So here it is... the LAST CHAPTER!
Thank you all to my readers and reviewers! Thank you for making my first try at this very fun!
"You want to get married now?" the old Catholic bishop repeated as he stared at the couple arm in arm before him.
"Yes," Brennan had as much certainty as she could possibly have at that moment. She loved Booth; she was carrying his child; there was no doubt in her mind that she wanted to spend the rest of her life in a committed and monogamous relationship with him. Mostly she just wanted the title of his wife and for him to be her husband, an antiquated custom- but one she greatly desired.
Booth could tell the priest was apprehensive, frankly he was a little bit too. He certainly hadn't woken up that morning expecting to get married, but as she held his arm, no time seemed better, "Listen, I know it's late, but we're sure."
The bishop looked at them baffled, this wasn't a usual request. "I see... typically we prefer to have our couples go through a couple consoling sessions with one of our priests. We like to keep a low divorce rate at this parish."
"If it was our intention to get divorced, why would we be getting married? That would be completely illogical," Brennan was about to continue until Booth elbowed her. "What? We both acknowledge that its a possibility..."
"A bright young woman," the old man agreed but he wasn't completely swayed. "Eh... how long have to two of you known one another?"
"Six years, actually seven. But we didn't talk to one another for a year after we first met," Booth answered earnestly.
"I didn't like him. I perceived him as rude." Brennan spoke up, she was more than happy to give an entire account of their history.
"Thanks, Bones."
"You're welcome."
"But I'm assuming you like him now, right?" The bishop looked back and fourth between them.
"Yes... why would I want to marry him if I didn't like him?" Brennan looked to Booth, "These questions seem very unnecessary..."
Booth elbowed her again, "He's just doing his job, Bones."
The bishop took a deep breath; they certainly already seemed married. "Are you both in good standing with the church? Are you in good standing with God?"
There was a pause between the couple, this was a tougher question. "I attend mass regularly. Or... I try too. I think I'm in good standing with God. I pray often."
"And what about you, young lady?" The bishop was satisfied by Booth's answer but she remained quite.
"I... I'm pregnant."
Booth looked at her completely shocked, "You are? You're pregnant? Really?"
"You didn't know about this?" the bishop asked but he could certainly tell this was news.
"I was going to tell you later tonight. I took the test earlier today. I'm sorry... I know I was supposed to wait for you..." Brennan was silenced when she felt Booth suddenly wrap his arms around. It seemed he didn't care that she had found out without him.
"We're going to have a baby?" he cradled her body in his. Nothing could have made him happier at that moment.
"Yes," she hated to free him from her arms but there was still a matter at hand to take care of. "I understand that the church does not prefer for children to be born out of wedlock..."
"Well... yes. Actually we prefer for the child to not be conceived out of wedlock... but I guess its a little late for that now," this couple was certainly making an eventful night for the old man. However, he had married many couples in his day, and this certainly seemed like one of the most loving. He watched on as they held one another close; this child would certainly be born into a loving family. "Well, if you would like to, I suppose I could have you married tonight."
The next thirty minutes pasted by in a whirl wind. Booth ran out to the car to grab her ring he kept stashed in his glove box while Brennan filled out the necessary paper work. If someone had asked Temperance Brennan six years ago if she thought she would be one day be pregnant and getting married in a Catholic church, she would have dismissed them as a fool. Yet here she was, signing her single identity away for a shared one.
When the time came, they stood together at the front of the church; fingers intertwined and nervous.
"Seeley Joesph Booth and Temperance Katherine Brennan," The bishop began, "have you come here freely and without reservation to give yourselves to each other in marriage? Will you honor each other as man and wife for the rest of your lives? Will you accept children lovingly from God, and bring them up according to the law of Christ and his Church?"
"I-" Brennan began to rebuff the last part.
But Booth cut her off, "Don't worry."
The bishop rolled his eyes and continued, "Do you Seeley Joesph Booth take this woman as your lawful wife, to have and to hold, from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, until death do you part?"
Booth looked back into her beautiful blue eyes; every memory of them together began rushing to his mind. The first kiss. Every rescue. All the late night take out. The after case drinks at their bar. The car rides too and from cases. The years of wanting hold her- the pain of not being able too.
"I do."
"Do you Temperance Katherine Brennan take this man as your lawful husband, to have and to hold, from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, until death do you part?"
Brennan felt her stomach suddenly flip. Her whole life was about to greatly change, but as she looked at what the future may hold, her anxiety settled. There would be a baby. Maybe more. A home. A man to sleep next to and wake up with. Someone to hold and hush her. A best friend to be eternally bonded with. A man to give her the love she for years never thought she was worthy of. And that same man she could give the love she never fully believed she possessed.
"I do."
The End.
That's it. Thank you to all my loyal readers and reviewers!
So sad that it had to come to an end but very satisfied with how it ended.
I hope you all will author alert me- as I have a new story I will begin working on tomorrow. Be watching for it! It will pick up at the very end of season 4 and deal with what happened directly after Booth woke up from his coma. It will take a different turn than season 5. Please go read it once it's up!
Thank you again!