Disclaimer: If you think I own the mentalist you must be incredibly stupid! Remember to review! PLEASE!
I awoke, in the middle of the night, to a quite sobbing coming from the bathroom. I walked past the living room seeing Jane and Zoe were still in the same position, I pulled a blanket over them before making my way to the bathroom. Ashton sat on the floor crying.
"Ash, Sweetheart, what's wrong?" I asked pulling her into my arms.
"Aunt Tess, please don't ever leave us. Mom ran off with some guy and Daddy went to war. If something happens to you, we'll have to go to foster care and you know they'll split us up. I'm trying to be brave for the littler kids, but I'm scared, Aunt Tess," the crying girl said in one breath.
"Oh, Honey, I would never leave you guys." I rubbed her back soothingly.
"Promise?" she asked.
"Promise," I confirmed, " now, you should get back to bed." Standing I pulled her up with me.
"Aunt Tess?"
"Yeah?"
"I like Jane."
I smiled. "Me too." We walked back to the living room where everyone looked peaceful. It was kind of a given that everyone would just sleep in there tonight.
Jane, Zoe, and Kinley took up the couch, while Kyle looked content on the floor. I made room for us on the loveseat opposite the couch. Both of us fell asleep quickly.
The first thing I noticed in the morning was Jane gone from his spot on the couch, while the kids were still sprawled everywhere.
"Jane?" I called, quietly, moving from my spot beside Ashton. No answer from Jane. I made my way to the kitchen where I saw Jane making breakfast. "Jane?" I repeated.
He turned. "Morning, Lisbon."
"Umm...morning...you cook?" I sounded shocked.
He chuckled. "Yes." We didn't get to say much else because Ashton walked in rubbing her eyes. She sat at the table, so, I took a seat next to her.
"Are you okay?" I whispered, not loud enough for Jane to hear.
"Yeah." There was no doubt in what we were talking about.
The next kid to come in was Zoe, who took seat on my lap.
Soon the kitchen was infested with kids, all around the table. Jane had placed plates of food on the table and everyone was happily munching away.
"So," I started, "I was thinking we would go shopping for furniture today." I remembered last time I saw them I'd let them paint their rooms and the paint still looked like it had just dried yesterday, but the furniture desperately needed an update.
"Oh, my god. Thank you, Aunt Tess." Ashton ran and hugged me.
"Can Jane go?" Zoe asked, looking up at me with big blue eyes.
"Sure," I said wanting him to go just as much. I looked at him. "Do you want to go?"
"Sounds great," he answered.
Thirty minutes later everyone had eaten and was piling into my car.
In a matter of minutes we were parked in front of Sacremento home furnishings (A/N: idk if this is a real place...I just made something up), the closest furniture store to where I lived.
The realization hit me that I would have to buy furniture for four rooms...oh, well I definitely had enough money, but I'd most likely have to have them deliver the furniture.
It was after we'd chose Ashton's and Kyle's bed that Jane had gotten a phone call pulling him away to a corner of the store.
Minutes later he returned with a look on his face that spelled trouble.
He confirmed this s when he said, "so, Lisbon, how would you feel about me moving into one of the rooms of your house for a few weeks?"
"What room? They're all taken up by the kids."
"Fine, the couch."
"May I ask why?"
"My landlord just called called and said there was no central air in my building. Please?"
I sighed "fine."
"Thank you."
"I'm going to regret this aren't I?"
"Probably." He walked off a smile plastered to his face. I rolled my eyes as I fell into step with him.
Around noon we had picked out all of the beds and dressers, so we just needed to get the decorative items, such as bookshelves and lamps. I knew Kinley was a bit of a bookworm, so, a bookshelf would be good for her, but for now we had to eat so we picked a McDonald's close by, by we I meant the kids insisted.
After we'd ordered Jane and I picked a table close by the kids' table.
"You hate being away from work don't you?" Jane asked.
"No," I lied.
"Yes you do, I can read it on your face," he smirked.
"Whatever," I muttered.
We sat in silence eating our burgers after that. Within fifteen minutes we were all back to the furniture store, helping the kids pick out furnishings.
As we walked I was acutely aware of our arms brushing, I let my mind wonder, I wondered about whether or not he felt the same way.
Later Jane decided we had to go to his house to get his tea because I only had the 'boring' flavorless kind, he also needed some clothes.
Soon enough we were opening Jane's door.
"Gosh, it's hot in here, Jane," I complained.
"That's what tends to happen when central air goes out."
"Smartass," I mumbled so the kids wouldn't hear, but from the look on his face he definitely heard.
"I'll help you get your clothes," I told him. "Hey guys could you get his 'exciting' flavored tea?" I asked using air quotes.
"It's in the cabinet," he called as I walked up with him to his room. When I walked in his room I made sure not to look at the smiley face.
Sileence enveloped the room before we heard a noise on the stairs.
"Do you want any-" The sentence stopped short when all the kids entered. It was Ashton who spoke. Zoe let out a scream hiding behind Kyle. I ran around to where she was screaming, the gun I always carried in hand. I looked around and saw the kids staring at the big, red smiley face. Sighing, I looked at Jane. He nodded that it was time to tell the kids.
"Come on we need to talk," I told them.
We walked to the living room, where we all sat either on the couch or on the floor.
"Several years ago," I started unaware that Jane's hand was in mine, "a very bad man killed Jane's wife and daughter and left the smiley face there."
"What he draw the smiley face with?" Zoe asked. Damn! The one question I hoped she wouldn't ask.
"Paint," I lied.
"Oh. I sowwy, Jane." Zoe wrapped her tiny arms around Jane.
"You mean you had a wife and daughter?" Kyle asked the obvious.
"Yes." Jane nodded. All the kids looked shocked and if I wasn't mistaken a little sad. "Look, we should just get my stuff and get to your aunt's house." Jane was the kind of person who almost never cried, but right then he looked like he was holding back tears. The kids went back up the stairs, but before following them I wrapped my arms around Jane in a hug, which, he instantly responded to.
"It's alright," I murmured before breaking the hug.
"I know," I whispered , not convincing me one bit. We climbed the stairs and entered the room moments later.
"Finally! We thought you'd never get here!" Kinley exaggerated.
"Let's just help Jane pack some things," I told them.
By 7:00 we'd finished and were heading to my house for dinner then I promised the kids we'd watch a movie.
So, by 7:30 were eating pizza in front of the movie Dear John which Kyle was badly out numbered in the vote. I mean I guess three girls against one boy is kind of unfair, but I wasn't really up to an argument. Nonetheless, Kyle sat through the whole movie not making a sound. Tons of faces? Yes, but not one face from him.
I sat by Jane laying my head on his shoulder subconsciously, though he didn't seem to mind.
Zoe was asleep halfway into the movie.
By the time the movie was over everyone felt exhausted aand ready for bed.
Jane scooped Zoe into his arms and took her to her room, coming back a second later.
"I guess I'll get to the couch," he stated.
"No," I heard myself say.
He seemed throughly confused by this. "What?"
"I don't want you on the couch, we're both adults, we can handle the same bed."
"You sure?"
"Yes, just don't question it or I'll make you get outside."
"Okay." He put his hands up in a surrendering movement and followed me to the bedroom.
I made him turn around while I changed into my only night clothes, a big T-shirt.
Upon turning back he looked me up and down, then climbed into my bed.
I tossed and turned a while before drifting into a peaceful sleep.
Hey guys, idk when I'll be able to UD cuz I have a little thing called writer's block and let me tell you...it sucks!
REVIEW! I'll try to come up with something to write REALLY soon!