Holiday fluff, set in the "Re" universe of stories (Redemption, Regret, Repentance, and Recovery). If you don't know who Bear is, you will probably be confused.

Even if most things about his return to the U.S. are better than he deserves, at least one thing is unacceptable. He's determined to fix it though. He hopes he can. He certainly wants to. Jane drops by Lisbon's apartment, long after the case is closed, with an unexpected question. And she isn't sure how to react. For Chibs, set immediately after 6.11.

Jane hated Texas. Still, it wasn't all bad. At least Lisbon was with him. Of course, they were about to enter a recently evacuated office building to look for a terrorist in the middle of a hurricane, so he supposed things weren't exactly ideal.

Jane plans to keep this first Christmas back in the U.S. relatively low-key. Until Lisbon surprises him with an unexpected gift. Christmas fluff based on the new direction the show is going. Enjoy!

"'She had it coming,'" Lisbon quoted to him. "You tell her you're sorry, and then you turn around and tell me 'she had it coming' Was that for my benefit, Jane? Did you think for some reason it would make me feel better to hear you say that? Because let me tell you, it most certainly did not."

Follow up to Wedding in Red, which felt really unfinished to me. Jane and Lisbon talk about weddings. Hypothetically, of course. Or so Lisbon thinks.

There, in the recesses of the closet, she buried her nose in the stained collar of his shirt, breathing in deeply. It smelled faintly of detergent and oolong tea. She filled her lungs with the scent, half-hoping it would wind its way into her heart and assure her that what she feared couldn't possibly true.

In this story, Lisbon is the one with the crazy bulletin board.

It shouldn't have been a surprise when her slightly hysterical giggle turned into a sob. Shocked, Lisbon threw off her gloves and pressed a hand to her face. She was being ridiculous. Absolutely ridiculous. It wasn't like they were fighting. Restraints-verse.

NOW COMPLETE! Jane teases Lisbon about her poker skills, which leads to a conversation that surprises them both, spirals into plots and counter-plots, and leaves them facing a dilemma they never imagined, but might secretly want. Minor spoilers for early season 5, but goes AU from there. Thanks to phoenixx87 for the cover!

Obviously, he was lying when he said it. Of course, she'd been lying, too, when she'd pretended to believe him. It was just that he was so much better at it than she was.