CHAPTER 11

"You may kiss the bride," the minister said as Booth and Brennan kissed each other softly. "And then I will announce you, 'Mr. and Mrs. Seeley'-" he couldn't finish his sentence.

"Actually, I'm keeping my name," Brennan cut him off.

"Bones, it's just a formality for the ceremony. It's a lot easier than saying 'Mr. Seeley Booth and Dr. Temperance Brennan.' That kinda defeats the whole purpose," Booth tried to explain to her.

"But I'm not changing my name, so why should he even bother saying it. It isn't accurate, so it shouldn't be said," Brennan argued.

"Well, most women change their names and the minister announces 'Mr. and Mrs.,'" Booth said, gesturing largely with his hands.

The minister stood and watched the interaction, chuckling to himself.

"Well, I'm not most women, I'm me…and I'm not changing-"

"…Your name. Yes, I know that, Bones, but will you just do this one little thing…for me?" Booth said through puppy dog eyes. "The MC can announce us as 'Mr. Seeley Booth and Dr. Temperance Brennan' when we get to the reception, how's that?"

Brennan considered this for a moment. "Fine. But only for you," she replied, arms folded across her chest.

Booth kissed her quickly on the lips. "Fabulous. And we're married! Okay, time for dinner!" he announced to the others (which included Angela, Hodgins, Max, Russ, and Parker). "I'll get the car," he added as he stepped out from under the tent and into the foggy mist.

"Wait, Booth. You and Parker go ahead with Angela and Hodgins. I'll be there with my father and Russ soon," Brennan instructed him.

"Are you sure?" Booth asked, wrapping his arms around himself in the 35 degree temperature.

"Yes. I'll be there in a little bit," she replied.

"We'll see you there, sweetie," Angela said as she headed towards Hodgins, who was now serving as a horse to Parker.

Brennan watched them go as she walked up to Max and Russ.

"Alright, Dad, what is it you wanted to talk about?" Brennan asked.

Booth, Parker, Angela, and Hodgins walked through the front door of Wung Foo's at the same time. Parker darted forward.

"Grammy! Papa!" he yelled as he ran into the arms of an older man.

"Hey, Parker! How are you doing, buddy?" the man asked him.

"Good!" Parker exclaimed.

"Hi Dad," Booth exclaimed as he followed his son and gave his father a hug. "Hi Mom." He hugged his mother and kissed her on the cheek.

"Oh, Seeley, we are so happy for you!" Mrs. Booth told him.

"Mom, Dad, I'd like you to meet the matron of honor, Angela Montenegro and one of our good friends, her husband, Dr. Jack Hodgins," Booth said, motioning to Angela and Hodgins.

"Nice to meet you, Mr. and Mrs. Booth," Angela said as she took their hands.

"Likewise," Hodgins replied and repeated Angela's actions.

"So, we've met the matron of honor and the ringbearer is here. Now, where is your lovely bride?" Mr. Booth asked his son.

"She'll be here soon. She had a few last minute things to do with her family," Booth explained, glancing sideways at the front door.

"You know how they say 'something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue?'" Max said to his daughter.

"I already have my something new and my something blue," Brennan told her father.

The two of them and Russ had gone back to her office, where it was warmer, to talk.

"Well, this can be your something borrowed AND your something old," Max said as he pulled a small box out of his pocket. It was black with gold that was wearing off. He opened it to reveal a gold chain and on the end was a small, gold dolphin.

Brennan gazed at the pendant. "Dad…"

"Your mother wore it on our wedding day. She would have wanted you to wear it on yours," Max told Brennan, a tear in his eye.

Brennan's eyes glistened and a tear escaped. Russ placed his hand on her shoulder. She reached forward and took the necklace in her hands, holding it up to look at the little dolphin.

"Thank you," she said to her father, another tear escaping.

"Just remember to give it back, since it is 'something borrowed,'" Max said, smiling as he winked at Brennan.

She smiled through her tears as Russ clasped the necklace around her neck.

Booth was fidgeting at the appetizer table, still glancing at the front door. Mr. and Mrs. Booth were now sitting at one of the small tables, munching on egg rolls and MeeKrob. Booth was getting nervous she didn't get cold feet, did she? he thought, nervously. No, Bones wouldn't do that he reassured himself.

"Dr. Bones!" Parker cried. He ran to the front door as Brennan, Max, and Russ walked in.

Booth finally let his breath out.

"Hi Parker!" Brennan replied as the bouncing head of ringlets sprung into her arms. Booth motioned to his parents and headed for Brennan with his mom and dad close behind. Max and Russ stood aside and made their way to one of the buffet tables.

"Look, Dr. Bones! I remember!" Parker exclaimed as he raised his pant leg. He pointed to one part of his leg. "Fibia…and," he pointed to another part of his leg, "Tibula!" Parker announced, very excitedly, as he smiled brightly up at Brennan.

Brennan laughed as she knelt down to Parker. "That's close enough," she told him.

"Close enough?" Parker asked, his voice dropping. "What do you mean? Didn't I get it right?"

Mr. and Mrs. Booth, along with their son, stood by and watched the interaction between the little boy and the doctor.

"Well, actually, this," she lifted her skirt slightly and pointed to her leg, "is the Fibula and this," she pointed to another part of her leg, "is the Tibia," she replied and smiled at Parker.

"Okay, so Fibula and Tibia. Fibula and Tibia, Fibula and Tibia. Got it!" Parker repeated, pointing back and forth to two parts of his leg.

"Correct," Brennan told him as she ruffled his hair.

Brennan stood up and saw Booth standing with whom she guessed were his parents.

"Temperance, these are my parents, Peter and Nan Booth," Booth told Brennan.

"It's so good to finally meet you," Brennan said as she extended her hand.

Booth's mother ignored her hand and gave Brennan a warm embrace. "I told Seeley that he should have proposed to you a long time ago," Nan told Brennan.

"Really?" Brennan asked, smiling at Booth, who rolled his eyes.

"Your picture does not do you justice," Booth's father told Brennan as he smiled and gave her a hug. "You are simply stunning."

Brennan found herself blushing. "Thank you," she replied. She was dressed in a deep blue skirt and an ivory lace top laden with pearls, a red velvet shall draped across her chest and shoulders. Her chocolate hair cascaded down her back in waves. She did look absolutely stunning, Booth found himself thinking. But not as stunning as she'll look tomorrow he added to his thought.

Booth saw a familiar face walk through the front door. "And…this is my brother, Jared," Booth said as he stepped to his brother, patted him on the back, and pushed him towards Brennan.

"Wait, what?" Jared asked.

"I'm introducing you to my fiancée," Booth said out of the corner of his mouth.

Jared looked in front of him and saw Brennan standing there. "Sorry I'm late. I just got in. So, you are the infamous Temperance?" Jared said as he shook her hand.

"Yes, I am," Brennan replied.

"Nice to finally meet you. You know, Seels hasn't shut up about you for about 3 years now," Jared said, smirking.

"Thanks, Jared. That's so…eloquent of you," Booth said, slapping him a little harshly on the shoulder. Brennan watched the brothers' interaction closely and smiled.

"Hey, Parker!" Jared said as he knelt down.

"Hi Uncle Jared," Parker said and gave him a hug, but returned quickly to Brennan's side. "Dr. Bones, when do we get to have cake?" Parker asked her, taking her left hand and swinging it.

"Cake's not 'til tomorrow, bud," Booth told his son.

"Ahhh," Parker whined.

"But there's yummy ice cream tonight!" Booth replied, trying to keep his son from throwing a temper tantrum.

"Ooo, okay!" Parker exclaimed, still swinging Brennan's hand back and forth.

"Parker seems to like you a lot," Mr. Booth said to Brennan.

"Are you kidding? He loves her," Booth said as he stepped to his fiancée and put his arm around her.

She smiled. "Parker's my buddy, right, Parker?" Brennan asked him.

"Right! Dr. Bones got me Rufus," Parker told his grandparents.

"She likes kids AND dogs AND she's beautiful? Seeley, I think you've found a winner," Booth's mother told him, poking him in the ribs and winking at Brennan. "Come on, my dear, I want to get to know my soon-to-be daughter-n-law," Nan said as she took Brennan's hand from Parker's.

"Hey!" Parker exclaimed.

"You can go with Daddy and get some food, okay, Parker?" Brennan said to the little boy.

"Uh-uh. I wanna go with you and Grammy!" Parker whined again.

"Hey, no whining or you're going to go home early," Booth threatened.

Parker looked at his father. "Okay. But can I still go with Grammy and Dr. Bones?" Parker asked Booth.

"Of course you can," Brennan replied.

Parker smiled brightly as he took Brennan's hand again and walked off with her and his grandmother.

"Man, your 'Bones' as you call her…is hot," Jared told his brother.

"Hey, watch it. Look, don't touch. In fact, you know what, you're not even allowed to look," Booth said as he pulled his brother away from his direct eye contact with Brennan's…body.

Jared grinned as Booth led him away.

The plates were almost clear and the wine glasses nearly empty. Yet, the flutes of champagne were flowing as the clinking of a spoon to a glass was heard above the chatter.

Angela stood up from her table and continued to clink the glass until everyone had quieted.

"Hi, I'm Angela, the matron of honor. I just wanted to give a toast to the most fabulous couple I know," she began as she raised her glass and turned towards Booth and Brennan, who were sitting only a few feet away. "To the groom: it took a while, but you finally proposed. Congratulations on that, by the way," Angela said as Booth chuckled and Brennan smiled. "You are one of the most amazing men I have ever met. You have so much love and inspiration inside of you and everyone can see that when you look at Temperance and when you look at your son. You are a rarity among men and Bren is lucky to have you," Angela said. She paused a moment as she turned her attention to Brennan. "To my best friend: I don't even know where to begin. You are my role model. I look up to you and I only hope that I can accomplish half of what you have. You make me believe in myself and you play the part of that logical little voice inside my head very well. I have never seen you as happy as you have been with Booth. For those of you who don't know, we call him by his last name. He lights you up, he brings out the best in you and I am so excited that you are going to spend the rest of your lives together. I love you, Bren…you are my friend and my sister. Here is to the happy couple," Angela said as she raised her glass in the air. Everyone else followed suit and raised their glasses, clinking at the same time.

Angela sat down and Brennan leaned over to her. "I love you, Ang. Thank you," she told her through tear stained eyes as she squeezed her hand. Angela squeezed back, tears of joy running down her cheeks.

Jared started to stand and Booth motioned to him to sit down. There was no way ANYONE could follow that speech and Booth wasn't even going to give his brother the chance.

Booth leaned over to Brennan as the chatter started up again. He kissed her softly on the cheek. "You actually bring out the best in me," he whispered in her ear.

She smiled sweetly at him, wrapping her right arm around his shoulders. "We'll just see about that when we get home," she said, a mischievous smile creeping across her face.

Booth raised his eyebrows and suddenly, he couldn't wait to get home.