Author's Note: Okay, my most sicere apologies for taking so long to update but I had some writers block and then I started college and I'm still trying to figure college out. But, I promise I haven't stopped writing or given up on this story! I refuse to leave a story just hanging and unfinished forever. So, this chapter is kind of short and I'm sorry for that as well, but I hope you all enjoy anyway!
Disclaimer: Ugh.
"How is everyone today?" Sandy stepped into the hospital room and everyone turned to face her.
"Well, if it isn't our favourite doctor." Jane smiled.
"Good evening to you too, Patrick." Sandy replied. "I was starting my shift and saw a familiar name on the patient list. Thought I'd come say hello. But, I do have to let you know that visiting hours are ending."
"Well, you have to unhook Daddy. I can't go home by myself." Melody said.
Sandy sat on the side of the bed, taking one of Melody's hands. "He's got to stay here."
Melody looked up at her father. "But we need to go home."
"You'll go home with Teresa and Patrick."
Melody pouted.
"No pouting." James told her. "You like Teresa and Patrick's house. You sleep over there all the time. You've basically got your own room there. That's home as well and you know it. Maybe I won't be there, but I'm still here. I still love you. We'll see each other soon. I promise."
Melody scooted closer and gave her dad a big hug.
James hugged her tightly and kissed her head. "I'll see you soon. Have fun with Teresa and Patrick, okay? Make some of those yummy cookies. I like those."
Melody gave a small smile and nod as she pulled away. "Okay. I know you like those cookies. Bye, Daddy."
"Bye, Melody."
Reluctantly, Melody slid off the side of the bed so Lisbon and Jane could say goodbye.
"I'll take good care of him, Melody." Sandy told her. "I promise."
"Thank you." Melody gave her a hug before taking Lisbon's hand and leaving, waving until the door shut behind them.
They all walked down the hall in silence, Jane was the first one to talk when the elevator was summoned.
"Is there anything w\you want to do, Melody? Maybe we can go get some pizza."
Melody looked up at him. "You just want the food to make me feel better. Like with the pancakes this morning."
Jane looked at her for a moment. Not expecting to be called out on the age-old tactic. "Yes. That's the hope. Would you like some pizza?"
Lisbon bit her lip as they waited for Melody's reply. She had not expected Melody to call out the tactic, either.
The corners of Melody's mouth tipped upwards hinting at a smile. "Yes. I would like some pizza."
"Then we'll go get some pizza and we'll watch a movie. How does that sound?" Jane told her as they all stepped into the elevator.
"Good." Melody nodded.
"I think I know what movie Melody will want to watch." Lisbon said playfully, trying to lighten their moods.
"Yeah? What movie?" Melody challenged.
"The Little Mermaid-"
"Nope."
"You didn't let me finish. The Little Mermaid Two."
"Oh." Melody blushed and looked at the floor.
"If that's what you want to watch, that's what we'll watch." Jane told her. "No shame in The Little Mermaid." Even if they had watched it with her more than a hundred times and Jane could recite every word of the movie off by heart. Lisbon was getting very close to that point as well, but she already knew all the songs.
The elevator stopped to let someone else on.
"Hello, again."
"Lillian's mom?" Melody blinked.
"Melody, right?" Lillian's mother smiled.
"Yeah."
"And you two are…" Lillian's mother looked at Lisbon and Jane. "Don't tell me…Teresa?…and…Patrick?"
"Someone get the woman a prize." Jane smiled.
"I'm Anna, by the way. I don't think I introduced myself earlier. I'm sorry. Anna Smithson."
"Nice to meet you again." Lisbon smiled.
"Likewise." Anna smiled, finding a spot as the elevator doors closed. "I'm very glad that I caught you. I never got to thank Melody properly, or at all really."
"Thank me for what?" Melody asked.
"For giving Lillian your crown. She was very excited to be wearing it. I'm not sure she'll ever take it off."
"At least I didn't give it away for nothing. I'm glad she likes it." Melody replied.
"Oh, she loves it. It's been a while since she was this excited. You know what?" Anna dug around in her purse before pulling out some old paper and a pen. Placing the paper on the wall, she quickly wrote on it with the pen. "Here." She handed the paper to Jane, who was standing the closest. "It's my name and number. Maybe we can all do coffee or lunch sometime. Next weekend we were going to try and get Lillian out to the park. Maybe you'd like to tag along if you're not too busy."
"Maybe we'll be able to get James out as well." Jane thought out loud, looking at Melody. "We could all feed the ducks."
Melody smiled brightly. "Yeah!"
"Sounds wonderful." Anna smiled.
"Is Lillian's dad still coming back tomorrow?" Melody asked.
"Yes."
"I hope you have fun. And I hope he likes her crown, too. It was my favourite."
"Your favourite? That makes it that much more special. I'm sure he'll love it."
"I got it from Disneyland. It's a real princess crown."
"I'll be sure to tell her that tomorrow. I'm sure she'll find that very interesting!"
"Okay."
The elevator pinged.
"Our floor already?" Jane sighed.
"Well, you've got my number." Anna smiled. "I look forward to hearing from you soon."
"You will be." Lisbon smiled. "It was wonderful meeting you. Thanks for tattling on Melody to us. I don't think we would have found her otherwise."
"You're very welcome." Anna nodded. "Sorry, Melody. Us adults have to stick together."
"Have a nice night." Jane said as they exited the elevator.
"I wish you the same." Anna waved as the doors closed.
"What a nice way to end a day." Jane commented as they walked back to the car.
"It was nice to bump into her again." Lisbon agreed.
"I'm glad Lillian likes my crown. Well, it's her crown now."
Lisbon unlocked the back door of the car for Melody and let her climb in. "And I'm still very proud of you for that, you know?"
Melody smiled as Lisbon kissed her on the nose.
It wasn't long before they were all strapped in and headed to get pizza.
"What about tomorrow?" Melody suddenly asked from the back seat.
"What about tomorrow?" Lisbon asked.
"I have to go to school. It's Monday tomorrow. I need my school things."
"Oh." Lisbon glanced over and made eye contact with Jane. "Right. I forgot tomorrow was Monday." Lisbon was unwilling to take Melody back to her apartment, worried it would upset Melody again.
"We'll swing by tomorrow morning." Jane said, still looking at Lisbon. "Before school, we'll go and get your bag and supplies. Tonight is for pizza and The Little Mermaid."
"You don't have to go to school if you don't want to, Melody." Lisbon said. "If you're not feeling up to it, you can stay home just for tomorrow, though."
Melody contemplated that offer. "But I promised Ellie we could jump rope at recess with my new skipping rope. The sparkly rainbow coloured one."
"All right." Lisbon said. "I'm glad you want to go."
-Mentalist-
By the time they got home with their pizza, the three were starving and more than ready to eat.
"First person to change and get back down here gets the first slice of pizza!" Jane yelled and they all bolted upstairs.
Melody was the first to make it back down and Jane gave her the first piece of her choosing before getting one for himself and Lisbon.
"Do you like the pizza, Melody?" Jane asked.
Melody nodded, mouth still full of pizza.
"I'll go get a blanket for us to use." Lisbon said, finishing off her pizza and heading out of the kitchen.
"Lets go get the movie ready. Come on, Melody." Jane led Melody into the living room where they set up the movie and got settled onto the couch, Lisbon joining them moments later to throw a comfy blanket over them all.
Once they were all snuggled together on the couch, Melody in the middle like always, Jane hit the play button on the remote.
Author's Note: Thanks for reading! I'm working on Red Yearbook as well, so hopefully that'll be up soon. Please leave a review! And I'm so excited for the premier coming up! AH! See you at the next chapter!