Lying on his couch in the familiar state of repose, Jane studied Lisbon as she stood engrossed in animated discussion with Van Pelt. If he squinted, he could almost tell she was pregnant, almost but not quite. Not for a while yet. It was just his overactive imagination. Oh, yes, that was the latest secret running through their ever expanding web of lies and deceit.

They were pushing four months gone. Jane should know. He was the one who'd plopped the home pregnancy test on the table in front of her two months ago and the one who'd held her hand through the revelation. He'd also accompanied her to the doctor for confirmation and convinced her everything would be all right in the end. He had done all of this before and they would certainly get through it. Even if a certain dark haired lady cop wasn't as sure as he was.

In the eight weeks since, Lisbon had blossomed. As though the child in her womb had mended the cracks in her soul giving her reasons to live and heal that he couldn't. Jane had been surprised by the stab of jealousy flooding through him and ruthlessly dealt with his noxious feelings. His child would be loved by both of her parents. Even if her Mom made no bones it was necessary to keep both the pregnancy and the father a secret. Lisbon was obsessively protective of the new life she was building. Both the life they were building together and the one they'd created within her. Jane wisely respected her wishes and kept his mouth shut.

He'd found to his pleasure, with the passage of time, their relationship had gotten easier as well. Lisbon trusted him more. His quiet acceptance and obvious joy at becoming a parent again had gone a long way in laying her doubts to rest. That he gave her the freedom to come and go at will was in his favor as well. That he always met her return with open arms made him irreplaceable. All things considered, if this had to happen, it couldn't have happened with a better man than Patrick Jane.

Unbeknownst to Jane, Lisbon was finding herself less sure she wanted to go this alone. It wasn't nearly as simple as she'd thought it would be. As a result, she frequently found herself entertaining thoughts she'd never considered before. Thoughts in which Jane played a more considerable role than just that of the port she came home to when she couldn't stand sailing alone. He'd become a staple in her life and vital to her happiness. She looked forward to coming home to him every day as they rarely came home together.

In the most objective analysis, it wasn't as though she and Jane weren't already building a life of sorts. They were together most of the time as it was. Whether she wanted it or not as Jane wouldn't let her out of his sight for long. Fortunately, she didn't want to be. Jane made her feel safe when she didn't.

Lisbon had eventually decided to try changing things up a little the next two or three weeks to see how it went. She'd get a handle on Jane's reactions to different things. Decide over time if this was really the move she wanted to make. Then they'd have a sit down discussion once she'd made up her mind. Once she'd decided she was ready to go there.

#

Six weeks later, Lisbon took off her jacket and hung it in the bedroom closet. She could hear Jane scrambling around in the kitchen making her a calming cup of tea. Changing out of her work clothes and carefully hanging them in the closet, she silently dressed in a comfortable pair of sweats and a tank. Looking at herself in the mirror she had to admit the slight rounding of her stomach had become undeniable over the last couple of weeks. There was definitely a Baby Jane in there if she'd ever had any doubts.

Lisbon had hoped to go a few more weeks before she was busted, but that wasn't happening. She hadn't gained that much weight, not even as much as the doctor wanted; but, she was still starting to show. Perhaps it was because she was small. Or maybe it was because Jane made large babies. She wouldn't put it past the egotistical jerk to think the size of his offspring reflected his sexual prowess. Lisbon's smirked as she thought she hoped there really wasn't some kind of nonsensical correlation there she didn't know about. To be honest, Jane was really, really good in bed and she did not want to deliver a really, really big kid. That didn't sound comfortabble at all. She said a silent prayer of thanks there were another few weeks before she had to worry about her belly button mutinying. That event was going to gross her out for the first few days she was sure. The thought of her innie becoming an outie already made her queasy.

Gazing at her reflection, Lisbon realized she was still unsettled by the reality she'd simply awakened one morning to find her body had not so subtly changed in the night. That she still continued to change almost every day after. After a couple of days she'd given up trying to disguise the fact she was pregnant. It was apparent she was failing miserably. She couldn't ignore the eyes following her unceasingly.

Lisbon had also decided to let them talk. She didn't have to dignify the gossip with a response. She certainly wasn't disclosing who the father was. Not that Jane would mind. He would crow it from the mountaintop if she'd let him. He didn't care who knew they were together. Or that they'd made a baby when they weren't trying. Well, that wasn't exactly true as they'd certainly been doing what it took. They just hadn't planned on the results they'd gotten. Lisbon made a face at her reflection. Did she have to be so honest even with herself? As for Jane, the man could be so reckless at times. He was so slap happy about their little blob he couldn't care less how all of this was going to impact their jobs. Lisbon absently washed her face and pulled her hair up in a loose pony tail. Jane would just have to deal with her freckles and bare feet. She'd had one hellacious day and she intended to be comfortable for the rest of the night.

Padding out of the bedroom into the kitchen, she accepted the cup Jane silently held out to her. Rising on her tip toes she kissed his cheek in thanks. She really wasn't in the mood to talk at the moment. Even to say a simple 'thank you' to her man. Taking a sip she turned and headed for the balcony. Grabbing his cup of tea Jane followed her maintaining the companionable silence. She would talk when she was ready. That was the Lisbon way and he respected it.

He'd learned quite a bit about effectively handling a Lisbon since she'd all but officially moved in over the course of the last few weeks. She hadn't said anything. She hadn't asked his permission. Just brought more stuff and stayed longer each time she came. That was fine by Jane. He was happy to have her here. He was happy to have her clothing permanently hanging in his closet and folded in his drawers.

Every now and then she'd get her knickers in a knot about something, pack her little bait bucket, and angrily go. He wouldn't see her for a while. He'd give her a day or two to cool down before fetching her back to the fishing hole she was supposed to be casting in. Through giving her space and gentle nurturing, peace would eventually be restored.

Jane smiled at the thought his Lisbon had even gone so far as to empty her refrigerator and cabinets of perishables a couple of days ago. He'd resisted the urge to laugh when she'd come bearing boxes of her strange little gifts. He'd taken the milk, eggs and cereal as well as sundry fruits and vegetables among other things and put them away instead. Lisbon would not have appreciated him laughing at her simple offerings. She'd have probably belted him.

"You know there have been murmurs about this for the past couple of weeks. I just haven't dignified any of it with an answer." Lisbon's hands lightly rubbed the slight swell so recently appearing.

"All that changed today didn't it? That's why Hightower called you into her office." Jane had watched that event with trepidation.

"Yeah, it is. She wanted to know if it was true." Lisbon leaned against the balcony watching her stomach with interest. She still hadn't fully gotten her mind around being pregnant.

"What did you say?" Jane would have liked to have been a fly on the wall for that conversation.

"What could I say? It's not like I could deny what everyone is starting to see." Lisbon said defensively.

"But you refused to admit who the father was." Jane was slightly disturbed by that though he knew he shouldn't be. Lisbon was only trying to protect their family unit for as long as possible. She wasn't ashamed of him.

"It's nobody's business but ours." Lisbon's hands tightened on her cup.

"No, it isn't, but it wouldn't be the end of the world if they knew. It wouldn't change anything about our relationship. We'd still be together and we'd still be expecting our first child." Jane gently reminded her.

"What if they tried to split us up?" She couldn't bear that and they both knew it. As good as Lisbon was doing, only Jane knew she wasn't as together as she seemed.

"Never happen. There's no rule against us being together, Teresa. I'm a consultant. Besides, let them try. I have a trick or two up my sleeve that'll quickly put a stop to any of that nonsense." Somehow, Lisbon didn't doubt that was true.

"You mean you have dirt on people in high places." Dirt she didn't want to know how he'd gotten.

"None I'm willing to use for any other reason." Jane reassured her.

"That makes me feel better." At least he wouldn't go off half-cocked.

"What did Hightower say?" Jane asked what the one thing he wanted to know.

"She asked me if I thought this was wise in light of what happened. Given that it hadn't been that long since the other." Lisbon absently continued rubbing the slight mound of her belly.

"What did you say to that?" She'd said exactly what Jane expected.

"Wise or not, it was already done and I don't regret it. Not one bit." Lisbon said fiercely.

"I know you don't." Jane engulfed her in his arms and rubbed her back soothingly.

"Do you?" Lisbon asked against the curve of his neck.

"What do you think? I'm here with you, aren't I? Here, with you and our daughter, exactly where I want to be." Jane took the cup from her hand and set it aside.

"Jane, we don't know what we're having. The baby hasn't cooperated with the technician yet." Jane resisted the urge to shake his head at her stubbornness.

"But she will. Trust me, Lisbon, we're having a girl." From the look in the eyes staring up at him, Lisbon was taking him at his word.

"How do you feel about that? Having another daughter?" Concern knotted deep in her belly.

"How do you think I feel about that? She isn't that daughter, but she is my daughter. I love her because she's a part of you and because she's a part of me. I couldn't feel any other way." Jane couldn't believe he had to say the words. Lisbon should know the truth by now.

"I'm glad." Relief threaded through her voice.

"What about you?" Jane asked the question he'd yet to ask.

"What do you think? She's ours. Yours and mine." Lisbon looked away as though trying to find the right words to say. Turning back to Jane she seemed to visibly stiffen her resolve. "I know what I said, but I don't want to do this alone."

"You don't have too. I'm right here." He wasn't leaving her no matter how difficult Lisbon could get.

"I know you are; but, that's not what I mean." She was having trouble finding the words.

"What exactly do you mean?" Jane had an idea where Lisbon was going. He definitely had an idea where she was going and he was prepared to answer. She only had to get it out.

"Jane, I think we should get married. I know what I said…but I changed my mind." Lisbon resisted the urge to cross her fingers behind her back.

"Then everyone would know what you've fought so hard to keep secret. On the flip side changing your mind is your prerogative, my dear. You are the one carrying our child." And a pregnant woman should have her heart's desire.

"I guess they will. They'll just have to deal with it." She could handle it if Jane could.

"You think we should get married for the baby?" Jane felt her stiffen in his arms yet again. He really knew the buttons to push.

"Yeah, I guess; but, for us too. I think we could make it work. We get along okay, I haven't killed you yet, the sex is nothing to sneeze at, and it's not like we aren't already having a kid together. You don't seem to mind having me around and I certainly don't mind being around. It sounds like a good idea." Jane wasn't sure whether to be charmed or offended at her choice of phrase.

"When you put it like that, how can I refuse?" He was laughing at her inside. Lisbon could see the unrestrained mirth in his eyes. "I certainly don't mind having you around either, My Dear. I look forward to it in fact. Even when I have to fetch you back from your place. As for the mind blowing sex, it's worth the price of admission. We both know that." Jane laughed openly at her rather painful smack on his arm.

The only sad part was neither of them had mentioned the "l" word because neither of them was remotely ready to tackle that. It was enough that they each blindly sought the other out when they were apart too long. It was enough that Lisbon summoned him into her locked office to hold her when the lies became too much. That she let him kiss the day terrors away. That she usually sent him out in a storm of flying projectiles never mattered. They both knew the truth. They were only keeping up appearances. The feelings ran deep on both sides even if neither was quite ready to call them what they probably were.

"What are you saying?" Lisbon was afraid to breathe lest she miss his answer.

"Let's do it, Teresa. Let's make it legal." Jane spoke softly against her ear.

"You'll do it?" She expelled the breath she was holding.

"Yeah, I'll do it. You didn't think otherwise did you? Not really? You had to know I would agree or you wouldn't have asked." Jane wouldn't believe otherwise.

"I wasn't sure." Lisbon confessed.

"Well, you were wrong. To show you how wrong, I think you should have this." Removing the small box from his pocket, Jane slid the simple solitaire on her finger. "Technically speaking since you asked me, I should be the one getting the ring."

"Jane, how did you get the jump on me?" Lisbon stared at the beautiful round diamond surrounded by smaller marquis emeralds and decided Jane had exquisite taste.

"You talk in your sleep. You've been arguing with yourself about this for a couple of weeks. Since I knew your intent and I knew my answer, it was time to pick out the ring. We'll get the license tomorrow and we'll do the ceremony as soon as possible. See, it wasn't as hard as you thought. You tormented yourself without just cause."

"I'm going to torment you, you sneaky jerk. I told you I don't like you watching me when I sleep. It creeps me out." Lisbon ranted in between admiring glances at the ring Jane had slipped on her finger.

"Then stop waking me up arguing with yourself. If you have a question, just ask. It's not like I bite." The levity of his voice was belied by the seriousness of his gaze.

"That's what you think. I have a mark or two that says otherwise." Lisbon refused to look in his eyes.

"I've apologized for that." He'd not meant to nip her quite so hard.

"And I've accepted. It doesn't change the fact one or the other of us has a tendency to get caught up in the moment and nip a little too hard." Lisbon observed casually.

"Usually the hard-nosed lady cop with the needle sharp teeth and the sadistic tendencies. I don't know if it's your job or what, but you can get quite rough." Lisbon wanted to smack that smirk right off his face but she didn't. She'd make him pay later in more pleasurable ways.

"Stow it, Jane. You wouldn't change a thing." Lisbon continued to stare at her engagement ring as she turned it different ways in the light.

Jane really had exquisite taste. He could pick her jewelry any time. She wouldn't mind a few more baubles along this line and she really liked emeralds. That was a good thing since she had a feeling that's what she'd be getting for the rest of her natural life. Jane had decided somewhere along the way they matched her eyes. Once the man made up his mind, it was hard to dissuade him from his chosen path.

Maybe she could persuade him to add rubies and sapphires to the mix. Maybe he'd give her a different stone for each kid. Oh, God, where had that thought come from? They hadn't even gotten married, much less had this kid, and she was already thinking about having more? This pregnancy was starting to mess with her mind. There wasn't going to be any more kids. They wouldn't be having this one if not for a little accident.

"No, I wouldn't." Jane kissed his favorite freckle on the curve of her neck. "As for getting a different stone for each child, I can certainly afford to indulge that little desire. Sapphires and rubies I believe you said? Don't look so shocked, my dear. While I don't think you realized it, you made your suggestions out loud."

"Kill me now." Lisbon wasn't sure whether to be amused or mortified.

"As for the rest of it the little rant, we most certainly will be having another child or two. As voracious an appetite as we have for each other, there's bound to be another accident or two along the way." He'd make sure of it now that he knew they were on the same page with the children thing.

Lisbon would be a remarkable mother once she got used to the little buggers constantly under foot. As for him, he'd like to have that son he'd never had to carry on the family name and talents. While that was true, he'd be perfectly fine with whatever they had.

"Shush, Jane, I don't want to hear it and you'd better not be engineering another accident or two in that devious mind of yours. We haven't even had this kid yet. Maybe I should make you sleep on the couch until this one is what, twenty-one or two at the earliest?" It was a thought.

"Not going to happen." Jane promised.

"But it's a thought." Maybe he could sleep on the couch tonight. He was being rather aggravating.

"Don't even go there." Hell would freeze over before either he or Lisbon was sleeping on that couch so she could get that idea out of her head.

"You know I won't. It doesn't seem right to punish myself just to punish you." There was no way she was giving up her Jane blanket.

"That's my Lisbon. She'd never do a thing like that." He crossed his fingers behind his back.

"No, she wouldn't, but I'm watching you. We'd so better not have another one until I'm good and ready. If I'm ever ready. Got it?" She might as well get the threats out of the way now.

"Yeah, Teresa, I got it." Like he wouldn't know when she was good and ready.

"It's in one ear and out the other. What am I going to do with you?" A lot she hoped.

"Not much I'm afraid." Jane admitted.

"I think you're right. Not much. It's not like I'm going to give this up." Jane caught the glint off her diamond as Lisbon's hands fanned across his chest and down his abdomen until they came to rest on his belt.

"I'm glad." He quirked a brow at the perverse look she shot him.

"You ought to be. I think we should celebrate our engagement. What do say you to that?" Lisbon's hand drifted lower to gently cup his hardness.

"That you are undeniably a very wicked woman. What do you think I have to say to that?" She didn't need to ask.

"It's the best offer you've had all night." Lisbon supplied.

"Next to a proposal, I think you may be right." He knew she was.

"I know I'm right." Lisbon proceeded to pull at his belt buckle.

"A little confidence never hurt a girl." Not the one in front of him anyway.

"Oh, really, I thought you always ran." Lisbon laughed at his devilish expression.

"Not always, Lisbon, and never from you." Jane winked at her.

"I guess you haven't." Lisbon winked back.

"I never wanted to run and look where it got us." Jane watched her pull his belt through the loops and decided Lisbon was toying with him. She was certainly taking her own sweet time about getting this show on the road.

"Where exactly is that, Jane? Besides being barefoot," Lisbon wiggled her red tipped toes. "Pregnant, and soon to be married in that ridiculous order?" She was too old for this.

"Happy, Lisbon, I'd say we're finally happy." Jane kissed the tip of her nose.

"I'd say you're right." Kissing her fiancé back on the lips, Lisbon took Jane by the hand and led him down the hall.

Most nights she really didn't care what that pervert in 418 saw with his high powered telescope, night vision goggles, binoculars, or whatever his invasive equipment of choice was on any given night. Tonight she really didn't want to share. The next few hours were between her and Jane. He'd just have to get his kicks looking in someone else's bedroom window. Maybe he'd get a show some other night or maybe she'd just finally bust the little creep and put a stop to his illegal fun.

"You decided you don't want old Rog in 418 to get his jollies tonight?" Jane efficiently pulled Lisbon's tank over her head while she struggled to unbutton his shirt since he kept insisting on running his palms over her skin in the most distracting manner.

"Something like that. He's a perv. It doesn't matter what we do to block him out the little creep finds some way to get around it." The next thing they knew, he'd have his snotty nose pressed against their bedroom glass.

"He's gotten more daring since you've started to show. I think he finds this as sexy as I do." Jane ran his hands gently over the curve of her belly to dip teasingly below the waist band of her sweats.

"Shush, Jane, you're going to have to get your own clothes off. Probably mine, too. You're making my hands shake too much and I really don't care to talk about weirdo Rog in 418. Thinking about him kills the mood." Lisbon rolled her eyes as she decided she'd like to punch Rog in the nose about now.

"Since they wouldn't hold him long, I think you should let Cho arrest him. He'd scare the evil right out of the little perv and make him rethink the wisdom of his ways." Jane laughed aloud at the picture in his mind.

"That sounds like a plan and we'll talk about it later. Right now I'm more interested in getting you out of the rest of your clothes than busting Roger the not so artful dodger." Lisbon wished Jane would shut up and get on with it.

As for the freak, he hadn't been able to dodge anything. They'd caught on to his antics the first night about two days after he moved in. Apparently he'd spotted Lisbon on the balcony and taken a liking to what he saw. They'd had their own personal voyeur ever since.

"I think that can be arranged," Jane couldn't disguise his smile as he pulled his shirt down his arms and tossed it away staring at Lisbon the while.

Pregnancy suited her in so many pleasant ways. Giving her the most delightful breasts was one of them. It also drastically upped his chances of getting killed in a hormone induced rage. His Lisbon would not like the direction his thoughts were taking. Not that there had been anything wrong with her breasts before. Not a thing. She was absolutely perfect in every way.

That was his story and he was sticking too. Especially considering his lover was getting a look on her face clearly saying she might be decoding the nature of his thoughts. That was not a good thing. Tipping her face, Jane captured her lips as his hands slipped under the drawstring of her sweats to shove them away. It was better to act now and think later. His evening would be infinitely more pleasurable that way.