A/N To anyone still following this story-my apologies for a seriously long overdue update. My muse just died out on this story for a while. However, I promised to finish it, so I didn't ignore it-I wouldn't do that to the people who have taken time to read this and to those kind enough to review it.

A shout out to FaithinBones' story "A Bad Day", because the latest chapter inspired my muse again for this story. Thanks so much for helping me get unstuck (whether you knew it or not. LOL)

As always, and much to my regret, I don't own Bones (or Booth-sigh).

It was a calm Saturday afternoon-Bones and I had finished a pretty grueling case and had some time off. I could hear her playing with Christine in the living room, and gave a small smile at the sound of my daughter's laughter floating in to the kitchen where I was standing at the counter. My smile faded and I stared down at my cell phone for what seemed like the hundredth time.

"Booth?" Bones' voice broke into my thoughts, and I turned to see her holding Christine, who was waving a small stuffed animal at me. "Is everything all right" I thought you were planning to call your mother to arrange a meeting to talk. Should I give you more privacy, or...? "

"You're fine, Bones. I keep picking up the phone but I just can't seem to actually make the call. What do I say?"

Bones crossed over to where I was standing. "If you're not ready to meet with her to deal with all of this Booth, then don't. I will support you either way, you know that."

"I know, Bones. And I think I need to put this whole situation to rest. I can't keep feeling like I'm in limbo with this, and I can't keep carrying all this anger around with me either. My dad would, and I just want to let go of a lot of the past of my childhood. I know I can't forget it, but I need to find a way to put it behind me, and this is part of it." I took a deep breath, smiled at the woman I loved and said, "Here goes nothing."

I picked up my cell phone and dialed. At the greeting on the other end, I said, "Mom, it's Seeley. I think it's time we talked face to face."

At the sound of the doorbell later that night, I glanced at my watch. Bones glanced at me as she walked past me to open the door. On the doorstep was Max, who stepped in and gave us a big grin. He kissed Bones on the cheek, gave me a little salute and said, "Okay, one babysitter on duty!" Bones shook her head, but I could see a slight smile on her face while she did it.

"I appreciate your taking Christine tonight, Max," I said. "I know it was kind of short notice."

Max shrugged. "Hey, I always love a chance to spend time with my granddaughter. And it sounds like you need some time alone with your mom, and Tempe of course. So it's a win for both of us."

"I'll go get Christine and her things, Dad."

As Bones headed upstairs, Max's smile disappeared as he turned to me. "You OK with this son? This talk with your mom, I mean?"

I studied Max's face, but all I saw was genuine concern. "I'm not sure OK is the right description. I think it's time to face it head on though." I hesitated, then continued. "I'm not sure if I told you that I appreciate your support through this. Both the advice and taking Christine tonight."

Max looked surprised for a second. "Well. you know I actually have come to like you Booth. Never thought I could say that about a cop, frankly. And I admit I mostly tolerated you for Tempe's sake, but now I really do like and admire you. Tonight will be difficult, I'm guessing, but I know you and my daughter can handle it. You both are strong people individually, but as a team you always seem to be damn near indestructible. Keep that in mind through all this, OK?" He turned at the sound of Bones approaching with Christine and grinned widely. "There she is! You ready for a night with Grandpa, sweetheart?" As he took the bag with Christine's things and then Christine, he said to both of us, "Call when you're ready to get her tomorrow. No hurry or time frame, whenever you're ready. And," suddenly he looked hesitant, "Look out for each other tonight."

Bones frowned slightly. "We always look out for each other, Dad."

"I know you do, honey. I'm glad you have each other's backs. I really am. Well, Christine and I will take off now. " He paused, then held out his hand for me to shake. I did, and he murmured a quick "Good luck," and was out the door.

An hour later, the doorbell rang again, and I practically jumped off the couch where I had been sitting with Bones.

"Booth," Bones said gently. "Try to calm down a little. You sit and I'll get the door."

I could only nod and wait as I watched Bones head to the door. A short time later, the two women walked into the living room.

I swallowed. "Mom."

She looked as nervous as I felt as she responded quietly, "Seeley. It's good to see you. Thank you for being willing to talk to me."

After a few seconds of awkward silence, Bones spoke up. "Would anyone like a drink?"

Eventually, drinks in hand, we all settled in our respective places-me and Bones together on the couch, Mom in a chair near the couch facing us. It was Mom who started talking first.

"I know Seeley, that I didn't handle it well the last time we talked here like this. I just want to apologize for that. I was very defensive and I overreacted. You deserved answers and I suppose you were right and I wanted to avoid giving them. I think it's because part of me knew I had no good answers to give you. There are many things I am not proud of, and the way I dealt with you and the things I said to you that night are among them. Hank was right-this is your show, so to speak, so however you need to deal with it-just do it. I," and here her voice broke a little. "I would like you in life Seeley, and I'd like to have you in mine, too. But I respect the fact that you may or may not want me to. It took your facing me and some therapy to really have it sink in what I did in both leaving and how I handled coming back into your life. And yes, I should have realized before. I know that too, and take responsibility for it. I hurt you, Seeley. Both when I left and when I came back. I never meant to, but I did. You deserve to hear that acknowledgment from me-I never gave you that, not really. I should have." She bowed her head. "I should have done a lot of things in my life differently."

I leaned forward. "We all have things we should have done differently in life, Mom. But I take it you're willing to really listen to what I need from you to see if we can salvage this relationship?"

As my mom nodded her head, I took a deep breath and reached for Bones' hand.

This will be continued in the next chapter. And I have ideas and have actually written a few things, so it won't take months to post an update. I was going to go right to Booth facing his mom, but that pesky Max Keenan insisted on meddling even in my fanfiction and wanted to give last minute advice. What can you do?

Hopefully this was worth the wait. I also welcome suggestions on how you want this talk to go. I am always willing to take those, because there are people out there who have some great ideas that would never occur to me.

The chapter title is from Alice in Wonderland-it basically is used to mean back to the insanity.