Hello, it has been a while since I have written/posted anything, but I am back with a new story :) This idea has been floating around in my head for months and I finally decided to post it. Originally, this story was going to take place in Season 3, but has since been reworked to come after Season 12.

Happy reading...

Brennan stood at the kitchen sink, washing the dishes from dinner and listening to Hank's little giggles as Christine tickled him, the two children lying on the rug in the living room. She smiled, the toddler's giggles turning into shrieks. With the plates dry and put away, she walked the short distance to the couch and stood there, unseen, watching the two siblings playing.

Hank was squirming under Christine's wiggling fingers, but the second grader was relentless. "Mamaaaaa!" He wailed, finally noticing Brennan's presence. "Wissy, stop, stop!"

Brennan was about to intervene when the phone rang. She headed over to the phone and picked it up, keeping her eyes on Hank and Christine. "Hello?"

"May I please speak with Temperance Brennan?"

"This is she." Brennan walked closer to the living room to keep a closer eye on the children.

"Good evening, Temperance. My name is Lynette Price from Child and Family Services. Is this a good time to talk?"

Brennan blinked. "One moment, please." She rested the phone against her stomach. "Christine, honey."

The seven-year-old paused and turned her head. "Yes, mommy?"

"Mommy has to take a phone call. Please watch your brother."

Christine nodded. "Okay."

Brennan smiled. "Thank you. I won't be long." She turned and walked through the glass doors that led to the atrium. "Hello, Lynette?"

"Is this a bad time?"

Brennan shook her head. "No, I have a few minutes to speak with you. What is this in regards to?"

"As I mentioned, I am from Child and Family Services. I know you are busy, so I will be brief. I have a little boy here in need of an emergency placement. He's had a rough night. He and his mother were involved in a single-car accident earlier. His injuries are minor, just some scratches and a bruised cheek, but his mother was killed."

"What about family? The child's father?"

"The police are still trying to track them down, but it appears there is no father in the picture. The name listed on the boy's birth certificate got them nowhere." Lynette paused. "Eli is being released within the hour. We should have more answers in the morning, but he needs a place to stay tonight."

Brennan nodded. "I understand." She paused, turning her body so that she could peer into the house. Booth was home from work now, she noticed. He was standing near the front door, Hank in his arms as he lifted the little boy high in the air and back down. Christine was glued to his side, her arms around his legs. He asked the girl a question and Christine pointed in Brennan's direction. She watched as he set Hank down, kissed Christine on the top of her head, and made his way towards the atrium.

"Temperance? Hello?"

She blinked, hearing the muffled voice of the woman still on the other end of the phone. "Yes, I apologize. I am still here." She paused. "How old is the child?"

"He's three, almost four."

She nodded, hearing the door creak open as Booth stepped into the room.

Booth approached her and raised an eyebrow. "The lab?" he mouthed, leaning in to give her a quick kiss on the lips.

She shook her head, holding her finger up to quiet him.

"I realize this is last minute, but that is the nature of these situations."

"I understand. When and where should I meet you?"

"A half hour in the E.R. lobby."

Brennan nodded. "I will see you then. Thank you."

"No, thank you, Temperance. See you soon. I will have all the paperwork ready for you to sign when you get here."

Brennan nodded again. "Goodbye." She hung up and sighed, glancing up at Booth, who was staring at her. "I am sorry I didn't discuss this with you first. She needed an answer as soon as possible."

Booth blinked. "Uh, discuss what with me first? Are you going to the lab now? Apologizing for having to spend the night working?"

She shook her head. "No." She grabbed his arm and led him over to the table. She sat down and waited for him to do the same. "Lynette from Child and Family Services just called."

"Did something happen to Russ?" he asked. She had just lost her father a few months ago. To lose Russ too, so soon—.

"No. I mean, I do not think so. I just spoke with him an hour ago. He did not sound distressed." She paused. "There is a little boy in need of an emergency foster home. I have to meet Lynette at the hospital in thirty minutes to pick him up."

"You said yes?"

"He just lost his mother, Booth, and his father—they do not know who he is."

He shook his head. "I was only asking for clarification, Bones. You did the right thing. It's okay. When do we have to pick him up?"

"I have to pick him up at 7:30. You are staying here with Hank and Christine."

"Bones—."

She shook her head. "It's late, Booth." She swallowed. At times like this, they would have called Max to come and watch the children. That was not an option anymore.

He conceded. "What's his name?"

"Eli. He's three."

He nodded. "You want to put Hank to bed before you leave?"

"Yes." She turned to leave, but he grabbed her hand and intertwined their fingers. She smiled at him. "This is not my—our—first run around the track," she winked, knowing exactly what the correct idiom was, "but it will be our first since Hank was born. I am sorry I did not confer with you first before I accepted, but this situation is different from the others. Eli will likely only be with us for the night, a few days at most."

"Don't worry about it, Bones. You think I would have said no?"

"The last five months have been quite stressful and—."

"And nothing, Bones." He kissed her. "I'll make up a bed for Eli in Hank's room. It'll be like a mini sleepover."

She smiled. "I love you."

"And I love you." He wrapped his arms around her and let out a breath. He let go soon after and followed her into the house.

While Brennan tucked their son into bed, Booth sat down on the couch with Christine, her favorite book in his hands. "Before we read, I need to tell you something, sweetheart."

Christine snuggled into his side and looked up at him. "Am I in trouble? We were just playing, Daddy. I didn't hurt Hank. I was just tickling him. He was laughing and—."

He wrapped his arm around her, placing the book in his lap. "No, no, Monkey. You're not in trouble." He paused. "Do you remember Jace?"

She squinted, shifting a bit on the couch. "Uh-huh. His mommy went to heaven and his daddy was in jail. He didn't have any place to go so he came to live with us. Is he coming back?"

He shook his head. "No, baby. Jace lives with his aunt and uncle now."

"Oh." Christine sighed. "'Cause I liked Jace."

"But Mommy did get another phone call tonight. There is a little boy that needs an emergency home for the night. His name is Eli."

"Is he going to live with us?"

He nodded. "For a little while." He paused. "Mommy's going to pick him up in a few minutes. He was in a car accident tonight with his mommy."

"Is his Mommy in heaven now?"

He nodded. "Yeah, honey, she is. He was hurt too, but he's okay."

"Doesn't he have a Daddy?"

He shrugged. "We're not sure."

Christine hugged him tight. "Everybody should have a Daddy."

He ran his hand up and down her back, holding her against him.

Brennan walked out of Hank's room and made her way down the hall towards the living room. "I am leaving now, Booth."

Christine let go and jumped off the couch at the sound of her mother's voice. "Mommy, are you going to go get Eli now?"

Brennan glanced at Booth and then bent down to catch Christine as she jumped into her arms. Settling the girl on her hip, she nodded and pressed a kiss to her daughter's forehead. "Yes, I am."

"Okay. Is Daddy going with you?"

Brennan shook her head. "No, Honey. Daddy is staying here with you and Hank. I will be home soon."

"Soon is not precise, Mommy."

Brennan smiled and handed the seven-year-old over to Booth, who had gotten off the couch and come over to them.

"Say goodnight to Mom. You'll probably be in bed before she gets home."

Christine reached over and wrapped her arms around Brennan's neck. "Goodnight, Mommy."

Brennan gave Christine a goodnight kiss. She then slipped into her coat and grabbed her purse. "I should not be too late."

Booth nodded. "See you soon." He smirked and kissed her quickly on the lips. When the front door shut behind her, he turned to Christine and poked her in the belly. "Now that Mommy is gone, how about some pie?"

"I heard that, Booth! It is too late for sweets and she has already brushed her teeth," Brennan called from the other side of the door.

He laughed, shaking his head. He walked into the kitchen and set Christine on the counter. He opened the refrigerator and took out the pie platter. "What Mommy doesn't know…" Not even a minute after he had cut two slices and plated them, his cell phone chimed in his pocket. He slid it out and handed it to Christine after he read the text message. "How does she do that?"

"Mommy knows all, Daddy!" She giggled.

"I guess that means no pie."

She sighed. "No pie?" She looked at him, her eyes wide, her lips pouty.

He shrugged. "Okay, maybe one bite." He winked at her and handed her a fork.

Well, there you have it - Chapter 1. Let me know if you want more.

Thanks!