A/N: This is it, the last bit to this story (the longest, too). This story can now be marked "complete". Three weeks ago I was uploading the first chapter, not expecting much of a response - I would've laughed if someone'd told me that in three weeks' time this was going to get more than 150 reviews.

So now it's time for the thank you's. Thank you to every person who found this story worth following and favoriting, and to the wonderful readers who took the time to review from one to every chapter of this story. I admit I'd often checked my inbox during class in the amphitheater to see if I had new notifications from FF. And I'll be doing just that tomorrow, too.

I'll miss updating this, but also can't wait to hear your final thoughts!

Reply to guest review: Clare: Thank you for reviewing! It always is a great joy to hear that people like/love this story!

They'd been unpacking for the better part of the afternoon, and they were almost done.

"Where does this big one go?" Jane asked, raising his voice slightly so she could hear him.

Lisbon quickly glanced at it from the kitchen. "That's for the library," she replied, before continuing on putting the dishes away in the cabinets.

He signed, then dragged the imposing box with effort next to the shelves before opening it.

And he was taken aback by what he found inside. Resting on a pile of books was an all too familiar shoe box. His throat went dry.

When she saw him entering the kitchen with the box of letters in his hands, she swallowed, her heart beating slightly faster. She remembered how she had finally decided to pack it there, with her books. She couldn't risk it falling open on the floor with Marcus in D.C.

"You were planning on bringing them?" he asked, his voice thick with emotion.

She put away the pile of plates she was holding, summing up the courage to look him in the eyes. "I couldn't leave them here," she finally admitted before continuing on softly, "They would've helped me cope with the days I missed you too much."

He slowly put the box down on the counter, before taking a step towards her. "Thank you for taking me," he said softly, his eyes boring into hers ; sky blue meeting emerald green.

"Who else would?" she replied with a smile, unconsciously inching closer. Her eyes glinted.

He grinned. "No one." With his free hand, he then brushed his fingertips gently against her cheekbone. "I wouldn't let anyone else keep me."

"Good." She grinned. "I wasn't intending to share you."

With that, she raised her head just as he bent down to kiss her.

It was full of passion and love, deeper than the first one they had shared back in the interrogation room; he had gained in confidence. And she responded just as willingly, her hands sliding up his chest before her fingers found the curls at the nape of his neck. He smiled into the kiss as it turned into something utterly sweet and perfect, the feeling coiling in their veins and making her smile back - it seemed like it's what they've been doing ever since they'd stepped out of that interrogation room. She felt his arms coming around to hold her by the waist, keeping her close.

They both pulled away, happiness evident in every line of their faces.

But they were suddenly called back to reality when music started playing outside. Jane turned his head towards the window just as realization hit Lisbon.

She grinned at Jane. "We have somewhere to go."

A long table had been set not far from the pool for the neighbors' party, owners starting to regroup around it, and drinks could be ordered at the bar installed for the occasion. Some small groups of people still remained here and there around the pool, some chatting while others danced to the beat of the music with their partners, waiting for dinner to be served.

Matthew and Theo were as usual running in the crowd, ignoring their mother's warnings to calm down, until Matthew abruptly stopped after he had identified the two people coming down the stairs and opening the gate. His little brother almost crashed into him.

"Look! It's them!" he exclaimed, pointing his index finger in Jane and Lisbon's direction, who seemed oblivious to the sudden gain of attention. By now the majority of the owners had noticed them, nudging their fellow neighbors as whispers erupted. Nadia smiled, pleased that she hadn't informed anyone about the last minute change - she could practically hear the realization of what had happened click in the residents' brains. Then she, like everyone else, glanced at them. Their hands were brushing against each other as their arms swung gently, and they were smiling, Lisbon shaking her head in amusement at something Jane had told her.

Both boys ran towards them and Patrick ruffled their hair, grinning. Lisbon was grinning too, and they exchanged a look full of tenderness and adoration when the boys told them how excited they were to see them again.

They were still smiling by the time they reached the dinning table and were greeted enthusiastically by the others. Happiness was radiating from them. And even though they didn't display any sighs of affection - they weren't holding hands for instance -, their close proximity spoke for itself.

Everyone took their seats, and dinner was soon served. Conversation and mockeries flowed easily between all the present owners at the table. And as inevitable as the sunset at the end of the day was, one of them soon asked what exactly had happened between Jane and Lisbon for plans to change in a weekend's notice.

"He managed to get on the plane at the last minute," Lisbon explained.

"He stopped the plane?" one of the women who had been discussing with Mrs. Richards the other day cut in, her tone incredulous.

Jane shrugged. "I managed to dodge a few airport securities. But stopping a plane is way too overrated in movies."

Mrs. Richards chuckled, and it didn't take long for others to join her.

"All of this sounds very heroic," Nadia said from across , not even trying to hide her amused smile.

"Oh, it was. I jumped a fence for her." He grinned, tilting his head to his right in Lisbon's direction.

Lisbon raised her eyebrows, turning to look at him. "And how did that work out for you?"

"Not so well," he admitted, but the smile hadn't left his face. "It was worth the sprained ankle, though."

She cracked a smile and shook her head, yet the affection in her eyes as clear as day when she glanced at him.

Champaign was served, and soon everyone had their glasses raised in the air. "To us, and to our respective homes," someone spoke up, and everyone agreed and cheered. Clinking of glasses echoed around the walls of the residence, and Jane and Lisbon did the same with theirs, exchanging a glance that said more than words.

When dinner reached to an end, Jane turned to Lisbon. "Let's dance," he suddenly proposed, surprising her.

"I don't think that's very reasonable with your ankle, Patrick," she said sternly, while also testing how his first name sounded coming from her lips.

He thought he could most certainly get used to that. She was finally considering calling him by his given name - he had been trying to persuade her to do so for years. "I don't hear a no," he tempted.

She looked at him. The rays of sunset danced on his hair, giving his curls an orange glow while at the same time brightening other locks. His eyes were glinting even more so than usual, knowing she was about to say yes. Because she secretly wanted to, too. "Fine," she conceded, "But only one dance."

So after he'd smiled in triumph, they both stood up from the table and he took her hand, leading her away and closer to where the music was playing. Lisbon rested her head on the angle of his neck and shoulder as he laid his right hand on her lower back - just like they had many years ago. She closed her eyes when she felt his cheek against her hair. He ignored the slight pain coming from his ankle, and rocked her to the tempo of the soft melody.

Both held similar soft smiles on their lips; she couldn't remember a time she had been this happy. And he hadn't been this happy for a very long time.

He squeezed her hand gently, and she responded in kind.

"I love you," she whispered tenderly.

He abruptly stopped dancing, which had the effect to make her raise her head to look at him; it was the first time she uttered the words to him. A smile slowly grew on his face as his eyes shown with emotion - he had once though he'd never hear the words again. "Say it again," he breathed, just like she had back in the interrogation room.

She smiled at the reference, and decided to go down memory lane, too. "Say what again?" she countered with a hint of malice in her eyes.

He grinned. "Touché."

The kiss she had initiated by standing on her tiptoes was short lived though, as they were interrupted by some whistles and claps obviously directed at them. So they pulled away, their lips pulled up in amusement.

"I love you, Patrick," she finally said, her eyes never leaving his. It had always been him.

His answering smile was blinding. "And I happen to love you, too."

Had for a very long time.

"Well, that didn't take long to happen," Nadia said with irony, but didn't try to contain the smile tugging at the corners of her lips. She took a sip of her champaign. "It was about damn time."

Mrs. Richards, a couple of seats away, smiled too. "They're comfortable in each other's arms; like they've found home," she stated.

Nadia glanced back at Jane and Lisbon. They seemed to be holding their own private conversation as they rocked gently in a small circle, completely oblivious to the people watching them - they were in their world. They both held amused smiles as they talked, most probably about some nonessential thing. Then Lisbon swatted Jane's chest at something he said, and tried to seem stern about it but failed miserably. Their eyes were crinkled.

"That's because they have."

Nadia: I just had to give "you" the last word in this story. So, was it that bad to be old? (Ha!) I can't wait to hear what you thought of this (text me when you read this message)! Love, your big sister.