Author's Note: Hey everyone! Chapter 19! Woo! I was planning to have this up sooner, but the computer I originally started writing the chapter on crashed and I lost it, so I had to restart(I also lost the other stuff I was writing as well *heavy sigh*). Oh well. I got it done, and that's what matters! I hope you guys like it!

Disclaimer: You know what I mean.

"You feeling nervous yet?" Lisbon asked Melody, pulling the young girl from her thoughts.

Melody turned from the airplane window to look at her aunt, managing a small smile. "Not yet. I'm sure it'll all set in when I go up to compete."

Lisbon smiled back. "I'm sure you'll do great either way."

"Thanks."

"So, what's the other thing that's on your mind?" Jane asked gently, looking past Lisbon to Melody. Really, he knew what was on her mind, but decided to let her decide whether they talked about it or not.

"Nothing...I just...I thought it would be different. When I cane back home to Chicago."

"You mean, you thought your dad would be coming with you." Lisbon said.

Melody looked down at her lap and nodded. "Why did the care centre have to take so long with processing things?"

"I don't know, Melody. But he can still watch you. We'll give him a call after we get settled in. How does that sound?"

"Good." Melody nodded.

"Hey, come on." Jane encouraged. "Cheer up. Your dad wouldn't want you to be upset. He'll want to hear about the good time you had here, even if he couldn't come."

"You've worked really hard to get here, Melody. You know your dad is proud if you and he wants you to do well, whether he could be here or not." Lisbon gave Melody's hand an encouraging squeeze. "You're in nationals for gymnastics. That's an amazing accomplishment and we all support you."

"Thanks." Melody grinned.

"No problem." Lisbon nodded.

The intercom of the plane dinged and the pilot let them know that they would be landing soon.

-Mentalist-

After getting their luggage, they went to find Tommy and Annabeth who were picking them up.

"Did you have a good flight?" Tommy asked once they had joined them.

"As good as flights get." Jane smiled at him. "Who's this?" Jane gestured to the young man standing next to Annabeth.

"This is Peter." Annabeth answered, blushing slightly.

"Oh, it's a pleasure to finally meet you, Peter." Lisbon smiled.

"Annabeth and Peter sitting in a tree-" Melody started to sing, grinning mischievously.

"Don't you dare continue that song." Annabeth growled.

Melody was silent for a moment and just as Annabeth turned her attention somewhere else, "K-I-S-S-I-N-G!"

"Oh, you've done it now!" Annabeth told her.

Melody let out a little shriek, smiling and letting go of her luggage as she ran from her older cousin.

Lisbon sighed heavily. "We just got here."

Jane chuckled, watching Annabeth chase Melody around the baggage tables.

"Would you like me to help with the bags?" Peter offered.

"Yeah, that'd be great. Thank you." Lisbon said.

"Come on, you two." Jane called to Melody and Annabeth. "Let's get going before security kicks you both out for making a scene."

Melody ran back, but Annabeth walked.

"It's Melody's fault if we get kicked out." Annabeth shrugged.

"No it's not." Melody stuck out her tongue. "How is it my fault that you can't take a joke?"

"You better learn to sleep with your eyes open because I'm going to noogie you so hard that your grand kids will feel it."

Melody laughed.

"Noogies are a little immature for a 23 year old, don't you think, Annie?" Tommy said.

"Immature act for an immature child." Annabeth sent Melody a look but Melody only laughed harder.

They quickly got Melody, Jane and Lisbon set up before going out for dinner before heading home to go to bed early. Melody had to go to an early practice the next day.

Melody got Annabeth's old room since Annabeth had moved out and live with Peter, which left Jane and Lisbon the guest room to themselves.

"I think today went rather well." Jane said cheerily as he made his way to the guest room bed that Lisbon was already lying on.

"Yeah, it did." Lisbon replied distantly.

Jane flopped down on his side of the bed then propped himself up on an elbow, looking at Lisbon. "So, what's on your mind?"

Lisbon turned her head to look at him, smiling. "Nothing much. I was just thinking how quickly it feels like everything changed, but it really wasn't that quickly."

"Feeling a little nostalgic?"

"Yeah, a little." Lisbon admitted. "I was also wondering how Melody is going to react to her surprises."

"She's going to love them. You know she is."

"She almost found one before we left. I had to distract her so I could move it."

Jane laughed. "Well whatever you did worked. There's no way she could be disappointed with either of the surprises. Come on. Let's get some sleep. Melody has her early practice tomorrow."

"Okay. Good night."

-Mentalist-

Tommy dropped Lisbon, Jane and Melody off at Melody's practice before heading to work. Annabeth and Peter were going to stop by after the practice so they could all spend the rest of he day together.

Jane and Lisbon sat together at one of the tables in the waiting area that overlooked the gym space.

"It's pretty busy." Jane said. "They said that they were giving completion groups different time slots and it's really early."

"Maybe the other kids are just regular lessons." Lisbon replied. "They are a lot younger than the girls from Melody's group."

"Well those are some really early classes. I don't think Melody would have gotten up this early for a regular gymnastics class."

"She would if she heard you say she wouldn't."

"Yes, just to prove me wrong. I know." Jane shot Lisbon a grin. "Would you like some coffee? I saw a snack bar."

"Yes, please."

Jane leaned across the table, giving her a quick kiss before he went to get them both something to drink. He returned not long after with a coffee for her and a tea for himself. "What did I miss?"

"Just the warm up really."

They watched on and the girls in Melody's group started their routines. When Melody's turn came, she looked back to see Jane and Lisbon. She gave them a smile and a wave before she stepped on to the mat. Jane and Lisbon both waved back.

After Melody's practice they met Annabeth and Peter at a little cafe down the street.

"Hey! That's my French fry!" Melody complained at Annabeth.

"Consider it payback for yesterday." Annabeth smiled, shoving the French fry in her mouth.

"You're supposed to be stealing your boyfriend's food. Not mine." Melody huffed.

"Don't give her ideas." Peter fake whispered to Melody.

"Too late." Annabeth swiped a piece of his sandwich.

"Look what you did." Peter shook his head jokingly at Melody. "You've made a monster."

"I didn't force you to date her." Melody shrugged.

"Melody." Lisbon said sternly.

"I was joking!"

"Apologize. That was too much." Lisbon gave Melody a look that Melody dared not challenge.

"I'm sorry." Melody grumbled to Annabeth.

"Apology accepted." Annabeth smiled smugly because Melody had been made to apologize to her.

"So, it's another early morning tomorrow, too?"

"Unfortunately." Lisbon nodded.

"You didn't have to come." Melody frowned at her aunt.

"Melody. I don't mind going." Lisbon told her.

Melody raised a brow.

"Don't give me that look. I'm just saying that I wish they would set the start time a little later. That's all."

"I'm sure we'll all have a good time, anyway." Jane spoke up. "And Melody will do great."

"Thank you." Melody smiled.

-Mentalist-

Jane and Lisbon grumbled as the alarm went off the next morning.

"After this I'm starting a petition to make these things start later." Jane yawned and stretched.

"I'll be the first to sign it." Lisbon crawled out of bed.

"You want the bathroom first?" Jane asked.

"If Tommy didn't already take it."

"Now that you mention it, it is quiet. Is he even up yet?"

"He better be." Lisbon hissed, heading for the door. "He's got to pick up the second surprise."

Jane smiled. If Tommy wasn't already up, his sister was about to give him an earful. He got out of bed and walked into the hall, looking in the direction of Tommy's room. The door was open, he could hear some harsh whispering and grunts. Tommy was up now, at least.

Lisbon emerged from Tommy's room and headed for the stairs. "Come on. We'll get started on breakfast while that lazy butt takes a quick shower."

"Yes ma'am." Jane grinned, seeing Tommy shuffle out of his room from the corner of his eye. Jane followed Lisbon into the kitchen downstairs and helped to start breakfast.

Tommy joined them in the kitchen soon enough for something to eat.

"I can't believe you slept through your alarm." Lisbon shook her head at her younger brother.

"Hey, it's not my fault we had to get up so ridiculously early." Tommy shot back.

"Just eat your food and do your job." Lisbon rolled her eyes, putting a plate of eggs in front of her younger brother.

Jane held back a chuckle as Tommy glared at his older sister, but ate his food like he had been told.

After Tommy left, Lisbon went and woke up Melody.

"Where's uncle Tommy?" Melody asked as they headed out.

"He's going to meet us there. He had some stuff to do." Jane shrugged.

"Stuff? This early in the morning? Weird." Melody adjusted the strap of her gym bag as Annabeth and Peter pulled up.

"He'll make it to see you compete, though. That's what's important." Jane told her as they all left.

"Wow. And I thought the last competition was busy." Melody breathed as they made their way through the crowds of people.

"That's nationals for you, I guess." Lisbon said.

"You want us to go grab our seats and our take Melody to the change room?" Jane asked.

"Yeah, it's really crowded out here anyway." Lisbon nodded, giving Jane a peck on the lips. "I'll see you in a few minutes."

"Sure." Jane nodded and headed off with Annabeth and Peter.

Lisbon and Melody quickly found the door for the competitors area and Lisbon wished Melody luck before going to join Jane and the others. She got a little lost, but managed to find her way to her seat. Anything from Tommy?" Lisbon asked as she sat down.

"Yep." Annabeth nodded. "Everything went well and he's on his way. The surprise is a go."

"Good to hear." Lisbon sighed.

Tommy ended up cutting it close to starting time when he got there.

"What took you so long?" Lisbon asked him.

"Traffic. In the arena and outside. It's crazy!"

"Well, at least it all worked out." Jane said and everyone quieted down as the competition started.

-Mentalist-

It had been an intense competition and Lisbon was tired just from watching it.

"Would you like some water for all your hard work?" Jane teased Lisbon.

"Shut up." Lisbon growled.

Jane just chuckled, turning back to watch what was going on, on the scoreboard. Melody had made it into first place and was so far holding her spot, but the last competitor of the day had been very good and it was possible she might kick Melody out of first. Jane would be lying if he said he wasn't nervous for Melody. His heart was beating a little faster and he hoped the other girl didn't beat Melody's score. He saw Melody in the little area for the competitors to stand, with her hands clasped tightly together and staring at the scoreboard waiting to see how her score would end up.

It was a very tense few moments before the the scoreboard screen shimmered and changed to show the new standing and the announcer read out where the final contestant ranked.

"Please, please, please." Jane heard Lisbon mumble next to him and they gasped as they saw the new rankings. Jane smiled. Melody had held onto her first place ranking. He looked over to Melody and saw her sway on her feet in shock as one of the other girls from her gym helped to steady her. The other girl congratulated Melody and Melody said something to her. The other girl laughed and nodded.

The announcer began to thank all the competitors and their families as well as read out some sponsors as the audience got up and filed out. The medal ceremony wasn't until later.

"Hopefully Melody doesn't faint before we get to see her." Annabeth joked.

"Annie." Tommy sent her a look.

"I'm only joking."

They all found their way to the little greeting room to see Melody.

"Teresa! Patrick! Annabeth! Uncle Tommy!" Melody screamed as she ran over, bowling right into her aunt even though the group had hardly made it two steps through the door.

"Melody!" Lisbon hugged her niece tightly. "Congratulations!"

"Thank you. I didn't think I was going to do it. I was so sure the other girl was going to beat me. Are we sure this is real life? I feel like I'm dreaming." She gave Jane and the others hugs as well.

"It gets better." Jane told her.

"Better!? How?"

"We've got some surprises for you." Lisbon smiled.

"What!? What is it!?"

Lisbon reached into her purse and pulled out a little wrapped box. "Here's the first one."

Melody took the box from her aunt and ripped off the wrapping. Her jaw dropped and opened the box. "No way!" She looked at her aunt. "Are you serious!? You got me a cell phone!?"

"You have to be responsible with it and-" Lisbon was cut off.

"Thank you!" Melody hugged her tightly. "This is so cool! Best day ever!"

"Are we not doing surprise number two?" Tommy spoke up. "I had to get up early for it and everything."

"Liar. I had to get you up." Lisbon rolled her eyes.

"Whatever. I still had to drive all the way to the airport." Tommy retorted.

"The airport?" Melody asked.

"How much longer do you guys expect me to wait out here?" James poked his head around the door frame, grinning.

"Daddy!" Melody ran over and gave her dad a huge hug. "You made it! How did you make it!?" Happy tears stung her eyes.

"I made the centre rush my papers through, but they weren't accepted until yesterday so I had to fly in this morning. We thought we'd surprise you."

"I'm so happy you're here." Melody sobbed.

"I'm so happy to be here." James told her. "You were amazing."

-Mentalist-

Melody got up on her pedestal to receive her medal, smiling brightly. The medal was placed around her neck and the crowd cheered, but when she looked up, she only saw her family standing by their seats cheering for her. She waved at them and couldn't wait to celebrate with them.

"So, how will we celebrate?" Jane asked as they all left the arena.

"Maybe we should leave the celebration until tomorrow. It's been a long day." Lisbon suggested.

"Can't we do something?" Melody asked.

"Pizza!" Annabeth suggested.

"Pizza!" Melody agreed.

"It's always pizza." Lisbon rolled her eyes, but smiled.

Author's Note: I hope you guys enjoyed this chapter! Please leave a review!