The Girl in the Attic

A Bones File

Relationships: Hodgins/Angela (established), Booth/Brennan (insinuated)

Definite case file, but we'll get to that after the prologue :)

Disclaimer: I don't own these characters. I've only borrowed them. Feel free to comment. I handle criticism well! That's how we grow as writers :)

Prologue

The day had finally arrived. Hodgins had swallowed a pound of dirt. Not literally, but not even a gallon of coffee that morning had cleared his dry throat. As they sat down in the front bench at the district courthouse, he affectionately grasped Angela's hand, needing her support as much as she needed his. They waited for the judge to begin. Neither of them dared glance across the courtroom where Angela's estranged husband, Grayson Barasa, reluctantly sat. To acknowledge him might send the dreadful reality crashing down on them.

"Miss Montenegro," Judge Anderson addressed her. He was a heavy-set man in his fifties, who did not appear as though he smiled much. Uncomfortable facing the man, Jack realized the judge was his only hope at finally marrying Angela.

Angela stood quickly to acknowledge Judge Anderson, while her fingers lingered on Jack's grip for a moment longer. She was wearing a conservative grey suit skirt and black heels that brought her height an inch above Hodgins'. "Yes, your honor," she replied.

"You requested this hearing to petition the court to grant an annulment between the marriage of you, Angela Montenegro and Grayson Barasa. Is that correct?"

"That is correct, your honor."

Hodgins wanted to stand with Angela. If he did, he wasn't certain that he could refrain from blurting out his opinions. He did not want to annoy the judge and affect the outcome. Over the years, he had grown comfortable with offering witness testimony on numerous murder cases, but this, this was so different. This was personal.

"I have here a copy of your marriage license. The place for the husband's signature is signed only with an X." The judge turned to address Barasa. "Mr. Barasa, are you unable to sign your name or was it your intention to dessert your wife?"

The black forty-something man smoothed his tie then slowly rose before the judge to his full height of six and a half feet. Hodgins hated to admit that the man was quite handsome. Looking back at Angela, he was relieved that she was peering down at him rather than at Berasa. "Your honor, I grew up as a farmer's son," the estranged husband replied in a thick Brazilian accent. "I learned everything I need to know from him."

"Yes. That seems quite apparent." The judge paused before turning back toward Angela. "Miss Montenegro, can you explain why you waited four years before drawing up annulment papers?"

"Quite honestly, your honor, it was my misconception that it was not a legal ceremony. We were partying on the beach, getting drunk...jumping the broom was a natural transition. I did not know I was actually married until I tried to marry another man." She nodded toward Hodgins. Her fiancé smiled up at her. "This man, your honor, whom I still very much want to marry."

The judge nodded without comment. "Mr. Barasa, when a private investigator–" Anderson looked at his case notes, "an Amber Kepler, came to you several months ago with these annulment papers, you refused to sign them. Why is it that you refused after a four-year separation?"

Barasa clutched his hands together as if to pray. "Because I love Angela very deeply. She smiles like an angel; her eyes sparkle like diamonds. I can still hear the ocean tide lapping against her bare feet. If she hadn't been so quick to return to the States, I could have made her very, very happy."

"Oh please," Angela mumbled. She intended the comment only for Hodgins, but spoke an octave above a whisper. Quickly, raising her voice: "Your honor, if I may?"

"You may, Miss Montenegro," the judge allowed, though he seemed a little annoyed.

"I hardly think that a few days on the beach several years ago can count as consummating a marriage. We are strangers. I have no feelings for Mr. Berasa and poetry or not, there is no way his feelings for me are genuine. We just jumped the broom for God's sake! It was an honest mistake and I just want out." Angela fought against tears, losing the battle.

"Mr. Barasa, do you have any response to this?"

"In my culture, marriage is for life. I honor my family; I honor my wife. I built her a home and have waited patiently all these years for her to come back to me. I will continue to wait if the Lord be willing." He bowed his head and despite his incredible height, he looked like a lost boy.

"That is very touching," the judge admitted. For a moment, Hodgins' heart sank as he imagined the judge denying the divorce petition. "However, in the United States of America, when a marriage has not been viable for nearly five years and one of the parties involved wishes to divorce the other, there is no reasonable grounds for dismissal of the petition." He picked up his gavel. "I hereby grant the dissolution of the marriage between Angela Montenegro and Grayson Berasa." He pounded his gavel. "Mr. Berasa, you will sign the papers – with an X if necessary– before leaving the courthouse today."

With a loud hoot, Hodgins stood up and taking Angela into his arms, kissed her then hugged her fiercely." Over Angela's shoulder, he eyed the judge. Although the judge shook his head, he had the good sense to overlook the outburst.

Hodgins and Angela celebrated that evening at Verinaci's, an up-scale Italian restaurant on the west side. Angela had slipped into a sky-blue, low-cut dress while Hodgins was wearing an Armani suit that cost more than Angela made in two weeks.

"Angela," Jack began after their waiter had deposited two sparkling glasses of wine between them. "Should we be planning a wedding for next week?"

"No," Angela replied coolly as she ran the tips of her fingers along the rim of her glass. She looked up at him, her eyes sparkling more than the wine. "Just kidding, Sweetie. You know I can't wait another day."

Hodgins sighed with relief. Angela had certainly kept him on edge for the duration of their relationship. He anticipated much more of the same from this woman and looked forward to the adventures they would share.

As she thumbed through the menu, Angela was more focused on her fiancé. "I'm really silly for expecting you to move into my place when you have this big house," she admitted. "I can just lease my duplex and move in with you."

"I've been thinking about that, too, Angie," Jack reached out to grasp her hand. "Let's buy a new house together."

"You'd give up your big old house for me?" Angela's voice cracked. His unselfish love for her still left her amazed at times.

"We'll get a bigger house – a million kids, right? We'll need the room for them."

Angela smiled sweetly. Nothing in her life had ever felt as right as the idea of having a litter of kids and growing old with this man.

A week later, they were married.