A/N: Well, this is updated faster than I intended. Blame it on the sudden urge to listen to Christmas music. That's right, I listen to Christmas music out of season. Part of the reason I wanted to write this story anyway. Hope you all enjoy the lengths to which Booth is willing to go for this.

"I can't believe you punched him." Brennan said, her voice laced with irritation. "And for that matter, why are you mad at him and not mad at me? I mean, it takes two to kiss."

"Look, Temperance, I told you I misread the situation."

"Oh, yeah, you misread it. Booth is my partner. It's not like I'm in love with him or anything. And it is a tradition to kiss under mistletoe. I certainly didn't see a problem with honoring that tradition." Brennan looked from David to the menu.

"If you saw it from my end, you would have misread it too."

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"Oh, come on Temperance. You can't tell me you weren't somewhat in to that kiss. I mean, you could feel the sparks from across the lab."

"Are you saying that you're jealous of Booth?"

"Yeah, a little. I have been ever since he interrogated me. The man is seriously into you. I don't know how you can't see that. He gets all defensive when I show up, and he tries to come off as…"

"The alpha male?"

"I suppose that term works as well as any other. I just don't want to see you get hurt by him."

"Booth would never do anything to hurt me."

"That's not what it looked like when you got back from Louisiana. Do you have any idea how close I came to beating the man senseless?"

"Booth flew down there to help me after I told him not to. He compromised a crime scene to keep me out of jail, not that I did anything wrong in the first place, and he put up his own money to hire me the best attorney around, and he would never lay a hand on a woman in anger. Never." Brennan's eyes flashed. David was taken aback at the anger directed at him.

"Okay, I'm sorry I ever said anything. Obviously Booth means more to you than I do."

"What are you talking about? You're the one I'm dating, not Booth."

"Then why didn't you tell me about your family problems? I didn't know you had a brother until I picked you up for breakfast that one day. Here's some strange guy answering your door at eight in the morning."

"You were jealous of my brother too?"

"How would you take it if you came to my house and another woman answered the door?"

"I'd find out who she was based on your reaction to the situation. Contrary to popular belief, I can read body language. I know when I'm being lied to."

"I never said you couldn't. Temperance, I'm sorry, okay? I just feel like you give more attention to Booth than you do me. It upsets me because I love you so much. Sorry I over reacted, and sorry I have the audacity to question your relationship with Booth."

"What did you say?"

"I'm sorry. How many times do you want me to apologize?"

"No, the other part."

"I love you, Temperance Brennan."

Temperance moved across the booth and kissed David. Though he held her tight and was passionate in his response to her, she couldn't help but notice that her stomach didn't tighten, and she didn't feel any…spark from the kiss. When they broke apart, David smiled at her.

"If I knew I'd get that kind of a response from you, I would have told you sooner." He smiled at Tempe and looked at his menu. Tempe gave a small smile back and returned to her own menu, hoping he wouldn't see the confusion in her expression. He loved her, so why didn't she love him back?

XxXxX

Booth looked at the wall of decorations with Angela. She seemed to have no problem picking out decorations for the tree and apartment, but he wanted to get one that would be special, so there he stood, critically looking over some unusual decorations as Angela threw various things into a big shopping cart.

"Booth, what are you doing?" Angela asked as she watched him stare at the wall intently. He was startled back into reality and looked at the artist.

"Oh, I wanted to find one decoration that would be special, you know? I want something that'll really stand out."

"You know, you're even cuter when you're all romantic like this. I'll leave you to it then. I still have to look at the wreaths and garlands and such, so, I'll come back when you're through. Just call me." She winked at him and walked off. He shook his head, and couldn't help but smile. For as much as Angela's matchmaking irritated him, he was really touched that she was willing to go to such extreme lengths to help him. Bones has no idea what a good friend she has in Angela.

His phone rang, and upon checking the caller id, noticed a North Carolina area code. He grinned broadly.

"Hey Russ, glad you got my message."

"So what's all this business about making Christmas for Tempe?"

"Oh, I just wanted to do something special for her. It's been so long, you know?"

"Right. You just don't want to see her with that guy she's dating. Neither do I for that matter. What is it you want from me?"

"Do you have anywhere to be for Christmas?"

"Nope. I was going to spend it with my girlfriend, but I thought about coming back to DC and surprising Tempe."

"Good. You can stay at my place, because I'll need your help Christmas Eve."

"Is this another, 'You don't have a choice but to do what I say' thing?" Booth could hear the amusement in Russ' voice.

"Yeah, you could say that."

"Alright. I'll be there on the twenty -third. See you then, man."

See you, oh, and Russ?"

"Yeah?"

"Thanks."

"No problem." Russ hung up, and Booth found himself grinning. So far everything was working out as planned, and with the information he'd gotten from the FBI earlier in the day, hopefully they would get much better. He returned his attention to the decorations and saw it. This was the one he'd been waiting for. It was a small, porcelain skeleton in a santa hat. Here we go. Bones for Bones.

He found Angela looking intently at wreaths not far away. As she pulled two off the shelf to look at, Booth snuck up behind her.

"Take the one on the left." He laughed as she shrieked and nearly dropped the decorations. Angela put one of the wreaths back, and then hit Booth on the arm.

"Don't do that!"

"You ready to pay for all this stuff?"

"Sure, but what's the hurry?"

"Because I have to get some presents for Bones tonight."

"Why? There's still a couple of days left."

"I'll be out of town tomorrow, and the day after that, Russ is driving up."

"Wait, why are you going out of town?"

"To find Matthew Brennan."