Title: Paper/Precious

Disclaimer: I do not own the mentalist... Camden is mine however!

Pairings: Jello, RigsPelt

Warnings: complete and utter fluff... don't forget to brush your teeth after you finish reading...

Spoilers: This is a happy fantasy world future fics... so none, except for the frog, and I'm not sure that counts as a spoiler anyway

AN: My wonderful sister gave me another two random numbers, 21 and 357 (paper and precious in tromana's list on the jello-forever board) so let's see where they lead me...

AN.5: Thanks to everybody who reviewed the first chapter. I'm glad you guys liked it...

Paper/Precious

Camden was trudging down the stairs on his way to the kitchen. He'd been up in the attic going through old stuff, looking for something interesting for his 'My Family' school project. His findings had been less than satisfactory. The box he was carrying was about as exciting as a math textbook.

"Mommy, why do we keep a box of paper animals in the attic? And why isn't there anything cool up there?"

Teresa looked up from the pasta sauce she'd been stirring. "You didn't find anything you can use?" She asked gently.

"No. Not really. All the stuff up there is... tedious." He slumped in one of the chairs.

"Right... how about I tell you about the paper animals while we wait for dinner to be ready. And after we're done I'll go up to the attic with you and help you search."

Camden rolled his eyes. "Sure."

"Okay, go on, pick one from the box and I'll tell you its story." She watched as the boy started rummaging around, picking up one piece of folded paper after the other, before discarding it. Finally he stretched out his hand towards her. Sitting on it was a blue-ish origami frog.

Teresa smiled. Of all the possibilities her very empathic son had chosen this one.

"That's Daddy's bribe."

Camden frowned. "Daddy bribed someone with a paper frog?"

"Yes, me. See, Daddy misbehaved at work and I was angry with him because of it and instead of apologizing he gave me that frog."

"Did you forgive him?"

"Not the very moment he put it down on the desk, no. But it did make me smile when it jumped."

"It can do that?" His eyes had turned big as saucers.

"Yes, of course," said an excited voice from the doorway.

"Daddy!"

Teresa watched as her son threw himself into Patrick's arms.

"How was the conference, Daddy? Did you see Uncle Wayne and Auntie Grace? Did you get me a gift? Was it warm in Cali-cali-california? Did you..."

"Slow down, buddy, before you trip over your own tongue. Yes, I saw Uncle Wayne and Auntie Grace and the honorary cousins. Would I forget to bring you a gift? Of course I wouldn't. It's in my suitcase just waiting to be given to the brightest little boy in the whole wide world. And yes, again, Cali-cali-california was very nice and warm and a real treat after the weather we've been having here. Now, give me a second to say 'hi' to your Mom and then we'll go look for that gift, okay?" He carefully set his son down and went to hug and kiss his wife, while Cam ran out of the room in search of his father's luggage. "Hey there, Mrs. Jane, how are you on this fine snowy day?"

"I'm great, dinner's almost ready. You should go change and get Camden's present."

"Will do. Where's my precious?"

"Isobel is staying over at Jeannie's house; they're having a slumber birthday party. Cam and I were going to make s'mores and watch a Pixar film later, as compensation for him being excluded from the pink princesses' private ball. How are the Rigsbys?"

"They're fine. Grace is pregnant again, but don't tell anybody, she's still keeping it a secret. Bruce is almost as big as his father by now."

"Are you kidding? He's only twelve years old."

"Daaaaaaddyyyyyy?"

Teresa sighed. "You should get going, you can tell me about our other godchildren during dinner."

Patrick grinned. "Admit it, Teresa, you think his impatience is adorable."

"Daaaaaaaaaaaadddddyyyy!"

They chuckled. "Or not."

He was almost by the door when he noticed the box filled with little origami creations. "Do you think I'm going to have to teach him my very secret 'frog jumping' trick?"

Teresa smirked. "Yes."

"Oh joy."

"What about her?" Camden's dark head appeared in the door.

"What about whom?" Patrick asked.

"Jolly Joy Rigsby, Daddy."

"Oh her, she was abducted by the desert fairies while I was visiting in Cali-cali-california. They gave her back, but only after Uncle Wayne had promised to come to the fairy ball in a tutu."

"You're lying!"

"Yes, I am. Come on, let's go get your present." Patrick gently steered his son out of the kitchen.

"Okay... I'll guess what it is!"

"I don't think so, champ!"

"I can do it. You know I can! It's a t-shirt saying 'California Surfer Boy'. It's light blue and it has green writing on it."

Back in the kitchen Teresa laughed. Like father like son.

The end

AN2: horribly sappy, so sweet you now have cavities, so fluffy-pink-cute it made your eyes hurt? Customer complaints will be forwarded to the author if you send in a review!