Thanks so much for all your reviews and alerts. I really do appreciate them all. I hope you all enjoy this chapter :)
I think to appreciate this chapter you may have to have seen 'The Patriot in Purgetory'.
Chapter 28
Bones walked into the large room at the Jeffersonian that had been set aside for the woman to change. She didn't mind her dress. It was a little fussier than she would have chosen for herself but it had already been clearly defined that her knowledge of weddings was limited at best. Of course she could state quite clearly all the ritualistic differences between cultures but everyone was s o busy they just seemed to get on with what they were doing. This though was a bit of a problem. Caroline, Ang and Cam seemed to be having a problem with each others choices.
"I have let you take charge of everything so far and I haven't said anything much at all." Ang was explaining loudly with her hands on her hips. "But THIS is where I draw the line!"
"Do I have to remind you who I am?" Caroline answered with narrowed eyes.
"I KNOW who you are and if this was work related I wouldn't say a word. THIS is off the clock and THIS," she said pulling out a few layers of her pink crinoline dress, "is the ugliest damn made of honour dress I've ever seen!"
"Well, why don't you tell me how you really feel." Caroline spat back. "If it was good enough for Scarlett O'Hara..."
"Frankly my dear I don't give a damn."
Bones chuckled. "That was very good Ang." she said. She turned to Caroline. "She was making a joke because she thinks the dresses look like they came from 'Gone With The Wind'."
"I got that Cherie." Caroline said. "She is not co operating at all. What we need here is some organisation and we need to remember that this is a WEDDING NOT a Friday night club where you can boogie away in some little scrap of a thing that barely covers your skinny little behinds."
"You know, I have had some experience with people that don't work together well. What worked with my interns was making them work together as a team. "
"We've been trying Honey." Ang said.
"Truly we have." Cam agreed. "I have called the caterer six times already to change the menu."
"Because the menu was all wrong."
"There was nothing wrong with the food I chose." Cam said.
"It is NOT too much to ask for an ice sculpture of a cupid. It's Valentine's Day. They probably have one spare in the back of the freezer."
"Not one that's seven feet tall."
Caroline waved her hand around. "See what I have to deal with? All I should have to do is delegate."
"Ang," Bones said. "If we were to have the puffy sleeves removed would that help a little?"
"If I don't have to carry the umbrella." And said begrudgingly.
"Can you live without the umbrella Caroline? It isn't going to rain."
"I suppose so."
"What size ice sculpture can you get Cam?"
"Three feet is all." Cam said with a roll of her eyes.
"If we put the three feet tall sculpture on a table with some blocks underneath it, will that make it tall enough Caroline?"
"I suppose so if that's all we can do."
"See? Team work." Bones said walking behind each of the ladies and slapping their butts. "Atta girl." she said to a stunned Cam. "Atta girl." she said to an amused Ang.
"You put that skinny little hand anywhere near my ample behind and you gonna be wearing your wedding ring on the other hand." Caroline said with a stern glare.
XXX
Parker finally arrived the morning of the wedding. Caroline wasn't able to come up with a reason good enough to make Bones think she shouldn't spend the night at home with her family. So that's where she woke up and that's where they were sitting eating pancakes when Parker arrived to sit at his place where his plate was waiting for him.
"When are we going to the wedding?" he asked.
"Soon as we've had our breakfast." Bones asked.
"Mom said you go on a honeymoon when you get married."
"That's right you do." Booth said. "That's where you go to spend some time together and have a vacation."
"Are you going on a vacation?"
"Not yet." Bones said. "Maybe later when we all have vacation time."
"All of us?"
"Yes all of us."
XXX
They headed off to the Jeffersonian and the mood in the car was light and happy. The wedding was important but meant something different to all of them.
To Parker, who had been brought up Catholic by his Dad it meant that his Dad and his soon to be Step Mom probably wouldn't go to hell which made him happy. Also it meant that he had the day off school and got to spend another whole day at his Dad's house.
To Lance it meant that he was going to be a witness of them becoming a real that they weren't already a family but this meant signing papers and such which meant that Bones and Booth would be really married like a normal Mom and Dad.
To Booth it meant that he would finally have the love of his life, his best friend and his partner with him for the rest of their days. Not only that but this miracle that he had almost given up on praying for would be witnessed by God.
To Bones, this day was one of confusion. Confusion because she never thought that she would get married at all. She had never felt that a piece of paper, or a Priest standing there making a couple say ritualistic things to each other was necessary for a pair of mates to live together in a union. Yet she had agreed to this and it she was confused because it made her happier than she ever imagined that it would. She wanted to marry Booth today more than she ever thought was possible. She even had a surprise for Booth that he wouldn't be expecting.
XXX
"Come on, come on." Caroline said as she ushered them all inside. "I thought you'd never get here."
"Why?" Bones asked. "Why would you think we'd never get here? The wedding is planned and people are coming. Of course we had to come or how would we get married?"
"Figure of speech Bones. She means we're late."
"Don't you be talking to her." Caroline said shooing him and Lance in the other direction. "You shouldn't even be seeing each other today let alone talking to each other."
"Can't I go with Daddy?" Parker asked.
"No Honey. You need to come along with us. You're the ring barer remember?"
"I ain't getting changed in front of no girls."
"Well of course not. I have a room picked out for you all special like. Just for you on your own."
"Oh I do love your curls. You're gonna look so pretty in your clothes."
"I'm a boy. Boys don't look pretty. They look handsome."
"Of course they do."
"You go on in there Temperence. The hair and make up people are in there."
"What for?"
"To do your hair of course."
TBC