One steamboat, two steamboats, three steamboats, four...

She lost count.

She couldn't really think right now.

Booth's lips were against hers and they were so soft and they fit right with hers and Booth was a superb kisser and, oh God, was he deepening the kiss? Wait, maybe it was her. She wasn't really sure what was what anymore.

Brennan had never experienced a kiss like this before. She had experienced lust filled kisses, chaste kisses, rough kisses, quick pecks on the lips or cheek, even sad and remorseful kisses.

But never had she experienced one like this kiss.

This kiss was slow and intoxicating and sweet and perfect and felt oh, so right.

If you had asked her to explain why the kiss felt like that, she wouldn't have been able to tell you. She would have said that the sweetness probably came from her gum, but all the other things defied logic. She and Booth were just partners, there was no romantic feelings between them at all. Their relationship was strictly professional and the only reason she was kissing him was because Caroline had forced her to.

Caroline.

Damn it, Brennan had forgotten all about her.

Brennan pulled away from Booth and tried not to look him in the eye. Instead she turned to Caroline and said, "Was that enough steamboats?" because she had lost track a very, very long time ago.

.§. .§.

"Go to the window and open up the blinds. Now."

"What?"

Brennan turned and walked to the window. Booth and Parker were standing with a decorated and lit Christmas tree, smiling and waving at her.

She had a sharp pain in her chest all of a sudden that hurt really, really bad. A desire to be out there in the cold and snow with Booth and Parker came over her. She couldn't explain this feeling, this want. It was foreign to her, yet she didn't want it to go. Which made absolutely no sense at all because why would she want to feel more pain?

She lifted her hand and waved back, hoping to rid herself of the pain with a distraction. "Hey, everybody! It looks like we got our tree after all."

Her family crowded around her, all trying to see the tree. They were talking and commenting on the tree, but Brennan couldn't hear them because her chest was still hurting and she couldn't concentrate on anything else right now.

She wondered what this pain was and why she was feeling it. Not coming up with any good answers immediately, she decided to ponder that later and to relish this moment with her family and Booth instead.

"I love my gift, Booth." She smiled and hoped he'd be able to see it.

He did and he smiled in return.

"Merry Christmas, Bones."