Disclaimer: Just realized that i have to add one of these thingies... Just FYI i own nothing... LOL except the first three seasons of this fabulous show on DVD. Bones belongs to the people who created it... DUH

Um Just so you know- in my story it takes place true to events up to The Bone That Blew (since i've been going crazy since it aired) But with one subtle difference. Hodgins and Angela are still together. I am in denial about them breaking up. So i kept them together :-P

February 4th

Temperance Brennan regained consciousness in an extremely painful manner.

The pounding of her head and the furriness of her tongue made her immediately assume that she had had one too many drinks last night- and that this was the consequence of her foolishness- a hangover that could wake the dead.

This unnatural pun made her grin in a slightly pleased state of mind.

She had been spending way too much time with Booth lately if she was making death jokes.

This was the place for jokes though- staying in Las Vegas, where they had just that night wrapped up their second case in Sin City.

That was when she realized that someone was draped over her, in an overly protective manner- he was curled around her in a pseudo-fetal position that had his arm up over her shoulder and his body comfortably fitting with her own.

He was also apparently very muscular- she could feel the strength all around her- in all the muscles whose names she knew by heart.

The problem was, she couldn't remember who she had come home with last night- and apparently wherever she was waking up- had excellent shades on the windows because it was completely black inside the room.

Brennan didn't freak out- there was a safety in this embrace that she hadn't felt ever before.

Even when she was with Sully- and that had been the most emotionally attached that she had ever gotten.

Pain and the slightest tinges of regret always surfaced when she thought of him- even after almost 2 years.

It was hard for her- the only man that she had almost allowed herself to love. Well, maybe not the only man…

Of course she would never allow herself to say that out loud- it would mean admitting that she may be wrong about the fact that love itself was only a chemical reaction. And if she admitted that, Booth would never let her live it down.

A flashing alarm clock read- 10:15- she could only assume that that was in the morning- even though she was not working on a case this instant she hated being late for work- of she came in even a little later than usual Angela would be all over her, wanting to know the details. And Jack would be somewhere off in their peripherals. Just watching the woman he loved, live her life with the exuberance that had first attracted her to him.

By the end of the day Booth would have found out- and would become extremely awkward if she spoke about any of the men in her life.

He was very odd when she spoke about things like that- and only when it was associated with her.

If she had been a normal human woman- she might even jump to the conclusion that he might be jealous.

Of His Partner?

No, she thought- he's just like a brother.

"You must really like your brother." Julian had noted in a slightly disturbed tone, at Christmas time, almost a year ago.

Temperance would tell herself that it had been a special year because she had spent it with her father and brother, and nieces.

But down deep- she really knew why she considered it one of her warmest memories.

It would always be that time that she had kissed Seeley Booth- even if it was only a fake kiss.

Her moment of temporary insanity- when she had agreed to kiss him under the mistletoe- logically reasoning that it would be nothing and that she would keep control of any pesky emotions that might surface. As if they would have the nerve to surface in her ironclad mind of facts and calculation.

But when she had kissed him suddenly and their lips had met- it had been like dynamite went off in her skull.

She had tasted him, and he had been surprised, and she had remained in control- his surprise and irresponsiveness made this easier than she had expected counting up to three.

Temperance Brennan had always considered herself to be a good counter.

But she hadn't expected three.

That was when he had come to his senses and began kissing her back, moving his lips against her own.

That was when she had lost track of time

It had been involuntary- to grab the lapels of his coat gently- and pulled him more tightly to her.

He was taller, so he had to incline his neck slightly- finding the perfect angle in which to keep her in this embrace.

And that was when she had felt him open his mouth on hers- and she had responded for the first time in her life- with her heart, rather than her head,

That had been around five.

She had become more aggressive at that point- pulling forcefully on his lapels- as passion began to fill her mind- and slipping her tongue into his mouth without a thought to how it would affect him- and when he had unhesitatingly returned the favor, they had gently savored each other.

And Brennan just slowly began to realize what she had been missing all these years.

That was at 9 steamboats.

She suddenly became aware that Julian was watching… and that this was Booth.

Temperance pulled back suddenly- their mouths making the slightest popping sound as they separated.

Booth stumbled back a little- looking stunned, and if she wasn't mistaken, there was something else in his eyes as they met for the first time, almost shyly- if she were to define it anthropologically speaking- it was Arousal.

Arousal of the Alpha Male when he has found a female that he is inclined to mate with- because of qualities that make her, her. Biological desire. A textbook example.

Scary thing was, she was feeling the same thing.

Julian had cleared her throat- knowing perfectly well that they had forgotten that she was in the room.

Brennan really didn't know what would have happened if they had been alone immediately following the mistletoe kiss.

The look in his eyes had not been one that had brooked any argument. And Brennan couldn't figure out if she would have stopped him from doing anything at that point- standing there- in a slightly breathless, flushed state, looking into his eyes and seeing something that both excited and terrified her.

But then Julian had cleared her throat. And they had both been yanked back down into reality.

Sometimes her mind wandered- and she began to think about what might've happened.

She had seen Booth's muscles before- felt the reassuring strength of him, when she would hug him- or he would help her to her feet.

Temperance had this feeling that he would have seized her face before she could scamper away and once again put her heart in a box.

That's when Temperance heard a moan of pain- coming from behind her ear, and the lightest shifting of the arm that held her so close.

And she was suddenly enveloped in a scent she recognized.

"What time is it?" She heard him say- and then her heart was suddenly lunging into her throat.

Brennan knew that voice- even as the rumbling in the diaphragm of the man behind her voice's growled with the morning and also a hangover.

She wanted to be a different person at that point… or at least have a less recognizable voice.

"10:18." Temperance replied as quietly as she could- although her voice still seemed ridiculously loud in the silence if the room.

For a microsecond- she thought he didn't recognize her- but then she felt him tense all around her- the arm across her was suddenly removed and she felt him pull away, sheet hurriedly pulled across to form some sort of decency.

With a heavy heart she turned over- face-to-face with her partner.

Seeley Booth.

He had the same shell-shocked expression that he had worn when she had kissed him under the mistletoe.

"Bones?" He squeaked; looking as surprised and vulnerable as Cam had described about the night that he had gotten the ransom call from the Gravedigger.

"What the-"

He bit off his oath, or it trailed off- she wasn't sure.

He just stared- mouth open.

Then suddenly his eyes were drawn to her form- lying uncovered next to him.

She found herself strangely pleased by his scrutiny.

Then he realized what he was doing- and jerked his eyes back to her face.

"It's ok." She responded when she realized that he was too overcome to finish his inquiry. "I don't remember anything that happened last night either."
That seemed to jolt him.

"Oh yeah, that makes it all better. You and Me in bed together- naked. But because we don't remember what happened… its OK!"

Brennan understood his sarcasm, he always did this when things got beyond his control- or just beyond what he felt was right.

"We got drunk." She said- as they both clutched their heads when his half yell hit their ears.

"Yes." He agreed in irritation. "I think we did."

Temperance started getting flashes.

"We both had a lot to drink- and then you went to go gambling- and I didn't want you to get readdicted. So I asked you to stop. And then you told me that the only way you'd stop was-"

"If you'd give me another kiss."

"And not like the one on Christmas." Brennan corrected. "You were very specific."

"Oh lord…" Booth moaned.

"Then after we… um… kissed for a while… it gets blurry."

"Well, maybe, if we had a light- I could think better."

Booth slid out of bed, grabbing his boxers on his way across the floor.

He flipped the light on to reveal his Bones in a bed with sheets up to her chin… their clothes were flung haphazardly across the room.

He had a sudden moment of brilliance- reaching backwards across the mussed bed he seized the telephone and dialed the front desk.

"This is all some sort of drunken misunderst-" He said to the woman lying in bed with him.

"-Hello Mr. Booth, how may I help you?" The desk clerk asked,

"-Booth" Brennan said.

"Yes-" He replied quietly into the receiver. "Can I ask what time I checked in last night?" To Bones he said- "I'm on the phone Bones, hold on"

"Let me see sir..." A pause followed and he heard the sounds of keys clacking.

"No- Booth-" She tried again.

He was starting to get annoyed with his partner- couldn't she see that he was on the phone?

"Around 3 AM sir. Will you or Mrs. Booth need anything this morning? You didn't check in with any bags last night."

"Mrs. Booth?"

His stomach suddenly felt like it was full of lead. Really cold lead.

"Yes." Came the cheerful voice at the other end of the line. "It says here that Seeley and Temperance Booth checked in last night into your room."

Everything felt suddenly surreal-

"Oh ok." He heard himself say into the phone- then he hung up without another word.

Booth glanced over at Bones suddenly realizing what she was staring at on her left hand, and as it glinted up at him in the motel light- Seeley felt his heart stop.

It was a wedding ring.

She looked up at him.

"I think we're married."

If Jack Hodgins were to have to describe the relationship between Dr. Brennan and Agent Booth he would have to say- complicated and simple.

Then he would grin and blame the poetic sound of his words on his fiancée Angela.

Simple in the way that you could tell that they were oddly enough the best of friends- even though they agreed on nothing and no one.

And the fact that they were clearly mad about one another- in the same way that he had been crazy about Angela almost two years ago.

But complicated in the fact that he wasn't sure that anything would ever be able to work out between them- because they worked together.

Even the two in question knew that when their affections were in the open- it made their work environment very difficult.

It was complicated further by their own sensibilities.

Dr. Brennan was fascinated by the workings of human society and yet unable to force herself to become part of it. To experience the emotional side of life.

Booth was the emotional part of Brennan's life- he was the heart that kept her from being like Zach had been.

But that was the problem- they were the yin and yang. But they were unable to admit that they were attached to one another.

It had gone from colleagues to partners in a short year- who knows what would happen in the time to come.

That they were perfect for one another was sure- but if they would ever act on the impulse of love or soul mates or whatever- was unclear.

Hodgins shook his head- he was becoming such a romantic. Angela would be pleased.

Wondering how the pair was doing in Las Vegas he grinned and went to show his girlfriend the latest find.

Booth was sitting at the end of the bed- his back to her; head in hands as he tried to figure out what had led them here.

Brennan taking advantage of his turned back had slipped into a more comfortable set of clothes.

She found her purse- just in case- she always carried a second set of clothes. You could never tell when you were going to get something on you. And when they were on a case, it was almost definite.

Afterward she sat down carefully next to him. He still wouldn't look up.

"Did you remember anything?" She asked, and then surprised herself by being distracted by the beautiful ring on her left hand.

"Not much- but I think its going to come back to me…I can usually remember what happened while I was drunk. I'm pretty good at holding my liquor."

He said the last part with the usual Booth bragging, which gave her hope that their previous relationship was not all lost.

"The desk lady said that we checked in last night around 3AM." He swallowed nervously "as Mr. And Mrs. Booth."
Temperance nodded slowly.

"I found this in my purse. It seems to agree with your marriage theory."

Booth found his eyes suddenly drawn to a crumpled piece of paper that Bones was holding lightly in her hand.

At the top it read that it was from The Little Ol' Chapel Of Love.

Underneath it was Signed by One: Seeley Booth and Temperance Brennan and it was to show that they were legally bound in holy matrimony and certified by the state of Nevada.

Booth had then proceeded to swear loudly- clutch his head. He then reported that he was going to get some coffee and Tylenol for them- grabbed his keys and headed out the door.

Temperance stared at the closed door for a long time before slowly getting up and searching through her purse for her cell phone.

She dialed.

"Hey sweetie how's Vegas?" Came the naturally cheerful voice from far away city of D.C.

"It's good." Brennan managed to say.

"Details hon, I need details. Any hot guys to hook up with?"

"Not really."

"Oh come on Bren, I need more than that- don't tell me Booth hasn't let you play a little on your last day and night in Vegas. I'll have to have a little one-on-one with our favorite neighborhood special agent when you guy-"

"I'm married Angela."

Brennan heard the pause on the other end of the phone- and she mentally logged it away that this was the first time that she had ever made her artist friend speechless.

"You're what Temperance?"

"Married, Angela. I'm married."

She heard her best friend squeal in excitement.

"Oh my gosh Bren, I'm so surprised- you go girl-"

"To Booth, Angela."

This pause was even longer than the first one. Twice in a row… this was a new record.

"You mean our Booth- as in Special Agent Seeley Booth- FBI, carries a gun, is your partner Booth?"

"Yes Ang, that Booth."

Another squeal- this one more excited and girlish than the first.

"Finally!!! Bren thank God you decided to go with the heart this time, I mean really, we all knew-"

"I woke up this morning with him next to me. And a ring on my finger and a marriage certificate in my purse. I have no idea what happened last night."

Angela actually had the guts to laugh.

"I knew this would happen- This is SO you two." She continued to giggle and chatter until she began to realize that her best friend wasn't joining in on the merriment.

"Are you okay, Tempy?"

Temperance Brennan forced herself to take a deep breath.

"Physically I am fine- apparently we stayed safe during our drunken frolics."

"Uh-huh, Bren that's not what I meant and you know it. Are you ok?"

"I don't know… Angela… I mean. It's Booth."

"And it's huge- sweetie. This has got to be extreme shelter-shock for you."

"I don't know what that means."

Angela laughed again

"Don't worry about it- How is Booth taking all of this?"

Brennan found herself suddenly wandering where he was.

"He said he went for coffee and Tylenol. Our hangovers were something to be reckoned with."

"Did he say when he would be back?"

"I'm not so sure Angela. I was kind of in a daze when he left."

"How long has it been?"

Brennan glanced at her watch.

"About 10 minutes."
Angela smiled at the worried sound in her friend's voice- and wished that she were there to help her socially challenged friend to keep a grip.

"He's probably just trying to find some coffee. Don't worry Brennan, he'll be back. If I know Booth- and I think I do- he's not the type to leave you alone after something this big happens."

Brennan despite herself, sighed with relief.

"So, how are you feeling about this imposed and antiquated ritual?"

Angela couldn't resist, this was Brennan and Booth.

Only the thing that she had been waiting for, since the first time she watched them share that look.

Everyone knew the look she was thinking about, it was something that really couldn't be described with mere words.

It could be a sad look, or a happy look. You could almost hear them past speaking to each other beyond words.

Angela loved that look. It was the only time her best friend looked soft, and exposed.

"I really don't know Ang. Its so, sudden. And unreal- I just don't know… it's hard to think about it rationally."

"You don't have to think about it rationally babe. What is your heart saying?"

She waited for her friend to speak-

"All I can think is that it's Booth- he's my partner. I am not sure that I feel anything about it."

"Other than the fact that you are practically in love with him anyway."

"Angela…-"

"I know Brennan. Just- be willing to look at this past the anthropologically way, OK?"

"I'll try Ang. Ok. I'll try,"

She heard the key rattle in the door-

"He's back, I have got to go, don't tell anyone."

Angela smiled into the phone.

"Ok sweetie. Be good- I love you, see you when you get back,"

"Ok Bye."

Brennan clicked her phone shut as her partner walked in; carrying a drink holder with two coffee cups in it- on his arm hung a plastic bag.

"Hey Bones. I come bearing coffee and um, the best pain-killers that 7-eleven carries,"

He smiled his charm smile, and Brennan could almost pretend that they weren't married,

She took the coffee, and after taking a sip- was pleased that he remembered exactly how she liked it.

He sat down in the chair next to the bed, facing her, and take quick sips of his own drink, downing 2 tylenol and then burning his tongue on the hotness of the coffee.

She grinned when he hissed in pain as it scalded him.

"Is that hot?" She asked.

"He shook his head and shot her a dirty look.

"Gee Bones, Ya think?"

"Well you do that every time- I thought that you would have learned by now."

He hmphed and then took another drink, more carefully this time.

Bones, as much as she wanted to, could not just ignore what was going on- although she knew that he wanted to ignore it.

"What are we going to do Booth?"
He froze, this was her super serious tone.

"About what?" He asked, feigning stupidity.

Brennan gave him that look that said that she knew he was being purposefully dense. He tried at least twice a case, but he only got away with it maybe once.

"Oh about the whole… marriage thing."

"Yes, about the marriage thing."

"Oh well… I don't know- I haven't really thought about it."

"I thought that's why you left, to think about things."

Booth looked blankly at her.

"No, I just wanted coffee."

Surprisingly enough she believed him.

"Well now, what are we going to do?" He asked- staring off into space.

"Well the only logical thing to do would be to get it annulled."

He coughed and cleared his throat- but said nothing.

"Or a divorce." She said.

"Um Bones- those could be a problem."

"Why would getting a divorce be a problem? I have been told that people do it every day when they wish to get out of a disagreeable relationship-"

"-Because," He explained. "If we file for divorce or an annulment- the bureau will find out about it. And then they'll make us split up."

"You mean our partnership would be terminated?"

"Yes Bones, that's exactly what I mean."

Something in her went cold.

Any normal human being would have called this feeling sad and afraid, but Temperance chalked it up to pheromones releasing into her brain stem- clouding her mind and judgment until she could no longer reason clearly.

What she did know was that their partnership was one of the most important thing to her at this moment in time. If it was dissolved… She didn't want to think about it.

"So you're saying that we should remain legally married?" Temperance was amazed at how bearable the idea was to her.

"Yeah" He said, becoming more and more okay with the idea. "No one else knows about this- and we don't have to tell anyone- and if anyone does find out, we can just say that you didn't want to change your name."

"Angela knows." Brennan informed him- he did a double take. "You told Angela?"

"Yes! She's my best friend; I am going to tell her when I get married."

"This isn't really married."
Temperance's head jerked up and she fixed him with her anthropological stare.

"We are legally bound to one another- how else do you define marriage?"

"Love and devotion. And an engagement at least for pity's sake!"

Temperance gave a characteristic sigh-

"Yes well all of those things are present in a traditional relationship."

"But Angela will tell everyone!"

"I told her not to."

Booth stood and ran his hands through his hair and moaned in a tired way.

"She'll tell Hodgins at least."

His partner shrugged,

"That is a possibility."

Booth moaned again.

"Our plane leaves in an hour." She reported.

Booth seemed to come to a decision.

"Alright, then plan is: if we get home and no one but Angela and possibly Hodgins knows about this, we keep it under our hats and pray that no one else digs too deep-"

"I don't pray."

"Bones, it's a figure of speech, just bear with me. Ok, so we get home and figure something else out. But until then- we just pretend this never happened."

Brennan nodded slowly, contemplating all the different angles of this mess. Booth's suggestion was the only way that left them as partners. And so it was the best suggestion.

She grabbed her stuff and then headed outside with him.

Hodgins had come up behind his lovely bride-to-be listening to her talk happily on the phone.

He listened to her one sided conversation with mounting curiosity, He had figured out that she was talking to Dr. Brennan- and apparently some of it was about Booth.

But nothing else made sense,

Angela hung up the phone and turned around. Surprised to see him standing there.

She placed her hands on her hips in her best attempt to look stern.

"Eavesdropping Hodgy?"

"Excuse me." He replied grinning like an idiot. "Half of your phone conversations will legally be mine when we're married- so get used to it baby."

"And what if it's my secret lover?"

"Then I might not want to listen in- How's Dr. Brennan?"

His Angela's face lit up like a candle.

"She's good." By the way she drew out the word good; he knew that there was something she desperately wanted to tell him,

"Spill it."

"She made me promise not to tell anyone."

"I am your fiancée, I don't count as everyone."

Angela looked down, trying to make a decision that wouldn't compromise either relationship.

"Ok, I'll tell you, as long as you swear to God, that you don't tell anyone else." Her face went stern. "I'm serious Jack. No slipping this to Cam or Sweets."

In all seriousness the Bug guy crossed his heart.

"I promise. Go."

Angela covered her already smiling face with a hand and once again, giggled.

"Brennan's married," Then she squealed with excitement.

Hodgins' jaw dropped and his eyes widened in disbelief.

"To who?"

The artist beckoned for him to come closer- her lips gently brushing his ear.

He didn't think that he could be any more surprised when she told him who the groom was.

About that time Camille Saroyan walked in.

"Are you two going at it again?" Cam rolled her eyes. "I thought that when you got engaged you were supposed to be less open about your private practices."

"Well technically, she is still married to some guy- and I am not sure that that allows us to be engaged."

Cam rolled her eyes again.

"I just want those results Dr. Hodgins, and that sketch to be finished Ms. Montenegro- and I really don't want to know why you are grinning like madmen I just want this job finished before Dr. Brennan and Agent Booth get back which is in about…" She checked her watch. "Four and a half hours people."

Sweets suddenly came wandering in- making both Angela and Hodgins want to spill their beans even more.

"Are Agent Booth and Dr. Brennan expected back anytime soon?"

Cam rolled her eyes and glanced ceilingward as if asking for patience- or for the sky to fall on the people who made her crazy.

She hated to repeat herself.

"They will be returning within the day, most likely in the next 4-5 hours, and I have no idea if either will be coming in to the Jeffersonian today"

Sweets watched her leave.

"Is it just me or is she a little touchy today?"
Hodgins and Angela shrugged, grinning wildly about something.

Sweets almost asked them about whatever it was, asking for a glimpse into their strange inner psyche. But then he realized who he was talking about, and decided against it.

"I will see you two later." He said, a small uncomfortable wave given as he made his exit.

So Yeah, that's it for the first chapter- i have more lol but i'll withhold it until people review.. You know you want to :-P