Definitely gotta write more than 50…no way can I stop now…lol

Chapter 48

Temperance sat in the passenger seat of Booth's SUV with a smile on her face. Seeley sat beside her with a matching smile, his left hand on the steering wheel, his right holding hers. He was humming along to the radio. Every once in awhile she saw his thumb brush over her ring finger and his smile would get just a bit wider.

She was engaged…as in 'she was getting married.' She would have a family.

"Let me tell her? Oh, please, let me tell her. I have it all planned out in my head, you just have to hide the ring for today, just until tonight. I have the perfect way of telling her that will get the best reaction from her. Please please please."

Vivian had stuck her head between the seats and was looking back and forth between them. Her eyes were bright with mischief.

When the happy couple had told her that they were going to let the others know that day, she had immediately stopped flipping blueberry pancakes and begged to be able to tell Angela.

"What exactly are you planning to do, Vivi?"

"It's…kind of something I mentioned to her once before…so she'll get the message and it'll blow her mind."

"Bones, Angela is your best friend so it's up to you."

"I don't see why not. At least this way, once the screaming starts I'll know to hide."

"YES! OK, I'm here to have lunch with Zach today but after that I'm gonna leave and start cooking at home. Have everybody back at your place at seven. I'll be done by then."

"Got it."

Vivian sat back with a secretive smile on her face at the prospect of the night to come.


Vivian practically skipped into the lab. Zach was standing beside Hodgins and Angela and looked up as she came in. He couldn't help but smile at the sight of her.

'She's so pretty when she's smiling. I wonder what's going on.'

Her smile brightened at the sight of him and she walked right up to him, grabbed his face in her hands and kissed him.

He had a single moment of shock before letting himself forget where he was. He wrapped his arms around her and kissed her back in earnest. He vaguely heard a whistle coming from Hodgins but it was a different voice that cut through the haze.

"OK, you see now, that's exactly what I don't need see."

He sprung back as if electrocuted.

"A-Agent Booth. Wel-welcome back."

The agent turned to his sister who was holding one of Zach's hands in her own and gave her a pained look.

"Are you really sure?"

"Posiitive."

"But…really really really sure?"

She laughed.

"Yes."

"Well…then at least keep that out of my line of vision. Not sure my heart can take it."

"You're such a spoil sport, Seeley."

Every head but Vivian and Seeley's snapped to the woman who had joined the conversation.

"Oh, come on Bones. The last thing I need to see is my baby sister and Zach making out in the hall."

She wrapped an arm around his waist and he tossed his arm over her shoulders.

"Well, then if I should see them I'll distract you. Deal?"

"Distract me how?"

"How's this?"

She pulled his head down and caught his lips in a passionate kiss. After a long moment, in which everyone but Vivian's jaw had dropped open in shock, they pulled apart.

"Mmm…works for me."

"Sweetie!"

"Yes, Ange?"

"When…how…what?"

"You're stuttering, Ange."

"You two…you're OK now?"

"Yes."

"Since when!?"

"Yesterday."

"And last night…And this morning…"

"OK, that's my cue to drag the boys away to work and leave the gross details to Angela and Tempe. Come on, boys."

"But…but…"

"Jack…come on, trust me…you do not wanna be here for this."

Seeley laughed as Vivian dragged a gaping Hodgins and a mystified Zach away.

"I gotta go too, actually. I have some paperwork I need to finish up."

"See you tonight?"

"Of course."

He leaned down to kiss her once more and sighed against her mouth.

"Love you…"

"You too."

He winked at Angela and left the lab.

Angela wasted no time in hauling her friend into her office and locking the door behind her.

"Spill. Right now. Leave nothing out or you die! All I know is that something happened on your date on Friday night and I haven't been able to get in touch with you since. Vivian kept us all updated, she told us Booth was miserable and almost never moved and that your father was probably with you. Fill in the blanks."

"He proposed to me, Ange."

"He WHAT!?"

"I got scared and ran off…my dad found me when I got home and I threw him out. He went to Booth's…beat him up a bit, then came back to me. He stayed with me all weekend but Booth and I were miserable for the rest of the weekend apart. Last night I got so fed up with missing him that I just…ran over in the rain and we…"

"Consummated your relationship?"

"It was…more than that, Ange…he made love to me and it was incredible."

"Oh, sweetie…that is beautiful…"

"We're sort of celebrating tonight. So, dinner's at seven and you and Hodgins and Zach are all invited. Vivian's cooking."

"Oh, absolutely. Count me in. Now, tell me."

"What?"

"How was it?"

"Angela!"


"I'm not sure about this…"

"Trust me…these are the best tacos in D.C. Seeley brought me here once about 4 years ago and they should be considered an addictive substance. Plus, we can walk while we eat them and enjoy the nice day. Now try it."

She had run out earlier and returned with the tacos and a decision.

Zach looked at his food warily before taking a hesitant bite. His eyes widened and he smiled brightly before taking another, larger bite.

"Oh my…"

"See…good isn't it?"

"Mmhmm…yea…"

"Come on…time for that walk."

"Where are we going?"

She smiled and did her best to hide the sadness in it.

"I want…to share something with you…something personal. OK?"

"Sure."

She led him out to the gardens in the Jeffersonian and they walked towards the gazebo in the center. She sat in the middle of it and he sat in front of her, she kept her eyes trained on the ground, not trusting herself to watch his eyes. This was like the biggest test. The person she could share this with…and who wouldn't run from the baggage…

"I want…to tell you about my brother."

"Agent Booth? Why?"

"Not…Seeley. My…other brother…"

Slowly she recounted the story that Seeley had told Temperance and the one she herself had shared. Zach listened in silence as she spoke. A few minutes into her story she saw his hands come into her line of sight, reaching for her. Still without looking at him she shifted towards him and he pulled her back into his arms. She rested her head back on his shoulder and shut her eyes. She continued, speaking softer, no longer fighting the tears.

He wasn't going anywhere.

A/N: Making myself cry here………I 3 Zach…