A/n Quick update because you guys make me smile. Thanks for all the reviews!

/

Yellow Sand

It takes them longer than they wanted to arrange their weekend away. They had a few big cases at work which consumed most of their time and energy, so much so that they both felt guilty about the amount of time William spent at nursery. He never seems to mind, he has some great friends like Molly, a two-year-old who likes to boss around the younger kids, and Theo, an eighteen-month-old cheeky kid who spends most of his time with a ball at his feet.

It has been almost three months since Jane has returned to the US and although it has been a frantic few months, not only with trying to get used to having responsibilities again but with one of those responsibilities being a child, he has enjoyed every second being back. Although the weekend vacation he arranged for his little family definitely feels necessary. "His hat is coming off." Lisbon comments and points towards her son who is sat playing in the sand, leant up against his father.

The curly-haired man leans to settle the sunhat back on the toddler's head. It is nice after a week of close calls during an FBI showdown with a drug cartel that the biggest hazard they face on the warm weekend in Corpus Christi is the sunrays. Although for a mother, that almost seems scarier than a gang with guns. She absolutely covered her son with sun cream before they came out to the beach. "How does this compare to the beaches on the island?"

"It is very different." His eyes scan his surroundings, looking at all the happy families enjoying a Saturday afternoon at the beach. "It was quieter over there. The sand more white than yellow and the aquatic life was incredible."

"Sounds like paradise." His lips stretch out in a thin line at her response. Maybe at first it was but when you're isolated from everything and everyone that you know, it is far from paradise. Being so isolated is difficult, and this is coming from a man who tried to isolate himself as much as possible from the people who cared about him whilst he was on a hunt for justice.

The mentalist hums whilst taking a particular interest in a shell his son is presenting to him with a big smile which he mirrors. "This is better." He states and takes the small pinkish conch from the boy with growing dark curls. He dusts the sand off the shell for his son before passing it back to him.

"Mama." William holds it out to his mother who beams at him as she shuffles closer to him and receives the cute item.

"Thank you." She says to her son and marvels at the beauty of the object, not realising that Jane is doing the exactly the same thing but with her. He knows that she is a beautiful woman, there is no doubt about that, but there something particularly attractive about her when she is relaxed like she is right now.

Lisbon places the seashell in her bag for safe keeping before leaning back on her stretched arms to bask in the afternoon sun. He thinks it is the first time that he has seen her in a beach dress, it is a navy-blue number with a floral patter made of light material with thin straps and falling to the middle of her thigh. It looks like they've coordinated their outfits with them all wearing blue items, him a shirt he brought back from the island and a pair of three-quarter length linen shorts. Their son has on an all-in-one wetsuit that his mother bought from a shop next to their hotel, so far it looks to be a good buy because they don't have to worry about him getting mucky in the wet sand.

When she looks back to her blue-eyed boys, she spots that the man's gaze is fixed on her and immediately he is peering back down at William who is gurgling whilst digging a hole with his hands – even though his father brought him a bucket and spade. "What are you thinking about?" She asks her friend who smirks to himself as he tries to think up what to say, he can't exactly tell her the truth.

What he is thinking about is how much he wants her and not in a voluptuous way but more a companionship, love kind of way. Living together has just made his feelings stronger and every day he has to fight the urge to speak up, say exactly what he is thinking. "I'm thinking that maybe we should get ice-cream." He lies.

"Hm, sure." Her sarcasm tells him that his lie wasn't good enough but thankfully she doesn't press further. "I saw a cart near the footpath, I can go and get some. Give you two some father-son time."

"Are you sure?"

"Yeah. I think I need to stretch my legs anyway." She announces as she starts to get to her feet not very gracefully on this sand which makes him chuckle. "What do you want?"

"Vanilla please." Always vanilla, she thinks, reminiscing about all the instances that they've shared a sundae together and it has been too many times for adult platonic friends. "What about you William?" He asks his son who looks up at him with a perplexed expression that both of his parents find adorable. "Vanilla?" He questions. "Or chocolate?" The boy's face then lights up and he babbles happily. "Chocolate it is."

xxx

They're all sharing a hotel room, mainly because of having to book the trip so last minute thanks to FBI busyness. They have a twin room (plus crib) not far from the beach where they spent their afternoon and after the ice-cream, most of which seemed to cover William's face, they headed back there to change and clean-up before going to a family-friendly diner around the corner.

Being a family, being together, feels so natural and the not-actually-a-couple are loving the domesticity of it all. It could be their future, properly, and that has been playing on both of their minds.

They have now retired to their room for the night, the pair having to be very careful not to wake their child as he snoozes in his crib whilst they sit on their separate beds talking quietly to one and other. The main topic of conversation has been William (of course) and the events of the day, but now they're running out of things to say. Despite their tiredness – chasing after a toddler all day does that – it seems wrong to turn in for the night at only eight o'clock. "Would it be sad if I actually went to sleep right now?" She murmurs bring a smile to his face.

"I don't think so. Plus, who knows what time trouble will wake us up in the morning."

"If we are lucky? Six."

"That's optimistic." Jane replies as he lays back on the covers, propping himself up against the stack of pillows.

Lisbon peers over at his action and decides to copy it, lying down also. This all feels a little odd, yes, they live together now and yes, they had their moment of passion back at CBI a couple of years ago but sleeping in the same room is intimate. That is how it seems anyway. "Today when I mentioned the island being paradise…"

"Hm?"

"I hope I didn't upset you."

"Upset me?" He scrunches up his features, confused about where her train of thought is going. "Why would that upset me?"

"Because I know that it wasn't paradise, not with you being stuck there." It certainly wasn't paradise on her end, hoping that he was okay and wishing that one day he would be able to come home. Not just because of their son, but because she missed him so badly. "I could tell from your letters that you were trying to make it seem okay, probably to make me feel better about it, but I could detect the underlying sadness."

"I made my bed."

"I know, I know." He did break the law, multiple laws in fact that involved killing someone, but she knows that he isn't a bad man. "Doesn't make it any easier though, does it?"

For a few moments, he stews in silence as he tries to work out what to say next because she is right, but he doesn't want her to be. He doesn't want to be vulnerable because he doesn't think he needs to be anymore. How everything worked out, he should count his lucky stars that he was given a get out of jail card because most wouldn't be so blessed. If it weren't for his "gift" that he swears blind isn't a gift, then he would be rotting away in jail by now and wouldn't have a future. "I guess not." He mumbles followed by a heavy sigh.

It was not that long ago that he was still there, secluded away from the US, always hoping that he would never be found but whenever he asked anyone if they knew of people looking for him, a part of him wanted the answer to be, "Si. Una hermosa mujer de cabello castaño y ojos verdes." A beautiful woman with brunette hair and green eyes.

Of course it never was, and in the end he was found and thankfully Cho managed to persuade him to return. If he didn't, if he remained in the blue heaven, he wouldn't have everything he has now. A home, a job, a wonderful son. He knows that he is very fortunate. He was given a reprieve in life that many would pray for. "I did worry about you." Lisbon confesses and her openness forces him to shift his position on his bed so that he props himself up on his elbow to face her.

It is fairly dark in the room, the only light coming from the en-suite bathroom, but he can just about make out her features. She looks… defenceless. Even in the lowlight he can pick up on it. "I worried about you too." He reluctantly returns the candidness and observes as she tilts her head towards him, and he can practically see the many questions fill her mind. "I fretted a lot about the mess I left you… and the team but mainly you." He shakes his head with a sharp exhale through his nose. "You didn't deserve that. You were, are, too good a cop for me to have messed that up. That was without me knowing about William."

She appreciates his honesty, it is something they perhaps haven't discussed as much as they should have done since his return, but there are a lot of things that could fall under that category. "Do you think we should talk about that night?"

"What night?" Her silence is deafening as she waits for him to work it out. "Oh, that night."

"Yeah…"

The night that both of them lost control. The night that they needed to feel something. The night that they let any feelings for each other bubble to the surface. The night that led to their son's creation.

It was a strange time, the weeks, maybe even months, leading up to the demise of Red John. The atmosphere amongst the team was both tense and hopeful but continually buzzing with energy. It was exhausting, anxiety-inducing and frankly very difficult for everyone. Especially for Lisbon, who was harbouring Jane's secret list of seven suspects whilst trying not to giveaway to those people that she is suspicious of them. It was tough and she doesn't think she barely slept during that period, something that she certainly felt when it was all over.

Their moment of passion was the result of sheer need. A release of energy that had been building and building up inside both of them. On reflection, they both know of the feelings they shared that led up to that instance and they knew at the time that it was probably a terrible idea. Any rationality dissipated and the want took over which was very much evident when he pushed her up against the sliding metal door of his attic space and kissed her senseless.

Everything about their experience was hurried, it was good but hasty, because they didn't want the time to think. It was a necessary interaction. The impulsiveness is perhaps why any thoughts of birth control didn't cross either of their minds and the moment she discovered her pregnancy she hated herself for that, but now she doesn't think that way. "I don't regret it." Jane pipes up after a few minutes of quiet. "And I'm not just saying that because of William… we both needed it. To get rid of the pressure and numbness, even if it was just for a short time."

"I agree." She mutters. "It was like we could forget that Red John even existed, all baggage was gone."

"You talking about my baggage?"

"Hm, I meant both of ours." Lisbon muses, "But mainly yours."

It is a fair enough comment, he knows that even though his baggage felt less and less heavy the longer he spent at the Californian bureau, it still massively affected everything he did and people's relationships with him. It is understandable of course, but now that he got his vengeance could he take the next step? Now that he doesn't have a dark cloud constantly following him around. "Jane…" She begins but then loses faith so quickly quietens, however he heard his name and is now inquisitive.

"Yes Lisbon?"

It is a risk starting up this conversation when tonight they are confined to sharing a room. It would be safer to have this discussion when they're back at their house in Austin, but maybe the forced company is what makes her want to take the leap. "Is this all we can be? Close friends who live together and share a kid." As soon as the words leave her mouth a part of her wants to take them back, her heart flutters in panic and she thinks she can hear it beating it is so loud.

In the dark, he tries to capture her eyes with his so that she comprehends his sincerity when he utters, "I hope not." He believes he succeeds.

"You mean that?" He perceives the smile in her question, and it makes him smile also.

"I do."

The relief she feels is immense and triggers an unexpected emotional reaction. Her cheeks begin to dampen with freshly shed tears which surprises herself and she is trying her best to keep the emotive outpour hidden from him, but a slight sniffle gives it away. He is quickly sitting up at the sound, swinging his legs around to perch on the edge of his bed. "Are you crying?"

"No." She lies, but it is obviously fiction, and it tugs on his heartstrings. "Maybe. I don't know what's wrong with me."

Her helpless tone brings tears to his own eyes, but he manages to stop himself from letting go, and instead reaches across the short gap between their beds to take her hand. "Please don't cry. Things are good, really good."

"I know I-" She audibly takes a deep breath to steady herself. "I just wasn't expecting your reaction."

"I thought my feelings for you were obvious."

"I cannot read minds."

"Hey, that's my line!" He says a little loudly, mainly in attempt to lighten the mood, and they both tense when they hear their son stir in his crib. Both of their heads turn in his direction as they hope that he doesn't awake from his slumber – thankfully he does not.

Jane rubs comforting circles on the brunette's hand with his thumb and he senses her relax under his touch. They both are exhausted now, not just from the busyness of the day and the hecticness of parenthood, but now because they're no longer burdened by a dense secret between them. "What now?" Lisbon questions as she entwines their fingers affectionately.

"I'm not sure." Is his honest reply. "But I would very much like to hug you, if that's okay?"

"Only a hug?"

"Let's start with that." He lightly laughs when she feels her pulling him towards her.

They both end up on her bed and what starts as a cute hug develops into a tender cuddle. They do not say anything because they don't need to. His lips ghost the top of her head as he spoons her lovingly and this is how they eventually drift off to sleep, tangled together, both dreaming up scenarios of the future.