Title: Learning As We Go, Part 37
Author: Caera1996
Disclaimer: Not mine
Rating: NC-17
W/C: 4,544
Summary: Sequel to The Basics of Primary Ed. AU. It is possible to read this story without reading TBoPE first, but it will make much more sense if you do.
This part: A special Christmas Day.

"Like I said, Bones…best Christmas ever," Jim said. He held Leonard's warm gaze, a smile pulling at his lips, crinkling the corners of his blue eyes. "What?" Jim asked, after a few moments of silence as Bones gazed at him.

"Nothing. Just thinking of everything you've given me," he answered quietly. "These past months have been so..." He shook his head, unable to find a word that was powerful enough to say what he felt.

Jim's smile widened and he reached up to run his fingers through Leonard's hair, making his bangs fall over his forehead. Jim slid his hands up Leonard's arms, gently squeezing his biceps, and then up around his neck, running his fingers through the short hair at his neck. He pulled, and Leonard let himself be pressed downward to meet Jim's lips.

"We still have to play Santa…set up Jo's gifts," Leonard said. He kissed Jim softly, over and over again, leaning down further to nuzzle his jaw, then kiss his neck.

"Plenty of time before she wakes up," Jim said encouragingly, a little breathless.

"True," he replied. Leonard went back to undoing the buttons on Jim's shirt, pushing it open. Jim moved to help him take it off as Leonard turned his attention to his jeans, unbuttoning and unzipping, then urging Jim to lift his hips so that they could be pushed down.

Leonard settled down beside Jim, wrapping an arm around him as Jim did the same. They held each other, kissing, just enjoying the feel of each other.

"I love you so much," Bones murmured. Jim smiled, feeling his words as easily as he heard them, reveling in them and in everything they meant.

"I love you," he replied, his voice thick with emotion. Bones smiled against Jim's lips, and bracketed Jim's face in his hands, stroking his thumbs over his cheeks, holding his gaze until Jim was the one who had to look away, feeling too much in the moment to be able to keep it all inside. Eventually, Jim rolled his eyes at himself and blinked quickly. Leonard just gave him a small smile, his thumb brushing gently at the wetness caught in Jim's lashes. A little embarrassed, Jim flushed slightly and moved his head to catch Bones' lips in another kiss while reaching behind Bones to pull on his shirt, untucking it and pulling it up his back, his hands sliding around his side, over his ribs to ease the shirt up around his body, and Leonard pulled away enough so that Jim could pull the shirt up and over his head.

"Pants," Jim murmured, his hands moving to work Leonard's button and zipper. Kissing, chuckling at each other as they tried to get Leonard's pants off. Finally they were skin to skin, only their underwear still separating them. Leonard slipped a hand into Jim's underwear, closing his hand around him, and Jim moaned, bucking slightly. He was already hard, and Leonard felt him twitch as he trailed his fingers slowly up the soft skin of the shaft, from the base to just under the head, and then down again. Jim gasped into the kiss, his body shivering in pleasure as he reached lower, rolling Jim's balls, smiling as he jerked. He was always very sensitive there, and handling him gently had a tickling, stimulating effect that he couldn't take for long.

"Oh, god, Bones," Jim murmured, squeezing his eyes closed and clutching Bones' shoulders as he bucked into his hand. He panted, his hips escaping his control at the touch. "Such a tease."

Leonard chuckled and withdrew his hand after another gentle pass, making Jim whine at the loss.

"Impatient," Leonard teased. Jim snorted and sat up, pushing at Leonard's shoulders, urging him to lie back. "What?..."

"Let me, Bones," Jim said, kissing his way down Leonard's body. He pulled at his underwear, and Leonard lifted his hips to let him pull the last item of clothing off. Jim settled himself at Bones' waist, and looked up his body, his eyes smiling. Bones quirked an eyebrow at him and Jim gave him a cheeky grin. He loved the easy way Bones

Sliding his arms under Leonard's thighs and pressing his legs further open, Jim took him in his mouth. Leonard let his head fall back with a groan as Jim's tongue fluttered against him. He pulled back to suck at the head, taking the bottom of Leonard's shaft in his hand, giving him short strokes. Leonard grunted and thrust, and Jim pulled off of him to lick up and down the underside. He was breathing harshly, one hand closing into a fist in the blankets, the other resting on Jim's head, trying to not pull his hair.

"Stop, stop," Leonard finally ground out, as he felt himself rushing towards orgasm. Jim's concern melted away when he realized Leonard was reaching for him. He came back up Leonard's body and settled himself down, laying comfortably on Leonard, chest to chest. He hummed as Leonard cupped the back of his head and they kissed, moving against each other and teasing each other with the slow slide of skin on skin.

Awash in sensation, they kissed and gasped and murmured encouragement to each other as they enjoyed the unhurried, drawn out pleasure. The tension built within them, making their muscles tremble. Jim threaded their fingers together, holding Bones' hands tightly, pressing them to the mattress. He stared down into his expressive face, eyes closed tightly and a line of tension visible between his eyebrows.

"Oh, god, Bones," Jim moaned. He reached his peak with enough force to make his vision white out for a second, his whole body tightening in ecstasy. Jim dropped his head down to rest against Leonard's shoulder and reached a hand down between their bodies, grasping Bones' erection and giving him a few strokes until he felt him arch and cry out with the intensity of his own orgasm.

Leonard opened his eyes as he caught his breath, holding Jim against him as he breathed harshly against his neck, his own racing heart slowing as he started to relax. They lay quietly for a couple of minutes, until Jim shifted and Leonard let him go so he could move to his side. He raised a hand to Bones' face, cupping his cheek before drawing his fingers through his hair at his temple.

Leonard reached up and caught Jim's hand, and bringing it to his lips, he kissed the back of his knuckles. Jim smiled, the gentle gesture reminiscent of one of their first times together.

"We should get up…arrange her toys," Leonard said. "And then get back here."

"Sounds good," Jim said quietly, though he made no move to actually get up. As warm and comfortable as he felt right then, lying pressed against Bones' solid warmth, arms around each other…he could so easily fall asleep like this. But tomorrow was Christmas morning, Joanna would be up in a matter of hours, and they had a job to do.

"C'mon," Jim said, pushing himself up reluctantly and stretching. "Let's play Santa."

They cleaned up quickly and dressed, and Leonard went to their closet to pull out the presents they'd been hiding – some for a few weeks.

"I'm gonna go get the bike out of my trunk," Jim said, reaching out to run a hand along his back.

"Okay, meet you in the family room. Can I make you some hot chocolate or tea?" he asked.

"Yeah, that'd be great," Jim said. "Can you add those little marshmallows I like?"

Jim followed Bones out of their room, walking quietly so as to not wake Joanna. To their relief, the tree was still standing, Jack having not yet attempted to climb it tonight. Feeling relaxed and happy, and like everything was just right, Leonard went into the kitchen to make their hot drinks, taking down the little marshmallows to add to Jim's cocoa, a little smile on his face.

He heard the front door open, and he carried their mugs out to the family room to find Jim on his knees, arranging the presents. There weren't many – Leonard wasn't one of those parents who went overboard. Every year, since she was old enough to understand the concept, Leonard had her write out her letter to Santa, asking for four things…and he saved those letters, to Jim's delight. He read through them, noting the way her handwriting had developed.

"Do you think she actually believes in Santa?" Jim asked, handing the letters back to Bones. "I mean, she seemed to when we went to get the picture at the mall, but she's such a smart cookie."

Leonard shrugged, taking them and sliding them back in their envelope, one at a time. "I don't really know. Sometimes I'm sure she does, but then she'll say something that makes me think she might just be humoring me." Jim chuckled, and Leonard shrugged again, shaking his head. He looked down at this year's letter to Santa, a small fond smile coming over his face. "I just figured I'd play along as long as she wants to. And for now, she still seems to want to. And…I want her too. I want her to stay a little girl as long as possible."

Jim smiled, nodding in understanding. She was only six…there was a lot of time left in her childhood, but he could understand Bones' feeling of wanting to keep his daughter young. He kinda felt that way himself.

Jim sighed and looked over the wrapped presents arranged around the base of the tree. The lights decorating the tree shined brightly in the otherwise dim room, and they bounced off the silver and gold bows. It really was very pretty. Very Christmasy. Very homey. Perfect.

The gifts from Santa all had the same paper – reindeers, Santas, and the words "Ho! Ho! Ho!" – the bike was from Leonard, and Jim bought her an easy to use digital camera…her interest in photography since seeing Jim with his more professional camera having not waned at all.

Leonard had protested that present, not wanting Jim to spend a lot of money on something she might not even want in a couple of months.

"Don't worry about it," Jim had said. "A camera like this isn't expensive…probably less than her bicycle was. It doesn't use film, the memory card is good for forever, and I can show her how to use the computer program to do photo manipulations. We'll have fun with it."

And then there was the "big" present from both Leonard and Jim to Joanna…a beginner's laptop. It was very basic, preloaded with a simple word processor program and some educational games. That was the extent of its capabilities, but that was all they wanted. Leonard liked the idea of Joanna being able to learn the basics of a computer, and he didn't discount the hand-eye coordination that some of the games encouraged. He didn't, however, want to get a Wii or any other kind of game console just yet. The laptop was a good solution.

Jim smiled at the two clumsily wrapped presents…both from Joanna. One to him, and one to Bones. Earlier in the month, Aurelan had taken all the girls shopping to buy their fathers Christmas presents. Joanna had some money she'd "earned" by doing some basic chores, and though both Leonard and Jim had insisted that they didn't need anything, and would be happy for her to saver her money, Joanna had insisted. Jim had found that incredibly sweet, and he honestly couldn't wait to see what she'd decided to get him.

Hannah McCoy had sent three presents as well, one for each of them. And Jim had felt honored that she'd included him, despite the fact that she was still conflicted over his relationship with her son. He looked forward to calling her Christmas morning and thanking her for whatever it was she'd sent them.

Jim sighed happily and scooted back, leaning against the couch where Bones also sat on the floor, and rested against his side. He took another sip of his hot chocolate, enjoying the feel of the softened marshmallows on his tongue. He heard Leonard yawn, and he lifted his head to give him a fond look.

"What time is it?" Leonard asked tiredly. Jim leaned to the right to see the clock, and then settled against Bones again.

"A little after two. Want to go back to bed? We've probably got about about four hours before Joanna wakes up."

"Mmm…not yet," Bones said. "Did you see anything else under the tree?" he asked curiously.

Jim frowned and scanned the assorted gifts. "No…what…oh. Hold on a sec." He leaned forward and moved closer to the tree on his hands and knees, reaching to snag a plain envelope that he'd missed among the brightly-wrapped packages. He sat back down next to Bones, turning the envelope over in his hands. His name was written on one side of it. "I thought you said you didn't get me anything," Jim said, looking at him with a playfully accusing glare.

Leonard shrugged, an unapologetic smile on his face. "Well, it's not really just for you," he said. "It's for both of us. So, no…I really didn't get you anything."

"Tricky," Jim said. He hesitated, fingers poised to tear the envelope open. But then he paused, looking back up at Leonard, his expression of happy anticipation absolutely warming Leonard from the inside out. It occurred to him that this might be the first time Jim received a Christmas present from someone outside his family that came from someone he loved. "Can I open it?"

"Yeah," Leonard said. "Go ahead Darlin'." He watched as Jim smiled and tore into the envelope, and then took a couple of seconds to read the computer printout.

"Bones…what is this?" Leonard didn't respond, waiting for Jim to realize what it was he was holding. "A receipt for airline tickets? To…Seattle!" He looked up at Leonard, his eyes shining with happiness and excitement. "I've always wanted to go there…how did you know that?"

Leonard shrugged and smiled. "I remember you saying something about wanting to do some photography up there. The shoreline, the trees. And…I'm making good on my promise of going somewhere, just us. It's not quite a week. Just five days, but I thought that was close enough."

"It's just…it's more than I ever thought. It's awesome!" Jim exclaimed, throwing his arms around Leonard and kissing him soundly. "This is absolutely fantastic. But just us? What about Jo?" Jim asked, looking back down at the receipt and noting the dates.

Leonard couldn't stop grinning, thrilled at Jim's happiness. "I figured we'd go during your spring break. She'll be out of school…Aurelan has agreed to take her. And Jo herself has signed off on this, so no need to worry. She's excited to get to spend the time with Janie and Kimmie."

Jim leaned into his side and wrapped an arm around Leonard's chest, resting his head on his shoulder. Leonard held him, gently stroking his back and arm. "Thank you so much," Jim said. "I can't believe you remembered that. I mentioned it once, months ago. I am so lucky to have you, Bones. You're really the best thing that's ever come into my life." He kissed Bones again, a long, slow kiss that held the promise for something more, and some of the tiredness Bones had been feeling dissipated. "And…I have something for you, too."

"Oh yeah? You didn't have to do that," Leonard said. He cast an eye over the presents under the tree, looking for an errant present – maybe something unobtrusive, like another envelope.

"It's not down here," Jim said. "I've got it hidden in a drawer upstairs." He smiled at Leonard, standing and reaching to take his hand to help him up. "Let's go."

"We're opening it tonight?" Leonard said. "I don't mind waiting until the morning...uh, later in the morning."

"No, I, uh…" to Leonard's surprise, Jim actually looked a little bit shy about the whole thing. "I'd like to give it to you now."

Leonard reached for Jim's hand, and allowing him to help pull him to his feet. "Okay," Leonard said, giving Jim a quick kiss. "Leave the tree lights on…we'll close Jo's door to keep Jack contained and keep him from making a mess. He should be fine for a few more hours."

Leaving the tree as it was, they left their mugs in the kitchen, and dropped off the plate of cookies and glass of milk in the family room.

"Wait," Jim said. He took a bite out of one of the cookies and gulped some of the milk, making a point to leave some crumbs and a drip of milk. "What?" he said around a mouthful. He chewed and swallowed the bite. "You have to make it look like Santa was here." Leonard rolled his eyes at him, but didn't say anything to argue. "So, how do you guys do Christmas morning?" Jim asked. "Do you take it nice and easy, or is it a free for all?"

"Well, the rule is she can't open any presents until everyone in the house is awake and at the tree. So probably about six, she'll come in and jump on the bed to wake us up. Sometimes I have some fun with that," he said. Jim laughed softly. They headed back to their bedroom, leaving the door open slightly in preparation for the morning, and Jim went to one of his drawers as Leonard took a couple of moments to pull the blankets down on the bed. He sat down on the bed and watched as Jim held a long white box. He glanced at Leonard, and pulled his bottom lip into his mouth. An uncharacteristic gesture for him.

"Well, come on, Jim. You can't tell me about it and then change your mind," Leonard said, gently teasing. He was amused and puzzled by Jim's nervousness about this Christmas present, and it was making him very curious about what it was exactly.

"I haven't changed my mind," Jim said. He headed over to the bed and sat down cross-legged, facing Bones, holding the box in his hands. "So…this is a 'for you and me' present too," Jim said, looking up at Bones from under his lashes. "And, well…I don't know. I just…I hope you like it."

"I'm sure whatever it is, I'll love it, Jim. It's from you. How could I not?" Leonard said.

Jim smiled slightly, and after another moment of hesitation, handed the present over to him. Holding Jim's gaze for a second, he opened the box and examined its contents. There, secured by two ties – one at each end – were two sterling silver herringbone bracelets. He stared down at them, a wash of emotions coming over him the significance of what he was holding hit him right in the chest. Because he knew he wasn't just looking down at matching bracelets. He was looking at a promise, and a physical reminder of the place each of them had with the other. He swallowed and stared at the bracelets, too overcome to find the words to express everything he felt about the Christmas present he was holding in his hands.

Jim watched as Bones examined the bracelets, trying to read the expression on his face. He waited anxiously for a reaction. He'd been unsure about this present, and very nearly didn't give it…and now, waiting for a reaction from Bones, he wasn't sure he'd made the right decision.

"I, uh…It's…you think it's weird?" Jim stammered. "I just…I thought it…I'm sorry. We can just forget it – I'll take it back. It was just…I mean, I didn't-"

"Jim," Leonard said, looking up and cutting off Jim's nervous babble. "I love it. I love them." He freed the bracelets from the ties holding them in place, and looked up, smiling a little at the expression of relief on Jim's face. He put the box down in his lap, and reached for Jim's left hand, holding him gently for a moment, rubbing his thumb over Jim's hand as he looked into his eyes. Looking back down at what he was doing, he took one of the bracelets and fastened it around Jim's wrist, letting his fingers run over it. Then he took the other and handed it to Jim, holding out his own wrist. Jim took it and put it on Bones, then kept his hand.

Bones leaned forward, reaching for Jim, and he allowed him to pull him into a kiss, sweet and gentle. "Thank you Darlin'," Leonard said. "So much."

Jim pulled back, searching Leonard's eyes, and finding exactly what he wanted…the recognition of what he'd intended in this gift. The bracelets were much more than that to Jim, and now he knew that Bones knew it, and they were that to him as well.

Jim took the empty box and put it on the bedside table, and they lay down together. Bones put his arm around Jim and held him. Jim rested his head on Bones' shoulder, resting his arm on his chest, and Bones took that hand, holding him gently. They lay together like that, talking quietly, exchanging kisses, making plans. Sighing sleepily, Jim let his eyes close and hummed in comfort as Bones pulled the warm blanket up over them more completely, keeping the early morning chill in the apartment at bay.

They dozed lightly, never really falling completely asleep, too wrapped up in each other and the anticipation of the day ahead of them. Jim, especially, found it difficult to actually sleep. He was so excited to spend this first Christmas with Bones and Jo…he couldn't wait for Jo to open her gifts and he was excited to be a part of that. A part of his own family. It was just so incredible to him…his first family Christmas with his own family. It truly was everything he'd ever wanted.

A few hours later, drifting in that place between asleep and awake, Leonard heard the door to their bedroom open a little further. He tracked the sound of soft footsteps across the room and hid a smile against Jim's shoulder as he heard his little girl come up to the bed.

This was the first Christmas that she'd come for him and there was another person in the bed with him. In previous years, she'd climbed into bed with him, snuggled with him, told him about the presents, how many there were, what they looked like, that there were a couple for him. He wondered if she was going to do that this morning, with Jim here now. He hoped so. He wouldn't trade anything that he had now, including sharing his bed with the man he loved more than he'd ever thought possible. But he also didn't want to have give up those moments with his daughter. It was completely up to her, though, and he waited to see what she would do.

"Daddy? Uncle Jim?" Joanna whispered. They didn't respond to her, seeming to be deeply asleep, and she hesitated for a second before pulling herself up on the mattress. She knelt beside them on Jim's side of the bed, moving the mattress beneath her. Leonard felt Jim give a little start and knew that he was now fully awake, though he didn't let on to that fact, keeping his eyes closed and his body relaxed as if he were still asleep.

Joanna crawled to the end of the bed, little knees and hands pressing into their legs. "Daddy? Uncle Jim? Can you wake up now? It's Christmas…Santa came!"

Leonard gave an exaggerated snore, and Joanna giggled. "Daddy…" Joanna crawled up on him and settled herself to sit on his hip, one leg on either side of his body. "I know you're awake. And Uncle Jim. Please?"

Opening his eyes, Leonard reached for her and pulled her down, giggling and squirming, to lie between the two of them, Jim moving over slightly to give her room.

"You're both awake!" Joanna said happily. "Santa came! And there's presents under the tree for you and you, Uncle Jim!"

"Oh yeah? I guess you have been a good little girl this year after all, huh?" Leonard asked, holding her to him and giving her a kiss.

"I have! I have been good! Can we go open the presents?" she asked excitedly.

Leonard looked over at Jim who had the biggest smile on his face as he looked down at the little girl, lying between them in the warmth of their bed, obviously so happy to be part of all of this. "What do you think, Jim? Should we go open the presents?"

Jim made a big show of pretending to think hard about it as Joanna squirmed in her father's arms to turn around and look at him expectantly.

"Please, Uncle Jim? Please? There's presents under the tree for you too!" Joanna said, wrapping one of her little arms around his neck. He placed hand on her back and gave her a tender hug.

"There are, huh? Wellll….I guess so."

"Yay! Yay! Come on, let's go!" Joanna tried to push herself up, struggling against her father's hold on her until he released her and she was able to jump up and pull on their hands, urging them to sit up. "Come on!"

Laughing at her excitement and exasperation with them, Leonard and Jim kicked back their blankets and got out of bed, following her as she ran past Jack in the hallway. Settling down in front of the tree, they watched as Joanna pulled presents for them from the pile, and she chose one of her own.

The morning was filled with happiness and thank-you's, and exclamations of delight, and Jim found that watching Joanna's excitement and wonder at each thing – especially those presents that were truly surprises – was better than almost anything he'd ever gotten…with maybe one or two exceptions,he thought, smiling at Bones when he caught him rubbing the silver bracelet with his fingertips as they watched Jo examine each present.

Later, as Jim cleaned up the carnage of Christmas wrapping, Leonard made the French toast breakfast that both Jim and Joanna loved.

"Are we going to see Janie today? We have presents for them under the tree!" Joanna asked, her little legs swinging as she happily dug into her piece of French toast.

"Yes, we are, Baby," Leonard said. "We're going to go over a little later for Christmas dinner."

"Can we stay for a while? Can I bring some of my presents to show them?"

"Yup, we'll stay for a while," Jim said. "And I think it'll be okay if you take…two?" He paused and glanced at Leonard for confirmation. He nodded with a small shrug. "Two of the presents you got with us, okay?"

"Okay," she said happily.

And later on, when they were all together at Sam's house, the two families exchanging presents, having dinner, playing games and laughing…everything was just as Leonard ever wished for himself and his child; and Jim…Jim had exactly what he'd always wanted.

It was the best Christmas ever.