He continued to hold her and rock her for a long time. He was so overwhelmed with emotion that he needed time to pull himself back together. The tears were streaming down his face and he was having trouble catching his breath.

All he could think, all he could feel was complete and utter joy so intense it almost frightened him; almost but not quite and never again. Happiness had slowly been creeping up on him in the months since that moment in the airport when Teresa had told him she felt the same way. It had been a wonderful thing to begin to experience after years of pain and guilt and loneliness.

But his happiness had been tempered with fear and confusion and a little doubt; not doubt that he loved her, or even that she loved him (although there had even been a bit of that, until she had said the words) but doubt that he was whole enough to make it work.

When Vega was killed those doubts had risen up and almost consumed him, had made him flee once more, although this time to someplace where he could think, where he could decide if happiness could in fact be his.

He had been fleeing since Angela and Charlotte's deaths, refusing to stop long enough to learn if he could live again. He'd refused to settle in any place, to put down roots, because he was terrified they would once again be ripped out, along with his heart. And he had done it again with Teresa and could have lost her – if it wasn't for the fact that she had refused to let him go.

He chuckled softly when he thought of her having him arrested. Only his Teresa! At first he'd been peeved, not used to having someone in his life again who had a right to demand anything of him. But at her words, when he realized how he had hurt her, then he'd felt only sorrow and a determination to figure things out as quickly as possible.

And then he'd seen the cabin and the lake and it had struck him. He needed roots if he was going to live again, if he was going to be happy. He couldn't flee from her, from his love, from her love. It was the only way to deal with his fear and to allow himself to live again. Suddenly, in that moment by the small pond and with the sounds of the ducks he'd felt a sense of peace wash over him – and he let fear go.

And now – now they were here, together, man and wife. He smiled again and held her tighter – his wife! It was the first time, in many, many years that the word didn't bring a sense of pain and loss. Now it meant hope and a future – a future with a strong and loving and funny woman at his side. A future with Teresa.

And with their child. The tears gathered and again fell. He was going to be a father once more! A feeling he couldn't even describe swept through him and made him shudder, not with fear, but with longing and intense joy.

Teresa pulled back slightly to look into his face. "Are you okay?" she asked worriedly. She had heard the shaky breath and felt the tremor that washed over him.

He swallowed and then smiled, his eyes shining and his lips trembling. "Better than okay", he said softly. He reached down and gently placed his hand on her stomach. "I never knew the meaning of true and utter joy until now", he whispered. He leaned forward and gave her a soft kiss on her cheek. "Thank you. Thank you for bringing me such joy."

She slowly smiled and reached up to touch his cheek; a cheek wet with his tears. "You have brought me joy as well, a joy I never thought I'd get to experience", she said gently. "I love you so very, very much."

They sat quietly once more, feeling as if they were in their own small world, and yet the sounds from across the water – the music, the laughter, the dancing – all told them that they weren't in fact alone, but their lives were surrounded by the love of friends and family. Soon that family would grow as would the love and the joy.

"Do you think we should go back?" she asked after a time.

She could feel him take a deep breath and let it out slowly. "Yes. Let's go and say goodbye. I don't know about you, but I'm tired. It's been a crazy few days."

She giggled at that and slowly sat up straight. "You could say that. I don't know of anyone else who's ever had to plan both a wedding and how to catch a serial killer at the same time."

"Only us", he grinned. He wiped the tears from his face with the back of his hand, allowing her to help with what he'd missed. "Do I look presentable?" he asked cheekily, although there was a bit of self-consciousness mixed in.

"You look gorgeous", she answered truthfully. "I've never seen you in a tie before", she commented.

"Special occasion", he grinned as he glanced down at it. "Don't get used to it. Normally I hate the things."

"Mmm – I kind of like them. You should keep it on – later", she waggled her eyebrows at him. "Just the tie I mean."

"Teresa Lisbon!" he said, sounding shocked although the grin on his face belied the words.

"Jane", she said simply.

"What?"

"No – Teresa Jane. I got married today you know."

That stopped him dead, which made her want to giggle. It was very rare that she ever made Jane speechless.

"You - ? But, I thought you'd want to – are you sure?"

"Surprised you, did I?" her grin widened into a huge smile. "I'm getting better at that."

"Yes, yes you are", he nodded, still looking slightly stunned. "Are you sure?"

"Yes", she nodded. "It just seems – I don't know – right somehow. I thought about it seriously and it's what I want."

"Okay", he said, his lips spreading into a slow smile. "Teresa Jane." He looked at her for a moment and nodded. "Suits you. But you realize what that means, don't you?"

"No, what?" she grinned back.

"You're going to have to start calling me Patrick."

She sighed, with what sounded like a long-suffering sigh, although the twinkle in her eyes was clear to see. "Okay fine", she told him. "Patrick – let's go say goodbye to our guests."

He stood and reached down his hand for hers. "Yes let's, Mrs. Jane."