Disclaimer: Nothing is mine.

It started with a kiss

Chapter 12 – EPILOGUE

We weren't even inside the mansion when Patrick pulled me to him and kissed me again. It seemed that that was my true purpose from now on, now that I'd found him.

"Reese, I- Oooh..." a voice said behind me, and I froze, and then turned around slowly to face whoever was there. I was suddenly face to face with Brooke. Her smile was impossibly big, and her eyes were twinkling with glee.

"...my god. I have to get the rest," she said hastily, and before I could stop her, she ran off to fetch probably all of my friends. I groaned, and Patrick chuckled.
"That's a good thing. Now everybody knows that you're happy," he said, and I smiled at him. He grabbed my hand and pulled me with him.

"Patrick! I've been searching everywhere for you!" the dark-blonde woman said, and then saw me, and her smile faltered. Patrick sighed.
"It's time, Ange," he said, and Angela nodded.

"I see." Angela looked into Patrick's eyes, before turning around to face her father.

"Dad," she said, and the man turned around. He smiled when he saw his daughter. "I was never married to Patrick. It was all a plan to get away from the carnival. I'm sorry, Dad."

The man glared at her. "It was fake?"

Angela nodded. The man was about to snap, but then took in a deep breath, and instead grabbed her arm and gently pulled her with him, into the garden.

"I hope he doesn't kill her," Patrick murmured, but we didn't have much time to discuss what just had happened, as we heard several gasps and shrieks.

"Oh yes!" I heard Van Pelt exclaim, and before I knew it, her arms were wrapped around me. "You found him!"

I then was almost drowned by the rest of the group, receiving several felicitations and inhaling a mixture of everybody's perfume. I loved to have so many sweet friends.

I pulled away from the rest, ready to face my man again, when I bumped into Walter.

I froze, but instead of things being awkward now that he knew that I'd found Patrick, he smiled and pulled me in for a hug.

"Good job, Reese," he whispered in my ear, and I blinked away tears. I couldn't have been happier now that I had his consent. "Though I still think that I'm more handsome."

I rolled my eyes, but chuckled all the same. He was the old Walter again, and I knew that from now on, I was going to appreciate this side of him much more after missing it for a month.
Without thinking about it, I moved closer and placed a kiss on his cheek.
"Thank you, Walter," I whispered, and he nodded.
"Anytime," he replied.

"Should I be jealous?" Patrick asked, and Walter and I shook our heads, smiling. When I looked at Patrick, he was standing, all pride and self-confidence that I wondered for a second why I'd fallen for him.

"Maybe a bit. If you have any intention of befriending Teresa, that is," Walter said. "Because I'm just her best friend – nothing more. Isn't that right, Teresa?"

"Keep me out of this," I said, and both men smiled.

"It is about you," they said in unison, and I rolled my eyes.

"It's partly about me. The biggest part is both of you defending your honor and pride. You're too fed up with yourself to let any woman reject you."

I smiled at their flabbergasted expressions, before I turned around and let them fight this over. I grabbed Van Pelt by her arm and turned her around.

"What are they even doing?" she asked, looking over at Walter and Patrick who were now talking to each other – and it didn't seem to be innocent.

I shrugged. "I've got no idea."

Van Pelt narrowed her eyes and looked better at the men. Then, her eyes widened. "They're discussing you. Definitely."

Was there nobody in my life that could behave like a responsible adult?

Suddenly, Patrick came my way, looking more determined then I'd ever seen in a man, and just before he reached me, knelt down in front of me on one knee.

Of course, everybody stopped talking and turned towards us, but I didn't see it. My attention was solely focused on the man there, on his knees. He hadn't even asked the question yet, but I already had an answer ready.

"Yes," I said, before Patrick could say anything, and he smiled, a 1000-watt smile, his smile, and then got up on his feet again.

"I didn't even ask anything yet," he whispered, after he'd pulled me in for a tight hug, and I smiled.

"I knew it the minute I met you," I replied, and Patrick's hold on me got even impossibly tighter. "But if it makes you feel better, you can ask me."

Patrick chuckled, before pulling away slightly. His eyes were dark with want when they crossed mine, and my breath stopped in my throat. Then, he smiled, a dangerous smile, and he shrugged. "I wanted to ask you if you wanted to dance with me, but-"

"Hush," I said, and hit him gently on his chest. Patrick grabbed it, and planted a kiss on my palm.
"I love you, Teresa. Even if we don't know each other for that long. I never want to lose you out of my sight again. I'm too afraid that I will lose you once again. So, to make it official, I'm going to ask you," he said, and reached into his pocket, getting out a ring that I hadn't felt when I was pressed against him. "I've been carrying this ring with me ever since I escaped the carnival. It's my mother's, and I saved it for the woman of my dreams. A special, wonderful, beautiful woman. You. Will you marry me, Teresa? Please?"

"Please?"

"Yes, please."

"Because you're afraid that I won't say yes if you don't say please?"

"Something like that, yes."

"So you've got an awful lot of trust in yourself but not me?"

Patrick just smiled a wicked smile in return, and I rolled my eyes.
"Put the damn ring on my finger," I said, and Patrick chuckled, before doing as I said, and then pulled me in for a passionate kiss, that made my toes curl and my heart flutter. When I pulled away, Patrick let out a shuddering breath, and I chuckled.

"I love you," I whispered, and Patrick brushed my cheek, smiling. Now that I thought about it, we were both smiling like retards. Who could blame us?
"I love you, too."

Someone gave me a gentle nudge, and I turned towards the person, before seeing Summer pointing at the stage. Walter was standing there, waving and smiling at me and Patrick, and then coughed to get everyone's attention.

"Let's give a big round of applause for my best friend Teresa Lisbon, the best agent in the state!" The crowd clapped, then he pulled the microphone away from his mouth, looking at me again, mouthing 'Love you, Reese'. I knew he was going to do something I would not like, because he smiled and then put the microphone in front of him again. "She's marrying her dream man who she knows for exactly thirty minutes! I'm proud of you, sister!"

He was going to pay back for that dearly. I didn't know how yet, but seeing as Patrick looked at me mischievously, I knew that man next to me would help me – and maybe even destroy evidence that was going to lead to me pushing Walter off a building.

My life was as it should be.

A/N: I'm done with the sentimental crap, which only means that I'm not gonna talk about how much I enjoyed writing this story anymore - even though I did, massively.

I'm now only going to thank you big time for reviewing, following, or in any other way showing me that you loved this story! It means a lot to me!

Stay around to read more stories of me, like the crossover of Bones and The Mentalist I recently started - it's worth it, I promise.

I love you loads, thanks for everything! This story is OUT!