Thank you so much for everyone who followed and reviewed, I'd have given up if it wasn't for you guys. I know it takes me too long to update new chapters but I really hope you stick around.
I said this would probably be a M rated chapter, well it's K…
xx
"Jane, you would never do it, admit it! You were just teasing me!" Lisbon answered laughing. She hoped the taxi driver couldn't listen to them.
"If you were so sure of that why didn't you just say yes?"
"I didn't want the guy on our side to hear me saying yes to your indecent proposal."
"You knew I would do it!"
"Jane-"
"We're here." The taxi driver looked back at the couple in the backseat and interrupted their. He was pointing at Jane's airstream right outside.
Jane nodded to the driver, that turned back to look ahead and give the couple some privacy.
Jane took a minute to look Lisbon in the eyes. He was surprised at how difficult this was. He was a little sad and even scared, and he could see she was feeling the same way. Sad that they would have to leave each other's side after spending two days sharing every minute of their lives, and scared that neither one of them was good at this whole "dating thing" and now, back from their little honeymoon, they had a real challenge ahead of them . It's true that they still had nearly two weeks before coming back to work but this was a lot closer to their reality than spending the whole day in bed at a fancy hotel. Now was the time to find out how they would work as a couple.
"Do you need help with unpacking?"
"No, that's OK. There's not much to do."
She noticed Jane seemed a little disappointed that she didn't ask for his help, but she didn't want to depend on him and more than that, she was worried he would be bored with a normal couple routine.
"You sure?"
"Yeah." She remembered the bunch of boxes waiting for her and nearly changed her answer.
"Okay. I'll call you later. Take that nap we need it."
"I will" She smiled and caressed his face.
Jane kissed her lips tenderly, thanked the cab driver and got the little bag with his dirty suit. He closed the car door behind him and watched her cab drive away.
…
Jane opened the Airstream's door and slowly got in. It felt a little weird, as if everything had changed. He sat on the couch and began to take off his shoes. He remembered the nights he had spent there avoiding seeing Lisbon with Pike at the FBI building, he didn't remember sleeping though, he had spent those two weeks lying awake working on his plan to convince Lisbon to stay. He argued with himself, he cried, he got desperate. More than once, he thought he should just run away, put the airstream on the road and admit to himself that the good years of his life were gone and that she deserved a better man. Now he was seating on the same couch, happy as he never though he could ever be again, knowing the woman he loved, loved him back and wanted him by her side. He smiled thinking that soon she would learn to love the "silver bucket".
He got up and opened the main window right above the bed to let some fresh air in and the sunlight fill his airstream. The mattress was hidden underneath some dirty laundry as well as some clean shirts but that now shared the same sweat smell as the other ones, he's usually not messy but lately he didn't really cared. He cleaned it all, putted everything into place and changed his sheets, thinking that bed would now finally be used. He took off his clothes and entered the shower, enjoying the hot water run over his body; it felt like Teresa's small warm hands all over him.
It was still too early in the morning, he was sure Lisbon was taking that nap by now and he was going to do the same, hoping his dreams would fill the void of her absence even if just for a couple of hours.
…
Lisbon entered her house and closed the door behind her. Her place was a mess. "There's not much to do." She repeated her words to Jane, mocking herself. Some of her stuff, like her TV, she had offered to Stan, it's not like it was worth a lot anyway, and she didn't want to drag it with her if she was moving, she felt relieved he hadn't come to pick up anything yet she would not have the courage to ask for the her things back
Anything else that was small and it was either useful or had some sentimental value to Lisbon, was in boxes waiting to go to D.C, anything but Jane's letters. Those she was carrying in her small suitcase. Even after agreeing to move to a new state with another man, she couldn't stay away from them. Three days ago, she used to think of those letters as the most concrete testament of Jane's feelings towards her, even if by the time he wrote them, there were no hopes they would ever see each other again, in fact, maybe that was exactly why. She putted the letters back in the little box she used to keep them and settled it on the floor by her side of the bed.
She looked around and thought about making some changes. Maybe paint the walls and throw some stuff away. Right now it was too early for that, she would rather take Jane's advice, she really needed that nap. Before getting in bed Lisbon took off her clothes and put on her Jersey, her favorite shirt even though she hadn't worm it a awhile. She changed the sheets and laid down.
Lisbon had spent two years trying live without him, task she failed miserably, but two days sleeping by his side and now her bed felt empty and cold without Jane's presence, she craved for his arms around her, craved for his warmth, for his smell.
Lying in bed, thinking of Patrick. Those words echoed in her mind. They used to hurt her, now she had no trouble admitting it to be true.
She closed her eyes and relived every moment she had spent with him since his heartfelt confession. She was so mesmerized by the fact that she and Jane were a couple she didn't stop to think on how they became one. The man who even after all given chances couldn't ask her to stay, who could never be open about his feelings, that same man stopped a plane to confess her he loved her. She knew by heart every word he had used in his speech and she was sure she would never forget. She hoped the others passengers had forgotten her face though. She laughed hugging her pillow and hiding her face, the most incredible moment of her life had also been the most embarrassing one.
She was a mix of excitement, happiness and a little bit of fear. It took a while but she finally dozed off, with a smile on her face.
…
Lisbon woke up a few hours later, she sat in bed and stretched herself yawning. She reached for her phone by the nightstand and checked the hour, no wonder she was starving it was past 12am and she hadn't had anything to eat since yesterday. No calls, no messages. Of course there was no calls, he probably was still sleeping or just had things to do, maybe he needed some time to himself. Maybe he didn't plan to see her today and after spending the whole weekend with him how could she complain. She knew she had no right to, still she couldn't help but feel a little disappointed. She stared at her phone for a few seconds before getting up.
She kneeled over her suitcase on the floor and picked a white t-shirt and a pair of old jeans, she had long day ahead and that pair was comfortable enough. She took off her jersey and threw it over the bed; she was putting on the t-shirt she had chosen when she heard someone knocking at her front door.
"I'm coming!" Lisbon answered not loud enough for anyone outside her room to hear. She prayed not to be one of her neighbors curious about why she was back. Quickly shezipped up her pants and slipped her feet into her old comfy sneakers. She was about to get in the bathroom to check her face in the mirror but she heard the knocking again and just ran to answer the door.
"Jane?" A broad smile spread across Lisbon's surprised face.
Jane chucked and ran his free hand through her hair.
"What?" She asked puzzled.
"Your hair is wide today." He lowered his hand and brushed her cheek.
Lisbon smoothed her hands over her head, by the way it felt, she imagined every strand of hair she had was sticking up, she probably resembled a porcupine. She was so relieved it wasn't a neighbor standing in her front of her. She turned to go to her room forgetting Jane was still outside her door and that he was leaning in for a kiss. He stood there for a second before she turned around and came back running.
She held his face. "Sorry. Get yourself comfortable. I'll be right back." She said in a hurry, punctuating every sentence with a quickly kiss on his lips. He smiled watching her leave, too surprised to give her an answer.
Jane closed the door and walked through her living room analyzing everything around. It didn't took him much time, there wasn't much to see, just a bunch of boxes, her couch, her TV, an empty bookcase and an also empty cabinet. He took a closer look at the boxes, they were all closed and he wouldn't dare opening them. He stepped into the hall - she was living in that house for over a year now and he had never seen further the living room – entering the kitchen and leaving the bags he was carrying over the table. He wandered around until he reached her bedroom.
"Lisbon can I come in?" He asked poking his head inside her room looking for her.
"Sure, I'm in the bathroom." She thought it was weird that Jane had asked for permission, even weirder that he sounded a little shy.
He entered and sat on her bed, watching her.
"That's new" She tried talking while brushing her teeth.
"What is?"
"You don't usually ask permission to enter a room. You just enter and look for tea."
"Well, you don't have tea…" He said under his breath.
"What?"
"Nothing. Are you hungry?"
"Starving."
"Good, I brought something."
He laid his head on her pillow and closed his eyes for a moment, when he opened them again he notice a little box close to the bed, he picked it up it and inspect it. It was definitively something personal, not just a box on the floor. He shook it, analyzed the weight, he wanted to open it but he wasn't going to invade her privacy like that.
Jane felt the mattress sank down beside him followed by Lisbon's head resting on his shoulder and her little hand griping his arm.
"Sorry, I woke you up, I was going to call but I wanted to make a little surprise." He said without taking his eyes off the box.
"I wasn't sleeping." That was all she answered knowing he wasn't really paying attention. "Jane, open it."
"Hum?" He shifted his gaze to look at her.
"You know what's in there. Open it."
"You sure?"
"Yeah" She bit her lips a bit anxious.
He slowly lifted the lid off the little box and Lisbon watched his face turn astonished. Confirming his expectations, all the letters he had sent her were there, carefully stored. He picked the first one, noticing they were organized by date. The paper was so worn out he was afraid it would turn to shreds with his touch, he notice a smudge on the bottom, probably a tear illustrating how hard that time had been for her.
He putted it back with the same care he used to take it.
"It seems like they have been handled quite a few times, Teresa." He hoped his comment wouldn't embarrass her. His voice was soft and low, overwhelmed by what he was seeing.
"Well, I read them every day for two years." her cheeks flushing almost undetectably but Jane noticed it.
He smiled and laid his head on hers. He ran his fingers through the envelops one last time, he was about to close the little box when he saw a little old piece of paper between the last two letters.
"Wait… is this?" He looked at her with a smirk.
"Oh god I forgot that was in there." She hid her face against his arm.
He laughed getting the piece of paper from between the letters. "Wow, how… is the same right? The one I did for you years ago."
She answered nodding her head. He chuckled watching her dying from embarrassment. He putted the origami frog back where he'd found it, closed the little box and returned it to it's place.
"Hey" he held her face close to his. "What are you embarrassed about?" He seemed so happy and touched with his little find it calmed her.
"Isn't it creepy that I kept that paper frog for so many years?"
"No, it's not creepy" He laughed. "It shows that you care. That you've always cared. Thank you." He kissed her softly still holding her face.
"In my defense I kept the frog because I was trying to learn how you did it."
Jane giggled. "And did you?"
"What?"
"Learned?"
"No, I hate origami." Her voice sounded grumpy.
He squeezed her in his arms laughing softly against her ear. "I can teach you later if you want, but now: food."
"Yes! You brought something" Followed by Jane, Lisbon got up, clearly relieved they were changing the subject.
"Yep, come on" He placed his hand at the small of her back and led her to the kitchen.
…
Jane and Lisbon were sitting side to side on the floor.
"What about the living room?" Jane took off his suit coat and threw it behind him, over the couch.
"I'm not sure. I was thinking, the wall behind the TV orange and the others we keep white. What do you think?" Lisbon placed her empty plate by her side, picked up her beer and sipped it.
"I like it. That's three walls we won't have to worry about edges" He rolled up his sleeves and noticed Lisbon was watching him. He turned to face her. "What?"
"I miss your vests."
Jane smiled and raised an eyebrow at her "Really?" He picked up his beer and sipped it without taking his eyes off hers.
She didn't answered the question, instead she just stared at him with a smile as mischievous as his.
He took another sip from his beer and looked straight ahead. "I guess they used to mean something else, something I didn't want to go back to." For a second his thoughts went to a dark place in his memory but he didn't allow them to get lost in there. "But I kind of miss my three piece suits too, and if that's what flips your switch-"
"I didn't say that"
"I'll see if I can find a good tailor around here."
They stayed quiet for awhile. Jane finished his beer, got up and stood in front of Lisbon.
"Come on, we need paint rollers, brushes, tape and…do you have a ladder?"
Lisbon looked up "Jane you don't need to do this."
"I know I don't, Lisbon. I want to." He gave her his hand and helped her up. "That is, unless you don't want me here. If that's the case, that's okay, I'll see you tomorrow."
She stood there for a second holding his hand.
"So, do you want my help?"
"Yeah, I really want your help" Lisbon answered shyly. It was good to voice want she really wanted instead of trying to show she was strong enough to handle everything by herself. She was indeed, she could handle it, but she didn't want to. Denying his help when all she wanted was to have him around was silly, and she knew that, but it was hard to admit it to herself. Deep down, she thought, maybe she didn't want to get use to his help, even with small things, afraid that if he ever left her again, the pain would be unbearable.
Jane looked happy, almost relieved, with her answer. He hugged her around the waist, bringing them together.
"Them I'll help." He whispered in her ear
"Okay…" she answered unsure of what he was doing but enjoying every second of it.
He started kissing her neck and his hands traveled lower her back.
"Jane…"
"Just a second" He continued to kiss her skin.
"Didn't we have something to do?" The words nearly didn't come out.
"Mhm" His lips traced a line from her neck to her jaw reaching her lips; he finally released his grip on her waist, which nearly made her beg for him to continue, she imagined that was probably his plan.
Lisbon stood in the middle of the living room catching her breath and watching him put on his jacket again.
"Wait you're wearing that to help me with the painting?" She knew the answer; actually the question was more of an attempt to hide how much he had affected her with his little move.
"Sorry, I don't own a tuxedo."
She looked both annoyed and amused.
"This is all I have, have you ever seen me wear anything else?"
"You don't have a single short? One that you never wear?" She was doing her best to look cool.
"Nope. Unless you want me painting in my underwear…" He saw a malicious smile spreading across her face. "I'm not painting in my underwear" He smiled almost proud for the hint of lust in her eyes.
She kept talking while he looked for her car key and documents.
"So you wore suits when you were in the island?"
"A sarong."
"What?"
"You heard me, a sarong." He handed her the keys and her wallet. Putting his hands on her shoulder, he turned her, gesturing for her to go through the door and followed her.
"Seriously?" That was hard to imagine, Jane was always too classic and formal for that.
"Seriously." He closed the door behind them. "So, caught your breath yet?"
She cursed herself for being so transparent.
…
Less than two hours and they were back, carrying everything they had bought inside the house.
"Where should we put all this?" Jane settled a bag and the paint gallons down on the living room.
Lisbon passed him and headed to her bedroom, carrying a few other bags with tools and materials. "Do you want me to carry those for you, sweetheart?" She asked with mocking smile.
"In the bedroom I see" He picked up the things again and followed her.
They placed everything in the middle of her bedroom and took a few steps back to look at it all.
"Did we really buy all that? We're painting two small rooms."
"Hm. According to the things we bought, we're planning to paint the town yellow. Twice" They exchanged a look. "Well let's start." He tried saying with enthusiasm, which didn't seem to work.
"You know what? Never mind, this place looks great the way it does. Let's go watch TV." She walked passed him and he got her by the arm hugging her from behind.
"Come on, we can do this."
"I'm too lazy to do this. What was I even thinking?" Jane only ever heard her wining like that when she had to accept to be part of one of his plans or when she had to deal with the results of his plans. She just really didn't want to paint that room.
"If there's one thing you're not is lazy, Teresa Lisbon."
She wrapped her arms around him, one of her ears resting on his chest, listening to the rhythm of his heart. She looked back at the pile of things that they had bought.
"Jane, what is that red thing for?" She pointed at something probably used in death stars construction.
"Hm… yeah I'm pretty sure we won't use that."
"Then why are there three of them?"
They both laughed, "We really weren't paying any attention to what we were buying."
"And whose fault is that?"
"Yours, clearly. Distracting me and all the male population of that place-"
She hit against him softly. "Let's do this! Can you get the ladder in the car?"
"Okay." He walked towards the door but before getting out of the room, he turned his head to watch her. He stood there, admiring her. She was perfect, and way too good for him, but he was so in love. He left before she could see him, a tear of happiness rolled down his cheek; he smiled at how unbelievable it was to be this happy again.
…
Hours later, late in the night, exhausted and sweaty, they finished it. Lisbon did a great job outlining the celling and Jane outlined the baseboards, the rest was easy.
"We did a pretty good job" Lisbon smiled at Jane. They were sitting on the floor, their back against the bed. Too dirty to seat anywhere else, too tired to get up.
"Yeah, we did. And tomorrow, the living room."
"I know, there's also unpacking and deciding what is going to be garaged." She sighted. "I need a shower but I'm exhausted."
"I know, come here." Jane reached for a pillow behind him and settled it on his lap so Lisbon could rest her head. "Just rest a little." His hands traveled from her hair to her belly, softly massaging her skin.
Her finger gently poked him in the chest, on a few different spots, touching the paint stains on his shirt. "Sorry I think your clothes are ruined."
"Meh. It's not one of my favorites shirts anyway" He looked down his legs "or pants, and luckily I was barefoot."
"You really love those old shoes" She smiled; it was the only pair of shoes he'd wear ever since they met.
"It's hard to find a comfortable shoe."
"Right. About that sarong"
He chuckle "What about it?"
"I'll need to see you wearing it."
"I don't think you're going to approve it."
"I'll be the judge of that."
"Okay. In that case" he reached for something under the bed. "I'll need to see you in this" He extended her jersey in front of her eyes.
She got from his hand and held it to her chest. "I did wear it in front of you once"
"Oh I remember"
"Really?" She had a unique smile for every time she found out about a new place she occupied in his memory palace.
"Clearly! First time I ever saw your legs. I'll never forget."
"You creepy" She answered laughing. Getting a mouth open, completely surprised at her answer, expression from Jane.
"Oh I'm the creepy one? Ms. Paper frog!" He answered with a fake exasperation.
"Hey!" She laughed even harder.
He took the pillow from his lap and placed it on the floor lying beside her, noses nearly touching.
She kissed him and curled her fingers in his hair. "When we're both not exhausted, I'll wear it for you" Her voice was timid and delicate. She stared at him biting her lips reading his smile.
He got half his body over her, holding her arms above her head and with one of his legs between hers.
"I can't wait." He whispered in her ear, brushing it softly with his lips and kissed her.
They broke the kiss and Jane kept his position, half way on top of her.
"Feeling more relaxed"
"A lot." She released one of her hands from his grip and caressed his face. "I'm hungry. Add to the list of things to do: Grocery Shopping"
"We'll do it tomorrow, but we could order a Pizza for today. Unless you want to go out to dinner."
"Pizza sounds great." She looked at him as if he was the solution to all of her problems. The amount of times he was using "we" instead of "you" was making it really hard for her not to say the three little words she was so scared of.
"Okay, you go take that shower while I wait for the pizza guy."
"You sure?"
"Yeah. Do you have a number?" He sat in front of her.
She got her phone in the back pocket of her jeans and handled it to him. "Here. Oh!"
"What?"
"I forgot I need to call Stan!"
"Your brother?" He held her phone offering for her to get it back.
"Yes, never mind I'll call him tomorrow."
"Okay..." It didn't seem to be anything important, or to be bothering so he didn't ask about it. "How is the pizza place listed as?"
"Pizza Place."
"Creative."
…
Lisbon took her shower quickly and right after she got off the bathroom the pizza arrived. Jane and her both ate until they were stuffed. They watched whatever movie was on TV for a few minutes, neither of them paying any attention to it, and soon Lisbon fell asleep on Jane's chest.
He loved that position, smelling her hair and having her all over him.
Whatever she was dreaming of was making her squeeze his shirt with strength; he whispered her name a few times and caressed her back until she calmed down. He was about to doze off too but he knew they'd both wake up felling horrible tomorrow, Lisbon for sure wasn't used to sleep on couches plus he still needed a shower. He nearly didn't had the courage to get up, but he did it carefully, leaving a whimpering and angry Lisbon sleeping while he went to her room to get his shoes.
Jane wrapped Lisbon's arms around his neck and she felt herself being lifted and held against Jane's warm body.
"Jane what are you doing?" Her voice was a grumpy, and so sleepy it was hard to understand.
"We can't sleep in your room today, the fresh paint smell is not good for us."
"Jane, the paint doesn't smell, you just want me to sleep in your silver bucket."
A low "Shhhh" was all he answered.
She was too sleepy to complain. In fact, so sleepy she slept in his arms and only woke up when they arrived. She tried to get up but he had bucked up her seat belt and she couldn't get free, if she had to sleep on the car so be it she wouldn't fight. A second later Jane opened her door, freeing her and getting her in his arms again, she heard him closing the door with his feet but she didn't opened her eyes.
She giggled "Jane I can walk" but I really don't want to.
"Shh. I always wanted to do this."
"Do what?"
"Carry you in my arms."
…
Jane placed her in his bed and went to take a shower. Lisbon woke up feeling uncomfortable wearing a pair of jeans in bed. She got up and looked around, she found one of Jane's shirts, it was clean and it smelled like him, she putted it on and laid back in bed.
Jane got off the shower and saw what he thought was one of the most beautiful sights of his lives. His girlfriend laying on his bed, wearing his shirt, looking so peaceful and so beautiful. He quickly got under the sheets and wrapped his arm around her.
"I love you so much," He whispered.
"I love you too, I'm sorry I still can't tell you the words." Lisbon finally answered after she was sure Jane was sound asleep.