A/N: Nothing says Merry Christmas like a Halloween story, right? This is my first attempt at a Bones story, so feedback is definitely welcome! I hope you enjoy! :)
Temperance Brennan booted her computer early in the morning as usual, and was unpleasantly surprised by a reminder and an email from Angela. Tomorrow was Halloween, which meant that the annual Halloween party was tonight. Angela wanted to make sure Brennan didn't spend the entire evening working, like she would try to. Brennan got to work right away, despite the early hour and lack of her colleagues. She was trying to identify John Doe 865. By ten, Angela had arrived and nearly finished the process of greeting everyone while still managing to get work done. Only Brennan was left. Angela always saved her best friend for last, especially when she had something planned, as she did today.
"Hi Sweetie!"
"Morning Angela," Temperance said without looking up from her work.
"Sooooo… the big party is tonight. What are you wearing?"
"Same thing as last year."
"Bren…"
"What? It's a silly holiday intended for children. Why should I buy a new costume to wear once when I have a perfectly good one?"
"What are you doing tomorrow night?" Angela asked.
"Working."
"Brennan, you aren't working on Halloween."
"But.."
"No buts. And you aren't wearing the Wonder Woman costume again either."
"I'm not going naked."
Angela smirked. "I'll bet Booth would love it if you did."
"Angela!" Brennan exclaimed, looking up from the skull she was examining.
"So that means we're going shopping? Great. Lunchtime sounds good to me," Angela said, and she disappeared quickly before Brennan could argue.
Several minutes passed and Brennan became absorbed in her work once again. When she heard footsteps behind her, she didn't even bother to turn around before saying,
"I'm not going shopping with you Angela." Suddenly she felt a hand tap her shoulder, and she spun around still holding the skull.
"Geez Bones, watch it with that thing."
"It's not a thing, Booth, it's a human skull."
"Right," he said uncomfortably. Angela had certainly gotten her irritated. No fair, he thought. That's my job.
"Do we have a case?" Brennan asked, returning to her examination of the skeleton.
"No.. I uh… Parker… I … Parker and I were wondering what you were planning to do tomorrow night."
"I'm working, why?"
"Bones… you can't work on Halloween."
"Yes I can. This is America."
"Parker would love it if you came over to pass out candy to trick or treaters."
"You mean you would love it. Doesn't Parker go out trick or treating?"
"Uh… yes. But he has a really neat costume that he says he wants to show you."
"Alright, alright. But only because Parker is a cute kid."
"Come over around 5, and we'll have dinner. And wear a costume."
Brennan was spared a reply as Booth's cell phone rang.
"Well, gotta go. See ya later Bones."
And with that, Temperance was finally left to her work again. For about half an hour. At which time Angela nearly dragged her out of the lab to go shopping.
Standing in a party store, Angela browsed costumes while Brennan watched her impatiently.
"So, I was thinking, since you're adamant about working tomorrow, why don't I drag you off for drinks and dinner with Hodgins and I?" Angela said.
"No! I uh, plans. I have plans."
"You just told me you weren't doing anything."
"Well I am now."
"You haven't talked to anyone except… You're going out with Booth, aren't you?"
"It's not a date."
"Bren..."
"I'm going over to his place for dinner and to pass out candy."
"That's a date, Sweetie."
Angela began picking out costumes after that. Once she had several, she looked carefully at each one, before putting it back.
"Hmm… for a guy like Booth, you need something different. Something special."
"Angela, I don't see what the point of this is."
"Brennan, just do what I say, okay? You'll thank me later. Now, go put this on," Angela ordered, putting a costume into Brennan's hand and shoving her toward the dressing room.
"Ange? This zipper is proving to be fairly difficult to…"
"Just open the door. I'll help you."
Angela stepped into the dressing room and closed the door behind her. She zipped the costume up, and helped Brennan with the rest of it.
"Now turn around and look in the mirror."
Brennan's mouth opened in a little oh. Staring back at her was an angel, in a lovely, long sleeveless white dress with silver sparkles. The wings were silver semi-transparent glittery trails that attached to the back of the dress, with little loops that went over her middle fingers. On her head there was a thin white halo.
"Angela… I don't know…"
"Booth will love it, Sweetie. You look gorgeous."
Brennan turned, to look at the costume from different angles, and she smiled.
"Okay."
Angela left her friend to get dressed, and sent a text to Hodgins, bragging about her success. Brennan reappeared, holding the costume, and Angela dragged her back to the costume section.
"What? Angela, I thought you liked this one?"
"You just need a few more things, to make it perfect. You're going to wear those silver stilettos, right? Here, take this too," Angela said.
"Glitter spray?"
"For your hair and face. It'll be faster than putting glittery eye shadow everywhere."
Brennan sighed. There was no way she could win, not with Angela on a mission. She had to admit, the dress looked good. It was a pretty costume. However, she didn't see why Angela seemed convinced that Booth would like this more than the Wonder Woman costume. If his physical reactions to her last year were any indication, he had enjoyed that costume.
Since they had located everything Brennan needed for her costume, she decided that the shopping trip was over, and headed to the front of the store to pay. After that, she rushed Angela back to the lab so she could get back to work.
Before she knew it, Angela was in her space again, telling her it was time to go home and get ready for the party. Brennan sighed.
"Okay Ange, I've just got a few more things to finish up."
Angela, seemingly deciding that if she stayed to argue with Brennan, she wouldn't have enough time to get herself ready, so she left her friend to work in peace.