The sun was starting to drop low over the horizon. The air was dry and warm, but it was pleasant out on the patio thanks to a cool breeze that had sprung up. The shade from the large veranda had crept across them. Booth and Max were sitting in the high backed patio chairs, each holding one of the twins, feeding them their afternoon bottle. The boys were almost completely weaned off bottle feeding.
Brennan had been gradually introducing solids into their diets for the last two months as she believed it was better for them in the long run. She spouted to Booth how research was beginning to show that babies introduced to solid foods early were found to be less likely to have food allergies. It was still being researched, but Brennan had decided that it was a good theory and had begun weaning the boys just after they turned seven months old.
She, occasionally had regrets that she had not been able to breast feed the twins, but she also knew that she probably would have supplement fed them anyway, being two of them. They only had three half bottles a day now. One in the morning after their breakfast, one mid afternoon, before their naps and one at bedtime. It was Booth's favourite time when he got home. Being able to hold and cuddle his sons. It was the best thing in the world.
He had returned to work and didn't get to spend as much time with his son's as he had when they were first born and he was their sole carer. He missed them to be honest. He thought that he would be happy going back to work, but he soon realised that he really had enjoyed being home looking after his family. He had started coming home around 3pm every day so that he could help with the afternoon and dinner rush. Bones was usually a bit tired by that time of day. She had improved greatly and she had agreed that she was probably at about ninety five percent recovered now. She acknowledged that she got tired by the middle of the afternoon on some days, and appreciated Booth being there to help with bathing and dinner time.
He had broached the subject of a nanny, or a housekeeper to help with the children and meals in the evening, but Brennan had become quite indignant. She wouldn't hear of it. She wanted to do it all herself. Insisted upon it. Booth knew that she was hiding, or trying to hide how tired she was, so he arranged with Caroline to work less hours, at least for the next six months. She had been so good to him and Bones. Making allowances for him. Keeping him on short, easy cases. He missed the thrill of the chase and the meatier cases, but he also knew that he wasn't going to be able to commit his time to them, so he accepted her offer happily.
Booth sighed heavily and stared into the dark brown eyes of his son, Wyatt. It felt like the weight of the world lifted from his shoulders. His chubby little hands were wrapped around the bottle, basically holding it himself. He didn't need Booth to help, but Booth loved doing it. Plus Wyatt had a bad habit of continuing to suck on the teat after the milk had run out. The baby smiled around the teat at his father, making Booth grin widely. He let go of the bottle and tickled Wyatt's chin, making him chuckle.
Baby Max turned and watched his brother giggling, and began to giggle too, reaching out for his twin. Grandpa Max gave up trying to get Max to finish his bottle. "Aww Maxie, come on. You're making it difficult for your old grandpa here" he grumbled. Booth smiled "Don't worry Dad, it's not like he needs the bottle. It's just something to help settle them for a nap." He looked down at Wyatt who was now wriggling and reaching towards his brother "although I doubt either of them are going to have their afternoon nap now. We just won't tell Temperance, deal?" he winked at Max who sat his grandson down on the rug that Booth had put down on the patio tiles, with Wyatt.
The babies sat facing each other. They were like a mirror image. "I still don't know how you tell them apart sometimes" Max commented. Booth laughed out loud "Between you and me, sometimes I call them the wrong name. Then I see their eyes, and I realise" he shook his head chuckling. I don't know what we would have done if they had the exact same colour eyes. It's the only difference between them, and really, you only see it when they are together. Look" he pulled the back of Wyatt's top out from his neck and showed Max a W sewn into the inside label. "Maxie has an M in all of his clothes. We have to make sure when we dress them, that they're in the right clothes or else I get them mixed up. Drives Bones crazy." he chuckled.
Max laughed and watched as Booth placed a large play bench between them. It had a variety of activities on it. A bell, that rang when you pushed a big blue button. A whistle, that was activated by pulling on a lever. A mirror, that spun around. A happy tune, that played when a rubber ball was squeezed. Wyatt of course was quite adept at all the activities, while Max just sat watching, and smiled and giggled as his brother made the music play, or the mirror spin.
"Do you ever think that Maxie is. Well. Kind of, a bit behind his brother?" Max asked Booth suddenly. Booth frowned at Max. "What do you mean?" he said, slightly annoyed at his father in law's inference that there was something wrong with his son. "I don't mean anything bad. I just mean. Well, Wyatt seems a lot more advanced than Max." he tried to backpedal away from offending Booth. Booth leaned in and pick up Wyatt, who yelled his objections. Baby Max immediately spun the mirror and pulled the lever making the whistle blow. Booth smirked at Max and put Wyatt back down on the floor.
Max held up his hands "OK. I'm proven to not know what I'm talking about." he admitted. Booth shook his head "It's OK. Wyatt is just very outgoing and likes to get in there. Maxie loves to be entertained by his brother and Wyatt has no problem doing things for him. They've been this way since they were born. Wyatt was the loud one, the one that kicked and screamed. The one that finished his bottle in record time. The one that rolled over first, sat up first, crawled first. He's the leader. Maxie is the follower I guess. But Maxie can do everything his brother can. He just chooses when to and when to let Wyatt do it for him."
The two men leaned back in their chairs. Booth reached down into the small cooler he had next to his chair and pulled out two beers. He handed one to Max. They opened them and Max held his out to Booth, who clinked his bottle against Max's. "Cheers. And thanks for having me for the last two weeks. I know it threw your routine out, me coming early. But, to be honest. I get kind of lonely and I miss you guys, you know?" Booth nodded. "Temperance has loved it. We all have. Christine especially loved you going to her show and tell day. And it's been great for the boys to spend some time with their Grandpa Max. We're gonna miss you" he added, knowing that Max was heading off tomorrow afternoon.
Max smiled and took a long draught of the cold beer, leaned back and closed his eyes. "mmm-hmmm. You can't beat a cold beer on a hot day, can you son?" he said sleepily. Booth leaned back in his chair, keeping his eye on his sons. "True that" he said, leaning down and untangling Max's fingers from Wyatts hair. "No honey. No hair pulling" he said softly. He leaned back in his chair and became aware of Max's soft snore. He carefully pulled the beer bottle from his father in laws hand and put it back in the cooler. He smiled and watched his boys. Suddenly Max flipped around onto his stomach, pulling up his knees and crawled off the rug. Booth's mouth dropped open. Max! You're crawling!"
Grandpa Max's eyes flew open "wha! Huh? I swear I didn't touch her!" he mumbled. Booth slapped at his arm "Max! Maxie is crawling! Quick. Where's my phone?" he fumbled in his pants pocket and pulled out his phone and started recording his son as he crawled across the tiles towards the large ceramic pot that held a soft miniature palm. He reached up, grabbed hold of the rim and pulled himself up and stood next to the pot and looked around at his father and grinned widely. "Maxie! You did it!" Booth laughed. He held out his hands and Max took three wobbly steps towards him then plopped down onto his bottom and laughed, then started crying.
Booth jumped up and picked up his son and smothered his face with kisses "That's my boy!" he laughed proudly. "Did you see that Grandpa? Maxi actually tried to walk! He did something before Wyatt!" Max was still mumbling about some inappropriate touching of someone called Brandy. Booth was jigging Maxie up and down "That's my big boy!" he praised him again and kissed his chubby cheeks again, making the baby chuckle loudly. "Wait till I show your mommy!" he said, watching the video on his phone again.
Max finally stood up and wiped his face. "What did I miss?" he asked groggily. Booth held up the phone for him to see. "Well hot damn! The little fella tried to walk!" Max said. He held out his arms and Maxie reached out for his grandpa. "You clever little man! You're mommy is gonna be so proud of you!" Max praised him. Booth bent down and picked up Wyatt, looking at his watch. "Speaking of which. Bones will be home soon. I better get dinner on!" he said, bending over and picking up the rug and heading inside. Max followed carrying his namesake and pulled the door closed behind him.
Brennan had gone to pick up Christine from school. She had been given the all clear and had been driving for about a week now, and had convinced Booth that it was time for her to start being a proper Mom again. And the school run was a good way to start. Booth hadn't really wanted her to drive so soon. But, she pointed out that that was just him being over protective, something she often accused him of. He knew that this was a big part of her rehabilitation, more mental than physical. He knew that she was quite capable of doing it. But it was hard for him to let her go. He had been looking after her for months. He liked it. Loved it actually. It made him feel important. Which was stupid really. They had fought. She had yelled at him about controlling her. Over protecting her. Smothering her progress.
He had been hurt at first. But then he thought about it, and over a few beers and a conversation with his friend, Aldo, at the bar he frequented, he had realised that he had to let her try. Aldo talked to him about love and commitment and marriage, and how he had been the rock for the family for such a long time. He made him understand that just because he let her start to do things for herself, carry and share the load, didn't mean Booth wasn't being less of a husband and father. It just meant that he was allowing her to be his partner again. Be her own person. Be his wife, his lover, his best friend and not his patient. That it was a good thing for them as a couple.
Booth and Max put the boys in their play pen in the living room and Booth dropped a couple of their favourite toys in with them and went into the kitchen to start dinner. Max sat down on the couch and turned on the TV to watch the afternoon news.
The front door opened and Christine came whirling in, as per usual. She dropped her school bag by the door and ran towards her grandfather, whom she adored. "Christine! Take your bag to your room!" Booth called out from the kitchen. Christine wrapped her arms around her grandfathers neck and kissed his cheek "Grandpa Max! I had the best day at school! I played on the climbing frame with Marcus and he fell and broke his arm and the ambulance came and the sirens were going. He was crying so bad, snot was running down his face and into his mouth. It was so gross!" she rattled on, telling her grandfather about her day.
Brennan came in and walked into the kitchen. Booth was standing chopping cucumbers for a salad. He hadn't heard her come in. She sneaked up behind him and just as he put the knife down she grabbed him on the butt. He jumped and turned around, grinning when he saw his gorgeous wife smiling at him. He wrapped his arms around her and kissed her deeply. She closed her eyes and let her body melt into his. He allowed a small growl escape into her mouth. She reached down and grabbed his behind again, making him laugh. "You're evil. You know that don't you?" he said, pulling back from her.
Brennan laughed and nodded "I know". He dropped a kiss onto the tip of her nose and turned back to his salad making. "How did you go?" then cringed. She hated it when he interrogated her after driving. She usually told him off, but today she just wrapped her arms around his body and leaned into his back "It was good. Although" she hesitated. Booth closed his eyes and picked up a tomato and began chopping, waiting for her to continue. "I had a teensy bit of a mishap" she finished. He flinched, but kept on chopping the salad vegetables "How teensy?" he asked as casually as he could.
"We came home in a taxi, teensy" she said stepping back from him. Booth flinched and closed his eyes, his face screwing up. "a taxi?" his voice hitting a higher pitch then he had hoped. He coughed "You came home in a taxi?" he repeated, his voice deeper.
He turned around, knife in hand. Brennan stood her eyes wide, her lips pressed together, nose screwed up "can you put the knife down Booth?" she asked. He turned and gently placed the knife on the counter then turned back to face his wife. She held up both hands, palms facing him "Now, don't get mad. I had a small incident. The car is a little dented. The stop sign, not so good." She shrugged her shoulders, dropping her hands to her sides.
Booth took a deep breath and let it go slowly. "so, let me get this straight. You hit a stop sign. And caught a taxi home?" he repeated nodding at her. Brennan shrugged again "yes?" she said softly. "But it wasn't my fault Booth. I was driving carefully. Christine was in the back seat and she undid her seatbelt to pick up her book and I turned around to tell her to get back into her seat and when I turned around. Well. I guess I didn't see the stop sign until it hit me." she said looking at the floor.
"Until it hit you?" Booth repeated. Brennan simply nodded. "The police officer was really nice though. He told me that the car would be towed and I would have to collect it from" Booth held up a hand and closed his eyes "Yeah. I know where it is" he said and sighed. "Was it badly damaged Bones?" he asked. She shook her head "I think I broke a headlight and maybe dented the bumper, but other than that, it's not too bad. I have to pay for the damage to the stop sign too. Although why they put them so close to the kerb is beyond me!" she added. Booth took a deep breath and grabbed her and hugged her, leaning his chin on the top of her head. "As long as you and Christine are OK. The rest doesn't matter. I'll go get the car tomorrow. Don't worry. You're sure you're OK?" he asked again, holding her back from him so he could see her.
She stared at him and dropped her bottom lip "I'm sorry Booth" she said. He pulled her back to him and hugged her tight. He wanted to tell her that she couldn't drive any more. That she should catch cabs everywhere. Or leave it to him to do the school run. But he couldn't. Wouldn't. This was all part and parcel of her being her own person again. And, as much as it scared him. Freaked him out to be honest. He knew that he had to just let her go and trust her. And clean up her little messes if and when they happened. In this case, nobody was hurt. And that was the main thing.
"Christine Angela Booth!" he strode into the living room. Christine spun around and stared at her father. "You took your seat belt off in the car while Mommy was driving?" he asked her, staring her in the eye. She swallowed "yes" she said in a small voice "but I dropped my book!" she added. Booth walked up to her and picked her up and held her at eye level. "Do you even realise that you could have gotten you and your mother hurt? What if she had driven through that intersection? What have I told you a thousand times Christine? You're seven years old. You have to keep your seat belt on at all times. I don't care about your book. I don't care. What I care about is you and your Mommy being safe."
Christine was cringing. She hated it when her father got mad at her. Usually she could divert his attention away "A boy fell off the climbing frame at school and broke" she started to tell him. "I don't care Christine. I'm mad right now, and I don't want to hear your story. Go to your room. Right now" he said and put her down and turned away from her. Brennan stared at their daughter's crestfallen face "Booth" she started to say "No Bones. Not this time. This was not just a little mishap. This could have gone so wrong. And I'm really mad right now. So just stay out of it. Christine? Room." He finished, pointing at the stairs.
His daughter started crying and ran from the room and up the stairs. Max sat silently watching Booth's face. It hurt Booth to be tough on his daughter. He knew exactly how he felt. He'd been there. Russ had crashed his car once. He had only had his full licence for a week. He had been showing off for his friends. It could have ended so much worse. Thankfully it hadn't. But Max had been so angry. It took everything in him not to give his son a beating. He was on Booth's side this time. So he simply sat and turned his attention back to the twins who were lying together in their playpen oblivious to the disharmony around them.
Brennan edged towards Booth and gently squeezed his arm "We're fine Booth." she whispered. Booth turned and looked down at her. "I know. But Bones? She has to learn. She's headstrong and has this attitude."
"She's like you" they said at the same time.
Max started to chuckle under his breath, covering his mouth with his hand to stop from laughing out loud.
Booth stared at Brennan, who stared back at him. His mouth twitched on one corner. Brennan smirked and looked him in the eye, then grinned, showing her teeth. Booth's eyes crinkled in the corners, unable to stop himself from laughing. He grabbed her and hugged her tightly to him.
Max let himself chortle out loud "Oh you two. That girl is a little tornado. She's got the best and worst of both of you. And she's gonna be strongwilled and stubborn at times, and you both know that in life, that's not a bad thing. But, she's only seven years old. You got a long way to go. Just be happy that nothing serious happened. But I have to say, I agree with Booth on this one Tempy. Christine needs to spend a little time in her room to think about what just happened" he said standing up. Now, if you don't mind, I'm gonna go throw those steaks on the grill. I'm kinda hungry" he said.
Booth stood, his arm around Brennan's shoulder "You sure you can handle it?" unwilling to accept that anyone could use his grill as well as him. Max snorted "Boy, I was grilling steaks while you were still in short pants. Don't be stupid. I'll be out on the patio when you two finish smooching" he said as he picked up a tray of steaks from the kitchen bench and walked past them.
Booth looked down at Brennan "You're sure you're OK?" She nodded "I'm really sorry about the car Booth. I was going to just back it up and drive home, but the police officer was down the street and saw it happen" Booth rolled his eyes at her admission of wanting to leave the scene of an accident, but decided to let it go. It had ended up being alright. Except for the bit about getting their car out of the impound lot. But, he had a contact there. He'd ring them tomorrow first thing.
"Let's go watch your Dad cremate dinner" he said bending and kissing her on the lips softly. Brennan laughed "Just because you don't think anyone can grill as well as you" kissing him again. "Damn straight" Booth replied.
Brennan nodded and looked into the playpen at her sleeping boys. They looked so peaceful. Blissfully unaware of what had been going on. "How were they this afternoon? Have they been asleep for long?" Booth hesitated, wondering how to tell her that they actually missed their nap time and had only just nodded off.
"Ooh! I've got something to show you!" Booth announced waving his phone in front of her, diverting her attention from the question.
"What?" she asked.
"A surprise" he replied.
"What is it?"
"You'll see in a minute"
"Tell me Booth"
"Nope, you'll see when we go outside and sit down. It's really cool. You'll love it."
"Booth!"
"yes Bones?"
"You're so annoying sometimes"
"I know"