Touch in me all love and passion, pain and pleasure

Once he had left the lab, Booth and swung by Kelly's office to congratulate her in person. She had a mound of paperwork piling up on her desk and asked if he would come over that evening for dinner and he readily accepted.

Later in the evening, Booth, Kelly and Jeremy sat around the dining room table with a bountiful Italian spread, laughing at something that Booth had said when Jeremy noticeably winced as his hand went to his stomach. Both Kelly and Booth tried to ignore it, but Booth looked at the younger man's plate. Jeremy hadn't really eaten much, he thought back on the meal. He frowned a little, then teased,

"Nervous about marrying my sister?" Booth eyed him and Jeremy laughed

"Got to lose some weight to fit into the tux." Jeremy patted his stomach and winced again. "You know, I have to look beautiful for the wedding pictures."

"Hey," Kelly looked down at her large bowl of pasta she was already halfway through eating. "You're making me feel fat."

"Speaking of the wedding, I have a question to ask you, Seeley." Jeremy ignored Kelly and looked at Booth.

"No, baby, you look perfect the way you are." Kelly muttered sarcastically as Booth and Jeremy exchanged a smirk.

"I'm looking for the perfect Best Man. My boys from college just won't cut it." Jeremy continued on. Booth's chest swelled with pride.

"I'd love to." He responded with a grin.

"Oh no, you're walking me down the aisle." Kelly pointed her fork at her brother. "Listen to his idea."

"I was," Jeremy laughed a little. "You know how important Parker is to Kelly and you know I already love him like my own family. He's like a little brother to me, which is why," Booth started to laugh, already knowing where Jeremy was going.

"You want Parker to be the Best Man?" His eyes were twinkling.

"I can't really think of anyone else I'd rather stand up for me on the big day." Jeremy nodded.

"I think he'd be just as honored as I would have been." Booth nodded. "I'll explain the importance to him. Wait," He cocked his head to one side. "You're not going to have him plan the bachelor party, are you? Because if you want silly string and Coke, Parker is your man. Otherwise…"

"You can temporarily take over Best Man duties for one night." Jeremy laughed

"So when are you two thinking about getting hitched?" Booth looked between Kelly and Jeremy, still grinning.

"Kelly wants winter."

"Jeremy wants tomorrow."

"I'm not a patient person." He shrugged, running his hand across his stomach as Booth laughed.

"Well, you know," Booth leaned his elbows on the table and motioned for Jeremy to lean in as well. "The longer the engagement, the more awesome the bachelor party."

"Seeley," Kelly groaned as she got up and slapped him on the back of the head on her way into the kitchen. "I thought you were going to say something really chivalrous like "the longer the engagement, the less likely I'll shoot you" or whatever."

"I think we passed chivalry when you moved in." Jeremy laughed as he leaned back in his seat again.

"Plus, I no longer care about you." Booth shrugged and wiggled his eyebrows. "You're Jeremy's problem, not mine."

Kelly approached the bed and started to pull back the covers when Dexter jumped onto the bed.

"Off." She tugged on his collar, but he buckled down and playfully growled. "Dexter," She warned and he wagged his tail. "Off." She attempted to pull him off again. He backed up a little and dodged her hand and she sighed. "Jeremy? Did you take Dexter out?"

There was silence.

"Jeremy?"

"No." Came the weak reply from the bathroom.

"Are you okay?" Kelly approached the bathroom. "You've been in there a while."

"No." He repeated and Kelly tapped on the door and it swung open easily.

There on the floor in front of the toilet, Jeremy was collapsed in a heap, his head resting along the toilet rim.

"Oh baby." Kelly couldn't help but chuckle about how pathetic he looked. She knelt beside him and put a hand on his clammy forehead. "You have a fever."

"I'm cold." He insisted weakly.

"Can you walk?" Kelly put an arm around him and attempted to pull him up. "Cause you need to be in bed right now."

"Yeah." He pushed himself up and leaned heavily on Kelly for support as they walked through their bedroom towards the bed. When they got there, thankfully Dexter had vacated and Jeremy collapsed onto the bed. Kelly held up the covers for him and he slowly wiggled underneath.

"I'm going to go get you some ginger ale." She whispered as she plated a quick kiss on his warm and slick forehead.

Kelly padded off into the kitchen and returned a few minutes later holding a glass of ginger ale and a few saltines that she had found in the pantry. She stopped when she entered the doorway when she saw Jeremy fitfully asleep with Dexter sleeping soundly at his feet. She placed the glass and crackers on his nightstand and crept around to her side of the bed and carefully got under the covers.

She rolled on to her side and observed her sleeping fiancé. He was on his back, his arms and legs sprawled out, taking up twice the space he usually took up. His left hand kept balling up into a fist, so Kelly grabbed it to hold it still. When she did, she looked up to his face. Sweat trickled down from his hair line, but he looked so peaceful. His kind eyes were hidden beneath his heavy eyelids, but his brow was relaxed. From his eyes, his strong nose sloped perfectly, directing her eyes to his lips. They were parted slightly and she could hear the breath pass through as he exhaled.

They had been dating over a year and last flu season, he had been hit hard. She had seen him sick before, but she had never seen him helpless. It scared her a little. Jeremy was tough. Because of a knee injury a few months after they had started dating, he had given up competitive biking, but he start boxing a few months later. When Seeley was able, he would meet Jeremy at the gym and the two would spar. He taught karate at a local center. He had protein shakes every morning for breakfast. He even convinced Kelly to start working out regularly. He was strong, he was healthy; nothing should make him this weak.

He stirred slightly and his fingers curled around Kelly's. She looked down at his hand and smiled. Watching him sleep, he was more beautiful than ever. Kelly was excited to marry him. She was excited to start a family. Jeremy had shown her what life was all about: living. He had opened up a whole new world to her that she never knew existed.

"Hey baby." She whispered as he started stirring again and his eyes fluttered open. "How are you feeling."

Jeremy tightened his grip on Kelly's hand and stretched his body slightly.

"A lot better." He said weakly. "My stomach is sore."

"Sore?" Kelly eyed him carefully and laughed a little. "Could it be from all the hurling?"

"Not that kind of sore." He ran his free hand over his stomach. "But I'm not nauseous anymore."

"Thank God, because you know I'm a sympathy puker." She leaned across the bed and kissed his temple.

"I guess when we have kids I'm on Vomit Patrol." He laughed uncomfortably and started coughing.

"You do not sound good." She looked at him tenderly.

"I don't feel good." He admitted after a moment and rolled his head on the pillow to look at Kelly. "This doesn't feel like the flu, I'm going to see if I can get a doctor's appointment tomorrow."

That shocked Kelly. Jeremy was one of those guys who avoided the doctor at all costs. In his mind, there was nothing that two Advil, a mug of Theraflu and some ginger ale and crackers couldn't fix. Ice and rest for injuries with a glass of beer to relax.

"I'm going to take off work tomorrow, too." She said after a moment. He started to protest, but she put a finger over his lips. "I want to make sure you're going to be alright. If it is just the flu, I want to be here to take care of you. If it's the swine flu, I want to be here when you turn into a little piggy."

"You're such a good girlfriend." He smiled.

"Fiancé." She reminded with a smile.