A/N: Last chapter! This kind of went way differently in my head, but if I wrote THAT version, wouldn't have been able to keep the genre at friendship. ;) Slight spoiler here in this chapter if you haven't watched the last episode of Season 3 (Strawberries and Cream). This is a bit longer than the rest, but still. Enjoy!
Violet
It was a slow day for the CBI Serious Crimes Unit. Heck, it was a slow week. No new cases to occupy them, only the paperwork they have yet to fill slowly get done. Although slow days meant that there weren't any murders that required their attention (which was good), it made Patrick Jane bored out of his mind. No new cases, no new leads about Red John. He was seriously b-o-r-e-d.
Looking up from his book (of which he was on his 38th reading), he asked the occupants of the bullpen, "Aren't you guys bored with all this paperwork?"
"Not really. I can finally fill up the forms and reports from two months past. With no new cases, I'm actually almost caught up with all them," Van Pelt answered happily.
Shaking his head, he looked at the other two men in the team. "What about you two? Rigsby, have you any new tricks you've recently acquired?"
"Uh... No," Rigsby replied awkwardly. "And I'm almost caught up with my paperwork too. Only 5 more reports to finish."
"Cho?"
"No," the Asian man answered firmly.
"Bah, you're all so boring. I'll go bother Lisbon then," Jane said, slightly put out as he left the sanctity of his couch.
"Uhh..." Risgby started, but he was stopped by Cho.
"Don't bother. He'll probably still do it."
"What?" Jane asked the two, looking directly at Risgby.
"Lisbon has someone in her office," Van Pelt piped up from behind her desk.
"Oh," Jane said with a straight face. Slowly, he broke into a smile and walked towards Lisbon's office with a bounce in his steps. "It'll make things more interesting then."
Knocking once on the office door, he noticed the shades all drawn. Without giving her a chance to answer, he opened the door and stuck his head in.
"Hey, Lisbon, do..." Jane trailed off staring at the sole occupant of the room.
"Jane, what the hell?!" Lisbon shrieked, turning around from the wall to face him. "Don't you know how to knock?! Close the damn door!"
Wordlessly, Jane stepped into the office and closed the door behind him. He gawked at the lilac-coloured satin dress she was in. The A-line, spaghetti-strapped asymmetrical dress had a faux wrap, gathering at the right, tightening slightly at the waist, teasing the viewer with a small preview of the curves she had and showed off her toned legs.
"You're on the wrong side," Lisbon said dryly.
For once, Jane was at a loss for words. He couldn't help but stare mutely at the women opposite him, making her frown and squirm a little, before finally turning away from him. Noticing her zipper was only halfway done, he walked toward her and put his hand gently her spaghetti-strap laced shoulder.
"Here, let me," Jane offered. Lightly, he scooped up her hair and put the locks over her shoulder. Hearing no dispute from Lisbon, he pulled the zipper upwards. "There," he said when he was done, scooping her hair back to its original position.
Lisbon thanked him and turned around to face him. Smiling, he realized her cheeks were tinted pink.
"You look very stunning, Lisbon," Jane complimented her.
"Shut up."
"No, really. You look beautiful."
"Really, shut up."
"What's the occasion?"
"Well, I kinda promised a friend to be her bridesmaid for her wedding..."
"Oh?" Jane's eyebrow rose in surprise. "I thought you hated being a bridesmaid. You made it quite clear by punching me in the shoulder when I had Grace make you one of hers."
"She's an old friend," Lisbon said, looking away.
Just then, there was a knock on the door. "Hey, T, you done in there?" A voice called out from outside.
"See, that's how you're supposed to do it. Knock, then wait for an answer," Lisbon said pointedly at Jane, who simply shrugged at her. In a louder voice, she answered, "Yeah, I'm done. You can come in."
Jane looked at the woman who walked in, closing the door behind her. She was a very beautiful blonde, angular face with dark green eyes. Her tall stature was made taller by the killer heels she was wearing, making her taller Jane, towering over the shorter brunette in the room who was barefooted at the moment. Her slim, but well endowed body was hidden behind the large green bag she was carrying.
"Oh, who are you?" The woman asked in an elegant voice. From the way she walked and the talked, Jane presumed she was from a rich family and was confident with herself, not allowing anyone to come between her and her goals.
"Patrick Jane, I work with Lisbon," Jane smiled and extended his hand.
"So you're the Jane I keep hearing about, eh? Interesting," The woman said, shaking his hand. "I'm Violet Rachman, T's – no, sorry, Lisbon's – friend. We've been friends ever since we entered college and shared the same room in the dormitory. Anyway, I've heard a lot about you, Mr Jane."
"Oh? What exactly have you heard about me, Miss Rachman?" Jane asked, glancing at Lisbon with a glint in his eyes.
"Call me Violet," Rachman said, smiling.
"Nothing much, really," Lisbon said quickly, answering Jane's question. "So, Jane, what did you want?"
"Other than seeing you in that dress, nothing much," Jane smirked mischievously. Looking at Violet, he said, "And call me Patrick, since we're all friends here." Lisbon just sighed and massaged the bridge of her nose.
"It's beautiful, isn't it? I designed it myself," Violet said, giving the dress Lisbon was wearing an approving nod. "Designed it just for her."
"Indeed it is, Violet. Looks amazing on her," Jane said.
"It does, doesn't it?" Violet smiled. Opening the large bag she was toting, Violet pulled out a sparkling silver-coloured plastic tiara. "Oh and not forgetting this. Everyone has one for the bachelorette party next week."
"May I?" Jane held his hand out and Violet handed him the tiara with a smile on her face. Ignoring the death glare Lisbon was giving him, Jane brushed the stray lock of hair from her face and gingerly placed the tiara on her head. "Aww, look! The angry little princess found her tiara!"
"Jane..." Lisbon growled at her consultant, cheeks gradually turning red.
"Come on, T, you look adorable!" Violet sad happily.
Sighing, Lisbon shook her head. "Don't encourage him, Vi, please," she begged.
"Never in a million years," Violet laughed. "Oh yes, that reminds me. Why don't you bring Patrick along to the wedding? I know you only RSVP'd for one, but I saved you a spot for a friend."
"Oh, I couldn't. I'm sure he's busy," Lisbon shook her head.
"I think I can make myself free. Anything for T," Jane grinned.
"Then it's settled then! It's in two months' time. I'll send T your invite, if that's fine with you," Violet said happily.
"That's fine with me."
"Great!" Violet said.
"Great," Lisbon echoed in a grumpy tone.
"I'm sorry, T, Patrick, but I have to go. There's so many things I have to get done by today," Violet said apologetically.
"I understand," Jane said, smiling sweetly. He took a step back to give the women some space.
"I'll see you next week," Violet said, bending down to give Lisbon a quick hug. "And don't forget the tiara."
Lisbon smiled wryly. "I won't, I promise." Smiling genuinely, walked her friend to the door. "Thanks for bringing me the dress, Vi. See you next week."
Jane waved goodbye to Lisbon's friend and took a seat on the couch.
"You didn't have to do that, you know?" Lisbon said, taking a seat beside him and crossed her legs, not noticing it hitched her skirt upwards slightly.
"And let you suffer the whole day with a random stranger you know Violet would have set you up with?" Jane asked with a knowing smirk.
"You're right," Lisbon sighed. "Thank you."
"No thanks needed. I also want to see your face when you catch the bouquet."
"I don't participate in that!" Lisbon said indignantly.
"Oh come on, you're still single, waiting to be married. I know you do," Jane said matter-of-factly.
Lisbon's cheeks flushed slightly. "So what if I did? Doesn't mean I'm gonna catch it."
"You will," Jane said firmly, patting her knee.
Lisbon's gaze followed his hand. Realizing her skirt was at her mid-thigh, her face turned red and she shot upwards. "Um, I'm going to change now."
"You want me to leave?" Jane asked cheekily.
"Jane..." Lisbon trailed, her voice low in warning.
"Alright, alright. I'll go," Jane said, raising his hands in surrender. Standing, he walked to the door. "Sure you don't need help unzipping?" Jane asked in a teasing tone.
Lisbon reached over to the desk to grab her stapler and Jane decided it was time to go before she threw it at him. He pulled the door open and slipped out. Just before he closed the door, he stuck his head in and said, "You look really beautiful in that dress you know."
Chuckling at her embarrassed expression, Jane retreated from the office and closed the door.
A/N: And that's it. 7 chapters. I hope you enjoyed this series; I certainly enjoyed writing them. What's your favourite chapter? Personally, mine's Green. I know I wrote in the first chapter I might be writing an angst version of the series, but that'll probably happen in about two months' time. Exams are imminent, so those come first.
Anyway, thank you so much for reading, especially till the last chapter, you mean so much to me! And as always, thank you so much for reviewing/favourite-ing/following!