Story 1 – First Times

A Jane & Lisbon Story

By Brown Eyes Parker

Author's Note: Welcome to my first installment in my one-shot series where I grant the reader's wishes for season 7. I already have all 13 prompts, but I hope you still enjoy the series. The first one is for frogster_15, who wanted Lisbon to say I love you to Jane.

Rated: T

Disclaimer: I own nothing.

For Frogster_15

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It had been one of the worst kinds of days, the kind that Lisbon hated the most. It had involved all sorts of horrible things, a murdered child, distraught parents, and a prime suspect that had lawyered and alibied up the second they'd looked in his direction. To make matters worse, the victim had slightly resembled Jane's daughter. It had shaken him up so much, she was afraid that she was going to lose him for a while. That he would retreat back into the places where she couldn't reach him. He hadn't even talked to her except when he had needed to.

She rinsed off her toothbrush and sighed, briefly wondering what she had gotten herself into while she stared at her reflection in the bathroom mirror. But no, she wouldn't allow herself to think like that. She'd had Jane in her life in all sorts of forms and moods. This time would only be different because they were together; this time would be different because she could hold him until all the broken pieces came together again. With that resolve in mind, she quickly pulled her hair back and went out to her bedroom to join him.

Jane was sitting on the edge of the bed with his hands clasped together on his knees, looking a little forlorn. Lisbon's heart ached for him as she stopped in front of him and touched his face.

"Jane. . ." She said.

He looked at her then, the mask she thought he was going to be hiding behind completely shattered. Lisbon leaned into him and wrapped her arms around him, tightly. He buried his face in the crook of her neck and let her comfort him.

"I'm here," Lisbon told him in a soothing voice. "I'm here."

"I know," Jane answered, his voice muffled by her neck. "I know."

"Come on," Lisbon said, pulling away from him and turning down the covers. "Now come on, you're tired, we should go to bed. We've both had a very long day and we still have a case to solve tomorrow."

Jane stopped her as she went around to her side of the bed, gently grabbing her wrist and holding her firmly in place. "Hey, thank you. I don't think I could get through this without you."

"We've always gotten through things together," Lisbon replied. "It's always going to be you and me."

"This time things are different though. This time. . ." Jane trailed off, unable to form the words.

Lisbon nodded; she completely understood what he was saying. This time it was different because they were actually together. "I know," she said.

He let her go and watched her slip under the covers, after a beat, he joined her. She rolled on her stomach and rested her chin on his chest. He put his hand on her head and ran his fingers through her ponytail. She hummed in contentment and closed her eyes against his touch.

"I hate days like today," he finally said.

"I know," Lisbon replied. "I do too."

"I hate that kids have to die even before they get a chance to live, to find out who they are and who they want to be. It doesn't seem fair, not to them and not to their parents. They're never going to be the same again."

"I know," Lisbon said. "I know. They have each other though, hopefully this will strength and unite them. Not tear them apart."

"Hopefully," Jane agreed.

"Patrick," Lisbon whispered after a long spell of silence. "Patrick are you still awake?"

"I'm awake," Jane answered. "Is everything okay?"

"Everything's fine," she replied. "I just need to tell you something and I want you to be awake to hear it."

"What is it?" Jane asked.

Lisbon turned up her face to look at him. "I love you," she said.

He smiled at her. "I know."

Lisbon smacked him lightly. "I know you know. I just never said it aloud . . . every time I tried, the words would get stuck in my throat. So, I would just say that I felt the same way. But I'm saying it now. I love you. You deserve to hear it just as much as I do. And I'm sorry I never said it before now."

"I love you too," Jane said, pulling her down with him onto the bed so she could kiss her properly.

She closed her eyes and returned his kiss, thinking about how every time she kissed him it was like she was kissing him for the first time. After what seemed like forever, he pulled away and smiled at her. "Say it again."

Lisbon laughed and kissed him again, smoothing his hair away from her face, giving into his request. "I love you. Were you actually worried that I didn't?"

"No, no I really wasn't it. It's just nice to actually hear it."

"Don't I know it though?"

Jane laughed this time. "I guess you do. I'm sorry for making you wait so long to hear it."

"Me too," Lisbon replied. "Now come on, let's try and get some sleep."

Jane didn't need to be told twice, he cuddled into her and held her as close as possible, allowing her gentle breathing to lull him off to sleep.

They woke up early the next morning, refreshed and ready to start their day. The clouds from the day before were still looming over them, but the sunshine was lurking close by, ready to steal the darkness away from them and give them a new hope.

As Lisbon brushed her teeth and tried to make her hair presentable, she guessed that was what loving somebody looked like. Even when there were the worst possible things happening in the world, there was still a glimmer of happiness and hope. She pulled her hair back into a tight ponytail and she prayed a prayer for the family that had lost their daughter. . . she prayed they wouldn't lose each other in the process of grieving.

And she thanked God for sending Jane to her because if it hadn't been for him, then she wouldn't have known what it was like to have somebody to get through the tough times with. If it hadn't been for him, she would have never gotten to experience what true love really was.

It was something she was thankful that she didn't have to miss out on.

_The End_

Author's Note:

And there is the end of my first story in this series. I hope you enjoyed it; I'm looking forward to your feedback! If you have anything to say comment in the box below, I don't bite.

Love,

Holly, 5/29/2014_

P.S

Cover art is on it's way!