Chapter One

Disclaimer – Ok, I don’t own anything! Otherwise I’d be in LA filthy rich lol

All I own is this story!

A/N – Warning! This is an AU story. Firstly the entire cast is in high school and in the same year; yes I’m aware the ages are slightly different between each character but for the sake of the story they are all the same age. Also Brennan’s parents are not missing and are not bank robbers with fake identities; on that note Brennan’s mother is called Christine but her father is called Max. I just can’t write him as Matthew while picturing Ryan O’Neil…he is Max Kennan! Finally, Booth’s life will be quite different than how it’s referred to in the show. I hope you all enjoy this.

January 1992.

Monday mornings. Most teenage girls dread them, burying themselves under their bedcovers trying to block out the sun and upcoming school week. But not Temperance Brennan. She was one of the few that kicked off the covers and jumped out of bed almost as soon as the alarm clock rang, not even the end of the christmas holidays could prevent that. After finishing her daily morning routine she made her way down the hall to her older brother Russ’s room, slowly pushing open the creaking door. As usual he was buried under his covers, dead to the world despite the fact he had to leave for college in an hour. Temperance guessed it was going to be another rushed, hectic morning for Russ as per usual.

Shaking her head she closed the door tight and made her way downstairs, the sound of her parents light bickering carrying from the kitchen. Entering the gleaming white kitchen she was faced with both parents next to the counter, staring down at each other, like a stand off in a western except instead of a gun her mother was armed with a deadly looking rolling pin that was dangerously close to her father’s chest.

“Max Brennan so help me god if you don’t stop hovering round me this” she gestured with the rolling pin “will be so far up your – Tempe sweetie morning!”

Sharing an amused smile with her father, she hopped onto the stool next to the kitchen bar and replied “Morning Mom. You and dad are more the welcome to finish your discussion”.

“No, no.” smiling sweetly at Max “I’m sure he has learned his lesson.” Nodding Max replied “Yes I have learned not to agitate your mother while she’s baking for a few hundred which causes her to threaten her very understanding husband”. Smacking her husband slightly on the shoulder Christine laughed “Understanding? For the last half hour I’ve had you hanging round the stove trying to eat bits like a little child.” Shaking her head in disbelief she turned her attention back to her cooking, mumbling under her breath. Max, intelligently left it at that and clapped his hands together

“So sweetheart, what do you want for breakfast?”

Looking up from the magazine left on the table she replied “I’m not that hungry, this apple is just fine.” waving the apple in her right hand “Besides I have to call Angela soon. She always takes so long getting ready first day back that if I don’t call her earlier than usual we’ll be late.” Glancing up at the clock above the fridge she added “Speaking of I better go.” and jumped down off the stool.

“Don’t think your getting away without giving your old man a kiss, come here”. Rolling her eyes she walked over to her father and gave a kiss on the cheek and he wrapped his arms around her giving her a huge bear hug “Max try not to squeeze all the life out of her”. Kissing her back on the cheek he let her go.

Temperance then turned and kissed her mother on the cheek, her mother hugged her and whispered “Have a great day sweetheart!”

Nodding she smiled at her mother then turned to leave the kitchen, the sounds of her parents resumed bickering. Out in the hallway she picked up her bag that she’d packed the night before and grabbed her light coat off the coat hanger. Opening the door to the blinding sun Temperance threw her bag onto her back, shut the door and made her way down the path. As she reached the bottom she smiled hearing the panic, swears of Russ coming from his open window.

20 minutes away Seeley Booth groaned under his bed covers as the alarm clock shrilled next to him. His arm poked out from under the covers, hitting the clock and shutting of the skull screeching noise, the movement causing the bed covers to slip from his face and the patch of sun seeping through the thin curtains to hit his face. Squinting against the light he heard his bedroom door being pushed open, the small, padded footsteps running across the floor then being replaced with a small thump as the intruder jumped on the mattress and then felt tiny hands on his shoulder shaking him awake

“Seeeeeleeey. Seeeeeleeey. We gotta get up for school” sung Summer, his sweet if sometimes annoying 5 year old sister. He rolled onto his back, greeted by the adorable sight of Summer bouncing up and down, her gorgeous brown curls bouncing along with her.

Smiling sleepily he replied “Alright, alright, I’m up. How about you run back to your room and get dressed, then meet me in the kitchen while I get ready?”

Nodding enthusiastically she jumped off the bed and ran out of the room. Throwing off the covers Seeley slowly got himself out of bed and dragged himself across the room. Bending down he picked up the ratted backpack and threw the books he needed in, along with all the essentials. Standing back up he turned to his closet, picking out his favorite dark jeans and Rolling Stones T Shirt. Throwing them on he then pulled out a pair of green socks covered with purple dots.

Picking up the backpack he made his way out of the bed room, through the darkened hallway and down the stairs. At the bottom he turned right, into the front room and was met with a familiar sight. There, in the chair at the corner of the room, laid his father, bottle in his hand, passed out once again. Shaking his head Seeley walked over and took the bottle out of his hand and threw it in the trashcan.

Walking back out of the front room he turned back to the stair way and walked down the corridor behind the stairs. Pushing open the swinging door he saw Summer sitting at the table, a bowl of cereal and glass of milk finished in front of her, a rim of milk around her mouth.

“Ready to go?” he asked walking over to her. He bent down and with his thumb wiped off the milk around her mouth “Uh huh. My bag is all done and I buckled up my shoes myself” she replied, sounding very proud of herself.

He smiled and stood, picking her up from the seat and settling her on his hip. Walking over to the fridge he pulled out a packed lunch for Summer then went over to the fruit basket picking up an apple for himself. Walking out of the kitchen and back into the passage way Seeley picked up the backpack at the door and handed it to Summer, opened the door and stepped out to the bright day.

Walking down the path he heard his father stirring from inside.

TBC

A/N – Please r&r. I cannot promise that the next chapter will be up soon as I have a lot of University to be handed in, in three weeks time. But I will try my hardest to get it up soon.