AU: As always, I don't own anything - and this isn't a one-shot; there will be more. But that depends on what you all think, so please read and review? I'd be most grateful!
The first time it happened, both Maura and Jane felt anger, then betrayal and loss. Maura had said it was natural, to go through this grieving process and tried to remain as scientifically neutral as she could. She knew things like this happened hundreds, no, thousands of times daily to many people around the globe. Although they would never get over it entirely, they both knew that soon enough, the process would start again.
The second and third times were equally as rigorous and hard, and the detective and the medical examiner still felt stung from their first loss. Skin was harder, veins tougher - reinforcing themselves tightly after each injection, each invasion. They didn't fall the second time, and so as they begun their third round, Jane insisted that this would be the last. The pain; both physically and emotionally taking its toll on both of them.
Maura had calmed the fiery detective down that evening, a source of peace and
tranquillity that was essential for both women to attain their goal. "It won't help if you're ... we're stressed," she had said, her hand running up and down the lanky detectives' torso soothingly.
Nodding slightly, the brunette inhaled deeply, "You're right. You're right," she admitted, repeating the mantra as if to remind herself. She headed into the bathroom and turned on the tap, the water flowing freely from the expensive basin mixer Maura had imported from Italy when they bought their apartment. She lifted the cold water to her face, before flattening her palms on her cheek and bringing them down her high bones before pausing under her chin.
Maura appeared in the mirror behind Jane without sound. Her smile had always been reassuring for Jane, a constant reminder of one of the reasons she had fallen so deeply in love with the medical examiner without consciously knowing it. A bright light reflected onto the mirror, drawing her attention to the silver band on Maura's ring finger. They were quickly approaching their third wedding anniversary, and as she dried her face off in the dark towel hanging next to the sink, she felt Maura's arms lovingly wrap themselves around her waist; their bodies slotting together perfectly.
"We'll get there," she spoke quietly.
"I hope so," Jane sighed, her hands falling and resting atop of Maura's. Light kisses brushed against Jane's shoulder blade and to the top of her biceps. Without her designer heels, the medical examiner was significantly smaller than the detective in stature.
The brunette smiled as she turned around to face her wife. "Have you taken your shots tonight?"
Maura nodded, she had taken them earlier; and lifted the bottom of her shirt to show Jane the quick-to-bruise area which was growing over her abdomen. It was a varied display of red and purple, the older wounds a light brown colour as the skin tried to heal itself.
Long fingers ghosted their way over the area, causing Maura to wince slightly and involuntarily step back from her lover's touch.
"Sorry, babe..." Jane apologised, a hint of guilt evident in her tone. When they had sat down and discussed this procedure, Maura and Jane had a long discussion as to who would be the one to go through with this. Maura had insisted Jane have the injections, the insemination and be the one to carry the family, to carry on the Rizzoli name. Jane had protested; after all, Maura didn't have a good relationship with her family, and this would be a genuine blood tie for her. The baby would be a Rizzoli either way, because Jane would be its mother. "It's not about heritage or blood," Jane began. "It's about our child, being raised in a stable, loving environment by two parents who will love he or she, regardless of gender, race, sexuality or any other of those societal hang-ups."
Maura's hazel eyes rested on her abdomen, "I just hope this procedure takes. I've followed the medication guidelines without fail; I've eaten the right foods, completely cut my alcohol intake. I've dieted and -" Maura was beginning to get frantic, and Jane could see her cheeks flush with colour. She was aware of the effects all of the hormones and medicines came with and she immediately put her arms out to steady Maura.
"Try and stay calm, Maur, your blood pressure... you're looking a little red. You remember what the doctor told us?"
Maura left the bathroom and made her way into their living room, sitting on their three-seater couch; Jane followed and stood in front of her.
"Yes...I know all the facts. I know that it's not guaranteed...and I know that it can take some couples even up to ten years to conceive," the medical examiner's voice broke a little, her pitch quivering as she wiped another tear from her eyes - another side effect of the hormones Jane had gotten used to. "We did conceive, Jane. I was pregnant. Our baby died, and we've not had any success since. Maybe it's just not meant to -"
"Don't even say it, Maura," Jane sat beside her, interrupting her and wrapping an arm around the blonde's smaller frame. "We are meant to be parents, and we will be. It will just take time, that's all."
"But what if it doesn't work again?" Maura rested her hear against Jane's shoulder, looking up at her, teary-eyed.
"If that happens, then we will try something else. One way or another Maur, we are going to have our son or daughter. I promise," Jane pressed her lips to the honey blonde, bouncy hair under her chin.
Maura knew that such promises were illogical, that you shouldn't make a promise that you can't keep; but right at that moment, it was what she needed to hear.