EPILOGUE

“Phew.” Booth sinabi as they got out of the Founding Fathers. “ Ok, Bones. Little tip. Do NOT hesitate in situations like that. Ever.”
“What? I wasn’t hesitating, I was just observing my surroundings.”
“Why?”
“Well, isn’t it supposed to be an important moment in someone’s life? I just wanted to remember it right, and get to study it first handed. It was rather flattering.”
“Ok… that’s kind of… sweet.” Booth frowned to himself.
“I’m glad you think so.” She smiled at him.
He was still frowning. “Just… don’t do that at the altar. Please.” He panicked as he saw Brennan resisting to the arrangement. “Don’t. Just hire someone to take photos.”
“Ok.” Brennan finally agreed.
“Anyway, you’re a genius; your memory will be just fine on its own.”
“Yes, it probably will-“
Booth interrupted her. “Wait. Why did you assume that I wanted to marry you?”
Oh. Oops. Of course, she had to screw this up.
“Well… you always talk about how fulfilling devoting yourself to another person is. How wonderful marriage is-“
“And you’ve always sinabi that that was a load of crap.”
Could she think of a better lie before Booth realized something was up?
“What’s up, Bones?”
No.
“But it’s what you believed in. You wanting to marry me was a logical leap.”
“No it wasn’t. And you don’t leap, or jump to conclusions.”
“Ok… it was a logical assumption.”
“Hmm…”
“You don’t believe me, do you?”
“No, not really.”
Ok. Speech time. “I feel like… I just don’t want you to leave.” She saw him trying to argue. He would probably say ‘I’m never going to leave you, married or not’, just like Angela had said. But she continued before he had the chance to. “Marriage is a bond that unites two people for life, just like having a child is. But look at you and Rebecca.” He opened his mouth to argue once more, but she wouldn’t let him. “Having a child of your own didn’t stop you from falling apart. But, if I were to marry you, which I will, you can’t leave. And, if you want to, it will be hard enough for me to put up a fight.”
“Bones, marriage isn’t a prison.”
“I know that. But still.”
Booth sighed. “I liked your little speech there, and I’m happy that you’re not doing it because this is what I want-“
“I would never do that.” She hadn’t admitted her own feelings when she had stabbed him through the heart; metaphorically, of course. Not until it had been what she wanted; not until she couldn’t stand being away from him anymore. She still felt pathetic about that, but she had him there to keep her up.
“I know that now; but… Bones, I know you found the ring.”
“Oh.” She stared at her feet. He put her arm around her.
“I thought that I had Nawawala it; I found it in my pocket, but in the wrong one.”
“You knew what pocket you put it in?”
“Yeah, sure. The same one as the medal.”
“Um… no. The same one as the poker chip, and the dice.”
“The one I found it in? Oh… Ok. Well, I was right, wasn’t I? Anyways, you not looking surprised at the ring and Angela not grabbing your hand to see was evidence enough.”
Brennan looked down at the ring on her finger. Her ring on her finger. Wow. She really need to stop making these snap decisions, life was passing sa pamamagitan ng too fast; maybe she should actually plan the wedding and not meet a judge in a corridor and ask him a quick favor… The wedding. Whoa.
Does this make you sad? Knowing that I knew."
Booth thought. "Did you have doubts?"
"I'm... not sure. I don't have doubts now."
"Really? That is... Good."
Brennan smiled at his smile.
“Anyways. I also just want an excuse to wear a big white dress.”
Booth laughed. She didn’t feel nervous for one second; she didn’t think that she had made a wrong decision, or that she was pagganap stupidly. Maybe she was, but she didn’t care.
“Sarcasm.” Booth observed. “It’s strange on you.”
“Who sinabi I was being sarcastic?”
“Touché.”

“Booth and Brennan are getting married!” Angela announced as soon as they left. “Can you believe that? It’s ridiculous. And thanks to me, of course.”
“Of course it is.” Hodgins laughed into his glass.
“And to me!” Sweets piped up.
“Really?” uri ng bulaklak asked. “That’s my Lancelot.” She purred at him and he laughed awkwardly as Cam raised her eyebrows at him. “But maybe you should focus harder on our wedding than theirs.” She sinabi sternly.
“Oh, yeah.”
“Yeah. You’re the one that wanted to get married in the first place. I can’t make it happen on my own.”
“You never had to.”
“Oh really?” uri ng bulaklak growled. “Then why don’t you come to any of the dance classes I prepared for us?”
Angela and Hodgins exchanged glances.
“We’ll be back. Just need some fresh air.” Angela announced for the both of them. It was getting ugly.”
Cam’s eyes widened and she threw them an urgent look. “Do you have to? It’s great in here.” Both Hodgins and Angela understood the true message: Don’t leave me here.
“Sorry, it’s the smoke. Really…” he coughed loudly. “Smokey.”
“You’ll be fine.” Cam said, a touch of urgency in her voice.
“I’m sorry. Really need some air.” He tried to keep back a smile as he stood up. Angela stood up too.
“I’ll accompany him. Coughing… he might need to go to the hospital or something.”
“Well, in that case I might need a check up too…” Cam got up. Sweets was suddenly aware of the outside conversation.
“I thought you had a check up this morning?”
Both Angela and Hodgins laughed.
Cam pulled a face and then smiled falsely. “That’s right. I did. Oh, look at the time! I should get back tahanan to Michelle…”
“But she was staying at a friend’s house.” Hodgins said. Angela kicked him but stifled back a giggle. Cam stared daggers at him and sat back down, much to Daisy’s delight.
“You’re dead.” She mouthed. Hodgins shrugged merrily and both he and Angela escaped outside.
“Is it really that difficult? It’s not my fault you’re terrible at waltzing, but I want a waltz!” Daisy’s voice was the last thing that they heard as they closed the door behind them.
“Ok. Now we can discuss things in a madami modified, calm tone.” Hodgins said. Angela laughed. “I can’t believe they’re getting married!” he laughed. “It’s ridiculous!” Angela laughed but her face fell. “What?”
She sighed. “It kind of feels like… like they’re taking away our happy ending.”
Hodgins looked at the pavement.
“Is that mean? I should be happy for her, she’s my best friend, and I’m hers… but I can’t. That should be us.”
He decided to pull himself together and put his arm around her. That used to be so easy; to put his arm around her like that. Now it was just hard, and painful. When did everything get so hard?
He gulped before speaking. “I feel like that with every couple I see.” Angela looked at him. “People on the street, people I don’t know. Even Sweets and Daisy.”
She laughed. He missed that laugh. He missed being mga kaibigan without it being awkward.
“I’m so sorry that it didn’t work out.” She said, and she left.
“Goodbye.” He whispered to himself. And then he wondered when his susunod appointment with Sweets was.

THE END… finally.