This is AU. Some people may like. Some people won't. Let me know either way. It's a one shot now, but based on feedback I could continue.

TWIST

She watched the words 'pregnant' appear on the read-out. She didn't think it was possible to feel both happiness and dread at the same time, but she was. For a brief moment, she thought about not telling the father, but she knew that wasn't fair to him.

Taking a deep breath, Temperance dialed her phone.

FLASHBACK – 7 weeks earlier

Angela had told her not to lock her knees. As a doctor, she knew this but was glad for the reminder because it's all that played through her head as she stood up at the alter.

"Ladies and gentleman, I introduce to you Mr. and Mrs. Booth."

The small chapel filled with applause. Temperance was snapped out of her daze as Hank stepped over to escort her down the aisle. He gave her a sad smile and patted her hand. She thinks she smiled in return.

Later, she sat at a table with her co-workers. They were chatting away. She participated in the conversation. Her scotch helped. Was it her second or third? She'd lost count.

"Can I have this dance?"

She looked up at his brown eyes and nodded.

Standing, she smoothed out her bridesmaids dress. It was black satin. Very slimming and sexy. But it confused her. She thought black was traditionally worn at funerals not weddings. Then again, maybe Hannah knew that this was like a funeral for her. Her and Booth. So would it be in bad taste to cry?

He took her in his arms as they swayed to the music.

"You look amazing."

"Thank you."

"How you doing? This must be tough for you."

"Why's that?"

He sighed. "I always thought you two would end up together."

"Oh. Well. I told him 'no' and she told him 'yes'."

He wanted to ask why she said 'no', but he just nodded and continued to lead them around the dance floor.

"I'm sorry about you and Padme," she told him.

"Thanks. I know Seeley is dying to say 'I told you so'."

"Jared...," she warned.

He laughed. "I know. I know. Seeley can do no wrong in your eyes." He winked.

"Mind if I cut in?"

"Speaking of. Sure thing, bro."

Jared passed Tempe into Booth's awaiting arms.

"Thank you for the dance, Tempe."

She smiled her thanks as Booth turned her on the dance floor.

"You look amazing."

"Your brother said the exact same thing."

"Well, us Booths have good taste."

"It was a beautiful ceremony. You and Hannah look very happy."

"We are. Thank you for being a bridesmaid. It meant a lot to Hannah. And to me."

"All I did was purchase a dress, but you are welcome just the same."

"It meant more than the price of the dress. You're my best friend and I'm glad I could include you in my wedding."

She'd learned how not to cry after her first foster care home. She was glad for the training.

"Booth..."

"Sorry to interrupt, but I need to steal my husband away."

Tempe's voice caught in her throat. She was stunned that the phrase 'my husband' muttered about Booth from another woman would send her into this kind of shock.

"You okay?" asked Booth.

"What?" Tempe stepped away from Booth. "Oh, yes. Of course. Sorry. Too much to drink and too much spinning on the dance floor. He's all yours."

In more ways than one, she added in her head.

On the way back to the table she stopped and got another scotch. How much longer was she required to stay? As she took a seat, Angela placed her hand atop hers.

"You hanging in there?"

If one more person asked her how she was...

"I'm fine."

"I know. It's not like this is a surprise. This wedding has been planned for months, but part of me was hoping for a runaway bride or groom."

"Angela," she warned.

"Just let me be a hopeless romantic."

Hopeless is right, she thought. She quickly stood up.

"Sweetie, I'm sorry. I'll stop."

"What? Oh. I just have to go to the bathroom, that's all."

Later, as she washed her hands, she took a long look at herself in the mirror. Her father was right, she was prettier than Hannah. It was a shallow thought, but it still made her smile. She walked out of the bathroom and made her way back to the reception hall.

"Tempe!"

She looked to see Jared and Hank shouting her name from the hotel's bar.

"Come here. Do a shot with Pops and me."

She walked over and was handed a glass of tequila.

"To Booth and Hannah," Tempe toasted.

"Wait," Hank interrupted. "We've been cheering them all night. How about we drink to family?"

"Here, here." Jared downed his shot.

Slamming their glasses on the bar, Hank leaned over and kissed her on the cheek. "I'll always consider you family."

Tempe watched him walk away. Her eyes glassed over with tears. She then made the rookie mistake of blinking causing a lone tear to fall down her cheek.

"Come on."

Jared wrapped an arm around her and led her out of the bar and towards the hotel's entrance.

"Jared, where are we going?"

"To get you some air."

He led her around the side to a small patio where they sat on a small bench.

"You okay?" He tried to put an arm around her.

It was more than she could bear. Shrugging his arm off she stood.

"I'm so tired of everybody asking me that! I'm fine. I told him I couldn't be what he wanted me to be and... and she can. She can give him everything he wants."

It was only when Jared handed her his handkerchief that she realized she was full on crying.

"Sit down." He pulled her back down beside her and held her against his chest.

"She's what he needs." She told him.

"But not what he wants."

She sat up and shook her head, "no. No. He's in love with her. She's not a consolation prize."

"I beg to differ."

She wanted to debate him, but was too exhausted. "It doesn't matter now anyway."

They sat there quietly for a few minutes.

"Thank you. I needed that."

"No problem. I know I'm not your favorite Booth or even one of your favorite..."

"You've matured a lot in these past years."

"Thanks. Wanna go back to your room?"

"What?" she was floored.

He began to laugh. "I meant to get cleaned up."

She blushed. "Oh. I'm sorry. I thought you meant to have sex."

"Yah. I got that. Let's go in, Tempe."

Later, she stood in her hotel room bathroom. The reflection that now looked back at her was a mess. Hannah was definitely the better looking one in this scenario. She tried to freshen up her make-up, but the results were just not happening. Sighing, she dropped her blush brush on the counter and stepped out into her bedroom.

Jared stood up from the end of her bed, "ready?"

"No," she answered honestly with a bit of laugh in her voice.

"Well, we could raid the mini bar for a bit or I could just leave you alone, but I'd rather not."

She looked towards the mini bar. "Are there peanut M&Ms in there?"

Jared went over to the fridge and pulled out the yellow bag. "You're in luck." He tossed her the bag.

They lay on her bed, ate junk and drank from mini-bottles. It was like a mini picnic. She was having fun. Until her cell phone rang.

"Hello?"

"Sweetie! Where are you? Booth and Hannah are about to leave."

"Oh." She wanted to forget why she was in this hotel. "Um. I had to get something from my room. We'll be right down."

"We'll?"

"Um. Jared walked me up here."

"Ok. Well, hurry back down."

She hung up. Jared was already standing. Adjusting his suit.

"Bridesmaid and groomsman duty calls," he extended her a hand.

They made it to the lobby just in time. As Hannah and Booth stepped out towards their limo, Booth stopped to hug Jared and Pops. Booth then turned to Tempe.

Taking her in his arms, he squeezed her tight. "Thanks for everything."

She reasoned that he was thanking her for telling him 'No' so that he was able to move on to Hannah. As the limo pulled away with the happy couple she felt a hand in hers. She looked at the hand, then the arm and then the person.

Jared smiled softly at her. She squeezed his hand in thanks.

"I think we drank all the good booze from my mini bar."

"Good thing all rooms come with them. And mine still has Peanut M&Ms in it."

NEXT MORNING

She awoke naked in Jared's bed with a splitting headache. A quick glance at the clock told her it was 5:36am. Glancing over her shoulder she found Jared still sleeping. She slithered out of bed and quickly dressed. She wasn't ashamed of what happened; she just didn't feel like talking about it when he woke up. They both knew it was a one night thing. At least, she hoped he thought it was a one night thing. She grabbed her shoes and quietly exited his room.

PRESENT DAY

The other line rang in her ear.

"Hello?"

"Jared?"

"Yes?"

"It's Temperance."

"Tempe. Is everything okay with Seeley?"

"Yes. Yes. He's fine. Are you in Washington?"

"No. I'm up in Vermont. Why? What's up?"

"Well, I'm pregnant and you're the father."

THE END?

So?

Also, thanks for all the feedback/reviews on my last story: The Basic in the Instinct.