12. Their First Year of Marriage in Retrospect
Halloween:
"Hurry up Jane! We're going to be late!" Lisbon called.
"I think you better go without me," Jane called back.
"It's a couple's costume party!" She said. "I can't be Nora without you're being Nick. Nobody will know who I am."
"Nobody's going to know who you are if I'm with you," Jane answered, coming out of their bedroom and staring down at her from over the banister.
"It was your idea to be Nick and Nora," Lisbon reminded him.
"It's not the couple we're dressed up as," Jane said. "It's. . . it's just I haven't dressed up for Halloween in years. The last time I dressed up was for Bradli's first Halloween, and her mother dressed us up as Crayola crayons."
"Didn't you ever dress up and go trick-or-treating when you were a little boy?" Lisbon asked, hitching the skirt of her evening gown and climbing the stairs. She reached for Jane's bow-tie, tied it, and then smoothed it out.
"No, not really," Jane answered. "Sometimes, we'd have the carnival open on Halloween night, and I'd put on one of those rubber monster masks, scare poor innocent kids to death. But I never really dressed up."
Lisbon stood back and admired the effect of Jane in a tuxedo. "Well, I think you make a handsomer Nick than William Powell."
Jane smiled. "Well, thank you. You make a prettier Nora than the actress who played Nora."
Lisbon rolled her eyes. "Are you ready to go?"
"Does going mean that much to you?"
"I promised Shani that we'd be there," Lisbon answered.
"Then, we'll go," Jane said. "I'll go pull out the car. You set out that bowl of Extra Watermelon gum, and turn on the light so the kids will know they can get candy here."
Lisbon nodded. "I did it while you were getting dressed. You know, I got to see some of the kids trick-or-treating? And some of them actually stopped to tell me how pretty I looked? They're so adorable."
"And they have good taste," Jane said, taking her arm and helping her down the stairs. "You are pretty."
Lisbon blushed. "You already said that."
"I did?" Jane said. "Well, you are. You're pretty, you're pretty. . . you're pretty."
Her blush grew deeper. "Jane, stop it."
He laughed and pulled her in so he could kiss her cheek. "I can't help it. I always say what I'm thinking, and right now that's what I'm thinking."
Lisbon pulled away. "Guess who Tavis and Shani are dressing up as."
"I don't need to guess," Jane said.
"Guess," she pushed.
"Let me see. . . Heath and Claire Huxtable from the Cosby Show."
"Yes!" Lisbon answered. "Just don't tell them that I told you."
"You didn't tell me, I knew," Jane replied. "You forget who you're dealing with. . ."
.
November:
"Your brother Tommy called and invited us to go and visit them during Thanksgiving," Jane said, putting her feet in his lap and starting to massage them.
"Really? What did you say?"
"That I had to make sure you weren't going to watch old movies and eat ice cream all weekend," Jane replied.
Lisbon leaned over and smacked him with the magazine she was reading. "Seriously, what did you say?"
"I invited them over here to visit with us," Jane said.
"You didn't!"
"We have plenty of room."
"Jane. . ."
"So, they're coming the Saturday before Thanksgiving."
"Jane, we already invited a bunch of people over for Thanksgiving though!" Lisbon said. "Including your old friends Kristina Frye and Walter Mashburn."
"So?" Jane asked. "Tommy, his wife, and his kids are your family. They should trump an old almost-boyfriend of your's, and an old almost-girlfriend of mine. I know your concerns, and they're completely not valid!"
"Invalid," Lisbon muttered.
"What you said," Jane agreed. "I know your concerns, and they're completely invalid. Haven't you ever heard the expression the more the merrier?"
"Have you ever heard the expression three's a crowd?" Lisbon replied. "And now, we have more than three coming! What started out as the team, and the Coopers coming for Thanksgiving dinner has snowballed way out of proportion."
"Which reminds me, Minelli called and asked what we were doing for Thanksgiving, he wanted us to come over for dessert. I invited him and his wife to join us because I had a feeling we wouldn't be getting rid of everybody by dessert."
Lisbon almost screamed as she threw her magazine at his head. "JANE!"
He ducked. "Hey! It'll be fun! I promise!"
.
THANKSGIVING:
"First of all, Teresa and I would like to thank you all for joining us today," Jane said. "It's quite an honor to have you all here celebrating our first Thanksgiving together."
"As husband and wife," Minelli added.
"As husband and wife," Jane said his smile growing wider. "I've never done something like this before. . . ever. But since today is about giving thanks, I'd like to take this opportunity to go around the room and each of us to tell one thing we're thankful for. Madeline, if you'd start us off please, then each of you can go accordingly."
"Well," Hightower said. "I'm thankful that I had the opportunity to work with such a great team these past couple of years. And I'm thankful that today, not only am I celebrating Thanksgiving with all of you, but with my husband as well. Thanks to Mr. Jane, we've reconciled. . . for good."
"I'm thankful that my sister finally found somebody worthy of her love and affection," Tommy said. "And I'm thankful that you, Patrick, aren't a loser."
"I'm thankful that I found a new best friend in Teresa," Shani said. "After Olivia was. . . murdered, I didn't think I'd ever, ever find a new girlfriend like her."
"I'm thankful that Patrick was finally able to move on and find somebody he could love just as much as Olivia," Tavis added. "I'm thankful that it was Teresa that he found love with. I mean, she does know him better than any other woman he could have found."
"I'm thankful that most weekends, I get to spend time with Auntie Tessie and Uncle Patrick," Daisy said. "And I'm thankful that April might get the solo part for the church Christmas concert. And I'm thankful that Lee won American Idol, and that there's a second season of Glee—"
"Okay sugar," Shani whispered. "Give somebody else a chance to talk."
"I'm thankful that I have a whole four days off from school," April said. "But mostly, I'm thankful for Aunt Tess and that she's helped Uncle Patrick heal his broken heart."
"I'm also thankful for Patrick," Amy, Tommy's wife said. "I'm thankful that he went out to win Teresa's heart, and that he eventually won it. I'm thankful that Teresa allowed her heart to be won. And I'm thankful that they make such a good looking couple."
"Well, I'm thankful that I met Patrick and Teresa Jane," Kristina said. "I'm thankful that I got the chance to get to know Patrick better, it helped me find out he was all wrong for me, and all right for Teresa. I'm also thankful that he introduced me to Walter Mashburn. My equal in. . . almost everything."
"Same here," Mashburn said. "Except, I'm glad that I realized pursuing Agent Lisbon-Jane would have been a disaster, because she would be better for Jane than for me."
Van Pelt giggled at what Walter Mashburn was thankful for, but sobered up after she realized everybody was looking at her. "I'm thankful that Lisbon didn't marry that jerk, Emmett. . . and that she married Jane instead. Plus, I'm thankful that Rigsby and I can still be friends, even though we broke up."
Rigsby nodded. "I'm thankful for all that, and the fact that Jane's a good cook so dinner won't be horrible."
"You and your food." Cho rolled his eyes. "I'm thankful that we finally caught Red John, and that because of Red John, we were all able to come together as a team. I'm thankful for my family and my girlfriend, and for my CBI family."
Lisbon stood up and took a deep breath. "I'm thankful for Patrick too. . . I'm thankful that he's always there when I need him, and that he took a chance on me. He didn't need to. . . but he did. I am so thankful that I was able to give my heart to such a worthy recipient."
"Well, I guess I'm the only one left, unless Wyatt and Tammy want to say something." Jane smiled at his niece and nephew. "Okay, well. . . as everybody here already knows, I lost my wife and daughter tragically. I didn't think I'd ever learn to open my heart up again. I hated those Kay Jeweler commercials that said, if you keep your heart open, love will always find it's way in. In fact, I was completely shut down from any emotion at all. Until, I started to spend more and more time with Teresa. First, it started out with us pairing off when we worked cases. Then, we realized we were the last one's to leave the office, so we would end the day with cups of tea, and chats to unwind after a tough case. Before I realized what was happening, I was in over my head. My only thought was her. . . I wanted to touch her, breathe her in. . . be near her every single millisecond of the day.
He glanced over at Kristina. "I got side-tracked, but I'm also thankful for that. Because it only brought me back to Lisbon. . . to Teresa. I'm thankful that everything makes sense when I'm around her, and that nothing makes sense without her. I'm thankful that she came and taught me to love again. Everything that she is, I'm thankful for."
"Well. . . " Lisbon said after a few minutes of stunned silence. Her cheeks flushed, she fumbled over her words, not thinking for a second anything he said was true (but wishing it could be). "I think it's time to eat. Jane. . . if you'd start carving the turkey. Cho, you can serve the wine. . . " she started doling out tasks, her mind reeling from everything that Jane had just said.
.
December:"Come on Lisbon! Let's go out and get our Christmas tree!" Jane said the Saturday morning after Thanksgiving.
"No! It's too early. The tree will die. Besides that, we don't have decorations."
"Way ahead of you sister," he replied. "We're going to go shopping for Christmas decorations at Normandy's, and Bloomingdales, and all of those other swanky places that will have amazing Christmas decorations. Then, we're going over to Target to buy a faux Christmas tree. We'll get a real tree the week before Christmas."
"Two Christmas trees?" Lisbon asked.
"Please?" Jane replied, giving her puppy dog eyes.
She sighed; relenting. . . she was helpless when Jane looked at her that way. "Fine, but we're going out to lunch."
"You choose the place," Jane agreed.
Christmas day"You spoiled me," Lisbon said, after they had opened all of their gifts. The last of which was a necklace from Jane Seymore's Open Your Heart to Love collection at Kay Jeweler's.
"Well, it was our first Christmas together." Jane nodded to his pile of presents. "And you spoiled me too."
She nodded, deciding not say anything about how it could possibly be their last Christmas together. She didn't want to think about it. She stood to her feet. "I'm going to make coffee? Would you like some tea?"
Jane handed her the box of Christmas Breakfast blend she had bought for him. "Yes, please."
"We're only having a light breakfast because we're going to have a huge Christmas dinner with Tavis, Shani, and all of their family."
"Hey, all I need is the tea," Jane said. "Then, we can go and surprise Tavis, Shani, and the girls. I bet they're not done opening presents yet. Which, means they're still in their pajamas."
"You're such a child." But she smiled, leaning down to kiss his nose, the smell of her cinnamon perfume making his heart beat uncontrollably. "I'll be ready to go in five minutes."
.
New Year's Eve"10, 9, 8, 7, 6—"
"It's almost time," Jane whispered against Lisbon's ear. "A New Year is just—"
"Happy New Year!" Everybody else cheered.
Lisbon smiled at Jane, as all of the couples around them (even Rigsby and Van Pelt) started to kiss each other. "Happy New Year Patrick."
"Happy New Year Teresa," Jane said, pulling her into his arms and giving her a kiss, because when in Rome. . . (and because, he had wanted to kiss her the way they had kissed in Hawaii every day since then. And New Year's was the perfect excuse to do it. It wouldn't seem funny doing something that everybody else was doing.)
It was a New Year, and still. . . he couldn't find the courage to turn a new page, and ask Lisbon to stay with him for the rest of their lives. He wanted to, he wanted to more than anything. . . but he just couldn't. He didn't want to find out that he felt more than she did.
February
Valentine's Day"Delivery for Mrs. Jane!" Jane called out, coming into the bull pen with a dozen red Roses and a huge box of chocolate. He stopped by Van Pelt's desk and put a yellow rose on it, with a tiny box of chocolate. "But first, for you Miss Van Pelt, happy Valentine's Day."
Van Pelt's face lit up. "Oh! Thank you Jane! Here, I have something here for you too. Well. . . for you and Lisbon together. It's from the guys, and me. A gift certificate to some fancy restaurant, for a romantic dinner for two."
"Thank you." Jane smiled. "Now, if you'd excuse me. . . I have to go and see my lady."
.
"Happy Valentine's day," Jane said, thrusting the Roses in Lisbon's face.
"Jane!" Lisbon smiled, standing up to greet him. "Happy Valentine's day. I was wondering where you disappeared to. You were gone before I woke up this morning."
"I had things to do," he replied. "As you can see."
"Well, thank you. The roses are gorgeous."
He leaned in and pecked her on the lips. "I also made dinner reservations for a really nice place in LA. . . just you and me, tonight. Formal dress is required."
"Does this place have dancing as well?"
"Yes," Jane replied. "Dancing until your feet fall off, if that's your wish."
"When do I need to be ready for this dinner?"
"Reservations are at six, but be ready by four. I mean, it is Hollywood."
"And how did you get reservations at this place, when I'm sure all of these actors and actresses are probably trying to get in tonight?" Lisbon asked, taking the roses from him, and burying her nose in them, breathing in the heady perfume.
"I know the assistant chef. She owes me a favor."
"You and your owed favors."
"You'll thank me for it later," Jane said. "They have coconut cake that is to die for."
"Before I try this to-die-for coconut cake, what did you do for this assistant chef? I mean, why does she owe you a favor? Did you call on her dead father or something?"
"Her dead fiancé, actually," he replied. "His ghost was haunting her because of some unsettled matter between them—"
Lisbon hit him. "Seriously!"
"Okay, one night it was pouring heavily, and her car had broken down. I stopped and gave her a ride to her apartment. She was so thankful that she gave her business card to me, and said if there was any way that she could ever help me, to give her a call."
"When did this happen?" Lisbon asked.
"The week before you got married," Jane said. "I never thought I was going to use up this favor, because you're the only one I would want to share the favor with. How could I use a favor on a married woman though? I mean, yeah, I could have given it to you and Emmett. . . but I'm selfish, because I'd want to be the man across from you, sharing dinner and dances."
Lisbon smiled, blushing slightly, and asked, "Really?"
"Really." Jane answered.
"Jane! You need to go!" Lisbon said, suddenly. "I have a ton of work to do, and now I'm going to have to leave early to get ready. . ."
"I'll meet you at home," Jane said. "Four 'o clock."
"Okay," Lisbon agreed. She pecked his cheek quickly. "I'll see you then."
.
"Tonight was lovely," Lisbon said, as she slipped out of her heels. "This was the best Valentine's day of my life." she stumbled a little bit, because she wasn't so high up.
"Just don't break your neck," Jane replied, picking her up bridal style. "You want lots of Valentine's days just like this one. Don't you?"
"It wouldn't hurt," Lisbon replied.
"Well, then, I insist you let me carry you to bed. You look exhausted."
"That's okay, I'm not an invalid." She didn't struggle though, she let him carry her to bed. . . it sealed her perfect day.
(Author's Note: This chapter was written to "Smile" by Uncle Kracker, because. . . at this point in the story, it describes Jane's feelings for Lisbon EXACTLY.)