You know where we haven't been in a while? Wong Fu's. Wanna go back there? Me, too! :-)

(This little bit of holiday fluff is set in S4, between Passenger in the Oven and The Bone That Blew, based on air dates.)

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Brennan was rinsing out her coffee cup when her phone beeped.

hey u up?

Yes, of course. It's almost 8:00 a.m. Good morning.

morning. doing anything 2day?

I thought I might go into the lab for a few hours.

its thxgiving bones

Yes, I know. The only employees there will be security personnel so I should be able to concentrate on my work without interruption.

skip the lab. rebecca has the flu so i have parker w/me. want to have lunch w/us?

You're preparing Thanksgiving dinner?

no, we r going 2 wong fus.

Is it open for business today?

yep. already called sid

Brennan stared at the screen for a moment and mentally compared the silence and solitude of her office to the image of a meal shared with a laughing little boy. Her decision was quickly reached.

I appreciate the invitation. Yes, I would enjoy having lunch with you and Parker.

great! well pick u up around 1.

I can meet you there.

well pick u up. Parker insists :)

Then please give Parker my thanks. I'll be ready when you arrive.

k

The knock on her door came a few minutes shy of 1:00 pm. "Hi, Dr. Brennan!" Parker beamed up at her from beneath the usual crop of messy curls.

"Hello, Parker," she smiled in response before her eyes lifted to the man behind him. "Thank you for inviting me to join you."

He shrugged. "I figured since you said you weren't going to North Carolina . . ."

Her brow creased as she looked the two of them over. "I feel somewhat under-dressed," she murmured as she compared the khakis and sweaters they wore to her own simple jeans. "Perhaps I should change."

"No, don't worry about it," Booth shook his head. "You look great."

"I should have taken into account the significance of the occasion," she disagreed. "I believe I would feel more comfortable if my attire matched yours. I'll be right back."

As she disappeared down the hallway to her bedroom, Parker looked up at his father with a frown. "What did she say?"

Booth laughed and ruffled the boy's hair. "She's changing clothes so she'll look as spiffy as we do."

"Girls." Parker rolled his eyes.

He nodded wisely. "Get used to waiting, son. It's what men do."

They didn't wait long, however, as she was back in short order dressed in slim black slacks and a silky lavender blouse that shimmered as she moved. When she pulled her coat from the closet, Booth stepped forward to hold it for her while she slipped it on.

Parker controlled the conversation with bright commentary and a barrage of questions that lasted from the moment Brennan locked her apartment to Booth holding open the door of Wong Fu's. She learned Rebecca had been sick for two days, that Booth had made pancakes for breakfast and that as far as Parker was concerned, pumpkin pie was the best part of Thanksgiving dinner. He wanted to know why she was alone for the day (because her brother was traveling with his wife's family), why she wanted to work when she could have a day off (she could concentrate better without the distractions of a busy lab) and why she still didn't own a television (her free time was taken up with other activities).

Booth simply listened to the non-stop chatter between the two of them and smiled.

At the restaurant, he surprised Brennan by shepherding them to an oval-shaped booth. "Isn't the bar your territory?" she reminded him archly.

"Special occasion, Bones," he answered with a shrug as he allowed Parker to scoot in between the two of them. "Just go with it."

Sid approached with a welcoming smile, followed by a waitress with a tray of drinks. "Happy Thanksgiving, my friends," he said as he and Booth clasped hands.

"I want pumpkin pie!" Parker chirped. "A really big piece, with whipped cream!"

"Well," the big man laughed, "I'm glad I just happen to have one on hand." He stepped back as two other waiters approached carrying full plates. "Just let me know when you're ready." He patted Booth's shoulder. "Enjoy."

"This looks delicious," Brennan said appreciatively as she picked up her fork.

"Wait!" Parker exclaimed before she could take a bite. "What about the three things, Dad?" he asked Booth. "It's Thanksgiving!"

"Oh, right." Booth nodded. "It's a tradition we have," he explained to Brennan. "Pops started it with me and Jared when we were little. You know, Thanksgiving, giving thanks . . . " He looked at her a bit uncertainly. "We tell each other three things we're thankful for before we eat. Do you mind?"

"No, of course not." She put down the fork immediately. "Traditions are very important. They serve as a way to strengthen the bonds between members of a group. Shared experiences -"

Booth raised one hand. "How 'bout we just go with 'traditions are important'?" he asked with a smirk, then turned to Parker. "You can go first, sport."

Parker dangled an empty fork from his lips as he considered his options. "Um . . . I'm thankful for you and Mom," he grinned at Booth. "And . . . I'm thankful Sid didn't give me any broccoli," with a grimace at his plate. His face scrunched and then brightened. "And I'm thankful we have a whole week off from school!"

Booth chuckled. "Good job, buddy." He squeezed Parker's shoulder. "Let's see - I'm thankful for you, and for Pops and Jared." He paused a moment. "I'm thankful to live in this country and for the freedoms we have." He caught Brennan's eye then and lifted his glass. "And I'm thankful for good friends," he finished softly.

Her lips curved in response before she picked up her fork. "That was a lovely moment. I enjoyed your tradition."

"Your turn, Dr. Brennan." Parker stared at her expectantly.

"My turn?" She looked at Booth in surprise.

He nodded as he raised his arm to the back of the seat behind his son. "What was it you said? Share the experience?"

"Alright." She placed the fork across the edge of her plate. "Well . . . I'm thankful that I have reconnected with my brother." She didn't quite meet Booth's eyes as she continued in a murmur, "and my father." A line formed between her eyebrows and then disappeared. "I'm also thankful for the Jeffersonian and the support they provide for my work." She hesitated briefly and then looked directly at Booth. "And I am thankful for our partnership," she told him. "I find it very rewarding."

He blinked in surprise and then offered her a wide, happy grin. "Wow." He inclined his head toward her. "Thanks, Bones."

"You're welcome." Her hand hovered above her fork. "Are there any other traditions to honor or may we begin eating now?"

"Tuck in!" Booth ordered cheerfully.

Silverware clinked against china as they began to eat. "My teacher told us about the first Thanksgiving." Parker spoke between mouthfuls of potatoes. "I think it was nice of the Pilgrims to share their food with the Indians."

Brennan shook her head. "That's inaccurate. The first recorded day of Thanksgiving was actually celebrated after the massacre of the Pequot Indian tri-"

"No!" Booth hurried to cut her off. "Thanksgiving is about the Pilgrims and Indians having dinner together."

"That story is a myth, Booth," she stated. "The injuries inflicted on the indigenous population-"

"Pilgrims, Bones," Booth said. "Tall hats, square-toed shoes. They wore a lot of black." He looked at Parker who was staring avidly from one to the other. "The Indians brought pumpkin pie."

"That is simply not-"

"Hey!" Booth smiled brightly. "Did you know Parker can make a turkey out of the outline of his hand?"

Parker made a noise of disgust. "Dad, that's baby stuff. I'm seven!"

"Show Bones the turkey, Parker."

"Dad-"

"He should be taught the truth-"

"Fine, I'll draw the turkey. Who's got a pen?"

From behind the bar, Sid watched the ruckus at their table and hid his laughter. His customers always provided the best entertainment.

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I'm thankful for my family, for my children and grandchildren and the new baby who'll be here in June.

I'm thankful for the life I have. In a world where too many do without, I'm fortunate and I'm grateful.

I'm thankful for this little hobby and the fun I have with it, and for you, because you're willing to read my scribblings.

Whether you're in the US or somewhere else on the globe, Happy Thanksgiving!