Hello friends!

So I had a bit of trouble getting started with this chapter but I hope you'll enjoy it!

Thanks so much for your patience!

Enjoy! -J

Chapter 7- Dreams

"Okay what are your wedding dreams?" Maura sat across from Jane at the dining room table the next night after putting Amelia to bed, her laptop open, obviously ready to take notes.

"Excuse me?" Jane practically choked on her beer, having sat down at the table with no idea what the blonde wanted to talk about. "What do you mean?"

"I mean, when you think about your wedding what do you imagine?" Maura asked incredulously, surprised by her fiancées lack of understanding. "What is your dream wedding?"

"Oh uh…well…" Jane racked her brain for something to say, picking at the label on her beer bottle. "Um I guess…honestly Maur? I don't really have any," she shrugged, like it was no big deal, looking up to find Maura staring at her with a shocked look on her face.

"What do you mean you don't have any?" Maura scoffed. "Of course you do! Everyone dreams of their wedding! I mean didn't you ever dream up your wedding when you were a little girl?"

"Maura," Jane whined, pushing her hair out of her face. "I don't know…I never…I didn't…I'm not…I guess there was one thing," she finally admitted with a sigh, giving in to the expectant look Maura was giving her.

"What was it?" Maura was suddenly excited her hands on the keyboard, ready to type, her look of disappointment suddenly turning to one of pure joy. "Tell me! Please!"

"Well when I was a kid I always had this crazy idea that I would get married at Fenway," Jane shrugged, Maura's jaw falling open before she quickly shut it again, glad that Jane wasn't looking. "I thought I would recite my vows over home plate and have the reception on the pitcher's mound and well I'd wear a Red Sox jersey instead of a white dress," she admitted, finally looking up to find Maura once again staring at her in disbelief. "What? I told you it was just a crazy idea okay? I was just a kid I shouldn't have brought it up; it's stupid. I'm sorry."

"No, Jane no," Maura quickly shook her head, reaching out to grab the brunette's hand. "No I'm sorry. I didn't mean to make you feel like it's stupid," she told her. "I was just surprised is all. I just didn't expect our wedding fantasies to be so drastically different," she said, doing her best to put a smile on her face despite the slight panic she was feeling.

"Oh…well what's your wedding fantasy then?" Jane asked nervously, suddenly regretting sharing her childish dreams.

"Well to begin with my gown would be silk charmeuse with an empire waist and a twenty foot train," Maura replied a dreamy smile on her face. "And I always imagined the ceremony on the cliffs of Santorini right above a volcano," she shared looking up at Jane to find the brunette staring at her as if she were crazy. "Well I told you it was different."

"Well you weren't kidding," Jane rolled her eyes, taking a long drink of her beer. "I mean really Maura? The cliffs of Santorini? Above a volcano?" She repeated in disbelief. "That's just…I mean it's…"

"It's just a fantasy Jane," Maura shook her head, trying not to look too disappointed. "It's just a dream, and I know a fairly unrealistic one at that, I just thought if we shared our dreams it would give us a place to start planning," she explained, looking suddenly sullen. "I'm afraid this has only made things worse though. I mean our dreams are severely different. How are we supposed to plan a wedding together when we have two completely different ideas about what our weddings should be like. How will we ever agree on anything?"

"Maura," Jane tilted her head, resisting the urge to laugh as she squeezed the blonde's hand. "Look don't panic alright? It was just a childish dream…the dream of a kid who had an extreme love of baseball and nothing else," she said, happy to see the blonde crack a smile. "And while I haven't really given my wedding much thought since I was a kid, I do have one dream that I think you will like."

"Oh yeah?" Maura raised an eyebrow. "And what's that?"

"Well in my dreams now," Jane smirked, standing up and making her way around the table, kneeling down in front of her fiancée. "Whenever I think about getting married, and what I need to make it absolutely perfect, the only thing that comes to mind is you," she said, smiling as Maura's eyes instantly shone with happy tears. "You're my dream Maura. You're all I need."

"You're my dream too Jane," Maura grinned, leaning down to give the brunette a kiss, wrapping her arms around Jane's neck before pulling back.

"You're still going to make me spend the next two hours wedding planning with you aren't you?" Jane then asked, knowing that Maura was beginning to stress about the need to plan their upcoming nuptials.

"Most definitely," Maura laughed, placing a kiss on Jane's nose before pulling out the chair beside her. "Now come on, sit here and look at this websites with me. There's got to be some ideas that we both like."

"Okay Maur," Jane chuckled, placing her arm around the blonde's shoulders. "Whatever you want."

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After spending nearly 3 hours looking at ideas for their wedding, Jane had whined until Maura had agreed to call it a night even though she felt like they had so much more to do. With the wedding plans still on her mind, Maura had a difficult time relaxing, feeling as if she had only just fallen asleep when she was woken up by both her and Jane's cell phones ringing.

Slightly groggy, the couple dragged themselves out of bed, saying their goodbyes to Amelia and Angela before Jane drove them to the crime scene.

"Hey Doc, mind if I join you for the autopsy?" Frost asked later that day as he entered the morgue, finding Maura just getting ready to cut open their victim who appeared to have been hit over the head with an object that had yet to be determined.

"Of course Barry, you're always welcome," Maura smiled, pulling on her gloves. "Though I'm a little surprised. You don't usually join me for these. Where's Jane?"

"She's working on a lead with Korsak," Frost replied, keeping his distance from the body. "They told me I could wait for your findings but I figured I'd come down anyways," he shrugged. "Gotta keep working on it right?"

"You've gotten much better already Barry," Maura laughed, beginning her Y-incision. "I mean it's been weeks since the last time I've seen you get sick at a crime scene."

"Yeah well hopefully we can keep it that way," Frost grinned, watching Maura work for a few minutes, allowing her to make some observations into her recorder. "So Jane told me you guys started the wedding planning. Any date set yet?"

"We haven't fully agreed on one yet, but we have a few in mind," Maura nodded. "We have a lot to think about to be honest and Jane isn't the easiest person to talk about these things with as I'm sure you can imagine," she explained. "She says that all she needs to make our wedding perfect is me, but I'm a little worried that she's not interested in the actual event at all."

"Aw come on Doc, I know that's not true," Frost was quick to assure the blonde. "Jane's excited. She just has an odd way of showing it. I mean she may act like she's hating it but trust me, she's loving every minute of it."

"How can you be so sure?" Maura raised an eyebrow, unsure if she could believe her friend.

"Because I know Jane," Frost shrugged. "And because I saw her face when she told everyone that you two were getting married. I've never seen her so happy in all the time I've known her. She loves you Maura and she loves Mia. Your wedding is extremely important to her. Don't doubt that okay?"

"Okay," Maura simply nodded, touched by Frost's words, looking up to see the Detective with a smile on his face. "Thank you Barry. I…I guess I kind of needed to hear that," she admitted with a blush. "You won't tell Jane I was worried will you?"

"Your secret's safe with me," Frost winked just as the morgue phone began to ring. "Want me to get that?" He asked.

"Please," Maura nodded, continuing with her autopsy as Frost answered the phone.

"Doc you've got a visitor upstairs," Frost held his hand over the mouthpiece of the phone. "A Cailin Martin? Do you want them to send her down?"

"Cailin?" Maura was surprised, her stomach dropping, unsure why Hope's teenage daughter would be visiting her. "Um uh..no," she stuttered nervously. "No have her wait for me in the café. Tell them I'll be up soon."

"Don't you have to finish that?" Frost asked, gesturing towards the body.

"Susie will fill in for me for a few minutes," Maura replied, already pulling off her gloves, hoping Frost wouldn't notice her hands shaking. "I won't be long. Will you wait for me?" She asked the Detective.

"Sure Doc," Frost nodded, watching as Maura rushed into her office, wanting to put something else on rather than going up to the café in her scrubs.

It was a few more minutes before Maura arrived upstairs, immediately spotting Cailin sitting in the café waiting for her. Putting on a smile, the Medical Examiner did her best to cast her nerves aside, waving when the teen finally spotted her.

"Cailin," Maura greeted with the biggest smile she could muster up. "This is a surprise. Is something wrong?"

"I know your secret," Cailin stood up, skipping all pleasantries as she handed Maura a printout of a news story about Maura and Paddy Doyle, the blonde's smile instantly falling. "I know who you are. Sis."

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When Maura sent Jane a text asking her to come as fast as she could the Detective didn't even hesitate, just barely resisting the urge to use her siren as she sped through the city towards the precinct. Not wanting to waste any time waiting for the elevator, the brunette took the stairs, running as fast as she could until she reached her fiancée's office, finding the blonde sitting on the couch with her head in her hands.

"Maur?" Jane practically shouted, skidding to a halt and bending down so she was face to face with the obviously upset Doctor. "Maura? What's wrong? What happened?"

"She knows. Cailin knows," Maura looked up with wide worried eyes. "She knows who I am," she said handing Jane the article Cailin had brought her. "She gave me that."

Momentarily shocked, Jane wasn't sure what to say, staring at the article Maura handed her while trying to digest exactly what her fiancée was telling her, eventually looking up to find Maura still watching her with a look of horror on her face.

"What did she say?" Jane finally asked. "Does Hope know?"

"She said she found that picture that you hid in the bathroom," Maura began with a sigh, tears finally springing to her eyes. "So she googled me and she found that and she knows the truth even though it doesn't mention Hope by name in there," she explained. "She told me that…that growing up in my shadow…the shadow of a dead baby was awful and…Hope doesn't know," she choked out as Jane grabbed her hands, moving to sit up on the couch next to her. "Hope doesn't know yet but God what if…what if she tells her? This wasn't how this was supposed to happen. This wasn't…"

"I know Maur, I know," Jane pulled the blonde towards her, stroking her hair as she placed a kiss against her temple. "It'll be okay. Maybe…maybe Cailin won't say anything. I mean you don't…technically we don't know anything about her. Who's to say she's going to say anything? Maybe she won't say anything."

"I'm not sure I can risk relying on her not telling," Maura shook her head, removing her head from the brunette's shoulder. "If I wait and allow Hope to find out from Cailin think about how it's going to look."

"So what are you saying Maur?" Jane was surprised, knowing Maura wasn't ready to tell Hope the truth yet. "Are you saying you want to tell Hope the truth? You want to tell her who you are?"

"I'm saying I don't think I have a choice."

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"I'm meeting Hope tomorrow for lunch," Maura told Jane as soon as they got in the car at the end of the day, the couple exhausted after a long day at work, both ready to get home and turn off the case for the night. "She agreed to meet me so I suspect Cailin hasn't told her anything yet, hopefully she doesn't tell her before then."

"Do you want me to come with you?" Jane asked as she pulled them out onto the road, navigating towards home. "Frost and I have a few leads to check out in the morning, but I'm sure I could get away for an hour. I'm there if you need me."

"I always need you Jane," Maura turned towards the brunette with a smile, reaching out to run her fingers through unruly curls. "But as much as I appreciate you wanting to be there for me, I think I should do this on my own. It's not going to be easy, obviously it's going to be difficult but I'll be okay," she assured her. "Keep your phone at the ready just in case?"

"You got it," Jane grinned, proud of how Maura was handling the situation now that she had gotten over the surprise of the whole thing, but not missing the blonde's obvious worry. "I gotta admit I'm glad to take a break on this case," she then sighed, deciding changing the subject for the time being. "Right now all I wanna do is curl up with Mia and forget about murder for a while."

"Mm me too," Maura smiled, appreciating the fact that Jane wasn't going to make her keep hashing out everything about Hope and Cailin. "That actually sounds absolutely perfect right about now."

So it was with Amelia in mind that Jane drove them home, one hand in Maura's as the other navigated the car through the city, getting them home in less than 30 minutes. With smiles on their faces, the couple walked through the front door hand in hand, Jane only releasing the blonde in order to place her badge and gun in the safe in the front closet.

"Mommy! Mama!" Amelia called after hearing the door open, running towards her Mothers excitedly. "You're home! Finally!" She exclaimed, launching herself into Maura's waiting arms, giggling as she was lifted onto the older blonde's hip. "You guys took forever."

"We are very sorry darling," Maura couldn't help but laugh, placing kisses on her daughter's face as little arms wrapped around her neck. "We were busy with work but we'll do our best to get home earlier next time," she said, kissing the six year old once more before handing her over to Jane who was waiting with her arms open.

"Amelia had a pretty exciting day at school today," Angela announced as she made her way around the corner, the smells in the kitchen indicating she had been keeping dinner warm for them. "Tell your Mothers sweetheart. They'll be so happy to hear."

"You had a big day at school today Bug?" Jane asked, following Maura and Angela into the kitchen and placing Amelia down on one of the stools.

"I met my new class today," Amelia nodded with a big smile on her face, surprising both Jane and Maura. "I read with one of the other girls and I could read just as good as her Mommy," she told them, looking rather proud of herself as she looked from one mother to the other. "Her name is Grace and I think we're gonna be friends Mama!"

"Oh honey that's wonderful," Maura forgot all her problems from earlier, delighted by the look of happiness on her daughter's face. "That is absolutely wonderful! I am so happy!"

"See Bug we told you it was going to be great!" Jane was thrilled, kissing the top of the little blonde's head. "We're so happy to hear that Babe. So are you a little bit more excited about next year then?"

"I think so," Amelia nodded with a serious look on her face that made her look exactly like Maura. "I like Gracie and I like having new things to learn. I will miss my friends but I will see them."

"Of course you will," Maura reassured her, smiling as Angela pulled out plates for her and Jane.

"And didn't you have something you wanted to ask your Ma too Mia?" Angela prompted, gesturing for Jane and Maura to both sit as she served them dinner.

"Next week is my turn for show and tell," Amelia turned towards Jane. "I'm allowed to bring anything I want. Will you come?"

"You want me to come see your show and tell?" Jane asked, not quite understanding.

"I want to bring you for show and tell," Amelia shook her head. "You're my best friend and I want to tell everyone about all the cool things we do together. My teacher said I could. Will you come Mama? Please?"

"I…" Jane was both surprised and touched, smiling at the excited look on the little girl's face. "I would love to," she replied, meeting Maura's watery eyes over Amelia's head as the six year old threw her arms around her middle.

"Thanks Mama!" Amelia was practically bouncing with excitement, spending a few more minutes telling her mothers about her day before Angela noticed the time.

"Mia honey, why don't we go upstairs and have your bath while your Mothers finish their dinner," the older Rizzoli suggested, noticing neither woman had really touched their meals, too engrossed in their daughter. "They can come up and spend some time with you when they're done. How does that sound?"

"Okay," Amelia was quick to agree, jumping off the stool before following Angela towards the stairs.

"Thank you Angela," Maura called, her soon to be Mother-in-law simply waving a hand in acknowledgement before leading Amelia up the stairs. "She's so happy today," she turned towards Jane, finally picking up her fork. "I definitely needed to hear all that today."

"Me too," Jane agreed, absentmindedly moving her food around with the fork in her hand, a wistful look on her face.

"Jane? Honey are you okay?" Maura reached out, placing her hand over Jane's. "What's wrong?

"Y-you know how yesterday we were talking about our dreams?" Jane asked, her voice slightly shaky, blinking as she focused on Maura. "There's on more thing I want…one more thing that will make our wedding perfect."

"Okay," Maura wasn't sure if she should be nervous, waiting for the brunette to tell her. "What is it?"

"I want to adopt Amelia."