Wow, we're getting really close to the end! Of this story anyway. Hope you all enjoy this chapter. Thanks for the wonderful feedback!

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Chapter 35

"What do we do now?"

Good question, Bones, Booth mused, equally surprised over the turn of events. He felt a bit like he'd been hit over his already-aching head as he tried to process what was happening. Hodgins and Angela had left the sanctuary for a few minutes along with Caroline Julian and a man he hadn't recognized. They'd returned only for long enough to stand in the doorway and announce that there would be no wedding. They'd invited their guests to go to the reception and enjoy themselves...and then they'd simply left. What the hell is going on?

As if that hadn't been enough of a surprise, it had come almost immediately after Zack had informed him that the President was requesting his forensic skills in Iraq. Booth hadn't had time to process the far-reaching consequences of that before the wedding had begun, but now their conversation was coming back to him. Zack wanted Booth to tell the rest of their friends that he was leaving, and Booth had no earthly idea how he was even supposed to bring it up.

"Why me?"

"You know more about duty and honor than anyone else I know."

Booth snorted inwardly at the memory. Like I can tell him no after a comment like that. The kid certainly knew what he was doing. He both admired and hated Zack for doing this. Zack had been absolutely correct in believing that Booth would understand his reasons for agreeing to the President's request, but Booth hated being put in this position. And more than anything else, he hated how much the news was going to upset Brennan.

"Do you want to go to the reception?" Booth asked with a shrug, glancing awkwardly at the grinning minister. He and Brennan had been left standing in front of her as though they were the ones getting married. Shame we don't have a license, Booth thought. He dismissed the idea almost immediately, however; they deserved their own wedding, done the way they wanted.

"Not really," Brennan admitted. "I kind of just want to go home, if that's okay with you." Booth smiled and reached for her hand, waving a quick goodbye to Cam and Zack before retreating back up the center aisle.

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"Hey, Bones, I need to talk to you about something."

They had returned home and spent the evening taking care of one another. Brennan plied him with good food and analgesics for the lingering pain resulting from the fight with Max, and Booth plied her wine and a hot bath to release the tension of the past few days. They'd made love slowly, soothing and comforting one another into a better frame of mind.

Booth wished that he could delay this conversation for a few days, but Zack had told him that he would be leaving in July. Booth knew that Brennan needed as much time to process the change as he could possibly give her, and that meant telling her sooner rather than later. He had a feeling that she and Cam were the only ones in the dark at this point. This had to have been the reason that Zack had turned down the request to be Hodgins' best man.

"What is it?" Brennan asked, looking up from the forensic journal she'd been reading. She noted the apprehension in his features immediately. "What's wrong?"

"Uh, nothing's wrong really, just something I need to tell you." He sat next to her on the couch, and she tossed her magazine onto the coffee table before turning to face him. "Zack told me something yesterday, and… Well, do you remember asking me if I'd noticed anything off about him?"

"Yes, he's been somewhat distracted at the lab. Did he tell you why?"

"Yeah…" Booth drew in a deep breath and ripped off the band-aid. "The President asked him to go to Iraq."

"What?" Brennan's eyes were wide with alarm. "When? Why didn't he tell me?"

"I don't know when he got the letter, though I'm guessing it hasn't been too long. He leaves the first week of July."

"No. No, he can't do that. He can't go to Iraq; he's not ready for that," she insisted, her voice rising in both volume and pitch. She felt her chest clench with anxiety, and her mind drudged up images from her own experiences in the Middle East. "You say it like he's already agreed to go…"

"He has," Booth said softly, looking back at her with sympathy. She was terrified for Zack, and Booth had to agree with her that the kid most likely wasn't ready to see the kinds of carnage that resulted from modern warfare. Unfortunately, he'd been able to read the determination in Zack's expression perfectly; there would be no talking him out of this.

"You have to tell him not to go," Brennan pled, shaking her head from side to side in a way that seemed involuntary. Her eyes had filled with tears, and Booth squeezed her hands in support.

"I can't do that, Bones."

"What? Why not? He respects you; he'll listen to you." She was no longer merely surprised and upset...now she was angry. Booth sighed heavily.

"When I asked him why he wanted me to be the one to tell you and the others, he said that it was because I knew more about duty and honor than anyone else he knew. And though I don't necessarily agree with that perspective, I understand how he came to that conclusion. Trying to get him to stay would be hypocritical of me, you know?. I don't want anything to happen to Zack, but I understand why he feels like he has a duty to perform and why he feels honored to have been asked."

Brennan frowned, averting her eyes as she processed his words. Booth gave her a few moments before speaking again. He knew full well that she didn't want to hear his logic, but if she was going to cope with this mess, then she needed to be reminded of certain things.

"Bones, how many times has your country asked you to put yourself at risk this way?" She glared at him, clearly not pleased with this line of inquisition, but Booth held his silence until she answered.

"Ten," she muttered, looking away again. Booth closed his eyes and pursed his lips for a moment, pushing back the hoard of terrible images that invaded his mind.

"Okay. And even more for other reasons or other people asking that were just as risky, right?" She gave a stiff little shrug. "You've put yourself in this position over and over again, because you felt obligated, right?" She met his gaze and nodded minutely. "I disagree with Zack's opinion of me. You know every bit as much about duty and honor as I do. You've been asked to go to these dangerous places again and again, and you never hesitated."

"That was different," she argued, sounding a bit petulant. Booth cocked his head to the side and gave her a challenging look.

"No, it's not, and you know it. The kid idolizes you. You're his hero. Of course he wants to follow in your footsteps; he wants to make you proud."

"I'm already proud of him; he doesn't need to go to a warzone for that," Brennan insisted, wincing slightly at his words. He wasn't telling her anything she didn't already know, but she now felt as though it would be her fault if something happened to Zack. She supposed that this turn of events shouldn't really come as a surprise. Zack had his doctorate now, and he'd been trained by the best in their field. Of course he would be asked to do things like this. It would be stranger if he weren't.

"I don't understand why I'm feeling this way," Brennan admitted, her anger having dissipated to a steady throb of anxiety. "I know that, logically, it makes sense that the government would want Zack's help." Booth pulled her into his arms, and she didn't fight him. She rested her head against his chest, feeling mentally exhausted.

"It feels like this because Zack's family," Booth explained, stroking her hair soothingly. "If there were a few more years between the two of you, he would be like your son. At the very least, he's like a kid brother that you've brought up yourself, you know? You've watched out for him, taught him, guided him, and worked side by side with him for years. You're afraid to lose him, and that's a perfectly natural feeling. But Bones… what you can't do is try to control him. This is what Zack wants to do, and he needs everyone's support. Especially yours."

Brennan was silent for a long time, working through her emotions and trying to find a way to argue with his logic, but eventually she had to admit that Booth was right. She released a deep sigh of resignation and looked up at him, still frowning.

"I'll try to be supportive," she said reluctantly. "But I won't be happy about it."

"No one will be happy to see him go, Bones. Supportive is more than enough."

Booth continued to hold her until she dozed off in his arms, napping for nearly an hour. When she woke, her mood had improved somewhat, and she didn't bring up the subject again until after dinner that evening. She overheard Booth on the phone with Cam, explaining Zack's decision to go to Iraq. From what Brennan could glean from his one-sided conversation, Cam wasn't any happier about it than she had been.

"What did Cam say?" she asked when Booth joined her in their bedroom.

"A lot of the same things you did," he replied sadly. Cam had all but demanded that he 'talk Zack out of this insanity,' but Booth had given her the same patient response he'd given Brennan. Zack needed their love and support; not their doubts in his capabilities. "She's agreed to be supportive too."

"You said he's leaving the first week of July?"

"Yeah."

"I'd like to get married before then," she said in her no-nonsense Dr. Brennan tone. She was rubbing her hand lotion into the skin of her palms and only looked up at him when she registered his silence. He was looking back at her in surprise. "Did you hear me?"

"Uh...yeah, sorry. I… We hadn't really talked about a timeframe, but I'm fine with that. It's really soon though, Bones. Weddings are a lot to plan."

"You're forgetting that my maid of honor planned her own wedding within a week," she grinned. "We'd have at least three. I was thinking the twenty-third. It's a Saturday. Plus, we've both agreed that we'd prefer a small gathering of family and friends."

"Yeah, that's a good point," he replied, smiling along with her now. "So, that's the when. Have you given more thought to the where part?"

"Well… Most venues would require more advanced scheduling, especially in June, but I was picturing something different anyway. Would you be opposed to getting married...here?" she asked hesitantly, watching his reaction.

"Seriously?" he smiled even more brightly, and she nodded. "I'd love that, Bones. I had the same thought too a couple weeks ago, but I wasn't sure you'd go for it. The backyard is private, and it's more than big enough to have a ceremony and some sort of reception back there. We'd just need to line up a caterer and some music, maybe rent some tables and chairs…"

Brennan listened happily as he rambled on about their wedding plans, and she offered suggestions here and there when he paused for air. They stayed up well into the night, making lists and using her laptop to search for services online. Eventually, they turned off the light and settled into a spooning position. Booth couldn't seem to wipe the smile off of his face.

"Tomorrow's June 1st," he said happily.

"Yes…?" She turned in his arms to find him grinning back at her like a little boy on Christmas morning.

"That means that in twenty-three days, you'll be my wife."

"And you'll be my husband," she countered, smiling just as widely.

"You know… the wedding night is a pretty big deal," he said, leaning in for a sweet, lingering kiss. "Maybe we should practice." Booth groaned as he felt her tongue sweep provocatively over his lower lip.

"Sounds reasonable."

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"Brennan, are you serious? You want to plan a wedding in less than a month?" Angela asked incredulously. Brennan gave a rather unladylike snort.

"Says the woman who planned hers in less than a week."

"Touché," she shrugged. "But I had Hodgins' AmEx Black card. Money talks. We can get it done though. What do you have in mind?" Brennan smiled, both pleased and unsurprised by her friend's attitude.

"Small...just friends, family, and some colleagues. Booth is asking an old friend to officiate. They were in the army together, but he's a judge now. Wedding party would just be you, Hodgins, and Parker. We'll need to handle flowers, food, music, tables and chairs, a dance floor of some sort I guess…" Brennan dug into her messenger back for a copy of the list she and Booth had worked on the night before.

"What about location?"

"Our backyard."

"Oh, Bren, that'll be gorgeous. That's a great idea; there's certainly enough room." Angela took the list from Brennan and scanned it thoughtfully. "One task we have to handle right away is the invitations. We might have to get creative on those and print them ourselves since it's such short notice, but we'll manage. We should start on this list now; thank goodness we don't have a case. We can go look for a dress now, and I'll make phone calls for the other stuff while you're trying things on."

"You want to leave and go shopping on a Monday morning?" Brennan asked, and Angela looked up from the list with wide eyes.

"You're giving me twenty-three days, Brennan. Zack can handle the limbo cases, and we will handle this," she replied, holding up the list.

Brennan was exhausted after only a few hours. She'd had no preconceived notions to speak of when it came to a wedding dress, and she must've tried on dozens by the time Booth called wanting to meet them for lunch. Since she was driving at the time, she answered the phone on speaker. Brennan was on the point of telling him that they wouldn't have time to eat since she wanted to get back to the lab that afternoon, but Angela spoke over her.

"Meet us at the diner, Booth. I want to get your take on a few things anyway."

"Ange-"

"No, Bren. Zack can manage. Call him if you're wanting an update, but it'll be fine. Even Cam told you that before we left. No excuses."

"Great," Booth said happily, "See you there in fifteen?"

"I suppose," Brennan sighed. After they said their goodbyes and ended the call, Brennan brought the conversation around to the proverbial elephant in the room...or car, in this case. "How are you and Hodgins doing after…well, after what happened?"

"Or didn't happen, you mean?" Angela smiled sadly. "We're okay. It certainly doesn't change how we feel about each other or what we want for the future. It just means that we have to track down my mystery husband so that I can get a divorce before Hodgins and I can seal the deal."

"And you got married in Fiji? That trip must've been before I met you, because I don't remember it at all."

"Yeah, it was the year before we met. I remember the ceremony a little, and of course...I remember the wedding night," she snickered. "But I didn't realize it was an official kind of thing, you know? I don't even remember the guy's name."

"How are you going to find him then?"

"A private investigator. Hodgins is already trying to figure out which is the best firm to hire."

"Hmm… But you're okay?"

"Yeah," she shrugged. "It is what it is, you know? There's nothing to do now but fix it, and in the meantime, I can have fun planning your wedding." They exchanged smiles, but Brennan eyed her friend covertly, hoping that Angela's emotions were as untroubled as she claimed. "You never did tell me...why the rush? Last week, you weren't in any kind of hurry to set a date, and first thing this morning, you tell me you're getting married before the end of the month. What changed your mind?"

"Zack."

"Oh," Angela said, her face falling into an expression of concerned that mirrored Brennan's. "Yeah, Hodgins is a mess about that. He asked Zack to be his best man first actually, but Zack said that he didn't want us to look back on our wedding day with bad memories if something should happen to him over there." Brennan looked alarmed.

"He said that?"

"Yeah. Hodgins is still mad at him for going, though he won't come right out and say it. He's taking a more passive aggressive route at the moment. What does Booth think about it?"

"He doesn't want him to go either, but he says that we all need to support Zack even if we disagree with his decision. I even asked Booth to talk him out of it, but he wouldn't." She sighed, feeling drained as she parked the car outside of the diner and followed her friend through the door.

"Why not?"

"Because he thinks it would be hypocritical. Both of us have been to Iraq in the service of our country. Booth was ordered there as a soldier, but I was requested for the same sort of work Zack will be doing."

"When were you there?" Angela asked, looking pale at the images that were forming in her mind.

"I'm...not allowed to say," she dodged. "Unless they're raising Zack's security clearance, I don't think he'll be in as much danger though, so that's something."

"As much danger as you were in?"

"Yes," she said simply.

"What?" Booth's question announced his presence, and he slid into the chair beside Brennan. "What happened?"

"Nothing, we're talking about Zack."

"Oh. No change in his plans then?" he asked, wondering what he'd missed in their conversation. Brennan shook her head sadly.

"I spoke to him about it a little this morning. He's determined to go." Booth took hold of her hand beneath the table and squeezed it reassuringly. After a moment, she gave him a smile of resignation. "I'm fine."

"Yeah, let's move this conversation to happier topics, huh?" Angela asked, her smile appearing only slightly forced. She pushed the updated list toward Booth and said, "Okay, so we need your opinions on food, tuxes, and music choices…"

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By the time Angela let Brennan go home that evening, they had accomplished quite a bit in the wedding preparations. After striking out at several formalwear stores, Angela insisted that they visit a smaller boutique that she'd learned about while shopping for her own dress. Brennan found a dress that reminded her of a picture in a bridal magazine she had seen as a child. Something about the whimsical feel of the photograph and the happiness on the woman's face had stuck with her through the years, and she knew that this was 'the dress.' Angela even found a simple bridesmaid dress in the appropriate color, and the shop's seamstress promised to have the alterations for both garments finished in time for the wedding.

Brennan had decided on a color scheme of teal, yellow, and white. The flowers would be daffodils and gardenias. They had lined up a caterer and a bartender, and Brennan had approved a handful of ideas for the decor. She shuffled into the house feeling exhausted, and she was pleased to see that Booth had dinner waiting.

"Hey, Bones. I made that Satan stuff you like so much." He greeted her with a kiss and a smirk, knowing how much she hated it when he called it that. She sighed but couldn't hold back a smile of her own.

"I assume you're referring to seitan?" she asked, inhaling the scent of her dinner appreciatively.

"Eh, po-tay-to, po-tah-to." Brennan rolled her eyes affectionately and tucked in. They ate in silence for a few moments before Booth asked her about her day. She gave him a quick summation of what she and Angela had accomplished that day, and he was reasonably impressed with their progress.

"What about you? Did you talk to Hank?"

"Which one?" he laughed.

"Well...both, I guess."

"Yeah, I talked to Hank Lutrell, and he's more than happy to help out. I invited him to bring his family; I hope that's alright."

"Of course."

"Good. And, let's see… Next was Rebecca, and she didn't have any issues, at least with the wedding part of the conversation. It's Parker's normal weekend with us anyway."

"But she had issues with something else?" Brennan asked in confusion.

"Yeah...the Chicago trip. She already had some family things going on that week, and she really wants Parker with her for them."

"Oh. Well, that's alright, I suppose. Family gatherings should really take precedence over a trip like this. We can always take him there another time, and it might be better to do that at a time that I'm not bound by academic obligations anyway."

"Yeah, you're right. I was looking forward to having him with us, but it'll be nice to have the time alone with you too," he replied, smiling warmly at her. "We got the rest of the summer visitation time figured out I think, but I told her I'd need to double check the dates with you and get back to her."

"I saw your email," she nodded, "they looked fine to me. What about the other Hank?"

"Pops is on board, of course. No surprise there," he grinned. Brennan took a sip of her wine and contemplated her next question with slight trepidation.

"Do you think… Do you think Hank would walk me down the aisle?" She rushed forward before Booth could answer, "Of course I certainly don't believe that I need anyone to 'give me away' like property, or anything like that, I just-"

"Bones, it's okay. I know that. And Pops would love it."

"You're sure?"

"Well you can always ask him, but I'm a hundred and ten percent sure he'll say yes," Booth chuckled, wishing that he could be there to see the look on Hank's face when she called.

"You know there's nothing higher than a hundred percent, right?" she asked, attempting to cover her emotional response with her typical demeanor.

"Yeah, I know," he grinned. "Anyway, it makes sense, I guess. I hadn't really thought about that part of it, but since Max can't be there, I'm sure Pops would be happy to step in."

"I don't know that I'd ask Max to do it anyway," she admitted. "I'm getting closer to forgiving him, or at least I think I am, but I don't know that I trust him enough yet. Not enough to include him this way."

"I understand," he assured her. "Have you decided when you're going to visit him?" Brennan looked startled at the question. Visiting her father in prison hadn't even crossed her mind yet. He'd only been in jail for a few days, and her emotions were still such a mess over the whole situation. She'd been coping by focusing on other things and shoving that particular heartache to the side, metaphorically speaking.

"I don't know. I hadn't really thought about it yet," she replied. "I think… I think I'd really rather just focus on the wedding for now. There's so much to do. I'll go see him when things slow down."

Booth nodded but kept silent. He knew she was in compartmentalization-mode right now, and this wasn't the time to rock the boat. She would need to come around to the idea in her own time, and pushing her would only upset her. He decided to give her a few weeks or so before bringing it up again. Maybe after the wedding… Speaking of which-

"You know, we haven't talked about a honeymoon yet. Do you have anywhere in mind?"

"Maybe," she said, her expression brightening considerably. "I was thinking somewhere tropical. I'm not sure I'd want to spend more than a few days anywhere though. There won't be much time between the wedding and Zack's departure, and I really want to be here for that."

"Tropical sounds great. Anywhere in particular?" He stood and carried their empty plates to the sink while she followed with their stemware.

"I was thinking maybe the Maldives. It's an island nation in the Indian Ocean. It's really a very fascinating place from an ecological perspective."

"As long as it's warm enough for that skimpy bikini I love so much, I'm there, baby."

"Hmmm," she smiled, wrapping her arms around his neck. "Well, temperatures there are around eighty degrees year-round, so I'm sure that won't be a problem. In fact, I may have to get a few more bathing suits."

"Even better." He buried his face in her neck, and she shuddered as he tasted the skin there.

"Although… there will probably be enough privacy to skip the bathing suit altogether," she said coyly. He groaned loudly, and she felt his arousal against her stomach, even through the thick material of his jeans. Before she could take another breath, he had lifted her into his arms and was heading for the staircase. She giggled at his eagerness, but she certainly wasn't about to argue. "Most of the resorts have private villas that are actually built over the water," she continued, murmuring hotly into his ear. "We'd probably have our own little swimming pool, a private deck, maybe even an outdoor bed as well as an indoor one."

Booth was panting slightly by the time they entered the bedroom, and he placed her carefully on the bed before standing to rid himself of his clothing. Brennan propped herself up on her elbows to watch, admiring every smooth contour of his body. She was perfectly aware that she was eyeing him as though he was something to be devoured, and she was absolutely unashamed of it. He caught the hungry look in her eyes and chuckled huskily as he set about removing her clothing as well.

She had kicked her shoes off downstairs, but she was still wearing the skirt and blouse that she'd worn all day with Angela. His hands moved smoothly up her nylon-clad legs, starting at her ankles and only pausing when they reached her thighs. He lifted her skirt to confirm what he was feeling and practically whimpered at the sight of her lace-trimmed, thigh-high stockings. Her skirt and underwear were quickly sailing through the air to the floor, and she slipped the shirt and bra over her head with equal haste.

"God, you're beautiful, baby. I know I say it all the time, but…" He shook his head, wishing that he were better with words. She was laid out on their bed, illuminated only by the dim evening light peeking around the curtains. It was a red sunset, and the warmth of the light made her flawless skin glow. His hands followed his eyes as he traced each graceful curve of her body, licking his lips in anticipation when he reached the apex of her thighs.

"Booth," she whispered, almost pleading as she writhed beneath him. Her eyes had closed gradually under his expert touch, and she was taken by surprise when she felt his mouth at her core. "Oh, God…"

He began by exploring every inch of her sex with his tongue, keeping his movements slow and sensual. The tip of his tongue traced over the sensitive flesh in a way that might have almost been lazy if he weren't being so thorough. He continued the slow torture until Brennan was thrusting her hips toward his mouth involuntarily. Booth listened to her breathing and the tiny whimpers that were emanating from her throat, using her responses to dictate his actions. When the sounds took on a tone of desperation, he plunged his tongue between her folds, keeping time with her eager hips.

She was gripping the sheets with each hand, and he knew that what she really wanted was to grip a handful of his hair instead. He placed his hand upon hers and very deliberately pulled it toward him until it rested on top of his head. She opened her eyes suddenly and looked down at him, and in the moment their eyes met, he sucked her clit hard into his mouth, using his teeth gently to increase the pressure. Brennan cried out with her release, and Booth nearly came simply at the change in her eyes, not to mention the flood of moisture that fell upon his tongue. He accepted it greedily, refusing to remove his mouth until he had licked her clean.

"Wow," she breathed, her breasts still rising and falling rapidly. He smiled his charm smile, looking incredibly pleased with himself, and she couldn't find the will to take issue with his arrogance. It was well-earned.

"I do aim to please," he said, sounding rather smug but softening it with a gentle laugh. "You're so sexy, Bones. Everything about you is sexy." He worked his way slowly up her torso, worshipping her satiny skin with his mouth. He paused over each breast for long enough to get her moaning again then proceeded upward once more. Brennan's hand was still on the back of his head, and she used it to pull his lips to hers.

His breath caught in his throat as she kissed him with consuming passion. Her free hand was moving in long strokes against the bare skin of his back while her mouth plundered his eagerly. She could taste herself on his tongue, and she moaned at the eroticism of it. Booth felt her legs wrap themselves around his hips, and he thought he might combust if he spent one more second not being inside of her. He positioned himself carefully and drove home in one smooth thrust, relishing the guttural cry that ripped from her chest.

He began a slow, steady rhythm, withdrawing almost completely before filling her once more, and each time he bottomed out, she released a throaty groan of pleasure. Her hips kept time with his, allowing him to set the pace of their lovemaking. Brennan clung to him tightly, squeezing her eyes shut at the exquisite sensation of fullness, but Booth craved eye contact. Losing himself in her eyes whilst simultaneously burying himself in her body was an incomparable experience. He'd never felt that kind of connection with anyone else, and he knew that he never would.

"Look at me," he begged, caressing her face tenderly. She obliged, drinking in the sight of his darkened eyes and parted lips.

"Booth… More," she pled, digging her nails gently into his flesh and urging him deeper, faster. He gasped, capturing her lips in another soul-shattering kiss as he gradually increased the speed of his movements. Within seconds, Brennan felt her second release approaching, and she used her hands and legs to clutch him even tighter against her as she drew his tongue into her mouth.

"Oh God, baby…" Booth felt her inner walls spasming with her climax and knew that he couldn't hold back any longer. He erupted within her, burying himself to the hilt and crying out with the intensity of it.

"I love you," she whispered breathlessly as the tremors slowed. Booth kissed her once more before resting his forehead upon hers.

"I love you too, Bones. So much."

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I couldn't let them take over Hodgela's failed wedding, sorry. They deserve one of their own. The good news is that it will happen before the end of this story! So yeah, next chapter there will be smut...and the one after that will have LOTS of it I should think. I've had to slow down on my writing quite a bit now that my kids are home. They were gone for 8 straight weeks, and I have missed them like CRAZY. I'm managing to keep my posting schedule so far, but if I miss a day somewhere along the line, that's why. Never fear: it WILL be finished. I've come way too far to leave the series incomplete. But, you know...being a mom comes first. ;)

All the cool kids leave reviews. Just sayin'. *muah*