I couldn't work out what Ma thought of my new living situation. She seemed to understand the logic of it, but I could tell that something about it bothered her. By unspoken agreement, Neither Maura nor I mentioned that it was Maura's room I was sleeping in, not the guest room. I don't think she would have had a negative reaction to our sleeping arrangements, but I didn't want to spring anymore surprises on her.

The next morning, Maura and I turned up for work together as usual, Ma in the back of the car. And, as usual, no one commented. I cornered Ma in the café when I went down there for lunch.

'Have you said anything to Frist or Korsak about Maura and I living together?' I asked.

'Not a thing. Why?'

'It's just they haven't said anything about me turning up with her every morning.'

'Why should they say anything?'

'Because it's something new and different.'

Ma gave me the strangest look then. 'Janie,' she said 'for a detective, you can be incredibly unobservant sometimes.'

'What do you mean?'

'I mean, Frost and Korsak haven't said anything for the same reason that it took me two entire weeks to notice that my daughter had moved house. Absolutely nothing has changed.'

'Of course it has!' I protested. 'I live with Maura now.'

'Honey, you've been living with Maura for years. You just hadn't realised it. How many times did you accidentally fall asleep at hers and stay the night? How many times did you come over early so you could have breakfast with her? You even kept clothes at her house. You eat every meal with her, you turn up to every social event with her. Living with her just saves you making a weekly trip to your apartment to do laundry.'

With a shock, I realised that she was right. Maura and I had had an awful lot of sleepovers.

Ma laughed at my expression and then something like sadness came into her eyes for a moment. 'Janie, maybe you should use your detective skills in your own life sometimes.'

'What are you talking about, Ma?'

'I'm just saying that there might be other things going on which you haven't noticed. Things to do with Maura and you might be missing out on a lot of happiness because you haven't noticed them.'

'I don't know what you mean.'

But she shook her head. 'This is one you'll have to figure out for yourself. I might be reading the situation wrong, but I don't think I am. Just,' she hesitated. 'Just make sure you look after Maura, ok?'

'Of course, Ma.'

Frost, Korsak and I were gathered in Maura's lab, watching her work on the Potato Peeler Bandit's latest victim.

'I can't believe we haven't tracked this guy down yet.' Korsak muttered.

I couldn't either. He'd been eluding for weeks. I knew I hadn't been at the top of my game though. Ever since Maura had come home, I'd had an awful lot to occupy my thoughts.

It was clear that Maura was finding the autopsy difficult. Although she'd avoided morning sickness almost entirely, her stomach was still sensitive and strong smells had started to get to her. Only this morning, she'd fled from the kitchen when she'd caught a whiff of my morning coffee. She was working slowly with frequent pauses to turn her face away from the victim and breathe fresher air.

Apparently I wasn't the only one who'd noticed that she was acting a little strangely. 'Are you alright, Dr. Isles?' Korsak asked.

And of course Maura couldn't lie and say she was fine so she settled for. 'How I'm feeling isn't unexpected given the circumstances.'

It was clear that Korsak was going to question her further, but the colour suddenly drained from her face and she fell forwards. I managed to catch her before she hit the ground, but her eyes had rolled back in her head and she was unconscious.

'Maura!' I was surprised at the terror in my own voice. I'd been in plenty of similar situations before, but I'd never felt fear like this. What if there was something wrong with the baby?

Frost and Korsak were on the floor beside me now, the three of us gathered around Maura's head, trying to wake her. 'She's not usually squeamish,' this was from Korsak.

I was saying her name over and over, trying to get her to open her eyes. It wasn't working though. She remained motionless on the ground 'Call an ambulance,' I snapped after a few moments.

'Is that necessary?' Korsak asked. 'It's pretty obvious why she fainted.'

'Call an ambulance,' I said again.

'Jane, I really think…'

And I knew I had to tell them. 'Korsak, she's pregnant. Call an ambulance.'

My words had an instantaneous effect. Both men snapped into action and, just minutes later, she was on her way to hospital, Korsak and me in the ambulance with her. Once there, she was whisked away from us and we retreated into a waiting room.

'Korsak, you don't have to stay,' I said. I was pacing, unable to stay still.

'Of course I'll stay, Jane. That's your baby in there.'

'My baby? What do you mean, it's my baby?'

'oh come on, Jane. I know you two like to keep your private lives private and pretend you're not a couple, but I know you are. If she's pregnant, the two of you have decided to have a baby.'

'We're not a couple.'

'You don't need to pretend to me. I'm not going to judge.'

'I'm not pretending, Korsak. We're not together. Some British guy got her pregnant. They had a one night stand.'

The expression on his face was changing and he looked a little like Ma had earlier. 'Jane, I'm sorry.'

'About what?'

'It must be hard for you, what with Maura and some guy and her having a baby and all that.'

I didn't want to think about what he was saying. There was far too much going on for that. 'Korsak, right now the only hard thing is that my best friend's in there and she might lose her baby.'

They let me in to see her eventually. She was awake now and looking very small in a hospital bed. Even though there was still a nurse in the room, I climbed onto the bed with her without hesitation and put my arms around her.

The nurse smiled at me. 'Don't worry,' she said. 'It wasn't anything to worry about. Your baby's fine.' This time I didn't correct her.

'How do you feel?' I asked Maura.

'I was so scared,' she said. 'And so glad you were there.'

'I'll always be there.'

'I know,' she said and snuggled closer.

The nurse smiled at us as she left the room. 'You two are adorable.'

As the door closed behind her, I looked down at Maura. 'Everyone thinks we're a couple today.'

'You didn't correct her.'

Why hadn't I corrected her? 'Didn't want to get thrown out of here if it was family only or something.'

There was a flash of something in her eyes, a bit sad, a bit disappointed, but it was gone as quickly as it had appeared. 'I'd like you to meet someone,' she said.

'Who have you managed to meet in a hospital room?'

She reached over to the bedside table and picked up what looked like a piece of paper. 'They gave me a scan.'

She handed the paper to me and I saw it was an ultrasound picture. There, tiny, but unmistakable, was a baby. I found that there were suddenly tears running down my cheeks. 'Is it… is it ok?'

Maura was smiling up at me. 'She's very healthy, about the size of a small grapefruit. She has…'

But I'd stopped listening, my mind fixating on the beginning of the sentence. 'She?' I asked.

'Yes,' Maura breathed, wonder in her voice. 'I'm having a girl.'

'That's your daughter.' I whispered, staring at the ultrasound image. 'She's beautiful.'

And then the two of us were laughing and crying at the same time, overcome by the enourmity of what we were seeing.