It was the day of the wedding and Maura could barely move without bile rising up the back of her throat. Her limbs were trembling so hard that she could barely undress herself. She glanced at the clock; she still had plenty of time before Jane awoke to get herself ready and steady her nerves before helping her best friend. Maura stepped into the shower and the instant the hot water hit her body she let it all out, tears mixing with the scalding water and she watched it all swirl around the plug hole before they disappeared, she found it massively cathartic and felt herself getting a hold of her emotions each minute that passed.

Fuck. She was getting married. Fuck. It was real. She woke up and the first thing she saw was the dress, all white and fluffy and girly and so not her. She gulped at that thought, why didn't she see that before? She couldn't face her family and friends in that! It was ridiculous! They'd have to postpone. She clambered out of bed and grabbed her cell phone frantically. She called Maura repeatedly only to get her voicemail. She swore and threw the cell phone across the room where it broke into several pieces. "Fuck!" she voiced her initial thought from waking up and felt herself break out into a cold sweat before bursting out of her apartment in her pyjamas.

Angela was woken by a furious incessant beeping. She blinked herself awake groggily and rubbed her eyes sleepily before slamming a hand down on the irritating alarm clock, she lay back down before immediately bolting upright again. "Wedding!" she leapt out of her bed and bustled as fast as she could into Maura's house forgetting the ungodly hour and grabbed her phone before jabbering animatedly down it to caterers and florists. She flew into the kitchen and collided with a younger version of herself and they both oofed loudly. "Janie?"

"Ma?"

"What are you doing here?" they asked in unison before frowning sleepily at one another.

"Maura!"

"I live here!"

They kept talking over one another until Angela placed gentle hands on her daughter's shoulders and looked at her, stealing her focus which seemed to be all over the place. "What's wrong?"

Jane sighed and felt tears threatening to well up "It's the dress – I can't – I don't…I need Maura Ma!"

Angela felt her heart clench and she nodded softly "It's ok Janie, it's ok to be scared and nervous and- "she was interrupted by a squeaking voice from her cell phone and held it up to her ear "Hold on! I'm dealing with a nervous bride here I will call you back but you know what you're doing! I hope." She muttered the last thought under her breath as she hung up the phone and focused back on her daughter. "Now, why don't we go to yours and begin with something nice and simple, let's have a shower. Ok?"

Jane shrugged her Ma's touch off her grumpily "I'm not showering with you." She muttered before turning around and heading for the door dutifully.

Angela threw a backwards glance toward the rest of the house and sighed heavily hoping that somehow Maura would make it through today as unscathed as she possibly could.

Maura climbed out of the shower and surveyed her slightly puffy red eyes before casting an eye at the clock, she had plenty of time to soothe her irritated eyes. She stood up a little straighter and eyed herself seriously in the mirror. "For Jane." With a determined nod she left to start getting ready.

Angela had calmed her daughter, or at least calmed her as much as Janie could ever be calmed, she was still yelling at anyone and everyone who entered and snapping at anyone who asked her a question. When Maura arrived, Angela smiled sadly at her; she looked absolutely radiant, her makeup was perfect as usual and her understated yet elegant dress was just about as Maura as it could be.

Jane turned at the tone of her best friend and was momentarily taken aback by the stunning honey blonde who, as usual didn't have a hair out of place. She smiled fondly and the smile grew even wider as it was echoed back at her. "Why do you always look like you're about to do a photoshoot?"

Maura smiled affectionately at the memory and breezily waved the compliment away "Me? I've just rolled out of bed."

Angela beamed at the medical examiner as she came in and took over the fussing, telling her to go and get herself ready. The older Rizzoli hesitated before getting a confirming nod that she felt spoke about more than the current situation at hand. She nodded and squeezed a slender shoulder before leaving the women to it.

"What is that?" Jane eyed her best friend suspiciously.

"Primer." Maura rolled her eyes and began applying it to those drop dead gorgeous cheekbones.

"Like for paint?" Jane screwed up her nose.

Maura sighed softly before gently stroking a finger down the crumpled nose smiling as the brunette's face relaxed "Yes Jane, I thought spray paint might be a fun option, and might stop you wiping it off!" she slapped an offending hand that was fingering the substance on her face.

Jane grinned at the honey blonde who went rooting around in her make up kit before coming back to face her.

"What?"

Jane shrugged "Last time you played with spray paint my little brother had to arrest you."

Maura's expression sobered at the thought of Rockman but breezing past the memory she raised an eyebrow and smirked "Might liven the wedding up a bit."

Jane pulled an expression of fake horror and clutched at her heart "Doctor Isles!" she gasped and they both descended into good natured laughter.

Maura felt herself ease into her natural role as best friend and the banter flowed between the two of them easily and naturally and she found her fears and nerves being pushed to the back of her mind.

It wasn't until it was time for the dress that Maura began to feel the sickness and fear creep back in. Jane disappeared to get into it and it was taking all her willpower not to bolt out of the door and just run and keep running. For Jane. She kept repeating it like a mantra in her head and closed her eyes to focus on it.

"Erm…"

The husky voice of her favourite detective disturbed her meditation and her eyes flew open to see a sight that left her open mouthed and utterly transfixed. Dark unruly curls cascaded down bare shoulders, her trim waist was hugged by a smooth ivory bodice that then gave way to a flowing skirt, it was a simple material and all it did was highlight all of Jane's natural beauty and Maura found herself quite speechless and holding back tears.

"I can't do it up." Jane looked sheepish and Maura could just imagine her scuffing one foot against the other in that moment.

With legs of lead she managed to drag her body toward the stunning brunette who turned for her and Maura hastily sucked in a sharp breath at the sight of bare smooth skin that made her hands ache with the overwhelming need to touch. With shaking fingers she grasped the small zip and began to draw it up the brunette's back only stopping to sweep beautiful curls out of the way. Once the zip was home she found herself unable to move again, simply staring at the detective's back feeling wobbly and unsure of herself.

Jane turned to look at her best friend, mouth open ready to thank her for the help but once their eyes met the words fell off her lips and they just stood for a moment in silence. She blinked hurriedly when Maura suddenly blurted

"NECKLACE!" she was not in control of the volume of her voice and the loudness made them both jump. She turned to her bag and prayed her face wasn't too red when she turned back and held out the necklace box to her friend.

Jane frowned and opened the box and gasped. Lying against the velvet cushion in the box was a silver necklace with a pearl at the end of the chain trickling down into petals before ending in a royal blue dew drop shape. Jane felt tears forming and she looked at the honey blonde with earnest "Beautiful." It was all she could utter and if someone had asked her at that very moment she couldn't be sure which she was referring to.

Maura didn't trust herself to be able to speak and so simply took the necklace out of the box and motioned for Jane to turn again. Jane complied and crouched a little to allow Maura access to her neck. The honey blonde swept the dark curls over one shoulder and pretended not to notice the goose bumps the action caused and draped the necklace around the slender neck struggling with the clasp as her fingers shook.

As gentle hands fell away Jane felt an immediate sense of loss but stood at turned to see the hazel eyes she had come to know so well brimming with tears and she reached out with concern. She felt her stomach drop when Maura dodged her touch and shook her hand at her.

It was too much. She knew it would be but seeing her stood there wearing her necklace that her mother had bought her for her impending wedding to Garrett Fairfield all her emotions came cascading in, smashing all the mental walls she had built and she could feel her chin wobbling. When Jane reached out for her she moved like lightning she knew that touch would have undone her instead she focused her eyes on that blue jewel and not the striking collarbone it set off nor the heaving chest it lead down to.

Jane opened her mouth to question the medical examiner when the door was flung open and her Ma came squealing in with various other people. Jane raised her head above the throng but felt her heart sink as she saw Maura slipping out of the door.