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Season 12

Booth groaned as he shifted his weight lying on his side of the bed. The jarring pain in his back shot down his leg.

"Daddy!" Christine came bounding into the bedroom.

"Hey Pumpkin, what's up?"

"Mommy told me to come get you. We're putting up the decorations on the tree."

Surprised that Brennan would want him to help with the decorations that year, Booth replied, "You know what? I think you, Mommy and Hank are gonna have to put up the decorations without me this year. Daddy's back hurts too much."

"Ok." Christine looked a tad disappointed but nodded. She pressed a quick kiss to her father's lips. "Feel better soon Daddy."

Booth listened as the little girl's footsteps disappeared down the hall. He could hear the voices of his family and they sounded as if they were having fun without him. Feeling sleepy, Booth soon was lulled into sleep. He woke a short while later to the sound of someone entering the bedroom.

"I didn't mean to wake you Booth. Go back to sleep."

"Nah, it's okay. Tree up?"

"Yes. How are you feeling?"

"Sore. I wish those magic fingers of yours worked this time."

"Bedrest is the best treatment for you now." Brennan gently lowered herself onto the edge of the bed, sitting next to her husband.

"Yeah I shouldn't have tried to squeeze into that small tunnel down the slide with Hank, it's just that I used to be able to do that with Christine."

"You're getting older Booth."

"Great. Just what I needed to hear."

"I'm merely stating a fact. You're growing older, I'm growing older…"

"Why did you ask Christine to come get me since you knew I had to stay in bed?"

"I thought you love this time of year. I thought that perhaps you would have made the effort to join us, you could have watched from the couch."

"I'm just… not in the mood Bones."

"Not in the mood? For Christmas?"

"It's turning out to be a tough one. I know it is for you too Bones. Our first without Max."

Brennan nodded, growing solemn. "We will be missing Parker too. But we still have Hank and Christine who expect it to be the same as they've always known Christmas to be."

"Rebecca knows I always get Parker for Christmas. She had to go plan some Caribbean cruise for them with her new boyfriend."

"She did promise that he would be here in time for the New Year. She's trying to make it up to you by letting him stay for a couple of weeks this time. And soon he will be an adult and he can chose however he wishes to spend Christmas."

"I bet he'll wanna be here."

Brennan smiled. "I'm sure."

"Remember that year when you visited Max in prison?"

"How could I forget? I loved your gift to me."

"I told you I wanted to drive the truck off the bridge?"

"I'm taking it that you're not seriously feeling suicidal."

"I'm just…"

"Feeling like a petulant child?"

"I'm stuck here in bed while the rest of my family get ready for Christmas. My firstborn son can't be here with us, I can't help cook Christmas dinner."

"So you are."

Booth sighed, choosing not to respond. Brennan stood up and Booth groaned, her action causing his back to hurt more again.

"Why don't I get you your painkillers?"

"They make me all loopy."

Brennan turned to go to the kitchen, intending to pour him a glass of water and Booth protested, "Bones!"

"They make you better company. Although I might regret this statement once you start saying things that make no sense."

She returned shortly after, opening the medicine bottle, she poured out two tablets into her palm. She wordlessly handed the medication and the glass to Booth who winced as he sat up. He glared at her before downing the tablets.

"Wait here," Brennan commanded as she disappeared into the their closet.

"Bones, you better not be wearing your Christmas gift to me now. You know I'm in no shape to be makin' love."

Brennan emerged, rolling her eyes at her husband. "The gift I got you this year is not for wearing."

She sat down on the edge of the bed next to Booth. She opened a small box that she had retrieved.

"We're exchanging gifts now?"

"No." Brennan replied. From the box she removed a small object wrapped in paper. Gently she unwrapped it. She smiled as she placed the object into Booth's open palm. "This isn't my gift for you this year."

"Is this?"

"Yes."

"Wow I didn't know you kept it after all this time."

Brennan smiled. "I treasure every gift you give me Booth."

"Yeah but this was so long ago and we moved, I just didn't think…"

"Years ago, you gave this to me in an attempt to convince me that Christmas is worth celebrating with loved ones. You intended to change my mind about the season and I'm sure you know by now that you have succeeded. In fact, you were so successful that I find your current dour demenour about Christmas alarming."

Booth stared at the small object in his palm. He thought back to that fateful day years ago at Wong Foo's. "I can't believe you kept it. I thought you might've thrown it away or something."

"Why would I throw away your first Christmas gift to me?" Brennan pointed to the box on her lap, smiling almost shyly. "Jasper and Brainy Smurf are in here too."

She took his free hand in hers. "We've had a difficult year with what happened at the lab and Max. Doesn't mean we don't celebrate Christmas."

"I wasn't really thinking of not celebrating it, I mean I wouldn't disappoint Hank and Christine."

"Even so, your mood needs some adjustment."

Booth smiled at her as they locked eyes. "I love you so much Temperance Brennan, you know that?"

"I know." She quickly brushed her lips against his before getting up from the bed. "I suggest you try to get some more sleep before the medication starts causing you to annoy me. Hopefully you will be more pleasant company when you wake up."

Brennan reached for the small object in Booth's hand, placing it on the bedside table next to him before leaving the room. Slowly laying back down, Booth turned his head. His gaze fell on the small snow globe. Gingerly he reached for it, shaking it so that the fake snow swirled round the skull that was sitting inside it. Just as slowly he set it back down on the bedside table.

He remembered what his intentions were when he had bought that gift for her. He remembered how hard he had to search for something he thought she might like. Skeletons and Christmas did not mix and it took him some time to find what he wanted to give to her. He smiled to himself, recalling her own admission a few moments ago of how he had succeeded in what he had set out to do twelve years ago.

Some of you wanted to know what Booth gave Brennan that first year. So here it is. Hope this last chapter tied up the stories nicely. Writing and posting 12 chapters continuously is no easy task. Kudos to all the other writers who took part in this year's Christmas challenge.

I'm currently working on a new multi-chapter story, give me some time and I'll be back soon with something new.