Thanks for the reviews Mendenbar and RT! RT, once you read this I will say: Yes, I went there. We have all imagined Lance visiting his parents' final resting places. :)

I hope you two and everyone else enjoy the conclusion! Bye The Boy in the Field!

On Christmas Eve, Lance stopped by the Jeffersonian to deliver the last of his gifts for his friends. He found Cam in her office, wrapping up some last minute work before the holiday and handed her a flowerpot filled with paperwhite bulbs.

"The flowers will come up in January," he explained. "Paperwhites always bring a little joy to the gloom of the new year!"

Cam looked quizzically at him. "I'm not sure which to respond to—your general message of woe or the cheer of your gift."

"Oh I just meant the weather in January is gloomy—not the new year! Sorry, that did come out wrong," Lance apologized and smiled.

"Well, thanks. That was thoughtful. I guess I'd better be going. I was going to help Michelle pack for her flight this evening."

Lance frowned. "Flight? Where is she going on Christmas Eve?"

Cam sighed, "To Hawaii with a friend."

"Really? Wow. How are you taking that? In fact, why are you letting her go?"

"I'm not sure really. I want to be this cool mom and everything, but I'll admit it's killing me to not spend Christmas with her."

Lance shook his head and pulled up a chair. "Dr. Saroyan, you are a cool mom—that goes without saying. You're an excellent mother! But you should go with your gut on this one. If you don't want Michelle to leave, then don't let her. She'll recover from the disappointment. She's got to understand that she's part of your family now."

Cam looked distant and worried.

Lance continued. "I don't know if I've ever mentioned this to you, but I'm adopted." Cam registered this with a look of surprise, so Lance forged ahead rapidly. "All I really wanted were parents who loved me no matter what. And that's what I got. My parents always looked out for my best interests even when I didn't. You know? I have a great deal of respect for what you've done, taking on Michelle, Dr. Saroyan." Lance shook his head in wonder. "A sixteen year old who had just lost her father." He exhaled.

Lance felt emotional as he delivered this mini sermon. Michelle was acting the typical teen, but Lance felt sure she needed to learn this lesson. As much as Michelle had needed Cam, Cam now needed Michelle.

Cam looked at Lance for a long moment and responded, "I had no idea you were adopted, Dr. Sweets. And I think you're right. As hard as Michelle will take it, family should be together on Christmas."

Lance nodded and thought, family should be together on Christmas. He and Daisy hadn't yet discussed if they were going to Dr. Brennan's dinner tomorrow, and he decided at this moment that that was where he was meant to spend Christmas.

As Lance was about to depart, Cam called, "Dr. Sweets?"

"Yes?" Lance asked warmly.

"Tomorrow morning Dr. Brennan wanted to go to Holden Chevaleer's burial. She said his mother, Abby doesn't have anyone else in the world…"

Lance quickly jumped in, "Daisy and I will be there. What time?"

"Ten in the morning at Glenwood Cemetery."

"Glenwood?" Lance asked startled.

"Yes, why?"

"Oh nothing, see you there."

Glenwood was where Lance's parents were buried. He wasn't expecting to see them tomorrow, but so be it. Christmas would be a day of family after all.

It had been snowing on and off all morning, and the marbled stones of Glenwood looked serene in their powdery white jackets. Lance and Daisy made their way toward Holden Chevaleer's final resting place. The gray grass was plastered together by ice and crackled a little as they walked.

"Daisy, can we take a detour?" Lance asked.

"Sure," she said distracted. She didn't ask why, perhaps because she'd already guessed. She was wearing the delicate silver daisy about her neck, and her hair was freshly curled. He squeezed her gloved hand as they walked.

She asked instead, "What made you decide you wanted to go to Dr. Brennan's tonight? I thought you were altogether opposed to celebrating Christmas?"

"Well, I guess I felt that Agent Booth needed me, and frankly, I need him too."

She furrowed her brow. She never did seem to understand the connection between Lance and Booth. But Lance didn't press it.

"Well, here they are." He stopped in front of his parents' graves and gazed at them with a little smile.

"What was your mother like, Lance?" Daisy asked. She took off her glove and allowed the warmth of her hand to penetrate Lance's chilly skin.

"Oh, she was…beautiful. She laughed a lot. She was very kind and sincerely loved people and life." It was hard to describe someone Lance loved so much. He felt sad that Daisy would never meet her.

"She sounds a lot like you!"

Lance widened his eyes. Perhaps he was a lot like his mother. Daisy had no idea what a compliment that was.

"And your father?" she continued.

"He was…a little tough on the outside, but very loyal and loving at his core. He knew how to not take things too seriously. To joke and enjoy life." Lance shook his head. "I miss them this time of year."

This was the first time he'd ever admitted this out loud, and to his surprise, instead of making him tear up, he felt better for having confessed it.

Daisy stood on her tip toes and kissed Lance's cheek. "I'm sorry they're gone. I would have liked to have met the people who made you my perfect Lancelot!"

Lance was touched by the truth of this statement. More than anyone his parents had shaped him. He supposed this was true for most people, but in his case, his parents had whisked him away from a ruined life and patiently built for him a new one brick by brick.

He smiled at Daisy. "Let's go find the others."

Later that night at Brennan's Christmas dinner, Booth was making a toast.

"To family, friends, lovers, family, and food."

As the snow fell peacefully outside the window behind Lance, he gazed over at his lover, who smiled adoringly back. He then looked at his friends from the Jeffersonian. Booth had said the word family twice. The toast hadn't been redundant, as Brennan had objected. There was family, and there was family. Lance was lucky that in giving up his parents, he had gained Angela, Hodgins, Cam, and especially Brennan and Booth. Perhaps it was time to give up the anti-Christmas spirit and embrace what was right in front of him.