It was raining when they buried Rebecca, a cold, constant drizzle fell whilst Parker said goodbye to his mother. Booth hadn’t let him out of his sight for the last three days and he watched silently as Parker dropped a red rose onto the coffin and then made his way back to Booth’s side. Parker leant against him as he stared vacantly at the white coffin. Booth put his hand protectively around Parker’s chest pulling him even closer if that were possible.

The service was short and very touching. Booth could see Rebecca’s parents falling apart and there was little he could do to help. Rebecca had been an only child and it must have felt like their world had ended. The mourners left to return to the house leaving just Booth and Parker standing silently.

‘’Mom liked daisies not roses. She said roses were nasty and pricked you. She liked that movie, the one about the little boy they kept in the cage cos he was so bad. The one about eating daisies.’’ Parker didn’t like the floral tributes they felt wrong but it had been Rebecca’s parents choice not Booths.

‘’Yeah I know she did.’’ Booth smiled at the memory of a cold, wet Sunday afternoon when Rebecca made him watch Doris Day with her. It was just after they met and she had blown him away the first time he set eyes on her. He fell really hard for her but had hidden it under his normal macho façade but she had known. They had been really happy for a while but it just disintegrated like many relationships did under the strain of the FBI. Booth had never dreamed that this would be the way they would finally part. He always believed she would be a part of his life forever because of Parker, Booth was hurting like hell as well. He stayed strong as always, Parker needed him to be his Paladine more than ever.

‘’Is there a heaven daddy?’’ Parker needed something to hold onto.

‘’Yes bub. I think there is and it’s where your mom is right now. Looking out for you like she always does.’’ Booth picked Parker up and hugged him. Parker laid his head on Booth’s shoulder.

‘’I was mad at her.’’ Parker whispered.

‘’Yes, you were but that’s okay. She knows you love her and always will. Come on bub. Let’s go home.’’ Booth winced as he heard Parker begin to cry but this was a pain that Parker had to bear himself. Booth couldn’t do it for him however much he wanted to. Booth walked away across the grass, Parker lifted his head and took a final glance at his mother, he waved sadly.

‘’Bye, bye mommy.’’ He whispered before dropping his head and closing his eyes.

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Booth pulled his wife closer and kissed her hair inhaling deeply.

‘’How are you doing?’’ Bones asked, the concern obvious in her voice.

‘’Okay but that was tough wasn’t it?’’ Booth watched Parker playing dinosaurs with Nate and smiled as Nate roared waving a T Rex above his head.

‘’Yes, it was. Parker’s strong and he’s a survivor.’’ Bones laid her head on Booth’s chest as he put his arm around her.

‘’Funny, that’s what your dad said about Jake.’’ Booth was cautious mentioning Max.

‘’Don’t Booth. Talking of fathers. Where’s yours?’’ Bones looked around. It was just them.

‘’He went out to lunch with Jed and Janie.’’ Booth was happy that since Jared’s blow out in the bar, relations between Wade and Jared were much improved.

‘’ This is nice. I feel like we haven’t drawn a breath for months.’’ Bones mumbled and Booth was astounded, her memory was totally intact again.

‘’Can we watch a movie please?’’ Jake wandered in, he began to cough.

‘’You look hot honey. You okay?’’ Bones rose and placed a cool hand on Jake’s forehead. She went into the kitchen and began to search through a cabinet.

‘’I’ve got a cold is all.’’ Jake dumped himself in an armchair and looked out the window.

‘’It’s raining again. Why’s it raining again, its not like we live in Seattle is it?’’ Jake expressed disgust at the days of unseasonal but steady rain that had been falling on Washington.

‘’You’re grumpy cos you’re sick.’’ Parker smiled and climbed onto Booth’s lap. He had done that a lot in the last few days and Booth was happy to go with it. He placed his head on Booth’s chest and put his thumb in his mouth. Jake looked at him and then Booth in surprise. He saw the warning in Booth’s eyes instantly so said nothing. It had started the day Rebecca finally died. Sweets said it was a coping mechanism and to go with it for the time being. It was doubly bizarre because Parker had never sucked his thumb before.

‘’Hey mom what are you doing?’’ Jake jumped as Bones stuck a thermometer in his ear.

‘’Mom, get off. It’s just a cold.’’ Jake tried to pull away.

‘’I am just checking. Stop it Jake, don’t be a baby.’’ Bones scolded him and Jake rolled his eyes, giving up. He crossed his arms and stared sullenly ahead. Parker giggled.

‘’Bones is right. You are a baby.’’

‘’Shut up Parks.’’ Jake threw a pillow at him. Booth caught it, he was happy to have the boys teasing each other again.

‘’What movie Jake?’’ Booth held onto Sarah’s hand as she bounced in front of him, giggling in delight.

‘’Soz’ll be walking soon.’’ Parker looked up at Booth who nodded.

‘’Yes, she will and then she’ll run you guys ragged.’’ Booth laughed as Sarah squealed at him. Booth picked her up easily with one hand and deposited her next to him.

‘’Da! Da!’’ She said climbing up instantly and patting his cheeks. Booth pretended to grab her hands in his teeth and she sat down abruptly as she pulled them away. Her bottom lip began to quiver and her face reddened. Booth waited for the explosion and sure enough she burst in tears beginning to rub her eyes frantically. She pulled at her ear and reached her arms up to Booth.

‘’Da. Da.’’ Sarah was a daddy’s girl right down the line.

‘’You have a temperature. You need some Ibuprofen.’’ Bones glanced over at Sarah as she spoke to Jake and swept her up, hooking her on her hip.

‘’Hey sweet thing. You’re tired. You need to take a nap.’’ Bones chucked her cheek and reached for some pills from the cabinet. Sarah whimpered and carried on grizzling into her mother’s neck. Bones quickly made up some honey and lemon with one hand in a blink of an eye whilst Booth watched her in admiration. Multi tasking was as natural as breathing these days to Bones, at least the new Bones and Booth was so happy to have her back.

‘’Here and so do you. You should go to bed Jake.’’ Bones handed over some pills and

the drink. Jake took them shaking his head frantically.

‘’Mom, you are making a fuss. I just have a cold. I don’t wanna go to bed.’’ Jake didn’t, he would be miserable up there on his own. He wanted to stay in the family room where it was warm and cosy with everyone else.

‘’Dad, tell her.’’ Jake whined.

‘’You don’t have to go to bed Jake, he’s fine Tempe. What movie Jake?’’ Booth had a gift for Parker but he hadn’t been sure when he should or even if he should give it to him.

‘’Dunno, anything. Have to be okay for small people won’t it?’’ Jake stuck his tongue out at Parker who reciprocated.

‘’I’ll be back and I’ll make some popcorn.’’ Bones smiled before climbing the stairs with Sarah.

‘’I got you this bub.’’ Booth slipped Parker off his lap and then handed him a package. Parker turned it over curiously as Jake watched him. Booth crouched down and picked up a dinosaur, Nate bashed it with a huge roar and Booth roared back.

‘’It’s that movie. Thank you daddy. Can we watch it?’’ Parker looked delighted and looked at the cover stroking it tenderly.

‘’Sure bub.’’ Booth stood up and ruffled Parker’s hair. He checked Jake’s head, Booth frowned, he was hot.

‘’Maybe you should take a nap kiddo. You don’t look so good.’’ Booth could be as fussy as Bones in his own way.

‘’Dad, don’t you start. What movie?’’ Jake pushed Booth’s hand away irritably. He spoke curiously to Parker but as he felt awful, he wasn’t about to move to answer his own question.

‘’It was my mom’s favourite movie.’’ Parker placed it in the player and sat straight back on Booth’s lap.

‘’What is it?’’ Jake tried to see.

‘’It’s a nice family movie with kids, a dog and loads of sunshine Jake. You’re gonna hate it.’’ Booth laughed and hugged Parker as he giggled.

‘’Oh right okay. That sounds great I guess.’’ Jake curled up in the chair and sniffed. He felt rotten and a nice movie actually sounded pretty good not that he’d admit it.

‘’Here we go.’’ Bones sat down next to Booth putting the popcorn between them.

‘’It’s a very cute movie. You’ll like it.’’ Booth clicked it on and they finally had some peace.

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‘’That was so lovely.’’ Bones smiled at Booth, Parker was still sprawled on his lap and Nate was lying on her.

‘’Looks like Jake’s cold got the better of him.’’ Booth nodded towards his eldest son who was sleeping soundly in the chair.

‘’Good, he needs to rest. Not that he’d listen if I told him that.’’Bones noted wryly.

‘’No, very true. We should make dinner. Its school tomorrow and work.’’ Booth didn’t really want to move but real life was calling.

‘’I’ll make chicken.’’ Bones stood up as Nate jumped up, running over to his trains. She stretched and groaned contentedly.

‘’Thomas daddy. Play Thomas.’’ Nate held up the little blue train hopefully.

‘’Sorry Buster. I have to help mommy with dinner. But Parker might play. How about it bub?’’ Booth patted Parker’s arm. He had been very still and transfixed during the movie and Booth was concerned that it might have been a bad idea.

‘’Yeah okay.’’ Parker climbed down and surreptitiously wiped his eyes. Parker seemed to be coping well but Booth was aware that could change at anytime.

‘’Come on Buster. We’ll make a track.’’ Parker took Nate’s hand and led him away.

Booth raised his eyebrows at Bones who was watching them carefully.

‘’He seems too ..I don’t know too together doesn’t he?’’ Booth walked to the kitchen and expressed his concern. Bones nodded.

‘’Give it time Seeley. He may still be in shock.’’ Bones pushed some vegetables towards Booth.

‘’Chop these.’’ She ordered, Booth rolled his eyes but did as he was told anyway.

It wasn’t long before the front door opened and their peace was shattered by the sound of laughing. Wade walked in with a huge smile on his face, closely followed by Jared.

‘’Hey guys. How’s everything?’’ Wade glanced around the peaceful scene.

‘’Good.’’ Booth wiped his hands on a towel.

‘’You guys okay?’’ Booth looked between them, they seemed relaxed he noted with relief.

‘’Hey Janie. How are you? Sorry I didn’t speak to you at the funeral.’’ Booth dutifully kissed his sister-in-law’s cheek.

‘’That’s okay Seeley. I know you had your hands full.’’ Janie smiled and Booth was surprised at the change in her. Her face was softer and her eyes were twinkling. It reminded Booth what she had been like when he’d first met her. Paige was standing with a sullen look behind her mother.

‘’Hello Paige honey. ’’ Booth greeted her but he knew that look only too well, sulky bored teenager. His favourite!

‘’Uncle Seeley.’’ She nodded. ‘’Why’s Jake asleep?’’ Paige was disappointed, she wanted to fight with her cousin, piss everyone off. They were all being too damn nice to each other as far as she was concerned. It was nauseating and Paige wanted to cause some trouble.

‘’He’s got a cold.’’ Booth was relieved that Jake was unconscious. It cut down the chances of the kids starting on each other. The way he was feeling after this morning, that would not be good. He had no patience left and he was pretty sure he would end up blasting someone, the odds were that it would be Jake.

‘’It’s all this rain. Everyone’s depressed and sick. It’s miserable.’’ Wade smiled at Jared as he spoke. Jared nodded and Booth frowned, there was something going on between them.

‘’Guys, could we talk for a second? I have a proposition for you.’’ Wade gestured towards the table.

‘’Okay.’’ Booth looked at Bones who shrugged. What was this? Bones came from the kitchen sipping a glass of red wine.

‘’Would anyone like some wine?’’ She asked as she handed Booth his.

‘’That would be lovely thank you Tempe.’’ Janie said pleasantly and Bones was shocked at this dramatic transformation.

‘’No thanks Tempe. I’m on the wagon after the other day.’’ Jared smiled at Booth who hid his grin.

‘’Thank you Temperance.’’ Wade was as gentlemanly as ever. Bones fetched some glasses and the bottle. The adults sat around the table whilst Paige lounged staring at the TV.

‘’Right, I have spoken to Jared and Janie. They’ve agreed so that only leaves you two. This family has been through hell with everything and I feel its time we all caught a break.’’ Wade paused and Booth couldn’t have agreed more.

‘’So with that in mind, I am proposing a trip. A trip away from everything, just the family so we can get to know each other again. I can enjoy my grandchildren and you guys can rest up.’’ Wade stopped checking for a reaction. Booth looked at Bones whose face was in neutral.

‘’Go on dad.’’ Booth wanted to hear more.

‘’It will all be on me. I have quite a nest egg and want to spend some of it on you guys. I have looked into a house in the Italian countryside, Tuscany to be exact. What do you think?’’ Wade beamed delighted with his news.

‘’Tempe?’’ Booth tried to contain his enthusiasm, it sounded perfect to him but you just never knew with his wife.

‘’Can you get the time off Seeley?’’ Bones knew that could be an issue.

‘’I have been granted a leave of absence because of Rebecca. Three weeks and the kids only have a week left of school. They could miss a few days.’’ Booth quickly figured it out.

‘’So Temperance, what do you think?’’ Wade got to the point as everyone waited, this was Bones decision.

‘’I think its sounds absolutely wonderful.’’ Bones agreed and Booth grinned at her taking her hand.

‘’That’s agreed then. We’re off to rediscover our roots.’’ Wade looked around at his family with a huge contented smile.

‘’Family.’’ Wade raised his glass and everyone clinked it.

‘’To family.’’ They all said in unison.

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So I have decided that this needs to stop here. Its very long because it took on a life of its own. There is resolution although still things hanging. I may write about the holiday and those other things in a new story. It depends, I'm not sure there's much of an audience for it. I'll keep an eye on the reviews and hits then decide.

Thank you for reading and especially thank you to those who reviewed. Its much appreciated. I love you all.

Laters.