Author's note: Thank you very much for all the reviews and the birthday wishes - I'm glad to see that you're liking this story so far even if it may be a bit different from what I usually write.

Fog

The fog that floated over Boston echoed the fog that reigned over her heart. She couldn't see one thing. Not even the cherry tree in the patio of her house. Not even Jane's smiles. The world had disappeared and the city had turned quiet. Muffled sounds. Invisible buildings.

Incomprehensible feelings.

"Perfect weather for a murder."

Absent-minded voice. She looked down after a while, a bit disoriented. The mug of tea that she was holding was still hot. It felt nice against the palm of her hands. Comforting.

She was losing Jane. Little by little. She knew it. She could feel it deep inside and it left her completely disarmed. She didn't understand: why now, why them. Were her feelings to blame? Had Jane guessed? She tried to focus but the fog was too thick. Besides, she was scared to face a truth that she wouldn't like.

They still saw each other. They still hung out together. But something was off. Something had broken and there was a distance between them now. An invisible one.

"It won't last."

Nothing ever lasts.

Even sadness comes and goes.

"Do you want to spend the night? It isn't safe to drive right now." Be reasonable. Please. Be reasonable for once. Silence. "Jane?"

Endless seconds in the passing of time. Doubts. Jane would have answered her right away not so long ago. She would have sounded happy and fine. But it was different now. Everything was different. She was nothing but silences. Nothing but whispers.

Please, stay. Stay with me. Stay here. Don't leave this house. You have no idea how cold it feels when you aren't around.

"I don't know."

Maura held back a sigh. She closed her eyes briefly then she walked to the living-room, to the couch where Jane was sitting. It only took her six steps to close the distance between them but the gap seemed wider.

Unbearable.

Dangerous.

"Do you think we lead normal lives?"

The question had its effect. Jane looked up and she stared at Maura as if she had just lost her mind. She shook her head, swept the question away with her hand.

"What?! Ugh. You've been talkin' to ma' again, right? How many times have I told you to not do that, Maura?"

Even the way Jane said her name sounded different. It lacked a thousand sweet feelings and only highlighted dark ones. Anger. Annoyance. Frustration. Maura looked down at her feet. The fog outside weighed on the house. She could feel it against her back. It was heavy and damp. Cold.

"No, I haven't."

She missed Jane's sorry face because of the fog in her brain. She missed how Jane shrugged, how she tried to find a honest answer to a not so easy question.

"What's normality anyway?"

Jane's voice betrayed a latent nervousness but Maura mistook it for something else. She sat down on the couch nonetheless. There, just next to Jane. Then she cast a glance at the fog again.

A shadow moved out on the street. A passer-by? What kind of person would want to go out right now?

"Normality is the exact opposite of what I am. I'm probably the least normal person you'll ever meet in your life."

Maura leaned her head backwards. She closed her eyes then she sighed. Not a sigh of relief but a sigh of bitterness. Cruel mistake because if she had looked at Jane then she would have noticed the whirl of emotions in her dark eyes.

The long hesitation before her to talk again.

"I like the way you are. I'm glad you've made it into my life."

Jane reached for Maura. Without any warning. Within a second. She took her in her arms and she planted a quiet kiss on her cheek. She wouldn't let go of her. She would keep on holding her tightly.

Maura should have smiled but she would remain still instead. Because of that fog, because her life wouldn't make sense anymore.

Because of Jane.

The compliment had reached her heart. It had rushed to her brain and it had embraced her soul. Then why? Why did she keep on feeling lonely? Why would the fog not clear?

Why?

"I wish I were normal at times. I wish..." Maura opened her eyes again. She looked at Jane and she shook her head. The words wouldn't pass her lips. She would swallow them back. "I don't think we lead normal lives."

But Jane's arms were comforting. And warm. They soothed Maura's insecurities and they made her feel alive.

It wasn't normality. Friends didn't behave like that.

Maura knew it.

But in the fog nobody would notice the mere thing and if that fog was only temporary then Maura had to make the best out of it.

Jane leaned her head on top of Maura's. She closed her eyes. She smiled.

"Then so be it."

She would spend the night. She wouldn't leave and drive in the fog. She would stay against Maura instead and it would feel fine. So fine.