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Chapter 21

The last week had been a hard one. Temperance had had all of her finals and Elena had slept in her mother's bed every night. Booth hadn't mentioned it again, seeing how Elena clung to her mother and how much it calmed Temperance down as well. That was all over, though. Temperance had passed every test and so she would be graduating early. Booth had been talking to his grandfather, who kept asking for pictures. So, last night, Booth spoke to his brother and had asked him if he had place enough for three house guests. Jared had told him that he had more than enough room and that they were very welcome. Booth entered the bedroom quietly and sat down on the end of the bed. "Good morning," he sing-songed.

Brennan and Elena slowly opened their eyes. Elena was more of an early riser than Brennan was, and she rubbed the sleep out of her eyes, then kissed her mother's cheek. "Wake up, Mommy. It's morning."

Brennan grabbed her little girl and kissed her neck, making Elena giggle. "Hey," Brennan said, groggily. Her finals had gone well, but it was only after she'd heard that news that she really started to feel the exhaustion she'd built up.

"Good morning," Booth smiled at them. "I have a surprise for all of us, if it's okay with Mommy. I called my brother last night. I asked if we could come over for a week. It's close to the ocean and we can play on the beach. My grandfather would love to meet you ladies. So, what do you say, Captain?"

Elena looked at her mother. "Can we go, Mommy? I want to meet Pops. He's a grampa."

Brennan chuckled. "I've been telling you for years, Elena, it's 'grandpa', not 'grampa'. But yes, we'll go."

Elena put her hands in the air. "Yay!"

Booth wrapped his arms around his little girl and twirled her around the room as he chuckled. "Come on then! We have a lot to do. We have to pack and it's a four-hour drive!"

"Packing!" Elena exclaimed enthusiastically. "We never go away. I'm excited."

"There has to be a first time for everything. Pops is very happy to finally meet you, princess."

Brennan managed to drag herself out of bed. "I'm so tired," she yawned and leaned into Booth, making Elena chuckle. "You just slept, Mommy."

"Mommy had a busy week. Why don't you help me pack and then Mommy can stay in bed a little while longer?" Booth suggested.

"It's okay, I can sleep in the car," Brennan said. "A shower will wake me up."

"Okay." Booth and Elena left. He brought his little girl to her room, where he told her to get dressed and pick out eight shirts, shorts, pairs of socks and underwear. Then, Booth went into the kitchen, to pack some food.

Brennan showered quickly. A weight had fallen off her shoulders since Booth had arrived. Booth was there when Russ wasn't, and Russ, like predicted, was spending a lot of time with his girls. As long as he called each night, Elena seemed to be doing fine. Brennan had passed her finals, but didn't finish top of her class. It was a small sacrifice to make. At least she had her degree. Elena trusted Booth, which was also a good thing. She remained her mother's baby, but it was good to have another person she trusted. Brennan got dressed in comfortable but neat clothes and grabbed additional outfits and toiletries which she put in her suitcase. Then, she walked into the living room.

By the time she joined them, Booth had put Elena's clothes into the smaller suitcase he had found in Temperance's bedroom. "Ready to go? We are going to have to go by my place and get a few more clothes for me."

"I'm ready," Brennan said. "And sure, we can drive by your place," she smiled.

Booth smiled, too. "I'll go get the suitcases. You two can get into the car already."

Brennan hesitated. Russ had told her to take her own car if they ever went any place. But she was so tired, she didn't think she should be driving. Besides, the mere idea of going in separate cars was a bit ridiculous. "Hold on. I need to make a phone call." She quickly went into her study and called Russ. He was on a weekend away with Amy and her girls, since Hayley had taken a turn for the better.

"Russ," Russ answered the phone. Hayley was sitting on his lap, her head resting on his shoulder as Amy had taken Emma to go and get breakfast for all of them.

"Hey, it's me," Brennan smiled. "Is everything all right over there?"

"Yeah, things are much, much better. How are you doing?" Russ was gently combing through Hayley's long hair, enjoying their one-on-one time.

"I'm tired, but you know I passed my finals, so that's a weight off my shoulders. I wanted to tell you that we've been invited to spend a week at the beach. Booth's brother and grandfather live in a big house there. Elena and I would really like to go. Would you be okay with that? I know you said I should drive myself but I'm really tired. I'm afraid I'll get into an accident."

"Do you trust him?" Russ had had several talks with Amy about this and he realised he had been too protective of his sister. It was time to look to the future and to let the past be the past. "You know, he's a cop, right? If you trust him, just let him drive you. And if you want to come home, for whatever reason, just take a cab home. I'll pay for it."

"I do trust him. Elena does, too. We'll stay in touch with you guys," Brennan promised.

"Please do, you know I'll worry about you guys if I don't hear from you. Plus, I promised I'd call Elena every night. Temp? Have fun, you've earned it."

"I will. I'd like to meet his family. Thanks, Russ. Give everyone a kiss from Elena and me."

"Will do. Give that little girl of yours a kiss from me, too. Bye, Tempe."

When Brennan returned from the study, Elena and Booth were waiting by the front door. "Everything okay?" Booth asked her.

"Yes, everything's fine. We can go, now," Brennan smiled, relieved that Russ was finally starting to accept Booth's presence.

Booth helped Elena into the car and made sure she was buckled in correctly, reassuring himself that his daughter was safe. He got in behind the wheel and Temperance took her place next to him. Booth drove them over to his apartment and quickly went inside to gather some fresh, clean clothes. As soon as he was done, he got settled in the car again. Elena had the three figurines with her and was playing quietly as her mother fell asleep next to Booth. Their drive was quiet and relaxing. Booth felt at ease, happy, and finally he felt he had found the people he belonged with. Temperance slept for the solid four hours and after about an hour or two, his little girl had fallen asleep as well. He felt honoured. This had to be a sign that they trusted him. After all, if you didn't trust someone, you wouldn't let your guard down so completely.

Brennan sensed that the car had stopped moving and slowly woke up. "Are we there already?" she asked, still sleepy.

"Yes, sleepyhead," Booth teased her. "We drove for four hours. Are you sure you got some decent sleep last night?" Booth asked, starting to get a little concerned.

"Yes, I'm sure I did," she replied, stretched and glanced into the backseat. "Oh, dear, you've had a boring ride by the looks of it. Elena, sweetheart, wake up. We're here. We're going to meet Grampa Pops."

Elena blinked her eyes a few times against the bright light and looked out the windows on either side. "Where's Grampa?" she asked sleepily.

"He's inside, princess. We are still in the car. I'll come and help you out." Booth got out of the car and unbuckled her seatbelt. "There is something you have to know about Grampa, okay?" he told her seriously as he took her hands in his.

Elena looked at him and cocked her head to one side, still a bit sleepy. "What?"

"Grampa is very old. He's a lot older than your grandfather, so we have to be careful, okay? Do you understand, princess?"

"I won't be wild," she promised.

Booth kissed her forehead and smiled. "Thank you, princess. Now," he smiled at her. "Let's go meet Grampa!" Booth settled her on his hip and closed the car door. He walked around the car and wrapped his free arm around Temperance's waist. Before Booth even had a chance to knock on the front door, it opened, revealing his brother. "Hey Jared! Jared, I'd like you to meet Temperance and her daughter, Elena. Elena, this is my brother, Jared. Temperance, Jared," Booth did the introductions.

Brennan shook Jared's hand. "Temperance. It's very nice to meet you," she smiled, excited to finally meet the rest of what was essentially Elena's family. Hers, too, of course.

"The pleasure is all mine. Please come on in." Jared looked at his brother. "Car still unlocked?"

Booth nodded. "Would you mind?"

Jared shook his head. "Not at all. I'll go get your luggage. You should go to the living room. Pops is about ready to burst."

Booth led them forward through the hall, and into a spacious, modern living room. Elena spotted Hank first. "Grampa!" she exclaimed enthusiastically as she put her hands in the air.

"Oh, god, what a beautiful little princess did my grandson bring to me," Pops said, tears in his eyes as he met his great-granddaughter for the first time. He slowly walked towards Booth and placed a hand on his shoulder as he smiled at Elena. "I'm Hank, or Pops, but you can call me what you like," he told Elena as he stroked her cheek.

Elena chuckled. "You're Grampa Pops of course."

"Yes, Pops," Booth smiled at his Pops, tears in his eyes as well. "You're Grampa Pops of course." Booth released Brennan and wrapped an arm around his grandfather. "It feels good to be home, Pops. And this, is Temperance Brennan."

"Ah, this is your Captain. Sweetheart, you're stunning. My grandson's been dreaming about you for four years. And between us; had I known what you were going through then, I would have sent him straight back to you. I'm sorry, dear. But I promise; we're your family, now, and you can always rely on us." Hank kissed Brennan's cheek and squeezed her hand.

Brennan was endeared by the old man in front of her. His character was obviously stronger than his physique. She felt welcome immediately. "Thank you," she said politely. "What should I call you?"

"Whatever you want. Call me Tomato. I'll be there when you call me."

Brennan folded her hands over Pops' small and slightly tremulous one. "I'll just go with Hank, then."

They heard Elena chuckle as she said to Booth, "I'll call you fries, because you always eat them."

"How about you stick with Booth, huh, princess?" Booth kissed her cheek. "Or I might just start calling you my little monster."

"Manners, Shrimp," Hank reprimanded his grandson.

Booth sighed as he heard the old nickname. "Sure, Pops, give them ammunition, why don't you?"

"Shrimp?" Brennan's eyebrows rose in amusement. "That's a perfect name for you. Well found," she laughed, and Elena laughed, too.

Then Elena asked Hank, "Does your shrimp make you hot chocolate? He's really good at it."

"Yes, he's the best, isn't he?" Pops grinned as he reached for the little girl. "As a matter of fact, Shrimp, I suggest you make us some of that famous hot chocolate right now. After all, it's been a long drive and these ladies seem tired."

"Is it okay if you stay with Grampa Pops for a little while?" Booth asked his daughter as he handed her over to his grandfather.

Elena nodded and accepted being held by the old man that was now her second grandfather.

Brennan went to sit down with them and hoped Booth had made it clear that Elena didn't know he was her father. At the same time she thought that, she realised that it was time to tell Elena. Soon. "Thank you for inviting us," Brennan told Hank, "We don't go out on many trips. This is very nice."

"Actually, it was Seeley who asked if you could come over for a visit and since I wanted to meet this young lady and yourself, it was hardly a difficult decision. How was your trip, dear?"

"I'm afraid we weren't a lot of fun. We both slept the entire way. Or at least, I did, and Elena was asleep as well when we arrived." Brennan could smell the salty air from the ocean. This truly felt like a holiday.

"Did my grandson keep you up last night?" Hank asked her with a twinkle in his eyes.

From the kitchen, they could hear Booth's response. "Manners, Grampa Pops!"

Brennan smiled at Booth's defensive words. "No, he didn't. I guess I just need a lot of sleep. I'm twenty-four, so I must be getting old."

"Oh, my dear. You're young! You should enjoy it." Hank became a bit more serious, "You also have a lot of responsibilities that most people your age don't have. I am old, Temperance, I would be delighted to help you lighten the load while you're here. Because I think that Elena and I are going to get along just fine. Aren't we sweetheart?"

Elena was sitting between them, kicking her legs up and down. "M-hm," she agreed. "I'll make you sand pies, Grampa Pops."

"Oooh, those sound delicious. I've made quite a few sand pies in my day, but... have you ever made a sand castle? Shrimp's brother, Jared, is excellent at those. If you ask nicely, he might show you."

Elena's eyes sparkled and she clasped her hands together. "Yes," she said, imagining wonderful castles and palaces made of sand. "What more can we play here?"

"Well, let's see. Have you ever played with a frisbee? We can fly a kite, that is so much fun. We can make one together. Would you like that?"

"Yes, I want to do everything," Elena said as she made her famous all-encompassing arm gesture.

"We will." Pops leaned down and kissed her cheek. Then he looked at Temperance. "You my dear, have a delightful daughter. I'm so happy to finally meet her. Thank you."

Brennan had a lump in her throat, so she just nodded and smiled at the old man. He put his hand on hers and she was grateful for it. All this time, she'd thought she'd be alone, while in fact, she had this wonderful family she just didn't know existed.

Booth returned with a tray with five mugs of hot chocolate and put them on the coffee table. Soon, Jared joined them, putting the suitcases in the hallway.

When everybody had their cup in their hands, Hank cleared his throat. "I'd like to make a toast." He held out his cup, and everybody else followed suit. "To family."

Booth and Jared smiled and chimed in. "To family."

"To family," Brennan joined them, and Elena watched the adults but didn't raise her glass, because she knew she'd spoil some of her hot chocolate if she did.

How did you like it? Finally, Elena's surrounded by her real family... but she doesn't know it. Is it time that she learns who her father is? How would you tell her? Stay tuned, everyone, stay tuned...