to a wonderful woman like you." Hank Booth gave Brennan a gentle squeeze before shaking his grandson's hand. "It's just a good thing for you that Temperance decided to come with you, boy, or there'd be no lunch for you." They all laughed as they walked toward the dining room. "Temperance, I asked the chef to make you a nice salad. Me and Shrimp are gonna have some baked chicken." Hank spoke to their server about bringing the salad as they sat at Hank's favorite table. "So how are you two doing? Been solving lots of crimes, haven't you? I bet you're busy…"
Booth glanced over at Brennan and winked broadly, causing her to blush. "Oh, we've been very busy, alright, Pops. And, you're right. We've had several cases to solve since I saw you last. Remember, we had that case about that guy you liked to watch on TV? The myth killer?"
"Yeah, I remember that. He used to go around exposing baloney, right?"
"Hank, Booth told me that he saw a Yeti while he was doing mountain training for the Rangers. Have you ever heard that story?" Brennan smiled at Booth as she took a bite of her salad.
"Aw, Sweetheart, you should know by now to take everything this joker says with a grain of salt. He used to like to tell tall tales to entertain his girlfriends when he was in high school and in college, right, Seeley?"
"Booth has told me several stories about his former girlfriends, and some of them do seem to paint him as a man of legendary stature. Most of the stories involve a girl named Sherrai…"
"How are you doing, Pops?", Booth interrupted as he pretended to glare at Brennan. "Did you get your new medications all sorted out again?"
"Yeah, the doctor says that little pill case that Temperance got me is a good thing to have. The nurses here remind me to take my pills all the time. I think I'm gonna switch over to having them bring me my pills, though. I'm getting a little forgetful." Hank sighed as he ate a bite of chicken. "It's hell getting old, but you know what they say...it beats the alternative." Hank reached over to pat Brennan's hand. "Shrimp said that one of your interns got killed a couple of months ago. I'm sorry to hear that, Sweetheart. I know that was hard on you."
"Jeez, Pops...why did you bring that up? We're supposed to be having fun on your birthday." Booth was clearly irritated with the turn of the conversation.
"It's been a long time since I've seen Temperance, Shrimp, and I haven't had a chance to tell her that I was sorry." Hank grimaced slightly before nodding at his grandson. "But you're right. We should be having fun. Tell me what Parker's been up to."
They continued to chat for a few minutes until Hank noticed that they were being watched by the women sitting at another table. "Don't look now, but there are some autograph hounds on the hunt at that table over there. Would it bother you to sign a couple of books, Temperance?"
"Of course not, Hank. I'd be glad to sign some books for your friends." Brennan turned toward the women at the table and smiled, waving her hand to invite them over. One of them timidly approached with a book.
"I'm sorry to disturb your lunch, but I just love this book!" She held out a copy of RED TAPE, WHITE BONES. "The relationship between Kathy and Andy is so well written. And here you are, in person. This is wonderful! Could you sign it 'To Mamie', please? Oh, thank you so much." The woman walked back to her waiting friends, grinning from ear to ear as she showed them the prized signature.
"Still trying to get Mamie to notice you, Pops?" Booth nudged his grandfather as he winked at Brennan. "I think she's his main squeeze."
"That's enough out of you, Shrimp." Pops grinned as he pushed his chair away from the table. "How about some dominos? I bet Temperance can kick your ass in dominos by now, right, Shrimp?"
"Well, sometimes she feels sorry for me and lets me win from time to time. But before we play dominos you've gotta open your gifts." Booth picked up two boxes from under his chair, and handed the smaller one to his grandfather. "Open this one first."
Hank unwrapped it quickly and smiled happily. "A new electric razor. Just what I needed since my other one crapped out. The doc doesn't want me to use a blade since I'm on blood thinners. I was afraid I was gonna look like some damn hippie. This is great!"
"Good...Bones helped me pick it out, but I got this for you all on my own." Booth laughed as he handed the larger box to Pops. "I think you're gonna be surprised."
Pops opened the box and picked up the tee shirt inside, obviously confused. "World's Best Great Grandpa. Well, this is nice, but I don't get to see Parker very often..." Hank looked up at his grandson, who was grinning broadly.
"You're gonna need that shirt again in about five months, Pops. Me and Bones…" Booth reached over to hold her hand, "we're gonna have a baby...a little girl."
"Well, bless my soul! That's wonderful!" Hank looked around the room that was crowded with diners. "Did you hear that, everybody? I'm gonna be a great grandpa again!" The crowd in the dining room burst into applause, much to Booth and Brennan's chagrin.
"Pops!" Booth hissed. "Let's go play some dominos."
"Now just one damn minute, Shrimp! You can't just drop a bombshell on me like that and then try to play it cool. This is great news! I've waited for this to happen ever since I met Temperance. I always knew she was the woman for you. Thank God, you finally got your head on straight, son!" Hank turned to Temperance, beaming with love and pride. "I'm so glad, Honey. I know you and Shrimp are gonna be great parents for this little girl."
"You're not upset? We're not going to get married, you know." Brennan watched Hank carefully, trying to see what his reaction would be to that bit of news.
"Of course I'm not upset. You and Shrimp can work out all the details of your relationship however you want, as long as you can be happy together. You just take care of that precious baby, okay?"
Tears of happiness and relief filled Brennan's eyes. "Of course, Hank. We'll take very good care of your great grandchild."
"Good. Now, let's you and me go kick Shrimp's ass at dominos."