(The first Christmas after 'The Change in the Game')

A/N: this story has been written for the Bonesology Winter challenge for 2021.

I don't own Bones although it would be pretty cool if I did.

Ooooooooooooooooo

Brennan didn't believe in God and hadn't celebrated Christmas from the time she was 15 years old until Booth had become her partner and she'd realized that religious holidays were important to him. Though she didn't have any religious beliefs, starting in the second year of her partnership, she adorned her house in festive lights and a tree for his sake and she made sure he got a present every year. Booth barely had any family and she didn't want him to think that no one cared about him.

Now that she and Booth had decided to become partners in a monogamous relationship, she felt that the holiday had become more significant to her partner and she wasn't sure why. Though she tried to help him celebrate the holiday, she felt that her lack of festive spirit was dampening his enthusiasm. She wanted to share his enthusiasm, but she'd never really understood how people could believe in a deity and found that she was more of an outsider during religious festivals than a participant.

Over the years, she'd studied different cultures on various continents and found their religious beliefs to be fascinating, but not something she could embrace. As an anthropologist, it was part of her job to study the intricacies of a society including their religions, but in the end, she found religion to be nonsense and not something she'd ever really understand.

Booth's apartment was trimmed with Christmas decorations he had collected over the years and she'd decided it was unnecessary to decorate her apartment too. Booth had wanted to buy her a tree for her apartment, but she had assured him that one tree was enough and there was no need to waste money on another tree. She'd seen the disappointment on his face, but she knew he was of limited funds and she didn't want him to spend it on an extra Christmas tree.

As a well known author who earned substantial amounts of money from the sales of her books, she could have bought a tree, but her frugal upbringing kept her from wasting money on items that had little value to her.

She was spending some time in her apartment since Booth was working on a kidnapping case and she found the quiet to be a little oppressive. She was used to her partner's chatter or the sound of his television and hadn't realized just how much she missed him when he wasn't around.

After baking a batch of Christmas cookies for her co-workers and for Booth, Brennan sat down in the living room with a glass of sparkling apple cider and continued reading a book she had bought the last time she was at the bookstore. Soon she was asleep, the book resting on her lap.

"Well, your apartment isn't very Christmasy."

Startled, Brennan opened her eyes and stared in wonder at the person sitting next to her. "What are you doing here? It's not possible you're here."

Amused, Christine laughed. "Always the skeptic I see. You were always a serious child and . . . well, just accept that I'm here and you can talk to me."

"There is no such thing as a ghost . . . I refuse to talk to a figment of my imagination."

Shrugging her shoulders, Christine looked around the living room. "No Christmas tree, no lights, not a bit of tinsel. You used to help me decorate the tree when you lived with me . . . why not now? I mean, I know you don't believe in God, but you never hesitated to celebrate with me and your father. Now that you and your partner are together and having a baby, I'd think you'd at least have a tree this year."

"Booth has a tree. That's enough. We're at his apartment more than mine, so why waste money?" She felt foolish talking to an imaginary figure from her past, but she didn't want to be rude and her mother needed an answer to her question. Didn't she?

Sad for her daughter, Christine sighed. "I thought the tree you put up with your father a couple of years ago had been very nice. He really loved that tree. Are you going to invite him over this year? He'd probably like a tree here. Maybe some garland around the doors and a piece of holly in one of the doorways. I bet Seeley would love that."

"Dad is coming over to Booth's apartment this year for Christmas festivities. Booth and I are going to have a party there." Brennan was getting annoyed. Apparently, her subconscious was feeling guilty about the lack of a Christmas tree and she hated that it was manifesting in a conversation with her dead mother. "I know you aren't real. Obviously I'm dreaming."

"Oh, obviously." Christine stood up and walked over to the stereo. Once it was on, she turned the knob until she found a station playing Christmas music. Turning to face her daughter, the ghost from Brennan's past smiled. "I love Christmas. I always did. You and your brother would wake up on Christmas morning and rush downstairs to get to your presents . . . both of you were so happy and Max would take so many pictures . . . I was so happy and well . . . so were you. Don't you remember how happy you were? Remember when you were twelve and you got a microscope and some slides. You hugged your father and me and played with it until it was time for dinner. I knew you were going to be a scientist. I told Max you'd be a biologist or something and I wasn't wrong. I'm so proud of you honey. I want you to know that. You grew up and became a fine woman, a popular author and you've found someone that loves you for who you are . . . Remember that it's okay to be happy honey. It's okay to help someone else be happy too."

Not sure what to say, Brennan sipped some of her apple cider and placed the glass back on the coffee table. "I am happy mother. I really am . . . I'm trying to help Booth enjoy our first Christmas together, but for some reason, he's placed a lot of importance on this year's holiday and I don't know why. It seems like he wants me to . . . he wants me to put greater significance in our being together during this holiday, but . . . I can't . . . I'm me, mother and I don't wish to change just because I'm in a relationship with Booth."

Chuckling, Christine shook her head. "Honey, you have changed since you and Seeley have got together. You're pregnant with his baby and the next Christmas you have together will be even more important since it will be your baby's first Christmas. It doesn't matter if you believe in God, Seeley does and he wants to celebrate with you. He loves you and I know you love him. Recognize that change isn't a bad thing. It doesn't take away your independence. It just adds a little something to your life. I know. Meeting Max and having two children brought me a lot of happiness. I didn't want to die and leave you, but it happened Honey and you have to accept that I'm in a better place. Your father is still with you as well as Russ and now that Seeley is in your life, you're never going to be alone again. We all love you Honey. You're not alone." With that, Christine faded from sight leaving a confused Brennan behind.

Shaking her head, Brennan stared at her glass and whispered, "It was a dream." Her stereo was on, but it was obvious she had turned it on before she had sat down on the couch. Her dead mother had not turned it on. There was no such thing as ghosts but clearly this Christmas was making her maudlin.

Oooooooooooooooooo

Let me know what you think of my story so far. Thanks