Here's my entry into the Bonesology Challenge. I changed my topic midstream so initially it may be a few days in between early chapters as I wrap up the last few parts.

Chapter 1 starts on Thanksgiving and leads right up to Christmas. Enjoy.

November 23, 2017

Thanksgiving was cold but sunny in DC. Aubrey got out of bed excited for the day except for one thing…seeing Jessica Warren at Thanksgiving dinner.

After she broke up with him eight months ago, his heart was broken. He wanted to find her after the conclusion to the Kovacs case to continue their conversation, but he couldn't do it. He didn't want to know why the only woman he ever loved…stopped loving him. They never said the words, but he knew they were heading towards a future. To have that not happen cut him deeply.

He knew she was surprised to see him a month later at a crime scene. When he explained that he took a position in DC instead of LA, for a second he thought he saw…regret and happiness. However, remembering how she broke up with him in an interrogation room clouded his thoughts. When she asked if he wanted to get a cup of coffee sometime, he tersely turned her down before going back to work. Never again would he risk his heart with her again…or with anyone. He refused to let himself be destroyed like his mother was after his father left.

After that day, Jessica tried to reach him by phone, Facebook Messenger, and Twitter asking to talk. He wanted to talk to her initially but now, it hurt too much to speak to her, much less look at her. All he wanted to do at that point was to forget her.

Easier said than done.

When she left to study for the summer in Scotland, he told himself that he didn't care. Whenever he began missing her, he remembered how she broke his heart and he was able to push down his feelings. When she returned to the States and they worked another case together, it would be totally professional.

Until his ex-girlfriend returned to the States with a new boyfriend. Samir Vashir was a translator from the Pakistani Embassy in Edinburgh who transferred to DC. They grew up together at her cooperative. He was articulate and smart, but also a pompous windbag. However, she seemed happy around him and his heart hurt at how easily he was replaced.

Luckily, Karen was with him when they ran into Jessica and Samir at Founding Fathers. After a quick introduction and separation, Aubrey poured his heart out once again to the psychologist. Eventually their talking turned into getting trashed together and he woke up the next morning hungover and naked in Karen's bed.

In shock, he got dressed and came out to her kitchen, where she was cooking him breakfast. As she took care of him that morning, he realized that Karen had been there for him when he needed her. She listened to him talk about Jessica and always made his favorites for dinner, and always willing to do what he wanted without pushback. He knew she had stronger feelings for him than he did for her, but he was lonely and she made him the most important thing in her life.

He needed that. He knew she would always be there for him and she was a good person. While it wasn't love, he was confident that they could grow into more in time. So instead of an awkward goodbye, he decided to pursue the relationship the woman had hinted she wanted from him for the last several months.

It wasn't easy though being Karen's boyfriend. She wasn't a big fan of his friends, especially from the lab and he knew the feeling was mutual. His time with Booth, Brennan, and everyone else was few and far between to his sadness, but Karen needed to his number one priority.

Her possessiveness was getting to him, though. Two weeks ago she ripped him a new asshole because he had lunch with his ASAC Genny Shaw at Founding Fathers instead of being available when she surprised him with lunch from the diner. He finally told her that enough was enough and she had to either trust him or dump him. She apologized for her behavior and he accepted. However, he needed space, so he came home alone. It was nice to be just him and his cat Skinner because the orange tabby didn't like her either. His nights alone began to outnumber the nights Karen came home with him and he felt relieved. They also hadn't been sexually active since that last fight, but he wasn't missing that very much either.

During those night alone, he realized that he still missed Jessica. While he missed the romance and sex, most of all he missed their friendship. Outside of Booth, she was his best friend, someone he trusted. He had days where he was very lonely without her.

Did she miss their friendship, too? She told him more than once that he was her best friend and she would never care about another person like she did for him. Of course, she never told him those three words he wanted to hear…but he never spoke them in kind to her either.

Perhaps that's why she seemed to hesitate when he told her he was serious about her…and why didn't want to come to LA with him. He always tried to reassure her he wasn't like his father, but all that did was annoy her. Of course, in the end it didn't matter because she dumped him and they moved on to new partners.

Only to himself would he admit that Jessica was still in his dreams. Shamefully he also still saw her face more than once while he was intimate with Karen. It frustrated him that it still sometimes hurt to be around his former girlfriend. Once again he pondered whether he should have met up with Jessica when she asked him to back in April. Shaking his head, he decided that he made the right decision by cutting her out of his life.

Putting his thoughts back to his holy day, Aubrey was determined to concentrate on the food and his friends. To his relief, Karen had agreed to his request to spend Thanksgiving with Booth and Brennan. Things were still strained between them but it was the holidays. Once they got through them, Karen would finally relax and they could move forward.

Then, when it didn't make his heart hurt, he and Jessica could go back to being friends again.

Grinding beans for his coffee, he started the machine before heading to the bathroom to take a shower.

*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*

Cam was running around the kitchen putting the finishing touches on her green bean casserole that she was bringing to Booth's house. Her cooking skills were…not the greatest, but everyone liked this dish. When it was done, she placed it in the fridge before pulling out a carton of eggs.

"Mom…where's the coffee?"

Cam turned to see Michelle saunter sleepily into the kitchen in her pajamas. "Over there. It's the Turkish coffee, though. If you want regular coffee, you have to brew it."

Michelle picked up the dallah and poured some. "That's okay. I'm used to it by now, Mom."

Cam stopped beating the eggs to hug her daughter. "Have I told you how nice it is to have you home for Thanksgiving?"

"You have. I'm glad my FBI academy class doesn't start until January."

"Me, too." Cam said quietly, shaking off her recurring fear of Michelle being injured in the line of duty. "Since you're up, we have four men who will be hungry soon. I'm okay at making the adasi, but I'm still mastering the omelets from Iran Arastoo and your brothers like so much."

Michelle hugged her mom. "You've got this, Mom. I'll work on the adasi and heat up the bread for the omelets while you make them."

"Sounds good."

The two women worked in the kitchen until Cam was startled by a pair of arms around her waist. "Oh, you scared me, Arastoo."

Michelle giggled as her stepfather kissed her mom's cheek. "Who else is going to do this?"

"Do you really want me to answer that?" Cam responded with a sly smile.

"Cam, there are children in the kitchen." Arastoo joked back as his stepdaughter laughed. "Michelle, you better have left me some coffee."

"Yes, Dad…" Michelle giggled again. "I left you plenty of coffee, Arastoo."

"Thanks." As Arastoo poured, they heard feet coming towards the kitchen. "The boys are up."

Cam watched her three boys parade into the kitchen. "Morning, guys."

"Morning, Mom." Isaiah said before opening the fridge. "I'm hungry."

"Out of the fridge. I'm making breakfast." Cam replied.

"Should I get the cereal just in case?" Isaiah retorted jokingly.

Cam turned and pointed her spatula towards her middle son. "Hey there, smartass. I've been doing better."

Isaiah peeked into the pan. "I'm hungry, Mom. When's dinner with Uncle Booth?"

"We're heading over at noon, Hollow Leg." Arastoo saw Tyler hovering outside. "Hey you, come join us."

The teenager entered the kitchen but stopped. "It looks crowded."

"Yeah, but that's what happens when we have four kids in the house." Arastoo said. "We're making those Persian omelets for breakfast."

Tyler looked uncomfortable. "I'll just have cereal, Cam."

Cam became sad. She had developed a close relationship with Isaiah and Jordan, but there was still distance between herself and Tyler. "Sure."

"Where's the milk, Dad?"

Arastoo also caught the small snub but with Cam's head shake let it go. "On the counter."

"Tyler, why are you calling Mom by her first name? She's Mom." Jordan said innocently.

Wanting to avoid an awkward moment, Cam jumped in. "He can call me whatever he wants, Jordan. I'm okay with Cam."

Seeing her mother sad, Michelle jumped in. "Hey guys, lets go watch the Macy's Thanksgiving parade while Arastoo and Mom make breakfast."

"Cool!" Jordan ran until stopped by Arastoo.

"Walk, Jordan. The parade will still be on television." Arastoo saw his stepdaughter and mouthed, "Thank you."

"No problem." The young woman whispered before disappearing with the boys.

Arastoo turned to see Cam giving intense focus to the food on the stove. Putting his arm around her, he squeezed. "I'm sorry, Cam. Tyler…he's getting there."

"I know. He remembers his mother the most, so it's hard for him to be close to me."

"He'll be there before you know it." Arastoo kissed the top of his wife's head. "Now, I'll help with breakfast. It's the least I can do after keeping my wife up late last night."

The pathologist giggled. "Arastoo, we almost woke up the kids with what you did…"

"Because you liked it. 'Oh Arastoo…Arastoo…oh yeah…'" The forensic anthropologist stirred the lentil soup until Cam smacked his arm. "Hey, no spousal abuse on Thanksgiving."

*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*

Booth slid the turkey in the oven and shut the door. "Yes…I love Thanksgiving. Turkey…stuffing…football…napping…"

"Booth, remember to leave room for my Tofurkey." Brennan replied as she put the last pie on the counter to cool.

"Bones…no one ate that fake meat last year—"

"Aubrey ate my tofu artichoke squares…"

"Because he thought it was chicken." Booth retorted. "He didn't eat any of your Tofurkey last year. Not even that Dr. Fuentes that always flirts with you ate any of it."

"Well, he's not coming this year due to his new position in Connecticut, so you don't have to worry about him. I respect that most will eat that…dirty bird, but there is nothing wrong with choice."

"Bones, not even your father would eat it…" Booth got quiet. "I'm sorry."

"Booth, it's okay." Brennan began mashing potatoes. "I know the holidays…this is the first Thanksgiving since Dad died…I've been through holidays with parents before, you know."

"Yeah, but that's when your mom and dad were on the run." Booth said quietly. "Remember two years ago when he fought with Aubrey for the wishbone."

"He complained when Aubrey won…" Brennan smiled. "There's no such thing as a wish coming true from cartilage, but for his sake, I hope it did."

"It did, Bones…it took another year and a half, but he finally got Jessica." Seeing his wife's questioning look, he smiled. "He had a crush on her even then."

"But they're broken up now…and seeing other people." Brennan added cream cheese to her potatoes. "They seem to be moving on."

"Yeah, Aubrey's with Karen and Jessica is with that Samir guy, but…they're not over, Bones." Booth went to refill his coffee. "I see they way they still look at each other when they think no one else notices. It's not over."

"Booth, if Aubrey and Ms. Warren still care about each other, why are they dating others? It's not logical to be with someone else."

"A lot of things, Bones. They hurt each other and…I think they're scared of being rejected as well as taking another chance and failing. Aubrey says that he misses having a buddy to go to his weird science fiction stuff with him, but I think he misses her friendship."

"Ms. Warren's boyfriend seems to have very expensive tastes that I don't think she appreciates those things the same way." Brennan thought for a minute. "She does seem…quieter when Aubrey is mentioned or seen. Perhaps she also misses him."

"Well, hopefully they work it out because Karen…I don't know how Aubrey deals with her. She's a pain in the ass when Aubrey isn't joined up at her hip and he can't even talk to you without her being put out. It's ridiculous. I didn't want her here today to ruin my holiday."

"Well, we had to include her today, Booth."

"I know and I'll be polite to her. Aubrey is my friend and I can do that." Booth looked around. "Will we have enough food? Russ, Amy and the girls will be here in a couple of hours, plus Cam and Arastoo have Michelle and the boys today."

"There will be enough food, Booth." Bones went back to her task. "Jeffrey is three weeks old and only partakes in Angela's breast milk."

"Bones! Come on…" Booth's phone rang. Seeing who was on the other line killed his mood, but he couldn't ignore the call with his wife in the kitchen. "Hello…hi Mom…yeah, just getting ready for dinner…yep have a houseful coming over…all right…"

Seeing Christine walking Hank into the open area, Booth switched gears. "Hey, Christine is up. I'm sure you want to talk to her." Putting the phone onto his chest, he called his daughter over. "Hey Monkey, want to talk to Grandma Marianne?"

"Yeah!"

"Here's your granddaughter…yeah…yeah…bye." Booth handed his daughter the phone and sighed in relief.

"Christine, go ahead and take Daddy's phone into the living room so Hank can talk to her, too." When their children were out of earshot, Brennan turned to her husband. "Booth…you can't keep avoiding your mother."

"I'm not avoiding her, Bones. We have a holiday dinner to prepare and a house to get situated." Booth cleaned up the counter.

"Booth—"

"Bones…drop it, please."

Before Brennan could say anything else, Christine brought the phone back. "Daddy, Grandma wants to talk to you."

"I've got to get in the shower. Give the phone to your mother, please."

Brennan watched her husband walk away. Taking the phone, Brennan smiled for her daughter's sake. "Hello Marianne…yes it's Temperance…Booth needed to get dressed because we have guests arriving in a little while…Christmas at Lake Tahoe? Booth and I plan to stay home around the holidays, but thank you for the offer."

"Christine, can you keep Hank occupied while I finish up in here?" When the child left the kitchen, the anthropologist listened on the other line. "I will let Booth know you will call back, but we have guests today, so he won't have time to speak to you…Marianne, I will not talk to my husband on your behalf. Now, I need to prepare dinner for several people. Happy Thanksgiving."

'But Temperance, please—"

Brennan ended the call and put the phone on the counter. While she felt her husband needed to get past his anger with his mother for her actions, she agreed with his stance completely.

*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*

A sleek Lexus pulled into Booth and Brennan's driveway and parked. Getting out, Jessica held a salad as Samir locked the door.

"I'm glad you came today, Samir. My friends are great to be around."

"I still think Ahmed's luncheon would be better career wise for both of us to attend-."

Jessica rolled her eyes as they rehashed an argument of the last week. "Then go ahead and go, Samir. I can get a ride home."

"Then I would look like an ass for dumping you here. We can go over for brunch tomorrow."

"I have plans tomorrow, remember? I'm helping Angela with the baby so she can take Michael Vincent to the dentist."

"Damn it, Jessica. Can you try to put some effort into things I like to do? I look like an ass when I show up for work functions without my girlfriend."

Jessica exhaled. Once again, she wondered why she worked so hard in this relationship. Samir was handsome, smart, fun to be around, and also most times a nice guy. However, lately, she remembered what also made him stand out at the cooperative; his need to always get his own way. He seemed to have grown up when they met up again this summer. However, ever since he came back to DC with her in August, it became obvious that maybe her boyfriend hadn't changed all that much.

While she tried to enjoy his interests, he rarely gave her the same courtesy. When she asked him to join her for the midnight premiere of The Last Jedi in three weeks, he told her no and once again made fun of her.

"Jessica…haven't you outgrown that…trite stuff yet? You were into it when we were growing up but you're 29 years old now. It's time to appreciate more mature interests."

If she and Aubrey were closer, she could go with him. They always had so much fun together because they liked the same things. While they didn't always agree on certain topics, he still respected her stances and never made fun of her.

Yes, things were strained once his promotion to LA came up, but the commitment elephant already hung over them. She was hurt and angry when he responded her catching Cam's bouquet by getting shitfaced, but she loved him. What broke her was his halfhearted offer to join him in LA after he discussed it with several people except her. She was still unsure, but when Dr. B confirmed that there would be no way for her transfer her fellowship to UCLA, she realized what she had to do.

Breaking up with Aubrey broke her heart, but she cared about him…no, loved him enough to not keep him from the opportunity of a lifetime.

When she found out he stayed in DC, she got her hopes up. They had problems, but maybe in time they could have worked things out. She was scared, but if they had any chance of at least being friends…or even getting back together, she had to tell him how she felt. She wanted him back and she would do anything.

However, he wouldn't talk to her. She tried everything to contact him, but he ignored her. She knew that he was deeply hurt by their break up but she had hoped to maybe salvage their friendship. He was the best friend she ever had, but it was obvious that James Aubrey didn't want anything to do with her.

Then she heard the gossip about Aubrey and Karen spending time together and realized he was ignoring her because he had already moved on without her. When the opportunity for the summer internship in Scotland came up, she was hesitant. Trying one more time, she left him a letter pouring out her feelings and left her overseas contact information. He never responded and she accepted the offer to go study at the University of Edinburgh.

Still, she hoped he would call her while she was there, but Aubrey never called her in Scotland either. Meeting up with Samir in Edinburgh made it less lonely for her and when he offered his affection, she took it. She felt it to be a fling and she thought he had the same understanding.

To her amazement, he surprised her the day before she went back to DC with the news that he took a transfer to the embassy there. However, with Aubrey ignoring her and Samir following her, perhaps it was a sign. The vibe wasn't there but vibes brought her Aubrey and it didn't work out.

When they met up with Aubrey and Karen a week after her return it was awkward. When she saw Karen take Aubrey's hand and he complied, Jessica finally acknowledged that she missed her chance. Pushing the last of her hesitation aside, she vowed to put 110% into her relationship with Samir. If he was willing to move to be with her, she owed him that.

But over the last several weeks, it was obvious to her that they were going in two separate directions. However, she didn't want to dump another boyfriend for something trivial as differences. It was the holidays and she didn't want to make a rash decision.

Samir was a good guy and his flaws aside, did try his best. However, she couldn't deny the fact that he would never take Aubrey's place in her heart. But it was time to move on. If Aubrey could do it and forget how special they were, she could do the same.

Angela warned her that Aubrey and Karen would be coming today. She knew that Karen didn't like hanging out with the lab group and the profiler especially didn't like her around anywhere. She didn't go to the Labor Day barbecue Booth and Brennan gave to be respectful, but she wasn't avoiding Thanksgiving because Aubrey's new girlfriend was insecure about her. If she didn't know that James Aubrey was a faithful and honorable man, then he deserved better.

Knocking on the door, they were greeted by Angela holding her newborn son. "Hey it's Jessica…and Samir. Come on in."

"Thanks. I made that grape salad that Dr. B requested."

"Awesome. Samir, can you get the door? Thanks." Angela led the way towards the open area. "Everyone else is here. Go ahead and put that on the counter, please. Brennan is with Christine."

The redhead saw everyone, but her eyes zeroed in on the lanky man standing in the kitchen by the refrigerator. Putting the salad down on the center island, she forced a smile on her face. "Happy Thanksgiving, Aubrey."

Aubrey wasn't prepared for the punch in the gut he got when she walked in with her boyfriend. Taking a breath, he composed himself. "Happy Thanksgiving, Jessica."

'So formal…he never calls me Jess anymore.' Jessica sensed the wall he put up but was determined to be polite. "How are you, Aubrey?"

"Good…busy with Major Crimes." Aubrey took a drink of his beer. "How are you?"

"Good…busy with the lab and my dissertation. I'm finally able to start putting all my data together and I may be able to graduate by the end of the fall semester next year."

"That's great, Jess…Jessica." Aubrey groaned inwardly. 'This shouldn't be so fucking hard.'

"So um…are you still going to see the midnight showing of The Last Jedi?" Jessica pulled the lid off the salad. "I'm super stoked for it."

"Heck yeah. It's going to be great. Luke, Leia, it's going to rock…" Realizing his manners, he opened the fridge. "Do you want a beer?"

"Yeah, that would be great…thanks."

Aubrey pulled out a Yuengling and opened it. "Here you go."

"Thank you."

In the living room, Karen watched the exes with eagle eyes. She hated being so jealous, but every time she saw Aubrey with another woman, she got insecure. Seeing the redheaded intern here intensified that insecurity, especially since she saw the way her boyfriend watched Jessica when she wasn't looking. He never looked at her like that…ever.

When she saw them laughing, she'd had enough. She worked too hard to get Aubrey to let him get caught in that little crotch's web again. Walking over, she overheard them.

"My brother Aaron was in town last month and he said to tell you hi."

"Tell him I said the same. How's his wife?"

"Nadia is great, thanks. She's going back to work full time."

"Really? That's cool."

Karen put her arm around her boyfriend and looked at the interloper. "Jessica…nice seeing you today. Aubrey and I are glad you came."

Jessica's good mood iced over at the profiler's arrival. Karen was the one who told her that Aubrey would resent her if he gave up the opportunity to go to LA. She also was the one that told her about Aubrey's reluctance to commit, which was proven when he got trashed at Cam and Arastoo's wedding when she caught the bouquet.

But she had no room to talk. That scared her to death, too. But it was too convenient that the woman who suggested breaking up with Aubrey became his girlfriend soon after.

"You know, Samir is in the living room, Jessica. I'm sure he would like to spend time with his girlfriend instead of you hogging your ex." Karen said in a direct tone.

Jessica could see Aubrey was embarrassed, but the profiler, while she had the subtlety of an elephant, had a point. "Well, I'll talk to you later, Aubrey. Nice seeing you, Karen."

Aubrey watched Jessica walk away from the awkward scene before turning to Karen. "What the hell was that about?" He whispered harshly.

"What? I just wanted to say hi to Jessica." Karen grabbed a carrot. "She was ignoring her boyfriend and that's pretty rude."

"He was talking to Booth and Hodgins. He wasn't sad and alone in a corner."

Dipping her carrot into the ranch dip, Karen chewed. "Well, she shouldn't be flirting with her ex-boyfriend at a Thanksgiving dinner. You shouldn't be encouraging her either."

"I wasn't…we were friends before we dated Karen. She was my best friend and I've missed hanging out with her sometimes. Just because we're broken up means I can't talk to her socially. It's called being polite."

"She's the same woman who made you a depressed mess for most of the summer. It took me a long time to get you out of that funk. Just remember who you're dating."

"Karen, quit being possessive. We've talked about this and you promised you would quit getting so clingy and jealous." Aubrey slugged a drink. "I'm going into the living room."

The psychologist watched her boyfriend walk away. She hated how Aubrey always made her feel jealous and insecure. She knew he was a good guy, but she didn't want to take a chance and lose him. Especially since she knew he still had feelings for his ex-girlfriend.

*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*

Once everyone gathered around the table and were seated, Booth stood up. "Okay everyone. It's time for everyone to say one thing you're thankful for. I'll start…I'm grateful that after what happened at the lab last March, we all got out in one piece. We lost Max this year, but I'm sure he's looking down at us shaking his fist at Aubrey because he wanted a rematch with the wishbone."

Everyone laughed and Booth continued. "We have a new member of our family…"

Karen smiled as she wanted for her name to be called but was disappointed when Booth looked at Angela, who was feeding her son with a bottle.

"Jeffrey William Hodgins…that little guy got through a bomb and being three weeks early for his parents, but he's welcomed into our family." Booth inhaled. "I'm also grateful for my friends, my family, and most of all, for my wife. Bones…you're my best friend and I'm grateful that we have this life together…and I hope we have many more."

Three people down it was Aubrey's turn. "I just want to say…this has been a year of…change. My father is in prison and I have a new job at the FBI that thanks to Booth's patient coaching, I think I'm doing all right at."

The table chuckled. "There's one more thing I'm grateful for."

Karen preened again, expecting to hear her name. What he said next infuriated her instead.

"It's the friendship of everyone at this table. It may be strained at times…" Aubrey looked right at Jessica, "…but you're all the best friends I've ever had. You're my family. I…love you all."

Jessica hoped that she wasn't blushing too hard. She suspected it earlier when they talked but now Aubrey's eyes were conveying a silent message to her that he wanted to be friends again. Grateful, she smiled. She missed him so much.

As for Karen, she was also red, but in humiliation. Not only has Aubrey's friends so far barely acknowledged her place with the agent, but he also gave a toast that even a fool would see what directed at his ex-girlfriend. It was getting harder and harder to ignore.

Everyone at the table noted the profiler's irritation but held back their smiles. Michelle was next as the table continued the round. Before the second side of the table, the kids table got a chance to say thanks. Jordan led the way.

"I'm glad that we got nice parents for Thanksgiving. Thanks Dad and Mom!"

Isaiah stood and did the same. "I'm glad we live here now, right Tyler? We have a cool new mom and dad."

The teenager didn't like the spotlight, so he stood up reluctantly. "Um yeah…thanks Dad…thanks Cam."

Finally, it was Samir's turn. Standing up, he held his cup of tea. "I am thankful for this invitation to dinner. My girlfriend has warm friends and it's with great pleasure that I make this announcement."

Clearing his throat, he smiled. "This morning, I was offered the position of head translator to the Consulate General in Ottawa, Canada…and Jessica is coming with me."

Speechless, Jessica turned to her boyfriend. "Uh, what?"

"Congratulations, Ms. Warren." Brennan said. "However, I can't transfer your internship. Do you know what you'll do?"

"She does have a Masters Degree so she'll figure out something, Dr. Brennan. Canada will be great for her." Samir sat down and kissed her cheek.

Not wanting to embarrass her boyfriend, she merely nodded her head. "Yeah…"

For Aubrey, his feelings were crushed. 'She wouldn't go to LA with me, but she'll go to Canada with him? I guess we're really over.'

Looking up, he saw Jessica looking back at him. While they weren't together anymore, he knew that she didn't look happy, but he was with Karen now and he needed to accept that.

As for Karen, she felt sad as once again, Aubrey gazed at his ex in a way he never looked at her. Something had to change…and soon.

*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*

After the last guest had gone, Booth and Brennan were cleaning up when the agent's phone rang. Not looking at the Caller ID, he answered. "Booth…hey Mom…"

Brennan stopped what she was doing and watched her husband.

"It was a good Thanksgiving…it's late though and we're cleaning up…Christmas in Tahoe…no, Mom we're staying home this year…because it's what we do…I appreciate your offer to pay for our flight but no, I have too much going on to have Christmas with you, Reggie, and his kids…Mom…I said no…I'm not talking to you about this…good night."

"So she asked you about Tahoe?" Seeing Booth's saw tighten, she put her hand on his shoulder. "It sounds nice…"

"No Bones. We can stay here in DC. We host Christmas every year and it's already planned."

"Is that the reason or is it because you're mad at your mother?"

"Bones…I don't want to fight on Thanksgiving. I just don't want to uproot the kids across the country when we already have traditions of our own. No thanks."

Brennan knew better than to press the issue tonight. "Okay, Booth."

*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*

Arastoo and Cam were driving the boys home as Michelle was going to a friend's house for Thanksgiving. The chatter was loud and boisterous. However, as they crossed back into DC from Virginia, Jordan asked a question.

"Dad, can we change our name from Williams to Vaziri?"

Surprised, Arastoo kept his eyes on the road. "You want to have my last name?"

"Yeah, you're my dad. Kids have dad's names." Jordan turned to his adoptive mother. "I can be a Saroyan, too, Mom."

Cam chuckled. "It's okay Jordan if you just want to be a Vaziri. Saroyan-Vaziri is a mouthful and I'll still be your mom."

"Isaiah, what do you think?"

"It was cool that you didn't make us change our names when you adopted us, but I'm cool with being a Vaziri."

Hearing silence from Tyler, Cam turned around. "Tyler, what are your thoughts?"

Eying Cam, the teenager answered surly. "Williams is our name and it always will be. We're not changing our names to Saroyan or Vaziri."

The couple looked at each other and knew they could be stepping onto a landmine. "How about this, guys? We get through the holidays and if you are still interested, we can talk to a lawyer about changing your name to Vaziri—"

"Our name is Williams!"

Choosing her words carefully, Cam turned around. "If you don't want to change your name, Tyler, we won't make you. However, if your brothers want to, we will facilitate that."

"Williams was our mother's last name. We're not changing it and I won't let you change my brothers' names. That's final."

"Tyler…don't disrespect your mother—"

"My mother is dead! Cam adopted me but she's not my mother."

Arastoo opened his mouth, but Cam put a hand on his arm. He saw his wife had tears in her eyes and dropped the subject at her request.

*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*

Karen found a spot near Aubrey's apartment to park. Stopping the vehicle, she turned to her boyfriend. "I hope there are some overnight spots open nearby. I would hate to get a ticket."

Aubrey hoped he wasn't going to start a war. "Actually Karen, if you don't mind, I need to make it an early night, so I'll just go in alone and you can go to your apartment."

"You're sending me home again?" Karen pouted. "If I didn't know better, you wanted to avoid me, Aubrey."

"Karen, I'm tired and I have to be at work early in the morning. I would be going to bed…"

The profiler moved her hand to his thigh. "I can go to bed with you. I'll give you a good night's rest, Agent Aubrey after a nice workout. I have these super sexy panties on..."

"Karen…I'm not in the mood to fuck." Aubrey moved her hand away and gave her a perfunctory kiss. "I'm heading in. I'll talk to you this weekend."

Karen watched her boyfriend get out and walk into the old brownstone building. It seemed that Aubrey was hardly in the mood for sex anymore. Yes, she had her issues with jealousy, but she was working on them. He didn't have to punish her by cutting her off.

But she couldn't ignore earlier tonight. She could no longer deny that there were feelings still between Aubrey and Jessica. Hopefully, the redhead would go away with her boyfriend. If not, she didn't know what to do.

*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*

"Samir…I'm not going to Canada with you."

The translator drove his car through Jessica's neighborhood. "Of course you are. We're a couple. There's stuff for you to do with your degrees."

"No, Samir. I'm staying to earn my doctorate with Dr. Brennan. I wish you would have discussed this with me before dinner."

"Are you mad because I surprised you with it? Jessica, that's no reason to pitch a fit and refuse to come with me. We're a couple and we need to be together."

"Why can't you just stay here, then?"

"Because it's an opportunity I can't afford to give up." Samir turned onto Jessica's street. "Now, quit being stubborn. I'm not moving until February. That's plenty of time for you to get things in order and get a visa. I'm sure Dr. Brennan will give you a letter of reference."

"Samir…for the last time, I'm not going. I'm not going to change my mind."

He pulled into Cho's Grocery and parked his vehicle. "So what the fuck are we supposed to do? Long distance? That's not going to work for me."

Closing her eyes, Jessica knew what she had to do. "Samir, we won't do long distance…because I'm breaking up with you."

"Excuse me?"

"Samir, you're a great guy and we've known each other most of our lives, but…we're going in two different directions. It's just not going to work out."

"We can make it work, Jessica. You've always been stubborn and a pain in the ass, so for once, think of someone else. We can have a future together."

Jessica knew that his surprise was partly her fault and she couldn't prolong it any longer to spare the man's feelings. "Samir…there is no future. I'm sorry. I didn't want to do this on Thanksgiving, but you forced my hand."

"So I transferred here to be with you for nothing."

"Samir, I never asked you to transfer. I knew your place was in Scotland. You made the decision to move here on your own. Don't blame this on me."

The man brooded for a moment. "You're a bitch. You don't dump people on Thanksgiving, Jessica. Get the fuck out of my car."

Jessica opened the door and had barely shut it when Samir sped out of the small parking lot, narrowly avoiding her downstairs neighbor's car. Shaking her head, she entered the code to the back door and went in. Entering her apartment, she secured it, put her leftover salad in the fridge, and shut the door.

Flopping on the couch, she ruminated over the last twenty minutes. She should be devastated that she broke up with her boyfriend, but all she felt was…relief. She hated admitting it but it was true.

This whole day started mundane, but it became one surprise after another as it moved forward.

It was nice to see Aubrey and it was better they were…friendly this time. Karen was all over him like a wet dishtowel, but that was the profiler's insecurity, not anything the agent did. Hopefully, she let Aubrey breathe sometimes.

Recalling how he looked at her during dinner, she shivered. He said he loved his friends, but only focused on her. While he specified friendship, she couldn't help but wonder if he was trying to tell her something else. Could they be more than just friends someday?

It then hit her and she couldn't lie about it any longer. She was still in love with James Aubrey…but he was taken now. As much as she wanted to tell him about Karen's part in their breakup, it wasn't her place. He was happy and that was more important to her.

If she could just get his friendship back for Christmas, that would be the best gift of all.