A/N: Okay, so I'm thinking that there's one more chapter. Although, let me warn you, Booth and Brennan are a little OOC in this chapter. On with the fluff...

"Booth," Brennan said as they walked with arms linked toward where Booth had parked his SUV.

"Yes?" Booth glanced over at her when she remained silent. "What is it, Bones?"

"I was just thinking."

"You've been doing a lot of that lately," he said, interrupting her.

"As I was saying, I was just thinking, we've been out to lunch and dinner together every day this week."

"So?"

"So, some people might mistake us for dating."

"Is that such a bad thing?" he asked, as he reached over and covered her hand that rested in the crook of his elbow.

"But we're not dating."

"And I ask again, is that such a bad thing?" He glanced over at his partner, and watched as she worried her bottom lip between her teeth. Booth knew this was a big step for him- for them. He knew that if Brennan could get past what people thought, that he was on the right path. He forced his eyes back forward and waited.

"I guess it's not a bad thing," she answered slowly.

"After all," Booth hurried to fill in. "It's not like the squints or anybody think we're dating. Who cares if some waitress mistakes the situation?"

"Waitress? What waitress?"

"At the restaurant," Booth said. "Isn't that what this is all about?" He glanced over at her, and then said, "You didn't hear her, did you? Right before you got back from the restroom, she asked me where my girlfriend was. I thought you heard."

Brennan shook her head. "What did you tell her?"

"That you had gone to the restroom." Brennan stopped and pulled her arm from Booth.

"You mean you didn't correct her?"

"Why should I?" he asked, turning to face her. "Anyhow, didn't you just agree that it doesn't matter what some stranger thinks?"

"That was before I found out a stranger thought it."

"Bones, you're over reacting." Brennan drew in a breath and let it out as a rugged sigh.

"Maybe you're right," she said.

"I am?" Booth asked, surprised by her words.

"I mean, after all, it was just a waitress, right?"

"That's right," Booth replied, reaching out and taking her hand. He replaced it in the crook of his arm and began to walk again. They walked in silence until they reached the SUV.

"Booth?" Brennan began again, turning to face him.

"Yes?" He watched as she leant back on the passenger door.

A small smile graced her lips as she started to speak. "In the…spirit of the holidays."

"Yes?" he said slowly.

"Can I drive?"

"No," Booth answered, reaching past her for the door handle, but Brennan slapped his hand away.

"But Booth, isn't it you who keep telling me that the Christmas season is all about sharing and giving and such."

"You can't not believe in Christmas one minute and then try to use it against me the next."

"But Booth," she pouted, dropping her head and looking up at his through her lashes.

"You've been taking lessons from Angela, haven't you?" he questioned trying to hide his smile.

"Maybe," she said, reaching up and adjusting the collar of his coat. "Is it working?" Booth studied Brennan's pouting lips and smiled.

"Yeah, maybe it's working." He held up the keys and Brennan's face broke out in a wide smile as she reached out and grabbed the keys. She pushed off the SUV and almost skipped around the front. Booth shook his head and then opened the door and climbed in. Brennan threw a happy smile over at him as she started the engine. Again, he shook his head, and strapped himself in.

The ride back to the Jeffersonian and Brennan's car was wasted with idle small talk, the Christmas music that the SUVs radio tuned to and Booth's quiet humming. "You really like Christmas, don't you?" Brennan said, breaking the silence.

"Yeah," he answered. "It just brings back good memories, and gives me the opportunity to make some with Parker." He glanced over at Brennan. "Sorry."

"Don't worry about it," she answered, pulling the SUV to a stop next to her car in the empty parking lot. "I have a few good memories and Angela is determined to have me make a few more." She cut off the engine and got out.

"It's good to have a friend like her," Booth commented as he followed her example. He walked around the vehicle and joined his partner.

"And you." Booth was startled by her comment.

"Me?"

"Yeah, you try to always give me good memories," she said. "And you worry when you think I'm upset."

"That's what friends do, Bones."

"Believe it or not, Booth, I'm beginning to learn that." They stood for a moment trying to read each other's eyes.

"See you tomorrow," he finally said, then leant forward and brushed his lips across her right cheek.

"Tomorrow, right." Brennan turned toward her car, and opened the door.

"Temperance?" Booth said, causing Brennan to stop her motion.

"Yeah?" she answered, looking over her shoulder.

"Be careful." Brennan nodded, got into her car and Booth watched her drive away.

XxXxX

Brennan sat on her couch in her apartment reading a magazine. A light tap on the door pulled her eyes from the pages. She sat the magazine to the side, stood, and walked barefoot across her apartment. A quick look through the peek hole told her that nobody was there. Slowly, she opened the door and found a package sitting on the hallway floor. Brennan looked to her left, then to her right, and then bent and lifted the package. She closed the door and then turned and walked back to her couch. She sat, package in her lap. A smile touched her lips as she pulled the envelope off and opened it. A single piece of paper was inside, and Brennan pulled it out and read it. Christmas is more than gifts. It's what you feel. Christmas is more than a day. It's an emotion all year. Secret Santa. Brennan read the note twice, before sitting it to the side and carefully opening the box. From within, she pulled a Christmas ornament. It was a skeleton wearing a Santa hat. She smiled when she noticed that it was a complete and correct skeleton. Whoever had sent it, took the time to have it custom made. Another knock pulled her attention from the skeleton. With the ornament in her hand, she crossed the apartment and opened the door. "Booth," she said.

"It's Saturday and you're not at work," Booth said, walking in past her. "I'm impressed."

"I was planning of going in a little later," Brennan said, closing the door. "What are you doing here?"

"I said I would see you today," Booth reminded her.

"I thought you meant at work."

"I see you often enough at work," he said. Brennan raised a slender eyebrow at him, then crossed over and sat down on her couch. "What's that?" he asked, pointing to her hand.

"A gift," she told him, holding up the skeleton.

"From your Secret Santa?"

Brennan nodded. "Yeah."

"And has he gotten you to feel the spirit of Christmas yet?"

"No," she said. "But it's nice of him to try."

"You mean you're not even feeling a little of the holiday love?"

"Well, maybe a little," she finally said.

"So, does that mean you given more thought to that party?"

"Booth, we've been through this."

"I know." Brennan studied him for a long moment and then looked at the ornament in her hands.

Slowly she lifted her head, and met Booth's eyes. "Yes."

"Yes?"

"I'll go." Booth's face spilt into with a smile.

"Really?"

Brennan returned the smile. "Really."