A/N: some of you asked for a sequel to The Heart in the Words when I finally finished it. I normally wouldn't do one, but Michael is my favorite so here we go. It's going to span a few decades. If you haven't already, read The Heart in the Words first so you won't be confused. Michael is 10 and Christine 5 in this chapter

It was Christine's first day of kindergarten and Michael's first day of third grade, he was still going to the special needs school. He was improving in all areas, but not enough to successful in a mainstream school. Brennan was taking Christine to school while Booth took Michael to his school. Brennan started to pull out of the driveway when Christine pipped up, "mommy stop!"

"Did you forget your lunch?"

"No, you forgot Mikey!"

Brennan continued out of the driveway, "I didn't forget Michael, he goes to a different school. It's closer to where daddy works so he takes Michael to school and I take you because your school is closer to the lab."

"Oh okay. Why does he go to a different school than I do?"

"You know that he has problems talking and doing other things right?"

"Yeah…"

"The school he goes to helps him with all the things he has problems with along with learning most of the things you'll learn at school."

"Oh. Why can't Michael talk normal?"'

"We don't really know why your brother can't talk normally or why he has problems doing other things."

"Okay. Will he be able to go to my school someday?"

"I don't know. I hope so…"

"Oh. How come I'm not like Michael?"

"Sweetheart, I don't know why Michael was born the way he was and I don't know why you don't have issues like Michael's. All I know is Michael was born before he was supposed to be because he and I were very sick. The doctors think that Michael being born early didn't allow parts of his brain to grow fully when he was a baby."

"Oh, okay."

"I also know that none of really matters we love him anyway that he is right?"

"Uh-huh. He's fun to play with even though you or daddy have to help him play games with me sometimes. Can we play a game tonight when I get home from school?"

"Yes."

"Yea." Brennan smiled and continued on the way to Christine's school. Christine held tightly to Brennan's hand as they made their way inside and to her classroom. " Are you nervous, Christine?"

"Uh-huh, a little."

"It's okay to be nervous, but you'll be fine baby girl."

"Do you think Mikey is nervous?"

"I know he's nervous, he is in a new classroom and has a new teacher. You know he doesn't handle new situations that well."

"Hopefully he doesn't cry…"

"Hopefully he won't, but if he does daddy will help him through it." They arrived at the door to Christine's classroom, Brennan took her picture outside the door and sent it to Booth, he replied with a picture of Michael standing outside the door to his classroom. Brennan showed it to Christine. "See, Michael is fine. Are you ready?"

"Yep." Brennan smiled and kissed the top of Christine's head before they headed inside her classroom. Brennan waited as Christine hung her backpack in her cubby. Then she helped her get her supplies organized at her desk. "Christine, it's time for me to go."

"Okay, mommy!" Christine started looking through her school box again. Brennan chuckled and kissed the top of her head, "Bye sweetheart, I love you."

"Bye love you too, mommy " Brennan got in her car and instead of going to the lab she headed to Booth's favorite bakery and got two cinnamon rolls and coffee then she headed for Booth's office. Booth looked up and smiled a little when Brennan knocked on the door. "Bones!"

Brennan walked over to the chairs in front of Booth's desk and sat down, she sat the cinnamon rolls and coffee on the desk. "Did drop off end in tears?"

"No, I'm not sure she really realized I left…"

"Then why are you sad?" Booth pulled out a cinnamon roll out of the bag and picked up a coffee.

"Because when we were leaving the house she thought I forgot Michael. I explained that he goes to a different school and she wanted to know why and then she asked why he has the disabilities he does. She even asked me why she wasn't like Michael. She wanted to know if Michael would ever go to her school… I think christine finally realizes that Michael is different…"

"That one stings a little…"

"Yes. I knew that someday she'd realize it, but I was hoping it wouldn't be a big deal."

"Bones, I don't think it will be a big deal. She has questions because that's how kids learn stuff. Plus, she's half you. Honestly I don't think she's going to care all that much. To her I think he'll just be her big brother…"

"Hopefully. She did say he was fun to play with even though you and I have to help him play games with her."

"He's getting better at Candy Land."

"She wants to play a game when she gets home tonight."

"I'm up for a Candy Land tournament…"

"Yes, it will be fun. I'll even make that chocolate peanut butter popcorn they like."

"Cool."

"How did Michael's drop off go?"

"Fine. A lot of his classmates from last year are in the class and Ms. Rachael is one od the paras in there."

"At least he has some familure faces to start off the year."

"Yeah, his teacher seams nice, really energetic. He said hi to her when he walked in."

"That's good."

"He was nervous, but it wasn't bad. He didn't meltdown."

"Christine said she hoped he didn't cry today."

Booth laughed, "he didn't. I was surprised because he was upset you didn't come with us."

"Today was the first day of school that he's had that I wasn't there for…"

"Yeah he asked where you were I told him you were taking Christine to her school because today is her first day of school ever. He seemed happy for her "

"That's good." They finished their cinnamon rolls and coffee then just as Brennan was getting ready to leave they got a case.

"Let's go, Bones."

"I need to be able to leave at 2 to pick up the kids…"

"I know."

B&B

Hours later Brennan walked into the pick up area at Michael's school and waited for his class to be walked down. He spotted her immediately and broke out of the line. "Mommy!" Brennan smiled and knelt down as Michael ran into her arms and hugged her. "hi sweetheart, did you have a good day?"

"Uh-huh. Chriswine school?"

"That's good. Christine is still at school, it's not time for us to pick her up yet, soon though."

"K." Michael handed Brennan his backpack. His teacher, Miss Cook walked over. "Hello Dr. Brennan, Michael had a fantastic first day of third grade. No behavior issues. He has some forms you need to sign and return."

"Great, I'm glad he had a great day."

"Chriswine?"

Brennan smiled, "Tell Miss Cook goodbye and we'll go pick her up."

"Bye."

"Bye, Michael. See you tomorrow."

Michael nodded and followed Brennan to her car. They got in the pick up line at the school with five minutes to spare.

"Chriswine gone?"

"Christine isn't gone, it's not time for her to come home yet. We still have a few minutes to wait. She'll be here soon. Be sure to ask her if she had a good day at school."

"Okay."

A few minutes later Christine climbed in the backseat of Brennan's car "CHRISWINE! Did have good day?"

"Hi Mikey! Yep my day was fun. I like kindergarten. Did you have fun at school?"

"Uh-huh. Story and colored."

"I colored and my teacher read us a story too. Mommy, I have to practice writing the alphabet…"

"Okay, I can help you if you need it."

"I don't need help; I can do it myself."

"Okay." Brennan blinked away tears.

"Mommy, I hungry."

Brennan chucked. "Okay, when we get home both of you can have apple slices and peanut butter for a snack."

"K."

"Yummy!"