A/N This chapter is a lot shorter than the previous ones, but it felt right to end it in the moment. I hope you enjoy it, please let me know! I think I'll write a few more chapters, depending on my ideas. Thank you all for the amazing feedback!

I wake up from the sound of frantic panting and gasping coming from the other side of the hall. I listen to it for a while until I hear desperate screams. Something is wrong. I untangle myself from my sleeping daughter and quickly get out of bed, shivering when my bare feet touch the cold floor as I hurry down the hall towards the source of the sound. Jane's bedroom.

I slowly open the door. "Jane?"

She's tossing and turning in a mess of sheets, her fists balled up in fear. I don't know what to do. Should I wake her? I can't let her stay in this nightmare, can I? A fearful scream makes up my mind. I careful sit down on the edge of Jane's bed and shake her shoulder. "Jane! Jane, wake up!"

It takes a while, but she finally wakes up, shooting up in bed, panting frantically, her eyes wide in fear. I carefully place my hand on her arm, but that causes her to panic. She scrambles out of bed, screaming as she falls on the floor. "NO!"

"Jane! Jane, it's me! Maura!"

"STAY AWAY FROM ME!" She crawls towards the corner of the room, pulling her knees up to her chest as she trembles in fear.

I hold up my hands to show her I mean no harm and carefully, slowly approach her. "Jane, it's me. It was just a dream. You're okay. You're at home, in your bedroom. I'm Maura, you saved me a few days ago and let me and my daughter Abby into your house. You're okay."

She slowly stops trembling, looking at me with wide, fearful eyes. I carefully reach out my hand, holding it open for her. I smile in relief when she reaches out hers as well, shaking violently. I gently take her hand in mine, massaging the scar in her palm. The scars I have wondered about many times, but have been too afraid to ask about. She jerks at first, but allows it when she feels the gentleness in my movements.

I keep her hand in mine for a long time, waiting for her to calm down. She just stares at our hands before she speaks quietly, her voice hoarse with unshed tears. "N-no one is allowed to do that," she whispers.

"I'm sorry," I pull away but Jane shakes her head.

"No. Don't stop."

I shift closer and sit down on the floor next to her, continuing the strokes on the palms of her hands. She has so much pain. It breaks my heart. She's trembling next to me and I hesitate for a second, but eventually press a kiss to her temple.

Suddenly she lifts her head and looks into my eyes, her dark brown eyes shimmering with tears. Our faces are only inches apart and my stomach is tingling. Jane slowly starts to close the distance between us but I stop her by placing my hand on her chest. "Jane," I whisper, "are you sure?"

She just nods. "Are you?"

I cup her cheek and rest my forehead against hers. "Yes. I just don't want you to regret anything later."

"You're the most beautiful woman in the world," Jane whispers, her voice still raspy and laced with tears, "from the first moment I saw you in that shed I knew you were the strongest, most beautiful, amazing woman I would ever meet and taking you in was the best decision of my life and I know I've only met you like a few days ago but I'm falling for you, Maura. And if that makes you mad or uncomfortable you are welcome to leave I totally understand but-… I'm falling for you. Hard."

Tears are trickling down my cheeks as I close the small distance between our lips. I feel things I've never, ever felt before. Her lips are warm and soft and they taste like tears and heaven. They fit perfectly against mine. She lifts her hand and tangles it in my hair to pull me even closer and I do the same. I want to crawl into her. I want this feeling to last forever. My stomach is filled with butterflies, my head is spinning and my heart is floating. The kiss is slow and gentle and we keep it shallow, but it is perfect. Absolutely perfect.

When we finally break apart, I rest my forehead back against hers and smile a tired smile. "I'm falling for you too," I whisper quietly, "hard."

She smiles and I feel her relaxing further. "I never knew it was even possible to feel this about someone…" she whispers through a lump in her throat. "But you showed it to me, Maura."

I feel like my face is going to split open from the smile that curls my lips. "You make me feel things I haven't felt in years," I whisper to her, "in less than two days."

Jane just smiles and moves her lips towards mine again, but we're both smiling so brightly our teeth clash together at first. I laugh and manage to close my mouth so I can kiss her back, feeling her laughing against my lips as well. This kiss is even more perfect than the last. She's falling for me too. She's kissing me back. We're laughing, kissing, giggling like teenagers and happy butterflies are dancing in my stomach.

We break apart and I look into her eyes, amazed by her astonishing smile that beams at me. "You're beautiful," I breathe out without thinking. "Absolutely beautiful."

Jane blushes and averts her gaze as she starts fumbling with her hands. I gently take her hand in mine, sensing her discomfort. "I'm sorry, I shouldn't-… I'm sorry."

"It's okay." Jane keeps her attention on our hands. "I'm just… not used to people saying that."

"Maybe you should start getting used to it," I whisper with a smile.

Jane smiles, looking back up into my eyes. "So… That means it's not a one time thing?"

"That depends on your definition of a 'one time thing'…"

"Just one kiss in the middle of the night, which you'll regret in the morning."

I sigh deeply and close my eyes. God, what if it's that way for her? "It certainly isn't for me," I whisper quietly, deciding to be as honest as possible. "I have feelings for you… Strong feelings… And… If that's not the way it is for you then Abby and I will be ready to leave first-…"

"Whoa, hey," Jane stops me, looking into my eyes, placing her fingers on my chin to tilt my head. "You're not going anywhere, okay?"

"We're not?"

"Yeah, I mean you can go if you want to but… I don't really want you to."

I smile and lean forward to peck her lips again, loving the fact that I can do that now. "We'll stay a little longer." I massage the white scar in her palm with my fingers, leaning closely into her side. I'm afraid to ask about them.

"I'm-… I'm not ready to talk about them," she whispers barely audible.

"You don't have to."

"I will when I'm ready," Jane gives me an apologetic look.

I nod. "Okay." I feel Jane shivering next to me and I kiss her temple. "You should get off the floor," I whisper into her messy curls, smelling her unique smell that makes me tingle.

Jane nods and allows me to help her stand up, our height difference causing me to look up into her eyes. She smiles and pulls me in for another quick kiss. "It might be too early to say I'm falling in love with you," she whispers to me, "but I really, really like you, Maura."

I smile, squeezing her hand in mine. "I really, really like you too." I reach up to kiss her perfect lips again. "I have to go back to Abby."

Jane nods. "I know."

We kiss for a last time before I practically float back to the guest bedroom. I feel like I'm walking on clouds and a part of me is convinced this is a happy dream that I will wake up from every second now. But if it is, I never want to wake up.

I carefully slide back into bed next to Abby, bringing her back in my arms as I try my best not to wake her. She groans slightly and furrows her brow without opening her eyes. "Mommy?"

"Shh, go back to sleep, baby," I whisper, kissing her temple as I shift to get comfortable between the warm sheets.

"Where'd you go?" Abby mumbles, snuggling back into my arms.

"To Jane."

"Mmkay." Abby nuzzles her head into my shoulder and I smile at the movement.

"I love you baby," I whisper. "Go back to sleep."

"Hm hm." Abby nods slightly but I can tell she's already halfway to being asleep. It's only a few minutes later that I fall asleep myself, wearing a love-induced smile on my face.