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This takes place before Brennan is pregnant with Hank and the whole Booth gambling storyline comes about.

Season 10

Her husband hadn't been the same since he came home from prison. She knew that on the outside he seemed the same, but on the inside he wasn't. His incarceration and Sweets' death had taken their toll on him.

The holiday season was approaching and he lacked the usual enthusiasm he had when Christmas approached. Parker was coming to visit as was customary, but Booth seemed to have less planned than before.

The changes in her husband troubled her. He had yet to return to church and she knew his faith was important to him. She still remembered Sweets' words to her. Booth needed to believe in something bigger than himself.

"The tree is up. Christine and I are about to decorate it. Would you like to help?" Brennan asked Booth who was watching a game on the television.

"I'm kinda beat. You two go ahead."

"You sure? Christine was looking forward to this activity with you."

"Yeah you two go ahead. Tell Christine maybe I'll take her shopping me with me later for Parker's present." Booth replied as he took a swig from his beer bottle.

"Okay." Brennan could tell Booth was in one of his melancholy moods and didn't want to press the issue, though it was very unlike him to disappoint their daughter.

The tree was almost covered in Christmas ornaments, trinkets and all things associated with the yuletide season when Booth appeared.

"Daddy!" Christine squealed in delight.

"Hey Sweetheart. I'm sorry I missed out on this."

"We were going to get the ladder so that Christine could put the star on the top of the tree."

"Well since I'm here, I can help with that."

Booth took Christine in his arms and boosted her up so she could place the star in its rightful place on the top of the tree.

"That looks so pretty."

"Yeah it does doesn't it?" Booth grinned as he set Christine back on her feet. "I was gonna go to the mall and get Parker's gift. You wanna come?"

"Yeah! I wanna surprise him."

"Great! Go put on something warm. It's cold out."

"Okay!" Christine happily skipped to her room.

"I'll be there in a second to help." Brennan called after her.

Booth took Brennan's hand. "Listen, I'm sorry. I know I said this should be family tradition but I just…"

"It's okay. You were here for the last part. It's good enough for Christine. For now."

Christmas morning arrived and Booth woke to the warmth of Brennan's body beside his. There were mornings when he would wake and think that he was still in prison. Brennan somehow knew that and tried her best to make it a point to remain in bed beside him until he woke. She knew that her presence beside him assured him that he was home, not waking alone in a prison cell.

"Guess our little monster is still asleep." Booth said, his voice hoarse from deep sleep.

"Yes I'm surprised considering how excited she was last night about getting to open her presents." Booth chuckled.

"Maybe we should take advantage of the fact that she's still asleep." He moved to roll himself on top of her proceeding to kiss a trail down her neck, the way he knew she loved. His mind conjured up images of him and Brennan doing what was on her infamous page 187.

Brennan stopped him, much to his surprise. "While this would be an excellent way to start the morning, we need to talk."

"Really Bones?" Booth asked.

"I was thinking, after breakfast, I'd come with you to Christmas Mass, with Christine of course. Then we can all go to the airport together to pick up Parker."

"Wait what?"

"You heard me."

"But you said you would never come to church with me."

"I am allowed to change my mind aren't I?"

"I wasn't intending to go to Christmas Mass anyway."

"I think you should."

"Seriously Bones?" Booth blew out a breath as he rolled himself off her, sitting up in bed.

"I didn't mean to upset you Booth."

He remained silent.

"I know that your entire belief system has been shaken. I know the past year has not been easy on you. Your incarceration, losing Pops and Sweets. It was a great trauma to you."

Booth shook his head. "I've been through worse. I was a prisoner of war, kidnapped, beaten and tortured…"

"But it didn't shake your faith. Your faith is shaken now."

"Faith." Booth chuckled bitterly.

"What happened to you was unfair. I know that while physically you're here, your mind is still sometimes still trapped inside that prison."

"Just stop okay? Faith and psychology? Are you sure you're my Bones?"

Ignoring his attempt to make light of their discussion, she pressed on.

"You need help Booth. It's something not even I can provide you. While I'm here for you, you need to make an attempt to get your faith back, go back to church, speak with your priest or some other person. Don't think I don't know you still have nightmares. About Sweets, your time in prison. You're a light sleeper from your Ranger training but I know you don't sleep well now. Your mind and body are not rested. I know you wake up sometimes thinking you're still in prison."

Booth blinked back his tears. "I'm… I'm sorry."

"While I hope to get the Seeley Booth I married back, I have come to accept that perhaps I never will. That perhaps being in prison has changed you irrevocably. But I hope to get as much of him back as it is possible. Because the man I married was a very good man. A man who believed in something more than himself. A man who lived for a purpose. A purpose greater than himself."

"I'm sorry I disappoint you."

"On the contrary, a lesser man would have been broken by now. You're still a good man but I know the pain you're in. I know how hard you work to be the same for myself and Christine but perhaps a small part of you has been lost that we will never get back. Despite that, we are so happy that you're here with us now. You need to go back to church Booth. If not for yourself then for me, for your children."

Booth closed his eyes, a tear escaping and sling down his cheek. Brennan placed a hand on his cheek, swiping it away with her thumb. He rested his hand over hers that was on his face.

"You said you can't help me? That's not true Bones. What you just said… how you've been putting up with me… it's more than I could've asked for."

He turns his hand to plant a kiss to her palm.

"I'll do it."

"It?"

"What you said earlier. Go to Christmas Mass. But you and Christine are comin' with me."

Brennan smiled. "Of course. That's exactly what I told you."

She leaned in to plant a kiss to his lips. "Merry Christmas Booth."

"Thanks for tryin' to give me my faith back Bones. It means a lot comin' from you."

"I love you."

"I know. I love you too Bones. Merry Christmas."