Raine44354: I know what you mean my parents are totally cool with it too. We even went to a pride fest not to long ago. And you are so right Neal is very sexy. Thanks for the review and for the vote.

Suezanne: Glad you liked it.

Rochelle Templer: Yeah you were pretty clueless, as were most of the people who handed in their guess. I'm going to be sad once I finish it. I had so much fun writing this story. But I've decided to post a series of drabbles which will be titled The You I Always Knew: Deleted Scenes. These will be ideas I had and thing that never actually went into the official story. It won't be updated regularly, but maybe once a week or month or so. Check it out.

For those who haven't I encouraged everyone to vote on my profile for my next story. GO one vote. Leverage or White Collar.

Disclaimer: After 49 chapters you should know by now that I own nothing…except of course Althy, and Jackie and Sam, and all of Althea's family except for Jack.


Chapter 49

The Rehearsal Dinner

Ever since my cousin Ruthie's wedding when I was six I had always wondered why it was called a rehearsal dinner. All it meant was that your family and the family of your future wife/husband plus a few friends all eat a three coarse meal and talk about the couple to be married.

It was so weird, I thought. But I went along with it. Having so many people in one house was chaotic. There was my entire family, the Jeffersonian team, Sam, Nancy and Betty, Booth and Parker, and Sweets and Jackie.

Mom, Jack, Zack, and I spent the entire day in front of the stove cooking away, except for the two hours Zack and I were sent upstairs to get dressed. We had to move the feast into the ballroom in order to fit everyone in. The other option would have been to kick out Peter, Sam, Andy and Adam, Parker, and Betty and put them at a kids table. I didn't want that. So we put two large tables together so that everyone would fit. And Zack's parents were of course there as well.

Mom kicked Zack and me out of the kitchen early so that we could get ready. Zack wore a simple dark polo shirt and dark pants. I wore a simple white blouse and a navy skirt.

Everyone was ready when we arrived downstairs. We all seemed to float towards the ballroom and sit ourselves down.

Mom and Dad and I had along talk and figured we might as well let my siblings drink a bit of wine. It wouldn't hurt either of them and Peter was eighteen.

How is it that at the age of eighteen you can vote, join the army, and buy lottery tickets, but you can't go and drink booze? Yet more examples of how irrational the government was.

Jackie sat next to me with her sash. Zack sat on my other side with Hodgins next to him then Angela and Brennan, Booth and Parker, Cam and it went around.

"I can't believe you're getting married tomorrow, Althy." said Angela. "How does it feel?"

"Uh….fine." I said not sure exactly how I was supposed to answer that question.

"Oh it seems just yesterday you were heading off to Egypt." said Jack.

"You were both so clueless that it was almost amusing." said Jackie.

Zack and I starred at her. She just smiled and continued eating. I was afraid. I knew that slowly most of the people invited to this dinner would say something as was expected at a rehearsal dinner. I was still worried about Dad. I knew he had come around after I got kidnapped…or before or something, but I was still worried.

As the Matron of Honor, Jackie stood up first and cleared her throat. "I've known Althy a little longer than Zack has and I can tell you for a fact that before she met Zack, Althea Calloway was a totally different person. She was quiet and shy and distant. When she moved to Michigan she was a completely different person and Zack just seemed to bring her out into his own little world. Whatever you did to her Zack, I hope you keep doing it." she raised her wine glass. "To Zack and Althy."

A few minutes later Jack stood up. "I knew Althy before either of them." we all laughed. "And I knew Zack next, even though when he began working at the Jeffersonian we didn't exactly get along. I know that since he and Althy became an item I have seen Zack open up. Zack turned into a human being. I can actually believe he's from this planet." a little more laughter. "I'm happy for you guys and I hope Althy doesn't kill you."

We finished off the salads and the cheese and mom and Jack brought out the main course. Mom cooked parchutto, which was basically beef wrapped in a strip of pork and perfectly seasoned to tickle the taste buds. Mashed potatoes were passed as was more salad, steak was passed and plenty of other things, Italian dishes and whatever else Mom and Jack had concocted when Zack and I were forbidden for two hours to help.

We continued eating, but then Dr. Brennan stood up to our shock and raised her glass of wine.

"Plato believed that a soul mate is a person's "other half." According to Greek Mythology our ancestors once had two heads, four arms. They offended a god and so that god punished them by splitting them down the middle, resulting in the creation of humans. As punishment, we are condemned to spend our lives searching for that other half, the soulmate." she said in that cool voice. "Although I personally do not believe in soulmates, I do believe that Althea and Zack are most compatible for one another. I wish them a successful life and hope they achieve whatever they desire." another toast.

More time passed as we ate and shared stories. It was after a few minutes when James stood up and starred Zack right in the eyes.

"Althy was my first sibling. She and I are really close, we've always been close. She was my first sister. I like you Zack, but if you hurt my sister, I will hurt you." Zack gulped and I laughed. "I wish you all the best,"

Aw, I felt so loved. Zack looked scared. I grabbed his hand and smiled at him. It seemed so weird that just ten years ago I had met a shy, clueless boy named Zack. Of course he's still clueless, but I'm working on it.

It was Holly's turn to speak as the mother of the groom. "Oh Zack, I am so happy for you I bet even you can't calculate just how happy I am for you." she said. "You dated other girls, but they were all…desperately in need of medication." I laughed. "And Althy, I'm happy it's you. Zack, Althy I love you both and wish you all the best."

"Althy." questioned Jackie. "With your Dad in a wheel chair…who's going to walk you down the aisle?"

I had thought of that. It was hard not to consider such a thing. I stood up. "I want to thank everyone for coming and I have a favor to ask." All eyes shifted to me. "Daddy, I'm sorry that due to your accident you won't be able to walk me down the aisle." he nodded sadly, "So instead I would like, and hope that your okay with this Dad, to ask my one and only older brother if he would walk his sister to her doom…I mean to her groom." They all laughed. "James, will you walk me down the aisle…or down the path really…"

"I would love to Althy." he said and walked over to hug me.

Cam stood up. "I hope you realize that after the honeymoon I will expect a little professionalism in the workplace." she warned. We nodded. "I don't want a repeat of Hodgins and Angela." The entire Jeffersonian team laughed, me included.

Zack stood up. "As we finish up our meal, I want to thank everyone for coming and eating Jack's entire fridge." more laughter. "I want to especially thank Parker and Betty for taking on a difficult and extremely important job that Althy and I simply could not entrust to anyone else."

Parker and Betty seemed to glow at Zack's comment. He had really become emotional. Who knew it was possible for Zack Addy to show emotion other than contempt.

"I remember that 4th July party you had at your house." said Frank, talking to my dad. "And you naturally invited us, of course you weren't all that prepared for us."

"As I recall." said Mom "Althy and Zack had vanished at some point. Only to be found up in her room reading. If memory serves it was your advanced biology text book for the following year and the two of you had read it in a matter of hours."

"They were always a little odd, you know." said Jack. "When Althy moved in so she could study at the institute every night for the first two years she would be studying with Zack at his dorm or here. I swear I rarely remember them doing anything except studying.

"There was that party." said Zack. "You remember don't you Althy?" I shuddered at the thought.

"First time I got drunk." I replied honestly.

"Wait, little Althy has actually gotten drunk?" asked James wide-eyed.

"Yes, it happened. And I had to call Jack to pick her up. She was muttering the wildest things."

"I don't think we need to tell that story. I loved it when Jack threatened to evict you if you told anyone at the Jeffersonian that he was the boss man." I said. "The mere idea was hysterical."

"I meant it." insisted Jack.

"Of course you did, cousin. Just like I meant that if Zack was ever in a life or death situation I would personally hold you responsible."

"Apparently Althy did not appreciate my daring retrieval of the mysterious powder on the body of the former Mrs. Epps that not only helped solve the case, but saved Dr. Saroyan's life."

"I also didn't appreciate all the bruises he received from hitting the floor." I said glaring at Booth.

We all laughed. The night had been a great one with stories and toasts and plenty of dessert and lot of laughter. I couldn't believe it. In less than twenty four hours….

I said good night to everyone, including Zack, to my disappointment. It was something about tradition or what not. All I knew was that I couldn't see Zack until I walk down the aisle. I didn't understand that. It made no sense.

Reluctantly I kissed Zack goodnight and began the descent to my bedroom. The dress was already laid out and hanging on the door of my closet. It was almost over…

I was happy…for the first time in a really long time I was happy. I had that glow about me. Even I noticed it. It felt so weird...but ultimately good, really good.

I changed into my Pj's and fell on my bed and covered myself.

I woke up bright and early to my kitten purring on top of me. "Good morning Athena." the kitten lazily opened her eyes. "I'm getting married today."

My mom knocked on my door and came in with breakfast. There was toast and hash browns and eggs with sausage.

"Good morning, honey." behind mom came in my sisters and Jackie who had spent the night.

"Morning!" I said. Jackie was already wearing her sash over her Pj's and my sisters had wet hair.

"Eat, shower and let's get rolling." ordered Andy.

Oh yes, I thought. This was going to be the best day ever.


One more chapter left. I...I can't believe this story is almost over. I'm...sad...I've never been sad to see a story end before...Oh well...VOTE REVIEW and Stay tuned for those deleted scenes.