~~A/N~~ Thanks for all the kind reviews. I appreciate each and every one of them.

Here's the next chapter. Enjoy!!

She sat at her computer for the longest time. Trying to compose her final goodbye, to her partner and friend. She finally managed to come up with something.

The morning of the funeral arrived like any other. She had hoped that the sky would be cloudy and dark. However, the sight that greeted her was enough to break her heart. The sun shined brightly and she even heard the birds singing outside her window. Would her nightmare never end? Would she be forced to smile when she felt like dying herself? She imagined that she would be. She would get through this the best that she could, one step at a time. No matter how much it killed her to do it.

She took a deep breath and climbed into her car. She was meeting the others at the lab. She had her copy of Booth's eulogy in her purse. She only hoped that she had the strength to get through it without breaking down completely. This was the single hardest thing that she'd ever done. She just had to get through the next few minutes without completely losing her heart.

They stood in the cemetery next to Booth's casket. She could hardly look at the shiny wooden box that held the man that had been her partner for the last three years. She felt as if all the air had been removed from her body. The grief that she felt at the moment was almost more than she could stand. She wished that the ground would open up and swallow her. She saw the honor guard standing watch. Everything seemed so perfect. It would have been. For anyone other than Booth, he didn't belong here. Not yet. She had so many things that she'd wanted to tell him.

The minister said a few words and then turned to her and nodded. She took a deep breath and swallowed hard. She knew that this was her moment. The only moment that she would have to truly say goodbye to him.

She looked out at his family and their friends, people that were special to him and to her too.

"How do we say goodbye to someone so special? Someone that makes the room brighter by simply existing. Someone that seems to always see the good in everyone else. Seeley Booth made my life and my world a better place. He gave me friendship. He took me outside the lab. Made me see that there was more to life than bones and death. He became someone that I could confide in. Most importantly, he gave me a family. He taught me that it's okay to love again. I'd forgotten how it felt to love another person with everything you have. He took a bullet that was meant for me. I know that he died a hero, but I miss him. I wish…"

It was at this point in the speech that she started tearing up. She had to close her eyes and take a deep breath. She felt her emotions bubbling to the surface. Threatening to swallow her whole, she was finally able to continue, "I wish he was here with us now. I know that Booth used to tell me that funerals were a way for a person's loved ones to say goodbye. What if they aren't ready to say goodbye? What if the time that they had with them wasn't nearly enough? What if they forgot to tell him how much they loved him? How special he was to them? Booth wasn't only my best friend he was, quite possibly, the love of my life. I finally realized that I loved him. More than a partner and much more than a friend should. He was taken from us way too soon. He was an honorable man and the best partner I could have asked for. Even though I know it's impossible, he will live in our hearts and our memories forever."

She looked out at their friends and through her tears she said, "He came into our lives unexpectedly. He gave us a true purpose. Beyond identifying five hundred year old bodies, he showed us what it was like to have a greater purpose in life. He made us a family. He made us who we are today. He once called us, The Squint Squad. At one time, it would have made me angry. However, I think the nickname fits. He was our leader. He was the first person to believe in what we did. He fought for us. Sometimes, sacrificing his career to fight for us, his "Squint Squad."

Her tears once again threatened to spill out of her eyes. She had to bite her bottom lip. She bit it a bit harder than necessary. A small sob escaped her throat. It was then that the floodgates opened up. She felt the tears flow down her cheeks, but she didn't wipe them away. It felt good to show her emotions in front of their friends. She knew that they'd come to think of her as a cold fish because she hadn't shown any emotions since Booth died. Nothing could have been further from the truth. She'd always been one to mourn in private.

She swallowed hard and continued once again, "He was a loving father. A dedicated agent and the best partner I could have ever asked for. I for one am honored to have known him. He will be forever missed. I think I can speak for everyone here when I say that we are all better people for having known him. Goodbye Booth. You will never be forgotten."

With that, she walked forward and pressed two fingers to her lips. Kissing them softly before pressing them to the coffin, she blinked hard and walked over and plucked a white rose from the urn and placed it on his casket. She took a deep breath and then walked over to join Angela and the others.

She heard the honor guard behind her. Getting ready for the salute and with each sound the guns made, her heart jumped a bit more. She closed her eyes and swallowed hard once again. Then, before the guns sounded, all hell broke loose.

She heard someone say, "Excuse me."

Then, a man that was walking close to the casket, started reaching for a gun. They knocked the casket over and Angela whispered, "What the hell is going on?"

Zack murmured, "They appear to be fighting."

Brennan was stunned to see that one of the people that were fighting was Booth. Wait a minute, Booth? He was dead. Wasn't he?

She walked over to the casket and grabbed the dummy's fake arm and walked over to the man punching him just as he reached for his gun. She hit him with the arm and threw it down. She stalked over to Booth and he said, "Hey Bones! Nice shot!"

Without a single word to him, she walked over and punched him in the jaw. Then, she whispered, "I hate you, you bastard."

With that, she walked away leaving a stunned Booth rubbing his jaw. Cam and Angela looked at each other in shock and wondered what the hell was going on…..