Ok, so in continuing I decided to switch perspectives from first person to third person. I'm not sure how long this will be, or even where it's going to end. I haven't written it all out like I usually do before posting it, so I'll update as soon as I can. Thanks for all the wonderful reviews. Hope everyone's holidays were enjoyable.

Seeley woke up early Christmas morning to the sound of something scuffling about his living room. His subconscious mind attributed it to Parker before he realized Parker was coming over later and he bolted from the bed. His hand was on his weapon before he remembered the events from the night before and the scared little boy he had sheltered. Taking a deep breath he opened his bedroom door and walked none-too-quietly toward his sitting area.

The boy, Alan, was staring up at the Christmas tree, the lights he had just turned on twinkling and bouncing off the walls. At Seeley's approach he had stiffened, still uneasy in the unfamiliar setting. He pulled the car-laden pajamas over him a little tighter and whirled around to face the man.

"Easy," Seeley soothed, his hands held in a non-threatening gesture. "It's still early, Alan. You should get back to sleep." The boy hitched one shoulder up as his eyes turned back to the brightly lit tree.

"We had a tree every year," he said in a small voice. "Mama made sure." Seeley heard his voice crack at the last sentence and he crossed the distance quickly. Kneeling down he pulled the boy to sit on his knee, one arm draped around his shoulders.

"Hey, it's okay to miss her," he told Alan. "You loved her very much, and she knew that." Alan wrapped his little arms around Seeley's neck and cried again. Seeley could do nothing but pull the boy against him and comfort him. He lifted him up, still discouraged by the boy's malnourishment, and moved to the sofa. He set the boy across his lap and sat in silence watching the lights dance across the room. Alan lifted his head from Seeley's shoulder to watch as well, but his head began to droop. It didn't take long for the boy to be asleep again, but Seeley didn't have the heart to move him. Alan had fisted his shirt in his hands, ensuring the man wouldn't abandon him as well tonight.

"What am I going to do?" Seeley whispered quietly. The clock on the mantle chimed five and he took a deep breath. He knew what he wanted to do, what his gut was telling him he should do. It had taken such little time for the boy to worm his way into Seeley's heart and he already cared for him so much. He stood by his former decision: God had put this boy in his path for a reason. His eyes drifted shut as the colored lights shimmered reverently in the silence.

He woke again to movement and when he opened his eyes he saw fear reflected back at him in another pair. He was quick to reassure the frightened child, and even offered a small smile.

"Hey, I bet Santa swung by on the way home," he told the boy softly. "Why don't you go check?" The boy looked hesitant for a moment before Seeley stood and led him over. He waited patiently, but the boy just cast furtive glances at the brightly wrapped packages at his feet. Seeley studied him for a moment, slightly confused at the unusual behavior. He bent down and retrieved Alan's gift, holding it out.

"Here," he said. "It's got your name on it." He pointed at the tag and Alan's eyes followed, studying the writing carefully. "You can't read," Seeley said finally, and Alan blushed. "Hey, don't be embarrassed. It's okay. Here, you go sit down and I'll get the rest." He bent down and retrieved a few more packages with Alan's name on them before setting them down in front of the boy. Smiling softly, he set the first one in the boy's lap.

"Dig in." It seemed to be all the encouragement Alan needed as he ripped into the paper ferociously. He pulled the Tonka truck from the wrapping quickly, his eager eyes roving over the toy with awe.

"This is…" he stopped, unsure if he should continue but finally deciding it was safe. "So cool." He started to open the package when Seeley shook his head.

"What about the rest?" Alan's hands froze as he took in the numerous gifts that surrounded him.

"They're not yours?" he seemed confused.

"No," Seeley said. "Honestly, they're just some of the old clothes from my childhood and some other things you might like. But I wanted you to have a good Christmas." The shadow of the previous evening still hung over them, but the boy's face was lighter now, less burdened than before. He even smiled slightly as he picked up the nearest rectangular box.

Ten minutes later, Alan had three sets of pants, a new pack of underwear, seven shirts, a jacket, a pair of sneakers, the Tonka truck, and a slightly worn stuffed wolf. Seeley left the boy amidst the mounds of wrapping paper and boxes to make breakfast while Alan was content playing with his truck.

They ate quickly and Seeley picked up the mess while Alan changed into his new clothes. He couldn't really remember owning such nice things; he and his mom had been out of their home for a while and they hadn't been too rich to begin with.

Seeley took a quick shower as Alan played in Parker's room, his mind spinning with the consequences of his decision. He prayed for perseverance and patience, as well as the guidance and help he knew he would need. He dressed quickly and noticed the time – he would be picking Parker up in two hours. He sent one last prayer heavenward as he picked up his phone and hit his first speed dial.

"Brennan," his partner's voice floated across the line.

"Merry Christmas, Bones," he started, letting her hear the smile in his voice. She responded in kind, then asked what he was calling for.

"Well, I was actually going to ask if you could stop by my place for a while," he said, not really wanting to divulge his guest's presence over the phone.

"I guess," she said. She said something to someone else, presumably Russ. He smiled as he remembered how excited she'd been when she'd told him her brother and his family were spending the holidays at her house. Technically, Russ was still on "house arrest" per the order of the court last year, but Booth had pulled some strings with Caroline (he still owed her a week at the spa). Her voice in his ear broke him from his thoughts.

"I'll be there in twenty minutes."

"Thanks Bones." They hung up and he set about trying to figure out a way to tell Alan without frightening him. He decided on the upfront approach and knocked on Parker's open door.

Alan looked up from his spot on the floor with a grin. "This is the coolest toy ever," he proclaimed. "It makes real sounds and lights up!" Seeley paused for a moment, reveling in the child-like attitude from the previously grief-stricken boy. He felt good at being able to give the boy some measure of happiness during this time.

"Listen," he said as he sat next to Alan on the floor. "You remember how I said I had a son?" Alan nodded, looking around the room quickly. "Well, I have to go get him from his mother's house. I've invited a friend over to watch you while I'm out." The fear was back immediately and Seeley had to react fast to keep the boy from bolting out the door. "No, she's okay Alan!" he said quickly, keeping a firm hold on the boy's arm, but not tight enough to hurt. He stood up and set the boy down on Parker's bed, sitting quickly between him and the door.

"I trust her completely, Alan," he began. "And until we get some things straightened out, the less people who know you're here the better."

"Is she nice?"

"Absolutely," he answered quickly. "And she's really smart, too. I bet she could answer any question you could come up with."

"Any question?" Alan asked seriously, and Seeley nodded. "Could she tell me why Mama died?" Seeley's breath caught in his throat and he cursed himself silently for thinking he had erased the boy's sorrow with one Tonka truck. He tucked the boy against his side and took a deep breath.

"Alan, you said your mom was sick?" Alan nodded sadly. "Well I called some people to go pick her up, and they'll look into why she died. But sometimes things happen that we can't explain, or understand, and we just have to have the faith that everything will work out for the better."

"Mama said God was calling her home."

"She's in heaven now, Alan. She's happy, and safe, and she's looking out for you." To the boy's credit he didn't cry, but he did look up at Seeley with a curious expression.

"Are you my guardian angel?" Seeley chuckled and ruffled the boy's hair.

"Sure am, sport. Now you just stay in here until I come get you okay?" Alan nodded and dropped back down onto the floor, immediately picking his game back up. Seeley pulled the door to and walked out into the living room, his mind going over numerous ways to break the news to his partner. Ten minutes later she knocked at the door and he let her in.

"Merry Christmas, Booth," she said as he took her coat.

"You too, Bones. How are Russ and the girls?" She nodded.

"They're good. The girls can rip through presents like you wouldn't believe." He laughed with her and offered her a drink, which she declined.

"Why did you call me over?" she asked, never one to really beat around the bush for too long. He took her to the couch and sat down next to her.

"I need you listen to the whole story," he said, and began his tale. Her brow furrowed as he explained the scrawny boy at the store, and she pursed her lips at his recklessness in following him. When Seeley told her that he'd brought the boy home her eyes widened comically, and if the situation weren't so serious he would have laughed. When he finished she took a deep breath.

"He's here now?" she asked, keeping her voice low.

"He's playing in Parker's room. I have to pick him up from Rebecca's and I thought I should have some time to let Parker know before introducing them."

"Booth, you can't keep him," she said objectively. "With your job…" she trailed off and he nodded.

"I know it'll be hard," he said. "But Bones, I have to try. I know you don't believe in God, or heaven, or all that, but I do. And I know God put this boy in my life for a reason. What reason if not to help him?" He waited while she thought about it, and he could almost see her mind working. Quietly, he added, "I can't let him go into the system."

After last Christmas they had grown even closer than before, and she had even relayed some of her experiences with him. She told him about El Salvador and her time in Tibet, some of her foster families, and her college years. In turn he'd shared some of his army days with her, his childhood, and even how he'd met Rebecca. And now, on rare occasions, they used each other's first names. It was this that pulled his focus back to her.

"Seeley, I still think this is going to be harder than you think," she said. "But if this is really something you've thought over and want to do, I'll help where I can." He smiled at her and hugged her briefly.

"Thank you," he stood up and pulled her up with him. "Come on." He led her back through the hallway to Parker's room where they heard the sounds of a boy playing heartily with many toys. Seeley knocked and all noise stopped abruptly. A small voice answered and Seeley motioned for her to stay in the hall for a moment. He opened the door and poked his head in.

"Hey. My friend is here and she wants to meet you. Is that okay?" Alan hiked his shoulders up noncommittally, but Seeley saw the brief flash of fear in his eyes. "It's okay; she's not going to hurt you." He pulled her into view and they walked slowly into the room. Alan had jumped to his feet and now he took a step closer to Seeley.

Temperance sucked in a quick breath as her eyes took in the boy's form. Booth had said he was probably ten or eleven, and he was tall, but severely underweight. He was underfed, and the t-shirt he was wearing engulfed his skinny frame. His cheeks were more hollow than they should have been, and his posture was stiff as if he were ready to run at any moment. His eyes were green and even she could see they had done a lot of crying in the last twelve hours or so. Her heart immediately went out to the child and she shot a quick look at Seeley before taking a slow step forward.

"Hi Alan," she said calmly. "My name's Tempe." She held out her hand in greeting and Alan stared at it for a moment before reaching a tentative hand out to meet hers. They shook briefly and he pulled his hand back to his body quickly. Seeley knelt down to the boy's level.

"She's going to stay out in the living room while I'm gone. You can stay in here for as long as you like, okay?" Alan nodded slowly, his eyes never leaving the new person in the room. He led Temperance back out into the living room, keeping his voice low.

"Thanks again, Bones. I shouldn't be gone more than thirty minutes or so." She nodded and settled in on the sofa, turning on the television. Her mind was still on the little boy in the other room as Booth left her alone with him.

Well here it is. The next chapter. Please review and let me know what you thought - good, bad, or otherwise. There are a few ways I can go with this story, so let me know what you want to see and I'll try to go with the majority. (I know, I'm a very diplomatic writer, what can I say?)