When Life Intrudes on Fiction

How I've spent 2009!....

2009-01-07T12:46:19Z

Over the last few days, I've seen quite a few people on my friendslist doing these kind of posts, and I figure it'd be interesting at the end of the year to see just how much I've watched, read, created, gigged and travelled. So here's my take on the stuff of 2009 post.

[Television]

   001. Demons 1.01 - 'They Bite'
   002. 24 7.01 - '8:00a.m - 9:00a.m'
   003. 24 7.02 - '9:00a.m - 10:00a.m'
   004. Bones 4.10 - 'The Passenger in the Oven'
   005. Cold Case 3.17 - 'Superstar'
   006. Bones 4.11 - 'The Bones that Blew'
   007. Scrubs 6.01 - 'My Mirror Image'
   008. Scrubs 6.02 - 'My Best Friend's Baby's Baby and My Baby's Baby'
   009. Scrubs 6.03 - 'My Coffee'
   010. Walker Texas Ranger 9.05 - 'Winds of Change'
   011. Scrubs 6.04 - 'My House'
   012. Scrubs 6.05 - 'My Friend with Money'
   013. Scrubs 6.06 - 'My Musical'
   014. Scrubs 6.07 - 'His Story IV'
   015. Scrubs 6.08 - 'My Road to Nowhere'
   016. Scrubs 6.09 - 'My Perspective'
   017. Being Human 1.01
   018. Torchwood 1.01 - 'Everything Changes'
   019. Short Stay in Switzerland - 1/1
   020. Scrubs 6.10 - 'My Theraputic Month'
   021. Bones 4.13 - 'Fire in the Ice'
   022. Scrubs 6.11 - 'My Night to Remember'
   023. White Chapel - 1/3
   024. Being Human 1.02
   025. Scrubs 6.12 - 'My Fishbowl'
   026. Scrubs 6.13 - 'My Scrubs'
   027. Being Human 1.03
   028. Bones 4.12 - 'Double Trouble in the Pan Handle'
   029. Bones 4.14 - 'The Hero in the Hole'
   030. Bones 2.07 - 'The Girl with the Curl'
   031. Bones 2.08 - 'The Woman in the Sand'
   032. Scrubs 6.14 - 'My No Good Reason'
   033. Numb3rs 5.15 - 'Guilt Trip'
   034. Being Human 1.04
   035. Scrubs 6.15 - 'My Long Goodbye'
   036. Scrubs 6.16 - 'My Word of Wisdom'
   037. Scrubs 6.17 - 'Their Story'
   038. Doctor Who 2.12 - 'Army of Ghosts'
   039. Scrubs 6.18 - 'My Turf War'
   040. Scrubs 6.19 - 'My Cold Shower'
   041. Red Dwarf 7.03 - 'Ouroboros'
   042. Red Dwarf 7.04 - 'Duct Soup'
   043. Law and Order UK 1.01 - 'Care'
   044. Being Human 1.05
   045. Scrubs 6.20 - 'My Conventional Wisdom'
   046. Scrubs 6.21 - 'My Rabbit'
   047. Bones 4.15 - 'The Princess and the Pear'
   048. Bones 6.22 - 'My Point of No Return'
   049. Being Human 1.06
   050. Cold Case 3.02 - 'The Promise'
   051. Bones 1.01 - Pilot
   052. Cold Case 3.06 - 'Saving Patrick Bubley'

[Webisodes]

   001. Being Human - 'Mitchell'
   002. Being Human - 'Annie'
   003. Being Human - 'George'

[Movies]

   001. Underworld (2003)
   002. P.S I Love You (2007)
   003. Role Models (2008)*
   004. Underworld Evolution (2006)
   005. Underworld: Rise of the Lycans (2009)*
   006. Cass (2008)
   007. Rock n Rolla (2008)
   008. Seven Pounds (2008)
   009. The Punisher: War Zone (2008)*
   010. Friday the 13th (2009)*
   011. The Unborn (2009)*
   012. Juno (2007)
   013. Rec (2007)
   014. Drop Dead Fred (1991)
   015. WALL-E (2008)
   016. Watchmen (2009)*

[Books]

[Fanfiction]

   001. In a Festive Lesbian Manner by babydykecate [Bones, Angela/Brennan, PG]
   002. Amber and Steal by love_jackianto [Torchwood, Owen, G]
   003. Diver Down by lostakasha [Bones, Jack/Angela, PG-13]
   004. Angie at Dawn (Just Like Nicky Hopkins) by lostakasha [Bones, Jack/Angela, PG-13]
   005. Denial by lostakasha [Bones, Jack/Angela (Jack/Other, Angela/Other), PG-13]
   006. Heart Shaped Box by cindergal [BtVS, Anya, G]
   007. Meet Cute by sinkwriter [Bones/NCIS (crossover), Jack/Abby, G]
   008. The Reality of Living by accordingtomel [Bones, Zack/Hodgins (friendship), Cam/Hodgins (friendship), mentions of Jack/Angela, PG-13]
   009. This Moment is Eternity by tocourtdisaster [Bones, Zach, PG]

[Graphic Novels and Comics]

   001. The Dresden Files: Welcome to the Jungle by Jim Butcher

[Creations]

[Giggings, Theatre Goings and Conventions]

   001. Jake Flowers, Delta Maid, Joe Gallagher, Mellow Peaches [Little Civic, Wolverhampton, 8th Feb]

[Travellings]
(I've decided that here, I'm going to record any location, that isn't Wolverhampton, and that I was in for more than a day)

   001. Derby [22nd Jan - 23rd Jan] - C's graduation

Snap - Bones (Jack/Angela)

2008-10-17T11:24:46Z

Title: Snap
Author: willowwood
Rating: G
Fandom: Bones
Pairing/Characters: Jack Hodgins, Angela Montenegro.
Dedication: For callieach, just because.
Disclaimer: If I owned Bones, I probably wouldn't have to write this drabble lol.
Prompt: #64 – Sharp (tv_100)
Summary: A little something inspired by the final Jack/Angela scene at the end of 4.01 - Yanks in the UK (So obviously spoilers for that ep!).

Snap

He'd forgotten how hard it affected him sometimes.

Life. Love. Loss. All the day to day mishaps you're sure are aimed directly at you, despite your better judgement.

And why?

Cause she came along and changed everything. Everyone.

Especially him.

From day one she made the lab a brighter place. Before her the victims were just that. Victims. They didn't have histories, or personalities. They didn't smile with toothless grins, and freckled cheeks. Didn't mean much more to any of them, than a case number, a murder weapon and a handful of various particulates.

As for him? He was nothing more than a raving conspiracy nut, with a bad temper and an endless chain of unsuccessful relationships. She changed that too, or so he'd thought.

Then suddenly there was the unexpected muttering of questions and accusations. The sound of retreating footsteps, echoing a sway of hips he knows all too well and just like that it all came crashing back to him with a snap.

Snap.

Snap.

Eventually the sharp sting against the inside of his wrist dulls to nothing more than a constant throbbing, a numbness reminiscent to the one he's desperately trying to ignore. The one that keeps telling him he's just let the best thing that's ever happened to him walk away without so much as a backwards glance.

The End

Friends Cut!

2008-08-14T23:55:10Z

Ok guys, so I’ve been meaning to do this post for what feels like forever now and after just working my way through yet another batch of 800+ posts or so, and bookmarking over half of them, I definitely thought it was time to bite the bullet and get it out of the way......Yes I’ve done a friends-cut, like I said it's something I’ve been meaning to do for a while now because in all honesty, what with having two jobs, wanting to keep in touch with my really close friends, and still being a little sociable I just don’t have the time anymore to read so many posts on a daily basis, and even less time to comment on them. As those of you who know me well, will already know, I really am kinda anal in the fact that I just can’t ignore a post – seriously! even if it’s something I’m not even all that interested in I’ll still read it and I honestly do read every single post over on my f-page eventually...even if it does turn out to be months after it was originally posted. Therefore, the only way I can see to rectify this, and to stop myself from not actually being able to comment on the posts I am interested in, is by getting rid of the ones that perhaps aren’t as important to me anymore.

Don’t get me wrong it’s totally nothing personal, and it’s mostly just communities I’ve gotten rid of, but if it does turn out that I have cut you it’s mostly cause we just haven’t talked for ages, or our interests have diverged severely to the point where we don’t really have anything to talk about anymore.

Nevertheless, if you do discover that I have cut you and yet still have an overwhelming urge to want to stay put then why don’t you leave me a message and I’ll no doubt add you back. Similarly, unfortunately some of you are stuck with me *laughs maniacally* cause even if our interests have diverged, maybe I just love readings your posts to damn much to get rid of you lol, and if that is the case and you would rather not stick around then again leave me a message and we can negotiate deletion lol.

"Unfinished" - Bones (Angela Montenegro, Jack Hodgins, Jack/Angela)

2008-08-13T21:30:53Z

Title: Unfinished.
Author: willowwood
Fandom: Bones
Character(s)/Pairing: Jack/Angela
Rating: PG
Words: 719
Disclaimer: Not in this lifetime.
Spoilers: Minor references to 1.17: The Skull in the Desert but nothing major-ly spoiler-ish…I don't think.
Authors Notes: Yet again this was originally intended for the prompt, of the same name, over at tv_100 but we all know how those turn out now don't we *heads desk*
Summary: "…I guess…this is just one of those times when something goes unfinished, and we'll never know how it was supposed to turn out-"

Unfinished

"If Wishes Were Horses." - Bones (Angela Montenegro)

2008-06-17T20:35:53Z

Title: If Wishes Were Horses.
Author: willowwood
Fandom: Bones
Character(s)/Pairing: Angela Montenegro
Rating: PG
Words: 590
Disclaimer: Not in this lifetime.
Spoilers: Set during Episode 3.15 – The Pain in the Heart.
Authors Notes: With many thanks to callieach for making it look as though I know what I'm doing ;) ;) ;) *massive hugs*
Summary: “She wishes that she would wake up tomorrow and this would be nothing more than a horrible nightmare”.

If Wishes Were Horses.

A sucker for punishment? why yes I am.

2008-06-16T21:53:33Z

Ok so considering my muse is currently being co-operative and I actually managed to accomplish something like sixteen things on my 'list of stuff to do' this weekend, I guess I figure what’s a few more things to have to work on? lol. Besides I've been meaning to post this first Meme for ages!

Meme #1:

Give me one of my own stories, and a timestamp sometime in the future after the end of the story, or sometime in the past before the story started, and I'll write you at least a hundred words of what happened then, whether it's five minutes before the story started or ten years in the future.

[If you need a reminder of my fics you can find them: here (Bones), here (Torchwood), here (Btvs), here (AtS) and here (Tempe Brennan Novels)]

and

Meme #2:

I will write a drabble ~~(100 words exactly)~~/ficlet for the ~~first ten~~ people who comment and asks for one. In return, you must post this in your journal--if you feel so inclined. You may request the genre, character and/or pairing or just a word/phrase/situation - though I can't promise I will write them in a relationship - for the following fandoms:

i. Bones
ii. Torchwood
iii. BtVS
iv. AtS
v. Tempe Brennan Novels
vi. Original Fiction
vii. Or if you know of something else I love/watch/read and would like me to write something for that, feel free to make a suggestion...after all the worst thing I can do is say 'No Way!' right? ;) ;) ;)

Also if you feel so inclind, why don't you go and revisit this meme and give me another letter to work with?

*bats eyelashes*

"The Benefits of Misconception. " - Bones (Angela Montenegro, Jack Hodgins, Jack/Angela)

2008-06-15T15:23:14Z

Title: The Benefits of Misconception.
Author: willowwood
Fandom: Bones
Character(s)/Pairing: Angela Montenegro, Jack Hodgins, Jack/Angela
Rating: PG
Words: 611
Disclaimer: Not in this lifetime.
Spoilers: None, set somewhere mid-S1.
Authors Notes: So considering Jack’s reaction to a certain Agent Frost during The Soccer Mom in the Mini-Van, I have to admit that this is probably the last fic I thought I’d write for the prompt ‘Agent’. Nevertheless, who am I to argue with a currently enthusiastic and co-operative muse, and begrudge all you Hodgela shippers some shameless unadulterated fluff? Written for the wonderful callieach who gave me the prompt ‘Agent’ over here.
Summary: An FBI fundraiser suddenly gets a lot more interesting for Jack.

The Benefits of Misconception

"Now Arriving at Gate 4B" - Bones (Angela Montenegro, Jack Hodgins, Jack/Angela)

2008-06-15T12:43:10Z

Title: Now Arriving at Gate 4B
Author: willowwood
Fandom: Bones
Character(s)/Pairing: Angela Montenegro, Jack Hodgins, Jack/Angela
Rating: PG
Words: 1,909
Disclaimer: I wish!
Spoilers: Minor associations to Episode 1.17 – The Skull in the Desert, but nothing really spoilery if by some strange twist of fate you haven’t actually seen that episode yet.
Summary: Five times Jack picks Angela up from the airport.

Now Arriving at Gate 4B

"Eyes are the Windows..." - Bones (Angela Montenegro, Jack Hodgins, Jack/Angela)

2008-05-27T22:57:56Z

Title: Eyes are the Windows...
Author: willowwood
Fandom: Bones
Character(s)/Pairing: Angela Montenegro, Jack Hodgins, Jack/Angela
Rating: PG
Words: 354
Disclaimer: Oh yeah I totally own TJ Thyne’s eyes! They’re in a jar in my bedroom along with the Doctor’s hand that I stole from Captain Jack Harkness.
Spoilers: Minor spoilers for ‘The Pain in the Heart’
Authors Notes: So I was really hoping that I’d be able to write the other idea I’ve got for a post 3.15 fic today but I ended up writing this instead. It’s inspired by and was, yet again, originally intended for the tv_100 challenge, for the prompt ‘Blue’ but my muse doesn’t want to write what I want it to write just lately, nor can it write anything shorter than 300 words, apparently.
Summary: A little insight into Jack from Angela’s perspective. It’s all in the eyes.

Eyes are the Windows...

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"'It's Nothing'" - Torchwood (Gwen/Rhys, Gwen/Owen)

2008-05-14T20:46:58Z

Title: It’s Nothing
Author: willowwood
Fandom: Torchwood
Character(s)/Pairing: Gwen Cooper, Gwen/Rhys, Gwen/Owen
Rating: PG-13
Words: 392
Disclaimer: I don’t own this show; I just have it taking over my life right now.
Spoilers: Set post 1.06 – Countrycide.
Authors Notes: This was originally intended for the tv_100 challenge ‘Nothing’ but, as is usually the case when I try to write for these kinds of things I ended up going over the word limit by about 130-ish words lmao, and couldn’t bring myself to edit it. Therefore, you’re getting it in all its glory. Enjoy!
Summary: ‘The lies roll of her tongue almost as if she believes them herself’

It all became so easy...

Yay! I FINALLY have Gwen/Owen icons! *does happy dance*

Burn - Bones (Jack/Angela)

2008-03-18T23:15:52Z

Title: Burn
Author: willowwood
Rating: G
Fandom: Bones
Pairing/Characters: Angela Montenegro, Jack Hodgins, Temperance Brennan.
Disclaimer: If I owned Bones, somebody else would be writing this drabble.
Prompt: #35 – Burn (tv_100)
Summary: Jack gives Angela a little comfort when she needs it the most. (post 1.17 – The Skull in the Desert)

Burn

"Confessions, Regrets and Invitations." - Bones (Jack/Angela)

2008-03-15T22:42:12Z

Title: Confessions, Regrets and Invitations.
Author: willowwood
Fandom: Bones
Characters: Jack Hodgins, Angela Montenegro.
Challenge: 50scenes
Prompt: Table #5, #032 – Regret
Word Count: 1,471
Rating: G
Summary: Jack finally finds out what’s wrong with Angela.
Authors Notes: A companion piece to, and yet another scene following the story line that was established during ‘Listening In’ and ‘It’s Just a Bug...or Something’.
Disclaimer: I do not own this show, or these characters. I wish I did, but I don’t.

Confessions, Regrets and Invitations.

"It’s Just a Bug...or Something" - Bones (Jack/Angela)

2008-03-14T23:26:38Z

Title: It’s Just a Bug...or Something
Author: willowwood
Fandom: Bones
Characters: Jack Hodgins, Angela Montenegro.
Challenge: 50scenes
Prompt: Table #5, #29 – Waiting
Word Count: 821
Rating: G
Summary: Jack’s worried about Angela.
Authors Notes: A companion piece to, and yet another scene following the story line that was established during ‘Listening In’.
Disclaimer: I do not own this show, or these characters. I wish I did, but I don’t.

It's Just a Bug...or Something

2 JM Wallpapers + Variants

2008-03-10T22:59:08Z

Just a few simple designs I threw together. Enjoy!

Follow ~~the yellow brick road~~ me for more

"Listening In" - Bones (Jack/Angela)

2008-03-10T22:15:23Z

Title: Listening In
Author: willowwood
Fandom: Bones
Characters: Jack Hodgins, Angela Montenegro, Temperance Brennan
Challenge: 50scenes
Prompt: Table #5, #31 - Watch
Word Count: 471
Rating: G
Summary: Jack overhears a conversation between Brennan and Angela.
Authors Notes: This is the first part of a series of scenes based around the same storyline.
Disclaimer: I do not own this show, or these characters. I wish I did, but I don’t.

Listening In

"Cherry Coke" - Tempe Brennan Novels (Brennan/Ryan)

2008-02-24T17:38:23Z

Title: Cherry Coke
Author: willowwood
Fandom: Temperance Brennan Novels
Character(s)/Pairing: Temperance Brennan/Andrew Ryan
Rating: PG
Words: 276
Disclaimer: Please, how many world renowned Forensic Anthropologists, with 10 published novels and a TV series based on their life, do you think are spending their weekends posting fanfiction.
Authors Notes: Written for the prompt ‘Cherry’ that callieach gave to me over here. Takes place about half way through the most recent novel Bones to Ashes, and is dedicated to the one person I’m hoping will enjoy reading this as much as I’ve actually enjoyed trying to get it right.
Summary: “That was all they had left” his tone was neutral – the same kind of tone I was quickly realising I was going to have to get used to.

‘Cherry Coke’

"Valentine's Day." - Bones (Jack/Angela)

2008-02-23T21:41:31Z

Title: Valentine’s Day
Author: willowwood
Fandom: Bones
Character(s)/Pairing: Jack Hodgins/Angela Montenegro
Rating: PG
Words: 495
Disclaimer: If I owned this show then it’s likely you’d be watching this on screen, not reading it in some off the cuff piece of fanfiction.
Authors Notes: So what started off as semi-belated-pointless-Valentine’s-Day-fluff, is now very-belated-pointless-Valentine’s-Day-fluff, but then I figure we all need a bit of that sometimes so here you go. With thanks to callieach for the spur of the moment beta *hugs*
Summary: “So you’re telling us that the guy who brought you a bottle of perfume worth three thousand dollars, and wrote you a love message using fish bacteria, didn’t get you anything for Valentine’s Day?”

Valentine’s Day

"You never lose by loving. You always lose by holding back." - Bones (Jack/Angela)

2008-02-07T23:36:57Z

Title: "You never lose by loving. You always lose by holding back."
Author: willowwood
Character(s)/Pairing(s): Jack Hodgins, Jack/Angela (hints of Jack/Clarrisa)
Rating: PG
Words: 1,213
Summary: Jack's learned from experience.
Authors Notes: Written for the second ficathon over at bugs_n_slime.
Prompt: "You never lose by loving. You always lose by holding back." - Barbara De Angelis
Disclaimer: Not mine, not now, not ever.

'You never lose by loving. You always lose by holding back.'

"A Very Merry Unbirthday to Me......."

2008-02-06T21:30:49Z

So I know that this is like a week and a half late, but at the risk of repeating myself were I to reply to you all individually, I just want to say a HUGE THANK YOU! to everybody who sent me birthday wishes last week. Not to mention those of you who took the time to send cards, picspams and presents (both real and virtual). I really do appreciate it!

I ♥ you guys!

Wil xx

"The Things We Do For Love" - rpf! (TJ Thyne/Michaela Conlin)

2008-02-01T23:17:24Z

Title: The Things We Do For Love
Author: willowwood
Fandom: RPF
Character(s)/Pairing: TJ Thyne/Michaela Conlin
Rating: PG
Words: 800
Disclaimer: If I knew either of these wonderful actors in person, I'd get them to act this out instead of just writing it ;) ;)
Authors Notes: Work + 3 hours + 12 large post-it notes = This fic! Or in other words I think my brain is rebelling against me writing Torchwood fic. Based on the S1 blooper reel *points to icon*
Summary: So why did TJ walk across the Bones set wearing nothing but his underwear and a satchel?

The Things We Do For Love

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"'Well No One Else Will Have Me'" - Torchwood (Gwen/Owen)

2008-02-01T00:16:51Z

Title: 'Well No One Else Will Have Me'
Author: willowwood
Fandom: Torchwood
Character(s)/Pairing: Gwen Cooper, Owen Harper (hints of Gwen/Owen)
Rating: PG-13
Words: 534
Disclaimer: I do not own Torchwood, anything you recognise within this fic belongs to RTD and the BBC.
Spoilers: Set between S1 and S2, minor references to 2.01 - 'Kiss Kiss, Bang Bang'
Authors Notes: A moment of pure insanity (at 6 o'clock in the morning). Hope you enjoy it.
Summary: Gwen tells Owen that she's engaged.

Well No One Else Will Have Me

"Long After" - Bones (Jack/Angela)

2007-12-27T01:26:13Z

callieach and I have opened a joint creative community called fandomjunkies which is where we'll both be posting all of our fics, graphics, and anything else that fuels our junkie hearts, from now on and apparently when you do something like that it kicks your muse into gear and encourages it to finish fic's that have been sitting on your desktop for the past 5 months or so. That is why it appears I'll be posting two fics in one day, well technically it's two days but considering I'm yet to go to bed, I'm counting it as one. Again enjoy! And don't forget to add fandomjunkies to your friendslists, go on you know you want to =D.

Title: Long After
Author: willowwood
Fandom: Bones
Character(s)/Pairing: Angela Montenegro/Jack Hodgins
Rating: PG-13
Words: 1,496
Disclaimer: If I owned this show, do you honestly think I'd kill off one of my all time favourite characters?
Warnings: Slightly AU, and contains character death.
Authors Notes: Fics are inspired by many things, this one just happens to be inspired by a dream that my good friend (and co-maintainer of fandomjunkies) callieach had and told us about here.
Summary: There's a tragic accident, during Zach's first driving lesson.

Long After

"Abandoned by Fate" - Bones (Jack/Angela)

2007-12-26T20:21:03Z

Title: Abandoned by Fate
Author: willowwood
Character(s)/Pairing: Angela Montenegro/Jack Hodgins
Rating: PG
Words: 2,530
Disclaimer: If I owned this show, something like this could have very possibly happened.
Authors Notes: Yeah, so this very possibly falls under the category of 'pointless holiday fluff' rotflmao, which is probably made worse by the fact that it's technically a day late to fall into the festive season but still, my muse is a temperamental little soul and I have to take and post what she's offering. Enjoy!
Summary: '"After all we've both been abandoned by fate-" she joked, worrying briefly if her tone sounded as hopeful to Jack as it did to her "-and it'd be insane for both of us to have to cook a dinner, and spend the day alone-"'

Abandoned by Fate

Sitting at the bar, staring down the neck of the same bottle of beer he'd been nursing for the past two hours or so, wondering whether this Christmas could possibly get any worse, the last person Jack had expected to walk into Wong Foo's that night - the evening of Christmas Day - was Angela. Hell he hadn't even expected to end up there himself tonight.

He watched as she stood in the archway, eyes slowly scanning the surprisingly crowded bar. Gone was the ensemble of regular clothes and the previous day's elf costume she'd been wearing earlier that day, now replaced by tight fitting jeans, barely visible between knee high boots and a three-quarter length coat, and topped off by a matching hat and scarf that were covered in a generous amount of melting snow. After a moment her gaze came to rest on him, her pink tinged cheeks quickly lifting into a relieved smile as she made her way towards him, pulling off her hat and scarf in the process.

"Hodgins am I glad to see you!" she exclaimed with a sigh, climbing up onto the stool besides him "My cars broken down a couple of blocks over and I've come here in the hope of maybe finding Brennan or at the very least a phone so that I can use to call her and ask her if she'll come and pick me up-" She immediately began to explain dumping her hat and scarf onto the bar in front of her, before eventually stuffing them in to the bag she'd haphazardly rested on her lap "Of course I would have called her with my cell if the stupid thing hadn't died half way through the mechanic telling me he wouldn't be able to come and pick my car up until tomorrow morning at the earliest" as she continued to ramble, she pulled out the cell phone in question and glanced at it's screen as though hoping it had somehow miraculously come back to life. When it was clear the screen still remained a blank she tossed it back into her bag, along with her hat and scarf "and so…." She continued finally stopping for a breath and turning to look at him, a somewhat sheepish smile pulling at the edge of her lips "considering that you're already here, how about you give me a lift back to my place?"

Jack's brow wrinkled in confusion as his mind quickly tried to process everything the artist had just unloaded, eventually as Angela's brow raised in anticipation he couldn't help but chuckle "Hey Angela-" he greeted, the confusion he was feeling clearly evident in his voice "-you know if you hadn’t already wished me Merry Christmas once today, I might actually be offended"

"What?-" she asked suddenly looking as confused as he still felt, eventually her faced softened and she smiled, seemingly embarrassed, as she suddenly realised what she'd done "-Oh! Hey Jack!" her hand came up and she gently pressed two fingers against her temple, before moving away and batting at the air off-headedly "-I'm sorry, it just really has been one of those days, you know?" at his raised brows she added "…Well more like three days huh?"

"Oh yeah!" Jack agreed taking a drink.

"So about that lift?"

He tuned to look at her "Oh yeah, sure, just let me finish up" he waggled the still full bottle to emphasis his point. The artist nodded, smiling "Yeah, sure, no rush, not like I have anywhere better to be" Jack couldn't help but recognise the smallest hint of a sigh in her tone.

As the two of them slowly settled into a comfortable silence, another figure on the other side of the counter approached them, this one baring a steaming cup of something clasped between there hands "A cup of HoCho for my favourite artist" Sid greeted placing the cup in front of Angela.

"Thank You" she greeted instantly, a huge smile spreading across her features as she wrapped both of her hands around the ceramic mug "There has got to be at least eight inches of snow outside, and it's still falling. After walking two whole blocks I am freezing!" As she lifted the cup up to her lips, she paused, suddenly smelling a distinct aroma of something other than just the cocoa powder "Just hot chocolate?" she asked with a sceptical brow.

The bar tender smirked, spreading his arms in front of himself innocently, the Santa hat perched crookedly on top of his head adding to the imagery "A Wong Foo's special recipe to warm the Christmas Spirit" he explained.

Nevertheless after what she'd already experienced that Christmas, Angela still remained sceptical her brow raised until she took a sip of the steaming liquid, and suddenly felt as though she was melting from the instant warmth that encompassed her. Jack, on the other hand, couldn't help but smile as Sid smirked and tipped his head in the, now relaxed, artists direction before leaving the two of them alone once more, clearly pleased with himself.

As the two of them once again were slowly beginning to fall into silence, the only sounds belonging to the unmistakable jingle of Christmas songs flowing from the speakers above them, and the distinct chatter of the people spread around the room, Jack cast a sideways glance at his co-worker "I thought you were spending today with your dad?" he asked curiously, watching as Angela placed her cup back onto the counter, both hands still eagerly soaking up it's warmth. The instant her already sombre expression dropped even more he quickly found himself regretting his urge to start a conversation.

"I did, but he's got a concert in Australia over New Years, which was why I was supposed to be spending the day with him yesterday-" the disappointment in her tone is palpable "-after what happened at the lab, he postponed his flight to as late as possible, but tonight was the only one they had left available-" her hands tighten on the mug "-I was actually on my way back from driving him to the airport when my car broke down" she smiled, and Jack couldn't help but notice that it appeared almost forced, never reaching her eyes like it would have normally. Suddenly he was confronted by the over whelming urge to apologise - after all if he hadn't of been drinking his eggnog as Zach was cutting into the bones, none of this would have happened.

He's just about to voice his apology, when she turns to him; a curious expression spread across her features, what little semblance of a smile still remained, suddenly appearing more genuine "What about you? Shouldn’t you be in a log cabin somewhere in Canada right about now?"

"I should-" he agreed "-but my flight was cancelled. Apparently it's done nothing but snow out there for the past week and so ironically the one thing I was looking forward to the most is the one thing that's keeping me away. Even if my flight was able to take off with all the snow we've had over here, I wouldn’t have anywhere to land over there"

"What about your girlfriend?"

"Nancy?"

"If that's what this one is called-" she teased "-I thought she was going with you? Where is she?" Angela looked around the bar as though she expected to see the other woman sitting in a booth or emerging from the bathroom suddenly.

"To add to the irony-" Jack began taking another sip of his beer "-she's probably with some burly, overly good-looking, French Canadian masseuse-" at Angela's raised brow he couldn't help but laugh "-at the lab yesterday I told her to carry on without me and that I'd meet her there"

"Let me guess, Nancy's not exactly the type of girl to stick around and wait?"

"Looking the way she does, she doesn't have to be. Plus it's not as though I'm Brad Pitt or anything" The last bit was barely mumbled.

"Yeah but burly, and overly-good looking is severely overrated" Angela replies instantaneously, quickly moving to take a sip of her drink when Jack turns to regard her, a confused expression pulling at his features as he tries to over-analyse her words. She's more than a little relieved when he finally pulls his gaze away from her and laughs to himself.

"Merry Christmas huh?" he finally declares lifting his bottle at the same time as Angela is lowering her cup. They tap glass against pottery in a mock toast.

"Oh yeah! Not exactly one of the best Christmases I've had" Angela replies with a somewhat relieved sigh. Finding herself only half surprised when Jack doesn't rush to agree with her, simply takes a more elaborated swig of his beer.

"So-" she begins finally, offering him another one of her own sideways glances as she takes a sip of her hot chocolate "-I know why I've ended up here on Christmas day, but how come you’re here? Shouldn't you be feeling sorry for yourself back at your own place?"

Jack shrugged.

"What? That big old mansion, Zach told me about too lonely for you?" she asked, watching him closely.

This time Jack rolled his eyes "Something like that" he admitted from behind the rim of his bottle "Lets just say my house isn't exactly the spirit of Christmas this year"

"Why? No presents under the Christmas tree?"

"No Christmas tree" He dead panned

"Are you serious?" Angela couldn't disguise her shock.

"Well I didn't exactly plan on being there" again he took another overly forceful swig of his beer.

"Of course, good point" Angela agreed, wondering why how she'd managed to hit a wrong nerve, but not wanting to ask too many questions. Instead she took another sip of her hot chocolate, and for a long time the two of them stayed silent once more, slowly finishing off what remained of there drinks. It wasn't until Sid resumed his position in front of them that the two of them finally looked up.

"The snows stopped. If you guys are planning on getting out of here tonight I'd suggest you leave now"

"Good idea-" Angela began, following Jack's leads as he stood and began pulling on his gloves and tightening the scarf, that up until now had been hanging loosely around his neck "-I refuse to get trapped inside anywhere else this Christmas" Sid raised a confused brow "It's a long story"

"There was a 50 year old long fungus-" Sid cut Jack off, by raising both his hands.

"As long as you ain't bringing in anymore of those ugly ass pictures of yours, scaring away my customers, I don't need to know" he insisted, collecting their empty items and walking away.

* * *
By the time they reached Angela's apartment the snow had already begun to melt, forming a hazardous slush across the majority of the road. Yet despite the fact they'd hardly said a word to each other since leaving Wong Foo's, when they were forced to park on the opposite side of the road to Angela's building, as soon as he'd cut the ignition Jack jumped out of the car, reaching the passengers side door just as Angela was rising to her feet.

"Thanks for the ride Jack, I owe you one" she smiled closing the door and moving to walk across the street. When Jack falls into step besides her, after a couple of strides she glances at him curiously "You know you really don't have to walk me to my building?"

Jack shrugs burying his hands into the pockets of his jacket, his smile never wavering "It's icy-" he begins to explain after a few more steps "-and Brennan would kill me if you ended up off work for 6 weeks with a broken humorous because of me"

"That'd be fitting this year" she laughs.

When they've finally made there way across the road, she isn't surprised that Jack continues to walk along side her, and yet it isn't until she's moving to put her key in the front door that one of them speaks again.

"You know what? You should…" Angela trails off, and turns to face him, wondering if she should reconsider what she's about to say. Yet when she's confronted by his eyes watching, her expectantly, she takes in a deep breath "You should come and have dinner here tomorrow. After all we've both been abandoned by fate-" she joked, worrying briefly if her tone sounded as hopeful to Jack as it did to her "-and it'd be insane for both of us to have to cook a dinner, and spend the day alone-" Jack didn't bother to point out that his dinner would very likely be re-heated takeout "Plus my Dad's a real traditionalist about this sort of stuff, so when he can, he likes to have the whole home cooked meal" She was more than a little aware of the fact she was gesturing nervously with her hands "Which is why I've still got half a 15 pound turkey in my oven - that, if left to my own devises, will probably still be there by about mid-February if I don't get rid of it soon" They both laughed "I can throw together some potatoes and vegetables. It'd be nice - besides who's willing to sit in a house with no Christmas tree on Boxing Day when there's two feet of snow outside?"

She was more than a little relieved when Jack smiled, his grin lighting up his face. "That'd be nice Angela. How about I bring a bottle of wine?"

"Perfect" The huge smile that adorns her lips suddenly fades as Jack leans towards her and gently presses his lips against hers. She freezes, suddenly thankful that his hands are no longer in his pockets and that instead they're gently gripping her waist, steadying her. Without really acknowledging the movement her eyes are closing and she's slowly kissing him back, their breath mingling, his face warm, as her hand comes up and cups his cheek, despite the cold. When after a few minutes a small part of her brain starts analysing the big mistake she's sure they're making, Jack's the first to pull back. Instantly she recognises the distinct flush of her cheeks, and she slowly begins to open her eyes "Jack, I didn't mean.." she begins flustered "I mean that wasn't, we shouldn't…" her babbling trails off as a smirk pulls at the corner of Jacks lips and he cranes his head back to look at the ceiling above her, following his gaze, she spots the sprig of mistletoe that somebody has carefully hung in the doorway. Her blush deepens, but by the time she brings her face back down to Jack's level he's already halfway down her path, walking backwards, the smirk still firmly spread across his lips.

"Goodnight Angela, I'll see you tomorrow, about noon-ish" Before she can reply he's turned his back and is crossing the road to his car, leaving Angela to bite her lip and wonder how much of an idiot she's just made herself look.

The End

To Everybody on my Friendslist…….

2007-12-25T18:58:06Z

"It Was Only a Kiss" - Bones (Minor hints at Booth/Brennan)

2007-11-28T22:07:12Z

Title: It Was Only a Kiss.
Author: willowwood
Character(s)/Pairing: Angela Montenegro, Temperance Brennan, Camille Saroyan/Minor hints towards Booth/Brennan in the unrequited sense of the word.
Rating: PG
Words: 921
Disclaimer: If I owned this show, TJ Thyne wouldn't be at the top of my Christmas list.
Authors Notes: Ok so I wrote this before I actually managed to watch the episode, therefore everything within this story is based purely on spoilers, hearsay and video clips that I watched, and so I hold no responsibility for incongruities with the actual episode. Written very loosely for the prompt of 'Men' given to me by callieach here.
Summary: Brennan comes to realise the implications of her actions. [Spoilers for The Santa In the Slush]

It Was Only a Kiss

Angela looked up from her sketch pad as her best friend walked into her office for the first time since they'd been back at work. "Hey Sweetie! How was your vacation?"

"I kissed Booth" The anthropologist suddenly blurted out, ignoring the artists question.

"What?" Angela asked, unable to disguise the shock that was evident in her tone.

"I kissed Booth, before we broke up for the holidays"

"You…kissed…Booth?" She repeated, not entirely sure she was hearing her friend correctly.

"Yes"

"Oh. My. God!"

"It was for a bribe-" Brennan began to explain, believing it'd make everything clear.

"Please tell me you're kidding" Angela winced.

"What? I thought you of all people would be happy about this"

"You're really not kidding, are you?" The artists wince turned into a grimace.

"No! Caroline bribed me into kissing Booth, so that she'd arrange for me to spend Christmas Eve with my Dad and Russ"

"Oh. My. God!"

"You said that already" Brennan accused, rolling her eyes as she finally moved to take a seat opposite her best friend who now sat with her face buried between her hands.

"But…you. You kissed Booth. For. A. Bribe!"

"It didn't mean anything"

"And does Booth know that it was a bribe?" Angela asked her face still hidden.

"What? No!"

"Oh. My. God"

"You keep saying that!"

"Sweetie!-" Angela's head snapped up "-For somebody with a brain as big as yours, you really are an idiot sometimes"

"What? Why? It wasn't anything special - besides it was under some mistletoe"

When Angela shook her head, Brennan couldn't help but throw her hands up in exasperation "It lasted barely a minute. When I kissed him on the cheek it lasted longer than that"

"You kissed him on the cheek as well?" The artist asked, fighting the urge to slam her head against the desk in front of her, at her best friend's naivety.

"Yes, last week when he let Russ see Hayley before putting him in jail"

"Like I said Sweetie. I love you, but you're an idiot"

It was at that point that Cam appeared in the doorway to Angela's office "Morning Ladies. Did you have a nice vacation?"

"Brennan kissed Booth" Angela exclaimed immediately, ignoring the other woman's greeting.

"Really?"

"Angela!"

"What! You told her about my date with Hodgins"

"I never realised we were keeping score-" The anthropologist began as her boss came and perched on the edge of Angela's desk, watching her expectedly an unmistakeable hint of amusement in her features "-it was nothing. Just a festive kiss beneath some mistletoe that I was bribed into doing"

"-Which Booth doesn't know about" Angela added.

"O-oh"

"What?" Brennan exclaimed once more "I don't see what the problem is"

"Bren, you only have to brush hands with a guy, as you're both reaching for a cup of coffee and he'll think you want to have sex with him" The artist explained.

"Not to mention the fact that Seeley's crazy about you" Angela waved a hand at the pathologist, indicating that she agreed with the other woman completely.

"So you think that just because I kissed him, Booth's now under the impression that I want to have sex with him?"

"Yes!" Both women practically shouted.

"But you went on a date with Hodgins, when he was crazy about you - And you kissed him didn’t you?"

"Yes…..but that's different"

"Why? How is that different" The anthropologist asked confused.

"Because she wanted to have sex with Hodgins, she just wouldn't admit it to herself" Cam replied matter-of-factly.

"Is that true?" Brennan asked unable to hide the small smile that appeared at Angela's slightly shocked expression. Shrugging it off the artist replied "Putting it a little bluntly, but yeah. So unless you yourself are ready to admit to something, you've got a problem"

"I don't believe there will be-" She began adamantly ignoring the sceptical frowns that both Cam and Angela offered her "-Booth's a grown man-"

"-There's no such thing as a grown man, Sweetie" Instinctually Brennan turned to look at Cam, hoping that the FBI Agents ex-girlfriend would be able to back her up.

"Sorry Dr Brennan, but I'm with Angela on this one"

Brennan rolled her eyes "Booth's mature enough to understand that it was merely a kiss underneath a piece of carefully placed mistletoe…." She trailed off as the sound of footsteps approached Angela's office and all three women turned to see the doorway suddenly become filled with Seeley Booth's hulking figure.

"Bones! There you are-" He greeted, completely ignoring the presence of the other two women "-So you ready to hit the road?"

Brennan turned to look at Angela and Cam, only to find both of them giving her a knowing look. There was no denying that there was definitely something different about her partner - an unmistakable twinkle in his eyes, an almost arrogant smugness in his demeanour and the smirk that pulled at his lips was almost nauseating.

"Yeah, I just need to get my coat and I'll meet you out front" she finally answered.

Booth shrugged, his smirk never wavering "No, that's ok, I'll wait"

Brennan watched as Cam stood and left the artists office, a somewhat sympathetic smile on her lips. As she moved to follow, she cast another quick look at her best friend, who merely picked up her pencil and prepared to resume her sketch.

"No! No problem at all" The artist whispered, watching as Brennan left her office and headed across the lab, Booth following closely in her wake.

The End