Author's Note: When I first started posting this story I said that it was complete. And it was. However, I wasn't happy with the second half of my story. Since this chapter begins that second half I have to take some space to thank Rynogeny for her help in making the rest of this story what it is. Without her honest input and patient hours helping me wrap my head around how to keep my vision while still writing in character and creating a believable ending, the rest of the story would not exist in its current form. For all the planning, well thought out suggestions and at times, well written paragraphs I cannot give her enough credit or enough thanks.

I must also think Frankie for her very early input into this and someonetookmyname for her last minute beta work to make sure I had all the kinks worked out. This story has certainly taken a village. Please let me know what you think!

Booth and Brennan lay tangled in the sheets of their king sized bed. Their suite had an ocean view and they could lie in bed and watch as the waves crashed upon the shore seven stories below. They had spent the night with the doors to the veranda open, the breezes coming in from the outside keeping them cool as they explored one another's bodies throughout the night. Neither had slept. Now they lay together, sleepy but content and watched as the first reddish orange rays of the sun rose over the horizon.

"Angela once told me that a sunset was more beautiful if you watched it with someone you loved. I now know that she was correct."

Booth nuzzled her neck and mumbled in her ear, "You're beautiful."

"I was talking about the sunrise Booth, not about me."

"The term still applies."

"I'm glad that your mother was there yesterday."

"Me too. These past few weeks have been almost unreal, having her here. Her meeting you and Parker and Christine. I feel like I'm going to wake up and find out this has all been a dream- hey, ow!" Booth rubbed the red spot on his arm where she had just pinched him.

"What did you do that for?"

"I thought proper etiquette was for one to pinch someone who believed that they might be dreaming. The theory being that one does not feel pain during a dream."

"Oh, yea, that's the theory all right," Booth dove under the covers, on a mission to tickle her into submission. But his mouth quickly found just the right spot and her instinctual moan had his playfulness quickly turned into another round of early morning love making.

Hester and George had chosen to drive back to DC, whereas the rest of the wedding guests had decided to fly. Their car ride had been spent in relative silence. Both of them were thinking over the implications of The Leader knowing that they had been lying to him. George had instantly made the decision to return, wanting to fly from North Carolina directly back to The Facility. Hester, however, had wavered. His gut feelings warned him to physically force her off of the beach as soon as he had gotten the phone call, but with Seeley and his friends around he knew that his options were limited. The time lapse between then and now had allowed him to calm down and he had now convinced himself that they had at least until they arrived back in Washington to make a plan to return.

Hester, on the other hand, was having difficulty coming to a conclusion about what her future should be. She realized that she was at a very important turning point and that she had a decision to make. The truth was, the outside world frightened her a little. She wanted to see Seeley and his family, wanted to spend more time with them. She wanted to see her baby, Jared. But to live in the world...what would she do? Everything had changed so much in thirty years; was so much more complex than she remembered. She wanted home, wanted her friends. Wanted the simplicity of deciding whether to make the cookies that Beth loved, or the cake that was Joe's favorite. And yet...her heart ached to watch Christine grow up. But if she found the courage to leave her home and friends, she'd just wind up a burden on her son. She had a place in her world, the home the Leader had fashioned for them. In Seeley's world...there wasn't a place for her. But perhaps her son would create a place. She allowed herself to believe that she could learn to live in the world for only a second before reality crashed down upon her again. Over and over the need to return to her home and the desire to stay with her son fought for control of her brain.

She knew that her decision would affect a lot more than just herself and George. If she chose not to return with him she feared that The Leader would send someone to take her or worse that he would harm Seeley or his family. And if they did come for her, she knew that her son would risk everything to save her. Of this she was certain. Hester shuttered at the idea that her actions could bring harm to her son.

She wondered if she really had a choice to make at all.

"You know that we have to go back," George's voice broke through the silence of the car.

Hester hesitated for only a moment before deciding to play devil's advocate. George knew more of the secrets of The Facility than she did, perhaps he would know if there was any chance at her having a choice. "What if we don't?"

"I can't live outside The Facility. You haven't taken my feelings into account here. I'm nervous and quite frankly terrified of being in this world; I don't belong here."

"But what if I do? Don't I belong with my son? With my grandchildren? George, I can't go back there. Please, if you care for me at all you won't make me go back."

"It's not up to me. If I return without you, I can't promise you that they won't come after you."

"If they come after me, Seeley will protect me."

"Your son is strong and powerful in this world Hester, but in our world there isn't anything he can do to protect you from The Leader."

"Then tell The Leader that I'm dead. Tell him that you lost me. Anything George, please. Please help me."

"They won't believe me Hester."

"They might."

"There's something that you haven't considered Hester."

Even without him elaborating, she knew what he meant. It was the fear she had hoped he would help her push away, the fear that The Leader would hurt her son. "Yes I have considered that."

"And you think it's still worth it?"

"I want to think that they wouldn't do it."

"You're wrong Hester. We have to go back."

"I still think that we have a few days to spare."

"Hester-"

"George, please. If you'll just stay here with me until Seeley and Temperance get back. Then we'll have a proper goodbye. I can't just leave my son without telling him goodbye. I did that once. I won't do it again."

George sighed and gripped the steering wheel tighter. He should've known better than to try to talk to Hester when she had made her mind up on a subject. It was clear that she would continue to try and postpone their return. There would always be another reason to wait. He regretted ever bringing her out of The Facility. He knew what had to be done.

He pulled off the interstate at the next rest area. He quickly used the facilities, returning to the car before Hester. He used this time away from Hester to contact The Leader. He wasn't going to keep playing her game. They had to go back; they had to return home. George gave The Leader all the information he needed and within minutes a plan was put into place. He couldn't stop it now, even if he had wanted to. He removed the SIM card from his disposable cell phone and placed it carefully behind the front wheel of their rental car so that it would be crushed as he backed away. Then he slung the phone into a nearby ditch and waited for Hester to return from the restroom. His heart broke for his friend but she could no longer be objective. George knew that sometimes you have to make difficult choices to save someone from themselves.

And in George's mind that's exactly what he had just done.

Booth and Brennan's honeymoon was short. They were only staying two nights after the wedding, choosing to head back to DC and their daughter on Monday morning. They made every moment of their lazy Sunday count. They ordered breakfast to their room and ate on the balcony overlooking the ocean. Then they spent the rest of the day in bed, experimenting with one another's bodies. Their first time together had been under the threat of a serial killer and quickly after they had discovered they were pregnant. The two of them had never really had a day that they could just be together and not worry about their responsibilities. They alternated between making love and talking until they finally decided they needed to eat.

It was almost seven in the evening when they ventured out of their room. They had dinner at a restaurant on the pier near their hotel and afterwards decided to take a walk along the shore. Booth ran his thumb alongside the edge of Brennan's hand as they walked with their fingers intertwined. He found it funny how such a small touch could feel nearly as intimate as intercourse.

"Do you want me to take your name?"

Booth was surprised by her question. "I'd love for you to but I assumed that you'd say no so I didn't ask."

"You are correct. I would have said no."

Booth laughed, "Then when did you bring it up now?"

"I've been considering it. I love that you know me well enough to not ask." She stopped to pick up a shell that had washed up at her feet. "Parker was collecting shells Saturday, I'll take this one to him as well. It's in remarkable shape."

Booth examined the shell and agreed that it was well intact. He watched as a sea gull floated near the edge of the water, almost as if it were following them as they walked. He was enjoying their comfortable silence, the feel of her hand in his, the way that her side occasionally swept against his as she walked barefoot in the sand. He caught himself trying to think of a conversation to start and had just decided against it when she spoke again.

"Professionally, I have to keep my name Booth."

"Hey it's okay, I understand. Trust me; I'm very good with what we have now."

"You are? So you don't want me to change my name?"

"You just said you couldn't."

"I said I couldn't professionally. Privately I could. As far as on my driver's license and forms we fill out for Christine."

"You'd do that?"

"I'd very much like to do that. I'm not even really a Brennan, I have no true emotional tie to the name, aside from my work that is. I think it would mean a lot if all four of us were Booths."

"You will never cease to amaze me Bones. Come here."

"Booth, you're going to get my pant legs wet," she called as he pulled her into the water.

"They'll dry," he said, then he laughed as a wave splashed up and over both of them. He captured her lips with his own, each taking in the salty sweetness of the ocean as they kissed.

Their flight landed in Washington at seven am. As they disembarked the plane Brennan called Angela to let her know that they'd be coming to get the baby by eight.

Booth pulled their coats out of his carry on, "Here, it looks like it's freezing outside."

"According to the temperature announced by the pilot as we landed yes, it is abnormally cold for this time of the year. Although I'm not certain that you can ascertain that simply by glancing outside of the window."

Her confused smirk made him laugh. "All right funny girl I'm going to go get our luggage."

"I'm going to use the restroom." She pointed to the door just behind her.

"Okay, I'll meet you back here."

She mumbled her agreement as she made her way into the crowded restroom.

Booth felt like it took forever for their luggage to make its way around the carousel. He was surprised that Brennan hadn't come to find him yet but when he finally retrieved their bags and made his way back to the where he had left her, she wasn't there. He glanced around the area, it had cleared out and only a few passengers were left milling around. He wondered if she were just still in the restroom. Finding himself starting to panic he made his way into the women's room. A lady on her way out collided into him.

"Where are you going?"

"My wife. I can't find her. I thought maybe she was still in there."

"There's no one else in there sir."

"Are you sure?"

The woman nodded as she walked away. Booth's hands were starting to sweat and one of their bags slipped from his grasp. He cursed his clumsiness as he charged on into the restroom.

"Bones!" He imagined her coming up behind him, asking him why he was yelling into the empty restroom. He called her name several more times and opened each of the eleven stall doors to confirm that she wasn't there. He walked back into the terminal area and tried to call her cell phone. It went straight to voicemail. He went back into the restroom to call for her again. His shaky voice bounced back to him off the stone walls, confirming what he already knew.

She was gone.