Call me Kansas

Disclaimer: I don't own any of this.

Lily pulled another box out of the car and placed it on the ground. Seeing that the car was empty she shut the door and picked up the box.

Lily walked towards the Booth house and heard, "Why do you have so many boxes?"

Lily stood just before the porch steps and looked at Parker. He had two boxes stacked on top of each other and he was standing on the porch.

Lily sighed and said, "I'm practically moving house. I do want my clothes and stuff, you know?"

Parker nodded the best he could with the boxes in front of him and walked into the house. Lily placed the box on the ground beside her and looked around. There were a few boxes still outside but most of them were in the spare room. James was picking up the last few boxes on the porch, Michael, Cole, Parker and Booth and Brennan were inside.

Lily was about to pick up the box at her feet when she felt a tug on the back of her t-shirt. Turning around she saw a small girl standing on the path looking at her.

Lily frowned, "I know you. You're the Booths' neighbour aren't you? Jessica, isn't it?"

Jessica nodded and replied, "I know who you are too. You're name is Lily." Then she frowned and replied, "Or does Cole still call you Kansas?"

Lily sighed and said, "Cole still calls me Kansas. And he still knows that it annoys me slightly."

Jessica nodded, "I know what you mean. Michael still calls me Bugs."

Lily looked at her and then said, "Are you and Michael still friends?"

Jessica nodded, "Yes, but sometimes I wonder why."

Lily laughed slightly and said, "Oh you and me are going to get along just fine."

Jessica smiled and Lily picked up the box. They walked into the house and into the kitchen. Brennan smiled happily.

"Hello Jessica, Michael's upstairs if you want him," she said as she opened a box. Brennan looked in it and said, "Lily, here's some of your clothes. And don't mind the boys complaining. They just don't like lugging boxes around."

Lily laughed and took the box from her with the one she already had.

"I can help!" Jessica said, taking the lighter box from Lily.

The two girls climbed the stairs with the boxes and walked onto the landing. "You can just leave that there, thanks," Lily said and Jessica put down the box.

Parker came out of the guest room- now Lily's room- and smiled at the girls. Then he walked down the stairs and could be heard arguing with James about where to put the last few boxes.

Michael came out of his room and smiled when he saw Jessica. "Hey Bugs!" he said practically bouncing over to her, "Have you come over to play? I have a new video game if you want to see it."

Then he looked at Lily and asked, "Can I help you with the boxes later Lily?"

Lily smiled and put down the box. "Sure you can Michael."

Michael smiled widely and said, "I'll go set up the game Bugs!"

With that he ran down the stairs and into the sitting room.

Jessica frowned and said, "I think it's unhealthy for him to call me Bugs. It makes my heart jump."

Lily looked down at her and said, "What?"

Jessica replied, "When Michael says Bugs it makes my heart jump. I think I should go to a doctor to see if there's anything wrong with me."

Lily resisted the urge to laugh and crouched down to Jessica's level. "I don't think you need to see a doctor Jessica."

"Are you sure?" Jessica asked her seriously.

Lily smiled and nodded, "Yes. Actually give yourself a few more years and you'll know what it really means."

Jessica thought for a moment and then shrugged her shoulders, skipping happily down the stairs. Lily shook her head and smiled as she stood up and picked up the boxes in both hands.

She walked into the room, passing Booth on his way out and put the boxes on the edge of the bed. She looked over at Cole who was opening a few boxes.

"Michael and Jessica are so cute. They really have a very little idea of what's going on between them."

Cole smirked, "They're eleven and best friends. If we even suggested anything they would think we were crazy."

Lily nodded and turned around, catching her elbow on an open box. The contents spilled onto the floor and Lily sighed and she bent down to pick them up. Cole walked over and helped, putting some of the things back into the box.

His hand stopped over a brown teddy bear and then he picked it up. He held it and said, "I remember this!"

Lily looked at him and smiled.

"You cheated me out of this teddy bear!" Cole said.

Lily hit him in the arm and replied, "I won that ring toss far and square and that teddy was my prize! You're just a sore loser!"

Cole smirked and put the teddy bear back in the box. Lily picked up a loose ticket and held it out to him, saying, "Remember this?"

Cole looked at it and smiled, "That was a good concert! Remember how Matt tried to crowd surf and ended up with a concussion?"

Lily nodded and said, "And then you, Suze and I had to follow the ambulance to the hospital-."

"And Suze was threatening Matt all the way."

"And we ended up staying the hospital until your parents came to pick us up-."

"And Suze nearly gave Matt another concussion for scaring her," Cole said with a laugh.

Lily sighed and put more stuff back in the box. It was then that she realized that many of the things in the box were from when she and Cole dated.

As she stood up, with everything back in the box, Cole asked her, "How come you don't have anything from Ryan in here?"

Lily looked at him and replied, "I have some stuff in the other boxes. Plus we haven't been dating that long."

Cole nodded and stepped towards her. "Is he treating you right Kansas?" he asked.

Lily nodded and said, "Yes, he treats me just fine."

Cole stepped closer again and stood in front of her. Lily didn't step away and Cole asked, "Do you like him Kansas?"

Lily looked at him and said, "I do like him, that's why I'm dating him."

"But do you really like him Kansas? I know you. Ryan-as nice a guy as he is- doesn't excite you."

Lily cleared her throat, suddenly realizing how close he was, and replied, "I don't need him to excite me."

Cole smirked at her and Lily felt her heart jump in her chest. "Yes you do Kansas. You'll get bored if he doesn't. In fact I think you're already bored."

Lily looked at him and exclaimed, "You don't know anything about Ryan and me."

Cole's eyes scanned her face and he said, "Maybe your right. Maybe you're not bored. Maybe you're perfectly happy with a guy that doesn't seem to care if you're living in a house with your ex and who doesn't know that you don't like it when he pulls you into his side. But I'm pretty sure I am right about you and Ryan."

Lily looked at Cole, who was standing so close to her that she could feel his breath on her face. The tension crackled in the room and Lily stared at Cole.

"Cole! Lily!"

A voice caused Lily to jump slightly and Cole to turn the door. Brennan's voice came up from downstairs and she said, "Are you coming down for something to eat? Everyone else is down here."

Cole called, "We'll be down in a minute!"

Cole turned to Lily and cleared his throat, "After you."

Lily nodded and hurried out of the room. Cole followed her and they walked downstairs and into the kitchen. Everyone was in the kitchen including Michael and Jessica who were taking a break from their game. There was food on the kitchen island and everyone started to eat.

"Mom?" Michael asked, "You do have sugar for Jessica in the house right? Just in case."

Brennan smiled at him where he was sitting on the kitchen stool beside Jessica and said, "Yes, I have some chocolate bars."

Michael nodded and smiled. Lily turned to Cole, trying to forget their short moment and said, "Does Jessica have a sweet tooth?"

Cole turned to her and after a pause he said, "Um, she's diabetic. Michael makes sure she's always in reach of sugar. That's one of the reasons her parents like them being friends so much. He really looks after her, even if she doesn't need him too."

Lily nodded and turned to look at everyone in the kitchen.

Brennan smiled happily. "I have to say I am very happy with the fact that we are all here. When people who are blood related and not blood related have such bonds as we all do, it's important to gather together for events to keep the strength of the bond."

Booth just nodded his head in agreement while chewing his sandwich and the Booth boys and Lily understood. Jessica, being eleven, turned to Michael and he said, "She's happy we're all together since we get along so well."

Brennan nodded, "Yes. I mean since Parker moved into his new apartment things have been different around here.

"Ya," James said, "Now I only have Michael and Cole to fight against for the first go in the bathroom in the morning. Mom and Dad have their ensuite."

"Yes, James, that's what your mother meant," Booth said sarcastically.

"Wait," Lily said, "Parker moved?"

Parker looked at her and said, "Yup, I got enough money saved up and I've got a stable job. I got my own place just a couple of blocks away."

"Which means he comes here everyday to raid our fridge," Cole said.

"Didn't you know that?" Jessica asked.

Lily shrugged and said, "I haven't been here in a while."

Brennan nodded, "Yes, since you and Cole broke up, you haven't been spending as much time here as you used."

Everyone was silent and Booth looked at Brennan, trying to get her to realize what she had just said.

"Oh," Brennan said and she looked between Cole and Lily.

"Um, can we not all be awkward around each other?" Lily asked, "I mean Cole and I, that's different but can we just be normal around each other since I am going to be living here?"

Everyone agreed and then Lily said, "By the way, I get in the bathroom first in the morning. No argument."

Cole smirked at this and the Booth boys could only sigh and nod. Lily was still the stubborn girl they knew.

Lily smiled happily. "Now that that's sorted, I do have a few more boxes left outside."

Parker and James groaned; James letting his head hit the kitchen counter.

Brennan turned to Lily and whispered, "You don't have any more boxes do you?"

Lily shook her head and said, "No," with a cheeky smile.

-Later-

Michael glanced up at his mother and then back down at his plate. With some stealth that he only could have learned from Booth, he slid some of his carrots underneath his napkin turning back to his plate with the straightest face he could get.

He had the whole plan thought out. Slip the carrots underneath his napkin and then when he was getting up put the napkin and the hidden carrots back on the plate, giving the illusion that he had eaten them all.

Genius.

"Michael, put your carrots back on your plate and eat them!"

Or not.

Michael sighed as the rest of his family chuckled. Michael did as Brennan told him and looked to see Lily giggling like the rest of his family. Michael felt a smile come to his face for even he could see the funny side to it.

Then he saw Lily catch Cole's eye and both of the stopped laughing. They looked down at their plates and were silent.

Michael frowned at this. They were acting really weird around each other. And it was only the first day Lily was staying in the house.

They weren't really talking and if they bumped into each other they would blush and mumble apologies.

Michael really didn't understand it.

He knew Cole and Lily broke up and then Cole was sad for a long time. Sometimes he didn't even yell at Michael for touching his stuff and that was really weird.

Michael took up a piece of carrot on his fork and looked at it in disgust before reluctantly putting it in his mouth and chewing it. He looked at Cole and Lily and then back down at his plate.

He had never told anyone but sometimes he used did stuff to make Cole mad to get him talking again. Seeing his brother sad wasn't something he liked. Michael thought Parker and James knew he did that though because sometimes he thought Parker and James used to do the same thing.

He ate another carrot frowning as he did so and poked at the vegetables still lying on his plate.

He smiled slightly when he remembered that Cole did get happier. He was smiling more and having fun. But Lily still didn't come around to the house as often. Most of the time it was with both Matt and Cole, not just her and Cole. But still they both seemed happy. And now Lily was living with them again which was really cool.

Except about that guy that she was with.

What's his Face wasn't as good looking as Cole, he wasn't as strong as Cole and he didn't seem as nice as Cole. So why did Lily like him? Maybe he bought her a really nice present or something. But Michael still didn't like him.

He had come around to the house earlier when they were unloading boxes and he had called Michael "Kiddo." Michael had frowned at him and informed him that his name was Michael or Mickey but What's his Face could only call him Michael. The guy had just nodded and smiled.

He had been nice to Cole as well. He had said something about 'not having a problem' with Cole and Lily living together. Cole looked at Michael and he recognised the look in his eye that meant "Is he crazy?" Cole had then looked at the guy and said that was very big of him and he was very calm about the situation.

Michael was pretty sure that situation meant what was going on so he had looked at What's his Face and nodded. What's his Face had just smiled and said that it was no problem.

Then Lily had interrupted saying that What's his Face needed to go back home to help his parents. The guy left and everyone went back to unloading the boxes.

Michael finished his carrots with a sigh and looked at Lily and Cole again.

They still weren't talking really but they kept glancing at each other. Michael hoped that they would start talking soon because if they were talking then they could be boyfriend and girlfriend again and Cole and Lily could be happy. What's his Face might be upset at first but Michael was sure he would get over it.

Also Michael was pretty sure that What's his Face's name was Ryan but Michael preferred What's his Face.

"Ok honey you can put your plate in the sink," Brennan said, seeing that he had eaten all his carrots.

Michael smiled and happily and hopped out of his seat. Lily smiled slightly.

"Michael hasn't changed much. He was trying to sneak his carrots off his plate the last time I was here," she said.

"And Mom was still catching him doing it," James said.

-A few hours later-

Lily sighed and closed her bedroom doors behind her. It was late at night and Lily thought everyone was asleep. After spending a few hours trying to go to sleep, she gave up and got up to get a glass of water. She padded across the landing and down the stairs in her bear feet.

She stopped at the bottom of the stairs to see a small light coming from the kitchen. She stepped into it carefully, thoughts of whoever was after her and Cole filling her mind. But Lily was glad to see a familiar person standing at the open fridge, the small light in it illuminating the person. Lily shook her head, wondering what Cole could be doing up this late and then froze.

He wasn't wearing a shirt. Just pyjama bottoms.

Lily felt a blush come to her cheeks and her mouth went dry slightly.

It wasn't any big deal. He was shirtless, that was all. Except that she hadn't seen him shirtless in a while. She had nearly forgotten how toned he was.

She gazed at him for a few more seconds until he turned around and saw her.

Cole jumped and exclaimed, "Crap! Don't do that! Especially since there's a crazy person after us."

Lily stepped forward and replied, "Sorry. I-I couldn't sleep so I thought I'd come and get a drink."

Cole nodded and shut the door of the fridge. They still see each other because the hall light was on and Lily stepped into the kitchen.

"You couldn't sleep either?" she asked him. Cole stared at her for a moment before answering with, "Uh, yes."

Lily nodded and there was silence for a moment.

Finally Cole sighed and said, "Look we have to stop all this awkwardness! We're going to be living together for who knows how long and we can't make it so uncomfortable for not only us but my parents and my brothers too!"

Lily looked at him and replied, "You want to stop the awkwardness? Fine. Start wearing a shirt."

Cole looked at her for a second and then said back, "Stop wearing shorts."

Lily looked down at her pyjama shorts and then back at Cole. Now she knew what he was staring at.

They held each others gazes for a moment before laughing.

Cole walked up to her and said, "Ssshh! Everyone is asleep!"

"Then you ssshh too!" Lily said back smiling.

Lily looked at him and said, "I missed laughing with you."

Cole nodded, "I missed laughing with you too. I guess after we broke up things just weren't the same."

Lily replied, "Then can we go back to being friends? Without the akwardness?"

Cole said, "I'd like that."

Lily smiled at him and said, "Great. Well I don't think I need that water. Goodnight."

Cole smiled at her and replied, "Goodnight." He watched as she walked out of the kitchen and he sighed slightly.

-Next morning-

Lily sat at the breakfast table and buttered some toast. She had learned the living in the Booth house meant everyone for themselves at mealtimes. Thankfully Lily had some experience with her brothers.

Lily looked around the table, noticing Parker wasn't there and then said to Brennan, "Does Parker ever come over for dinner?"

Brennan nodded, "And lunch. And breakfast. And not sometimes even at mealtimes. Sometimes I wonder why he got his apartment if he's over here half the time."

Booth smiled and said to her, "You love it when he comes over and you know it." Brennan gave him a smile and went back to her meal.

Suddenly Booth's phone rang startling everyone and Booth answered it saying, "Booth."

Lily looked over at Cole who was sitting across from her and then to Michael and James. Did they notice the official tone in their father's voice too?

Suddenly Booth stood up and said, "They found another body. They think it's the same guy."

Lily and Cole looked at each other.

Booth hung up and said, "Bones we need to go to the lab." Then he looked at his sons and Lily. "Do not leave the house until we get back. Don't answer the door to anyone and keep safe."

He hesitated for a moment and then said, "Another old, dug up body of a forty year old man was found. We think it's the guy after Lily and Cole."

"I think we got that Dad," Cole said.

Booth sighed and Brennan said, "Keep safe all of you. We'll be back as soon as we can."

Lily and Cole looked at each other again. "Just what we need," Cole said sarcastically and Lily found herself thinking the same thing.