December 21st-

Santa visited, and the party wound down, and by the time the festivities were over, two out of four Booth children were sleeping, and one was very quickly on her way. With Grace being carried by her father, and Seeley sleeping against Temperance, Antonia was forced to shuffle her way to the car sleepily alongside Parker.

They walked to the garage together, and Booth and Temperance fastened each of the children into their seats securely. Their eyes met several times in the process, and each could tell that the day had worn on the other, but the warmth never faded.

They drove home with the radio softly playing Christmas songs, and the Christmas lights that sparkled on the homes in the city were bright. By the time they arrived at the house, the three youngest were sleeping, and Parker was fading. "I'll get Grace," Parker said, reaching over his half sister, he pulled the seatbelt from her and lifted her from the seat and out of the car.

Booth lifted Antonia from her seat, and Temperance lifted Seeley, and the three of them trudged sleepily toward the house. Booth unlocked the door and turned off the security system, and they walked up the steps with the children quietly. It was a nice silence, a warm silence, and it felt natural and normal for them. There was no pressure or fear in his steps, and when he reached Antonia's room, he carefully put her on the bed.

She rolled and looked up at him, her eyes were dark and sleepy. "I love you, Daddy."

"I love you, baby girl. I'm glad that we talked tonight."

A sleepy smile rose on her lips. "Me too," she whispered, closing her eyes, the smile still on her lips.

He watched her for another moment and turned toward the door, noting that Temperance was stepping inside. She reached for his hand, and he grasped hers tightly. "Gracie is waiting for you." She said, squeezing his hand.

He pulled her toward him and kissed her lightly on the lips, nodding his acknowledgement as he slipped from the room quietly. On his way down the hallway, he checked in on Seeley. The little boy was already curled up in his bed sleeping, and Parker whispered his goodnight from his own bed. Booth then walked down to Grace's room, quietly opening the door, he expected to find her sleeping already, but instead she was sitting up in her bed, her blanket pulled up onto her lap, and a book sitting on her legs.

"What's this?" He asked, his voice was low and telling, and she simply smiled and held up the book. "Fluffy bunny?" He asked. She nodded her head and patted the spot next to her, and he smiled as she pulled the blanket to her chin and smiled. "Are you sure?" He asked.

"Practice makes perfect," she replied, watching the book lift from the bed, she moved over just a little more to make room for Booth to sit beside her.

Once Grace was peacefully asleep in her bed, Booth managed to slip out of the room without rousing her. He left the door open just a crack and slowly stepped down the hallway. He reached the halfway point, and stopped, feeling a sudden sense of confusion. Everything had felt so natural and normal up until this moment, standing alone in the hallway unsure of where to go.

He didn't hear her footsteps on the stairs, but felt her hand on his shoulder. He didn't jump, only turned his head in her direction and watched as Temperance all but danced around him. Her hand remained on his arm and she gave it a reassuring squeeze. "Are you coming to bed with me?" she whispered.

"Is that what you want?" he asked, playfully.

Her answer was a quick kiss on his lips, and a soft groan when he snaked his arm around her and pulled her into him.

"Good, because that's what I want," he whispered. "I'm glad we had this discussion." And with a quick movement, he pulled her into his arms with a gasp. "I love you."

"I've heard that." She whispered, leaning her head on his chest.

"And now I'm going to prove it to you." He said, catching her eyes with his, she let out a playful laugh, as he turned and pushed the door to their bedroom open with his backside, and lightly closed it with his foot.

December 22nd-

When morning made its appearance, Temperance rolled over to find that she was alone in the bed again. She wondered for a moment if the last twenty four hours had been a dream, though her muscles ached in such a way to debunk that theory. She sat up slightly when she heard the water running in the shower, and her eyes moved toward the clock. It was eight o'clock, and the house was silent. Her eyes closed and she rolled over onto his pillow for a moment, indulging in his scent as she listened to the water turn off.

Booth stepped from the bathroom, towel wrapped tightly around his hips as he watched Temperance for a moment. She looked peaceful and beautiful, her exposed skin glowing against the light blue sheets and blanket. She was breathing softly, her body rising and falling with each breath, and when she turned her head to look up at him, she seemed almost embarrassed. His smile was tender, and his gait showed that he too was a bit bashful, and it only succeeded in making her smile just a little more. "Where are you going so early?" She asked, reaching her hand for his, he sat beside her and grasped it tightly.

"I have plans." He replied, leaning forward to kiss her tenderly.

"Plans? Why am I not aware of these plans?"

"Because you're not invited." He lifted an eyebrow.

"Is this what you and Ace were talking about at the party last night, when you disappeared?"

"Maybe." He said, kissing her again, and started to stand up. He grabbed his towel and tugged it out of her hand before she could pull it off, whipping around. "I knew you were going to do that." He said, watching her grin brightly.

"Just like you remembered the security code." She said with a laugh.

"I still don't know the significance." He said, watching her stand up, wrapping herself with her robe, she moved toward the bathroom.

"Think about it logically, Booth." She said, stepping backwards into the bathroom, she watched him furrow his brow as she smiled slyly at him.

"It's not our anniversary."

"That would be too easy to guess, and the numbers are clearly not a date." She said, closing the bathroom door, she heard him moving toward the door, and locked it. She felt him jiggle the handle.

"Hey…" he said, jiggling it one more time. "What does the number mean?"

"Four, seven, two, two, four, three." She said through the door. "I love you." She said, stepping to the shower, she could hear him repeating the number aloud to himself.