A/N: This takes place after Santa in the Slush. This is my first Bones fan fic, so I hope you enjoy. I am going to try really hard to keep them in character.

Facing the Past

Chapter One

"So I guess no Peru?"

Rolling her eyes at the unconventional greeting, Temperance Brennan moved out of the way and allowed Seeley Booth to enter her apartment. But her expression quickly turned from amusement to annoyance as she took in the object he had pulled from beside him and was now carrying.

Crossing her arms and narrowing her eyes, Brennan coolly asked, "What is that?"

Flashing his trademark grin Booth walked past Brennan, heading straight for her living room. "Geez Bones, considering you're supposed to be some sort of genius I would have thought you'd know what a tree is…"

Clenching her jaw, she closed the door and headed toward him, "I know what a tree is Booth. What I want to know is why there is one in my living room."

"It's a Christmas tree," he said proudly as he set the tree down on the floor. It was about five feet tall, set in a tree stand and already covered in lights. Knowing that his partner was far from amused, Booth began to explain. "It was Parker's idea. When we were setting up that tree for your family last night, he asked me why. Rather then explain that your dad was in jail, I told him that it was because you didn't have a Christmas tree. Well that didn't sit well with him and he wanted to give you that one, but since it was supposed to be ours he made me go back and proceeded to pick this one for you."

Booth reached into his coat pocket and pulled out a piece of paper that had been messily folded. Passing it to her he continued, "Parker also insisted we put lights around it. He had wanted to bring it by last night, but it was late so he made me promise I would bring it here right after I dropped him off at Rebecca's."

Unfolding the paper, a smile began to form on Brennan's face as she looked at it. It was a picture of a Christmas tree, with a stick person standing in front of it. At the top was written, 'Merry Christmas Dr. Bones.' Placing the drawing carefully on her bookshelf, Brennan met Booths eyes, "Someday we are going to have a talk about why you have Parker calling me Bones…"

"So you're not mad?" Booth asked hopefully, having been unsure as to how his partner would take the gesture. And as she shook her head, he felt a sense of relief course through him.

"How can I be mad when it's from Parker? It's actually really sweet." She said with a laugh, staring at the tree that stood before her.

"Good! Then I can light this baby up..." Booth exclaimed with childlike excitement as he dropped to his knees and plugged the cord into the wall.

"Why would you refer to a tree as your baby?" Brennan asked in confusion. But her question went unanswered as the colorful lights around the tree came to life and lit up the entire room. Even though Brennan wasn't one for Christmas and all the traditions and decorations that went with it, she admitted to herself that there was something beautiful about trees being lit up for the season.

"Parker wanted to decorate it with ornaments but I convinced him that the lights were enough." Booth's voice broke Brennan out of her thoughts, and his words caused her to remember something.

Explaining that she would be back in a second, Brennan left a confused Booth behind her and entered her bedroom. Closing the door, she leaned against it and took a second to think before heading for her closest. Kneeling down, she reached in to the back and felt around until her hands clasped a familiar shaped box. Bringing it out of the closest, she took a few seconds and just stared at it.

The box hadn't been opened in years and Brennan wasn't sure if she wanted to change that. But thinking of the Christmas Eve she had spent with her father and brother, and of the tree set up in her living room, she took a deep breath and climbed to her feet.

She would do it for her mother.

Forcing a small smile, she rejoined a worried Booth in the living room, and held up the box. "Since Parker went to all this trouble for me, I should honor his wish and put some ornaments on the tree."

But, Booth easily saw through her smile and neutral tone and glanced down at the box that she was tightly gripping. It looked like an old shoe box but based on its size, it had probably been meant for a pair of boots. It was faded and yellowed with age, and he could see a layer of newspaper sticking out from underneath it. Booth figured that the box held ornaments from her past and his eyes reflected his concern. "Are you sure Bones? Parker is fine with there just being lights on the tree…"

But Brennan shook her head and placed the box on the table. Busying herself with opening the lid, she turned away from Booth before speaking. "Christmas was my mother's favorite time of year. She loved ornaments and decorations, and would always remark how unfortunate it was that all these beautiful things spent most of the time being boxed up and hidden." She laughed softly, "She'd be furious if she knew I've kept these boxed up and hidden for fifteen years."

After taking the protective layer of newspaper off the top, she turned back to face him. "Mom would buy Russ and I an ornament every Christmas. She would spend months looking for the one that best fit our personalities or interests for that year, and sometimes would make them herself."

Touched that Brennan was willingly letting him in and sharing something from her past with him, Booth opted to try and make it fun. Smiling he moved toward the box, "A glimpse into the famous Dr. Brennan's personality as a child? I'm not going to pass that up. I bet you liked Barbie's, didn't you Bones?."

Knowing that her partner was trying to ease the tension, Brennan just rolled her eyes and pulled the first ornament out of the box – a dolphin. As she carefully hung it on the tree, she glanced over at Booth, "I never liked Barbie's."

For the next twenty minutes they worked together to hang the fifteen different ornaments that Brennan had accumulated throughout her childhood. There was a wide range of them, most of which were self explanatory such as the ornaments of a book and of a microscope, but others warranted an explanation. Such as the one of a hockey stick, which led to Brennan explaining that as a child she had enjoyed watching the sport with Russ and her dad.

The only tense moment occurred when they had come to the last ornament in the box, which had been the first ornament she had ever received from her mother. It was simple, and ball-shaped with her birth year on top, but written underneath was the word 'Joy'. For a few seconds Brennan froze, just staring at the object in her hands. Finally she softly spoke, "I remember asking my mom one Christmas why Joy was written on it, and not Temperance. She never looked at me, just continued to put the other ornaments on the tree and told me it was because I was her joy. She said that deep down she had wanted a girl and had been so happy when I was born that I filled her with joy." Brennan's face went blank and she placed the ball back in the box. "I guess that was another lie."

Booth sighed, realizing that Brennan was starting to put her walls back up. The family Christmas and tree decorating had both been big steps for her, and Booth refused to let them be ruined by a simple ornament. Reaching into the box he picked it back up and turned to face her.

"You should put this on the tree."

Brennan defensively crossed her arms against her chest and stared at him coolly. "No."

"Bones, no matter what your name was or is, I have no doubt that you brought joy to your mother. From the few pictures I have seen of the two of you, your mother adored you. In those pictures, she looks at you the way I look at Parker." Booth paused and considered whether or not to continue, but seeing a flash of sadness in Brennan's eyes and knowing he was getting to her, he opted to.

"I know you don't like to think of yourself as being Joy – you have and always will be Temperance Brennan. But, Joy was the name your mother originally picked for you. Whether you like to think of it or not, I imagine that the reason she picked it was because you were her joy. You birth brought her joy. So I don't think you should box this ornament away because you see it as a painful reminder of your past. I think you should keep it out as a reminder of how your mom felt about you and how much she loved you." Booth extended his arm toward her and held out the ornament. "But it's your choice."

Brennan remained silent and motionless for a few seconds, appearing to be in deep thought. Finally she wordlessly took the ball from him and hung it off to the side of the tree. Turning back to Booth, she motioned to the sofa. "Do you want to stay for dinner? I know how much Christmas means to you, and know you probably don't want to be alone…"

Smiling at the fact Brennan's walls hadn't completely gone back up, Booth nodded. "Can you make Mac and Cheese?" he asked eagerly, grinning like a child.

Brennan bit back a smile, secretly amused by his antics. "I know people say I have a lot to learn about social etiquette, but isn't it considered rude for the guest to request what meal the host serves?"

Booth slung his arm around Brennan's shoulder and led her toward the kitchen. "But see Bones I am not a guest, I am your partner. There's a huge difference between the two. Partners are allowed to take liberties with things like asking for Mac and Cheese. Plus, I will help with grating cheese or boiling water, so that will make dinner a team effort."

Rolling her eyes, Brennan allowed herself to be led over to the fridge and listened to Booth continue to explain the reasons why their partnership allowed him to take advantage of her hospitality.

'I'm glad he's here.'

The realization suddenly struck Brennan and caused her to smile softly. Christmas was by no means her favorite time of year, but this year had been special, and most of that was due to the influence and help of Booth. For the first time in sixteen years she had spent Christmas with her family, and for those few hours in the trailer she had finally felt as if she belonged somewhere – a feeling that was reinforced by the appearance of the tree Booth had set up for them. Then, due to the idealism his six year old son, she had received her own tree, and the chance to remember her mother through those forgotten ornaments.

And she had kissed Booth.

This thought also came suddenly but rather then smile, Brennan froze. 'The kiss meant nothing,' she told herself, as she tried to push these thoughts out of her mind and focus on the cheese sauce she was starting to prepare. But, no matter how hard she tried, Brennan suddenly couldn't forget how good his lips felt against hers, and how natural it felt to feel him pressed up against her.

'It was just mistletoe,' she reminded herself, 'it was nothing more then some stupid holiday tradition.'

And while Brennan was finally able to push these thoughts from her mind and concentrate on making dinner, deep down a gnawing feeling remained, suggesting that she wasn't being truthful to herself.