Sorry for no double update yesterday - I was busy with Christmas celebrations, as I'm sure most of you were! Thank you for all the reviews on the last chapter, and I do hope you enjoy this one!

Chapter Eleven: The Mistletoe in the Doorway

He sat on the couch, waiting for her to get ready. Booth and Brennan had decided to head out for dinner and drinks, to give the family some peace, as Al had requested. The family was cheerful, and the smell of curry and spices wafted through the house. It was a hot evening, and Al and Booth shared another beer as Sarah crashed around in the kitchen.

After yet another thunderous crash of pots and pans, Al looked at Booth, giving him a slight grin. 'You know, I think she's trying to tell me something,' he said, getting up and heading towards the kitchen. Booth smiled, taking another sip of his beer.

For awhile he just sat in silence, considering the day that had just passed. Despite the drama of the day, it had turned out quite nicely, and he was really looking forward to spending his evening with Brennan.

Especially when he saw what she was wearing.

She appeared in the doorway to the room, almost self consciously. Her hair was slightly curled, and the make-up she wore was more obvious than usual, her eyes smoky, her lips ruby red. And she was wearing that red dress he'd bought for her in L.A. a few years ago. He remembered the way he had thought she looked then, and couldn't help but grin. Then, he'd been blown away with her beauty, how sexy she was, but the depth of his emotion had gone little past what any man felt when they saw a beautiful woman. Today – he was still blown away, but that heat he felt in his heart, in his soul, that was what had changed.

She looked at him, smiling somewhat nervously. Booth couldn't help but be touched. He couldn't remember a time she'd ever gotten so dressed up, just for him.

'You look beautiful, Bones. Kind of makes me feel underdressed,' he said, gesturing at his attire – jeans and a button down t-shirt.

She shook her head, smiling. 'You look excellent, Booth,' she said, matter of factly.

Sarah and Al appeared behind Booth, having heard their conversation. Al let out a low whistle.

'Gees, Tempe. You're a stunner!' He said, before giving his wife a sideways glance. Sarah caught the glance and rolled her eyes.

'You look lovely, Temperance. Where did you get that dress?' Sarah asked, smiling at Brennan.

Brennan smoothed the fabric over her legs, before raising her eyes to look at Sarah.

'Booth actually bought the dress for me a couple of years ago, for an undercover operation. I packed the dress on a whim – I haven't worn it since then. I thought I might have the opportunity while in Australia.'

Sarah nodded, looking impressed at Booth's taste.

Al was more impressed by the mention of an undercover operation. 'An undercover operation?' He asked, incredulously. 'Now that sounds more exciting than marking term papers,'

Booth had to agree.

'Where are you guys headed out tonight?' Sarah asked, ignoring her husband.

Brennan replied. 'We were thinking of going to the restaurant Al mentioned to us – the Raja's Palace?'

Al nodded, and Sarah smiled. 'He takes me there on dates all the time. You guys should have a great time,'

'This isn't a date,' Brennan and Booth said in unison, and Sarah and Al just hid their smiles.

There was a pause before anyone spoke again. Checking his watch, Booth spoke up.

'Ready to go, Bones?' He asked, taking his wallet and phone of the table and placing it in his pocket.

She lifted up the bag and cardigan in her hands, nodding. 'Ready,'

They began to head to the door, wishing Sarah and Al a good night. The children seemed to be off playing somewhere.

Before they left, Al handed Booth the spare house keys.

'You'll be able to open the door to your room downstairs without coming up here,' he said, grinning.

Booth took the key, smiling, before following Brennan out to Al's car.

Watching from the doorway, Al put his arm around Sarah.

'Kind of feels like watching your kid go out on their first date, doesn't it?' She asked, smiling up at him.

Al paused a moment, watching them get into his car.

'Sarah,' he said, unable to hide his smile, 'I don't even want to think about Josephine dating.'

He kissed her forehead, and they headed inside, laughing.

.-.-.-.-.-.

The restaurant Al had suggested was off the beaten track, and it had taken Booth and Brennan awhile to find the place, despite the GPS system in Al's car. It probably had something to do with the gentle bickering over who got to drive that caused the problem.

By the time they'd parked and gotten to the restaurant, they'd missed their reservation, and their table had been given away.

'How long until we can eat?' Booth asked, looking around the bustling restaurant.

The waiter looked over his list on the computer, and then looked out at the crowded room. He turned back to Booth, apologetically.

'I'm sorry, sir. It's been surprisingly busy tonight – I couldn't guarantee you a place for at least another hour,' he said, with a slight Indian accent.

Booth looked at Brennan, who didn't look slightly put out.

'Don't worry about it, Booth – Chinatown is just a few blocks away, and Al told me about the night market last time I was here, but I never got the chance to go and see it.' She tugged at his arm, pulling him away – there was a line forming behind them.

Booth considered her attire – her fancy dress, all the way down to her stiletto heels.

'Sure you're dressed right for a market, Bones?'

'You don't like what I'm wearing?' She asked, and he couldn't quite tell if he was being serious.

'You look beautiful,' he said, just as a large crowd of rowdy student-types walked in, making enough noise so that Booth couldn't be heard.

'What?' She asked, leaning closer to him.

'You look –'he said, leaning towards her so his mouth was inches away from hers. She turned her head, so that her ear was turned towards him –'beautiful.'

She leaned back, grinning at him. 'I know,' she said, letting out a small laugh.

Booth rolled his eyes, pulling her out of the crowded restaurant.

'So, can we eat at this market, then?'

She pulled her cardigan on – there was a slight breeze, and the night had cooled, somewhat.

'Course. And Chinese food is our thing, Booth,' she said, bumping her hip against his.

He smiled. 'Chinese food is everyone's thing, Bones,'

She looked at him, nodding. 'I suppose. But it feels like it's special to us.'

It was Booth's turn to nod. He couldn't really disagree.

.-.-.-.-.

It was crowded outside the entrance, and gaudy Christmas decorations were everywhere. A huge Christmas tree lit up the night, and Brennan and Booth stood before it all, before turning to look at each other, smiling. The air was intoxicating – the smell of food, spices, smoke, and a certain sweetness surrounded them. Thousands of people milled about, murmuring in different languages that combined to form one universal sound.

Booth extended his arm to Brennan, and she linked hers with his. Together, they joined the throng.

.-.-.-.-.

They'd found a food stall which had seats set up under a shelter. It was hardly fine dining, but it was delicious.

'I love markets, Booth,' Brennan said, her face aglow. 'They're so interesting anthropologically, but they're just so... I can't even think of the word, Booth,' she said, pausing to smile at him. 'The atmosphere is so exciting.'

Booth nodded, smiling. He'd never really been so keen on markets. But Brennan's happiness was contagious, and he too was enjoying himself.

They finished their meal, and headed back into the crowd.

Brennan paused at every other market stall, looking at silks, jewellery, trinkets, and even clothing. Booth was happy to tag along, watching her peruse through items, run her hands over the silks. Their arms remained linked – Brennan told herself it was only so they wouldn't lose each other in the crowds – before, almost as though it were a natural progression, Booth felt her hand in his.

It was hardly a momentous event, but it felt like it for both of them. Neither was sure who had taken the other's hand, or why. Neither made any great deal of it. Their conversation continued, and they kept stopping at stalls.

But neither let the other one go.

.-.-.-.-.

She parked the car in the driveway, looking up at the house. The Christmas lights were all on, twinkling at them both.

'It's beautiful, isn't it? I've never really enjoyed Christmas but... it really is beautiful.'

Booth looked at her, unable to hide his smile. 'I'm glad you're coming around to the idea of Christmas, Bones. It's the best time of the year, after all.'

She turned to look at him, smiling. 'I can almost believe that, Booth.'

'Almost?' He asked, as they got out of the car.

'Well, it's still a holiday largely manufactured by corporations, its religious basis is not factual –'

Booth cut her off with a groan. 'Christmas is what you make it, Bones. Family, friends, love, peace on earth. All those good things.'

She nodded, crossing her arms. 'I can see the logic in that,' she said, before heading towards the house. They walked up in relative silence, until they reached the door to their room.

'Did you have a good night, Booth?' She asked, as he reached into his pocket for the keys.

'I had a great night, Bones. One of the best I've had in a very long time,' He said, sincerely. She smiled at him, eyes shining.

'It was a good night, Booth. We should do things together more often,' she said, reaching out to punch his arm.

He grinned, pushing the key into the lock and opening the door. He was about to walk through, put Brennan had taken a hold of the sleeve of his shirt, pulling him back out.

'Bones?' He asked, looking at her. She was pointing up, a small smile on her face.

He looked up, and saw a small Christmas decoration hanging above them.

Mistletoe.

He couldn't help but grin. It looked like Al or Sarah – or both; had decided to play little matchmaking Christmas elves. He shook his head, grinning at Brennan. He was about to turn away to head inside, but was surprised to find her still holding onto his arm.

He looked at her closely, wondering what she was up too.

Does she want me to kiss her?

She let go of him, but remained looking directly at him.

'It's a silly tradition,' she said, rather quietly. 'It has its roots in Scandinavia-'

He cut her off, not really interested in hearing the anthropological history of mistletoe.

'We wouldn't want to bring about bad luck, though, would we?'

She shook her head. 'The tradition of kissing under the mistletoe has nothing to do with bad luck.'

'Still,' he said, leaning towards her – she was only inches away from him now. 'We certainly don't want to break tradition,'

She said nothing, and they remained in that position, inches apart from the other, waiting, as if to work out what the other was thinking, to see who would make the first move.

He leaned further, deciding it was going to be him – before, too his surprise, she found that he had met him halfway.

He'd kissed her before.

But never like this.

Yaaaaay! Consider that my (late) Christmas present to all of you! That's why I wanted to update it again yesterday :P