(The Promise in the Palace)

Thank you for reviewing my story. I appreciate it.

I don't own Bones.

Ooooooooooooooooo

The day of the barbecue, Aubrey arrived at the Booth/Brennan household and set up the barbecue. The christening was being attended by immediate family and he had decided not to take advantage of Booth and insert himself into that family moment. He had volunteered to come over while everyone was at church, start the grill and get the briskets going. While he was alone, he moved a chair under the oak tree in the middle of the yard and started to read 'Old Man's War' by John Scalzi. He'd heard good things about it and was eager to see what it was about.

Engrossed in his book, the agent wasn't aware he wasn't alone until he heard someone clear their throat near the patio. Closing his book, he looked up and spied Brennan's intern, Jessica Warren standing next to the grill with a cooler on the ground next to her feet. "I brought some wine, some chocolate bars, some graham crackers and some marshmallows if anyone wants to make some Smores later."

"Cool." Aubrey placed his book on his chair, walked over to where the intern was standing and picked up the cooler. "Let's put the cooler next to back wall in the shade. Booth has a cooler in the kitchen he's going to fill with beer and ice when he gets back." Placing the blue cooler next to the green cooler already there, Aubrey patted his cooler. "I brought some beer and some moon pies for the kids. I also have some Hershey bars with almonds in here, but don't tell the kids about those."

"Oh, I won't." Jessica walked over to a chair and started to pull it towards the oak tree. "I'll sit out there with you. There's a nice breeze and the shade looks inviting."

Being a gentleman, Aubrey picked up the chair and carried it out to the tree. Once it was placed about two feet from his chair, he picked up his book and sat down. Though they had dated a couple of times, Aubrey still wasn't sure where they stood relationship wise. He liked the intern and she was a big Star Wars fan which was a turn on, but so far he had resisted making the relationship more than a friendship. He had a lot of personal baggage that he just couldn't seem to let go. His father had destroyed his childhood when the bastard abandoned his mother and it worried him that he was his father's son. It worried him a lot. "So, how you been? I'm sorry I haven't called you lately, but being around Booth has been an adventure and my life has been a little crazy."

"I've been working on some of the remains in Bones Storage at the Lab and I've learned a lot from Dr. Brennan. She's amazing." Jessica noticed someone walk around the corner of the house carrying a cooler and waved. "Lance, come join us."

Here we go. "Yeah, place your cooler near the other coolers, grab a chair and join us." Aubrey glanced at his watch. "I think Booth and Brennan should be back in about thirty minutes."

Once his chair was near Jessica's, the psychologist sat down. "I was at the baptism but I left. They were taking pictures of the family and Jared's baby and I decided not to hang around." Jared and Padme didn't really know him and he had decided not to take family pictures and confuse the issue for anyone. "It's starting to smell pretty good back here. You got all three briskets on the grill?"

"Yeah, Booth wanted to get them started early that way we can do hot dogs, hamburgers and grilled vegetables later." Aubrey placed his book under his chair to get it out of the way. "Dr. B has a platter of vegetable kabobs in the fridge. They look good." He was a meat eater, but he loved grilled vegetables. Dip them in barbecue sauce or ranch dressing and that was sheer heaven on a stick. "Did Booth warn you to bring your own beer? He doesn't care for artisan beer. I think he thinks it's too expensive."

Crossing his legs, Sweets smiled. "Yes, but he's always been that way. He was born poor and he doesn't believe in wasting money on fancy anything. Even though Dr. Brennan is rich, you'd never know that by the way they live. I think that's healthy. She was a foster child and she understands what it's like to be poor too."

Fascinated, Jessica listened while Sweets talked about Booth and Brennan's past. She admired Brennan and knowing some of her past helped her to understand her mentor better. "I don't think I knew that Dr. B was in foster care. That just makes her accomplishes more extraordinary."

"It does." Aubrey admired anyone that could rise up above the ashes of a bad childhood and make it in this cold and indifferent world.

The back door opening and closing caught their attention and they all turned their heads to see Booth waving at them.

"Okay, you three, you promised to help me." Booth moved over to the grill, lifted the lid to check the briskets and satisfied, closed the lid. "Sweets, the extra chairs are in the garage if you want to bring them to the backyard. Aubrey, I need you to help me lower the awning over the porch and Ms. Warren, Bones is in the kitchen. She needs help with some salads she wants to make as well as some vegetarian baked beans. Aubrey, once you and I are done with the awning, we'll help bring out the rest of the chairs and the extra folding table . . . Okay people, chop chop. Company will be here in about an hour." Before everyone scattered to do their tasks, Booth smiled. "And thank you for the help."

Ooooooooooooooooo

Soon the yard was filled with family and friends. The chairs had been scattered around the yard with some of them placed to take advantage of the shade from the two oak trees in the yard and the awning over the patio. As soon as Cam and Angela arrived, they entered the kitchen to see if they could help Brennan. Both had brought desserts to help feed the hungry guests. Hodgins had brought several cases of soda and bottled water and with the help of Jared and Aubrey placed them on the back porch with a large cooler of ice. Before Aubrey walked away, the entomologist handed Aubrey a box of gooey chocolate brownies as a reward for the help. After eating one, the agent put the box in his cooler and hoped they didn't disappear during the barbecue.

Excited about the party for her son, Padme sat on a chair in the shade on the patio and greeted newcomers as they arrived. Everyone had to take a peek at the sleeping baby and it made the new mother so happy to hear all of the compliments about her beautiful son. She would have been happy if the child had been a girl, but her son looked so much like her husband that it seemed as if she had cloned the baby instead of having given birth. Besides Jared, she had never loved anyone as much as she loved little Joseph. She knew it was going to be a struggle not to spoil the little boy as he grew up.

Soon, Cam, Angela, Brennan and Jessica carried out bowls and platters and placed them on the spare table near the side wall of the patio. Jared had already set up the paper plates, napkins, forks and knives while Booth and Aubrey had taken care of the brisket and other goodies roasting on the grill. The aroma in the backyard was so tantalizing that more than one stomach rumbled in anticipation of the coming meal.

Once everything was set up, the guests made a plate filled with grilled meats, grilled vegetables, cold salads, hot baked beans and slices of fresh bread. Quiet descended upon the party as everyone ate and enjoyed their food. Gradually conversations started back up and Booth and Brennan enjoyed the quiet happiness that seemed to settle upon everyone who had come to their little celebration. The new parents seemed to be content and little Joseph had awakened and was being cuddled by Caroline who smiled at the child. She could see Jared in the boy's features, but she could also see Booth too. This was what it was like to have a family and she knew that had been made possible by her friendship with Booth. The man had been a trial during their long friendship, but she valued him and considered him part of her family. She always would.

Sweets, Aubrey and Jessica chose to sit together under the oak tree in the middle of the yard and enjoyed their meal. The psychologist had been fascinated with the amount of food piled on both Aubrey and Jessica's plates and wondered how they could eat so much and not get sick. "You did a good job with the brisket, Aubrey."

"Thanks, I just set it up, the seasoning on the briskets is a secret that Booth mixed up before I got here." Aubrey had asked for the recipe but Booth had laughed, clapped his hand hard against the younger agent's back and walked away. "His seasoning is a secret."

Amused, Sweets laughed. "No kidding. I can't tell you how many times I've asked for the recipe. He's promised me that he'll tell me on his death bed."

"Well, I bet I could get Hodgins to analyze it and he'd figure out what was in it." Jessica loved the seasoning and she wanted it for her own future barbecues.

"If you value your job and your life, you better not do that." Concerned, Sweets frowned at the intern and hoped she was joking. "Booth would be very angry if he found out you'd done that. That's his grandfather's recipe and well, just don't do it."

The look of concern on Sweets' face told her that her idea was a bad one. "Got it."

Before Aubrey could comment, he saw Booth stand up and hold up a bottle of beer. "Listen up everyone. This barbecue is to honor my nephew and his baptism, but I'm also using this time to pass on some good news." Nodding at Jared who smiled knowingly at his brother, Booth saluted the younger man and then turned to face the crowd. "Okay, two things. Assistant Deputy Director Jason Krause retired Friday and on Monday I'm taking over his job and his office as the new Assistant Deputy Director."

The crowd erupted with cheers and well wishes. Brennan had known what was coming and was pleased that everyone was happy for Booth. She felt he deserved the promotion and she knew that she could work with his replacement. She didn't go in the field as much as she used to, but she felt she was still useful and would continue to work at the Lab.

Holding up his beer bottle again, Booth tried to get the well wishers to listen to him. "Okay, thanks but I did say two things . . . Aubrey, you got your promotion and you're taking over my job starting Monday."

Stunned, Aubrey stared at his mentor while everyone around him shouted congratulations to him. Finally, he stood up and smiled at Booth and waved at the crowd. "I knew I was up for a promotion, but damn I didn't expect that promotion."

Everyone in the backyard laughed.

"I've learned a lot from you, Booth and I won't let you down." Aubrey moved over to where Booth was standing and shook his hand. "Congratulations on your promotion. You deserve it."

Pleased with everyone's reaction, Booth sat down. "Okay, people, we have dessert on the table. I know you guys have room, so help yourselves."

While their guests moved to the table to choose from the pies and cake sitting on the table, Brennan sat down next to Booth and hooked her arm around his arm. "I'm so happy, Booth. You're getting what you deserve. You've worked hard and I think the FBI has made a wise choice giving you the promotion."

"Thanks, Bones. I couldn't have done it without you."

Oooooooooooooooo

This is the end of this story. Reviews have almost stopped for this story and I am taking that as a sign that this story needs to come to an end. I hope you enjoyed this story. I really enjoyed writing it. Thank you for your enthusiastic reviews over the years. You guys have been great. Bones fans are awesome.

By the way, I am still writing 'Day after Day' and 'Silent Fear'. I also have some story ideas I think I'd like to work on.