A week later
Brennan's apartment had been transformed into a Christmas wonderland by the time Parker joined her and Booth on Christmas Eve afternoon. Brennan pulled the pan of cookies from the oven as the doorbell sounded."Booth, can you get that? It's probably Parker."
"Sure." Brennan smiled a Booth crossed the room, jingling from the bells on his socks.
Booth answered the door in his Santa hat, "Merry Christmas, Parker."
"Merry Christmas, dad." Booth relived Parker of his duffel bag and the shopping bag, as he came inside and shimmied out of his coat. "Merry Christmas Bones, is Madelyn here?"
"No, she's spending Christmas Eve and Christmas morning with her mom, she's coming over at 6."Brennan noticed the crestfallen look that crossed Parker's face and quickly added, "She'll still be here when you come back after Christmas."
"Cool, I got her something, well mom picked it out."
Brennan smilled,"I'm sure she'll like it. Go put your presents under the tree and wash your hands, you can help decorate the cookies."
"Okay." Parker dumped the presents under the tree in a haphazard pile and went to the sink to wash his hands. Brennan shook her head and smiled.
Three hours later Booth, Brennan and Parker were sitting on the couch eating Chinese out of the carton and watching A Christmas Story "Park, as soon as your done get ready for Church you and I are going to the early service then we're going to get Bones and look at Christmas lights."
"Okay." Parker finished his eggroll and went to get ready. Three hours later Booth changed sleepy Parker into his pajamas and put him in bed before joining Brennan on the couch. Did you get everything wrapped?"
"Yes, are we going overboard with gifts? A laptop, a videogame system, games and a bike."
"No, Rebecca and I agreed on all of it this year. Parker will need a computer when he starts at the gifted school next week and we thought a laptop would be easier for him when he's got to come here. The new videogame system is something he didn't ask for, but we're getting it as a reward for all his hard work. He only asked for the bike and a new backpack. Rebecca's getting him all the things he needs for school and paying for high-speed internet plus Netflix for him for Christmas."
Brennan smiled a little," I went ahead and got him a laptop case, its neoprene and has the Flyers logo on it."
"Bones you didn't have to do that, the laptop is from both of us. And you wrote one of the recommendation letters plus you're helping Becca and I cover what the partial scholarship doesn't."
"I know that but the things I got him aren't tangible, he doesn't even know about it-"
"It's gonna stay that way."
"I know I just wanted to get him something from me."
"Okay, I love you."
"I love you too, Booth." They sat together watching the tree.
The next morning Parker got Booth and Brennan up at 6 AM, Booth buried his head in Brennan's shoulder and mumbled, "I thought once he quit believing in Santa getting up at the crack of dawn on Christmas would be over."
"He's excited and it's only an hour earlier than he'd normally be up. Go try to keep him from combusting with excitement while I make coffee."
Booth rolled over and got up tossing a giggling Parker over his shoulder carrying him out of the room. Ten minutes later Parker was unwrapping the laptop, "Cool a laptop, thanks dad. Thanks Bones."
"You're welcome bub, your mom and I thought a laptop would be better since you have to carry it between here and your moms."
Next was the videogame system, "cool, thanks dad."
"You're welcome, you didn't ask for it, but I thought you'd like it. Mom is okay with you having it."
Parker unwrapped the laptop case and his eyes lit up, "Thanks Bones, it so cool."
"You're welcome Parker."
After Booth retrieved Parker's bike from their room and Booth and Brennan had opened their presents from Parker, a Flyers sweat shirt for Booth and vanilla scented candles for Brennan. They had a quick bagel breakfast. After breakfast Booth sat in the floor hooking up the videogame system while Brennan and Parker set up his laptop (Rebecca had the printer at her house). After everything was set up Booth Brennan and Parker played videogame until it was time for Rebecca to take Parker to her aunt's house for dinner. After Parker left Brennan and Booth cleaned the remains of Christmas with Parker and go ready for Christmas with Madelyn. At 5:30 Brennan started the macaroni and cheese, "Bones, Parker's upset he's missing the mac N cheese."
"I know I told him I'd make him some when he comes back on New Years. " Booth grinned and stole a handful of cheese."HEY!" the doorbell rang." Booth will you get that? I'm in a mess here."
"Sure." Booth let Madelyn in and took her bags from Sarah.
"Merry Christmas, Booth."
"Merry Christmas, Madelyn."
"Merry Christmas Tempe. "
"Merry Christmas, Madelyn. Dinner isn't ready yet so why don't we open gifts and then eat?"
"Sounds good to me." Booth helped Madelyn to the floor and handed the presents out.
Madelyn opened her present from Brennan,"Oapal earrings, the match the bracelet I got from Mom. Thanks Tempe I love them."
"You're welcome Madelyn, I'm glad you like them."
Madelyn opened Booth's present next," a mall gift card?"
"Yeah, I thought once you get your cast off, you and Bones might like to go shopping. Bones has one for lunch at the mall."
"Cool thanks,"
"You're welcome."
Brennan opened her gift from Madelyn, a dolphin paperweight. "It's beautiful Madelyn, thank you." Brennan reached over and pulled Madelyn into a hug.
"You're welcome Mom said she remembered you liked dolphins and it thought it looked neat, especially if the sun caught it.
Booth was next, "Look Bones socks with tiny turkeys on them. Thank you, Madelyn I love them."
"You're welcome; Tempe said you didn't have any thanksgiving socks so."
"Now I do." Booth gave Madelyn a hug,
The rest of the day and vacation was spent thing out, just the tree of them until Parker came over on New Year's Eve then the four of them hung out, it was a perfect holiday.