Shout-Outs: lolaughoutloud123, Sssssy, MartyMc, Jade, Guest, Jane Doe51, LouiseKurylo and blueyedmentalistfan

Rated: T

Disclaimer: I own nothing.

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Chapter 12

One Year Later

It was big news.

Sheriff Thomas McAllister had been charged with more than several counts of murder, there would be no chance of an appeal. He would pay for his crimes in the form of a needle in his vein, it wouldn't bring back any of the people who had lost their lives but at least there was some sort of closure for the people who had loved and lost them.

Patrick smiled to himself as he turned the page in the newspaper, it was a job well-done, if he did say so himself.

He stopped at the marriage section as he paged through the paper, the faces of Angela and her new husband were smiling up at him. He traced his ex-wife's new name and found that he was truly happy for her. She didn't look tired anymore and the look of sorrow and shadow of death was gone from her face. She was radiant again, luminous. The girl he had known and loved once upon a time ago.

He paused for a moment and silently thanked Teresa's God for bringing Angela her new husband to her, something he probably wouldn't have been able to manage eighteen months ago when he was still clinging to rebuilding a life with her, to starting a new family just the two of them.

Teresa had changed all that though. She had helped him realize a new dream, helped him let go of a past he had been clinging to for far too long. And with her touch, with her kiss, with her love she had made brought him back to life in all the ways that Angela was alive now.

In the hours before she had invited him to her bed and a little bit after Red John, he had finally been able to take his ring off.

It was safely stored in her jewelry box, resting among her mother and grandmother's favorite jewelry pieces. The ones she only wore on special occasions. He would never take it back though, in a few short days he was going to replace it with a silver band that would match the engagement ring he had given to her exactly six months after the day had first met.

"Last day?" Bosco asked, coming into the break room, interjecting into his thoughts.

He had recovered completely after the shooting. Mandee had put her foot down and changed his diet completely and started him on an exercise regime, he was healthier than he had ever been and they were talking about making him director of the CBI, replacing the old one who had been working for Red John's Blake Society the whole entire time.

"We closed the Red John case," Patrick answered. "I always said I would leave after I closed this case for you."

"Thirty-one is a little young to retire," Bosco said. "Are you sure I can't change your mind and get you to stay?"

Patrick shook his head. "Nope. I'm done, Teresa and I are getting married on Friday then we're going on our honeymoon. . . a long trip to Europe. After that, we are moving to a small beach town where crime always sleeps."

"And what are you going to do all day?" Bosco asked. "Surf and watch reruns of CSI: Miami on AMC?"

"I just might," Patrick answered.

Bosco released a deep breath. "I know that once you've made your mind up about something, hell will freeze over before you change it. Is it too early to get a little sentimental and tell you that I am going to miss you? Things just won't be the same around here without you."

"We'll keep in touch," Patrick promised. "I'm only moving a few hours away, it isn't like I'm going to Australia or anything."

"You better keep in touch!" Bosco said, slapping him on the back.

"This coming from the man who couldn't stand me when I first came to the CBI," Patrick answered, laughing as he ducked to avoid another friendly slap.

"And you better take care of Teresa," Bosco added.

"I'm going to, 'til death do us part," Patrick answered, grinning.

"Save it for Saturday!" Bosco teased, walloping him on the back again. "Don't forget your bachelor party tomorrow night."

"No strippers," Patrick reminded him.

"Naturally," Bosco said. "Don't worry, I've vetoed the strippers and the all you can eat challenges. There is only G-rated entertainment planned for the evening. You can even bring your deck of cards and dazzle us with tricks we've already seen if you'd like."

"Ha, ha. . . very funny!" Patrick retorted, his face lighting up when he saw Teresa step off the elevator. "I have places to be now; I will see you tomorrow night."

"Goodbye," Bosco answered, stopping him before he walked away and giving him a brotherly hug. "I am going to miss working with you every day. If you ever change your mind. . . there will be a place for you here."

"I know," Patrick said. "Thank you."

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Teresa took a deep breath as Mrs. Smith adjusted her veil.

"You look beautiful," she said.

"I feel beautiful," Teresa admitted. "I can't believe I'm actually marrying him, it's like a beautiful dream, except I don't want anybody to pinch me because I don't want to wake up."

"Well, let me assure you that this is real life!" Mrs. Smith answered, wrapping her up in her arms and embracing her.

Teresa closed her eyes and breathed in the lilac and Chanel, smells that had become comforting in the past year. "Look out for my father," she requested.

"Of course!" Mrs. Smith replied, pulling back and looking for him. "It's time for you to spread your wings darling. Go find your own life; we'll all be okay without you. Your father is stronger than he has been in ages, you know that. And I'll be here to make sure it stays that way. And you're only moving a few hours away, not halfway across the world. You won't be a stranger."

Teresa shook her head. "Never."

"I'm expecting you to invite Frank and me for a visit when you get back," Mrs. Smith told her. "For a week."

"Of course!"

"They're ready for you," Mr. Lisbon said, as he peeked his head in the door. He smiled when he saw her standing in the center of the room. "You look just like your mother did when we got married. You're beautiful, honey."

"Really?" Teresa asked.

"Yes," he replied, coming to her and hugging her. "Your mother would be so proud!"

"I hope so," Teresa said.

"The woman you are, the woman that you've always been. . . it is exactly what she wanted for you when you were a little girl. Of course she would be proud of you! And she would approve of Patrick; he is the one she prayed for from the day we found out we were having a baby girl."

"I wish she could be here today," Teresa admitted.

"I know, I do too," Mr. Lisbon answered, touching the cross necklace that Teresa had inherited from her mother. "But she is here, in spirit. In our hearts, I know you believe this as much as I do."

Teresa nodded. "I do, with all of my heart."

"Come," Mr. Lisbon said. "You don't want to keep him waiting."

"No," Teresa answered, smiling and willing the tears away because today wasn't a day for what ifs, today was the happiest day of her life. "No, I don't want to keep him waiting."

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The vows went by quickly, before Teresa knew what was happening she was Mrs. Jane and she was sharing her first kiss with Patrick as husband and wife. Her heart was beating with anticipation for the rest of their lives as they were pronounced husband and wife.

There were pictures to be taken, she smiled and posed as the camera went off, the flash causing her to see spots. She blinked a few times, trying to chase them away before the next set of pictures were taken.

The photographer finished taking the posed pictures and they went to their reception. The band was playing their song, the one they had danced to at Frank and Mrs. Smith's own wedding reception. He held her close and whispered the lyrics in her ear; she smiled into his neck and curled her fingers in his hair.

She didn't start processing they were really married until after the wedding was over and they were on their own, on their way to a hotel room. She felt a thrill of excitement run through her, almost dizzying her with the anticipation of being somebody's wife.

"You've been awfully quiet," Patrick said, breaking into her thoughts. "Is everything okay?"

"I'm just thinking," Teresa answered. "I'm just thinking about how ridiculously happy I am to be with you right now, like this. . . husband and wife."

He covered her hand with his, smiling at her. "I am so happy too. You know I never thought I would get this again. It wasn't something I thought I wanted again."

"You told me," Teresa whispered. "I'm glad you picked me."

Patrick shook his head. "No. No, I didn't pick you Teresa. You, you picked me. I don't know why you picked me; you could have anybody you wanted in the whole entire world."

"Too late," Teresa answered. "Besides, I didn't want anybody else in the world. I wanted you!"

"Mmmh," Patrick said. "Well, selfishly, I'm glad that you didn't want anybody else."

"The second I had met you, you ruined me for all the other men," Teresa told him. "You were the one I wanted from moment I laid my eyes on you."

Patrick smiled. "I'm sorry I kept you waiting."

"It wasn't that long of a wait," Teresa assured him. "A few weeks are nothing, not now. . . not when we have forever to be together. Don't dwell on the past anymore."

"No," Patrick agreed, shaking his head and taking her hand, raising it to his lips and kissing her knuckles. "No more dwelling on the past."

They got to the hotel they were staying in for the night and checked in. Teresa's heart was beating in anticipation for what was going to come next, their joining together as husband and wife.

He kissed her outside of their hotel room and then unlocked the door, sweeping her up in his arms to carry her over the threshold. He put the do not disturb sign on the handle before shutting it behind them.

"I can hear your heart," he whispered as he laid her out on the bed.

Teresa put his hand over her left breast and smiled. "My heart belongs to you," she told him.

"And my heart belongs to you, Mrs. Jane," he told her.

She pulled him down on top of her then and kissed him, clasping her arms tightly around his neck.

It was the sweetest feeling in the world to know that she had a lifetime of this to look forward to. His hands moved to the zipper of her dress and she let herself stop thinking about everything else except for being in the moment with him as they took turns undressing each other.

For a little while, it felt like they were the only two people in the whole entire world and everything was brighter.

When it was over, he wrapped his arms around her and peppered her with kisses, reaffirming his love for her. She smiled into his shoulder and repeated his words back to him over and over again, neither of them wanted to sleep because reality was so much better than their dreams.

_The End_

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Author's Note:

The end of another story for me but I have another one that I am so excited to share with you. It is my first (and possibly last) major AU, I should have it up next Friday. If you're curious about what it is then go and google the Magic of Ordinary Days from Hallmark Hall of Fameafter you tell me your thoughts about this last chapter. I know it is incredibly sappy but I couldn't help myself.

And thank you for taking this journey with me!

Love,

Holly, 3/6/2015_

P.S

The title for this chapter comes from "Happy Endings" from the Artist, it was composed by the INCREDIBLE Ludovic Bource. A favorite piece of mine even if I am yet to see the movie.