"So, it sounds like you've been all over." Seeley had brought her to a place that was still serving breakfast, even though it was 1 o'clock in the afternoon. Breakfast was her favorite meal. "I heard you telling everyone."

"Yeah…it was nice." She said, cutting into her French toast with her fork. "All the places I wanted to go when I was younger, I got to go."

"So, is that what you did? You just…traveled after high school?"

"I started off at college in Boston, I went to BC for a year. I got some pretty good scholarships from school, but…" She took a hot sip of coffee. "The money dried up pretty quick. So, I picked up and went to New York, hell bent on becoming some famous writer. Instead, I worked four crappy jobs to pay for my crappy little loft. New York was great though, I made some friends, and had some good times…" New York hadn't been all good times for her though. She didn't want Seeley to know, but New York had been a very corrupt time. "A few of my friends were leaving to go to L.A., and somehow got me to go with them. It was…it was just so different from the East Coast though. I didn't last very long."

"How come you didn't stay in New York when you came back?" He asked, biting into a strip of bacon.

"I…it just wasn't the same without my friends." She lied with a smile. His eyebrow peaked, and she could tell he didn't quite believe her. "What about you, Seels? How the heck did you get to be all suit wearing and gun carrying?"

"I was, uh…I went into the Army. I was a sniper for the USAR-"

"You what?" She cut him off, almost positive that she had misheard him.

"I was a sniper." He said, looking down at his food, scraping his fork through his eggs.

"You? You, Seeley Booth, were a sniper for the army? What about all that-" she stopped, and lowered her voice, "what about all those things you used to say about J. W. Booth?" She whispered. Seeley had always been very clear on the feelings of what his secret ancestor had done, and how he was very opposed to killing. "You'd be the last person I'd expect to pick up a gun and…"

"I know, but it was a good cause Charlie. You have to know I wouldn't have done it if I didn't think it was for the best." She nodded, and she knew it was true. Seeley had the best morals of anyone she had ever met, including herself. "The FBI job just kind of fell into my lap after that." He said, taking a bite of his eggs.

"Anything else groundbreaking I should know about?" She asked.

"I solve crimes a lot." He said enthusiastically. "And…I have a son." He tried to slip that past her, but she had heard it loud and clear. The word son was still ringing in her ears. She had checked his left hand earlier for a ring, and was positive she hadn't seen one. She double checked, and he caught her. "We didn't get married….his mother and I. She…she said no." He said, taking a drink from his orange juice.

"You're a dad?" Was all she could ask. Obviously Seeley would make a great dad, he had the biggest heart around, and she was sure that he would be great for teaching his son about sports and girls and all that. "You're a dad." She said, smiling at thoughts of Seeley playing football with a younger version of himself.

"His name's Parker." He pulled out his wallet, and showed her a picture. He had the same light blonde hair Seeley had grown out of so many years ago.

"He looks just like you." She was almost positive it was just a picture of Seeley when he was younger. "What happened with you and his mom?"

"It wasn't planned. Parker, he wasn't planned." He sighed. "I thought I was in love with her, and she just tolerated me." Charlotte frowned, not liking the thought of someone dating Seeley that didn't love him the way he loved her. "It was harder in the beginning. She didn't like Parker coming to stay with me…but she's great about it now. I get him weekends, twice a month." He said, smiling at the thought of his son. "What about you? Are you seeing someone? No kids, I'm guess?" He asked, giving her the look he always gave her when he was asking about who she was dating. She laughed.

"I've barely been here a month. I'm not dating anyone. I did, but no, I don't have kids, no husbands, or ex husbands. I've never been in love, and I've never wanted to be." She shrugged, playing with her fork and breakfast.

"You broke some hearts in New York, didn't you? That's why you left. And, that's why you went back. Am I right?" He asked, as if he'd been wondering about her leaving New York all along.

"No, and I really don't want to talk about it, Seeley Booth." She said, using his full name for authority. "New York, L.A., college, it's all in the past, and I don't want to think about it. Got it?" She asked, pointing her fork at him. He smiled.

"Right." He said, with that devious smile of his which meant he wasn't going to drop it any time soon.

After breakfast, Seeley had pulled her into a bad, and taken her into the city. He had been appalled when she told him she hadn't seen the Washington Monument yet, and brought her there so they could walk around.

"Neat." She said childishly, as they stood at the edge of the pond opposite the Monument. "Lot bigger than it is in text books." She said. Seeley nudged her with his shoulder, and started to walk. "So, how's my brother?"

"I was wondering when you'd ask." Seeley didn't sound happy. "He's doing fine. He's a teacher. History-"

"Of course." She cut in.

"He's married you know." Charlotte looked up at Seeley, who faced forward as they walked. "Went to his wedding two years ago. I was hoping to see you there, but…well, he's got a kid on the way now." Seeley finally looked over at her. "You really should call him Charlie. As mad as he is at you for running off, just seeing you would mean a lot to him."

Charlotte's insides began to twist. Her brother had been married. He had a wife, and she was pregnant. She had no idea. Her big brother's life hadn't stopped when she had left. He'd grown up, done something important with his life, obviously made it through college. He had turned out fine.

"What was it Charlotte? What kept you away all this time?" Seeley had stopped walking. He had also called her Charlotte, which was a very serious sign. "You…you never even called." He wasn't looking right at her, she tilted her head down to catch his stare.

"Seeley, I'm sorry. I was awful not to call…I really want to just tell you everything but…I think it's better if I don't. For now anyway." She said, very apologetically. Seeley finally looked her in the eyes, and nodded.

"Alright…but you really should call your brother." He said, trying to sound authoritative.

"I was actually planning on it. Being here in D.C., it's like a fresh start for me Seeley. " She said happily, and started walking again.

"I still can't believe it. I cant believe I walked in to get coffee today, and you were there. 15 years, I haven't heard a word, but there you are, standing there waving at me. Actually, I think the last time I saw you, you were waving then too."

"Chars, just come with us!" A 20 year old Seeley Booth insisted.

"No! She can't!" Jared Booth insisted. "Guys only! It's a camping trip! Where's she even going to pee!" Charlotte punched him in the arm.

"Shut up Jared." She glared at him, then turned back to Seeley. "You guys go. Have your end of summer camping trip without me. I'll stay home," she turned and glared at Jared, "and knit something." Jared rolled his eyes.

By the next morning, the boys had gotten their things together, Seeley parked his little four door Chevy in Charlotte's driveway, the boys packed there stuff in and were ready to go. Charlotte hugged her brother goodbye.

"Please, don't get eaten by bears. It'll be all I ever hear about." She advised him. He laughed, and hugged her again.

"Be good." He told her, and got into the car.

"Later loser." Jared shouted over the car at her, and jumped in the front seat. Seeley was sitting on the trunk of the car, arms crossed, his brow furrowed.

"You're going to be late for nature if you don't get going." She teased him, but he still seemed upset.

"I wish you'd just come with us." He said, aggravated. "I don't like leaving you alone…" he said staring at her house. If Seeley or Mike were around, her mother was less likely to be violent while she was drunk.

"I'm heading up to my grandmothers tonight. Stop worrying about me so much. People will start to talk." She said, raising her eyebrow. Seeley shook his head, trying not to let a smile slip.

"You are just impossible, did you know that?" Seeley slid off the back of the car. He pulled her into a hug.

"God, you're getting huge. What do they feed you in college? Is it horse? I bet it's horse." Charlotte tried her best to smile. Tried to pretend everything was normal.

"I'll call you when we get home. Tell Grams we all say hi." He said, laughing at her concern at his size. She couldn't help but hug him again. It was impulsive, and caught him by surprise.

"Have fun." She said quickly, and stepped back. Jared began to honk the horn for Seeley, and it distracted him. "See you when you get back!" She called over her shoulder as she walked into her house. Seeley stood there for a moment, in her driveway, then got into the car. She stood on her front porch, and waved at the car of boys as it drove down the street.

Charlotte really did go to her Grandmothers that night. She packed up almost all of her clothes, and everything she needed, and took the bus up to see her. Unknown to her mother, her brother, or either of the Booth boys, Charlotte had been accepted to BC. She had told her Grandmother who had told her that her father had been sending checks ever since he had left the family. The checks were sent to Charlotte's Grandmother because her father knew her mother couldn't be trusted. He Grandmother explained that it was how Mikey had afforded his first year of College, and that with the scholarships Charlotte had earned, she would be able to go to BC. Charlotte's Grandmother had told her this the moment she had been accepted to the school.

However, Charlotte wanted it to be a secret. She wanted to escape. From her mother, mainly, but from the life that she had been living for the past 18 years. Her Grandmother had promised not to say a word.

It had been different for her brother. He could go away to school, and look forward to coming home on weekends. Charlotte wanted to go away and never come back. Not for weekends, not for the summer, never. She was worried if Mike knew where she was, he would try and come bring her home, or worse, tell their mother and have her come find Charlotte. Charlotte never wanted to see her mother again, as long as she could help it. 18 years of physical and verbal abuse were enough. Mike had no idea. All he knew was that during dinner, if Charlotte talked back to her mother, she'd get slapped. He didn't know that while he was off at football practice, or a baseball game, their drunk of a mother would use any reason she could to scream at Charlotte, often ending up in things being thrown, bruises appearing, or once, noses being broken.

Charlotte wasn't a weak or passive girl, but she was small. Being 18 and only 5'2'' was a problem for her. Her mother had been 5'5'', and about 175 pounds. Little 110 pound Charlotte couldn't very well fight back. And if she did, her mother threatened to kick her out of the house. So, Charlotte would shield herself as best as she could, or lock herself in her room or the bathroom until her mother passed out. Charlotte had taken enough. She needed to leave.

She knew what it meant, too. She knew that it meant cutting off all ties. She couldn't ever talk to Seeley Booth again. Her best friend, her confidant, her only friend. He would tell her brother, having only the best intentions, and she couldn't have that. She knew that if she wanted to have a chance at a normal life, she'd have to cut them out of her life, at least for a little while. She was sure that after college, after she had a degree, and maybe even a job, she could call them, tell them everything was fine, and how she was doing. But not a moment sooner than that. She knew he would understand. Once she had that college degree, Seeley would understand.

"Wendell seemed to take quite an interest in you." Seeley said, bringing Charlotte out of her thought. She laughed.

"Seeley Booth! Will you stop! I'm 33 years old now!" She laughed, pushing him with both of her hands. "You can't keep doing this to me!"

"I didn't even say anything about it! I was just…observing!" Charlotte rolled her eyes.

"Yeah, he seemed nice. Friendly boy." She said, and Seeley let out a laugh. She looked up at him questioningly.

"Boy. That's exactly what he is…a boy." He smirked. "He dated Angela for a while too. She thought she was pregnant. Not really that responsible."

"Seeley, I'm not going to date him, so stop trying to scare me off so soon!" She couldn't help but smile. It was like nothing had changed. They might as well be walking down the hallway of their high school as opposed to the grass leading up to the Washington Monument.

"So, you're really going to come out tonight?" He asked after while of walking silently. "With my friends?"

"Yeah, they seem nice, and normal. I could really go for some nice and normal friends." She said, thoughtfully.

"I'm glad. It's really great having you around again…and hopefully having you around for a while." She saw him glance up at her to judge her reaction.

"Well, I was planning on staying in D.C. for a while, even before I knew you were here. Finding you is like…well, it's like a bonus reason to stick around." She watched as he tried to fight off a large smile, and suppress it to a grin.

"Do you want me to pick you up tonight? What's your cell phone number, I could call you before I come?" He asked, pulling out his own phone.

"Oh…I don't have one." She said, with an empty handed shrug.

"You don't have one?" He asked, as if he'd never heard such a response.

"I've never had anyone that I wanted to be able to contact me. I send letters to my grandmother, but that's about it. Sorry I don't live in your technologically connected world, Seeley." He didn't seem happy about this.

"Okay, well I can still pick you up-"

"No, it's fine. I can take a cab." She watched him turn to her, eyebrow raised in question. "It's not a big deal. I need to learn the city." Truthfully, she wanted Seeley no where near her apartment. She could only imagine his reaction to the neighborhood, or the actual building itself. It was ideal for her, it was down the street from the little diner she worked at, and three blocks away was the bookstore she had a job at. They were low paying jobs, and she lived in a low cost apartment. Seeley would take one look at it, and she knew he would object. She didn't want to be his charity case though, his heart was almost too big in that respect. He didn't like to see the people around him struggle.

"Alright…" He said, still frowning. "If that's what you want to do." Seeley knew better than to try and persuade her when her mind was made up. She smiled as they continued to walk.