"An Office party?" Booth's face scrunched up, his head jerking quickly from side to side. "With the squints?" he added looking up at Brennan standing on the other side of his desk.

"Yes. It's to celebrate the Christmas season. They do it every year at the Jeffersonian. I've just not been terribly inclined to go before, despite Angela's nagging." Brennan said adjusting the waistband of her skirt. She was still feeling uncomfortable in her clothes eight months after her daughter's birth.

"Yeah, I kind of got the whole Christmas thing from the invitation Bones" he said, waving the Christmas Tree shaped invitation in the air. "So why this year?" he added, dropping the invitation onto his desk. He stared at her, his head tilted ever so slightly to the right, his eyes taking in every inch of her.

"Well, it's our first Christmas together. You know, together" she entwined her fingers "since Christine arrived. And to be honest, I've never really wanted to go because I've always been" Brennan hesitated not willing to admit that she had spent most of her adult Christmases alone.

"Busy?" Booth interjected, a wry smile on his face.

Brennan frowned at him. "No. Alone." she said, not realising he was trying to be kind. "Anyway, as I was saying, prior to us, having had a successful reproductive sexual encounter resulting in our beautiful daughter, I had a tendancy to become somewhat reclusive around Christmas time, going off on scientific digs, and the like, which precluded me from having to attend any such festive functions."

Booth sat, his hands folded on the pile of folders in front of him, nodding as she rambled. His expression changed at her mention of their first night together, which, as she rightly put it, did result in their daughter. He frowned at her "I would prefer it if you didn't refer to our daughter's conception as a successful reproductive sexual encounter, Bones. I mean, it sounds like it was an experiment or something. And it wasn't. It was beautiful. And meaningful. It was the first time we made love. Made love Bones. Granted, neither of us set out for it to happen. But Bones, I for one, am damned glad it did happen. And I don't want to refer to it as if it was a scientific event." he said, trying not to sound hurt.

Brennan stared at him, her eyes widening. "Booth, I never. I mean, I would never say that to anyone. And I wasn't trying to offend you. I know how you feel about making love. It's important. You take the emotions involved very seriously. And I did too that night, for the first time in a long time. I needed you badly that night. We needed each other. I think that was obvious. And I don't regret for a moment that, although the catalyst for our union was tragic, we finally let down our walls and just accepted that we wanted and needed each other."

Booth felt the corner of his mouth twitch. "It's OK Bones. I just don't like it when you sciencify our daughters conception." he said.

Brennan stared at him for a moment "Sciencify isn't actually a word Booth." she said.

Booth smiled and leaned back in his chair, grinning at her. "yeah I know. Anyway, what were you were saying? About spending Christmas alone?"

"Why do I get the distinct feeling you were making fun of me? Anyway, " she said, watching him wink at her "As I was saying. Apart from that Christmas when I spent time with Dad in prison, which I kind of enjoyed. The time my cousin Margaret, came to spend Christmas with us. And then that one time we were stuck in the lab because they thought we were contaminated" she said, frowning and tapping her chin as she tried to remember how many Christmases she had actually spent with other people. She paused and stared at Booth "I guess I've pretty much avoided being around people over Christmas" she admitted finally.

Booth nodded, watching as she sat down heavily in the leather chair on the other side of the desk. "that sounds quite sad, doesn't it?" she said softly.

Booth sucked on his bottom lip thoughtfully.

"OK. Well, yes, you have tended to be a bit of a loner around Christmas. But to be fair, Christmas has been a time of year that brings up sad memories for you. I mean, I get that. But Bones. It's Christmas. And people shouldn't be alone on Christmas. I know how miserable I used to get when I couldn't have Parker come and have Christmas with me. " he sighed. "Spending Christmas in a bar results in you being full of Christmas spirits rather than being filled with the Spirit of Christmas." He added, grinning at his own joke.

"I don't know what that means" Brennan said, confusion on her face. "But. We have Christine now. And I think I understand why people love Christmas so much, when they have special people to share it with. And, I think I realised that we not only have Christine. We have each other. And we have our friends. And"

Booth was smiling now, his hands held out towards her. "And?"

"And I think we should go, and celebrate with our friends at the Christmas party at the Jeffersonian" Brennan said smiling across the desk.

"You do?" Booth asked, his grin widening.

"Yes. And, as a couple. It would be nice to, you know. Be with our friends as a couple. I think."

"You think?" Booth repeated, standing up.

"Yes." Brennan said, frowning up at him. "You don't?" she asked.

Booth walked around the desk. He wrapped his arms around her and stared into her eyes. "I think, that it's good to spend Christmas with people you care about and love. But, Bones? An office party? You know, I haven't done that sort of thing for years. And it's our first real Christmas together. "

Her blue eyes, stared up into his dark ones. "It could be fun. We will be together. And they are going to keep the day care open especially for the night for those that have children, so we wouldn't have to arrange a baby sitter for Christine"

Booth let her go and stepped back. "Oh no. Bones, if we are going to go to a Christmas party, that means we are going to have a few drinks. If we have to pick up Christine and take her home, that means, one or both of us cannot drink. And frankly, that would suck"

Brennan clapped, making Booth smile at her.

"So we're going? But, why would it suck?" she asked, her forehead furrowing.

Booth wrapped an arm around her shoulders and walked her to the door. "Have you never been to a party where you were the only sober one there? Trust me. It's no fun at all." He kissed her at the door "We will take Christine home after work. Max can come and babysit. He keeps asking if he can. That way, she will be home in her own crib. We can go and enjoy ourselves and Max can just stay over. We'll catch a cab so we don't have to worry about driving. And now, I have to go" he looked at his watch "I'm late for a meeting. I'll see you tonight. You can tell me all the details about the party over dinner. Love you."

"I think I may need to purchase a new outfit. I'm finding that most of my good clothes are still somewhat tight." Brennan said, frowning down at the offending waistband of her skirt that insisted on rolling over. She pulled it up again, smoothing it as best she could.

Booth closed his office door behind him, dropped another kiss onto her forehead "You're perfect. Beautiful. Whatever you want Bones. We'll talk about the party and your clothes tonight" he said and ran down the corridor, leaving her standing outside his office.

"So, should I accept?" she called out. His response, simply a wave of his hand.

She sighed and ran her index finger around the inside of the waistband once more, thoughtfully sucking on her bottom lip. "OK, I'll accept for us." she said as she watched him disappear around the corner.

She smiled. Suddenly the thought of attending a festive function with Booth became extremely exciting. She nodded "Yes, and a new outfit will be just the thing." she said out loud, looking at her watch. Might as well go shopping now! I can pick up Christine afterwards and have dinner ready early her brain started making a mental list of things to do. She walked towards the exit of the Hoover Building where Booth's office was situated determined to go and find the perfect outfit for a party.