Hey everyone! I have most of this story completed so I figured I would start posting! I know it's a little early for Christmas, but I am just so EXCITED!!!! I love Christmas time more than any time of year, so for those of you like me, here is an early Christmas present (Or Holiday present for those of you who aren't catholic).

Let me know what you think of the first chapter!!

Thanks for reading and if you have time take a look at the NEW chapter of my other story "Twenty Dollars".

The woman on the corner shifted her feet, planting them more firmly into the slush-bound snow. The man next to her glanced in her direction and then back through the window of the diner.

"What do you think?" he asked in his husky voice, staring at the woman who was seated alone at the table inside.

"It's sad, really." She said in response.

"Well, yes. I suppose you're right about that." The man mumbled, "Alright then, let's go."

The woman looked up at him and smiled and began walking down the street with the man trailing behind her.

* * *

Temperance Brennan sat in the Royal Diner alone at her usual table. She had finished all of her reports and wrote more chapters for her book than she had been required to for the upcoming deadline and was now, for lack of a better word, bored. She came to the diner looking for a means of escaping the boredom and only found herself running head first into it. She had even order a slice of pie, the majority of which was now reduced to a pile of mush that she was further destroying by pushing the prongs of her fork into its contents.

She tossed the fork down onto her plate and took the last sip of her now chilled coffee. The waitress came up to her and asked if she had wanted anything else when a man sat down at her table in the seat across from her. She asked the waitress for another cup of coffee before examining the man.

"Can I help you?" she asked the older man sitting across from her.

"Oh, I'm sorry. Were you saving this seat for someone?" he asked, genuinely concerned that he had stolen the seat.

Temperance hesitantly shook her head, "Um, no."

The older man let out a laugh and explained himself, "I'm sorry. It's just that you were sitting all alone and there are no other seats in the diner. I figured you wouldn't mind if I joined you for a cup of coffee."

Temperance shook her head again as the waitress set down two cups in front of them, "No, I guess not."

"Anthony Gallo." The man introduced himself, reaching his age-spotted hand across the table.

Temperance firmly took the old man's hand in her own, "Doctor Temperance Brennan."

"Ah, the novelist." Anthony exclaimed.

Temperance nodded and took a sip of the coffee, "Have you read my books?" she inquired.

Anthony shook his head, "No. Sorry to say that I haven't. Dead bodies have never been an area of interest to me."

Brennan laughed, "There is more to them than just dead bodies."

Anthony laughed, "I enjoy reading books that have a more lighthearted message to them."

Temperance nodded, "Like, children's books?" she joked.

"Yes. Children's books, along with stories of heroics and a main character's coming to an understanding of some sort."

Temperance planted her coffee cup back on the saucer and pushed away the plate of pie, "So, essentially you like romance novels?"

Anthony made a repulsed face, "No, no." he said, then pointing to the plate of pie, "Do you mind?" he asked, Brennan shook her head and Anthony took the plate and shoveled a piece of the pie into his mouth, "Some romance novels are quite good, but for the most part I find them too melodramatic for my taste. I find that there is no specific genre that I enjoy in particular; just merely the story as its own individual entity."

Temperance nodded in understanding, "That is very objective of you."

Anthony nodded, "Thank you." He said picking up his cup of coffee and taking a sip.

"However," Temperance began, "If you don't at least give my books a chance, then I would have to assume that you're being prejudiced against the dead. And that is unacceptable." She said, taking a smug victory sip of her coffee.

Anthony laughed and swallowed his sip, "Touché. I will buy your book tomorrow and give it a fair chance."

Temperance nodded, "Very good."

Anthony took a long look out of the window next to him before looking back at the young woman across from him, "I just love this time of year, don't you?"

She studied him curiously before responding, "Yes, I enjoy the winter." She said flatly.

"No, no." Anthony said, waving his hand in the air, "I meant Christmas time. The holiday season."

Temperance nodded, "Oh, I'm not Catholic."

"You don't need to be religious to feel the magic during this time of year." Anthony responded, chuckling.

Brennan scoffed, "You too, huh?"

Anthony gave her an appraising look, "What do you mean by that?"

"My partner," she said, looking down at the table, "He is always talking about the Christmas Spirit and this feeling that he gets when Christmas is coming. He actually tells his son that Santa is coming."

Anthony turned and looked out the window at the busy street in front of them, "Bah humbug." He murmured under his breath.

Brennan looked up at him quickly, "What was that?" she asked.

"What is so bad about it?" he asked quickly.

"It's wrong to lie to children. Blackmailing them to be good or else they won't get any presents?" she said with conviction.

"Is that what he does? Tell his child he will get coal for Christmas if he isn't good?"

Brennan paused for a moment, "Well, the Santa myth is just that. Telling your child that Santa is coming goes without saying that naughty children get coal and nice children get presents. I thought that was obvious."

Anthony raised his eyebrows in response, "I suppose you're right. But I seriously doubt that any good parent would neglect their child the happiness of the holiday."

"Well," Brennan stated, slightly annoyed, "Not all parents are good parents."

"Is your partner a good parent?" he asked.

"Yes." Brennan stated, matter-of-factly, "He is an amazing father."

Anthony nodded, "Then why do you insist that he is doing the wrong thing by letting his child believe in something that isn't necessarily true?"

Temperance considered the argument, "Because children shouldn't be lied to just because their minds aren't yet fully developed. We shouldn't treat children differently just because they're still growing. And the fact that we allow ourselves to lie to children just because it makes us feel better is selfish and ridiculous. Telling them the truth will prepare them for the harsh reality of life. We shouldn't give them false hope."

"I suppose you also feel the same way about reading fairytales to little girls." Anthony asked.

"Absolutely. You know, most fairytales originated in stories of pillaging and rape, which were romanticized as time went on. It's foolish to read these stories to little girls, not only because of their horrific origins, but also because it gives them a false sense of hope in a happily ever after, which does not exist. Also, it portrays a female character who is completely devoid of any aspirations that don't include a man coming to rescue her from her doomed fate."

Anthony shook his head and laughed, "You are a very literal woman, Temperance."

Temperance nodded, slightly confused by the meaning behind the man's statement, "Thank you."

Anthony studied Temperance for a moment before leaning toward her, "What if happily ever after did exist, Temperance."

Temperance smiled at the man and leaned toward him, "It doesn't exist. That is what I've been explaining, Anthony."

"What if I told you that I know for a fact that it did. What would you say?"

Temperance studied the man. There was something oddly familiar about him though she couldn't quite put her finger on what it was. As she considered his question, she realized that she was talking to a perfect stranger, and sharing things with him that she normally wouldn't share with anyone that she wasn't familiar with. She felt strangely at peace sitting across from this old man, and she hadn't even questioned for a moment, up until now, the way conversation with him seemed easy. She leaned back in her seat and crossed her arms over her chest, "I'd say; prove it."

Anthony smiled widely at her and rose from his seat. He took a few bills out of his coat pocket and laid them on the table, "It was lovely speaking with you, Temperance." Anthony turned and walked away.

"Wait!" Temperance called after him, "Aren't you going to prove it to me?"

Anthony turned at the door and smiled, "Enjoy the Christmas Spirit, Temperance. You're missing out."

With that, Anthony exited the diner, leaving her to her thoughts.

More soon...