A/N: This is just a cute little something I wrote in my sleep (nah). If possible, please check out my other story The Angry Princess and the Thief Who Stole Her Tiara. It's longer and funnier. Thanks!

Disclaimer: I do not own The Mentalist or its characters.


Strangers

They were sitting on a park bench.
The man in the jogging suit had arrived first, sweating and panting. His idea of 'good exercise' had been limited to taking long walks, followed by drinking ample amounts of tea. This was new.
The woman with the stroller arrived second, taking in the scene and smiling at her sleeping baby. Her idea of a 'good morning' used to be lying in bed till 10 o'clock and drinking a large mug of coffee. This was new.

"What's a single mother doing with her baby at the park this early in the morning?", he broke the ice.
"I'm not single", the woman held up her ring finger for the jogger to see.
"All things being the same, you're still a Mom with a baby, talking to a stranger"
She shrugged,
"Eh. I'm a cop. I carry a gun with me all the time"
"Even when with the baby?"
"Especially when with the baby. There's one under her stroller if you'd like to check"
"No, thank you"
"Good. If you'd reached for it, I'd have shot you with the one I have on me", she smirked.
The man smiled,
"I wonder where you hid that one"
Her dimples showed.
"Want to look for it?"
He grinned,
"That's tempting"
When the woman and the man were still looking at each other intentionally, a faint cry arose from the stroller. The bald baby girl inside stroked her nose with her fist furiously. She opened her big blue eyes and found two of her favorite faces hovering above. Evelyn Jane gurgled and giggled when her father took her out of the stroller and onto his lap. Teresa watched her husband and their daughter with a huge smile and adoration in her eyes. Patrick bounced Evy on his knee, kissing her chubby cheeks every two seconds.
"Hey, Evy! Did you miss Daddy? Did you miss Daddy, sweetheart? Look, Mommy didn't miss Daddy"
Lisbon frowned,
"That's not true"
She put her hand on his lap,
"Mommy did miss Daddy"
Jane held their daughter in his arms and looked at Lisbon,
"When we get home and Evy dozes off again, I'm going to take you up on your offer for the gun search"