On her way to the door, Lisbon turned down her holiday music. If it was carolers, she didn't want to drown them out.
She was completely suprised when she found Jane standing on her front porch.
"Hey Lisbon!" He waved cheerfully and leaned forward to press an impetuous kiss on her cheek.
"Merry Christmas!"
She giggled, nonplussed. "Uh - Merry Christmas!"
"Can I come in?"
"I – well..."
"I brought you some -" he peeked into the bags in his hands, though he knew what was in them, "- instant hot chocolate!"
She frowned, confused. Jane beamed... "It's Marshmallow Lovers'. And," he held up a box, "candy cane stirrers… and aah... cheese plate."
"Jane - why are you here?"
"Well, I knew you'd be spending this Christmas by yourself, and I knew that you really didn't want to. But you've been so chipper in spite of that, so I knew you'd have found some way to stay in control of the situation, not get too blue and all that. I hope you don't mind that I came over." He paused for a kind of deep breath - she noticed. "I wanted to spend Christmas Eve with you."
She opened her mouth and closed it again.
"Lisbon?"
"Come on in." She ushered him inside. "I'll just put the kettle on. You can set that on the table."
He closed the front door behind him, mentally rubbing his palms together in anticipation of testing his theory. He just knew that they would enjoy each other's company tonight.
"It smells wonderful in here!" he called into the kitchen. I'll just take a quick look around…
Her holiday decorations were minimal, but he could tell they were meaningful to her.
A wreath on the door he'd just closed. Simple, no-fuss balsam, with a single ornament hung from a red ribbon.
On the table, a bowl full of oranges studded with spicy cloves.
A string of white lights around the mantle. And her Christmas stocking.
He heard a cabinet door close and wondered what she was doing in there.
"Make yourself at home, Jane. I'll just be a few minutes."
He stole over to the fireplace and quietly, elfishly, tore open the package of candy canes, lifting some of them carefully out of the plastic and hanging them on Lisbon's strand of twinkle lights. He chuckled, pleased with his work.
Thinking she'd be coming back any minute, he settled into the armchair near the fireplace so he could see her reaction when she emerged from the kitchen.
But then the oven timer went off. So he looked around some more, and his eyes landed on the coffee table. Jane knew Lisbon loved old movies, and it made his heart smile to see a stack of what must be her favorites for this time of year: White Christmas, Meet Me in St Louis, Christmas in Connecticut, and It's a Wonderful Life.
Jane thought, So this was what Lisbon had planned tonight. Gingerbread and classic Christmas movies. Jane would bet she had been watching some of these since she was a child.
Just like she still watched the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade every year. He had noted that one a few years back.
After hearing more kitchen-y sounds, he wondered if she needed a hand. "Is there anything I can help you with, Lisbon?"
"No, thanks. I'll be right there." Her voice grew louder as she made her way into the living room with a plate full of gingerbread men.
"Oh!" she beamed, spying the candy canes dripping tastefully from the mantle. Jane was momentarily speechless when Lisbon directed the megawatt smile at him.
She sat down on the edge of the sofa near Jane's chair, and he watched as she carefully slid the plate and oven mitt onto the coffee table in front of them.
"I thought you were carolers," she explained. "I'm sorry if I made you feel silly out there at first." She fidgeted with her hands.
"Oh, no need to apologize. I probably should have broken into song. After all, 'tis the season," he said awkwardly.
The tea kettle whistled and they both jumped. "Why don't you come into the kitchen with me and choose your tea?" she offered.
Jane's eyebrows shot up. "Choose my tea?" he teased.
"Yes. I actually picked up some peppermint tea last week. The barista at the coffee shop said it went well with all varieties of Christmas cookies. I thought it'd be nice to try."
Lisbon blushed. She knew he knew she didn't usually drink tea. He'll know I bought it on the off-chance that he might drop in to enjoy it. Now that the holidays were nearly over, she had thought she would just return the tea to the shop, so it wouldn't grow stale in her cupboard while waiting for him to drop by next Christmas season.
Jane ripped into the packaging with gusto. Lisbon doesn't usually drink tea, he thought happily.
The tin that held the peppermint tea was shiny red with a white snowflake pattern. Lisbon laughed at Jane's enthusiasm, and slid the cup and saucer toward him. Meanwhile, she drew some items from the refrigerator, and set about making her favorite gingerbread cookie accompaniment. She dropped two ice cubes into the stemmed holly glass and covered them with Disaronno. Then she nearly filled the glass with boiled custard, and dropped in a maraschino cherry.
"Hmmm, that looks interesting, Lisbon." Jane said hopefully, and she offered him her glass.
"If you like it, I'll make one for you."
Jane took a generous sip, and smacked his lips appreciatively. "I never was an egg-nog man, but boiled custard is totally different, isn't it?"
Lisbon nodded, smiling. "My brothers say it tastes like ice cream. It's great with warm cookies, but I like this adult version even better. No, you keep that one. I'll make another while your tea is steeping."
She reached over and turned off the oven, surprised she had forgotten it.
Lisbon took a deep breath as they headed back into the living room. "I was planning to watch one of those movies on the coffee table tonight. Would you like to join me?"
"I thought you'd never ask." He smiled broadly, enjoying her blush.
Ninety minutes later they were sprawled on opposite ends of the couch. Lisbon had pulled a light blanket over her lap once she remembered she was only wearing a hockey jersey. She blushed furiously at the realization that Jane in his three-piece suit had been politely conversing with her from the time she answered the door, without once hinting at her casual attire.
The movie was nearly over. The coffee table was strewn with empty holly glasses, a tea cup, a plate half full of cookies and plenty of crumbs. The DVDs Jane had perused were scattered across the remaining surface area, and one of them lay open on the chair: Christmas in Connecticut, a black-and-white film he was sure he had never seen before.
Jane groaned. "No. That's ridiculous, Lisbon – that 'baby' is at least two years old! Seriously, come on, what were they thinking of? That is totally unbelievable. And surely we're not supposed to think that that young woman is stupid enough to believe that that – that infant - swallowed a full-sized pocket watch!"
Lisbon hit him with a throw pillow, hard. But she was snickering.
Jane grinned. He thought she was awfully cute when she was trying to fake being annoyed with him. She looked so tiny, nestled into the corner of her couch in her pjs… He suddenly had the desire to tickle her to pieces.
Lisbon saw the mischievious glint in his eye, and turned her face away. "Jane," she warned, knowing she should probably discourage whatever shenanigans he was plotting.
He jumped up and she followed with her eyes as he headed toward the kitchen. Just as he was passing by, he turned on her abruptly; and before she could react, he was tickling her sides until she was squealing and breathless.
"Jane! Jane, stop - Please! Stop..." she gasped, slapping at his arms.
Jane relented, and Lisbon continued to shrink away from him, laughing and trying to catch her breath.
She suddenly grew quiet, and Jane was about to start freaking out at the realization that he had really crossed a line. But Lisbon was actually thinking, Two can play at that game.
She flipped Jane over the arm of the couch and found he was possibly more ticklish than she was. She was completely delighted and having a really good time watching him attempt to wriggle away from her predatory hands.
"Lisbon, Lisbon! I give, I give!" She sat back and crossed her arms, smugly triumphant at besting Patrick Jane. She hadn't grown up with brothers and come away without some skills. She watched as his chest continued to heave, and was still trying to catch her own breath. She wondered if she was as flushed as he was.
And then she realized she was sitting on him. Literally pinning him down.
Horrified, she started to move away, but his hand came up and caught hers. She looked down at it, then over to his face. He sat up quickly, with Lisbon perched on his lap.
He looked up suddenly, and she followed his gaze.
"Lisbon – you hung mistletoe?!"
"What? There's no -"
His face was incredibly close. She stammered, unable to stop herself from finishing the thought.
" -Mistle… t-"
aaaaand smooch.
"Made you look!" Jane gloated, and he kissed her again.