Jane dropped Maura off, walking her to the door. She kissed her gently on the cheek but Maura turned her head and captured Jane's lips.
Jane sighed into the contact, wrapping her arms around the other woman tenderly.
"Thank you for coming," she breathed eventually, pulling back but not releasing Maura from the circle of her arms.
"Thank you for inviting me," Maura replied. "I had a wonderful time. Your family is very special."
"Yeah," Jane agreed. "So are you."
Maura blushed, squirming slightly in Jane's grasp.
"Can I see you this week?" she asked.
Jane nodded.
"Absolutely."
"I'm not sure about my schedule," Maura admitted. "Can I call you to discuss when?"
"That's fine," Jane smiled. "I'll talk to you soon."
"Goodnight," Maura breathed, pecking Jane's lips.
Jane deepened the kiss, feeling like a lightning rod when she did so. Maura reciprocated wholeheartedly, a soft moaning noise escaping. The passion became palpable, and Jane thought she might never be able to let go.
Eventually, Maura pulled back. She looked at Jane for a long minute, her hazel eyes darkened to an almost impossible shade.
"Goodnight," she repeated.
"Night," Jane rasped. She mustered every ounce of self-control she had to make it back to her jeep.
«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»
Maura called on Tuesday and Jane couldn't help the small that broke on her lips when she answered the phone.
"Hello," Maura greeted her.
"Hello yourself," Jane's voice softened naturally. "How are you?"
"My mother is coming to town tomorrow," Maura blurted. "We, uh, don't have the best relationship. I haven't told her about the pregnancy yet. I was hoping you might come over and meet her, after I tell her."
"Ok," Jane winced at the uncertainty in her tone. "Does she um, does she know about us?"
"No," Maura replied. "She doesn't even know I'm attracted to women."
"Maura," Jane sighed. "Are you going to tell her? I don't think I can come over and just pretend to be your friend…"
"No, no," Maura interrupted. "I'm going to tell her. I just, I want her to meet you- to see how wonderful you are."
"If you're sure," Jane hedged.
"I'm sure," Maura affirmed. "You're wonderful and very important to me and I'd like you to meet my mother. It won't even just be the three of us- my manager Colin is coming over and he's divine, Jane. Constance loves him."
"Constance?" Jane asked.
"My mother," Maura clarified. "So you'll come?"
"Yes," Jane responded. "Of course. I can't wait to see you."
"Well," Maura's voice turned soft, smoky. "You don't have to wait. I'm not doing anything right now."
Jane grinned and exhaled harshly.
"I'm heading out to do a shoot," she replied wistfully. "But I'll see you tomorrow, yeah?"
"I'll see you then," Maura agreed. "Goodbye."
"See you tomorrow," Jane replied, hanging up. She momentarily debated canceling the shoot, or sending Frankie, but she banished the thought just as quickly. She'd be seeing Maura tomorrow, after all.
A few hours away wouldn't kill her.
But it sure felt like it might.
«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»
Maura had planned to hide her pregnancy from her mother, but she should have known better. Her mother instantly noticed the slight gain in weight and her eyes widened as she looked to Maura's ever-so-slightly large stomach.
"Hello darling," her mother enveloped her in a warm embrace.
It was a hug with more intimacy, more tenderness, than Maura could ever remember receiving from her mother.
They had spoken only briefly on the phone about her divorce from Brandon. Constance had never particularly liked Brandon, but she still hated the scandal of a divorce. It cut Maura deeply to know her mother cared more about image than about her daughter's feelings.
She'd worried so much about what Constance would think of her pregnancy.
"I'm pregnant mother," she blurted.
"I'm so happy for you," her mother smiled. "You'll be a wonderful mother."
Maura's heart swelled with longing and affection.
"Brandon isn't," she choked slightly. "He isn't going to help."
"Shame on him," Constance shook her head. "But you don't need his help. You've got me, and your father, and your friends. You're going to give this child everything he or she needs."
"Thank you," Maura whispered. "And it's a girl. She's…"
Words seemed inadequate, but Constance didn't seem to need them.
After a few more pleasantries were exchanged, Constance talked about Maura's father, about their latest trip to Budapest. She spoke about their friends, colleagues, people Maura knew or had at the least heard of.
It was nearly an hour before her mother stopped and asked if Maura had any more news about her own life.
"Mother," Maura took a deep breath. "I'm seeing someone."
"You are!" her mother's face brightened. "That's so wonderful! I'm so glad to hear that, Maura. A child needs a mother and a father, and I'm happy you've found someone-"
"It's not a man," Maura blurted, surprised. She hadn't meant to broach the topic so bluntly.
"Excuse me?" Constance stammered, completely befuddled.
"Her name is Jane," Maura began. "She's a photographer-"
"You are not dating a woman," Constance spoke over Maura.
Maura was undeterred.
"She's intelligent and she's gorgeous and she treats me wonderfully," she continued.
Constance again spoke over Maura, her voice sharp.
"Stop it this instant," she insisted. "You are making a fool of yourself."
"She's warm and considerate and compassionate," Maura's voice filled with tears as her mother continued to disregard her.
"This pregnancy is making you hormonal," Constance added. "We'll see if Dr. Prichard can prescribe you something."
"Constance!" Maura yelled, shocking them both. "I don't need anything. I'm in love with her."
Constance whipped her head around so fast her neck cracked, their eyes meeting.
"Don't say that," she warned, her voice tight and low.
"It's true," Maura whispered. "I'm in love with Jane."
"You're being ridiculous," Constance huffed. "I'm going to step outside for a moment while you compose yourself and then we'll continue to discuss this like rational adults."
She disappeared onto the back porch.
Maura noticed that Colin had arrived, was standing in the doorway. She wondered how much he had overheard.
"I'll be right back," he assured Maura. "Just please, don't leave."
Nearly running outside, Colin slammed the door behind himself, making Constance jump.
"Are you fucking blind?" he yelled, pointing a finger at her accusatorily.
"Please do not use that language with me," Constance replied evenly.
"I've never seen a love like that before," he lowered his voice. "I didn't even think it existed. The way Maura feels about Jane- you really think it's something she can just… will away?"
"We all have our girlish infatuations," Constance shrugged. "We get over them."
"That's not an infatuation," Colin shook his head in disbelief. "That's love. True, authentic, love, Constance. I know you want the best for your daughter, that you want her to be happy, but you're asking her to turn her back on an emotion that has set sail thousands of ships."
"Don't feed me some blasphemous literary analogy," Constance spit. "This will ruin her career!"
"And what if it does," he suggested. "She's got more money than a small country. And she can find work if she wants to, doing plenty of other things."
"My daughter is not gay," she accused. "I don't know what's gotten into you all. It's this ridiculous town. Everyone in L.A. is gay, apparently. Maura will come with me to Paris for a while and she'll move on from this ridiculous affair."
"She'll never go with you," Colin sighed. "And if you ask her to, you risk losing her forever."
Constance's eyes flashed to his, fierce and challenging. But in them lurked fear, a growing realization that he might be right.
"I suggest you go back inside," he continued. "And apologize. Tell her it was a long flight and that you were just surprised and that you support her no matter what."
"What do you know about anything?" Constance hissed with disdain.
"Not much," Colin laughed. "But I've known Maura for years, I've seen her struggle with her fame and her marriage and now with this pregnancy. Through it all, I've never seen her so happy or so strong or so… fearless, as she is with Jane."
"Stop it," Constance bit.
They heard the faint sound of the front door closing.
"You'd better be careful, Constance," Colin warned. He straightened his tie and re-entered the house.
«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»
When Jane entered Maura's home she was instantly on-guard. She'd already been nervous- petrified really, about meeting Maura's mother.
But having the door swing open to reveal a teary-eyed Maura and to then notice a couple engaged in heated argument out back…
It was terrifying.
She instantly stepped inside, pulling Maura into a warm embrace.
"Hey," she soothed. "What's wrong?"
"My mother," Maura sobbed. "She thinks me being in love with you is some sort of phase."
Jane's heart soared even as it broke for Maura.
Maura loved her.
It felt too good to be true.
She tried to focus.
"I'm sure it was just a shock," she suggested. "You're pregnant and you're dating a woman- those are two pretty big bombshells to drop on a person. She's your mom, she'll come around."
"No, Jane," Maura sighed raggedly. "She's not like your mother. She won't get past this. Once Constance has made up her mind, there's no changing it."
"You're her daughter," Jane bit, feeling anger creep into her veins. "She loves you."
"She loves me," Maura said perfunctorily. "But that doesn't mean she'll forgive me."
"There's nothing to forgive," Jane retorted. She put a hand under Maura's chin, forcing her to meet her eyes. "There is nothing to forgive. I'm so sorry that she can't see past her own prejudices in order to see you happy. But know that you have done nothing wrong. You're a smart, kind, funny, warm, loving, sexy woman. You're amazing. This is about her stuff- it's not really about you."
Maura tried to avert her gaze but Jane held her firmly. Leaning down, she pressed their lips together in a chaste kiss. Maura sighed into the contact, deepening the kiss.
A well dressed man appeared from out back.
"Hello," he greeted.
Jane stepped back but didn't let go of Maura's waist. She wasn't entirely sure if the protective gesture was for Maura's benefit or for her own.
"Hi," Jane replied. She shook the hand offered.
"Jane," Maura smiled. "This is my manager, Colin. Colin, this is my girlfriend, Jane."
"I've heard a lot about you, Jane," Colin grinned.
"It can't all be true," Jane laughed. He innately put her at ease, and she relaxed incrementally. Maura had mentioned how much she adored him, and Jane took that as a good indicator of his character.
"Constance will be uh," he hesitated, glancing back outside. "She'll be joining us in a minute. Until then, why don't you tell me a bit about yourself? Have you ever considered modeling?"
Jane grimaced.
"Maura," she furrowed her brow. "You never told me Colin was blind!"
Colin laughed, loudly and openly, and Maura groaned, rolling her eyes.
"I say we keep her," he said to Maura.
"I agree," Maura replied, her focus solely on Jane.
They fell into easy conversation, and Jane almost forgot about Constance, stewing out back on the porch.
Almost.
When she still hadn't come inside after twenty minutes, Jane began to fidget slightly.
"Maybe I should go," she hedged. "I could come back and meet her another time- after you've had a chance to talk."
"It won't matter," Maura assured her.
"It really won't," Colin echoed the sentiment. "I've tried speaking to her about it. She's unwilling to relent."
The pained, hurt expression on Maura's face made Jane's chest feel tight. It also made her angry. How dare anyone hurt this loving, amazing woman?
Let alone her own mother!
"I could talk to her," she found herself suggesting.
Two sets of shocked eyes shot her way.
"Maybe it would help," Jane added, firmer now. "If she knew I wasn't some kind of crazy person."
"Aren't you?" Colin teased softly, and Jane knew they both thought it was futile.
"Look," Jane shrugged. "It can't hurt, right? If she's as set in her ways as you guys say, then I go out and spin my wheels for a few minutes. But maybe it will help her see that Maura's happiness is what really matters here."
"You'd do that for me?" Maura asked breathlessly, her voice disbelieving.
"Yes," Jane huffed, as if Maura should know she'd move mountains for her. "I'd do anything for you."
"I suppose it can't hurt," Maura hesitated. "I just really don't want to put you in a position you're not comfortable with."
Jane was already standing, moving towards the door.
"I'll be fine," she swallowed the nervousness threatening to choke her.
She found Constance sitting on one of the patio chairs where she'd held Maura not too long ago.
"Mrs. Isles?" she approached. "I'm Jane. It's nice to meet you."
"Hello, Jane," Constance replied. Her disdain was barely covered by the courtesy.
"I wanted to talk to you for a minute," Jane began. "If that's ok."
"I imagine you're going to continue regardless of whether or not I give my approval," Constance sniffed. "So I don't suppose my permission is really at issue."
"Fair enough," Jane took a seat in an adjacent chair. "I'm in love with your daughter."
Constance visibly stiffened.
"I know that must be a surprise," Jane continued. "And it's probably hard to hear. I know you want a certain type of life for your daughter- that you want the best for her. I might not be what you want and I might not be the best."
"So far we're in agreement," Constance interjected dryly.
"I love her," Jane was undeterred. "I will do everything possible to make her happy."
"And can you give her the life she deserves?" Constance turned a sharp, accusatory eye on Jane. "Can you provide for her living in the way she's accustomed to? Can you match her intelligence? Can you be a father? Raise her child?"
Jane opened her mouth to reply but Constance didn't give her a chance.
"Of course you can't," she laughed humorlessly. "You probably make less money in a year than she does in a week. You don't know anything about being in the public eye. My daughter is Ivy League educated- she speaks four foreign languages and spent a year studying theatre in London and has likely read more books in her lifetime than your whole family in every generation combined. And god forbid I even imagine you as a parent to that child."
"You're her mother," Jane tried to keep her voice from trembling. "Your job is to know her, to love her, to support her. But you don't know her at all- you don't know that she couldn't care less about money or status. That's she smart as hell but she's also down to earth, kind, considerate. She has more decency in her pinky than you've got in your whole body. I know she's smart and I know she's rich and I know that I might not be the best- I already admitted that to you. But I also know that I'd die before I let her get hurt. And if she lets me be any part of that little girl's life I'll sleep well at night knowing that I can't possibly be a worse mother than you."
Constance's eyes were wide, her bottom lip trembling slightly.
"Now if you'll excuse me," Jane stood. "My girlfriend is waiting. I'd say it was nice to meet you, but I think we both know I'd be lying."
Without waiting for a response, Jane strode angrily back towards the door. She hadn't meant to get so angry. Hadn't meant to lose her temper.
She'd yelled at Maura's mom!
"Jane," Constance bit. "Wait right there."
Jane stopped but didn't turn.
"You have no right," Constance began.
"I'm sorry," Jane turned to face Constance. "I shouldn't have been so harsh. It's just that I love your daughter. I love her and when she hurts, I hurt. And that you could possibly turn your back on her- over something as trivial as who she loves… I don't know how to wrap my mind around that. If I had a daughter, if I was so lucky, and jesus if my daughter was as amazing as yours- I wouldn't let anything get between us."
Constance's brow furrowed, her eyes narrowing as she appraised Jane.
Jane straightened, unwilling to back down from the scrutiny.
"Is there anything you wouldn't do for her?" Constance asked.
"No," Jane shook her head. "Not if it was for her happiness."
"You'll make my excuses," Constance deflated right there before Jane's eyes. "I'm not feeling well. I'm going to go back to my hotel."
Jane nodded, shocked.
It was as if Constance had been stripped down, her mask removed. She looked tired. Older.
Defeated.
"I could give you a ride," Jane found herself offering.
"My driver is out front," Constance replied.
"Ok," Jane responded. She wasn't sure what else to say.
Constance didn't appear to know either, and she abruptly turned towards the path around the side of the house. When she disappeared around the corner, Jane went back inside.
"How'd it go?" Maura asked immediately.
"It was uh," Jane licked her lips nervously. "Intense."
"Oh, Jane," Maura exclaimed. "I'm so sorry. I shouldn't have let you do that."
"No," Jane managed to dig up a small smile. "It's fine. I'm glad I did it. I got to meet your mom and we got to have a sort of heart-to-heart. Maybe she'll come around."
Maura didn't seem convinced. Jane kissed her cheek.
"Try not to worry," she encouraged.
Colin's presence was intruding on her plan to tell Maura she was in love with her too. She didn't think the other woman was even aware that she'd admitted it so candidly earlier.
But the confession emboldened Jane to make the leap.