On the night before their last full day in Malibu, Brendan had a showcase at the Hotel Cafe. The night of performances at that West Hollywood music venue was an annual tradition, serving as the capstone to a week-long USC music camp that Brendan had been a part of, this year.
Rigsby's son Ben had attended the same camp several years ago and loved it. Grace was volunteering this year and had agreed to keep tabs on Brendan in case he needed the comfort of a familiar face during the event. But she was glad to report to Jane and Lisbon that the kid had fit right in, almost immediately. What's more, Van Pelt had commented that he had taken to the process and the other music campers even more quickly than Ben had, during his stint at camp. Teresa and Patrick had reacted to that news with amazement and relief. It was a refreshing change of perspective to think that their delightfully introverted son did have a social streak - he had just needed a change of scenery, his own space, and the right peer community to find it.
During the show, some over-confident lead guitarist tried to hit on Meghan, who shut him down quickly with a snarky, completely unflattering cold-reading, bringing a full-grin of appreciation from Jane and a knowing, amused head-shake from Lisbon.
Meghan instead struck up a conversation with a shy musician who had recently been the subject of ridicule by the guitarist in question. The boy hadn't felt much like talking, but after learning that Meg was Brendan Jane's sister, he had given it a chance. It turned out, that the boy had been impressed with Brendan's skills during the camp, having attended too, as a composer/producer. He shared that he was terrible with lyrics. All his songs had been collaborations with lyricists for that reason. The young man, Trey, was intrigued by Meghan's way with words, and at what a good listener she was.
Jane was heartened at watching his girl see so clearly into the two young men, and at her choice of who to spend time with. He still watched her conversation with the shy musician carefully - that is, until Brendan's set began.
His son brought the proverbial house down. His edgy arrangements and the juxtaposition of jazzy sax riffs and hip hop inspired loops and tracks were absolute fire and the crowd went wild throughout the set. Both parents and big sister Meghan were completely floored at shy, gentle Brendan's confident command of the stage. It was like he became another person up there. Jane knew the feeling, but was glad that his son seemed to be using those powers for good, unlike his own stage history.
There was one song, though, that caused the room to fall silent. Brendan had composed a ballad titled "What You Mean to Me" which he'd written at camp. He put his saxophone down for this one, and stepped up to the microphone, as an acoustic guitarist and a hand-percussionist joined him onstage.
"Long before I ever held a saxophone, I loved singing songs into an old cassette tape recorder I got for Christmas one year. Made-up songs. Songs about soup, or my big sister, or about wishing we could get a dog." He smiled as the audience chuckled and his family nodded in recognition. "This ballad is a love story… A story of an unlikely pair, who found each other against all odds. This one goes out to Teresa and Patrick… My mom and dad." The boy found his folks in the crowd, and flashed them a wink and a grin before counting off and starting the intro.
Lisbon's throat closed with emotion, and Jane took her hand in his at the same moment. They shared a misty glance before blinking away their tears for a better view of their loving son's performance. Brendan had nailed it perfectly, choosing just the right words and metaphors to accurately encapsulate their story for the length of a song. And his choice of melody, combined with the raw emotion and honesty with which his adolescent tenor sang, left the crowd awestruck. The final note hung in the air for several seconds, the audience absolutely transfixed, before a deeply felt, deafeningly appreciative round of applause filled the place.
Meghan was trying every one of her daddy's biofeedback tricks to avoid going into the 'ugly cry' in front of her new composer-friend, as she glanced over at Lisbon and Jane, who were looking deeply into each other, as they always did. In that moment, she wished with all her strength to someday find a love like that in her own life. Please, God. Someday... Drop the perfect someone into my path. Open my eyes to see him - no matter how unlikely or unexpected.
The family enjoyed the rest of the showcase, with Jane and Lisbon occasionally beaming at their beautiful, bright, inquisitive daughter, and their sensitive, shy, talented son. The parents visited briefly with Grace and Wayne, who had started attending the end-of-camp showcase every year starting with Ben's experience. Meghan and Brendan checked in at their parents' table occasionally, but both were mostly immersed in their own newly-created social circles.
Jane couldn't believe the enormity of his own life, as he took in the scene. His connection to this amazing, beautiful woman. The two truly remarkable humans he had created with her. It was as if the endless adoration he and Teresa shared for each other was on full-display through the light that shone in both of their lovely children.
Teresa noticed the faint smile on her husband's face, and the thoughtful look in his eyes. "Whatcha thinking about, Jane?" she glimmered.
Jane smiled wider, and put his hand on top of hers. "At this moment, lovely Lisbon, I'm thinking about what a lucky bastard I am. What a life I have right now! A gorgeous wife who still makes my heart thump fiercely, a beautiful daughter who lights up every room she enters, and a handsome son whose heart is on full display, even as he grows into a talented, confident young man."
Lisbon's eyes sparkled brighter than ever at hearing such joyous heartfelt words from her husband. He so deserved all of it. "You deserve every good thing in your life right now, Patrick. I could burst from hearing you so truly happy, sweet love. Thank you, Jane"
Patrick was glowing, swimming in the warmth of her words, but was thrown off by her last sentence. "Thank me for what, my dear? If anything, it should be me thanking you! After all, none of the things that have made my refurbished life so joyous would have been possible without you, Teresa."
Lisbon just smiled, and leaned into him as he stretched an arm around the back of her chair. "Thank you, Jane, for bringing me along. For choosing me to trust. For showing me parts of you that no one else gets to see. Thank you for showing me what life and love can be like, when I just let go of control long enough to allow it to happen. None of the things that have made my life so expansive, so full of light, love and wonder would have been possible without you, Patrick."
They leaned into each other, full of love, until the last note was played, the house lights came up, and they gathered the teenage Janes to head for home.
The morning after was busy. All of them had slept in, after such a wonderful, yet emotionally exhausting, night of celebration with Brendan and his camp-mates. That left less time than they'd planned for packing. Not only were they hoping to gather most of the things they needed to put on the plane for home tomorrow night, but Meg & Brendan were slated to spend the night at Gramma & Grampa Minelli's house tonight, so needed to pack overnight bags for that in addition. Virgil and May were signed up to chaperone the music camp's 'farewell with a song' dance/social. They planned to take the kids home with them, after, for some quality time before they flew back to Austin.
With a rare night alone, Jane and Lisbon looked forward to a romantic evening together. They had decided earlier in the year that this summer in Malibu would be the perfect time to FINALLY unveil the anniversary gifts they had planned for each other the year that Teresa and the kids had been kidnapped. Neither could stand the suspense, having kept the surprises a secret for so many years.
They had originally planned to do a late anniversary celebration that same year, so each could share their intended gifts. But they had found themselves so steeped in gratitude for being reunited after such a traumatic event that they had spontaneously agreed on a continuous celebration of their love. One that had them so intoxicated with want for each other, and so intent on not allowing any chance at touch, or words of affection to pass them by, that their previous plans had been forgotten. Then, in the years that followed, neither had wanted to bring the other a recycled anniversary idea. They each had found their gifts had grown stale, and neither wanted to look back on that year's frightening anniversary events anyway.
But this year, it seemed that the length of a decade had provided enough distance that they each were falling back in love with those gift ideas once again. The pain and fear of Pike's insanity had had enough time to filter into their rear-view, so that it no longer had any kind of grip on their psyches. And ten years also seemed significant enough to give them reason to choose this year to recognize and refresh the anniversary that had been lost in the criminal shuffle, way back when.
"You guys all packed for tonight?" Lisbon called up the stairs to the kids.
"Almost!" Called Brendan.
"Getting there!" Meghan shouted.
"Okay - and remember to put all the things for home on the gathering table!"
"We know!" they both chorused.
Jane smiled, looking up at Teresa from his cup of tea. "You are adorable."
"What?" Lisbon defended, amused, with her arms out, innocently.
"Still the lead agent, just a younger team." His eyes glistened with admiration and affection as he continued smiling, and taking in the sight of his amazing wife.
"Oh stop!" Teresa glinted, tossing a kitchen towel in his direction.
"Hey!" Jane whined, playfully.
Rolling her eyes with a smile, Lisbon walked over to pick up the tossed-towel from the table, leaning down to peck Jane on the cheek as she did. "I love you, Patrick."
"I feel the same way, my dear Lisbon! And I anxiously anticipate having a chance to demonstrate and remind you of the many ways that I love you, once we have the place to ourselves tonight." Jane flirted with abandon, undressing his wife with his eyes.
Teresa returned his smoldering gaze, making wordless promises of her own for their upcoming couple's time.
"Ew, are you guys getting mushy again?" Brendan teased as he and Meghan appeared from the staircase, dressed for a party, backpacks in hand.
The parents erupted into semi-embarrassed laughter at being caught throwing heart-eyes at one another… again…
"Yeah yeah - deal with it!" Lisbon crowed, as she and Jane walked them to the door.
"I think it's sweet!" Meghan smiled. It had become clear, recently, that she actually did admire the close relationship her parents shared, despite any embarrassed reactions she may have exhibited to the contrary.
"Thank, you, Meghan Elizabeth!" Jane hummed, pulling his daughter into a loving dad-hug. He always used her middle name when he was feeling especially tender toward her. And she looked so beautiful tonight. So grown-up. His pride and love for her was bubbling over and he couldn't stand it.
Lisbon sparkled at the two of them. Thank you, God, for his second chance. Thank you for our beautiful children... our amazing family. He is truly such a wonderful father. Thank you for allowing us to save each other.
The doorbell rang just then, and Virgil offered a handshake to Jane and a fatherly hug to Lisbon. "Will you just look at these kids!" He marveled. "They are practically grown into adults!"
"I know - isn't it crazy how fast?!" Teresa agreed. "It seems like only yesterday that we were cuddling the two of them to sleep!" She wiped a stray tear, as she beamed a proud smile at the two amazing human beings she and Patrick had created together. Her heart overflowed with love for all three of them. She was so lucky.
"Well, May and I are looking forward to hanging out with these two for the next several hours. Thank you both for setting up this time for us to love on them!"
"It's our pleasure, Virgil," Jane smiled, "have fun at the dance tonight too! And keep an eye on any boy who may latch onto Meghan." He added, under his breath, with a wink and a nudge.
"Ha! You bet, Jane! See you both for lunch tomorrow!"
"Absolutely, sir!" Teresa said, addressing him as 'sir' out of habit, even after all these years. "See you at about two?"
"Perfect!"
And with that, the house was theirs. Teresa turned to a misty-eyed Patrick, and melted into his arms with love and gratitude, overcome with awe at the life they had now, and at the magical children they had nurtured so lovingly.
"They are so amazing, Jane."
"They really are, love."
"So… they're gonna have a great time tonight!" Teresa said happily, before lowering her eyelids and whispering suggestively, "but so are we!"
"Mmm... Let the games begin, my dear!" Jane glimmered, tagging her on the shoulder before bolting upstairs - with Teresa sprinting closely behind.