A/N: Hey everyone! WOW I'm so blown away by the HUGE response to the last chapter! You guys are amazing oh my God. I still think I'm dreaming. Thank you so much, you have no idea what all your positive response means to me! This is incredible for a non native writer like me. I cannot thank you enough and I really hope you'll enjoy this chapter as much as the last one. I can promise you Lisbon will finally come to her senses, so there's no reason to hate me anymore ;)

I want to thank the wonderful Idan for betaing my fic - she's so amazing, seriously!

And another HUGE thank you goes to my very good friend waterbaby, who's been so kind to advertise for me in her latest oneshot! SOZ! If you haven't already (which I think you do) go and check it out and beg her to write more. I'm working on it, too ;)

Now enjoy!


(11)

Lisbon hadn't been able to sleep for more than two hours. The thoughts were racing in her mind, making it impossible for her to find the rest she really needed before her big day. So at 5 am, she got up, Marcus grumbling at the sudden loss of her warmth, and headed for the shower. One of her sister in law's friends was a hair stylist and she'd promised to come by around eight to help her with her hair and make-up.

Marcus'd told her he'd go over to Gina's hotel to get ready, because he believed it was bad luck to see the bride in her gown before the wedding. Afterward, he'd drive directly to the church to welcome the guests. The only thing she had to do besides get ready was to be at the church at exactly 11:30 when the ceremony started. So she had six and a half hours to mentally prepare herself for the wedding and push all doubts which were still clouding her mind out of her head.

She took a long shower, not bothering to blow-dry her hair. Afterward, she slipped her morning robe on and walked down into the kitchen to start the coffee maker. If she knew one thing for sure, it was that she wouldn't survive the day without a gallon of coffee.

At 7 am, she heard the house awaken. Loud music coming from upstairs was a sign Annie must have hit the shower by now. The padding of bare feet coming down the stairs told her that her brother must be awake, too. He found her sitting in the kitchen, smiling thankfully at the fresh coffee in the coffeemaker.

"Good morning sis. Big day ahead, huh?" Tommy Lisbon went over to get a cup from the cupboard. He filled it with the black liquid and turned around, looking at his sister. "I'm happy for you, Reese. Marcus is a nice guy."

"I know," she whispered. "Everything is just a bit much."

"It's gonna be okay, Reese. I'll wait in front of the church to walk you down the aisle, and if you get cold feet before we step through the door, I promise I'll drive you to the airport."

"Gee thanks. I hope that won't happen." The thing was just, she wasn't 100 percent sure.

Tommy stared at her, before he finally gave her a reassuring smile. "Look, Reese... I know this is a big step for you, but I want you to know we will always stand behind you."

"Thanks Tommy," she whispered, before she got up and wrapped her arms around her little brother. "I love you. And I'm really happy you will try to make peace with your brothers for me."

Her brother hugged her back. "Take it as my second wedding gift to you."

"Second? What's the first?" Tommy grinned at her mischievously, then took her hand to tug her with him to the living room.

"I actually wanted to give it to Annie at her wedding, but I figured maybe you could wear it first." He walked over to the side board above the tv and took a small black jewelry box out of it. "Here. I think she'd have wanted you to wear it."

Lisbon stared at the golden chain bracelet in her brother's hand. It had four charms, a cross, an anchor, a heart and a shamrock. She teared up when Tommy fastened it around her wrist, the little stones of the heart winking in the dim light of the living room.

"Where'd you get that?" Lisbon whispered, touching the charms so carefully she was afraid they might fall off. "I... I thought it was gone forever like the other things."

"That night dad threw everything out and beat you and Stan so hard you had to go to the hospital, I ran upstairs to save this box. There wasn't much inside anymore. I think dad took most of it to the pawnbroker to get money for his drinking. Did you know that every charm is supposed to reflect one of us children? Each one has a different stone in it, which represents our birth stone. Yours is the heart... because you've got the biggest one of all of us. Remember, mom always told us to listen to our heart. I really hope that's what you do." Tommy put the jewelry box down and wrapped his arms around his sister once again.

Lisbon couldn't hold back her tears any longer, thankful for being given the bracelet and her mother's advice, even if she couldn't be at the wedding.

"I'm sure mom would be proud of you, Reese. She'll be watching you today from heaven."

"I know... I wish she could be here." She buried her face in his shoulder.

"She is," Tommy whispered. "Right here." He put a hand over her heart and patted it, wishing he could give his sister more than just the golden reminder of their mother.

The clearing of someone's throat made them turn around. Marcus was leaning in the door frame, watching the siblings with a small smile.

"Marcus," Lisbon said, wiping her tears away.

"Sorry to interrupt... But a certain teenage lady has been hogging the bathroom for half an hour now. If I want to be gone in an hour, I need her to hurry up."

Tommy rolled his eyes in annoyance. "I told her to shower last night because the two of you would need the bathroom today. Just some advice: if the two of you ever have a daughter, make sure you have a house with at least two bathrooms."

"Duly noted," Marcus laughed, grinning at Teresa, as Tommy left the room to make Annie hurry up with her shower.

Marcus walked over to his soon-to-be-wife and gave her a long, sweet good-morning kiss. "Ready for the big day?"

She didn't really know how to answer, so instead she tried to give him a reassuring smile. "I'm just a little tired. Didn't sleep much last night."

"I'm sorry I wore you out, baby. Oh man I can't believe today's the day. We'll get married. That's a step, huh?"

"Yeah," she answered nervously. I can't wait for it to be over.

"Okay. I think I can hit the shower now. Are you gonna be okay, Teresa? I have a surprise for you, too, but I can't tell you yet, okay?"

"Yeah... I'll be okay. You see that you get ready and surprise me later." Ugh. Surprises... she hated surprises since Marcus came into her life. They usually involved her having to do something she actually didn't want to.

They separated, and before he left for Gina's, he gave her one last kiss and told her how much he loved her and how happy he was.

Karen's friend, the hairstylist Elle, was actually on time. She was tall, brunette and styled, but she was actually pretty nice. She didn't ask stupid questions about how excited she was, she was just there to do her job, which Lisbon was quite thankful for. She left it to Annie, who volunteered to paint her fingernails in a soft shade of pink, to make conversation with Elle.

For some reason, Annie seemed off to her aunt, but she couldn't quite put her finger on what was wrong. Instead, she enjoyed the way Elle's make-up brushes caressed her face.

"Oh your eyes are so lovely, Teresa. I'll just put some more eye-shadow on your lids. It'll emphasize your eyes perfectly, okay?" Elle asked.

Lisbon actually felt like she had a say in this, so she opened her eyes to look in the small mirror she'd been given and decided why not. "Sure... It'll look nice."

Once she was done, she had to wait a little more for her hair rollers to come out. Yawning, she walked inside the kitchen to get her third cup of coffee, before she came back to watch Elle's magical hands working to put Annie's hair into a perfect high bun.

"Oh, would you like to paint Annie's nails, Teresa? I'm not sure if it fits with our tight schedule otherwise."

Lisbon agreed and settled down next to her niece, to put the same shade on her finger nails that she had on hers. "This is actually kind of nice. Dad never agrees to do girlish stuff for me. Can you believe he refuses to buy new tampons for me at the supermarket?"

"That sounds just like your dad," Lisbon laughed. "When I was your age and needed your uncles to do something for me, they always refused. Actually, they were pretty mean. This one time they put honey on my brush and another time they switched my perfume with James'! I stank the whole day in school because I didn't have the time to take another shower."

"Sounds like they were a pain in the ass," Annie commented.

"Kind of. I survived - and made sure to check every one of my brushes before using it for the following three years."

"Well sometimes I'm glad I'm an only child. I think I'd freak out if I had a little brother hiding my stuff or playing tricks on me. I don't know how you survived ten years with Jane. I mean seriously, he must have been a pain in the ass sometimes, right?" Annie asked, suddenly remembering that sometimes it was better to first think, then speak. Her aunt's face fell.

"I'm sorry, Reese..."

"No, it's okay. And you're right, sometimes he really was a pain in the ass. He got me suspended multiple times."

"Seems like I should beware of consultants if one ever crosses my path once I'm a cop," Annie grinned, secretly thinking it must have been so much fun with Jane. It couldn't have been that bad, or her aunt would have kicked him out of the team years ago.

"Sometimes they are quite helpful," Lisbon admitted, a little lost in thought while she finished Annie's last nail. "Done."

"That's good," Elle smiled, "Then I can get your hair done. Will the two of you switch places, please?"

Xxxxx

About an hour later, Lisbon stood in her bedroom with her dress on. It was a little loose around the waist and although she was already wearing a push-up bra, her boobs didn't quite fill out the dress. But these were only minor problems, otherwise the dress looked fine.

While she was staring at her reflection in the mirror, a thousand thoughts ran through her head. She looked like a bride, but she didn't feel the excitement a bride was supposed to feel an hour before marrying the man she wanted to spend the rest of her life with.

"You look beautiful, Reese!" Annie gasped when she entered the room in her Miss-Piggy-pink bridesmaid dress.

Lisbon turned around to smile at her. "Thanks... I'm glad the dress fits." She could see Annie was about to comment on that, but bit her tongue. Instead, she continued fumbling with something she was holding in her hand. "You don't look so bad yourself."

The teenager rolled her eyes. "Oh please, I look like a giant cotton candy. Once Dad sees me, I'll never hear the end of it!" Suddenly she grinned and pulled the hem of her dress up. "But look."

"You're seriously wearing the cowboy boots?" Lisbon laughed.

"I told you I would and I honestly can't wait until I see Gina's face! She'll probably want to kill me for ruining her wedding!"

Lisbon felt a light pang in her chest when Annie pointed out that it was Gina's wedding. She was right. Gina had organized everything, she'd just been there to say yes or no occasionally.

Annie grew serious, biting her lip. "Reese, I... I know this is a big step for you today. And I want you to be happy."

Why did everyone want her to be happy? Or rather why was everyone doubting she was? "That's sweet, Annie. I'm glad my family is here with me today. I'm glad you are here with me."

Annie took a deep breath. "I want you to be happy and I want you to make the right decision, but I feel like you can't make it without knowing all the facts."

"What are you talking about?" Lisbon asked, confused. What did Annie know that she didn't?

The girl stepped forward and took her aunt's hand. She pressed something into her palm, before she closed it and patted it lightly, a serious expression on her face. "I listened to your conversation with Jane yesterday. I know I shouldn't have, but you guys were yelling at each other and I wanted to know what was going on."

"Annie I told you to stay away..."

"No... no Reese, it was good I was there, because... Jane really loves you. He meant what he said and... and he left this on the living-room table. You didn't see it because you were too hyped up, so I took it." She released Lisbon's hand, so the bride could open her palm to see what Annie had put inside. It was a familiar golden wedding band. Jane's wedding band.

Lisbon's eyes widened in shock, while she gasped. Her hand felt so heavy all of a sudden, like the emotional weight the golden wedding band carried with it weighed a ton.

"I'll leave you alone for a moment," Annie whispered, before she left the room quietly.

She couldn't believe Jane had taken his ring off and left it with her. His wedding ring, the only thing which connected him to his late wife... and he'd left it with her. When had he taken it off? Had he come here to give it to her? Had he taken it off during their fight? Why had he left it with her?

All of a sudden, Lisbon felt sick. Heavily, she sat down at the edge of the bed, the wedding band still in her palm.

"You're right, I have forgotten how to act like a normal human being. And I play games and I lie and I trick people. I'm not proud of this, but I do this to avoid the truth of how I really feel about you."

"Jane…"

"No. No please, I need you to hear this. I'm terrified of letting anyone close to me, because every time I did someone got hurt in the end. You should know, because most of the time it was you. The truth is, besides everything I've done to you, I can't imagine being without you. These past six months have been hell to me, because I wasn't able to see you, to bring you coffee, to make you smile. I love you, Teresa. I love you and it scares me, but it is the truth."

He loved her. He really loved her. She couldn't believe it. He'd meant what he said. He loved her. Jane, who never let anyone close to him, had admitted his feelings for her. Now it all made sense. The way he acted, the stupid scheme in Miami... He'd wanted her to stay with him. After all this time, he'd finally admitted how he felt about her. But why had he not done it before? There had been plenty of occasions when he could have done it. If he'd said one word before Marcus came into her life...

Suddenly she laughed. Everything was so messed up. Everything was so Jane-messed-up that for a moment she couldn't believe it had really happened.

Their relationship was a mess, always had been. Why should it be any different this time? Patrick Jane loved her and the best thing about it was: "I love him, too."

Lisbon felt bad for saying it out loud, but it was the truth of how she felt. She loved Marcus, she really did, but she loved him as the kind friend he was to her. A marriage with him would never work out. She'd be unhappy within a year. Not because of Marcus, but because of herself.

For all these years she'd loved Jane, had kept his letters, had kept the broken pieces of his turquoise tea cup hoping one day she'd be able to repair it and to give it back to him. The tea cup was like their relationship. It was broken, but it could be fixed now that she had the right glue to put it back together. Love.

Tears of relief sprang into her eyes. How could she have been so stupid when everything was just so easy? He loved her and she loved him. She could repeat this on and on in her head while bliss was bubbling up in her chest.

She had to stop this wedding. She needed to, Marcus would hate her for it, but it wasn't fair to marry him when she was in love with another man. She wouldn't leave him standing at the altar, no, she'd do it herself and explain everything to him and the guests. Then she would have to find Jane before he left the country for good.

Carefully, Lisbon opened her mother's bracelet and put the small chain through the ring before she fastened it once again around her wrist. For the first time in forever she felt like she was making the right decision. Her own decision. She didn't feel trapped anymore, she felt free. Free now that she knew her happy ending was possible after all.

Without looking back, she walked down the stairs, careful not to rush so she wouldn't stumble over her dress. "Annie?" she called, "Annie?"

"I'm in the kitchen, what the hell is going on?" the girl asked but seeing the sparkle in her aunt's eyes, she knew exactly what was going on. "You changed your mind."

Lisbon nodded, an insecure smile on her face: "I know you probably think I'm crazy, but..."

"I don't think you're crazy! I'm glad you made the right decision. I'm sorry, Marcus is a good man..."

"But he's not the right man," Lisbon finished her niece's sentence. The two smiled at each other, both relieved for their own reasons. Annie because her aunt changed her mind and Lisbon because she'd finally been able to admit to herself she was never going to be happy with Marcus if she didn't take her chance with Jane. It wouldn't be easy, there'd be so much they'd have to figure out, but she felt like they could work through their issues.

"Well let's call Jane and tell him you changed your mind then," Annie suggested, but Lisbon shook her head.

"No, I can't. I have to tell him face to face, but first I have to tell Marcus."

"Then call him... Wait, do you really want to go to the church where all the guests are and tell him you're canceling the wedding? Are you out of your mind?"

The bride shook her head. "It's the right thing to do, Annie. I know your uncles will think I'm crazy, but I need to face them all and explain the situation to them. Marcus will hate me, but I hope one day he will understand. I owe it to him to tell him the truth myself. I have been a coward long enough. It's time to do the right thing."

Annie sighed heavily, before she nodded. "I guess you're right... Marcus deserves that much. But how do we get to the church? I mean the car is supposed to arrive in thirty minutes, should I call a cab?"

Just then, there was a loud honk from outside. Both women peeped out of the window to see a white stretch limousine with a beautiful flower bouquet on the hood. "What the hell is that? I thought Uncle James would pick us up with an old timer."

Lisbon shrugged, biting her lip. "I... I think it's the surprise Marcus spoke of... Oh no, now I'm feeling even worse."

"I have never seen a limousine from the inside Aunt Reese. Can we still go? I mean it would be a total waste of money to not use it, right?"

"I guess..."

Annie took her phone and stuffed it safely between her dress and her cleavage, while Lisbon was already in the hallway to put the white coat on. "Let's go."

They left the house and walked over to the limousine, where an unknown driver opened the back door for them. "Are you Teresa Lisbon?" he asked.

"Yes, that's me and this is my niece Annabeth. Thanks for the ride."

The chauffeur smiled at them, before the ladies took their seats inside the limousine.

"Wow, look at how big it is! It even has a bar! This is real champagne!"

"No alcohol for you, young lady. You're not 21 yet." Lisbon admonished her niece who rolled her eyes, before she put back the unopened bottle of champagne.

The driver started the engine and drove around the block, before the car stopped once more. "What's going on? Why are we stopping?" Annie asked.

"I don't know... maybe something's wrong with the car. Excuse me," Lisbon called louder, "What's going on? Hello?"

"Reese... what's that smell?" Annie asked quietly.

Lisbon breathed in carefully. "I don't know.. it's smells weird, like... like chlorophorm. What the hell...?" She tried opening the door of the car, but it was locked. "Annie, hold something to your mouth and breathe as slowly as you can. Hello? Help! Something is wrong with the car... Hello?" She tapped on the window which separated the driver from the rest of the car, but the man didn't move. The chlorophorm was already numbing her senses.

"Annie, try opening the roof window." It didn't work. "Shit, what the hell is going on..." She felt weaker with every moment. Maybe she should sit down.

"No... Reese, no... You must stay awake." Annie scooted over to her, to press a part of her coat on her aunt's face, but Lisbon's eyes were already closing.

Suddenly, the door opened and two men entered the limousine. Both of them wearing masks. They grabbed Annie from behind, pulling her out of the car. The girl struggled, but the men were too strong. "Leave me alone... Reese! No..."

She hit the hard pavement with her head, her eyes rolling back.

"Just leave her there," a male voice said, before she heard a dull thud and incredible pain shot through her body. She'd been shot in the leg.

The limousine left with squeaking tires, leaving Annie on the cold pavement. She needed help. She needed to call someone... Jane. Jane. Her breathing increased and she barely managed to keep her eyes open, but somehow she managed to pull her phone out of her cleavage and find Jane's number in her contacts. It took her three times to finally hit the call button.

"Annie?" He answered the phone.

"Jane..." she whispered, "Help." Then she blacked out.