Taking place at the end of season 2 and completely AU from there on out, this is a wild idea that came to mind after the episode and will follow an extremely AU story with important cases and whatnot canon playing throughout.

Chapter One || The first 12 hours

Set after Stargazer in a Puddle 2x21

Clothes were thrown around the room as two bodies lay in a heap of sheets on the floor having fallen off the bed beside them nearly two hours ago but not caring to move back to it. She laid on top of him with her head on his shoulder trying to catch her breath after another round of sex, the smell of arousal and scotch still surrounding them as she kissed his skin and slowly moved off of him.

"Where are you going?" Booth asked his eyes opening to look at her with his forehead scrunched from the lack of warmth that was disappearing.

"I'm starving plus we can't lay on this floor anymore, Booth, you have a bad back." Bones said with a smile as she reached for the top sheet and wrapped it around her as she stood. "I trust you have food right?"

Before she could make it out of the room two arms were around her as Booth attached his lips to her neck causing her to laugh. "Booth I am serious we need to eat it's been.." She looked at the clock surprised that it was nearly 5am, they had been at it all night. "It's been a long time since we've eaten and no the scotch did not count."

"I don't want to let you go." He mumbled against her neck clearly not letting go as she took a step forward and he just followed right behind her his arms still firmly around her waist. By the time she had reached the kitchen she had turned in his arms, her arms around his neck as he pressed her against the counter.

"My wife." Booth murmured against her lips only pulling back slightly enough to rest his forehead against hers. "Never letting my wife go."

She hummed as she cupped his cheek with her hand sighing completely aware of how his words hit her differently than they did 12 hours ago. "At what point do we talk about that?"

"Never." Booth said as he stood up straight and moved to make some coffee. "Never because I know what's going to come out of your mouth and I'm not ready for it." She opened her mouth and he shook his head raising his pointer finger in the air at her.

"24 hours, I want 24 hours of this and then we'll talk. Deal?"

"Deal." She nodded knowing very well it would be worth every hour of those 24 before it all came crashing down.

- 12 hours earlier -

It had been one of the strangest weeks to date. From the return of her father, his message to her, and finally the arrest of him by Booth - to the entire situation with Zach and the Military, Temperance Breenan was not surprised that Angela and Hodgin's wedding was another twist in the road. As the bride and groom ran out the door leaving she and Booth standing in front of the minister, she looked at her partner confused. "What do we do now?"

The guests slowly started to awkwardly leave the venue making their way to the paid for reception leaving a still frozen Booth and Bones at the center staring at each other. "We could get married." Booth joked causing Breenan's mouth to drop trying to find the right words to say

"I'm kidding, I know you don't believe in marriage or monogamy or even love. We're just standing here like a bride and groom so I had to say it." Booth said quickly not helping the million thoughts running through her mind. Her dad had just been arrested for murder, her brother was on the run and she was just as alone in the world as she was before the two men came back into her life.

Her thoughts went back to when Booth told her that there was more to family than just her blood relatives and she had believed him. There was so much more that makes a family and she truly had one in those around her. She smiled at her partner taking him in as she finally noticed the bruising on his face from the altercation with her father before his arrest. She had known it was hard for him to arrest Max, but it was his job and she was happy that he had been the one to do it and not someone else. Max was safe behind bars and perhaps would be able to actually follow the law in jail and not get himself or anyone else into trouble.

"Bones?" Booth said bringing her out of her thoughts and realizing she had been staring at him the entire time she simply nodded.

"Let's do it." The words left her mouth sending shock through both of them and Booth was positive there was a gas leak or something in the air.

"Wait, what?" He asked as the minister chuckled to herself causing Booth to glare at her and take ahold of Bone's arm to bring her to a pew to sit down. "Are you okay? Were you guys drinking before the ceremony?" He questioned. "I honestly was joking, you don't believe in marriage."

"I believe in you and as irrational as it seems, for once in my life I want to do and not think about it." Temperance stated slowly as it all became real to her what she had said. There was no going back now, well there was but she was tired and sad and honestly it just seemed thrilling to not use logic to make a decision.

They both looked at each other and back at the minister and at each other again. This was stupid really stupid but she took the chance and kissed him for the first time since the Gemma Arrington case when they had first met.

"It's paid for, let's do it." She insisted as she brought him to his feet before walking back over to center stage.

"This is crazy, Bones. You're insane, what has gotten into you?" He asked and she shrugged.

"Do you want to do it or not?" She asked and he blew out a breath as he put his head in his hands before nodding.

"What the hell." And just like that they were married and signing papers like it was nothing. The ceremony was minutes long, a repetition of vows and common words and while it was probably the dumbest thing she had ever done, and she was positive she needed to be medically examined. Temperance Breenan kissed Seeley Booth when he was instructed to kiss the bride and for some reason it didn't feel all that wrong.