So, here it is… the conclusion and epilogue of this (not so little) little story of mine.

Without the encouragement from all of you reading and offering supportive words along the way, I know I wouldn't have had been able to finish this. It has meant more to me than I can express, so thank you once again! I'm grateful to have had the chance to carve out my own little place in TM fandom on this site- you guys really are the best.

When I first began, it was just the basic "Music Man" premise, along with a bunch of random ideas- scenes, subplots, or just little moments I envisioned and wanted to puzzle together somehow. Most pieces found their way in; some did not. I still feel bad about never quite finding a role for Cho and Rigsby like I planned... or the May/Minelli romance I was hoping to squeeze in towards the end. But, I suppose that's the way it goes.

Having never really written a story before, I wrestled with how to wrap this one up- I hope you all enjoy it and find it to be a fitting, satisfying conclusion!

Okay, enough with my sentimental ramblings… here it is.

Chapter 18

Jane gazed through the window in stunned disbelief, then backed away hastily before he was seen. He walked back to Pete's truck in a daze, mindlessly put the keys into the ignition and pulled the pickup into the street, starting down the highway that led out of town. He didn't know where he was going, but he knew he had to get away; find someplace to be alone and contemplate what had happened.

He had blown it, he thought morosely. He had waited too long, spent days wallowing in fear and self-hatred, and now Lisbon was gone. Was she on her way to Portland at this very moment? Was she already there? An image of her stoically piling boxes into the back of her SUV and driving over the mountains towards the valley popped into his brain. He could imagine it so vividly- her putting on her bravest face and soldiering on, settling back into the little downtown apartment she had described to him. She was returning to a job she loved but had been apart from for so long that he knew she was a little anxious about finding her footing again. He had been looking forward to the prospect of supporting her as she reentered her old life, while at the same time exploring what was for him a new city and finding a niche in it for himself. They were going to be partners, embarking on an adventure, a fresh start for the both of them. But, now it seemed to be nothing but a pipe dream, laid in ruins because of his selfish decisions, brooding nature and (for the last several days) stupid inaction.

He drove the winding road along the rugged coastline for a few miles, paying little attention to the majestic scenery around him. But when he looked ahead and noticed the sign indicating the turnoff that led to the cape, he immediately slowed the truck down and turned onto the dusty road that snaked its way up the steep incline toward the lookout point high above the water. He knew exactly where he wanted to go.

It was a familiar place, of course. He and Teresa had explored it on foot during their hike weeks earlier. The vivid memories of that day flooded his mind as he parked the truck and began making his way up the dirt path toward the stone shelter the two of them had discovered together. He smiled wistfully at the recollection of that afternoon- the natural, easy rapport they had, even in those early days of getting to know one another; how she had gently coaxed him up the hill and teased him about his exhausted physical state as they neared the top; and of course, the passionate interlude they had shared within the tiny building before being interrupted by the rambunctious children and their parents.

Now as he entered the shadowy enclosure and seated himself on the cold stone bench inside, he felt hollow and raw. He closed his eyes to the dull roar of the waves and the faint calls of sea lions and gulls on the rocks far below. He breathed in the salty air coming through the opening of the wall, his thoughts of Lisbon playing over and over in his head as if on some tortuous loop. And it wasn't just memories of her that were racing through his mind, but also thoughts about what he should do next. Hop into Pete's truck and chase after her? Go pump Grace for information that might help him win her back? He was uncharacteristically paralyzed by indecision once again, just as he had been for the last five days holed up in his Airstream.

He leaned his head back against the rock wall behind him and sat in silence for several moments until the sound of approaching footsteps on the trail snapped him to attention. He sat up and opened his eyes, glancing towards the door as the figure approached. A silhouette darkened the doorway, one that he immediately recognized, filling him with a mixture of wonder and joy so overwhelming it made him catch his breath and inhale sharply.

It was her.

"Hey," Teresa greeted him softly, her hands tucked awkwardly into the front pockets of her jeans. Her own surprise at seeing him kept her frozen in the doorway for second or two then she cautiously stepped inside until they were just a few feet from one another.

"Hey," he echoed on a sigh. He felt his chest rise and fall steadily before finding his voice again. "What are you doing here?"

She responded with a questioning, somewhat confused look.

"You didn't go to Portland," he added obviously.

"No, I didn't…" she replied with the shake of her head. She eyed him patiently as he continued to take her in and marvel at her mere presence in front of him. She didn't look unhappy to see him, but beyond that, he found the expression on her face exceptionally difficult to read at the moment, his own emotions clearly affecting his normally astute powers of observation.

"I came by your work…to find you earlier," he began haltingly. "I looked inside and saw Virgil Minelli was there."

"Yeah," Teresa noticeably relaxed, her face breaking out into a wide grin. "He got back the night before last. He was so excited to see his old friends and the regulars he decided to come in and work the lunch shift for me, gave me the afternoon off…"

Her face fell sharply. "You thought I had left… that I was gone for good?"

He nodded simply.

"So, why did you come to see me?" she asked after a beat as she sat down beside him, setting her pack on the floor next to her feet. Her voice was tentative, but her eyes were clear and strong. "What were you going to say?"

He looked over and studied her. Her expression was softening, exuding a warmth and compassion that emboldened him to speak the truth that he had been ruminating on for days, weeks even. He swallowed hard.

"I came to tell you that you were right." He shrugged his shoulders and shook his head slightly as he continued. "I don't know how to act like a decent human being a lot of the time. And I play games, and I lie, and I trick people… And I could sit here and make excuses, chalk it up to my lousy upbringing and never learning any better. But the truth, Teresa, is that I've just been too lazy and too selfish to do things any differently- for so long now."

He turned his body towards hers, gazing at her fervently.

"But, I'm finally ready, to leave all that behind me- like that that whole thing with May- I don't want to do that anymore. I can't do it anymore." He leaned in closer. "I need you to know that."

"I do- know that," Lisbon interjected quietly with a slow nod, her emerald green irises pooling with emotion. "I believe you, Jane… and I believe in you."

"Do you?" he answered on a small chuckle; he almost couldn't believe what he was hearing. He kept his eyes trained on hers as she smiled faintly and nodded her head.

He took another stealing breath.

"I want to build a real life for myself, Teresa- with you in it, if you'll have me."

She nodded again and smiled through unshed tears. "I want that, too."

Relief and happiness flooded his entire body. Unable to hold himself back any longer, Jane leaned forward, bridging the distance between them, and kissed her soundly. His hands came to the sides of her face, cupping it gently, and her fingers laced lightly with his. After so many agonizing days apart, the feel of her lips and every inch of her skin that made contact with his enlivened and awakened him, like he was emerging from the dense fog. When they broke apart moments later, he could feel the corners of her mouth quirk upward in a smile that mirrored his own and he kept his face close to hers.

"You know I am going to do everything in my power not to screw this up." His voice was lighter but he tightened his grip on their clasped hands, and he knew she could read the urgency and sincerity in his words. "I'll probably aggravate and annoy you a lot of the time. I might do things that will make you question your faith in me…"

"Are you trying to talk me out of this?" she broke in jokingly.

"No, God, no. I just want to make sure you understand what you're getting yourself into here," he continued. "I can be a bit of a handful; I get myself into a fair amount of trouble from time to time," he added with the waggle of his brow.

Lisbon smirked and the narrowed her eyes. "Well, I think I can handle it," she replied before adding dryly, "especially once I get my sidearm back."

"Ah, threats of violence, Lisbon, very nice. Thank you." They shared a brief laugh, then their eyes met tenderly. They gazed at one another for a moment before a thought suddenly occurred to him. "I almost forgot- I have something for you."

He reached into his suit coat pocket and pulled out a small bundle wrapped in brown paper, which he placed carefully into her hands.

"What is this?" she asked with wide eyes.

"Just something I picked up for you last week. You know, before you threw me out of your shop and told me you never wanted to see me again" he answered in a casual, self-deprecating tone.

She responded with a quick smack on his arm then began gently unwrapping the loose layers of paper and tissue in her lap. He watched her face expectantly as she pulled back the last layer and discovered what was inside- a large, speckled cowry shell, glassy and smooth, a perfect fit in the palm of her tiny hand. She turned it over a few times, admiring the intricate patterns on its porcelain-like surface and inspecting its scalloped edges on its bottom. Then she looked back at Jane curiously.

"How did you know-?"

"You had your eye on it at Sam's store a while back," he answered with a knowing smirk of his own.

All Lisbon could do was tilt her head and sigh in astonishment as he brought his arm around her shoulder and pulled her body to his. As she laid her cheek against his chest, he couldn't help but add cheekily:

"You may not know this about me, Lisbon, but I have a bit of knack for noticing and remembering things."

He felt her begin to shake her head in annoyance and although he couldn't see her face from the angle he was sitting at, he was almost certain she was rolling her eyes at him.

Epilogue

Three weeks later, Lisbon and Jane left Cannon River.

They could have left sooner, but seeing as Lisbon wasn't due back at her job until the following month, they decided to stay and soak up as much time with their friends as possible. Jane was especially grateful for their delayed departure, as it afforded him the opportunity to spend some time with Virgil and get to know him better. He was, after all, the closest thing Lisbon had to a father, so Jane was determined to make a good impression.

For his part, Minelli was naturally a bit reticent at first- his protective nature made him a little suspicious of the man who had so quickly captured Lisbon's affections. But, trusting in Teresa's good judgment and seeing how happy Jane seemed to make her her, Virgil made a sincere effort to get to know Jane as well. The two men eventually bonded over their shared love of poker and deep sea fishing, and along with Pete, they made several excursions on Minelli's sailboat in the weeks before Jane and Lisbon left town. The seeds of what would become a deep and abiding friendship amongst the three men were planted, and it was a development that made everyone- especially Lisbon- extremely happy.

The night before they departed, Minelli hosted a farewell dinner at the café after closing. Everyone came: Sam and Pete drove in from the campground, Wayne and Grace were there with Cho; even Wylie came by with his new girlfriend. The festivities went late into the evening. There were plenty of laughs, thanks to Sam and Pete's animated storytelling and a few tears courtesy of Grace (although, as Lisbon noted afterwards, she had managed to hold herself together admirably well until the goodbye hugs began, at which point even Lisbon's own steely resolve began to weaken). By the time Lisbon and Jane had loaded the last of their belongings into the back of her car and his Airstream early the next morning, the two of them were emotionally drained but at the same time excited about what lay ahead.

A few weeks after arriving in Portland, Lisbon returned to her job as detective in the downtown precinct. She felt a little rusty at first, but after a few weeks back with her old colleagues and some extra hours at the shooting range, she was back in top form in no time at all. Most days when she came home from work, Jane was there to greet her. He had set up the Airstream at a campsite on the outskirts of town just like he had planned, and while that was his official residence to start, it wasn't long before he had a key to her place, and his suits and favorite teas had found a permanent place in her closets and cupboards.

As summer turned to fall, he was still mulling over his professional options- getting his credentials to obtain a PI's license was the current project at hand, although his beekeeping book still had a conspicuous presence on their coffee table, much to Lisbon's chagrin. Then, one night over dinner he took a glance at a cold case file Teresa had brought home from the office. It piqued his interest, as any good puzzle did, and curious to see what a fresh set of eyes could make of it, she encouraged him have a go at it. He examined the crime scene photos, combed over the witness statements, and soon made quick work of noticing several minute, yet key details the reporting officer had missed. After the pair of them talked it through late into the night, piecing it all together, Lisbon brought the information to her lieutenant, Samuel Bosco, the next morning and within days, the case was closed.

By Thanksgiving, Lisbon had convinced Bosco to take a chance on Jane and bring him in as a consultant on an as-needed basis. The closure rate in their division skyrocketed, and by late December, just as Jane and Lisbon were preparing for their trip to spend the holidays with their friends in Cannon River, he was officially offered a position at the police bureau full-time. It thrilled him to no end; not only did the job give him the chance to put his "psychic" skills to good use, but it also meant spending even more time with Teresa.

On Christmas Eve day, they fought their way through the snarly city traffic until they reached the winding road that brought them over the foothills and mountains west of town. After over an hour of driving, they finally reached the coast, where the sun was just beginning to set over the blue-gray waters of the Pacific. As Jane turned the car to begin heading south towards their final destination, he smiled at the memory of the first time he had seen this particular view. It wasn't that long ago, and yet considering everything that happened since, it felt like a lifetime.

Lisbon, who had been lulled asleep by the winding, twisty ride over the mountain pass, was now slowly waking up; she opened her eyes groggily. "Where are we?"

"We're almost there," he answered quietly. "Just another thirty miles or so- and we'll be home."

A contented expression crept over her face upon hearing the word home then she glanced over at him sleepily. "What are you grinning at?" she asked as she tilted her head up towards him, noticing the lingering smile on his face.

"Oh, I was just thinking about the last time I drove along this little stretch here, on my way to Cannon River last spring," he began, then looked backed at her tenderly. "I had no idea what- or who- was waiting for me when I got there…" he laughed lightly, "and yet I was in such a hurry that day, I didn't even stop to look at the sunset."

She returned his affectionate gaze before answering softly. "Well, why don't we stop and look at it now?"

He nodded in agreement and pulled the car to the shoulder of the highway. They got out and walked over to the edge of the bluff overlooking the dunes, immediately wrapping their arms around each another, buffering themselves from the gusts of wind whipping around them. Despite the bone-chilling cold, they stood there for a minute or two taking in the beauty of their surroundings, and he stole a quick kiss before pulling her in closer.

He could have stayed there much longer, but when he felt her body start to shiver against his, he leaned forward and whispered in her ear.

"Let's get going, love. If we're late for Christmas dinner, Wayne Rigbsy will have eaten all of the yams."

Lisbon laughed, "Yeah, I think you're right. The pies, too."

Then, with their arms still encircling one another, they made the quick jaunt back to the car, where they hopped in hurriedly, and continued on their way towards home.

The End