A/N: Thanks to all who are reading and reviewing. Hope you like the update I just blasted through it being that it is the weekend. Let me know what you guys think. And everyone knows characters are not mine yadda yadda.
It was later in the afternoon when Jane finally found Maura at the park. She was standing in line at an ice cream stand with Constance by her side. Constance seemed to have asked Maura something because Jane could see Maura using what Jane liked to call "sermon hands". Jane realized this after watching those weird late night Christian shows, that when Maura would explain something she would use her hands to make a point, much like those preacher guys would do. She didn't mind the "sermon hands" or the lesson that came along with them. Jane found it completely adorable how Maura could take a simple statement or question and make it into a study session for Jane. She would never tell Maura but through the years Jane had learned more from those conversations she pretended not to listen to, than with all of the other kids combined.
So here stood Jane watching Constance and Maura interacting. She was ecstatic to see Maura so happy but she was also sad. Sad because maybe Sean was right; maybe Maura was detaching herself from Jane, on her way to moving on, forgetting. She was distraught over having to tell Maura she was leaving but she was more upset over the thought of not being with her anymore. Knowing there would be no more lessons on the benefits of eating healthier. No more watching Maura dissect and label disgusting, smelly worms and frogs. Jane wanted to cry so badly. Her throat hurt from swallowing back her tears.
Jane continued to watch until Maura caught sight of Jane and waved her over. She waved back and wiped her runny nose with the back of hand as she made her way to the both of them. As she neared she caught the end of what Maura was saying and Jane knew exactly what Maura was telling her mother. She remembered Maura telling her it the same thing once. They were eating ice cream together and Jane had merely stated out loud that whoever made ice cream was a genius. Which led to Maura telling her something about china and "ice men" and then something about the 1930's and WWII. How the war made returning soldiers want ice cream so stores started selling it. Jane couldn't remember too much since she sort of tuned out Maura because her focus was on that delectable frozen treat.
"Hey!" Jane greeted Maura. In return Maura held up a finger to silently tell Jane to hold on. Maura softly grabbed her mother's forearm and told her she was going to save her a seat at a nearby bench. Constance nodded in acknowledgment.
They both walked hand in hand over to the bench and took a seat. "I see that the talk with your Mom went really well?" Jane asked with a genuine smile.
Even if she wanted to, Maura didn't hold back her smile. She put her head down to speak to Jane so no one would notice her talking. "Exceptionally well Jane! Better than I thought it would go. She wants to be there for me. That something made her realize she was doing something wrong. I believe her this time." She spoke before lifting up her head to look Jane in the eyes.
Noticing Jane's red and teary eyes, Maura mistook it for elation on her behave, so again she bent her head down and went on, "AND the best part is she WANTS to come to the aquarium with us! Isn't that great?"
Jane could only return a closed lip smile before she reached for Maura's hand again and readied herself to tell Maura she was leaving. But before she could get anything out Constance came up. And so Jane decided she would wait until later when they were alone.
While walking over to her daughter Constance could tell from Maura's mannerisms that Jane was there. And believing she was on the way to getting rid of Jane Constance decides for once to play along. "I didn't know Jane was joining us? I would have gotten another ice cream for her if I would have known." she professes which receives a radiant smile from Maura and a signature eye roll from Jane.
After the park the three made there way to the Aphrodite and the Gods of Love Exhibit at the Museum of Fine Arts. For Jane it was torture but for the Isles it was marvelous. They ranted and raved over every statue, bowl, and cup there was. Almost half the statues heads or arms were missing and if those weren't missing then their clothes sure were.
Every so often Maura would ask Jane what she thought and she would lie and say it was great. But Jane couldn't see what was so great about Aphrodite putting on a freaking flip flop with her boobs hanging out. The Isles saw the art in all of it but all Jane saw were nudie statue people. Shivering from the memories of all the nakedness. If only those privates had stayed private was Jane's only thought.
For hours they walked around the museum and at one point Jane got bored and decided to start hiding places and scaring Maura. Maura thought it was funny telling Jane that she was, "Sneakier than a pickpocket in Oliver Twist". Which Jane took as a great compliment. Constance on the other hand didn't think Maura continuously screaming in terror and then laughing was in any way humorous. What was humorous to Jane and Maura was watching Constance looking at nothing at all and demanding Jane to stop bothering Maura.
The three of them left the museum walking side by side with Maura in the middle and Jane and Constance on each side of her. Jane looked over at a gushing Maura, the answer was obvious but Jane still asked, "Did you have fun?" Maura smiled and nodded asking the same question to Jane.
"Yes, a blast." Jane deadpanned.
"I could tell you did Jane. Especially when we would stay too long at a piece of art and you would snidely exclaim under your breath, "Later that same day!" Maura laughed, as she looked sideways to catch Jane's expression.
Jane's mouth floundered a bit before she could come up with an excuse. She didn't have one so she fibbed with an obvious lie, "I was sleepy!"
"We both know you don't sleep so I believe you are more like Grumpy." Maura teased.
"I would like to think I was more of a Bashful when it came to the nudes in there. Not all of us can been so clinical when seeing a naked body…Doc." Jane declared.
Maura just laughed grabbing both Jane and Constance's hands. Thinking that nothing could get better.
Maura was sitting on her bed reading with Jane curled up beside her watching baseball. "I was thinking," Maura began as she puts down her book. "My birthday is tomorrow as you know but I was thinking that we have never celebrated a day for you."
Sitting up Jane responds, "That's going to be hard because I wasn't born and I don't age."
"Well thanks for stating the obvious Jane but I wasn't recommending a birthday party for you. I was thinking of maybe going to see a baseball game or a movie in honor of you. You have done so much for me Jane and I want to do something for you."
Maura gets up and walks to her nightstand. Opening it she pulls out a box and hands it to Jane. " I know you can't keep it but I wanted to get you this." Jane raises her eyebrows not knowing what to do or say.
Maura sees Jane's hesitancy "Go head, open it!" she insists. Jane does what Maura asks. She opens the box and when she sees what Maura has gotten her tears rushing to her eyes. In the box there is a very shiny sterling silver bracelet. On the bracelet are three little charms.
"Maura! You shouldn't have. It's so lovely. I wish I could keep it! Here help me to put it on. As long as I don't have to leave tonight it will stay on until tomorrow." She hands over her bracelet and her arm.
As Maura puts the bracelet on Jane's arm, she revels why she picked each of the charms. "I think it's clear why I picked out the baseball." She says as she glances to the baseball game on the TV.
She puts her finger on the next charm, "The dog is because you've always wanted a dog of your own." Maura looks up to see Jane's beaming smile.
"I want to name it!" Jane declares. "Jo Friday! I love Joe Friday! But I want a girl dog so it's the girl kinda Jo. Yeah, that Joe is such a cool guy, I think any dog named after him would be great." She puts on her most serious face and says, " 'my name is Friday— I carry a badge'!"
A very enamored Maura grins. "That was really good Jane, I'm very impressed." Leaning over she grabs the last charm, "And the two little girls are to represent us. It's a best friend charm. That can be me", she points to one little girl, "And the one with the ponytail can be you." Her cheeks becoming flushed as she says the last part.
"Oh Maura! I love it!" Jane exclaims as she hugs Maura with all her might.
Suddenly the dread of leaving overcomes Jane and she knows she has to tell Maura. "Maura." Jane starts still in the tight embrace.
Hearing desperation in Jane's voice Maura lets go and makes them come face to face. "Yes Jane?"
"Maura." Jane tries to start again but looking into Maura's eyes she knows she can't tell Maura just yet. Not after receiving her gift and ruining their last night together. She knows she is using it as an excuse but Jane doesn't care. She steers herself away from the inevitable and guides the conversation back to what they were talking about.
"I don't know how to ever thank you for being my best friend." She says as those dreaded tears come to her eyes. And for the first time she doesn't hold back. She doesn't want to hold back because she knows that no amount of excuses will be able to stop her from leaving Maura, her one true friend. And the tears only become worse when Maura once again wraps her up in a hug and responds, "Just being my friend is the only thing I ever want from you Jane."
Next chapter is Maura's birthday and Jane's departure. I don't know about you guys but I'm nervous