Note: Usually, I write a one-shot and someone says "Oh, please continue", and … I don't. This time no one asked, so here's a sequel to Grief & Joy. I'm inconsistent that way. So to recap, Booth died after his brain surgery. If you don't want sad, please come back next weekend, when I will hopefully have a chapter in which no one dies.
What if: Booth's grown-up daughter visited his grave?
AU? Yes
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The gravel path crunched under the young woman's sneakers as she made her way through the cemetery. She settled herself cross-legged on the ground at the foot of the grave and leaned forward, her elbows on her knees.
The wind rustled through the leaves as she started to talk. "I'm getting married, Dad." She laughed. "I was a little worried about telling Mom – you know how she is about marriage being an outdated institution – but she just smiled a little and said, 'Your father would be so happy', so I wanted to come tell you myself."
She picked up a blade of grass, and twisted it around her finger. "He's a good man, Dad. Cam says he reminds her of you, a little, which is a huge compliment coming from her. She misses you, you know. So does Mom."
She tossed the grass aside and looked at the headstone, weathered gray surrounded by vibrant bunches of daffodils. "So do I, which is silly because I never actually knew you. All I've ever had was stories. Mom, Uncle Jared, Parker, Cam, Angela - everyone has stories about you. They're good stories, but I still would rather have known you for myself."
She sat quietly for a few minutes, then continued. "Yesterday, Mom told me … she said that you'd agreed to father her child, but that you weren't going to be my father. She almost tripped over her own words saying that you changed your mind, that you wanted to be my dad, but … well, you're dead, and you can't speak for yourself. I hope that's truth. I hope you'd be proud of me."
She stood and brushed the grass from her pants. "And Dad? I wish you could be here to dance at my wedding."
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I'd love to hear what you think, even if it's just that I need to write something happy.