Five months into her pregnancy and three months into living together, very little had changed in their world. Yeah, they loved each other; but, they were still treading lighter than they should be given their relationship. In Jane's favor, he went out of his way to be there when she opened her eyes unless he was out of town with another team. On those rare occasions he wasn't, she always found a note on his pillow. Though she still didn't know where he went, he was mercifully never gone that long. Lisbon was starting to believe in the impossible. Everything might actually be okay. Jane was certainly working hard to prove that.

Speaking of Jane, he still wore the not so hated ring and people still said indiscrete things at the most inopportune moments. They'd survived the CBI Christmas party with no one the wiser to her condition though she'd worn the more revealing body skimming bright crimson dress Jane helped her pick out instead of the usual serviceable black she favored.

Lisbon hadn't yet gained enough weight for her pregnancy to show at that time. She'd felt beautiful that night and her escort had been most attentive. By the look in his eyes, Jane was remembering their first night together just as she was. As was most likely his intent in choosing that particular shade of red in the first place. Though she knew he probably suspected Jane didn't know she was wearing the same lingerie she'd worn that night. He could put that hypothesis to the test later after they were home.

There had been no doubt in anyone's mind Lisbon and Jane were together in every way that night. She'd been a little on the apprehensive side until she'd realized nobody really wanted to tangle with Jane. To say he was silently marking his territory was an understatement. She'd relaxed as the evening progressed without any mishaps. In truth, they'd arrived fashionably late intentionally giving everyone time to get lit enough to miss the fact that though Lisbon carried around a glass of wine she never actually drank any.

Five months into the deal, Hightower and the powers that be were still in the dark there was a little Jane on the way; but, the team was not. Jane had insisted they be told and Lisbon had finally relented. In a gesture foreign to her nature, she'd invited the team to their place for dinner. It would be the first of many such evenings though none of them knew that at the time.

Jane had cooked while his significant other entertained their three guests on the balcony. Their boss was quite the amusing hostess outside of the office keeping them entertained with Jane's most recent hair-raising escapades. Van Pelt was the first to notice Lisbon wasn't joining them in a drink though she was clearly enjoying the delicious appetizers Jane had made. Lisbon had caught the glance she shot her companions and just smiled. They'd know the truth of it soon enough.

After being summoned inside for dinner, Jane served the same meal he and Lisbon had shared their first night together. If anyone noticed Lisbon refused a glass of Chianti in favor of joining Jane in a cup of tea, they were wise enough to keep their mouths shut. The pasta was delicious and the shrimp perfectly cooked. That their host made the salad dressing from scratch was never in question for he prepared it in front of them. After enjoying a dessert of apple tart, the well fed little group retired to the spacious den dominated by the big screen tv.

No one was under the illusion they'd been invited to their boss' home because she'd suddenly conceived an uncontrollable desire to do social and show them Jane's swanky new place. The boss didn't do social. Not with them. Not in all the years they'd known her. So there was a purpose behind the invitation and they all had a feeling that purpose was about to be revealed.

Rigsby settled on the couch beside Van Pelt while Cho took the leather wing chair closest to the French doors. They all watched as Jane settled on the loveseat beside Lisbon before taking her hand in his. Lisbon stared briefly into his eyes as her lips curved in a gentle smile. Both gestures seemed strangely encouraging, though out of character, as though the boss or Jane needed reassurance about anything. She was their fearless leader. She was Teresa Lisbon, Senior Agent with the CBI. He was their charmingly arrogant Jane who never willingly backed away from anything.

As silence descended it was obvious Jane was waiting for Lisbon's lead. That was strange in itself. The mentalist was always scampering ten steps ahead of them rarely hesitating long enough for them to follow. In this instance he seemed willing to simply abide in the moment.

The team watched as Lisbon paused to gather her thoughts. That she seemed unusually nervous around them was betrayed by the absent way she kept tapping her fingers against her leg. Clearing her throat, she looked at Jane then back at her team then back at Jane again. Van Pelt found the way they interacted charming, Rigsby was thinking what a nice big screen tv, and Cho still found the pairing of no-nonsense Lisbon with the volatile Jane peculiar for his tastes.

"We invited you guys here for a reason. You already knew that I'm sure." Lisbon said.

"Yeah, boss, we kind of figured there was something you wanted to tell us." Van Pelt spoke for the group.

"There is. You know Jane and I are together and have been for a while. Everyone at the CBI knows this. What you're about to find out, and they can't, is we're also pregnant. Again, we have been for a while." Lisbon's tone was as no nonsense as the one she used at briefings.

"Wow. Congratulations. You aren't really showing so you can't be that far along." Again Van Pelt spoke for the group while Rigsby and Cho just stared at the couple in silent wonder.

"We're eighteen weeks, Van Pelt." Jane answered for Lisbon.

"But that's about how long you've been together." Like Jane, Van Pelt was doing that mental calendar thing Lisbon found vaguely offensive.

"Yeah, it is. It happened in the early days and yes, it was a surprise." This time Lisbon responded to Van Pelt's statement. That was as close as she was coming to admitting they hadn't been irresponsible. Though it was none of the team's business, they were cops so she knew they'd want to know and she wasn't telling.

"Congrats. So what are you going to do now?" Cho asked as he studied the eclectically interesting collection of books lining the bookcases. He suspected most of the volumes belonged to Jane.

"Continue as we've started. Since I know you're wondering and Lisbon will never tell, we weren't careless. The little magic pill failed. Also in case you're wondering, we're not together because of the kid. We're together because we want to be regardless of our son not because of him." Jane readily spilled all of their secrets before they could ask much to Lisbon's chagrin. Rather before Van Pelt could ask. They both knew just such a question or a similar one hovered on her lips.

"It's a boy?" Rigsby's ears perked up. A boy would be nice. The boss would like that. She was a bit of a tomboy. Jane would probably prefer another girl. He just seemed like that kind of guy in spite of the pain it would cause him.

"Yeah, it's a boy." Their son hadn't been that shy about showing his little boy parts as they'd discovered a couple of days ago.

"Congratulations." Rigsby liked the idea of the boss having a boy.

He and Van Pelt could teach him to play football one day. It wasn't like Jane was going to do it. He'd probably try to teach him all that weird stuff he was into before the kid could even talk. A boy didn't need to learn all that junk. He needed to learn to play sports. He could learn a little football here, a little soccer there, and maybe they'd throw in a little golf and baseball for balance. Wrestling wasn't a bad option either.

"Thanks, Rigsby." Jane spoke for both of them.

"One other thing you need to know. You're the only people other than us who know about the baby and Lisbon wants to keep it that way for as long as we can. At the rate she's going, it'll be another month or two before anyone knows. By the time we have to tell anyone, she'll be ready to leave the field for a while. Right now she's not." Jane continued as though Lisbon couldn't speak for herself.

"What about the baby? You could get hurt." Cho asked the question they were all leery of asking.

"I'm not going to do anything stupid and I haven't gotten hurt yet. If I feel like I can't perform up to speed, I voluntarily leave the field." Lisbon compromised.

"Fair enough. What about him?" Cho asked.

"What about him? He's out there. We're being careful just like we've always been. There's nothing more we can do at the moment." Lisbon's tone said that subject was closed for discussion.

"That's all any of us can do." Cho acknowledged the subject was closed and Lisbon visibly relaxed. "We've got your back as much as that's possible."

"Thanks, Cho, we appreciate that." Jane answered for his other half. "Hey, it's nice outside. Let's move this party out to the balcony." That had gone better than expected.

Business conducted with no major catastrophes, the team followed Lisbon and Jane back out onto the balcony where they passed the rest of the evening in easy companionship. There were a few dicey moments when old lady Crandall across the way got rather cross with her imaginary friend and the stockbroker in 432 got his face slapped for putting the make on his girlfriend's younger sister; but, all in all it was a pleasant evening for everyone. Lisbon and Jane were entertaining hosts and the food was incredible. The team couldn't help hoping tonight was but the first of more to come.