A/N: Well, here it is, the beginning of Christmas Day. There are still many questions to be answered…will Tempe reciprocate Booth's feelings? Will David run, crying from the apartment after hearing her moan Booth's name? Will David propose? Well, you're just going to have to read and find out.
December 25, 2000
Temperance awoke with a smile on her face. The familiar scent of chocolate chip pancakes wafted up the stairs and into her room along with the not-so-melodious sound of her parents singing. As off-key as they sang, to the fourteen year-old, it sounded like being woken up by a choir of angels. She stretched and hopped out of bed, her long flannel nightgown ending and meeting her Santa socks mid-calf. Tempe raced down the stairs and into the family room to be greeted by her brother, Russ, and her parents.
"Merry Christmas, Tempe!" Russ exclaimed with a smile. Her mother walked from the kitchen and gave Temperance a hug.
"Who wants pancakes?" asked Matthew from the kitchen. He carried a plate of the delicious food, smothered in butter and maple syrup to his daughter, who promptly tucked into the meal.
"Merry Christmas everyone." She said between bites. To her, this was what the holiday was about. Nothing could take her family away from her.
December 25, 2006Matthew Brennan dropped another scoop of the batter onto the griddle as he hummed a Christmas song. Jack stood at the kitchen counter making orange juice from concentrate, while Angela and Booth began to prepare a defrosted turkey for cooking.
"Hey dad, remember how we used to wake up Tempe on Christmas morning?" Russ grinned. Matthew smiled as he thought back to all the mornings he had spent with his children.
"Of course. You lot, do you know any good Christmas songs?"
"Oh, how about 'Deck the Halls'?" Angela said, excited. To everyone's surprise, Zach began to sing in a beautiful tenor.
Deck the halls with bows of holly
The others joined in.
Fa la la la la la la la la
'Tis the season to be jolly
Fa la la la la la la la la
Don we now our gay apparel
Fa la la la la la la la la
Troll the ancient yuletide carols
Fa la la la la la la la la
Temperance sat up in bed, eyes wide. She turned to David, who looked just as surprised.
"Do you smell pancakes?" Temperance asked.
"Yeah, and is that caroling?" David watched as Tempe's eyes grew huge.
"Russ! Russ is here!" She jumped out of bed, grabbed her robe and threw it on as she raced from the room. Temperance came to a halt in the living room, stunned. The room literally twinkled. Fairy lights hung on the tree, sparkled on wreathes, and weaved through garlands. Decorations covered the surfaces, small stuffed things and figurines sat on tables, while pillows graced the couches and chairs. Presents surrounded the tree, and three stockings, filled to the brim, hung over the fireplace.
"Merry Christmas Tempe!" Russ said as he stood to give his sister a hug. She embraced her brother, and then looked around the room. Zach smiled at her sheepishly from the sofa, Jack waved as he finished the orange juice, and Booth and Angela stood in the kitchen, blocking someone. Just as Tempe was about to ask who was there, he stepped out from behind her friends, a plate of chocolate chip pancakes, smothered in butter and syrup in his hand.
"Who wants pancakes?" Matthew smiled as Temperance gave a small shriek, then ran over and threw her arms around him. Booth grabbed the plate of food before it spilled on the ground. Tears filled Tempe's eyes as her father held her close. David finally made his way into the room, just as stunned as Temperance.
"Who did all of this?" he asked the group at large. Russ smiled and motioned with his head.
"This was all Seeley, man. He set it up." Temperance raised her tear-streaked face from her father's shoulder and looked at her partner.
"Booth, thank you. I…thank you."
"Anything for you, Temperance."
"There isn't anything else I would have wanted. You've given me my family back." She moved from her father to Booth and hugged him. She tried to control her tears, but being in Booth's strong arms only renewed the flow of emotion. Booth looked up and caught David's eye. The investment banker held out the object he was fiddling with. It was a small box.
"Tempe, I can think of one thing that might add to your day." Temperance let go of Booth. He released her reluctantly and felt the increasingly familiar ache building in his stomach. He looked over to Angela for a moment and gained a look of support from her.
David handed the small box to Temperance and watched as she opened it. Inside was a beautiful princess cut diamond nestled in an intricate platinum band. She looked up at David, speechless.
"Temperance Brennan, will you marry me?"
A/N: wipes the rotten fruit thrown by jaed621 from face And you thought I'd let you know right away. No, you'll just have to wait a little longer. Remember, anticipation is the best part. dodges more fruit and other items thrown at head
