'Camille,' Booth said as he knocked on the open door. He wanted to get this over and done with. He'd returned to his office after dropping Bones at the Jeffersonian this morning. Keeping this from the squints didn't sit right. Out of loyalty, Booth decided to confront Dr Camille Saroyan personally, safe in the knowledge that Temperance Brennan had other issues on her mind.

'Seeley,' rising from behind her desk, Cam gestured for the man to enter and take a seat. 'I believe congratulations are in order.'

'Thanks, Cam,' replied Booth, without the cocky smile or enthusiasm expected from a man about to be married. He also ignored the offer of hospitality.

Nodding sagely, Cam attempted to make the situation comfortable by announcing, 'Deputy Director Cullen called me this morning.'

'Great, so you know about the new case and all its implications?' he asked sarcastically.

'I have to admit to being surprised, Seeley,' Cams soft words bespoke her confusion. 'Dr Brennan announced her pregnancy three weeks ago, although some of the interns had a betting pool going back three months. It came as no surprise to anyone who the father is. Now I find out, via your boss, not only that you've been living together but you're getting married on Sunday.'

'Camille…' Booth pleaded.

'I know, I know, you hate your private life turning up as coffee break gossip.' Still Cams tone held more than a little hurt. 'We're all your friends, Seeley. Both you and Dr Brennan are like family, it hurts to find out about this through the grape vine, not that I've told anyone else. At least Dr Brennan forwarded me a copy of the wedding invitation.'

'Bones e-mailed our wedding invites?' An expression of incredulity spread over Booths face. 'I can't believe she e-mailed wedding invitations.'

'It's not like you have a lot of time to inform the guests,' Cam attempted to hide a smile. 'It's 9 am on Wednesday morning and your ceremony takes place at 1pm on Sunday. I'd say Dr Brennan used the fastest means possible to communicate your impending nuptials.'

Feeling as defeated as he looked, Seeley confessed, 'I'm not sure Bones' doing this for the right reason. She's being forced to give up her position here, her work, her friends and family, in short her life, for this case. I don't know if it's fair for me to ask that. I mean this is the woman I love. I don't want to hurt her.'

'Seeley,' Cam approached, standing within his personal space, 'it's just a case. I've already approved a one year leave of absence for Dr Brennan. I'm not about to fill her position permanently. A year will give you time to solve this case, welcome the new addition and get your family settled. As of Monday, your Fiancée will consult for the Jeffersonian. Now all I need to know is if you want me to tell Dr Brennan, or will you?'

'You tell Bones, but don't let her know you've told me, OK.' Booths eyes pleaded.

'OK,' Cam closed the gap to give her long time friend a hug, 'but you keep my best forensic anthropologist safe and you two keep in touch.'

Pulling away with a shy smile, Booth promised.

Watching him make a bee line for Brennan's office, Cam shook her head. Oh boy, there's going to be fireworks in that relationship….marriage. Seeley's going to be kept on his toes and Dr B, well lets just hope the amount of radical honesty continues to decrease.

Leaning on the jam of the open door to Temperance Brennan's office, Angela watched her friend stare into space, a most unusual expression covering her features. Glassy blue eyes gazed in the general direction of her computer screen without observing the content. Intrigued, Angela chanced a peek at the monitor. Surprised, the page looked suspiciously like a wedding invitation with the quintessential bride and groom as well as gold wedding rings imprinted top and bottom.

'Brenn?' Angela enquired in a soft voice, walking further into the room and closing the door. Not close enough to see whose invitation, Ange wondered if Brennan cried because the bride would be someone else or because, finally, Tempe had given in and Booth had gotten his way.

Turning towards the sound, pain filled eyes greeted Angela as Brennan's lips attempted a smile. Her mouth failed utterly finally tipping the gathering tears down her face. 'Angela,' the word filled the room with unspoken pain. 'You don't usually come in on a Wednesday.'

'I'm kinda glad I drop by,' a sad smile and empathic eyes pleaded for her friend to open up. 'Want to tell me about it?'

'No,' Brennan quickly looked away from her best friends knowing gaze. 'Yessss,' she hissed, drying her eyes. 'I finally allowed Booth to inform the FBI about our cohabitation and pregnancy on Monday.'

'Cohabitation, you and Booth are finally living together!' Angela wanted to be happy but Brennan's expression stopped any elation she might have felt.

'Yes, Angela,' Brennan switched to rational mode with a swipe at her eyes to clear the last of the tears. 'I made it quite clear, until the foetus reached 13 weeks, and the statistical probability of miscarriage decreased to a point deemed safe, I wouldn't consider moving into his…our apartment.'

'OK, so you've moved in a few weeks ago, just after you told us about your baby,' Angela asked slowly, watching Brennan's response. 'But you've been spending most nights there anyway, right?' The positive response allowed Ange to continue. 'So what you're really saying, is you finally made the leap of faith, a commitment to be with Booth, really be with him.'

'Yes,' Brennan agreed, her mind working furiously. 'You always seem to make sense of emotional issues that confuse me.'

'That's what friends are for Sweetie,' Angela said softly, leaning a hip against the corner of Brennan's desk. 'So tell me what's bothering you,' she pleaded. Angela knew she'd have to handle this carefully.

'Cullen called Booth into his office yesterday evening. They, the FBI and Booths old military commander, used the information, Angela,' Brennan's tears welled once again, threatening to spill over, 'used it to their advantage. Several military personnel and their spouses have vanished after leaving Fort Irwin in the Mojave Dessert. We can have this new case and I can still work with Booth, but only if we get married.'

'So you're getting married?' Angela covered her mouth with her hands to silence the squeal of joy she wanted to expel. Pleased at this finally, finally coming to fruition, Ange's excitement died as suddenly as it'd been generated. For all intense and purpose, her best friend should be ecstatic. Temperance Brennan displayed exactly the opposite reactions.

'On Sunday, Angela,' Brennan looked in askance at her friend.

'Wait,' Ange gulped, realising Brennan looked anything but happy, 'do you really want to do this, to get married, or are you just going along with it for Booth?'

'Booth wants this case.' Brennan explained logically. 'I want him to catch the person responsible.'

'You don't have to do this, you know.' Although Ange felt for the missing couples, she didn't know them. Angela did know Temperance Brennan and her thoughts on marriage. 'Taking a case isn't a good enough reason to get hitched sweetie. Believe me, I know. Fijian fire dance and all that!' The attempt to inject humour didn't work. Sighing, she continued, 'unless you really love Booth and want to be with him, you're making a big mistake.'

I can't believe I'm telling Brennan this, after all the years I've tried to push them together, Angela berated herself. Their perfect for each other, if only Brenn had more faith in her emotions.

'Angela…..I do, I do love Booth, more than I ever thought I could love. So much sometimes it frightens me.' Brennan confessed, tears streaming down her face. 'I've committed to cohabitation, sharing the responsibility of conceiving a life, its more power over me than I've ever allowed anyone.'

'Oh, sweetie,' Angela reached down and took her friend into her arms, lending all the support she could offer. 'Love isn't about giving someone power. Love makes us vulnerable. It makes us feel exposed and defenceless but it also gives us strength, courage and purpose. You're not giving up independence by marrying, you are gaining interdependence.'

Pushing away to make eye contact, Ange smiled knowingly. 'Look at me, before Hodgins, I was a free sprit. Now I'm grounded. The experience, with the right person changes you but in small, important ways. And welcoming Michael into our lives, I'm truly blessed. I want you to be as happy.'

'Before Booth, my relationships have been failures,' Brennan sobbed.

'And mine weren't,' Ange fired back. 'You and I are a lot alike in some ways, Brenn. I feel too much while you use your brain. Booth's made you lose some of your rationalism, and that must be terrifying. He's also given you the opportunity to express your feelings more openly and that's a good thing.'

'Chop, chop, Bones,' Booth walked into his partners office oblivious to the scene before him, 'We've got an appointment with Sweets.'

'Tell him, honey,' Angela pleaded, hands on Brennan's shoulders in an unmistakable display of comfort. 'You need to tell Booth what you just told me.'

'Bones,' Booth suddenly realised he interrupted an important moment.

'You two need to talk,' Angela told him as she strode through the door, quietly closing it behind her.