Note: Sorry for the delay in updating. Exam fever is still on. It always seem to bring on an epidemic of writer's block :P

Now on with the story (warning: a little OOC)

Disclaimer: I own nothing

Chapter 5: The Wedding and the Surprise

Present day

"That was so romantic." Angela interrupted the story with one her patented squeals. "Although," she paused and changed her tone to one with a slightly dangerous edge. "I still can't believe you didn't tell me sooner! How could you leave me out of your wedding?"

Man she changes tones faster than I can blink. For once I am glad Bones is ruled by logic. Seeley Booth rolled his eyes at the outburst and glanced quickly at Hodges who could only shrug his shoulders.

"Ange, I really am sorry. But Booth was right. We didn't have the time to let you do all those things I know you wanted to do. Besides, you were on your honeymoon and we didn't want to disturb you."

Angela didn't quite buy the explanation. She was about to let loose another tirade when Booth stepped in to save the day.

"Hey Angela, before you go ballistic again, why don't we tell you about the wedding? I'm sure you want to know all about it." To further help calm the situation, Booth flashed his trademark smile.

Angela crossed her arms, sat down and pouted. "Fine but I want ALL the dirty details."

Bones looked over to Booth for assurance before beginning. He responded by nodding his head and giving her hand a tight squeeze.

"When we got to Richmond, dad was extremely elated to see us. He wasn't the least bit surprised at the news. Apparently, he too had seen the evidence long before we did and felt it only logical that this would happen eventually."

"Parker was his usual jolly self when he saw me." Booth continued on from his wife let off. "Then, when I told him the news he was practically bouncing off the walls." Booth let out a laugh that was shared by all except Bones.

"Booth, you know that it is physically impossible for Parker to bounce off walls without getting hurt. Besides, he was simply jumping up and down and screaming."

"Bones, it's just an expression."

"Oh. I just think it's highly scientifically inaccurate, that's all."

"I know dear." Booth held her hand and gave her a little peck on the cheek.

The little romantic moment was broken up by a cough from Hodges. Bones and Booth turned back to see Angela staring expectantly at them.

"To continue the story, "Temperance said with a slight blush on her cheeks, "Russ was also approving of our marriage."

"The biggest surprise of all though was Rebecca. We didn't even know she'd be there and we saw her and parker told her the news I was really afraid she was going to get mad." Booth added.

"In a rather unusual turn of events, she had had a quarrel with her significant other and left Las Vegas early and returned to get Parker a couple of days earlier. Dad had managed to convince Rebecca to stay for a few days and calm down." Temperance continued.

"So by that little coincidence, Rebecca happened to be at the house as well. Thankfully, she was more than OK with the wedding. Seems she knew something we didn't." Booth smiled at Bones as a signal for her to continue.

"Rebecca helped me get a beautiful wedding gown from the local dress shop, even though I was quite against it at the time." Bones punctuated the statement with a cheeky glare at Booth.

"And I'm thankful she persuaded you to wear it because you looked absolutely stunning in it Bones." Booth flashed his cocky smile and got a slight jab to the ribs by Bones as his reward.

"Ouch. Hey, it wasn't that long ago that I got shot in the chest. I'm still healing here." Booth mock groaned and drew a laugh from Bones and everyone else in the room.

"Anyways, Dad phoned one his friends who set everything up for us and within a day we were in the local church saying our wedding vows. I, of course, didn't see the need for the whole ceremony but seeing as marriage is traditionally about a compromise between a man and a woman, I thought it only rational to compromise on this little issue for Booth's sake."

"Of course, she made me compromise by letting her drive the wedding car." Booth joked.

Flashback to the church

"Seeley Joseph Booth, do you take this lovely woman to be your lawfully wedded wife? To have and to hold, to love and to cherish, for better or worse, for richer or poorer, in sickness and in health, till death do you part?" the pastor asked .

"I do."

"Temperance Joy Brennan, do you take this man to be your lawfully wedded husband? To have and to hold, to love and to cherish, for better or worse, for richer or poorer, in sickness and in health, till death do you part?" the pastor turned to Bones and asked.

"Booth, I don't see the need for this. I have already consented to the marriage and promised to be your partner for life."

"Bones, please just go along with this?" Booth pleaded in an agitated whisper.

"Ok. Ok. I do."

The pastor rolled his eyes and gave a knowing smile. He signalled for Booth to put the ring on Temperance's hand and then say his vow.

"Temperance Joy Brennan, from the day I met you, I knew that you and I had something special. I knew you were the one for me. You have shown me that heart must go hand-in-hand with head and ironically, that's exactly how you and I go together. Together we better than the sum of our parts and I could never imagine my life without you. I love you Temperance, and I promise to keep it that way for the rest of my life. I know you have been hurt many times in the past and never want to see you hurt again. I promise to love you and to protect you for as long as I live."

The pastor wiped tears from his eyes before signalling for Bones to put the ring on Booth's hand and say her vows.

"Seeley Joseph Booth, I used to think you were an arrogant, self-centered jerk. But then you showed me things I never knew. You made me realize that I didn't know everything and that I was alone. You have been my closest friend, apart from Angela, and been there for some of the most important moments of my life. I want you to be there for the rest of those moments, should there be anymore left. Though I don't believe in love, I can only conclude that if I did, then I would most certainly be in love with you."

The pastor beamed and concluded the ceremony. "Then, by the power invested in me by the state of Virginia, I now pronounce you husband and wife."

The wedding march played as Booth and Bones marched out of the wedding hall hand in hand, smiling fit to kill.

Back to present day

"That was so sweet. I forgive you guys." Angela cooed. "Just one thing, why are Padme and Russ's wife in any of the pictures?"

"Funny thing that," Booth laughed. "Turns out the Virginia climate didn't quite agree with her. She had the mother of all bad hair days and would freak out the moment a camera was pointed anywhere near her. She eventually took over the role of camera woman so that we couldn't take any photos of her."

"My sister-in-law thought it only logical that she should have some female support in that decision to not have her picture taken so she refused to be in any photos either. My nephew and niece however were only too happy to take their place." Temperance smiled.

"Padme did get a nice consolation though," Booth chuckled. "She caught the bouquet."

"I still don't quite understand that dumb tradition. Catching a bouquet does not statistically improve your chances of getting married." Temperance turned to look at her husband with a raised eyebrow.

"Tell that to Mr and Mrs Jarod Booth." Seeley laughed.

"No way! They got married too?" Angela and Hodges asked at the same time.

"Yup! My bro just sent me a postcard last week. Seems they opted for a simple wedding in India. Can't say I blame him" Booth explained.

"So whose idea was it to give me the certificate and wedding pictures as my birthday gift?" Angela asked as she tapped her shoes on the carpet.

"I remembered your birthday was coming up and Booth figured that given your personality and incessant wishing of us together, it was only logical to give you this present" Bones replied as she hugged her husband.

"Aw. Thank you guys. I love my birthday present. It's the best birthday present ever. Oh, and congratulations!"

"Thanks Angela but you know, there is one more part to your present."

"What?"

"Booth figured that it would be more fun to give you the present in two parts. The first as the main present, and the second as a surprise for when you would inevitably confront us."

"So what is the second part?" Angela stood up expectantly.

"Bones, why don't you give it to her?" Booth asked with a laugh.

Temperance went over to her desk and pulled out a small brown envelope which she handed over to Angela.

Angela opened the envelope carefully, took one look at it and fainted.

Inside, was an ultrasound picture dated last week, belonging to one Temperance Joy Booth.

The End

I hope you guys liked it. Sorry it took so long.

Now if only those two could get together for real...