A/N: I'm sorry if I sound too repetitious, but you all are amazing and I couldn't have even imagined the great response I have gotten for this story. And now we're back...please enjoy!

Melissa and Lori you two are both amazing! Thanks for everything! It means a lot.

Disclaimer: I still don't own Bones, not even after 26 chapters.

ooo

Brennan sipped champagne from the flute she'd been handed by a waiter nearly the moment she walked into the ballroom. She smiled as she looked around taking in the Christmas decorations that Angela had obviously gone overboard on. Familiar Christmas carols played from the speakers hidden throughout the room that made you feel surrounded by the music and cheer.

She was surprised on how happy she actually felt. It had been over twenty four hours since she had been notified that Booth had been located and she still had not heard from him. She was slightly worried about what the lack of contact meant, but Angela had convinced her that at the moment it meant nothing more than he probably didn't have a chance to call yet so she let the Christmas atmosphere brighten her outlook.

The Christmases of her past had long been overshadowed by Booth's cheer and she had actually been able to enjoy the holidays since he had stepped into her life. The change had really started when they had been trapped in the lab all those Christmases ago. She was grateful for Booth's insistence over the years to spend the holidays with family and be with the people she loved on the holidays.

"Dr. Bones!" a voice called to her through the crowded room and suddenly she had two arms wrapped around her waist. Parker Booth's brown eyes sparkled in the lights and his smile was wide on his face. "This is the coolest Christmas party ever! Did you know that Dr. Bug-man has a movie room that he is playing Christmas movies on all night? And look, mom let me pick out a special Christmas tie to wear tonight! Isn't it cool?"

Brennan laughed at his enthusiasm and rambling and leaned down to get a better look at his Christmas outfit. The bright red tie had small green Christmas trees covering it and each little tree was decorated with multi-colored specks glitter and Brennan bit her lip to keep the tears from springing into her eyes.

"Your tie is perfect Parker," Brennan praised and Parker's eyes lit up at the compliment. "You picked a perfect tie. We'll have to make sure to get a picture to send to your dad."

"Thanks Dr. Bones, I thought that dad would like it." Parker beamed and threw his arms around Brennan's neck again. When he pulled back he noticed his mother and stepfather who had followed him and turned towards them. "See, I told you that it was a good tie."

"You sure did buddy," Drew answered with a laugh, "and we didn't doubt it. Hi Dr. Brennan."

"Hello Drew, Rebecca. I'm so glad you could make it."

"Do you think Angela is doing face painting tonight?" Parker questioned interrupting the adults' conversation. "That would be awesome!

Rebecca and Brennan shared a laugh before Brennan shook her head to state she wasn't sure and Rebecca turned back to Parker, "why don't you head over to the movie room where the rest of the kids are. You'll have fun watching movies and doing the crafts that Angela has set up in there."

"Okay mom," Parker agreed with a slight pout at the lack of face painting, "can Dr. Bones sit next to us at dinner?"

"I don't know Park," Rebecca answered quickly, "she may be sitting with Angela and Dr. Hodgins. But you can ask her."

"Dr. Bones," Parker said when he turned back towards Brennan and pulled on the sleeve of her red sweater dress, "would you want to sit with me and mom and Drew?"

"I would love to," Brennan assured him, "I'll make sure that Angela lets me switch, okay?"

"Awesome!" Parker exclaimed with a fist pump into the air. "I'm going to go play with the other kids, see you later!"

"Be good!" Rebecca called after him as he sprinted away and Brennan couldn't hold back her chuckle. Rebecca turned back to Brennan and smiled. "Thanks for inviting us, he's been talking about it nonstop since I told him we were coming."

"I'm really glad you were able to make it," Brennan answered sincerely. "It is good to be able to see Parker tonight."

Rebecca nodded with a small smile. "Have you heard anything…"

She let her voice trail off, the question evident without the need to voice the exact words. Brennan caught her bottom lip between her teeth before she shook her head.

"Not since I was informed that they had dispatched a rescue team because they were certain they had pinpointed their exact location after a fly over," Brennan informed them with a sigh. "But I don't know about the outcome."

"I'm sure he's fine," Rebecca assured her, "Seeley, he's a fighter. He doesn't give up so easily."

"Yeah," Brennan acknowledged with a tight nod. "I know. It's just…never mind. Enjoy the party and I'll see you at dinner."

"You don't have to sit with us," Rebecca told her hesitantly, "I understand…"

"It's not a problem," Brennan interrupted with a smile, "I would very much enjoy sitting with you and I couldn't disappoint Parker."

Rebecca smiled with a nod and Brennan bid them both farewell before moving farther into the ballroom in an attempt to locate Angela. She finally spotted Angela standing with Cam and Paul and she made her way over to them setting her now empty champagne flute on a nearby waiter's tray.

"Hey Bren," Angela greeted with a smile, "I see Parker found you."

"Yeah," she answered with a laugh. "He's got more energy than most kids, I swear."

"He gets it from his Booth side," Cam added with a smirk, "Both Jared and Booth were like that when they were younger. Heck, they are still like that now."

"True," Angela and Brennan said at the same time and all three women shared another laugh.

"Have you heard from Booth yet," Cam asked tentatively and immediately regretted it with the look that passed through Brennan's eyes.

"No." Brennan winced when she heard her clipped answer. She tried to mask her hurt and disappointment in Booth's lack of communication but she wasn't sure how long she was going to be be able to keep up the calm facade.

"He'll call," Angela assured her for what felt like the hundredth time since she had received Colonel Hanson's phone call that a rescue chopper was sent to retrieve him. "He will sweetie."

"I know," Brennan answered with a shrug, "logically I know that. But I just wish he would soon. I can't stand it anymore."

"Why don't you just call Colonel Hanson and ask him what is going on?" Jack asked coming into the conversation as he wrapped his arm around his wife's expanding waist. "That is what I would do."

"I thought about it."

"But…" Angela prompted and Brennan shook her head, "what?"

"I don't know," Brennan answered bluntly. "Well, I guess I do know. I suppose I'm just scared that he hasn't called yet because he doesn't want to."

"You can't honestly think that."

"But I do."

Cam sighed, "There is no way he doesn't want to talk to you. No way."

"I hope you're right," Brennan whispered her voice catching.

"She is," Angela told her confidently, "Cam is right. Booth will want to talk to you. But enough of this, we're here to celebrate the holidays. Let's celebrate. Drinks?"

"You can't drink," Brennan stated with a chuckle, thankful for the shift in conversation despite the lack of subtlety. "I shouldn't have to remind you of that."

Angela rolled her eyes in her friend's direction, "you don't have to remind me, thank you very much. I have non-alcoholic drinks available this evening as well."

"Just making sure."

"Very funny," Angela deadpanned, "come on. I need to check on some things and you're coming with me."

"I'm fine Angela," Brennan protested as Angela grabbed her by the wrist and started to drag her out of the ballroom.

"Funny," Angela interrupted, "never said you weren't. But I want to check on the kids' area and I figured you could come with me."

"But…"

"Just come."

"Fine," Brennan finally relented and allowed Angela to drag her along throughout the room. Her eyes scanned the crowd and smiled as she found several of her interns in the corner speaking together, several with dates on their arms.

"Have you seen Sweets," Brennan asked Angela when she noticed she hadn't spotted the psychologist or his girlfriend all night. "He and Julie are coming tonight, correct?"

"They are supposed to be," Angela offered with a shrug, "I guess he had something to do before they could get here. Jack said Sweets called him to tell him he would be a little late."

"Something else to do tonight, on Christmas Eve?"

"I guess," Angela answered with another shrug. "I didn't ask questions and I don't know if Jack did either."

"That's strange."

"It's Sweets."

"I guess you have a point," Brennan answered with a smile. When she glanced out of the window as Angela pulled her back she couldn't help but let the smile grow a little bit on her face as snowflakes dropped from the sky and the strains of White Christmas played in the background. Her smile only faltered for a moment when her thoughts turned to Booth and she wished that he could be enjoying this night and the holiday with her and the rest of their family and friends.

ooo

"Lance," Julie questioned as he drove through the streets of DC in the opposite direction of the Hodgins' estate. "Where are we going?"

"I have to pick something up," he answered vaguely, "we'll head to the party soon."

"We're going to be late."

"I know," Sweets said as he made another turn, "I called Hodgins to let him know earlier. It's okay, we won't be too long."

"Are you going to tell me what we're doing?"

"I'm picking something up."

Julie sighed exasperated, "yes, you told me that already. What are we picking up?"

"I can't say, yet."

"Lance."

"I know," he interrupted her protest with a sigh, "and okay, fine. I'll tell you. I'm picking up Booth from the airport."

"What?" she squealed, "Does Temperance know?"

"No," Lance answered hesitantly, "he wanted to surprise her."

"That's romantic," she breathed and then her eyes darkened, "he called her though, right? To let her know he was safe."

"I don't know."

"Lance…"

"Okay, I don't think so."

"That was really stupid," Julie complained with a huff, "and really quite mean. She's worried sick. You should have seen her the other day."

"I know, but I couldn't break Booth's trust. I could tell her."

"You shouldn't have been the one to tell her anyways," Julie stated firmly, "he should have called her."

"He was afraid he wouldn't be able to keep the secret and he wasn't sure when they were sending him home until this morning."

"And that is supposed to make it better?" Julie questioned her arms folded over her chest. "I hope Temperance slugs him."

"I wouldn't be surprised if she did," Sweets added with a laugh. "I'll have to tell you about that sometime."

"I would like that," she answered and let a small smirk grace her face before she pushed it away again. "Who knows he is back?"

"Me."

"That's it?"

"So far," Sweets answered with a sigh. "I think he was going to call Hacker, but I don't know if he has yet or not."

"Does this mean he's coming home for good?"

"Yes," Sweets affirmed with a quick nod of his head as he pulled his car into an open space in the parking lot before a small apartment complex. "Stay here, I'm just going to run in and grab a suit for Booth."

"Okay."

It was only a few minutes later when Sweets returned to the car, garment bag in hand shivering from the drop in temperature. When he climbed back into the drivers' seat he glanced at the clock and shook his head.

"Crap! We're going to be late."

"Picking up Booth?"

"Yeah," Sweets answered with a swift nod, "his plane should be landing any minute."

The rest of the car drive was taken in quiet from the couple as Christmas carols streamed from the radio and they kept their fingers intertwined.

"I'm sorry I kept this from you," Sweets said quietly when they pulled into the airport. "I just couldn't let him down."

"It's okay Lance," she answered with a smile and gentle kiss on his cheek. "I don't know if I would have been able to keep it a secret from Temperance anyways, especially with as worried as she has been."

"And I wouldn't have wanted to ask you to do that," Sweets assured her and lifted her hand to his lips. When his phone started ringing he released her hand to grab it from the cup holder it was sitting in and pressed it to his ear without any hesitation. "Hello?"

"Sweets! Where in the hell are you?"

"I'm pulling in now," he answered quickly, "are you at baggage claim?"

"No," Booth told him briefly, "just pull around to the arrivals section and I'll be outside waiting. Did you run to my apartment?"

"Yes," Sweets assured him, "good suit in grey garment bag is in my backseat. Where are you planning on changing?"

"There is an apartment over Hodgins' garage. I'm going to shower and change in there before I go up to the main house for the party. How late are we?"

"Only about forty minutes so far," Sweets answered after he checked the clock. "And traffic isn't too horrible tonight so it shouldn't take us too long to get to their place."

"Good," Booth answered and there was a brief pause, "oh, I see your car."

The line went dead and Sweets tossed his phone down. He noticed Booth and pulled up next to the curb to let Booth climb into the backseat.

"Hey Sweets! Good to see you," Booth exclaimed with a broad smile and clapped the younger man on his back, "and you must be Julie."

"I am," she answered with a chuckle, "I have heard lots about you Booth."

"You have?"

"Yup," she answered with a smile, "between Temperance, Angela, Hodgins, Cam, and Lance here I know quite a bit."

"That's terrifying actually," Booth said with a laugh. "Sorry I made Sweets here keep you in the dark about our little adventure."

"It's okay," she assured him, "I'm glad I didn't know."

"You are?"

"Yup," she stated firmly, "I know that I wouldn't have been able to keep the secret from Temperance."

"First name basis with Bones," Booth noted, "interesting."

"I told Lance that I hope she slugs you," Julie continued, "for not calling when she has been so worried."

"She has?" Booth asked, his demeanor quickly changing, "I didn't think she would even know that I had been found yet."

"Colonel Hanson called and let her know they had located you and were sending out a rescue chopper," Julie stated the anger in her voice lowering when she saw how the words affected him. "She's been attached to her phone ever since waiting to hear from you herself."

"I didn't realize…"

"She has changed Booth," Sweets said quietly interjecting into the conversation, "I think the chance of losing you showed her just how much she didn't want to."

"Did she tell you that herself, Sweets?"

"Well, no, not exactly."

"Then you don't know what you're talking about."

"You haven't been here," he said quietly, "she's staying with Angela and Hodgins so they could keep an eye on her. And Julie told me…"

"Lance," Julie interrupted, "he needs to see for himself…"

"But…"

"Why didn't you say anything to me before Sweets?"

"I tried Booth," Sweets replied curtly, "you wouldn't listen and hung up on me."

"She is definitely going to slug me," Booth sighed, "and I deserve it this time."

"You didn't last time?" Julie asked wanting to hear more about this story and glad for the opportunity to bring it up. "I haven't heard this one yet."

"Probably because your boyfriend decided to try an experiment out on us and it backfired."

"It was not an experiment," Sweets countered pointedly. "And it did not backfire."

"I had a swollen cheek that proves otherwise."

"Did you tell Rebecca about your return?" Sweets asked suddenly changing the subject.

"I tried calling her earlier," Booth explained, "while we were on a layover in Paris, after I got off the phone with you, but she didn't answer. I'll call her tomorrow and make plans to see Parker."

"He misses you," Sweets told him, "he'll be happy to have you home."

"You've talked to Parker?"

"Of course. Rebecca enrolled him in an after school program at the Jeffersonian last semester. Two days a week he would be there and I saw him a few times. Plus we saw him and Dr. Brennan while they were spending time together…"

"Wait, Bones hung out with Parker?"

"You have a lot to catch up on Booth," Sweets stated firmly and Julie nodded as well. Making a quick turn he pulled into the driveway to the Hodgins' estate and quickly entered the gate code to allow them access. "First though, you need to get changed."

"Drop me here," Booth instructed pointing to the garage, "and you two head on up to the main house. I'll be there in about fifteen minutes."

"Does your phone get texts?" Sweets asked, "I know it's just temporary, pre-paid one."

"Yeah," Booth confirmed with a nod as he climbed out of the car, swinging his bag over his shoulder and grabbing his suit. "I'll text you when I'm headed up. Hopefully I'll get there before the dinner starts."

"I'll let you know."

"Thanks Sweets," Booth told the younger man leaning over and back into the car. "And you Julie, thanks for everything."

"Just hurry," Sweets instructed before he pulled away, "we won't be able to dodge questions for long."

Booth nodded and slammed the door shut. He took the stairs on the side of the garage up to the apartment two at a time and started to clean himself up so that he could surprise Bones with his return.

ooo

A/N: Sooo...I might have teased that a little more than I meant to. And trust me, I hadn't originally planned on ending this chapter here, but it just how my muse worked it out. It's coming, I promise. Now, I'm on my way outta town and woke up extra early to post this chapter. Please leave me a review to let me know that waking up early was worth it.