Chapter 4 :

Heartbeat :

For the next two weeks Maura and Jane slowly settled in their new routine. Obviously the two women had two very different life styles : while Maura enjoyed waking up as early as possible to work out and have a healthy breakfast, as a way to start the day energized, Jane seemed to particularly enjoy waking up at the last minute and going to work without a proper breakfast.

Obviously both women had to learn to live with each other and to make compromises, well at least Jane did. Grateful for Maura's support she tried her best to keep her promise and not to interfere with Maura's advices even if it was sometimes excruciating.

Determined to do her best to help Jane have a healthy baby Maura quickly started to wake her up early right after her work out so they could have a healthy breakfast rather than having coffee and donuts at work. At first Jane couldn't stop complaining about having to eat fruits and drink tea but seeing how important it was for Maura she quickly gave up and actually started to feel more energized.

That morning around 8 am Jane finally woke up after a night spent on Maura's couch trying to close a case.

Even if Maura was trying to make her cut her work hours she knew better than trying to stop her from catching a criminal so she would just sit with her knowing that two brains were far more efficient than one.

"Morning sleepy head, how are we doing this morning?" Maura enthusiastically said as Jane walked into her kitchen her shoes in her hands.

"Not so loud, please." Jane begged sitting at the kitchen's counter immediately burying her head in her arms.

"Are you alright?" Maura asked her hand on Jane's forehead checking if she had temperature.

"I'm fine, I'm just tired." Jane groaned pushing her away.

"I warned you that you would regret staying up until 2 am." Trying not to get offended by Jane's gesture Maura knew that at some point Jane would start being reasonable, that her body wouldn't give her the choice, but in the mean time she was really enjoying lecturing her.

"I'm sorry Maura, you were right but I really needed to read those witness statement again, just to see if I had missed something you know."

"I know, but right now, it's time for breakfast, here." Maura said handing Jane's a fruit salad and a cup of tea.

"Really Maura?Do I have to eat that?" Jane pouted looking down at the mix of bananas, apple and orange slices.

"Yes you do, it's healthy and will keep you going until lunch, and don't think that I will not found out it you cheat later ."

"God woman, you're worse then my mother." Jane replied narrowing her eyebrows knowing that she wouldn't have anything else to eat.

"No, your mother would force you to ask for a desk assignment until it's time for you to go on maternity leave."

"You're right. I'm sorry for being so grumpy all the time, I know you're only doing this to help me and I'm grateful."

"You're just being yourself Jane, don't worry about it." Maura teased smiling at her friend who was obviously still adjusting to her mood swings.

"Hey!"Jane squealed gently pinching Maura's arm.

For the next half hour the two women had breakfast talking about everything but work. One of the rules Maura had tried to impose Jane was not to talk about work during breakfast, preferring to make this part of the day their " little moment."

This morning Maura could see that Jane seemed preoccupied and decided to gently try to figure out why.

"Care to share what's on your mind?" Maura asked as carefully as she could knowing that living together they were already basically 24/7 together and didn't want to invade her privacy even more.

"I was wondering or Frost or even Korsak talked to you about me moving in?"

"Actually they did, they are just a bit concerned, but it's nothing you should worry about."

"They think I'm the one having nightmares don't they?"

"Yes, they think you have been having nightmares since you killed Hoyt and that you are too proud to acknowledge it to them but I think they feel relieved that you at least confided in me and agreed to move in with me so I could help you. I'm sorry they don't believe the story we are telling them, even if it's the truth, at least partially."

"Well, they're not wrong either, I mean I have been having nightmares, but they seem to have disappeared since I moved in with you. How about yours?"

"Same, I have been sleeping much better since you moved in with me."

"Good, I'm glad they're leaving us alone, I mean I hate having to lie to them and making you lie so the more they stay out of this the better."

"You're right, I think they really respect your desire for privacy and they know that you're not alone, that you're with me and that I'm taking care of you and that's all they need to know."

"Exactly, actually I think they gave up trying to understand our relationship , you know some people actually think we're secretly married so knowing that we lived together now probably didn't surprise anyone." Jane joked taking the last bite of her breakfast.

"Well, I think people believe and see what they want to , and I personally don't care much about rumors."

"Me neither, what I care about is having to make you lie, I know how uncomfortable it makes you."

"Jane, we talked about this, technically we are not lying because we both have been having nightmares about Hoyt, we're just not revealing the entire truth and besides, as a Doctor I can not reveal any information about your health without your consent." Her hand on Jane's Maura couldn't admit it but she actually enjoyed being the only one aware of Jane's pregnancy. She knew that as soon as her family would know they would all try to help and overwhelm them and that it would be harder for them to just enjoy this experience together, just the two of them.

"Oh, so this is how you live with yourself?You hide behind Doctor/patient confidentiality, very smart Doctor."

"Exactly, speaking of which are you ready for your ultrasound?"About a week ago Maura had booked an appointment with the best OBGYN in the state and couldn't help to see Jane's embryo and hear its heart beats.

"I think I am, I have to drink lots of water before right?"Even if she didn't want to admit it Jane was actually really worried. She knew that even if she hasn't been sick or anything something could still be wrong with her baby, but she knew that as long as Maura was there holding her hand she would be able to face any news, good or bad.

"Yes, don't worry everything is going to be just fine." Trying to remain professional and reassuring Maura didn't want to worry Jane about every single bad new she could receive today, all she wanted Jane to focus on was the eventuality that they might hear the baby's heart.

"I know. I'm just worried we won't hear a heart beat, but I know….we might not be able to and it wouldn't necessarily mean that there is something wrong."

"I see you have been paying attention, I'm proud of you. And yes not hearing a heart beat doesn't mean there is something wrong, now come on let's go to work alright?"

So that morning Jane and Maura went to work and continued investigating their murder case. Around 2 pm Maura finally came to pick Jane up in the squad room pretexting a dentist appointment Jane had but refused to go to.

Half a hour later Jane was sitting on a examination table ready to have her first ultrasound.

"Jane's it's very nice to meet you, I'm Doctor Thomas, Dr Isles told me so much about you." The female Doctor said shaking Jane's hand.

"What ever she told you it's …probably true." Jane nervously replied looking around her seeing all the degrees on the walls.

"Don't worry Jane, I didn't disclose any information that weren't pertinent to your pregnancy." Sitting next to Jane holding her hand Maura was trying to be her best friend and her Doctor too, which wasn't easy.

"Alright ladies, will the father be joining us?" Dr Thomas asked her eyes in Jane's medical file.

"No, it's only Maura and I and it's gonna stay that way ." Holding Maura's hand looking at her Jane didn't feel the need to have a man with her, she had everything she needed right here.

"Alright, then let's get started."

"Yes please." Maura said feeling a tears in the corner of her eyes as she felt Jane's squeezing her hand.

"Alright Jane, this is your baby right here." Dr Thomas said pouting a small spot on her screen.

"That little peanut?" Narrowing her eye brows trying to spot her baby Jane suddenly felt extremely happy as she finally managed to see the little peanut.

"Yes, it's about 6 millimeters right now." Maura nodded looking at the screen.

"Alright, let's try to find a heart beat now, just give me a minute."

Now squeezing Maura's hand as hard as she could Jane suddenly gelt her pulse rising, her mouth drying up and her hand pounding as she was about to hear the miracle she had created affirm its presence for the first time.

"Is that…" Jane said as she suddenly hear a very distinct, strong heart beat.

"Yes it is Jane, very strong, about 130 bpm. Congratulations."Dr Thompson said seeing the obvious emotion of both Jane and Maura's faces.

"Damn, it's 's beating so fast…"Jane said tears streaming down her face.

"He's a Rizzoli of course he's strong." Kissing the top of Jane's hand unable to hold her tears Maura never felt so overwhelmed in her entire life. Her who was an only child and who hadn't had children yet, had never experienced having a friend , a sister, or even a cousin being pregnant and because it was Jane, this was even more wonderful.

"Considering what you've been forcing me to to feed him with, he's as much an Isles and he's a Rizzoli." Jane joked whipping the tears off her face.

"Well you two of you certainly seem to love each other very much, I'm sure you're going to be great parents." Watching Maura and Jane holding hands as they listened to the baby's heart beat there was no doubt for her that the two women were in this together, supporting each other.

"Thank you." Jane said not contradicting her unwilling to have to explain that she had a one night stand with an old flame and that Maura was the only person she could trust with her baby's life an health.

Still sitting next to Jane Maura didn't contradict it either, as unconventional as it sounded she didn't feel like a future aunt but really like this baby's mother. Unfortunately she knew that as much as she loved Jane she would never be nothing more than a aunt to that child, that it had a second parent, a father and that Jane would never keep it from him.

An hour later after calling Frost to inform him that Jane wasn't feeling so well drove her home.

Sitting on their couch a dvd of the ultrasound in her hand Jane was still struggling to believe it. There was actually a small tiny little human being growing inside of her, another human being who would totally depend on her, on her ability to make rational decisions and to know what was best for him or her. Holding her still flat belly Jane knew that this was going to be a challenge that having this child was going ti change her life, that she was going to have to start to think more carefully, that she couldn't afford to be reckless anymore but somehow it didn't bother her, after years of risking her life on the fields and only living for herself it was time for her to change.

"So that was quite an event…" Jane said holding the dvd in her hand still feelings shiver down her spine.

"Yes it was." Maura replied marveling at Jane's beauty, she was literally glowing, wearing the most beautiful smile. Looking at her friend being so fulfilled Maura had a feeling that this baby might be the best thing that could have happened to Jane and was happy to be there to witness her transformation.

"So about what Dr Thomas said…"Biting her lower lip Jane didn't know how to bring this up or if she even should.

"Yes, I'm sorry I should have contradicted her but I was so absorbed by the heart beats but it was wrong, you're that baby's mother and he has a father I'm just…"

"Stop right here. You might not be its biological mother but in my book you're more then just an aunt to this baby. I know that he or she has a father and I still don't know what part he's gonna play in its life but I know for sure that I want you to be a big part of it."

"And I will be, don't worry."

"No, I mean I don't want you to be the cool aunt who comes for birthdays, Thanksgivings and Christmas and who spoils him or her. I really want you to play an important part in this baby's life and education. Would be be his or her God mother?" Jane asked holding Maura's hand, looking straight in her eyes. Thinking about it Jane didn't know what part the father would play or if she wanted to play any part at all but she knew for a fact that she wanted Maura to be there for the rest of her child's life.

"I….I would be honored. I promise to take care of that child as if it were my own flesh and blood. I promise to teach him values and to always be there for him or her." Holding Jane's hand Maura for the second time today felt extremely vulnerable, invaded by more emotions than she was accustomed to.

That afternoon the two women stayed home watching the ultrasound on Maura's plasma tv over and over.

Maura couldn't help but feeling happier than she ever felt before but was also scared to death knowing that at some point the father would come into the picture. She knew that Jane didn't love him and wouldn't run to live with him but she was still worried to loose her, to loose both of them. Luckily Maura wasn't willing to let anything or anyone came between her and her little family. Over the past years many lovers and criminals tried to come between them but they all failed miserably. Maura was determined to fight for Jane, for their friendship as she had in the past, but this time it was different. Not only she was fighting for Jane but also for that little human being growing inside of her. Living with Jane over the past two weeks, holding her hair every day during her morning sicknesses, taking care of her diet, Maura got used to have her close to her but it was hearing that baby's heart beating so fast that gave her the desire and the strength to be there for them and to fight to keep them with her, even if it means standing up to who ever that father was. Living with Jane and having heard the baby's heart beats Maura was now unable to let them go or to let anyone try to break them up and was hoping that Jane felt the same.

SO guys, what do you think?Are we enjoying Maura being a pain in Jane's ass?(actually I just watched last night episode of Bones and Maura acts exactly like booth with the fruits lol...I promise I wrote this before seeing the episode!) I don't think Jane can fight Maura on this, I mean it's less painful for her to just give up and do what she says!

Also do you think It's too soon for Maura to feel that close to the baby?And how awkward was that Doctor consultation?Right?

Thanks for the nice reviews on the 3 past chapters, Im working hard not to disappoint you and next chapter is going to make you laugh, I promise!