AN: I know it's been a while for something to be posted for this, but as my writing partner and I have time together currently, we decided that we needed to get something posted. I hope you like the chapter. We should have another one ready soon.

"A proposition?" Sarah looked over at Hodgins rather skeptically. He nodded and leaned forward, looking to engage her in the upcoming conversation.

"My family's company is looking for a new staff, and we currently have an opening for a registered nurse. I'd like for you to interview."

"I, well I don't mean to be rude but I'm not looking for charity here." Sarah replied, politely, but forcibly, her eyes flitting between Hodgins and Brennan.

"No Sarah, I ask as you have come highly recommended by my colleague. You wouldn't believe how hard it is to find someone trustworthy to even interview, yet alone employ!"

She looked again between Brennan and Hodgins, unsure what to think. It was however the looks on the faces of her children that had her more convinced.

"And you're sure this isn't you feeling sorry for me?"

"Not at all. I'm looking for competent staff, and you seem to be great at what you do."

"Well, in that case," She began, her eyes focused on her children, "I would be most grateful for the opportunity."

"Well when are you free to interview?" Hodgins asked, sitting back, relaxed.

"Well other than tomorrow night I'm not free at all until the weekend. But if that's too difficult I understand."

"No, not at all. Saturday should work. I'll make sure that I have the appropriate people available." Sarah smiled, but it immediately dropped.

"What about...I can't without..."

"I'll take them ice skating. There's a great outdoor rink set up near the Mall we can take Haley and Alex to. Would you two like that?" Brennan looked over at the two kids. They were practically bouncing with excitement at the news. Their answer came as a mixture of babbles and shrieks encouraged by Angela's tickling.

"I suppose I can find the money for that." Sarah sighed, partly happy to see her children so excited, mostly worried as to where on earth she would find the money for ice skating.

"You don't need to worry about that Sarah." Brennan offered, conscious that everyone else's focus was on the children sufficiently enough for her offer not to embarrass Sarah.

"I'll find the money Tempe." Sarah assured, determined to stand on her own two feet. "You can't keep doing these things for me."

"This isn't for you Sarah. I'm doing this for them. Don't worry about the cost."

"I can't let you keep paying out of pocket for things."

"If you're insisting then don't worry about it until after the holidays. You have enough to concentrate on now."

"Ok." Sarah relented. "But I will pay you back after the holidays."

Brennan simply smiled and nodded in agreement, her understanding evident in her eyes.

"Ok, come on monsters, I think you have been enough trouble to these good people for one day." Sarah commanded as she began picking up the children's things.

"Oh Sarah, take some of this food will you?" Angela asked, as she began scooping food into sealed containers. "If you leave it all here I'm afraid the boys may get a little over zealous and we all know how that'll end up." She laughed, wrinkling her nose.

"Hey!" The boys complained in unison, as Angela and Brennan shared knowing glances.

"Oh I couldn't."

"Unless you want all this to end up in some weird experiment involving bugs and chemicals I suggest you take it," Booth replied, smiling in mirth. Brennan met his eye and he winked at her again.

"Fine. What time is the interview on Saturday, and where do I meet you?"

"Just be here about noon and I'll take you to the interview. That way Haley and Alex can be picked up from a known location," Hodgins said as he shook Sarah's hand.

"Ok," Sarah replied, returning his firm handshake, "And thank you, thank you all." She said, her words soft and full of emotion.

"No problem." Hodgins spoke for them as he moved to escort Sarah and the children out of the lab.

The children moved round Brennan's office in a flurry of goodbyes and rushed after there mother, their good natured chatter filling the lab.

"Well," Angela began, standing up and stretching her spine, "You and me Zach, have a date."

Zach looked up, fear written across his face, distinctly sure that he and Angela didn't have a prearranged date. In fact, he mused, he was sure Hodgins wouldn't take kindly to anything like that.

"What," he said, looking at the artist.

"Dude, relax. She just means that you're her date for ice skating while I'm interviewing Sarah. That is what you meant, right?"

"No, but I can go with that, in fact that is a great idea." Angela smiled coyly. "I hope you're as good at skating as I think you are wonderboy."

"Angela, are you flirting with me?" Zach asked, confusion written across his face.

"Yeah, Angela, are you flirting with him?" Hodgins interjected, hands on hips in an attempt to act cool.

"Oh stop it all three of you," Booth commented as he stood up. He glanced at Brennan and motioned to the door with his head. "I'll see you all on Saturday. Come on Bones, time to get you home."

As the pair walked away, Angela grinned. Booth placed his hand in the familiar place on Brennan's back, but quickly slid it to the side of her hip, drawing her a little closer to his side.

"What are you looking at?" Hodgins asked inquisitively, turning his icy glare from Zach to identify the cause of Angela's smile. "Oh baby, when did that happen?"

"When did what happen?" Zach chimed in, standing up to peer around Hodgins.

"You two are idiots, you know that, right?" Angela sighed, as she swayed across the lab towards her office.

"Why did she call us idiots Hodgins? I was merely trying to clarify what we were analyzing."

"Shut up idiot." Hodgins grouched, pushing Zach on the shoulder and rolling his eyes as he attempted to inconspicuously follow Angela.

"Angela called us idiots, and you asked when something happened. What did I miss?" Zack followed Hodgins, ruining his attempt at a quiet moment with Angela.

"Zack, if I have to explain it, it's not gonna be funny." Hodgins patted him on the shoulder before turning back to Angela's office.

"I don't know what that means." Zach sighed, taking up residence at the seat, by the computer, on the platform. Everything seemed to be getting so complicated around the lab these days, he mused.

XxXxX

"Bones, you know I'm really proud of what you've done for Sarah." Booth glanced at Brennan as he drove to her apartment.

"I haven't done anything. She's a nice person and deserves a little bit of happiness."

"Not many people would go to the lengths you are. Are you sure you aren't secretly Santa's little helper?"

"Booth, you know there's no such person a Santa don't you?" She teased.

"Ssshhhh" Booth hushed, placing his finger over his lips for emphasis. "He might hear you." Booth whispered as he leaned closer to her, bumping their shoulders together.

"Why do you get such joy from perpetuating a commercialized image of…" Booth ended her lecture early by placing his hand over her mouth. Instinctively she bit him causing him to withdraw his hand sharply and swerve slightly.

"Geez Bones, what was that for?"

"That wasn't very nice, covering my mouth like that. I simply wanted to know why you insist..." Booth pulled up to a stoplight and leaned in close to her. She stopped talking and blinked at his proximity.

"I insist on it because it's fun. And remember what they say about Santa. He sees you when you're sleeping; he knows when you're awake."

"Well now that's just creepy Booth. Don't you think? Surely small children must…"

"He knows if you've been bad or good." Booth continued, not listening to a word she was saying.

"Booth stop singing." Brennan pleaded, trying to stop laughter from escaping.

"So be good for goodness sake." Booth commanded, wagging his bitten finger in her direction.

"Booth." Brennan said in a warning tone.

"Why, what are you going to do about it?" Booth grinned.

"Oh no, I'm not going to encourage you."

"That's because you like it, admit it."

"Your singing? I don't think so."

"Oh ouch Bones. That hurts. Here I am, trying to be charming and you go shoot me down. I see how it is."

"If I had a gun I could shoot you down. Unfortunately, as you well know, I have no gun. Which is probably a good thing for you right now."

"Try and hide it all you want Bones, I know you love my angelic singing voice."

"If that's what Angel's sound like I'm glad I'm not going to Heaven."

"Oh the weather outside is frightful…" Booth began again, with added gusto.

"Booth." Brennan whined.

"And since we've no place to go." He continued, throwing a charm smile or two in her direction.

"Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow." Brennan mouthed, as she looked out the window.

"I saw that Bones, don't you think I didn't."

Brennan tried to hide her smile, but was unable to. Booth pulled into her driveway and cut the engine before exiting the car and dashing to Brennan's side. Before she could grab the handle, he had the door open for her.

"You know that's not necessary, right?" Brennan half asked, half commanded as she moved to get out of the car. Booth stepped back enough for her to exit the vehicle. However, he kept one hand on the door of the car and placed the other on the doorframe, effectively trapping her where she was standing.

"I know." Booth smiled, moving to stroke her cheek lightly. "But you love it really."

"Has anyone ever told you your ego is huge?" Brennan asked, frowning as much as possible.

"My ego, huh?" Booth asked quirking an eyebrow.

"Your ego Booth. Definitely your ego." Brennan affirmed, as she expertly ducked under his arm and walked up the driveway.

Booth followed behind her until they reached the door of her building. She turned to face him, surprised to find him so close behind her.

"You like the attention and you like the size of my...ego."

"Booth..."

"So we have a date to skate on Saturday afternoon, right?" He moved in closer to her until her back was against the wall behind her.

"Don't you have Parker on Saturday Booth?" Brennan enquired; caught between wishing she could back away further and wishing she hadn't backed away at all.

"Yes I do." Booth faltered, unsure if she didn't want to be involved with Parker at this stage. Or at all, he began to muse worriedly.

"Does he like to skate? If so, I'm sure he'd like to meet Alex and Haley. It's advisable for children to mix outside their usual peer group. It allows them to engage in a way outside of the social and age hierarchy created by the schooling system. I read an interesting article that suggested that children who mixed across age groups developed superior…." Her words were cut of by Booth's lips, his body pressing her against the wall.

It took her a moment to respond to the unexpected motion, but immediately wrapped her arms around his neck. In the back of her mind, she was screaming to gain control of the situation. He'd used the word date, and this kissing thing should stop. They weren't romantically involved, but to hell with it she thought.

When the kiss broke, the pair looked at each other, neither one moved from their position. Instead, they smiled at each other.

"So," Brennan began, not quite sure where her sentence was going, "he likes to skate?"

"He likes to skate." Booth confirmed, his words laced with the hint of a chuckle.

"You can skate?" Brennan asked.

"Don't I just look like a natural born skater?"

"Booth, skaters aren't born skaters, certainly some base level of physical ability is needed but…"

"Bones, shut up or I'll have to kiss you again."

With a challenging smile Brennan continued; "mainly physical skill in skating is…"

Booth made good on his promise.

Saturday rolled around quickly with the entire team relieved that Camille had left for New York. Brennan was pacing anxiously as she waited for Booth to arrive and pick her up. He was to have Parker with him, and then they'd head to the Jeffersonian to pick up Haley and Alex. After that, it was off to the ice skating rink and a day of fun.

She looked at her appearance critically, wanting to be sure that she looked good, even if this was to be a day spent around children. When there was a knock at the door, she took a deep breath and moved to it.

As she reached the door she was greeted by the 'angelic' voice of Booth and the slightly more agreeable voice of his young son. Brennan opened the door to find them standing there, Parker in front obviously leading their rendition.

"We wish you a merry Christmas, we wish you a merry Christmas, we wish you a merry Christmas and a happy new year!"

Brennan grinned at the pair and clapped as they finished singing, much to the delight of Parker. The little boy held out a package from behind his back, waiting eagerly for Brennan to take it.

"What's this?" Brennan took the package and began to open it.

"Normally I'd bring flowers, but since it's so cold outside, I thought I'd get you something else," Booth grinned as she looked up at him.

Inside was a pair of gloves, a scarf and a hat all in navy blue. She was touched by the gift, but before she had a chance to overanalyze Parker asked "Do you like 'em?"

"I love them." Brennan answered, from the heart, her eyes darting to meet Booth's gaze.

"Do you like mine?" Parker asked, proudly showing his new scarf that had some sort of cartoon emblazoned across it.

"The colors and images are very stimulating." Brennan replied.

Parker wrinkled his nose in confusion and turning to his dad said; "I don't know what that means." much to his father's amusement.

"It means she likes it bub. Are you ready to go Bones?" He met her gaze and for a moment got lost in the blue of her eyes.

"Yes, I'm ready to go," she replied, looking away and pulling on the scarf and hat. The gloves were another matter with her cast. At least she could wear one.

"What are you doing?" Booth asked, as he watched her turn around and pick up her heavy bag.

"Just grabbing my bag. Why?" Brennan asked, more than a little confused, as she heaved the bag onto her shoulder.

"Why on earth do you need a bag like that?" Booth nagged, and before Brennan could answer he had walked over to her and begun rummaging through her bag.

"Has anyone ever told you that it is rude to go through a woman's purse? You are setting a bad example for Parker."

Brennan's words were lost on him, as in an exasperated fashion, he laughed at the contents of her bag.

"Latex gloves Bones? A flashlight? You do know we are only going skating right?"

"Hey, I never know when I'm going to need them. What if we're out and something comes up? It's better to be prepared."

"Whatever you say Bones." He caught her arm with his hand and guided her out of the apartment. "You've got what you need, now let's vamoose."

"Do you always have to drag me around like that Booth?"

"Do you always have to complain Bones?"

"Do you always have to fight with Dr. Bones dad?" Parker chimed in inquisitively.

"Dr Bones?" Brennan queried, "Did you teach him to say that Booth?"

Booth just shook his head, trying to suppress the laughter within.

"I said it right didn't I dad?" Parker asked, somewhat unsure of what was going on. "Dr. Bones right, just like you said."

"Ah, you did do this Booth." Bones said jabbing a finger in his direction. Attempts to suppress his laughter failed and he sputtered his way down the hallway leaving an angry Brennan and a confused Parker behind him.

"Come on Parker," Brennan assured, "Your Dad is just being silly. You can call me Tempe."

"Dr Tempe?" Parker looked up at her with big brown eyes.

"If you want Parker."

"Dr Tempe…why does daddy call you Bones?"

Brennan looked from son to father and sighed. She wasn't about to say he did it to annoy her, and besides, she was pretty sure that Booth would expect her to respond that way.

"He calls me Bones for the same reason he calls you bub. It's a special name he has just for me."

"And only he can call you that?"

"Does anyone else call you Bub?"

"Nuh-uh. Just daddy."

"Well no one else calls me Bones. You know what though Parker." Brennan said mischievously, her change in tone enough to quiet Booth's chuckling so he could hear what she was saying. "I think maybe we should think of a special name for me to call your dad. What do you think?"

"That's a great idea! I don't think anyone has had a special name for daddy in a long, long time."

Brennan smiled at Parker's words, and noted that Booth had slowed his pace for them to catch up with him.

"So what would you suggest Parker, for your dad's special name?"

The little boy thought about it as they reached the SUV. Booth helped his son into his booster seat. As Brennan slid into the front seat of the SUV, Parker looked up at her and said, "What about tiger?"

Booth snorted, his mind quickly flitting back to Vegas when he posed as 'Tony the Tiger' in the underground fight world.

"Tiger," Brennan mused, not daring to catch Booth's eye. "I like it. Great idea Parker, Tiger it is."

"Daddy, can I call you Tiger too?"

"No Bub."

"But why? It's such a cool name!"

"Because there's only one special person in this world that gets to call me Daddy and that's you."

"Is Dr Tempe the only special person in the world that can call you Tiger?"

"Yes bub, I guess she is." He confirmed, shooting an evil glare her way. "You have everything you need Bones, before we go?"

"Yes Tiger, I have."

"Don't start Bones."

"Don't start what?" Brennan asked, her eyes feigning innocence.

"Calling me Tiger." He replied, whispering the word 'tiger'.

"I think it suits you." Brennan offered, a sexy smile spreading across your face.

"Can I be called Lion?" Parker asked from the backseat, his voice full of hope.