A/N: I'd intended to write a long story using 30 words from the Bones Christmas Challenge list, but I'm out of practice and inspiration has eluded me. Instead I settled for a shorter story using half of the words on the list. If I find time, I'll write another story using the other half. I won't bore you with listing which words I used.
This story is set in the present time.
There was one thing everyone in the District of Columbia could agree on, no matter what their political leanings were: the weather was absolutely miserable that Thursday in late December. A nor'easter had blown through town, dropping wind chill temperatures well into the negative range and covering the city with a thick blanket of wet snow.
"Not exactly the best day for those of us who put off our Christmas shopping until the last minute, right?" Booth shuddered as he brushed the snow from his overcoat and then stomped his feet outside the Royal Diner's front door. He considered himself lucky that he'd remembered the heavy boots he had stashed in his 'go bag'. "Not exactly the FBI dress code, but on a day like this, who cares? As Bones would say, it's more logical to pick function over form."
With the weather being so bad around lunch time, he wasn't surprised to find only a few customers in the diner, and so his favorite table was vacant. After asking the server to bring him a burger with fries, a cup of coffee, and a slice of apple pie, he sighed to himself as he watched the snow come down in sheets of heavy white flakes. The freezing rain that had preceded the snowfall had turned ordinary objects, like the parking meters in front of the diner, into sparkling ice sculptures. Soon, however, those icy monuments would probably be almost completely covered with the expected foot of snow as the storm made its way across the city. Thick icicles clung to the awning over the diner's picture window like vicious jagged teeth, as if demonstrating the weather's frozen fury.
"What a day! I might end up needing a horse drawn sleigh to get home…or maybe a Zamboni might be better!" He chuckled sarcastically. "But it's my own damn fault, isn't it? I just couldn't decide what to do…and now I have to go shopping in this mess."
Sipping his coffee, he listened to the Christmas carols playing softly in the background as he considered his little conundrum. "I should've taken care of this earlier…but things kept coming up…and I kept pushing it aside. Now what am I gonna do? I don't want to disappoint Bones. I mean, I guess she'd be okay with me skipping it this year, but I'm not gonna do that. I gotta figure something out…today!"
He grimaced slightly as he stared through the diner's frosted window. It had become somewhat of a tradition for him to buy his Bones a special gift to mark the Christmas holiday. It might be something that seemed ordinary to a casual observer, but because they were so in tune with each other, the true significance of the object would be understood by the two of them.
It had started when he'd set up a Christmas tree for her to enjoy while she visited her father and her brother, who were in jail at the time. She'd been thrilled with his efforts to work out that special gift for her and her family, and her happiness with that silly tree had spurred him on. Every year afterwards, he'd made it his mission to find her something unique, just like their partnership was. He'd even managed to pull off a gift for Bones while he was with Hannah. Of course, Hannah hadn't known about that little item. No need to rock that boat, right? What a coward I was then…
The gift itself didn't have to be anything extravagant. Any small token would work, as long as it somehow symbolized an important aspect of their relationship. Smiling to himself, he nodded as he ate a bite of pie. She'd kept Jasper the Pig and Brainy Smurf for all those years, and even though they weren't Christmas gifts, it was the same idea…they were little trinkets that showed that he listened to her…and just how much he cherished her. It had to be as special as she was...something from him that was just for her.
But now Christmas was only a few days away, and he currently had nothing special to give her in that regard…and, unfortunately, he didn't have the slightest inkling of an idea, either.
How can that be? I don't usually have this trouble, right? But work has snowballed on me this month, hasn't it? One damn thing after another…and I never seem to have a moment's peace to think about anything…
He shook his head in annoyance as he contemplated his plight. He'd come up with several 'regular' gifts to give her, but nothing 'special'...at least nothing to show her just how important she was to him.
He took another sip of his coffee, watching as the large snowflakes piled up on the sidewalk in front of the diner's window. "Man…this might end up being like the last big blizzard we had…geez, was that really fifteen years ago?"
In his mind's eye, he could still see those old stadium seats from the Vet sitting abandoned on that curb, covered with snow and just waiting for someone to claim their prize. It'd been a harebrained scheme…he should've known how hard it'd be to get that row of seats up to his apartment…but in the long run, all the trouble had been worth it. Being stuck in that rickety old elevator with Bones after the power had gone out in his building had forced him to face the issues that still lingered between them after Hannah's departure. Only then, after talking things through, were he and Bones able to move on…together…
Suddenly he remembered something he'd seen in a shop window on his way to the diner. It was perfect…exactly what he wanted. Glancing at his watch, he wondered if he'd have enough time to stop on his way back to the office, but he soon decided that this was an urgent issue, and he'd make the necessary time. After all, he was the Special Agent in Charge…he was allowed a little flexibility in his schedule.
After paying his bill, he rushed out of the diner, pulling his overcoat close against the sharp, swirling wind. No matter how much time he had to get back to the office, he was worried that the weather would cause the shopkeeper to close her business soon, and he couldn't take that chance. He had to get there that afternoon. He couldn't wait any longer!
He walked down the street as fast as he dared in the icy conditions, only stopping to put some money in the Salvation Army kettle on the corner. The ringing bell of the attendant seemed to urge him on…hurry…hurry…or it'll be gone…hurry, hurry…
He reached the small shop's front door just in time to see the woman flip the sign from OPEN to CLOSED. Without hesitating, he caught her eye and pointed at the window. Arching her eyebrow in surprise, she opened the door slightly. "I'm closed because of the weather…"
"Yeah, I get it, but I want to buy that…" He pointed to an object in the front of the display case. "You don't have to wrap it or anything like that. C'mon…it'll only take a few minutes, right?" Seeing her indecision, he deployed the sad puppy eyes normally reserved for Bones and then flashed his official badge. "Consider it a favor for one of your country's finest, okay? My wife will love it…and anyway, I'm already here…so whadd'ya say? Can you spare me five minutess? Please?"
The woman rolled her eyes, recognizing the desperation of a man who'd waited until the last minute to do his Christmas shopping. "Oh, alright." She quickly let him in and then locked the door. "But we need to hurry. My husband is already worried about me getting home safely. I can't wait much longer to leave."
"No problem." Handing her his credit card, he grinned. "Thanks. I appreciate it."
"You're welcome." Wrapping the object carefully in tissue paper, she placed it in a large gift bag and handed it to him. "Be careful going home…and Merry Christmas!"
"Merry Christmas to you, too." Waving, he grinned happily as she let him out of the store. "And safe travels, too."
Gripping the handle tightly, he smiled happily as he made his way back to the Hoover with his treasure. Christmas was going to be wonderful this year…
Oooooooooo
It was late evening on Christmas Eve. The kids were in bed, and there was a brief respite of calm before the excitement of Christmas Day.
Sighing in contentment, Booth put his arm around his wife's shoulders as they sat on the couch together. "You know what?," he began, pulling her closer. "In some ways I think this time right here is the best part of the holidays."
"Really?" Surprised, Brennan regarded him with curiosity. "Why? I thought you liked all the bustle, noise, and preparations that lead up to Christmas Day the most."
"I do enjoy that, but when it's all over and Christmas is here…and we can sit in the quiet of our own house and enjoy each other's company…just the two of us…all warm and cozy as we sit by the fire…I guess it doesn't get much better than this. I mean, I enjoy watching our kids open their gifts and having our Christmas party, but you know…spending time alone with you…it's amazing…"
She gave him a knowing grin. "I think you're feeling that warm, cozy glow because you're enjoying the twenty year old scotch I got for you…"
"Nah." He waggled an eyebrow at her. "C'mon, Bones…you know you always make me happy, even without the scotch. It's just better on Christmas Eve, I guess." Pulling his arm away from her, he hushed her protests. "Just a minute, okay? I'll be right back…"
She pouted slightly as she waited for his return. When he came back into the room, she pretended to be annoyed. "What took you so long?"
He held up a large shopping bag. "I had to get this out of its hiding place."
"What hiding place?"
"I can't tell you, Bones! I don't want you to snoop!" He chuckled as her lower lip protruded slightly. "Here…look inside…but unwrap it carefully…"
She gently pulled the tissue paper away and held the object up to inspect it. "Oh, Booth…it's beautiful!"
It was a large snow globe, filled with glitter and tiny pearly flakes that wafted over the miniature village that sat under the crystal dome. She shook it slowly and watched the flakes fall again over the houses and trees. "I love it."
"Look…" Booth carefully took the globe from her and showed her some buttons on the bottom of the ornate gilded base. "...you can put a battery in here and a little fan makes the snowflakes constantly circulate…and it plays music, too. Listen…" He pressed a button and the tinkling notes of Let it Snow were soon heard.
Brennan was fascinated with her gift. Taking it in her hands, she shook it again. "It's so peaceful to watch the snow fall, isn't it? And look at all the fabulous details on the buildings…and there are carolers! And children playing in the snow with their dog! And a snowman! It's like I can almost imagine being there…it's almost like visiting a different place and time. It's…it's an amazing gift. Thank you so much!" She paused with an expectant expression on her face. After being with him all these years, she knew he must have a special meaning attached to her present, especially since it was something she hadn't expected at all.
"Yeah…well…" Booth cleared his throat. "...I'm glad you like it so much." Shrugging, he grinned. "I know it must seem kinda random for me to get you a snow globe, but…well, I was sitting at the diner last Thursday, watching all that snow come down…and then I remembered when we were stuck in the elevator during the last blizzard. Can you believe that was fifteen years ago?" Seeing Brennan shake her head, he nodded. "Yeah…me neither. Anyway, I was thinking about that day, and suddenly I realized that miserably cold and snowy day was actually a great day for me…it was actually a major turning point in my life. Who knows how long it would've taken me to get around to talking to you about all the stuff we needed to discuss if we hadn't been stuck in that goddamn elevator? I might've avoided it for weeks or months…"
Brennan giggled. "I don't think Sweets would've let you wait that long without hounding you to death…"
"Maybe not…but the point is this…that day marked a new beginning for us, okay? We could finally move forward with the idea of being together eventually, right? And so…" He pointed to the snow globe in his wife's hands. "...I thought this gift would be a good reminder that no matter what kind of blizzards we face in our future, we can handle them, as long as we're together."
They sat in silence for a minute or two until Booth coughed softly. "I guess that's kinda lame…"
Brennan smiled as she took his hand. "On the contrary, Booth…I'm quite overwhelmed by how romantic this gift is, and the meaning behind it." She kissed him tenderly. "I think it's the best gift you've ever given me!"
"It is?" He pretended to be horrified. "Man…how am I gonna top that next year?"
"I guess you'll just have to figure that out when the time comes." Rising from the sofa, Brennan held out her hand. "Come on…we need to find just the right spot for my snow globe in our bedroom."
"Hmmm…" Booth gave her a silly grin as he pulled her into his embrace. "I hope that doesn't take too long. I was looking forward to doing other things in our bedroom this evening…"
She rolled her eyes at him. "You're a very bad boy, Agent Booth. Santa Claus may not come to see you tonight!"
"That's okay, Bones. If I have you, I don't need any more presents!"
Thanks for reading! If you have time to review, I'd appreciate it. Happy holidays to all! Laura