"Hi Dad." Charlotte was sitting on the bench beside him, still wearing the shorts and top she'd had on last time. She was swinging one leg, the other curled up underneath her.

"Charlotte? What are you doing here?" They were at the pond close to the FBI office.

"I came to see you", she said. "And the ducks", she grinned.

"The ducks?" He looked at her, puzzled because he was almost positive he hadn't had any belladonna. Was this another hallucination? And if so, how had it happened?

"Yeah – the baby ones are cute."

"Yes – yes they are." He didn't know what was going on but suddenly decided not to think about it too hard. He was just going to enjoy being here with her. He'd missed her so much. "It's been a while."

"Since you saw me? Mmm – a few years, I guess."

"Uh – don't get me wrong – I'm happy to see you, but I haven't had any hallucinogens recently, so why are you here?"

"I don't know", she grinned. "It's your dream."

"Dream? That must be it. I'm dreaming you."

"Okay, sure. If you want to believe that I'm nothing more than a dream, go ahead."

"So what else could you be?"

"Maybe I'm real. Maybe I'm a ghost!"

"Stop that", he told her firmly. "Don't be ridiculous."

"Why am I being ridiculous – and oh, by the way, you can't tell me to stop."

"Yes I can. If you are my daughter you have to listen to me. If you're just a dream – well then, you're my dream and you still have to listen."

She rolled her eyes at him – just like he remembered from last time. "Okay – whatever. Hey look, there are the baby ducks. They're getting big."

"Mmm hmm. Almost ready to leave home." He couldn't help but think of the fact that Charlotte would be eighteen this year. She would probably have been ready to go off to college. He wondered if he and Angela would have had any more children. They'd wanted at least one more."

"So, you finally got him?" Charlotte said, out of the blue.

"By him you mean -?"

"Red John of course. It took you long enough."

"Ten years", he agreed.

She sighed. "Well, I hope you're all done with that now and you're ready to move on."

"I am", he nodded.

"Good." She got an impish look on her face and peered at him out of the corner of her eyes. "So – Lisbon eh? I kind of figured there was something between the two of you the last time I was here."

"There wasn't anything between us then", he corrected.

"Really? You may not have been actually doing the deed -"

"Charlotte!"

"Oh, don't be a prude. I'm old enough to know what goes on between a man and a woman, although thinking about my father doing it is rather gross. Still, you may not have been – together – but you were definitely thinking about it and so was she. So, are you getting married?"

"I'm not about to talk about my love life with you", he told her sternly. He felt strange talking to his daughter – or at least his dream version of his daughter – about another woman. It felt wrong somehow.

"If you're worried about Mom, don't be", she told him, seeming to read his mind. "She's happy for you and wanted you to find someone else. She was worried that you had become so obsessed with Red John that you'd forgotten how to live."

He sat silently for a moment, watching as the ducks swam across the little pond. "I think I was", he whispered softly. He then shook himself and turned to face his daughter. "You're sure she's okay with it?"

"Mmm hmm. Positive. She wants you to be happy Dad and so do I."

He gave a wobbly smile. "You don't mind me – being with someone else."

She sighed. "How many times do I have to tell you – I want you to be happy, and Teresa makes you happy. You need to let go of the past Dad. Mom and I are fine – we've left this world and everything in it – everything but you. Once we know you're happy we can let go of that as well."

He felt a terrible pang at that. He didn't want them to let go of him. The thought terrified him. Suddenly he felt Charlotte's hand in his. "Daddy", she said softly, just the way he remembered from when she was little. "Daddy, we'll always be with you – always", she reached out and put her hand over his heart. "Here." She leaned forward and kissed his cheek. "Thank you for all you did to bring justice to the man who killed us. You brought us peace – now it's time for you to be at peace. Mom and I will always love you and we know you'll always love us. But it's time for you to live and to love again. We want that for you."

He could feel the tears fall, feeling sad and yet filled with a sense of release so great he didn't quite know what to do. It was as if a huge burden had been lifted from his shoulders.

"Charlotte is right, Patrick", another voice spoke to him.

He looked up and there was Angela, kneeling in front of him.

"Hi Patrick", she smiled at him. "You're looking good."

"Angela", he whispered.

"Yes it's me. I wanted to see you again. I wanted to know you were doing well and that you were happy."

He rubbed the tears from his cheeks and leaned forward. He wanted to take her into his arms – he'd missed her so much. At the same time he hesitated, thinking of Teresa and his new life. He was confused, and didn't know what to do.

"It's okay", she smiled. "I'm gone Patrick. I know how much you loved me and that you were faithful – for much too long after I was gone", she smiled. "Although I want you to know how much that meant to me. But as our daughter has said – it's time for you to love again. Don't be sad and don't feel guilty. Charlotte and I are just fine – we're happy and now we want you to be happy. Please love Teresa as much as you did me and make a wonderful life with her. You're a good man, a wonderful man. So let go of your guilt and just love her."

"Angela", he whispered again. "I – I don't know what to say."

"You don't need to say anything. You've shown me over and over how much you loved me and I've watched you become a better man over the years. I'm so proud of who you are Patrick and I'd like to think that some of that was because of me – of Charlotte and me."

"It was", he nodded.

"And because of Teresa and your friends." She reached out and gently touched his hand. "You'll always have my love Patrick – but take that love and let it replace the guilt and the fear in your heart so that you can fully love Teresa. You both deserve it."

"And so you can love my little brother or sister too", Charlotte grinned.

"You – you know."

"Mmm hmm", she nodded. Angela also smiled and nodded. "We know. And we know that everything is going to be fine. You're going to have another beautiful family Dad – so don't screw it up."

He laughed, although he also felt like crying. "I'll try not to", he told her. "I think I did a pretty good job with you – at least your mother and I did."

"Yes, you did. You were a great father and I love you so much." Charlotte stood and stepped away. She was soon joined by Angela. "We have to go now but you're going to be okay Dad. I love you", she repeated.

"I'll always love you Patrick", Angela smiled at him. "Now get back to your new life. It will be a beautiful one."

He watched as Angela took Charlotte's hand, just as she had done when Charlotte was a tiny girl. He had a moment of intense pain as they walked away from him but he could feel it slowly fade as they grew farther away. Just as they were almost out of sight they both turned and waved to him. He lifted his hand and gave a small wave back. Both of them were then gone and he knew he would never see either of them again.

"Patrick. Patrick, Jane!"

"Hmm?" he started awake. "What?" he breathed, panicked. "What is it?"

"Jane – are you okay?" Teresa was leaning over him, a worried look on her face.

"Huh? What?" He felt totally disoriented and it took him a moment to realize he was in bed and it was still dark. "Sorry – what happened?"

"You – Jane, you were crying."

He peered at her a moment, still confused. He then lifted his hand to his cheek – which was wet with tears. He dropped the hand and licked his lips, unsure what to say.

"I'm sorry", he breathed. "I didn't mean to wake you."

"That doesn't matter – I'm just worried. Is everything all right?"

He pushed himself up, trying to clear his mind. It took a few seconds but finally he turned to Teresa. "I think – I think everything is better than all right", he told her. "It's – good."

She frowned at him, looking thoroughly puzzled. "What do you mean?"

He shook his head slightly and then leaned over and pulled her to him. "I love you Teresa", he said softly, "and I want to live with you."

"I love you too", she kissed him lightly on the cheek. "And I hate to tell you but you already are living with me."

"I know", he grinned. "But I didn't mean just live in the same house, I meant live Teresa – I want to live with you and love you and marry you and have babies with you and – and everything."

She laughed softly. "Where is this coming from Jane?"

He smiled again. "From Angela and Charlotte and me."

"What?" her brows crinkled.

"You'll think I'm crazy – in fact I think I'm crazy, but I know it's okay for me to move on with my life. For the first time I think – I know – that it's good. I'll always love Angela and Charlotte – but that doesn't mean I can't love you as much and our child as much and I'm going to be happy, we're going to be happy."

He suddenly slid down onto the bed, pulling Teresa down after him so that she was lying across his chest. He put his fingers through her hair and leaned down and kissed her. "I love you Teresa", he said again.

She had no idea what had happened, or where this was all coming from, but at this moment she didn't care. She could feel the happiness inside her grow and she returned his kiss with passion.

"Love me Teresa", he said softly.

"I do."

He smiled. "I know – but I mean love me – here, now."

"Oh." She lifted her head and looked at him – at the joy in his face, at the crooked but amazing smile, and at the light in his eyes and she smiled. She then leaned down and placed her lips on his, murmuring "only if you'll love me right back."

And she did – and he did.

"You're looking happy this morning", Cho informed her as she walked in to her desk.

"I am", she smiled. "It's a good day."

"Should I ask why?"

She thought for a second. "Probably not."

"Okay", he nodded and returned to work. After a few minutes he looked up again. "Have you talked to Michelle?"

"Who? Oh, you mean Agent Vega?"

"Mmm hmm."

"Uh, not really", Teresa admitted. She'd been avoiding the woman, but knew that couldn't really continue.

"She's pretty decent once you get to know her", her fellow agent said. "You should try."

Teresa sighed. "I know. It's just that she's so damned arrogant!"

"I didn't think you had trouble with that", he told her.

She raised an eyebrow at the friend and co-worker who always said it like it was. "No, I guess I usually don't. But – she hurt him terribly."

"She didn't mean to."

"I know. It still doesn't mean I can just let it go."

"Jane has."

"Mmm – I guess. Oh hell – maybe he's just a better person than me."

"He's not", Cho shook his head. "It's just easier to forgive a person who's hurt you than a person who's hurt someone you love."

"Yeah, that's the truth." She sighed again. "I'll talk to her."

"Good."

Just then Jane walked in and made his way immediately to his couch. He was whistling as he walked, something Cho had rarely ever heard before. Obviously Jane was in as good a mood as Teresa. He really didn't want to know why.

"Morning Cho", Jane called over. "How are things?"

"Good. Abbott stuck his head out and said he wanted to see us in a little while. I think we caught another case."

Jane let out a small groan. "I hope it's more interesting this time. I must say, the caliber of crimes we've been getting has definitely gone down hill."

"Well, you'll have to talk to Abbott about that", Teresa said acerbically. "Maybe you can convince him to talk to the criminals about upping their games."

"Hmm, that's an idea."

"A really bad one", Cho interjected. "I think you have enough on your plate already."

"Yeah, I guess so", Jane grinned. "And soon I'll be a Daddy again and then I'll really have enough on my plate."

Teresa and Cho both looked at him in wonder, never having heard him quite so open about impending fatherhood.

Sheesh, thought Cho – whatever had happened had certainly put him in a good mood.

"Yes you will", Teresa agreed, with an impish grin. "He's going to be on diaper duty", she informed everyone.

"Diapers! A total waste of my talent."

"I don't know Jane – I think you'll be very good at changing diapers", Teresa informed him. "And since you won't be able to feed the baby, you'll have to do something."

"I'll tell it stories about its mother – the fierce FBI agent who always gets her man – or woman."

"I think that's the Mounties, not the FBI."

"Pfft", he made a rude noise. "We always get our – person too."

Michelle walked into the office in the midst of the conversation. Wylie was looking on, a grin on his face, but wasn't speaking. The others all looked as if they were happy and they certainly seemed to be joking around. She wondered briefly if she should head back and grab a coffee so as not to put a damper on the group.

"Hey Vega", Patrick shouted, waving her over. He'd effectively put a stop to any escape. With a sigh, and a wary look at Lisbon, she headed over.

"So – do you think I should have to change all the diapers on my kid?" Jane asked.

Vega could feel her stomach drop. The last thing she wanted to discuss was Jane's baby – not after the fiasco that had been the card. Still, everyone was looking at her expectantly. "Uh – yes", she said, grimacing slightly. "Since you can't feed the baby, the least you can do is change its diapers."

"See! I told you", Teresa said. "And Michelle agrees with me. It's diaper duty Patrick."

"That's only because you guys ganged up together. And we can't feed the baby even if we wanted to since we don't come equipped with the same", he waved his hand around.

"Yes Jane – with what?" Teresa grinned.

He rolled his eyes and sat back on his couch. "Cho, it's impossible to say or do anything when women start ganging up on you."

"Indeed." Cho agreed.

Pretty soon they all got to work, except for Jane, who dozed on the couch, and Michelle, who headed over to Teresa's desk.

"Uh Agent Lisbon, can I talk to you for a minute?"

"Of course." She followed the younger woman into the conference room. Jane hadn't appeared to wake up, but Lisbon knew better. He was very aware of this meeting.

"What can I do for you Agent Vega?" Teresa asked.

"I – nothing. I just wanted to tell you how sorry I am about everything. I didn't mean to hurt Jane – I would never do that. And – I know I was horrible to him at the beginning and I promise I'll change and treat him with respect."

Teresa nodded. "Yes, you will", she agreed. Finally, after an uncomfortable few seconds she sighed and pulled out a chair. Sitting down she looked at Vega. "Look, I know you're smart and you did extremely well at the academy, but the real world is different. If you're going to be successful at this job you're going to have to learn to not make assumptions about people. And you're going to have to do your homework."

Vega grimaced. "Yeah – I heard that message loud and clear."

"Yes – well, we all do crazy things at times – hell, if you're Jane you do them daily – and we're pretty good at forgiving those. Just – remember that Jane is smart and he does care about his teammates, even if, at times, he doesn't seem to."

"I realized that after I gave him that stupid card. When he took me to the pond. It was kind of him."

"Mmm – he's a very kind man."

"Yes", Vega suddenly smiled. "He is. You're very lucky."

Teresa smiled back. "Yes, I am."

"Everything okay between you and Vega?" Patrick asked on the way home that evening.

"Mmm hmm", she answered. "We still have a ways to go before we could be friends, but we're on track to have a good working relationship."

"Excellent", he smiled. He leaned over and closed his eyes. They were almost home before he spoke again. "So, what do you think about Merlin?"

"The Magician?" she asked, her face a picture of total confusion.

"No silly – the name. For our baby."