A/N: So upon writing chapter one, I did have a few ideas floating in the back of my mind, but your overwhelming response and encouragement certainly had me developing them faster, and I can't thank you all enough. So enjoy installment number two :]
"Is he sleeping?"
"Yes."
"Do you think he'll stay asleep for a while?"
"Well, he has slept through the past three nights," Maura reasons, crawling into bed beside Jane. She snuggles up against the pillows, grinning as Jane swoops in for a kiss. Jane brings her thumb up to Maura's cheek, stroking the soft skin, never breaking the kiss. Maura lets out a tiny moan, the simple action bringing her inexplicable pleasure.
"Well, then it just might be our lucky night," Jane winks, a delayed response to Maura's words. She fumbles with the buttons of Maura's blouse, not so carefully yanking the material away.
Maura's heart pounds wildly as Jane fingers skim the underside of her bra, both of their hearts pounding harder than necessary. Though they've certainly explored the more physical side of their relationship in the past month, they haven't had much of an opportunity to take it too far. Maura quivers with pleasure as Jane sneaks a finger beneath the underwire of her bra, more than ready to let Jane have her, though still struck with a bundle of nerves at the prospect of their proper 'first time.'
It hadn't take them long to fall into a romantic relationship. The night at the Dirty Robber had escalated into so much more than either of them had anticipated. Though Jane had merely grabbed hold of her hand, such an innocent, simple action, Maura had overanalyzed the influx of possibilities that assaulted her mind, at last surfacing after years of speculation.
Both woozy from exhaustion and the couple drinks they had downed, Maura had yanked Jane into the back of the car upon leaving the bar, pinning her down to the seat. She hovered over her, mustering the courage to follow through with her spontaneous actions.
"I have a feeling you don't want to take that nap anymore," Jane laughed a little nervously, reaching to tuck a curl behind Maura's ear. She grinned up at her, and Maura became dizzy for a moment as Jane's breath splashed over her face.
"You are correct. I do have something else in mind." She bent down, brushing a kiss against the corner of Jane's mouth, gaging her reaction.
Jane turned her face, completing the kiss. She tasted like beer and something else that Maura couldn't name but would soon grow to savor. It was a gentle kiss, and they both pulled away before all reason was swept away.
"I've wanted to do that for a long time now," Maura had confessed, her heart pounding erratically against Jane's chest.
"Yeah, me too," Jane admitted, a wave of relief washing over both of them, glad to have their feelings mutually confirmed.
It was almost too easy, falling into a romantic relationship with Jane, and the fact that it hardly changed anything frightened Maura in the beginning. How could something so perfect come without a price? Was it destined to backfire? Would the hardships come tumbling in at a later point in time?
But the more Maura analyzed it, the more she realized it didn't have to be any more complicated than they were making it. They could not even begin to compare themselves to a normal couple. Many couples started a relationship with the intention of finding love, weighed down by expectations and social standards. Maura and Jane had just happened upon each other. They hadn't even sought friendship from each other, but instead it had naturally settled into place, the connection between the two so innate that they had not even had to put any effort into their relationship.
Maura knew that she could not go comparing her relationship with Jane to others, because she had come to the realization just how rare it was for someone to happen upon their soulmate. While many people found love, Maura knew that not so many people were as lucky as her, who had found the one person who had become her absolute everything. The term 'other half' had never fully registered in Maura's mind until she had found hers, and it was just not a phrase coined by society when it applied to Jane and Maura. They truly fulfilled each other in every sense of the matter.
"Jane," she sighs, her name escaping her lips in a breathy wisp. Jane all too eagerly clamps her mouth against Maura's, fully bringing Maura into the moment. "You..." her voice trails off as Jane's hand cups her breast. "You too," she insists, managing to tug at the hem of Jane's shirt.
She wants them both exposed; she wants to feel Jane's skin the way Jane is feelings hers. It takes Jane a moment to tug herself away, letting Maura reach to peel her shirt away from her skin, reaching for the elastic band of her sports bra in the same motion to save herself the trouble later. Maura's own bra is next to go, followed by Jane's pants. Then Maura's pants. And then finally their panties join the sporadic piles on the floor.
Jane pants as she hovers over Maura, sensing a slight hesitance as she bends down to kiss her again. "Is everything okay?" She holds a trembling hand against Maura's cheek.
"You're gorgeous, Maur," Jane assures her, trailing a hand down her naked torso. "And I love doing this. I love touching you...but I'm tired," she admits, looking bashful and guilt ridden. "I'm so fucking tired." She collapses against Maura, tears threatening to spill from her eyes.
"Shh, shh," Maura soothes, holding Jane against her, letting her fingers dance against her bare back. "It's okay, Jane."
"It's not like we have many opportunities to do this," Jane mutters apologetically, her body quivering against Maura's as she continues to fight tears.
"And we're not about to force it just because we happen to have the time," Maura reasons with her. "It will happen when its meant to happen," she assures her, tugging back the comforter as she beckons Jane to slide beneath it with her. " I'm tired too, Jane," she sighs reassuringly, and she can feel Jane's muscles relax, her worry melting away.
Jane nods, curling against Maura, and sleep quickly claims them.
XXX
Of course, they're both still naked when Henry's cry spills through their doorway a mere few hours later.
"I'll go," Maura mutters rising from beneath the covers, missing the warmth of Jane's body almost immediately. Jane stirs, rousing herself as she watches Maura leave the bed.
Maura catches Jane admiring her naked form as she roots around for her robe, a hint of blush rising to her cheeks. As she tugs her robe against her bare skin, she registers Jane's lustful eyes, she's just about tempted to let the baby fend for himself. Of course, the moment they can't have is the one she'd like to seize.
"I'll be back in a minute," she promises, her voice thick with seduction.
She slips into Henry's room, which is now painted a pale shade of green with a Classic Pooh border edging the ceiling. In the past month, they've become more of mothers rather than simply surrogate guardians, and their home has slowly become filled with the necessary baby items and baby proofing equipment that they had ignored the need for before. Maura glances at the digital clock by the changing table. 1am. He's barely been asleep for five hours now, and she begins to rub his back, humming softly to try to coax him back to sleep before she resorts to feeding him.
Less than five minutes later, she's greeted by the heavy sound of his even breaths. Smiling triumphantly, she pads slowly out the door, waiting outside for a solid minute to make sure she has not left prematurely.
Jane's still awake when she enters their bedroom – she loves the simple fact that it's not just her bedroom now. Jane's bare shoulder pokes out from beneath the comforter, and she sheds her bathrobe, leaving it in a heap on the floor.
"He asleep?" Jane mutters, though Maura knows that her thoughts are far from their baby right now.
"Mhmm. Just rubbed his back a little, and he got himself back to sleep," she updates her, peeling the comforter away from Jane's body.
"I'm not tired anymore." Jane's face breaks out into a wry grin.
Maura captures Jane's lips in her own. "Neither am I."
XXX
They're up early the next morning, glowing in the aftermath of their lovemaking. Maura hums as she enters the kitchen, wearing nothing but one of Jane's oversized t-shirts. Jane follows closely behind, clad in Maura's bathrobe. Henry's still asleep, and though they know they should be as well, they relish the simple moment they have to themselves.
Maura puts the coffee on, reaching for Jane once again. Her lips dance over the other woman's, but before she can plant them, the back door swings open.
"Oh." Angela's voice is soft and a bit flustered.
Jane and Maura fly apart, Maura blushing furiously, and Jane cursing like a sailor. Neither of them had been expecting her this early.
"I'll just leave now, sorry for interrupting," Angela quickly amends, reaching for the door knob.
"No, Ma, it's not...it's not what it looks like," Jane feebly explains, because this really isn't the way she wanted her mother to find out she was a lesbian.
"Oh, it's not? Because usually I avoid coming here during, you know, certain hours, just in case I'd be interrupting," she explains with a slight eyebrow raise.
"You know?" Jane's mouth drops open, and Maura inches a little closer to her, not sure what she'd say even if she were able to edge a word in. "How long have you known?"
"Since you two argued over what color to paint Henry's room. Well, before then, probably, but it just hit me then, watching you two argue like a married couple. And then I thought about how neither of you had put up much of a fit about sacrificing your entire lives to raise a baby together. And then I just figured a lot had been going on behind closed door that I hadn't realized," she finishes with a shrug, looking almost shocked that neither of them reasoned that she had known.
"So you're not...mad?" Jane can't find the appropriate word, but she hardly expected her mother to be so nonchalant about her being in a relationship with another woman.
"How could I be mad? You're happier than I've seen you in years and more settled than I could have ever hoped for. And Maura's lovely – I've never had a complaint there, have I?" Here, Maura blushes, glancing appreciatively over at Angela. "And you've given me the grand-baby I've always wanted. What more could a mother ask for?"
Jane reaches for Maura's hand, a mutual wave of relief washing over them.
"Thanks, Ma," she mouths as her mother slips out the door.
XXX
"Maura and I are dating."
Since her mother knows, Jane figures she might as well just inform everyone at this point. The word 'dating' hardly sounds appropriate as it leaves her lips, however. But really, without a marriage certificate, what else can you call living with the love of your life as you raise a baby together?
"Yep, figured that much," Frost mutters with a chuckle, bouncing Henry on his knee. The baby grins, always delighted when he gets to see his Uncle Frostie. Jane knows they'll have to find a daycare for him soon, but she's found she likes having him close by down at the watchful eye of the station.
"Can't say I'm surprised." Korsak lifts his glance from the file he's reading for a brief moment as he acknowledges Jane's declaration.
Jane's shocked, when she expected the reaction to be switched. Had Maura and she been the only clueless ones all these years? As neither of her partners further question her, her confession brushed off as yesterday's news, she wonders just how they'd been placing bets on this.
XXX
It had been Maura's turn to go grocery shopping, and she balances as many bags as she can in her grasp, doing her best to save her multiple trips from her car to the kitchen. As she kicks open the back door, she's greeted by the splitting sound of Henry's wails. She haphazardly places the groceries on the countertop, following the source of the cries into Henry's room.
She finds Jane in the rock chair, trying to console the baby with no avail. "He won't stop," she whispers hoarsely, and Maura can tell she's been crying as well. "I don't know what's wrong. He won't stop."
She reaches for the baby, as if her touch will somehow be more effective than Jane's. She rocks him gently, shushing him softly, her brow creasing when he only screams all the more before it hits her. "I'll be right back."
Jane doesn't have time to question her as she hurries into the kitchen, pulling an ice cube out of the freezer and placing it into a plastic baggy. She hurries back to Henry's room, coaxing the ice cube into the baby's mouth. After a minute, he's sucking contently on the cube, a gentle sigh shuddering through his body.
"Our little man is just getting his teeth," Maura assures Jane gently with a relieved smile. "You didn't do anything wrong. We'll have to get him some teething rings tomorrow."
Jane nods, watching as Henry's eyes flutter shut almost immediately as he's overcome with relief and exhaustion. She places him gently into his crib, prying the bag gently away from his fingers. Jane collapses against the floor, a heavy breath escaping her as she sits against the carpet.
"Are you okay, Jane?" Maura mutters, joining Jane on the floor as she snakes her arms gently around the other woman's waist.
It takes Jane a moment to answer. "I was so scared today," she admits. "And you hadn't even been gone for that long – just makes me realize how much I need you," she concludes softly.
"I'm right here," Maura assures her, gently brushing her hair behind her shoulder.
"Sometimes I still wake up and wonder what it would be like if we didn't have him," Jane dares to mumble. "I never thought much about being a mother, and then this all just happened so quickly. I sometimes don't think I'll be enough for him."
Maura tuts softly in disapproval. "You're a wonderful mother, Jane, and your concern only proves that."
"Yeah, but I still get so damn scared sometimes," Jane sighs, leaning her weight against Maura.
"All mothers do, Jane, whether they planned for years and years to have a child, or whether they were saddled unexpectedly with the task. It's all so new, and its never quite what you expected. Even I get scared," Maura confesses.
The pair is silent for a moment as they listen to the peaceful sound of their baby breathing.
"You know," Jane breaks the silence. "I was thinking today, we still haven't decided what Henry's gonna call us."
"He is approaching the age that most babies do begin to form simple words such as 'momma' or 'dadda,'" Maura noted. "I suppose choosing a different form of 'mother' for each of us would be the best way to go."
"Yeah, I was thinking about that – but would it be weird, considering that he's either my nephew or my brother?" Jane brings up the topic they had still not bothered to clarify. "I mean, if he's my brother, calling me Mom would be pretty scarring, wouldn't it?" She laughs weakly.
"He doesn't have to know – he would never have to know," Maura reasons. "Since we don't know who his father is, we can simply leave it that way. I know that it is a bit unsettling when you think too much about it, but honestly, does it matter? He's your son now, Jane, regardless of his biological relationship to you."
Jane smiles softly. "So what forms of 'mom' do we have to choose from?"
"I considered being 'Momma,'" Maura answers. "And I thought perhaps you'd like to be Ma."
"Oh, hell, no, there is no way I'm turning into my mother," Jane immediately protests before realizing her voice is too loud. She glances over at the crib to make sure she hasn't roused Henry.
"Well, when you come up with a motherly nickname that's not too close to Momma, be sure to inform me," Maura states.
Jane only glowers.
XXX
"How was your afternoon out?" Jane greets Maura, raising an eyebrow at the vast amount of shopping bags she has arranged up her arms.
"Lovely. I'd forgotten how much I enjoyed a good trip to the mall," she gushes, reaching inside one of the bags. "Did you know that J Crew has a children's section? I had to stop myself from buying every item." She holds up a posh little sweater vest and khaki pants. Jane rolls her eyes. "And they should fit soon. Can you believe he's over a year old?"
"Yeah, feels like just yesterday that we'd been left with a baby on our doorstep," Jane mutters sarcastically, though her tone is a bit sentimental.
"How was your and Henry's afternoon?" Maura abandons her shopping bags and positions herself on the floor beside the pair. Henry pulls a slobbery train from his mouth, eagerly shoving it in Maura's direction. Jane watches her take the 'gift,' holding the saliva coated toy in her hands without a second thought. For how neat and prim Maura can come off as, there is no bodily fluid that can phase her in the least. After all, she can dissect a bowel obstruction and examine a body reeking of decay without batting an eyelash, so dirty diapers and spit up must seem pleasant in comparison.
"We had a great time. Had some mac and cheese for lunch – and a banana," she quickly assures Maura at her disapproving eyebrow raise. She's grateful that Maura is so health conscious about their child's diet, because she can't help but to want the absolute best for him, but an occasional non-organic, processed food item is certainly not going to kill him. Jane is sure as hell not going to deprive her kid of mac and cheese.
"Momma," Henry grins, inching himself over to Maura's eagerly opened arms, and Jane finally understands what it means to feel her heart melt as she gazes at the two. Henry tucks his head into the crevice of Maura's neck, and she brings her hand to his tangle of dark curls that neither of them can bear to cut.
"Hey, Henry, want to show Momma what you learned today?" Jane earns the baby's attention, and Maura flips him around in her lap, looking impressed at Jane's declaration.
"Momma," Henry repeats, placing his hand against Maura's cheek as grins up at her.
"And where's your Ma?" Maura encourages, averting her attention over to Jane.
"Ma," he grins, pointing a chubby finger in Jane's direction.
"So tell Momma what you learned today," Maura croons, and Jane was quite certain she'd never see the day when Maura indulged in baby talk – it was a struggle for her at first, to lower her intellectual way of speaking to conform to the infant, but just like any mother, Maura had naturally adopted the habit.
"Come here, Jo," Jane whistles, earning the terrier's attention from across the room. The little dog scampers over toward her owner, eager for attention. "Henry, can you tell Momma what kind of animal Jo is?" Jane encourages, scooping Jo into her lap.
"Goggy!" Henry claps his hands together in delight.
"That's right, Henry," Jane praises. "Jo's a doggy. And what do doggies say?" Henry greets her with silence, so Jane aids him with a hint. "Woof woof? Can you say 'woof woof,' Henry?"
"Oof oof," Henry repeats, grinning up at Jane. Maura laughs lightly, impressed by their progress.
"Okay, Henry, can you tell me what Bass is?" Jane points toward the tortoise burrowed in his shell a few feet away. "What kind of animal is Bass?" She grins a bit wryly as she waits with bated breath for Henry to answer.
"Dutel!" he finally announces, clapping his hands together once again.
Maura wrinkles her brow, shooting Jane a somewhat befuddled glance, as if she heard the word wrong.
"Say it again for Momma," Jane insists, pointing toward Bass again.
"Dutel," he obediently speaks, and this time, Maura fully processes what Jane has done, her face contorting in an expression of horror and disapproval.
"Oh, you didn't," she accuses, narrowing her eyes, and Jane merely confirms it with a wolfish grin. "Henry, no, no, no. That's not a turtle. He's a tortoise. Tortoise," Maura emphasizes. "Can you say tortoise?" She points towards Bass.
"Dutel!" Henry shrieks again, grinning up at Maura for approval.
Maura lets out a frustrated sigh, rolling her eyes in Jane's direction, who has still not bothered to wipe the grin off her face. "Oh, you are so going to pay for this."
"Am I?" Jane laughs, not the least bit phased by Maura's threat.
"You know how particular I am about proper nomenclature," Maura issues a final warning, which of course only eggs Jane on.
"Tomorrow I thought I'd teach him to call your Louboutins 'Jimmy Choos'," she barks out a laugh, a bit smug as Maura's face continues to morph in annoyance.
"That's it. Hand me my laptop," Maura demands, eyeing the Macbook on the coffee table. She places Henry on the floor, handing him back his plastic train.
Jane nudges it toward her, an expression of confusion sweeping across her face, which immediately shifts to suspicion. "Why? What are you going to do? Because ordering another organic baby food maker or whatever isn't going to phase me. I fully support a healthy Henry."
"Oh, no, the Baby Bullet is sufficient enough. Though I am ordering something for Henry." Henry looks up from his trains at the mention of his name, wondering what all the fuss is about. Jane peers over Maura's shoulder as she opens up Amazon in a tab, watching curiously as she begins to type.
Baby New York Yankees apparel. Jane's jaw drops in shock as Maura taps the enter key, her eyes immediately assaulted by a slew of pint-sized atrocities. "You wouldn't dare."
"Watch me," Maura raises an eyebrow, clicking on one of the appalling onesies.
And all at once, Jane tackles her to the ground, smacking the laptop shut in the process.
"Oof," Maura grunts, trying to shove Jane off of her with no avail. Jane keeps her pinned tightly to the ground.
"I was merely joking," Maura protests, slightly winded.
"Really?"
"No."
"Momma?" Henry has abandoned his trains, hesitantly crawling over to his mothers.
Jane releases Maura, scooping the boy up in her arms as she lets him see that Maura is unharmed. "Your Momma is crazy," she chuckles, kissing his rosy cheek.
"No, your Ma is the crazy one," Maura counters as she pulls herself up from the carpet, inching toward the pair.
"Dutel," says Henry, watching as Bass makes an appearance from his shell.
A scowl decorates Maura's face, but Jane merely ignores it as she covers it with her own lips.
A/N: So this is really all I have planned for the time being, but I'm certainly not going to abandon it completely just yet. Jane and Maura still need to get married, after all ;) One of my reviewers suggested that I take a 'time jump' approach to this and focus on little snapshots of their life with Henry, so as the ideas come to me, I'll be sure to add more. And if you guys have anything specific in mind you'd like to read about, just let me know. Thanks again :]
