"Booth, are you positive this is a good idea?"

Seeley Booth rolls his eyes, continuing to tie his shoelaces as his wife questions whether their family ice skating excursion is a good idea again. It's the fifth time in the last 24 hours. He knows that she's worried about Hank because he's only small but Booth took Parker skating for the first time at his age – Christine, too – and he wants to share the Christmas tradition with his youngest child. He explains this to Brennan, and this time it's her turn to roll her eyes.

"You can still take him skating for the first time," she argues, her eyes wide and imploring as she tries to convince him to see her point of view. "I just think he should be a little older first…"

"But it's Christmas, Bones! It's my favourite time of the year. I always take the kids ice-skating at Christmas!"

"Would it really matter if we skipped one year?"

"Yes," Booth responds, his tone deadly serious as he folds his arms across his chest in an expression of defiance.

"He's only two – what if he falls over and hurts himself?"

"I'll have him. I won't let him fall." Narrowing his eyes at her, he asks the real reason why she doesn't want to go ice-skating.

"I'm just concerned about our son's welfare," she says unconvincingly.

"I know you too well, Bones. Come on. Spit it out."

She falters, then shakes her head. "I don't know what you're talking about."

Standing up from the armchair, he walks over to her at the end of their bed, puts his hands on her shoulders and looks into her eyes. "I'm your husband, you can tell me anything."

She chews on her lower lip, considering his words. "Anything?"

"Anything," he assures her.

"And you promise you won't laugh at me?"

"I swear on my life."

Brennan pauses, squeezing her eyes shut. "This is incredibly difficult to admit as a highly intelligent and multi-talented individual-."

"Bones," he deadpans, levelling her with a stare. "Spit it out, would ya? We've got to get going before the rink gets too busy."

"Fine. I don't want to go skating because I'm terrible at it and I hate it. There."

Booth blinks, then his face falls. "You hate ice-skating?"

"I'm sorry! I know how much it means to you so I just… pretend… and schedule other plans for when you take Christine and Parker."

"You… pretend?" He repeats, his hands dropping from their position on her shoulders.

She instantly feels guilty.

"Perhaps pretend was the wrong choice of word, but, Booth, skating is your thing, does it really matter if I'm not there with you?"

"Of course it does! I wanted it to be a family thing, you know? Me, you and the kids bundled up in our ugly Christmas sweaters skating around on the ice. drinking hot chocolate, snuggling in front of the fire while we watch a Christmas movie in the evening… But if you really hate it then, whatever, none of that even matters. I'll go get Hank ready." His shoulders slump as he leaves their bedroom, making Brennan feel even more guilty.

She honestly didn't mean to hurt him like that. She didn't think he'd mind or that he'd have such a detailed depiction of what their day would be like. Suddenly realizing what she has to do, she changes into her gaudy Rudolph sweater, grabs her hat, coat, scarf and gloves and joins her family in the lounge where Booth is dressing Hank in his hundredth cozy layer and Christine is waiting impatiently.

Upon seeing Brennan, their daughter jumps up excitedly and wraps her little arms around her mom in a tight hug.

Booth catches her eyes over the top of Christine's purple bobblehat and quirks a brow at her wintry attire. Their daughter asks the question for him:

"Are you coming with us, mommy?"

"I am, sweetheart," she confirms, her lips curling up into a smile as she watches her husband's shocked reaction. "You might have to help me out on the ice so I don't fall on my bum, but there's no place I'd rather be than with my three favourite people in the world at Christmas."

A smile grows on Booth's face.

"I'll help you, mommy," Christine chirps, oblivious to the tender moment being shared between her parents. "I'm the best skater in the world, even better than daddy!"

"He said that, did he?" Brennan laughs, her blue eyes twinkling.

"I said no such thing! The only reason you're as good as you are, missy, is because I taught you everything you know."

"Whatever, daddy! Can we go now?"

Booth tugs Hank's Flyers hat over his ears, collects his bag with his skates in (he hates the rented ones at the rink) and the kids' stuff, then lifts his son into his arms and follows his two girls out of the house, over the moon that Brennan changed her mind. It wouldn't have been as special without her.

At the rink they all change into their skates, Brennan triple-checks that Hank and Christine are wrapped up warm enough and then they're ready to rock 'n' roll.

Christine confidently steps out onto the ice first, having done this many times before with Booth. She zooms off in the direction of the rest of the traffic and Brennan is left awe-struck at her daughter's impressive ability.

"Told you she was good," Booth gloats, puffing up his chest. His dream of one of his kids playing in the NHL is very much alive and kicking. Christine is salaaming past the slow skaters, twirling for her enamoured parents as she passes them.

"She's amazing! She might just be better than Dwayne Gretzky, Booth."

He shoots his wife a playful glare. "It's Wayne Gretzky and you know it. C'mon, let's join our little girl. We're kind of in the way stood here."

Brennan's smile fades, replaced by an expression of fear. "Are you sure? I mean, do I have to? I'm perfectly content watching you three enjoy yourselves."

"But we won't enjoy ourselves as much if you're not on the ice with us." He pulls out the puppy dog eyes that she uses so effectively on him, hoping it will win him this argument. "What are you afraid of?"

"Falling, breaking something, grossly disfiguring my face, my fingers getting sliced off by the sharp blades on the skates… Need I go on?"

"Bones, come on, I'm right here. I'm not going to let any of that stuff happen to you. Remember that last time we went skating together? Did I let you fall?"

"No," she replies reluctantly.

"Exactly."

"But you can't hold onto me this time because you've got Hank."

"You can hold onto the barrier, while me and Hank and Tank will take it slow next you, how 'bout that?"

As she mulls it over, Christine glides to a stop in front of them. "Why aren't you skating?" She asks, furrowing her brow. "It's so fun!"

"We're coming now, aren't we, mommy?"

Christine turns her expectant gaze upon Brennan and she can't say no to that look. Swallowing, she says, "yeah, we're coming now. You go ahead, honey."

Beaming, Christine skates away and Booth helps his son take his first (wobbly) steps on the ice, his legs sprawling everywhere in a perfect Bambi impression. Booth steadies him and gently spins them around so they're facing Brennan.

Anxiously, she grips onto the side barrier and places one skate uneasily on the ice and slips, nearly falling flat on her face, but her husband swoops in to save her.

"You OK there, Bones?"

"I… think so…" She grits her teeth and places the other skate on the ice, bent over double as she puts all her weight onto the barrier. Booth keeps a hold of her until she's stable, one hand on Hank, the other around Brennan's waist. Slowly, they begin to skate around the rink, Brennan stumbling a few times but, thanks to Booth and the trusty barrier, she manages to remain on her feet.

"Do you think you can handle this on your own for a while so I can catch up with our superstar?"

Uncertainly, Brennan nods. She doesn't want to hold him back from having a good time with the kids. "Is Hank going with you?" She asks, concern evident in her tone. She doesn't want the two older Booths going too fast for her baby boy and him hurting himself in an attempt to keep up.

"Don't worry, Bones. He's a natural!" He gives her his charm smile, then he and Hank skate away into the distance, leaving Brennan alone to slowly make her way around the rink. They pass her a couple of times going way too fast and she shouts "be careful!" after them, however they continue to skate faster and faster, clearly enjoying themselves. And, Brennan has to admit, she's enjoying watching them, too. They're all wearing matching grins and Hank can't stop giggling happily. Booth even trusts Hank with his big sister so he can take Brennan's hand and skate around with her, too.

"You're happy," she points out, noting his adorable dimples and shining eyes.

"I'm very happy, Bones," he corrects, squeezing her hand. "Thanks for doing this."

A smile creeps onto her face as she glances from her happy husband to her happy children playing together. "You're welcome. And you were right. This… this is perfect."

I actually updated this story! It's a Christmas miracle!

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