The first thing that registered in Temperance's mind as she woke up that morning was the sound of Christmas carols being played downstairs. She recognized it as her father's favorite Bing Crosby Christmas album. Her parents weren't the types to play fantastical songs. "White Christmas" rang in her ears as she bolted out of her bed and down the stairs. Her hand caught on the rough garland framing the stair rail and she smiled, imagining her parents sneaking in late in the night to decorate the house. It was still dark outside and the living room was lit by the flashing blue, red, and yellow lights of the pine tree that sat in the corner.

She saw her favorite crystal dolphin ornament hanging from the tree. She smiled at the sight of a lopsided snow flake that she had made for her mother back in elementary school hanging nearby the dolphin. Her mom loved that ornament and always placed it high up on the tree where it could be easily seen. A bright silver star ordained the top of the Christmas tree and she almost laughed out loud at the thought of the year her dad fell from the ladder while trying to place the star. She saw presents wrapped in brightly colored paper and topped with bows made in their mother's perfect form waiting for her and Russ. They were sitting underneath the tree, atop a red striped tree skirt that Russ has picked out when he was ten.

But she didn't see her parents. They had been gone for weeks now surely they wouldn't still be hiding trying to surprise her. She looked in the kitchen. The pizza box from the night before was still lying where she and Russ had left it after their Christmas Eve dinner of grease and chips. She frowned thinking that her parents would've been disappointed to see such a mess, and upset that they hadn't gotten to have their traditional night before Christmas turkey dinner as a family.

That's also when she noticed that their coffee cups weren't anywhere to be seen. There wasn't a smell of the strong liquid in the air either. Why hadn't she noticed that before? She told herself that if her parents had gotten in very late that they wouldn't have had time to fix their coffee.

She ran through the kitchen into their bedroom. Their bed was still made, just like it had been the hundreds of other times she'd checked since they'd disappeared. Her heart began to pound, a feeling of dread that maybe she was mistaken filled her stomach. She reminded herself that they may have been too busy putting the decorations up that they didn't have time to sleep.

She checked their bathroom but it too appeared untouched. Tears started to form in her eyes but she quieted herself with remembering that her parents hadn't actually taken anything with them when they'd left therefore there wouldn't be anything to bring with them when they returned.

She flung open the back door and raced out into their yard. She turned in circles, not even noticing the cold air on her exposed arms, still wearing the tank top that she'd slept in. Tears were rapidly flowing down her face now, as she went around to the front of the house and realized that her parents' car wasn't in the driveway. The snow made her bare feet feel like pin cushions and the gravel in the street felt like thousands of tiny needles pushing their way into her skin. Maybe they'd gone out to get food? She and Russ had yet to buy any groceries. They'd considered it but aside from bread and milk, they hadn't had any idea of where to start. She didn't want to give up hope.

By the time she made it back into the living room, she was shaking. An effect caused from a mixture of the freezing temperatures outside and her fragile emotions inside. Russ was placing more ornaments on the tree when he saw her.

"Tempe, were you outside without a coat?" He glanced at her snow covered feet, "Or shoes? Have you lost your mind?"

"What are you doing? Where are Mom and Dad?"

"I'm decorating the tree. Last night I found these presents, I thought they'd want us to have them. I wanted to make Christmas for you." He held a snowman ornament dangling from a hook wrapped around his finger.

"They're not back?" The last of her hope deflated along with the anguished look on her brother's face when he heard her question.

"No, they're not back. I'm sorry. I didn't think you'd think that. We can still have Christmas though, come help me."

"No, Russ, no. Mom puts the ornaments on the tree, not us," she yanked the ornament from his hand and slung it across the room where it shattered against a wall.

Russ stood there in shock then he noticed blood streaming down his hand. The hook had cut into his finger when she had pulled it out of his grasp. "Damn it Tempe, look what you did."

His anger was lost on her as she was completely wrapped up in her own. "I hate you. I hate you. I wish you'd gone with them."

Not knowing what to do Russ pulled her into his arms, holding her tight against his chest as she swore at him and struggled to get away. The blood from his wounded hand dripped onto her arm. Neither of them noticed.

"Let me go Russ. I don't need you. Let me go."

"I'm scared too Tempe, I'm so scared. I don't know what to do." The harder she fought him the more he tightened his grip on her.

"You can't do anything Russ. They're gone. They decided they didn't love us and they left. What'd we do wrong Russ? What'd we do?"

"Nothing Tempe. It wasn't our fault. I promise."

"Then why'd they leave us?"

He looked into the tear stained face of his little sister and knew that he didn't have any of the answers that she needed. He shook his head and released her from his grasp. "I'm sorry Tempe, I'm so, so sorry."

She glared at him for an instant and then ran off back up the stairs, tearing the garland off the rails as she went. She climbed back into her bed and sobbed. She just wanted to see her mother again. She buried her head under the covers and wished that she never had to wake up.

Only she did wake up. Temperance woke up and realized that it had only been a dream. She was in her bed. The bed she shared with Booth. She untangled herself from the covers and consciously slowed her breathing. It had been the same dream that she had every year at this time. It had been the dream of the morning that she realized that her parents were never coming back for her. But this year was different. She sat up in bed and watched as Booth snored softly. Then she felt her baby girl move inside her and she smiled. Snuggling into Booth, who even in his sleep instinctively pulled her closer, Brennan knew that she'd never have to be that scared little girl again. This year she'd be having a merry Christmas in spite of the memories that had always threatened to consume her.