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The following takes place shortly after "The Blackout in the Blizzard".

Season 6

Through hell and high water. Nothing was going to prevent him from doing what he intended to do that day. The snow continued to fall heavily and many road closures had resulted. But it was the Christmas season and he wasn't going to miss the tradition he now had with Brennan. Especially not after missing it the year before when he had been in Afghanistan. Especially not after they had talked that night in his apartment. Being together was now a possibility, more than a possibility. It actually looked like an eventuality and it was something he was very eagerly anticipating.

It had been two weeks after that blizzard that had trapped them in the elevator and he had worked hard at no longer being angry. He wanted to be with her. He would do anything in his power to make it up to her and he worked hard to make sure he was in the right head space for a new relationship with her. But he had resolved to wait this time. He had learnt his lesson, he wasn't going to push her if she wasn't ready.

She had not mentioned that she would be leaving the country this time round and he hoped he had successfully changed her mind about escaping Christmas. If she wasn't going anywhere, then she had to be alone. Or hopefully with Max. Whatever it was, he wanted very much to see her.

So that cold, snowy afternoon, the day after Christmas, after he had dropped Parker off at Rebecca's he drove along the icy roads to Brennan's apartment. Brushing the snow off his thick overcoat as he stepped out of the elevator, he made his way towards Brennan's apartment. He had showed up unannounced on countless other occasions but this time, for an inexplicable reason he felt anxious.

As he approached, he saw that Brennan's apartment door was starting to open. A man with who looked a little older than Booth stepped out. For a moment, Booth wondered if he had gotten off at the wrong floor. He heard her unmistakable laughter, followed by Brennan who appeared behind the man.

Booth blinked. A surge of jealousy erupted, gnawing at his insides. Did the man spend the night there and was now leaving? He hadn't talked to Brennan since two days ago and she hadn't mentioned how she was intending to spend the Christmas holiday. Surely she hadn't just picked up some random guy at a bar. Booth was suddenly overcome by a sudden urge not to be seen by her. He took a step backwards. Too late, she looked up and saw him.

She looked just as surprised to see him. Booth offered her an awkward smile, before she smiled back.

"Booth! I wasn't expecting you."

"Yeah, I didn't mean to interrupt. I was gonna go…"

Brennan shook her head. "No you're not interrupting. Kirk was just leaving."

"Kirk, right."

Booth closed the steps between them, shoving his hands into his pants pocket. His fist closed round the small gift he had for her there. He suddenly felt stupid for being there.

"Kirk, this is my partner. FBI Special Agent Seeley Booth."

The man stuck out his hand. "Agent Booth. So you're Agent Andy huh? Temperance has told me so much about you."

"She has?" He couldn't be some random guy she had picked up if she had spent the night talking about him, could he?

"Kirk is a fellow anthropologist. We met some years ago at a conference in Chicago."

"Right."

"He was visiting some relatives in town and asked to catch up."

"Yeah, I really shouldn't be interrupting this get together."

"I was just leaving. I'm meeting my wife for a late lunch."

"Wife?" Booth breathed a sigh of relief.

"Yeah she hates to be kept waiting." Kirk turned to Brennan. "Well, it was nice catching up. Thanks for inviting me over. You'll keep in touch?"

"I will."

Kirk nodded. "Nice meeting you Agent Booth."

Brennan waited for Kirk to enter the elevator before returning her attention to Booth. "Do we have a case?"

"What? Oh, no. I… I just thought, I'd come by…"

"Did Rebecca not let you to see Parker today?"

"She did. Parker spent the night at my place, I just sent him back home to her, then I came here."

"I see. You wanted to see me for something?"

"Actually, not really. I mean it is Christmas and I kinda thought I wanted to keep up our tradition, you know… exchanging gifts. I know we didn't get to do it last year but…"

"Oh of course! I have your gift in my apartment. I thought we would have made arrangements to meet."

"Yeah I shouldn't have just turned up like that." Booth hated that a strange awkwardness had seemed to come over their normally easy banter ever since they had burned those pieces of paper in his apartment a week ago.

"Well since you're already here… come on in." Brennan stepped back allowing Booth into her warm apartment.

As he stepped inside, he blew out a breath.

"Is something wrong?" Brennan asked.

Booth crooked a wiry grin. She never failed to amaze him. How did she read him so well?

"Listen Bones, I'm sorry."

"I already told you, there's no need to apologize for turning up unannounced. You do it all the time anyway."

"No, it's… it's just that when I saw Kirk leaving your apartment… I kinda assumed that you and him… and I got jealous. I just feel stupid. You wouldn't just hook up with some random guy you just met…"

"Hook up… ohhh. You made the assumption that Kirk had spent the night here with me and we had engaged in coitus."

"Um, yeah. Sorry. I have no right to - "

"Was I wrong to assume that the other night in your apartment, we had made a promise to each other."

"We did. I think."

"Did you think I'd take it lightly?"

The hurt look on her face made him instantly guilty.

"No, no. I just… you know what? You're right. Truth is… you did tell me before that you thought that relationships were temporary, that monogamy is unnatural… Listen Bones I'm sorry. It's not like we're together… I just wanted to come by and see you and give you your gift. I didn't mean to upset you."

"While you're not wrong in remembering that I did make my stand on relationships to you very clear before, I also remember you correcting me when I mentioned it. Hence, I would assume that if we were to be together, you would change my mind about my view on relationships and how they are permanent as opposed to temporary."

"You bet I would. Just like I changed your mind about Christmas?"

"I didn't go away this year." Brennan offered him a shy smile.

"Yeah, why didn't you? Max isn't here."

"Max is spending Christmas with Russ and his family. He will spend the New Year with me. The reason why I didn't plan a trip this year was because I anticipated Christmas with you. Then Kirk called and I thought you might be busy with Parker, so I assumed we would meet up at a later date."

"Hey you kiddin' me Bones? I'd always make time for you over Christmas." Booth's heart felt as if it would burst with joy.

"I'm really sorry Bones."

"No, I have given you reason for doubt in the past. But for future reference, you should avoid doing so again."

"I'll try Bones. But you know you're kinda hot and guys are gonna notice. I can't help being jealous."

"So you think I'm hot?"

"I always have."

Brennan raised her eyebrows, surprised.

"I couldn't tell you before…"

"But the prospect of a future relationship together gives you the courage to tell me now."

"Yeah." Booth grinned cheekily.

"Well then if you must know, I find you rather hot yourself."

"Really?"

"Yes, I find that I'm especially drawn to how your mandible is shaped and the width of your acromia."

Booth offered her his charm smile. Jaw and shoulders, he had learnt those sciency terms from her.

"Would you like something to eat?" Brennan quickly changed the subject before their conversation could continue on a path they both were not quite ready for. "I was about to make myself a meal. Since you're here, would you like some mac n' cheese?"

"Sure. I'll help." Booth said as he shrugged off his coat. The awkwardness had vanished and he was spending the day after Christmas with his partner. Booth knew their relationship could only get better from here on.