A/N: As stated, this was supposed to be the original Chapter 18: Vacation of my Bonesology 2016 End of Summer Fanfiction Hodgepodge, but what was meant to be a 10 - 12 page drabble turned into over 30 pages and had a life of it's own. It's thanks to this that I got the inspiration for the new Chapter 18.

I do have Ch 17 of EOS written as well as the final chapter of WSJ & A, but this story would not let up until I finished it. Eventually I will finish the rest of the Challenge.

Thanks for indulging my A & J whimsy and I hope you enjoy this and the next five chapters. Remember to review so I know I don't suck.

PS: If you are only into B & B, while they appear in this story, unlike my other A & J ones they are not featured. Just putting that out there.

PPS: While not required to read the following since this is a prequel, it may give you some reference:

2015 Bonesology Christmas Fanfiction Challenge Chapters 9, 13.

2016 Bonesology End of Summer Fanfiction Hodgepodge Chapters 2, 3 ,4 ,6 , 8 , 14, 16.

This story takes place April 2017.

Disclaimer: Any connection between the Bones world and Inn Boonsboro in this story is fictional.

Friday, April 14th was a contrary day for the month. As people stressed over their taxes due the following Monday, the sun shone bright over the nation's capital. The cherry blossoms displayed their blooms proudly all over the city among the hustle and bustle.

However, this day had a different meaning to a small group of people. For them, their taxes were put aside for a well deserved celebration.

Today, Jessica Warren married her Superman, Special Agent James Aubrey.

It took the help of Booth, Brennan, and the rest of their family and friends to help the engaged couple pull everything together in eight days. Their efforts paid off as the FBI agent and forensic anthropologist got the wedding they wanted. Afterwards, everyone headed to Founding Fathers for food and drinks since the bride and groom didn't want a big reception.

While they enjoyed the celebration and most of the antics of their guests over the next few hours, Aubrey and Jessica were anxious to celebrate alone. Ready to leave, they said goodbye to everyone before taking off. Stopping at what was now their home, the couple changed out of their wedding outfits, packed, and took care of their cat before leaving for Maryland.

A short time later, the newlyweds were traveling on US-40 towards the town of Boonsboro. They enjoyed the pleasant weather during the almost ninety minute drive, grateful that it didn't rain on their wedding day. Because she had been up earlier in the morning, Jessica let Aubrey drive her Jeep Cherokee as she navigated while doing research of the area.

"The Antietam battlefield would be cool to go to, plus there's a bookstore in town. Harper's Ferry might be fun too if we get time."

"Hey, historical battles of the Civil War. Something a man always wants to see on his honeymoon." Aubrey said.

"You're the one who took me to Gettysburg for a romantic weekend back in September, so what are you—" Jessica said but trailed off when she saw her husband laughing. Determined to wipe the grin off his face, she smacked his arm repeatedly.

"Hey, hey, driving here!"

"You suck, Aubrey!"

"I must not suck that much because you married me." The agent sputtered while laughing.

His mirth was contagious as the redhead started, too. "Yeah, you'll do. Just be nice or there's no horse riding in the Blue Ridge mountains this weekend."

To Jessica's surprise, Aubrey responded by grabbing her hand and kissing her fingers near her wedding and engagement rings. She felt herself turn into a puddle of goo at his simple declaration of love. Her husband was a hollow legged goofball to most people, but she alone knew the hopeless romantic soul in James Aubrey.

"You wouldn't deny me a ride through the mountain, Jessica because I would love to hit to trails with you. Now the most important question of this trip…how are the restaurants in the area?"

'And my hollow legged goofball has returned.' Jessica thought to herself as she laughed. "Don't worry Superman. Doctor B said you would eat well this weekend."

"You laugh, but food is an essential part of the tourist experience along with exploration of the area. However, neither is the most important part of this weekend." Aubrey said with a knowing tone.

The redhead accidentally snorted as she laughed again. "Well, of course Aubrey. I didn't forget the most important thing this weekend...sleeping in. We've been alternating between work and non-stop wedding planning for eight days now."

The driver turned to his passenger. "Cute, Jessica. Keep that up and you may be denied all that is your Superman this weekend."

"I highly doubt that." The redhead retorted with a grin before continuing, "Especially after I model all the lingerie that I packed for this weekend."

Aubrey's only response was to quickly turn to his wife as she read her phone.

Throughout the rest of the trip, Aubrey and Jessica enjoyed bits of comfortable silence in between sneaking looks at the other. But as it sometimes happened when they were together, they revisited a recurring issue in their almost two year relationship.

"How many times have we been through this? Obviously, it's Return of the Jedi. Always Return of the Jedi. The battle between the Imperial forces and Rebel Alliance, the Ewoks-"

Jessica finished drinking from her travel cup. "It seems marriage has not enlightened you to reality, Aubrey. Empire Strikes Back is obviously the best of the Star Wars series."

Aubrey had one hand on the wheel with the other on the automatic gearshift as he turned to his wife. "Seriously, Jess? Jedi has the Rebel Alliance toasting the Imperials' asses, Han gets rescued from Jabba the Hutt—"

"But not before Leia has to be half naked in a metal bikini, which you drool over each time we watch it." The redhead retorted before seeing her husband's ears turn red. "Contrary to your wrong opinion, Empire reigns supreme because Han and Leia reveal their feelings for each other before he becomes a Carbonite popsicle."

By unspoken agreement, Darth Vader's relationship with Luke is kept out of the conversation in light of recent events. It wasn't the first time the FBI agent and forensic anthropologist disagreed about their beloved science fiction nor would it be the last.

Now that they were closer to their destination, Aubrey started getting antsy. "How much further, Jess?"

"According to my Verizon Navigator, it's coming up in nine miles on the right. Calm down, Superman. I think someone is eager to start his wedding night." Jessica replied.

"Uh yeah, I want to be alone with my wife." Aubrey replied. "Plus, there's a surprise there."

The redhead turned and narrowed her eyes at him. "You called the Inn while I was feeding Skinner and getting everything around for Wendell and Andie after Mike left, weren't you? What did you do?"

"As I said, my beloved, it's a surprise. How much further now?"

"Seven miles, Husband. Don't worry. We'll get there, check in, and start our honeymoon." Jessica said with a smile.

Aubrey got sad for a moment. "You know someday I'll take you on a real honeymoon, right?"

The anthropologist looked at her new husband annoyed. "This is a real honeymoon, Aubrey. We had a real wedding, didn't we?"

Aubrey couldn't argue with Jessica's logic. "We did."

"Yes we did and it came off perfectly."

"Except for all of us being late." Aubrey said with a snicker. "It still cracks me up when I think of everyone from the lab or the FBI working on the case dressed up for the wedding, including you and Doctor B."

"While we had a…eventful morning, the important thing is we got hitched. Even afterwards at Founding Fathers was fun—"

"Yes, it was fun…except when Mike barfed into his beer stein after chugging Steven's 'magic beer'." Aubrey said, shuddering as he remembered how close he was to wearing the vomit.

"Well, some of it did hit Oliver and he shrieked like a girl." Jessica said.

"That's true. I think Mike is my favorite new brother in law." Aubrey said with a smile.

Suddenly, the couple encountered a Sunday driver. Unable to pass due to all the other travelers driving in the opposite lane, the agent slowed down the car. "Come on Grandpa! I just got married and I want to see my wife naked!"

"Aubrey, it's okay." Jessica said with a laugh.

"If we could have taken my SUV, I could have used the siren." Aubrey muttered.

"Well, we couldn't and we'll be there in a few minutes."

Jessica continued to smile as her husband drove annoyed for the last four miles until they arrived at the B & B. After they parked and got out, the redhead was in awe. "Aubrey, this place is beautiful."

The agent grabbed their stuff from the back, set it down, and looked himself. "It is impressive. I can see why Booth and Doctor B loved this place."

Aubrey looked over at Jessica, still amazed that they were now married. Their wedding was perfect and the reception was fun. However, he wondered if she regretted not having some traditional parts of a reception, such as their first dance to a song of their choice. They really didn't have a song, so they agreed it wasn't a big deal. Now, he wondered if they should have considered it in the whirlwind of planning they pulled off in eight days.

"Aubrey!"

The lanky man came back to reality to see his wife picking up her toiletry bag and small suitcase. "Come on, Superman. Wedding night's a wasting."

"On my way." The bridegroom said before eagerly following Jessica.

Twenty minutes later, the newlyweds were led to the Nick and Nora Charles Suite. As they walked in, they admired the Art Deco scheme. While Jessica explored, Aubrey turned to the manager.

"So Booth mentioned a pizza place nearby that was open late?"

The older woman laughed. "Agent Booth mentioned when he made the reservations that you enjoyed food. Yes, I put Vesta's menu on the bed. They are open until 10 PM tonight but I would call by 9:30 for a delivery. Let me know when you do and I can bring it to you."

"Thank you very much."

"Well, I'll leave you two. Would you like breakfast tomorrow delivered to your door around 8:00 or will you two join the other guests?"

"Delivered, please." Jessica yelled from the other room.

"I guess delivered. Thank you." Aubrey said with a chuckle.

"Not a problem, sir. Also, the extra item you requested is on ice over there so it will keep for several hours."

"How much do I owe—" Aubrey said while starting to pull money out of his pocket, before being stopped by the innkeeper.

"Not a cent. The owner of the Inn knows Doctor Brennan from a previous consultation and said personally it was on the house."

"Oh, well thank you." Aubrey said.

"Let us know if you need anything tonight or can assist if you want to explore the area before you leave Tuesday."

"We will. Have a good evening."

After walking the woman to the door, Aubrey closed it, locked it, and looked around the room. Growing up, one of the ways he distracted himself from his life was old movies. He remembered telling Booth once about his affection for The Thin Man.

Much like Nick and Nora Charles, he and Jessica worked together. Their Asta was not a dog, but his cat Skinner. They were best friends who could be playful, but also hot and sexy between the sheets.

He wouldn't trade it for anything. Their life together would be fun, emotional, sometimes mundane, but with a solid foundation of friendship that would see them through anything.

"This room is beautiful."

Aubrey snapped out of his reverie when he saw his wife come out of the bathroom. "What?"

Jessica walked over to her husband and put her arms around his neck. She combed his hair back before kissing him. "I said, this room is beautiful."

The agent kissed her back as his hands roamed around her back. "It is very nice but I can think of something more beautiful."

The redhead pulled out of his arms and grabbed her smaller bag. "I will be out shortly, Superman. You may want to change."

When the door closed, Aubrey did a fist pump. "Yes!"

The agent then walked over and opened his bag while singing, "I have a hot wife…my hot wife will be wearing sexy lingerie…then I will get my hot wife naked…then hot wife and I will have lots of sex…oh here they are."

Aubrey pulled out a pair of blue silk pajama pants he bought for the occasion along with a box. Quickly he stripped and put them on, making sure they were tied loose enough to come off when needed. Heading over to the closed curtains, he double checked to make sure all were shut completely. When done, he lit the candles in the room with the provided lighter before shutting the lights off, giving the room a sensual glow.

Heading over to the ice bucket, he opened the box and pulled out two champagne flutes. When set up, he pulled out the sparkling wine. As he was about to open it, he heard the bathroom door and turned. When Jessica came out and posed against the door frame, he almost dropped the bottle.

His wife was wearing a white pleated baby doll nightie with a large bow nestled between her modest breasts. She had taken down her hair and curled it along with applying another coat of lipstick. To describe her as beautiful would not be enough as she glowed with the candlelight.

"What do you think, Special Agent?" The redhead said with a smile.

"Wow." Aubrey said, his thought processes at a standstill.

He watched as his wife started to walk towards him. As she got closer, he could smell her cherry vanilla scent he loved linger in the air. As she got even closer, his fingers itched to touch her skin. She wasn't halfway across the room before his erection was hard and ready for her.

"I know I said I wouldn't wear white to our wedding, but I wanted to follow some traditions." Jessica said as she admired her husband.

Aubrey's blue silk pants brought out his eyes. His naked chest showed the slight definition that she got to appreciate each time they were intimate together. Looking further down, she could see the slight 'V' in his hips until they met with his waistline.

She was a lucky girl indeed.

Suddenly, the events of the past month rushed before her eyes. Karen Delfs…her new father-in-law's appearance…the set of events that led to the rescue which almost cost both of them their lives along with their colleagues and friends…Aubrey's proposal…their whirlwind marriage.

Overwhelmed, she wrapped her arms around her husband and held him tight.

Aubrey could feel his wife shivering as he held her and the romantic thoughts he had shifted to concern. "Jess, what's wrong?"

Jessica exhaled. "I saw you…admired how handsome you looked…then I thought about all that happened with Karen and your dad…"

"Jess—"

"Aubrey, we almost didn't have this." The redhead stated with emotion. "Because we were full of pride…and scared…and jealous…then we almost died."

Aubrey's emotional state connected with hers as he remembered it all. "I almost lost you…we almost lost each other…our friends. I was so stupid to trust her…"

"You didn't know, Aubrey…"

"But you did…and I didn't listen. Then I was also so afraid for you when my father came back…"

Jessica made herself put those memories away before looking into her husband's eyes. "But I was stubborn and you're a smart man. We faced it and came out ahead, Superman. Karen Delfs has been dealt with and your father can't hurt us anymore."

Aubrey held Jessica close to him. "I don't want to ever come close to losing you like that again, Jessica."

The redhead looked up. "I don't ever want to come close to losing you like that again, either."

"Well, let's just agree we never want to lose each other like that again and won't. Agree?"

"Agreed. Now, I would like some champagne."

Aubrey let Jessica go to turn to the nearby bucket. After popping the bottle, he poured two glasses of the sparkling wine. He handed one to Jessica while admiring again how the candlelight accentuated Jessica's porcelain skin. After tapping glasses, they drank from the flutes.

"Did you see what was on the flutes?" Aubrey said with a smirk before taking another drink.

Curious, Jessica looked on the glass and smiled. "James and Jessica. April 14, 2017."

"Look on the other side." Aubrey said before taking another sip of his beverage.

Jessica turned it and laughed. "It's got Princess Leia engraved into the glass….wait what's on yours?"

The redhead grabbed Aubrey's glass which also had their names and wedding date. When she saw what was on his, she laughed harder. "Han Solo."

"Of course. This is also your original wedding present."

Jessica was confused. "But you gave me my present on Thursday night."

Aubrey took another drink. "I wasn't sure if they would get here in time for today, so I bought the other gift so you would have one in case."

"I love that gift," Jessica said. "And I love this one. Man, all I gave you were cufflinks."

"Your father's cufflinks that you said he gave to you to give to the man you marry. I was proud to wear them today."

Jessica gave her husband a kiss before finishing her champagne. "Thank you, Aubrey. I know this wasn't cheap to get made in less than eight days."

"Don't worry about it." The agent said before finishing his wine and setting the flute down.

It was then that the redhead saw the paper bag sitting in a second champagne bucket on ice. "Superman, what's in the bag?"

"Something for later." Aubrey said before taking Jessica's glass and setting it down. "Now I think we have more pressing matters to attend to."

"I think we do, too." Jessica responded.

Aubrey leaned down and kissed his wife with all the love he could show her. The next few minutes their embrace grew more heated as they mapped each other's upper bodies. As Aubrey was pulling one of Jessica's straps down, he had a realization.

"Shit, we forgot something."

Uh oh...what did Aubrey and Jessica forget? If you were paying attention you already know but if not, find out in Chapter 2.