Alright it probably took me a little longer than usual to get this chapter posted I apologize my finals start on Monday and I've been doing my best to keep up with that. So I'm sorry I can't say for sure when I'll be able to update again. I wanted to get this up before I got to bogged down. I hope you enjoy it as always I love to hear what you think. And despite my many prayers I still own nothing.
"Change your clothes we don't want to be late." Was the greeting I received walking in the front door.
"Change my clothes Patrick we're meeting their teacher I don't need to be dressed up."
"But we're going to dinner afterwards, something nice, but not fancy."
"That is a very vague description."
"Well you don't need a ball gown or even I dress I suppose just something nice." He smiled had he seriously left the couch at work for the couch at the house. On top of that he was being no help I didn't want to be overdressed but on the other hand I didn't want to be underdressed either.
"At least tell me where we're going." I came and sat on top of him, he gave an over exaggerated groan followed by a smile.
"Nope."
"Patrick come on, I need to know what to wear." I leaned in close.
"Wear whatever makes you comfortable." He smirked, "But if we continue this path of action we will definitely be late."
"Fine, you are absolutely no help." He just chuckled and watched me walk up the stairs. I settled for a pair of black dress pants and a green dress shirt that I had bought once shopping with Grace but never wore.
"I don't know what you were worrying about you are more than capable of dressing yourself for the occasion." He grinned having moved from the couch so he was standing in the doorway.
"Go to hell."
"Can I wait until after this weekend? I would hate to have gone through all this trouble to get us some time together and not be able to enjoy it."
"All this trouble, you suggested an idea to the team, and then convinced me it was a good idea." I reminded, "That for you is a very simple plan."
"I had to suggest it in just the right way otherwise they would seem suspicious of my motives." His arm was around my waist and he was leading me to his car. Wait his car, not happening. I didn't even say anything and he smiled tightening his grip around my waist. "It is traditional that the man drives on the first date."
"Drive my car then."
"There is nothing wrong with my car."
"It's going to get us killed."
"Again I don't know why you think that, is it because it's old, or because it's smaller than yours of because it doesn't have reinforced sides to deflect gunfire because I doubt people will be shooting at us tonight."
"I don't know it is your car and people tend to want you dead."
"Only the people who've met me." He smiled holding the passenger door open and I gave in and got in. I had been in his car before and not gotten killed, I had driven his car for a week and wasn't dead so for one night how bad could it be. He pulled his car into the school parking lot. There were a surprising number of people there, I had never been to a parent/teacher conference before. "Do you promise not to interrogate the teacher?" He teased holding the car door for me.
"I refuse to admit I did anything wrong." I smiled as he reached for my hand.
"I think I've been a brilliant influence on you."
"I don't know what you're talking about." I kissed his cheek.
"As long as I'm not expected to clean up any of your messes."
"Oh you don't have to worry about that." I assured and he just chuckled leading the way to two chairs outside of the girl's kindergarten classrooms. It was a little intimidating sitting outside of the classroom kind of like in school having to sit outside of the principal's office, but as per usual Patrick looked completely relaxed, and I had to remind myself this wasn't his first parent/teacher conference. The door opened and two parents came out and Miss. Hunt smiled and let us into the room.
"Miss. Lisbon, Mr. Jane I feel like I owe you some sort of apology for the last time we spoke." She smiled leading us to a couple desks set up in the middle of the classroom.
"Not at all, if anything I owe you the apology." I assured.
"Agent Lisbon tends to be over protective when it comes to my lets say emotional well being." Patrick smiled.
"Like I said I'm sorry, if I had known the circumstances…"
"We aren't here to talk about that, you have nothing to be sorry for." Patrick stopped her.
"That's right we're here to talk about the girls, I would love to know how they've been adjusting to school." I agreed, we didn't need to waste time on awkward apologies when we both knew we had over reacted.
"Both girls are doing fine, they are really excelling in reading and are doing pretty well in writing. Some one back home must have been a good teacher, and since the collage incident they haven't acted out. Alyssa is doing a great job making friends, but Emily has been having a little bit of trouble in the classroom. I noticed she has a couple friends on the playground, but she seems timid to talk to new people in the immediate classroom. Which isn't surprising given what she's lost." Miss. Hunt stopped waiting for us to ask questions, but I just sat and nodded and Patrick was busy examining the classroom. "Like I said she has a couple friends in the other classrooms so I think it will just take a little bit of time to get her to feel more comfortable in the classroom."
"Of course." I nodded, I wasn't to concerned about Emily's ability to make friends as long as she had a couple, and she had never complained about it so I would wait and see what happened.
"And the girls told you about their next assignment." Miss. Hunt nodded, "We'll have the blue collage due at the end of the month."
"Yes and the girls have promised to do this one without complaint." Patrick smiled, "I assume when that one is turned in the red ones will be taken down."
"That is how it works." Miss. Hunt looked at him and we both followed his eyes to the wall filled with red posters. He was staring at one poster in the bottom corner specifically.
"So what else do we talk about, I'm sorry I've never been to a parent teacher conference before." I drew the conversation back to the table.
"No, that's fine, I think we've covered the basics, the girls are doing great in class."
"That's good to hear, I'd be lying if I said I wasn't a little worried about how they've been getting along in class. Does that mean we can go?"
"Just one more thing, at the end of the month there will be a field trip to the museum we need you to fill out the permission slip." She handed me a sheet of paper for each girl. "Have the girls bring them in anytime before the week of the field trip."
"I think we can handle that." I smiled and shook her hand. "You have any questions Jane?"
"Nope. I think you covered it on your own." He grinned, standing to go. "It was nice to see you again Miss. Hunt." Miss. Hunt smiled the sad smile people give you when they find out about a tragedy in your life it was the pity smile and it only fueled my desire to get Patrick out of the room.
I waited until we were sitting in his car to say anything. "You okay?"
"I'm perfect." He assured, pulling out of the parking lot.
"Who would let there five year old put that on a poster?!"
"The kid probably saw it in the paper or the magazine and put it on the poster, they don't know what it is, they see a red smiley face. The parent probably never even noticed it."
"You're sure you're okay."
"Teresa, I'm not going to let a child's poster distract me from our first date." He held my hand in his with the other on the wheel.
"Where are we going?"
"That my dear is a surprise."
"I hate surprises."
"Liar."
"Just tell me where we're going already."
"It's not to far." He smiled I really had a love/hate relationship with that smile. My eyes widened when he turned his contraption into the parking lot of a diner. A diner?
"This is your romantic date?" I frowned, letting him lead me in to one of the booths in the corner.
"I'm offended Teresa you don't remember."
"Remember what?"
"This is the first place we ate together, just the two of us." He grinned, and I tried to recall it but, it wasn't coming back to me. "I think it was the third case I helped on." He prompted.
"How do you remember that?"
"It's only been eight years Teresa." He smirked, but started prompting my memory again, "I believe I had just done something you called 'stupid and dangerous' you informed me that I had no business working with you and you did not trust Minelli's decision to hire me and if I ever put you or you're teams jobs or lives on the line you would not hesitate to shoot me. And that was also when I realized how much I was going to enjoy working with you." I did remember that day something to do with him threatening a prominent lawyers life to get him to confess. "On top of that you gave me the same warning I've heard everyday sense, and I have yet to be shot, well by you."
"You're pressing you're luck." I warned but it was empty and we both knew it. First off I wasn't even armed, second that would be a horrible way to start a relationship.
"If I'm honest that probably wouldn't be the worst ending to a date I've ever experienced." He chuckled.
"Patrick how many dates have you gone on since…"
"Counting this one." He looked like he was thinking for a minute but then answered, "Two."
"This is your second date since…" I don't know why it surprised me I knew he didn't date but I guess actually hearing it made a difference.
"Yes and the first one didn't end so well, so we're going to have to work on that."
"Oh I suppose I could at least pretend I enjoy spending time with you."
"That would be much appreciated." He smiled. "Do I get to ask you how many dates you've been on?"
"Don't bother, I don't remember the last time I was on a real date."
"What about Mashburn?" I choked on my drink and he just chuckled, "No date then, okay."
"How did you know about that?"
"Teresa it was terribly obvious, I'd be surprised if I was the only one who noticed."
"No Walter and I did not go on an actual date."
"Hmm interesting I thought he'd be more of a gentlemen."
"We didn't go on a date before we slept together." I argued.
"You said that it had been as if we were dating for the past eight years."
"And yet Patrick you call this our first date."
"Because this time is different." He all but whispered.
"And how is that?" I smiled.
"For one I actually got you into my car, and I'm going to pay without you arguing, and then I'm going to take you home."
I'll admit dinner was actually really romantic, I'm not sure how he did it but he made the diner seem romantic. After dinner and dessert we ended up going for a walk to nowhere in particular just around the block enjoying each other's company. When we got home he went straight to the stereo system turned it on and then pulled me to the center of the living room, as the music started.
"Patrick is this a country song?" I smirked.
"It is and it talks about God, but when I heard it I thought it was appropriate." He held me close and started swaying as the lyrics started, and I could hear Patrick singing along in my ear.
I've been a walking heartache,
I've made a mess of me
The person that I've been lately
Ain't who I wanna be
But you stay here right beside me
Watch as the storm blows through
And I need you
I closed my eyes and laid my head against his chest I think I could learn to like this song.
Cause God gave me you for the ups and downs
God gave me you for the days of doubt
And for when I think I've lost my way
There are no words here left to say, its true
God gave me you.
I could definitely like this song.
There's more here than what were seeing
A divine conspiracy
That you, an angel lovely
Could somehow fall for me
You'll always be love's great martyr
And I'll be the flattered fool
And I need you.
"Why do you think like that?" I sighed.
"Because I know you deserve better than me." He whispered, "And you not so secretly like that I just called myself a fool."
"Maybe." I smiled into his chest as we just continued to sway on the spot.
"I told you I'd get a chance to dance with you."
"Yes you did." I nodded, "and you always get what you want."
"I'm very persistent."
"Oh I know, I learned the hard way." I sighed, and he just chuckled. "Does this mean we're going to the theatre?"
"You'll have to wait and see." He shrugged, the song had ended a while ago but it was nice to just dance with him in my living room until the phone rang and I all but ran to answer it.
"Hey boss, the kids are just laying down to watch a movie I thought I'd have them call you now in case they fell asleep during the movie." Grace greeted.
"Thank you Grace."
"Have you been enjoying a night to yourself?"
"It hasn't been to bad."
"Alright well here are the girls." I heard her call over the girls and hand off the phone.
"Hi Teresa!" Both girls squealed through the phone.
"Are you having fun?"
"Not as fun as if you and Patrick were here." Emily assured.
"But we had a pillow fight and ate pizza and then we got makeovers but we had to take a bath so Miss. Agent Grace said she'd do are makeup again tomorrow." Alyssa explained.
"Well make sure you take lots of pictures cause I want to see all of it."
"We will are you having fun?" Emily wondered.
"Actually I'm getting a little bored here without you." I noticed Patrick smiling from the couch.
"Don't get bored, if you want you can play with some of our toys." Alyssa offered.
"I'll try to find something to do."
"Can you read us a bedtime story?" Emily questioned.
"That's usually Patrick's job do you want him to do it?" I offered knowing Patrick would want to talk to the kids just as much as I would, and I was really hoping this call wasn't on speakerphone.
"Yeah, don't worry Miss. Agent Grace is putting Cass to bed she can't hear him talking." Alyssa reassured as I handed the phone off to Patrick.
"They want their bedtime story." I responded to his quizzical glance. He nodded and accepted the phone after a small debate on which story to read. Then when the story was chosen he didn't read it, no he sat on the couch and recited it to them, from memory. God he made me so mad sometime just out of pure jealousy.
"Good night girls you be good for Grace okay." He finished and handed me back the phone.
"Alright good night you two and tell your brother and sister good night from me to, and I miss you very much and I'll come pick you up Sunday okay."
"Night Night Teresa, we miss you to. Love you." Both girls called through the phone.
"Love you to." I smiled I heard the phone be handed back to Grace.
"Night boss."
"Night Grace thanks again."
"No problem we're having a great time the kids are angels." With that we hung up and I curled into Patrick side as he handed me a glass of wine. Where had that come from he had been on the couch since I answered the phone.
"You miss them already don't you." He smiled wrapping his arms around my waist.
"It hasn't even been half a day, I don't miss them this much when they're at school, well not since the first week."
"That's because you're used to the noise at night now and the silence can be a little unsettling at first, you're used to the fighting to get to bed and the hugs and kisses good night."
"Is the silence why you slept in the bullpen in the beginning, because it was the noise you were used to?"
"Part of it, but mostly I'm an insomniac."
"Recovering insomniac now, you've been sleeping better since you've moved in."
"And I have you to thank." He toasted his wine glass.
"Please tell me the story you recited for them was something you made up, not one from memory."
"I can't do that." He chuckled refilling my wine glass, "But you should know that is the story they ask for at least once a week anyone would have it memorized by now."
"You're just saying that to make me feel better."
"I am not."
"I don't know if I trust you." I teased.
"That's a shame."
"Come on, we're going to bed." I finished the second glass before.
"Somebodies eager." He chuckled, setting down his own glass.
"Well I need to sleep if I'm going to get up to kick your ass running in the morning." I got up and started for the stairs leaving him on the couch.
"I see how it is." All of sudden he was right behind me with his arms around my waist. "But you aren't going to beat me, and you aren't going to ruin my plans for tonight."
"I thought the only thing you had planned was dinner."
"Welllllll."
"Well you just left out a few details right, just like you always do."
"I suppose that's one way to look at it. I like to look at it as an assumption as to what would happen after not an actual plan."
"I see, I really would hate to ruin your plans, and we both know your not going to give it up anytime soon." I made an over exaggerated act of giving in and leading him up the stairs. "But in the morning I'm going to kick your ass."
"We'll see."
I know I don't usual add notes at the bottom but I felt like I needed to say the song was "God Gave me You" by Blake Shelton. And I've been trying for many months to fit that into one of my Mentalist fanfic's. I hope it fits.