Winter:

Sunset:

'Twas the night before Christmas in the Booth household. The tree was trimmed, the stockings hung, the presents laid out neatly around the tree. A house full of Booths young and old lay sleeping, covers wrapped tightly to fend off the cold winter night. Wrapped in a blanket of her own, unable to sleep, Dr. Temperance Brennan-Booth gazed at the lights of the Christmas tree and let her mind drift to her family.

Six years ago Parker and Jenny had surprised no one but themselves when they had admitted their feelings for one another and then married six months later. Booth had watched Parker's feelings for the young girl they had adopted into their family grow over the years and had been the one to assure his son that the family would support their relationship. Maryland had no laws forbidding the union, so they chose to marry there. Even Booth, though, admitted to the oddity of handing over his daughter(albeit adopted) to his son in marriage. A year after their wedding, twins Evie and Alex were born. Two years later came Peter and Elizabeth. In March they were expecting yet again- twins again- Parker was considering a vasectomy. Jenny had requested a straightjacket for Christmas.

Julie, meanwhile, had graduated with a Masters in criminology, joined her father at the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and had just made the rank of Special Agent. As of the New Year she would be the FBI latest agent attached to the Jeffersonian Institute just as Booth had been so many years ago. She was single and satisfied, preferring to borrow her siblings' children rather than start a family of her own.

Jake and Hope, the two younger Booths, were still at home. Jake was a senior and busy filling out college applications. His goal was to work in computer database management and design. Hope was slogging her way through Junior High. Eighth grade girls were not the nicest people on the planet, and Hope was counting the day until she would be done and could call herself a high-schooler. She was leaning toward forensic anthropology as a career, though she was not positive yet.

"Penny for your thoughts," Booth's husky voice cut through her reverie as he slipped under the blanket with her and wrapped an arm around her shoulder.

"I'm not sure what that means," she smiled up at him, "But I was thinking about family."

"Oh," he said quietly, "I'm sorry, Bones. I know this can be a rough time of year for you; thinking about the past and all."

"Actually, I wasn't thinking about my parents at all, Booth," she gave him a small squeeze and looked up at him, "I was thinking about our family."

"They're growing up."

"Yes."

"We're getting old."

"Inevitable."

"I love being a grandpa, Bones."

"I enjoy being a grandparent as well, Booth."

"But?" he could hear the hesitation in her voice.

"Booth," she turned to face him, unwrapping them from the blanket, "For years now I have enjoyed being a mother, an author, a guest speaker at FBI seminars, and now a grandmother. But now our children are nearly grown, the book series is finished, the speaking engagements are limited, and it's not as if we have to raise our grandchildren."

"What are you saying, Bones?" he was listening intently, eyes fixed on hers, "What is it that you want to do?"

"The Jeffersonian called," her eyes gleamed, "They need a Forensic Anthropologist," she paused, and then rushed ahead with the rest of her thought, "They offered me my old position, Booth, and I accepted. I start January second."

Booth's eyes widened, then relaxed, and his shoulders began shaking as a grin spread over his face. He encircled his wife in a hug and laughed out loud.

"Booth," frustrations tinged her voice as she loosened herself from his grip. She couldn't tell if he was angry or bemused.

"Booth! Stop laughing like a fool! Are you upset? Should I have consulted you about this first?"

Booth stopped and stared at his wife, "I'm not upset, Bones. And really, when have you ever had to ask my permission to do something? I'm just laughing because I've been waiting for this to happen for quite a while now."

"Really?" she looked at him incredulously.

"Really!" he looked at her earnestly, "Bones, you are an amazing mother and wife, but you are also a scientist- and a world-renowned one at that- and I would be shocked if you went through the rest of your life never once wishing you could go back to the lab. I'm happy for you."

"Truly?"

"Truly," he placed a kiss on her forehead, "Though I expect you NOT to run off with whoever they partner you up with this time!"

She smacked his shoulder lightly, "I highly doubt our daughter will want that, Booth!"

"Seriously? Julie's your partner? Does she know?" the questions came one right after the other.

"Yes, I am serious, Julie is my partner. No, she does not know yet because I had not told you."

"Well I'm honored, Temperance."

"Well you should be, Seeley."

"Bedtime?"

"Yes."

They stood up, walking up to their bedroom arm in arm.

"Look, Bones, mistletoe!"

It was several minutes before they got upstairs and several hours before they got to sleep.