A/N: This is it! I never planned for this story to be a full blown novel, and I'm so thankful for all you readers! I still don't own the Mentalist. I took a lot of inspiration and dialogue from the show. The transcripts at foreverdreaming were very helpful.

I hope to see you around, but I'll have to stick to one-shots for awhile. Got to get back to Real Life.

4 months later…

Lisbon left the car in short term parking and jogged into the airport. She double checked the information on her phone and found her way to the right baggage claim. She saw her friends before they saw her.

Rigsby and Van Pelt were standing close to each other, facing the luggage conveyor belt. Van Pelt leaned in to tell him something, and Rigsby put his arm around her comfortably, leaning down to bring his ear closer to her. He turned his head and they smiled at each other before sharing a quick kiss. They were so enamored with each other, they didn't notice Lisbon approach. She stood a couple feet behind them and crossed her arms, prepared to play the part of the disapproving boss. She cleared her throat and they turned to look at her. They broke out in matching grins and Lisbon couldn't help but smile back, losing the act. Van Pelt stepped forward and pulled her into a hug. Rigsby put an arm around them both.

"Lisbon, it's so good to see you," she pulled back. "Wait, are you keeping your name?"

"Yeah. I thought about changing it, but it's too weird. I already added one Jane to the world. I figured I could stay Lisbon."

"Makes sense. You look great, by the way."

"Thanks."

Rigsby looked around. "Is it just you then? Picking us up I mean?"

"Yeah, Jane is overseeing preparations for the dinner. We'll go straight to the hotel."

"Sure," he replied agreeably.

"Did you check any bags?"

"Just one." He turned back to the conveyor. "And there it goes!" He strode away to chase it down.

Lisbon smiled at Van Pelt. "So, what's your story? Last I knew, he was still with Sarah."

She grimaced briefly. "After our team spent that week hiding out together after Red John went down, she had a hard time letting him back in. I think she didn't realize how dangerous the job can be. They took a break, but she started seeing someone else. They still respect each other - Wayne shares custody of Ben. But that week…" She smiled gently in remembrance. "We spent that week watching you and Jane being in love."

"You mean you watched us argue and complain," Lisbon scoffed. It was rough."

"It was a hard situation," she conceded. "Hightower's hideout wasn't designed for so many people, we all got a bit grumpy. But we could still see how much you cared for each other. Anyway, I guess it inspired both of us. Wayne made his move pretty quickly and I couldn't find any reason to deny him. Life is too short." She held out her hand and Lisbon grabbed it for a closer look when she noticed the sparkling ring. "We wanted to let you guys know, but there was no way to reach you. When Jane called, we figured we could wait two more weeks to tell you in person."

Lisbon released her hand. "I'm really happy for you guys. I'm glad you're going for it."

"Thanks. So what brought you to Austin?"

"I'm not sure. We've only been here a couple of days." At Van Pelt's incredulous look she explained. "It's hard to have a baby without generating public records. We knew we had to keep moving, so we went to visit my brothers. It was risky, but I was hormonal and exhausted and Jane went with it. Blake threatened us after a couple of weeks. After we dealt with that, Jane bought an Airstream trailer and we've been on the move ever since. I'm not sure how he chooses where we go, I've learned to roll with it. It has definitely been an adventure. He had a system worked out with Abbott though, so we knew right away after the FBI started the Blake arrests. We stopped at a nice hotel in Florida to celebrate, and Jane proposed there. Then he got out a map and starting making arrangements. We could have been here sooner, but Jane wanted to stop at a casino and we made a weekend of it."

Rigsby came back wheeling a suitcase and the ladies each grabbed a carry on from the floor next to them. They started to walk together to the exit.

"Have you planned any of the wedding yourself?" Van Pelt sounded slightly scandalized at the thought of Jane doing all the work.

"I picked out my dress yesterday." She chuckled. "I actually brought Cho along to help."

Rigsby snorted.

"Seriously? Isn't your family in town?" prodded Van Pelt.

"Sure, but that would have been too much work. Cho gave me straight, honest opinions. We were in and out in a couple hours. He actually found me the perfect dress. Turns out he learned a lot about fashion from his mother." She pointed threateningly at Rigsby. "I didn't tell you that," she stated before leading the way outside.

"Tell me what?" he asked innocently.

xxxxxxxxxx

They pulled up in front of a five star hotel. A valet put their luggage on a cart and left them to go inside as he parked the car. Rigsby and Van Pelt looked up at the high rise building in awe. "Is this where you're getting married?" Grace asked.

"No, Jane found a beautiful location outside of town. A bit rustic, but we'll have it all to ourselves. He put up all the guests here. And the dinner party is here tonight."

"Wow," she breathed as they walked past ornate fountains and into the atrium. The marble accents and sculptures rivaled an art gallery.

"Did you guys want to check in first, or meet up with Jane?"

They shared a look. "We should at least say hello," offered Van Pelt. Rigsby nodded and Lisbon led them down a hallway, Rigsby pulling the luggage cart behind them.

"So, we're having a pre-wedding party?" asked Rigsby.

"I guess. Hard to know what to call it. We're keeping things simple tomorrow, no attendants. So we didn't need a rehearsal. But Jane still wanted to do something tonight. Most of the guests are from out of town. And we've been out of the loop for a long time."

They reached a door labeled "Ballroom B" and Lisbon pushed it open. The room had an expansive ceiling and was paneled in mahogany. Several tables were set with formal dishes and a few workers in uniform were bustling about making final touches to the decorations. Jane stood in the middle of the room supervising the work and bouncing an alert baby boy on his shoulder.

"There are my boys," Lisbon smiled widely as she approached.

Jane turned and grinned at them. "Hey guys!" The baby in his arms cooed and smiled at his mother. Lisbon scooped him up and nuzzled his cheek while Jane hugged Rigsby and Van Pelt. Lisbon settled him in her arms.

"This is David Everett," she introduced. "He was born on November 14, in Cannon River, Washington."

"So cute, can I hold him?" exclaimed Van Pelt. "So much hair!" Lisbon kissed his head and handed him over to her eager friend.

"How'd you end up in Washington? I thought Jane wanted to jump on a plane and head out of the country," asked Rigsby, stroking David's back.

"My doctor axed that idea. I was 37 weeks pregnant and technically on bed rest," she reminded them.

"So after we gave Abbott our final reports, we went north and found a sleepy little town to lay low in," Jane continued the story. "I found a good midwife who was willing to take us on, and we just waited for our little one to decide to join us."

"Well, he seems like a happy guy," commented Van Pelt as she grinned at the baby and he rewarded her with a smile. "I'm glad everything worked out for you guys."

"I'm still tempted to go back there, it was very peaceful. You sure you don't want to apply for that job as Chief of Police?" he asked Lisbon.

Lisbon rolled her eyes, a sign this had come up before. "It will be nice to have a change of pace, but that place was way too quiet. Not much satisfaction working law enforcement when the big issues are which kind of stapler to get for the office."

"You thinking of going back to work?" asked Rigsby.

She nodded. "I miss it. What are you guys doing?"

"We're starting our own investigative business. Grace will work the computer side, and I'll handle the physical surveillance."

"Sounds like a good partnership. And when's your wedding day?" asked Jane.

Van Pelt blushed prettily. "End of summer. August 23."

"We'd like to be there."

"Actually, we'd love to have you guys stand up with us. If that works out for you," stammered Rigsby.

Lisbon looked surprised, but Jane answered with an easy smile. "Of course. Let us know the details. Lisbon looks lovely in pink." He turned and winked at her. Lisbon shook her head, but she was smiling too.

David sucked on his fist and cried out unhappily. "Oh, what's the matter?" Van Pelt asked him.

"He's due for some milk and a nap," Lisbon said confidently. Van Pelt held him out and Lisbon took him. "They still need to check in," she told Jane. "I'll see you upstairs?"

"Yeah, I think they can finish up without me," Jane referred to the hotel staff. He kissed her briefly and turned to Rigsby and Van Pelt as she left. "Dinner is in two hours, let's get you guys settled."

xxxxxxxxxx

Jane closed the door to their hotel room gently. They had a small suite with a kitchenette, a small living room, and a separate bedroom. The bedroom door was open, and Jane poked his head in. The lights were off, but the curtains were open just enough to illuminate the room. David was sleeping on his back in the middle of their king size bed, his arms stretched out by his head. Lisbon was propped on her side next to him, resting her fingers gently on his tummy.

"Looks like he's out," Jane whispered. Lisbon nodded. "Still don't want to use the pack and play?" he asked, tilting his head towards the empty one by the wall.

She shook her head. "This room is too big," she said softly. "I like him close."

"I'm not complaining," Jane clarified. He laid down behind her and nuzzled her neck. "I thought you didn't like the Silver Bucket," he said, using her term for their Airstream.

"It has it's charms," she admitted. "Living in close quarters with my family wasn't as hard as I expected." She stroked his arm. "It's been a crazy year, hasn't it?"

"You could say that." He breathed against her neck. "As exciting as it was, I'd rather look ahead. Any ideas where you want to apply for a job?"

She rolled onto her back so she could look up at him. "Not really. I'm getting older and the CBI isn't exactly a great reference anymore. What if no one will have me? What if I do need to take a job like Cannon River?" she asked unhappily.

"You were an amazing Agent. I think you'll be surprised."

"I hope so. But if I go back to work, what will you do? I get the impression you're done with law enforcement."

"If the right offer came along, I might be persuaded. But my main goal right now is just to be present. I'm happy to continue to take things as they come for awhile. The first time around, I was too foolish to fully appreciate what I had. I loved my family, but sometimes I loved the fame more. I was selfish and greedy. I won't make that mistake again."

Lisbon reached up and stroked his cheek, drawing him away from his melancholy thoughts. "I love you, Patrick. You're an amazing dad. We're lucky to have you."

He leaned into her touch, briefly closing his eyes, before meeting her gaze. "When you look at me like that, I feel…" he searched for the right word. "I feel whole again. I couldn't do this without you, Teresa."

She frowned slightly. "You sure you'll be okay if I'm back in the field?"

"It won't always be easy." He shrugged. "It's what you love to do."

"It's not just about my happiness, Jane. We can explore our options. But you know there are risks in every day life. There are no guarantees. Promise you'll tell me if it gets hard, if we need to work through it."

He nodded somberly and kissed her, a slight tremor betraying his emotions. "I love you so much," he breathed. She pulled him back for a hard kiss, trying to convey her strong feelings through every touch. After a couple of minutes he pulled back, both of them slightly out of breath. As one hand heatedly traced the skin under Lisbon's shirt, he glanced over at their child sleeping peacefully right next to them. "If you can bear to move him, I'd make it worth your while."

Little David didn't even stir as he was transferred to his new bed.

xxxxxxxxxx

Lisbon gasped as they entered the ballroom. First she noticed how the soft lighting transformed the space into a truly elegant event. Her eyes danced around the room, taking in the details of the decor. Then the comfortable buzz of chatter died down and the clapping started. Suddenly the people came into focus. She had noticed how many tables were set up before, but she hadn't really thought about the number of people it represented. She gasped again at the number of old colleagues, family, and friends who had come at such short notice.

Her eyes didn't know where to alight as she saw so many people she wanted to talk to. Most were expected, but she was surprised to see Dr. Parsen, and she blinked twice as her eyes alighted on Virgil Minelli. He blew her a kiss and she realized she was grinning like a fool.

Jane smiled and put his hand at her back, ushering her towards the lead table where Cho, Rigsby, and Van Pelt were already sitting together. A microphone was set up there and he handed David to her so he could talk to their guests. "Thank you all for coming on such short notice. I think we pulled off a good surprise." There was a smattering of laughter as Lisbon nodded, her eyes wide. "We have a lot to celebrate, so we're starting a day early. I couldn't tell you precisely when I fell in love with Teresa Lisbon. We have weathered a lot together. It was about a year ago that I finally admitted it to myself, and it turns out she miraculously had the same feelings. We would have done this sooner, but there were a couple of pesky details to take care of first. We won't dwell on that," he clarified as he heard a few murmurs. "This is our son David. We'll bring him around to meet you all after dinner. Bon Appétit!"

As if on cue a small army of waitstaff entered with platters of food and started to place plates in front of the guests. Jane put the microphone away and guided Lisbon around the table to her seat. David had his own little bouncer chair to recline on top of the table as they ate. Conversation resumed along with the clanking of silverware.

Lisbon greeted her old team warmly as she sat. A plate with prime rib and hearty vegetables was promptly placed in front of her. A bowl of fresh strawberries followed shortly after and made her smile. She ate quietly, surveying the room and listening to Cho update Rigsby and Van Pelt about his training progress at Quantico.

She realized Jane was watching her and leaned over to ask him a question. "Is that J.J. LaRoche over there? Next to your carnival friends?"

"By Sam and Pete? Yes." As she chuckled he added, "He's not a bad guy. He collects Hummel figurines."

"Whatever. Haffner's not here though, right?" she asked with a sly smile.

Jane laughed outright. "No. Haffner was definitely not invited. You almost done? We should mingle, talk to the people who are here."

While Lisbon finished eating, Jane made sure that David had a clean diaper and a full tummy. Then he stood up and took off his jacket so he could strap on a baby carrier. He gently put the baby into it and buckled him up. David nestled under his chin and blinked tiredly. Jane kissed him on the head and put out a hand to help Lisbon stand.

They made their way around the room. Lisbon enjoyed sharing her happiness with the people she cared about. David stole the show, even though he slept through most of the introductions. They answered questions and caught up on what was happening in Sacramento. Her brothers had obviously found the minibars in their rooms and at times made her laugh or grimace with their inebriated observations.

Jane pulled her away from the antics of her family to address the final table. Madeleine Hightower was there with her two kids. Abbott sat with a lovely woman she presumed was his wife, and Virgil Minelli winked at her as they sat in two empty chairs.

"This is an interesting table placement," observed Lisbon, eyeing Jane sideways.

"The conversation has been very enlightening," said Abbott.

"And entertaining," added his wife. "I'm Lena," she supplied, leaning across the table to offer her hand.

Introductions made, they settled into some small talk.

"What are you kids doing for a honeymoon?" asked Minelli.

"We've been traveling a lot. We're going to stick around Austin for a few days and see what we can find," Jane answered for the umpteenth time that night.

"I was hoping I could talk to you guys while you're in town. Do you think we can set something up?" asked Abbott.

Jane looked at Lisbon to gauge her reaction. "Yeah, I think that should be doable."

"You finally got him," stated Minelli. There was little doubt what he was referring to.

Jane gestured across the table. "Abbott got him. I was just along for the ride."

"That's the party line," Abbott confirmed.

"Yes, well. He's gone - along with that whole mess of dirty cops. A job well done." He looked at them suspiciously. "And you're telling me this," he gestured between them, "has only been going on for a year?" At the look they gave each other he added. "It was inevitable. That's all I'm saying."

"I saw it too," added Hightower. She looked at Jane pointedly. "But I'm sure you always knew why I tried to control your behavior by threatening Lisbon's career."

"And how did that work out for you?"

"Not very well. But even that spoke volumes. You wouldn't work with anyone else."

"No. Why would I want to?" He looked at Lisbon lovingly. "She could always see the best in me."

"Oh please," muttered Minelli. "She didn't let you get away with your crap. And you put her through a lot."

"That too," smiled Jane.

"You sure you're ready to put up with him for the rest of your life?" Minelli needled Lisbon.

She shrugged. "I'd miss him if he wasn't around." Then she looked at Jane with those same lovestruck eyes he'd had for her all night. "I love him, Virgil."

"I always knew he'd get you to drink the Kool-Aid."

xxxxxxxxxx

The next day dawned clear, perfect weather for an outdoor wedding. Jane drove the Airstream to the location he had scouted out earlier in the week. It was a large acreage with a picturesque yet rundown shack by a pond.

Preparations went quickly. The ceremony was short and sweet, officiated by a local judge. The guests stood nearby to watch, cheering as the bride and groom kissed for the first time as husband and wife. The joy was infectious and the small crowd hugged each other and laughed at the occasion. The shack was set up with coolers of food and drink and a couple of tables. A dance floor was arranged by the pond. Everyone mingled and celebrated together, casual and carefree.

As the sky darkened into night and their friends were occupied on the dance floor, Jane took Lisbon's hand and started to draw her away. She looked around wildly and he whispered reassuringly in her ear. "Virgil has him. He's in good hands." Lisbon spotted Minelli making faces at their child and nodded, allowing him to pull her off the dance floor and across the grass.

Jane carried an electric camping lantern to light their way. The music got quieter as they skirted the pond. Lisbon could hear the crickets singing along with the thumping bass. Jane led her with surety to a spot overlooking the pond. A large log was there with a blanket draped over it, creating a rough seat. The dancers were on the opposite side of the pond, the decorative lights reflecting in the water.

"It's beautiful," she breathed.

Jane was watching her instead, could see the lights also reflecting in her eyes, the joy in her smile. "You are beautiful," he remarked sincerely.

She turned to look at him, the soft glow highlighting his features. She closed the distance between them and kissed him softly before lingering in his embrace. He held her to him, rocking them gently before releasing her so they could sit on the log together. They were quiet for a moment, comfortable with their own thoughts.

"How you feeling?" asked Jane.

"I am so happy." She smiled at him brilliantly.

"Me too. Me too."

Across the way, their wedding guests cheered as the song transitioned to another favorite.

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

Lisbon looked at him questioningly.

He held his hand out, gesturing towards the pond and beyond. "I bought it."

She wrinkled her nose at him. "Bought what?"

His other hand joined the first, waving gently. "This land. That shack. The pond." He brought his hands down and looked at her. "All of it."

A myriad of questions shifted through her mind. She settled on the easiest. "When?"

"Right after I saw it. It's a beautiful site to build a house."

"Isn't that the sort of decision we should make together?"

"Consider it a wedding present. Do you not like it?"

"No, it's.. I like it, Jane. Just… is this because of that meeting with Abbott coming up? Do you know something about it?"

"Only guesses. I didn't have anything to do with setting up that meeting, and there is no manipulation in this. I know you're ready to be done on the road. I suspect there's a job offer coming. Cho is almost done with training and Abbott has already secured a place for him in Austin. If you want to work law enforcement again, this is the team I would trust. I brought you to Austin to make an informed decision. I bought this land because I felt an affinity with it. If you don't want to live here, we'll make it a modest cabin and use it for vacations instead. We have time to decide. I want my son to have roots."

"Those are pretty deep roots." She leaned into him. "You really bought this place?" She sounded pleased.

"Yeah."

"Our first mortgage right out of the gate?" she mused out loud.

"Not exactly. I paid cash up front."

She pulled back and blinked at him. "That's going to take some getting used to. You've been throwing a lot of money around this week."

He smiled and leaned toward her, kissing his way from her cheek to her ear. "We went through hell and made it out the other side. A little detail like money will never stand in the way of our happiness." She shivered and closed her eyes as his kisses ghosted across her skin. He drew back just enough to look at her and was rewarded by her half lidded gaze, full of love and desire. "No matter what happens, from this point on, we have to promise each other that we will always look on the bright side."

"I promise," she responded.

"Me too," he whispered before meeting her lips to seal their vow with a heated kiss.