AN: TGIF! Woo, it's been a long week. Thanks to Melissa for the beta work. I did add a few lines later so any mistakes are mine.

Chapter 10 Decisions

Three weeks later Temperance was at home reading when her concentration was interrupted by a knock on her door. It was a bright and cold Thursday morning and she was unsurprised to find Booth on the other side.

"Come in." She offered, and he smiled thanks as he made himself comfortable on her couch.

"You don't look surprised to see me, Bones." He teased.

"You mentioned Monday that Parker was going out of town with Rebecca for Thanksgiving. I figured you would be by sometime." She smiled pleasantly as she settled next to him.

"Any chance you baked some pie to commemorate the holiday?" He asked with a boyish grin. Temperance rolled her eyes playfully.

"That would be a pumpkin scented candle that Angela gave me. Sorry Booth but no pie." Booth was back on his feet now and handing Temperance her jacket.

"Okay then, Bones, let's go!" He grabbed her hand and pulled her to the door before she could resist.

"Booth!" she laughed, "this is kidnapping!" But she didn't protest as he led her out of the apartment; only stopping to extinguish the candle.

- - - - - - -

The fifty minute drive was riddled with questions Booth refused to answer. When he parked, in the outskirts of the Blue Ridge Mountains, Temperance was shocked.

"You want to go hiking? Seriously?" Booth responded by jumping out of the car and pulling bags from the trunk space.

"Here are some gloves, a scarf, and even a hat for you, Bones." She fumbled with the articles of clothing he thrust in her hands.

"Booth! What are you doing?" Booth leaned close, invading her personal space and resting his hand on the car right next to her head.

"And here I thought if anyone recognized a walk in the snow, it would be you Bones." Temperance looked around at the fresh powder that had fallen the night before. At least six inches in the city and close to a foot in the higher elevations, she recalled with a slow spreading smile.

"Then what are we waiting for?" She challenged. Booth fought the urge to kiss her right then and there instead tugging on his own gloves; he grabbed a pack and locked up the SUV. Grabbing her hand they ran down the marked trail and into the woods.

"Booth, do you see that doe?" Temperance asked pointing off in the distance. Booth looked around excitedly.

"No where? Ahhhh-" Booth yelled as a hastily formed ball of ice and snow hit the back of his head. "Bones!" He ducked as he saw a second snowball come flying. "You're going down!"

Another snowball nailed him squarely in the chest and he dropped everything, ducking behind a tree to form his own snowballs. Twenty minutes later they were both winded from romping around in the snow and wet from expert hits on both sides.

"Truce?" called Temperance from her hiding place behind a bush.

"White flag waving!" Booth confirmed.

"Huh?" Booth chuckled.

"Truce, Bones." He stepped out into the clearing, holding up his hands which held two snowballs. Together they dropped their snowballs and Booth extended his hand.

"Good game, Bones." She smiled and shook firmly until Booth pulled her into a tight hug. She caught her breath at the close contact and shivered as he whispered in her ear.

"You cheated, Bones. A surprise ambush is cheating!" She yelped as he slid an icicle down the back of her shirt. Squirming away from him, Booth laughed loudly as Temperance danced around trying to shake the ice free.

When she succeeded, Temperance turned on Booth, her eyes wild. Booth gulped and a second later Temperance had pounced, pushing him back into a snow bank. They tumbled and turned, rolling as each fought for control. Finally Booth succeeded in pinning the doctor below him, holding her hands above her head.

Temperance growled in frustration but stopped when she saw just how close Booth was. He leaned in, placing a gentle kiss on her forehead. And despite the cold and despite the snow wetting her hair Temperance had never felt so warm throughout.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Several hours later they were sitting on a tarp, wrapped in blankets and enjoying the last of Booth's snow picnic as the air steadily grew colder. They still had four hours of daylight and intended to enjoy the peaceful quiet for the duration.

"I didn't say thank you, Bones." Temperance looked over at her partner who was lying on his back eyes staring at the trees above.

"Thank you for what?"

"Thank you for insisting that we stick with the case. Alexis' case," he clarified though there was no need. It had been their only case in the past three weeks, requiring long hours as they worked tirelessly. In the end Mrs. Evans had been charged with the deaths of three children, all foster children, in addition to the abuse of Alexis.

"She's a sick woman, Bones. And thanks to you she'll never hurt another child." Booth was pleased with the outcome of the case, a guilty plea ensured that she would be serving a life sentence in a facility for the criminally insane; she wound not be eligible for parole. They were quiet for a moment, each reflecting on the children who'd suffered at her hand.

"Alexis was cleared medically yesterday. She has a new foster home and is eligible for adoption." Temperance noted with seemingly clinical detachment. But Booth noted something in her voice, a hesitation, and reached out to squeeze her hand.

When they began the slow, reluctant, trek back to the car, Temperance spoke again.

"Angela told me that I'd be a good mother." Silence followed her revelation and only the sound of the snow crunching underfoot filled the air. "She says Alexis needs a good mother." Booth wanted to speak but couldn't find the words. Next to him Temperance stopped. Booth took another few steps before turning.

"Booth, what do you think? Of me?" And there she was, open and vulnerable, standing in the snow waiting for his answer.

"Oh, Bones, if I tell you right here everything I think of you we'll be stuck here all night." Temperance rolled her eyes and crossed her arms in challenge. "We'll walk and talk." He compromised, reaching out for her hand. Temperance took it gladly and they continued to walk, Booth swinging the bag with their lunch remains at his side.

"I meant what I said earlier," he began, hesitantly; "you are the reason Alexis is safe right now. And it's because you are great at your job. It's not just about the bones; I see you and know you do it for the victims. You care about them, sometimes I think more than the rest of us combined."

"Booth, that's not true..." she protested.

"What I see Bones, is you putting your life on hold, your work always come first. At the end of the day I still go home to Parker, I hold on to him selfishly so." Booth explained.

"And I don't have a Parker." Temperance finished sadly. Booth squeezed her hand with his.

"You can have a Parker, Bones, if you want one. It doesn't have to be a child; you can have someone to come home to." He took a deep breath, gathering his courage and stepped over the line. "Whatever you decide to do, Temperance, whatever you decide, I'll be right here."

"What if Alexis stays in foster care Booth?" Temperance asked, voicing her fear of somehow letting the little girl down. In the weeks since rescuing Alexis, Temperance had visited her daily reassuring her that things would change without ever promising she would be adopted and live the unrealistic "happily ever after".

"You gave Alexis something more important Bones; you gave her a future, a life. Nothing can beat that. Even if she's not adopted, doesn't have a mom or dad, I know she'll turn out alright."

"How can you know that, Booth?" she asked with despair creeping into her voice.

"Because I know someone else who came out of the foster care system and turned out pretty great." They had just reached the end of the trail and Booth's SUV was in sight. Temperance balked, not wanting the walk to end.

"You mean that?" Booth turned, letting his bag fall to the ground and holding both of Temperance's hands, steadying her as they stood in the snow.

"You are relentless and uncompromising in the pursuit of the truth and justice. And the truth is," he finished, gazing into her blue orbs for signs of understanding, "that you are a great scientist and one hell of an investigator. You give people justice and we're lying, lying to ourselves, when we think it's not enough. We give people a voice when no one will listen. And that makes you... amazing."

Temperance felt hot tears pressing at her eyelids and looked up, blinking rapidly. She absorbed his words and knew he was right and it only served to confirm her decision. She closed her eyes and exhaled, smiling as a fat snowflake drifted down from the treetops, landed on her nose and melted. Temperance looked back at her partner as he watched her with serious and compassionate dark eyes.

A slow, sexy grin spread on Booth's face as he allowed himself to be pulled into his Bones, knowing she'd made her decision.

END Chapter

AN: A little known fact, this particular snow romp was taken from personal experience (wink, wink) and brought back some gooood memories of Virginia winters with James, snow, "ice skating" and snowball fights. Which I will celebrate by going ice skating tonight! One more chapter to go, which will be posted Monday. Thanks again for reviewing, I appreciate the feedback.