A/n This chapter is a bit of a filler to try and make the transition to the next a bit smoother. I've fully planned out the story now and I cannot wait to write some of the later parts, and for you to read them!

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Pink Cheeks

It takes a few weeks for every to be sorted and in that time, Jane tried to stay focussed on cases, but his mind tended to drift thinking about anything and everything to do with the big move from, he should really buy some coat hangers for Lisbon's wardrobe to, maybe he should have gone with the giraffe paint stencil on William's wall instead of the elephant. He was definitely overthinking things but that was down to nerves, excitement and also anxiety that he was going to mess everything up.

So far though, everything has been going great and they're settling down really well.

Lisbon was worried that the consultant would drive her crazy like he would on occasion when they worked together back at CBI. It was a valid concern she thought, especially because of working in close proximity with each other in the day on FBI cases and then going home together at night, but actually it has all been very easy. They share the parenting duties pretty evenly, it has given her time to wind down in the evening, catch up on some TV shows and a bit of reading. Also, he is a fantastic cook.

They've eaten pasta dishes, curries, stir fries, a particularly nice, marinated chicken dish with homecooked fries and piles of veg. He loves letting his son try the various meals, some of which he tastes happily whilst others make his features screw up in disgust, earning a hearty laugh from both his mom and dad.

When they're busy with work, the young child happily spends his time at nursery and has already made some great friends. He has also shown further signs of development like starting to engage in pretend play and has been trying to climb the stairs – much to his mother's displeasure but to his father's amusement. "Can never take your eyes off toddlers." He muttered on one occasion after she had rather unceremoniously scooped the boy up before plopping him back down in the centre of the living room near his toys.

It is all been surprisingly straightforward as of far, cohabiting, they've even got past the awkward questions at work. Their colleagues know they share a child and now seem to understand their living arrangements. No-one really cares, as long as it doesn't affect their ability to work and so far, it hasn't.

They've enjoyed working together again but in a new city has meant a fresh start. There are very few demons that have followed them here and that is a great thing, it is almost like Red John, the Blake Association, CBI, none of them ever existed.

Their last case was a lot of fun. It involved working with the art squad led by Agent Marcus Pike and Jane created a grift-like con to take down a gang, plus he got to play Lisbon's boyfriend in the process. They called each other Patrick and Teresa, hung off each other's arm and played the roles exceptionally well, it felt natural though, probably helped by their new living arrangement.

Thoughts did cross both of their minds though, about how maybe they could be more than friends. There is very little that they do not know about each other, they have been to hell and back together and they have this wonderful little boy. In many ways they've been like a couple for quite some time but taking the actual leap wouldn't be so easy.

What neither of them know is how their art squad colleague showed an interest in the brunette, asking young agent Wylie, "So, what's the story with Jane and Lisbon?" whilst watching the con play out on the computer monitors.

"She was working for the California Bureau of Investigation in Sacramento, and then his wife and child were-"

"No, I mean, are they in a relationship? A couple?" He inquired whilst trying to act casual when actually he was hoping for the answer to be a strong no.

"No, no. I used to think so, but they're not. I don't think." The blonde agent furrowed his brow momentarily, attempting to stay focussed on what is happening on the screen in front of him. "They have a child together, but I don't think they were ever romantically involved."

"Wow." There had been no talk of a child with Pike around, but then again, he hadn't spent that much time with the two of them together. "So do you think I shouldn't go there then?"

"You want to ask Lisbon out?"

"Don't go there." Cho interrupted, having just returned from playing his role in the con and quickly the conversation moved on, focussing on the job at hand.

xxx

Jane lies on the couch in the living room smiling to himself. He has been like this for hours now, lounging here, thinking.

It has just past two o'clock in the morning and seven hours or so ago the greatest thing happened. William called him dad, well "dada" but this is the first time the young boy has acknowledged him to be his father and that has caused him to feel emotional.

"I am going to put him in bed." Lisbon had announced after the mentalist finished reading his son's bedtime story. It has become a nightly routine, at first because it gave her time to bathe or finish off any chores but now, she enjoys listening too.

The three of them sit on the couch together every night, with the small child nestled in between his parents, as the father reads through whatever book his son has picked for the night. "Elmer" appears to be his very favourite at the moment and Patrick has read it so many times that he can already recite the words from memory. He doesn't mind reading the same book every night however, he would do anything to keep the boy happy. "Say night night to daddy." She tells her son who immediately frowns and tries to crawl onto his father's lap.

"Dada." He then mumbled and for a second Jane thought his heart had stopped or that maybe he misheard the toddler. "Dada." He repeated and quickly both adults realised that William wanted his dad to put him to bed tonight.

The curly-haired man was still stunned when he carried the boy upstairs, but he managed to compose himself whilst beaming with happiness. They didn't discuss what had just happened, but Teresa knew the cause of his joy.

He did shed a tear or too but managed to keep that to himself. After tucking his son under the blanket in his crib, he didn't return downstairs immediately, he gave himself a bit of time in the privacy of his bedroom. Hearing William call him dad brought a rush of emotion, mainly good emotions but it also made him think of Charlotte. The first thing he did on shutting his bedroom door was fish a photograph out of his wallet that he hasn't looked at in some time, of his six-year-old daughter and her mother both grinning whilst sitting on the beach. He propped the photo up against the lamp on his desk.

When he re-joined the brunette's company, she was relaxing on the couch watching a cookery show on the television. He perched on the opposite end and watched the program in silence, only speaking up to say good night when she headed to bed.

He was apprehensive about if living together would go okay because even though it was his idea and he wanted to live under the same roof as his son, he has become a bit of a lone wolf over the years. Having someone, well people, relying on him – and not just in a professional manner – was slightly daunting at first, but now it already feels normal. Not only can he do this, but he is also loving every single second.

The creak of the stairs pulls him out of his thoughts and immediately he is sitting up to double check that it isn't his son trying to come down the stairs. William has become much more mobile as of late and although he has never seen him climb out of his crib, he is sure that it wouldn't be too difficult a task for him. Tomorrow he will be putting up a gate at the top of the stairs.

Fortunately, it isn't the young boy but Lisbon who tiptoes into view. "You're still a night owl I see." She comments when she reaches the ground floor.

"I sleep better than I used to." Is his reply and she understands what he means by it. He is never going to be fully at peace and that's something she is going to have to get used to. Especially now they're living together. "Why are you awake?" It is then he notices the hot water bottle in her hand and suddenly he feels very alert. "Are you sick?"

"No, I…" She sighs and even in the low light he can detect a blush paint her cheeks. "I have period pain. Going to try filling this up to help." She holds up the object in her hand dramatically, hoping to take the attention away from her embarrassment but she is taking the view that they live together now, he is going to find out about these things.

"Oh err…" He momentarily stumbles over his words but finds some poise as he stands up from the couch. "Let me sort that for you. Take a seat."

She wants to say no and that she is very much capable but then a cramp hits her with full force, and she gives in, passing the hot water bottle to him before going to sit where he was moments before. The warmth of the cushions is comforting.

It isn't long before he has returned, not only with her aid but also a cup of tea for himself, obviously having decided that tonight sleep isn't for him. She doesn't know how he does it, how he spends most of his time running on empty when she knows how tiring the job is – and that was without having a toddler who runs rings round you. "Here you go." He murmurs, passing over the now warm object that she immediately cradles awkwardly.

"Thank you." Before she made an appearance, he was tempted to retire to his bedroom for the night but now that she is here, he doesn't want to leave her alone. It reminds him of all the times back at CBI when she stayed late to "do paperwork" when actually he knew that she just didn't want him to be alone whilst he was losing his mind over his quest to hunt a serial killer.

Sometimes she would make him tea and try to converse with him whilst other times she would stay in her office, glancing towards him sat on the couch every-so-often. At first, she saw it as babysitting, that she had to make sure that a member of her team was safe because it was her duty, but then the closer they became the more she wanted to stay simply because she cared. "You've be quiet tonight." Lisbon notes with a glance to her left to try and gage his reaction to her remark. He takes a sip of his tea; the sound of the quiet slurp seems to fill the room, but his expression doesn't visibly change to her words.

"Just been thinking." He mutters as he leans back into the navy, comfy couch cushions.

"About?" Her tone is almost pleading, trying to urge him to open up to her.

The answer to her question is that he's been thinking a lot about Charlotte. Making mental comparisons of how her brother is similar but also very different to how she was. Not just the physical attributes but the behavioural ones to, it is interesting and also somewhat upsetting. Jane doesn't want to admit to the brunette that's what he's thinking about. It feels too personal, especially after the time they spent away from one and other. "We should go to the beach. The three of us, one weekend." He announces instead and if her hum is anything to go by, she is not at all suspicious that he is pulling the wool over her eyes, hiding his real thoughts.

"William has never been to the beach."

"Then let's do it." He decides and he is already planning their activities. "You, me, William, Corpus Christi. Three hours in the car should be alright, I will find us somewhere to stay the night."

"Three hours in a car with a screaming toddler sounds great." She dryly replies, "You know, if you want to take him out somewhere without me, then that's okay."

"Maybe I want to spend time with you too." He replies without a second thought, and the hidden meaning behind his forwardness brings a blush to her now pink cheeks. He notices it out of the corning of his eye and is smiling.

Blushing has become more the norm since they've been living together and although it is never, well very rarely, his intention to make her flustered, he would be lying if he said he didn't enjoy it. He knows he really likes her; he isn't kidding himself about that anymore, but he also doesn't want to mess things up and that is a feeling she shares. Right now, they do not want to risk their friendship because not only do they love and respect each other too much for that but they also have a small child depending on them. They need to do things right, for him.

That doesn't mean, however, that they can never be anything more than friends. It is just that right now is good and they're not going to ruin their chances.

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A/n Another author's note just to say that I added the Pike stuff as an afterthought. I've read a few comments that have mentioned the Pike arc and people wondering if it would be avoided and the answer is yes. He will not be the metaphorical spanner in the works for this particular story.