A/N: THE ITALICIZED WORDS IN THIS STORY ARE FROM A SONG BY DAN FOGLEBERG: SAME AULD LANG SYNE. NO COPYRIGHT INFRINGEMENT INTENDED. I LOVE THE SONG, AND IT WOVE ITSELF INTO THIS LITTLE STORY.

Met my old lover at the grocery store.

The snow was falling, Christmas Eve….

"Dammit!" Booth took everything out of the small freezer compartment of his vintage refrigerator. "I know I had some ice cream in here...where the hell is my ice cream? Ah…there it is…" He pulled the carton out of the freezer and opened the lid. "Empty? Great….just great." He heaved a deep sigh as he looked at the clock on the stove. "8:30. God, I hope the market is still open. I promised Parker ice cream with his pie. Why'd I wait until the last minute?" Booth hurriedly pulled on a jacket over his tee shirt and jeans as he grabbed his keys and phone. It was already getting late on Christmas Eve, but he wasn't about to go back on his word to his son. Parker was coming over to have lunch and open his gifts on Christmas afternoon, and Booth wanted everything to be perfect.

He pushed the snow off the windshield and started his car. It had been snowing heavily when Booth left the Hoover, and at the time he'd been glad that he didn't have to make any stops on the way home. "Yeah, right...I wish I had known earlier today I didn't have ice cream."

He tried the corner market near his apartment but it had already closed, so he realized he'd have to go all the way over to Priceco. He exhaled slowly….maybe Parker would understand if there wasn't any ice cream. Traffic had slowed to a crawl as drivers tried to navigate streets that were rapidly becoming snow packed. Frustrated, Booth pounded on the steering wheel. He'd been so distracted lately...out of sorts, and now this. He quickly dismissed those thoughts. No excuses. Get the ice cream and get home.

The Priceco's snow covered parking lot was nearly empty. "Most people are probably at home with their families, " Booth thought. "Most people are smart enough to go to the store before 8:30 on Christmas Eve." He knew he was feeling sorry for himself...he'd been invited to share Christmas Eve with several friends, but it wasn't the same...it wasn't family. He gave himself another pep talk. "Okay, Booth...enough. Let's get the ice cream and go home."

He turned his collar up and hurried into the store, and then stopped for a minute when he got inside to watch the snow through the store windows. Big flakes were fluttering through the air, caught by the cold arctic blast. "I might not make it to Mass tonight if this keeps up….", he thought sadly. Christmas Eve Midnight Mass was his favorite service of the year, and he'd probably have to miss it. "Damn snow...who gives a damn about a white Christmas anyway.", he grumbled. "I guess I'd better hurry and get what I need or I'll be stuck here…."

He quickly walked to the frozen food cases, looking for the ice cream section. He rounded the corner when it hit him...the scent of a familiar perfume. It washed over him like a tidal wave. He turned quickly and saw a tall, willowy figure standing in front of the frozen vegetable case. No...it couldn't be...

I stole behind her in the frozen foods,

And I touched her on the sleeve…

He walked quietly toward the woman, wanting to make sure it was really who he thought it was. He didn't want to startle her, but...he coughed quietly as he reached out and gently tapped her on the shoulder. "Bones?"

She spun around quickly with angry eyes to see who had dared to accost her while she was shopping for frozen vegetables.

She didn't recognize the face at first,

But then her eyes flew open wide…..

"Booth! Oh, Booth….I'm so glad to see you!" She laughed as she caught him in an enthusiastic 'guy hug'. "Why are you shopping on Christmas Eve? This isn't like you. Why aren't you celebrating your god's birthday? Shouldn't you be at church? Where's Parker?"

Booth laughed at all the questions. "I was getting ready to ask you the same thing. Why are you here at the Priceco? Shouldn't you be in the Caymans, where it's warmer and a hell of a lot sunnier than it is in DC right now?"

"I'm here at the store because I need food. I just got home from an extended book tour, and I have nothing to eat in my apartment. Since the stores will be closed tomorrow, I needed to come shopping this evening."

"Wait...a book tour? For a new book? What about the Caribbean?" Booth was confused. "I thought you had been in the Caymans with Sully. On his boat, right? Running island fishing trips?" He stood looking at her, scratching the back of his head, trying to figure out what had happened to bring her back to DC.

Brennan pinched her lips into a thin line as she stared at the floor. "I came home from the Caribbean after spending three months there." She looked up at Booth, hoping he didn't figure out the rest, but knowing he would do just that.

"So you've been back in DC for six months now?" The jolt of pain he felt almost knocked the wind out of him. "You've been here all this time, and you never called me? What were you thinking, Bones?" Booth felt like he'd been hit with a sledgehammer. He paused for a few seconds, hoping he could keep the anger out of his voice. "I mean, I'm sorry it didn't work out with Sully, but…you and me, Bones...we're friends. I can't believe you didn't let me know you were back in town."

"Booth...I'm sorry I didn't call you, but I decided not to go back to work at the Jeffersonian when I got home, and I knew how busy you would be with your FBI work, and I didn't want to bother you." She fidgeted with her gloves as she spoke. "I enjoyed being in the Caymans for a few months, but I got bored with simply sailing around on the ocean. Sully is a nice man, but we ran out of things to talk about, and I wanted to do something besides sit on the deck of a boat all day. He and I really don't have much in common after all, although we were compatible sexually. I need my mind to be active and intellectually engaged to maintain a satisfactory relationship." She tried to avoid eye contact with Booth. "So I came home, and I quickly wrote another Kathy Reichs novel. I've been all over the country promoting it. I'm surprised you haven't seen me on television."

Booth stood stiffly in the frozen food aisle, listening to Brennan talk about her failed relationship with Sully, shaking his head in disbelief. "Six months in town and you never called me...Didn't you think I'd want to know if my partner was back? Seriously, Bones….I can't believe this…Jesus.." Booth turned away, embarrassed by the tears he felt springing up in his eyes. "So the only reason I found out was that I happened to see you here…"

"I didn't mean to hurt your feelings, Booth, but I thought you'd be busy with work...and with Cam…" Brennan began looking for something in her purse. Finally she pulled out her phone. "Here's a picture of me on Sully's boat….

I said the years had been a friend to her,

That her eyes were still as blue.

But in her eyes I wasn't sure

If I saw doubt or gratitude…

"Yeah, Bones….that's great...you look great." He glanced from the photo to her face, and found himself staring longingly into her deep blue eyes. She did look great...more than great...she was beautiful... "I guess Sully was upset that you left, huh?"

She shrugged sadly. "I don't know. I think in a way he was relieved...We realized we didn't have much in common other than sex, and we both knew we needed more than that...I think he was bored with me. He became impatient with all my questions about things. He said I was too intense...that I needed to relax more, and I tried, but..I just couldn't." The look on her face said it all...she thought she had failed in another relationship...there must be something wrong with her….

"How could Sully be bored? You're a beautiful woman, Bones, and you're incredibly smart...Sure, you're intense, but that's not a bad thing. Maybe he should take things more seriously. You don't need to change a thing to make him happy. I think maybe he was uncomfortable because he realized he didn't really deserve a woman like you…You're too good for a shiftless guy like Sully."

"Booth…" Brennan smiled sadly as she shook her head. "You know that isn't true. I misjudged my feelings for Sully, and I made a mistake when I left with him." She smiled weakly, trying to change the subject. "So how is Cam? She had no lingering ill effects from the poison Epps planted in his dead wife's head, I hope."

"I don't know...she lives in New York City now." Booth shifted from one foot to another, wanting to avoid eye contact with Brennan. "We tried to stay together when she got out of the hospital, but we just couldn't work it out. I guess she got annoyed because I was so overprotective of her, and I worried about her health...and I also wanted more from our relationship. I want someone I can marry and have kids with, but Cam has different plans for her life. She wants to concentrate on her career, so she took a position in New York."

"I'm sorry, Booth. I know that must've been hard for you."

He could see that Brennan was sincere in her sympathy. He shrugged a shoulder, grimacing slightly. "Well, it was a mutual decision, you know, and I've moved on. I guess I always knew that things between us wouldn't amount to anything. You're right about one thing...I have been really busy at work, but I still wish you had called me or had come to see me...maybe you could've helped me solve some of my cases already and I'd have less work to do. Anyway, Parker keeps asking me about you, like when he's gonna see you again...you've made quite an impression on him."

….And tried to reach beyond the emptiness,

But neither one knew how…

"Attention, Priceco shoppers…" The store manager's announcement brought them back to reality. The store would be closing in fifteen minutes.

"Well, I guess I'd better go get the ice cream I came for." Booth paused, nervously rattling his car keys, before choosing to plunge ahead with an invitation. "Hey, Bones...if you're not busy, you're welcome to come have lunch with Parker and me tomorrow. It's nothing fancy, but, you know...if you don't want to be alone on Christmas…"

"Thanks, Booth, but you know I don't celebrate Christmas. It's just another day, and I'm really tired from my trip." She pushed her grocery cart toward the checkout line so she could pay for her items. "I'll talk to you soon, though." She smiled as she recognized the look on his face. "Yes, I promise...I'll call you."

As Brennan paid for her groceries and gathered her bags she saw him waiting for her by the exit. "Same old Booth…", she thought. "Still looking out for me." He walked her out to her car and helped her load her groceries into the trunk.

"Bones, you gotta be careful going home. This little car isn't designed for conditions like this. Maybe you should text me when you get home."

"Really, Booth, I'll be fine. I'm an experienced driver."

"Well...if you get bored while you're in town, I'd love to hear from you, okay? I'm never too busy to talk to you. Never. And don't forget about tomorrow, if you change your mind…we're gonna eat about noon."

"Alright, Booth. Good night."

I watched her drive away…

"Dammit!" Booth stood slumped against his car, pounding his fist on the roof, as he watched Brennan cautiously pull out of the parking lot. "I let her walk away from me again! I can't believe I'm so stupid. All I want is a chance to show her what I really feel...how much I care...that I love her...and instead all I can talk about is ice cream and Cam."

...I felt that old familiar pain…

And as I turned to make my way back home

The snow turned into rain….

Booth stood there in a mix of rain and snow a few minutes more, thinking about a different evening a few years ago when Bones had left him standing in the rain...it seemed she was always leaving him...moving away from him. Maybe some day she'd change direction and move towards him….. He sighed as he cleared his windshield and drove himself home to an empty apartment.

oooooooooo

Booth hurried to finish preparations for Christmas lunch, setting the table and basting the small chicken he had baking in the oven. The green bean casserole was done, the apple pie had been baked and the box of stuffing had been prepared. He glanced at the clock again….Parker would be here any minute.

"There's the doorbell. For once, Rebecca's on time…" He quickly went to answer his door, not even bothering to look through the peephole before pulling it open.

"Bones! Oh, my God...I'm so happy to see you! Come in. Here...let me take your coat...have a seat. Parker will be here any minute." Booth ushered her in, willing himself to be calm, but she looked beautiful. Her sapphire blue sweater was a perfect match for her eyes. "I'm glad you changed your mind and decided to have lunch. You know, I've missed you..." He inhaled sharply, wanting to control himself so he wouldn't appear desperate. This wasn't the right time to spill his guts about his feelings for her.

"Booth….I need to tell you something before Parker gets here." Brennan sat in the armchair studying her shoes and nervously chewing the inside of her cheek. Her eyes were silently pleading for his understanding.

"I hate when you start a conversation like that, Bones. Okay, what is it?" He grinned slightly. "Come on...spill it. What's on your mind?"

"I wanted to apologize for not calling you when I got home six months ago. I didn't call because I was scared that you were still angry at me for leaving with Sully, and then the longer I waited...well, it just made it harder to call. I realized I didn't know what to say that would make things better." Brennan shifted uncomfortably in her chair. "I guess I didn't realize that not calling you would cause you to be angry as well. I didn't realize that would hurt your feelings. I just assumed you'd be too busy for me since I wasn't your work partner any longer, and I thought you were still involved with Cam."

"I wasn't angry when you left, Bones. I told you that you should go with Sully to the Caribbean if you wanted." Booth was lying to himself, and he knew it. He'd been angry and hurt when Bones left with Sully….but maybe she was mad at him for hiding his relationship with Cam. "It's just that I was surprised and upset that I hadn't heard from you, but I guess I'll get over it eventually. You're gonna keep in touch, right? You're not gonna wander off again, are you?" He sat down on the corner of the sofa. "I don't want you to leave again, even if you don't want to go back to work at the Jeffersonian. I can find another partner if I want one, but I can't find another woman like you."

Brennan smiled demurely. "I think I'll stay put for a while. I've been away from you for too long." She reached out to hold Booth's hand.

"Listen, Bones...there's something I wanna tell you…" The doorbell rang.

"DADDY! and Bones! Merry Christmas! Is it time for lunch? Here's your present, Daddy. Did I get presents? Santa came to Mommy's house. Did he come here, too? Guess what? I got Legos, and a video game. Do you like legos, Bones? Daddy, did you get ice cream for the pie? I'm hungry." Parker finally stopped to take a breath, smiling broadly at his father.

"Whoa, there, Buddy….settle down. Yes, it's time for lunch, and then might be a package or two here for somebody named...oh, yeah...Parker Booth!" Booth leaned over and tickled his son. "And guess what? Bones is gonna stay, right, Bones?" He grinned at her as he bounced Parker on his knee. " Isn't that great? Bones is gonna stay with me."

Booth and Brennan smiled at each other as Parker babbled happily about lunch and Christmas presents. Things were going to become very interesting for them in the New Year.

THANKS FOR READING MY LITTLE STORY...I HOPE YOU LIKED IT...