Phew here is the last chapter…I swear this one has cause lots and lots of rewritings (Chibi: I really had to think on where I should insert Chris's part :P)

Oh my, I can't believe this is already over Oo"!

Almost one year of work now done Oo. And I have no super conclusion for the AN so I'll just let you read :D.

Thanks to Tempest Erimentha; watchyouwalk; Brown Eyes Parker; Byron'sQmatchie ; Jbon; Jisbon4ever; leelou09; TeresaJane; MK; Frogster; 13 Jo; Tabitha of MoonAurora ; Anna; The HongKonger for their reviews ! And thanks to everyone who reads but does not review anyway xD

And mega thanks to my half beta again!

DisclaimerI do not own Mentalist, I do not make money on those fics and I definitely don't deny having a thing for AUs. Hope you'll enjoy this (won't blame you if you don't ;D)

Slave

28- Epilogue

It was early morning, I could feel the stray strings of light over my face, yet I couldn't get myself to move. The bed was too comfortable and warm to be deserted yet… and the hangover headache –consequence of my foolishness from the previous night –prevented me from moving too much. I sighed, cuddling the covers more…

"Wake up darling."

I let a frustrated growl of protest drop out when I recognised my husband's voice right next to me. I knew he had woken up far before me, for I felt his presence standing in my back while my right hand encountered a cold and empty space when it stretched in front of me, on the other side of the mattress. I felt his mouth kissing my temple, his upper body brushing my shoulder and fingers lingering on my hips.

"Come on Teresa," his low, husky voice teased my ears. "It's four in the afternoon and our newly weds are soon going to leave."

I reluctantly rolled on my back and blinked forcefully to get used to the light of the day. The brightness was shadowed by my husband's frame though, when he leant over to kiss me. I smiled lazily under the brushing of his lips against mine and the sweetness in his touch.

"Morning Patrick" I whispered back, fingers toying with his blond curls. "Or rather good afternoon?"

He chuckled amusingly at the tiredness of my voice. A sudden sharp pain in my head prevented me from returning it and turned the grin into a grimace. Both hands fled over my temples as I started to rub the pain away. He laughed even harder.

"That's what happens when you drink too much my dear" he chided me gently, though I knew he felt compassion when his fingers brushed away a few locks of hair from my forehead. "Why did you decide to take Brooke's challenge? You knew it would do you no good."

I groaned in pain as an answer. Truthfully? Brooke and I have always been in some kind of competition and will always be. It didn't matter if we were both grown up women and supposedly reasonable. I just know she challenged me into a drinking battle, I took it, and lost. Truly lost. That woman was a real man when it came to alcohol and when I declared being defeated, it was not because of her wedding day with Walter, I swear.

Speaking of the newly weds, I was starting to lose faith in those two… until Mashburn surprised us all by kneeling in front of the woman and popping the question out of the blue, with the whole Jane household as witnesses. I think I will always remember how red her cheeks turned and how close she had been to reject him, if it hadn't been for his sincerity.

That was only three weeks ago, but it still took three years for the man to gather up the courage to propose for real, and a lot of willpower from the former con to accept. I knew despite liking him a lot, she still had trust issues from her past life….

"What are you thinking?" my husband's voice brought me down to earth. I smirked.

"How they got affianced" Jane had no doubt about whom I was talking "And how they almost didn't get married."

Both our ceremonies had been in small committee, with only close people to assist at our official union. One major difference though, was that I didn't freak out when I was supposed to walk down the aisle to join Patrick. I was in a hurry to end the superficial stuff, since I considered we were already married –I was wearing his ring way before the 'I do' and already carrying his child. Brooke got cold feet and hid in a closet for hours.

Patrick laughed in turn and kissed the top of my head again.

"They really are something, aren't they" he whispered. I moved to the right to leave him space to lie down, and cuddled him as soon as his body hit the mattress. His warmth and the sound of his heartbeat were two things I would never get tired of.

"How did Grace and you convince Brooke to get out of there anyway? She was pretty angry afterwards."

I smirked to myself, remembering how provocative the housekeeper and I had been; especially when we mentioned her being a coward and having no guts. It was harsh of course, but we did need extreme means to anger a former con and chase her away from her hiding place. Perhaps Brooke's drinking challenge had been a sort of revenge on me.

"You don't want to know" I assured lightly, snuggling closer and relaxing more against my husband's chest. His scent helped me forget the headache a few seconds; until another subject popped in my mind. "How is Connor?" I suddenly asked, resting on an elbow to face him. "Did you see him yet?"

Patrick's grin reassured me immediately, though I knew he was amused by something that, concerning our son, couldn't be good.

"Don't worry about him darling. He and Wilhelm drove Louis crazy all night long. I think we will have to hire a true nurse soon enough."

"Louis was hired for the kitchen, not to nanny your son. Or Van Pelt's for the matter" I reminded him dryly, all worries forgotten. Unfortunately, Julian's wound to the arm from the Red John encounter had eventually worsened. The apparent recovery did not last, as the injury got badly infected and despite all Elise's tending, he couldn't lift it past shoulder level anymore. Instead of firing him, we took in a young man who, despite his good instincts in cooking, still needed guidance throughout the culinary domain.

I loved our son; I really did. He was the cutest baby when he was born and had everyone wrapped around his little finger –along with Wilhelm, Van Pelt's son. But he had unfortunately inherited his father's mischievousness and took great pleasure in using his good charms and cute face to get to his ends. Even I had a hard time resisting to the black curls, baby blue eyes and wide smiles he flashed me when he wanted something. Despite being barely three years old, his cleverness impressed me. No doubt he would grow into a prank master and a troublesome child, pulling his almost-brother to follow him in his stunts.

"He took over that sad habit of yours" I growled. He shrugged in response:

"As if your brother didn't cause enough miseries to Sophie. I think he took over that side of both our families."

I narrowed my eyes at him. That was a low blow. My brother had some difficulties to adapt to his new environment at first, and that was perfectly understandable. But I still had a hard time to accept he started messing around the house and push Mrs Miller's buttons to test her. Granted she was a patient woman and he had stop spreading ink on the floor or adding too much pepper in the food…but still.

"That's completely beside the point!" I protested vehemently. "And don't you think I will let you be the spoiling daddy like Rigsby is because I will sure not allow you two to outfox me."

"Then lets hope our next one will inherit your coolness" he replied with a serene, content smile, eyes shining knowingly.

Knowingly. I blinked in shock.

"How do you…" I have barely been informed for a few days myself! But when he merely shrugged, I had a good idea where he got the piece of news from. "Who was it? Emma or Anna?"

After years of seducing women, Florin had eventually found one able to resist his charms and command him merciless. While she still lived out of the manor and had no family, Elise had decided to take Anna as an apprentice to learn her medicines. The young woman was adorable, but just had that tendency to open her mouth a little too much, especially with Emma. Or rather, just with Emma. I guess it was a good thing Van Pelt was so loyal towards my husband and extremely severe with the household's gossipers. Despite being now her boss's wife, I still felt like she was the one commanding me; I didn't even get rid of the habit calling her by her maiden name, though she was married to Rigsby and took his. I think turning into a mother aggravated her mother-hen side.

My husband smiled and slipped his left hand under the covers, resting it on my still flat stomach.

"None of them" he replied gently. "You have been eating strange things and been particularly testy and nauseous these last days. I think it's a girl" he added fondly, caressing it through the fabric of my nightdress. "Do you like 'Susan'? Sue or Susie for short."

I laughed lightly, pleased by his obvious eagerness to be a father again, and somehow reassured he wanted a daughter. Inwardly, I was relieved my first-born was a boy. Having a girl would have been too soon for him, I just… felt it. The memory of Sarah had haunted him during the rest of my pregnancy; he could spent hours staring at her drawings guiltily, thinking he did not deserve this new child. When Elise and the town doctor announced the baby's sex, I knew I couldn't hide the relief. Not that I doubted he would love our daughter but…

All thoughts were interrupted when he pushed me back on the mattress and rolled over me, nuzzling my neck and kissing my throat. I couldn't help but giggle and moan in content when he brushed that sensitive spot below my ear. I started, in return, to unbutton his shirt with a bit of difficulties while he kept distracting me with sweet ministrations and caresses. I eventually got rid of his vest and top and was starting to relieve in the feeling of his bare skin under my fingers when he just stopped and pulled back. I stared at him puzzled before realising something was wrong again. He had that look; that worried expression and wondering eyes I had seen many times during the past three years. That face I hated so much.

"Don't you ever feel regrets?" he asked impassively, while I knew he was nothing emotionless inside. "This life, marrying me…"

I pressed my lips against his fiercely, forcing him to shut up. The last thing I wanted right now was him pondering on what my life -our lives- could have been if things had turned out differently. If I hadn't been sold; if I hadn't met him; if I had decided to stay with my family. If I stayed only out of pity and to be under his protection, just like his former wife did.

We parted for air and I looked into his eyes, holding his head firmly between my hands. I knew what triggered it this time. Seeing Brooke and Walter exchanging vows, the reminder of the woman's insecurities and difficulties to trust anyone before she met them… the fact they never knew what she thought, deep inside.

"You asking this very question is insulting" I hissed, eyes narrowing at him. "I told you many times and I won't repeat it again; you are the best thing that ever happened to me so don't you dare wonder over stupid things like this again. I… I love you Patrick."

My voice lowered during the last sentence; and I bit my lower lip at my admission. I loved him. I loved him fully yet never managed to find the nerve to tell him. This time I was sick of his worries and I knew he believed my words were real. The insecurity in his eyes vanished as soon as I voiced them and I was crushed into a tight embrace. His reaction made me want to laugh and I would have if I hadn't been as shaken. We never talked about feelings because I never needed reassurance. The way he took care of me, looked at me or touched me was enough. He needed it though. He needed to hear the words I always had a hard time to voice, because I suspected his wife didn't do as much. Mrs Miller told me Sylvia didn't love him, and he knew it. I came to hate her for it.

"I love you" I repeated, face buried in his shoulders. "I love you and I love my current life. Don't ever doubt that again."

I felt him nod in response. We stayed in this position for a while, unmoving, just enjoying each other's presence. Then, my itching fingers traced patterns on his lower back, following the line of his pants. He too, went back to where he stopped before and started pulling off my nightdress…

"And I thought we were the couple of the day" an amused voice interrupted us from the doorway.

My husband jumped off me immediately as if bitten and glared at his shameless partners in business. Or rather glared at a perfectly at ease Brooke Mashburn and an ogling Walter. The latter didn't comment on my attire though, certainly too aware his newly wife was still by his side. After a pointed stare at him, he looked away and I stepped out of bed to put on my dressing gown while my husband slipped back in his shirt.

"You are right Patrick, you and Teresa definitely can't keep your hands off each other" the former con teased with a wide grin.

"Shut up Brooke" I snapped and narrowed my eyes at her. Couldn't she have waited just an hour or so before intruding? This was starting to get good… "What are you doing here anyway?"

"We figured we could say 'good-bye' before leaving. It would be rude to depart without paying our respects to the maid of honour and the best man; and since I figured you would not be accompanying us to the front gate…"

I shook my head, not even trying to buy the pathetic excuse she just served us. She had a good idea how Patrick was likely to… wake me up. Walter decided to intervene before my husband replied something unpleasant.

"Our carriage is ready, and since we still have business running around… and Brooke wanted to pay a visit to father Mathew, if he's still alive" he added, muttering between his teeth. The woman slapped him on the shoulder as a reprimand.

"Without him, I wouldn't even be here" she chided severely. "He taught me how to read and all those basic stuffs before I took off for the wild world. And for the record, I want to name our son Mathew."

"No way!" her new husband replied forcefully. "He will be named after his father, Walter, just like I was."

Hearing those words, I couldn't help but grin amusingly at my husband. That subject was something we had been through a few years prior… and were certainly going to debate again in the next few months. Even though I did like 'Susan', where was the fun of negotiating if you agreed all the time with your husband?

"Mathew."

"Walter."

"Mathew."

"Walter."

"Walter."

"Mathew" the man blurted before realising his mistake.

"Now I can't refuse my husband's command" Brooke grinned, satisfied. "Now that the boy's name is set, I would like Alice for a…"

"Why don't you two lovebirds discuss over that matter during the road trip?" Jane interrupted quickly, taking each friend by a shoulder and pushing them out of the room. Before the door was closed though, the woman winked at me and dropped a quick:

"Have fun Teresa!"

Once the door was locked, I sighed in relief. Good thing the other couples of the household weren't as nosy. I chuckled at my frustrated man. When he turned towards me, obviously determined to finish what we started, I took a deep breath and pulled my nightdress over my head. The silky cloth fell on the floor and I stood there, naked and facing my husband. His pupils dilated and iris took a deeper shade of blue as his eyes scanned me from top to bottom; and I prided myself in thinking I still caused such fascination over him. He set his gaze on a spot of my body, where I knew scars remained.

The bruises on my skin were fading while the ones in my mind would always remain; but with him, they were less painful. He stepped closer to me and leant his forehead against mine. I pushed back his shirt on the ground. The way we stood reminded me that moment when, years ago, I decided to give myself to him fully for the first time. And if I read correctly the glint in his eyes, he remembered too.

"No regrets? Are you…" he started, but I didn't let him finish. I stood on my toes and caught his mouth possessively with mine.

No, I did not regret this and yes I was sure; and I was determined to spend the rest of my life proving it to him.

I confess I had a funny feeling when I wrote the last lines...Oh well, guess it happens each time a long multi-chap is finally done :D.

Once again, thank you for reading.

See you in another fic xD!