Thank you everyone for your kind reviews. topaz270, RobinAngelena, GalaxieGurl, Lauwy (you might just get to know it yet), mphs95, doge, dms517, Vmf447 (I'm not sure about that, the chapters got harder to write as I went further on), 554Laura, JAG'ed Bones in the Casckett, mendenbar (wise choices), Dukefan1982, MoreBonesPlz, FaithinBones, aadams00 (that's very true), LoveShipper and guests.

I was trying to decide which time frame for this instalment, and I thought I really liked "Judas on a Pole", so I went with that.

Season 2

Brennan was packing her bags and preparing for her stint in Buenos Aires. Although it was cold in DC at this time of year, she knew she would be traveling to a warmer location. It was a nice thought to be able to get out of the cold. She hated the cold that was associated with winter. She sat down on the edge of her bed. The cold reminded her of that faithful Christmas eve, when Russ had tried to re-create that special time of year. She had thought her parents were back. She had felt cheated, betrayed even.

Her thoughts travelled back to recent events. The feelings of betrayal resurfaced. Her father was still alive. After her brief encounters with him, he had ran off again. This time with Russ. Apparently her brother was good enough for their father but she wasn't. Angry that she was once again that abandoned teenager on Christmas morning, she fought against the thoughts of despair.

Her doorbell chimed, snapping her out of her dark thoughts. Brennan hurriedly swiped an errant tear that had escaped her eye away from her cheek. The doorbell chimed again and she slowly made her way to the door.

"Booth! What are you doing here? Isn't it your day with Parker?"

"Half a day. I just dropped him off at Rebecca's."

Brennan nodded, stepping back to allow Booth in.

"She should give you more than just half a day. You know you can get a lawyer, go to court."

"That's just too messy. I don't wanna put Parker through all that."

"That is very wise of you."

Booth chuckled. "I don't hear people tell that to me very often."

"Did we have a case? I thought I told you I'm on my way to Argentina to assist Dr Herrera on identifying the remains of the Desaparecidos. If you need help from the Jeffersonian, Zack is more than capable in my absence."

"No we don't have a case and you have no idea how grateful I am for that."

"So you get to spend time with Parker?"

"Nope. Cause I don't really wanna work with Zack." Booth plopped himself down on Brennan's couch. She made her way to the kitchen, retrieving a bottle of beer for Booth and another for herself. Handing the cold beverage to Booth she sat down next to him.

"I have a plane to catch."

"Right, to Buenos Aires, heard you the first time."

"What do you want Booth?"

"I just thought I'd drop by, see how you were doin'. Especially since, you know the stuff with your Dad and Russ."

"I'm fine."

"Are you really?"

"What Max and Russ choose to do with their lives has no bearing on mine."

Brennan hated that Booth seemed to read people, especially her, so well. She knew it was a skill that was needed in his job as an FBI Agent but it was almost uncanny the way he could almost read her thoughts.

"It's been a pretty tough year for you. The Gravedigger, finding out about your Dad."

"I'm really fine Booth."

"If you say so." Booth took a sip from his beer. bottle. "I've got you something."

"A gift?"

"Yeah. And before you say anything about not believing in Christmas and all that hooey, it's just what I do okay?"

"I wasn't going to say that." Brennan half-smiled. She got up from her couch. "I'll be right back."

She returned shortly with a gift wrapped box, complete with a bow and ribbon. She handed it to Booth. "I wasn't expecting you today so I had intended to give it to you after I got back but since you're here…"

Booth offered her his charm smile that had grew on her. "Thanks."

He reached in his back pocket, pulling out a small box. "Don't worry it's not a ring. I'm not gonna propose to you or anything." He chuckled.

"I don't believe in marriage." Brennan replied, suddenly growing serious.

"It was a joke Bones." Booth mentally catalogued that it was another belief that opposed his. "Open it."

Brennan opened the small box. "It's a pair of earrings."

"Yeah, you said you liked dolphins. Cause of your Mom." Booth shrugged. "I figured with your Dad and all… look, it doesn't matter if you have them as family. Doesn't matter if they left you. Like I said, there's more than one kind of family. The squints all care about you, and they're your family. Me too, care about you I mean."

The words just slipped out, the meaning behind his words veiled. He wasn't sure why they slipped out. Him and Brennan would never work. All he knew was that he hated that she was upset, especially about family. Christmas was all about family, and he wanted her to know that she wasn't alone.

"You're not alone Bones. Remember that."

Noting the glistening of tears in her eyes, he quickly apologized. "Hey I'm sorry."

Brennan shook her head, blinking back the tears. She was touched but his gesture. "No. There's no need to apologize. Thank you. This is a wonderful gift."

"I'm glad you think so." He picked up the box that was her gift to him.

"So you're prepared this year huh?"

Brennan smiled almost shyly. "Was I wrong to anticipate that you would have a gift for me this year?"

Booth grinned. "Nope. You were right, as always. It can be like our own tradition, like a partners thing."

"A partners thing." Brennan smiled, echoing Booth's words.

Booth stood up, downing his beer. "I'll go. Leave you to your packing."

"I was just done packing. I'll see you in two weeks. Buenos Aires is a beautiful city. I think you would enjoy visiting it."

"I don't think I have a good enough reason to go there Bones."

"Maybe the next time I go, you could come with me. You'd love it there. The alcohol is good there too."

"Yeah, sounds like a plan. Merry Christmas Bones."

"Merry Christmas Booth."

After Booth left, Brennan sat back down on her couch. For an inexplicable reason her father's words suddenly ran through her head. "If you find somebody that you can trust, you hang on to him."

I know the timeline about the Buenos Aires bit doesn't really fit the Bones timeline since Brennan mentions it in Season 9 in The Nazi on the Honeymoon but let's just chose to ignore that little fact.