"It is way better to hold our gathering upstairs like always, don't you think Kevin?" A tall redhead woman with a burgundy pantsuit made a distasteful face as she lifted up the wine glass to her red lips. She was full of disdain since the surrounding was not as fancy as she used to.

Kevin, a short thin guy with thick glasses next to their host only gave her a sideways glance. He didn't really care. He was here just because he was from equal social status as these people. And he cared about the blonde woman which was their host for tonight's reunion. "Why can't we use your penthouse Maura?" He asked softly. He knew that was what Harriette wanted him to ask.

Maura held her sigh. Kevin probably noticed it but Harriette, no. That woman wouldn't spend even a split second for others.

"Maura, is this because of the Italian girl that you adopt before?"

"I don't recall adopting anyone." Maura sipped her own wine without making any eye contact with anyone.

"Are you really sure letting such a vulgar girl to live there? FOC?! I don't understand you Isles." Ethan, a slender man with thick mustache joined them at the balcony. It was getting crowded far from Maura's liking. She had to get away.

"She will begone sooner or later, right Maura?" Ian, Maura's ex spoke up when Maura entered the studio once more.

"Just let the girl be you guys. It's Maura's place. She can let whomever she wants to live there." Came another girl, a chubby brunette with a flowery mini skirt. "Though your penthouse is far cozier than this small studio. Thanks goodness there are only 5 of us that are free tonight." She whispered to her empty left side but of course everyone in the room can hear it.

"She can leave whenever she wants. Not like I want her to stay."

All of them froze when they heard Maura's cold tone as the host left the room to retire for the night. She wasn't really in the mood for some stupid reunion party. They came to her place, uninvited and unannounced. They were lucky enough she didn't ask the guards to throw them out. She only gave them face for Kevin.

xxx

Jane exited the elevator to the penthouse with her head down was looking at the floor. She went downstairs to greet Maura's friends only to hear what Maura had said. Jane sighed and headed for her room, no that was just a spare empty room Maura let her using. She didn't even have her own room. Another long sigh left her lips.

"It's time to find my own place then." She glanced around the fancy penthouse, yeah this wasn't her kind of place. Jane knew she wasn't supposed to accept Maura's invitation to stay there. It's too fancy. Too expensive for a person from a blue-collar family like Jane Rizzoli.

She will leave soon.

Don't you worry Maura.

xxx

Maura ignored the calls from her so-called friends, and left Susie, her assistant slash secretary to monitor the party downstairs. They can leave whenever they wanted. Anytime. The sooner the better. Maura couldn't care any less.

When she entered the penthouse, her stressed face relaxed and she smiled a little. The air upstairs calmed her. She glanced around. As usual, the place was clean and neat. Not a speck of dust was visible nor any cushion slanted toward any wrong angle. But that caused a frown on her forehead. The cushions should be disarray. Someone should mess up with them and left them just like that without correcting their position again.

Jane, where is Jane?

Maura went to the kitchen. Jane always stayed up late and at time like this she was busying herself with popcorn and beers in the kitchen for their movie night as she called it. Maura pretended she didn't care or even notice all the effort Jane made to make sure Maura enjoyed those nights but to tell you the truth, Maura was loving it. She can't wait for Friday to come every week that she literally cursed Monday for taking so long. That said so much because Maura loved Monday, it's her favorite day of the week.

"Jane?" She called out but even the kitchen was empty and void of any sound. Just like how dead her place was before Jane came to live with her.

She came out of the kitchen and peeked at the closed door at the end of the hallway. No light or whatsoever came through the little space under the door.

Maybe she's tired. She is working overtime for two weeks in a row. No wonder.

Maura sighed again but with a smile on her face this time. She should retire early as well. After receiving an update from Susie about the situation downstairs, she went to her bedroom. She needed to wake up early if she wanted to join Jane for her morning run. She can run her stress away from tonight.

xxx

Morning came in a flash but Maura was refreshed. A good night sleep was a bless. Now up we go! Jane can be a little pain in the ass if she had to wait. Maura had never met such an impatient girl like her. Shaking her head slightly, Maura left the comfort of her luxurious bed and headed for the en-suite bathroom. She missed Jane's singing this morning though. The brunette always sang in shower.

"Everything check! Okay, I'm ready." Maura patted all her running equipment and straightened up. She fixed her stern face just like how she used to show Jane.

"Jane, how much longer are you.." She was ready to put a blame on the brunette for eating too much breakfast before a run.

Her steps flattered when the usual sight of Jane gobbling down the food at the kitchen counter was not there. There was nothing but an empty and dark kitchen that greeted her. There's no Jane. She saw the door of Jane's room was closed. Maybe she left already, she thought. For jogging or work?

Maura shrugged to herself. Her hand pulled out her cellphone but she stopped herself from dialing any number. She didn't even have Jane's number. She closed her eyes and tightened her jaw. A deep breath was drawn. Then wordlessly, she began to work on her healthy breakfast.

xxx

When she left for work at 8.15am, Jane didn't come back so Maura knew the girl had gone for work. Not that she was waiting for her.

Her office was as peaceful as always, just the way she liked it. She worked as efficiently as she could. She ignored the stupid look on Ian's face when she turned down his invitation for lunch. She asked Susie to bring back chicken salad for her. Hours later, Maura was ready to leave. She left all her paperworks. Jane would fuss about it. She wanted them to cook together for dinner. That's the peak of Maura's day if she was willing to admit to anyone.

"Jane, I'm home." No reply. Maura took off her heels and picked them up with her fingers. "Jane, oh!" The penthouse was so dark and Maura having forgotten where the light switch was almost stumbled into her 50hundred dollar vase.

"Jane, have you eaten yet?" She waited for an answer but none came.

Somehow her hunger had left her and like a robot, she picked up an apple to munch on. Looked like Jane was not home yet. That night Maura stayed up until 3am waiting for Jane to return. She was fully intended to scold the brunette for coming home so late but there's no sight of Jane and Maura fell asleep on the couch. She woke up with a blanket draped over her body and that was enough for her to forget about Jane's tardiness.

xxx

Four days. It had been four days since the last time Maura saw Jane, her unofficial housemate. And today she almost lost her soul when she found a note on her kitchen counter.

Dear Maura

First my greatest thanks for your hospitality. I'll never forget your kindness towards me ever since I come to New York. I found a place so I'm just gonna live there from now on. Don't worry, I'll make sure to pay you back for everything. It might take a long time since my pay isn't that great but I'll pay you back. I swear. And sorry for interrupting your life.

Goodbye Maura.

Forever grateful, Jane Rizzoli

xxx

I'm soft. Urgh.

Edit.

Jane is a girl because Maura is an working adult, age 33 and Jane is 19, or that is how she is supposed to be in the beginning of the story. Want to know more, just wait to read it. Hahaha