The theme for this ficlet was "Failure"


You're not a robot

Their ride home was suspiciously silent. Jane glanced over to her teenaged daughter Aspyn, who was sitting in the passenger seat. Normally the black-haired girl was talking without a pause on the car-ride home or was at least texting with one of her friends. Not so today. The girl had her lips pressed together and was fidgeting with her fingers. Aspyn never fidgets. Jane could tell that something was up with her.

"Is everything okay, honey?" She asked carefully. Aspyn turned her face towards Jane and answered a short "Yup" before she looked out of the window again.

Jane wasn't convinced, she knew her daughter and she knew that something had made her upset but she decided not to ask further. If her daughter really had a problem she knew that she would sooner or later come to either her or Maura for advice.

As soon as they arrived at home Aspyn disappeared in her room. Much to Jane's regret she had to go back to work soon. She only had time to pick her daughter up from school because they had a big case going. But she really would rather stay at home because she was a little worried about her daughter.

"Aspyn, I have to go to work. I can call Nonna to come by if you need something." Jane said opening Aspyn's door. Her daughter was lying on her bed, reading her copy of Pride & Prejudice for the 100th time. At least that didn't change, Jane thought.

"No, I'm fine" Aspyn said looking up from her book for a second.

"Okay… I love you."

"Love you, too."

When Maura came home that evening Aspyn was still in her room reading. And just like with Jane Aspyn didn't really speak a lot with Maura. And just like Jane Maura knew that something was up with her daughter. Maura decided to leave her alone for now because Jane told her that Aspyn said she was fine. Aspyn left her only around two hours after Maura came home and avoided eye contact with her mother.

"Aspyn, wait" Maura started as her daughter went passed her. "Is everything okay?"

"Yeah, I'm just tired, is all."

"Are you sure?"

Aspyn nodded and started towards her room.

"Did you get your physics paper back yet?" Maura asked remembering the paper Aspyn had problems with a week back.

"Nope" the girl answered and vanished in her room again.

Jane came home late that night. Maura was still up sitting on the couch reading a book.

"Hey baby" Jane said as she stepped behind the couch and placed a kiss on the top of Maura's head.

"Hey" Maura said and indicated for Jane to sit down next to her.

"Did Aspyn talk to you about something?" Jane asked.

Maura shook her head "She was in her room all afternoon."

"Something is up with her."
"I know."

The next day it was Maura's day off and she decided that she was trying to talk to her daughter that day. Aspyn got up late and was surprised to find her mother in the kitchen. "I'm gonna go visit Uncle Tommy" the girl said grabbing an apple.

"Okay, but be back for lunch. I want to talk to you."

"Mmmhhh" Aspyn mumbled and was already out of the house.

"Hey Uncle Tommy" Aspyn said as she arrived at the body shop where her uncle worked.

"Hey honey, everything okay?"

"Do you have time to talk?"

"I guess I can take my break now."

The two of them went to the park that was nearby. Aspyn told Tommy about her problem.

"Just tell them."

"They are going to be mad."

"Maybe. But not for long. They love you, you know that.

"Yeah but it's so embarrassing."

"Only the first time" Tommy said with a smile.

"Haha" Aspyn said tauntingly.

"No seriously, I'm speaking from experience. They may be mad but it really won't be as bad as you imagine it."
"Okay" Aspyn sighed. "I'm gonna tell them today."

Aspyn came home just in time for lunch and she didn't only find Maura waiting for her but also Jane. Aspyn let out a sigh and decided to just get it over with since both of her mothers were at home right now, which was a rare occasion and she wasn't eager to tell the story twice.

"I have to tell you something" she started. The three of them set down in the living room. Aspyn put Jo Friday on her lap. She needed something to hold on to. The girl didn't really know how to start but she eventually decided just to get to the point.

"I got an F on my physics paper and if I don't write a better one until next week I'm gonna fail the class". And then she started to cry. "I worked so hard. But I just can't get it right. Everyone can do it. I'm the only one that got an F." she sobbed.

"Oh, honey. It's okay. Come here." Jane said pulling her daughter in a hug.

"That's why you didn't talk to us?" Maura asked.

Aspyn nodded. "I thought you would be mad." the girl said between sobs.

"Oh god no, honey. It's completely normal to not be good at everything. You are not a robot, sweetie. Everything will be okay. I'm going to help you with your paper, okay?" Maura said joining the hug.