A/N: Just spreading a little New Year's cheer through Jane and Lisbon. To a 2013 filled with loads of Jello moments!
Disclaimer: Loaded with champagne so I apologize if this is overly sentimental. Oh yes, I don't own anything. That honour belongs to Mr. Heller.
Auld Lang Syne
He stood near the edge, staring out into the clear night sky. There was something distinctly different about him. He seemed relaxed, at peace. All the years of anger and guilt that had such a hold on him was merely a distant memory.
She quietly watched as he leaned against the metal railing separating him from the city below. The moonlight danced across his back, casting her shadow against the dark fabric of his vest. And though she did not want to intrude on his solitude, she could not ignore the inexplicable feeling just to be near him.
"Hey."
He turned ever so slightly at the sound of her voice, already smiling before his eyes met hers.
"Hey yourself."
As casually as she could, she walked towards him.
"What are you doing here?" he asked.
"The party was a little too loud. And it's not exactly my sceneā¦"
"It was lame, wasn't it?"
After all this time, it still amused her that she was such an open book to him.
"I was bored to tears," she admitted with a laugh.
"And you thought I'd be less boring?"
"Nothing about you is boring. I should know."
This time, he laughed.
"I'll take that as a compliment. Thank you."
"You're welcome."
She grinned at him before looking out at the glimmering lights of Sacramento's skyline.
So much has changed this past year and yet the city looked the same. It was still difficult to process that the one that always managed to get away was finally caught. At one point, she thought the man beside her would be completely destroyed by his quest of vengeance. But here he was, surprising her once again. Perhaps now he finally had his second chance and fittingly on the eve of a brand new year.
"It really is beautiful up here," she whispered in awe. "I forget sometimes."
"Me too."
They enjoyed the comfortable silence between them, though it did not last very long when the faint sound of a familiar melody was heard coming from a nearby building.
"Must be midnight," she said.
"Must be," he echoed.
She was about to wish him a happy new year when he placed a hand on her elbow. Staring speechlessly up at him, she was even more startled when he leaned in and kissed her gently on the cheek.
His lips lingered for far longer than what was appropriate between colleagues, not that she did anything to dissuade him. When he finally pulled away, the warmth in his eyes brought on a wave of emotions she wasn't quite ready to acknowledge. Fortunately for her, he spoke first.
"Happy New Year, Teresa."
They were words she had heard many times before. But in that moment, she realized that after everything they had been through, this wasn't just his fresh start, it was hers too.
"Happy New Year."
For auld lang syne, my dear,
For auld lang syne,
We'll take a cup of kindness yet,
For auld lang syne...
Fin for now, Jello Forever!
