Sorry about any delays. I'd injured my ankle last weekend and I've had appointments in between working and taking time off for this stupid thing.

Oh and an Inauguration that I'd binged watched all day yesterday.

So I hope you enjoy fruitcake because it comes up a lot in his chapter. Have fun...

The next morning, Aubrey was finishing his long john donut he swiped from the break room when he entered his office. Arriving at his desk, he saw another gift on his desk. "Shit…"

Setting down his computer bag and coffee, he carefully picked it up and examined it closely. Seeing that there was nothing strange about it, carefully opened it to reveal a tin. Opening it up, he discovered a fruitcake. "Oh boy…"

He stared at it debating on what to do. Jessica in the past had made him exceptionally good treats, but never a fruitcake. It could also be one of Dr. B's vegan treats that Booth dropped off, but he'd always give him notice before doing so. However, if it's Karen doing some weird seduction thing with food, eating it would be wrong. But a good fruitcake is a terrible thing to waste.

"Oh wait, there a note." He opened it up and read it.

Hey there Hot Stuff:

Just a little gift to tide you over until Christmas. I'll be counting the days until I see you all naked and ready for me.

Your admirer

"Could this be Jessica?" Aubrey asked himself as he inspected the item. Grabbing a plastic fork from his credenza, he stabbed into it and shook his head. "Ah, this has raisins in it, so definitely not Jessica. Damn, I'm hungry…but I can't eat it if it's from Karen. Gotta make sure…" Logging into his computer, he sent a message to the profiler.

Karen:

If you're the one who's been sending me candy canes and a fruitcake, please stop. It's inappropriate for the workplace.

Aubrey

Hitting SEND, he realized that Karen was currently three hours away and in probability, sleeping. He needed it ignore it, but his stomach was telling him something else all together. Making an executive decision, he pulled it over to him. "If it's Karen, I'll pitch it."

Using his fork, he stabbed into it, ripped some off, and tasted. "Oh so good…"

*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*

At the same time, Jessica had just stepped out into the lab when she saw Deandra, the lab's coop student, carrying in a large bin full of mail stacked up to her chin as she clung to a padded envelope with her little pinky finger.

"Deandra, let me help you." Jessica took the padded envelope and one of the armfuls. "Looks like we hit the mother load today."

"Thank you. Tuesday is always a big mail day for here." The small blonde lead Jessica into the small office area and put the bin down near the letter opener. "Oh, that package has your name on it."

"Okay, thanks." Jessica walked out of the room and headed next door to the intern's study room. Sitting at her assigned desk, Jessica cut open the package and pulled out a knitted pom hat. Turning it around, she saw a note fall, but what got her attention was the indented message on the leather label.

BITCH

Startled, she found the note and read it, growing more alarmed as she read it.

A special gift for my special girl to keep you warm until Christmas. I can't wait to see you wearing this hat…and only this hat with a smile.

Your admirer.

"Is this some sick joke?" Jessica asked herself. "You think something like this is going to make me want you, you asshole, you're surely mistaken."

Shoving it back in the envelope, she walked out and ran into Angela. "Sorry…"

"It's okay…" The artist picked up the package and handed it back to Jessica. "You got some mail. Anything good?"

"Yeah, a hat from my secret admirer." Jessica forced a smile on her face. "I'm just going to put it in my locker."

"So, it looks like maybe Aubrey is trying to woo you, Jessica…" Angela cooed until she saw the redhead's face. "What's wrong? You got a special gift for Christmas. Someone obviously loves you."

"Yeah, some gift. Excuse me." Jessica moved past her friend and walked away.

Angela wanted to prod further, but she was pressed for time to finish up paperwork before taking the afternoon off to prepare for the Yule dinner she and Hodgins were hosting tonight.

"Something's not right here…"

*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*

An hour later, Dr. Brennan was surprised when Jessica brought her the reconstructed skull from the WWI remains she was assigned. "Ms. Warren, I'm impressed. This skeleton was in 29 pieces."

"Thank you. I figure if we can identify this soldier by Christmas it would be a good thing."

"Yes, it would be." Brennan studied the young woman and knew something was wrong. "Ms. Warren, the last time you rebuilt a skull with as much damage as this one in less than two hours, you were having emotional difficulties. Are you having them now?"

"Yes…"

Brennan saw her hesitance. "Would I be prying if I asked about the cause for this instance of emotional instability?"

"No." Jessica set the skull down and left the room. Brennan was befuddled until Jessica returned a couple of minutes later with her parcel from earlier. When Jessica showed her the gift, the forensic anthropologist was stunned.

"I know some have unique ways to attract the opposite sex, but never have I seen this." Brennan examined the knit cap. "Have you said anything about this to anyone?"

"No." Jessica sighed. "Angela hints that these are from Aubrey, but this isn't Aubrey…I don't know what to think…"

Brennan recalled her discussion with Booth the night before. "How about we talk to Booth about all this? Perhaps he can trace where these gifts come from."

Jessica didn't want to make a thing about the gifts, but she was starting to grow apprehensive. "Okay, Dr. B. Thank you."

"I would also suggest speaking to Aubrey about this, Ms. Warren." Sensing the young woman's hesitance, Brennan decided the truth was best. "I know that you and Aubrey have…renewed your acquaintance, but part of a partnership is being honest with the other."

The intern wasn't surprised that her mentor knew about her and Aubrey. She wondered if anyone else knew, but it also wasn't her top priority at the moment. Considering what her mentor had said, she realized that her advice was sound. "We did promise to not hide things from each other this time. I'll talk to him later, but Dr. B, um, can I ask a favor? We don't want anyone to know that we're…together together…so if you don't mind…"

Brennan nodded. "The phrasing of your renewed relationship as 'together together' is very awkward and unusual, but as Booth said to me, it is only the business of yourself and Aubrey. You two should let everyone else know when you two are ready and no one else."

"Thank you." Jessica smiled.

"So, if I'm not prying…how have things progressed in your renewed acquaintance with Aubrey?"

The redhead's smile grew large. "Very good, Dr. B. Very good."

*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*

After their dinner, Aubrey and Jessica snuggled together on his couch. "Jess, I hope this Christmas is a good one for both of us."

Jessica wrapped her arm around Aubrey's chest. "Well, spending Christmas Eve and Christmas morning together will be fun before going over to Booth and Dr. B's house. I'm glad you're coming with me to my family Christmas on the 26th."

"Are you sure you want to do that?" Aubrey shrugged. "I mean…we've just…"

"Yes, Aubrey. I'm completely okay with that. I've already let Aaron and Nadia know to make extra food for you."

"Hey." Aubrey groused. "I have low blood sugar, you know that."

"Of course, Superman." Jessica chuckled. "Nadia said she's even going to make you her traditional Prăjitură cu fructi."

"Sounds awesome. What is it?"

"Romanian fruitcake." Jessica replied. "I told her how much you like it."

"Fruitcake…sounds great." Aubrey thought about the gifts he'd received the last two days. He still hadn't heard back from Karen and was growing annoyed.

Jessica felt his body grow tense. "Are you all right?"

He hesitated but he remembered his promise to Jessica. "Someone has been…sending me stuff as a 'secret admirer'."

"You, too?" Jessica asked.

Aubrey looked at her in surprise. "What do you mean, you too?"

"Um, I've also gotten stuff from a secret admirer as well." Jessica described what she'd received and then listened as Aubrey did the same. "You got candy cane panties?"

"It was a G-string, Jessica, not panties." Aubrey huffed. "You sound just like Booth. He's never going to let me live those down, I swear."

"Okay, a G-string…and a fruitcake." Jessica mollified Aubrey as she combed his hair. "Do you think it's Karen sending you sexy stuff and I messed up stuff in an attempt to screw with us?"

"I don't know. Do you think it's Adam? Like he's pissed you're not seeing him anymore and he's trying to scare you?" Aubrey noted Jessica's shaking her head. "Why not?"

"Because for the last couple of days, I've seen him around with a squintern from Antiquities, so I don't think he's pining away for me, much less stalking me."

Aubrey nodded. "Okay, maybe we can ask Booth to look into our secret admirers. He'll help me maintain some discretion."

"Dr. B suggested the same thing for me. I can't wait to find out who's doing all this. It's not nice receiving not so nice gifts." Jessica leaned her head onto Aubrey's shoulder. "Who are you texting?"

"Booth. I'm letting him know that you know what I got." The response was quick. "He said Dr. B showed him pictures of the hat. He asked that you drop it off at the Hoover before work tomorrow with the original package so he can trace it for us."

"I can do that."

Aubrey put his arm around her, and they laid in silence as Skinner joined them on the couch. "Jess…"

"Yeah, Superman."

"Um…" Aubrey's hand gently moved up and down her arm. "I have something I want to ask you, but I'm not sure this is the best time."

Jessica smiled and climbed on top of her lover. "James Aubrey, if you're trying to ask me for sex before I go home tonight, the answer is definitely yes."

"Well, okay, I'm always up for that but there's something else." Aubrey moved from under Jessica and walked into the kitchen. Opening his fridge, he pulled out a large box and opened the lid so the redhead could see it. "Want some stalker fruitcake first? You can pick around the raisins."

Jessica laughed as she got up and whipped off her sweater. Tossing it at Aubrey, she headed towards his bedroom. "Bring it to bed with us. I'm not working until 10:00 tomorrow, so I can stay here late tonight. You may not get a lot of sleep, though."

"Nah, that's all right." Aubrey grabbed two forks, napkins, and the cake before following her towards the bedroom, dodging Skinner. "Sorry buddy, duty calls."

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