Angela watched the couple from her spot on the platform. She glanced at her watch and noted that it was one of the few times that Brennan was actually late for work. She turned back to the couple and watched as Booth pulled Temperance into his arms, kissing her as if he couldn't stand to be away from her for even a minute. Brennan's arms went about his neck, pulling him closer to her and deepening the kiss. Angela picked up a file folder to fan herself a bit. That kiss was seriously hot. As it broke and the pair reluctantly parted, she smiled. Good for them. Those two deserve a little happiness, she thought as Brennan made her way to her office. Angela got up from her seat on the platform and moseyed over to the office as well.

"Well, you look happy," she said as she sat down on Brennan's couch.

"I am," Temperance answered as she sat and booted up her computer.

"So, does this mean that the two of you finally have some unlawful carnal knowledge of each other?" Brennan smiled at her friend and shook her head as she perused her e-mails.

"He did stay over last night, but that's about as far as things got."

"What? Why?"

"He was a bit concerned about the pie in the oven." Angela looked at Brennan, trying to figure out what she was talking about. She looked over her friend, but didn't notice any physical changes in her best friend, although with the amount of time that had passed since her last boyfriend…

"Sweetie, did you mean bun in the oven?"

"No, I wasn't baking a bun. I was baking a pie. Apparently letting an apple cranberry pie cook too long is akin to sacrilege. A wave of relief swept over Angela.

"Oh, I thought you meant… never mind. So pie beat out sex for that man? That's interesting."

"Ange, I don't know how to quite explain it, but even though we didn't have sex, last night was probably the most intimate I've ever been in a relationship." The artist smiled at her friend, which Brennan returned.

"Well it'll happen when it happens. I was thinking that we could throw a housewarming party for Sarah and her kids this evening. She moved in yesterday, thank god and it will give me a better sense for how we can get the place decorated without her or her kids notice."

"What time were you planning to have this little party because I'm supposed to go shopping with Booth tonight."

"You two are the cutest things, I swear. I was thinking of doing something around eight because of her shift at the hospital. She still has to finish out the week there before she can take over her position with the Cantilever Group. I already told Jack, and he'll have Zack there too, so that would just leave you and Booth."

"I'm sure we can skip dinner and then go after we're done shopping. I'll let him know when he picks me up this evening." Angela grinned at her friend in a way that let Brennan know what was coming next.

"Is he staying over again? Because so long as you don't decide to bake anything else, the only thing you need to turn on is that man."

"You're incorrigible, you know that?"

"Yes I do and I'll take that as my cue to get back to work." The artist stood and headed out of the office. Brennan shook her head and turned her attention to her work. She had several papers to grade and a speech to write for a charity event. Turning her attention from thoughts of Booth, she focused on her tasks for the day.

XxXxX

"So why exactly are we throwing a surprise housewarming party for Sarah," Booth asked as he and Brennan drove onto the Hodgins Estate. He tried not to let his hackles rise at the thought of the money Hodgins had inherited. The guy was far from the usual privileged asses they had contact with.

"Well Angela wants to get an idea of how to decorate the house without their knowledge, so this was what she thought up. If you didn't want to go, you should have said something."

"No, it's not that. I just don't think we should keep throwing surprises at her. I mean would you appreciate having a party dropped on you at the last moment?"

"I see your point, but I can see Angela's as well."

"Well it's too late to change our minds," Booth said as he pulled the vehicle to a stop. The pair got out, pie in hand and headed to the front door where Angela, Zack and Hodgins were waiting for them. As soon as the artist saw them, she turned to the door and knocked. It took a moment, but when Sarah finally opened the door, she smiled at the group on her doorstep.

"Well, fancy meeting the lot of you here. What's up?"

"We all thought that you deserved a little holiday cheer since you have this great place and all, so here we are!" Sarah laughed and stepped aside to let the group inside.

"You certainly didn't need to do this, but thank you. I don't think I've ever been offered so much help or friendship in my life."

"You deserve it," Brennan said as they reached the living room. She was somewhat awed by the place, and had to agree that Angela was right about the décor. The place was beautiful with its rich tones and mahogany wood tones.

"No Dr. Brennan, what you've done for me is overwhelming. I honestly can't thank you enough for the help and support you've offered me." She turned from Brennan and motioned for them to sit down in the living room as she left to get her kids. A fire burned in the fireplace, and despite the lack of decorations, the entire place held a very merry feel.

"So what do you think," Angela asked quietly to Brennan and Booth.

"This place is amazing. I haven't seen homes restored to this magnitude before."

"This was the original home my great great grandparents built when they bought this property. The main house was built later once Great Grandpa Lawrence made the family fortune. I just wanted to keep it up, you know?" Hodgins looked around the place with obvious pride in the opulent house.

"Temperance! Angela!" Alex and Haley jumped up and down excitedly and ran into the room to embrace the two women. "Thank you for the secret Santa gifts, they were the coolest ever."

"Well," Angela said as she looked at the two kids, "you can thank Booth for them. He's the one who made them, not me."

"Thank you Booth," they chorused before enveloping him in a hug. He smiled at the two kids and returned the gesture. This was one of the things he liked best about being a parent, and despite the fact that Haley and Alex weren't his; he couldn't stop the warmth spreading through his chest.

"Well you're welcome." He settled on the floor near the fireplace with the kids on either side of him. "So Sarah, what are your plans for Christmas Eve?"

"I work until ten and then we're going to midnight mass as always." Booth perked up and he glanced at Angela and Temperance.

"Hey, maybe you can go with Parker and me. We go to the Basilica every year for Christmas." Sarah smiled at the FBI agent and nodded.

"I'm sure the kids would love to go. They haven't stopped talking about Parker since you took them ice skating." Booth beamed at the words. Brennan was struck by how much the words meant to her partner, and how much he fit into a domestic type of lifestyle. This was a man that thrived on interactions like he had here, and with her disinterest in having children… No. She shook her head to get rid of the negative thoughts trying to take up residence there. If he had a problem with her beliefs then they wouldn't be at the point they were today. She caught his gaze as it settled on her and flashed him a smile, though it didn't quite reach her eyes. He returned it with one of his own, concern for her shining through.

"Great. Do you want to meet me there or shall I come here and we all go together?"

"Why don't we just meet here after I get off work? Once I clean up a bit, we can leave. That way no one gets lost in the crowd."

"Sounds like a plan. I'll see you here on Christmas Eve."

XxXxX

"Bones, are you okay? You seemed to be a bit lost there for a while." Booth glanced at her as they drove home that night. Angela made it clear that they would have to all pitch in with decorating while Sarah went with Booth to midnight mass. So long as everyone worked, then the place would be ready for them by the time they got home.

"I'm fine. I was just thinking about how comfortable you looked in that setting is all."

"Hey, don't you go trying to talk yourself out of what we've started."

"I wasn't…"

"Yeah Bones, you were. I know what you worry about, and I can guarantee you that I like what we have and don't want anything to change."

"But our fundamental beliefs are so different. I know how much Parker means to you, and I wouldn't want to deprive you the opportunity to have a larger family…"

"When have I ever said that I wanted more kids?"

"Don't you? I mean you're Catholic, and generally someone as traditional as you…" Booth started laughing.

"Just because I'm Catholic does not mean that I want a bunch of kids. Hell, the fact that I have relationships outside of marriage and protect myself when those relationships get intimate isn't exactly in the doctrine of the church."

"But I thought you wanted more children. You're a wonderful father and an excellent provider. It's a natural assumption that you would want more progeny."

"I won't lie, it would be nice to have maybe another kid, but it's not an issue I'm going to push, especially with you. If you change your mind, I know you'd let me know, but until then, it's not an issue Bones. Besides, what we have going on right now is too new to even consider that possibility, okay?"

"Okay."

"Good. Do you feel better?"

"Yes I do. Thank you."

"Good, because when we get back to your place I plan to show you exactly how I feel about you."