Chapter 10 Epilogue: Chesapeake Haven

A/N: For this chapter, Pops is still alive.

As September passed whenever their caseload and time permitted, Booth and Brennan researched, visited, and considered properties near the Open Farm house they had leased during the summer. At first, they drove around some on their own, then decided to have Agent Forester's wife Carla assist in their house-hunting.

Seeking to contribute financially to Brennan's proposed anniversary gift, Booth at first considered selling the acreage Broadsky had purchased in his name. Once he realized how much it had appreciated since the misguided sniper's imprisonment, he thought of a better use for the proceeds he might receive. Post-graduate education was even more costly than earning an initial baccalaureate degree, and university fees were sure to increase year by year, so he resolved to set those funds aside for their children's future use. Mrs. Forester predicted that real estate would appreciate considerably in the next five years, so taking her advice, he shelved the idea of selling for the time being.

In late October, the Ryan's had invited them back to Peregrine Cliffs and both the partners reveled in the spectacular view of Chesapeake Bay from their glass-walled family room. They had been touring some spectacular houses in a new Ocean City development perched right on the Atlantic barrier island. When they drove around the area, Booth chuckled they should build a Louisiana-style stilt house on marshy Dog and Bitch Island. Assuming he was serious, Brennan had disagreed because their address would subject the kids to teasing. As she took in his merry expression, she smiled at his teasing.

It was his turn to roll his eyes and scowl when she began lecturing him on why the Chesapeake Bay estuary was a better choice; more sheltered from devastation when violent coastal storms and hurricanes hit Maryland.

"Bones, I studied regional geography in college too, Bones!"

During their visit, Cathy Ryan mentioned that Tom Patterson, one of the Wilmer Eye Institute pharmacists, was retiring to Texas where his daughter directed the Michael DeBakey VA Kidney Transplant program, and his North Beach summer home was for sale.

Before completing the Texas A&M Pharmacy graduate program, Patterson had studied chemistry and architecture at College Station and designed his summer residence. During high school, he witnessed the damage in Corpus Christi from Hurricane Celia in 1970. The Texas A&M Galveston campus buildings were hurricane-proof, and so was his boxy reinforced concrete summer house

Carla Forester reminded them of this fact when she scheduled an appointment to show Booth and Brennan the unique structure. Booth loved it immediately; clean lines, open views of the Bay, and rock solid construction. Its lines were similar to their 1950's modern Mighty Hut II which she'd chosen after attacking Delta Force operatives destroyed their first home. S

he appreciated the sturdy protection it offered. In addition, the fossil-laden Calvert Cliffs State Park a half-hour south would intrigue their children and stimulate an interest in science. After an exhaustive tour of the house, outbuildings, and land, the couple had talked all the way back to DC. By the following morning they had decided to submit an offer.

After years working with Dr. Cathy Ryan, Tom Patterson knew she was an astute judge of character. When Brennan and Booth's realtor called, he'd already heard about them and was pleased that his beloved home would be in good hands. He accepted their purchase price readily, adding a request to show off its energy-saving innovations. When they met at closing, Booth knew he'd need to bring Pops along for the tour. The old man loved Patterson's inventions and gadgets, and sighed that his wife always loved the area.

They made some universal access renovations to accommodate guests like Pops, and furnished the house with long-stored keepsakes from Booth's apartment and Brennan's condo. Moving in the week before Thanksgiving felt like a sentimental return to their 'just partners' past. They kept the easily-maintained furnishings minimal to insure leisure time there truly gave them rest. When their anniversary rolled around, Brennan knew she'd accomplished her goal.