A/N See, I promised I'd update this story-even if it a little slower than when I first started. Sorry-my muse has been going in fits and starts. It'll zoom along-then hit a brick wall. Such is life I guess.

And, of course, I don't own Bones. I wish I owned it, but I don't.

I was wading through the closing paperwork from Bones' and my latest case when I heard a knock on the door. I looked up grinned.

"You busy, man?" Jared hesitated before walking in.

"Always. Come on in anyway. It's just paperwork-and I hate paperwork. Pull up a chair and give me a reason to take a break."

Jared sat. "Hey, you wanted to be a G-man. It's the government - of course there's paperwork. I remember that from the Navy. One of the things I don't miss, by the way."

"Don't blame you. So how long are you in town? Is Padme with you?"

"Yeah, Padme's here. We're only here a couple of days. We're headed to India for family stuff. We just figured we'd spend a couple days visiting some people before we head out." Jared gave me a long look. "We saw and talked to Pops."

I leaned back in my chair. "Damn. Did he give you the whole play-by-play or just the highlights?"

"Highlights. He said if you wanted to tell me the rest, it should be up to you. Look I know we haven't been close for a long time, but it is my mom too, Seeley. I just want you to know if you want to tell me, I promise no automatic defense of mom. No judgments or anything, just an ear from someone who went through some of the same stuff you went through. If you don't want to tell me, and tell me to go to hell, I understand that too."

I closed my eyes for minute, thinking. Jared was right. We hadn't been close for a long time, but we'd gotten closer since he sobered up and got married to Padme. And we did share a history-and we shared the same mother. The same mom who's actions-or nonactions- influenced both of us. He at least deserved to know what Mom had said-and the explanations she had given me.

I opened my eyes to see the look of concern on Jared's face. "Yeah, I think we should talk. But not here. Maybe dinner at the house tonight? Bring Padme-you might need some moral support when you get all the details. God knows I did."

Jared whistled. "That bad, huh?"

"Worse."

When the doorbell rang, I went to answer it. Waving Jared and Padme in, I closed the door behind them.

"I hope you're OK with Thai takeout. Work ran long for both Bones and me, we were late picking up Christine, and then she was fussing all the way home and even when she got home, and-"

Jared laughed. "Chill out, Seeley. Thai's fine. Sounds like you had your hands full. Speaking of which-." He broke off and nodded. I turned and saw Bones and Christine.

"Hello, Jared, Padme. I hope Booth mentioned we are having takeout. Booth or I would ordinarily have cooked for you-"

Padme smiled and walked over to Bones. "It's fine, Temperance. And look at you, sweetheart," she murmured to Christine. "Look how big you've gotten. I know you guys have been good at sending pictures, but it's different seeing her in person."

Bones smiled. "I know. I was just getting her ready for bed and thought you and Jared might like to say goodnight."

Jared crossed over to the group. He waggled his fingers in front of Christine, who tried to grab them and laughed. "She gets prettier too-definitely takes after her mom, Seeley."

I shook my head and chuckled. "Nice, Jarhead."

He shrugged. "Calls 'em like I sees him, Ranger."

While Bones and Padme put Christine to bed. I turned to him. "I've got nonalcoholic beer in the fridge- also water, juice, milk. You want anything?"

"I'll take the beer, thanks."

When Padme and Bones came back down, laughing, Jared and I turned.

"So ladies, ready for dinner?"

After dinner, we made our way to the living room and settled in.

"So," Jared was on the couch with his arm round Padme. "You want to go into all the details now, or should we talk about the weather first?"

I shook my head, leaned forward, put my elbows on knees and clasped my hands in front of me. Taking a deep breath and lowering my head, I told him about all the conversations Mom and I had had.

After I told him, there was nothing but silence. I looked up after a minute or so to see Jared and Padme staring at me-Jared with his mouth open. "Damn, bro. No wonder you jumped all over me when we talked about this earlier. If I'd have known it was that bad, I'd have jumped all over me too."

I shrugged. "Most of this happened after we talked anyway, Jared. And I'd just had the conversation with her and ended taking it out on you. I'm sorry about that, by the way."

Jared waved a hand. "No problem. Not like we haven't had more serious arguments than that anyway. That was barely a blip on the radar screen."

"So what happens now, Seeley?" Padme's voice was soft, concerned.

I let out a long breath. "I'm not sure. I'm talking it over with some people and trying to sort out exactly how I feel about all this. It's just-I still feel a lot of anger about all of it. And the whole thing is so damn frustrating, you know? Because I got answers, and they made me feel worse." At that statement, I felt Bones slide her arm through mine.

"Have you talked to Mom, too, Tempe?" Jared glanced at both of us.

"Yes. Booth wanted me present so that I could ask my own questions regarding her actions."

"Oh, boy."

I frowned. "Jared-"

Jared leaned forward. "I love both of you. And Tempe is for all intents and purposes my sister-in-law. But it doesn't mean that I can't recognize that tact isn't her strong suit. That's not a bad thing, so don't give me a hard time. It's just her personality-it's who she is. All I'm saying is if you're not used to it-and Mom wasn't, I'd be willing to bet-than it can be seen as a little much."

"It's why I wanted her there, Jared. I figured she could ask what I didn't think of, or maybe just didn't want to ask."

Jared nodded. "I can see that. Hell, I wish I knew what to tell you. Just-don't beat yourself up over this too much. Your family-including me-have given you enough grief. I may not have realized that when I was drinking, but I got that pretty quick when I sobered up. You can't be responsible for whatever screw-ups Mom has made in her decisions. None of that is on you. She's an adult. She was an adult when she left. And I know you want to save the world and make everything OK, but sometimes, Seeley, you have to accept that people make really bad decisions with their lives."

I shook my head. "Does this bother you at all?"

"Hell, yes, it does. Here's the thing though-Mom didn't throw everything at me the way she did to you. Maybe she learned after she dealt with you-I don't know. Plus you were always closer with her than I was. So I am upset, but I think it's not affecting me as much as you. I hate that it's screwing with your head, though. And I get you didn't want to bring me into it-big bro to the rescue again. But I'm not a little kid anymore-I've been in the military, I'm married-I've made my own grownup decisions, too, you know."

"I know, Jared. And I wasn't trying to exclude you, it's just that I wasn't sure how you would take it. You didn't seem to mind about Mom's new family when I brought it up-so I thought that you might not mind this too much either."

"This is a whole different situation, Seeley. And I think you have a right to be pissed. Look, my advice, for whatever it's worth, is to keep doing what you're doing. Talk to the people you've been talking to, whatever it takes. Vent to me if you want-"

"To me, too," Padme chipped in. As well all turned to look at her, she continued. "I know we haven't spent a lot of time together, but we're family. And I have always believed family is important."

Bones was nodding. "You have that in common with Booth, then."

Jared and I looked at each other. "You know both of them are too good for us, right?"

"Hell, yeah I know."

I figured Jared had a right to know about whatever explanations Marianne had for leaving and not coming back. She was Jared's mom, too. I don't think Booth would have brought him into the heavy conversations because he is protective-and protecting his little brother is an instinct at this point. Yes, he started to learn to let go a little when Jared went to India, but that instinct never really goes away.

I like to think after Jared stopped drinking and got involved with Padme that he would have matured somewhat. And he does love Booth, whatever history the two of them have had-so I think he would want to help him.