A/N- Wow. Thank you all so much for all of your support. I was amazed to find when I logged onto my e-mail that so many of you added my story to your list of alerts and a lot of you also added it as a favorite. That makes me feel so wonderful...sincerely thank you all. Now, unfortunately, I must become the bad guy. I hope you like the way this ends. Oh and I advise those of you who become emotional to grab some tissues or whatever cheers you up. Your emotions will be tested. Thank you again.
Disclaimer- I just realized I never did this. Bones does not, and probably never will, belong to me. Neither do the lyrics that I have been using. The storyline is all that belongs to me. And honestly, I am really proud of it, so I don't mind.
"You look beautiful, sweetie. Simply beautiful."
"Do I?"
"Absolutely," chimed her best friend.
"Ange, the dress isn't even here yet."
"Gown, sweetie. Wedding gown." She smiled at her. "And I meant your hair."
"Oh..." The bride-to-be looked out the window at the people below. She paused for a moment, then continued pacing.
"What's wrong?"
"I don't know if I can do this, Ange," she said, panic rising in her voice. "I wouldn't be a good enough wife for him. He deserves better than the best...and let's face it, I'm terrible at relationships."
"He deserves you," Angela said reassuringly. "Don't worry, cold feet is normal on your wedding day."
"My feet are very warm, actually," she said, cocking her head in confusion.
"No, no. I mean it's natural to want to run away."
"What good would that do? Booth would follow me anyway." She looked out the window again.
"No, that's not what I...oh never mind." She shook her head softly, lifting her glass to her lips.
"Where is my dress?" the bride said again.
"Gown," she corrected again.
"Or if you want to be different, that bunch of white fabric that every bride obsesses over on a day like this." Cam smiled and walked over to them. "Wow, you really do look beautiful."
"I don't understand why you two keep telling me this. I'm not wearing my gown yet."
"Sweetie, you don't have to wear it to be beautiful." Ange hugged her panicking friend. "Calm down, everything will be okay."
"I'm not making a mistake?"
"A mistake? Whoa, what did I miss?" Cam blinked. "Don't you want to marry him?"
"Yes. I've never felt anything like the way I feel about Booth. I can't imagine my life without him. But..." She looked out the window a third time, choosing not to finish that sentence.
The two bridesmaids look at each other. Before they can say anything, Tempe suddenly ran out of the room. She returned a few minutes later, an elegant wedding gown cradled safely in her arms. "So? Are you going to help me put this on?"
She didn't really need the help. She knew it and they certainly knew it, but she remembered from Angela's almost-wedding day that having her closest friends help her put the gown on was important not only to the bridesmaids, but to the bride as well.
Compliments flooded between them as they prepared her. Daisy arrived just as Tempe had gotten fully into the gown. Naturally, the young woman was eager to help. Pretty soon the forensic anthropologist was ready, make-up successfully applied and all.
"Wow," Cam breathed, stepping back to get a better look at her employee.
"Wow is right," Angela beamed.
"You're so beautiful!" Daisy gushed.
Tempe couldn't help but smile at her friends. "Can I look now?"
All three nodded vigorously. With a deep breath, she turned around and came face to face with herself, although she didn't look like herself. Her eyes filled with tears. "Is that really...me?" She felt the off-white fabric, her mirror image copying her every move. She lifted her veil and let it fall gracefully in front of her face, a smile painting the finishing touch on her look.
"Oh hang on," Ange said, breaking the tension that had unknowingly risen. "You need something blue." She went through her purse and pulled out a blue flower. She placed it delicately in Tempe's hair and smiled. "That's better."
"Thank you, Angela...for everything." She hugged her, a tear falling silently to the ground.
Ange smiled again and hugged her back. "You're welcome, Bren."
"Wow, that'll be weird, huh? After today, we'll have to call her Dr. Booth instead." Daisy shook her head.
"Are you all decent?" a male voice called from behind the door. "Can I come in?"
"Yeah," Ange said, letting her best friend go. They looked at each other and laughed. Both of them had started crying.
The door opened and in hobbled Max. He took one look at his daughter and his eyes were immediately flooded with tears. "Oh Tempe..."
Angela's eyes met Cam's. Both women nodded and gently pulled Daisy out of the room.
Temperance looked at herself in the mirror again. "It feels like a dream..."
"Yeah, that's how mine and your mother's wedding day felt. I kept wondering when she would wake up and realize she was making a mistake marrying me." He chuckled to himself. "But she never did. She loved me."
"I know..." She breathed deeply. "I just hope I'm not disappointing her."
"You aren't. I know she's smiling, wherever she is." He hobbled over to her and leaned on his cane. "You look so beautiful. Just like she did."
Tears filled her eyes again. "I miss her."
"Tempe...I'm sorry..." Max kissed her head. "I know I haven't been--"
"You are you, Dad. That's all you can try to be. I wouldn't trade you for anyone, not even Mom."
He smiled. "Let's go, then." He offered her his arm. "Time for you to be married."
"I never thought I'd see the day..." Caroline turned around as the bridal party made their way down. "I wonder if they'll really tie the knot."
Music played as Sweets, Daisy, Zack, Cam, Russ, Stacy, Hodgins, Angela, and Jared take their places one-by-one and look up to the doors to the Jeffersonian. They all seem to be holding their breath as the doors slowly open. Parker smiled brightly. "Here she comes!"
Booth tensed, as if afraid to look. His brother patted his shoulder and, with a knowing smile, said "You can do this."
He nodded and inhaled deeply. He looked up at the woman and his heart raced wildly in his chest. "Wow..."
Everyone stood up as a remix of "Here Comes the Bride" started to play. On each face was a mixture of happiness, excitement, and eyes that screamed "Well it's about time".
But Brennan didn't care. Her eyes were locked on the increasingly handsome man that was waiting for her near the pastor. She smiled happily at him, her heart skipping with excitement.
The only one who didn't appear thrilled to death that this day had finally come was the one who was going to give her away. It wasn't that he was unhappy with her decision, or that he wasn't happy for her. He was very happy, in fact, that she had finally found love. But something in the back of his mind was nagging him, telling him that something wasn't quite right.
He looked at his daughter again and for a moment, time stood still. He blinked. She was seven again, looking up at him as if he had just told her he was Superman. And then she was ten, dressed like a pop star and singing "Girls Just Wanna Have Fun". He smiled as memories of her flooded to him all at once. Through the happy times, the angry times, and the sad times, he was there for her. Until she was fifteen of course, but he didn't want to think about that.
Before he realized it, they were standing before the pastor. "Who gives this woman to this man?" the young pastor said.
Max looked at Tempe with sadness in his eyes. "I do," he said quietly. He lifted her veil over her head and kissed her softly. "I love you," he mouthed.
"I love you too," she said. She turned to her partner with tears of joy in her eyes.
Max, knowing when he was in the way, backed off and sat in the spot that was reserved for him. He cleared his throat and tried to blink the tears back.
"Nice to see you two together again," the pastor said. He smiled.
"Thank you for doing this for us, Ryan," Seeley said.
"It's an honor," he nodded. He lifted his hands toward the people who were seated now. "Friends and family, we are gathered here today to bear witness to the union between Seeley Booth and Temperance Brennan." His smile grew when they all cheered. "Alright, alright. If anyone has a reason why these two should not be wed, speak now or forever hold your peace."
Both Max and Caroline stood up and surveyed the crowd. Both pairs of eyes glared, almost daring them to say something against the wedding. Are you really going to be dumb enough to say something NOW? they seemed to say. When no one spoke, both smiled and sat back down.
The father watched as the pastor spoke, but he heard no words. He was lost in his own thoughts. Tempe when she started school, Tempe when she lost her first tooth, Tempe as a high school student...He closed his eyes and tried to listen, but the buzzing in his ears made hearing anything impossible. His memories began to overwhelm him, drown him in his regrets.
"Seeley, you are the most important man in my life, and you have been for years. I've been so lucky to work alongside you for as long as I have." Temperance looked deeply into his warm brown eyes. "I don't remember when it was that I realized I was in love with you. Perhaps it was when you were shot that night, protecting me. Or maybe it was when you had fallen into that coma after having your brain tumor removed. Whenever it was though, I knew that we were more than "just partners", as we had told so many people. Soon I felt like I needed you, that if you went away, I wouldn't be the same. Every meaningless moment between us suddenly had meaning, and for once in my life, I couldn't explain why." She smiled and took his hands in hers. "I love you, Seeley, and I hope that I can spend the rest of my life trying to make you as happy as you have made me."
Ryan smiled and looked at Seeley. "Do you, Seeley Booth, take this woman to be your lawfully wedded wife? Will you love her, honor her, for better or for worse, for richer or for poorer, in sickness and in health, until death do you part?"
"I do," he said softly.
"And do you, Temperance Brennan, take this man to be your lawfully wedded--"
"I do," she said happily. "Oh right, sorry." She blushed softly.
Ryan chuckled a bit. "Then by the power vested in me by the State of Maryland, I now pronounce you man and wife." He leaned closer to Booth and smiled. "You may kiss the bride."
"Don't have to tell me twice." He smiled and kissed her deeply. Everyone stood and cheered.
Max smiled with tears in his eyes. But then his smile disappeared. He looked off into the distance and noticed a shadowed figure behind a tree. Moving slowly closer, he caught the reflection of sunlight that would've been unnoticeable by others. His heart leapt when he recognized what it was. His eyes followed the nose of the weapon -- right to his daughter's heart.
Time slowed once again. He tried to move as quickly as he could to the unknowing woman. She looked confused when he pushed her and her new husband out of the way. And then, a split second later, the sound of thunder rang through the air.
Max Keenan slowly closed his eyes and exhaled.
Take the very breath you gave me
Take the heart from my chest
I'll gladly take her place if you'll let me
Make this my last request
Take me out of this world
God, please don't take the girl
A/N- The ending lyrics were from the beautiful song "Don't Take the Girl". Thank you once again to those of you who were kind enough to read this and review it. And I hope you liked the ending, though I would understand it if you don't. I'd also like, should you review my humble story, for you to include whether I should continue writing. I don't really know...it's my life. But I don't know about posting. What do you think? Until next time, fellow fans. -bows-
