Disclaimer: If I owned this I wouldn't be needing student loans now would I?
A/N: My new story has now begun. I really hope you like what you read. Just so everyone knows, Arabella is the name of my daughter and everything in this story that little Ara does my little girl does or did when she was younger. I'm trying to keep facts straight so I'll just point out that she was an early learner and is highly intelligent. Please enjoy....and leave a review if you like so I know if you like the new characters, one of them being NellietheItalianOne, and the plot line.
The incessant buzzing of the alarm clock was the first thing Teresa Lisbon heard, the second was the quiet cooing and jabbering of the baby down the hall. The precious little girl with dark wavy locks and green eyes, practically a spitting image of her mother, except she had her father's ears. A smile lit up Lisbon's face as she forced herself to turn the alarm off and roll out of bed. Padding down the hallway in her night shirt and shorts she stopped at the pale green nursery filled with everything Care Bears. This had become her morning ritual and honestly she wouldn't wish it any other way. Her daughter was the most important aspect in her life now, the beautiful baby she had carried for nine months with no father in the picture. The daughter she'd been raising for a little over a year who knew Minelli as 'Papa' and thought everyone on the team breathed only to pay attention to her. The team had become her family and again Lisbon wouldn't have it any other way.
"Good Morning Ara."
"Mum-mum." Arabella raised her chubby hands towards her mother, waiting to be picked up. Bending over the crib Lisbon gently lifted the little one out and cradled her to her chest. It wouldn't be long until she started fighting to get away and run through the house but until then she snuggled into the warmth of her mother's arms and giggled.
"Let's get you changed and then find us something to eat before Nellie gets here."
"Nellie!" The teenage babysitter she had hired quickly became a part of their little family. She was witty, mischievous and loved Ara like a little sister. Jane had actually been the one to find her and Lisbon had to admit she'd been skeptical. The girl was only seventeen at the time but had finished high school early and wanted to take a year off before college. Surprisingly Nellie had been amazing with the baby and agreed to watch her anytime except the weekends.
Lisbon layed the wiggle worm on the changing table and slowly unsnapped the buttons on the sleeper she was wearing. It was light green, like almost everything else in the room. Jane had bought this one for her, it had little green frogs on it with pink bows. It was honestly Lisbon's favorite thing to put Ara in, but that had nothing to do with the man who got it for her, absolutely nothing.
"Trick got me that." Using her tiny fingers Arabella pointed to the piece of clothing her mother had just carefully peeled her out of.
"Yes, Patrick got it for you." It was ironic that the little girl couldn't quite get the 'Pa' into 'Patrick' thus coming up with Trick instead, Lisbon found it amusing. When she really thought about it the nickname fit pretty well for the curly haired consultant with the dashing grin. It was moments like these while staring down into the innocent round face of her baby that she wondered how different this would all be if there was a father in the picture. Everyone on her team had been amazing with the after shock of being pregnant but the piece was still missing, the puzzle still incomplete. Although Jane had stayed the first few nights after Arabella was born to help out, as he put it. It had surprised her that he seemed so intent on being a big part of the little one's life.
"Mum-mum." Snapping back into reality Lisbon finished dressing Ara in her little set of overalls and placed her down on the floor. It had been such a moving experience, too hard to describe with words, when Ara had learned to walk. A video had been taken by Van Pelt of Jane and Lisbon trying to get the confused baby to walk back and forth between them. After several failed attempts, her tiny legs finally held her up long enough to make it into her mother's open arms. Now here they were, the same little baby now over a year old and trying her best to run into the kitchen.
A knock at the door interrupted the early morning routine and Lisbon knew immediately who was waiting on the other side. Picking up the running one year old, she made her way to the door and pulled it open.
"Nellie!" Whenever the name left the little girls tongue it came out more like 'Nellwie' but if anything it only made her even cuter. She clapped her hands together in excitement before reaching for the babysitter she'd come to dearly love.
"Good morning Teresa and you little Ara look very pretty." Nellie caught the lunging toddler in her arms and pressed a kiss to her cheek.
"Pwetty like mum-mum."
"That's right you're pretty just like your mommy." Stepping aside to let her in, Lisbon closed the door behind them and turned towards the smiling pair. It still amazed her every single day that she'd taken part in making another human being, a legacy, a gorgeous smiling playful little girl that depended on her to make the right choices.
"You're early, I was just about to make breakfast." Lisbon had become just as taken with Nellie as her daughter was. The young woman was so mature for her age that it was like having a conversation with someone from work. Well someone besides Jane.
"Yeah, I just wanted to get away from home. I hope you don't mind."
"Not at all. I see you got a new tattoo." Pointing towards her right shoulder, Lisbon smiled at the purple, green, and yellow phoenix that Nellie's tank top showed off a few inches to the right of her neck. It was a little red and puffy around the edges which insinuated she had just had it done, not to mention it hadn't been there last week.
"Yes I did, isn't it awesome? Oh, did you notice my lip? I had it pierced." She noticed when she opened the door but had chosen not to say anything until Nellie brought it up.
"I like it. It just sort of fits you." Honestly the nose piercing and now the lip, looked really good on her. She was a beautiful girl and she really didn't even try. The shoulder length dark brown hair framed her pretty face perfectly accentuating her bright round eyes. The smoky makeup and sophisticated clothes gave her a look Lisbon hadn't seen anyone pull off yet, but she did it well. A large blue and black treble clef tattoo covered the inside of her left forearm, she had got it done right after her eighteenth birthday and had even taken Lisbon with her.
"Thanks, I'll make the breakfast if you want to go get ready for work." It was a sweet offer, and one Lisbon wasn't about to refuse. Kissing the top of her daughter's head as she passed by, she headed towards the bedroom to dig out some clothes and think of the day that lay ahead.
After a quick shower, a breakfast of scrambled eggs and hash-browns and an extra long hug, Lisbon finally made it to work. She wasn't late, or early for that matter. It had become routine for her to be almost spot on, everyone knew it had to do with the little cutie who came by on Fridays. They all loved the ball of energy that could turn the each one of them into a giant teddy bear and everyone knew that Jane was her favorite grown up. Like mother, like daughter; even though nobody was quite brave enough to open that can of worms.
"Mornin' Lisbon." A handsome smile and bright green-blue eyes greeted her. It amazed her that Jane could be so enthusiastic in the mornings when the only reason she rolled out of bed was to spend time with her daughter before dead bodies and murder called her name.
"Morning Jane." Grabbing the half empty coffee pot, she filled a cup almost to the rim while he leaned against the counter next to her. Their hands brushed when she let one arm drop back to her side, but neither seemed to care and neither of them jerked away.
"How's Bunny?"
"Arabella's fine and why do you insist on calling her bunny?"
"Next time she runs, pay attention to the way she moves." Playfully shoving his shoulder, she took a sip of the dark hot liquid and swallowed appreciatively. Jane's chuckle was enough to make a smile appear on her face. The teasing had become worse lately and she silently prayed she wasn't reading too much into things. He was always there for her and Ara when she needed him. She wanted him to be there even when they didn't.
"She runs just fine, don't make fun of...." Cho poked his head into the room, hating to interrupt their banter. It was good to see them both happy and smiling this early in the day but this was urgent and they needed to move.
"Boss, new case. A little boy's body was found this morning about twenty miles north in a small town, his brother is missing."
a/n: This is just the beginning chapter, which is basically to draw in readers....hoping I succeeded *wink wink*. More will be explained with each chapter, like who Ara's father is and why he isn't around. Oh and for the record, Nellie (NellietheItalianOne) DOES have the piercings and tattoos described above. I'll be sure to point out what is truth and what is fiction while writing this one. ~ Rina