Prompt 8: Gingerbread

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Their first Christmas together as a monogamous couple and Brennan wasn't sure what present to buy for Booth. Now that they were more than partners she wanted to show her generosity yet she knew Booth was prickly when it came to money. Most of his money was used to pay bills, child support and to help his Grandfather pay for extras at the nursing home. He also contributed to Parker's college fund, so he had limited resources. She on the other hand, was a famous and wealthy author and she had more than enough money to take care of her needs and yet be able to buy extravagant things if she chose to.

Her partner's pride was going to be an issue, so like most problems she had to tackle she jotted down the pros and cons of various gift ideas until she was able to narrow down the list to what she thought would be acceptable.

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His first Christmas present he'd ever given Brennan had been a Christmas tree and after that every year he managed to find something that he thought she would like. Even when he was with Hannah he had found a silver dolphin necklace that he thought for sure Brennan would like and she had. He'd been a little nervous giving her a present the previous year since their friendship seemed to be so fragile at the time and he hadn't wanted to make her uncomfortable.

It turns out that she had liked the necklace and she had in turn given him a Philadelphia Flyers jacket. His old jacket was getting a little ratty and he'd been happy to replace it. Hannah had a made a few comments about the present, but Booth had ignored them. Hannah had given him a present and it had been okay and he'd told her it was, but she had seemed a little out of sorts about his partner's present. It just confused Booth, after all Brennan was his friend and he didn't get what the problem was.

Now that he and Brennan were officially together, he wanted to buy her something really nice, but what do you buy the gal who can buy anything she wants when she wants it? That was a problem he'd just have to deal with.

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On Christmas morning, Brennan was up early. Carefully leaving their bed, she walked down the hallway into the living room and over to the linen closet. As quietly as possible, she removed her present for Booth from under the spare blankets on the top shelf and carried it over to their Christmas tree. Booth was very nosy and she had been afraid he would shake the present, thus possibly damaging it. Just to be certain he showed the proper respect for its delicacy, she placed a sticker on the wrapped package warning him that she wouldn't be held responsible if he shook it.

The package under the tree, Brennan noticed that there was no present for her. Not really concerned about it, she went back into the kitchen and started the coffee maker.

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Booth had woke up while Brennan moved off of their bed. Feigning sleep, he didn't move until she left their bedroom and closed the door behind her. As quiet as possible, he left the bed and walked over to the closet where he had hidden her present. He had meant to get up earlier that night and place it under the tree, but they had both fallen asleep after a long day running down leads on a case they were working on and presents hadn't really been his top priority when he fell into bed.

Carrying the present over to the bed, he placed it on the mattress for safe keeping while he changed into jeans and a t-shirt. Once he was dressed, he opened the door and smelled coffee brewing. Moving quietly across the living room, he placed his present next to the present that Brennan was giving him. Leaning over, he read the sticker and snorted. Not able to shake a present? Man, what a downer.

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The smell of the coffee tantalizing, Booth entered the kitchen and hurried over to where the coffee was waiting. "Oh Bones, I love your priorities. I need this to finish waking up."

Buttering some toast, Brennan smiled. "I needed it too. I should have made decaf, but I'm really tired this morning. I don't think a small cup of caffeinated coffee will bother the baby."

His mug now in his hand, Booth sipped some of the coffee and enjoyed the taste of Brennan's special fancy blend she bought at Whole Foods. "Mm, great and yeah, I don't think one cup will hurt anything. My Mom swilled coffee when she was pregnant with me and with Jared and we turned out all right."

In a playful mood, Brennan widened her eyes and exclaimed, "The way you can't keep still . . . you're constant moving around and fiddling with things, maybe I shouldn't have drunk that caffeinated coffee after all. I may have damaged our baby."

Opening his mouth and then closing it, Booth placed his cup down and moved closer to Brennan. "Come here you." Taking her into his arms, Booth laughed, "God you are so cute you know that?" Kissing her he felt her lips respond to his and he knew they might be tired, but not too tired. "Um, want to fool around?"

Her hands pushing him away, Brennan laughed. "I want to open my present, Booth."

Booth picked up his coffee mug and finished his drink. "You got it Bones. We'll fool around later when we're really awake."

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Before she opened her present, Booth placed his hand on the wrapped box. "Um . . . okay, look Bones, I may have got a little carried away with the present so . . . um, just go with it okay?"

Her curiosity now ratcheted up, Brennan tried to assure Booth. "Don't worry, Booth. It's the thought that counts not the actual present."

Very nervous, Booth scratched the top of his hand, "Okay, still . . . I wanted to do something special, but it might be too silly and . . ."

Placing her hand on his hand, Brennan shook her head. "It's okay, Booth. I know it's Christmas and you like to do things in a festive manner."

His eyes now locked on the present, Booth licked his bottom lip as she removed the wrapping paper. Once she had the lid off of the box, Brennan looked inside and found a small gingerbread house. "Oh Booth, I've never had one of these before. Thank you so much."

Step one a success, Booth exhaled slowly. "Uh, thanks, but there's more to the present than just the little house. Let me help." Leaning over he pulled the house out of the box and placed it on the coffee table. Taking the now empty box from her hand, he placed it on the floor. "You can open the little door on the house."

Surprised, Brennan pulled the little door and it popped out of the frosting revealing a little ribbon stuck in a dab of frosting on the floor just inside the house. Pulling the ribbon she heard something move. Her curiosity burning through her, she quickly pulled the ribbon until a small flat box appeared. "Oh, what's this?" Once she had the box out of the little house, she opened it and found a silver Celtic Trinity Knot bracelet. "It's lovely Booth." Leaning over she kissed him. "Thank you."

Relieved that she liked it Booth smiled and wiggled his eye brows at her. "It's Celtic and I know you like stuff like that." Proud that he hadn't screwed up, he picked up his Christmas present and forced himself not to shake the box. "It's hard not to shake it, Bones."

Brennan chuckled and watched as he unwrapped his gift.

Once the lid was was open on his present, Booth was stunned to find a man's Rolex watch. "Bones . . . are you kidding me?"

Suddenly nervous, Brennan blurted out, "I know you don't like me to spend a lot of money on you, but I wanted to buy you a very nice watch. I found this watch and I thought it would be alright since it is the cheapest model they sell. It only cost $1999."

The price made him squirm, but Booth realized that if he rejected her present it was going to put a major crimp in Christmas for both of them. "Oh . . . yeah, thank you. This is probably the best present anyone has ever given me, hands down. I mean, wow, Bones. Thanks." Kissing her cheek, Booth warily put it on his wrist and studied it. "It is nice . . . Thanks."

Relieved that he loved the present, Brennan placed her bracelet on her wrist. "I was very worried that you would hate the present. I just wanted to give you something very nice."

Placing his arm around her shoulders, Booth smiled, "And you did, Bones. This is a super nice present and I really appreciate it . . . I just wish I had given you a present as good as the one you gave me."

Her fingers following the design of the bracelet on her wrist, Brennan smiled. "I can truthfully say, besides the Christmas tree you gave me when Dad was in prison this is the best Christmas present anyone has ever given me Booth. It's lovely and it will match those earrings I bought in Dublin last year. I love it."

Pleased and proud that she really liked the present, Booth reached over and picked up the little gingerbread door and bit off a piece. Noticing the look of displeasure that flashed across Brennan's face, Booth swallowed. "What? I'm hungry and you can eat gingerbread houses, Bones. That's part of the fun."

Leaning over and picking up her gingerbread house, Brennan informed him. "It may be edible, but this is the first ginger bread house I've ever owned and I want to enjoy it before you eat it all."

Chuckling, Booth popped the rest of the door in his mouth and chewed. Once he swallowed it, he stood up and followed her over to the dining room table. "I do feel like some kind of a giant eating that door. Kinda cool, Bones. Kinda cool."

Her gingerbread house now sitting in a safe place, Brennan turned and placed her arms around her mate. "Want to fool around?"

Pulling her against him, Booth grinned, "What a question, Bones. Of course I do."

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