Flashbacks are in italics.
She finds herself suspended in the space in between dreaming and reality, unsure whether she should give back in to sleep, or begin the slow process of waking up. Gently she blinks her eyes clear, adjusting to the semi darkness in the room around her. She stretches her fingers and her toes, bringing her body out of its slumber, greeting it for the first time that morning.
Quietly, she pads into the bathroom, her swollen feet finding comfort in the cool tiles she finds there. She brushes her teeth and splashes water on her face, then uses the soft pink towel to wipe away the last traces of sleep from her eyes. She looks at her reflection in the mirror, and can't help but smile. Instinctively she runs her hands over her large belly, "Good morning, baby." she coos.
She's 6 and a half months in, 28 weeks to be exact, and she is in awe of the wonders of her body; her baby. Exactly 11 days ago she felt her baby kick for the first time, and it brought tears to her eyes instantly. And Jane, her beautiful Jane sat with her and held her hand, massaging the spot where the baby had moved against her skin, welcoming this new development with all the happiness in the world.
From across the room, Jane hears her wife's breath catch in her throat. Immediately she stops what she's doing, leaving the bag of popcorn in the microwave, not caring if it burns. She rounds the couch, hands outstretched, ready to fix whatever the problem is. Her heart is pounding.
Her wife's eyes are wide and glossy, eyebrows knit together in confusion. She watches her blonde woman press her hands over a spot on her belly, her face flushing, the same way it always does when she's about to cry.
"Jane," she breathes, letting go of the breath she'd been holding accidentally.
"Maura"
The blonde lets out a smile, a few tears come loose and run from her eyes as she lets out a strangled laugh.
"The baby is moving."
Maura watches as Jane's face turns from concern to confusion to excitement all in a matter of seconds. She comes closer, perching herself on the edge of the couch, running her hands through her hair.
"Come closer, Jane. Come feel it."
She shakes her head, eyes wide and afraid. "No Maura, I don't want.. If I touch, it's going to stop." she says, as she looks down into her hands folded tightly in her lap.
This is the side of Jane that Maura is so unaccustomed to seeing. They've been together for so long, and yet this worried and insecure woman sitting in front of her never ceases to make the doctor sit in shock. In these moments, she is the most beautiful woman in the world.
Without hesitation, Maura stands up from the couch, bracing herself against the armrest as she rises to her feet. She stands in front of her wife, right between her legs, the detectives face just inches from her pregnant belly.
"Give me your hands, J."
Cautiously, Jane raises her hands to meet Maura's outstretches ones. The blond brings them up and tilts her head down to kay kisses in each of her palms, running her lips over the crescent shaped scars there. "Don't worry." Maura coos. "It's okay to be scared."
Jane doesn't respond, she just watches as Maura brings their intertwined hands down to rest on the side of her stomach.
"Talk, Jane. The baby will hear you."
Jane looks at her questioningly, but begins to speak. Her voice shakes.
"Hi, baby. It's me, its Mommy... Well, one of your mommies."
Nothing happens.
"Um, well I just wanted to say hi to you. I am so excited to meet you."
Still nothing. Tears begin to prick the backs of her eyes, and Maura can hear the hurt and fear in her voice, but doesn't do anything. She can feel it coming. The blonde removes her hands from Jane's and presses them into her back for support as the brunette speaks to their baby. The detectives hands are on either side of her watermelloned stomach, her face so close that Maura feels her nose pressing against her skin.
"It would be really cool if you could move again, baby. It would be so totally cool of you to do that for me."
Beneath her hands there is a ripple of movement. It is small and less powerful than before, but she feels it, and for a moment she forgets to inhale.
"Yeah, that was cool. This is so cool to me." she breathes, not realizing she's speaking out loud.
"I love you, little one. I don't even know you, but I love you already."
Jane feel's Maura's hand smooth down her own wild curly hair, tucking a piece behind her ear. She looks up to her, both of their eyes glossy and teary and filled with wonder.
"Jane," Maura whispers, "I can't believe it."
Jane stands from the couch and brings her hands around to her wife's lower back, pressing their bodies together.
"Believe it, Maur. You are amazing."
Then, as they stand pressed together, there is movement.
Movement that is so real and different and honest. Not a ripple or a wave but a full blown kick.
And Jane feels it.
She feels it through Maura's clothing and her own. She feels their baby kick one more time through skin and muscle; the movement reverberating through her own body.
"I feel it." She says, voice louder and excited and happy. "I feel that!"
It is the best day of her life.