THE SURPRISE

It seemed like he'd been driving them in concentric circles through the neighborhoods of Sacramento for hours. Just as Lisbon was getting close to irritated, he swiftly pulled into the old CBI parking lot. She smiled at the familiarity of the old place - so many memories playing in her mind all of the sudden.

"We have arrived!" He smiled as he turned off the car, pocketed the keys, and stepped around to open the passenger door for Lisbon. She dramatically accepted his outstretched hand as she exited the vehicle, then they walked, arm-in-arm, toward the door.

"How're we gonna get in?" She asked with a tinge of sarcasm, wondering what crazy plans he'd concocted that involved the abandoned building.

"Everything has been arranged," he promised, with a familiar gleam that made her want to hold on tight for whatever chaos would surely follow.

She wasn't sure what strings he'd had to pull - or if she should grab her sidearm to guard against vagrants - but the front door was indeed unlocked. Not broken, though - it was simply left open.

They walked in through well-lit hallways that contradicted the reality of the building's 'long-abandoned' status. The same elevator they'd taken day after day was there to greet them - in perfect working order, without so much as a speck of dust inside. Lisbon's eyes looked around her in amazement at how bright and new it all looked. Jane noticed her surprise, stifling a knowing smile.

The elevator doors opened at their usual floor, and he guided her out toward the old bullpen.

She stopped though, noticing something on the floor just outside the elevator. As she crouched down for a closer look, the paper frog leapt in her direction, causing her to squeak ever so slightly. Jane wore a full-face smile in reply, as he picked up the frog and handed it to her.

"Looks like this little frog has something to say," he said with a knowing smirk.

Curious, Lisbon looked and saw that there were indeed words inside the frog. "I feel like I've read origami somewhat recently!" She teased, hearkening back to his heartfelt confession via paper swan.

"Let's see… this one says: the first time you saved me (and luckily it was not you who punched me in the nose this time :) )"

"Jane! Is this about the time Hannigan punched you?" She smiled incredulously - "That happened such a very long time ago!"

"So it is!" He smiled, taking her hand and leading them to a tall bookshelf, on the far wall of the bullpen. "Oh look! A paper crane!" He gleamed, pointing to the second shelf down.

Touched and amused at this scavenger hunt of memories he'd come up with, she picked up the crane, unfolding it right away - fully expecting to see words this time. She read aloud:

"The first time I saw you. You were beautiful then too, though I was in no shape to do anything about it."

Now she was getting a little misty-eyed, feeling more sentimental than usual, and deeply touched at how many details he'd remembered from their first moments together. He had been so broken then… so fragile… She was amazed that his brain - advanced though it was - had the capacity to remember anything at all from that day. Jane was more excited than ever, maybe even a bit nervous, she thought, as the hunt continued.

The room where she'd given him a first chance to help with a case; The location of both of the couches where they'd shared long late-night conversations (and where she'd found many creative ways to wake him from his frequent naps); The place where she had shown such empathy and understanding when he'd shared his shame at having been in a mental hospital; The cabinet that held his favorite teacup - where she'd carefully prepared so many cups for him, exactly the way he liked them; And a paper pony - she laughed out loud at the memory of his birthday gift to her that year, before reading the instructions written inside.

"It says to find the place we played cards for dinosaurs… That's my old office, right?"

He shrugged, wearing an ornery grin, as she walked to her office door, opened it, and stepped through.

The scene inside took her breath away! The room was fully decorated with twinkle lights, crepe paper streamers, and a humongous banner.

"Welcome, Rancho Rosa High class of 95?" She announced, with bewilderment.

Next thing she knew, a familiar song was playing, and Jane was holding her close, intensely looking into her eyes, and moving them in slow circles around the room.

"This was the first time I knew that I could someday love again. The first time I knew that it could also possibly be with you.' Jane whispered as they danced. 'I was still nowhere near ready, but it was the first time it had seemed remotely possible - or remotely appealing."

"You know, Patrick, I think it was the first time I thought I could possibly see you in that way too! It felt good, relaxing into you that day," she cooed, nestling into the curve of his neck. "Thank you for all of these tender memories, love - I don't think anyone has ever planned a more thoughtful or elaborate gift for me!" She giggled as she tenderly kissed his cheek.

He stopped the dance as the song ended, and focused his complete attention on her. She was taken aback at the extra level of intensity she saw in his eyes – almost frightened for what he might be about to say.

"Teresa Lisbon… That's a nice name," he smiled - reciting his own words from the first day they met. "But I wonder if it would become even more lovely with a slight alteration, or maybe a small addition?"

He had her full attention now, though she hadn't completely caught up with his words yet.

"Teresa Lisbon…" his eyes were filling with tears now - she couldn't tell if they were joyful or painful ones. "I will never love anyone more than I love you. Yours is the only face I want to see every hour of every day as long as we both shall live. There's no one I trust more with my deepest desires and secrets. No one I trust more fully with my life and well-being. No one I respect more. No one I'd rather call my wife."

What did he just say?

She was pleasantly stunned, temporarily forgetting where she was, how they'd gotten here - forgetting everything that wasn't this moment. Now. With him.

Dropping to one knee, he continued (and she began to fully realize what was happening),

"Please, marry me, Teresa. Please be my family. Please be a Jane - even if you don't want to actually change your name, that's fine - but… Please say yes, Teresa!"

His eyes were waiting expectantly, tears streaming down both cheeks now.

Yes!

"Teresa?" He grew breathless…

Yes! Of course! Yes Patrick!

She suddenly realized that her words had not made it out of her own mind yet, so she leaned down and held him close as she voiced her answer out loud, in no uncertain terms, with joyful tears dampening his shoulder as they clung to each other and cried.

"Wow, love… You had me worried there for a minute - petrified actually!" he admitted.

"Like you can't read my every thought!" she joked, flipping her hair.

"Honestly no - not about this."

"Remember when you asked me if there was anything I didn't know?"

She nodded, remembering the airport conversation.

"Remember when I mentioned being anxious to get the answer to a certain question on this trip?"

She nodded again - a knowing smile forming on her face.

"You just answered it for me!" He smiled, taking her into his arms once more, cradling her as if he might never let go.

They exited the office, still wrapped tightly around each other - laughing together at how difficult that made it to actually walk anywhere!

That's when she noticed them - Grace and Wayne, Cho, and - she gasped, - was that Virgil Minnelli?

Her old team - the original team, from Jane's first days, were all there! They had the most expectant, hopeful looks on their faces, but they seemed frozen - like TV characters who'd been placed on 'pause.'

"She said YES!" Jane crowed joyfully, starting the action from their waiting friends.

"CONGRATULATIONS!" They replied together, popping confetti tubes and champagne corks, passing around teal-colored teacups full of the bubbly to all in attendance.

The look on Lisbon's face was worth it, he thought to himself. He beamed as she shimmered and glowed in the surprise.

"I just knew this would eventually happen!" Grace exclaimed, hands together in front of her heart. "Well… at least I truly hoped that it would!" she corrected with a smile of relief - garnering a chuckle of acknowledgment from her friends.

"Thank you, Grace!" Lisbon was so touched, and so glad to see them all. She'd truly missed seeing them on a daily basis - that time at the CBI was still one of the highlights of her life. "And thanks to all of you for being here, and for whatever part you may have had in Jane's latest cockamamie plan!" she smiled, winking at Jane. "I know how hard it's always been for any of you to say no to him!" She teased, drawing confessions of laughter from the crowd.

Jane feigned a hurt look, making the friends laugh even more. Then he was happy to remind her that currently it was she who couldn't say 'no,' prompting even more laughter.

After a few minutes, as the laughter quieted and all the friends were chatting casually, carried by champagne bubbles and happy news, Cho tapped his teacup to get everyone's attention.

"First, I want to say how glad I am to see that Jane has finally found the courage to do something about the feelings he has quite frankly always had for the boss, and I'm truly glad to see how happy you both are right now." He smiled –as much as Cho ever smiled, that is.

"I have a message from Abbott here - he's asked me to read it to you all:

Jane and Lisbon,

Thank God you both have finally run towards each other rather than pushing one another away! I don't know who you two thought you were fooling, but I assure you, you were not fooling any of us!

Lisbon, your current leave is scheduled to end on Monday, BUT the FBI does have a policy to provide leave for weddings, honeymoons and the like. If you both are in a hurry (which I'm guessing you might be, given how long it's taken you to be honest with yourselves), please know that an additional 2-3 weeks of paid leave are available to you both. And yes, Jane, that means you too."

The text went on to explain that Dennis had treated Jane's departure as 'leave' rather than as a termination or departure from the FBI. And that Jane was still free to decide otherwise, but that he was currently in good standing if he decided to come back after all of his adventures with Lisbon.

The happy couple just smiled, amazed at these loyal friends who had surrounded them for all of the years they'd known each other - And amazed at the generosity and forethought from their boss and friend, Abbott. They both seemed thrilled with the idea of moving quickly with the wedding plans, and prolonging this 'suspended reality' they'd been cocooned in, together.

"So!" Grace spoke first, "do you have a date yet? And do you know where you might want to get married?" Her eyes sparked with anticipation - she hoped she'd get to help Lisbon plan at least a little.

Lisbon felt like she was in a whirlwind! So much had happened since she woke from that nightmare weeks ago - but this day, in particular, had caused a seismic shift in her expectations for her future.

Sensing her whirling thoughts, Jane stepped in, to rescue her for once: "For my part, you know that I'd be happy to marry this amazing woman right here on the spot! But I feel like she may have grander plans than that!" She smiled as he hugged her. "We've only just gotten engaged, and the past few weeks have been so fully, wonderfully spent 'in the moment,' that we've honestly not had time to even ask ourselves those questions." He smiled apologetically at Grace, knowing that her excitement was due to how sincerely full her heart was for them both. "But I can promise you that once we've got a plan in place, you will be among the first to know."

With that, the friends applauded, took some commemorative photos, then bid the happy couple a fond farewell.

Jane and Lisbon seemed to walk on air as they exited the building - stopping for selfies at each of the scavenger stops, and gingerly holding all of Jane's origami clues - Lisbon had insisted they keep them. She planned to add them to her shoebox. Jane loved that idea immensely.

Then, with one last photo from the parking lot, they left for their hotel - both anxious to start figuring out answers to the wedding questions Grace had asked.