I'm very glad that everyone is enjoying this one. Here's another chapter, though it's more in the way of a feel good one that involves Zack's family. I'm leaving the hotel scene to everyone's imagination for the moment, though it has the possibility of a flashback segment when Bones and Angela have a little Girl Talk about it in another chapter. I hope you all enjoy this one. Gregg.
Disclaimer: I don't own, or profit from, these character or franchise. No copyright infringement is intended.
Booth was finally in his element. Not that sex with Bones wasn't his element, because it most definitely was, but he was thinking more in terms of the holidays and the happiness that he always felt at that time. Particularly Christmas. Zack and his Father and brothers had returned from their annual tree hunt and Booth, the Squints, and Zack's parents were decorating the tree. Even Bones was joining in, though she was staying somewhat quiet.
"You know you could join in on the conversations, Bones," he said quietly.
"I still don't understand how people can accept such an illogical holiday and the notion of a Virgin Birth that accompanies it," she replied, though she did keep her voice quiet so that only Booth could hear her. She was learning that some discretion was called for.
"It's called Faith, Bones," Booth chuckled. He wasn't about to let their ongoing debate about God and religion cloud his good humor. Five hours in a hotel room that day with Bones had done wonders for his mood, after all. Seeing Hodgins walking somewhat gingerly, and sitting on an inflatable doughnut, was also helping his mood tremendously.
"But there's nothing empirical about it," she protested.
"What about Zack?" he asked.
"What about him?" she glared, wanting to defend her young protegé, even if she wasn't sure from what.
"Do you consider him as serious as you about science and empirical evidence?" Booth asked.
"Of course I do," she replied without hesitation.
"Yet he believes in God and attends worship services every Sunday," Booth pointed out.
Bones had to ponder that one. What Booth said made some sense, even if she was still conflicted on the basic point. "Why do you believe in God?" she asked quietly. "You've seen many of the same kinds of horrors in the world that I have. How could God allow such events to occur if he exists and is so benevolent, at least within the Christian tradition?"
Booth could be offended by such a personal question, but he knew that Bones was not meaning anything cutting or hurtful by it. It was an honest question coming from her.
"Do those two always carry on like that?" Marie asked Angela, pointing to Booth and Brennan.
"That's nothing," Angela replied with a smile. "You should see them when they're really arguing about something. That's when you wonder if it's safe to go out at night."
"Zack sure thinks highly of both of them," Zack's father, Dan, said as he brought over some more ornaments.
"We all do," Hodgins said as he moved carefully around pieces of furniture. He'd already brushed against a chair and his ass was still throbbing from it. "They're the best at what they do."
"And now that they are engaging in intercourse they will be insufferable," Zack added as he handed Angela a strand of colored lights.
"That's their business, Zack, not ours," Marie chided her youngest son.
"Oh don't worry, Marie," Angela supported Zack. "At the Jeffersonian those to getting together has been an ongoing topic of conversation since they first met."
"What finally brought it about?" Dan asked. He may be a guys guy, but he was enjoying the gossip about these two unique people.
"A few months ago Bren found out some terrible news about her Mother and Booth was there to help her," Angela responded after receiving a nod from Zack and Hodgins. "After that Bren started spending even more of her free time with Booth, decided not to date anyone, and they've been moving in this direction ever since. Something happened on the drive over here, but neither is talking so far."
"And we never will," Booth said from behind Angela. He loved the sudden flinch coming from Hodgins. That warmed his heart, even if it was cruel to think that way. "Right, Hodgins?"
"My lips are sealed, Man," Hodgins managed to splutter. He was thinking more in terms of being on the receiving end of the volts from the stun gun again, and this time it may not be in such a friendly location as his ass was. If it hurt that much down there and behind, he didn't want to even think about the nightmares that would come if the Boys got a shot of what his ass had been subjected to.
"Is something wrong, Hodgins?" Zack asked. "You appear to be walking in an uncomfortable manner."
"I got a little shock today, Zack," Hodgins grimaced.
"I don't understand," Zack replied, paraphrasing in a way Dr. Brennan's signature phrase of I don't know what that means.
"It's not important, Zack," Hodgins said quickly, while Angela chuckled with Brennan. Booth just glared at him sternly.
"Booth?" Marie asked. "Could you place the star on the top of the tree?"
"Sure," Booth smiled and did as asked. He looked down and saw Bones looking at him as if he was a prize bull or something. He gulped, not wanting to get aroused now of all times.
They all stood back and enjoyed the display as the tree was lit. There was a lot of oohs and aahs when it was on full display. Angela had used her skills as an artist to direct the decorating of the tree. Booth noticed that Bones was looking a bit mesmerized by the tree and walked over to her and placed his arm over her shoulder.
"You feel that good feeling inside right now, Bones, looking at the tree and seeing everyone happy?" he asked softly.
"Mmhmmm," she murmured. She leaned into him a bit, luxuriating in the feel of his strong, symmetrical upper body.
"That's why I love Christmas so much," he told her. He'd never told her about his childhood, or at least the darker side of it, so she wouldn't necessarily understand the full import of his reason, but he was sure that she appreciated what he'd just told her.
"Is this what you were trying to get me to see last year when I was so distant while we were in the quarantine lock down?" she asked.
"Uh huh," he said with a smile.
"Jack?" Angela said with a slightly husky tone, leaning into him as she felt his arm go over her shoulder.
"Yeah?" he said, smiling a bit. Now this was okay. He was with Angela, and no angry federal agent was shooting a few thousand volts of electricity into his ass.
"You think we can get a tazer so we can role play what happened earlier?" she teased. "I had the most incredible orgasm," she whispered in his ear.
"I am not going to let you electrocute me just so you can have a better orgasm!" he hissed in frustration. One jolt was way more than enough in one life time in his opinion. Then he saw that look in her eyes and he sighed. He was so whipped!
"This is an interesting group we have with us this year," Marie told Dan, enjoying leaning into him, looking at the tree like everyone else. She was looking forward to the next day when the rest of her children would be there. The boys had shown up to get the tree, but let Zack's group enjoy decorating the tree.
"Yeah," Dan agreed. "They may be different, but look at Zack. He seems relaxed. And he actually watched the game with us yesterday. That's never happened before."
"Maybe those people are our Christmas Miracle," Marie said quietly to herself, thinking that anything that would make her youngest more accessible to the family, and smile like that, was indeed a miracle. She looked out at everyone. "Who's ready for some dinner?" she asked. She laughed when everyone unanimously voted in favor of dinner.
A/N: I know this isn't like the other chapters, but I wanted to have some elements of family, though with some judicious use of humor thrown in, for this story. Next up will be Bones and Angela having a talk about Booth and the hotel room, with Bones having her own little flashback. I hope you enjoyed this one. Gregg.