With both of us fed and a quick goodbye said to Angela on the way out the door, we made our way to the doctor's office for the OBGYN appointment.
As we sat in the waiting room, I looked across at a young girl and her baby, who looked about three months old. Smiling warmly at the sight, I thought of Jane and I in that situation in about four months' time, sitting holding our baby, loving another human that would love us back.
"I can't wait till we get to that stage." Jane whispered in my ear and I smiled.
"I know." I whispered back placing a hand on my abdomen and smiled as I felt the feather light kiss that was placed on my cheek.
"Maura Isles?" the nurse asked and jumped up, grabbing my purse and walking with Jane down the hall toward Doctor Andrews' room.
The nurse checked my vitals and left a couple of minutes later so that I could change into the gown I would have to wear when the ultrasound was being done. I was glad that I'd worn a pair of jeans and a light cardigan, something simple and easy to get in and out of.
When I was sitting on the bed with Jane next to me she smiled, holding my hand squeezing it as Doctor Andrews walked in the room.
"Hello Maura, how are you this morning?" she asked.
"I'm good" I replied and she nodded.
"Anything unusual, feelings of discomfort? Abnormal pain?" she asked and I shook my head.
"Nothing like that doctor. Maybe a little worried that I haven't felt her kick or move yet." I said and she smiled.
"That could just be that the baby isn't ready to move around yet. I have seen a few cases where the mother didn't feel the movements until about thirty weeks and then for the rest of her pregnancy she felt him move every time she did. Each baby is different. If you're really concerned, just talk to her a lot. She'll respond to your voice even if you don't feel it just yet, and if you get your partner to do it too, you might start feeling her sooner rather than later." Doctor Andrews suggested and I saw Jane nodding happily from the corner of my eye.
When Doctor Andrews had everything prepared and after the warning of the gel being cold, Jane and I turned our attention to the monitor screen, waiting for the signs that the little baby growing inside me was fine. Eventually Doctor Andrews stopped and announced that there in the centre of the screen was our baby girl and I smiled. She'd grown at least six inches since my last ultra sound, and I turned to find Jane smiling just as much as I was.
"There you go. At this stage in your pregnancy Maura, she's about ten inches long and ten grams. Throughout the rest of your pregnancy she will start to grow bigger and your bump will double in size." Doctor Andrews told us and we nodded. As the doctor did a thorough check up on the baby, Jane squeezed my hand and looked at the monitor in awe, a look that I was glad I got to see. I loved moments like these where I got to see her innocence that she hid while on the job.
"Alright your baby looks healthy and your pregnancy is on track, I'll see you again for your six month checkup and we'll go from there." she said and we nodded.
Whilst I was changing out of the gown and back into my own clothes an idea struck me. If anything were to happen to me, then I would want the baby to go to Jane. I would need to change my next of kin and emergency contact to Jane. Of course it was something that we would have to talk about and something that Jane would try to push away but I needed it settled, ASAP.
Walking out of the changing room I saw that Doctor Andrews was still in the room filling in my doctor's record, Jane was sitting in the free chair and I looked at her and made my way to her side, slowly trying to work out how to bring this up with her.
Looking up at me she sensed something was wrong and placed her arms around my waist pulling me closer.
"What is it Maur?" she asked and I looked at her completely serious about what I was going to say and she sat upright and grabbed my hands.
"Maur? Please tell me" she begged and so I did.
"If anything happens to me, I want you to take the baby." I stated simply. Jane, to my surprise nodded.
"What is this about Maur?" she questioned squeezing my hands and looking at me confused, so I tried to continue with as much calm in my voice as I could.
"If anything was to happen to me, I would want you to be able to make decisions for me and about the baby. I would want you to have the ability to decide my fate." I said feeling a tear slid down my face, and saw the look of shock cross her face.
"What are you talking about Maur? Nothing is going to happen to you! I won't let anything happen to either of you." she vowed and I smiled sadly.
"But if something does, Jane I want you to be my emergency contact and next of kin. I want you to be the one who gets to make the decision. I know you'll make the right choice for both of us." I told her and she bowed her head deep in thought for what seemed like forever.
I knew this was a lot to be asking Jane especially at such short notice, but it was something I wanted for the both of us. I knew she would be the one to do everything in her power to keep us safe.
It felt like forever before she actually responded and when she did, I could see the hurt that this conversation had brought to the surface, the tears that she was trying to keep at bay.
"I think it would be an honour Maur. But I don't think that anything will happen to you." she said and I smiled, as she stood and crashed her lips down to my own. We were interrupted by Doctor Andrews who had been there the whole time, announcing that she had a new patient coming into the room. I felt my cheeks burning and saw that Jane's were too as we made a hasty exit.
I stood at the nurse's station to make my next appointment and update my emergency contacts.
Knowing that Jane was now the one who was to be contacted if anything happened to me, made me feel reassured and ready for lunch, my stomach agreed with a loud growl. Jane must've heard the noise because I could see the smirk on her face.
"Are you hungry Maur?" Jane asked and I nodded sheepishly.
"Where do you want to go?" she asked.
"The Dirty Robber" I suggested and she smiled.
"Sure. I can always go for a cheeseburger." she said as she helped me out the door.
A man brushed by us, bumping me out of the way. Jane immediately grabbed me around the waist.
"Hey, watch where you're going." She called after the man who did not slow down or even apologize. "Dick." She muttered under her breath. She helped in into the car and made sure I was buckled in safely before she made her way over to the driver's side.
"Cheeseburger, here I come." She glanced at me and added "With a side salad."
I nodded my approval but caught her muttered "With a great big milkshake."
Arriving at the Dirty Robber, Jane sat me at the table and quickly shuffled off saying that she needed to go to the bathroom. I sat at the table patiently waiting for her return. I started out the window and found myself looking at someone across the street smoking and staring back at me intently. I averted my gaze and was just about to look through the messages on my phone when I heard someone calling my name from across the room.
"Maura" I turned toward the voice and tried to control the look on my face, whilst I felt my heart rate pick up. I felt like running from the room, or at least running until Jane was here beside me but knew that I couldn't do that to her.
"Frank." I smiled as politely as I could. As he made his way over to the table I was deciding whether or not to text Jane and give her a heads up but by the time I'd come to a decision, he was already seated opposite me.
"How are you?" he asked and I smiled politely.
"I'm great, and you?" I asked and he smiled.
"I've been better. I came to visit Tommy and TJ. I've been trying to see Jane but every time I go into BPD, they tell me she's on leave. You haven't seen her have you?" he asked and I was about to answer when Jane walked out of the bathroom. I saw her gasp and try to turn back in the opposite direction. I smiled at her and she smiled a little before reluctantly making her way over to the table and taking her seat next to me. The first thing I did was reach for her hand under the table, squeezing it to try and calm her down.
"What are you doing here Pop?" she asked and he frowned.
"I wanted to see you Jane. I've been worried about you. Tommy called and told me about your accident. I'm so sorry that happened to you my sweet girl." he said and Jane frowned again.
"And yet you never came to see me. You didn't bother to check up on me until now, almost a year after it happened and you what? You want my forgiveness? Dad you can't keep doing this." Jane said. I watched as she tried to keep her emotions in check.
"Jane I wanted to come, I did. But I just – I couldn't bring myself to see you in that state." he said and she clenched her fist. I started making lazy circles on her hand and felt her relax just a little.
"Ma couldn't bring herself to see me like that, and yet she was there the whole time. She supported me, healed me and worried over me. She's been there every step of the way. She was there for me when I told her that I was pregnant, and when l I lost the baby. She didn't agree with me staying on the job and wanted me to take desk duty, but I didn't listen. She supported me anyway and tried to hide what she felt because she knew that I would do anything for my job. She nursed me back to health and gave me the best advice she could. She was there for me and gave everything, whilst you were too afraid to see me broken and help me heal. What the fuck is that pop?" she vented. I looked over at Frank and saw him try to register what Jane had said."Jane I'm so sorry I just – I didn't know." he said reaching out across the table to try and take her hand but she pulled away.
"You're not sorry pop. You only come back when you want something. So what is it this time?" Jane asked and he frowned.
"I just wanted to see you guys, apologise for the way I've been acting." he said and Jane growled.
"You've already done that pop. I've forgiven you for all that you've done but I just can't forgive you for not being there when I needed you most." she said.
He nodded and looked around the room, whilst he had his eyes locked on the TV, I leant over and whispered in Jane's ear.
"It's alright Janey, breath. I'm here, I'm not going anywhere." she turned toward me and smiled.
"I know Maur. I love you." she whispered back but Frank seemed to have caught what was being said and he gaped.
"You and Maura?! No I will not let my daughter date a girl! Not on my watch." he said and I felt Jane steel herself and saw the icy look that was sent his way.
"You have no control over who I love pop. I will not have you say anything harsh about Maura and don't think that I won't make you leave." she growled. Frank seemed to look a little terrified when Jane said that and I felt my heart flutter and felt the tiny kick of my baby for the first time, letting out a little gasp of surprise making Jane turn to me in concern.
"What is it Maur?" she asked her hands flying to my bump and I felt the kick again, a little harder this time as she did so.
"Did she just kick?" Jane asked in awe and I nodded. She smiled before Frank cursed. Jane shot him her best glare as he looked at her.
"You're pregnant? Shit Jane. Do you have any more bombshells to drop? Did you get her pregnant too?" Frank said and Jane rose, the icy look was back.
"I want you to leave Pop. I don't want to see you, not until you're ready to take back what you said and apologise to Maura. She has done nothing to deserve your crap." Jane said. He looked at her and then turned to me about to apologise when she shook her head
"No Pop, you don't mean it. Go." she said and he stood, leaving. He turned back, opening his mouth about to say something, but Jane pointed to the door.
As we watched his retreating figure Jane looked around at the few people gathered in the room giving an apologetic shrug and sat down grabbing for my hand.
"I am so sorry you had to be a witness to that Maur" she said and I frowned.
"It wasn't your fault Jane, I don't blame you. Just please calm down. I hate seeing you so upset." I said and she nodded as I pulled her in for a hug, waiting until I felt the last little piece of tension leave her body.
"What did I do to deserve you Maur?" she whispered and I smiled.
"I don't know I've been asking myself the same question for years. Thanks for sticking up for me Jane." I said and she pulled back a little and smiled.
"Always Maur, you know I would do anything for you." she said and I nodded.
"I know you would Jane." I answered before leaning in to give her a kiss.
The man across the street finished his third cigarette, throwing the butt angrily to the ground. He had been able to witness the altercation from his vantage point. He saw when Jane placed her hand on Maura's stomach, and he saw the smile that resulted. There was no way some dumb cop was going to get her hands on his baby. He would have to do something about it. He ground the cigarette butt under his heel as he took a last glance at the happy couple and made his way down the street. Maura Isles was his, and so was that baby.
A/N: Thank you to all those who reviewed the story :D I love you guys so much, and to my amazingly talented friend who keeps writing epic things into the base of what I have. Just a warning this is going to get a little hectic over the next couple of chapters but I hope you'll enjoy them just as much as the others. Please review and tell me what you think!