Disclaimer: I own nothing

A/N: I haven't forgotten Forbidden Fruit or Fool Me Once but I think you guys can understand why I'm reluctant to stop with this fic when I'm on such a big roll, especially since I'm not that far from finishing it! But this chapter is so wonderful, I'm so proud of where this case is going and really happy to share one of my original flashbacks for this story.


Chapter 11: Promises

Jane was cleaning up the kitchen from dinner while Hope was sitting happily at the kitchen table drawing. She was taking to the task very seriously, something Jane found quite adorable since her forehead was crinkled and her little tongue was poking out between her lips. She looked like she was writing out a treaty for war as opposed to using Crayolas on white paper.

"Daddy," Hope said, her head still bent over her work. "How do you spell 'Mommy'?"

He raised his eyebrows at that request but he couldn't be too surprised. "M-O-M-M-Y," Jane told her simply.

She nodded her head and selected another crayon before getting back to her drawing. He watched her as she diligently went about her work, silently wondering what tricks she had up her sleeves. She was his child after all and that question meant there was more going on then just a simple drawing.

"What are you doing, sweetheart?" Jane asked but she didn't answer him. She just kept right on drawing. He put the dishtowel aside and walked over to the table so he could take a look himself.

It was a simple drawing with green scribbles on the bottom of the page to represent grass, a yellow sun in the top right corner and some blue on the top for the sky. But in the middle were three figures and it didn't take a rocket scientist to figure out what they were even with Hope's careful lettering on top. "You're drawing us," Jane said, taking a seat next to her.

She nodded. "That's you, and me and Lulu…and that's Mommy."

"It's a beautiful picture," Jane said, meaning every word.

"Will Mommy like it?"

He cocked his head to look at his daughter. "Are you making this for Mommy?" Hope nodded her head slowly and Jane smiled, trying to reassure her. "I'm certain she'll love it."

"Will you give it to her tomorrow?"

Jane grinned at her. "Of course I will, and I'll tell her you made it especially for her."

Hope smiled at him for that promise but her eyes were still serious. "Will she come see me again?"

"I told you she will," Jane reminded her.

"When?"

That was a little more difficult to answer since putting an actual time table on the visit was not possible. "Soon," Jane replied knowing that it was not going to make Hope happy to have such a vague answer.

"But when?" Hope demanded.

Jane sighed. "I'm not sure," he admitted, "I'll talk to her about it so we can set something up okay?"

Hope kept a careful eye on him as if trying to decipher if he was telling the truth or not. She wasn't up to figuring out how to read people yet but she was getting there. "All right."

He smiled and kissed her temple. "She's going to love your drawing."

That made Hope smile again and she quickly grabbed her crayon again to finish up the picture. Jane watched her with a smile of his own, studying the drawing again. The three of them all together and happy, that was the image that Hope had for them. It wasn't the truth but it was a nice fantasy.

A fantasy he wanted to come true.

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Lisbon was looking through the files from Father Gruden in a vain hope that something would lead them to Jessup. It was doubtful since priests were forbidden to keep records of those who came to see them but she had to do something. She felt like this case was just stalling as they waited for the next move, the problem was the next move might be against them.

"You won't find anything there," Jane said interrupting her depressing thoughts.

She looked up at him. "We won't find out for sure unless I try."

"My money is on Grace finding something before you do."

"I know better than to bet against you," she muttered and put the file aside with disdain.

But Jane continued to study her carefully, an odd look on his face. "I have something for you," Jane said.

"You do?"

He nodded and pulled out a folded piece of paper. She was confused until she unfolded it, then her breath caught in her throat and tears immediately sprung to her eyes. She didn't have to guess to the artist of the drawing, she knew that it was her daughter's work. "Why are you giving me this?" she asked softly.

"Because Hope told me to," He replied calmly.

"She did?"

"Yes," Jane told her, his voice low too, "she did all of this on her own, I'm simply the messenger."

She held the treasured drawing in her hand as if it was pure gold. She ran her fingertips over the letters that her daughter had painstakingly written. "She can write," Lisbon remarked in awe.

"She's very bright," Jane agreed, "its going to be hell keeping her in check when she gets older."

Lisbon smiled at that, it would serve him right if Jane had to try and reign in a teenage girl. "Until then you'll just have to try and keep her busy mind occupied."

He grinned at that, his eyes soft but serious. "She wants to see you again."

She swallowed heavily, now her heart was beating from another emotion. "I know."

"Then you should come see her."

"I know that too."

Jane looked disappointed then, he understood her tone. "But you won't."

She bit her lip. "I didn't say that, I just…I'm not sure."

"About what?"

"About everything. Hope, me, you…us." The final word hung in the air between them and there was no mistaking what she meant.

Jane looked at her carefully. "Us? You mean there is an us?"

"I…I don't want to talk about that," Lisbon said quickly.

"No, you were right before. We should."

"No," she cut him off. "I don't want to."

He gave her a measured look. "Why not?"

She finally met his eyes while she struggle to find the words. "Because I'm still not sure how I feel…or even how to think about it."

"That implies something changed your mind," Jane pointed out.

"Three days ago all I could think about was what I wanted to drink myself to oblivion with," Lisbon reminded him, "Now everything has changed."

"So Hope has changed your feelings about us?"

"Hope has changed everything," Lisbon reminded him, "now I want things I'm not sure I deserve or can even do."

"So this is about being her mother."

"It's about how I still have too much to figure out," Lisbon explained, "I need to take things slow, one at a time."

Jane nodded. "I understand, I know it's been a lot to take in. But don't call fear 'taking time', don't use it as an excuse to stay away. Not when she needs you as much as you need her."

"She has you," Lisbon said.

"She still needs you."

Lisbon didn't look like she believed him. "She needs someone better than me."

"The woman you were before James's death," Jane replied, "That's who she deserves."

"I don't know how to find her."

"I think you've already started," he told her, "you just have to keep letting yourself heal."

He didn't stick around after that, ending the conversation on the poignant note. Lisbon watched him leave before turning her attention back to the picture in her hand. She traced the drawing of Hope, the brown swirls that represented her curls. She wanted to be able to touch those curls in real life, to smell their sweet scent and never let her go.

Jane might be right, it was a start…but she wasn't sure how it would end.


The flight to Chicago hadn't been too long but almost five hours with an infant on a plane was too long. Thankfully Jane had thought ahead, making sure she was warm and fed so that she slept for a good chunk of the flight, still he did have to change a diaper somewhere over Nevada.

His seatmates were a businessman that slept the whole time and an older woman who had been enraptured by Hope from the beginning. She'd wanted to know how old she was, her name, where they were going, etc. Jane had been all too happy to brag about his child, even when he had to carefully sidestep the question over where her mother was.

Hope was awake by the time they touched down in Chicago, it wasn't easy carrying a baby, a diaper bag and a carry on but Jane managed. He was surprised to find Tommy and Annie waiting by baggage claim for him, he greeted them with a smile.

"Welcome to the Midwest," Tommy said for a good natured greeting.

Jane smiled. "A bit colder than I'm used to but we'll manage." He looked down at his daughter who was cooing at the commotion taking place. "Well Hope, say hi to your uncle and cousin."

Tommy smiled but Annie rolled her eyes at the comment. "Come on," Tommy said, "We'll take you guys over to Stan's once we get your bags." He nudged his own daughter then in a not-so subtle way of telling her to take something from Jane.

Jane gave her an appreciative look. "I can give you a diaper bag or the baby, your choice."

"That depends, does she smell?"

He laughed and carefully placed his daughter in Annie's arms. The girl looked a little uncomfortable but in a moment she warmed up to her youngest cousin. "Well, she's cute at least."

Tommy helped carry the rest of the baggage to the car. Jane was handling the situation very well considering he was spending the week with Tommy and Stan Lisbon, the same men who had tried to take custody of his daughter from him only a few months before. But Jane also knew they were more uncomfortable then he was, he had the benefit of understanding their motivations more.

At the very least weekly phone calls had done quite a bit to clear the air between them and he was sure his constant updates on Hope had helped assure them he was nothing short of a devoted father.

The drive to Stan's was easy with Annie in the back seat with Hope strapped in beside her. Stan was the one Jane was most worried about since he was the brother who was the hardest to come around to, but he knew that was from his more protective nature. Tommy was the odd man out; James had been the rebel child while Stan had always been the dependable one that was closest to Teresa. The loss of their sister had hit him the hardest no doubt.

When they pulled up outside of Stan's house, Jane wasn't surprised to see the front door open and the man in question come walking out followed by two of his four children. One ran back inside to announce "The baby's here!" with excitement that made Jane chuckle.

"Hello, Stan," Jane said good naturedly, "Thank you for inviting us for the holidays."

Stan nodded, his eyes focused on Hope. "She's grown quite a bit."

"She sure has," Jane agreed, "Makes me wish I could slow it down."

He saw the way Stan reacted to that statement, it was the same way any father would when being remind that his kids were growing up fast. Stan focused on the bag, picking one up so he could bring it into his house.

At the doorway was Karen, the only one of the Lisbon clan Jane hadn't had the pleasure of meeting. She smiled at Jane warmly when he greeted her. "You must be Karen, it's wonderful to finally meet you."

"It's nice to finally meet you too," she said. Her eyes sparkled when she turned to Hope. "Well hello there, little one." Karen happily took Hope into her arms so she could hold. "Look at you…you look just like your mother."

The comment was beautiful but there was a tinge of sadness that Jane felt, he knew that Stan and Tommy felt it too. But the moment couldn't stick around as Stan's brood started clamoring to see what all the fuss was about. For months the kids had heard about their aunt's baby, the one their dad had fought for and who was keeping a careful eye on. It was no wonder they were excited to finally see Hope.

Karen did what she could to keep the kids from crowding while the baby in question looked more than a little overwhelmed by all of the strangers. Thankfully Hope didn't fuss; instead she looked at her surroundings with wide eyes. Jane made sure she wasn't upset before letting Stan lead him to Brian's room which was serving as their guest room.

Jane put a few things away and made sure the travel cot was set up for Hope before stepping outside to see the Lisbon family all gathered around Hope. The baby was being passed from one to the other with her uncle and aunt all lavishing her with attention; her cousins were equally as enthralled with the younger ones clamoring for a better view.

He watched with a smile on his face, a bit overwhelmed by the concept of having family himself. He'd been alone too long, even when he'd been married it had really only been himself and Angela. But Teresa had a family, and her family was Hope's family and now his. Even if things had a less than desirable start, but that didn't matter to him when all he cared about was that right now they adored his daughter.

Everything else would fall into place soon enough.


The case felt like it was stalled with everyone determined not to admit it, but the relief was palpable when Grace finally shouted, "I have something!" There was a big rush to Grace's desk after that announcement. "Lisa and Jenna Potter were foster sister with Jessup, they actually became roommates after they all left the system and he left his father's house."

"Interesting," Jane said but he didn't elaborate.

"Well Lisa Potter was his emergency contact when he was picked up for a drunk and disorderly a few years ago."

"Was he charged?" Cho asked.

"No, he was left off with a warning since he was only outside and not driving." Grace explained, "he's dropped off the radar since, even his drivers license has his old address."

"But you found Lisa and Jenna."

She nodded. "Jenna lives on east side while Lisa is out in Bakersfield."

Lisbon met Cho's eyes. "If anyone knows where Jessup is it'll be one of them."

He nodded. "I'll go with Rigsby to interview Jenna, why don't you and Jane go see Lisa."

She knew he was purposefully putting her and Jane together for a reason, no doubt the same reason he gave her the assignment with the longer car ride. Apparently the entire team was in on trying to get her and Jane to work out their problems together. But she would endure any of that if it meant finally solving this case.

Jane was all to happy to follow her out to her car but she set the record straight from the beginning by not speaking, as if she was entirely focused on driving. But Jane didn't seem to care. "You know we are going to be in this car for a while, talking can pass the time."

"Fine," Lisbon said, "do you think Jessup is our man?"

"It's a possibility," Jane said.

"That's all you have to say?"

"What else can be said?" Jane wondered, "We have some circumstantial evidence but nothing concrete, we haven't even found him yet. Until then we can simply say he is a possibility." She couldn't really fight him on that argument and he knew it. "Now that we have exhausted that topic, shall we continue with our previous discussion?"

"No," Lisbon said firmly.

"Very well, what about Hope? I'm sure we have plenty to discuss about her."

Lisbon didn't deny that, still she looked straight ahead at the road in front of her. "She…she's doing okay right?"

"She misses you."

Lisbon swallowed heavily at that comment. "I know."

"Just reminding you," Jane told her, "that can easily be fixed."

She wondered if he realized how ridiculous he sounded. This wasn't a situation that could just be magically made better. There was no way she could take the last five years back, no way she could just erase all of the guilt she felt over leaving Hope. Just like there was no way she could pretend that Jane hadn't betrayed her all those years ago.

Lisbon refused to speak again after that, no matter how much Jane tried to cajole her into a conversation no matter how inane the topic. Finally they arrived at their destination, which was a small home in a rundown part of town, kids walked down the street barefoot and men sat on the porch with cans of beer in their hands.

She pulled up outside of the house and kept a hand close to her gun when she and Jane got out of the car, just in case. She knocked on the door and after a moment a woman answered. "Lisa Potter?"

"Yes?" Her blonde hair was pulled back in a messy ponytail and she looked as tired as Lisbon did.

"I'm Teresa Lisbon and this is Patrick Jane, we are with the CBI. We have a few questions for you."

Lisa looked at them suspiciously. "What is this about?"

"We just need to talk to you about Michael Jessup."

"What about Michael?"

"Can we come in?" Jane said, "I doubt you want your neighbors wondering what's going on."

That did the trick with Lisa letting them inside. Her home was rather sparse with rundown furniture but it was at least neat. They took seats around her living room. "Now what is this about Michael?"

"He's a person of interest in a case," Lisbon explained, "We were hoping you might know where he is."

"I haven't spoken to him in years."

"But you did help bail him out of jail once," Jane reminded her.

"That was a long time ago," Lisa said.

"Even though he was once your roommate."

"People drift apart," she replied dismissively.

"Indeed they do," Jane agreed, "but people have a way of showing up again sometimes."

Lisa looked uncomfortable then, turning her eyes away from Jane. "Like I said, I haven't' seen Michael in years."

"Do you have any idea of where he might be?" Lisbon asked, "Maybe someone who might be in contact with him?"

Lisa shrugged. "His father is still alive but I doubt he wants to see him."

Jane perked up at that. "So you know his father is alive?"

"Yeah," Lisa said without elaborating. "What is this really about?"

"We can't divulge about the case," Lisbon replied.

"Then I don't know what else I can say," Lisa said, "I don't know where Michael is." She stood up then. "Now if you'll excuse me, I have to get ready for work."

Lisbon and Jane were dismissed rather quickly with Lisbon being more than a little aggravated when they went out to the car. "Unbelievable, that was a complete waste of time."

"Was it?" Jane asked, he looked pretty pleased with himself.

"Yes, we didn't learn anything that could help."

"Of course we did."

She met his eyes across the roof of the car. "What is it?"

"Well she knew that Michael's father was alive but not where Michael is?" Jane asked, "That seems rather odd don't you think?"

"You're saying she's lying."

"Without a doubt."

Lisbon smiled then. "We should talk to her."

"Or we could have her watched and have her lead us to Michael," Jane offered, "After this interview she's going to contact him to make sure we aren't on his tail."

Lisbon nodded. "I'll call Cho, see what we can do about that."

They got into the car both feeling better about this case, things were finally looking up.


Christmas with the Lisbon brothers was bound to be an interesting time, not just because of their recent history but it was the first holiday Jane had ever really celebrated since his family died. A house full of children riding high on Christmas cookies and the promise was presents was hard to ignore and being the new comer to the group only invited their curiosity. Jane enjoyed answering their questions, he even helped Stan's Annie give Hope a bottle.

The hard part was whenever they asked about their aunt Teresa. They only knew a little about what had gone on; they had no idea where she was or why she was no longer with her baby. Jane wasn't going to tell them what their parents deemed was inappropriate, but it didn't make it easy fending them off.

Part of this trip was also mending all bridges between them and the first step he took was going out with Stan to finish getting the last minute Christmas presents. Jane had deliberately waited to get presents or Stan's children, mostly because he wanted the opportunity to meet them so he would get something they truly wanted.

But the time alone with Stan wasn't entirely satisfying as they never really got the chance to talk, but Jane did succeed in getting presents for the children. Jane had to give credit for Karen for keeping everything together; she had a way of smoothing Stan around the edges when things got awkward.

The first night they stayed there Hope woke up whimpering, Jane wasn't all too surprised since they were in a new place and that was bound to make her fussy. He quietly took her into the kitchen to warm up a bottle that should do the trick of putting her back to sleep.

HE had just settled at the table and put the bottle to her lips when a bleary eyed Stan walked in. "Sorry, did she wake you?"

Stan rubbed his eyes but actually smiled. "Any time a baby cries my first instinct is to get up, make a bottle or change a diaper." Jane chuckled at that, he could believe that all too well. "I thought she was sleeping through the night?"

"She is, but a new place has her a little unsettled," Jane told him, "A bottle should put her right back to sleep."

Stan took a seat at the table, his eyes on Hope. "She does look like Teresa."

Jane nodded. "I see her in Hope every day, I'm grateful for that."

Teresa's brother looked at Jane with real sadness in his eyes. "You know Tommy and I went to New York."

"Yes," Jane said, "I know it didn't go well either."

"We banged on her apartment door for days but she never opened it. We kept begging her to talk but she never did. Not once."

Lisbon ignoring her brothers was hard for Jane to accept, she'd always loved them more than anything. Now she wouldn't even open her door. "I'm sorry that happened," Jane offered even if it was poor comfort.

"Maybe you should go," Stan suggested, "If you bring Hope, she'll want to see her daughter."

"I don't think that's a good idea."

"Why not?" Stan asked, his anger starting to show.

"Because the last thing we want her to do is run again," Jane told him, "And that is exactly what she'll do if we show up."

"You don't know that."

"I do," Jane explained, "she already ran away once, leaving her daughter with Grace. I can only imagine what her reason was for that but it's still there, she's running scared right now. It's like chasing a frightened animal, if you try to run or trap her, she'll just run faster and farther. It's better to wait, let her come to us."

Stan considered that and Jane was grateful the man had the wisdom to recognize what he was saying. "What if she doesn't come?"

"She will," Jane explained, "she had a baby, a child she carried inside of her for nine months. One day she's going to wake up and desperately need to see her child, that won't be something she'll be able to resist."

"You're that confident?"

Jane smiled. "I'm rarely wrong."

"That's what Teresa always said."

He chuckled at that comment, nodding a little. Hope pulled away from the bottle, coughing a bit, her eyes very drowsy. Jane set it aside so he could lift her onto his shoulder to burp her. Stan never once took his eyes off his niece.

"You're doing a good job with her," Stan said, surprising Jane. "I know a lot happened but Tommy and I are grateful that you keep us updated on her, that you came here for Christmas."

"You are her family," Jane reminded him, "I want Hope to have as much of her mother as I can give her."

Stan nodded. "I can understand that." He stood up to go back to bed but turned to look at Jane again. "When you see Teresa again, are you going to tell her about what you said on the stand?"

Jane raised an eyebrow, more than a little surprised by that question. "I don't know," Jane admitted, "I'm not sure she'd believe me."

"Don't you think she should know the truth?"

"Such a change of heart from a few months ago," Jane remarked with a wry grin. "I'd never thought you'd want us to work it out."

Stan gave him an annoyed look. "Even so, you're still an ass."

Jane did laugh then while Stan went back to bed, both equally amused by the conversation. He turned his attention back to Hope who was starting to drift off to sleep again. He did want her to have her mother back, to be with the woman they all loved. That was the most important wish he had these days.


It was easier being in the car with Jane now, still incredibly awkward but easier. She didn't know why though, it was harder for her to be angry with him these days since she was mostly consumed with thoughts about their daughter. A part of her wanted to ask a million questions about Hope, another part of her kept reminding herself that she shouldn't get attached when she certainly couldn't stay.

So she mostly remained silent in the car, even when Jane declared that he was hungry and turned his car into the sparse parking lot of a farmer's market. Lisbon actually rolled her eyes at his statement; it was so much like old times. "They don't have these in New York City," Jane pointed out when he saw her annoyed look.

"They have fresh fruit."

"Ah, but where was it shipped from?"

Lisbon simply shook her head and did her best to hide her smile. He had her there. Jane was grinning as they walked down the aisles of tables together, the smell of fresh apples and peaches was overpowering and Lisbon found her own mouth watering at the scent. She hadn't even been hungry but now she wanted an apple, a perfect red delicious apple. It had been so long since she'd craved anything, eating had simply become a chore she undertook, when was the last time she had actually tasted her food?

Lisbon selected one apple, noting that Jane was smiling out of the corner of her eye. She chose to ignore him as she handed some change to the woman in front of her so that she could immediately enjoy her fruit. Jane selected a similar apple for himself but didn't stop there, walking over to a display of green Granny Smiths so he could purchase a bag of them.

He grinned at her raised eyebrows, knowing that he couldn't be that hungry. "They're Hope's favorite."

Her expression softened and she took note of this. Hope loved Granny Smith apples, along with her father's spaghetti and any Disney movie ever made. But this bit of information also touched her for more personal reasons; she couldn't hide the nostalgia in her eyes.

Jane noticed. "What is it?"

"Nothing," Lisbon said quickly but Jane wouldn't buy that statement. He didn't say anything but his eyes pressed her to explain. She hesitated but couldn't seem to ignore his gaze. "When I was pregnant, that was all I wanted, Granny Smiths. The sourer the better."

He had a small smile on his face and nodded gently. "Well, now I know where she gets it from." Jane took a bite of his own red apple and chewed thoughtfully. "I suppose it should be no surprise that Hope has a penchant for fresh fruit, both of her parents share the same desire."

"Well at least that means she has good eating habits," Lisbon remarked dryly, "much better than I saw from you over the years."

Jane grinned and took another bite of his apple as they made their way out to the car. Lisbon was thinking about this conversation they were having, how it seemed natural like it used to be, even as they were discussing their child. The idea of Hope having a similar disposition to her made her feel…good. It was a nice thing to think about that maybe they had more in common than just physical appearances.

"Do you ever think about when it happened?"

Lisbon stopped in her tracks, still a short ways from his car. "What?"

He had a strange look on his face, almost dark and passionate, determined was a good way to put it. "When Hope was conceived, have you ever thought about which time it was?"

She gaped at him for a long time. When their daughter had been conceived…that wasn't something she'd ever considered. For one, it was impossible to know for sure and when she had learned that a baby had been created she had been doing everything she could to forget about what had caused it in the first place.

"No," she admitted, her voice was softer and betrayed her nerves.

He still had that determined look in his eyes, like slow burning embers. "Oh I have," his voice was low and sexy.

"H-how would you even know?"

Jane shrugged, "I can't say definitively but counting back nine months from when Hope was born, I think I've narrowed it down to the week it happened."

Lisbon felt the unexpected desire to annoy him. "I was two days early," she told him.

Jane made a small face at her but didn't let it ruin his fun. "Still, it must have happened the week of the Reinhardt case, do you remember that?"

"I remember the case," she admitted but didn't divulge further. Her mind was racing as she tried to recall when they had been intimate that week.

They stopped outside of Jane's car but didn't get in; instead she rested up against the back door while Jane leaned against the passenger side window. "Three times," he told her, taking a bite of his apple. "The first time was that Sunday. It was simple, easy. I came over and we talked for a while, watched a little television, made a few sly moves and we moved to the bedroom," Jane explained, "it was tender, like most couples, normal really."

She gave up any pretenses of not paying attention; she was captivated by his storytelling, forgetting all about the half-eaten fruit in her hand. "The second time was a couple of days later. You were furious about what I'd done in court and to be honest, I was shocked you invited me to your place at all."

Lisbon did remember that night. She'd been so angry with him that she'd practically been seething. She had considered going to the shooting range but decided on a different tactic of releasing her anger, even if it hadn't punished Jane at all.

"You had no patience that night," Jane reminded her, "attacking me before I'd finished walking through the door. You would have been happy getting carpet burns on the floor if I hadn't put you on the sofa instead."

Yes, that is what had happened, a passionate blow up where she'd been none to gentle and had wanted none in return. Jane had been perceptive enough to follow her lead and they had both left a few marks on each other through their exertions.

But she did have some satisfaction in recalling one thing. "I kicked you out afterwards."

Jane grinned and nodded his head. "Yes you did, you got your cake and ate it too that night." He hadn't been pleased when she'd thrown him out after having not one but two very satisfying climaxes, she'd considered his job done. He'd wanted to stay but she'd wanted to make it clear that she was still angry with him.

Not that the emotion had lasted long.

"But I don't think it was either one of them," Jane said, drawing her away from the memories of that second night.

She blinked up at him from the fog of memories and tried to wrap her head around what he was saying. If he didn't think it was then that meant it was…

Lisbon's mouth went dry as she realized exactly what night he was talking about.

"You remember." It wasn't a question but a statement.

She numbly nodded her head. "We were in Vacaville."

"Inside the state park." He said but waited for her to fill in the next piece.

"You kept getting close to me," she admitted, licking her suddenly dry lips, "touching my arm, sitting too close."

He smiled. "I couldn't stop myself, you were wearing those tight jeans and that green shirt, it was distracting."

"It took forever until we were finally alone."

"You were on me before we even made it the car."

"I couldn't wait."

"Neither could I."

The memories were so fresh they seemed new. She'd been pawing at him as soon as the ranger had left and Jane hadn't helped keep her emotions at bay, giving as good he got. They'd been pressed up against his car, heady with emotion until Jane somehow had managed to open the door and push her into the back seat.

They had been like reckless teenagers, making powerful love in the back seat of his car. Clothes hadn't been fully shed and words hadn't been spoken, just the powerful need to be connected after a full day of being denied.

Lisbon blushed as she remembered ever detail of that moment, it had been intense and probably the most passionate memory she had. If Hope really had been conceived that week it would have been fitting that it would be that time when they had both thrown caution to wind and just let their emotions take the lead.

She cleared her throat and brushed aside her hair. "You might be right," she said, trying to sound indifferent but she knew her voice was much too soft. "We weren't very cautious that day."

Jane was looking at her, his eyes were bright with something that she was almost afraid to identify but she knew was familiar. "No, we weren't," he agreed, his voice was low and husky.

Lisbon swallowed, her throat now completely dry and she couldn't tear her eyes away from his. That was when she recognized that look.

It was the same look he'd had the day they probably conceived Hope.

She felt a rush of panic…and excitement, a tingly feeling so great that it actually frightened her. She groped for the door handle behind her but still didn't take her eyes off his. Jane reached over and put his hand over hers, stopping her from being able to open the door even if her fingers hadn't been trembling.

He was so close; she could feel the warmth from his body. All it took was one more look, she hadn't wanted to but she couldn't stop herself from looking up into his eyes once more. She let out a small gasp just before his lips met hers once more.

It began gentle and seeking, rediscovering familiar territory as their passions were slowly reacquainted. It was soft and sweet and exhilarating and he tasted of fresh apples and all man. Lisbon felt warmth flowing through her veins, an excitement and rush of energy. How many times had she let other men take these liberties over the last five years?

But this time she felt something.

That realization made her giddy and Jane noticed the shift. Suddenly she was backed up against the car, even though the handle cut into her back sharply, she didn't care. This kiss was no longer gentle but wild, frantic and primal. Her fingers found his blond curls while his hands roamed down her back, pulling her as close to him as possible. She moaned and sighed with every touch of his hands, every gentle flick of his tongue. More, she wanted more, so much more.

She was addicted to him, all it took was one more taste and she was hooked once more.

That thought began to take root in her mind. What was she doing? This man had used her for revenge against Red John, leading to her brother's death and her life falling into chaos. This is what had destroyed her life in the first place!

Why was he doing it this time? Jane only went after her if he wanted something…from her.

Lisbon pushed him away, clearly taking him by surprise. But he was more shocked when she slapped him hard across the face. "What was that for?"

"I can't believe you!" she snapped, shoving him away again. This time he actually stumbled a couple of steps back. "How could you do something like that?"

"You didn't seem to mind."

She wanted to slap him again but Jane was prepared to duck this time. "I'm not going to let you do this to me again."

"Do what exactly?" He asked, he was getting frustrated; she could hear that in his voice.

But she ignored that question, turning around to try and open the car door only to find the damn thing locked. Lisbon whirled around to face Jane again. "What did you expect? That I would just happily jump into your arms again?"

"I didn't expect anything."

She gave a rather un-lady like snort after that comment. "What do you want this time, Jane?"

Now he looked confused. "Excuse me?"

"That's what you do right? Seduce me for something that you want? I want to know what it is." His eyes narrowed and the darkness covered his face. But she didn't care, she was too angry to think about his feelings. "Did you think that if you screwed me again I'd stay? That'd I'd play mommy to Hope? Was that your idea?"

"No," he stated firmly, his jaw clenched so tight she was surprised he actually got the word out.

Lisbon shook her head. "It's low that you would resort to those tricks again. What is worse than using me again?"

"I don't know," Jane replied, his voice bitter and full of ice. "Maybe abandoning our child?"

The words hung in the air and infested them both like a poison. Lisbon froze, her eyes wide and the blood draining from her face while her stomach tied up into a deep knot. No weapon be it a hammer, blade or gun could have hurt her so much as those words.

Apparently he knew it.

"I'm sorry," Jane told her quickly, he looked very ashamed at what he'd done. "You never threw my sins in my face, I should have shown you the same courtesy."

She didn't say anything but numbly nodded her head, chastened completely by his bitter and regretful statement of fact. Jane opened the car door and ushered her inside before taking his own seat behind the wheel.

They didn't say a word as they drove away from the farmer's market, still tasting each other on their lips. His words still rang in her ears. It shouldn't hurt, after all she'd told herself much worse over the years. She knew she'd done something horrible, worse than whatever Jane had ever done to her.

But she wanted to know.

"Why did you kiss me?" She asked him, her voice soft, barely more than a whisper.

Out of the corner of her eye she saw that his hands clutched the steering wheel tightly. He was quiet for a long time before finally answering. "You won't believe the answer."

They didn't speak again the whole way back.


Christmas day always dawned early as the children raced from their beds, one of the few times they ever wanted to get up in the morning. Jane followed the other adults into the living room to watch the kids tear their presents open. He enjoyed watching them shriek and gasp in delight at what they found. Hope was having a good time as well but she seemed more entranced by the shiny wrapping paper than most of the presents that had her name under the tree.

He was sitting on the floor, trying to keep Hope corralled so she wouldn't crawl away when Karen came with a present for him. "What's this?" He asked inanely, even if it was obvious.

"It's for you," She told him with a soft smile.

He was surprised but accepted the flat package, for once at a loss as to what if could be. Hope helped tear the paper with her little fingers until he finally revealed what the gift was.

A photo album that was already filled with pictures, every single one of them of Teresa.

Jane was stunned into silence as he flipped through the photographs, starting with old Polaroid's of Lisbon as a baby and steadily getting older. "I thought you should have these," Karen told him, "For you and Hope, so she can see her mother."

He didn't know what to say beyond, "Thank you, you have no idea what this means to me."

Karen blushed and smiled gently before she was distracted by her own children squabbling over presents. Jane ignored the chaos, he turned his attention to album, focusing on the pictures or Lisbon as a young child.

There was no denying how much her daughter resembled her. The same dark hair, pale skin and clear beautiful features. He could have taken one of these pictures and easily passed it off as Hope. Both of them were indescribably beautiful.

Hope babbled, her hand batting against the album. Jane leaned down to kiss her hair, he closed his eyes as he took in the warmth of his child. "She'll come back," he whispered, "and I'll fix this, I promise."


A/N: Well what did you think? I hope you guys are intrigued about where this case is going as well as how things will be "fixed" between Jane and Lisbon. Things come to a head when Grace takes matters into her own hands and gives Lisbon the transcript of a certain custody battle...