The next morning was peaceful. With Jane back, it felt like home again.
Dylan was playing with toys on the carpet and the two women sat comfortably at the couch.
Maura shifted nervously after a while of silence.
"Jane?" Maura asked, gathering her courage.
"Mmhmm?" Jane lifted her eyes from her daughter and met Maura's gaze.
"I'm so happy you're home again."
"Yeah, me too." Jane smiled.
"Those few days I saw you so pale and looking so fragile… Jane, I was so afraid I would lose you. And that made me realize all the things I should have told you and that I should never ever let a chance pass. If I lost you, I couldn't go on, I knew I wouldn't be able to be truly happy without you by my side… I love you, Jane. I love you with all of my being and even if you don't feel the same, you have to know you're loved. I wouldn't forgive myself if I lost you without telling you that." Maura said, the tone of her voice changing from sadness to tenderness and finishing with insecurity.
Jane felt tears in her eyes. "I love you too, Maura."
"You do?"
"I do, very much. And I thank god that I was given another chance to tell you that."
Maura closed the distance and pressed her lips softly to Jane's.
"Does this mean we will give us a chance?" Maura asked, her voice full of hope.
"I would love that, yeah." Jane gave her one ravishing smile and kissed her again.
Maura intertwined their fingers and cuddled closed to Jane, together watching Dylan.
Jane smirked, "What do you think? Will we make her say 'Ma' today?"
They decided to spend the afternoon in a zoo.
Maura was pushing the stroller in front of her, Jane carrying Dylan on her shoulders.
"Awwwww, look at that cute baby hare, Dylan!" Jane took her daughter closer to the fence. Dylan clapped her hands and laughed. Then she reached forward with her little hand and confusion spilled all over her face as she hit the glass. Jane chuckled.
"Actually, the right name is leveret, which is a very young hare, usually less than one year old… Did you know that all rabbits live underground in burrows or warrens, while hares live in simple nests above the ground? Hares are also generally larger than rabbits, with longer ears, and have black markings on their fur. Rabbits also have four less chromosomes-"
"Maura-. Maura-!" Jane tried to stop her. "Maur', what is it? Why are you doing your science mumbo jumbo?"
"I'm sorry, Jane…" Maura blushed and avoided Jane's gaze.
"Why are you nervous? C'mon, let it go and let's enjoy ourselves, 'kay?" Jane offered with a smile and a rub of Maura's shoulder.
Maura smiled back. "Okay."
An hour later they found themselves sitting in a Zoo Café.
"So, enjoying our little trip?" Jane asked Maura with a grin.
"Actually yes, I've been in a zoo only once before and it's refreshing to relive that experience."
"What? Only once?" Jane asked incredulously.
"Well, my parents have never been a type to go to zoos, they were… very busy." Maura dropped her gaze to Dylan sitting in her lap.
"Geez. Well, more of our dates will be in zoo from now." Jane grinned and found Maura's hand under the table.
"Is this a date?" Maura asked uncertainly.
"Well, I'm sorry madam, but you got involved with a mother of a child, so you have to cope with the said child coming to some dates." Jane said jokingly, which finally earned a laugh of the beautiful woman sitting in front of her.
"Okay, let's go! We have many more animals in front of us – and we have to see them all since you've been stolen the opportunity, Maur'!" Jane smirked and tugged at Maura's hand to get her going.
"Oh she is so cute!" Jane exclaimed at red panda's cage.
"Where do you see her? I can't find her! " Maura asked, trying to find the animal.
"There." Jane stepped close to Maura and leaned into her body, so she was pressed to Maura's back. She pointed her finger in a direction towards the red panda. "See?"
Maura enjoyed the moment and smiled, totally unfocused about finding the animal.
"Maur, do you see her? Maura?" Jane leaned back to look at her. She noticed the look on Maura's face. "Were you even trying?" She laughed.
"Uhm… Partially." Maura grinned at Jane and then turned back to find the animal. "Oh I see her now! She really is cute!"
Jane watched her with a smile on her face and Dylan still on her shoulders.
This was happiness.