Brennan sits across from Jared in a quiet, tastefully decorated restaurant. He smiles at her over his glass of wine as he watches her animatedly digging into a seafood platter, she catches his amused gaze over her forkful of food and shrugs.

"What, have I got some on my face?" Using her free hand she wipes the back of her hand over her mouth and he chuckles shaking his head.

"No, it's nothing." She looks doubtful but returns her attention to the fork in her hand and swiftly empties the contents into her mouth. "Tempe, we've been out on a few dates now, and so I don't think I'll be completely out of line if I ask you if you would like to spend Thanksgiving with me?"

Her eyes shoot back to meet his and she places her fork on her plate carefully. "Um… I don't know what to say…"

"Traditionally Tempe, the girl would either say 'I'd love to' or 'Take a hike loser!' I'm hoping yours is going to be the former… I know that you don't really have much in the way of family, and that's why it'd be an honour if you would come."

She ducks her head as a thousand thoughts flash through her mind before one final conclusive thought causes her to look up with a luminous smile. "I'd love to."

Reaching across the table her lifts her hand to his lips and places a gentle kiss there. She smiles shyly, excited at the prospect of actually sharing this holiday with someone, but also completely nervous about the implications of her agreement to do so.

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Angela walks into Brennan's office to find her staring at something on her desk.

"Sweetie? Everything okay?"

Brennan spins around and her face lights up. "Angela, thank God." She picks up two objects from her desk and presents them both to Angela. "What would you give to your date's mom as a gift to say thank you for dinner? Fruitbasket or Cabernet?"

Angela goes from amused to confused in an instant. She feels for the edge of the sofa blindly and leans against it. "Dinner? Who's Mom?"

"Jared's." She sighs and jiggles both presents at Angela. "Which one?"

"You're meeting Jared's parents?" Brennan nods. "Jared is Booth's brother….you are meeting Booth's parents?" She shakes her head as she tries to process this. "Sweetie you can't go."

"Why not?" The presents hang limply at her side as her face falls into a confused frown.

Angela walks over to her friend and puts her hand on her shoulder. "Sweetie, you've known Jared five minutes, you've known Booth so much longer, you can't meet his parents unless he agrees to it… It's like, you're invading his personal privacy…. It's just not right."

A male voice from the doorway causes them both to jump. "What's not right?" Jared leans against the door jamb and as Angela's eyes scan over him she is almost taken aback by the family resemblance. Brennan presses the fruit basket into Angela's hands before smiling and shaking her head. She walks over to Jared and hands him the wine.

"It's nothing…. This is my friend Angela." Angela waves and Jared smiles politely. "Ready to go?"

He nods his assent and Angela plops the basket back onto Brennan's desk. "Oh, Jared…. Does Booth know that Bren is coming to dinner with your parents?"

He looks puzzled and shakes his head. "I haven't spoken to him about it. Unless my mom said something… why?"

"No reason… happy holidays… you kids enjoy what I am sure is about to be an amazingly interesting evening."

Brennan rolls her eyes and takes Jared's arm leading him from the office, once a few feet away Angela hears him remark on how strange her fiend is. Angela watches them disappear out of the lab and makes her way down to the main floor. She knows that her best friend doesn't recognise that the new relationship she finds herself in is doomed to fail. As she nears the bottom of the stairs she is more than surprised to see Booth walk into the mediolegal lab. He smiles and waves in her direction and she crosses her arms ready to engage in another very interesting exchange.

"Hey Ange…seen Bones?"

"Actually, you just missed her…she just left with Jared."

Booth's face falls and her clenches his fist dejectedly "Damn… I really needed to speak to her. Did they say where they were going? Jared's supposed to be at my parent's in about half an hour for Thanksgiving dinner. Dad hates it when he's late."

"I'm sure Bren won't allow him to be late."

Booth looks at his watch and shakes his head. "Listen Ange, I really need to head off or I won't hear the end of it… If Bones comes back to the lab, will you tell her that I said Happy Thanksgiving, and that I have an assignment later tonight.. I just…. Ah you know what, forget it… I'll speak to her later." He starts to head out of the lab and flashes a smile at Angela. "Happy Thanksgiving Ange."

"Let's hope so. Same to you." She watches as Booth turns on his heel and disappears. Shaking her head she is secretly glad to not be in the centre of Tornado Temperance.

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Booth shrugs his jacket off and hangs it on the coat stand near the front door, stamping his feet on the door mat he knocks off the last of the loose snow covering his boots.

"Mom? Dad?"

Mrs Booth comes out of the kitchen and opens her arms to greet her son. "Seeley… you're just in time, dinner's just about ready.. why don't you go and join everyone in the lounge."

Booth steps back from his mother's arms and looks at her in confusion. "Everyone?" No sooner had he spoken, he hears the unmistakeable sound of Temperance Brennan from the lounge. His eyebrow shoots up and his mother pats his arm before heading back to the kitchen, on peering around the door he catches sight of Brennan in an armchair across from his father, for some unknown reason his heart begins to thump rapidly in his chest as he watches a delighted smile pass over her features… Just then a figure resting his hand on her shoulder causes his mood to darken. Jared.

Taking a deep breath Booth pushes into the lounge and smiles warmly at his father who gets up from his chair to greet his son.

"Dad, good to see you."

"Good to see you too son." Booth simply nods at his brother and Temperance before heading into the kitchen. Brennan watches him confused by his sour mood.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Booth had remained quiet throughout most of dinner, and as dessert is being served he wipes his mouth politely on his napkin. Pushing up from his chair he moves over to his mother and places a gentle kiss on her cheek.

"Thanks for dinner Mom."

"You're leaving now? You haven't even had your pie.."

Booth's eyes meet Brennan's over the table for a brief second and he forces a smile for his parents. "Yeah, I have work. I'm real sorry.. I'm sure Jared can manage my side of the washing up."

Jared chuffs quietly. "Always would do anything to get out of the dishes."

Booth smiles at his brother, apart from his overwhelming envy of Jared's relationship with Brennan, he is still his little brother and he still has that brotherly affection for him.

Booth grins at his brother and pats his back heartily.

"I'll see ya."

Booth heads into the hall to grab his coat. Mrs Booth watches Brennan's serious expression and then forces her attention back to the dessert when Brennan excuses herself and follows Booth into the hall. Jared watches with curiosity. He has all but concluded that his brother is in love with his partner, but her feelings are harder to decipher. He doesn't believe she's in love with his brother, but he doesn't know her all that well and he acknowledges this.

Booth shrugs his jacket on and Brennan leans against the wall nervously. He looks up at her expectantly, waiting for whatever it is that she came through to say to him.

"You're mad at me, for coming here. Angela said you would be.. I should have listened."

Booth looks at the floor and shakes his head. "I'm not mad Bones. My parents seem to like you… and my brother.. well. I need to go."

She hangs her head and nods, he pulls the front door open and smiles at the falling snow before turning back to her and lifting her eyes to meet his. His eyes search hers for a moment and she frowns as a familiar stirring begins in the pit of her stomach. After what feels like a few seconds short of eternity he leans forward and places a chaste kiss on her forehead.

"Happy Thanksgiving Bones."

Before she is able to form a coherent thought the front door has closed taking Booth with it into the bitter night. She hugs her arms around her trying to warm the chill that his absence has left.

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