AN: So I am new to writing fanfictions and I thought I should give it a try. Just to point out, English is not my first language so all spelling and grammar errors are my own. Reviews are welcomed and I laugh at flames. The story starts on the end of season 5.

Temperance Brennan was reading a book, trying to pass time whilst flying to Maluku Islands. Daisy was sat next to her, reading a book of her own. They were half way there when stewardess approached her seat. Her mind was not really on the book but Booth.

"Dr. Brennan." Stewardess said.

"How can I help you?" Temperance asked, putting away the book.

"You have a call. You can answer it there." Stewardess pointed to the front of the plane.

Temperance walked casually over, thinking who could call her now.

"Brennan." She replied cheerfully.

She could hear thunder and sobbing on the other side of the line.

"Temperance." The brokenhearted voice made her flinch.

It was Robert, older brother of her friend James.

"Robert?" she asked confused. "What's wrong?" she added.

She could practically hear his hesitation and struggle to tell her something.

"It's James and Ellie, Tempe." He said, his voice cracked.

"What? What happened?" she asked, unable to hide fear from her voice.

"There was a car accident while they were driving home. They're dead." He said so quietly she almost didn't hear him.

"I'm so sorry Robert." Temperance said, her eyes becoming glassy.

"We all are. So I tried to call you in the office and they said you're going to these islands…." She cut him off.

"Forget the islands. The moment the plane lands, I'm taking the next flight home." She said.

Yes, the dig-site in Maluku was probably the biggest opportunity in her career but there were things she found more important than it. She will never forget the day when James saved her from abusive foster father when she was 13.

"Okay, I'll see you then…." Robert started, trying to get some time frame.

"I'll be there in a day, day and a half." She said.

"Alright." Robert said and hung up.

Temperance set the receiver down and leaned her head on the plane's wall.

"Are you alright ma'am?" Stewardess asked when she found her.

"Yes, just um…. Bad news. Can you reserve me a ticket for the flight home that leaves when we land?" Temperance asked once she wiped her tears away.

"Yes, ma'am." Stewardess replied.

"Good." Temperance offered the woman a weak smile and walked back to her seat.

Her teary face did not escape Daisy's notice.

"Dr. Brennan? Is there something wrong?" she asked worryingly.

She has never seen Temperance this emotional and Lance said it can happen but very, very rare.

"My friends got killed in a car accident." Temperance said absent mindedly as she rummaged her purse.

"Angela and…." Temperance cut Daisy off.

"No, no, no…. These people are someone I knew since my childhood. They lived in Montana." Temperance started. "So I am sorry to say that you will be trying to find the remains of homo floresiensis in Maluku on your own. I'm going home right after we land." She finished.

"I understand. I will try not to disappoint you, dr. Brennan." Daisy said.

"You have been picked out of many anthropologists to be there. That alone says something Daisy." Temperance said.

The flight back home was uneventful, as all Temperance wanted was to reach city of Great Falls, Montana as soon as possible. It was late evening when her cab pulled up in front of the house James and Ellie used to live. The sea of black suits nerved her a bit, she was never good at funerals. Before she even took one step to the house, an eight year old girl ran to her.

"Tempe! Tempe!" girl cried out as she ran.

"Hey, sweetie." Temperance pulled up a smile as she scooped up the brown haired girl.

"Are you going to stay with us?" girl asked.

Before Temperance had chance to answer, Robert came out with brown haired teenager.

"Tempe!" the boy greeted, sadness written all over his face.

"Dean, I'm so sorry." Temperance said, hugging him with her free arm.

"I know." He said, burying his face in her shoulder.

The older, bald man smiled softly at the natural exchange Temperance had with the kids. He wondered how she will react to the news he had to tell her.

"Will Temperance stay with us?" girl asked.

"Sophie, Temperance lives in D.C. She'll stay here as long as she needs to but she has work to do." Dean tried to reason with his little sister.

"It's okay, I was supposed to be on Maluku Islands for a year. I'll stay here as long as you need me." Temperance said as she noticed tears pooling in Sophie's eyes.

"Let's get inside so Tempe can sit down." Robert suggested.

The kids were around her all the time, not wishing to let her out of their sight. Unless she was with some family member they knew. James's family was pretty big and they never really knew all the family members.

"Can I talk to you in private, Tempe?" Robert asked.

Usually, she did not like being called Tempe but she allowed few exceptions to the rule. She nodded to Dean to take his little sister so she can talk to their uncle in private. They walked outside, where the stars shone bright in crystal clear sky.

"What is it that you wish to talk about, Robert?" Temperance asked as she sat on the garden swing she would spend lot of time on back when she was a kid and talked to Ellie.

"It's about the kids." Robert said.

"What about them? I know they are deeply shaken by what happened two days ago and that it will take substantial amount of time for them to recuperate but…." Robert raised his hand to stop her.

He knew her well. Ever since his little brother saved her, he came to like her as little sister. When she finished anthropology, the only place she felt relaxed enough to speak 'common' English without technical terms was when she was here. And he knew that her jumping to terms now was her way of dealing with the loss as well.

"It's not about that. I talked to the lawyer yesterday and he told me that the will Ellie and James shared was changed three months ago. And it states that if anything should happen to them, the children are to be entrusted in your care." Robert quoted the will while Temperance's eyes widened.

"What?" she asked in disbelief.

"They didn't tell you?" Robert could see she was honestly surprised by this.

"No." she shook her head. "I know that I get along with Sophie and Dean but that doesn't make me qualified to raise them." She protested.

"Apparently, James and Ellie thought differently. And I must agree with them." Robert said.

She opened her mouth to protest further but he beat her to it.

"I can't take that away from Dean and Sophie. I mean, the moment you came here, Sophie won't detach herself from you. When people looked at you tonight, they saw you handling two brokenhearted children so naturally like they were your own. I know you, Temperance Brennan. You could be a lot of things but you are without doubt qualified to raise those two kids. Now…." He got closer and put a reassuring hand on her shoulder. "My brother has put his faith in you to care for Dean and Sophie. I will trust his faith and go along. Take all the time that you need and when you feel you three are ready, you go back to D.C. and try to give them a fresh start from these haunted memories. I think they deserve that." Robert said.

"Okay." Temperance said in shaky voice, her mind processing everything that happened in last couple of days.

She said goodbye to most likely the love of her life, not that she is the type that will confess that; lost two of her closest friends who entrusted her with raising of two kids. She will need a drink now to numb the rush of feelings that were coursing through her now.