Author's Note: I wasn't able to post yesterday but there will be two updates today. Thanks for all the reviews, alerts and favorites. All of your feedback, especially the stories of your own family holiday traditions have added to my own enjoyment of the holiday.

Booth leaned back on the couch, his girlfriend lying cuddled against his chest. She was half asleep, the reflection of the glowing lights of their Christmas tree shimmering in her hair. She sighed a contended sigh as she settled deeper into his arms.

"Do you want to go get some pie or something Seeley?"

"No, I'm not really hungry, we had a big dinner."

"Are you sure?" When was he ever not hungry for pie?

"I said I wasn't hungry."

She threw another handful of tinsel onto the tree as her father poured them both a glass of wine.

He took a drink from his glass as he handed one to her, "Ah, much better than that stuff I made in prison."

"I would imagine so," she smiled as she took the glass and stepped back to admire their handiwork. She didn't usually enjoy decorating for the holidays but this year she found herself content with spending this time with her father. The activity didn't matter.

It was their first Christmas together. Last weekend he and his son had decorated the tree while she was gone on an assignment for work. When she returned she had straightened the tree, moving the lights and ornaments to more appropriate places and tweaking the branches to fill holes in the tree. She had shaken the gift for her that she had found, trying to guess what he had gotten her. Hoping that it cost at least as much as the gift she had gotten for him.

She sat in the floor in front of the tree they had decorated together as her father turned on an old black and white Christmas movie. She was putting the final touches on a gift that she had gotten for her partner's son. It wasn't much but she had seen it when she was shopping a few days earlier and it had reminded her of him. As she placed the bow on the package, she smiled at the memory of their summer days at her pool. Before the conversation that would change their lives forever, before she went to Maluku, before he had met someone else. For the first time in a long time, she was able to enjoy the memory, finally at peace with her life. She was actually enjoying this Christmas, she didn't deny that she would like to be spending it with him but she was learning to be happy without him. Maybe she'd even be able to move on with someone new soon.

She was glad that his son was spending this holiday with his mother. That would give them more time alone. Her man didn't seem to be much of a conversationalist this evening. Their dinner had been eaten in near silence, he had smiled and been cordial but he seemed a thousand miles away. Now his attention was focused on some movie that was playing on the television.

She tried to start a conversation with him and after her third attempt without success she finally asked what was so important that he couldn't quit thinking about it. He didn't answer her and instead asked if she'd like to go into the bedroom. She was disappointed that he didn't want to talk but he was an incredible lover and she would never turn him down.

She laughed as her father did his Jimmy Stewart impression. It reminded her of the happy part of her childhood. "Dad do you remember the year that we built the huge snowman after the blizzard?"

"That thing was ten feet tall, and you and Russ both cried when it melted."

"We were very young Dad, it was sad when Mr. Whitestuff melted."

"You were big enough to build a ten foot snowman and give him a ridiculous name."

"You were so mad when you realized that we had ruined your leather hat by getting it all covered with snow."

"I've since learned not to waste much time on anger."

"I'm learning that too Dad."

"Hannah, did you move the present I got for Parker?" Booth had went back into the living room after their romp and couldn't seem to find the package that he had just bought.

"I wrapped it for you," Hannah followed him and pointed to where the present lay underneath the tree.

"Why did you do that?" Booth grabbed the present and began to take the paper off.

"I thought it'd be a nice thing to do. What's wrong with you Seeley?"

"I always wrap Parker's presents in the same paper." He walked to the closet and pulled out the roll, "This paper, it's a tradition. You should've asked me first."

"But that paper doesn't match the other paper I used."

"I really don't care Hannah, this is about my son. It's not about you or what you want."

Brennan made up the guest room for her father and held on just a few seconds longer than usual as she gave him a goodnight hug.

"I'm glad you're staying tonight Dad."

"I'm glad you invited me Tempe. I know this must be hard for you with Booth being with that other woman and all."

"I was never with Booth Dad; he's not mine to miss."

"We both know there's more to it than that."

"There is, but I'm okay now. I'm okay. It hurt but he moved on and it isn't anyone's fault. I'm fine with just rebuilding my friendship with him. I'm glad that I let myself feel those emotions, I needed to tell him."

Looking into her eyes, he actually believed her. "Merry Christmas Tempe."

"Merry Christmas Dad."

Brennan went to sleep that Christmas surrounded by memories of time spent with her parents and brother. She blocked out thoughts of Booth and Hannah, focusing instead on the happy times and what she still had in her life. She was determined to move on, to make it work. And at least tonight, she believed that it was possible.

"Merry Christmas Booth," Hannah snuggled closer to him in bed.

"I'm sorry I yelled at you, I'm just upset. It's not your fault."

"I wish you'd tell me what's going on with you."

Booth laughed, how was he supposed to tell her that his partner had poured her heart out to him just a few weeks earlier? That she had told him that she wanted to be with him? That he had broken her heart? More importantly, how was he supposed to tell Hannah how much it had broken his?

"I've just had a bad few weeks at work. I'm sorry. Merry Christmas."

Booth didn't sleep much at all that night. He didn't like it when he didn't have Parker on Christmas. And as much as he was trying not to admit it to himself he didn't like not having Brennan around this Christmas either. Hannah was a poor substitute for both of them. But, he'd made a commitment to her, a commitment that he intended to keep, no matter how much it hurt.