AN: Thanks for seeing this story through until the very end! Hope you all enjoy the epilogue.
Disclaimer: I don't own The Mentalist.
Whatever happens here
We remain
Four months later
"Too gauche," says Charlotte with a look of distaste.
Will nods slightly. "Yeah, too much," he agrees.
Jane gestures to the jeweler, indicating that she can put the selection away. "My girlfriend," he says, "won't want anything overstated. Simple yet elegant would be best."
The jeweler, a middle-aged woman with wise blue eyes, closes the display case. "Of course," she says. She moves down the rows of rings, leaving the more flamboyant designs behind. Jane, Will, and Charlotte follow her, and the woman gestures to the display now in front of her. "Is this more along the lines of what you were thinking?"
Charlotte nods immediately, and Jane smiles. His eyes rove across the rows as Charlotte does the same.
Six seconds later, he and Charlotte speak at the same time. "That one," they say, both pointing to a platinum band with three diamonds. The central diamond is larger, offset by the smaller stones on either side, and Jane can immediately imagine what it will look like on Lisbon's left hand.
Jane and Charlotte share a glance. She smiles softly, and he knows immediately what she's thinking.
Three diamonds—one for each member of their little family.
Charlotte turns to Will. "What do you think?" she asks.
"Perfect," he says.
The jeweler opens the case and picks up the ring carefully, handing it to Jane. He already knows it's the one, but he inspects it closer anyway then holds it out for Charlotte and Will to see.
They both nod at him, and Jane turns back to the jeweler.
"We'll take it," he says.
Charlotte gives Will a high-five, and Jane grins.
Lisbon leans into Jane, wrapping her arm around his as they stroll through the neighborhood, the setting sun behind them staining the sky a bright orange.
Though they've been in their new house for months now, they've finally unpacked the last box from the move. The small suburb just outside of Sacramento is officially their home.
Will and his parents, glad to leave Napa behind them, had ultimately decided to move to an adjacent neighborhood as well around the same time. Will and Charlotte had been equal parts nervous and excited to begin the year at a new school, but Lisbon thinks they have blossomed since the move. Charlotte had decided to take up dance lessons once again after trying out for and making her high school's dance team, and she'd persuaded Will to join show choir with her. Lisbon already has their first performance, set for early January, marked on the calendar in the kitchen.
And a week ago, Charlotte had told them during dinner that she currently had the highest grade in her biology class. Jane had groaned jokingly, noting that he needed to start hitting up casinos in order to pay for his daughter's impending medical school tuition.
It's the life Lisbon never realized she wanted.
But now that she has it, she's never letting go.
She smiles, thinking again of Charlotte. She glances over at Jane, who's already looking down at her with a soft expression.
"Is it date night for Charlotte and Will?" she asks.
When the two teenagers announced months ago that they had become a couple, Jane had taken the news much better than Lisbon expected, though she often wonders if he freaks out about this development on the inside. After all, Lisbon herself certainly has anxieties about Charlotte beginning to date, despite the fact that Will is truly one in a million as far as potential suitors go.
Jane shrugs in response to her question. "They're actually running an errand to help me out with something."
Lisbon raises an eyebrow at the vague comment but doesn't say anything, knowing that she won't be able to persuade him to tell her if he doesn't intend to.
Jane pulls her toward the neighborhood's community garden, and the red-orange from the sunset amplifies the already brilliant autumn colors of the trees around them. They set off down one of the paths, heading toward the gazebo in the center of the garden. Lisbon smiles again—the gazebo is one of her favorite places to end up after wandering around with Jane. There's something about the way the vines have climbed up and around it that makes the spot seem almost…
Magical.
When they step inside the gazebo, Jane turns toward her, reaching for her hands. Lisbon notices suddenly that he is trembling, and she looks up into his eyes, concerned.
His expression floors her—he is all emotion, intensity, and devotion, and Lisbon marvels at how far she and Jane have come.
He's allowing her to read him. She feels herself begin to shake as well, and Jane rubs his thumbs over the back of her hands.
He takes a deep breath.
"When I lost my family," Jane begins, his voice rough but somehow soft at the same time, "I closed myself off. It was easier—it was safer—that way." He shrugs. "I don't regret that decision—it kept me alive. But when I met you, I suddenly knew there was a difference between being alive and truly living." He pauses, composing himself before continuing. "The most terrifying thing I've ever done in my life was decide that I wanted to truly live. But I knew you'd be there beside me, helping me whenever I needed you, and that gave me courage."
His gaze is so bright, so brilliant, that it is difficult for Lisbon to keep holding it. But at the same time, she finds herself helpless to look away.
She squeezes his hand in encouragement.
Jane swallows nervously. "So I started opening myself up again. I opened my heart. And imagine my surprise," he says, pausing to lift her hands to his chest, "when I figured out that you'd settled there."
Lisbon attempts to smile at him, but she thinks the effect is slightly ruined by the tears beginning to run down her face.
"I love you, Lisbon," Jane says, blinking rapidly. "I love your passion, your tenacity, and your heart, and I love that you love Charlotte. You protect her like she's your own child, and I don't know if I can ever express how much that means to me. I know we already consider ourselves to be a family," he says, pausing as he reaches into his vest pocket. He drops to one knee, and Lisbon can't help but gasp, one hand going to cover her mouth, as he opens the velvet box in his hand.
"Will you do me the honor of making our family official? Teresa, will you marry me?"
Lisbon swipes at the tears around her eyes so that she can see Jane more clearly. "Yes," she breathes immediately. "Of course I will, Jane. Yes, of course."
She sees the relief in his smile and has to roll her eyes slightly—did he honestly think she would say no? But then he is kissing her, and she forgets to think for the next minute or so.
Eventually, he pulls back, and she notices for the first time a weight on her left hand.
She lays the hand on his chest, and they both look down at the ring, identical expressions of awe on their faces.
Jane catches Lisbon's eye again and points across the garden. "Smile," he says.
Lisbon gives him a confused look. "What?"
"I recruited some very special photographers to capture the occasion," he explains, pointing again.
Lisbon looks down the walkway. Sure enough, Charlotte and Will peek out from their hiding place, both holding long-range cameras. Lisbon grins broadly, turning back to Jane, and she has a funny feeling that the two teenagers have begun taking pictures again.
Jane leans down to give Lisbon another slow, sweet kiss. After a few seconds, Lisbon is the one to pull away, and she waves to Charlotte down the walkway. "Come here!" she calls. Jane takes her hand as Charlotte and Will race toward the gazebo.
She reaches out for Charlotte, who sets her camera down carefully. Lisbon moves the teenager to stand between her and Jane, and the three of them tangle their arms around each other and look at Will, smiling as he snaps the picture.
Will glances down at the screen and grins. "Perfect," he says.
And it is.