CHAPTER 2

"Welcome back!" the entire team shouted as Brennan and Booth walked through her office door.

Her eyes went wide and she smiled, looking up above her desk where a large banner had been placed. It read: "Welcome Back Brennan."

"You guys really didn't need to do this. I've been gone longer than this before and never had a party," she told them. She seemed to have missed the point; it wasn't the length of time that made the difference, it was the circumstances under which she had missed work to begin with.

"Sweetie, we missed you! Be quiet and have a mimosa," Angela said as she placed a champagne flute in Brennan's hand.

"Nicely done, Angela," Booth complimented her.

"See, someone appreciates it," Angela said.

Brennan smiled. "Of course I appreciate it, Ang. Thank you," she replied.

Cam approached Brennan. "I hope you got some good rest. Glad to have you back. Now I'm off to tend to a body," Cam said, raising her eyebrows. "Zack, feel free to join me any time."

Zack perked up at the mention of his name. "Yes, Dr. Saroyan," he replied, his mimosa splashing.

"You have a set of remains to examine?" Brennan inquired, her interest peaked. She was almost starving for a fresh set of bones.

"Yes, they came in this morn-" Cam began, but couldn't finish.

"Hey, can't we have a semblance of a celebration before she jumps back into bone and goo?" Angela asked, irritated. "This is supposed to be a party."

"And you all are supposed to be working," Cam replied as she waltzed out of the room.

Angela's face fell. "She is such a party pooper," Angela said, staring after Cam.

"Technically, she is correct. It's past 9 o'clock and we should all be working," Zack chimed in, holding his champagne flute quite awkwardly.

"Go…work…now. Leave the party for us heathens," Hodgins told him.

Zack furrowed his brow. "I didn't say-"

"Just go help Cam, you know you want to," Hodgins said.

Zack glared at him and then looked to Brennan. "Glad to have you back, Dr. Brennan."

"Thanks, Zack," she replied.

He handed his mimosa to Angela and left the office a little too quickly.

"You boys, go talk about boy things. I need to talk girl talk with Bren. I'm having girl withdrawal from being around Hodgins and Zack 24/7," Angela said as she practically pushed Hodgins towards Booth.

"Geez, didn't think I was that bad," Hodgins said.

Angela pecked him on the cheek. "Oh, stop it. Now go," she instructed as she pulled Brennan towards the sofa.

"Ang, what's going on?" she asked her best friend, who had a smile plastered on her face.

"I have something to tell you," she said, grinning stupidly. "It's big, in fact, it's huge!"

"Really? Because there's something I have to tell you, too," Brennan said, a smile creeping across her face.

"Ooo, fantastic! But can I go first?" Angela asked.

"Of course. What is it?" she asked.

Angela's smile grew larger and she flung her left hand into the air and wiggled her fingers. "I'm getting married!" she exclaimed.

Brennan didn't know what to feel first: happy or shocked. "To Hodgins?" Brennan spit out quite unintelligently.

"No, to Zack. We had a fling while you were gone," Angela replied, sarcastically.

"Was that sarcasm?" Brennan asked genuinely. Angela simply stared at her best friend in her Angela way and Brennan knew the answer. "Wow, Ang, that's…great," she replied as she discreetly reached her hands behind her back and pulled her ring off, shoving it into her pocket. She reached forward and gave Angela a big hug.

"He proposed last week and I wanted to call you, but you were gone, which is fine. How was your trip by the way? Did Parker have a good time? Oh my gosh, I can't stop talking…or smiling. Make me stop, Bren, make me stop," Angela rambled.

Brennan laughed. "Ang, that's wonderful," she said as she took Angela's hand and looked at the ring. It was quite a bit larger than her own with multiple diamonds flanking the sparkler in the middle.

"We already set a date: August 25th," Angela said, still beaming.

"That's only a month away," Brennan said matter-of-factly.

"I know it's fast, but I didn't want it to drag out, you know? A small, simple wedding is perfect," Angela replied, pausing for a moment. "So, there's something I have to ask you."

"Okay," Brennan replied.

"Will you be my maid of honor?" Angela asked her best friend.

"I'd be honored, Ang," Brennan replied, smiling, as she gave Angela another hug.

"Thank you. I don't think I've ever been this excited. You know, I didn't think I was ready for marriage, but over the past couple of weeks, I've been thinking about it more and it just seems right," Angela explained.

"I'm so happy for you, Ang," Brennan replied, now wondering exactly how to tell Angela her news.

"So, what do you have to tell me?" Angela asked.

"Oh, it's not a big deal," Brennan replied, glancing away.

"What do you mean?" Angela asked, confused.

"Well, after your news-"

"Oh, people get married every day. Talk to me," Angela replied.

"Really, Ang, forget it," Brennan tried again.

"Bren…tell me…now," Angela insisted.

Brennan pursed her lips and managed a smile.

"Well, I guess if I'm going to be your maid of honor, then you'll have to be my matron of honor," Brennan said, smiling suspiciously.

Angela's eyes nearly popped out of her head and her mouth dropped open, letting out a squeal that the entire Jeffersonian most likely heard. "Sweetie, oh my God!" she exclaimed as she wrapped her arms around Brennan. She grabbed her left hand and a look of confusion blanketed her face.

"It's right here," Brennan said as she reached into her pocket, pulled out the ring, and slid it onto her left ring finger. "I didn't want to ruin your moment."

"Sweetie, it's gorgeous! Are you kidding? This is an even better moment. We're BOTH getting married?! Have you two set a date?" Angela asked.

"No, not yet," Brennan replied.

"You should have a winter wedding! That would be so gorgeous. You could have emerald green bridesmaids' dresses and red and white flowers and-"

"Ang, you do have your own wedding to plan, you know," Brennan told her friend with the overactive imagination.

"Yeah, but I already have all of that figured out. Now I can work on yours," Angela replied.

Brennan laughed, smiling at her friend. Booth was right; Angela was going to have a blast planning their wedding.

"Sweetie, I'm so happy for you. Come on, we have to go tell Hodgins if Booth hasn't already," Angela said as she pulled Brennan back over to the boys.

"Hey, congratulations Angela. Hodgins just told me the news," Booth said as he gave Angela a hug.

"Thanks, Booth," Angela replied, waiting to see if Hodgins was going to congratulate Brennan. When he didn't, Angela chimed back in. "So, anything else you would like to mention, Booth?"

"What?" he asked, pretending to be oblivious.

"I already told her," Brennan said, holding up her left hand.

Hodgins eyes fell on Brennan's ring. He looked back and forth between the two of them. "Hey man, congratulations!" he said as he offered his hand to Booth, who took it.

"Thanks, Hodgins," Booth replied.

"And Dr. Brennan, I am in complete shock that you are actually getting married," Hodgins said as he hugged her.

"So was I when I said yes," Brennan replied, smiling at Booth.

"Are you guys going to get married at Booth's church?" Hodgins asked.

"Yes."

"No."

Booth and Brennan replied at the same time. They looked at each other, both taken aback.

"Guess you haven't worked that one out yet," Angela said, trying to break the tension that had suddenly risen.

Brennan glared at Booth. "What makes you think I'd feel comfortable getting married in a church?" she asked him.

"I'm Catholic, I want to get married in a church," Booth replied.

"Yeah, well, I don't really think it's appropriate seeing as how I don't believe in God," Brennan shot back, her eyes wide.

"You can't possibly ask me not to get married in a Catholic church and in a Catholic ceremony," Booth said, his hands on his hips.

"How can you expect me to just ignore my beliefs and bow down to your 'God?'" Brennan asked, making air quotes on the word "God."

Angela and Hodgins glanced at each other, uneasily, and slowly slunk out of the room. Neither Booth nor Brennan seemed to notice because they continued to argue.

"He's not just my God, he IS God and you know what? It wouldn't kill you to respect my beliefs for once," Booth said, pointing his finger at her.

"I always respect your beliefs. You're not respecting mine. And don't point your finger at me!" she shouted, her hands on her hips now.

"I was raised Catholic; I go to church every Sunday and we are getting married in a Catholic church! What difference does it make to you anyway?" Booth inquired.

"I told you, I don't believe in God. You know that, so how can you ask me to get married in a church?" Brennan asked, hurt in her voice.

Booth sighed and looked up at the ceiling. "We are going to have such a fun time planning this wedding."