A/N: A million apologies for the long delay. I really have no excuse except for writer's block. I really do intend to finish this story. I have lots of stuff yet!
Disclaimer: The Mentalist is not mine. Title and lyrics belong to Josh Groban/whoever writes his songs…
Xxx
Chapter 8: To Where You Are
Fly me up to where you are
Beyond a distant star
I wish upon tonight
To see you smile
xxx
The night before the wedding, Lisbon and Jane stay in the honeymoon suite at a hotel near the beach where the ceremony will be held (the same beach, in fact, that they got engaged on).
"You know," he says as they lounge on the balcony, "some people say it's bad luck for the groom to see the bride on the wedding day. So they spend the night before apart."
"I'm not worried," she says lazily. "I'm already marrying you—I must be maxed out on bad luck by now."
"Must be," he says. "So. Are you nervous about tomorrow?"
She shrugs. "A little." A lot. "You?"
"Not really. I mean, I've done this before." As he says the words his eyes cloud. Her chest tightens and she sets down her Champagne glass (that, in actuality, contains sparkling cider) in order to climb into his lap.
"I don't expect you to forget them," she says quietly. "You know that, right? They were your family and you loved them. Us getting married can't change that." (Even if a selfish part of her wants it to…)
"I know," he says, sighing softly. "You're too good to me."
"Probably," she teases. He laughs and presses a kiss to her hair.
"Anyway, as for the nerves," he says, "just remember—all that matters is you and me. The dress, the vows, the guests…they don't matter. Just you and me."
"You and me," she echoes. "I like that."
"Yeah," he agrees. "Me, too."
Xxx
"Oh, Lisbon," Grace breathes as she helps Lisbon step into the wedding dress. "You look beautiful."
Blushing, Lisbon turns to face the mirror. She is (she has to admit) pleased with her appearance.Grace has arranged her hair into a mass of curls and swept it back from her face with flowers. For once her makeup is flawless. She actually thinks she looks pretty (beautiful even).
Grace is beaming. "Do you have your something old, something new, something borrowed and something blue?" she asks eagerly.
"Almost. The dress is new, obviously. The flowers in my hair are blue. The necklace," she touches the glittering diamond at her throat, "was my mom's, so it's old. I don't have anything borrowed."
Grace grins. "I thought you might say that." She reaches into her purse and produces a small box. "Here. Your something borrowed."
Curious, Lisbon opens the box. Inside is a (stunning) diamond bracelet. "Oh, my God," she says. "It's beautiful, Grace."
Grace takes her wrist to fasten the bracelet. "I got it for my sixteenth birthday. My siblings pooled together to buy it." She laughs slightly. "I think our parents might've helped out a little, looking back on it."
"It's beautiful," Lisbon repeats, awed. "Are you sure you want me to wear this? It must be very special to you."
"Positive. And, yes, it is special. But it's not every day my best friend gets married."
Lisbon smiles at her, touched. "Thank you," she murmurs. Grace squeezes her hand.
"Are you ready?" she asks. "It's almost time."
Xxx
When they arrive at the (fairly) secluded section of beach where the wedding is to take place, they find her brothers, Rigsby, and Cho waiting beside a row of trees. The guys all stop and stare as Lisbon and Grace approach.
"Wow, boss, you look great," Rigsby says, wide eyed (like it's a surprise or something).
"Don't sound so shocked," Grace chides (as though reading Lisbon's thoughts). Rigsby blushes.
"I, uh, I didn't…I mean…" He sighs. "You look really beautiful, Lisbon."
Lisbon chuckles. "Thanks," she says, glancing around. "Where's Jane?"
"Already by the water," Cho reports. "We're gonna join him in a second. When it's time, you'll just follow the path onto the beach." To Lisbon's surprise, he kisses her cheek quickly. "You look beautiful," he says. "Good luck."
She smiles as they disappear through the trees. Her brothers are gaping at her.
"Oh, Tessa," Bryan says. "You look amazing. I can't believe my big sister's getting married."
Lisbon blushes, aware of Grace slipping unobtrusively away. She has to smile at her friend's attempt to give them privacy. The other woman is nothing if not (sometimes painfully) sensitive.
"We're really happy for you sis," Jason says. "Patrick seems like a great guy and he obviously loves you a lot."
"And you deserve it," Bryan adds. At her (admittedly) surprised look, he laughs softly. "I know we've had our differences," he says, glancing at his brother, "all of us. But I love you and I'm really happy for you."
"Me, too," Jason agrees.
"And Tommy…"Bryan trails off (awkwardly, painfully). "Tommy's misguided. But he loves you, too."
Jason nods but his expression is clouded. And suddenly Lisbon realizes that he knows. Startled, she grabs his hand. He squeezes tightly. Neither says a word—not now anyway.
Bryan glances at his watch. "It's time," he observes. "Ready?" At Lisbon's nod, he sweeps her into a hug and kisses her cheek. "Let's do this," he says, signaling Grace.
Grace hurries back over, beaming. "Ready, boss?" she asks. Lisbon snorts.
"You're my maid of honor," she says. "I think in this situation you can call me Teresa."
Grace blushes and hugs her. "Congratulations…Teresa," she says. "Are you ready?"
"Very."
Grace grins and turns to head down the aisle. Lisbon glances at her brothers, who each take one of her arms. Her heart is pounding as they move through the trees but as soon as she lays eyes on Jane, everything else melts away.
You and me, he told her. It's all about you and me.
And she looks at him, holding his gaze as her brothers lead her toward him. Before she knows it, they've stopped and she and Jane are face to face. Before he releases her, Bryan leans forward.
"Take care of her," he says in a low (and mildly threatening) voice. Jane nods and smiles as he takes her hand and her brothers join the other guests—just Hightower and her family, Minelli and his, and a few other colleagues from the CBI.
Jane is beaming as the justice of the peace welcomes everyone and begins the ceremony. It is all a blur to Lisbon until the vows—the part she's been most nervous about. Jane is beaming (radiantly) as he takes her hands in his.
"Teresa," he says. His voice is low and earnest (sexy…). There's so much love in it and all he's said is her name.
She smiles at him and his grip on her hands tightens.
"Teresa," he repeats. "I love you. Against all odds, we love each other. You loved me even when it was difficult, even when it hurt. When it would have been easier to give up, you didn't. And you saved me. You saved me from of lifetime of anger and bitterness and regret. And you did it all by loving me."
She nods, tears gathering in her eyes. Her vision blurs as he continues.
"I can't promise that it'll always be easy. Sometimes it'll be hard. But I promise that no matter what, even when life is stacked up against us and it seems impossible to push through, that I'll love you. I'll never stop loving you and I'll never, ever leave. I promise to always put you first—you and our baby—I promise to put you ahead of everything else because I love you more than anything in the world. I promise that we'll never have to wait and hope for someday because someday will always be right now."
It's obvious he is finished and she drops one of his hands to wipe her eyes as he slides her ring onto her finger.
"Patrick," she says. "I think I loved you long before I trusted you."
His lips quirk into a smile and he nods his head. She smiles back before continuing.
"I tried not to trust you. I tried not to let you in. But you managed to worm your way into my heart—and into my life. And now…now that's the only place I want you. Here. With me. And I promise to hang on tight and not let go. I promise not to run, even when it's hard. Even when ghosts of the past come back to haunt us, I'm not going anywhere. I promise to never let the darkness win. And I promise to love you…and to trust you…for as long as I live."
With a shaking hand, she takes his ring from Rigsby and slides it onto his finger. He smiles at her before turning back to the justice of the peace, who clears his throat.
"Do you, Patrick, take Teresa to be your lawfully wedded wife?"
Jane beams. "I do," he says confidently.
"And do you, Teresa, take Patrick to be your lawfully wedded husband?"
"I do," she says. Her voice (amazingly, astonishingly) does not waver.
"By the power vested in me by the state of California, I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss the bride."
They are the words Lisbon has been waiting for. Amid the applause of their friends, Jane kisses her deeply. She can feel him smiling against her lips.
"I love you," he murmurs. She links her arm with his as they turn to recess down the aisle.
"I love you, too," she says.
Xxx
Hours later she winds her arms around his neck as she dances in his arms.
"Remember the first time we ever danced?" he asks. She laughs softly.
"You kept bothering me the whole time about what instrument I played."
"You never did tell," he muses. "Care to share now?"
"Nope."
"Can I guess?" he asks. She rolls her eyes.
"Like I could stop you."
Grinning, he begins firing off guesses. She's still doing her best to sidestep him when Jason taps his arm.
"May I cut in?" he asks.
"Please do," she says before her new husband can answer.
"Well then," he says. "I can see when I'm not wanted." With that, he winks, kisses her forehead, and lopes off toward the bar, probably to annoy Grace, who is standing there talking to Hightower.
"You look happy," Jason observes as they begin to step in time to the music.
"I am," she agrees. He smiles.
"Good. And about before…I wasn't going to mention Tommy at all. I know it's a sore spot."
She shrugs (unconvincingly). "It's okay." She studies him carefully. "You know, don't you," she says quietly.
He nods, eyes clouding.
"How? Did Tommy tell you?"
"No. That night…" He trails off, clears his throat. "I had a bad dream and I wanted to go to your room. The door was locked and I heard you crying. I was confused but I went back to my room. I saw him coming out a little later."
"And you figured out?" she says skeptically, still keeping her voice low. "You were eight years old."
"Not then," he admits. "But later. I grew up eventually, Tessa, and I'm not stupid." His gaze is fierce as he looks at her. "Why didn't you tell anyone?"
She hesitates. "You," she admits finally. "I wanted us to stay together. And they were good to you."
"They were," he agrees. "But damn it, Tessa."
She lifts a hand and presses a finger to his lips. "Shhh," she urges. "Let's not talk about it now. I got married today and I'm really, really happy."
"Finally," he says.
"Finally I'm married or finally I'm happy?" she asks, arching an eyebrow. It's a relief to leave the seriousness behind and tease him a little.
"Both," he teases, earning a smack on the arm. He laughs. "I'm teasing you. But seriously, Tess. I'm really glad you're happy. You deserve it."
"Thanks," she says. "And thanks for being here. It means a lot."
"Wouldn't miss it," he assures her. "Now come on. Let's get you back to that husband of yours. He's already looking lonely."
"Which means he'll be up to no good momentarily," she says, linking her arm through his. They're halfway across the room when they're intercepted by Grace.
"Everyone wants to know if you're going to toss the bouquet," she says. Lisbon raises an eyebrow.
"You're the only single woman here, Grace," she reminds her friend. "Why don't I just give it to you?"
"Sounds reasonable," Grace says with a smile. Her expression turns mischievous. "We can let Cho and Rigsby and your brothers fight over the garter."
"Don't give them any ideas," Lisbon says dryly, handing over the bouquet. She doesn't miss the way the younger agent's gaze immediately travels to Rigsby, the longing evident in her eyes. Gently, she squeezes her hand. Seeming to notice the tension, Jason steps forward.
"Care to dance?" he asks Grace, holding out his hand. She smiles (almost too) brightly.
"Sure," she says, shooting a glance at Lisbon, who nods.
"Behave," she tells her brother. He winks at her and pulls Grace out onto the dance floor. Lisbon watches them for a moment before moving to join Jane at the bar. As she sidles up beside him, he kisses the top of her head.
"Enjoying your wedding, my dear?" he asks. She nods, wrapping her arms around him.
"Yeah," she says quietly. "It's really, really nice."
Xxx
When it is time to say goodbye to their guests, Lisbon is exhausted. All she wants is to crawl into bed—and not even for wedding-night sex.
"Have a good honeymoon," Hightower says, actually giving her a brief (albeit awkward) hug. "See you when you get back."
"Thanks," Lisbon says.
"And thank you for coming," Jane adds as she walks away. Minelli and his family are the next to leave and then Lisbon's brothers are standing in front of her.
"You're flying out early tomorrow?" she asks.
"Yeah," Bryan says. "Back to real life."
She smiles, blinking back a few tears. "Thank you so much for coming. It really meant a lot to me," she says quietly.
Bryan hugs her tightly. "We wouldn't have missed it," he assures her.
"Yeah," Jason agrees. "Our big sister got married. That doesn't happen every day." He hugs her, too, and kisses her cheek. "Congratulations, Tessa."
"And keep in touch," Bryan adds. "We want to meet this niece or nephew of ours."
"Will do," she promises.
"Take care of her," Bryan says to Jane as he shakes his hand. Jane nods seriously, ignoring his wife's (slightly murderous) look.
"I certainly will," he says. "You can count on that. Thanks for coming, guys."
Both nod, hug their sister once more, and depart.
Now it is only Lisbon, Jane, and the team.
"Thank you guys," Lisbon says sincerely. "For everything."
They nod, knowing what she means.
"Congratulations," Rigsby says. "You two deserve this." He grins. "Now go enjoy your honeymoon!"
Everyone laughs as the guys both embrace Lisbon and shake Jane's hand, clapping him on the back. As Lisbon turns to Grace, she quickly, unfastens the bracelet from around her wrist.
"Thank you so much for lending it to me," she says, placing it in Grace's hand. "Really…it meant a lot to me."
"I know," Grace says quietly. "Now go! Enjoy your honeymoon. And no worrying about work while you're gone."
"Right," Cho agrees. "We'll see you when you get back."
"See you then," Lisbon says. She leans into Jane's arms and they watch their friends leave together. Grace is carrying Lisbon's bouquet and Rigsby is flipping the garter in his hands.
"I'm not sure how I feel about Rigsby possessing something that was under your dress," Jane remarks. Lisbon laughs softly.
"I think it'll be okay," she says. "Besides, it made Grace happy."
"Yeah," he agrees. "Those two will work out."
"You think, psychic boy?"
"Yup." He pulls her against him, arms locking around her waist. "Are you happy, my dear?"
Sighing softly, she leans her head on his chest, breathing in his scent.
"So happy," she murmurs. "You have no idea."
Xxx
A/N 2: Again, soooooooo sorry for the delay. But Jane and Lisbon are married! Yay!
