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Disclaimer: I own nothing.

Rated: T (for adult situations at the end)

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Chapter 12

Walter Mashburn was dead.

Teresa got the news the week before Christmas. She had driven into town to purchase some gifts for her husband and his family when she got the news. Two men had come in from the war office to look for her. He was the last person that he had contact with, maybe she could get in touch with his family, they said, because he hadn't left any way for them to.

She looked at them in shock as she put down the scarf she had been looking at for Grace and shook her head. "I'm sorry but I don't know his family," she said.

"Are you sure?"

"I was just a silly girl he had a silly fling with," Teresa replied, placing her hand on her extended belly like she was sheltering her unborn child from the news. "I never met his parents, I didn't even know he had any living relatives. The last time I heard from Mr. Mashburn he told me that he didn't want to have anything to do with me or his unborn child."

"Oh."

There was a pause and one of the men shuffled his hat awkwardly in his hands, obviously ashamed by his fallen comrades actions. "I'm sorry," he told her.

Teresa shook her head. "It's fine. You didn't know."

"We need to find out a way to contact his family," the other officer said. "Merry Christmas Mrs. Jane."

"Merry Christmas," Teresa answered, watching as they walked away from her. "Oh, wait a second!" she called after them.

"Yes ma'am?"

"Could you tell me how he died?" Teresa asked, catching up with them.

The officers exchanged looks, asking each other silently if it would be okay to disclose such information to the woman standing in front of them. The chubbier one cleared his throat, clearly embarrassed.

"He didn't die honorably, if that's what you're askin'."

"Oh, I see."

She left the store to go for a walk, contemplating the brevity of Walter's life and if there would be anybody who would mourn him in his death. She was sorry that he was gone but only because of the life he had lived in the days leading up to his death. She wondered if there were any other girls like her out there. If they had fallen for his lies and his sweet temptation and if they had children on the way too or boys who reminded them of a missing lover every time their mother looked into their eyes.

She was so lost in thought she didn't notice her water had broken until Sheriff Stiles was helping her to her feet and telling her everything was going to be okay and asking her if she had noticed that she had gone into labor.

"I didn't," Teresa admitted. "My mind was a million miles away."

Stiles helped her to her feet and steadied her. "Come along, let's get you to the Minelli's house."

"Patrick. . ." Teresa said, trailing off helplessly.

"Don't worry, once I get you comfortable I'll go and get him for you," Stiles assured her.

"Thank you," Teresa answered as he helped her into his truck and drove to the parsonage.

He escorted her to the front door and knocked urgently. May opened the door and frowned when she saw the pair standing on her front porch.

"Is everything okay Sheriff?" She asked. "Teresa isn't in any kind of trouble is she?"

"She's perfectly fine," Stiles answered. "Although, I'm afraid she's going to have her baby. Do you think you'd allow her to come in?"

"Oh! Yes! Of course!" May replied, stepping to the side and opening the screen door for them. "Virgil! Virgil come on out here dear!"

"What is it my love?" Virgil asked, coming out of his office and taking his glasses off.

"Teresa is going to have her baby!" May said cheerfully. "Why don't you run and get the doctor while I put her to bed?"

"Of course! Right away!" Virgil answered, reaching for his coat and hat. "I assume the sheriff here is going to go and get the father?"

Stiles nodded. "As soon as I see Teresa is rested it is my next task."

"Would you please take her to the guest room down the hall, Brett?" May requested. "I'm going to go upstairs and get her a nightgown."

Stiles nodded again and put a comforting hand on the small of Teresa's back. "Right away May. Come along with me, dear one. Let's go and get you settled."

He helped her with her shoes, coat and hat and when May came back with a nightgown, Stiles took his leave of them and went off to find Patrick to tell him the good news about Teresa going into labor.

May was the mother that Teresa had been craving her whole pregnancy. She helped her out of her clothes and pulled the nightgown over her head, helped her take her hair out of it's neat bun and braid it. She made sure she was completely comfortable.

After what seemed like forever but was only a few minutes, Virgil returned with the doctor. He examined her and told her that all looked good. A little while later, Patrick came running in, calling for her.

"We're in here son!" Virgil called back, going out to the hallway to retrieve the anxious father to be.

The little group left the couple alone for a few minutes and Patrick leaned in to kiss her.

"We're going to be parents!" Patrick whispered.

Teresa touched his face gently. "I know. Are you excited?"

"Yes," Patrick answered.

"I have something to tell you," Teresa said.

"What is it?"

"You are really going to be this child's father," Teresa explained. "I mean, Walter has no parental rights whatsoever. He died over in Europe. He's not going to bother us at all anymore."

Patrick looked at her in disbelief. "Are you sure?"

Teresa nodded. "Yes. There were two men to see me about it a little while ago. He's really gone."

"God rest his soul," Patrick said.

Teresa smiled at her sweet husband and kissed him again, he wrapped his arms around her waist and buried his face in her neck. "I love you," she said.

"I love you too," Patrick answered.

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A good eighteen hours later, Harry George Jane was brought into the world. His cries filled the early morning, signaling to those around him that he was a very healthy child. May cleaned the boy up and placed him in his father's arms.

Patrick walked over to the window to see his face in the dim light of morning. He looked exactly like his mother and he was grateful for it. He didn't know what Walter looked like but he wouldn't have to spend the rest of his life wondering.

"Patrick?" Teresa asked sleepily.

Patrick turned around to look at her. "Yes my darling?"

"Is everything okay?"

He went to her and handed her the baby before lying down in the spot next to her. "Yes. Everything's just swell. Our baby is perfect just like his mommy."

Teresa smiled and looked down at the little bundle in her arms, pushing the blue blanket away from his face. "He's beautiful."

"Just like you," Patrick repeated, pressing a kiss to her temple.

Teresa smiled a little wider and covered a yawn with her free hand. "Excuse me," she said.

"Try and get some sleep," Patrick told her. "I'm going to be here if either of you need anything. Just ask."

"I will," Teresa answered.

A few minutes later, the little family had all fallen fast asleep.

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They were home by Christmas Eve. Patrick went out and found a little tree for them to decorate. Teresa strung popcorn and cranberries while she sang Christmas songs to a sleeping Harry.

Patrick came in the barn when she was putting Christmas Eve dinner on the table, the next day they would go to the Rigsby's house and share Christmas with them. Tonight would be for their little family.

"I have something for you," Patrick said after Teresa had blessed the meal.

"You can't wait for a few more hours?" Teresa asked, smirking at him.

"I've never been good with waiting when it comes to presents," Patrick admitted. "Besides, this is just your first gift. I have a couple more for you, I'll try and wait until tomorrow morning to give them to you."

"Okay," Teresa said. "What is it?"

She wasn't expecting him to get on the floor and kneel down in front of her. She wasn't expecting him to pull a velvet box out of his overalls pocket. She gasped a little bit when he opened the lid and held it out to her for her examination.

"Patrick what are you doing?" She asked, slightly stunned.

"We said we were going to do it right," Patrick answered. "Well, I'd like to start right now. Teresa Lisbon, would you do me the great honor of being my wife?"

Teresa nodded, tears welling up in her eyes. "You know I will."

Patrick took the ring out and slid it on her left finger. She got to her feet, pulling him with her and kissed him.

"You've made me the happiest man on earth," Patrick told her.

"And you've made me the happiest woman," Teresa replied, embracing him.

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Epilogue, five years later. . .

Teresa Jane looked out the window at her three children playing outside with her father, her husband and Jack. So much had happened since she had first moved to California, she had fallen in love and gotten married again. She had grown up and left her fanciful dreams behind in Chicago.

The first time she and Patrick had made love after she'd gotten permission from the doctor had been incredible. She had never known love like that before, he had treated her so much different than Walter had their first time. There hadn't been any flowery declarations, just words of pure adoration.

Not soon after that, she had received a letter from her father telling her that he was coming for a visit. When Virgil had brought him out to the farm, she had braced herself for more rebukes. For more hell fire and damnation, but it hadn't come. He'd taken one look at her and fallen into her arms, crying and asking for her forgiveness.

She forgave him and felt incredibly free.

Then, she had asked for his forgiveness because she hadn't trusted him and had gone actively searching for love in the wrong place.

He forgave her and she could tell from the look on his face, he felt incredibly free too.

It had been the start of a lovely father and daughter relationship.

He had started to come to California for yearly visits.

The first summer they visited Kim in Charleston, she and Patrick left Harry with her and her husband and went out on a date. They danced and kissed and he had rented a hotel room on the beach. With the sound of waves outside the windows and classical music from the room next door, and bathed in a golden pink sunset, they conceived their twins.

Nine months later, Anne and Michelle were born.

Teresa rinsed off the dinner dishes and smiled to herself. She had found the magic of ordinary days.

She was perfectly content.

_The End_

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Author's Note:

This marks the end of one of my last stories in the Mentalist fandom. There are just two more left after this, I confess I am nervous and excited all at the same time. I have already started my first novel. A story about a girl named Libby who falls for a photographer named Leo. I have barely started and Leo is begging to be written into a sequel.

My next Mentalist story has to do with Lisbon going undercover to solve a series of murders at a rehab center. Another total AU, yes, but the response to this story has inspired me.

In the meantime, please tell me what you thought about the last chapter in Magic. I am looking forward to hearing your thoughts. Thank you for your continued support.

Until Next Time!

Love,

Holly, 6/11/2015_