Okay, so here's the first of the tags, which were supposed to be SHORT. Why is this one about 3000 words then, you might ask? I DON'T KNOW. It just is.

Anyway, I hope you enjoy it, because this scene needed to get written (it DID). And it didn't belong as part of the 3.10 post-ep. Hence the tag.

To yaba, because I have an odd feeling she'll like this one. Just a guess though. Hee.

xxxxx

3.10 TAG: Tidings of Comfort and Joy

xxxxx

Jane knocked on her front door, which was a bad idea.

He knew it was a bad idea.

Okay, no it wasn't. Not really. It wasn't a bad idea. It was just a different idea. That was all. And one he didn't know how she would react to.

The only reason his mind had actually decided it might be a bad idea certainly wasn't because he was nervous. That was a ridiculous notion.

Really, she might not even be home. She had things to do with her time after all. She was flying east the next morning.

Then he heard the door start to open.

Because of course she was home (as he'd known she would be).

"Hey Jane," Lisbon said with a small smile. "What're you doing here?"

He smiled back and held out a package in his right hand. "You did tell me once that you'd never turn cookies away."

Lisbon bit her lip in pleasure and stepped aside so he could come inside. After all, cookies weren't the only thing she was unlikely to ever turn away when they showed up on her doorstep.

"I'll put the kettle on for tea," was all she said.

Jane nodded and followed her in, trying not to fidget with the two boxes he was holding.

Helpfully, he was distracted by her apartment.

After filling her kettle, Lisbon turned to find her consultant beaming at her. "What?" she asked smirking back at him.

Jane gestured towards the corner of her living room. "I see you have a new addition."

Lisbon instinctively looked in the direction he was indicating. Her eyes widened, ""Yeah, well, last time you were here you wouldn't stop complaining about the lack of decorations," she muttered a little defensively.

Jane grinned as he examined the little two-foot tree standing in the corner. She'd even dug a string of lights and some mismatched bulbs out of somewhere (the decorations certainly weren't new). "It suits the place, Lisbon," he told her. "Glad to see you followed my advice and found yourself a little tree in need of a good home. How do you like it?"

"It drops needles all over my floor," she retorted. "You didn't mention that when you were discussing my dire need of decorations."

In other words she loved it, Jane thought with a nod. He'd figured as much. In fact, he'd bet that Lisbon was probably already wondering how long she could keep her little tree up after the holidays were over. "It matches the garlands you draped over the unpacked boxes," he said cheerfully. "Very festive." And oddly appropriate too, he thought to himself.

"I told you I usually put up decorations," Lisbon reminded him testily.

"Yes, you did," Jane agreed. "But you haven't put up much, if anything, recently. Last year you didn't have anything up at all, and this year I wouldn't be surprised if you were thinking of doing the same before I brought it up."

"Oh, shut up and give me my cookies," Lisbon grumbled.

Jane grinned and handed her the first of his two boxes.

Lisbon took it. "Shortbread again," she said with a smirk as she removed the seasonal packaging.

"They're festive," he said, defending his choice.

"Yeah," she agreed with a more genuine smile. Then her expression turned confused. "What's that?" she asked, pointing to the box he was still holding.

Jane looked down at the box wrapped in shiny red paper. Oh yeah. He'd almost forgotten about that. Suddenly he felt the instinct to fidget again. Instead, he shrugged with exaggerated nonchalance, "Oh this?"

"Yes Jane, that" Lisbon replied dryly with an odd look in her eye.

He shrugged again. "It's nothing," he assured her quickly. "Just something I saw the other day that I thought… Well, here," he finished awkwardly as he handed her the box. All of which was a lie of course. He'd spent an embarrassing amount of time deciding what to buy her, since renting another pony (or anything like it) wasn't what he'd been looking for (even though over-the-top was really the only type of gift he was good at picking out). And then, he'd spent even longer deciding when to give it to her, a decision made all the more difficult by the fact that Lisbon would be out of town on Christmas day itself.

Lisbon took the box from him with an expression that was simultaneously pleased and doubtful. Jane knew she didn't believe his story about the gift being a spur of the moment thing. He'd known she wouldn't believe that when he'd bought it. After all, they'd never exchanged Christmas gifts before now. Add that to the fact that his present coincided with the fact that they'd been getting closer over the past six months….

He'd… well… He'd just wanted to buy her something.

And he wasn't quite sure how she'd react to that.

Oh, he was sure Lisbon wouldn't toss the box back at his head, or out the window, or anything like that, and she'd almost certainly tell him a gift wasn't necessary, but he was surprised by how much he wanted her to like his foolish little gift. He'd been thisclose to simply leaving it on her desk for her to find, but something had stopped him.

Jane could see he'd surprised her, but she didn't look unhappy. He watched her push a stray piece of hair behind her ear. Was she nervous? Why?

"You didn't have to do this, Jane," she said softly as she started picking at the corners of the paper.

He smiled affectionately at her predictability. For some reason gifts and compliments were always unexpected to his Lisbon. "I know I didn't have to, Lisbon," he told her as she slowly unwrapped the gift. "It's not a big deal, just a little thing I happened to see."

She gasped softly as she pulled his gift out of its box. "Oh, it's beautiful," she murmured.

He smiled as he watched her face intently. She did like it. She really liked it. Well… good. That was good. That was what he'd wanted.

Lisbon was still sitting on her couch, turning the snow globe over in her hands. She grinned as she watched the sparkling snow swirl around the Christmas tree inside of it. "Why?" she asked, looking up at him with shining eyes.

Jane felt his smile widen. "You didn't have any decorations; I wanted to help," he told her. "And I bought it before I knew about your little needle-dropping friend over there."

"Right," she agreed, turning her attention back to the snow-globe and the remarkably detailed scene therein. "There's even a little horse-drawn sleigh in here," she said delightedly as she shook the ball again to set the snowflakes flying.

"Do you miss it?" Jane asked her, still watching her face.

"Miss what?" Lisbon wondered, turning her attention back to him.

"The snow," he clarified.

She shrugged. "Sometimes," she admitted.

He raised his eyebrows.

"Yeah," she admitted. "I mean, not the traffic problems, or the shoveling, but… It's pretty you know?"

He nodded. He'd thought as much. Because much as she tried to hide it, Teresa Lisbon still searched for magic. There were very few things more magical than snow on Christmas morning.

And the expression on her face at that moment was reminding him why he'd absolutely refused to get her anything that was even remotely practical, like that new datebook she probably needed. While she'd have no doubt appreciated it, it wouldn't have been what she wanted. Not really.

"Jane, thank you," she said, looking back at him.

He smiled, "Of course. I mean, it's not a big deal," he babbled. "Like I said, I just saw it and I thought you'd like it..."

Lisbon stood up after gently setting the snow globe down on her coffee table. Then, after placing a hand briefly on his arm and sending him another self-conscious smile, she walked over to her little tree, fished a present out of the back corner and awkwardly held it out to him.

"I was going to wait until I got back to give this to you," she said, biting her lip.

Jane's smile turned boyish. "Teresa, you didn't have to," he assured her. He certainly hadn't expected her to get him anything in return. That wasn't why he'd bought her a present. Not that he was upset that she'd apparently felt the urge to reciprocate.

"Just like you didn't have to," Lisbon reminded him playfully.

He grinned at her, before ripping into his gift. He let out a huff of amusement. "A bottle of whiskey? Really Teresa?" he asked.

She smirked. "You did say that you enjoyed the experience of being drunk," she reminded him.

He couldn't deny that; he had. His mind flashed back to the last evening he'd spent in her apartment, completely drunk out of his mind. While she'd taken care of him, with far more care than anyone else ever would have. "Does that mean that if I decide to make a dent in this then I can sleep on your couch again?" he joked.

Her eyes sparkled at him; after all, a drunk Jane had a certain appeal. He was less guarded, more tactile, and a part of her liked that. "Sure," she said dryly. "But maybe try not to drink half the bottle this time."

"Oh, pretty sure it was over half last time," Jane replied cheerfully. "But I promise to drink responsibly, Teresa," he assured her.

"Thank you," she whispered, knowing why he'd said it. Then she shook herself slightly, "I know it's not a very exciting gift…" She said, glancing reflexively at her snow globe.

Jane frowned. No. She didn't get to do that. She wasn't allowed to compare their gifts, especially if she was going to think that his was somehow better than hers. He hadn't been expecting her to get him anything. The fact that she had was enough for him.

He took a step towards her, set the whiskey on the table and took her hand. "It's the thought that counts," he assured her gently. "And it's been a while since I've gotten a non-Secret-Santa-related gift."

She turned back towards him, trying to ignore the fact that he was drawing patterns against her wrist with his thumb, not to mention the fact that he had yet again invaded her personal space (this time while they were both sober. "Patrick…" she whispered.

"Yes?" he asked, wondering what exactly he thought he was doing, really what either of them were doing.

But he never got to hear what she was going to say thanks to a whistling kettle.

"I should go make the tea," Lisbon said walking quickly towards the kitchen.

"Need help?" he asked, shoving his hands in his pockets, trying to convince himself he was pleased by the interruption (since half the reason he'd dropped by in the first place was to have tea and cookies).

"I've got it," Lisbon assured him firmly in a tone that told him she wouldn't appreciate company in her kitchen at the moment. "Make yourself comfortable," she all but ordered.

Jane dropped into one her couch and decided to busy himself with opening the shortbread.

A half a minute later Lisbon returned with two mugs. She handed him one with a smile, though she didn't quite meet his eyes.

Jane sighed internally. Great. Now he'd made her uncomfortable. He knew he should've just left the present on her desk. He scowled at the mug in his hands, suddenly irritated at the world.

The brand new mug in his hands. Jane's eyes narrowed. The last time he'd made tea in her apartment he hadn't noticed a teal mug in Lisbon's cupboard. He turned the mug around in his hands slowly, noticing the writing on the far side for the first time.

'Irritating Consultant.'

Jane turned towards the other end of the couch, where Lisbon blowing on her tea and staring determinedly at her little Christmas tree.

He stared at her just as determinedly (if more affectionately).

"I didn't get a chance to wrap it," she said suddenly.

"Ah."

"And I figured," she added self-consciously, "Since you seem to have a favourite mug at the CBI, and you seem to show up at my door every couple of weeks or so…" She let her explanation trail off.

Jane set his tea down on the coffee table, leaned over and brushed his lips against her temple. He heard (and ignored) her quick little gasp. "Thank you Teresa," he said tenderly as he moved back to his end up the couch, and retrieved his cup, his special cup. The one she'd bought him.

"You're welcome," she replied hoarsely.

"Have some shortbread," he added in more normal tone of voice, offering her the box.

Her lips quirked up, as she turned and took a cookie, "Thanks."

"So," Jane asked neutrally. "You packed yet?"

"Pretty much," Lisbon agreed. "I still have to put some of the gifts in my suitcase, but I wanted to leave them under the tree a little while longer."

Jane nodded. "You excited to see your brothers?" he asked.

She grinned. "Yeah, I am. I haven't seen my nieces and nephews in over a year now. It should be nice, even if I'm not seeing all of my brothers all at once," she added a little sadly.

"Still, at least you'll get to see them all," Jane reminded her, finding himself surprisingly irritated by the touch of unhappiness marring her Christmas plans. "And I bet they're excited to see their big sister and their aunt."

"Yeah," she agreed. "They already have snow up there too."

"I'm glad." He was. She seriously deserved a vacation.

Lisbon smiled at him. "What about you?" she asked hopefully. "Any Christmas plans?"

Jane smiled softly. "Not really," he admitted, knowing she'd be worrying wishing there was something he could say to put her mind at ease, but who would he spend the holidays with? The only person he'd even consider being festive with was flying halfway across the country the next morning. "Nothing too exciting going on, pretty much a typical day for me."

"Jane…" she said sadly.

"Don't worry about me, Teresa," he told her cheerfully in an attempt to reassure her. He knew she was feeling guilty about leaving him all alone. While part of him liked that she worried, he really didn't want her to feel badly; she should go see her family. They must be missing her. How could they not? "I'm sure I'll figure out something to do. Maybe I'll follow your usual example and spend the day watching the Christmas specials on TV."

"Some of them are pretty great," Lisbon admitted.

"They are," he agreed. "So you're not allowed to worry about me during your holidays. I was all but ordered to take the time off almost as soon as you put in your request for a vacation, so you don't need to be concerned about me wreaking havoc at work while you're gone. I'm sure I'll spend Christmas day being as lazy and self-indulgent as possible." He was almost certain he'd find some silly thing or other to entertain himself, distract himself from the fact that he would be alone, as usual. He was definitely easily distracted when he wanted to be.

"Okay," she agreed slowly.

"Seriously Teresa," he assured her. "I promise to relax," which was really just code for he promised not to go hole himself up in the attic and obsess over a serial killer. If she ever got wind of it (and she probably would, somehow; personally Jane suspected that one of the security guards had a little bit of a crush on her), she'd spend the next week staring at him in a disappointed sort of concern, which would be tiresome. Besides, he was still no further on the Red John case, in spite of Minelli's secretly acquired suspect list, which he could comfortably brood over in his own apartment if he wanted to.

"You're sure you'll be okay?" Lisbon asked dubiously.

Jane chuckled. Teresa Lisbon, a woman who thought the world would fall apart if she went on vacation for five days (though, had he not been taking time off as well she might have been right; there was definitely a reason Madeleine had encouraged him to go on vacation at the same time she had). "I'm sure," he assured her. "I am capable of keeping myself out of trouble without you."

She scoffed.

"And you deserve a break," he repeated. "Do try and relax would you, dear?"

Lisbon's amused irritation turned into a more genuine scowl.

Jane smirked. "Don't pout; we both know you basically need to be ordered to take a vacation. Here, have some more shortbread."

She sighed, but she took another cookie.

"I will miss you though," he admitted softly.

She smiled, glancing at her snow globe. "Yeah."

"Merry Christmas Teresa."

"Merry Christmas Patrick."

After that, they lapsed into a comfortable silence. Jane let himself relax into her couch and drink his tea in his friend's festively decorated apartment.

Two days later, on Christmas day, Jane was puttering around his apartment half-listening to the Christmas special playing in the background and trying very hard not to be disappointed by the fact that the teacup he was currently using was exactly the same as all the others in the set.

Then, when she called him that evening, just after they'd finished dinner at her brother's house, Jane tried to pretend that it wasn't the best part of his day.

And, as he listened to her tell him all about her Christmas and he heard the sounds of her family behind her (including a nearly-not-child-censored-order to "Shut… Be quiet James!" from the woman on the other end of the phone), he tried to pretend that he didn't desperately wish he was there with her.

xxxxx

The end

See? Tag was necessary. They needed to exchange Christmas gifts in this series. Obviously.