Hey guys, thank you all for the amazing feedback on last chapter! I'm always so happy to read your thoughts, and know what you think about what I write!
Here is the new chapter, I'll be honest, I really thought I wouldn't finish it today, but I did and it kind of happens to be a long one with two flashbacks… So I hope you will like it! :)
Sorry for all the possible mistakes!

Disclaimer: Sadly I don't own The mentalist…

Chapter 12

Next week Lisbon was super cheerful. Derek took her to meet his parents on the weekend and it had its effect on the next few days. His mom was absolutely delightful and his father was funny and friendly with her.
Jane was also behaving like a grown up lately which was quite uncharacteristic from him but she wasn't complaining. He shared his ideas and plans with her and wasn't pissing off so many people as usual.

On Thursday he started acting like his old self again, wandering off and disappearing in the attic more and Lisbon accepted the thought that easy life with him seemed to be over. He was deep in thought all day and she often had the feeling of being watched, however, whenever she turned to him he was gazing into nothing, staring in front of him or just looking somewhere else.

"Is everything okay, Jane?" she finally asked with a hint of worry in her voice.

"Yes, of course it is Lisbon dear!" he said absent mindedly, walking past her towards the elevator.

She looked after him with narrowed eyebrows and swayed her head from side to side. She looked at VanPelt who was sitting at her desk, typing on her computer but she just shrugged. Lisbon headed for the kitchen to make herself a cup of coffee before she would get back to her work and found a small smiley shaped biscuit on top of a pot of freshly made coffee. With a surprised grin she reached for it and while she took a bite she poured herself a cup. The smell made her nostrils tingle and her mouth water. The biscuit was deliciously soft and chocolate flavoured.

Then she went into her office, her mind already on the paperwork that has been waiting for her for the better part of the day. Fortunately it wasn't horribly much so she expected to get out of the CBI by six or seven. Derek would be so thrilled!

She smiled affectionately at his thought, the man growing more and more important in her life. They spent every moment they could with each other and they had got to know each other really well by now. She knew that he liked blueberry jam on his toast and that he was shaving every third day but if she asked really nicely he left it grow for an additional couple of days so that he would have a slight stubble which she found incredibly hot. He knew that she usually slept on the right side of the bed and that she woke up every Saturday at nine o'clock sharp to go for a morning run before having breakfast. He also knew that she liked it when he cooked for her.

Lisbon strolled to her desk with joyful thoughts swimming through her head when she noticed a tiny something on her desktop which wasn't there when she left. She had only been in the bullpen for about ten minutes. She went closer and froze on the spot when she saw what it was.

A beautiful white magnolia. Resting on top of the last file she was working on, waiting to be noticed, to be admired.

Lisbon turned to the door, thinking about Jane's hasty exit and strange behavior. It couldn't be anyone else but him, that part she was sure. But why did she get it? Did he do something bad again? Was he trying to make up for something? Or was he just in a good mood? But then why did he leave so abruptly?

She stepped closer and picked up the flower, twirling it between her fingers with a hesitant smile. It was indeed gorgeous...

Jane was stuck. He had been planning his next step in the battle for Lisbon's heart when Derek, Lisbon's current boyfriend, burglary detective, perfect husband material Derek called him. His words were careful, almost shy as he asked for Jane's help.

"You must know Teresa's birthday is coming up..." he started and Jane bit back a sarcastic grunt. Knew it? He had been constantly thinking about it, trying to find the most special gift he could give her for weeks. The gift that would speak for itself and tell her how deeply he loved her.

"Yeah!" he only said instead, keeping his voice easy and nonchalant.

"Yes, and I've been wondering about making it memorable for her. She deserves it, and I want her to really feel that it's her day! But nothing came to mind, nothing meaningful or special enough for her. I strained my mind, thought over everything she had ever said to me but I couldn't come up with anything original. Then I realized that you are the person who knows her the best. So, do you have any idea? Please Patrick, I want her to be happy..." Derek told him and Jane closed his eyes for a second.

"Yeah, I'll thing about it. See what I can do..." he told the detective and quickly hung up, still a bit shaken from the request.

They both wanted the same but it seemed like only one of them could have it. He would either help Derek or think about his own gift. His plan was slowly proceeding. Every day he did something, even if it was only a small gesture, to make up to Lisbon about his past behavior. He would bite back a remark or buy her a muffin on his way to work.

But he knew that he wasn't the main reason she was glowing lately. It was Derek and whatever he did, he made her happy and Jane was incredibly jealous. He wanted to be the one who made her happy, but he knew that it was only fair this way. He had his chance and blew it, so now he would have to work twice as hard to achieve anything at all…

And he wanted Lisbon to have the best birthday possible. And in his position, he wouldn't be able to give her that. He could give her a wonderfully picked out present which would make her smile and she would probably be really grateful for it, but it was so much less than what she deserved. She deserved a whole day full of the appreciation of her birth. She deserved to know that the world was a better place because she was in it. And Derek, with a little help from Jane, could give that to her…

And with these thoughts he decided that he would give up his plans to find Lisbon the perfect gift and help Derek to create the perfect day for her instead. He just had to rack his brain to find the inspirational sparkle that would start it all. From then on, everything would work like clockwork.

And in that moment, as he made up his mind to side with Derek on this one, he immediately knew what would make that day the most significant for her.

"Come on, it's not like you've always hated Thanksgiving, right?" she prodded and Jane shrugged.

"I don't know… I guess I just don't really remember a time when I didn't hate it." He admitted and saw the pity in her eyes. However, it was softened by so much affection and hopefulness that he almost didn't even feel the sting that thinking about his childhood brought up in him.

"Well, then we will find a way to make you like it..." she smiled with a playful glint in her green eyes and leaned closer to him on the bed to kiss him lightly. Jane sighed and melted into her kiss, shutting out everything but her delicious lips on his and her tender hands sliding up his arm into his hair.

"And what about you? How did you celebrate these feast days?" he asked when they finally pulled back to catch their breaths.

"Well, we always gathered together around the table and ate turkey and sometimes sang a few songs. My mom would tell us the story of Thanksgiving and we would all tell each other what we were most grateful for that year. At Christmas we would all go to my grandparents' for a fantastic lunch made by my grandmother. They used to have this huge dining table around which we all could sit comfortably. All my cousins and uncles and aunts were there and we would just talk all through lunch. Sometimes there were several parallel conversations going on at the same time and it could be really loud. After that the children went to run around the house and play, or went outside to have crazy snowball battles while the adults washed the dishes and watched football on Tv. Later when we were all tucked under warm blankets and crowded into my grandparents' living room we opened presents. Before everyone went home we attended midnight mass then kissed each other goodbye. It used to be magical..." she said, a small smile gracing her features as she remembered.

"And what about birthdays? How did you celebrate?" he asked, twirling a strand of her dark brown hair around his finger, tugging on it until she was close enough for him to peck her lips.

"With cake, even after our parents were dead I would always bake cake for my brothers and they would buy me cake. That was what we did. We never had big parties even though when Tommy was becoming a teen he always wanted to have a birthday party as the other guys in his class… He had one, when he was seventeen." She laughed out loud at the memory before continuing. "He convinced me that he had to do it if he didn't want to be an outsider. He begged me for weeks and when I finally said okay he was so happy. We had to leave the flat for that night, I remember he even had a huge fight with James about it. He wouldn't even let his brothers stay… Next morning I got home to a catastrophe zone! I swear if there wasn't fifty empty bottles around then none!" she shook her head and Jane waited with a gentle smile, caught up in the story she was telling. After a moment of silence though he realized that she wasn't going to continue and he decided to ask the thing that had been nagging at him since she mentioned birthdays.

"And what about you? What was your dream birthday like?" he asked and Lisbon looked up at him with raised eyebrows.

"Me? I didn't really care about my own birthday… " she said and looked away.

"That's not true! You must have had something you've always wanted!" he pressed and put his arm protectively around her waist.

"You've already figured out the pony Jane!" she teased him, trying to change the subject. Jane chuckled at that warmly but she didn't manage to divert his attention.

"Come on… Tell me about your ideal birthday, please!" he pleaded with her and put on his best puppy face, the one he knew she couldn't resist.

"God, you know how much I hate it when you do that!" she groaned with a scowl.

"Not true, you love it!" Jane breathed into her ear before kissing her. "Now, tell me!" he said as they broke apart.

"Okay, it's no big deal. I've always dreamed of a birthday on the beach. But you know, not just any beach... I wished I could be near the sea. You know with a picnic basket and the seagulls and swimming. I don't know, maybe it was from those silly movies with beach birthday parties in them." she blushed and hid her face in his shirt.

"And did you get it?" he asked quietly.

"On my twentieth birthday I went out to the ocean for a big walk. I guess that counts as well..." she told him with a sweet smile and snuggled closer to him.

"Yeah, I guess..." he murmured but his mind was already elsewhere. He would give her the dream birthday because a lonely walk on the beach did absolutely not count! He just wished it were already her birthday, he couldn't wait to see her pretty face beam...

And now he wouldn't see it. But of course it wasn't important. She was the important one, and her happiness. And if Derek was the one who could give it to her, then Jane would sacrifice his wish to see it...

He got up from his chair in the attic and grabbed the flower that he bought on his way to the office. He jogged down the stairs and was glad to see that Lisbon was out in the bullpen. He put the magnolia gently on top of her files and folders then sauntered out and across the bullpen towards the elevator.

His mind was already working on the details of her birthday when he stormed past Lisbon.

"Is everything okay, Jane?" her voice, laced with concern cut into his thoughts and it made his chest tighten with anticipation and hope to hear. She still cared for him, maybe he could make it all okay again.

"Yes, of course it is Lisbon dear!" he answered, sending her a quick smile before he went on. He had arrangements to make and researches to do.

Once in the elevator he pulled out his cell and pressed *69 since he didn't know Derek's number. The detective answered after two rings, sounding a bit breathless and busy.

"Morrison!" came the voice from the other end of the line.

"Hey, it's Patrick Jane!" he introduced himself.

"Jane, hi! What's up?" Derek asked and Jane heard the rustle on Derek's side quieten.

"I think I can help you, with you know, the Lisbon mission!" Jane said and heard the detective's laugh at the name he gave her birthday project.

"And what do you have Captain?" Derek asked in a mock humble tone.

"Let's meet up, private! I'll tell you all there…" Jane ordered as he stepped out of the elevator. He waved to Jeff, the old doorman on his way to the parking lot. Jeff saluted with a grin.

"Private? Really? That's the best rank you could think of for me? Couldn't I be a sergeant or a lieutenant?" Derek whined and Jane chuckled. No matter how much he wanted to dislike him, Derek was in fact funny and smart. And he must have been a wonderful boyfriend for Lisbon, cause she has been absolutely radiant with bliss these days.

"Don't complain, soldier! There are much bigger issues on stake here than your pride!" he told Derek and they both grinned.

"You're right, Captain! I will behave! Now, what do you've got?" he asked, changing the subject back to business.

"Told you, let's meet up for a tea and I will tell you everything. I have it all figured out, so all you have to do is distract her a little, then be there with her!" Jane said, trying to hide his jealousy which was threatening to bubble up and make him say things which would destroy all he had worked for in the past few weeks. He would be patient, and concentrate only on Lisbon's special day! It wasn't such a big sacrifice…

"Okay, where and when?" Derek agreed.

"What do you say to that place just off 19th street at 6pm? We have to be quick because we only have about 5 days left or so…" Jane offered and got into his blue Citroen.

"All right, I think I can make it, but if I can't get there by 6 I'll call you!" Derek said and they hung up.

Jane snapped hi phone closed and tucked it into his vest pocket. With the excitement of a new project started his car and drove off in the direction of the highway, the fastest way to get to the ocean.

Lisbon sat in her office chair, holding the pretty pinkish white flower in her hand. She marveled at the perfect arc of the beautiful leaves. They were so soft, looked so vulnerable but she could feel their solidity under her cautious fingertips. They were strong and breathtaking. She lifted it to her nose slowly and inhaled the sweet scent of the magnolia, closing her eye and remembering the first magnolia she got from Jane.

She was waiting for him at their usual spot in the park, sitting on a bench, sipping her coffee. It was a lazy Saturday afternoon and she enjoyed the sunshine on her skin with closed eyes until a shadow blocked the light from her. She cracked one eye open then the other, smiling at the form of Jane towering above her. He had an excited, almost childish expression on his face and his cheeks were a lovely shade of pink.

"Hi!" she greeted him and tugged at his hand until he leaned down and she could kiss him properly.

"Hello, dear!" he murmured against her lips and with an arm he reached around to push at her back and make her stand up.

"Hey, what are you doing?" she asked with a chuckle but stood up nevertheless.

"I've got to show you something! Come on!" he grabbed her hand and she barely had time to throw her empty take out cup into a bin before he was practically dragging her across the park in the direction of a gate nearby.

"Where are we going?" she inquired but he only fastened his steps, forcing her to jog along.

They exited the park and hurried down a couple of streets towards the centre of the city. They rushed along narrow streets and hidden alleys with old bookstores and an old school market with endless colors and smells. Lisbon couldn't get enough of it, but she couldn't get a look at everything either because she was quickly pulled on by Jane.

At last he stopped on a corner and she almost crashed into his back.

"Patrick? Where are we?" she asked and tried to peek out from behind him but he turned back to her and deliberately blocked her view.

"Trust me, you are going to love it!" he said with a beam and Lisbon truly had no doubt. "Just close your eyes please!" he asked and she bit her lip. "I know you're not comfortable when you can't use your super cop skills and all your senses but please for me, this one time close your eyes and trust me!" he begged and she couldn't resist him. She nodded and taking a deep breath she shut her eyes closed.

She instantly felt the change, her hearing getting more thorough, and her skin sensing every single change of the wind. She was alarmed but the tender stroke of Jane's fingers on her face made her relax a bit. He took one moment to kiss her and she hummed in appreciation before he pulled back and pressing a kiss on her eyelids he started to lead her by the hand. He stayed tightly by her side but didn't say a word.

Lisbon sniffled into the air, and listened carefully. They crossed a bigger road with cars and other passengers. They turned another corner, went under some kind of a shade then out into the sun again. And then, just when she was about to get impatient and ask him where they were headed again she felt it. It was sweet and pleasant and complex and other worldly… She almost opened her eyes just to see what that heavenly smell was but Jane noticed it in time and put his hands against her eyes.

"No, no, no! No peeking! No cheating! Not until we're really there!" he said with a laugh.

Fortunately she didn't have to wait too long. A few steps later he stopped and pulled his hand back, sliding his fingers down her cheek and neck affectionately, making her shiver. She opened her eyes wide curiously, eager to see the mysterious place and her breath caught in her throat.

They were standing in the middle of a wonderfully colorful flower market. People were walking around them carelessly, sniffling all kinds of flowers and chatting with the sellers. It was peaceful and dream like and had a delicious scent. She never knew there was such thing in Sacramento.

"What…? How..?" she gaped and slowly turned around to regard everything until she was face to face with Jane again. His eyes were like diamonds, sparkling in the Sun and he watched her with awe.

"I told you, you would love it!" he whispered with a smile.

"I love you!" she breathed and pressed her lips to his in an urgent, passionate kiss. She didn't know how to thank him all the amazing things in life he showed her. These dazzling places and the joys in life she would have never known without him!

"I love you too! Now, let me show you something!" he nuzzled her neck then snatched her hand and pulled her into the crowd of booths and tables of flowers. Lisbon opened her eyes as wide as possible, sucking in every beauty of the place until she was dizzy with it. Finally they stopped in front of a table packed with piles and vases of flowers. Lisbon could count twenty different kinds of flowers just as she roamed the table with her eyes.

At last she settled on the most beautiful flowers she had ever seen. White and pink magnolias in a stunning vase on the edge of the table. She took an automatic step forward, drawn in by their loveliness.

"These are magnificent!" she murmured and caressed a flower with her index finger shyly.

"Magnolias are the symbols of purity and perfection and joy. They resemble you a lot!" Jane told her as he slipped his arms around her waist from behind her. Lisbon flushed at the compliment and without a word leaned her head back against his strong chest, still clutching the magnolia in her hand.

Jane had bought her that particular magnolia that day, the one she first touched. And since then, al throughout their relationship the flower had been the sign of their love. Every time she saw this flower she was reminded of that afternoon on the flower market with Jane. It was their secret sign and she loved it.

And now that she sat there in her chair, replaying those wonderful memories in her head she couldn't help but wonder, did she make a huge mistake by deciding to refuse Jane's every attempt? What would she do once he stopped trying? And most importantly, did she really want him to stop?

So, what do you think? I absolutely can not wait to hear your thoughts! Your every word is dearly appreciated and I hope you know that you are a huge inspiration for me! :)
Thank you for reading and please write me a review with your opinion! It would mean the world! :)
There aren't many chapters left for this story, maybe two or three, so if you have any request that you would like to see, you know maybe in flashbacks or so, please don't wait to tell me! :)
Next chapter, hopefully soon, at the latest in a week as usual!
Until then, xxx