Please see Ch 1 for disclaimers and warnings…

Maura settled the blanket around her legs and curled up against Jack's side. He was focused on his laptop, reading material spread over the end table as he tried to come up with next week's lecture for one of his classes.

She thumbed through her copy of Vogue, noting the changes in clothing colors for the spring lineups that were coming across in the featured designers. Jack's free arm pulled her closer before he went back to flipping between his slides and the articles on his lap and Maura let out a contented sigh.

He looked up from his laptop. "Comfortable?"

A contented hum was her first response as she rubbed his thigh. "This is perfect. I'm glad you could stay this afternoon."

She relished this time with him. It was all happening so quickly, but perhaps this indicated that this relationship would be different in a positive manner. The only relationship that had ever been this easy was her friendship with Jane. It was an important comparison. One she hadn't thought to find in a romantic partnership.

And being with Jack was almost effortless. Sometimes she didn't believe this was happening for her.

In fact, the only problem they had difficulty navigating were the demands of their individual lives. The longer they were together the more apparent it became that Jack's life had significant obligations. The impact made finding time to be alone together a surprising challenge; there did not seem to be a particular reason. The causes were varied and ever changing.

With one important exception.

His daughter featured, rightfully so, at the center of much of his free time.

Allie was Jack's world. Maura admired that, and time spent with Jack and Allie was enjoyable. Enjoyable or not, it made a moment like this, where she could be comfortable enough to sit quietly by his side, rare.

To be fair, her own life was equally complex. There was her career and its demands, forefront in her mind quite often, both by choice and by design. There were also her various volunteer efforts and board meetings to attend to. Maura looked at Jack's profile and admired the intense way he studied his work. The volunteer work she could perhaps curtail. Give up a seat or an advisory committee or one of the smaller, established boards. That would free up some additional weeknights.

And there was Jane. Something was off between them. Stilted. As she thought about Jane, Maura let her attention wander around the room. It was so quiet in her home today. Usually Sunday was bustling. Angela would have been in the kitchen for hours. Jane would have already been here, commandeering the remote before her brothers arrived.

But this case was grueling and along with the rest of her responsibilities, she hadn't argued when Angela had suggested they skip this week and let everyone rest. It wasn't Jack's weekend with Allie. It would be the perfect time for her and Jack to spend together and so far it was as she had hoped. Perhaps a little different than she had imagined, a bit too subdued, but still nice.

Maura could hear her clock ticking and the strike of Jack hitting his laptop keys. She wondered what Jane was up to, whether or not she actually used the day to get some rest. Jane had seemed too tired recently. There was the case, yes, but this was different. Even their usual easy working partnership seemed to be upset somehow, not in rhythm...

Feeling slightly melancholy, she shifted until she could see Jack's profile better. "How is the lecture coming?"

"Getting there. It's always a struggle to make sure I balance the information with a little bit of an entertainment hook for the freshmen." Jack leaned back and looked at her out of the corner of his eye. "Can't have them getting bored."

Maura could see the invitation in the quirk of his lips. "I can't see how they could ever find you boring." She put her magazine down and reached up to stroke his chest. "You always manage to keep me entertained."

His arm was around her and pulling her across his lap when her mobile chimed from the coffee table. His hands steadied her as she slid her leg over to straddle him, inhaling the lingering smell of his aftershave as the brush of his mouth found her lips. Maura broke the kiss briefly. "See? I'm instantly entertained."

She shivered as his hands swept up her back and his deep voice rumbled against her neck. "Happy to oblige." It was the moment that he pulled her closer that her phone chimed again.

Maura dragged her gaze to the coffee table. "I should probably…" His lips sucked where her neck met shoulder and she shivered. "…check that."

Jack raised his head long enough to capture her gaze. "You're off the clock right?" She nodded, feeling his fingers toying with the hem of her blouse. "Ignore it."

His hands were under her shirt and slipping along bare skin and she could feel herself falling into him when sudden flash of another day, another phone call, memories of Jane, Tasha, and a lost dream gave her enough steel to stiffen her spine. "I can't."

"You can't or you won't?" Maura could hear the irritation lacing his tone. She knew he was frustrated with this part of their relationship as well.

"I'm not certain it matters in this situation." Maura let out a sigh as she carefully extracted herself from his lap. Picking up the phone she unlocked it to look at the text from Jane. It was inane. Nothing urgent. A found earring. She looked back to Jack who had his hand against his forehead, jaw clenched. The damage was done.

Maura bit her lip. Why did this have to be so hard? Why did she always do this?

Maura looked at the phone in her hand. The correct thing would be to put the phone back down. Jack startled her when he abruptly got up from the couch and Maura watched him stalk off towards the bathroom. When the door was shut she couldn't help but type a quick reply.

When Jane's response came back quickly and Jack still hadn't emerged she replied, barely containing the laughter as she quickly typed out that she was fairly certain that Jo hadn't hidden it, but she'd be happy to have the lab run tests tomorrow if Jane was truly worried the dog was starting a criminal lifestyle.

She was so engrossed in waiting for Jane's reply she didn't notice Jack's return until she was staring at his legs. For whatever reason guilt made her blush and she hastily palmed the phone. "It wasn't urgent. I lost an earring over Jane's a few weeks ago and she found it today."

Jack seemed to have pushed aside his annoyance. The charming smile and quick wit were back in full force. "In that case, could I interest you in a very entertaining tour of your bedroom?"

Maura tried not to analyze the reluctance she had as she put the phone down on the coffee table and let Jack pull her to her feet.