A/N: So this chapter ended up being 20 pages so I had to split it up. I promise that the dinner is coming in the next chapter. This chapter answers the all important question:

How does Booth, Aubrey, and Hodgins feel the next morning?

I hope this helps as the end gets near.

Aubrey was asleep in bed when an incessant bumping noise came from outside. He groaned before putting the pillow over his head, but it was too late. Waking up, he blinked his eyes, but the marching band still beating his skull to the beat of the woodpecker by the window.

Getting his faculties together, he looked around and recognized Jessica's bedroom. Turning to his left, he saw the other side of the bed empty but slept in. Suddenly, flashes of last night came back to him. He smiled as he recalled their quickie in the storage room but then his stomach turned when he remembered the rest.

Jessica catching the bouquet and her face turning pale with a look of dread. He catching the garter unexpectedly and panicking. Drinking shots and multiple cocktails with Booth and Hodgins. His girlfriend, Brennan and Angela carrying him into her apartment before vomiting.

"Oh shit." Aubrey groaned. Sitting up quickly, he got hit with a dizzy spell. "Holy hangover…" He moaned.

He debated pulling the covers over his head but knew he had to face the music sooner or later. Turning, he saw the water and pills Jessica laid out for him. Taking them greatly, he happened to look at Jessica's closet which faced the bed and his thought processes stopped.

Hanging up was a flyaway babydoll nightgown the color of bronze with a matching pair of thong panties. He saw the outfit two weeks ago while reading Jessica's final Victoria's Secret catalog and made sure to tell her how good he thought it would look on her. Apparently, his girlfriend caught the hint and bought it.

Then he remembered what she told him last weekend. 'I may have a small surprise planned for you next weekend.'

That outfit was not there as they got ready for the wedding yesterday. Immediately, he understood why it was hanging where it was. "I'm in trouble." he groaned.

He debated once again hiding under the covers, but instead slowly got out of bed and shuffled towards the open kitchen/living room area. When he turned the corner, he saw his girlfriend sitting on her couch with her laptop. He opened his mouth to say something, but Jessica beat him to the punch.

"Coffee is in the kitchen."

Aubrey heard her tone of voice and gulped before moving sluggishly to the kitchen. To his pleasant surprise, next to the coffee machine was his Star Wars mug out on the counter along with a small bottle of cinnamon. Pouring a cup, he mixed in his favorite spice. When the clinking of the spoon exacerbated his headache, he slowed the stirring to a crawl before tossing the silverware into the sink.

He headed into the small, but homey living room. He was attempting to block out the typing's accompaniment to his headache to no avail. Suddenly, his stomach churned with nausea and he figured it was Karma's way of saying 'Fuck You' for last night.

Carefully, he sat in the chair instead of his spot next to her on the couch. "Thank you."

"You're welcome."

The silence was deafening to Aubrey. "What are you working on?"

"My dissertation." Jessica said without looking up. "Oh did you see the surprise I had planned for us last night?"

He gulped before grasping his head again. "Yes, I did."

"I know we had a very pleasant quickie in the stock room last night but I wanted to surprise you with some fun after getting home from the wedding reception. Instead, you vomited up several mixed cocktails loaded with Curly's homemade hooch and almost passed out on my bathroom floor before I put you to bed."

"There's always Valentine's Day…" Aubrey said, desperate with guilt and longing.

"We'll see about Tuesday. Cases come up when one least expects it." Jessica said without looking up at him.

'Yep, she's pissed.' Aubrey thought before gingerly sipping his coffee. Recognizing that a change of subject was the best course of action, he moved forward. "So…what's on the agenda today?"

"My agenda is working on this dissertation today in between chores before we go to Booth and Doctor B's house for dinner at 5:00 PM. Your agenda I'm assuming is to get sobered up and functional enough to work with Gordon and I to help them tonight."

Aubrey wanted to crawl into a hole and die. "I'm sorry, Jess—"

"No worries. I'm sure I'm not the first girl whose boyfriend got plastered after she caught the bouquet." Jessica sniped before saving her work. "If you'll excuse me, I need to take a shower and get my clothes around for laundry tomorrow."

Aubrey watched his girlfriend get up and walk away. Yep, he was on her shit list all right…at the top and steaming hot.

Booth was sound asleep in the living room when he suddenly felt a weight land on him. He opened his eyes, but the light from the windows was too bright. The former Ranger's head was alternating between pounding and swimming when he felt himself being shook lightly. Opening his eyes, he was greeted with a familiar pair of blue ones.

"Daddy, wake up."

"Christine?"

Booth's answer was for Christine to shake him slightly, making his insides churn. "Mommy said you had to get up because we're going to say goodbye to Bao Bao today."

He groaned for a second as he remembered their plans today. National Zoo had a family event scheduled from 9:00 - 11:00 as part of the panda bear's sendoff to China in less than 10 days. Christine had been excited about it all week, counting down the days in her calendar.

"Daddy, why are you covering your face?"

Booth didn't feel telling his daughter the truth was very appropriate. "The light's just a little bright, Monkey. I'm fine. Where's your Mommy?"

"Putting clothes on Hank. Hurry up Daddy. Mommy said you have to make breakfast because we have to leave early."

Leave early. Of course…Bones wanted to avoid the heavy traffic to the Zoo and get a close parking spot. While she had issues with zoos, she knew how much the kids loved going. Each visit she tried to make it as educational as possible.

"Okay, Monkey. Tell Mommy I'll be up in a few minutes." Booth said before kissing his daughter, who recoiled.

"Daddy, your breath smells funny. Brush your teeth."

"Yes, Ma'am. I'll be right out."

His seven year old jumped off him and ran back towards the bedrooms. Lifting himself up, he felt the pounding get worse and a wave of dizziness. When he recovered his faculties, he got up and lumbered back. As he made his way down the hall, he heard his wife assist their daughter in getting dressed as their oldest prattled on and on about pandas.

When he got into their en-suite bathroom, he immediately started the shower as hot as he could get it. Jumping in, he immediately got dizzy before he vomited in there. Standing against the wall, he collected himself to where he could function. Grabbing the soap, he cleaned up but his thoughts began to race with visions of Max.

The former career criminal was the only father figure he had left after Pops died. He killed people and skirted the law more than once. However, he gave up his freedom just to have his only daughter back in his life. More than once, he would come running when they needed him for the kids, even at 3:00 AM or when he was with a date. Worst of all, at their wedding Max told him he was the only man he trusted to take care of his daughter.

Trust…the man trusted him to look out for his family. What did it get him? Three bullets in the chest protecting his grandchildren from men acting for revenge.

Booth wanted to get past this, but he didn't know how. But he couldn't think about that now because he was needed elsewhere.

Turning off the water, he got out and dried off. After wrapping the towel around his waist, he opened the cabinet and grabbed the toothpaste as well as his toothbrush from the shell caddy he and Bones used. For a moment, he stared at it, remembering the day he saw Brennan with Max as she listened to it. He could recall the pain he felt as that was the moment he realized that while he loved Hannah, he was in love with Brennan.

Shaking off his melancholy, he squeezed toothpaste with effort on the brush and brushed his teeth as memories of last night flooded back.

His wife brought up intimacy again by mentioning the lingerie she chose to wear under her dress. Seeing Aubrey intoxicated was only meant to be a stop gap until he could come up with an excuse. By the time he arrived, it seemed like the best and only away to avoid the subject last night. He knew that once they were alone he wouldn't be able to keep his hands off his wife. He loved his wife so much it hurt, but it felt wrong to give into temptation after the havoc he caused.

Taking a deep breath, he put the toothbrush away. After coming his hair and getting dressed, he made his way slowly out to the open area of the house. Looking to the couch, he saw the blanket on the back was returned and the space was put to rights. When he got to the center island, he saw his favorite pancake pan and ingredients set out already on the counter.

"I thought it would make things easier for you."

Turning his head, he fought a wave of nausea as his eyes came to focus on Brennan, who was sipping her coffee by the sink. "Thanks."

He was starting to measure out ingredients when he heard a small thump next to him. Looking to his right, he saw a cup of coffee poured for him next to a bottle of water and two Tylenol. Gratefully, he took the cup, purposely avoiding his wife's eyes.

"I will get Christine and Hank around. After you make us breakfast we can head out. I can drop you off here afterwards while I run errands and drop the kids off at Angela and Hodgins for their sleepover."

"What time does she want the kids there?" Booth asked.

"As soon as possible. It seems Hodgins got sick in the van as they got home last night and he wasn't feeling very well today when Michael Vincent woke him up." Brennan said before cracking a smile. "She thought the three kids playing around the house while Hodgins suffered would teach him a lesson while she scrubbed out her vehicle."

"Wow…don't piss off Angela." Booth muttered.

"Not indeed." Brennan said before finishing her coffee and setting the cup in the sink. "Gordon also gave me a shopping list for dinner tonight which I will pick up after I spend some time at the lab reading dissertation proposals from students. Hopefully you will be sufficiently recovered by that time."

Booth could see the hurt in her eyes. "I'm sorry, Bones."

"I'm sure you are. You're dehydrated from the copious amounts of alcohol you consumed in a short time last night with Aubrey and Doctor Hodgins, so I recommend you drink the water first with the acetaminophen. The coffee will wake you up enough so we can take our children to see Bao Bao. I would recommend drinking at least one liter of water today so you can be functional to commence our plan later tonight."

Booth shrunk a bit, shamed. "I will be Bones. I promise."

"Good." Brennan said before looking at her watch. "It's now 7:22. Please get breakfast started. The traffic near the Zoo will be unpleasant and I would like to find a decent parking spot."

Booth watched his wife walk away. He would rather have her scream at him than her subtle disappointment and freezing out. Of course, she knew that because she knew him better than anyone.

Grabbing the water and pills, he swallowed the pills and chased them with water. Tossing it in the recycling container, he took a drink of coffee before mixing everything together for pancakes.

Aubrey left Jessica's about 11:30 figuring making himself scarce for a while would be best. He didn't tell her that her typing was also causing him great misery.

Getting back to the apartment, he was surprised Gordon wasn't there. Seeing a note on the table, he walked over. Reading it, he grinned.

I have plans this afternoon with my old friend. I will see you folks later around 5:30 for dinner.

I have alternative sleeping arrangements this evening, so you have the apartment to yourself.

I think your cat would appreciate the company.

PS: We will need 2 bottles of Mer Soleil Unoaked Chardonnay and 2 bottles

of the Erath Pinot Noir for dinner.

Gordon Gordon

After checking Skinner's food, Aubrey decided a nap was in order because if he wasn't in peak shape for tonight, it would be very bad. He headed to his bedroom. Stripping down to his t-shirt and boxers, the lanky man got under the covers and crashed.

Brennan arrived with the kids to Angela's house. As she pulled in, she caught Angela bent over inside of the van with a bucket of soapy water nearby. Turning off her motor, she got out and let her kids out.

"Aunt Angela, is Michael Vincent inside?"

The woman turned around with a smile. "Yes, he is. Go on in."

The two women watched the Booth children run inside the front door. Brennan turned and saw what Angela was doing. "Angela, can I help you with anything?"

The artist shook her head. "No Sweetie, I'm just doing a final touch up. I did most of the work after we got home last night."

"Booth regurgitated in the shower, but he thinks I don't know."

"At least you got that mystery Sweetie. I got to see mine up close. Nothing I enjoy more than cleaning puke off a van's upholstery at 12:30 AM." Angela replied before shuddering.

"How is Hodgins?"

"Okay I guess. I left him on the couch last night in the den with a bucket in case he couldn't get into his wheelchair and to the bathroom down the hall quick enough." Angela said.

Picking up the bucket, she tossed the contents into the yard. "Hodgins hasn't had much of an appetite today and he's got a killer headache that having the kids here will aggravate."

"Perhaps next time he will learn to control his alcohol intake. Maybe then Aubrey will do the same so Booth won't feel compelled to avoid….I mean compete."

Angela scrunched her face. "Compete? No…you meant avoid. Avoid what Honey?"

Brennan felt stupid saying it out loud. "Nothing, Angela. I need to say goodbye to the kids."

"No, avoid what?" The artist said as she got in front of her. "Christine and Hank are fine for a few minutes. Now answer me. I'm going to nag you until you do."

The two women walked into the house and into the kitchen. "Now, what's going on?"

Brennan finally spilled her guts as she talked about what happened Wednesday at lunch and all of her sexual overtures. She mentioned Booth's reactions each time as Angela listened patiently until her friend concluded.

"I just don't understand, Angela. Booth has always had a very…impressive sex drive. I know he wants to, I can see it when his pupils dilate and his respiratory rate increases."

Angela took her friend's hand. "Sweetie, the last time you and Booth had problems, I…I gave you wrong advice."

"You meant well."

"Well, I didn't do well, but I'm not going to do that again. You're a brainy scientist, right? Do what you do best. Research and investigate. Do it after Booth goes to bed or get up earlier than him. When you think you have your answer, you need to confront him with it. Booth's not cheating on you and I doubt he's lost interest in sex."

"You're right, Angela." Brennan said.

The artist gave her friend a hug. "Come on Sweetie. We need some girl time."

"Where are we going? I have to get groceries for tonight and next week, I have to pick up the dry cleaning, I have dissertation proposals to go through—"

"You can do it after we have lunch." Angela said. "Come on, power lunch."

"Will the kids be all right with Hodgins being hungover?"

Angela smiled. "Oh, they'll be fine, Brennan."

Brennan smiled as well. "This is part of your revenge for the regurgitation in your van?"

"Oh yes, Sweetie."

The two women walked into the den, where they saw Hodgins lying on the couch moaning. Opening his eyes, he gave a wan smile. "Doctor B. What's up?"

"Nothing much. I've dropped off Hank and Christine early for their sleepover tonight."

The entomologist gulped. "I heard them."

Angela bent down and kissed her hubby's forehead. "And you'll hear them all day. Want anything before I go get lunch with Brennan?"

"Y-you're leaving me with the kids?"

Angela smiled before bringing a can of Canada Dry and saltines to her husband that was nearby. "Yes I am. I should be back by 2:00. If you want any food, send me a text message."

"Goodbye, Doctor Hodgins." Brennan said.

"Goodbye." He groaned.

As the women walked out, Christine and Michael Vincent came in. "Dad can we go look at your spiders and rats?"

Hodgins took a deep breath and sat up slowly. "Sure, kids. Here, carry these things for me."

He handed the kids his crackers and ginger ale. Putting himself in his wheelchair, he followed them out of the room.

Aubrey paced the interrogation room as he watched his suspect. Deciding on a different tactic, he grasped his chair and bent down to get in the suspect's face. "You know who you are, I know who you are. Now be a man and own up to it."

"No son."

"Quit calling me your son. I'm not your son. I'm nothing like you."

Philip Aubrey smirked. "Are you sure about that, James? Jessica is a pretty girl but I can understand why you would want to play around."

"I've never played around and I never will. Unlike your promises to Mom, I've kept my promise to be faithful to Jessica."

"Hey, I loved your mother, too but the same home cooking gets boring after a while. Sure, your redhead is exciting now. After a while, though, you will need someone else to excite you, just like I did."

"You're a pig, you know that? Contrary to what you think, I will never treat Jessica like you treated Mom. I love her and I always will."

"But you don't have the balls to marry the girl, do you? Don't worry about it, Son. Maybe it's because you know it won't be you who will need some excitement after a while? Maybe your Jessica will get tired of your holier than thou attitude towards doing the right thing? She does seem like one who knows her way around a bed, that's for sure."

"YOU SON OF A BITCH!" Aubrey yelled before grabbing his father's head and slamming it into the table over and over…

*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*

Aubrey woke up with a start, close to hyperventilating with his heart racing. After take a few deep breaths, he breathed on a more even keel. Grabbing his shirt, he wiped the sweat off his face and gulped as he remembered the details.

Pulling the sheets back, he got up and stripped his bed of his sweat laden sheets. Throwing them in the hamper, he saw that the time was 3:00 PM. He still felt a little queasy but he was almost normal finally.

After grabbing a bottle of water from the fridge, he checked Skinner's dishes before jumping into the shower. When he was cleaned up, he got out, combed his hair, and brushed his teeth. Heading into his bedroom, he picked out a dark blue shirt that was a favorite of Jessica's with a pair of his nicest jeans. After checking the time, he sent a message to his girlfriend, hoping she wasn't as angry as before.

I'll b ready soon. Have 2 get wine 4 dinner. When should I come get u?

Aubrey had just put his phone down when it buzzed again. Picking it up, he saw the message.

Just putting on makeup. Should b set when u arrive.

After making sure Skinner didn't mark him with any cat hair, he put his shoes on. When done, he grabbed his wallet and phone. Getting his keys from the bowl, Aubrey let the light above the stove on before heading out.

At 4:45, Brennan pulled into her driveway. She honked the horn before shutting the motor off. Almost immediately, Booth came outside and trotted to the car as she opened her trunk.

"What can I take Bones?"

Brennan saw her husband was dressed in her favorite black button up shirt and black slacks. He was clean-shaven and wearing her favorite aftershave. Pulling out two bags, she shoved them into her husband's hands. "You can take these in."

Booth shifted the two bags. "What wine are we drinking tonight?"

"Aubrey and Ms. Warren are bringing the wine." Brennan grabbed the last bag and shut the trunk. "Are you feeling better?"

"For the most part yeah." Booth said. "I'm sorry, Bones."

The anthropologist knew he was truly sorry. While most of her anger was gone, the disappointment was still there. However, she needed to push it aside as Gordon, Aubrey, and Jessica would be over soon.

"I know, Booth."

Just then, a familiar car pulled up behind them. The doors opened, followed by Aubrey and Jessica getting out. It didn't miss Booth and Brennan's attention that while they walked together with smiles, there was distance between the couple.

"Hi Doctor B. Hi Booth." Jessica said. "We got four bottles of wine. Do you think Gordon would mind if we sampled some before dinner?"

Brennan decided that wine sounded very appealing at that moment. "I don't see why not, Ms. Warren. Come on in. It's cold."

"Can I help you with anything?" Jessica asked.

"No, Booth has it. Do you need assistance with anything?"

The forensic anthropologists looked back at their men. "No. Aubrey can carry in anything. Do you have a wine preference, Doctor B?"

"I'll let you decide, Ms. Warren."

The redhead walked over to Aubrey and took a bottle of Mer Soleil out of the caddy he was holding. Without turning back, the two women walked into the house. The two FBI agents watched them and when the door closed, they looked at each other.

"So, how are you feeling?" The senior agent asked.

"Fine…great." The lanky man answered. "You?"

"Good…good."

Aubrey gave his boss a knowing face. "How bad were you this morning?"

Booth combed his hair back. "Felt like shit, even after I threw up in the shower. You?"

"I puked up most of my booze when we got back last night, but still felt crappy when I woke up. Jessica I noticed typed louder and longer than usual, so I went home and crashed for a few hours." Aubrey said, still shook up about his dream.

Booth looked at his subordinate. "You got off easy, pal. I had to take my family to the zoo this morning…the zoo…where other parents brought their children today."

"Well, looks like you won the shit sandwich award today." Aubrey said.

Brennan poured two glasses of the Chardonnay. "It seems Aubrey is steadier on his feet than last night."

Jessica took the glass of wine offered. "Thank you. As for my boyfriend being functional, I credit that to the fact he vomited after you two left last night."

"How are you?"

"Fine. Why do you ask?"

Brennan sat down. "You looked almost panic stricken when you caught the bouquet last night, Ms. Warren."

"Well, you know…people are going to start in on Aubrey and I getting married. We don't need that kind of pressure. We're happy the way we are. How are you, Doctor B?"

Brennan was taken aback by the question. "Fine, Ms. Warren. Why do you inquire?"

Jessica took another drink of her wine. "The way Booth was checking you out, I didn't expect him to get shitfaced with my boyfriend and Curly last night."

Brennan took a large drink. "I didn't expect it either."

Suddenly, the door opened and Gordon led the way, followed by Aubrey and Booth. "Greetings, ladies. I hope all of you brought your appetites tonight."

Jessica and Brennan looked at Booth and Aubrey. Gordon saw the looks the four gave each other. 'Looks like I've got my work cut out for me tonight.'