Chapter ten

"I don't know what we are right now. I just know that no matter what happens, I'll always be here for you," Maura said. She loved Jane as a friend, but she had never thought about loving her in a romantic way. Sure, there was the occasional fantasy, however, that was just because Jane was gorgeous, which was common knowledge.

"We've always been more than just best friends. There's always been something there, something I could never really put my finger on until now. Every time I see you, I get butterflies in my stomach like I'm in high school again and I just found out Mark Antonucci's going to ask me to prom. Whenever I'm upset and I see you, it immediately calms me down. You're the only person I've let see every side of me, including my immediate family. I knew there was a reason I didn't love Joey. There's really no logical explanation except for the fact that I don't want to love him." When Jane said that last word, she looked up at Maura, hoping she would take the hint.

Of course, socially awkward Maura doesn't. "Well why wouldn't you want to love him? I mean, he's great looking, a nice guy, and from what you told me, I guess it would be eight weeks ago now, he's great in bed." She turned a little red at that last part.

"Because I want to love someone else. And I want that someone to love me back."

"Who do you wan-oh.. You mean me, don't you?"

Finally, Jane thought. "Yeah, I do." Jane looked down at the lavender sheets on Maura's bed.

"Jane," Maura said, placing a hand under Jane's chin and tilting her head upwards. "I've been in love with you since day one." She didn't know where that came from. It just kind of slipped out. "Well, maybe not since the day we first met when I thought you were a prostitute, but maybe day one of our friendship." Maura giggled.

"And you never said anything to me? Why did you choose today to kiss me? Why did you choose to tell me you love me when I'm pregnant?" Jane wasn't angry, she simply didn't understand. "Please don't misunderstand me. I'm so happy that you kissed me and that you said you love me, but I just don't get why you chose now."

"I don't know. Actually, I do. This is going to sound terrible, but I saw how scared you were about raising this baby alone and how much it hurts when someone asks who the father is, so I just took a chance."

Jane laughed and kissed her. "That does sound terrible but I'm glad you seized the opportunity."

"What do you think we are?" Maura asked hesitantly.

"I don't know. I mean, I'm pregnant with Joey's baby. He said he wasn't giving up without a fight, and knowing him, that's one hundred percent true. At the same time though, I want to be with you. I think I've always loved you. Even on the first day we met, when you tried to pay for my coffee because Stanley is an asshole. I remember thinking, 'wow, what a woman'. I know that's very cliche and completely cheesy, but it's true." Jane let a single tear stream down her cheek, she really loved Maura as a friend. But as she talked, she began to realize that Maura was so much more than a friend...she always had been.

Both women were laying on their sides facing each other. Maura propped herself up on her arm and leaned down, feathering kisses from Jane's forehead to her jaw line. To an outsider, it would have been a simple gesture of love, but to them it was so much more. To Jane it meant that Maura loved her back, something that didn't happen very often to Jane. To Maura it meant that she was whole now, that she was a complete person because of Jane. "I love you," she whispered.

With one hand gently stroking Maura's hair and the other protectively on her stomach, Jane fell asleep. Maura watched her as she slept. She looks so peaceful, Maura thought, and she's so beautiful. She really is glowing. Oh my god, she's glowing. She's pregnant, that's why she's glowing. Maura, you idiot. Why did I have to kiss her while she's pregnant? I love her, that's why. She tried to reason with herself, but it was just no use. Jane loves me back. Even when she was just a friend, she completed me. I never had anyone until she came along. And now she loves me, and I love her. But she's pregnant, and Joey's not going to give up without a fight. Oh, god. Her mind slowly stopped racing and she fell into a deep, dream-filled sleep.

A/N: I'm so sorry it took me like a million years to get this chapter out. My show opened last week and closed last night. I meant to get it out earlier today, but if any of you are actors, you know a thing or two about post-show depression. I know I'm rushing the whole Jane and Maura thing, but there's a method to my madness, don't worry. Chapter about Maura's dreams is coming ASAP. Please read and review! -Lexi