Jane was the first one to have a breakdown. It happened some days after their first ob gyn appointment. It turned out that everything was fine with Lisbon and the baby. Jane couldn´t be happier. He was starting to be a little obsessive though. Lisbon didn´t mind that much. He used to bring her meals during work. He was always near her when he got the chance. He helped with house chores, behaved himself during cases which made Cho suspicious. It all went to hell during one case where the team headed to investigate a seemingly abandoned warehouse. As it turned out it wasn´t abandoned at all. Jane was waiting in the black SUV when the team headed inside. After few minutes that were almost peaceful he heard shooting. For a moment there he thought that his heart stopped beating. Feeling lightheaded he remained in the car trying to calm down. Lisbon was wearing a kevlar vest, he made sure of that, but then again it´s not like it could protect her whole body. With the worst scenarios played in his head he jumped out of the car and listened. The shooting has stopped eventually but nobody was leaving the building. He was hoping, praying even that any second Lisbon and the rest of the team would emerge from the gate with suspects in handcuffs. He counted to twenty and ran to the gate. He took a peek inside but saw nothing. It was pitch black darkness in there. No sounds. Nothing. With a heavy feeling he walked inside. He took only a few steps when he heard voices.
Jane´s outside, go and get him Rigsby.
It was Cho speaking. Jane stopped dead and waited. Where is Lisbon? Why isn´t she with the rest of the team?
„On it."
He could hear Rigsby walking down the stairs which he couldn´t see, so he followed the sound of man walking. Rigsby was carrying a flashlight and almost got and heart attack when he pointed in on Jane who was supposed to be in a car.
„Christ, Jane! What are you doing here?"
„Where´s Lisbon?"
„She´s up. Don´t worry. She´s fine."
Jane saw that his colleague was avoiding eye contact. His body posture suggested the exact opposite of what he was telling him.
„Let´s go," said Jane horrified.
Rigsby lead the way while Jane tried his best to remain calm. He can´t loose it now. There is definitely something wrong with Lisbon, probably nothing serious. But still, he found it hard to breathe. The air in the warehouse was heavy and hot.
„What happened?" he asked hoarsely.
„We found some suspects, they started shooting, we shoot back and they fled. We managed to get only one of them. Lisbon is, uh, it´s just a scratch."
Just a scratch. Yeah. Just a scratch.
„Did you call an ambulance?" Jane asked slowly, in low voice.
„Cho did."
Well, that was all the information he needed. He followed Rigsby in silence now. Soon they reached the scene. Cho was talking to somebody on the phone but Jane couldn´t care less. Rigsby pointed to two silhouettes sitting on the floor. It was Lisbon and Van Pelt. He walked slowly to them.
„Teresa?"
The smaller of those silhouettes moved slightly.
„Jane, what the hell? You were supposed to stay in the car!"
Jane walked slowly to her and sat down. As of clue Van Pelt stood up and gave him a piece of cloth. Wet cloth.
„Cho though it would be better for me to come and see you first, not after the ambulance arrives," he said calmly as he could.
„It´s nothing," she said stubbornly but he could feel her shivering.
„Let me take a look."
It was indeed a scratch on her left arm. He put the cloth Van Pelt gave him on it and held it there in silence. Lisbon was quiet too. After a while she put her head on his shoulder.
„Does it hurt?" he asked quietly.
She just shook her head.
„I see."
The sound of approaching ambulance made him stood up. He helped Lisbon on her feet and together they walked down those stairs. Somehow he managed to get them out of there. Paramedics were already waiting for them. They took Lisbon out of his arms as soon as they spotted her. He followed her as if in a dream. Somebody tried to stop him from entering the ambulance. Luckily Cho turned up behind him and made them let him in. It was good. He would probably start a fight with anybody who would want to stop him now. Some woman, young one, was examining Lisbon´s wound. He couldn´t look at it so he just sat down and held her hand.
The smell of antiseptics made his stomach turn.
Lisbon squeezed his hand and he finally looked at her. She was as scared as him. Now it wasn´t time to have a breakdown. Not in front of her. He forced himself to smile at her reassuringly. She smiled back as the ambulance drove to nearest hospital.
Lisbon was released from the hospital with a few stitches on her arm. They also checked whether something happened to their baby. That was the hardest part for her. She cried when they told her that everything is fine. Jane drove her home in silence. Not a word was spoken until they were at home. Not a word was spoken there either. Jane went upstairs as soon as she closed the door. She could hear water running a few minutes later.
She sat down at the couch and as the adrenalin was slowly leaving her. God, this was uncalled for. Everything was going just fine and now this. She knew that it is just a matter of time before he freaks out. He was there with her when they treated her wound. It was nothing horrible, really. It could be worse and that was the point. It could be a lot worse. She could almost read his thoughts during the whole day. With a loud sigh Lisbon stood up and went to made two cups of tea. The steaming liquid calmed her a little. The water upstairs was still running. She took both of cups and went upstairs with a heavy heart.
Lisbon was finished with her cup when Jane finally left the bathroom. He looked at her and she noticed his red eyes.
„I made you a cup." she said.
„Thank you." that´s all he said still standing there not moving.
„I´m fine."
„Yeah."
„And you?" she asked.
Jane just huffed with a fake smile on his face.
„Sure I am, why wouldn´t I be?"
„Patrick..."
He shook his head.
„Yeah, I am fine. Right as a rain," he said hoarsely.
Lisbon stood up and went to him. She hugged him slowly and he returned it fiercely, squeezing her tight. He was trembling.
„I can´t take it. Not anymore. I...just can´t," he said quietly.
„I know,"she whispered.
„Not again, Teresa. I can´t loose you, I can´t loose another child -" his words turned into quiet sobs.
„You wont," she whispered into his ear.
He chuckled but it wasn´t a happy chuckle at all.
„Yeah, stuff like that never happens," he said bitterly.
That one hurt. Lisbon sighed and made a decision.
„I will speak with Hightower. Tell her that it would be best if I stay on desk duty, at least for some time."
Jane stopped squeezing her to take a look at her. She meant it. He could see the determination in her eyes.
„You, you would do that?" he said still sobbing.
„Yes. I mean I love my job and desk duty is a pain in the ass, but I have other things to consider now," she said slowly. „More important things than work. You and the baby. I - I´m sorry you had to go through that today. It was a horrible experience for me too. And I never want it to happen again."
His hurtful expression changed slightly as he sobbed even more.
„I was so scared, Teresa. It just...it wasn´t easy."
„I know. It will be okay, Patrick. I promise."
He slowly nodded.
„Let´s go to bed. We are both tired. What do you say?"
He nodded again.
„Good, you can drink your tea while I´ll go and wash that hospital smell of me, okay?"
„O-kay...wait!"
Lisbon turned to him with a puzzled look.
„What?"
„You sure you are fine? If you need anything I could go and get it."
Lisbon smiled at truth was she had a lot of weird cravings and sometimes Jane had to visit a grocery to bring her what she wanted. Not today though.
„No, but thank you. I´m just tired. Be right back."
After steaming hot shower Lisbon entered their bedroom only to find Jane sitting on bed already dressed in his pajamas. He was waiting for her. She smiled and went to bed, cuddling close to him.
„I love you," he whispered to her.
„Love you too."
„Does it hurt?" he asked her again after a while.
„Just a little."
He gave her a kiss.
„Better?"
She returned the kiss and nodded.
„Better."
Three months later
Lisbon was on desk duty for three months now. The news about her and Jane spread like wild fire on the CBI grounds after the shooting and now, everybody knew. First few weeks she kind of enjoyed the calmness of the office and all the paper work but as time went she was getting bored. Everytime time team left for field work she envied them, watching them leave to have some action. No action for her. She was getting big, too. Sitting all day in office was paying it´s price. Being small it was even more evident that she is pregnant. It was driving her crazy. All her life she was slim and fit so it was kind of hard for her now. Her belly was visible in all her clothes. Pants didn´t fit her anymore. That meant shopping for new clothes. Bigger clothes. It was just to frustrating. Jane on the other enjoyed it. He told her countless times how beautiful she is to him. More beautiful than ever. It was hard to believe him though. Everytime she looked at herself in the mirror she saw this small and puffy woman that she wasn´t used to.
One morning was particularly bad.
„I´ve tried all of my pants and none of them fit!" she yelled in frustration.
Jane was downstairs making breakfast and tea. He chuckled to himself and went upstairs. Lisbon was standing in front of a mirror with tears in her eyes. To him she was indeed beautiful beyond words.
„I´m fat, Patrick."
„No, you are not. You are pregnant. That´s a big difference my dear."
„Yeah right. Look at me. I can´t fit into any of this."
Jane walked to her and hugged her from behind, touching her belly with both hands. The little one kicked him and he had to smile. They didn´t want to know the gender but Lisbon was sure it will be a boy, because he wouldn´t stop moving around.
„You are wonderful. Breathtaking."
She huffed in frustration.
„But we are still going to be late thanks to me. Again. Ugh. I need new clothes...I hate shopping."
He kissed her neck and nodded.
„We could go shopping tomorrow. C´mon I´ll go with you, it´ll be fun."
„Yeah, fun. Can you write it down and sign it?"
He smiled at her and she turned in his arms.
„You can wear the same pants you wore yesterday. Nobody would care or notice for that matter. Tomorrow we will have fun while shopping. Maybe shopping for the little one will cheer you up, hm?"
Lisbon´s eyes lit up as he said those magic words. As much as she hated shopping, buying baby stuff was different. They already had so much of it he was sure it would be enough for two babies. Three maybe. He didn´t mind at all. Half of it was his doing.
„Yeah...that sounds nice."
„Sure it does. Now I will make you a nice breakfast while you dress up. You look wonderful the way you are, don´t worry Teresa."
„Thank you," she said. Before he left the bedroom she gave him a hug.
„Pleasure as always."
The next day they went shopping and despite Lisbon´s worrying it was fun. True, they brought more stuff for the baby then clothes for her but it was a success after all.
Jane then took her out for a dinner, and she looked amazing in her new dress. Even she liked the way she looked. They ate, laughed and eventually left feeling full and content. Jane took her on a car ride and they drove around the town listening to smooth jazz. It was a wonderful evening and Lisbon didn´t want it to end.
Seeing and hearing Jane laugh was priceless. After she was wounded it took some time to put himself back together. He had a few nightmares. They stayed up some nights together, talking, just reassuring each other that life will be good.
Finally after some rough nights and days he seemed happy again. Lisbon smiled to herself but the smile slowly turned into a big yawn. Jane obviously saw it and called it a night. She didn´t wanted to go home but the tiredness was slowly creeping over her. She fell asleep on the way home.
When she woke up she was already in bed, still dressed in her new dress. Jane was going through her drawers trying to find her sleeping jersey. That one still fit her.
„What you are looking for?"
He turned to her, smiling.
„Well hello there, sleepyhead."
„Did you carry me up here?"
„Indeed. You see, you are not at all as big as you think. I can still carry you up those stairs my dear."
„Great," she said with a smile on her face. She took her jersey from under the pillow and got up.
„Is this what you´re looking for?"she asked with the jersey in her hands. He smiled and nodded.
Lisbon changed her clothes and Jane hanged the new dress. They lied down together and Jane immediately took her in his arms. It felt so good. So right.
He took a deep breath. Now or never.
„Teresa I want to ask you something."
„Ask away," she said smiling.
He took another steadying breath and closed his eyes.
„I will, but first let me just tell you how much I love you...the only reason that I am still here is you.
You helped me during the worst time of my life and now you are here with me, making me feel whole again. I know things are not as easy as they should be. They probably never be. Nevertheless I will try my best to be worthy of you. Every day, every night. Always."
Lisbon listened to him carefully, wondering where is he going with all that.
„I love you, I never want to be without you again. I want to wake up with you be my side and fall asleep with you in my arms. I want to see you smile, help you when you cry. I want to be there for you and the baby. For us."
He took another deep breath and sat up.
„Teresa Lisbon, will you do me the honor of being my wife?"
Lisbon sat up too, shocked. Well, shocked was a weak word for what she felt. They never talked about marriage. Nor they talked about having kids and look at them now. A marriage with Patrick Jane? What would it change anyway? They are living together. She is carrying his child. And she loves him, for so long. Marriage is something she wanted since being a kid. All these thoughts entered her mind at the same time and she looked him right into his eyes simply saying that one word.
„Yes."
By the look on his face he was even more shocked than she was. Her happy laugh filled the room.
„C´mon Patrick, like you didn´t know what I would say," she said smiling.
He smiled too.
„I was about fifty percent sure."
„You are silly man, you know that Patrick Jane?"
„Ah that might be true, but I´m your silly man now. All yours."
„Yes," she said as her eyes became misty all of sudden. Jane seemed to be battling tears, too.
„My new favorite word from now on," he said beaming with happiness. That was it. Lisbon started crying happy tears and soon Jane joined her. She wiped away tears from his cheeks and kissed him passionately.
That night, they didn´t slept much.
There were more important things than sleep afterall.
Six months later
Lisbon was due in a month and Hightower had to force her to take the rest time off. Jane was hovering around her all the time. He even refused to go on cases with Cho, telling him to only call him when there is an emergency. Hightower made him to take that time off, too. It was easier that way. Lisbon couldn´t work long because of the heat and tiredness and Jane simply couldn´t work properly because of Lisbon. So on one pretty day she called them into her office and sent them home. To Jane, it was the best possible solution to whole situation. Lisbon one the other hand was annoyed.
She was grumpy on the way home, telling Jane that she is one hundred percent capable of being at work which was denied by the fact that after coming home she fell asleep on couch almost instantly. Jane was doing his best not to wake her while making a lunch. It was all too hot for her and he could sense her discomfort. Her feet were swollen. And she was constantly walking into ladies room and back during the whole day. How much work she could have done in this circumstances?
Not much.
She still wanted to. At least she wasn´t having terrible mood swings because she was grumpy all the time. He didn´t mind it at all. He tried to make it easier for her if there was a possibility. He was halfway through the lunch when she woke up. A loud groan was the first thing he heard, which made him rush to her.
„Hey, you okay?"
„No. I can´t get comfortable," she said to him with a sad face. „My feet hurts. It´s too hot and I need to pee again."
Jane helped her to stand up, a task that was hard to do now. Thanks to her small figure she was now really big.
„Just one more month love," he said smiling.
„Yeah. Then I will not be able to sleep for a different reasons."
„I will help you with everything, you can count on me. It´s going to be just fine, you´ll see."
She just nodded and went upstairs. Jane went back to preparing lunch with a smile on his face. As much as it was scary, he just couldn´t wait for the baby to come.
When Lisbon came back she sat down at the table and sighed.
„Hungry?"
She nodded.
Then she burst into tears. And it wasn´t little sobs, this was a real cry with big tears and everything. It took Jane two seconds to realize what is happening. He rushed to her as soon as he put the frying pan of the stove.
„Teresa what´t wrong?" he asked worriedly. For a moment he was sure something happened with the baby and fear pierced through his body. She put her head into her hands and cried even more.
Jane bent down to her still worried. There where so many reasons why she would cry. Reading her became kind of hard during the pregnancy. Right now he had no clue. Or too many clues. It didn´t help him that she was hiding her face.
„Teresa, please, look at me."
She looked at up at him.
„I´m sorry," she said with a muffled voice, „It´s just, when you said just one more month I got a little...scared."
Jane felt relief rushing over his body. She´s just scared. That is something he could deal with.
„Hey, come here," he said to her and soon she was in his arms.
„Tell me what scares you the most."
„Everything! What if I´m not ready? I never taken care of a baby before."
„Well, correct me if I´m wrong but haven´t you raised three nearly feral brothers of yours?" Jane asked smiling.
„That´s different. They were older, they could you know, do things by themselves..."
„Yeah, things like talk back to you, doing the exact opposite of what you told them to do, not listening to you, that sort of stuff?"
She chuckled through the tears.
„Pretty much, yeah."
Jane chuckled too.
„You are going to be a great mother. I can honestly say that our child will have the best mother in the whole world."
Lisbon shook her head.
„How can you be so sure? I´m...not so sure."
„It´s a simple observation my dear. I known you for many years and you are the kindest and strongest person I´ve ever met. And I´ve met a LOT at people, trust me. You are compassionate, you care about everyone else first and then, if there is time, you tend to your needs. That´s a best mother material right there."
„Patrick..."
„I stand by my words Teresa and was I ever wrong in my observations?" he said grinning.
„Really want to go there?" she asked grumpily.
„Okay, maybe, sometimes, there was a slight misread, still I´m sure about this one. You will be amazing. You´ve been keeping me in line for all those years. That´s big, Teresa. Nobody else could do that."
„True," she said with a more confident voice.
„See? We are partners in this. I can´t simply wait to see you holding our baby."
That made her cry even more. Jane didn´t mind. He just kept comforting her until she went to bathroom, again.
The due date was getting closer. Jane had packed, unpacked and repacked the hospital bag at least five times. Lisbon wasn´t sure if it should be so big but she let Jane do what he needed to do. It was now resting close to their bed, just in case.
Rigsby and Cho helped Jane with the nursery. Since they didn´t know the gender of baby they painted it light green. Cho surprised everyone with his painting skills and thanks to him all walls were covered with cute little animals jumping around. The crib was ready too, although it took them almost four hours to assemble it properly. Lisbon, who was a silent bystander haven´t laughed so much since ages.
Everything was ready.
Lisbon stood in the nursery with Jane by her side, admiring the work.
„This is amazing Patrick."
„Truly."
„I didn´t know Cho could paint, though."
Jane didn´t suspect that either which bugged him a little.
„Interesting man, our Cho."
Lisbon turned to him and smiled knowing he had no idea too.
„I personally like those little foxes best."
„Thank God Cho was able to repaint Rigsby´s poor dinosaur."
„Yeah...hey, did Grace left with Rigsby?"Lisbon asked.
„Yesm" Jane said grinning.
„Good timing. I don´t have to deal with it for a long time," she said grinning back at Jane.
„They are terrible at hiding it though, we were so much better."
„Right." Lisbon said rolling her eyes.
„What?" he turned to her with a faking a hurtful look.
„Nothing Patrick," Lisbon yawned again. It was a long day indeed. Followed by previous long days. Jane wanted everything to be ready and perfect on the same time. That took days of preparations. Luckily their friends wanted to help and both of them were grateful.
„C´mon, let´s get you to bed."
„Good idea."
Lisbon woke up feeling cold and somehow wet. She sat up, calmly, trying not to wake up Jane in case of false alarm. She lifted her sleeping blanket and touched the soaked mattress. Oh. This was probably not the case of false alarm. As the panic slowly rose inside of her, she managed to shake sleeping Jane, who was up immediately.
„Hm, What? Teresa?"
Almost immediately.
„Uh, Patrick I think my water broke."
„What? Water?" he gave her a sleepy look, before the statement hit him like a rock.
„Oh! You water broke? Are you sure? When? Are you in pain?"
She sat there repeating his questions in her head.
„Yes, Yes, don´t know when, and no, not yet."
„Okay," he said standing up, „we have to remain calm, uh..."
He was out of the bed now pacing around the room just in his sleeping shorts. Lisbon smiled as the panic reached it´s highest level. As much as she was panicking Jane was worse. Maybe a little help would be a good idea.
„Patrick? Can you help me change my clothes?"
„Hm?" he asked.
„My clothes," she said standing up. „I will change, you will change, we´ll grab the bag and be on our way to hospital?"
„Right! That´s good thinking, Teresa."
„Thanks. Call out friends, will you? I´ll just go to the bathroom one last time."
Jane called everyone. He woke up Cho who was on his way to hospital. He woke up Rigsby and Van Pelt who were definitely sleeping in the same bed. Hightower was still awake, and wished them good luck.
When he finally reached the hospital Cho was waiting at the entrance. He wanted to be there, too. Jane looked at Lisbon who was visibly pale.
„Hey, it´s going to be fine Teresa. We are ready. I´ll be there the whole time, feel free to squeeze my hand as strong as you can."
She looked at him and smiled.
„Yeah, let´s do this."
Four long hours later, Jane held his first born son in his hands. A boy. He just couldn´t take his eyes of him. Lisbon tired from the labor watched them in silent awe. If there was anything more beautiful than this, she couldn´t picture it.
Watching Patrick Jane slowly rocking their son, whispering to him, smiling...nothing compares to it in the whole world.
He slowly turned to Lisbon.
„And there´s your mommy. Best mommy you could ask for. She loves you so much, you know that?
He walked to Lisbon and slowly handed her their baby. As soon as he was in her arms his eyes started to close, followed by the cutest yawn they ever seen.
„You´re sleepy, little one, hm? You a had a rough day, too," she said snuggling him closer.
„Oh God, he is so precious Patrick. Look. Look at those chubby little fingers."
Jane smiled through tears.
„You were amazing, Teresa. Just amazing. So is he."
„Yes. He is. Any thoughts on name?"
Jane sat on the edge of the hospital bed and put his arm around his soon to be wife.
„You already have one in mind, right?"
Lisbon slowly nodded. As soon as she saw him the name just popped out in her mind.
„Tell me. I´m sure I´ll love it."
„Ethan, Ethan Patrick Jane."
Jane closed his eyes and imagined the name written in front of him.
„I like that...but are you sure about Patrick as a middle name?"
„Yes, I´m sure, I mean, if you don´t like it..."
„No, I do. Really. It´s beautiful."
Lisbon gave him big smile as they both watched their little Ethan sleeping peacefully.
After a while there was a knock on the door. Jane stood up and opened them. Cho, Rigsby and Van Pelt were there with anxious expressions on their faces.
„Can we come in?" Cho asked.
Jane turned his head to see if Lisbon is okay with visitors and she nodded, smiling.
„Come in, but keep it low, little one is asleep."
„We´ll be quiet, promise."
All three of them entered the small room and hurried to bed, following by quiet oohs and aaahs.
„Oh my gosh he is so cute!"
Jane sat back at the edge of the bed with his arms around Lisbon again.
„You guys know how to make a cute baby," Rigsby laughed.
„Well, thank you Rigsby," said Jane with a grin.
„Does he have a name yet?" Cho asked smiling. A rare sight indeed.
„Yes. Let me introduce you my son, Ethan Patrick Jane."
„Nice name," said Cho and winked at Jane.
„We are so happy for you guys. So happy." Van Pelt said.
„Yeah, very happy. He is just perfect."
„Thank you, guys. Thank you for everything." Lisbon said trying hard not to cry again. It was so hard not to get emotional, nearly impossible. She wiped her tears that started flowing and sniffled.
„Sorry, I´m just, tired and..."
Jane kissed her hair and stood up, taking little Ethan out of her arms.
„We better go," said Cho.
„Yeah guys, see you later, okay? I am sure you need to rest."
„Bye guys, thank you for visiting."
„Bye boss, Jane."
„We will visit you soon, again."
When the last goodbye was told Jane saw just how tired Lisbon was. Her eyelids were drooping, but she tried hard to stay awake.
„Hey, you can go to sleep. I´ll be here. I´ll wake you up if Ethan gets hungry, or better he wake you. Rest Teresa, you need it."
„I don´t want to sleep. I want to stay awake and watch you talk to him. It´s such a beautiful sight."
Jane gave her a warm smile, and sat on the chair next to bed.
„You can close your eyes and listen to me singing to him, hm?"
„Sounds good, too."
Lisbon closed her eyes and listened to Jane´s low voice singing You are my sunshine to their son. It didn´t took her long to fall asleep, and it didn´t took Ethan long to wake her just as Jane said. He was hungry, so she fed him while Jane dozed on the chair. When he was fed and sleepy again, Jane took him into his arms again so Lisbon could rest.
Watching Teresa and Ethan sleeping so peacefully filled him with so much happiness it was hard to contain himself. True, the first time he looked at his son a pang of guilt and sadness flashed through him. The memory of Angela handing him a small bundle that was his daughter Charlotte filled his mind. He will never forget them. As long as he lives, they are living with him, in his heart.
Among with Teresa, and Ethan.
The loves of his life.
He couldn´t wait to take them home.
To see Teresa beaming with happiness.
His son first smile.
His first words.
His first steps.
His first everything.
And experience it again and again, with Teresa by his side.
Patrick Jane kissed his son forehead, then he kissed Teresa and felt worth living this life again.
And he just couldn´t wait for it.
A year later - The Wedding
Teresa Lisbon-Jane sat with Hightower and Van Pelt taking a much needed break. Patrick was showing some of his magic tricks to kids with Ethan in his lap. He was laughing at the disappearing coin even though he couldn´t understand what is going on. Jane had a big smile on his face, talking cheerfully to his audience.
„I love the matching suits your boys have, Teresa," said Hightower.
„Yeah, me too! It´s so cute."
„Thank you ladies, it was my idea, we even found a tailor who custom made them."
The table of three women went silent for a moment. They were all watching the man they known for so long...and yet it seemed like they never seen him before.
„He looks so...happy. Like a brand new man."
„True, that´s what I´ve been thinking the whole time."
Lisbon smiled at Jane who looked at her, grinning while hugging their son who´s laughter filled the whole private beach.
„You know what? I can´t see a difference."
„Than you are blind, Senior agent Lisbon."
„No, I´ve just...always seen him like this."
Van Pelt and Hightower both gave her an amused looks.
„What?" Lisbon asked with a smile.
„What, what?" asked Jane who turned up at the table all of sudden making Grace jump a little in surprise.
„Can you two beautiful ladies look after Ethan for a while? I would like to ask my wife for a dance."
Well, of course, come here little man," Grace said and happily took Ethan from Jane. As far as Ethan was concerned, if there was hair to be pulled and people making faces and funny noises, he was happy. When Jane took Lisbon´s hand, Grace uttered a yelp while Ethan tried to change her hairstyle.
„Desire a dance, Patrick? I thought you had enough."
„With you, my love, I never had enough. Besides, I wanted to make you happy."
Jane made some hand gesture for the band and as soon as the music started playing Lisbon eyes filled with tears.
„Oh God, it´s More than words...You remembered?"
„I never forgot Teresa."
„Me neither," she said quietly.
They swayed slowly to the rhythm hugging each other tightly feeling only the presence of each other.
That was until Grace showed up with a grumpy Ethan who demanded attention from his parents, preferably immediately. Lisbon took him into hers arms cuddling him and the dance continued.
Jane held his wife and son in his arms, feeling like he never hoped to feel again.
Feeling loved.
Needed.
Cherished.
And most of all being able to love freely with his whole heart.
Life was beautiful again.
The end.
Hope those who read this story enjoyed it. And I would like to say big „Thank you" to each and every one of you who found the time to leave a review. Special thank to LouiseKurylo, FiascoWay and ReadingVoraciously for your insights :) They made the writing easier.
Till next time :)