"You have to admit it's perfect", Jane told her as he continued to hold his son.

"Yes, but what if it changes?" she asked, reaching out and touching the tiny fist. "He could lose it all and go blond like you."

"Unlikely", he told her. "Chances are he'll stay dark, like you."

"So I'm not getting my blond, curly-headed little boy?" she sighed.

"Well, you have me," he grinned.

"Yes, and you do often act like a little boy so I guess that will have to do."

"So, you agree? It's perfect. And hey, it's Irish."

"It matters to you that he has an Irish name?"

"I wouldn't say it matters exactly – but it does go nicely with Jane. And you have to admit, it's perfect."

"For now."

"You have such little faith Teresa. He's going to have dark hair so it's perfect."

"Well, I do like the sound of it."

"So we're agreed?"

"Yes, I guess we are. It is perfect." She smiled and looked down at her son, gently stroking his soft baby face. He was finally asleep after having nursed and spent he first half hour of his life getting to know his parents. "It's a big name for a little boy to live up to", she said softly.

"He'll do fine", Jane said, "especially with you as his mother."

Jane smiled down at his son and then leaned over and kissed him on his forehead. "Hello Ciaran* Thomas Lisbon Jane. Welcome to the world."

"You should take him out and show him to everyone. They're probably wondering what's going on", his tired but happy wife told him.

Excited about showing off his son – his son – he made his way carefully to the waiting area, his face split wide into a big grin. He couldn't help it if he felt wonderfully, gloriously pleased with himself. He had a baby boy who was now the most precious thing in his life, along with Teresa of course.

As he looked at the little one in his arms he had a passing thought that he was relieved they hadn't had a girl. He felt a moment's guilt at the thought but then let it go. He would have loved a daughter, that he knew without a doubt. But it would have been more difficult to deal with the emotions of remembering when Charlotte was born. "I'll tell you about your big sister, some day", he whispered. He turned his mind back to the present as he caught sight of his team all sitting in the waiting area.

It was Wylie who saw him first. The young man stood, a big smile on his face. "You had the baby!"

"We did", Patrick grinned. Vega, Cho, Abbott and Wylie all rushed up to him and circled round so they could see the new arrival.

"What was it?" Vega asked, excitedly.

"Well, it was a boy. I expect it still is."

"Ow!" What was it about women in law enforcement? They seemed to think his upper arm was made to be thwacked. "What did you do that for?"

"For being ridiculous. Now let me see him." She reached out and after a brief hesitation he handed over the baby. It's not that he was worried about her holding him, it was that he really didn't want to let go of his little miracle.

"What's his name?" Abbott asked.

"Ciaran Thomas", he smiled.

"Nice", Cho nodded. "Goes well with Jane."

"We thought it suited him", Jane looked at the baby, a besotted expression on his face. "It means dark one."

The others exchanged smiles, unused to seeing Jane looking quite so open and just plain happy.

"Congratulations Patrick", Dennis grasped his shoulder. "He's beautiful."

"Takes after Teresa", Cho said, but he stepped forward and actually gave Jane a 'man-hug'. "Congratulations."

"Uh" – Jane looked surprised, which made the others laugh. Cho had never done anything like that before. "Thanks." He surreptitiously – or so he hoped – sniffed. He wasn't used to such open affection from anyone other than Teresa – and sometimes Grace and Wayne. "Come on – Teresa wants to see everyone." He smiled as he led them to her room.

Ciaran was a happy baby and Teresa took well to motherhood. Jane wasn't surprised. She'd mothered her three younger brothers – and him at times, if he was being honest. She was a caring, compassionate woman – and someone who loved with a fierce loyalty. He knew Ciaran couldn't have done better for his mother.

Now as for his father – Jane sighed. He figured Ciaran hadn't really lucked out there. He was damaged in so many ways – and had enough baggage to fill a ship. Still, he loved his wife with a fierce passion and now his son. If love could make things right – if love could help heal him and make a good life for those he loved – then he knew there was hope.

At that moment Teresa appeared, the baby sleeping in her arms. "You okay?" she asked taking note of his sad expression. She still worried about him and knew that there were times when he would sink into a dark place beyond her ability to help. Still, those times came more rarely now and at least he opened up to her about them – at least a bit. She knew he would always live with the memories of what had happened to his first family, but she prayed that she and Ciaran could help take away the pain.

"I'm fine." He leaned over and kissed her and then Ciaran. The little boy didn't even move, so deep was he in the innocent sleep of childhood.

"He takes after you", his wife informed him. "He's hard to get to sleep and even harder to wake up."

Jane grinned and the sadness seemed to drain away from his face. "He's a smart boy, just like his Daddy."

Teresa snorted. "More like lots of trouble just like his Daddy!"

"And you wouldn't have it any other way!"

She sighed and shook her head, but then her eyes grew soft. "You're right", she whispered. "I wouldn't."

He sat in his car, Ciaran burbling away in the back seat. He had known this would be hard, but was now wondering if it was too hard, if he should have let this go. He hadn't been back here since that day and had been positive he would never get the chance to come back.

But he knew he had to do this. It was sad really – he'd only visited their graves a couple of times in all the years since their deaths. The first time had been with Danny and it had affected him so deeply it had been almost impossible to return. Now he wanted to be here – at least he'd thought so before arriving.

Oh, he knew they weren't there. He still didn't believe in an afterlife – although he wasn't quite as adamant about at as he had been before. But those things didn't matter. He had, through the years, talked regularly with Angela although that had stopped after he'd dreamt of her – and now that he was committed to Lisbon. But he always felt connected to her even though logically he had known she was gone.

But this wasn't about logic. He turned to the back seat at Ciaran's excited squeal. The little boy had just seen a dog go by and he loved animals. Jane wondered briefly when it would be time to consider getting a puppy. He smiled when he imagined Teresa's reaction to that idea.

He finally gathered his courage and got out of the car. He next unbuckled the baby, who was grinning wildly at being out with one of his two favorite people in the whole world.

Ciaran was eight months old now and he and Teresa had decided to take a short holiday out to California. He'd finally decided to look into selling his house in Malibu. They could invest the money either in a bigger house in Austin, or buy themselves a small holiday home by the ocean. He was leaning towards the latter. They could dock their boat and spend wonderful times together as a family.

Teresa was back at their hotel resting and he'd offered to take Ciaran out for a drive. It was only as they grew near the cemetery that he realized he had something he needed to do.

He walked slowly through the gravestones, his eyes focused on the two he was about to visit. Ciaran continued to babble away, taking pleasure in everything around him.

Jane held him a little tighter, needing the comfort and courage that the warm little body gave him. Ciaran had brought even more light and joy into his life over what Teresa had already brought. He kissed the baby on the cheek, causing him to giggle and lean forward so that his face was touching his father's. Jane laughed and kissed him again. God – how did he ever get to be so lucky?

He finally stopped in front of the two gravestones, his mind suddenly overwhelmed by a thousand thoughts and feelings. A profound sadness washed over him as he saw those names carved in stone. The loss came rushing back, drowning him, smothering him. His family – the two he'd loved most in the world, were no more. All that was left of them were these two stones. He closed his eyes, a river of anguish and tears running down his face. "I'm sorry", he whispered.

"Da!" The voice of a small child sounded a few minutes later and pulled him out of his torment. His eyes flew open and he stared at his son.

"What did you say?"

The baby laughed and bounced. "Da." He reached out and patted Jane's cheek with his tiny fist.

The tears ran faster down Patrick's face, but this time they were cleansing tears, tears of gratitude and hope, joy and healing. Yes, he would always grieve the loss of Angela and Charlotte but he couldn't forget what he now had, who he now had.

With a small, broken laugh he turned to face the gravestones. "Angela, Charlotte", he said softly. "I want you to meet my son, Ciaran."

THE END

Thank you so much to all of you who took the time to read and review. You made my first foray into The Mentalist fanfic lots of fun. Now we all wait with bated breath for Nov 30th (and the hope that another network might pick up the show!)

*Ciaran - prounounced Keeran - is Irish for 'little dark one'. Forgive me if you hate the name - it's impossible to pick something everyone would like.