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Author's Note:

As I edit this chapter, I'm listening to "A Step to Far" from the Broadway play Aida. It kind of makes me think of Jane and Lisbon, I don't know why. . . it's such a sad song, and Aida is such a sad story line. But I can't always help the songs that make me think of them. Feel free to listen to it and make your own judgements!

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Chapter 9

Annie gave Damon a push towards the door. "Go on Dame, knock."

"You do it!" Damon replied, pushing her back. "He knows you better than he knows me!"

Annie's sigh echoed that of her aunt Teresa's. "Be a man."

"You be a man!" Damon retorted.

The door flew open and a puzzled Jane peeked out of his apartment. "Annie, Damon, I thought I heard your voices. . . what are you two doing here?"

"We've come back to get you back together with our aunt," Damon announced.

Annie jabbed him in the ribs. "Remember what we talked about Dame? We're supposed to be—"

"Subtle, inconspicuous," he answered, turning back to Jane. "What I meant to say is—"

"Never mind," Annie said.

Jane smiled at them, amused. "Would you two like to come in?"

"Are you sure? You're not mad at us because Aunt Teresa—"

"DAMON!" Annie hissed.

"Of course I'm not angry," Jane replied. "I am curious to know how you found out where I lived."

"We stopped by the CBI," Annie said cautiously.

"That dude Bigsby—"

"Rigsby," Annie and Jane corrected at the same time.

"That dude, Rigsby told us where you lived."

"I see. . ."

Annie shrugged helplessly. "We wouldn't have done it, but Auntie Reese seems so lonely without you!"

Jane's carefully fixed smile slid off his face. "Guys, things between your aunt and I are complicated."

"It's not complicated," Annie said. "Complicated is having to take your fifteen-year-old cousin to your eighth grade dance."

"Hey! You swore never to tell anybody about that!" Damon said.

"I know you're planning on trying to get her back," Annie continued, ignoring her cousin. "I've seen the way you look at each other. . . I saw it the first time I was here. You two are meant for each other!"

Jane put a kettle of water on the stove. "Could I get you guys anything? Hot chocolate, tea. . . a phone call?"

"We're good," Annie answered for both her and Damon. "We probably shouldn't be gone too long, or our family will start to worry."

"And we don't want Aunt Reese to know we're trying to get you guys back together," Damon said.

Annie groaned and buried her face in her hands. "You are about as subtle as a blizzard Damon."

He responded with a smirk, and Jane couldn't help but smile at the teenagers. He already loved them like they were his own niece and nephew. The title of uncle had not been something he had been lucky enough to be graced with (unless Danny had a child hidden somewhere, which he highly doubted, because his brother-in-law had always been careful.)

"We're all going to midnight mass at St, Mary's tomorrow night," Annie said, breaking into his thoughts. "You can join us, I'm sure that Auntie Reese wouldn't mind. And even if she does, us kids were really looking forward to spending Christmas with you."

"St. Mary's, you say?" Jane asked.

Annie nodded. "Please. .. please come!"

"Please!" Damon chimed in, he never begged. But he had promised his younger cousins that he'd do whatever it took to get their aunt back together with Patrick Jane, and he always kept his word especially when it came to his younger cousins.

"Do you guys need a ride back to your aunt's apartment?" Jane asked, turning the stove off and reaching for his keys.

"Um. . . .are you sure?" Annie asked exchanging looks with Damon.

"Yeah man. . . our aunt's home, you know," Damon said pursing his lips together.

Jane shrugged. "I won't even get out of the car then, I'll just drop you off at the door."

"Okay," Annie agreed. "But only because it's a long walk back and Aunt Maura can be a total busybody most of the time."

"I'm surprised she hasn't started to call or text us yet," Damon muttered as he and Annie followed Jane to his Citroen.

The drive back to Lisbon's apartment was filled with small talk and laughter. It didn't mean anything and yet, it meant everything to the three passengers. Jane had never imagined that he'd have a family again, and here he was with two kids who regarded him as their uncle. . . even though his relationship with their aunt had only lasted two weeks. Even though it had all been fake (but they didn't need to know that part).

The first person to come rushing out when they arrived back at Lisbon's apartment was Lisbon herself. Relief was painted all over her features.

"Damon, Annabeth! Thank God you're okay! We were worried sick! What were you thinking going off all by yourself?"

"We just wanted to see Uncle Patrick," Damon answered easily. "We were wondering what had happened to him is all."

Lisbon turned to Jane and offered him a shy smile while he prayed that he could read something like longing or regret in her expression. But she was guarded, just like she always was when it came to him.

"I'm sorry Lisbon, I didn't know they were going to come and see me."

"I wasn't going to blame you," she said softly. "Thank you for bringing them back to us safely. I'll see you later, okay?"

He bid Damon and Annie goodbye as they exited his car, following their aunt back to her apartment without looking at him, afraid they'd give themselves away if they did. And then he remembered Lisbon's gift in his jacket pocket, he had been carrying it aroun half-tempted to return it, half-tempted to give it to her inspite of her rejection. With her standing so close, he knew exactly what he had to do.

"Lisbon!"

She turned around and looked at him wearily. "Yes Jane?"

"I wanted to give this to you," he replied, pulling the velvet case out of his pocket and extending his hand to her. "Don't open it now, wait until I'm gone, okay?"

"Jane!" Lisbon protested. "I can't take whatever this is, it wouldn't be right-"

"But I want you to have it," Jane said. "Really, I insist you take it. It was picked out for you, what you do with it afterwards is your choice entirely. Just. . . just take it, okay!"

Lisbon nodded, not knowing what else she could do, and too tired to argue with him anymore. "Thank you."

Jane returned his nod and put his car into drive. As he drove away, he glanced in his rearview mirror, and saw Lisbon was holding the ring tightly whole she watched him drive away, her mask had shattered and in its place was a inexplicable longing.

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"You love him," Noel said as she and Lisbon drank red wine and shared breadsticks at their favorite Italian restaurant.

"Yes. . ." Lisbon whispered, twisting the ring that Jane had given her hours earlier. She was wearing it on her ring finger, but for some reason it didn't fit her. She'd have to get it sized after the holidays were over.

"But when he said that he wanted to have a real relationship with you, you turned him down. Teresa Leigh Lisbon, are you insane? He's not going to be on the market forever, and you're going to have missed your chance—"

"You don't understand Noel. . . I was scared, I don't know why I was scared. But I was, and as soon as I rejected him, I regretted it. But I can't take it back. . . not now, and maybe not ever."

"Because the Lisbon pride is at stake? Suck it up Reese and go to the mountain for once! If you don't, you'll spend forever regretting it. Plus working with the man for the rest of your life won't be a walk in the park either. . . you'll have to look at him and always remember what you gave up."

"I know El!" Lisbon said. "You don't think I've been through all of that already. It keeps playing in my mind over and over again!"

Noel took a sip of wine to avoid answering. She did know that Lisbon had probably thought about all of these things, and more than once too. She had always been that way, even in first grade.

"You love him," she finally said.

Lisbon nodded. "Yes, I do."

"Then. . . you'll have to tell him."

TBC. . .

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Author's Note:

I'm not very sure if this is a cliff-hanger, or not. But it's leading up to one of my favorite conclusions EVER! Stay tuned, because we're almost finished! Tell me what you thought! Reviews equal love. Until tomorrow!

Love,

Holly December 16, 2011_