Jane thought how much she loved their house, gazing out over the backyard. They had lived here almost a year and still she couldn't help the contented sigh that would escape her chest the minute she walked through the door. She couldn't have known she would feel like this, that how she felt about Maura would grow, could grow and she would get to have this. THIS, she thought to herself, a person to love her, worry about her, make her laugh, make her better, make her want to be all those things for her. Jane sighed, Frankie was right, she might be getting soft. Oh, well, it was worth it. She finished the dishes up before shutting the lights and heading down to the bedroom.

Her eyes land on Maura as she walks quietly into the room. Taking in the sight before her she can't help but smile even wider.

Maura was sitting up on their pillows, a medical journal propped up on her knees, and Joe Friday curled at her feet. What made Jane smile more was what her normally designer dress girlfriend was currently wearing to bed.

There was the faded navy, long sleeved shirt Barry and Vince had gotten her for Christmas a couple of years ago that said, "Queen of the Dead" on the front put together with ancient Red Sox boxer shorts. Her hair was piled up in a bun on the top of her head, wild blonde hairs escaping around her face.

Jane chuckled wiping her hands on her pajama bottoms, "Maura, what are you wearing? Have my questionable fashion choices rubbed off on you?"

Maura finished up what she was reading and looked down at herself, not bothering to hide her small smile. Her grin broadens as she looks up at Jane.

"Hmmm, how do you explain your pajamas?"

Jane absently looks down and realizes she's wearing the dark blue bottoms of a pair of Maura's silk pajamas and a grey t-shirt Frost had gotten her as a joke that said 'I heart medical examiners'".

"OK, maybe I'm in no position to say anything." Jane says chuckling.

"Why do you even wear those? In the more than two years we have been together I've bought you a half dozen perfectly lovely pairs of pajamas and you insist on that." Maura says playfully exasperated.

Jane fingers the tie of her bottoms as she walks closer to the bed, "says the woman wearing ratty cotton boxers," she mutters under her breath.

"Hey, I heard that," Maura swats Jane on the shoulder as she nears the bed, "And I still think that t-shirt should say 'I heart a medical examiner', not multiple." She says this laughing, putting the journal on her bedside table. She moves to lay on her side facing Jane as she stretches out along Maura. Jane kisses Maura on the nose, the mouth, lays her hand on her hip.

"Aww, Maura, these are my favorites and for that matter you have dozens of matching pajamas and yet here you are in Red Sox boxers and that ridiculous shirt the guys gave you."

Maura tucks a wayward brown curl behind Jane's ear, looks down, "If you must know, I wasn't sure you were coming home tonight so when I sleep alone I wear the boxers. They were the first gift you ever gave me, before we were even dating and they make me feel," Maura pauses searching for the right word, settles on, "safe and well, I have no excuse for the shirt. It makes me smile." She leans in and leaves a small kiss on Jane's lips.

Jane snorts, inching herself closer. She rubs her thumb gently along the soft cheek of her girlfriend, smiling into her eyes.

"Aww, that's sweet. Do you know why I love these pajama bottoms?"

Maura shakes her head.

"Remember in the beginning, when we first got together?"

Maura nods, not understanding.

"We didn't 'sleep' a lot?" Jane says, a blush starting to creep up her neck. "We spent a lot of time not wearing pajamas." Jane raises her eyebrows.

"Oh, right." Understanding dawning on the doctor, a laugh escaping her lips, delicious visions of tangled limbs, warm skin, fingers, hands, lips moving through her head. "Welllll…we were making up for lost time." Maura mutters laying a kiss below Jane's ear causing a shiver.

"You'll get no complaints from me." Jane says smiling slyly and leaning forward to kiss Maura square on the mouth.

They are quiet for a few moments, when Jane breaks the silence.

"Do you remember the Connareo case?" She asks quietly.

Maura nods, she did. It had been a horrible case. Two dead children and their dead mother assaulted in a senseless home invasion. The whole team had worked night and day to solve the case. It had weighed heavily on them all. Maura looked up into Jane's eyes, it had been especially hard on Jane.

"The first time I wore these pajamas was then. We were in the middle of it and just couldn't work anymore. We needed to rest. I dragged you back to your house to sleep, rest, to begin to heal. All I wanted to do was close my eyes and feel you, smell you around me, hold you. And we went to lay down and I had no pajamas. I had other clothes, shoes and stuff at your place but no pajamas. We laughed about it. Do you remember?" Jane pauses.

Maura grins, wondering where Jane is going with this, she remembered. They hadn't needed or wanted pajamas, always making love, craving skin, falling asleep tangled in heaps of sweaty skin. Their attraction even now still burned a fiery path through Maura but the desperation was gone, the idea that what they had might disappear had ebbed. In its place was love, a solid devotion to each other. Jane and her presence were a fact in Maura's life.

Jane hooked her fingers under Maura's chin, bringing her eyes back up, "You gave me these to wear along with a grey tank top, something about needing my bare arms holding you."

Maura smirks, "I remember…"

"So these pajama bottoms are my Red Sox boxers: comfort, safety, you. Plus that was the day I knew I wanted forever with you. I didn't admit it out loud but I knew."

Maura smiles a sweet smile Jane knows is only for her.

They are silent, looking at each other, tucking hairs, leaving kisses, and rubbing noses. Not wanting to break the mood, but feeling compelled, "Jane?" Maura asks shyly.

"What, baby?"

"Have you ever thought…do you think you might want to make this official?"

Jane is leaving a kiss on Maura's eyebrow, "Hmmm? Make what official?"

Maura sighs and winds her arms more fully around Jane.

"Well we bought this house and live here and you are my forever and I am yours and…" Maura trails off unsure. Everything was so wonderful, lovely even. Jane was everything she could hope for: funny, cranky, beautiful, sarcastic, kind, loyal, tender and Maura got to thinking she might like to make vows and promises in front of the people they loved followed by a celebration, maybe in their backyard.

Maura brought herself back to Jane's thoughtful gaze, her fingertips trailing along her chin, collarbone. "Jane, make us official. I'd like to marry you." Maura finishes quietly.

Jane smiles slowly, "Really? You'd like to marry me?"

"I would." She kisses Jane lightly.

"Well then, I believe I accept your proposal." She answers solemnly after a few moments rubbing Maura's nose with her own, leaving a soft kiss. "Even if you are wearing ridiculous pajamas." Jane laughs.

Maura punches Jane in the arm.

"Actually…" Jane turns away from Maura and rummages in her bedside table. Turning back around she tugs Maura up so they are facing each other cross-legged amongst the sheets and pillows of their bed. Jane extends her closed fist towards Maura.

Maura's face is puzzled; Jane can't help the smile as she takes in the "Queen of the Dead" shirt one more time.

She clears her throat suddenly feeling the emotions filling up her chest. "Actually," she begins quietly, "I've wanted to marry you for awhile. Its just that I didn't want to push."

She pushes her free hand through her unruly curls, Maura scoots closer, helping to push stray hairs behind her ears.

"I mean we live here in a house we own together and you are you and I am me and we are a family unit." Jane is gesturing widely now.

Maura interrupts, "You are starting to sound like me when I get nervous," she leans forward and kisses her detective soundly. "Spit it out."

Jane grins into the eyes of the doctor, "I want to marry you right back. Make our promises in front of our friends and family. In our backyard. This summer. Will you?" She thrusts her closed fist towards Maura again, turning it over and uncurling her fingers.

Maura drags her eyes away from Jane's dancing brown eyes to her hand.

In it is a gold band with two sapphires surrounding a single diamond.

"It was my great-grandmother's…Ma gave it to me last month, I was going to give it to you for your birthday but…" Jane trails off as Maura brings her eyes back up to Jane's.

She cocks her head to the side, "Jane, I love it. Yes. Put it on?"

Jane nods and reaches out to slide the ring gently on Maura's ring finger, and brings that hand to her heart. They silently stare at each other for a few moments, digesting what has just gone on.

Maura sits up on her knees and wraps her arms around Jane's neck, squeezes, "This Medical Examiner is glad you love her."

They dissolve into giddy laughter onto the bed, relieved, excited.