It was Christmas evening and Booth dropped Parker back at Rebecca's after spending the last three and a half days with him doing every Christmas related activity the boy could think of. Now he was stopping at his and Brennan's favorite Chinese restaurant to get their usual then head to her apartment to exchange gifts and watch some Christmas movies like they'd done the last few years. To Booth it was the perfect way to end the holiday. Booth picked up the box of takeout and balanced the other food he brought, the movie of choice and Brennan's gift on top and headed for her apartment. Brennan had the door open before Booth could knock, "Bones, what have I told you about opening the door without checking to see who is on the other side first?"

"I knew it was you, Booth. I saw you walk in…"

"Someone could've walked in from the other side or been waiting in the lobby."

Brennan took the box of food from Booth and headed for the coffee table. "You got too much food, Booth!" Brennan took the things off the top and began opening the cartons.

"Nah, l just got our favorites. We can split up everything and have the leftovers tomorrow. I brought the leftover cookies Parker and I made. We stopped at the bakery yesterday and I got you a pumpkin roll. Plus I brought popcorn and milk duds." Brennan just smiled and handed Booth a plate and a fork. After they ate Booth picked up Brennan's gift and held it. "Bones, I had this made for you, but now I'm not sure it was a good idea. If you don't want it or like it, that's fine. I can get you something else."

"Booth, I'm sure it's fine." Booth shrugged and handed Brennan the box. Brennan carefully tore off the paper and opened the box. "Oh Booth!" Brennan picked up the paw shaped ornament.

"…I don't know why I took the picture, considering in about 30 seconds after I took it I was going to break your heart… You looked so peaceful and happy sitting there with Ripley working on the case…"

Brennan put her hand on top of Booth's, he looked over at her. "Booth, it's perfect… I love it. Thanks. I think about Ripley often. I think about what his life would be like now that he isn't forced to fight. I wish I could have done more for him…"

"You're welcome, Bones. I know me too. I wish you'd been able to adopt him like you wanted. He'd probably be stretched out between us now giving me the stink eye because he was having to share his couch and you with me. You did give him something though, you gave him a few hours of being a dog the way God intended…"

"Yeah…"

"You should get a dog, Bones."

"I'm not home enough, Booth…"

"You had all these plans made when you were going to adopt Ripley."

"That was different…"

"Not by much. Let's go to the shelter one afternoon after the New Year and look…"

"Maybe. Open your present, Booth." Brennan picked up Booth's gift from the end table and handed it to him. Booth quickly tore off the paper and opened the box, he held up the ornament it was of two people skating. If you wound it up they moved.

"It reminded me of that night you had to stay awake all night as a precaution for your concussion and we went skating. That probably wasn't the safest or smartest thing to do, given your injury-"

"It probably wasn't, but it was fun…"

"It was."

"We should go skating while we're off. It will be more fun now that my head isn't pounding and I'm not tired."

"I would like that…very much." Brennan smiled a little.

"Then it's a date, Bones. Thanks for the ornament, I love it."

"You're welcome, Booth."

"Merry Christmas, Bones!"

"Merry Christmas, Booth!"

"I'm going to put the leftovers away, put the dishes in the sink and make popcorn so we can watch a movie."

"Okay." Five minutes later Booth sat the bowl of popcorn on the coffee table next to the cookies and pumpkin roll. He set up the basic TV and DVD player he'd convinced Brennan to buy a few years before. Booth hurried back to the couch and sat down next to Brennan before throwing her large throw blanket over them.

"What's tonight's movie, Booth?"

"A true classic, Bones, 'National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation'"

"I've never seen it."

"You're gonna love it, it's hilarious." Booth hit play and picked up the popcorn. Half way through the movie Booth noticed Brennan was cuddled next to him asleep. He finished watching the movie and carefully got up from the couch and laid Brennan down, she started to stir. "Go back to sleep, Bones. I'm going to divide everything up and go home." Booth waited for Brennan to settle down then he quietly and quickly moved around the kitchen dividing up the takeout, cookies and pumpkin roll. Once everything was done Booth tucked the blanket around Brennan and left her apartment, locking the door behind him.

A/N: See you tomorrow for day 3…