Finally I start posting this!! This is my first Bones fan fiction in English… My little creature…

The idea came after seeing "Santa in the slush", the Christmas tree scene… For me the tree thing was more meaningful than the kiss… It was like a giant banner saying 'I love you'…

So far I'm rather proud of what I came up with… I hope you'll like it as well.

Chapter 1

She looked at her watch. Already 9 o' clock in the morning. He had to be back from dropping Parker at Rebecca's before they left for Vermont… Besides she didn't want to wait any longer.

She picked up her cell phone and pressed her first number on speed dial.

"Hey!" he cheerfully greeted her "Merry Christmas Bones!"

"You already said that" she couldn't help but point out. At least her logic mind couldn't help it. Even if she didn't really mind that much. She was sure he meant it. And would have meant it even the millionth time he said that. He arranged a whole Christmas tree just for her and her family, so they could have every required detail to make their Christmas perfect, even if it was spent in trailer arranged for conjugal visits in County jail… That definitely did count for something…

"Doesn't hurt to be told once again, does it? By the way now is actually Christmas day…"

Right now he could picture her face just as she was in front of him and not (most likely) at home. She had rolled her eyes and tilted her head, as she always did when she wanted to show he was being annoying, and was just about to let out a big sigh. After a couple of years of partnership he knew her so well it amazed himself sometimes. He could just feel whatever she was feeling or thinking. Other times instead she was still a complete mystery to him. and that definitely kept things interesting.

"I guess it doesn't hurt then" she indeed sighed, just as he had guessed.

Then he realized he didn't know why she had called yet. Not that she always needed a reason… actually he was pretty much glad to see or hear of her beyond their work, but she usually had at least an excuse to be calling him, especially since it was a holiday. "You needed something?"

"How did you know?" she just blurted out, and he wasn't sure if she meant her question as an answer to his own or not.

"What? How did I know you needed something? I just…"

She was following her trail of thoughts and didn't even hear his reply. "You couldn't possibly know I'd be there in the trailer yesterday, but you came with Parker and arranged all the Christmas tree thing…"

He smiled, realizing he did know the answer to this question, just as much as he knew the woman he was talking to. "But I did know Bones"

"Ho…How?" She hated this. He made her speechless more frequently every time. And she wasn't used to being left speechless…

"Because I know you. Remember, a few weeks ago, daffodils, daisies, Jupiter… I just… knew."

"But I didn't. I was standing there at the Jeffersonian, watching my ticket in my hand, and I didn't know what to do. How could you know when I didn't?"

Her logical mind had serious trouble understanding his actions the previous night. She had been struggling almost all evening over this, wondering if he had just taken a chance and had been lucky or there was something else. It was almost frightening to realize that someone else know what you'll do before yourself. And Booth seemed to be doing that a lot lately. Sometimes it was comforting, she had to admit it, but other times it definitely scared her.

"You've been missing your family for sixteen years Bones. As much as you like ancient skeletons and Peru, I knew in the end you couldn't give up your chance to be with your family, to have a family to be visiting for Christmas. I knew you'd make the right decision."

"How did you know it was right?" She acted almost like a little child, asking a thousand whys. Or 'how's, in this case. She was used to figure out whatever her bones could tell, but figuring out what was inside Booth's head was a completely different issue.

"You know it was Bones, you knew. Probably you've known it as soon as you noticed the look on your father's face seeing you there."

"How… how do…?"

Again. He had done it again. He was definitely right. She had indeed felt that being there was the only right thing to do when she had locked eyes with her father, reading pride and joy in them, just as Booth supposed.

And she could just surrender, there was no denying that Booth could read her like a book, or maybe even better. Probably just as much as she could read into a skeleton. But he didn't need shining machines to do that, just his gut. Or his heart. Or whatever they called it.

"It's Christmas, and at Christmas time everyone is meant to be with their families. And you made the right decision because being with people you love and who loves you back is all that matters."

That was why he had been so happy to spend at least Christmas Eve with Parker, and had been happy to bring his partner's family their missing tree. Even if they were a few meters apart, they had seen each other and, what's more, their Christmases had been connected in some way.

"And it was right to bring Parker to jail so we could have a tree?"

"First of all, Parker wasn't actually in jail, we were just outside the netting; secondly we had fun and spend time together, and for me and Parker it's all that matters; thirdly that was my Christmas gift for you, and you can't question gifts, and anyway it was definitely worthy"

"You wanted to make my Christmas complete" she whispered, more as a statement than as a question.

"Was it? complete?"

He really wished she had appreciated his gift, what he meant with that tree. He wanted her to enjoy Christmas time, enjoy her family and all that's important during Christmas holidays. Which was what was important to him ever: love and family.

She smiled. "Yeah… yeah, it was" Actually this was not only the best Christmas she had had in sixteen years, but it was better than she had ever expected her future Christmases to be. Ever.

And that tree… was so Booth… something so simple yet so meaningful…

"Good… good…"

They were both repeating things twice, he noticed. Maybe because neither of them wanted this conversation to come to an end. He knew he didn't. Once he hung up, he would been lonely again. No Parker, no Bones to talk to. He still had his parents to call, but it was too late to be visiting them.

It was her the one interrupting the silence. "Booth?"

"Yeah"

"You're home?"

"Yeah, sure. Why?"

"Open the door"

"What?!?"

"No questions, just do it"

He frowned, but opened the door and his eyes got instantly wide. She was standing there, with her phone still pressed to her ear.

"Hi" He couldn't help but stir the corners of his mouth in a warm smile, at which she responded smiling back.

He shut his cell phone closed and she mirrored his action.

"Hi you"

She had to admit to herself she had been a bit self-conscious at first about visiting him now, but the look on his face was telling her he was more than happy to see her there. As far as she could see, he wasn't considering her behaviour inappropriate or out of place.

"What are you doing here?"

Good question. Question she was prepared for.

"You wanted my Christmas to be complete, and it was, so I thought I owed you something."

"Bones, you didn't have to…"

This time it was her interrupting him. "I didn't do anything yet." She had a weird smirk on her face, and he didn't know what to think about it. "I just happen to have guests, and since you don't have Parker today I figured I could provide you with a sort of family…"

Family? But her family was in jail… At least the ones related to her by blood… "You mean… Amy and the girls?"

"Yup, who else? They're going back to Carolina tonight. The girls already decorated my apartment and Amy and I are gonna cook a real Christmas lunch you'd be proud of, with turkey and everything. So, what do you say? Are you gonna play the lucky guy surrounded by girls?"

His first incredulous look changed into a giant grin. Spending Christmas day with Bones? That was more than he had ever hoped for this year! He was still a bit mad at Rebecca for ruining his day with Parker, but this invite was very close to make up for his missing chance.

"I take it as a yes then. Gotta go, I have a lunch to arrange and I don't have that much at home, considering I was meant to be in Peru by now"

"Something I can help you with?" He asked politely. For the mood he was in she could ask him pretty much everything and he would have done it without questioning.

She shook her head no. "Just be there at 12 o'clock. See ya later then"

"Yeah, see ya"

I'm not sure how long it will take to update because next month will be rather busy for me, but I'll do my best…

Please, let me know what you think, any comment or suggestion of any kind is very welcome.