Chapter 36 – New Life

Seven Months Later

'I tell you, Steph, I'm in genuine fear for my life!' Jane laughed as they walked around the baby store looking at pushchairs.

She giggled beside him, picking up the odd soft toy and putting it in the trolley she pushed. 'So, I'm assuming Lisbon's mood swings haven't changed any in the last few weeks.'

He shook his head and ran his hand through his hair, picking up a baby monitor and reading the box. 'If anything she's got worse since she's gone on maternity leave. At least when she was at work she had other people to take out her bad moods on. If I didn't have such good reflexes I would have had a saucepan hit me the other day.' He smiled and threw the box in the trolley.

She laughed again. 'You know it's her hormones, wasn't Angela like this?'

'No, she wasn't. She got a little weepy as time went on but nothing like this. It's like I'm living with a schizophrenic. Sometimes she's so sweet and teary and then other times I think I should lock up her guns. I never know what I'm going to get from one moment to the next.'

'Well, she's always kept you on your toes you said. She's just continuing the tradition. She wouldn't want you to be bored with her' she laughed.

Jane and Lisbon's lives had changed dramatically over the last few months. After getting confirmation from the doctor that Lisbon was in perfect physical condition and they had got to the three month mark, Jane had sprung into action. They discussed living together and agreed it was time to try that again. He kept the boat and sometimes they would both go there at the weekends to get out of the city until she was, in her words, 'the size of a whale'. He had insisted they buy a house together and she had acquiesced easily, knowing her apartment was too small for them both and a baby. He had wanted a large one but had agreed to buy a three bedroom detached one in one of the nice suburbs of Sacramento with a small enclosed back garden. He had to admit it was much homelier than the one he had in Malibu and as they decorated it and painted it together it felt like a proper home for them both in no time at all. He had moved into her place in Austin but it was much nicer to have found this place together. He had cut back on his seminars and she on field work, a compromise both were happy to make for each other and the baby. He couldn't really concentrate on working if he was honest and preferred to stay at home to make sure she ate properly, only taking seminars that were nearby. She, in turn, had cut down on her work hours. She brought paperwork home with her instead of staying at the office to do it that she completed lounging on the couch with her feet in his lap as he massaged them. He had continued to propose to her and she had continued to say 'not yet'. It had almost become a game between them as his proposals became more outlandish. Only a month ago he had a Mariachi band come into a restaurant they were dining at to do the deed for him, trying his best to embarrass her into agreeing. But she hadn't caved just yet. They talked about the future and what life would be like after the baby. She was going to take a six month break from work and then Jane would be the primary carer when she went back to work, the baby going into a daycare facility near her office when he was going to be out of town on seminars.

'You using the boat at the weekend?' Steph asked, bringing him out of his thoughts.

'What do you think? She'd more than likely throw me overboard, I'm not taking that chance' he replied, grinning.

'Great, can I borrow it then?'

'Since when do you ask?'

She rolled her eyes, putting a baby mobile into the trolley. 'I'll take that as a yes, thanks.'

Jane looked at the mobile and took it out, replacing it with another one. 'Purple ducks make no sense whatsoever' he said to her as way of an explanation before moving on to the bottle warmers.

He glanced in her direction and then began to study her face, a smile forming.

'What? You know I hate it when you read me!'

He turned fully in her direction now and looked at her again, a smug expression on his face. 'Why do you want to borrow the boat this weekend? Who are you taking with you?'

'A friend' she replied, crossing her arms.

'No, not a friend. Well, not just a friend.'

'What's the big deal, old man? It's just some guy I met.' She turned away from him and looked at a box in front of her.

He still stood where he was. 'Nope. Not just some guy. You've fallen for him' he stated, a grin on his face now.

She rolled her eyes, glaring back at him. 'So what if I have?'

He chuckled to himself. 'I always hoped I'd see the day it would happen to you. Let's see if you cope with love any better than me.'

She raised her eyebrows. 'Well, that's not much of a competition, is it?' she smiled.

It turned out the man in question was one of Lisbon's agents that she had met when she had come to meet Lisbon for lunch one day. Jane was glad, he was a good man, loyal and trustworthy and he had gone out on a limb for Lisbon on a couple of occasions so wasn't afraid to stand up for what he believed in.

As they made their way to the cots Jane's phone rang. He glanced at it and rolled his eyes, smiling. 'It's the she-devil' he said.

Steph muttered, 'I'd love to hear you call her that in person.'

'Hey sweetheart, how are you feeling? We're almost finished with the list you gave us.'

Steph saw a wave of panic run across his face immediately. This was go time, she thought to herself.

Steph waited in the car as Jane raced into the house. His hands had been shaking since he got off the call and she didn't trust him to drive.

As he opened the door he shouted, 'I'm here, where are you?'

'In the bedroom' came the calm reply.

He ran upstairs to find her packing a few things into a bag. She glanced at him. 'You ready to go?'

She said it like they were going out to dinner or the movies. He nodded blankly before he went over and retrieved the bag. Just then she crouched over in two and panted, trying to control her breathing through the pain and grabbed his hand tightly. He was about to lose circulation as she let it go as the contraction passed.

'How long in between?' he asked as they headed to the door.

'Um...I'm not sure.'

He turned around to her as they got to the front door. 'What do you mean you're not sure? You're supposed to time them!'

As they reached the car and got in the back Steph listened to them arguing.

The first words she heard were Lisbon's. 'Don't start, all right! I wanted to make sure before we went to the hospital! It might have been a false alarm.'

'So what if it had been? You sent me to the store this morning when you were already having contractions! Tell me the truth, how long?'

Lisbon doubled over in two again, grasping at his hand before she could reply. He had already timed them and they would be lucky to make it to the hospital on time.

'Step on it' he shouted to Steph and she put her foot down on the accelerator.

Lisbon had recovered again. 'Do not Stephanie! Keep to the speed limit, we'll make it.'

Steph rolled her eyes and tried to find a compromise.

Jane glared at Lisbon then his face grew soft again and he spoke in soothing tones. 'It's going to be all right. I'm sorry I shouted at you.' He stroked her face and looked in her eyes.

'And I'm sorry for cutting it fine' she replied, breathing slowly. She added, 'This is really happening, isn't it?'

He smiled and nodded.

Two hours later Jane looked at the baby girl in his arms as Lisbon slept. They had just made it on time and Lisbon had been a trouper as usual. It was too late for an epidural and she had got through it with just gas and air. The midwife must have thought the two of them quite mad. She seemed unable to push without calling him a son of a bitch or other such words and getting an insult from him thrown back at her in return, her anger at him giving her the means to finally press on. He thinks the first words his new daughter must have heard were her calling him 'an egotistical idiot'. He smiled at the thought as he glanced down and felt the tiny fingertips on his. He swallowed and opened a new door in his memory palace, an adjoining room to Charlotte's, as his tears fell silently on his cheeks.

'Hey' Lisbon said sleepily, her eyes opening slowly and taking in the sight in front of her.

Jane looked up. 'Hey yourself' he said softly, not wanting to wake the baby in his arms. 'How are you feeling?'

Lisbon couldn't take her eyes off them both. 'Like I just got rear ended by a truck and that I couldn't be happier about it.'

Jane grinned and brought the baby to her, sitting on the bed as Lisbon took her in her arms. It was his turn to gaze at them both now, sighing heavily as he watched mother and daughter bond. Lisbon ran her fingertips over her forehead. 'How is it possible to feel so much love for someone so instantly? It's...It's a little scary and overwhelming.'

He smiled and ran his fingertips across Lisbon's face, kissing her cheek gently. 'I've been thinking about my next birthday present. You don't need to bother; you'll never top this one.'

She smiled back at him. 'I think you may just be right.'

'So, what are we going to call her?'

Lisbon looked back at him, tears in her eyes. 'Don't know. What do you think?'

'I think you did the hard part so you should choose.'

She smiled and looked back at her daughter, rolling her eyes. 'You're right about that.' After a moment she smiled. 'Fifi' she said, looking at him for a response.

He saw through her game instantly and nodded. 'Great choice. Couldn't have picked a better name myself.' He went to get off the bed. 'I think I have the registration form on me somewhere' he smiled, pretending to look through his pockets.

He sat back down as they shared a laugh.

After a moment looking at her she said, 'How about Amelia?'

'Amelia?' He thought for a second. 'Amelia Jane. I like it. What made you choose it?'

'Well Amelia Earhart was a pioneer of her time, I'm thinking our Amelia might just turn out to be one too. That, and my mother was always fascinated with her for some reason, makes me feel a little close to her still.'

'Sounds wonderful'

'Are you...are you okay with it being a girl? I mean this whole thing today was bound to stir up some pretty painful memories.'

Jane looked at her and then his daughter. 'Not painful memories, good ones, Teresa. About it being a girl, why, you got another choice for me hidden away somewhere?' He smiled at her. 'I'm better with girls than boys anyway. But no matter which it turned out to be I couldn't be happier that the two of you are healthy and safe. I'm going to make sure it stays that way.' His face fell a little before he smiled back at her.

She smiled at him and nodded. 'We'll both look after each other and Amelia. It's not just your responsibility. And I'm glad you'll be better with a girl, I don't have a clue what I'm going to do with one, I'm only used to annoying boys...and even more annoying men.'

He nodded and smiled, taking one of Amelia's tiny feet in his hands gently.

'Yes' Lisbon said quietly as he ran his fingers over the foot.

He didn't bring his eyes back to her but blinked a few times and smiled. He finally looked up at her with a nonchalant expression on his face. 'Yes to what? I don't seem to recall asking you a question.'

She raised her eyebrows. 'Yes to the question you've asked me every week for seven months.'

He feigned sudden recognition. 'Ah, that question.' He brought his gaze back down to his daughter and moved his fingers to her other foot, enjoying seeing her squirm a little as he ran his finger over the little toe.

'So?'

He kept playing with the foot, engrossed in its feel in his hand. 'So what?' he said casually.

Lisbon gathered her daughter closer to her chest, pulling the blanket she was in over her toes and glared at him.

He smiled as he looked back at her. 'Are you really using our daughter to blackmail me into a proposal? That's not a good role model for her, you know, Lisbon. You're a parent now, you have to think about those things. Besides, maybe I've changed my mind. You haven't been the easiest person to live with these last few months.'

She sat with her mouth open and then began to chuckle. 'And you haven't been the easiest person to be with these last thirteen years. I would say I was due a little payback the last few months. Hope it gave you a little taste of what I've had to put up with all these years.'

'And despite what I put you through all those years you're still here' he stated, gazing intently at her, a ghost of a smile playing on his lips.

'And despite what I put you through these last few months so are you.' She looked him back in the eyes and he finally saw the look he had been hoping for, she knew he would never leave again.

In a flash he pulled out the box and held it out to her. She grinned and then her face fell. 'What if I don't like the ring you chose?'

He glared at her. 'Do you honestly think I'd pick a ring you wouldn't like?'

She smiled again. 'Open it.'

He put his hand on the top of the box. 'Now, just to be clear, there's no taking it back once I do this. You're not getting out of this marriage.'

She nodded and bit her lip.

He opened the box and knew instantly he'd picked the right ring. It was a simple gold band with three perfectly formed diamonds at the front, the middle one a little larger than the two surrounding. They weren't large but they were flawless. Even still, he was still incredibly nervous and found himself babbling.

'I didn't think you'd appreciate a big rock as it might get in the way of you taking a suspect down. Never mind it may injure me if you punched me on the nose again. And I thought the gold band would go with your cross. I know a lot of people go for white gold or platinum nowadays-'

'Will you just put it on me, you idiot?' she interrupted, her left hand finger already outstretched.

He stopped talking and took the ring out of the box. He had to control his breathing to stop his hands from shaking. He took her finger and began to slip the ring on. Then, they both looked at each other, perplexed, as it only made its way halfway down the finger.

He bit back a smile until he saw her reaction which came a second later.

'My fat fingers' she said sadly as she looked down at the ring which was hovering at her knuckle.

He bit the inside of his mouth until he heard her laugh and look up at him, finally allowing him to chuckle himself. Amelia stirred a little at the noise but soon settled back into Lisbon's arms.

'This about sums up our relationship doesn't it?' she laughed as he moved the ring to her little finger for the time being until her water retention dissipated.

He laughed again then kissed his daughter's forehead. He moved his hand to Lisbon's chin, held it and drew her into a long lingering kiss. His life would never be the same again and he couldn't wait to get started on this new chapter.

- THE END -

A/N: Thanks again for all the tremendous support you've shown me throughout this story. I can't believe how many lovely reviews and words of support I've had.

My next story is a total departure from my first two. It's an AU of how Jane and Lisbon meet that I hope you'll enjoy. It won't be nearly as angsty as this one (there will be much more humour) but there'll be a little bit in it. It's a multichapter again and it's called 'Deception'.

Hope you follow it and enjoy.