A/N Work on this fic has been steady, but I find myself writing later chapters rather than current ones. I have to force myself to keep with the correct order xD.

Here's a nice light chapter for y'all.

Chapter 4

Lisbon's office door flew open with such force that the agent thought it would surely fly off its hinges. The blinds swayed as the door swung closed. A blur of brown curls confirmed that Lisbon might as well put aside the paperwork for the time being.

"Tree!" Emma shreaked excitedly, coming around the desk. "Be let me push the button on the elevator. He tought I wouldn't be able to reach but I streatched just like this." She demonstrated her impecable stretching ability.

Lisbon smiled. "Did Rigsby remember to tell your grandparents that we'll take you home later?"

Emma nodded. "He said you'd have me back before dinner. What are you working on Tree?"

"Just some boring paperwork." Lisbon said as she picked Emma up and sat her in her lap.

"You need some color." Emma decided, glancing at the papers shrewn across Lisbon's desk. "Grammy bought me these markers so I could draw in all different colors. You could borrow them sometime if you want Tree."

"I don't think my boss would appreciate my paperwork decorated with marker but thank you anyaways Emma."

Lisbon shuffled the papers and Emma looked on, glancing at the objects on the desk. She froze, recognizing a familiar figure.

"Tree, why is Lucky on your desk?" She asked, picking up the stuffed dog she had given to Jane in the hospital.

"Jane leaves him in here when he's not around to keep me company." Lisbon explained. "I guess he thinks I need a guard dog, or a companion anyway."

"Oh." Emma said, thinking. "Lucky is good at that." There was a moment of silence before, "Where is Trick?"

Lisbon lifted Emma back to the ground. "I'm not exactly sure. If he's not on his couch, then I have a guess. Why don't we go see."

Emma followed Lisbon up the stairs and into Jane's attic 'cave' where he was slumbering on his 'bed'.

"Trrriiiicccckkk…" The girl wined. "You sleep too much."

Jane blinked awake, sat up, and took in his two new guests.

"Hey kiddo."

Emma was too busy taking in her surroundings. "Trick do you live up here?"

"Sometimes." Jane admitted.

"It's dark and stinky like my old basement."

Lisbon's hand shot to her mouth, trying to stifle her snicker.

"It's also quiet." Jane explained. "The quiet helps me think sometimes and at night, I can see all the lights in the city from that window over there." He pointed to the large wall of glass squares on the other side of the room.

Emma jumped onto Jane's makeshift bed, next to the consultant, her legs swinging excitedly over the edge. "So, where are we going to get ice cream?"

"Well." Jane thought aloud. "They sell ice cream sundaes at the café but I was thinking I might take you to my favorite spot across from the park."

"I'm not sure if taking her outsied of the building is such a good idea." Lisbon butted in.

"Calm down will you woman. It's less than three blocks away. You're just jealous that you can't have ice cream. Besides, the walk will do me good, get my strength back up now that I'm cleared to start working again."

Lisbon rolled her eyes.

"You're not coming Tree?" Emma asked, a bit saddened by this news,

"Not today sweetie. I have a meeting in a half an hour that I can't miss."

"Oh." Emma looked down, dissapointed.

"I'm hoping the meeting won't take too long so maybe I can meet you two over at the park later."

The girls eyes brightened at this. "Does it have a slide?"

"Yeap." Jane supplied. "And swings." He stood and brushed off his slightly rumpled jacket to the point where he didn't look completely unkempt.

He turned to Emma, still perched on the bed. "Ready to go kiddo?"

She smiled, sprinking to her feet eagerly.

"Sure you don't want to play hookie with us Lisbon? I could call Wainright and tell him you have better things do do."

Lisbon grinned but shook her head. "No Jane, once was enough and I don't think he appreciated it very much that time either."

Jane shrugged and led the way out of his dreary abode.

"Why'd you get vanilla?" Emma asked, licking away at her cookie dough ice cream in a sugar cone. "Vanilla is boring."

Jane shrugged. "You can't go wrong with the orrigional."

"Well, you could of at least got some chocolate sprinkles or something." The girl persisted.

Sprinkles weren't an option for Jane. Not anymore. "My daughter always ordered colored sprinkles, on chocolate and vanilla twised soft serve." He always ordered vanilla, Angela chocolate, and Charlotte the twist. It was symbolic in a way.

"My dad always made me order soft serve in a dish because it melted so fast."

Jane grinned whimsically at the memories the conversation stirred. His daughter, face covered in chocolate icecream with colored sprinkles decorating the tip of her nose. For some reason, he was finding it easier to recall the good memories with Emma sitting across the table in front of him.

"Your father was a wise man." Jane answered finally.

"What's Tree's favorite kind of ice cream?"

It was a reasonable question. Jane had never thought about it. Sure they shared the occasional sundae back at the office but he wasn't sure what kind she would prefer if she had the choice.

"I'm not sure. You should ask her. My guess would be strawberry or coffee."

Emma seemed to ponder this. "Those are pretty boring too but not as boring as vanilla."

Lisbon took a left down the street that led to the park. Her meeting had gone over but only by fifteen minutes. The weather was perfect, she decided. It was rare she got to spend time outside during the workday unless they were on a case. Lisbon could hear the spray from the fountain at the center of the small pond before she stepped on the gravel road that led to the park's interior. To her left, was a small group of children near the pond, feeding the ducks that gathered for the free meal. On the right, a squirrel hopped along like a rock being skipped on the water. It stopped when she neared it, staring at her quizzically. Lisbon kept moving, finally eyeing her destination.

The small play gym was uncharastically abandoned for the early afternoon. The same, however, couldn't be said about the swings.

"Higher Trick, higher!." Emma squealed in delight as Jane gave her a gentle shove. They hadn't noticed Lisbon heading towards them down the path.

The sight looked so natural that Lisbon froze simply to watch. Both Emma and Jane had genuine smiles on their faces. Lisbon couldn't resist, pulling out her phone and snapping a photo of the pair.

Jane finally noticed her as she slid the phone back in her picket and took a step smile grew even wider, crinkling the corners of his eyes.

"Hey Lisbon."

"Tree!" In one swift motion, Emma dismounted off the still moving swing and ran over to where Lisbon was standing.

"Hey sweetie." Lisbon knealt to give the girl a hug. "I think you scared Jane."

He hadn't moved from his spot behind the swing, now unoccupied.

"I'm real good at the swings." Emma insisted.

"That you are." Lisbon agreed. "Maybe we should just warn him before you go flying off them next time."

Emma turned to Jane who had recovered from his momentary shock. "I'm sorry Trick."

"It's ok Em." Jane said, finally walking over to them. He ruffled the girls hair with his hands. "You should try out for track and field when you get to high school."

"What?" The girl was confused.

"Never mind. Why don't you show Lisbon how good you are on the slide." Jane suggested.

Emma grabbed the woman's hand and led her over to the jungle gym stairs. "Come up Tree. It's fun."

"I don't know Emma. This is for little kids."

Emma was already at the top of the stairs. Brown curls peeked back over the top. "Trick went down with me once."

Of course he did. Reluctantly, Lisbon followed.

Jane was waiting at the bottom of the metal slide.

"Watch me!" Emma said, as Lisbon finally made it to the wooden platform at the top of the stairs. With hands in the air, Emma dissappeared down the metal incline into Jane's waiting arms. He stood with Emma still in his grasp so they could both watch.

"Come on Tree! It's fun."

"Need me to catch you?" Jane teased.

With that, Lisbon pushed off and slid down the slide.

"Bravo Lisbon." Jane clapped as she landed safely at the bottom.

She bowed dramatically and Emma giggled.

"Whadda ya say Emma?" Lisbon said. "I told your grandparents we'd have you home before dinner."

"Already? But you just got here." The girl seemed genially disappointed.

"I know. I'm sorry sweetie but we wouldn't want your grandmother and grandfather worried now would we?"

Emma shook her head.

"Besides, it's only a little over a week until we have the day off for your field trip."

"Oh yeah!" She brightened instantly. "I want to see the lions and tigers..."

"And bears?" Jane joked.

"No, silly. The elephants, like Daisy."

"Ah."

Lisbon looked at her watch. "I need to grab my keys before we take Emma home. I left them in my jacket at the office."

"Can we take Trick's car? It's blue. I like blue."

Jane beamed.

Lisbon pouted. "You're a bad influence."

"What? The girl's got taste."

Lisbon rolled her eyes as Jane crouched close to the ground. Emma took the hint and wrapped her arms around the consultant's neck. He stood, little legs securely within his grasp.

"Giddy up Trick!"

"Finally, someone who can control you."

"Be nice Lisbon and I may stop and buy you strawberries on our way home."

Jane lead the way out of the park, Emma riding piggy back. Lisbon paused momentarily before following.

"Alright, but I think I want an apple."

"As you wish my dear."