Author's Notes: Thank you all for reading! This is the final chapter for this particular story. Even though this is the end I still would appreciate comments so please don't be shy!

Thanks go to yaba/Yana for being my editor for this whole story and to those who have read and left comments for me. lisbon69 (Glad you liked the last chapter! Good luck with the care of your huge extended family of humans and fuzzy things. ), mwalter1 (It's "only" the five of you? Not bad at all. During college I went around for Thanksgiving since I went to school out of state and my college only gave us the Thursday and Friday off plus the weekend. Other colleges get the full week. So I went to my great uncle's house which was nearby, been to my friend's grandmother's house, and my college friend's house. I learned a couple different recipes from that and different traditions. All tasty. The mini sausages wrapped in bacon was something my great aunt made. Consequently she used to be a nurse and I believe she's diabetic, but doesn't really eat the stuff she makes, it's for the rest of us to enjoy.), Country2776 (Thank you!), JackSam (Thanks, and here's the last chapter.), Hikaru Ceres (Thanks for sticking around!), Ebony10 (I'm glad it made you laugh so hard. I didn't know I had that much power.), Simonisthecuttestmentalist (Well, read and find out. Thanks!)

Read and enjoy! Sorry it's short.

Chapter 26

The day was clear, the sky a blue that fit its name, despite the nip in the air that belied the image of warmth the sun portrayed. Jane and Lisbon walked alone across the winter dulled grass lawns, autumn leaves still pervading the grounds. Sue had lent them her car for the day, the drive to the cemetery took about half an hour. Lisbon held a bouquet of flowers in her arms as the two quietly made it to her mother's grave site, which incidentally was her father's as well, though his name was not recorded when she had scattered his ashes here many years ago.

"Lovely place," Jane commented, sighting the trees surrounding the perimeter. It was as peaceful as a cemetery should be, didn't have main roads right next to it, the trees stood absorbing any other sounds it seemed except for a light rustling of the mostly bare branches when a gentle breeze passed through them. Lisbon only nodded in acknowledgment.

Jane could tell they were close as Lisbon's steady gait slowed; she was now actively searching the area for her mother's headstone. She came to a stop and stooped down, brushing dry leaves off of the flat piece of granite set against the ground. Jane stood beside her and looked down at the simple stone, all that was carved into it was a name, dates of birth and death. That was all.

After the area was cleared to Lisbon's liking, she set the flowers down and stayed sitting on her calves. Jane was just about to step away to give her some privacy when she stood up and took his hand in hers, still observing her mother's grave quietly.

Jane didn't believe in the afterlife, didn't believe in a higher power. When you died, you were fertilizer and that was it. Visiting a loved one's gravesite was purely for the grieving person's benefit as the dead was no longer aware nor cared if you visited them or not. He did not say a word of his views to Lisbon however, he knew it was important to her, he knew she was already aware of what he thought and had told him earlier that she would be going. For him to come along was optional, though she wasn't particularly surprised when he said he would come. He was the first non-relative she brought with her to visit since her mother was first placed in the ground. And though she did not say this, Jane knew and was quietly honored.

Jane looked over at Lisbon's bowed head then looked down at the stone. Though he didn't believe, he decided it wouldn't hurt to ask for her blessings as there was nothing to lose and sent a silent message. Teresa finally stepped back from the grave plot and Jane led them to a stone bench nearby to enjoy the view. The seat chilled them a bit, perhaps Jane more than Lisbon since she wore a long coat to guard against the cool air. They sat quietly, a few small birds fluttered around from branch to branch, their song interrupting the silence from afar. Jane rested against the back of the bench seat and settled an arm around Lisbon's waist, bringing her against him lightly.

After a while he looked over at her, slightly raising an eyebrow and pursed his lips a bit. With his free hand he dug into his pants pocket, fingers wrapping around the small item that had been sitting in his pocket for weeks now. He looked down at it in the palm of his hand then kissed the top of Teresa's head. She looked up at him questioningly as he brought his hand around in front of her.

"Want to pick out a date?"

She quirked her brows quizzically at him, eyes showing a brilliant light green in the clean light of day, then looked down at his open palm, his other warm arm still wrapped around her. The sunlight glinted off the gold and what she could only imagine to be an emerald with two tiny diamonds set on either side of it. She looked up at him again only to find his green eyes intently studying her face for her reaction. She opened her mouth then closed it. She brought her arms around him and pulled him into a fierce hug, her head resting against his shoulder. His arms came around her, the arm previously around her waist now stroking the back of her head.

"This isn't your way of letting me down gently and telling me 'no' is it?" he joked, though the question sounded much more serious than he meant it to, his nerves seeping through the calm façade. He cleared his throat and spoke again, "Just to make it clear, I am asking if you'd do me the honor of becoming my wife. Not that it'd change much since we already live together, I just thought you might appreciate it being official and being made an honest woman, and your brothers-"

Teresa finally pulled back, stopping him mid-stammer, a serene smile on her lips, lips that were on his, silencing him momentarily. When she pulled back, her lone dimple was on display next to a more beatific smile, eyes dancing.

"Yes."

Patrick's answering smile lit up his whole face, then he realized he hadn't yet placed the ring on her finger. He searched out her proper hand and held it between them as he slid the dainty jewelry onto her petite finger, kissing her knuckles after it was on. She admired the ring for a moment before looking up at him again, his smile having transformed into that of almost boyish glee.

Teresa turned to face forward again, leaning back against Patrick, looking down at the foreign object residing on her finger. She was glad the stones weren't too big; it wouldn't do for them to get caught on something while she was working. It appeared Patrick had taken that into consideration, though she imagined she might still remove it when going out in the field.

"I'm not sure I want to tell anyone that you proposed to me in a cemetery," she finally said; his arms came around in a warm embrace, palm rested low against her stomach, "They'll believe it most likely, but really, the cemetery?"

She could feel him shrug behind her and hear his smile in his voice, "Meh, it's just another place, you just now have a happy memory to associate with visiting your mother. I discussed it with her, obviously she approves."

She turned to look back at him from the corner of her eye, "God you're weird."

"Hey now, you're marrying me remember? Who's the weird one?" Jane said affectionately, pecking her on her nose. She shook her head almost in a long suffering way, rolling her eyes, though she was practically glowing.

"Come on, let's go home."

The end