CHAPTER 14

"I promise you…I will find you," Max told his daughter as he hugged her.

Brennan's eyes were glistening. "I know you will," she replied.

"We'll see you soon, Dad," Russ said as he gave his father a hug and a pat on the back.

"You and your sister keep in touch, alright?" Max told Russ. "And you," he turned to Booth, "take good care of her."

"I'll guard her with my life," Booth replied as he shook Max's hand. Brennan smiled at them through her tears.

"Well, I guess I should get going. I love you, sweetheart," Max said to Brennan.

"I love you, too," Brennan replied. "Wait, Dad. Here…" Brennan reached to the back of her neck and unclasped her mother's necklace. She looked at it one last time and handed it to her father.

Max smiled. "You keep it," he told his daughter.

Brennan's brow wrinkled ever so slightly and she smiled at the same time.

Cullen was waiting at the entrance to the Jeffersonian to take Max Keenan to his new life.

"So long for now," Max said as he turned and joined Cullen at the door. He looked back at the three of them and smiled. Then he turned and walked with Cullen out of the building.

"I'm going to get going too, Tempe," Russ said to his sister.

"I'll call you when we get back from our honeymoon," Brennan said, hugging her brother.

"Oh yeah, where are you two going, by the way?" Russ asked.

"Monte Carlo," Brennan replied. "It was Booth's idea."

"Wow. Fancy. Have a great time," Russ told them. "And Booth, thank you for everything. I know I don't have to tell you to watch over my sister."

"No, no you don't. We'll see you soon," Booth replied, taking Russ' hand.

"I love you, Russ," Brennan told her brother.

"I love you, Tempe," Russ replied, smiling. "Bye."

Brennan waved after him. She was quiet as she stood and watched Russ leave. Booth could tell that she was thinking.

"Are you alright?" Booth asked, placing his hand on her shoulder.

"Yes. I'm better than I think I have ever been," she said, turning to him.

He smiled softly at her as he took her left hand. He looked down at the two rings on her ring finger, unable to believe that their wedding day had come and was almost gone.

"I'm not dreaming, am I?" he asked her suddenly.

She wrinkled her forehead. "What do you mean?" she asked, confused.

"I just want to make sure all of this is real…you…me…this," he said, waving to the room still full of guests.

"It's real. Do you want me to pinch you?" Brennan asked, playfully.

"Why don't we save that for when we get home," Booth said, raising his eyebrows and smiling mischievously. She returned the look.

"Did your parents already leave with Parker?" Brennan asked.

"Yeah, about 20 minutes ago. He fell asleep on Angela's lap. Hopefully, he didn't drool on her dress," Booth replied, truly concerned that his son might have ruined Angela's gown.

Brennan laughed. "Angela won't mind."

"So, why don't you say we sneak out of here, huh? Everyone's chit-chatting and the bride and groom are supposed to leave their wedding before everyone else does," Booth suggested.

"Sounds absolutely wonderful to me. I can't wait to get out of these heels," Brennan replied, cringing as she shifted from one foot to the other.

Booth raised one eyebrow. "I can't wait to get you out of that dress," he told her, smiling naughtily as he grabbed her by the waist and pulled her out of the room.

They pushed through the door to Brennan's apartment, their lips interlocked. Brennan broke the kiss and took Booth's hand, leading him to the bedroom. Once they had shut the door, their lips connected immediately. Brennan reached up and unsnapped his bowtie, pushing his jacket off of his shoulders. She hastily began unbuttoning his shirt as he undid his cummerbund. Their lips brushed together furiously. She finished with his shirt and pulled it off, caressing every inch of his toned chest. He reached his hands behind her back and slid the zipper down quickly. The dress fell to the floor and she stepped out of it. He pulled his lips away from hers and gazed at the beauty of his wife's body. He stroked her shoulders and arms before grabbing her by the waist and pulling her close, returning his lips to hers. She reached down and unzipped his pants, letting them and his boxers fall on top of the rest of his tuxedo. He wrapped her in his arms, holding her tightly and caressing her smooth back as she ran her fingernails down his.

"Ooooohhh! You sure know how to please a man," Booth said, a wave of pleasure consuming him as he met her lips again and again.

"You like it?" she asked, her eyes heavy with desire and a look of sheer lust on her face.

"Oh yeah," he replied, his eyes matching hers perfectly.

Their lips still attached, he held her waist and pushed her gently towards the bed. They fell onto it as he placed his hand on her head, stroking her hair as he continued to kiss her. He reached under her back and scooted them both up towards the headboard. He kissed her deeply and she groaned as their bodies became one, his hips moving against her pelvis. He pulled out of the kiss and smiled down at her, his eyes so warm and full of love. She gazed into his eyes, her legs squeezing his sides. As he moved, she closed her eyes and moaned softly, grasping tightly onto his arms. He bent his head and kissed her over and over, sliding his tongue through her parted lips to meet hers. She reached up and ran her fingers through his hair as they moved to the rhythm. His lips left hers and made their way to her neck and then to her earlobe. He nibbled softly and she closed her eyes as she let out a soft moan. His mouth found its way from left to right across her upper torso. She reached around and ran her fingernails down his back again. His entire body shuddered at her touch and he quickly returned his lips to hers, feverishly kissing her again and again. Her moans became louder as she clasped onto his shoulders, a tide of rapture overwhelming all of her senses. Her body tingled and quivered again and again and her eyes tightened, her mouth open as he hovered over her. He could feel the sensation begin to overcome him as he released himself to his passions. He bent his head once more and kissed her deeply on her lips, his body trembling and then relaxing as he rested on top of her. They were both breathing heavily.

Booth leaned up on his elbows and looked down at her, smiling.

Brennan smiled up at him, placing her hand on his cheek. "You are amazing."

"You make me who I am," he replied. He shook his head, taking in her beauty yet again. "I will love you forever, Temperance," he told her, gazing into her sparkling blue eyes.

"And I will always love you…with all of my heart," she replied and kissed him softly on the lips.