Merry Christmas everybody! Finish off the day with some fluff. :)

The knock on her door came halfway through a documentary on the migration patterns of sperm whales. She got up from the couch and walked over to the door, swinging it open. Before she could even register who her visitor was, something small and solid collided with her legs. "Bones!" Parker greeted her happily, hugging her waist.

"Hey, Parker," she said, hugging him back. "What are you doing here?"

She glanced behind Parker, expecting to see Booth waiting in the wings, but her hallway was empty. "Where's your father?" she asked curiously, wondering how the little boy got here.

"He's in the car," Parker explained hurriedly. "I'm supposed to get you. He wanted to come, but I told him I could do it myself." When Brennan didn't immediately confirm his statement, he added indignantly, "I am ten, Bones."

"I know you are," she said, smiling. "I'm sure you handled yourself very well."

"I did," he confirmed. "I even shook your doorman's hand the way my dad does."

Brennan nodded her approval. "Well done."

Parker's grin was wide as he looked up at her. "So you ready?"

"For what?" she asked, realizing she still didn't really know why he was here.

"For tree shopping," he told her. "Duh."

"Tree shopping?" she repeated, still confused.

"Yeah, you're coming with us to pick out a tree." When she still didn't move from her doorway, he sighed and took her hand, dragging her back into the apartment. "I'll help you get ready," he announced. "Dad told me to tell you to dress warmly because it's cold." He stopped in her living room and glanced back at her. "Do you have earmuffs?"

—BB—

Booth smiled broadly as Brennan opened the passenger door and slid into her usual seat beside him. "You made it," he said happily. "And you have earmuffs!"

"Parker told me to dress warmly," she explained.

Booth turned in his seat to wink at his son who had settled into the backseat. "Good job, bub."

"She was just going to wear jeans, but I talked her into snow pants," he said seriously.

Booth turned back to his partner. "You really need to wear snow pants when you pick out a Christmas tree, Bones," he told her seriously.

"Why? There's a fine selection of trees just around the corner at the shopping center—"

Booth held up a hand to cut her off. "The shopping center? You're joking, right?" She gave him a look like she thought he'd gone insane. "Booth men never buy their Christmas trees pre-cut. Right, Parks?"

"Right!"

"Wait," she said, her tone dubious. "You're going to cut down your own tree?"

Booth grinned. "That's right, Bones. And you are going to help."

—BB—

Booth stepped out of the car and inhaled deeply, letting the smell of pine trees and fresh snow flood his senses. "Isn't this great?" he mused, running his eyes across the tree-spotted hillside.

Brennan glanced at him standing in the snow, hands on hips, chin held high. He looked like a lumberjack in his boots and jacket, broad-shouldered and strong-armed. Despite herself, she felt a wave of warmth sweep through her that had nothing to do with the layers of clothing Parker had instructed her to wear.

Parker hopped from the backseat and came to stand beside his father, adopting the same wide stance. "Ready, dad?" he asked.

Booth looked down at his son and smiled. "Definitely." He bent down and adjusted Parker's hat, pulling it down over his ears. "You warm enough?"

Parker rolled his eyes. "Yes, dad," he said.

Booth raised his hands in surrender. "Just checking."

Parker just rolled his eyes again and ran off towards the trail leading up the hill. Booth walked over to Brennan and stood in front of her. He reached out and adjusted her hat, just like he'd done with Parker. "You warm enough?" he asked, his voice suddenly soft and low.

She nodded, feeling both thrilled and confused at his attentions. "Yes."

"Good," he said with a nod. "Let's go pick out a tree."

—BB—

After tramping along the path for a solid hour, scanning the trees for the perfect pick, Brennan grew more and more grateful for the extra layers Parker had talked her into. As the sun sank lower in the sky, the temperature dropped significantly until their breath was coming out in white puffs. Booth suggested tree after tree as they walked along, but Parker turned down every one.

"Too fat," he would say, shaking his head.

The next was too skinny; the one after that wasn't tall enough. They reached the end of the trail close to sunset and Parker still hadn't found a satisfactory choice. Brennan took a seat on a rock near the path and a moment later Booth sat beside her. "He's very picky," she said, smiling.

"He is," Booth agreed with a good-natured sigh.

He rested the saw he'd been carrying on the ground and much too Brennan's surprise, wrapped his arm around her shoulders. "You're getting cold," he said knowingly, eyeing her slightly blue lip and red nose.

She shrugged. "I'll be okay," she said, but Booth shook his head and stood up, offering his hand to her.

"C'mon, Bones," he said, when she didn't immediately take his proffered hand.

She gave him a suspicious look, but finally let him pull her to feet. "My mom used to do this when Jared and I would come in after playing in the snow all day," he explained, unzipping his coat. "She wore these incredibly soft, warm sweaters and when we came inside, frozen to the bone, she'd pull us close and wrap us up in them."

As he talked, he wrapped his arm around her waist and tugged her closer. She resisted at first, but eventually gave in and leaned into his warm body. As soon as she was pressed close to him, he wrapped his jacket around her shoulders, creating a cocoon of warmth around her. Despite her slight unease at the incredible intimacy of the situation, she felt herself relaxing against him, her arms tucked under her, her face pressed to his chest.

"Mmm," she hummed appreciatively as the chill in her body gradually faded away. "Thank you, Booth."

"No problem," he murmured and she could hear the smile in his voice.

She lifted her head to look at him, a question stirring in her eyes, but was interrupted by Parker bounding up to them. She pulled away automatically, crossing her arms over her chest as the warmth of his body was replaced by cold air.

"Dad!" the little boy announced excitedly. "I found the tree!"

"Great!" Booth exclaimed enthusiastically, jogging after his son as he disappeared into a cluster of trees.

Brennan followed and, a few moments later, came to a halt beside Booth. Before them stood one of the saddest looking trees that Brennan had ever seen. It was thin and scraggly, with a crooked trunk and a dismal number of branches. "This is the one?" Booth asked doubtfully.

Parker nodded. "Definitely."

"Can I ask why?" Booth questioned gently.

"Because it's small and ugly," Parker explained matter-of-factly.

Booth frowned. "And that's why you want it?"

He nodded again. "No one else will want it. All of its friends will get cut down and brought home where families will decorate them and put presents under them, and it will stay here, all alone." He turned to his dad and Booth felt like his heart would burst. "I want to give it a chance to be a Christmas tree too."

Booth nodded. "Okay, buddy," he said, his voice thick. "It can be our Christmas tree."

Parker grinned. "Thanks, dad."

Brennan watched as Booth bent down and set to work sawing through the tree's thin trunk. Despite herself, she felt moved by the whole thing. "This is a really nice thing to do, Parker," she told him sincerely, her throat tight.

He looked up at her, shrugging nonchalantly. "I just thought it deserved to be a Christmas tree too even though it's not perfect."

She nodded. "I agree."

—BB—

Half an hour later, in the dim light of dusk, they arrived back at the car. Booth went off to pay for their Charlie Brown tree and Brennan stayed by the car with Parker. "I'm glad you're here, Bones," Parker said suddenly.

Brennan smiled. "Me too, Parker."

"Hannah was cool," he continued, "but I think I want my dad to marry you, not her."

Brennan blinked down at the little boy, then over at Booth, who was waiting for the tree to get wrapped in plastic netting. She swallowed and managed to cough up her voice. "Hannah and…your father…th-they…"

"You okay, Bones?" Parker asked, frowning at the stuttering anthropologist.

Brennan shook her head, feeling strangely numb. "They…broke up?"

Parker nodded. He didn't look too sad about it. "A couple weeks ago."

"Oh," she said softly. She thought back to two weeks ago, trying to remember if Booth had seemed different, but nothing stood out.

"You okay?" Parker questioned again, peering up at her pale face. "You look a little weird."

Brennan swallowed. "Yeah I…I'm fine," she said, managing a tight smile. "Why don't you get in the car and get buckled up. It looks like you're dad is almost done."

—BB—

Brennan was quiet the entire ride home. She kept her face turned towards the window and despite Booth's attempts at conversation, the car ride was spent in relative silence between the partners while Parker filled the gaps with stories about his day and detailed descriptions of every single ornament he was planning on hanging on the tree.

When Booth reached Brennan's apartment building, he stopped the car and turned towards her. "Can I walk you up?" he asked hopefully.

"No, I'll be fine," she mumbled, barely glancing at him as she pushed open her door and stepped out onto the street.

Booth sighed and leaned back in his seat, following her progress as she walked up the path to her building. She was about to walk inside when he pushed open his door, gave Parker hasty instructions to stay put, and ran after her. "Bones, wait," he called, and despite herself, she did.

"What is it Booth?" she asked, still not meeting his eye as he jogged up to her.

He let out a long breath. "I just…Is something wrong?"

She shook her head. "No."

"Stop lying to me," he said, but it came out more like a plea than an order. "Just…tell me what's bothering you."

She sighed and crossed her arms over her chest before finally meeting his eye. "You broke up with Hannah," she said bluntly.

He swallowed and nodded. "Yes."

"Two weeks ago."

"Yes."

She shook her head at him and her look of frustration melted away into one of confusion. "Why didn't you tell me?" she asked softly.

"Bones," he began, but she cut him off before he could continue.

"No, Booth. I just…I thought we told each other everything. I thought we had no secrets. I thought…" She trailed off and glanced away, her eyes shimmering with tears. "I don't know what I thought."

They stood there in silence for a long time. He knew what she needed to hear, but he didn't want to open that door just yet. In time he would tell her why he broke up with Hannah. In time he would tell her that he loved her more than he could ever say. But for now, he just wanted to be with her, to stand next to her, hug her maybe, and let her know that he was still her friend. "Bones," he murmured softly, moving closer.

She lifted her head and looked at him. She was still confused, he could tell, and maybe a little hurt, but when she saw the look he was giving her, gentle and loving and filled with undeniable devotion, her expression softened. "Yes?"

"Come back to my apartment and decorate a tree with me." She smiled slightly, but didn't immediately reply. "I'll make you hot chocolate," he added enticingly.

Her smile spread into a grin. "With marshmallows?"

"Of course," he said.

"Okay," she told him, "I'll come."

He nodded and offered his hand. She hesitated for a moment before reaching out, slipping her fingers between his, and following him back to the car.

—BB—

When Booth emerged from Parker's bedroom, he found Brennan sitting cross-legged on the couch, hot chocolate in hand, admiring the tree. He took a seat beside her, resting his arm against the cushions behind her back. To his surprise, she shifted closer, leaning into his side. "This is one of the best trees I've ever seen," she said.

He nodded, and turned his eyes from her face to their skinny, wisp of a Christmas tree, carefully decorated with ornaments and lights. "It is pretty great," he agreed.

"Parker's asleep?" she asked.

"He was out the second his head hit the pillow."

She turned towards him and he turned towards her. He watched as her eyes fell across his face and over his outfit of sweatpants and a t-shirt, to the mug in her hand and the tree in front of them. He saw the exact moment when the intimacy of the evening, the domesticity of sitting on the couch after putting his son to bed hit her. She moved away from him. "I should get going," she said and her voice had lost its softness.

She stood and put her cup down. He stood too, but she didn't look at him. She was spooked. "Bones?" he questioned gently, moving into her.

She tensed and immediately crossed her arms over her chest. "I have to go," she said softly.

"You're scared," he said.

She looked at him. Met his eye and shook her head. "I'm just…tired," she mumbled, the lie ringing hollowly between them.

"You're wondering why I didn't tell you that I broke with Hannah," he said and knew he was right when her gaze skittered away from his face. "You're wondering why I didn't come to you. You're wondering why I brought you to pick out a tree and why it felt so good when I held you to keep you warm. You're wondering why I wanted you to decorate the tree with us and why you leaned into me when I put my arm around you and why you don't want to leave and why not wanting to leave scares you so much."

She shook her head again, but didn't even try to contradict his words. She bowed her head forward and he heard her sharp intake of breath, saw the tears slip from the corners of her eyes. "Why did you break up with Hannah?" she asked softly.

"Because I realized that I loved you more," he told her simply. "Because I realized that you…you have me, Bones. You've always had me."

She nodded slowly and wiped at her eyes. He could see how badly she wanted to believe him. "Then why didn't you tell me that you broke up?"

He smiled softly and lifted his hand to her cheek, brushing away the remnants of her tears with the pad of his thumb. "I didn't want to be the guy who broke up with a girl just so he could be with another one. I didn't want you to be the rebound. I've waited so long for this and I just…I wanted it to be…ours." He paused and searched her face. "Does that make any sense?"

She nodded. "Yes."

He smiled and reached for her. Wrapped her in his arms and felt the way her body relaxed into his. "Will you stay with me?" he breathed into her neck. Now that he had her in his arms, he couldn't bear the thought of her leaving.

She nodded, her face hidden against his chest. "Yes."

—BB—

She followed him into his bedroom and watched as he opened his dresser drawer and handed her an old pair of flannel pajamas. A few minutes later, as she stood in his bathroom, slipping out of her clothes and pulling on pajama's that smelled like Booth, she had the strangest feeling of being in a dream. She felt safe and warm and…right in a way that she hadn't in a long time.

But when she stepped out of the bathroom and found him standing in front of her, his eyes soft and dark as the earth, she was reminded that this wasn't a dream. She was here. In Booth's bedroom. In Booth's clothes. He was all around her and she wouldn't have it any other way. She moved to him and pulled her into his arms wordlessly.

She sighed as his lips found her neck, his hands slipping under the hem of her shirt and running across her skin. "God, you feel good," he murmured appreciatively. And she did. Still fully clothed in baggy pajamas and she looked more beautiful, felt better than any other woman he'd had in his arms.

She made a sound that was somewhere between a sigh and a moan and he felt as if he could come undone just from this. Just from the feel of her hands against his chest, her body against his body, her lips soft and sweet as she kissed her way along his jaw. This, just this, was all he needed.

After a while, he pulled back slightly. She tipped her head up towards him and parted her lips in anticipation as he bent towards her. When her lips were just a breath away, he paused. Heard her little sigh of desire. Kissed her cheek and the corner of her mouth. "You sure?" he asked softly, his lips ghosting across her cheek.

She nodded and shifted closer to him until she could feel the length of his body all along hers. "I'm sure," she promised and smiled when he kissed her, his mouth warm and familiar against hers.

Kissing her was everything he remembered. Her lips were soft, her breath sweet and for the first time in seven years, he took his time. He kissed her slowly, slanting his mouth across hers again and again, until she began to grow restless in his arms. He let her pull his t-shirt up and over his head. Let her explore his chest and back, her fingers moving across the smooth muscles.

He began to unbutton her shirt, but grew impatient halfway down and simply pushed the loose garment from her shoulders, letting out a heartfelt groan when he found her bare underneath. He drew her close again. Found her mouth with his as their naked chests came together.

They kissed for a long time like that, both reveling in the closeness of the moment, skin-to-skin, heart-to-heart. When they finally pulled away to catch their breath, he wrapped his arms around her waist and hugged her to him. She rested her cheek against his chest, her head tucked under his chin, and breathed in deeply. She had always loved the way Booth smelled—a clean, heady scent that reminded her of fresh water and the outdoors, but she never got more than a whiff of it during the day. Now, standing in his arms, his bare skin under her cheek, she closed her eyes and reveled in the smell.

When he adopted a similar position, burying his nose in her hair, she was glad she had remembered to put on perfume before Parker dragged her out of her apartment. "You smell so good," he told her, his voice muffled against her neck.

"Mmm," she hummed, pressing a kiss to his chest. "So do you."

He pulled back and smiled at her and the thought suddenly crossed her mind that she hadn't felt this loved in a long time. "Thank you, Booth," she told him.

"For what?"

"For…" She trailed off, searching for the right words. "For being my friend," she said finally.

He nodded and pressed his lips to her forehead. "You're welcome."

—BB—

For the first time in as long as he could remember, Booth woke up before his alarm. He glanced over to where Brennan lay beside him. She had fallen asleep in his arms, but had shifted away during the night and now, unable to resist, he rolled towards her and draped his arm across her waist, tugging her back into his chest. She sighed softly, but didn't wake up, and he tightened his arms around her, loving the way she felt in his arms, how right it was to wake up beside her.

For a while, he simply lay beside her and watched her while she slept. Ran his hand along her side before settling his palm over her stomach. Kissed her neck until she stirred in his arms. He watched as she opened her eyes, wondering for a split second if she would freak out. But she didn't. She just nestled back against him and closed her eyes again, a soft smile settling across her sleepy face. "Morning," she murmured, running her hand along the arm that was resting across her waist.

"Morning," he returned. "How do you feel?"

Her smile widened and she turned in his arms so she could meet his eye. "Happy," she told him.

He grinned and kissed her lips. "Me too."

She shifted closer and draped her leg across his hip, locking their bodies together. He groaned softly and this time his kiss was deep and searching. "I love you," he said softly, the words that he had kept in for so long suddenly slipping from his mouth.

She stilled in his arms, but didn't pull away. "What?" she breathed.

He let out a long breath. Lifted his hand to her cheek. Prayed she wouldn't run. "I love you," he said again. He held her eye when he said it. Made sure she knew he meant it.

"I…" She trailed off. Her eyes were bright with fear and something else…something softer.

"It's okay, Bones," he soothed. "You don't have to say anything."

"No, I…I want to say…something, but I…" She shook her head, dropping her eyes from his face.

"But you're scared," he supplied gently.

She nodded, her eyes filling with tears. "I've been scared for so long, Booth," she confessed, her voice shaking around the words.

He nodded and pulled her closer and was relieved when she relaxed into him. "I know," he murmured. "It's okay."

"Would it be okay if I…waited for a little?" she asked nervously.

He smiled was wide and loving. "Of course. Take all the time you need. I'm not going anywhere. I promise."

She nodded. "Okay." She was quiet for a moment as she studied his face, the strong line of his jaw and the stubble lining his cheeks, the lines around his eyes and his messy hair. "You really love me?" she asked, her voice soft and wondering.

He nodded and kissed the tip of her nose and her lips. "I really do, Bones."

"Okay," she breathed and in that moment, looking at her beautiful face and her beautiful eyes, so trusting and so lovely, he was suddenly sure that she loved him too. He knew that, in time, she would tell him, but for now he was content to simply lie there holding her.

So this is officially the longest chapter in this series by far. I wanted to give you guys some epic Christmas fluff complete with cuddling, love confessions and Parker cuteness! I hope ya'll enjoyed reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it and if you did, you know what says thank you like nothing else? REVIEWS!