A/N: One more chapter guys:-(

Day 7: Secrets Revealed

The house was already buzzing with activity when Temperance walked out of Booth's bedroom. She wrapped her bathroom carefully around herself and rubbed her eyes as she walked down the hallway. From the kitchen, she could already hear Parker telling his father, for the second time since he had come back, what he had done at his grandparents' house the previous day. Temperance found herself smiling as she listened to the chirpy voice. She never understood how children were able to start jumping up and down the second they were awake. She, herself, didn't even feel ready to start her day until she had had her first coffee, and even sometimes her second one. She guessed it had something to do with a chemical reaction due to coffee. Her body expected coffee in order to wake up and wasn't able to perform the task of waking up without it.

The voice stopped the second Temperance walked in the kitchen.

"Tempe!" Parker cried as he jumped down his chair and ran to the anthropologist.

Before she even knew what was happening, Temperance felt a pair of arms wrap itself around her legs. She instinctively brought her own arms around the small body.

"Hey Parker."

"Tempe, are you coming with us to see Grandma Patty and Grandpa Joseph?" Parker asked as he pulled his head back to look up at his father's friend.

"Yes I am."

"YAY!" Parker cried as he let go of Temperance and turned to his father. "Dad, did you hear that? Tempance is coming with us!"

"I know." Booth replied, chuckling softly. "I heard. Now, come eat breakfast. We have a lot to do before we leave."

Parker nodded before running back to the table. Climbing onto his chair, he grabbed his fork and stuck it in his food.

"I'm eating pancakes." The five-year-old announced proudly.

"I see that."

She turned to her partner.

"Again?"

"Yeah well it's only thing I could get him to eat."

"You do know that it's not good for him to eat too much sugar, especially for breakfast?"

"Yes, I do know, Bones. He's my son. I've been raising him for five years." Booth replied, annoyed.

Temperance was about to reply when she caught sight of Parker leaving the table. She pointed at the young boy.

"Hey Buddy, where are you going?" Booth asked, frowning.

"I'm not hungry anymore." Parker replied.

He was about to walk out of the kitchen when Booth called him back.

"How come you're not hungry anymore?"

"Tempe said pancakes is not good for me. You were fighting."

Booth and Temperance exchanged looks.

"No no, we weren't fighting, Parker." Booth said, walking up to his son and picking him up. "You see, grown-ups, sometimes, see things differently and sometimes they don't agree on something."

Booth set his son back down in his chair.

"Temperance thinks that you have been eating too many pancakes this week. I didn't see it that way. But it doesn't mean that it's bad for you to eat some. You won't get sick if you finsih your breakfast."

Parker squealed as Booth tickled the little boy's stomach.

"Come on, finish up your breakfast and then we'll go pick up Uncle Jared and Micheal at their house."

Parker nodded.

"So I can eat pancakes?" The boy asked in a small voice.

"You can eat your pancakes." Booth replied, ruffling his son's hair.

In an instant, Parker's smile was back on his face.

Booth walked over to his partner who was busy fixing herself some breakfast. He leaned closer to her, his warm breath sending shivers down her spine.

"We have to be careful what we say around Parker from now on." He said in a low voice. "He might take us seriously."

Temperance nodded.

"Why are you picking up your brother and your nephew?"

"Jared was in a car accident a couple of weeks ago. He won't be able to drive for a while."

"What about the mother? Can't she drive?"

"They're divorced. Mike's mother wants nothing to do with him or my brother. It's a very complicated situation and I'd appreciate if you didn't ask any questions on that subject at dinner tonight. My parents are very touchy when it comes to that subject. Both my parents simply loved Karen, Mike's mother. Mom was heartbroken when Karen left. My dad simply shut her out. He pretends she never existed. So Karen is kind of taboo at my parents' house. Mike doesn't even remember her and we prefer keeping it that way."

"Wow!"

"What?" Booth asked as he watched Temperance go from the stove to the counter with a plate of eggs.

"Well it's just that I always pictured your family to be... well... perfect. The way you always talked about it sure made it seem like that."

"No family's perfect, Bones." Booth replied as he stuck two slices of bread in the toast. "My family has its problems and yours did too. There's probably a lot of stuff your parents did that you didn't know about."

"That's true." Temperance replied in a cool voice.

"Hey." Booth said, bringing his finger under her chin and lifting it slightly under she was looking at him. "I want no old grudges ruining Christmas Eve, okay?"

Temperance nodded.

"Good."

Bringing his hand down, he turned to his son who was beaming at him, the edge of his mouth all sticky from the syrup.

"All done?" Booth asked his son.

"All done."

The house seemed so quiet without Parker running all over the place. Booth and Parker had left only twenty minutes ago, leaving Temperance alone in their house. She knew she ought to use this free time to go back home and get some clothes but she couldn't bring herself to leave the house. There was something about this place that made her feel like home. Maybe it was the fact that Booth lived here or maybe it was simply because she knew that, if she ever came back here, there would be someone to welcome her but she liked Booth's small house. Her apartment now seemed cold and empty. She sighed as she realized that she never wanted to go back to her apartment but she knew that, as soon as Christmas was over, she'd have to. She'd have to go back to her loneliness.

She still had twenty minutes before Booth and Parker would be back. She just had one more thing to do. Getting up from the couch where she had been sitting, she walked to Booth's bedroom. In the closet, exactly where she had left it, she found it. His present, the one she had found only days ago. Taking it in her hands, she softly went over the outline of it. She was pretty sure he was going to like it.

"Bones! We're here!"

Temperance quickly stuffed the rest of the paper in the plastic bag in which Booth kept his wrapping paper before shoving it in the closet and closing the door. Booth's present laid on the carpet and Temperance could feel her heart racing in her chest. Where would she put it?

Footsteps were getting nearer and she knew that Booth was looking for her. Temperance quickly glanced around and, opening the first drawer she laid hands on, threw the little package in it. She was just closing it when Booth stuck his head through the door.

"Bones, we're here. Come meet my brother and my nephew."

Temperance nodded.

"What were you doing anyway?" Booth asked as she stepped out in the hallway.

"Nothing." She lied.

Booth eyed her suspiciously but didn't say anything.

She could tell right away that they were brothers. The two men looked exactly alike and if Jared hadn't looked a little older than her partner, Temperance would have sworn these two were twins.

"Jared, this is Temperance, my partner. Temperance, this is Jared, my older brother."

"How do you do?" Jared asked, holding out his hand.

Temperance shook it and smiled politely.

"Good. You?"

"Same."

Booth watched the exchange with mild amusement.

"Temperance, this is my seven-year-old nephew, Micheal."

"Hi." Micheal said, politely.

Temperance nodded.

"Hey Mike, do you want to see what I got for my birthday?" Parker asked, excitedly.

"Sure." The older boy replied as he ran off with his cousin towards his room.

Booth smiled tenderly at the boys before turning to his brother.

"I just have to tidy up the house, wrap Mom's present and then we can leave. I'll stop at a store on the way there for a bottle of wine."

"Works for me." Jared replied as he followed his brother into the kitchen.

Temperance quickly noticed how Jared limped as he walked. Tearing her eyes from Jared's damage leg, she followed the men into the kitchen.

"So how's work going for you?" Jared asked his brother.

"Oh, fine. Cullen wanted me to do this undercover case but I refused. Not after what happened the first time."

Jared nodded, knowingly.

"What happened the first time?" Temperance asked, confused. "You've been undercover before?"

"More than once, Bones. You, of all people, should remember the last time." Booth replied as he winked teasingly at her.

Temperance felt herself blush.

"What?" Jared asked, looking from his brother to Temperance. "What happened?"

Booth chuckled.

"Temperance and I had to pretend to be an engaged couple last year in Vegas."

Booth smiled at his friend before adding:

"It's the only time I got her to wear a sexy black dress and high-heels."

Temperance rolled her eyes.

"I think I'll just go check on the boys." Temperance said before walking out of the kitchen leaving two chuckling men behind her.

Jared waited a few seconds before making a comment.

"She's pretty hot."

"Yeah." Booth replied, evasively.

Jared nodded.

"Okay, touchy subject I see. You two aren't together?"

"She's my partner."

"Partner as in we get together twice a week or partner as in I work with her and that's that?"

Booth rolled his eyes.

"You certainly got her eye roll down to an art."

Booth glared at his brother.

"We work together. Even if I wanted to, I couldn't get involved with her."

"But you want to?"

Booth shrugged.

"It's complicated."

"Why is that?"

Booth leaned against the counter and crossed his arms in front of his chest.

"We argue all the time. She's this science freak who bases her decisions on evidence while I prefer to use my gut feeling. She's not much of a people person. You should have seen her when I first started working with her. She had no social skills whatsoever. She's so much better today. It's unbelievable."

"You know what I'm hearing, Seel?"

"What?"

"I'm hearing is "I can't be with her because we don't get along professionally." But how about personally, Seeley?"

"Oh, it's the same. We're always bickering. It's irritating."

"So what if it works for you? Every couple is different. If there's someone who knows that, it's you."

"We don't even want the same things in life." Booth went on, ignoring his brother's comment. "I want a big family, she doesn't want children. I want to get married, she doesn't believe in marriage. Her idea of Christmas is spending it alone, working at the lab. Her vision of sex is only a release of biological urges. She's so... scientific."

A smile tugged at Jared's lips.

"Who are you trying to convince that she's not right for you, Seeley? Me or you?"

Booth looked over at his brother.

"Sorry about that. It's just that I've been spending so much time with her lately that I'm getting used to having her around. Christmas is tomorrow which means that our time together is almost over. I guess I don't want to see it end."

"Wow! I've never seen you so into a woman since Rebecca."

Booth nodded.

"It's crazy, isn't it?"

Jared shrugged.

"I guess."

"And you? How are things with... what's her name?"

"Laura?"

Booth nodded.

"It's over."

"Oh, sorry man. I didn't know."

Jared shrugged once again.

"It was better like that. Mike didn't like her and I don't want to be with someone with whom my son didn't get along."

Booth sighed.

"Our sons, they're the love of our lives aren't they?"

Jared nodded.

The room fell silent. Temperance, outside the kitchen, pushed herself from the wall she had been leaning against and walked numbly to Booth's room.

"Parker! Micheal! Let's go!" Booth cried from the front door.

"Coming Dad!" Parked replied from his room.

Seconds later, two blond heads were appearing from the dark hallway, bags of presents in their hands.

"Are you two ready?" Jared asked.

"Yes." The two boys replied, together.

"It's not summer yet, Buddy. Boots on, please." Jared told his son.

"Oops." Mike replied as he sat down on the floor and grabbed his boots.

Temperance stared absently at the boys. Ever since the conversation she had heard that morning between Booth and his brother, her heart hadn't stopped racing. Booth wanted to be with her. He didn't want Christmas to come because he wanted to spend more time with her. He liked her, something she never thought would be possible the same reasons Booth had given his brother. They were just too different.

It simply felt strange. Everything he said, everything he did, she now saw in a different light. The play, the trip to New York, the conversation they had had about family, the small gestures like opening the door for her and hugging her- they had had a meaning. The look he often got in his eyes when he looked at her spoke volumes and it was only after hearing his conversation with his brother that Temperance was now seeing it. She had been blind.

She had spent the last couple of hours thinking about it. The conversation echoed in her mind and she wasn't able to shut out Booth's voice no matter how hard she tried. A small voice at the back of her mind told her that she had longed for a while now for him to say something like that but another part of her was pushing her to run away. She was felt conflicted, didn't know what to do, which voice to listen to. Did she even like Booth as more than just a friend? Did she want to start a relationship with him? Things could get complicated if they got involved romantically. There would be work, colleagues, friends... Cam. Things could get weird.

Coats and boots had been put on. Temperance felt a rush of cool air blow across her face, startling her out of her reverie. It was time to go. She let the boys go out first, followed by Jared. She was about to step outside when she felt a strong hand holding her back.

"Are you okay?"

Temperance spun around, her heart racing madly in her chest.

"Yeah. Why?"

"You've been acting weird all day. I didn't do anything wrong, did? Because if I did, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to."

Their eyes locked and Temperance could feel her breath being knocked out of her. She wanted to say something but the words were stuck in her throat. Never in her entire life had she felt that way towards another person. It was almost frightening the effect Booth had on her.

She forced a smile before squeezing his arm gently.

"You did nothing wrong, Booth." She said.

Rubbing his arm, she turned around and stepped outside.

Temperance was pretty sure she had never seen a house with so many Christmas lights before. White, blue, red, green, yellow, purple, orange, pink illuminated the entire front yard and porch. From the window, Temperance could see a sparkling Christmas tree with its twinkling star at the top. In awe, she stepped out of the SUV and slammed the door behind.

The front door opened to reveal a tall, gray-haired woman. Two boys rushed passed Temperance and ran to the greet their grandmother. Temperance was beginning to feel nervous and forced herself not to shift into flight mode. She was doing this for Booth, Booth who liked her. Even after a few hours, the words still felt strange. Booth liked her. A smile tugged at her lips. Would she ever get used to the thought of Booth having feelings for her?

The woman waved at her and Temperance smiled. She turned to Booth who standing beside her, beaming.

"Come on. My mom can't wait to meet you."

Nodding, she followed Booth to the door, Jared behind them.

As they made their way to the door, Temperance felt the urge to take his hand in hers. She groaned inwardly. It was already starting. She was already seeking physical contact with him, whether it was simply holding his hand or being wrapped in his arms. She knew she'd get that feeling again tonight which made her groan even more. She had her answer. She liked him too.

Patricia Booth greeted them on the porch.

"Mom, this is Temperance. Temperance, this is my mom, Patricia. But you can call her Patty."

"Hi." Temperance said, somewhat shyly.

"Hey Sweetie." Patty said as she pulled her son's friend in her arms.

Temperance gently hugged the woman back.

"I'm so happy to meet you. Seeley called last night, telling me he was bringing a special someone." Patty said as they stepped back.

She winked at her son.

"I didn't say that, Mom." Booth immediately rectified, rubbing the back of his head nervously. "I said I was bringing a friend for dinner. It's not the same thing."

Temperance looked up to find Booth looking sheepishly at her. At that moment, she simply wanted to wrap her arms around him. She groaned inwardly once again. It was going to be a long night.

They stepped into the warm and welcoming house. Patty hung their coats in the closet and Temperance followed Booth into the living room where a fire was slowly burning in the fireplace. Three people were already seated.

"Temperance, this is my father Joseph."

Joseph nodded politely. Temperance smiled politely back.

"And this is my brother-in-law Mark and my sister Andrea." Booth continued.

Andrea stood up.

"And this," Booth added, grabbing a small bundle of what looked to Temperance like blankets, "is my niece Hannah-Lee."

Temperance stared down at the little girl in her partner's arms. The child slowly opened her eyes and yawned. She looked from her uncle to Temperance before closing her eyes again.

"Would you like to hold her?" Andrea asked.

Temperance looked up at Booth's sister and shook her head.

"No. I couldn't. I mean..."

"Come on, Bones." Booth said, softly. "You won't drop her."

Looking from Andrea to Booth, she gave up arguing. Booth carefully placed the tiny baby in her arms.

Little Hannah-Lee felt heavy in her arms. As weird as it felt to hold something so small in her arms, Temperance quickly realized how easy it really was. few seconds, she finally relaxed and the baby didn't feel as heavy anymore. Temperance smiled. Maybe she could get used to this after all. Looking down one more time at the little girl in her arms, she then handed her back to her mother.

"Dinner will be ready in five minutes." Patty said from behind them.

"Thanks, Mom. Parker, go wash up please." Booth told his son.

Parker nodded before disappearing down the hall with his cousin.

It was a little past nine when Booth was finally left the kitchen to find his partner sitting outside on the stairs of the porch, staring out in front of her. He quietly walked up to her, sat down beside her and stared in the same direction. After a few seconds of silence, he spoke.

"What are we looking at?"

Temperance slowly turned to him.

"Nothing. I was thinking."

"About what?"

"Nothing in particular."

Temperance stared back at the house across the street.

"My family really likes you, especially my mother."

Temperance smiled but said nothing.

"And you're lucky. You got a nicer present than I did."

Temperance uncurled her fist to reveal the golden chain with a dolphin Booth's parents had given her. She didn't even want to think of how much it had cost and Temperance was surprised that Booth's parents would spend so much money on a person they had never met before.

"It's really nice and there's a dolphin attached to it."

"I wonder who told them about the dolphin." Temperance said as she glanced briefly at her partner. "More importantly, I wonder where they got this present on Christmas Day."

"I have nothing to do with it." Booth replied, holding out his hands defensively.

Temperance smiled, knowing fully well Booth had something to do with it. Booth chuckled.

"I'm happy you came with me tonight. It wouldn't have been the same if you wouldn't have."

Temperance turned to her friend to find the same look in his eyes he had had for the past week. This time, she didn't have to wonder. She knew what it meant. The physical urge to be closer to him attacked her once again. She tilted her head slightly to the side and slowly leaned forward. Taking the hint, Booth closed the distance between them.

His lips brushed lightly against hers once and he was about to pull away when Temperance claimed him back. Slowly and tenderly, they kissed under the winter sky. Booth slowly brought his hand to her cheek and stroke it with his thumb. He tucked a strand of hair behind her ear before pulling away.

Temperance slowly opened her eyes to find her friend staring at her. The Christmas lights sparkled in his brown eyes. She was about to say something when the front door opened.

"Come on you guys. It's Family Choir time." Andrea said excitedly before closing the door again, unaware of what had just occurred seconds ago.

Booth chuckled before standing up.

"It's going to be so off key but it's just something you have to see." Booth said as he held out his hand.

Temperance grabbed it and got up.

Who's going Awwww right now?