I don't own Bones, I know I have 206 in my body, but the Bones from Fox isn't mine.

Max

Max wanted to meet with him. He thought it was funny in a way. He knew Max approved, he had spoken to him many times. He thought back to all the times they had met including the first meeting, when he impersonated a priest. He fooled him that time between the plastic surgery and the ageing; he didn't recognize him.

Then, her dad would drop in and visit Bones, and never get caught, even though Bones would dial him every time he showed up. He was a sneaky son of a bitch, but he respected him. He even told Bones that he would take an honest criminal over a crooked cop any day. He loved his family, and he would do anything for them, even killing the Deputy Director of the FBI. Kirby was a crooked FBI agent who set up other agents to cover his crimes, but when he went after Max's kids, he ended up dead. Yep, Max loved his family.

Max even saved his life once, although he knew that he would arrest him, he took the chance, and helped Bones to rescue him. Then when he thought Max had disappeared forever, he showed up again, and allowed himself to be arrested, just to prove to his daughter that he loved her, and will never abandon her again. Max was definitely, one of a kind.

It took Bones a long time to forgive him. She was so torn about how she could love someone who was a criminal, and she couldn't trust. Therefore, he arranged times for her to see Max in jail. At first, she would only go to drop off some item Max asked for, then slowly she stayed longer, and finally, she went to visit her dad without his help. She fought her feelings for so long, before she finally gave in and let herself love him. It took a long time, but she finally let go of the past and accepted her father in the present. Maybe it was time for him to do the same, maybe he should begin to forgive. Just as he came to terms with the idea of visiting his father, Max arrived.

"Hi, Booth, you are probably wondering why I asked to meet with you today. With my daughter's wedding only a week away, I just want to have a little talk about you and her."

"Max, you've been there with me through the worst of it, you know how I feel about Temperance. I love her and, I know I will never want anyone else. She completes me."

"Booth I know that, and I can tell how much you love her, I can see it. I just wanted to thank–you for everything you have done for my daughter. The one thing that a father wants for his daughter is to have her loved, and I know you love her."

"Max, I sense a 'but' there."

"You are very good at reading people Booth. You see I don't want my daughter hurt, ever. Now that I finally got her back, I have this fierce desire to protect her. If you ever, ever hurt my little girl in anyway, I will find you, and believe me you don't want to know what will happen to you. So before you walk down that aisle, on Saturday, you better be sure that this is forever, because I won't tolerate my daughter being hurt."

"Max, I was never more sure of anything in my life. She is my reason for breathing; the reason for my existence, I could never hurt her. Max I know will love her 30, 40, even 50 years from now. I will never hurt her."

"Good, now that we got that out of the way, let's have lunch."

Booth just stared at him, how could he go from threatening him one minute, to a casual conversation over lunch the next? Yes, Max was one of a kind.

Seven days, she had taken the rest of the year off, that sounded strange, because she never took days off, but she also never got married before. Today she and Angela were making the seating arrangement. Pops had called and was bringing a 'friend'; he wouldn't be more specific than that, so she didn't know whom. She had confirmed the dinner arrangements with Gordon, Gordon. She had a last minute fitting and doctor's appointment on Thursday, and then Angela was staying overnight. Angela insisted that she and Booth spend Thursday, and Friday night alone. She with Angela, and he with Hodgins. They had been together every day since she came home from the hospital, so this was going to be strange.

She thought back to the day of her bridal shower and the various items she received. She came home and hid them from Booth. She would save them for her honeymoon. She would never consider herself a prude, but she was surprised at some of the items. She couldn't imagine eatable underwear, and some of the toys that her team at the Jeffersonian gave her. She thought about Booth's skills in the 'making love' department, and knew he didn't need any advice. He was a very skilled lover and he always kept her well satisfied. He was very imaginative and surprised her daily, so she really didn't think the toys would be necessary, but she would bring them along anyway. She imagined the look on Booth's face when she showed them to him, then told him whom they were from.

Her team was so happy for her, because they knew all along that it was inevitable. She and Booth belonged together. One piece of advice she was going to follow was from Angela, she told her to exchange a list of three wishes; things that you think would heighten your romantic or sexual experience, write them down, and give them to your fiancée on the night before the wedding. It will heighten his desire for you, because he won't be able to execute them until the wedding night. She knew what her three were, but she wondered what Booth's were going to be.

Tomorrow they were visiting Booth's father. Booth called him last night. He seemed quiet after he hung up the phone. She didn't press the issue, and last night was another time when he just wanted to be held. She knew this was hard for him, but she was proud of him. He was willing to try, and that was a big step for Booth. She hoped that he wouldn't be disappointed, she even prayed to Booth's God for guidance, on how to handle the situation. If there was any time she needed the guidance of God, it was now.

She remembered the night he told her about his father and the abuse he received at his hands. Booth only mentioned the abuse one other time after that evening. That story wasn't as bad as the first, but she still felt his pain. She was glad that he was willing to talk about it with her, and she knew that this was his way of helping himself heal. She would listen as long as he wanted to talk, and she would hold him as often as he needed it. She loved him, and that's what partners do. She laughed at the thought that soon they would be partners in more than one sense of the word; they would be partners in work and partners for life.

Booth became more and more withdrawn as they drove closer to their destination. He turned down a small street, and stopped at a white house.

"Is this it?" she asked.

"No, the house is down the street a little farther. I just needed to stop for a minute."

"Booth, you don't have to do this." She looked into his eyes, and took his hand in hers.

"Yes, I do Bones, it is time. It is time to rid myself of the nightmares that haunt me every day. I am so thankful that I have you, because I never could have done this without you. Your strength has helped me to stand up, and face my fears. Let's go, it's time to put the monster to bed once and for all."