I have just realised that I've completely forgotten a disclaimer so far, so I'm now broadly saying that I own nothing!

One or two chapters to go! Thanks for all the reviews, they are very helpful!

Brennan woke alone in her bed, her sleep numbed brain missing the previous night's company before she regained enough control to scold herself for her inappropriate desires.

Throwing back her blankets, Brennan snatched up her towel and stumbled to the bathroom, intent on a shower to awaken her fully before she made the mistake of thinking anything more about her partner.

After checking that the door to Booth's room was most definitely locked, Brennan stepped under the luxurious comfort of the hot shower, sighing in relief as the tension fell away. As much as she enjoyed being a part of his Christmas, it wasn't short of its drama. Between the bitter sister-in-law and the church situation, Brennan had been thoroughly exhausted by her day.

And was eagerly looking forward to another one.

Booth heard the shower turn on and sighed, messing up his hair with his hands. His little revelation the day before had led to a sleepless night, filled with worrying thoughts. Most of them centred on the fact that he was a Class A idiot.

Falling in love with Brennan, he could now see, had been inevitable. He believed in fate and destiny and, dare he think it, soul mates. She was inevitable. What had been highly avoidable was drawing that line between them. Technically, she wasn't FBI. There were no rules against them dating – only the ones he had felt the need to impose in a moment of his own vulnerability. He groaned. He channelled Brennan for five minutes, sticking up barriers where they weren't needed and escalated this whole problem.

Stupid.

Sometimes, when he caught her looking at him, he wondered if she felt the same. Not just the undeniable attraction that had been present since day one, but that something deeper.

Booth groaned and lay back on his bed. Dwelling would not help anyone. For the first time, he was grateful to recall that he would be spending the day away from her.

He heard the shower stop, followed minutes later by a timid knock at the door to the bathroom that had him standing in a second and tugging on a shirt.
"Just a sec, Bones," he called, throwing the cover back over his bed. "OK, come in."
Brennan pushed open the door and strutted into his room. "What happens today?"
After a crying Lexie had rudely interrupted their moment on the trampoline, Brennan had offered to go home early with the exhausted children. Booth, although keen to leave too, had been ordered to stay and catch up with the people he had not seen in years, leaving no time for discussion.

"Well… and I know you're not going to like this, but it's kinda tradition, so please play along…"
Brennan crossed her arms. "What, Booth?"

"Us guys stay here and work on Dad's car, while you girls go bargain hunting at the mall! Fun, huh?"
Brennan scowled deeply, tugging at the black jacket she was wearing. "Booth, I'm not really the shopping type of girl."
"I know. And I'm sorry." Brennan couldn't doubt the sincerity in his eyes. "And I'd rather you stay and work on the car, too, but… tradition calls."

Brennan rolled her eyes. "Fine." She stomped out of his room and back into hers. The idea of spending the day with Shelly was less than appealing. Although since Lexie and Allison both seemed to like her, she wondered if the day would be such a loss. Brennan was ensuring her wallet and cell were in her handbag when Booth charged unannounced into her room.

"Booth! Have you heard of knocking?"

Booth raised his eyebrows and glanced around to see if he had walked in on something private. Deciding that he hadn't, and Brennan was merely trying to stir him up, Booth made a show of knocking on the door, a smug smile on his face as he watched her scowl.

"What do you want?"

Booth chewed his lip, suddenly uncertain. "Look, Bones, I know what happens when females bond and I would just like to ask a favour."
Unable to see the connection between the two parts of his sentence, Brennan cocked her head to the side and waited for him to continue.

Booth took a deep breath. If this was anyone else, he could explain what he wanted in a round about, vague way that would be understood easily without embarrassment. With her, it had to be specific and to the point. "If I come up in conversation, don't tell my mother who I've slept with, OK?"
Brennan flinched. "Why would that come up in conversation?"

"Because mothers are nosey, mine more than others. Just avoid that topic, and we'll be fine."
Brennan shrugged. "Fine."
Booth exhaled in relief. "Thanks, Bones."
Brennan shook her head and walked to the door. "Have fun fixing your car."

"Have fun gossiping and shopping," he shot back.

He watched her go, leaning in the doorway as he heard his mother and sister-in-law usher her out to the car. In one moment, he saw her exiting the house, a smile on her face as she said something to his mother. She turned slightly to pull the door shut, and he noticed that Lexie was propped on her hip, giggling as she played with Brennan's hair. Not for the first time, he noticed how wonderful she was with kids, despite her reluctance to have any of her own.

Then the door slammed shut and he was left wondering exactly how far behind them that line was.

OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

Loathe though she was to admit it, Booth had been right; both Allison and Shelly had spent a substantial portion of their day trying to extract from her details of Booth's personal life. Unable to conceal anything, Brennan had simply deflected their questions with a "Booth told me not to tell you."
They both laughed at her bluntness. Brennan noticed that Shelly seemed to be warming up to her, especially since she volunteered to watch Lexie while the other two tried on multiple outfits. Apart from a bright blue necklace that Lexie had insisted she buy, Brennan had yet to find anything worth purchasing.

As they sat around a table in the food court at lunchtime, Brennan was amused to observe as conversation turned to their husbands.

"He's hopeless! I swear, he's more of a child than this one," Shelly exclaimed, tickling Lexie.

Allison nodded sympathetically. "They all get like that when the kids are young, these Booth men. Total softies who can never pass up an opportunity to act like children."
Brennan pointed with her fork. "Actually, it's a commonly accepted method of release for males. While adult women are still expected to show weakness, men are put into the role of being strong and dominant. Around children it is socially acceptable for them to relax that role."

Shelly and Allison both blinked at her uncomprehendingly. Brennan smiled in apology. "Sorry. I have this problem where I forget not everyone has a PhD. Booth's been working on it."

Allison laughed. "That's alright, honey."

Brennan stuck her fork back into her Chinese. "How long have you been married, Allison?"
Allison smiled warmly. "Forty years next year."

Brennan paused, wondering if it was appropriate to ask her next question. She opened her mouth, closed it again, and then frowned.

Allison, who had been watching her face with interest, burst out laughing. "Just ask, Tempe."

"Do you ever get sick of them? Just having one person in your life?"
Allison brushed a lock of dark hair off her face. "Some days, he annoys me no end. Some days, we yell and fight and it seems difficult. But no. I never get sick of Mike. I never get sick of waking up to the face of the one person who truly understands who I am, and loves me for it. I never tire of having someone who loves me without fail, who will tell me when I'm wrong and who will defend me to others. When you find the right person, Tempe, you don't tire of them."
Shelly nodded in agreement. "She's right. Jared drives me nuts, half the time, but it doesn't matter whether we're in the middle of a huge argument or in the middle of dinner, I always know he loves me."
Brennan pushed some of her food around thoughtfully, mulling over their words. It frightened her a little the direction her thoughts headed in.

"Can we go there?" Lexie asked excitedly, breaking the silence by indicating to a toy store.

Brennan stood up and grabbed Lexie's hand. "Why don't I take you while Mom and Gran finish lunch?"

"Yeah!"

After the nod of approval from Shelly, Brennan ran after Lexie towards the toy store.

"Do you really think she loves him?" Shelly asked Allison.

Allison nodded firmly. "Without a doubt."

OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

It was five o'clock before Allison and Shelly decided that it was time to leave. Brennan hoped her face didn't show too much of the relief she felt – she was running out of things with which to occupy her mind – especially since Lexie had grown tired enough to actually be quiet.

In the car on the way back to the house, Brennan allowed her mind to stray to the topics she had avoided. Better deal with it now, while he's not around, than let it take you by surprise when he is, she told herself sternly.

It was undeniable that he was the person she turned to for help. The person to drag her out of the trouble that even she had to admit she fell into rather regularly. He knew her story better than any other. He knew her better than any other.

They were family, she had agreed. He was the replacement for the people that life had stolen away from her, and he more than filled the gaps they had left behind. He defended her, understood her, told her when she was wrong and drove her insane. Booth checked all of those boxes that Shelly and Allison had introduced.

But their relationship wasn't like that, she argued back, watching as they turned into the Booths street. They were friends, partners. They were more brother and sister than anything else! She flinched at that thought. Even the idea of Booth being her brother seemed vaguely incestuous, simply because of the proximity they always shared.

Cousins, she thought firmly. That would be more fitting.

Very distant cousins, she amended. But would distant cousins conspire with their arrested uncles to buy Christmas gifts? Or drag their cousins out of buried cars and shoot their attackers?
They pulled into the driveway, and Brennan climbed out numbly, still turning the idea over in her mind. If they weren't family in the way comparable to a relation, then what were they? What was Booth to her?
Almost without noticing, Brennan entered the garage, somewhere in her mind intending on confronting him about it. So intent on her task, she missed the confused glances that Shelly and Allison exchanged.

Then she noticed him, leaning on the bonnet of the car, the muscles in his arms pronounced. A bright smile lit up his face as he laughed at something his brother said.

She suddenly felt like someone had kicked her in the chest.

She didn't know exactly what Booth was to her now, but she knew one thing very, very clearly.

She was totally, undeniably, in love with Seeley Booth.