Shout-outs:Teresa Janes, In the Name, fadedSorrow, Country2776, Katy-alice Cullen, AngryLittlePrincess, ayako-chan1, Mo, Wldwmn, Totorsg, Chymom, LAurore, & Ebony10. . . thanks for the reviews guys!

Author's Note: Christmas songs today, "Christmas Eve" and "Another Year Has Gone By" by Celine Dion, and Michael Buble's "Cold Decemeber Night", all of them fit THIS story in particular. Who knows, maybe one day on the Mentalist we'll get a Christmas episode where they ACTUALLY fit Jane and Lisbon for real. Although, after 4x10 "Fugue in Red", I am CONVINCED that Lisbon is falling in love with Jane. . . anyways, anymore would be spoilers. On to the epilogue. Enjoy!

Epilogue:

Christmas, 2021

"Tell it again! Tell it again Daddy!"

"Not tonight Peter," he replied. "If you don't get to sleep now, Santa Clause won't ever come."

"But I'm not sleepy!" Peter Jane protested with a huge yawn. "Please tell me the story just one more time!"

"Tomorrow," Jane promised. "Now get some sleep Peter! Your brother and sisters fell asleep hours ago."

"Okay," Peter finally relented; he turned over on his side and falling asleep before Jane had even had a chance to close the bedroom door.

.

"Everything okay?" Lisbon asked as Jane joined her in their living room.

"Mmm," he answered, toeing off his shoes and joining her on the couch. "I finally got Peter to go to sleep."

"How'd you manage that?" She asked.

"I just told him his favorite story," he answered, taking a sip of her tea and pulling her closer.

"You usually have to tell that story every night," Lisbon replied, snuggling into his side and watching the flames in the fireplace flicker. "There's nothing new there."

"If it works, it works. Who am I to argue with that?" Jane said, brushing a kiss across her forehead. "Besides, you have to admit that it's pretty romantic story. It's better than anything that you're going to see off of the Lifetime Movie Network or the Hallmark Channel. Two co-workers realizing that they're in love after so many years of working together, and it's all brought on because of make-believe. You couldn't pay them enough money to write a made-for-TV movie like that."

Lisbon's lips twitched. "I don't know, there are some pretty good Hallmark Movies out there—""

Jane slid his hand into Lisbon's, he brushed his thumb over her Open Heart ring and he sighed in fake exasperation. "You love a good argument, don't you?"

"Not as much as you love a good argument my dear," Lisbon replied, sitting up and kissing him.

"Reese darling, you wound me."

She laughed softly and kissed him again, freeing her hand from his so she could wrap her arms around him tightly. "You'll get over it and live."

"I always do," he quipped, returning her kiss this time.

She pulled away and smiled at him. "Mr. Jane, I do believe we better get to bed or Santa Claus might never get here tonight."

"Oh, so you believe in him now?" Jane asked teasingly.

"Well, he did get me exactly what I asked for," Lisbon answered. "Even if it was twenty-six years later than I expected."

"You say that every year. Are you ever going to tell me the story behind that statement?" Jane asked as he pulled her off the couch and started towards their bedroom.

"I don't think you'd believe me if I told you," Lisbon answered.

"Try me."

She paused outside their door for a moment and looked at him, his beautiful blue eyes shining in the waning moonlight. "Fine then. . . it all started thirty-six years ago when I asked the mall Santa Claus to give me the most impossible gift a girl could ask for. . ."

_The End (for now)_

Author's Note II:

I have a tiny little sequel planned for this story; I should be posting it sometime next week since it takes place during New Year's Eve. Well, what did you expect? There are a few things that need clarification. . . like how Jane and Lisbon get engaged. Right? Please tell me what you thought about this last part!

Merry Christmas to all of you! I hope you get exactly what you ask for this year, and so much more!

Love to all of you,

Holly, 12/23/11_