"I cannot think of any need in childhood as strong as the need for a father's protection." --Sigmund Freud

"Bones!" He didn't yell.....he roared.

"What Booth?" completely unfazed by his fit of temper, not even glancing up from the journal she was reading. She had been waiting for the latest Anthropology Journal for over a week and she was keen to process it.

"Did you know about this?"

"And which 'this' are you ranting about now, Booth?"

"I DO NOT rant, Bones....."

"Evidence would not support your argument at this precise moment Booth ." she replied.

"Did you know, did you know......" He was angry, so angry that at this moment he could punch the nearest wall....not that his wife seemed to be too concerned!

"Just take a breath Booth..... and then speak slowly. I'm not a brain reader you know!" she said distractedly as she flipped a page of her magazine.

He frowned at her. "Mind reader Bones, mind reader!" He swore she did this just to rile him up....as if he needed anymore riling up at this moment!

He took a breath and started again. "Did you know that Christine is going to the prom with a boy? A boy Bones? A testerone charged boy!"

"Mmmmmmm," she flipped another page.

"You knew and you didn't tell me?"

"Mmmmmmm," nodding absently.

"She's too young. I forbid it Bones. Absolutely forbid it! Do you know what boys are like at this age...do you know what will be on his mind? There will only be one thing on his mind Bones....ONE thing" He waved his index finger in the air and his voice was at a near shout level now.

"According to all the hallmarkers of society Booth, I beg to disagree. It would appear she is of the correct age to begin the dating ritual." She looked up from her journal. "And what's more Booth, you will not scare the boy.....Do you understand?"

He had faced an army, he had faced the enemy, he had faced many a criminal in his lifetime, yet it was his wife who had the power to scare him …..and with just one look!

"I could have done a background check on him Bones...we just can't let Christine go off with anybody you know!" he pleaded for some sanity in the situation. She had no idea of the dangers involved in this scenario. Oh God....teenage boys only had one thing on their minds.....He was trying desperately not to remember himself at this age!

"Booth, listen to me. Christine is going to come down those stairs in a moment, and you are going to tell her how beautiful she looks! And then when the doorbell rings, you are going to plaster a smile on that face of yours, and then you are going to shake the young gentelman's hand and finally you are going to make polite conversation with him. Have you got that?" She hadn't even raised her voice as she spoke, but he got the point.

She continued. "You are not going to flex your muscles. You are not going to use your death stare. You are not going to unholster your gun. You are not going to flash your FBI badge. You are not going to tell your war stories do you understand Booth?"

"But Bones, you don't understand......" he complained.

"Booth....this isn't about you. It's about Christine and her developing frontal lobe! Now....do YOU understand?"

He slowly nodded. What he understood was this was a father's worst nightmare! His youth was coming back to haunt him.

"Daddy?" she called from the top of the stairs.

And as she descended down the stairs Booth thought that his nightmare had just grown in size.

When had his little girl grown up?

When had she changed from a precious little angel to a beautiful young woman?

At what age does she stop being Daddy's little girl? He thought to himself.

A tear slipped down his cheek as he moved forward to offer her his arm.

It would seem that his little angel had grown into a princess seemingly overnight.

And just when he thought that his nightmare could not get any worse.....the doorbell rang.

Christine said.... "Dad, you will like James, he reminds me of you!"

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