Author's Note: I'm back from the dead, of goodness.

I am so sorry that it's been so long. I'm also sorry for that train wreck of a last chapter. For those of you who were concerned- they're *not* broken up. I could never and would never do that to them. I'm aware that Lisbon overreacted, but let's blame that on her hormones, okay? (Hint, hint.)

In the meantime, I'd like to tell those of you that actually read Author's Notes that another reason I haven't been updating is because I've been going through some personal stuff that has made me come extremely close to giving up on, well… Everything. Yeah.

I'm not editing this chapter at all, so I hope there aren't any errors… Sorry it's so short.

Disclaimer: I don't own The Mentalist or The Very Hungry Caterpillar.

**This is in the way-down-the-road future!**

Family

Jane's POV

"Daddy, tell Charlie to give me back my doll!" Six year old Megan whined. Patrick Jane sighed with a fond smile on his face and his daughter pouted up at him.

"Come on, sweetheart," he lifted her into the air, "let's go save your doll."

Together, the pair made their way down the hall to the play room where a nearly four year old boy was sitting on the floor, playing with blocks and, sure enough- Megan's doll.

"Charlie, did you take Megan's doll from her?" Jane knelt down to address his son. The boy grinned up at him.

"Daddy!" he cried, reaching out to his father to be picked up.

"No, Charlie, I asked you a question," Jane told his son, though he felt a surge of affection toward the boy. "Did you take Megan's doll?"

"Yeah, but I wanna play!"

"Charlie, it's not nice to take things without asking permission. Give Megan back her doll."

Megan, who was curled up next to her father, reached out and snatched her doll away from her brother's grasp.

"Hey!" Charlie cried.

"Megan," Jane scolded. "That wasn't very nice either." Megan simply pouted and hugged her doll to her chest. Jane sighed.

"Charlie, apologize to your sister."

"No!"

"Charlie," Jane warned. The boy glared at the floor.

"Sorry, sissy."

"It's okay," Megan said cheerfully. Jane glanced down to find that her mood had completely shifted. The girl stood and skipped out of the play room, humming under her breath.

The simplicity of being a child would never cease to amaze him.

"I think this is the first time we've both had a day off at the same time since Charlie was born," Lisbon commented later that week.

"You're right!" Jane turned to look at her with a grin on his face. Lisbon chuckled; sometimes Jane's enthusiasm made her feel like she had three children instead of two.

"I don't suppose you'll want to leave the house, then?" Jane wondered aloud. She sighed, conflicted.

"I really should go grocery shopping, but I'd much rather sleep some more," Lisbon said. "After that, we could go pick Charlie up from day care and get Megan from school and go out to dinner."

Jane gazed at his wife fondly.

"You sleep, I'll shop," he told her before pressing a kiss to her lips. Lisbon hummed her approval, wrapping her arms around Jane's neck. They lay back on their bed and stayed that way for a few moments until Jane broke away.

"If we keep that up, you really will end up with three kids," Jane teased.

"Please," Lisbon snorted. "I have self-control."

"Teresa, we've been over this. Limiting yourself to throwing things at me only twice a day does not count as self-control," Jane pecked her on the lips once more before hurrying out of the room, barely avoiding the pillow that came flying his way.

"Goodnight, Megan," Jane told his daughter after pressing a kiss to her forehead. "Sweet dreams."

"G'night, daddy! G'night, mommy!" Megan giggled as she snuggled into her bed.

"Love you," Lisbon called from the doorway. Jane joined her and flicked the light switch. They walked in silence to the next room to find Charlie sitting on his bed.

"Mommy!" he cried. "Story!"

"It's bedtime, sweetie, you need to go to sleep," Jane told his son.

"I want a story," Charlie pouted. Jane looked back at his wife, a question in his eyes. She sighed, but nodded.

"Alright, what do you want me to read to you?" Jane asked.

"No, mommy!"

"I- okay, sure," Jane straightened up. He tried not to be offended that his son had just rejected him. "Teresa?"

"Of course," Lisbon took his spot without a second thought. "I'll be in in a minute. What do you want mommy to read, Charlie?"

"This one!" Charlie pulled a book from under his pillow. Jane turned away and headed back to his own room, listening to his wife's voice fondly.

"The Very Hungry Caterpillar, I like this one… In the light of the moon a little egg lay on a leaf…"

Author's Note: So, yeah. It's an update, a very strange one, but on the bright side… family!fluff. Again, sorry it's so short. I have no idea what to do with this story anymore.

I need suggestions! Please review- it inspires me to keep going.