They were arguing again, this time in her office, but still loud enough for everyone to hear. I almost thought about getting out a sound meter-- the decibels were deafening. Angela came over to my station, as Cam poked her head out of the office.

"Bones! We've been together for six months now! You've moved all your stuff into my place! Parker calls you Mom Number Two! Rebecca likes you so much we have him every weekend! There's no reason for your stubborn refusal!"

"It's an archaic institution! I've told you! I don't need a piece of paper from the government to tell the world how I feel about you. And don't you dare bring Parker into this! He doesn't care!"

Cam came up behind me, and hissed. "Oh, he shouldn't have brought the motherhood thing in. She's going to deck him." Ange murmured agreement.

"Damnit, Bones, it's not about a piece of paper! And I know you love me, you infuriating, stubborn, love of my life! But marriage is an age-old institution that continues to have validity in our culture today, specifically because of its continuing currency in underlying the seriousness of the parties' relationships, and guarding the partners and products of that union from outside interference. I don't need some piece of paper to tell you I love you, but if that piece of paper prevents others from questioning your seriousness and mine, allows me to protect you better, and you to me, and affords Parker more protection than you can give him as an unrelated adult, then I think you should be serious about considering it before telling me no over and over again!"

I could see him pacing, running his hands through his hair like he does when he's agitated. She was fuming, but as she watched him, her face softened, her expression changing as she thought through what he'd said.

"When the hell did you become so logical, Booth?"

Sweets, who I didn't even know was in the lab, and who I didn't hear come up behind me, made a satisfied noise. "Ah, he brought out the logic. Dude, what to be excellent." That kid needs to stop watching Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure on cable. Seriously.

"So you'll do it? You'll marry me?" He'd stopped short in his steps, looking at her with hope. Angela bit back a squeal, merely bouncing in place, and holding my arm in a death grip. She's thin, but she's strong.

"Yes. I can't fault your argument. You're absolutely right." There were murmurs from the crowd behind him.

He put his hand in one pocket, pulled out a ring, and fell to one knee, looking up at her with adoration as a look of love softened her face, and a smile bloomed.

"Temperance Brennan, will you marry me?"

She placed her hand on his cheek, saying softly, "Yes, Seeley Booth, I will," then held out her hand, smiling even more brightly as he slipped the ring on her finger. He stood then, and pulled her into an embrace even more passionate than the kiss they'd shared when they'd finally admit that they loved each other, before letting her go. Looking dazed, she grabbed his lapels, then whispered something to him. His Charm Smile lit up, and he again swept her into his arms, striding out of the lab in an instant.

Again there was silence. Again, I shook my head, and pulled up a document. Again, the crowd gathered round. I looked up, cleared my throat, and caught the eyes of the crowd. Somehow, Sam Cullen had made it over this time, Caroline Julian with him. I had no idea how they'd gotten here so fast. Perhaps the rumors about the army's secret tunnels underlying all government buildings in the city were true.

"And the winner of the marriage pool, with a bet of six months to the day, in her office, is Ben from Janitorial Services!"

Ben whooped with happiness, as I unlocked the drawer holding the kitty. "Here you go, man," I said, shaking my head. I couldn't believe we'd actually collected 25,000.00 in bets, a last minute 5000.00 cash entry by a Roxie Carmichael in Intel over at the Hoover coming in the day before yesterday, as well as one from a Tony Bandoli in Surveillance, again from the Hoover, again for 5000.00 cash, both betting six months and a week. I wondered where they'd gotten the cash, but they'd lost, and Ben had won. Poor bastards, whoever they were.

"Next up, the baby pool. Increments are in weeks, months and years. Step right up, ladies and gentlemen. Minimum entry is 25.00."

- - -

"Nice job, Roxie."

"You too, Tony."

"He got the bets and the cash in time, right?"

"Yes, I checked the spreadsheet and the kitty to make sure. He really needs to get a better padlock. That thing came off in ten seconds."

"Good, I'm glad. That ought to be enough to cover the rest of his mother's medical bills. I just wish we'd known about the last pool, we could have seeded it so Larry won more."

"Bones-- you didn't know he was facing foreclosure, and that money got him out of it, anyway."

"True."

"He has the next one cued up, the baby one."

"Is that the due date, or the fight when we find out?"

"The fight."

"Well, you'll have to twist my arm on that one a bit, still. Let's see who bets what for when, and I'll let you know."

"Really?"

"Really. I love you, you know. And Parker's too wonderful not to have an impact on my opinion."

"I love you too, Bones."

"I can't believe he thought we wouldn't see the money passing hands on the way out, the last time. I mean, you are a sniper, you can see out of the corners of your eyes, even when your hands are up my shirt."

"You've got that right. I can't believe he thinks 'PearlyGates' isn't the easiest password in the world."

"Yeah, and 'diatemaceous' for the document key? So obvious."