Shout-Outs: Lothlorien Aeterna, Marcia Santos, and Nerwen Aldarion for reviewing chapter 7, glad you guys took the time to read what I wrote. It made me smile.

Disclaimer: I own a copy of "the Violet Hour" and the complete set of "thin Man" movies, but I do not own Jane and Lisbon. Or the concept of Nick & Nora It flatters me that you think I'm that much of a genius.

Author's Note:

I didn't post yesterday because I observe the Lord's Day, and by the time both church services were over, I didn't have time to post. I'm truly sorry for the delay. But this is the last chapter, and we have a lot of Jane/Lisbon goodness to look forward to. One last thing, this chapter is best enjoyed when paired with "the Violet Hour" by Sea Wolf.

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Chapter 8

"You're back already!" Teresa said as she scurried down the porch steps to meet Patrick. "Did she—?"

"She confessed," he replied as he slid his arm around her waist and walked back to the house with her. "Mr. Bennett can bury his daughter knowing that her own mother killed her."

"At least you got justice for Pricilla," she answered.

"Yes," Patrick agreed, smiling at her. "At least there's that."

Teresa returned his smile, nudging him gently with a thin shoulder. "Come on, let's ditch the housework and go down to the beach. I could really use some sun and a diet Coke."

Patrick looked slightly taken aback by her suggestion. He was the one who usually proposed they skip their chores to do something else, the only thing she ever did was protest him on the matter before sending him away to dust all the ceiling fans in their beach house. He cleared his throat and studied her for a long moment.

"But what about the laundry?" He finally asked, even though he didn't really care about it.

"Already washed, dried and put away," Teresa answered as he opened the door for her and allowed her to go inside before him. "All we have to do is make our bed, but that can wait until we get back."

"Do you think that there's something bothering me and you're trying to make me feel better because of it?"

"I don't know," she replied, looking over her shoulder at him as she started for the staircase. "Tell me, Patrick. Is there something bothering you?"

Patrick released a long sigh and shook his head as he followed her up the stairs. "No, there's nothing bothering me. I just realized how glad I am that I'm not involved with police work on a regular basis anymore. I forgot how truly depressing it could get."

"Did you talk to Mr. Bennett before you came home?" Teresa asked, rummaging around in her drawer for her bathing suit.

"I did," Patrick answered, disappearing into the bathroom to get his swimming trunks. "He couldn't say much, I think the next few months will really determine how things go for him. But I have a feeling that he'll be the same strong person that he has been this whole time."

She joined him in the bathroom and clipped up her hair. "Are you worried about him?"

"No," Patrick said, tossing his shirt aside and tying the strings on his aqua blue bathing suit. "I mean, not really. I think that I mostly feel sorry for him. He lost two people he cared about in the space of a few short days. That has to be hard on any man, even if the man is strong."

Teresa smiled at him and threaded her hand through his. "Come on. An afternoon at the beach is exactly what you need to cheer you up."

"I don't need cheering up!" he protested as he smiled down at her and tightened his grip on her hand. "I'm fine!"

"Don't give me that 'you're fine' baloney!" Teresa retorted as she dragged him out of the bathroom. "I've been with you long enough to know when you're lying to me."

"Oh, you do,do you?"

"Yeah, I do!" She answered cheerfully. "In fact, after three years of being your better half, I think that I know everything about you now."

Patrick stopped her from taking another step down the stairs. "I think you just might be right."

And then, he kissed her.

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"Do you mind if I sit down for a minute?" Patrick asked Edward on Friday afternoon as the funeral reception had begun to wind down.

Edward nodded and motioned for him to take the seat beside him. "Go ahead."

He did and the two men sat uncommunicatively for a while, looking out over the ocean, each lost in their own thought until Edward decided to finally the silence between them.

"Thank you for finding out who killed my 'Cilla," he said. "It means a lot to me. . . to all of us really. I think Bruce, me, and even Shawn will forever be in your debt."

Patrick looked a little surprised and then he shook his head. "There's no debt, I'm just glad I could help you out."

"Is there something you wanted to tell me?" Edward asked after another minute of prolonged quiet.

"Yes. I did," Patrick replied, doing his best to smile at him. "Now, this isn't something you want to hear right . . . especially not today of all days, but I think you need to hear it."

"Okay?" Edward answered, looking a little puzzled.

"I came to see you because I wanted you to know that one day you're probably going to meet somebody," Patrick said. "And she's going to help you heal. Yes, you'll always remember Pricilla, but you'll realize that there's room enough in your heart for more than one person."

"How do you know?" Edward asked.

"Because – believe it or not – it happened to me once," Patrick answered, looking up as Teresa came out the door with Bruce at her heels. "I lost somebody loved too. And I didn't think I'd ever fall in love again, but then I met somebody and she showed me that I was wrong."

Edward looked a little surprised as his eyes found Teresa. "You and Mrs. Jane? But I've always assumed that you two have been together forever."

Patrick shook his head. "No. I haven't been with her very long at all. That doesn't matter though, not right now. I want you to promise me that when the day comes, when you find somebody who has the ability to help you move on, seize the opportunity to do so and never look back. Try not to allow yourself to entertain what ifs and whatever the circumstances are, don't make her have to pursue you. Could you promise those things?"

Edward glanced over at Teresa again; saw the way she was looking at Patrick as she waited for him by their car. "Do you think it's what Pricilla would want? For me to eventually move on and try to be happy again?"

"I know it's what she'd want."

Edward looked back at Patrick and sighed slightly. "Well, if the opportunity ever arises, I promise I'll do all the things you told me to do."

"If you don't, I'm going to be forced to come over here and make you keep your promise," Patrick warned.

Edward laughed inspite of himself. "I guess I'm just going to have to keep my promise then."

"Make sure you do," he said as he stood up. "I have to go now; my wife's waiting for me. I'll see you around, Edward."

"See you around, Mr. Jane," Edward parroted, getting to his feet and waving goodbye.

"Ready to go?" Teresa asked, as Patrick came up to the car and opened the passenger door for her.

"I am," he confirmed. "How about you? Are you ready to go home, Mrs. Jane?"

Teresa nodded and stole another glimpse at Edward before she slid into the Citroen. "What about Edward?" she asked. "Do you think he'll be okay?"

Patrick got into the driver's seat and nodded as he took her hand. "Yes, I'll think he's going to be fine eventually. If I can do it, anybody can."

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"Put Asta in with us for the night," Teresa said as she bookmarked her spot in the Thin Man and then started to get comfortable underneath the satin sheets.

"Put Asta in with us for the night?" Patrick repeated as he unhooked the dog's leash and slung it over a chair and discarded his navy blue, CBI sweatshirt. "Put Asta in with us for the night. You've been saying that all week. Well, sorry sweetheart, Asta's going to have to sleep on the floor tonight."

"Oh really?" Teresa challenged, arching a thin eyebrow as he dove on the bed and wrapped his arms around her. "Says who?"

"Me," Patrick answered, covering her with his body and seeking out her lips with his own.

Teresa's eyelids fluttered shut slightly. "It's been a long week, aren't you tired. . . oh—"

"Did you say something?" He asked, pulling away and smiling at her slyly.

"No," she murmured, pulling him down and deepening their kiss. "If you're hearing things, you must be getting old."

Asta whimpered and stood on his hind legs, trying to jump on the bed and claim his usual spot between them.

"Not now Asta!" Patrick growled, sitting up slightly so he could gently push the terrier away from their bed.

"You know, he's going to think you don't like him," Teresa told him, propping herself up on her elbows and looking down at their job.

Patrick rolled his eye and didn't dignify her pronouncement with a response. "If that dog doesn't get down now, I'm going to banish him to the living room for the night."

"And we all know how that goes," Teresa replied, soothing him with a kiss. "We won't be getting any sleep tonight, if you do that."

"Just for a little bit then," Patrick said as he tugged the comforters and sheets over their heads and pulled her flush against his chest.

"It still won't go over well," she whispered as he kissed her ear. "You know Asta, he needs our constant attention or there'll be. . . oh—"

It was the last comment she made about Asta or anything else for a long while.

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Author's Note II:

And they lived happily ever after. Well, actually, there's more to come. Be on the lookout for more adventures from our modern day Nick and Nora. No spoilers, but I think you'll like what I have planned. Now that it's all over (for now), please click on the review button and tell me what you thought. I don't bite and I love to hear what you think.

Love,

Holly, 2/18/2013_