THE LAKESIDE KILLER

A/N: So sorry for missing my Sunday deadline. Life got in the way and I couldn't finish. Didn't want to just put it up to meet a deadline if it wasn't right. Here it is. I hope it doesn't disappoint and wraps it up nicely for everyone.

The conclusion - Part 4

It had been five weeks since he'd last seen her when she'd left him standing in her driveway with Pike. He sat, bleary-eyed in his trailer staring at the wall. He was exhausted, but every night, sleep would elude him until early dawn would start peeking and he'd fall into a fit of nightmares for two hours and wake up missing her with such an ache that it physically hurt. He cursed himself once more for driving her out of his life.

He'd tried calling her and texting her, repeatedly. She never answered and then changed her number. He wasn't sure if it was because she needed a D.C. number or to block him, but she hadn't given him her new number, so the reason didn't matter.

He looked at the driver's seat of the Airstream like he did every night for the last few weeks. He imagined himself driving to D.C. and surprising her. He'd beg for her forgiveness and she would give him another chance. But like all daydreams, that's all it was. He'd overheard Fischer talking with her last week and from what he heard, she'd been on a date. She wasn't wasting any time it would seem.

He let the feeling of misery wash over him. There was no use fighting it… it always came no matter what he tried. Years ago, he used to welcome the feeling, needing it to fuel his quest for revenge, but now he found that he didn't want it in his life anymore. He wanted the carefree feeling he'd had since she'd walked into his airstream all those weeks ago and he'd decided to let himself be with her. Then he'd ruined everything by running away, not able to deal with his feelings, his heart too damaged and reacting out of proportion. When he'd come to his senses, and showed up at her door, he'd let his jealousy take the reins… he'd been petty and mean and he'd lost her.

But he missed her… it was a constant throbbing ache. He laid on the couch and stared at the ceiling. How long would it take to get over her he wondered? He kept going through the motions, hoping that the pain would ease, but it always reared its ugly head when he was alone. He couldn't figure out what had changed so dramatically to cause him to be this melancholy. He didn't miss her like this on the island and he'd loved her then. It couldn't be the sex, because that was just a physical manifestation of feelings and although it had been amazing with her, that's not what he was missing.

Why couldn't he let her go like he did before? He let himself indulge in his favorite memories of her knowing it would hurt later… the way she smiled at him when she was pretending to be annoyed, the way she bit her lip when she worked on her computer, her rich laughter near his ear when he tickled her, her warm heat in his arms when they slept, the way she stands when giving orders, her pouty lips admonishing him, her beautiful green eyes filled with love for him… that is what he missed the most; the way she'd looked at him with unrestrained love and trust.

He rubbed his face aggressively, he was so damn tired, he couldn't continue like this. He paced his trailer then decided that he had nothing to lose by trying to win her back. Things couldn't go back to the way it was and he had to find a way to move forward with her in his life. He felt invigorated with his decision. It would be dangerous for him to attempt to drive there, he was too sleep-deprived. He would have to fly. He picked up his phone. 'Hey, Kim. I need my passport.' 'Hey, Jane. I need clearance from Abbott first. Sorry.' 'Hi, Abbott. I need my passport. ''Why?' 'Personal.' 'You can't leave the country and you don't have any more leave left.' 'I just need 24 hours. Staying in the country.' 'Don't make me regret this. I'll have Kim release it tomorrow morning.' 'Thanks.'

Xxxxxxx

Lisbon's POV

The chatter in the bullpen outside her office suddenly stopped. Her team was conferring on a case and the sudden quiet made her look up in surprise as sure as a loud blast. She didn't have any windows in her office, so she went to her door to see what was going on. She sucked in air forgetting to breathe for a few heartbeats. Jane had just waltzed in unannounced. She straightened and made eye contact with him. He smiled and waved. Her agents were watching suspiciously and were on guard. Her department was a highly restricted area and visitors were always announced and escorted. She rushed out before they sounded the alarm.

"Agents stand down. This is Patrick Jane, he's a consultant with the FBI office in Austin."

She signaled him with her eyes and a slight nod to get in her office. She closed the door and sat down behind her desk, feeling claustrophobic all of a sudden. Her heart was in her throat, beating so fast she felt like anyone would be able to see the pulse going in her neck… especially him. He folded his lithe body into the chair across from her with a smile on his face, appearing happy to have surprised her.

"Hey Lisbon," he said, his eyes skimming over her.

"Jane. Do you know how much trouble you could have caused by coming in here without clearance? This is not a game. This is my job."

"I'm sorry. I wanted to surprise you."

"You know I hate surprises."

"Meh."

She let her eyes drink him in. The sight of him a salve for her aching heart. His hair was longer but tamed, his cheeks clean-shaven… he was also wearing a three-piece suit. She hadn't seen him in one of those since their CBI days that seemed ages ago now. He seemed put together, but his eyes were red-rimmed like he hadn't slept in days with deep circles and he was leaner. She'd be more concerned if it weren't for the gleam in his eyes as he watched her observe him.

"Why are you here?" she finally said, keeping her voice steady.

"It's great to see you too!" he chuckled.

"Cut the crap, Jane."

"I missed you," he said, his eyes caressing her, the way only he could do.

Her heart picked up even more speed, surprised that it was even possible. She hoped that she had shored up more defenses since she'd last seen him, but she'd been wrong. He still had a very strong affected on her and she knew that he could breach her boundaries easily. But she had to stay level-headed, even though she was still madly in love with him.

"This is my place of work, Jane. You can't just come in here and do this. I have a full schedule, an active case and-"

"We need to talk."

"Yes, we do," she said, looking at him pointedly in the eyes. She saw his brows spring up in surprise. "But not here. We can meet up later."

He looked suspiciously at her, then smiled.

"I'll stay."

"You can't stay."

"Let me help you with your case."

"I don't need your help."

"Sure, you do. But if you don't want it, I guess I can just sit here and watch you work."

That unnerved her. She didn't want to cause a scene, so she relented, knowing by the tilt of his head and the smile on his lips, that this was her better option.

"Promise me to be on your best behavior."

"I promise," he said crossing his heart.

He smiled his golden smile and she felt joy radiate inside her chest. She tried to suppress her own, but she couldn't and felt her lips give way.

"I'll introduce you… no tricks. You pass everything by me."

He winked at her and followed her out into the bullpen.

It was way past quitting time and her team was still buzzing with energy. Jane had found new clues in the case and they were busy chasing them down. Every once in a while she would hear laughter when Jane would entertain them with a new trick or anecdote to break the tension. She found herself smiling, feeling happy. Her stomach grumbled again… she hadn't left her office all day and had eaten all the crackers and potato chips she had, too afraid that Jane would want to take her out to eat. She needed the protection of her office and team until she was ready to talk to him. She drank more water, hoping to relieve her hunger.

"Boss?" her senior agent said. "The team will be breaking for the day. Have a goodnight."

"Goodnight."

Jane's POV

She'd been avoiding him all day staying in her office. She'd only come out to use the washroom and get updates from her team. He'd enjoyed watching her in action… he was quite turned on. It had been a long time since she'd been in a position of authority and he forgot how much he loved this side of her.

The team was clearing out quickly… he walked back into her office and sat on her desk by her side, his thigh just inches from her forearm. She kept her head focused on her screen, refusing to acknowledge him. He heard the last of her team leave as the door clicked close and smiled.

"You know, a couch is needed in here," he said casually.

She ignored him, keeping her eyes glued to her screen as she typed furiously. He scooted closer, crowding her a bit, his thigh now touching her arm. She was still ignoring him, so he waited patiently. He'd been in the bullpen all day, giving her space, so he hadn't really had the chance to have a good look at her. He'd been miserable without her these past few weeks… she looked a bit tired, a bit thinner, but otherwise okay. He wondered if she missed him as much as he'd missed her. She couldn't have gotten over him already; he hoped. When she'd agreed readily that they needed to talk, he'd been surprised, expecting more pushback. He looked around her office… it was still bare, missing the personal touches and live-in feeling of her previous workspaces. No windows, which was depressing. The trash bin caught his eye; lots of empty potato chip bags and candy bars. Teresa loved junk food, but this was a bit excessive even for her… maybe she did miss him too. She'd used junk food to comfort herself before.

She got up suddenly, startling him from his train of thought. His eyes followed her.

"Jane! For god sakes, why are you sitting so close."

He smiled triumphantly, realizing that she was all flustered. She was still attracted to him. He got up and went to her, tilting her chin he kissed her. She kept her lips pressed together refusing to grant him access, her hands balled up on his chest keeping him from getting too close, but she didn't push him away. He took her fists in his hands and massaged them gently until she relented her grip. He gave up on her lips and moved down to her neck, a small moan escaped her. He smiled against her neck and pressed her against him. Her arms went around his waist and he brought his face back to hers. He caressed her cheeks with his thumbs, her eyes liquid pools of green, the color so sharp and bright, it took his breath away.

"I've missed you with an ache I didn't know I could feel," he said gazing deeply into her eyes.

He saw pain in her eyes; pain that he had put there. He felt shame in his gut but pushed on. He kissed her again knowing that she always expressed herself best through physical contact. He ran his tongue along the seam of her lips and this time, she opened up willingly, sucking his tongue greedily then pushing hers in his mouth. He sighed with relief. Their kiss increased in intensity, his body tensing with buzzing energy. He skimmed his hands up her belly to cup her breast; she winced and pushed his hands away but kept kissing him. He grabbed her waist and pulled her tighter against his erection, needing to feel her softness. She moaned again in his mouth, her tongue dueling with his, her hand tracing his cock through his pants. His mind was going blank, he wanted her badly like a thirst he couldn't quench. He pushed her against the wall, needed to taste her, to touch her everywhere. He unbuttoned her blouse and reached into her bra to rub her nipple and she winced again, pushing him away firmly this time.

"Stop. Jane, we need to stop," she said panting, fixing up her clothes.

"What's wrong?" he asked, stunned, his brain still fogged by lust.

She avoided his gaze and kept her head down as she grabbed her purse roughly from her drawer and started woodenly getting ready to go.

"We need to talk, not have sex," she said roughly. "Let's just go."

She was upset. He followed her out and had to increase his strides to keep up with her as they exited the building. As they got in the elevator, a man rushed in at the last minute.

"Hi, Teresa! How was your day?" the man asked her.

"Hi, David," she said with a fake half-smile. "It went well. You?"

"Very well."

"This is Patrick Jane. Jane, this is Agent David Sampson."

They shook hands.

"Did you get my text? I have tickets for the game on Saturday that I promised you."

"Sorry, it was a very busy day. Can I get back to you later?"

"Yeah, of course."

The doors opened, and he breathed a sigh of relief. This was the guy she'd been on a date with. He wondered if she'd kissed him. The guy seemed to hesitate as though he wanted to kiss her goodbye or hug her; if he tried, he was quite sure he was going to hit the guy. His hands balled into fists of their accord and he must have looked aggressive enough that when David looked at him, he paused, then left.

"We went on one date," she said as they approached her car. "That's all I'm going to say about it."

He couldn't help himself, he needed to know.

"Did you sleep with him?"

She gave him a pissed off look and climbed into the car. He got his answer, reading her easily. She hadn't slept with him.

"You don't get to ask me that question."

"Maybe, but I still wanted to know."

She shook her head and started the car. She didn't say another word. She kept her eyes on the road the entire drive, her knuckles white from gripping the steering so tightly, her face set in a frown. He had no idea where they were going.

"We should pick up some take-out."

"What?" she said snappily, as though she didn't hear him.

"Food. It's almost 7 p.m. I'm hungry. We should get some take-out."

Her stomach grumbled at that moment and her face soured.

"I have food at home."

He looked out the window, his empty stomach growling at him. He hadn't been able to eat much these last few weeks, but his appetite had returned today upon seeing her and he was famished. Unfortunately, Lisbon never had food at home. He'd be lucky to get toast when he got there.

"Lisbon… we have to eat. Just stop at the next drive-through and we'll grab burgers and fries."

She sighed heavily as if considering his request. She passed a few drive-throughs and he kissed his teeth as she passed their favorite fast-food chain. She kissed her teeth in return and u-turned it into the drive-through and picked up food. The rest of the drive continued in silence. They arrived at a condo complex and parked. He followed her into her building from the parking garage, into the elevator, along the long hallway to her door in complete silence. She never glanced at him, her shoulders squared, her lips set in a line. He'd been observing her closely and something was off, he just couldn't put his finger on it yet.

They entered her condo apartment and she set her keys on the kitchen island. It was a small open-concept living area that included a kitchen, dining room, and living room. There were still unpacked boxes along the walls and corners. Case files were strewn on her coffee table with bags of potato chips. He came to stand beside her in the kitchen, putting the take-out bag on the countertop and she stiffened.

"Let's go in the living room," she said quickly. Too quickly. She grabbed his arm to lead him there.

He followed her but was curious by her sudden need to usher him into another room. He went along and sat down.

"Um- actually, we can sit outside. Go make yourself comfortable and I'll bring some plates."

She was acting strange, very un-Lisbon. Teresa wasn't flighty or undecided. She was quite the opposite.

"Teresa, what's going on?"

"Nothing."

"Just tell me."

"Jane, please. I'm too tired to be prodded right now. Just go outside. We'll talk out there. Bring the take-out with you."

He relented and went to sit outside not wanting to force his position too early. The balcony overlooked the city from the 15th floor and presented a beautiful view. She arrived a few minutes later and handed him a plate and utensils. He plated his food and started eating.

"Why are you here?"

"I told you, I missed you."

She looked at him briefly, her beautiful green eyes filled with suspicion, then averted her gaze back to the cityscape. She was just picking at her fries, her burger untouched.

"I behaved badly, shamefully. I came to ask for your forgiveness."

"We're over, Jane. I can't let you keep hurting me."

Her words stabbed him in the heart, but he didn't believe them to be true. She could have told him in her office without bringing him here and she wouldn't have let him kiss her. But he did owe her a very overdue apology.

"I know I screwed up, but I want to make it right. I just- I can't live without you in my life. The last few weeks have been hell without you. I can't sleep, I can't eat, I can't think. I'm useless."

"You broke up with me. You said that you couldn't be with me. You never even explained what you meant. Then you showed up a week later, out the blue acting like a jerk."

She got up suddenly and stood at the other end of the balcony, watching him.

"I know and that was not my crowning moment. I left because I was frightened by the intensity of my feelings for you. I felt out of control… my feelings running the whole gamut in the span of a day… it was disorientating and overwhelming," he said as he got up to go stand in front of her. "I ran towards a serial killer with no plan – when have you known me to not have a plan? And I did this because I was scared of losing you. In hindsight, I realized that the way I acted was completely irrational, but at the time, all I could think about was getting that man as far away from you as I could. I wasn't thinking clearly, and I ended up getting you shot. I've always felt protective of you, Teresa, but since we became involved, it kicked it up to a whole new level that I wasn't expecting, and it scared me. And I ran away."

"So what's changed now?"

"Well, I thought that I could return to the way things were for me on the island. I'd missed you before and I was okay. I'd lived without you for two years and was sure that I could do it again. What I didn't count on was the fact that before, I didn't know what it felt like to hold you while you slept, I didn't know what you tasted like, I'd never seen you look at me with love in your eyes, my body didn't remember the touch of your fingertips… I can't forget you or get over you like I thought I could. I loved you when I went on that island, but I'm madly in love with you now and it's not the same and I don't want to get over you. And instead of begging for your forgiveness that night all those weeks ago, I let my ego and pride take control and hurt you."

She didn't respond. She turned towards the skyline view, breathing heavily.

"Teresa-"

She brushed past him, her face contorted in panic, and ran into her condo. He got up and went after her. He looked around for her and saw the light under the bathroom door. She was vomiting.

"Teresa?" he asked gently. "Are you okay?"

More vomiting. He put his hand on the handle but thought better of it. Teresa would not appreciate him invading her privacy. He went into the kitchen to get her some water and as he walked past the refrigerator, he saw something unusual. He removed the magnet and picked up the sonogram picture. Teresa's name was in the upper left corner along with the date of the sonogram, just yesterday. He examined it more closely and saw the pregnancy dating, 8 weeks, 2 days. Pike's baby. Suddenly, the puzzle pieces fell into place… the motion sickness on the boat was morning sickness, his encounter with her and Pike that night, she was probably telling him about the pregnancy, the reason she kept insisting that she wanted to talk, the frequent washroom breaks today, her sensitive breasts when he touched them, why she'd been pushing her food on her plate… she was pregnant and not feeling well. He put the sonogram back and took a deep breath. He felt dizzy and went to sit on the couch.

She came out of the bathroom looking pale. He tried to smile comfortingly.

"I'll get you some water," he said getting up quickly. "Sit."

She stiffened, her voice panicked, "It's okay."

"Teresa, it's okay, I know. I saw the sonogram. I know about the baby. Let me get you some water."

She sat down and told him where the glasses were. He brought her the glass and sat down beside her. She drank it slowly, her eyes tense.

"How bad is it… the nausea?"

"Bad. It comes in waves all day long. All the baby seems to like is potato chips and chocolate. I can't seem to keep down anything else. Just the smell of food can make me sick."

That's why she didn't want to pick up take-out earlier and wanted to eat outside.

"I guess it was morning sickness on the boat and not motion sickness."

"No – that was motion sickness, I can't take boats," she said frowning at him. "And it was too early for that."

"Oh. Congratulations by the way," he croaked out as best he could, pasting on a smile pasted.

"Um- thanks," she said frowning. "I was expecting a different reaction to be honest. Sorry, you found out like this. I wanted us to talk first before I told you."

"What were you expecting?" he asked, confused.

"I'm not sure. Not this. I thought…" she took a deep breath. "Forget it. Tell me what you're thinking."

He watched her brace herself for what he would say. He sat up straighter and rubbed his palms over his knees.

"Um… I'm surprised," he said, standing up suddenly, needing to put his body in motion. "It changes things. But… I'm happy for you, I really am. I just wasn't expecting it."

Her eyes widened, then narrowed as they held his gaze. She opened her mouth to say something then closed it, then looked at her hands.

"So, the baby is a problem for you?"

He shrugged, not knowing how to answer her question. He hadn't considered that she could still want to have a relationship with him while being pregnant with another man's baby. I guess there was a possibility that they could be together. He rubbed his face with his hand. He loved her and loved kids. It could work.

"No… no problem. I'm just still processing. The baby is great news. Great!" – He took a deep breath – "To be honest, I'm just a little sad for myself… I-… I wish the baby was mine."

She frowned, confusion settling in her features.

"But, it is yours."

Now he was confused.

"You're too far along for me to be the father. I saw the sonogram, you're almost 9 weeks. We were together 6 weeks ago."

"Jane," she said reaching for his hand. "My pregnancy is dated from the first day of my last period, not the date of conception. There's no doubt you're the father. There was no overlap between you and Marcus, we hadn't been together in a while and I always used protection with him."

He blinked a few times, trying to register her words. Then a warm happy feeling flooded his body. He felt his lips pull into a smile… so big his cheeks hurt. He couldn't control it. His heart started racing, overflowing with joy at the news that she was having his baby. His baby. His body moved of its own accord and he found himself kneeling before her. He moved his hands from her thighs to her belly and stroked it with his thumbs, fascinated by the fact that his child was growing there. He leaned in and kissed her still flat belly, her legs opening to accommodate him when he hugged her body to his, resting his head on her chest. He could hear her heart beating fast.

He felt her arms reach around and hug him tighter to her. Her body started shaking; she was crying. He pulled away and looked into her eyes, her cheeks were stained with tears and in that instant, he knew the truth. Teresa was too careful to risk getting pregnant by accident. She'd been committed to him when they'd made love the first time and she'd taken the risk because she had been prepared to have his baby. She could have told him to pull out… he saw her consider it at the time. He remembered her hesitation at his question back then, but he'd been too wrapped up in his lust to catch it. This baby was wanted, his baby… she'd wanted to have his baby. She had to still love him. He needed to make this right for her, restore her faith in him. He couldn't let her down again.

"I love you, Teresa. I'm so sorry I hurt you. You've brought me so much happiness and I've hurt you over and over again. I was a fool… please, let me love you the way you deserve. I won't let you down again. I won't take your love for granted again. I won't run away. Please, give me another chance to love you and make you happy. I'll do whatever it takes."

Lisbon's POV

Damn her weak heart. She was trying so hard to stay level-headed and in control. To not cave in to her affections for him… her need to comfort him, but she was a blubbering mess. He was being so tender with her and when he'd kissed her belly softly, she'd lost control.

She looked in his eyes and felt lost. She loved him. She was having his baby. She wanted to be with him and he was making her all these promises and she wanted to believe him. Nothing had changed… she still couldn't imagine her life without him or being with someone else. She needed to give him another try, for her sake and that of their baby's. If there was a chance, she had to take it.

"Okay," she said simply.

He stared into her eyes, a smile teasing his lips. He leaned in and kissed her softly. He stroked her hair and grabbed a lock of her hair.

"I won't let you down ever again. I promise. I'll talk to Abbott, maybe he can come up with an arrangement where I can work from here or travel some of the time. I'll find a way to make this work."

She stroked his face, she'd missed the feel of his skin and the heat of his body next to hers. Just the sound of his voice was easing the tension she'd been feeling all these weeks. She pulled him in for another kiss.

"I appreciate that, but it's not necessary. I've already submitted for a transfer back to Austin last week. Abbott was relieved that I was coming back. Said you were a mess."

He looked confused. "Why?"

"So, you could be with your kid. I could never keep you both apart regardless of what happened between us. And… let's be honest… you're a mess without me. Between Cho and Fischer, I could barely get any work done taking all their calls. Even Wiley called me," she said, unable to stop smiling.

He bobbed his head from side to side.

"Well… I can't say I blame them. I was quite despondent without you. C'mon. Let's see if I can make you something that my baby will like besides potato chips, candy bars, and crackers."

He got up and started going through her cupboards; she followed him in.

"I haven't been grocery shopping in a while."

He cocked his eyebrow.

"Humm… not surprising."

He grabbed her and sat her on the counter.

"You haven't been eating much, have you? You're lighter than before you were pregnant. Don't blame the baby… I know you. You don't eat when you're sad. You missed me too."

"I missed you like crazy," she said choking on a sob, then the waterworks started again.

"Hey, hey, it's okay. I'm so sorry sweetheart. Don't cry. Shhh. Listen… I'm going to make you a nice bubble bath and you can relax while I go pick up some groceries, okay?"

An hour later, she emerged from her bath, relaxed, happy, and hungry. Jane had unpacked her groceries and made her a snack that she could actually eat and keep down… buttered toast, two slices of cheese, half a cut-up apple, two wedges of orange, and a handful of almonds. He'd leaned on the counter across from her and watched her eat every bite with a soft smile.

Her belly felt full and satisfied and she didn't feel guilty for feeding her baby junk food and Jane was being so gentle and sweet. She felt content. He came to her side of the counter and took her in his arms. He stole a few kisses and hugged her tight.

"C'mon beautiful. It's late and you're exhausted. Bedtime."

"Jane… It's just past 9 p.m. I'm an adult and I decide when I go to bed. It's not bedtime."

"It is when you're pregnant and exhausted. I'll tuck you in."

Her pulse kicked up a notch. She didn't want him to go.

"You're not staying?"

"Of course, I'm staying," he said with a soft kiss. "But I need to shower."

He grabbed her hands and kissed them, then kissed her neck, tickling her with his lips.

"And just so I'm clear with my intentions; we are getting a place together, so I can take care of you and feed you as soon as you arrive back in Austin. And… you are to never take that ring off your finger. I want everyone to know that you're mine."

Confused she looked down at her hand and there was a beautiful diamond ring on her ring finger. As she went to touch it with her right hand she felt something in her palm and looked; it was his wedding ring. Shocked, she looked in his eyes, he was watching her expectantly.

"Will you marry me, Teresa?"

She nodded, her eyes brimming with new tears.

"How did you do that?" she asked in wonderment.

"A magician never reveals his secrets," he chuckled.

"It's beautiful," she said throwing her arms around him. "I love you!"

"I love you, too."

Xxxxxxx

The water in the shower was running. She was trying to stay awake, but her eyes were fluttering shut, her cocoon warm and cozy. Jane had tucked her in tight like a sushi roll. She was so happy and content. She touched her ring under the covers; he'd come to see her with this ring in his pocket. It warmed her heart to know that when he left Austin to come here, he had planned to ask her to marry him. Soon, they would be a family. Jane's ring was stored safely in her jewelry box. She put her hand on her belly like she'd been doing every night since she found out she was having Jane's baby. She started her ritual, imagining what she was going to have, a boy or a girl, and what features he or she would inherit from Jane. She'd imagined all kinds of scenarios. Carrying the child of the only man she'd ever been in love with had brought her comfort these last few weeks, knowing that she had a part of him that she could always hold. And now he was here, and they were engaged, she couldn't be happier. She smiled to herself and drifted off to sleep.

Xxxxx

Jane's POV

He put on his boxer and stood by the bed to watch her sleep for a while. He stayed in the shower longer to ensure she fell asleep. She needed rest. Teresa was a tough woman, but she'd been through a lot these last few weeks and he could tell that she'd been struggling. He texted Abbott who obviously knew about the pregnancy and had figured out that he was the father by now. He needed more time in D.C. to make plans with Teresa. Abbott would understand.

He crawled into bed, his entire body melting as he tucked her into his side. All his worries, tension, and fears dissipated. He was home… Teresa was home. He didn't realize it until this very moment, that she had been his home for years. He put his hand on top of hers over her belly. His baby was growing in her womb. Every time he thought about their baby, a wave of joy would flow through him. He would be a father again. He closed his eyes and the exhaustion from the last few weeks overtook him, and he let himself get pulled into a dreamless slumber.

He woke up to the feel of soft lips on his, kissing him persistently. He blinked the sleep from his eyes, squinting through the brightness of the morning.

"Umm… what are you up to my little minx," he said noticing that he was fully erect and being stroked by her.

"Me… you're the one that was pressing your morning wood against my butt," she chuckled, kissing his chin, then his jaw, moving to his neck.

"I don't remember this, it must have been the friction of your cute butt rubbing itself against my crotch," he said, enjoying her ministrations.

She stopped rubbing him, gave him a wicked smile, then turned around. He chuckled and spooned her tightly, pressing himself against her, she was naked.

"Humm… being a tease I see."

He stroked the skin from her hip to her thigh slowly back and forth then moved up to her nipples and lightly touched them. She sucked in her breath.

"That sensitive?" he asked with concern.

"Oh yes. And not in a fun way," she chuckled wryly.

He turned her on her back and propped himself on his elbow to look at her. He traced the skin around her collarbone, so delicate and the line of her jaw.

"We don't have to make love, you know. I'm happy to just lay here with you."

"Jane… I appreciate the sentiment, but I'm so horny, if you don't do something about it, then I will. Just don't touch them."

He smiled devilishly. It would be difficult to ignore her pert breast, they were already rounder and fuller.

"Jane… you're staring at them."

"They look delicious," he said watching her eyes spark in response.

She swallowed visibly. She was turned on. He gave her a mischievous smile and bent his head over her nipple lightly licking it with the tip of his tongue, then blew on it and she arched. He smiled up at her; her pupils were completely dilated. He did the same to the other nipple and she moaned. He lapped at her nipples lightly as she watched him, wriggling and bucking her hips. She was very turned on and closed her eyes. He gave her a break and moved from her nipples to her the underside of her breast, licking her gently, getting his fill of her taste and scent. His rock-hard erection was brushing her thigh, driving him mad.

"You like that sweetheart?"

"Oh god yes."

He chuckled, "Hum… is that my new pet name?"

"Jane… less talking, more doing."

"You like it when I talk… makes you wetter for me," he said smiling against her ribs as he kissed his way to her belly.

He circled her belly button with his tongue, making her jerk. He tickled her belly lightly and kissed it, feeling fierce love for his baby growing there and for her. He came back up, his face just a whisper from hers, his hand spanning her tiny flat belly protectively.

"I love you. Thank you for this. For giving me another chance. For having my baby."

A rosy hue streaked her cheeks, and he kissed her. He loved to make her blush. Their kiss was getting heated again and he broke it off. He pulled her flush against him, trapping her with his arm, their faces inches from each other's and she let out a little hiss when her breast came in contact with his chest. He muttered a 'sorry' and relaxed his grip a little.

"Jane… what are you doing?" she asked, her green eyes filled with lust.

"I was just thinking about the baby," he said kissing her pouty lips.

"Can you think about the baby after we have a bit of fun?" she said kissing him, invading his mouth with her tongue.

"Uhm… we'll have fun… in a minute."

He stared into her impatient eyes and chuckled. His ego had swelled with pride knowing that his little firecracker badass former boss was carrying his baby. He felt carnal and territorial, wanting to shout it from the rooftops. He was excited just thinking about her belly growing with his child that he put there. A shiver of pleasure ran through his body and he growled. She got the wrong idea and smiled in triumph and tried to capture his lips again, but he pulled back.

"Jane…" she whimpered, wriggling against him, trying to get her hand down his body to her prize. He squeezed her tighter to stop her quest.

She relented and he gave her a small kiss.

"I can't stop thinking about you getting big with my child," he said huskily. Her eyes popped open, then hooded with lust at his tone. "It's a huge turn-on."

He pressed her against his hard cock and she moaned appreciatively.

"You like that, my greedy little princess," he said chuckling.

"Oh yes, I do," she admitted. "So pregnant women are a turn-on for you?"

"Nope… just this pregnant woman," he said suggestively, kissing her sweetly. "Did you ever think that I would put a baby in you? Can you imagine what you would have done to me had I even suggested such a thing back in the day?"

"No, I never thought you would get me pregnant because I never thought you would make a move. Second, I would have kicked your ass if your opening line was… 'I'm going to put a baby in you,'" she said, imitating his voice.

He chuckled heartily with her, their bodies shaking with renewed laughter every time they each pictured themselves in this situation years ago and described the scenarios to each other. He painted a picture of them having sex on her desk at the CBI and she went into detail about doing it with him in the attic. He'd fantasized about her many times over the years, but he was surprised that she had done the same by the vivid descriptions she provided… these were not new, but well-used narratives. He smiled at the notion that all that time she'd been having imaginary sex with him and all the blushes, secret smiles, and lip biting came to the forefront of his memory with a new lens. She'd been his for a long time and he didn't even realize it. Their laughter died down.

"So tell me… why did you let me put a baby in you. I assumed you were on birth control, I would have pulled out."

His question made her pull back in his embrace and frown, her eyes shielding.

"What's that supposed to mean?" she asked defensively.

"Hey, whoa. Teresa, I didn't mean to imply anything other than you are very careful, and letting me come inside you obviously increased your chance of getting pregnant and I thought that maybe it was something that you wanted. That maybe you wanted my baby and it wasn't just an accident."

She relaxed, and he kissed her to soothe her. She pulled back and took a deep breath; studying his eyes. Her hand popped out from between their bodies and traced his lips.

"All the times we made love, it would be hard to call this baby an accident," she said with a smile, her eyes shifting slightly as she observed him.

He saw emotions flittering across her eyes as she continued to hold his gaze.

"I've loved you for a very long time, but I didn't realize it until I saw you again in the conference room. Even then, I didn't really understand what I was feeling. I thought that maybe you felt the same, but then you didn't make a move, so I moved on. Marcus offered me a future… we had talked about having kids and I made it clear that it's not something I wanted, and I wouldn't change my mind. I never wanted kids, can't really relate to them, you know that. But I've watched you over the years with children and babies and… I could see what a great dad you were, and I always thought that a kid would be lucky to have you."

She paused, and he saw a blush spread on her cheeks.

"I was on birth control because I was dating Marcus. We used protection every time, but I didn't want to leave anything to chance, so you are right that I am very careful. I was sure that I packed them, but when I got to our location, they were missing. When you asked me if I wanted you to pull out, I felt that the risk was low, and I didn't want you to. But afterward, I did find myself thinking about us having a baby. I didn't think I could actually get pregnant so quickly, but I thought that we were at the start of building a future together and I definitely wanted to have a family with you. Then you left and I was… heartbroken. When I found out I was pregnant… I was happy. Regardless of how things were between us, this baby had been made with love, it was ours and I'd have a part of you to hold onto no matter what. And… I knew that my baby would have a great father… you. This baby means everything to me."

"To me too," he added.

His heart swelled with love for her. He brushed his lips on hers closing his eyes to savor the sensation. Then he pressed his lips to hers softly, needing the contact. He was so happy. He combed his hand through the hair at her temple, running his knuckles along the side of her cheek. She was so damn beautiful and amazing. He was so lucky to have her in his life.

"I never let myself even dream of having another child and I knew that a future with you would mean a childless one and I was okay with that. You are so precious to me and the fact that you wanted this with me is… I'm speechless. I love you so much. You mean so much to me. Thank you for not giving up on me."

"I love you too. But I have a thanks of my own to give."

"Oh really? What did I do?"

"You saved me from a spice-less marriage with Marcus… thank god you finally made a move," she said punching his shoulder. "I wouldn't have known what this felt like… to be madly in love with you. And the sex is quite mindblowing."

He smiled smugly thinking his ego wouldn't be able to fit through doors it was so inflated.

"So… did you get enough mushiness and corniness… do you want more, or can we move on to the fun part… a repeat performance of how we made this baby," she said cockily.

He flipped her on her back and she yelped in surprise.

"I think you definitely need a refresher on how we made this baby. I need to keep my baby mama satisfied."

She flipped him easily on his back and straddled him.

"I'm taking over… you've been way too chatty."

He chuckled, and she smiled wickedly. Life with Teresa was going to be fun.

A/N: As always, drop me a line and let me know what you thought of the final chapter.

I'm also working on a new story and should start posting in about two weeks... it's called Prodigal Daughter. Lisbon goes undercover for INTERPOL on a very dangerous case without Jane. When he finds out, he insinuates himself into the undercover as her husband. There will be lots of danger, cloak and dagger stuff along with lots of Jisbon. They will be relying on each other to survive.