I'm going to do my best to finish this over the weekend! Thank you to those who have been following much appreciated.

Chapter Eleven

It had taken all of Maura's persuasive powers to convince Angela not to ring Jane. She assured her that Jane was fine and would be home soon. Jane made arrangements to fly home two days later, she was needed in New York as the loose ends were tied up and she wanted to be there at the arraignment. Angela didn't seem surprised when Maura brought up the subject of picking Jane up at the airport. Angela was stirring a white, béchamel sauce for a lasagne and Maura was sat at the table on her lap top.

"Angela I'd like to pick Jane up on Monday evening."

"Ok honey." Maura turned around to look at Jane's mother as she stirred and tasted.

"Ok?"

"Yes, ok. I can't wait to see Janie but I can survive without travelling to the airport. I'm sure she'd love you to be there when she gets back." Maura and Angela had been existing in a polite household. They had had many chats, shared some meals and even walked Jo together but one subject remained taboo – Jane. Angela had realised the turmoil within Maura was not something that she could help with. The doctor was such a determined woman, she hated to appear fragile and not in control. Angela knew that what ever happened Maura cared so deeply for Jane that she would do everything to avoid hurting her daughter.

"I have been thinking a lot the last few days Angela." Maura rose and walked over to the kitchen.

"I know dear and I thought it best to leave you and that very smart brain to do the thinking."

"I haven't been feeling very intelligent, quite the opposite."

"Don't be so down on yourself."

"How could I have missed it? How could I not have noticed, not only how Jane felt, but my own feelings as well?" Angela smiled,

"Why would you? You have so often said that Jane is the first person you could call a best friend. It's no real surprise that you have struggled to put your finger on what it is you and Jane share." Angela paused as she tasted her sauce and ground some more black pepper into it. "And Janie." She held a spoon out for Maura to taste, "Janie spends so much time throwing herself into work and putting others before herself it's no wonder she has trouble making her own feelings a priority."

"She's my priority."

"Oh Maura I know how important Jane is to you, but do you truly love her?"

"Yes Angela I do. I wish it hadn't taken so long for me to work that out but I do. I know that Jane and I can make each other happy." Angela came around the counter and gathered Maura up.

"You have no idea how happy it makes me to hear you say that." She held Maura's shoulders and looked at her, "but you were right before when you said there was a lot of pressure on you. I will do my best to keep my nose out, as hard as that may be and keep those brothers of Jane's at bay."

"Thank you Angela." Maura felt an enormous, invisible weight lift from her shoulders. Now all she had to do was sweep Jane off her feet and convince her that her feelings were very much reciprocated.

Maura tried not to overanalyse what she was wearing. What colour would Jane like, what was the last thing she wore that Jane commented on? No. She didn't need to create more stress by worrying so much. She settled for black, skinny jeans, a slate grey top and a fitted black leather jacket. She was picking a friend up from the airport this outfit was perfectly appropriate and acceptable. She picked up her handbag, Jane's flight landed at 26 minutes past 8. Maura's timekeeping had always been impeccable and this was quite possibly the most important appointment she had ever had.

"Maam it's time for you to put your seatbelt back on." Jane was gently shaken by one of the flight stewards. She was starting to worry about herself, maybe she had developed narcolepsy. Every time she sat down she fell asleep. She knew it was the nervous energy disappearing and exhaustion setting in. Not since Hoyt had finally been dealt with had she felt so emotionally drained. As the plane banked Jane glanced through the window next to her at the twinkling lights of home. She wasn't sure whether the sudden drop of the plane or the thought of Maura waiting for her at the arrivals had made her stomach lurch. She looked again at Maura's last text, maybe she was reading too much into it. Her tired brain seeing things that it wanted to see.

I'll be at the airport to pick you

up. I can't wait to see you, I've missed

you more than you can imagine.

Mxx

Jane hadn't replied, hadn't trusted herself to. She'd almost called Maura there and then to demand to know what she meant. 'More than you can imagine'. That was pretty deep wasn't it? Being away had helped give her some perspective. Well more accurately Olivia had. The tall, olive skinned detective had made Jane see that she couldn't carry on waiting for realisation to hit Maura or carry on pretending that Maura was just her best friend and nothing more. During one of the longest, darkest evenings of the investigation they had so nearly sought comfort in each other's arms. It had been Jane who had stopped. Overcome with a mixture of guilt, loyalty and a desperate need to see Maura. Olivia had been understanding and they had chatted into the night. Jane smiled, she knew from the horrors of the case she had at least gained friends. Hell if it all went wrong in Boston she was pretty sure that Cragen would find space for her. The final approach to Logan started and Jane sat up straight, it was going to be a bumpy landing.

Maura was suddenly regretting the rose, it had seemed romantic maybe it was just… what would Jane say – 'lame'. Too late now, she shuffled in her Manola Blahnik suede ankle boots and watched the arrivals board. United Airlines flight 1064 was showing as landed. She didn't have long to wait.

Jane's tapping foot was as much down to nervous tension as it was impatience waiting for her luggage. She'd only got a couple of bags, what was taking so long! Finally her rather tired looking bag appeared on the carousel; Jane slung it over her shoulder and started to make her way towards the exit.

Maura was beginning to wonder whether she'd got Jane's flight details wrong. There'd been a surge of passengers though arrivals but that had decreased to a trickle and still no Jane. Maybe she should call her; Maura began to rummage in her bag for her phone when something made her look up. Then she saw her. Jane had spotted Maura straight away, even in 'casual' wear she looked beautiful. She had a look of concentration on her face as she looked through her bag for something. Jane was totally exhausted and completely drained but she would go through it all again just so she could stand in the position she was in now and see Maura's face beam when she noticed Jane. For a few moments neither one of them moved. Then Jane shook her head as though waking herself up and made her way across to Maura.

"Hey M….." Jane's words were knocked out of her mouth as Maura flung herself into her arms. "Whoa, you ok?"

"I missed you Jane."

"I know me too. Ouch! What the..." Jane dropped Maura and tried to work out what she had just felt.

"Oh sorry." Maura sheepishly held out a now broken rose, "this was for you."

"Thank you, that's really sweet. I'm really glad you came to get me. I don't think that I could handle Ma's brand of 'motherly love' right now." Maura cast her eye over Jane quickly.

"You're thinner."

"Hey don't feel like you need to pretend to be Ma! I'll save you the trouble of asking. I've barely eaten, hardly slept or seen sunlight in a fortnight. Ok."

"Jane, I'm just really pleased to have you home." Jane nodded,

"I'm glad to be home." She picked up her bag, "shall we go?" Maura felt like there was so much she wanted to say right there and then but found herself nodding mutely and leading the way towards the parking garage. She didn't know whether Jane could feel the tension as well but by the time they reached the car to Maura it felt unbearable. She sat behind the wheel unmoving.

"Maura you need to turn the engine on that tends to help."

"No. We're not going anywhere yet."