This chapter took forever to write. I kept changing it and changing it. I got carried away, so it's long, but something tells me you guys won't mind :)

Brennan's standing in the kitchen, sharing a plate of apple slices with Christine.

"I loooove apples, mommy." Christine swallows and looks up at her mother. "Mommy?"

Brennan shakes her head and picks up another apple slice. "Yes, Honey?"

"Did you hear me?"

"No, sorry, sweetheart. Can you repeat what you said?"

Christine nods. "I said that I loooove apples."

Brennan smiles. "I very much enjoy eating apples, as well."

Christine bites into her apple slice. "You're all fancy. Why? Is daddy dressed all fancy too?"

"Your father is dressed how he's always dressed."

"Are you and daddy going on a date?"

"I suppose you could call it a date."

"Are you and daddy going to a party?"

"No."

"Can I go?"

"Your father and I aren't going anywhere, Honey. We're staying here."

"That makes no sense, mommy."

Brennan folds a dish towel over the side of the sink. "Why doesn't it make sense?"

"'Cause you're all dressed up pretty. You don't dress up all pretty and stay in the house, mommy. You just don't."

"Why not?"

Christine shrugs. "I dunno. You just don't. It's not right. You hafta go out when you look that pretty. It's a rule."

Brennan smiles.

"Bones?" Booth calls from the foot of the steps.

"In the kitchen, Booth."

Booth gets Parker settled on the couch and walks into the kitchen. He presses a kiss to Brennan's cheek and smiles at Christine. "Did you put your tooth under your pillow?"

Christine nods. "Yep. I writed the Tooth fairy a note in case the Tooth Troll steals my tooth."

Brennan looks at Booth, glaring at him.

Booth shrugs his shoulders and raises an eyebrow, feeling her glare but refusing to look. "The Tooth Troll?"

Christine nods. "Uh-huh." She reaches for another apple slice and holds it between her fingertips, nibbling on it like a rabbit.

He looks into the living room and nods his head. "Oh, yeah, the Tooth Troll, of course."

"Mommy?"

Brennan nods. "Yes?"

"Can I have some juice?" Christine pauses and adds, "Please."

Brennan smiles. "Of course, sweetheart." She walks over to the refrigerator and opens the door. "Do you want apple, grapefruit, or orange juice?"

"Um, um, grapefruit, no wait, um, apple, no, orange, no, I changed my mind, grapefruit. I want grapefruit juice, mommy."

"Are you positive?"

Christine nods. "Yep. I want grapefruit juice, please."

Brennan grabs the carton and pours her daughter a glass of juice. She sets it in front of her and puts the carton back in the refrigerator.

"Thank you, mommy."

"You're welcome, Honey."

"Hey, Bones, can I talk to you for a minute?"

"What's this about, Booth?"

"Please?"

"Okay." Brennan looks at Christine. "We'll be right back, sweetheart," she says and then follows Booth out of the room.

Brennan leans against the wall. "What?" She whispers. "Booth, what do you need to talk to me about? My father's going to be here any minute to pick up Christine."

Booth nods. "That's what I want to talk to you about."

"You're going to have to give me specifics, Booth. I don't know what you're trying to say."

He nods. "I don't think Christine should go with Max."

"My father is fully capable of taking care of our daughter for a few hours. He took care of her for almost two months while we were in the hospital with Parker."

"That's not what I'm saying, Bones. I mean, I want her to be in the wedding. Well, not in the wedding, but I think she should be here for this."

"We talked about this."

"No, we didn't. You just decided." He pauses. "She's our daughter, Bones. Don't you think it's a little unfair that Parker gets to be here and she doesn't? I think she should be here for this."

"I agree, but I figured she would have more fun with my dad. The ceremony lasts, on average, ten minutes. There isn't much to it. Besides, I was sort of hoping to keep this a secret."

"She's gonna know, Bones, and when she does find out, don't you think she may feel like we excluded her on purpose? Don't you think she might think that Parker's more important than she is? Don't you think she might think that we love Parker more because he got to be here and she didn't?"

"Why would she think those things?"

"'Cause she's five and a half and kids tend to be irrational thinkers."

"I concede your point." She smiles at him and gives him a quick kiss on the lips.

He lowers his head and presses his lips against hers, softly. "Come on, Bones."

She nods and walks back into the kitchen, following him.

Booth leans on the island counter and smiles at Christine. "Princess, mom and I have something to tell you."

Christine puts down a half eaten apple slice and looks up at her mother and father, her blue eyes wide. "Am I in trouble?"

"Why would you think you're in trouble, baby?"

"'Cause I dropped a apple on the floor and ate it anyways."

Booth laughs. "You're not in trouble."

Christine lets out a sigh of relief. "Phew."

"Your mom and I—the plan was for you to go with your grandpa for a few hours today—."

"While you and mommy go on your date."

Booth looks at Brennan, confused, but then turns back to Christine. "Yeah, princess, when mommy and I go on our date, but there's been a change of plans." He pauses and searches for Brennan's hand. He glances at her and gives her a half smile before focusing on Christine. "In a half hour, an old friend of mine is gonna come over and he's gonna marry your mom and me."

Christine blinks.

"Do you understand what I'm saying, baby?"

Christine leaps off the chair and wiggles her butt, smiling and flailing her arms. She lets out a squeal and tugs on her mother's arm. "Yay!" She leaps up, her father catching her in mid-air.

"Whoa, princess." He shifts her to his hip and kisses her on the cheek.

Christine wraps her arms around his neck and kisses him back. "Jenna has to give me ten bucks now." She giggles.

"What?"

"She said you and mommy were never gonna get married like her mommy and daddy, but I said she was full of soggy bologna."

Booth bites back a laugh and sets his daughter down on the tile.

"I bet her ten bucks."

"What if you lost? Where were you gonna get the ten bucks from?"

"My piggy bank, duh, daddy, but I don't lose."

"Of course you don't, but you know, it's okay to lose once in a while. It stinks, but that's life."

Christine nods. "I know, but I don't ever lose, daddy." She looks at her mother. "Are you gonna wear a ring like Jenna's mommy?"

Brennan nods. "Yes. Your father picked the rings out."

"I bet they're really, really pretty."

"Alright, enough with the betting, prin—." He's interrupted by the doorbell.

"I got it, daddy," Christine says, already taking off towards the front door.

Christine pulls her stepstool over and climbs up, standing on her tippy-toes to see who's at the door. She jumps down and pushes the ladder away. She unlocks the door and runs right into the man's legs. "Popsicle! I missed you."

Booth walks after his daughter and blinks. "Pops, hey, why didn't you call to tell me you were coming?"

"I was in the neighborhood." Hank looks around. "Where's that beautiful wife of yours?"

"Bones isn't my wife, Pops. You know that. We—."

"I see you still haven't learned anything."

"Guess what, Popsicle?"

Hank bends his knees and hoists her in the air with a grunt. "What, Cheese puff?"

"Pops, be careful."

"I'm fine, Seeley."

"Mommy and daddy are getting married."

Hank turns to look at his grandson for confirmation, but then looks back at his great granddaughter. "Is that so, pipsqueak?" He asks, setting her down on the floor again.

Christine nods. "That's what they just said. Mommy's gonna wear a ring and everything."

Brennan puts the empty dish in the dishwasher and then walks through the living room towards the door. She stops short. "This is quite a surprise. Hello, Hank." She holds out her hand.

Hank takes her hand and places a kiss on it. "How're you doing, sweetheart?"

Brennan smiles. "I'm fine. How are you?"

"I've been better, but don't tell Seeley. He worries too much." Hank pauses. "Wow, you look nice, Temperance."

"Thank you."

"Congratulations. I hear you and Seeley are getting married." Hank looks at his grandson. "Something I said got through that thick skull of yours after all." He laughs, letting go of Brennan's hand finally.

"Do you want something to drink, Pops?"

"I'm fine, Shrimp."

Christine takes her great grandfather's hand and tugs on it. "Come on. Parky's in the living room."

Hank shuffles his feet as he lets Christine drag him into the living room.

Parker turns his head. "Hey, Pops."

"Hey, Parker. It's been a while. You've stretched out a bit since I've seen you."

Parker nods. "I grew six inches."

"Parky got into a bad accident. He got really hurt, but he's okay now," Christine explains.

Hank nods. "I know, sweetheart. Your dad told me." He looks at his great grandson. "You doing alright?"

Parker nods. "Yeah. I'm fine."

Christine turns her head. "Mommy, when's you gonna get married?"

"Soon, Honey. We have to wait for the judge and Auntie Angela."

"Okay." Christine climbs up on the couch and scoots closer to Hank. "Are you gonna stay, Popsicle?"

Hank nods. "Yeah, Cheese puff."

Christine giggles.

Booth heads into the kitchen to get his grandfather a glass of water, regardless of if he wanted it or not.

Brennan heads farther into the living room and sits on the chair beside the couch. She tugs on the bodice of her dress, feeling that it had slipped down slightly when she sat down. She shifts a little and adjusts her bra, trying to be subtle.

Booth walks into the room and sets the glass of water on a coaster on the coffee table in front of Hank.

"I said I was fine, Shrimp."

Booth nods. "I know, Pops, but just in case." He leaves again to go answer the door.

Booth comes back with Angela at his side.

Brennan smiles at her best friend. "Hello, Ange."

"Hi, Sweetie." Angela walks over to where her best friend is sitting.

Brennan stands up to give her friend a hug.

"Was I right about that dress or was I right about that dress?"

"Those two clauses are identical, so I'm unsure how you would like me to answer."

Angela laughs and looks at her friend up and down. "You had to pick up Booth's jaw off the floor when he saw you in this, right?" She winks.

"It's impossible for a person's mandible to reach the floor, Angela."

"Oh, Honey." Angela smiles. "You look beautiful."

"Thank you, so do you."

"Today isn't about me, Sweetie. It's about you." Angela turns to Booth. "You don't look to bad yourself." She smirks and pulls a box out of her purse. She hands it to him and smiles. "Here are the rings you requested. They're gorgeous."

"You looked at them?"

"You didn't expect me not to take a peek, did you?"

"Can I see them?" Brennan asks, walking over to him.

Booth opens the box and pulls out the smaller gold band, setting it in Brennan's open palm. "It's engraved."

Brennan examines the ring and then zeros in on the engraving. She smiles as she reads it. Along the inside of the ring, their initials are etched into the gold, an infinity symbol separating them. "I love the ring, Booth. You chose well." She hands it back to him after taking a second look at it. "It's simple and very beautiful."

"Knock, knock, anybody home?" Max opens the door and walks inside, heading into the living room. "How come I wasn't invited to the party?"

Christine turns around and smiles. "Gampa!" She stands up on the couch and waits for Max to lift her up into his arms.

Max does just that and settles the child on his hip. "Are you ready to go, Chrissy?"

"Dad, there's been a change of plans. She's going to stay here. You're welcome to join us as well if you'd like."

Max gives Christine a kiss and sets her down on the floor.

"Mommy and daddy are getting married, Gampa. That's so cool, right? Right?"

Max laughs. "It's cool, baby. It's so cool."

"Will you stay? Please? Pretty please?"

"I'll stay, baby."

"Yay!" Christine pulls him around the couch and smiles. "This is Pops. Popsicle, this is Gampa."

"They've met, princess."

"Oh."

"Nice to see you again, Hank."

"Hey, Max."

Max joins Hank and Parker on the couch.

Brennan glances at her watch and sighs. "The judge is late."

Booth rolls his eyes. "Not everyone is as punctual as you, Bones."

"He's a judge. Punctuality is necessary for his profession, Booth."

"He's a busy man, and he's doing this as a favor, remember? He's two minutes late. Your watch could be fast. Just relax. He's a friend of mine."

Brennan crosses her arms over her chest. "So because he's a friend of yours, that excuses his tardiness?"

"You're impossible, you know that? He's two minutes late, Bones. Sit down and take a breath, would ya? He'll be here."

Brennan grunts and sits down, not in the mood to argue, especially not in front of an audience. She pulls on her dress again and smoothes the skirt over her thighs.

Max looks at her suspiciously and then stands up. "Honey, can I talk to you alone for a minute?"

Brennan rises from the couch and follows her father out of the room.

Brennan leans back against the wall and watches her father's expressionless face morph into a scowl, his lips pursed into a line.

After a few seconds of silence, Max blurts out, "You lied to me, Tempe."

She raises an eyebrow. "When?"

"Last week."

She straightens out and tilts her head slightly. "What did I lie to you about?"

"You're pregnant."

She blinks. "How did you—did Booth tell you?"

"He didn't have to."

She nods. "Yes, I'm pregnant, but I didn't lie to you, dad. Technically, I was pregnant when you asked me, but I wasn't aware of that fact yet."

Max's expression softens. "Congratulations, baby."

"Thank you, dad."

"How're you feeling?"

She shrugs. "My symptoms seem to be more intense than I remember them being when I was pregnant with Christine, but I'm managing just fine."

"You look good. You look happy and healthy."

She smiles. "I am very happy."

"Good."

They're interrupted by the doorbell. "It's about time," she grumbles and stalks off towards the door.

Brennan takes a quick peek through the peephole and then opens the front door with force, narrowing her eyes at their guest. "You're late."

Hank Latrell pushes himself back from the door a little and smiles up at Brennan. "It's nice to see you again, Temperance."

"Hello, Hank. Everyone's in the living room." She shuts the door when he comes in and leads the way into the living room.

Christine watches the man with curiosity as he rolls in.

"Hank!" Booth greets his friend with a smile and then does a quick introduction.

Christine scoots forward. "Why are you in a wheelchair? My big brother has a wheelchair too. Did you get into a accident?"

Booth swallows. "Christine."

"What, daddy? I just axed your friend a question."

"Booth, it's okay. She's curious."

"Did you get hurt real bad?"

"Yes, but that was a long time ago."

Christine shrugs. "Oh."

Hank Latrell nods and announces, "Okay, so I have to be in court at three, so we should get started." He gets into position, waiting for the couple to get into position as well.

Brennan walks over to Booth and they turn to face each other, taking each other's hands and looking directly into the other's eyes. She smiles when he squeezes her hands.

"We're really doing this?"

Brennan nods. "Yes."

Booth lets go of her hands and gives the rings to Angela. He glances at his friend and then at Brennan again, getting lost in her eyes as his old army buddy begins the ceremony. The whole thing's a blur. Soon, he's tugging on her hand and twisting the ring down her finger.

Brennan never takes her eyes away from his as she slips the ring down his finger, her lips twitching into a smile.

He glances down at his hand, her fingers still holding his ring in place. He lets out a breath and finds her eyes again.

She blinks. "Booth," she whispers, noticing the tears in his eyes.

He clears his throat and swallows. He's sure more words are said, but before he knows it, he's kissing her, tuning out the claps, Angela's enthusiastic 'yahoo' and whistle, and Christine's and Parker's groans and exclamations of disgust.

It's just the two of them. Booth's hands are on her hips, Brennan's hands are on the sides of his face, and their lips are gliding together. He finally takes a step back, breaking the kiss. He lifts his hand, touching her cheek delicately with his fingertips as he tucks a soft lock of hair behind her ear. "I love you," he whispers.

Brennan whispers back, "I love you too."

Booth turns and looks at his friend. "Thanks for doing this, man."

"I'd do anything for you, Booth. You saved my life. I'm glad I could help. I'm glad you found someone, someone who can help you, someone you can talk to. I always knew it would be her. Congratulations."

"You can stay for a drink."

"I really gotta run, but another time?"

"Yeah, I'll call you."

"You better." The judge does a wheelie and turns around in his chair. "Good luck to you, Temperance. You're gonna need it, dealing with this clown." He looks at Christine. "It was nice meeting you."

"I hope you get better."

"Christine."

"What, daddy?"

The judge ignores Booth and addresses the little girl. "I'm not going to get better. I'll be in this wheelchair for the rest of my life, but you know what? It's fine. I'm good. I'm alive." He says goodbye and Booth follows him to the door.

"I'll call you. You can come by for dinner one night."

"See ya later, man. Take care of yourself."

"Thanks again. I owe you one."

"You don't owe me a damn thing."

Booth holds the door open for his friend and smiles. He shuts the door after the judge leaves and then heads back into the living room.

Angela pulls a bottle of what looks like champagne from her purse, but when she's met with confused and concerned looks from Booth and Brennan, she laughs. "It's sparkling cider, but I've got the real stuff too." She pauses. "Come on. Let's celebrate."

Brennan looks at Booth and smiles, hooking her arm around his.

Booth leans over and presses another kiss to her lips. Somehow the kisses feel different. He can't explain it, but they just seem sweeter yet hotter.

Brennan notices it too, but dismisses the feeling.

He catches her looking at her ring, but doesn't say anything. He just smiles and separates from her.

Brennan follows Angela into the kitchen, Christine, Max, and Hank following close behind her.

Booth hangs back and looks at Parker. "Hey, bub."

Parker looks up at his dad. "Congrats, dad."

"Thanks, buddy." Booth pauses. "You up for some celebrating?"

"I think I'm just gonna watch some TV."

"What's wrong?"

"Everyone looks so happy. I mean, I'm happy for you and Bones, and I've always wanted you guys to get married, but I'm not—I don't want to drag everybody else down, you know?"

"You're not happy," he guesses.

"I love you, Bones, and Teeny, and I'm grateful that I have a place to live and you know I love being here, but I, I feel guilty."

Booth sits down beside his son and takes his hand. "Guilty about what, buddy?"

Parker shakes his head. "Go celebrate, dad."

"Booth, are you coming?" Brennan calls from the kitchen.

"I'll be there in a minute, Bones."

"Don't let me stop you. Go celebrate." Parker reaches for the remote and switches on the TV.

Booth snatches the remote away. "No. What's wrong? What do you feel guilty about?" He pauses. "Is this about your mom?"

Parker nods.

"Your mom would want you to be happy. That's all she's ever wanted for you, Parker."

Parker looks towards the TV, shielding his face from his dad. "I'm sorry I'm ruining this for you. This should be the happiest day of your life."

"It is. Aside from the day you were born and the day your sister was born." Booth pauses. "And you are not ruining anything. You have nothing to apologize for." He stands up, kissing his son on the top of his head before straightening out. "I'll be in the kitchen. Hang out here if you want. I'll give you some space. I love you."

"I love you too, dad."

Booth sighs and goes into the kitchen, looking back at Parker, who's now focused on the TV. He just wishes there was more he could do. He feels helpless. There are times when Parker seems to be getting better, but then he'll slide back into a depression that Booth can't seem to help him out of. He has to keep telling himself that it's only been a week since they've been home and two months since the accident. It'll get better—he hopes. Now, he's the one feeling guilty for being happy when his son is so clearly not.

Brennan turns her head, ceasing her laughing the second she sees Booth's face. "Booth, what's wrong?"

Booth shakes his head. "Nothing, Bones."

She steps away from the group and closes the gap between them. Without thinking, she wraps her arms around him, resting her head against his chest. "He'll be okay, Booth. It's bad now, I know, but you'll see, it'll all be okay. I promise."

Booth completes the embrace and sighs. "Thanks, Bones."

After a minute, she steps back. "He's not, he's not upset about us getting married, is he?"

Booth shakes his head. "No, not at all."

She walks over to the counter, retrieves a glass of champagne, and goes back over to where he's standing.

Booth takes the glass and takes a sip. He lowers his head and presses a kiss to her lips. "We're married."

She laughs. "Yes, we are."

"Still think nothing's changed?"

She nods. "Yes." She gives his hand a tug and walks towards the island counter.

He shakes his head, knowing for a fact she's lying. He joins her at the counter and loops his arm around her waist, kissing the side of her head as he listens to the conversation already in progress.

This isn't my favorite chapter, but I hope you liked it.

Thanks for the reviews. You guys are awesome!