Two chapters today. I'm going to be foreseeably very busy tomorrow so I'm posting day 5's chapter ahead of time.
Season 5
The guests now all gone, Brennan's apartment seems strangely quiet, a stark contrast to a short while ago when it had been filled with guests. Dinner with second cousin Margaret, her Dad and their friends hadn't turned out as badly as she had thought. Her trip to El Salvador had been cancelled but she surprisingly didn't feel regret over it.
"All done!" Booth proudly announced as he closed the dishwasher door.
"Thanks for staying to help clean up."
"Nothin' to it. That was a great meal. Thanks for cooking up a storm."
"Margaret and Dad helped."
The partners shared a moment of silence, smiling at each other before she spoke. "You get Parker tomorrow?"
"Yeah our own little Christmas. You wanna join us?"
"I wouldn't want to intrude."
"Nonsense. It's not intruding. Parker will love to have you join us."
"Then I think I might drop by."
"Great!"
"I know it's getting late but I was hoping I'd give you your gift now. If you don't have to go now?"
"Nah, I can stay. I brought my gift for you too." Booth beamed at her.
Brennan poured out two glasses of wine as the partners moved to the couch. Booth relaxed into the soft cushions.
"Wait here." Brennan instructed. She soon returned with Booth's gift. She sat down on the couch next to him, taking a sip from her wine glass.
"Open it."
Booth placed the glass in hand on the coffee table, then grinned. She watched as he opened the gift with a twinkle in his eye.
"A shirt?"
"I know the one that I removed from you for the case was one of your favorites."
"You mean the one covered in Santa parts?"
"Yes."
Booth's mind chose that moment to bring back the memory of her undressing him slowly and methodically. If he were to be entirely honest, he had fantasized about her undressing him before and that day when it actually happened, reciting the names of saints did little to stop his body from reacting in an embarrassing manner infront of her.
"Booth?"
"Huh? Oh right. I've got this for you." Grinning sheepishly, Booth handed Brennan the small paper bag that he had beside him.
"I know you were aroused when I undressed you."
"I… I'm really sorry Bones, I just…"
"It's nothing to be ashamed of. It's a normal male physiological response. And after the coma dream you told me about where we were married, I would assume we did engage in coitus as a married couple. In your dream that is."
Booth wasn't sure how he should react. Worried he'd push his partner away. "I um…"
"I've seen you naked before."
"I remember." How could he forget her barging in on him in the tub? "Your turn to open your gift." Booth urged, wanting to change the subject before his body betrayed him again.
Brennan offered him a heart-melting smile as she retrieved the gift from the bag.
"A picture frame."
"Yeah." Booth shrugged. "I wanted you to have somethin' you could put a picture in. Put in on your book shelf or by your bed."
"I do have many of those Booth."
"I know. But you don't have one for Christmas."
"Christmas?"
"Yeah. So that you don't have to go running off to some far away country every Christmas. I mean, I may not always be here to remind you of what a wonderful time of year Christmas is, so I figured, you could put a picture in there that reminds you that Christmas isn't all bad. That it doesn't have to be always like the time your parents left you."
"You mean you want me to put your picture in there?"
"Put a picture of whoever you want in there. Us, of you and Angela or Max. As long as it reminds you that you're never alone at Christmas."
Brennan smiled sweetly back at him. "You're intent on changing my mind about Christmas aren't you?"
"Did I succeed?"
"Possibly."