"So," Jack asks when the rest of the crew has left, "How did you like Christmas Hodgins-style?"
"Oh you mean the huge mansion, seven course absolutely delicious gourmet meal, and the karaoke machine that you pulled out."
"Well…yeah."
Angela smiles widely at him, "Unbelievable. It was a great Christmas, Jack."
"It's not over yet." He reaches behind her and grabs the one box still left under the tree,
"For you."'
"Jack, you gave me a gift."
"Well, I didn't want to give you this in front of everyone. I thought you might not like that, so….open it," his eyes are puppy dog pleading.
She rips the paper off and opens the big box only to find a tiny jewelry box underneath,
"Jack," her voice holds a hint of warning.
"Just open it."
She does and finds diamond drop earrings nestled inside the box.
"Jack…." She says again, "You know I can't."
"Look it doesn't….I'm not trying to push you into anything okay."
"Still, we're not….We're just friends and…"
"And as your friend it would make me very happy for you to have these." She's silent,
but her face still reads uncertainly, so he adds, "Please Angela."
Finally she nods, "Thank you Jack. Can you help me put them on?"
Jack's smile is so bright that she cannot help but smile back as he helps her put the
earrings on.
She holds back her hair and tilts back so she can see her reflection in the glass window,
"How do they look?"
"Beautiful." The way he says the world makes her turn her head back towards him.
Before she can remind herself of all the reasons she shouldn't she leans in and presses her
lips against his.
"Merry Christmas, Jack."
He swallows and smiles, "Merry Christmas Angela."