(The Goop on the Girl)

I had a request to write the Christmas dinner from Guest. You'll see it in the next chapter.

Thank you for your continued interest in my story.

I don't own Bones.

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Entering the Diner, Brennan noticed her father sitting with a woman she'd never seen before. Sitting across the table from her father and the stranger, Brennan placed her purse on the chair next to her.

"Honey, I'd like you to meet Margaret. She's your mother's cousin's daughter." Smiling nervously, Max rushed the rest, "She's in town visiting me and I thought it was time you two met each other."

Stunned at the news, Brennan leaned back against her chair trying to put some distance between herself and her father, "But you told me I don't have any family besides you and Russ."

Embarrassed, Max folded his hands on the table in front of him, "Well, I may have exaggerated about that. It was to protect them as well as you. Still, isn't it fun to meet new relatives? I mean now you have a family you didn't even know you had. That's a good thing."

Studying Margaret, Brennan frowned, "So, you're my cousin?"

Not sure she liked her cousin, Margaret frowned, "Yes, he just explained that."

Sensing the awkwardness, Max glanced between his daughter and her cousin, "It's uncanny how you two resemble each other. You could be sisters."

Curious, Brennan asked, "Why aren't you at home, spending Christmas with your family?"

Scrunching her nose, Margaret explained, "I always go away during the holidays. I don't like to be around them and all of those kids. It's too much chaos."

Her hand resting on her stomach, Brennan asked her, "Don't you like children?"

Leaning forward, Margaret answered, "Keep your eyes wide open before marriage and half-shut afterward."

Irritated, Brennan shook her head, "What does marriage have to do with children?"

Suddenly sensing dangerous waters, Max interjected, "Margaret is a big fan of Benjamin Franklin. She likes to quote him. . . Hey, since Margaret is in town I thought I'd bring her to your Christmas dinner as my guest."

With a little misgiving, Brennan nodded her head, "Alright. Booth considers Christmas to be a very important family holiday."

Curious, Margaret asked her, "Is Booth your husband?"

Shaking her head, Brennan frowned, "I don't have a husband. He's my mate and the father of my baby."

Not sure what to make of that information, Margaret quoted again, "Marriage is the most natural state of man and the state in which you will find solid happiness."

Her irritation growing, Brennan responded, "I don't need to be married to be happy and neither does Booth. We're satisfied with our arrangment and don't plan to marry."

Holding up his hand, Max laughed nervously, "Okay, so let's order something, I'm hungry." Turning to Margaret, Max pointed to the menu, "Try the pie, it's delicious."

Shaking her head, Margaret informed him, "I don't like my fruit cooked."

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Watching Booth decorating his Christmas tree, Brennan asked, "Booth, are you happy?"

Booth frowned as he sat down on the floor trying to find out which light in his string was blown. Realizing the Brennan has asked him something, he looked across the room where she was standing, "What?"

Trying to be patient, Brennan asked again, "Are you happy?"

Puzzled, Booth replied, "Of course I'm happy." Returning his attention back to the lights, he triumphantly replaced the correct light, "Ha, found you you bastard." Standing he started to wind the lights around the tree. Once he was done, he turned to ask Brennan a question when he noticed he was alone. Listening, he found the house to be silent except for the soft Christmas music playing on his stereo. Suddenly concerned, Booth left the living room and searched for his partner. Finding her in the kitchen facing one of the cabinets, Booth walked up behind her and placed his arms around her, his hands resting on her stomach, "What's going on Bones?"

"Do you want to get married?" Leaning against his chest, Brennan cleared her throat, "Are you happy even though we aren't married?"

Hugging her against his chest, Booth leaned down and kissed her neck, "Married or unmarried, Bones I love you and I'm happy. Why are you asking me about this? What's going on?"

Brennan continued to lean against Booth and answered softly, "I met a cousin I didn't know I had yesterday. Max found her. He wants to bring her to our Christmas party and I said he could . . . Margaret made a few comments about children and marriage and . . . "

Turning Brennan around gently, Booth left his hands on her upper arms and stared intently at her, "And what?"

Not sure why she was upset, Brennan sighed, "She intimated that I'd only find solid happiness in marriage and of course I . . ."

Shaking his head, Booth pulled her towards him as close as he could in his arms, "Bones, I know what you think about marriage and I'm fine with that. I won't ask you to marry me. Not unless you want me to and you'll have to tell me you do. I won't make you unhappy to make me happy . . . I mean happier. I'm happy okay? Now stop worrying about something a relative said. God, if I worried about all the shit that Jared said I'd . . . well, you just can't do it. It's your life. You get to live it the way you want to not the way she wants you to."

Feeling sad, she leaned her forehead against his shoulder and placed her hands on her mate's back, "I want you to be happy too, Booth. It's your life too."

Booth rocked her a little in his arms, "It is my life and I told you I'm happy, just now. Weren't you listening? . . . I'm not lying to you, Bones. Pretty soon we're going to have a daughter and I'm so happy about that that sometimes I can't even breathe thinking about it. I never knew someone could be as happy as I am. We're fine. If you ever decide to get married then I'm your guy, but until then, what we have is enough. I promise you, I'm happy. I want you to be happy too."

Relieved, Brennan smiled, "I am happy, Booth."

Returning her smile, Booth stopped his movement. Lifting her chin with a finger he kissed her. "That's all that matters Bones." Suddenly feeling a thump against his stomach, Booth broke out in a grin, "Damn, she kicked me. The baby kicked me Bones. That is so cool." Leaning over, he addressed her stomach, "Hey, do that again."

Laughing, Brennan rubbed the spot where her baby had made her presence known, "She's very active right now."

Placing his hand over her hand, Booth smiled, "We may have to enroll her in pee-wee football instead of ballet."

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Entering the Bones Storage room, Angela smiled, "There you are sweetie. I need to know if you want me to bring anything to the party tomorrow."

Distracted, Brennan placed the small bone she'd been examining down on the table and finally looked at her friend, "No, not really. Booth is helping me with everything that needs to be done. He's been very helpful and is even planning on helping me cook. He is a very good cook."

Angela smiled at the thought of Booth's cooking, "Don't I know it. I love his marinara sauce. It's so yummy."

Shaking her head, Brennan explained, "Oh he won't be making that. He wants to bake a turkey and a ham. I have several vegetarian dishes I plan to make. I suppose if you want marinara . . ."

Holding up her hand, Angela interrupted her friend, "No honey, what you're making is fine. I was just saying I like his sauce that's all."

"Booth says he's happy." Studying the bones lying before her, she continued, "I know he wants to be married, but he says he's happy whether he's married or not."

Not sure where this was going, Angela shrugged her shoulders, "Booth is kind of old school. You know, I used to think I'd never get married, but I'm seriously thinking about it now. Jack makes me so happy and I think if he asks me then I'm going to say yes. He's so sweet and kind and loving and he loves me and I just want to prove to him that I love him too. Maybe you'll change your mind some day. Marriage isn't really what you think it is. It isn't some man marking you as his property. Marriage is just proof that your committed to someone and you want the world to know that the person you love is taken and off the market. If there is any ownership, it's the woman saying she owns the mans heart and the man saying he owns her heart."

Annoyed at the metaphor, Brennan frowned, "Metaphorically."

Amused, Angela nodded her head, "Of course. I wouldn't really want someone to give me their real heart. Yuck."

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