"So, what are you getting Booth for Christmas?" Angela asked as she sipped on a hot cider. Brennan looked at her friend, one eyebrow raised.
"Why would I be getting something for Booth? You're the one forcing me into Christmas anyway."
"Sweetie, I know for a fact that he's getting something for you. It's only right to reciprocate. It is the season to give after all."
"Fine. What would you suggest?"
"I don't know. You should get him something that exemplifies your relationship."
"How about a tie?"
"No. Absolutely not. He's putting a lot of effort into his gift, and you are not going to cop out by giving him a tie."
"I don't know what to get him Ange. I'm not good at the whole gift thing."
"How about this. Tell me what you know about Booth, and I'll make suggestions based on what you say."
Temperance walked in silence for a minute as she thought about her partner. She tried to focus on just the facts, but her mind kept returning to the kiss they shared under the mistletoe. She hadn't expected a reaction to him that way. Tempe reached up and touched her lips, almost able to feel his lips against her own. Angela watched and smirked. So, the good doctor was really affected by that kiss. Good, all the better for my plan.
"He, uh, likes to bowl. In fact, he has trophies for it."
"Okay, that's a start. What else?"
"He likes classic cars. When we were in Los Angeles, he rented a 'stang. He's a good father, takes pride in his appearance, and takes relationships seriously. Remember, I was right when I said he didn't balk."
"Sweetie, you don't have to tell me that. I know. So what you're telling me is that he is all-American in his interests, has good taste and is incredibly loyal to those he loves."
"Yes."
"Like you."
"Yes. Wait. No, he doesn't love me." Temperance was confused. Angela just smirked at her friend. Then her phone rang. She looked at the caller id and almost spit her cider all over. She flipped open the phone and glanced once at Tempe.
"Hey, dad, how are you?"
"Uh, Angela, Bones is right there isn't she."
"I'm great too. So how are your plans for the holiday going? Are you still able to make it in tonight?" Angela noticed Tempe looking at her and gave her a quick smile, hoping she couldn't hear that she was speaking to Booth.
"I'll take it as a yes. We'll be arriving at eleven tonight. Can you still get us?"
"So he is coming? That's great. And I'll be there."
"Okay, see you then Angela."
"Yeah, I'll talk to you later." She hung up the phone and looked at Temperance. "Have you decided what to get him yet?"
"No. Maybe I'll know it when I see it."
"Alright Sweetie, but if you don't come up with something soon, then I'm taking over."
XxXxX
"Where are we going?" Matthew Brennan asked booth as he hung up his cell phone.
"La Jolla."
"And why exactly are we going there Agent Booth?"
"Because you've got sixteen Christmases to make up to your daughter."
"You're taking me shopping?" Matthew looked incredulous. Booth looked over at him for a moment, and then turned his eyes back to the road.
"Yep. Maybe you don't care for your daughter as much as I do, but you are going to make up for lost time."
"Hey, she turned out okay."
"Okay? Do you know what your disappearance did to her? She's shut herself down emotionally, and it takes a hell of a lot of effort to get her to open up. That's not being well adjusted."
"Well you obviously got through those defenses."
"I wouldn't be so sure." Booth said more to himself. Matthew looked at Booth with a raised eyebrow.
"Agent Booth, do you mean to tell me that you're willing to abduct me, because let's face it, that's what you're doing, and you're not even with my daughter? Why go through so much trouble?"
"I'm sure you wouldn't understand."
"You love her. What is there to not understand? I'm sure you don't believe that I feel the same way, but if my absence kept my kids off the radar of hit men, then I've done all I could to protect them."
"Look, can we just drop this. We're almost there, and we'll only have a few hours before we have to catch our flight to DC."
"Fine by me Agent Booth." Matthew crossed his arms like a petulant child and looked out the window as the ocean began to come into view.
XxXxX
Angela rubbed her temples. It was five o'clock in the afternoon, and Temperance still was undecided as to what to get Booth. Angela was somewhat amused that Tempe chose to get David a sweater, thinking that it was practical, and decided not to push the issue.
"Ange, we have to go. David's meeting me at my apartment in an hour."
"Fine, we'll go. I can't believe that we've been out all day, and you still can't figure out what to get your knight in standard FBI issue body armor."
"Would you just drop it Angela? Besides, you're the one who said she'd help if I couldn't figure out what to get."
"And I will. I just didn't expect you to have such a difficult time picking out a gift. I mean you did find something for David."
"Well, I can't help it if Booth doesn't wear sweaters."
"Sweetie, I like where your priorities are, really, but I think I know just what to do for Booth."
"Now you tell me. Why did you have to drag me around all day if you know what to get him?"
"I wanted to see what you came up with. Don't worry, Sweetie. This really will be perfect."
"Well, what is it?"
"Oh, no. You'll see it when he opens it. Now, I do believe you said we needed to get going." Angela tossed over her shoulder as she led the way back out to her car.
"Ange, that's not fair! You have to tell me." Temperance replied as she followed her friend. Angela grinned. This is just too fun.
XxXxX
Booth rubbed his temples in an attempt to stave off the migraine that was threatening to set in. After spending several hours wandering through the shops in La Jolla, they finally managed to get the sixteen gifts together, though not without a lot of complaints from Matthew. Granted, he wasn't upset about seeing his daughter, just about being forced to purchase gifts for her. 'That's not how to go about it' he'd complained. The heat wasn't helping either, and only served to irritate Booth further.
Now, they had just boarded the airliner to head back to DC, and Matthew had stolen the window seat. He stared at it, avoiding any contact with Booth. Booth pulled a small packet of Dramamine from his pocket and popped a dose into his mouth, swallowing it with a drink of water. Hopefully this will knock me out for the duration of the flight. This man's as stubborn as Bones.
Booth glanced once at Matthew, then closed his eyes, being sure to stretch his legs out as far as the seat would allow. If Matthew got up even to stretch his legs, Booth wanted to be aware of it. As the plane took off from the airport, Booth let his mind wander back to his kiss with Brennan. Had it affected her as much as it did him? It certainly felt that way. Maybe Angela is right. Maybe this effort is worth the risk, and if the risk pays off, then I'll get exactly what I want for Christmas. Smiling, booth slowly drifted off to sleep with thoughts of Temperance on his mind.
