Making up for my absence over the past couple of days.... Here is another chapter!

R&R please!


The entirety of the Booth family gathered in the living room around the tree plus one. All of the kids, and that included anyone under the age of forty was sitting on the floor excitedly passing out and organizing the gifts in piles for each person. Brennan felt a little left out so to make herself feel more comfortable she sat on the floor close to Booth so that she could at least take part in watching him open his presents.

"Seeley," Booth's mother called, concentrating on trying to turn on the digital camera, "I have all of Parker's presents packed up for you to take home to him." She said, smiling widely when the camera beeped and turned on.

Booth laughed at his mother, "Thanks mom." He said accepting a present from Sarah on the other side of the tree.

Although she hadn't been formally introduced to everyone in the house, she enjoyed watching the four littlest children wonder around the tree excitedly. She assumed that they were the children of one of Seeley's cousins. The youngest of the children was a brown haired brown eyed boy who spoke very little. He seemed to be about two years old and he was studying the commotion around the tree carefully. When all of the presents had been cleared out and organized, he cautiously approached the tree and gathered his presents into a small pile and sat next to Temperance.

She smiled at the adorable little boy and ventured to guess that Booth had looked very much like this little boy at his age. He looked up at her and smiled mischievously and she laughed lightly at him. Booth leaned in, noticing her interaction with the young boy, "Bones, this is Robby." He said reaching around her back and ruffling the young boy's hair. Robby giggled, revealing his crooked and still not fully present set of teeth, "He's shy. He normally doesn't interact with people he doesn't know. Ain't that right Robby?" he said a little louder.

Robby blushed slightly, "Yo siwwy, Unka See." The boy mumbled.

Brennan smiled widely and looked back at Booth who was laughing as well, "He's adorable." She whispered to him. Their eyes met for a moment until Brennan felt a persistent poking in her arm. She turned to find Robby standing next to her, poking her in the arm with one of his wrapped presents. Brennan hesitantly took it out of his hand and looked at the boy questioningly.

"Pesent." He said excitedly.

Brennan gasped, "Are you giving me one of your presents, Robby?" she asked.

The boy nodded his head vigorously, "Happy!" He said sitting back down next to her and starting on his own presents. Brennan sat stunned and Booth smiled.

"Hey Robby!" Booth whispered and motioned for the little boy to come closer. Robby crawled over to his uncle and Booth whispered something in his ear. Robby looked up and Brennan who was cradling the boy's present in her arms. He stood up and grabbed the present back from her and put it back in his pile and then crawled under the tree.

Brennan looked at Booth curiously and a moment later, the boy reemerged with a flat square box in his hand. He walked over to Brennan and placed it in her lap and plunked down next to her and began opening his presents again. Brennan stared at the boy who was not contentedly tearing open his presents and showing them to his mother who had an excited smile on her face watching her little boy's antics.

Booth nudged her, "You gonna open that or admire my wrapping for the whole night?"

Brennan laughed and looked down at the present in her hands. It was meticulously wrapped in plain blue paper and Brennan sighed and began to carefully unwrap the box. She stopped when she saw that it was a jewelry box and looked up at Booth wide eyed and noticed that he had yet to open any of the presents in front of him because it seemed he was anxious to see her reaction.

She cleared her throat and opened the box. Gasping, she turned to Booth and smacked him on the shoulder, "SEELEY BOOTH!" she yelled, attracting attention around the room. Paper ripping had stopped and all eyes were focused on the pair in the corner who were blatantly oblivious to the reaction their commotion had caused, "Where did you get the money for this?"

Booth laughed, "Don't worry about it, Bones. I wanted to do something nice for you." He defended himself.

Tears started to come to her eyes and she hit him again, "You can't afford this, you silly stupid man!" she yelled again. Her voice was hitching and Booth started to laugh, knowing that she would only make a scene like this if she really liked it.

"Temperance, darling." Booth's mother said taking a step closer, "What did he get you?" she asked. Brennan and Booth turned to her, now noticing the attention they'd drawn. It seemed everyone was leaning in waiting to see what it was.

Temperance huffed and turned the box to show them all. It was a silver twin dolphin opal and diamond necklace and matching bracelet. The opal was captured between the bodies of the dolphins and the diamond between their tales, and it was quite obvious that Booth couldn't afford it on his salary.

Booth's mother inched closer, "It's beautiful, Seeley!" she said, giving her son a knowing look.

He lowered his head and blushed slightly, "Thanks mom."

Jared laughed, "Who picked it out for you, bro? I know your taste isn't that good."

Booth glared at his brother, "No one helped me, stupid face." He shot back.

Brennan swatted his arm again, "I can't accept this Booth. Not only can you not afford this, but my present is…" she started, trying to find the appropriate words.

Booth waved his hand in the air, "I got a Christmas bonus at work, so it's already paid for." He smiled at her.

Robby's mom put her hand on Temperance's shoulder, "There is no arguing with a Booth man at Christmas. Just accept it." She whispered to her, smiling.

Temperance placed the box on the floor and pulled Seeley in for a hug, "Thank you so much. I love it Booth." She said, then kissing him on the cheek. Everyone else went back to ripping open the wrapping paper and taking pictures with their new presents. Booth and Brennan hugged for a few minutes before separating. Brennan wiped her eyes on her sleeve before concentrating on the rest of the family and the way they celebrated their Christmas together.

She turned to Booth and noticed that he had a small smile on his face and his head was firmly locked down looking at his presents as he unwrapped the array of sweaters and practical gifts from his parents.

She nudged him with her shoulder and he looked up at her, "What are you smiling about?" she whispered to him.

He laughed softly and moved some food around on his plate before looking up at her again, "Christmas Magic." He stated firmly.

She gave him a quizzical look, "What?"

"I really wanted you here for Christmas and it came true. Christmas Magic."

She smiled at him and studied his face for a moment. There wasn't an insincere bone in his body when he said it to her. She felt a strange warmth in her body that was something that she hadn't felt in a very long time. She recognized it after a moment; it was the sense of belonging. For better or for worse, she had relinquished her sense of belonging to Seeley Booth and she strangely didn't feel any weaker by doing so. If anything, she felt… happy.