Author's note: thank you very much for all the reviews; suggestions more than welcome (I'll try to insert them one way or another)

Chapter two: How To Hide Some Facts From Jane

The plane took off, Boston disappearing under their feet at an impressive speed. Leaned against the window, Jane sighed and closed her eyes.

"You know, Maura... When you told me the family mansion was in the countryside, you could have been more specific and let me know that you were actually talking about the Scottish countryside."

A timid smile appeared on the medical examiner's lips as she looked down at her lap, embarrassed. She shrugged, let a nervous laugh hit the air.

"I wasn't sure that you would have accepted to come with me if I had said so. But look at the bright side! You now have a full week of vacation. When was the last time you actually took days off?"

Jane opened her eyes back – stared at the seat in front of her – and pondered the question. This was not entirely wrong. Although she would have probably chosen a sunnier destination if she had to be honest. Yet she couldn't believe that her friend had convinced Cavanaugh in her back to allow her to leave for such a long time, at the last minute.

"Is that mansion haunted?"

This time, Maura burst out laughing. "Not that I know of. And as much as you will see men in kilts for the wedding, I am afraid that – during the rest of time – they wear more casual outfits. These are clichés, Jane. However Nessie..."

The brunette turned her head, widened her eyes; more surprised than anything else by the very last comment.

"You – the great scientist – believe in the monster of The Loch Ness?" Jane blinked. Now this was unexpected. Maura had a Cartesian mind. Paranormal facts didn't belong to her world.

But the smirk that timidly appeared on Maura's lips swept away her slight panic. Awesome. Maura had chosen the perfect timing to give it a try at jokes.

"Not very much, I am afraid. There might be something there – in the waters – but it is probably an animal of some sort. There are so many species that we tend to..."

Jane closed back her eyes and grabbed her pillow to pin it against the window. A nine-hour flight. If she didn't want to become a Loch Ness specialist thanks to Maura's random talk, then she had to fall asleep now.

"Champagne?"

A soft voice ruined her plans. She opened an eye – carefully enough – only to face a smiling flight attendant. Maura was already sipping on her own drink. Jane nodded and accepted the glass as well as the tapenade on toasts. Traveling First Class had its advantages, obviously.

"So, Maur'..." Not caring much about the fact she was talking with her mouth full, Jane frowned in concentration and sipped on her Champagne. "Who is your cousin getting married to? I have to say you remained rather quiet these past two weeks about it. And by that, I don't just mean the fact that the ceremony's taking place in Scotland."

Damn. How could she have skipped such a fact?

...

"Are we getting there soon? I so need to pee." So much for not going when at the airport, Rizzoli... Especially after insisting on having a beer. Jane cast a slightly desperate glance at Maura.

The honey blonde rolled her eyes and sighed before pointing out at a few houses by the window of their taxi.

"This is the village. The mansion is two-minute away from it, on the road you can see that goes up and behind the cliff."

As much as her voice betrayed anxiety, Maura kept on smiling brightly. This was not the right time to stir up doubts in Jane even if the Italian probably assumed that it was just family related. Who actually enjoyed such a gathering? It was synonym of torture for anyone who happened to have common sense; and aunts – uncles – or cousins.

"Oh! There's a lake... If I wasn't freezing my ass off and in need of a bathroom break, I would stop now to go for a walk. Can we go there during the week?"

Maura smiled at Jane's almost childish excitement. She was happy to be there with her although a tad anxious as well, to be honest. There were way too many things that the brunette ignored. Way too many statements a bit too far from the truth. Perhaps it was vain but – deep inside – the honey blonde hoped that everything would remain untold; quietly ignored.

Discretion was a great sport in her family. This tended to reassure her.

Somehow. Vaguely.

"Oh, most definitely. We have a small boat. I am sure that Laurence will be just fine lending it to us for an afternoon."

"Who's that? Another cousin?" Her curiosity piqued, Jane abandoned the contemplation of the small village as they drove through the streets and looked back at Maura.

The scientist shook her head. "One of my uncles. He is the one who lives here on a permanent basis while the rest of the family tends to visit once or twice a year. Mostly in the summer, though. When the temperatures are warmer..."

The taxi took the lonely road up the cliff – overlooking the lake – before turning on their right as an alley appeared. Jane gasped.

"Okay... Maybe you need a new dictionary, Maura... Because this is so not a mansion. It's a freaking manor." Impressed, the brunette moved on her seat and craned her neck to have a better view. She hissed. "I'm going to need a GPS to find the nearest bathroom. I'm so screwed."

Maura chuckled but suddenly straightened up as the taxi stopped by the main entrance. She opened the door – put a foot on the ground – and took a deep breath. Here she went. She had barely made it out of the car that a high-pitched voice made her jump and mumble inaudible words.

"I am getting marriiiiiiiieeeeed!"

Maura turned around – smiled brightly – and opened her arms as Apolline threw herself at the last second in the improvised embrace; her blond curls going straight into the medical examiner's eyes who made a face.

"You are, indeed... Congratulations." Maura broke the hug with difficulty, made a step backwards to properly look at her cousin. "You look fantastic!"

"Thank you, Spooky Mo'." But sharp as ever, Apolline didn't miss Jane who was clumsily waiting by Maura's side; hands in the pockets of her brand new beige pants the honey blonde had insisted on buying in Boston, claiming it was part of the whole wedding plan.

Jane tended her hand. "Hi... I mean, hello. I'm Jane. Jane Rizzoli."

Cheerful, Apolline shook the detective's hand and raised an appreciative eyebrow at Maura. "An Italian... How exotic!" The woman focused back on the brunette. "Nice to meet you. I am Apolline. Welcome to Scotland."

But the blonde's attention got suddenly caught by something happenning in Jane's back and within a second – without excusing herself – she ran to a woman who was carrying a giant bouquet of white lilies. "Molly! Hadn't we agreed on getting the flowers by Tuesday? They won't look so fresh if we get some today..."

"So that was Apolline." Maura smiled at Jane apologetically.

"I saw that... Spooky Mo'." The Italian smirked. Five minutes in and she was already finding out – rather deliciously – one of the scientist's ridiculous nicknames. Obviously, this week would be as fantastic as the Champagne on the flight had been.

"Good morning, Miss."

A butler in his sixties showed up out of nowhere, scaring Jane to death. He was as pale as a ghost – although rather elegant – and since Maura offered him a bright smile, the brunette assumed that he was indeed alive; and harmless.

"Good morning, Charles. How are you?"

With a gesture highlighting years of experience, the man grabbed their suitcases and walked back to the large house.

"I am fine, Miss."

Silence. Jane raised an eyebrow. A man of very few words, obviously. Feeling intimated, she simply followed her friend – and the butler – inside the mansion. They took the stairs to the third floor and turned on their left, walking down a long – dark – corridor. Old family portraits were hanging there on the walls, contrasting sharply with the music blaring from downstairs and the smell of chicken – roasted one – escaping from the kitchen.

In spite of appearances, the house was very much alive.

Charles finally stopped and opened a door inviting both women to come in. They obliged. The room overlooked the lake that spread a bit further down the cliff; a thin fog floating above the waters. The scene was almost mystical if Jane had to be honest. Somewhat frightening. Not so inviting anymore.

The butler left.

"This place would be perfect for an episode of American Horror Story."

Maura smiled at the comment – took her stilettos off – and walked barefoot to the window where Jane was standing. She observed the landscape and sighed heavily.

"I was more thinking about Wuthering Heights but now you are saying..."