A/N: You know what? I'm feeling giving. If anyone catches the burn notice quote, I'll write them a story. Like a mini buffy-challenge sort of deal. But the quote's only in the sad chapter...hope you like it! Really, I do. And then proceed to chapter 12 for the epilogue. And then go back and read the happy chapter to make you feel better. I know, terrible roadmapping done here.

"Th-they moved the…the date to tomorrow," Maura whispered shrilly, as if she didn't believe it.

"What?!" Jane nearly shouted as she stood.

"Wi-with the attempted m-murder added to my ch-charge, they…they moved the execution to t-tomorrow…" she cried forcefully, her body sagging and collapsing into Jane.

The brunette didn't have the strength to hold them up, and they crashed to the floor, Maura sobbing hysterically and Jane crying silently as she held Maura tightly.

"I'm scared, Jane," Maura managed to whimper between sobs.

"It's okay, sweetie," Jane comforted, her voice thick with tears. "You'll be okay."

"I don't wanna go," the honey-blonde whispered into Jane's neck, her pitch high from terror.

"You'll see me again," Jane whispered, clutching Maura tighter, but the words sent a new wave of shaking sobs through Maura.

"Will I?" she breathed, broken. "I'm doubting everything, Jane. Everything I believe in—"

"Look at me," Jane ordered, her voice suddenly stronger.

Maura leaned away from their embrace, her blood-shot eyes searching Jane's desperately.

"Don't let them change you. You're perfect, okay? Your life was exactly what you wanted it to be. And I promise you this isn't the end of us. If you don't believe in anything else, believe in that. Believe in me."

Jane's words echoed into the darkness, settling in around them. Maura sniffled, nodding pathetically, her eyes shining with such a pure form of fright.

"I love you," she whispered, lifting her hand to skate her fingers across Jane's cheek. She brushed away a stray curl, her fingers trailing lightly down Jane's jaw, lingering on her chin.

"I love you too, Maur," she assured, dipping her head down to kiss Maura carefully, lovingly.

They felt the pure affection the other gave, the total vulnerability of them both magnifying the intimacy of their lips molding together. It was a promise. A bond. An oath they would never forget, never break. Their warm breaths mixed together as their lips lingered, their tears back, falling onto each other's cheeks and leaving a burning trail in their wake. Jane closed her eyes tighter, resting her forehead to Maura's and taking in a shaky breath in. Letting it out slowly, she managed to open her eyes, lifting her fingers to brush against Maura's lips.

"Sleep," she finally whispered.

"No, I wanna stay up with you."

"Staying awake'll just be torturing yourself, sweetie. I'll be here when you wake up."

"No!" Maura protested more forcefully. "I…I can't! I can't fall asleep knowing all I'm missing. I need…I wanna know everything about you, about us! And…I can't bear the thought that I'd be sleeping away the few hours I have left to learn those things. Like…like what you look like when you're sleeping, or what habits you have that would've driven me wild. What it would've been like raise a kid with you…how you would've loved me, lived with me…" Maura's was fumbling for words over her gentle crying. "And I know I can't have all that, but…but I wanna…try…"

Jane listened to Maura's pleas, her desperation, and she couldn't help but cry along with the honey-blonde, nodding vigorously by the time her words had died out.

"Whatever you want," she murmured. "Whatever you want, I'll answer until you tell me to stop."

More tears spilled from her eyes, and Maura wiped them away carefully.

"Tell me about your habits."

"Well…my brothers tell me I snore. I wouldn't know…They say it's louder the more stressed I am. Umm…I tend to rush around in the morning 'cause I sleep as late as I possibly can…"

And Jane kept talking. She didn't stop for hours until Maura was nearly unconscious in her arms.

"You promise you'll be here when I wake up?" she whispered, her eyes drooping even more.

"Til the end."

"No. Not that long," Maura mumbled.

"What?"

"I don't want you to come."

"You can't be serious—" Jane objected incredulously.

"Please, Jane. Don't watch me die…" Maura's voice was quiet, but level.

"Maura—" Jane protested, her voice cracking. "What am I supposed to do?"

"Move on. Grow old. I can wait…"
"Don't ask that of me, Maura. I-I can't," Jane stuttered, her brain trying to grasp what her ears had already heard.

"Please," Maura begged, her desperation now evident as she sat up.

"Maura! That's ridiculous! I need to—"

"Please, Jane. I'm begging you," she cried frantically, grabbing at the fabric of Jane's dress.

"Okay, okay," Jane soothed, pulling Maura into a tight hug, feeling weak arms wrap around her neck as the honey-blonde started to cry again. "I promise," the brunette whispered.

She didn't want to argue. Maura needed to calm down, to sleep, and if lying to her was the way to do that, Jane didn't have to think twice. She once again felt Maura relaxing in her arms. She lowered the honey-blonde's head to her lap, her fingers stroking Maura's hair softly until she felt steady breathing against her knee.

God, she wasn't going to sleep tonight.

And she didn't. She sat, stroking Maura's hair, staring down at the sleeping angel for what seemed like hours. The sky had just begun to lighten when Maura jolted awake, screaming and crying. All Jane could do was hold her and rock her until racking sobs faded.

"When's the last time you walked around?" Jane asked gently, brushing hair off Maura's pale cheek.

"I dunno…months ago?"

Jane smiled warmly at her.

"Hey, Sean," Jane called softly, and the guard showed up. "Can I take her for a walk?"

He looked at her hesitantly, but after evaluating the amount of light already in the sky, he nodded, knowing that even if they tried something, they wouldn't have the time to get far. He simply walked back to his station, turning his head to not see the girls.

Jane helped Maura to her feet and they started off, clambering off the stage and onto the cobblestone street. Maura slung her arm over Jane's shoulder for support at first, but the more they walked, gazing at the light sky, she found her strength returning. She removed her arm from Jane's shoulder, instead linking it through the brunette's arm.

"Thanks, Jane," she murmured, letting her head rest against Jane's. "You've given me more in the past couple weeks than most did in my entire life."

"No need to dwell," Jane comforted, kissing the side of her head. "All that matters is that we met."

Maura nodded, letting her head rest against Jane's shoulder as they made their way slowly back to the cells. When they arrived, the sun was only moments away from appearing, and yet the guard did not look worried. He didn't even acknowledge that they returned.

In the cell was a bowl with water and a cloth. Jane took her time washing Maura's face, dragging the wet cloth slowly along every inch of her exposed skin, as they listened to the crowd gather, heard the drums start. She kept up her gentle movements until she was sure she'd removed every speck of dirt. The guard came, however, and both girls stood. They stared at each other for long seconds, lost in their sea of emotions.

"I love you," Jane rasped, careful not to cry again.

"I love you, too," Maura whispered, gently brushing Jane's cheek with her thumb. "Never forget me."

"Never."

She rushed forward, encasing Maura in a comforting hug, feeling the smaller girl grabbing fistfuls of her hair as she buried her face in her neck, trying to find the strength not to cry either.

"Stay strong out there, okay?" Jane whispered into her ear, her voice trembling as she held back her sobs. "Don't let them win."

Maura nodded into Jane's shoulder, taking in a deep, slow breath, closing her eyes as she let it out. She then pressed something cold into Jane's palm as she pulled away.

"Keep it," she murmured.

Jane managed to tear her eyes from Maura to look down, only to see Maura's ring.

"But—" she protested, her eyes flying up to catch Maura's gaze once more.

"Please. If I keep it…it'd be like you're…split. But now you have both halves…You'll always have me. Always."

Jane closed her palm tightly around the ring, biting at her lip.

"You changed my life, Jane Rizzoli. You are the person everyone dreams of finding. I found you, I have you. That's all I could've asked for."

Jane was finding it more and more difficult to keep her composure, and she felt her knees go weak as Maura leaned in for a final kiss, their lips lingering together in painful necessity.

"It's not goodbye," Maura murmured. "It's just in case."

Jane wanted to say something, but no words came to her that she hadn't already said. 'I love you,' 'you'll be okay,' all meaningless now as she watched the guard take hold of her arm lightly. He gave her an apologetic look as he turned the honey-blonde and started to walk her away. Maura turned her head to look over her shoulder, to see Jane rooted in place. All the brunette could do was raise her hand in a small, half-hearted wave. She received a sad smile in return before Maura turned her head back.

Jane decided right there that she couldn't leave. She couldn't not be there for her…and as she walked slowly toward the execution yard, all her thoughts were focused on the past month. She swore to herself right then that she wouldn't forget a thing; she'd remember every word Maura said, every smile she gave.

She slowed herself to a stop as she reached the edge of the crowd. The mess of people made her sick. How they could go there for fun, to cheer, to mingle, was beyond her. It was appalling. She tried to ignore them though, her eyes trained on Maura. The honey-blonde was walking gingerly next to the guard, her face cold, unyielding. She let them push her up, let them put a sack over her head. She didn't struggle as they secured the noose around her neck, but Jane saw. Those final seconds dragged on painfully slowly because at that moment, Jane saw just how scared Maura was. She saw her heaving chest, her clenching fists. A gust of wind blew, Maura's dress billowing up delicately and one final thing caught Jane's eye. Blood. Her blood. Fluttering along with the fabric.

You'll always be with me, Maura's words echoed back from the memory.

And that was the end. Time unfroze, the trap door lever was pulled, and Maura was gone, all before Jane could even take a step forward. She heard a piercing shriek echo through the crowd, yet she didn't feel her vocal chords vibrating. But the scream most definitely came from her, because it quivered and died as a sob shook her body. She was running forward without even meaning to, shoving past people to get there.

"Maura," she breathed out in a broken whisper, her steps slowing and faltering as she neared the stage.

Strong arms took her hostage, yanking her back.

"Stop it," Constance hissed in her ear, dragging her backward a couple more feet.

"No," Jane managed to yell. "No!"
She kicked and screamed and cried as Constance pulled her away. No one cheered today. No one even dared move. They just watched solemnly as the woman hauled the hysterical teenager away in a choke hold.

When they were around the corner, Jane gave an extra hard yank.

"Get your filthy hands off me," she shouted, breaking free and landing a decent punch on the woman, who just staggered back slightly.

Then her arms were back on Jane, this time in a hug. Jane struggled to pull away for a couple moments, but she eventually stopped her fighting, stopped her yelling. She couldn't seem to fight her devastated sobs, though, letting the woman she absolutely despised hold her tightly.

"You bitch," Jane choked out between her violent waves of crying. "You killed your daughter—" she shrieked, her voice cracking and melting into another loud sob. "You killed the only person I loved," she murmured, the trembling in her voice masking her final words from the woman.

Constance didn't say anything. She deserved every word Jane had to give her. All she did was hold her, until the girl had no more energy to sob aloud, and even then, she never let go as Jane cried silently, both their bodies quaking violently with the force of Jane's sobs.

Her world was done for. She was done for.

A/N: I love you! Does that make you feel better? I hope so. Now go! Onward to the Epilogue!