Okaay, so I know I have too many multichaps unfinished to start yet another one, but this time I have everything neatly planned and will definitely finish the story before Christmas. It's already December, so I think Xmas fics are finally, finally justified, aren't they? :) Pure Jisbon (as always), lots of friendship, fluff and romance (as always). Hope you guys will like it!

Disclaimer: Finally got my stipend last week, but it's still not enough to buy the show, unfortunately.

'I hate shopping malls before Christmas,' complained Lisbon as she and Jane forced their way through the crowd. 'Do we really have to interview the guy here?'

'He's not going to pay us a visit any time soon, and I'm planning to solve the case before Christmas Eve.' Jane said cheerfully. 'I've always thought you are the Christmas type, decorating the yard, baking yule log, enjoying the spirit. Have you bought the tree already?'

'It's December the first, a tad bit too early. Seriously, do you believe you'll find Christmas spirit in a shopping mall? All I can feel around is rush and irritation.'

'No joy or magic? I'm sure it must be here somewhere. A-ha!' Jane stopped abruptly. 'There it is!'

'There what is?'

'Joy and magic, don't you see?' He pointed at something over her shoulder.

Lisbon turned around and saw Santa's grotto. She smiled despite herself. 'Okay, maybe they really know what Christmas is about.'

They watched as excited children talked to Santa, assuring him they had been nice enough to get cool presents. A slim boy named David, not older than six, had just asked for a remote-controlled car.

'You'll get your car, David, but first you have to answer my question.' The man dressed as Santa was too thin in Lisbon's opinion, but, apart from that, was doing very well. 'Tell me, young man, do you know who an elf is?'

'Sure.' David shrugged his shoulders. 'It's a chick with pointed ears who helps Santa,' he said, at the same time checking out the girl dressed as an elf.

All the adults laughed. 'Very well, my boy. You know what's up.' Santa tried not to laugh too as he handed David his present.

'Come on, Jane.' Lisbon patted Jane's shoulder. 'We have work to do.'

'Why the hurry?' he flashed a smile. 'Five minutes won't change anything.'

Lisbon rolled her eyes. 'You're so childish sometimes. Five minutes, not a second more.'

'Didn't you like Santa's grottos when you were her age?' Jane pointed at a girl who was now on stage.

'Sorry to disappoint you, but you aren't her age anymore.'

'Killjoy.'

The girl had olive skin and unruly black curls tied in a ponytail. She confidently sat in Santa's lap and flashed a toothless smile.

'What's your name, sweetheart?'

'Julie.'

'Tell me, Julie, what is your Christmas wish?'

The girl took a deep breath. 'I want every child in the world to feel happy, safe and loved,' she recited.

'Well, that's a very important wish, Julie.' Santa patted her head and smiled.

'And a Barbie,' she added quickly, causing another gust of laughter among the crowd.

'Now that's an important wish.' Lisbon laughed, too.

'Told you it would be more fun than questioning a murderer.'

'What?' Lisbon turned to him, surprised. 'So you know he's the killer and we are standing here, watching Santa Claus?!'

'He's not going anywhere.' She wanted to say something else, but Jane silenced her with a wave of his hand. 'Hush, I want to listen to the question.'

Lisbon only rolled her eyes and tapped her foot impatiently.

'The question for you, Julie, is: who is an angel?'

The girl thought for a moment. 'It's a very pretty lady with long hair and beautiful voice. She watches over you all the time and when you are unhappy or in danger, she comes and hugs you and everything is all right then. It's a person who saves you, always.'

A sad smile danced on Jane's lips. He thought of his wife, his own Angel. She'd always made sure that their house was full of laughter and love, created a safe haven for the three of them. And he'd let them down, hadn't watched over them properly.

'Jane?' Lisbon said gently. 'We need to go.'

He nodded and followed her, away from joy and laughter of the Santa's grotto.

Two weeks later even the impersonal CBI building was buzzing with Christmas atmosphere. Colorful decorations hung in every corner, miniature Christmas trees stood on almost every desk, people hummed carols as they fought with loads of paperwork.

Jane watched as Van Pelt decorated their tree, probably the most beautiful one in the whole building. She really had an artistic flair, too bad she didn't have many opportunities to show it.

'Hey.' Lisbon approached him with two cups of tea and sat on the couch beside him.

Jane smiled as he took one cup from her. 'Hey. Have you finished the report?'

'Thankfully, yes.' She watched him closely. 'How are you doing, Jane?'

She surprised him. 'Me? I'm fine,' he said half-heartedly, knowing he wouldn't fool her, though.

'Do you have any plans for Christmas?'

She surprised him again. He sipped his tea. 'Oh, you know... The usual.'

She knew all too well. The usual, in Jane's case, meant sitting alone in a dirty motel room, with the TV as the only companion. Christmas had always been the most difficult time for him, with all the happy families around, shops full of toys and people wishing you merry Christmas. Like he had any reason to be merry. 'I'm not visiting my brothers this year, they already have other plans. Come spend the day with me, it would be nice to have company.'

He smiled. She was a terrible liar, he was sure Lisbon's brothers would never leave her alone. On the other hand, he wouldn't mind spending Christmas Day with her.

'Are you sure about that? You know I can be irritating at times.'

'Yeah, I've noticed before,' she teased him. 'But I think I can take the risk.'

He hesitated.

'Oh, come on. I know I am not a very good cook, but you'll survive.'

'Well, in that case...' He returned her smile. 'Let me prepare dinner. As a way of saying 'Thank you'.'

'It is a yes, then?'

'With pleasure, dear Lisbon.'

Her smile widened.

They turned to Van Pelt, already placing the star on top of the tree. 'Beautiful, isn't it?'

Jane thought than now, when he had somewhere to go on Christmas Day, he liked it even more than before. 'Yes, it is. Van Pelt did a good job.'

He watched Lisbon's face, her smile and sparkles in her eyes, like a five-year-old waiting for presents. He was grateful for what she did, saving him from solitude on that special day. He wondered if she knew how much that simple gesture meant to him.

Then he thought of all the times she had saved him before. On countless occasions she had been there for him, whether it was getting him out, covering for him when a stupid plan went wrong or, like that time, saving him from himself. Being close when he needed it, somehow managing to make things all right. If it hadn't been for her, he would have probably been a wreck by then.

'You know, that little girl at the mall was wrong about one thing,' he said.

'Yeah?' Lisbon turned her attention back to him. 'What is it?'

'Not all angels are the hugging type. Some of them fix you just by being close and saying the right thing when you need it.'

She blushed a little and gave him a shy smile. 'Well, I think even angels can make exceptions from time to time,' she said and pulled him closer.

Jane hid his face in her dark hair and inhaled deeply.

It must've been what safety felt like.

'Thank you, Lisbon,' he whispered. 'For everything.'