Booth woke up cheerful.
Today he would find Joy and Temperance.
He got up more excited than he should have.
He would just find his friend right?
He straightened up quickly and smiled as he looked in the mirror.
He missed Temperance and little Joy so much.
Joy called her three times during two weeks off, on the last call Joy asked him to meet them in the morning back to work and to have breakfast together.
And he would do just that, he couldn't resist hearing his Mini Bones' request.
He smiled again at his own reflection, he was very anxious to finally see them.
In his two weeks off he took a few days to be with Hannah, it was nice and fun.
But he missed his girls.
He missed Bones so much since the Eames case and the whole thing about her saying he wanted to give them a chance and he denied it and so they walked away.
But then Joy had arrived and unconsciously approached them (or consciously).
And he liked that closeness, he always liked to be with Bones, especially now that she needed some support with Joy.
—Are you going to drop me off at the newspaper? (Hannah asked from the bathroom door)
—Sure.(He said and adjusted his tie) But we have to be quick.
-And then .. are you going to find Temperance? (She said and walked away so he could leave the bathroom)
- She and Joy. (He said after putting on the suit) Baby bones Want to see me and I can't resist a request from my little girl. (He said and smiled)
My little girl..He liked to say that, he liked the way it sounded and Joy probably didn't care.
—You little girl? (Hannah asked)
—You understand.(He said and left the room.) Come on, I still have to get breakfast.
Hannah sighed tiredly, after two weeks in paradise where she was the center of Booth's attention, she returned to DC where Booth's world revolved around Parker, Temperance and now Jolene Joy Brennan.
Joy sat next to Temperance on the steps in front of the reflecting pool.
She looked to the side and saw that her mother had a vacant look and seemed to have her thoughts far away.
She took a deep breath and leaned her head against her mother's legs.
Temperance smiled and ran a hand lightly through the girl's hair.
Temperance had taken two weeks off to be able to focus all his attention on his daughter.
Joy was not very happy to be away from Booth and missed him very much.
The past few weeks have been difficult, to say the least.
A few days After the conversation in the museum, both were called by the social service.
There Temperance had a difficult conversation with the social worker, where she was introduced to Joy's history of violence.
In addition to all the physical violence she suffered, she had suffered mental abuse and attempted sexual abuse.
Temperance was on the floor and could barely hear the woman after she dumped that information on her.
How could anyone hurt such a helpless little girl so much?
After a long conversation the assistant allowed Joy to stay with Temperance, since she was Foster father and After hearing the girl who asked a lot to be left with Temperance.
So a quick visit to Temperance's home was made and after realizing that Joy was in a safe home, Temperance became Joy's guardian and could soon apply for adoption.
Temperance was relieved to get the papers that allowed Joy to stay with her, she was even happier to see Joy's eyes shining with happy.
Temperance was very happy, But on the first nights after discovering the girl's history,she cried softly as she watched her daughter sleep safely
She knew that Joy was now well, in a stable home and had a good, beautiful family of two.
But for the little girl, Booth and Parker were still missing..
And she was vocal about her requests for Booth to stay close to her and be a participatory part of her life.
Temperance was apprehensive about her daughter's request, she trusted Booth with her life, but she was afraid that he would hurt Joy's heart, for not answering her expectations (Even more because both had not yet talked about how their relationship would be), She explained the daughter on more than one occasion that Booth was a good friend, but he would not always be there and she had to understand that Booth had Hannah and her own son.
Joy was only the daughter and his partner whom he would occasionally check.
Temperance sighed again, there were so many things to consider and so many things to do ...
She was thinking of the best for daughter ...
And then her thoughts and fears went away when she saw Booth approaching and she let herself smile and nudged the girl who was lying on her lap to see him.
The girl sat down again and smiled broadly and waved frantically at the man and shouted his name loud enough to get the attention of the few people around her.
Oh man, he looked more handsome than two weeks ago, if that was possible.
He looked at his favorite girls and while smiling at the excited girl who frantically waved at him, he looked at the woman next to the child, did she always have to look terribly beautiful?
Oh, but it was good to see her face.
He loved looking at her.
Even more when she gave that beautiful smile.
She looked like an angel ... and he felt blessed to be able to see her.
—Good morning Bones and Mini Bones. (He said and sat down next to the girl) Coffee for Bones (He handed the cup to the woman), hot chocolate for Mini Bones, be careful it's hot. (He handed the cup to the girl) and some donuts. (He opened the box and sat next to the girl)
—Thanks, I'm starving! (The girl said and took a candy and sat next to him)
—How are you doing? (Booth asked)
—Well, adapting. (Temperance said and took a sip of coffee) What about you and Hannah?
—We are doing well. (He said) we stayed in Miami, you know sun and margaritas.
—It looks good. (Temperance said)
And then a silence fell between them and the three ate their donuts in comfortable silence.
—And you baby Bones, how are you? (He turned to girl)
-Well .. (She said after chewing her candy) I was looking forward to today.
—Why? (Booth asked curiously)
—Because I would see you.(She said and leaned her head on his arm and continued) And Mom said I will meet everyone in the lab today And I will go to Dr. Sweets for an appointment.
—Are you going to take her to meet Sweets?
—She has an appointment with him. (Temperance Said) She needs psychological counseling and I trust Sweets for that.
It was one of the requirements for child protection, Joy would need follow-up to deal with everything she went through.
- I see, he's the best, but don't tell him. (Booth whispered to a girl) What about school? (he asked Bones) have you found any yet?
-There is a lot in the area, we are looking for the best option (she said and the girl nodded) .. and waiting until Joy feels ready to face this challenge. (Tempe said) Isn't it love?
Joy didn't leave Temperance for even a second and she really didn't feel ready to be away from a mother.
So The social worker allowed Joy to be educated at home, until she was adapted and ready to face a school.
—Yes! (She dropped the glass on the floor.) I missed you all these days. (She hugged her Booth). Mom too, even though she doesn't say it! (Joy whispered)
—Jolene Joy! (Temperance muttered sheepishly)
—It's true! (Joy said and hugged Booth again) We missed you.
He smiled and kissed the head of his little girl, he also missed her.
—I missed you, too.(He said and picked her up) both of you.
The girl snuggled up in Booth's lap, she liked it he was cute like a big bear.
She closed her eyes for a moment and then remembered her conversation with Parker.
—We have to plan something to do together! Me, you, mom and Parker!(Joy said excitedly)
—And Hannah. (Temperance said, even though she didn't want Hannah with them.)
—No Hannah! Just the family! (Joy said and turned to look Booth in the eye) Parker said we are family, just the four of us. (She explained)
—And did you see Parker after Christmas? (He asked confused as he held the girl)
—Yes, Mom took me to Mrs. Rebecca's house and she let Mom take Parker and me to the nearby playground and it was really fun. (Joy said)
—Rebecca really let you take Parker? (He asked)
-She was very kind and I explained briefly about Joy's case. (She said and turned her eyes to her daughter) and that Parker was the only child that she got some kind of connection since I caught her ... it was beneficial for her to live with him, she understood and allowed me to look for Parker to play with Joy, once a week or every fifteen days.
—She barely let me stay with him for a weekend and did you manage to get her to see him when you want to?(He said a little annoyed)
—Don't be angry, you can stay with us.(Joy said and got off his lap and stood in front of him) We can do as you do with Parker, you can take the three of us for a walk. (She looked at Booth ) Parker doesn't mind sharing you with me.
The two adults face each other and then Booth laughs.
—Did you already decide that? Without me? (He asked amused and tickled it
—Yes! We are very organized. (Joy said seriously) you can be like my father ... (She whispered)
—Joy, you have to take it easy, yes? (Temperance said and pulled her daughter slightly to her side.) Do you remember what we talked about?
—That I cannot force Booth to share his time with me, that he has his own life and his own problems and his own son .. (The girl repeated obediently) But I would like him to be my father. (She shrugged)
—Let's talk later yes? (Temperance said and got up) Thanks for the coffee Booth, but we have to go. (She said and took her bag)
—We have a session with the head doctor.(Joy said and hugged him tightly and then took her glass of chocolate and her candy)
—See you later?" (Booth asked) How about lunch?
—I call you to confirm, come on JJ. (Temperance Said)
- Bye Booth. (The girl said after holding her mother's hand)
—Bye, baby Bones.
Booth sighed and waved at both of them.
He missed them so much and wanted to spend most of his time with them.
He really didn't mind sharing his time with Joy.
Or to be Joy's father.
In fact, he liked the idea a lot.
Especially if he had to live with Joy's mother much more.