"I can't believe you'd do that Max," Booth ranted as he drove away from the group home. He was seething, a muscle in his jaw twitching as he tried to gain control of his anger. "I can't believe you'd promise that little girl a family for Christmas. What the hell were you thinking?"

"I was thinking that she deserves a family, and when I make a promise, I follow through."

"Yeah, and how exactly were you planning on granting that particular wish?"

"That really isn't any of your business Agent Booth. I don't care if I have to adopt her myself. She will get that wish granted." Booth glanced over at Max and took in the set of his jaw. The man was as stubborn as his daughter.

"You're going to try and talk Bones into adopting Norah, aren't you?" Max looked once at Booth and then turned his attention back out the window of the SUV.

"The thought did cross my mind."

"No. You are not going to do this to her. She doesn't like being manipulated, and I refuse to let you do that to her again."

"I haven't manipulated her."

"Yes Max, you have, and I refuse to let you do it again, you got that?"

"Booth, I'm not asking for your help with this, but please, don't tell Temperance. I'll talk to her in my own time and way. I don't want her biased because your opinion matters to her." There was a long pause as Booth thought about what Max was asking. The last few times he'd withheld any information from his partner, it hadn't gone well. The biggest error was not telling her himself that he was still alive after being shot by Pam Noonan. She'd punched him for that one, but the other time to him was infinitely worse. He didn't tell her that he'd traded his credit on a huge case for his brother's DUI charge, and she'd thought him a loser. His gut tightened at the thought of withholding anything else from her.

"I can't guarantee that I won't talk with her about it if she asks me, but I won't bring up the subject. That's the best I can do." Max glanced over at Booth once again and smirked at the agent.

That's exactly why you aren't with her, isn't it? You don't want to talk about how you feel about her, so unless she brings it up, you're not planning to tell her that you want her as more than a partner."

"Stay out of this Max." Booth's jaw clenched again. What the hell did Max know about his feelings for his partner? He didn't know anything.

"You know, I seem to recall that Kris Kringle got everyone what they wanted for Christmas in 'Miracle on 34th Street'. I think it's time that you start believing in the magic of the season Booth."

"Hey, I'm full of the Christmas Spirit. You don't get more Christmassy than me."

"Uh-huh, sure. Look Booth, I know what you want for Christmas, so if you don't have it by Christmas day then I will never play Santa Claus again."

"As if you've played Santa before." Max laughed and leaned back in the seat.

"You should ask Temperance about that. Just remember what I've said Booth. You don't say anything to my daughter and I'll grant your Christmas wish."

XxXxX

"Evening honey," Max called from the kitchen of Brennan's apartment when she walked through the door that evening.

"Dad, what are you doing here?" She shrugged out of her winter coat and hung it on a peg by the door.

"I know you usually work late, so I thought I'd make you some dinner. We haven't had much time to visit lately and I thought that we could spend the evening together." He carried two plates of food to the table and set them down. Brennan looked over the food, surprised that her father stuck to a vegetarian menu.

"I suppose that would be okay. Were you able to find the group home today?"

"Yes, we were. The woman who runs the home, Sylvia was thrilled at the thought of someone helping with Christmas. She gave me a list with the names of all the kids there and what they want from Santa." His lips quirked upwards at that. "Ha, I'll bet this is the first time they'll actually get their presents from Santa."

"I suppose it is," Temperance said as she sat down to eat. They were both quiet, just enjoying the meal for a while before Max looked hesitantly at his daughter.

"You know, while I was at the home, I really felt for those kids. Honestly baby, if I knew that you were going to end up in the system… I'm sorry you had to go through that." Brennan didn't respond as she began to pick at her food. She and her father had avoided the subject, hoping that maybe the remaining ill feelings would somehow disappear.

"Mom…in the video mom made for me she said that you wanted us to go with you when you ran. Was she just saying that dad? Did she really talk you out of keeping us together?"

"That was the hardest decision I've ever made. I just couldn't say no to your mother, and I agreed that you and Russ would be safer away from us. Once she… after I buried her, I went to look for you, see if you were safe. When I saw that you were in a home, I was horrified. I truly thought that Russ would be with you. So I made arrangements for you to get out of the system."

"Dad, please tell me that you didn't have some acquaintance pose as family to get me out of the system."

"No. I sucked up my pride and went to your mother's father. He agreed to take you in, and perhaps I should have gone to him sooner. You never would have ended up in foster care that way."

"Well, it's too late for that," she said and took her plate to the kitchen. She didn't want to talk about this anymore. Max watched her for a moment and pushed ahead, needing to get out what he was going to say.

"I think in a way I'm trying to make up for that error by helping these kids. You should see them honey, especially one little girl. She's just like you were at her age." He smiled, thinking about the way Norah was so curious about everything.

"Was she the little girl at the Jeffersonian?"

"Yes. She's a sweet little thing, wants a family for Christmas, isn't that cute?"

"Please tell me you didn't promise her anything?"

"Why would I do that?"

"Because it's what you do dad. You and Booth are so much alike when it comes to fixing the world's problems. Both of you think that you have to make everything right."

"You know, studies have shown that females often look for men that share traits with their fathers."

"Yes, but they're also biologically programmed to find people with much different genetic makeup to be attractive. It's nature's way of keeping a healthy population."

"So what if you find both? What if the person who is a genetically perfect match for you also has the qualities that you're looking for in a mate? Shouldn't you take a chance with them?"

"Gah, dad stop it. Don't play matchmaker with me, it won't work. Believe me, Angela's tried."

"I'm only trying to look out for your best interests honey. I know you can take care of yourself, but don't you want someone to watch over you?"

"No. I'm satisfied with the life that I have. I don't need a relationship to validate me as a person."

"Okay, I get it. You want to spend your life by yourself. Leave the relationship and kids for someone else because you're okay on your own. It doesn't matter if you're happy or not, because you can take care of yourself."

"That's not what I'm saying, and I resent the implication that I'd rather be alone than in a relationship."

"That certainly is not what I was implying. I think you deserve a rich and full life surrounded by people who love you. You just seem to have blinders on when it comes to seeing that you are loved, deeply."

"Dad, just stop it, okay? You of all people have no right to comment on my life. You haven't been back in my life long enough for that." Max nodded, but looked hurt at her words.

"Fine, I'll stay out of your business from now on. Live life the way you want to, it is yours after all." He moved to the front door and shrugged on his jacket. Well, this evening didn't go the way he'd intended, he thought as he opened the door to the apartment. "I'll see you later Temperance." With that, he left before she could say another word. Brennan stood staring at her door, angry at him for implying that she was making mistakes in her life and angry at herself for letting him get to her that way.

Why was it that everyone assumed that she could only be validated by having a man in her life and two point five children? She didn't want to have any children and as Booth so often pointed out, she didn't have a good record when it came to choosing a life partner. The closest she came to a meaningful relationship was with Sully, but in the end, he wouldn't stay around. Obviously the call of the ocean was much more appealing to him than staying with her. Booth never would have left. If he had to choose staying or leaving, she knew he wouldn't leave.

That thought left her feeling somewhat confused. Why was she so sure that he wouldn't leave her? They were only friends and partners. It wasn't as though they had a more serious relationship going on. She cocked her head to the side as she thought about her partner. He was one of the most caring people she knew and so family oriented. She'd been around him and Parker on numerous occasions…

Brennan's face fell. What if she wasn't seen as a desirable mate because of her thoughts on marriage and children? Would those beliefs be enough to off put men that had desirable traits? She hurried over to her door and pulled on her jacket. This was something she needed to discuss, and knew just the person to talk with about the issue.

XxXxX

"Bones, I wasn't expecting to see you here. What's up," Booth asked as he stepped aside and let Brennan into his apartment.

"Am I off-putting to men?"

"What?"

"Are my views on relationships enough to make men with good qualities stay away from me?" Booth stared at her, not sure where she was going with this conversation.

"What?"

"I like children. I do, but I just don't want to bring a child into this world knowing what kind of evil is out there. Is that such a point of contention that decent men wouldn't be interested in me?"

"Actually I think there are a lot of men that would be relieved that you don't want to have children. You aren't going in to a relationship with the expectation of that person being the one and the father of your children."

"But not you." It wasn't a question. Booth looked at her, confused.

"What do I have to do with anything?"

"You're a traditionalist who wants to get married and have a large family. I don't want those things. See, that's why I told my father to stay out of my love life. It's not like you have feelings beyond the platonic for me. And if you did then I'm sure my very adamant statements regarding your traditional values are off-putting." Booth opened his mouth to speak but couldn't think of how he wanted to phrase what he needed to say. Brennan hung her head at his silence and turned for his door. It was quite obvious that she was right.