Author's Note: Sorry this chapter is a bit shorter, but I hope you all still enjoy it. My next chapter updates will be a little while because of life, but I will have them up as soon as I can. :)

Disclaimer: Not mine.

"Melody, Daddy's on the phone." Lisbon held out the phone that was on her desk to her niece.

Melody jumped off the office couch where she and Jane had been reading a book and hurried over to take the phone from her aunt. "Hi, Daddy!" Lisbon let Melody sit on her lap as she listened. "Yeah. I'm good. Patrick and me were reading….Mhm. I got a new book. In the book, the girl has a pet elephant. Can I have a pet elephant too, Daddy?…We could keep it outside…Can I have one at my birthday then?…My birthday. Daddy, you remember my birthday!…I turn nine! Daddy!…Well, that wasn't nice! I thought you forgot." Melody huffed and pouted. "Really? Okay. Are you having fun at work?…I say hi to Sally back…Mhm…Okay…Love you too, Daddy. Bye." Melody put the phone back on the hook.

"You're birthday isn't until October. It's only late July." Lisbon kissed Melody's head.

"Don't you have to book elephants ahead of time?" Melody inquired.

Lisbon laughed. "I have no idea. What'd Daddy say? Is he going to get you an elephant?"

"He said he'd think about it."

"He'll have to see if any are available." Lisbon smiled.

"I hope they are." Melody smiled brightly. "It'd be so much fun to have one at my party! I can't wait!"

-Mentalist-

"It's not very often I have to look for you up here anymore." Lisbon crossed her arms and leaned against the doorframe of Jane's attic room.

He flinched slightly where he was lying on his little cot and lifted his head to look at her.

"What's up?" She tilted her head to the side.

"Uh, nothing. Just enjoying the quiet. What is it?"

"Well, I've got an almost nine year old downstairs wondering where her uncle is so that we can all go out for that late lunch and ice cream she was promised earlier. You really have to stop promising her ice cream. It's not healthy for her."

"Right." Jane smiled and sat up. "I'm sure she'd be just as excited about celery for dessert."

Lisbon rolled her eyes. "That's not what I mean. And something's up."

"What is?"

"I don't know. You're the one up here either brooding or sulking. Which is it and why?"

"Neither and no reason."

"Right. Because you just decided to hide away in your brooding and sulking room to relax and clear your mind."

"Now who's acting like a shrink?"

"Patrick."

"Yes. Okay. Fine. I was a little upset, but I'm fine. I'm over it."

"No you're not."

"I'm getting there."

"Is this a Red John thing?"

"No."

Lisbon watched him for a moment, deciding if he was telling the truth or not. "I don't mean to be insensitive then, but, is it a Charlotte and Angela thing?"

Jane's gaze snapped up and caught hers. He hadn't expected her to be that blunt in asking.

"It is." She answered herself. "I can go with Melody. You can stay here if you need to be alone. I know the anniversary is coming up-I mean-um…Yeah, you can stay here if you want." She nodded and turned to leave.

"Wait."

She stopped and turned to face him again, worry written all over her face.

"I'm coming."

"You don't have to if you don't want. If you'd rather stay here-"

"I'm coming." He stood up and stretched.

Lisbon glanced back down the hall before taking a step into the room. "You can talk to me. You know that."

Jane closed the distance between them and wrapped her up in a tight hug. "I know."

She hugged him back.

"I'm not angry or brooding or anything. I just…Charlotte was nine, too. She was nine when…"

"I'm sorry. You don't have to go to the party either if it's too much."

"No, I want to go. I want to go to Melody's party and to lunch. I was just reminded and it upset me a bit."

"I understand." Lisbon nodded as they pulled away slightly.

"Is he not up here?" They heard Melody call and turned toward the door. "Is he playing Hide And Go-oh. Found you. Okay. I'll go back downstairs-"

"No. Would you come here, please?" Jane unwound one arm from around Lisbon and held his hand out to Melody.

Melody looked at him hesitantly over her shoulder for a moment before turning back around and walking over to him. "Yes?"

Jane let go of Lisbon completely and crouched in front of Melody. "I bet you're hungry.

Melody glanced away and nodded before holding his gaze again. "I can get food from the fridge, though. We can go another time."

"No, no." Jane kissed her forehead. "We're still going to go. Sorry to keep you waiting."

"It's okay." Melody mumbled, glancing away again. "Were you crying?"

"You don't have to worry about that."

"But it matters if you're sad."

Jane gave her a small smile. "I know. But being sad forever isn't going to fix anything. I'm not going to give up a late lunch with two of my favourite ladies because I was too busy being sad."

Melody smiled a little, then faltered. "Are you sad because you still miss Charlotte and Angela?"

Both Jane and Lisbon looked at her, surprised and quite shocked. They'd made a point to mention Charlotte and Angela as little as possible around Melody to avoid awkward questions and upsetting Melody. And they hadn't taken her back to the tombstones a second time. Lisbon was surprised Melody even recalled the event.

"Yeah." Jane nodded. "I miss them."

"You miss being a daddy?" Melody looked at him intently.

"Yes. I do."

Melody took a deep breath and shifted her feet a little as she glanced away before looking back at him. "Well…you're like a dad for me. I mean, you're not really my daddy, but you're like my daddy. So, now I have, like, two daddies. But you're Charlotte's daddy so you shouldn't miss being a daddy because you are still one, but now Charlotte's an angel, but she's still your daughter and she…I'm sure she still loves you-"

"I understand." Jane smiled, cutting off Melody's babbling, though it did manage to warm his heart. "You're like a second daughter to me as well."

Melody's smile returned.

"Who's ready for that lunch?" Lisbon asked.

Jane looked up at her. "Well, I'm quite hungry now." He looked at Melody. "How about you?"

"Yeah." Melody nodded, smiling brightly.

Jane took one of Melody's hands and one of Lisbon's hands as they left the attic and headed out for their late lunch and ice cream.

"How badly do you want an elephant at your birthday party?" Jane inquired casually as they got into the empty elevator.

"You can get an elephant!?" Melody looked up at him. "Are you going to get Daisy?"

Jane smiled. "No promises, but I'll see what I can do."

Author's Note: Please review!