Call me Kansas
Disclaimer: I don't own any of this.
Sorry I haven't updated in ages but I've been busy. I'll try and update quicker.
"Once again, Mrs Rodgers, I have to thank you for letting us stay in your home," Brennan said as she accepted the cup of coffee from the older woman.
Mrs Rodgers, Lily's grandmother, smiled and replied, "It's no problem Brennan, we have a big house and any friends of Lily's are welcome here."
Brennan sipped her coffee and then said, "It's just that there are so many people here already."
"Oh don't mind us!" Lily's uncle said from his seat across from Brennan and Booth and the dining table. Laughter rolled around the room and Brennan smiled slightly as she sat back, Booth's arm resting on the back of her chair.
They were lucky to get seats really, since the room was filled with Lily's aunts, uncles and cousins who lived in the area and came to see Lily. There was only one seat left at the dining table and there were people standing as well. In fact two of Lily's younger cousins were sitting on the counter eating ice creams and getting the dessert all over their faces.
"Plus we've already met Cole and Booth so it's not like we didn't know you at all!" Mrs Rodgers replied with a smile.
Then James walked into the kitchen from the sitting room and said down with a sigh on the remaining seat. "All the bags are upstairs in our rooms," James said, "And Cole and I are sharing a room while Michael and Parker get another."
Brennan nodded, "That's fine, honey. Now try and remember your manners and say hello to Lily's family."
James looked around at everyone and smiled, nodding slightly. Lily's family greeted him back and then Lily walked into the kitchen. Michael and Parker came and stood in the doorway and Lily said, "Cole's just texting Matt. Something about hockey practise."
James turned to Booth and asked him about playing some hockey while they were on vacation while Lily's grandfather said "Well, we have to get more seats."
Lily smiled and replied, "Oh I think this one will do!" and she sat herself down on James's lap.
James looked at her for a second before turning back to Booth. Lily frowned slightly, seeing that she hadn't annoyed him enough and then Michael suddenly sat down on her lap.
James turned to them frowned and said "Hey!" Lily and Michael laughed and then Parker sat himself down on top of all of them. "Ok, now I'm hurting!" James said from behind the other three while Lily and Michael tried to push Parker off. "Stop messing around!" Booth ordered and Parker stood up as did Michael and Lily. James stretched out his legs and frowned slightly, trying to keep the amused smile from his face.
"What did I say about manners?" Brennan asked. Michael grinned and said, "We weren't in the room when you told James that!"
Booth raised and eyebrow and asked, "If you weren't in the room then how do you know she told James that?" causing Michael to blush slightly.
"Well why don't we all get something to eat?" Mrs Rodgers asked, "We've got a lot of food in the fridge and I'm sure we can get something together."
"Sounds good to me," Booth said. Parker smiled happily. "Do you have any pie?" he asked.
Brennan groaned and replied, "Don't get them started on pie!" Booth grinned and said, "You would think that you would be used to it by now!" Brennan could only shake her head.
Cole walked into the kitchen and leaned against the doorway. "What should Mom be used to?"
"Cole!" one of Lily's young cousins yelled happily. The smaller boy ran up to Cole and Cole picked him up and smiled.
"Hey kiddo," Cole said, "I didn't think you'd remember me."
The boy smiled and said, "Of course I remember you! We all do! You're in love with Lily and Lily's in love with you and we all love Lily!"
There was a silence in the room after that statement and everyone looked at each other not knowing what to say. "Well who wants some food?" Lily's grandmother said, breaking the silence and everyone quickly agreed.
Cole put Lily's cousin back on the ground and glanced at Lily, who was standing beside the dining table with a faint blush on her cheeks. She caught his eye and shrugged. He gave her a half smile and shrugged back.
Michael smiled happily. "This is going to be fun! I've never stayed on a farm before." "You wouldn't be saying that in a few days," Cole grumbled.
Cole had a point. All the Booth boys as well as Booth, Brennan and Lily were working on the farm soon after they settled in.
"How many apple trees do you have?" James said as he picked up another basket full of fruit.
Lily looked down at him from her place on the ladder that was leaning against a tree. "This is an orchard. There are supposed to be a lot of trees!" she said.
James just sighed and walked off to put the basket with all the other fruit filled baskets that were sitting in the middle of the orchard.
Lily looked round to see Parker halfway up a ladder in the tree beside her with Cole and Michael standing at the bottom, Cole holding a basket and Michael chomping on an apple, that Lily's grandmother had given him. It was late afternoon and they had been working in the orchard all day. Not that Lily minded much since she had been helping at her grandparents' farm for years.
No, it was something else that was bothering her. Her family had welcomed the Booth family with open arms and everything seemed fine. But at certain moments Lily had caught her uncle giving her grandfather a look or her aunt frowning slightly. Even some of her cousins, the ones around her brothers' ages, had funny looks on their faces at certain points and she didn't understand why.
But by the third day of their vacation, most of her family were back to normal and the looks stopped. Except for her grandfather that is and Lily had seen her grandmother frowning at him sometimes, as if to tell him off.
"Lily!" Lily jumped slightly, snapping out of her thoughts and looked down to see Cole standing at the base of the ladder.
"Your grandmother said that lunch is ready," he called to her and Lily nodded and began to climb down. She got to the ground and she and Cole walked towards the house.
The house was filled with laughter and talk and the dining table was covered with food. Michael smiled slightly. "There's so much pie!" he said, his voice happy with excitement. Lily grinned at the sight of him so excited and she nearly laughed out loud when saw that the other Booth men were just as excited at the three different types of dessert that her grandmother had put on the table. She caught Brennan's eye and Brennan just smiled and shrugged.
Soon everyone was fed and Lily leaned back in her chair with a sigh. Parker's arm was draped lazily across the back of her chair but Lily didn't really notice because her grandfather seemed to be angry about something.
Lily's grandmother came around to Lily's side to take her empty plate from her. "What's wrong with granddad?" Lily whispered to her.
Mrs Rodgers looked at her and replied, "He's just in a bad mood, sweetheart."
Mrs Rodgers walked away but Lily could tell that she hadn't really answered her question.
A few minutes later Booth and Brennan decided to take a walk around the farm and Michael said he would join them. Then Lily's cousin asked her and Cole to help with the last of the apple picking.
When they left it was only James and Parker left in the kitchen with Lily's family. James smiled slightly. "That was a really good meal Mrs Rodgers, thank you," he said, smiling at Lily's grandmother. Mrs Rodgers smiled at him and said it was no problem.
Parker smiled slightly. "Seriously, I have a new appreciation of food. A good meal is what you need after working so hard!"
"Come on! I want to show you the horses!" one of Lily's small cousins said as she pulled on Parker's arm to get him to stand up.
"Why don't you all go ahead," Lily's grandfather said, "I want to talk to the boys for a few minutes."
Parker and James looked at each, frowning, while Lily's young cousins hurried out of the house to see the animals. "Is there so thing wrong?" Parker asked.
Mrs Rodgers frowned at her husband and said, "Stop being so ridiculous! You'll make them uncomfortable."
Mr Rodgers just looked at Parker and James and asked, "What are your intensions towards Lily?"
Parker's eyes widened while James snorted. "Isn't this a conversation for Cole?" James said.
"Leave the boys alone," Lily's uncle said. "You were just as concerned as I was earlier," Mr Rodgers said.
"But we all changed our minds. I mean Parker and James are so much older then Lily and I am sure they think of her as a sister."
"Exactly!" Parker said "Lily's a good friend of ours and we don't think of her as…as whatever you think we think of her as."
"But you've been putting your arm around her shoulders and other thinks like that!" Mr Rodgers argued.
Mrs Rodgers just rolled her eyes and said, "I'm sure they were all friendly gestures."
"We're not trying anything on with Lily!" James said, "You don't have to worry."
"What's going on?" Everyone looked to see Lily and Cole standing in the doorway.
"Nothing," Parker said, "We're just talking. Have you finished the apple picking?"
"Nope that is why you two are going to help. Come on!" Lily said. Parker and James stood up and followed Lily and Cole out the door.
Parker smiled slightly. He watched as Cole put his hand on the base of Lily's back as they stepped around some baskets that the younger children had left scattered on the path. It was like a reflex really and he doubted that Lily even thought it was strange. Oh yes, any questions about intensions towards Lily really should be directed to Cole.
Cole weighed the small ball in his hand for a moment and then, lifting his arm, he sent it hurtling towards the bottles. The tower of plastic bottles crashed down, hitting the platform that it was standing on.
"Well done, which one would you like?" the man running the game stall asked. Cole smiled and looked around at the range of stuffed toys that were on display.
"I'll have that one," he said, gesturing towards the medium sized pig on the top shelf. The man handed it to him and Cole smiled his thanks.
Turning around, he gazed at all the different stalls that were set up for a huge fair. As well as stalls that were filled with games and food there were a few rides, including a large ferias wheel. Cole saw members of Lily's family who were walking around and enjoying the fair and then he caught sight of his own parents.
He walked over to where Brennan and Booth were standing in front of the cotton candy stall, buying two large cones of the sweet treat.
"See?" Cole said as he walked up to them, holding out his prize, "Here's the pet pig you wanted Mom."
Brennan laughed and took the toy from Cole. "Thank you," she said and Booth asked, "Have you seen Lily? Last time I saw her she was being pulled along by those two girls."
"You mean Ann and Lucy?" Cole said, "They're her friends from here in Riverbrook. They're also the ones whose jaws dropped when they saw James and Parker."
Brennan frowned and replied, "Well I think that was slightly James and Parker fault. They didn't have to appear in front of Ann and Lucy shirtless."
"Well that was Michael's fault. He sprayed them with water from the hose and they were soaking," Booth said, "The boys just took off their shirts as they made their way to their room to change and how were they to know that Ann and Lucy were standing in the hallway."
"Is there like a drink or something that gives them instant muscles?"
Lily rolled her eyes and turned to look Ann and Lucy. "What are talking about?" Lily asked.
"How Parker and James became so hot," Lucy said simply.
"They look after themselves. They play hockey a lot and eat well enough and plus have you seen Booth and Brennan? They have good genes. There's no special drink or whatever."
"Well they're still good looking. Plus Michael is so cute!" Ann said, "I just want to hug him."
Lily was about to answer her but instead she stopped and stared across the fair ground.
"What's wrong- oh," Ann said, her face dropping when she saw the same person that Lily saw. "What is she doing here?" Lucy said, scrunching up her nose as if there was a bad smell.
That wasn't much of a mystery. The Riverbrook fair attracted people from all around and Lily had been seeing people from her old town, Robinson, since she got to the fair ground.
But she really didn't want to see Jenny there. The same Jenny who had always tormented her and teased her about her lack of lady like skills when she lived in Robinson. She had even tried to bully Lily when the Robinson hockey team and cheerleading squad, which Jenny was the captain of, had come to Washington to play in a charity game against Lily's new school.
Thankfully Lily had Cole, Matt and Suze to help her through and Jenny had gone back to Kansas with her tail between her legs. But that didn't mean that Lily wanted to see her again. Or see her so called 'friends' that were gathered around her.
"Just ignore her," Ann said, "She's not worth it."
"I know," Lily said turning her back to Jenny and her group.
Lucy phone beeped and she read the text that came onto the screen. "Oh no!" Lucy said, "Mom's got to go into work to cover for someone and she says I've got to look after that little brother of mine!"
"Why don't you baby-sit him here," Lily said, "You're house is only up the road and I bet he'd love it."
"But…it's dark now," Lucy said, with a worried expression on her face, "I don't want to walk in the dark."
"Maybe you can get one of the Booth's to walk you!" Ann suggested happily.
Lucy brightened immediately and replied, "Brilliant idea! Do you think I can make one of them profess his undying love for me while I'm at it?"
"Alright! Ann, will you walk with Lucy to get her brother and then I can stay here and make sure no else throws themselves at the Booth men," Lily said
"Spoilsport!" Lucy mumbled as she and Ann walked away.
Lily just grinned and looked out over the fair ground. Quickly looking away from Jenny and her friends Lily spotted Cole standing by a games stall. Lily walked across the fair ground and soon was standing beside him. Cole turned and grinned at her. Lily smiled slightly.
"Are you any good at this?" she asked, gesturing towards the darts game that they were standing in front of.
"I'm not sure," he said, "But I think the real question is why do you look like someone just slapped you?"
Lily looked at him in surprise and Cole smirked, saying, "I know you Kansas. So what's wrong?"
Lily sighed and replied, "Jenny is here. Remember her?"
Cole thought for a moment and then said, "The girl who annoyed you at the charity game?"
Lily nodded, "Yes, and now she's here with all her terrible friends."
"I thought they didn't bother you anymore?" Cole asked as he handed over some money for a handful of darts to play with.
"They don't but the only reason Jenny backed off before was because we were going out. Now you and I have broken up and she will be so pleased about that!" Lily said frowning.
Cole looked over his shoulder and saw Jenny and her friends walking around the fair ground. He looked at Lily and handed her some darts.
Sighing, and hoping that Lily wouldn't snap his hand off, Cole placed his hand on the small of her back. Lily didn't really notice but when Cole slid his hand up her back, she stiffened slightly. Lily's heart jumped when Cole's hand was on the back of neck and soon Cole's arm was around her shoulders.
"What are you doing?" she asked him, looking at him with wide eyes.
"Jenny doesn't know we broke up. Why not let her think we didn't?" he said.
"Trick her?" Lily asked smiling slightly.
Cole shrugged and replied, "We don't even have to talk to her."
Lily turned back to look at the game stall in front of her. This might not be such a good idea. Ex-boyfriend acting like a real boyfriend. Especially with all the history between the two of them.
Then Cole's fingers brushed against her cheek and Lily felt a spark on her face. Suddenly it didn't seem like such a bad idea.
"Will you stay beside me?" Lucy screeched at her little brother. Said little brother just scoffed and ran off to the ice cream machine.
Lucy groaned and turned to Ann saying, "I'll be back in a minute!" before running after her brother.
Ann smiled and looked around the fair ground. She stopped when she saw Lily and Cole standing beside cotton candy machine. That was normal except for the fact that Cole had his arm around Lily's waist and she was leaning into him. It was a subtle but clear pose that belonged to a couple but Ann knew that they certainly weren't a couple any more.
Ann quickly walked up to them and said, "Hey guys." Lily and Cole smiled at her and before they said anything, Ann stated, "Cole I'm just borrowing Lily here for a moment."
With that she took Lily's arm and dragged her away. Lily sent an apologetic look to Cole and walked with Ann. The two girls stopped a few yards away from Cole and Ann asked, "What the heck are you doing?"
Lily grinned and said, "Cole and I are playing a trick on Jenny, making her think we're still going out."
Ann looked at her frowning. "That includes all the touching?"
Lily shrugged slightly. "We just talk the same to each other, act the same to each other... there's just more touching."
Ann looked at her and was silent for a moment. "Lily, I'm your friend and as your friend I have to tell you…stop this! I know you say that you and Cole are just friends but this pretending is just going to make things complicated. You know I'm right."
Lily looked at Cole who was still standing in line for cotton candy. She had been pretending that it was ok that she and Cole were acting like this. That the tingling feeling she felt when he touched her arm was nothing because he was just her ex who was helping her trick and enemy. But it wasn't really.
Lily sighed and turned back to Ann. "I know," she said, "I'm sorry, it's just- I'll go talk to Cole."
With that Lily turned around and walked towards Cole. Ann watched as Lily talked to Cole. She saw him frown slightly but then he smirked and shrugged, saying it was ok. Lily smiled back at him and they continued waiting in line for cotton candy.
Lucy hurried up to Ann with her little brother's wrist clasped in her hand with an iron-like grip. "What did I miss?" Lucy asked when she reached her friend.
Ann sighed and replied, "Lily and Cole still like each other."
Lucy rolled her eyes and said, "I thought that was obvious."
It was dark when people came back to the Rodgers house and the Booth's and a few of Lily's family were staying in the house. Lily had the room that she usually stayed in and at the moment she was standing at the window looking out at the farm.
Lily could hear people talking downstairs and she smiled slightly. What had happened earlier with Cole had come close to being awkward but by now they were used to brushing things like that aside. Lily sighed.
Then she heard a knock at the door and when she turned around she saw Cole standing in the doorway. She smiled slightly.
"Hey," she said softly, "Are you ok?"
Cole nodded and walked towards her. Standing beside her he looked out the window and said quietly, "Nice view."
Lily looked out the window too and looked out over the farm. You could see a lot of the farm from the window. The long driveway that joined the road that lead into town and the barn, recently built since the fire last time Lily was there.
Lily shuddered at that particular memory. Being trapped inside that barn while it was on fire was not something she wanted to do again.
Cole frowned at her and asked, "Are you ok?"
Lily nodded, leaning against the wall beside the window, "Yes, just remembering the last time we were here."
"That wasn't the best vacation," Cole said.
Lily nodded, "True. In fact, the last time I stared so long out this window was when I was waiting for you to come to the farm."
Lily turned her head and gasped slightly.
Cole had leaned his hand on the wall beside her and when she turned her head; his face was only centimetres from hers. She didn't know if he did it on purpose or not but that didn't really matter at that moment.
"Kansas…," Cole said softly and Lily stared at his close face.