Chapter 3 - Reunion

By the time Lisbon got back home to Austin it was after 2am. She was exhausted and just wanted to crawl into bed. She opened the door to boxes filling the living room that she had intended to send on to D.C. When she decided to move she was going to sub let her house but had cancelled this as soon as she had decided to stay. Marcus had said that she should sell her house but she wanted to hang on to it she had told him. She made some excuse to him about keeping it as an investment but thinking more clearly now she realised that the truth was she never wanted to leave Austin. Or, more precisely, she didn't want to leave Jane. 'Damn him', she said to herself, 'If he had just told me before I packed all this stuff!' She smiled, found the bedroom sheets and went to make up the bed.

When she got to the bedroom she noticed a small bunch of blue hydrangeas on top of her chest of drawers with an origami paper frog in front of them. She smiled widely, opened the paper frog and read the note inside:

Hey, just a little welcome home gift. If you're not too tired call me when you get in.

P.S. I got a few groceries in for you so I can make you breakfast tomorrow when I come over.

P.P.S. Can't wait to see you.

P.P.P.S. It's Jane by the way in case you are accustomed to other men breaking into your house to leave you gifts.

She was still smiling when she walked over to the fridge where there was milk, eggs (naturally, she thought), bacon, sausage and strawberries. In the cupboard there were pancakes, bread and a mixture of muffins as well as her favourite coffee and three types of tea.

She picked up her phone and rang Jane.

He picked up on the first ring. 'Hey Lisbon, you're home?'

'Hey yourself. You know I could have you arrested for breaking and entering?' she teased.

'But what court in the land would convict me for such a romantic gesture?'

'Isn't that the same defence you used for boarding that plane?'

'Well it worked out so well that time I thought I'd use it again.'

She laughed softly before replying, 'I guess it worked out okay.' She paused and added, 'You know you must be intending to spend a lot of time here stocking three boxes of tea, it's a little presumptuous isn't it?' she joked.

'You can never have too much tea around Lisbon and once you get me there you may never want me to leave' he replied, grinning.

'Oh, really? You think so, eh? Well I may just surprise you and retract my invitation.'

He pretended his phone was breaking up. 'So...r..y..Can't...he...yo...'

She laughed again and muttered 'Jackass'

'Well I guess I better let you get some sleep, I'll see you in the morning?'

'I guess so. I mean there's no point locking the door is there? You'll just pick the lock again.' She paused and added softly, 'I've missed you.'

'I've missed you too, Teresa, I love you.'

'Me too. See you tomorrow, Jane.'

As he put the phone down he smiled at her still using his surname and tried to sleep.

Lisbon had found sleep hard to come by too and ended up getting up after two hours to unpack boxes. She had finished most of them by 6.30am when her phone rang.

'Hey, you up yet?' he said casually.

'Hey, um, yes, what are you doing up at this time?' she countered, a little afraid he was already at her door when she had her oldest clothes on, her hair tied up and was sweaty from unpacking.

'Well I couldn't sleep so I thought I may mosey over there if you're up anyway, sunrise was at 6.14am today so it is technically morning.'

'Okay, just give me a half hour will you, I've been unpacking boxes and-'

'...And you don't want our first date to be marred by your awkwardness in me seeing you in an overly large sweatshirt and sweat pants?'

'Are you spying on me?' she asked suspiciously, looking out the window. And had he just said 'date'?, her stomach beginning to knot.

'No' he laughed. 'You know Teresa I don't care how you look.'

'Really! Well that's nice to hear!' she retorted laughing.

'You know very well what I mean but I will be over in thirty minutes if that makes you happy.'

'Okay, see you then.' She hung up and rushed to the shower.

She was just finishing her light makeup, her hair still damp, when the doorbell rang precisely thirty minutes later. She wondered if he'd been standing outside her door watching the time. At least he didn't pick the lock this time.

He arrived in a new dark blue three piece suit, freshly shaven and a dazzling smile on his face and took her into his arms as soon as she opened the door.

'Oh, I've missed you' he spoke into her hair and it reminded her of when they had met again at the FBI office in Austin after two years apart.

'I've missed you too' she muttered and they both held on for a long moment.

Lisbon could feel the beginning of a tear of joy and pulled away gently, the emotion of seeing him again a little too much for her. This time, though, it was far different to their first meeting at the FBI. Now he held on to her and kissed her lips gently, just as he had in Miami. She reciprocated and couldn't help herself pull him closer, her hands round his neck and then moving her fingers through his hair. He pulled her in and moved his hands from her back, one circled around her waist and the other under the back of her neck, cradling her head and massaging her hairline, their kissing becoming deeper and more passionate.

Finally, they took a breath, looked at each other and laughed at how carried away they had become within a minute of seeing one other.

Jane was the first to speak. 'Well, I suppose we should ask each other if we're ready to be in a romantic relationship or now we've had two weeks to think about it whether we've changed our minds?' he asked sarcastically, grinning.

Lisbon smiled back, blushing, 'God, I'm sorry Jane, I had planned on playing it cool as well so as not to freak you out. I can only put my behaviour down to your new suit.'

'Well, if that's the case then I think I'll go out and order ten more.'