A / N – Thank you for all your great reviews. And to everyone who made suggestions for Booth's Christmas gift. You had loads of great ideas, but I could only choose one. I will be bearing the rest in mind for future use though!!
The next few chapters are Sugababe song orientated. I didn't realize I'd done it until I listened to the songs in order. This chapter is inspired by one of my all time favorites, 'Too Lost In You'.
Thanks you Moonlight Gardenias. And a special mention to mumrulz and monkey-monkey-underpants07 for telling me which bits make you tick.
Disclaimer – I have no connection at all with the wonderful television program that is 'Bones'. I'm not even lucky enough to be in same time zone.
Enjoy.
Booth fumbled around in the early morning light to find the incessant crowing of the alarm. Slamming his hand down to knock it into silence he opened his eyes to the vaguely familiar surroundings. It took him a moment for his bearings to gather into consciousness. He was in the same one room apartment that he had woken to for the past few weeks while he undertook an undercover operation. An operation that had taken him away from DC, from his son, and from Bones.
But now she was here. Well, not 'here' exactly. Although waking up next to her would have defiantly been the highlight of his day. His memory buzzed as he recalled the previous evening. They had gone to a bar, almost blown their cover, kissed, watched a movie, gone to church, kissed again...
"Wow" he spoke out loud to the empty room. He would quite happily kiss her for the rest of time. Suddenly it occurred to him that today was Christmas.
Sitting up he reached into the cabinet next to the bed and pulled out a small box, wrapped in shiny red foil, a mass of silver ribbon cascading down it's length. He hoped she would like the gift he had purchased for her. It had cost him enough damned money. But he had known the second he saw it – it was perfect.
--oo000oo--
At two p.m. Booth stood in the hallway outside her apartment, a bunch of flowers tucked under his arm, clutching the small box nervously. He was dead on time. Hearing footsteps he thrust the box quickly into his jacket pocket.
You look into my eyes
I go out of my mind
The door opened and she stood radiantly, waiting for him to enter. Meeting his gaze she licked her lips. She wore a silk gray bodice and skirt, accentuated by the delicate beading around her slender waist. Her long legs and feet were bare aside from a simple chain hung around her ankle. Stepping across the threshold he fantasized about how much he wanted to take her right there.
I can't see anything
Cos this love's got me blind
"For you" His arm jerked out awkwardly, thrusting the fresh Shasta Daisies in her face.
Temperance's eyes lit up. "Wow, these are completely out of season"
"I'm fully aware of that – now" he grumbled.
"Leucanthemum's are my favorite flower." She remembered a conversation they had in her lab about passwords. Daisy, daffodil, Jupiter. "But... you already knew that."
"Merry Christmas" he said, leaning down to kiss her. She moved her head so that he landed on her cheek, giving him a perfect view of Max, sat across the room. Holiday sex in the doorway was certainly not an option.
"Merry Christmas to you too. Sleep well last night?"
"Like a baby... Baby." Booth smirked as he saw her eyes narrow at the use of her new pet name.
Brennan stood back to allow him access, confused at his last remark. "Babies have a reputation for being very poor at sleeping soundly" she muttered to herself, closing the door.
He made his way into the room. A small tree twinkled in the corner. Booth was sure that it hadn't been there yesterday. "Max. Like your new place?"
"It's great, but Jase is pretty paranoid. And that makes him very dangerous. Wouldn't surprise me if he has the place bugged. When you do come over it's best to keep up appearances."
"We wouldn't be here if he liked puppies and flowers."
"Too true"
Temperance placed her hand against Booth's bicep to attract their attention. "We aren't having the most traditional dinner" she confessed. "I haven't had time to prepare much at all. Sorry."
"Sweetheart, we don't mind. We're just happy to spend the day with you." Max chided softly. He'd noticed that Booth hadn't acknowledged her touch as out of place. Temp obviously felt as strongly as Booth about each other. Maybe that kid psychologist was onto something by placing them in this situation.
"I know what we are having already" Booth added excitedly. "I can smell it cooking."
"Do you want gifts now or after we have eaten?" she asked.
"Now!" both men responded in unison.
Temperance reached under the tree to pull out the neatly wrapped parcels.
I can't help myself
I can't break the spell
I can't even try
"Hey Roxy," Max began, the humor in his voice evident. He was taking the undercover aspect serious enough to keep his daughter safe in public, but they were secure here. "This photo here, on the dresser. Who's is the kid? I'm assuming some sort of family."
Playing along perfectly, Brennan spoke brightly. "Why, how very observant of you to notice Max. The child in the photo there would happen to be the son of a very dear friend. He is wearing a shepherds outfit as that was taken at his recent nativity celebration. As I have been a practicing Catholic now for, umm, all my life then he is my quite obviously my godson."
She struggled to hold back laughter as Booth snatched the photo of Parker from Max. He gazed at the image, guessing it had been taken after he had left to come undercover. Trust Bones to work out a way for him to have a picture of Parker. His head suddenly flashed him a memory of desperately walking to a book store to remind him of her face.
I'm in over my head
You got under my skin
"I checked to see if bringing it was allowed" she confessed. "They said as long as the photo stays here in my apartment and I gave it a valid background there was no risk"
"This is the best gift you could possibly have brought" Booth declared triumphantly.
I got no strength at all
In the state that I'm in
"Oh." she sighed. "That isn't your gift." By his logic, the box she had wrapped so thoughtfully would be disregarded over the photograph.
Reading the expression on her face with ease, Booth quickly moved to console her. "Then this is obviously the second best gift you could possibly have brought."
And my knees are weak
And my mouth can't speak
Fell too far this time
She smiled at him. He smiled at her. Max was suddenly very conscious of being here with them. "Ahem" he coughed.
"Gift's" she reiterated, looking at the parcels in her hand. "For you." Temperance handed a package to Max. Booth guessed it was a book from the shape.
"Sweetheart, thank you. And a first edition. This is great." Max leaned across and kissed his daughter on the cheek. "This is for you" He pulled out an envelope from his pocket. Inside was a voucher for a spa day.
"Thanks." She hugged him.
Max, thrown by her obvious affection, took a moment to wrap his arms around his daughter. He was seeing a different side to Temperance since they left DC. More human. He liked it.
"Food kinda smells ready!" Booth interrupted.
"Okay, your going to have to wait for your gift then." she called, scurrying over to the kitchen.
Baby, I'm too lost in you
Ten minutes later they were sat together around the table, dishing out mac n' cheese. Booth had placed the photo of Parker back on the dresser, at an angle he could see it from his seat. Brennan saw his sadness at not having Parker with him.
"We'll be home before you know it" she comforted.
"I know. But it's never going to be soon enough"
Max attempted to soften the tense atmosphere "Pah, you both need to live a little. I for one am having a great time."
"Your alternative was prison" Booth retorted flatly.
"Sweetheart," Max spoke assertively to Brennan. "Doing this is going to allow you to see why your mother and I chose the life we had. And, much as we regret leaving you and Russ behind, given the choice to do it over, we would not have changed a thing. Because, for the most part, we were happy."
"See this is why we are so different Max" Booth was getting rilled. "I would never abandon Parker like that."
Max lent back and shook his head. "You already did."
Temperance intervened. "Enough!" This was supposed to be a happy day.
Conversation flowed easily across the table for the rest of the meal. Brennan cleared the plates away, and set about dishing up desert.
"Hey, boy, do you notice something distinctly missing from this apartment?
Booth looked around in confusion, then quickly realized the point Max was making. "There is... no T.V.! Aww c'mon. It's Christmas day. What are we meant to do later?" He looked pleadingly across at Bones.
"Which is why I am going to leave you to it. There is all the cable you could want waiting for me at the place I'm renting from Jase."
"Then I suggest we all go to your place."
"Not a cat in hell's chance. I plan to chill out for the rest of the day with a classic movie marathon. Alone."
Caught in you
Brennan placed the steaming pie in front of both men.
"Thanks sweetheart"
"Yeah, Is this one you made?"
"Honey, you baked pie?" Max added quizzically.
"Yes. I'm finding it quite therapeutic."
"Well it tastes great" Max added, after he had taken a bite.
" Gmumph" added Booth, his mouth full of pie.
Lost in everything about you
Temperance flushed with pride. She detested the idea of stereotypical women, domesticated, looking after their men. It was archaic and patronizing. So why was she enjoying this so much? She recalled Christmas dinners as a child, her mother fussing around them all. That was it. She was emulating her mother. The more she thought about her it became obvious that this was where the inspiration for Roxy's personality had derived from. Had her father realized this?
"I'd better make a move. I wanted to be back by five. And I need to go call Russ and the girls yet."
"Send them my best wishes" Temperance asked, as she was again clearing up after her dad. Leaning over to Booth she asked "More pie?" Booth nodded appreciatively.
"Sure. Enjoy the rest of your day. Don't do anything I wouldn't do."
Booth looked apprehensive. "I'm fairly certain, Max, that given the right circumstances, there is absolutely nothing on earth that you wouldn't do."
"You know me so well." He leaned in to kiss Temperance on the cheek, "Bye sweetheart. Merry Christmas."
So deep, I can't sleep
I can't think
After closing the door she took Booths second helping from the counter and wandered back to where he was still sat.
"Now Max has gone I need you to go in to my bedroom."
The forkful of pie that was almost at his lips halted mid air. "Huh?"
"I think you'll like what you find."
Intrigued, he dropped the silverware down with a clatter and made his way along the corridor to the closed door. She heard him turn the handle and flick the light switch on. Patiently she waited for the inevitable.
"Holy crap! This is fantastic."
I just think about the things that you do
I'm too lost in you
Brennan lent against the table as he came bounding back towards her, grinning wider than a cheshire cat. Bracing herself, he grabbed her by the waist and lifted her clean off the floor, spinning her round with the ease of a rag doll. She quickly hooked her arms around his neck to steady herself. When he lowered her back to the ground, her hands stayed on his shoulders, keeping them together. Their eyes were locked, neither wanting to let go of this moment too soon. Slowly they moved closer until lips met, hot with desire. He inched forwards to press his body against hers. Instinctively she moved backwards until her thighs bumped against the table edge. Her tongue pushed his lips apart, tasting the sweet pie he adored so much. He responded with vigor, while lifting her by her thighs, to perch her on the table top. She wrapped her legs around Booth, pulling him closer. His hand had settled on her lower back, to prevent her falling backwards. The other was still resting on her thigh, caressing the soft material of her skirt.
Well you whispered to me
And I shiver inside
Her skirt. Booth was acutely aware of their closeness, but the fact she was in a skirt had escaped him in the heat of the moment. He slid his hand down behind her knee, stroking the soft flesh before moving back up, now under the cover of the gray material, slowly inching closer towards her...
"Coffee" she yelped as she broke from their kiss.
"Sure" he mumbled, self consciously. He thought she wanted him. She was always so open about sex. He hadn't expected her to freak out the second things got a little heavier. Booth felt mortified. Had he just taken advantage of her? "Actually, I should go" he called across.
"But you haven't opened your present yet. And..." she paused and looked at him. He was desperately trying to avoid her gaze. "I had this evening all planned out."
You undo me and move me
In ways undefined
Booth tilted his head inquisitively.
She mirrored his action and blushed. "And getting all... naughty on the table wasn't part of it." She paused again, and pondered. "Well not yet anyway."
"Then coffee sounds great." Booth sat down on the couch.
After a minute she came across with two steaming mugs.
"Me first" Booth demanded, presenting her with the box that had been burning a hole in his heart all afternoon.
And you're all I see
And you're all I need
Help me baby
She smiled at him appreciatively before slowly unwrapping the gift. Once the wrapping was off she looked at the box in awe. The embossing on the box read 'De Beers' Even she wasn't so clueless as to know they had many of the best diamond mines in the world.
She flipped the lid and gasped.
Help me baby. Help me now
Inside lay the most beautiful pendant, a talisman of white gold set with four diamonds. The engravings on the piece made it look like an ancient mask. It looked familiar, and she recognized it being inspired from a collection of Mayan artifacts that had temporarily been on exhibit at the Jeffersonian. She had insisted Booth visit the exhibition and he had been amused at her excitement over what he thought were, actually, rather bizarre and scary objects.
Cos I'm slipping away
Like the sand to the tide
"You know, the ancient Greeks believed that diamonds were the tears of gods"
Her eyes began to water and she trembled. "Booth?"
"Shh" he whispered, raising a finger to her lips, then stroking them with his thumb. His lips quickly replaced his touch as he pressed them firmly against hers. When he drew back she felt empty. Her eyes glazed with emotion.
"I purposely chose it with a stone for each year I've known you. And I... you do like it don't you? I could picture you wearing it but if it's not right then I can -"
Falling into your arms
Falling into your eyes
He got no further before she was straddled across his lap kissing him with more passion than he'd witnessed before. He quickly matched her force and rhythm, drawing her down as he lay back on the couch. As she sank onto him the cheery Santa wrapped box caught her eye.
She pulled her self back and sat up. "My turn!" she declared. "But first you can help me put this on." She held the pendant tentatively.
He silently cursed her self restraint. This stopping and starting was driving him crazy. All he actually wanted for Christmas was her. Lifting her hair up he fastened the clasp before planting a light kiss at the nape of her neck.
If you get too near
I might disappear
I might lose my mind
She chewed on her bottom lip nervously as she handed him the package.
He wasted no time in ripping off the paper. Intrigued, he opened the box and smiled.
"I found it a while ago. Before you knew about coming here" she said softly.
The antique pocket watch he flipped open was a civil war relic. Inset into the face was a compass.
"So you can always find your way home"
Baby, I'm too lost in you
Caught in you
He looked up and met her eyes with his. "I will always find my way home. No matter what. Please, I want you to remember that. Always!"
She was grinning at him. The seriousness fell and he grinned right back at her,
"I love it. Thank you baby."
Brennan rolled her eyes. Again with the b-word. "I'm holding a scalding hot beverage here. I really wouldn't want my hand to slip."
Lost in everything about you
So deep, I can't sleep
"So in your schedule, what are we doing next?" Booth inquired surreptitiously.
"Well, I thought we could watch a movie"
Booth grinned as she reminded him of what he found in her bedroom. A fifty inch high def wall mounted plasma t.v. with high spec dvd player and surround sound. "So explain to me why your t.v. is in there instead of out here?"
"Because something like that would arouse suspicion if I receive visitors. I am on a waitress' salary."
"I guess that makes sense" he agreed. "C'mon then" He grabbed her hand, pulling her up towards the bedroom.
I can't think...
I just think about the things that you do
I'm too lost in you
When he reached the open door Booth stopped abruptly. Indicating at the bed he floundered. "Err, I umm... do you have a side you prefer?"
She shot him a sideways glance. "Do you?"
"I asked you first."
"I don't mind."
"You must prefer a side"
"So must you"
"It's your bed"
"I invited you in"
"The right." Booth declared.
"My right or yours? Which way are we looking at it?"
"Head on, so I go there" He pointed to his preferred side.
"Oh." she mumbled, the disappointment obvious.
"Did I say right? I meant left." He jumped up onto the bed, quickly making himself comfortable. "What movie are we watching?"
She laughed. "I thought - Breakfast at Tiffany's?"
"And I thought you were going to say 'A Muppet Christmas Carol'"
"What?"
"Nothing" He flashed her his trademark smile and patted the space next to him on the bed.
She set up the disk to play, then slid up next to him.
--oo000oo--
Cuddled together they heard a storm move in. Rain thrashed down, hammering against the window pane. Temperance had her head against his chest, the steady beat of his heart vibrating through her. He'd noticed that the movie had her captivated. He'd noticed this because he had spent the last thirty minutes gazing down at her adoringly.
I'm going in crazy in love for you baby
I can't eat and I can't sleep
I'm going down like a stone in the sea
No one can mess with me
Suddenly the power cut out. Lightning flashed, illuminating their bodies.
"I have some candles" Brennan rationalized. "Wait here"
After a few minutes Temperance returned She placed a few tea-lights on the chest of drawers and lit a match. Booth sidled up behind her and wrapped his arms around her waist. Blowing out the match he lent down and kissed her shoulder tenderly then whispered huskily into her ear, making her shiver.
Baby, I'm too lost in you
Caught in you
Lost in everything about you
So deep, I can't sleep
I can't think
I just think about the things that you do
I'm too lost in you
"Are you ready to break the laws of physics?"
Authors note – Hmmn, (taps fingers on table) it really does look like they might do the business tonight. I mean, all that tension - it's left me a little hot under the collar. I think I'm tempted to write an M rated chapter. (adopts a Dr Saroyan tone of voice) C'mon people, I need to be in the loop here. It's my job to make sure you're all happy. Tell me what you want, then I can make it happen. What can I say? I'm a people pleaser!