"It's only fair Booth!" Temperance maintained as she and Booth walked back down the hall away from Parker's bedroom. Their bickering had been suspended while she'd watched as he'd tucked the cute little guy into his blanket and dropped a kiss on his forehead.

"Don't waste your breath Bones. It's not gonna happen!"

She turned to face him aghast. "What? Why not?"

"Because…whether or not he was awake at midnight isn't the point. You'd already conceded the win!"

"Under duress!" she countered without missing a beat.

"What duress?" his eyes lit up as he laughed.

"You expect me to be able to make lucid, cohesive decisions after a kiss like that? Clearly I wasn't in my right mind."

As they approached the open foyer their directions deviated; she toward the couch and he in the direction of the kitchen to pour them each a glass of wine.

Her steadfastness was quickly becoming more and more entertaining to Booth as he busied himself preparing their glasses.

"And clearly you still aren't if you really think that argument is going to work," his disbelief was loud enough for her to hear him from across the room. As she turned to face him more completely she could easily read the sparkle in his eyes and the smile that graced his lips.

"Oh come on…I know you can do better than that Bones…"

"Well…I can't," she admitted lamely, "Besides…it's a perfectly valid argument."

"Uh huh," he grinned as he took hold of the two glasses he'd prepared and closed the distance between them. Handing her a glass of wine he carefully adds, "And do I even need to remind you that you're the one who woke him up in the first place? A fact, which by the way…makes this moot point even mooter."

Accepting the glass, she had no retort beyond her own confused scowl, "Mooter?"

"What? You're the only one who can take a liberty?

Smiling through her defeat she followed him with her gaze as he rounded the couch and sat closely beside her.

"Fair enough," she admitted.

His answer was a short nod and a satisfied grin. As he sipped at his wine, Booth's opposite arm settled on the edge of the sofa behind her.

"I still say it's an antiquated custom though. In fact, some might consider it borderline chauvinistic that the man in any partnership automatically assumes the right to drive. I'm an excellent driver Booth. And I think it's only appropriate given our equality in this partnership that every once in a while I get to drive."

As she turned more fully into his side she was pleasantly surprised to find him considering her with tender interest.

"Duly noted," he replied respectfully.

The cautiousness in her stare was maintained, "Just because you say that doesn't mean you're going to actually let me drive does it?"

"Absolutely not," he grinned.

"Great!" they chuckled together as Booth once again drew her closer into his side. For all her arguing, Temperance always enjoyed their bantering back and forth. Besides, she knew better than to ever assume that Booth's habitual insistence behind the wheel had to do with anything other than his professionalism. He'd remarked on occasion that to arrive in anything less than the traditional FBI style would detract from the gravity of his presence as a federal agent.

He squeezed her affectionately, "I'm really glad you came over tonight."

"…Me too," she smiled.

"Parker had a lot fun," Booth alluded. When she did little more than smile thoughtfully he followed up with, "…And what about you Bones? Did you have fun?"

Suddenly her attention snapped back as she angled against him so that she could face him more completely.

"Yeah…I really did," she assured him with a fuller smile.

"Good," he smiled in satisfaction.

"It's been a long time since I celebrated New Years. I guess I've become so used to just working through the holidays…that I forgot how comforting it can be."

"Well you know Bones that's what the holidays are all about," his voice was a raw blend of understanding and tenderness. "Taking a step back…tapping into the holiday spirit…being with your loved ones…"

Pulling her tighter into him, Booth began stroking her upper arm with the slow rhythmic movement of his thumb.

"Yeah…I think I'm starting to see how that works…" her reflective tone had grown quiet.

As he stared off into the direction of the television, she smiled as it seemed his attention was captivated by the images flashing on the screen.

"Booth…"

"Hmmm..?" Although his arm was still holding her securely, his attention was pulled elsewhere.

"I've been thinking, and there's something that I need to say to you…"

Slowly he turned his concentration back toward her as it seemed he'd immediately honed in on the gravity of her tone.

"Okay…well whatever it is Bones, you know you can tell me…"

"I know, it's just…it's strange. I guess a part of me always thought that I could never have what the average person considered a 'normal life'. And until recently…I think a small part of me thought I didn't want it."

"And now?" he prodded gently.

"I'm not sure…but suddenly the concept of a 'normal life' isn't as unattainable as it used to be…or even as undesirable."

"So…what are you saying?"

She fixed him with her stare and soon she was looking right through him. "I'm saying," she started thoughtfully, "…that tonight meant a great deal more to me than you probably realize. And…that I'm really looking forward to our dinner…" she smiled coyly in his direction as he considered her with tenderness, the comfort of his embrace as she nuzzled into his side was intoxicating.

"…And…" she stalled.

"…And…?" he echoed hopefully.

"…And…I just needed you to know…that just because I haven't said 'it'," her allusion to the depth and intensity of her feelings was unmistakable, "…doesn't mean that I'm not feeling 'it'."

The grin that overtook Booth's features widened slowly as he absorbed her reassurance, "Message received," he answered quietly before leaning down to drop a lingering kiss across her lips.

"Good," she smiled over at him; it was a relief to constantly be reassured by his patience and understanding. "Well…I should probably be going." As much as she tried to hide it, Temperance couldn't mask the disappointment that laced her voice.

Shifting her weight slightly away from him, she moved with the intention of sitting straighter and eventually standing up, "It's really late."

No sooner than the words were out of her mouth was he resisting her efforts to pull away from him.

"I have a better idea…" he stopped her with another charming grin before whispering, "…why don't you stay here with me tonight…"