The medico-legal lab was decorated with holiday decorations, the Angelator displaying the Christmas tree she designed the year before. Brennan was leaning over her examination table, looking at a body that was brought in for one of Booth's cases. Angela pulled out a camera she brought with her and snapped a picture of the forensic anthropologist. Brennan looked up at the flash, her expression quizzical.

"Angela, what are you doing?"

"Just playing with a new toy. Are we expecting our hotty G-man in today?"

"I don't know. I think Booth had to do some shopping, you know to find something for Parker."

"In which case, we'll probably see him today. You have any plans this evening?" Angela swiped her card and stepped up to the examination platform. She leaned on railings near the body and watched Brennan intently.

"David and I are going out to dinner. Someplace Italian, I think."

"You've been seeing quite a lot of him lately."

"We are dating, Ange. Of course I'll see a lot of him."

"Is this a precursor to something more serious?"

"Angela, what are you trying to get at here? I thought you liked David." Temperance looked up from the bones again and crossed her arms. Angela ignored the gesture and snapped another picture.

"He's nice, Bren. That's it. There's…well, he's nice." Angela gave her friend a little smile.

"You're going to try to push Booth on me again, aren't you?"

"Sweetie, who you date is none of my business…"

"Well it's about time you realized that." Brennan's tone was sharp, but Angela ignored it.

"Did you ever play with magnets when you were a kid?"

"What does this have to do with anything?"

"Did you? You know, you push them around, and they push away, but if you flip them over, instant attraction."

"You are trying to push Booth on me again. Ange, we are just partners, and that's all we'll ever be."

"Why? Don't tell me you don't feel that connection when he's around you. He's in love with you, and you feel the same. David's the safe option for you, because you have complete control there, but it's not the same. His magnet's been flipped for quite some time Temperance, it's time you get your magnet flipped."

"Who's flipping whose magnet, and can I watch?" Hodgins joined the conversation with a wide grin, his blue eyes shining merrily. Angela couldn't help but grin at the merry expression he wore.

"It looks like Christmas came early for someone this year." She teased him, momentarily letting Brennan off the hook. Temperance rolled her eyes at the flirting and returned to her bones.

"Don't you know it Ange? All I have to say is God Bless Santa's helpers." The entomologist grinned wickedly, and then gave a small wink to Angela. She rolled her eyes at him and began to head toward her office.

"Well, at least I don't have to ask if you've been naughty or nice. I know the answer to that one." She grinned to herself. Since the year before, when everyone was forced to stay together for two days during quarantine, they had become so much closer, and the holiday cheer was much more present than it ever had been at the Jeffersonian. The only thing she needed now was to make sure that Booth had a Merry Christmas.

A box of decorations sat on her desk, along with some other odds and ends. Atop the decorations was a rather large sprig of mistletoe. Now, if I only had some fishing line… Angela rubbed her hands together. This was, after all, a museum and had plenty of supplies for the exhibits.

Half an hour later, Angela stood on the catwalk over the examination platform with fishing line, scissors, and the mistletoe. The carefully worked the knots into the line, ensuring that the mistletoe wouldn't slip out and ruin everything. As she carefully lowered the plant over the railing of the catwalk, Dr. Daniel Goodman approached her, his arms crossed over his chest.

"Miss Montenegro, may I inquire as to what you are doing?"

Angela let out a small shriek, and almost lost the sprig of mistletoe. Once she composed herself, she gave a guilty smile to her boss.

"I'm trying to provide a Merry Christmas to Agent Booth."

"By hanging up mistletoe above a lab that could potentially be compromised if anything falls from it?"

"Uh, yes, sir. I just thought that this would be the only way to get Brennan to kiss him."

Dr. Goodman's eyebrows raised, while at the same time, he looked thoughtful.

"Ah, I believe that means you're trying to dissuade Dr. Brennan from her current relationship."

"You could say that, yeah."

"You're playing with fire here Miss Montenegro. I hope you're fully aware of the possible consequences of your actions."

"I'm completely aware of what could go wrong, Dr. Goodman, but I believe it's worth the risk."

"Just make sure that is down once the holidays are over. I don't need Hodgins getting any ideas." Goodman left Angela to her plotting as he walked away, shaking his head. He had to admit, with her around, the medico-legal lab was a much more interesting place.