AN: I fear there may be a developing ''Jane hate club''. Please don't hate her...I'll fix her.


Monday morning came faster than expected. When Maura's alarm went off, she didn't have to hide how much she enjoyed being in Jane's embrace, neither did she have to pretend to still be asleep. She took her usual fifteen minutes of solitude, but today she replayed the previous night in her mind. The memory set little flutters in her stomach alight. Jane was just as good in bed as she had imagined, and the brunette had indeed ruined her for everyone else. She knew it would take nothing short of a miracle to get her to one day even consider sleeping with anyone else. Jane set the bar really high; it was unattainable to anyone else on planet earth.

At 7am she finally slid out of bed and went for her shower. The detective was moaning and groaning about getting up by the time Maura was done. ''Prolonging this isn't going to help you Jane'', they went through their usual morning banter. It was the same every morning – Maura trying to get Jane to awaken, Jane clinging to fruitless hope of more time to sleep.

Begrudgingly she headed for the en-suite while Maura dressed up. ''Did you water the plant?'', Jane called out from the bathroom. She was looking at the variegated green leaves, feeling mighty pleased with her purchase.

''Of course I did. I'm not like you Jane''

''Like me'', she gasped. ''What am I….the plant neglecter?''

''No, just someone who forgets little things like those'', they bantered back and forth as they went about their rehearsed morning routine.

Maura left immediately after finishing. She needed to start early, because she had a long lunch break in which she had to meet with her lawyer. They shared an adoring parting kiss in the kitchen, failing to notice Angela's eye on them.

''I take it you two have…'', Angela flailed her hand, unable to land on the right word. Jane was startled, as she had not seen nor heard her mother enter the house.

''Ma….'', Jane sighed.

''I'm not gonna bother you about it sweetheart, it was a long time coming''.

Jane sighed again.

Angela was watching her daughter intently and knew something was off with her, she only hoped the stubborn brunette would let it out – if not to her, to someone at least.

''Talk me Janie'', she rubbed her shoulder encouragingly.

''Don't worry about it'',Jane responded, sounding slightly dejected.

''Jane'', Angela announced sternly. ''Do you think so little of your mother? Do you really think there is nothing I can say that can be useful to you?''

''You know I don't mean it like that Ma'', Jane pleaded with her hurt mother.

''Then try me. See if there isn't anything an old lady doesn't have to share''

''You aren't old'', Jane smiled.

''Most times I think that's how you see me''

''I see you as old-er, not old''

Angela pulled her daughter over to the breakfast stool so they could have a quick heart to heart before work. They both still had about thirty minutes before having to leave the house.

''I fucked up with Maura'', she confessed.

Angela watched her, confused to no end. ''Do you mean to say you fucked her?''

''Ma!'', Jane admonished.

''Well I don't understand. How could you have fucked up. I mean, she just left and you two seemed all lovey dovey – kissing and all''

''Yeah, well that's part of the problem''

''Just tell me what's going on Jane'', Angela probed.

''We….uhh….we slept together last night'', Jane paused, to let her mother take it in and respond. The first part is all that happened. ''I said we….you know….slept to-''

''I heard you. I'm just waiting for you to say what the problem is'', Angela said with an air of patience she didn't possess.

''We had sex, then I told her I didn't want to be in a relationship with her, then proceeded to have sex with her again''

''Hmmmm'', Angela said thoughtfully. ''She seemed to be okay when she left though''

''Yeah. I know she is okay with it, she wouldn't lie to me if she wasn't''

''But…..'', Angela pressed.

''I don't know. I feel confused. We talked about it and decided it would be a smoother transition with Joyleen if we didn't have a fresh romantic relationship in the way''

''That seems sensible''

''Yeah'', Jane sighed again.

''So why the long face honey?''

''I don't want to make a mistake. Do you understand? I don't want to regret this. Because I'm going to be living here until Margo goes, and we said we're still going to be sleeping together. The only thing is that we wont actually be in a relationship. Does that even make sense? Are we just stupid Ma?''. It had been a really long time since Angela saw her daughter plead in such a manner. She could tell how torn, and hurt, and confused her little girl was. All she needed was a third opinion, an outsider who could tell her that she and Maura weren't totally bonkers. Maybe another perspective could help.

''How does Maura feel about all this?''

''She wasn't too pleased when I suggested it at first, but I think she gets it''

''I'm going to throw in my two cents, and promise not to be mad at okay''

''I'll take anything I can right now Ma''

''You and Maura have been best friends for years now, which is a perfect foundation for a relationship. But don't get confused Jane, it will be a relationship. You know how some people say 'oh what's the big deal with labeling things, lets just go with it?' ''

''Yes''

''Well there actually IS a big deal. When you label something, it automatically has certain expectations attached to it. Once you and Maura name what you have as a 'relationship''',she used air quotes, ''It means what you expected from each other before as best friends has altered now. With that change, comes different demands and expectation. Do you understand me Jane?''

''Yeah'', Jane responded like a child learning her favourite subject.

''So I want you to know that you weren't wrong in declining the beginning of a relationship just yet. Imagine the commotion when you expect Maura to spend the whole of your afternoon off with her but Joyleen wants to be taken to the cinemas or something?'', Jane nodded. ''It's little things like these, it doesn't have to be the very big things. But when two people as in love as you and Maura are start a relationship, I would think you would want to spend each waking moment together'', Jane nodded again. ''But it will be hard for Maura to meet your demands and Joyleen's demands simultaneously – one of you will suffer. So yes, you made a wise decision''

Jane instantly felt relieved and thought all was well, but Angela began to speak again.

''However, there is one flaw in your reasoning. And that is mostly on your part Jane''

''What?''

''If Margo wasn't coming along, I would say things are going to be just fine. But I can't say that now Jane. Speaking as someone who had seen better days, some feelings may surface between Maura and Margo'', Jane instantly paled. She looked like she was going to throw up at Angela's words. ''Maybe there is nothing to worry about, but you can't know until it is actually happening. Maura isn't a deceitful person, its not her I am worried about. Its you honey. You need to ask yourself if you are ready''

Jane no longer responded.

''Sleeping with Maura doesn't hold much weight. Are you going to be able to handle it? Not having a claim on her I mean''

Jane still didn't respond. She just sat on the stool, staring at the same empty spot on the flat surface in front of her.

''I know now that you love her, and you want to make things as painless as possible for her. But think of yourself too. If you continue with what you are doing, you need to commit to it. And you need to be prepared for whatever outcome. Through everything that will be going on, Maura is going to say and do some things you are not going to be happy with. And you need to be prepared to know that you won't be able to fight her from a lovers or partners perspective. You will only be 'the best friend'. And because you are sleeping together, you are going to feel as if you have certain rights to her – that you won't have, just so you know. And hearing those words from Maura is going to hurt really badly Jane. I'm not saying you need to tie her down or gain some sort of control over her by being in a relationship with her now. No, that's not what I mean. All I'm trying to say is that you need to make your decision, and be able to deal with it throughout everything. It could really go wrong if you two aren't careful''

Jane wanted to run, but her feet felt like lead.

''You know how terribly she feels about abandoning Joyleen, and you know as well as I do that she is going to go out of her damn way to do anything under the sun that she can to make that child happy. She loves you too baby, but I don't want you in the cross fire of it all. It's going to be hard and confusing for her too, don't forget that''

Angela waited for her daughter to say something, but she didn't.

''I have to head to work now. Stop over for something to eat okay'', she kissed her daughter on the forehead and left her to her thoughts. Part of her felt like it was an evil thing to do. But she loved her daughter, and what kind of help would she be if she didn't tell her daughter all this?

Left alone, Jane finally cried. It was an emotional overload, and it didn't help that it was Monday and she needed to be at work in half an hour.

When she sobered down she quickly made an attempt to look presentable before leaving. She hadn't thought much, she'd mostly just cried – for what, she wasn't sure. She just wanted it all to go away, everything. She wanted to run, but she couldn't bail on Maura. Not after she'd promised to be there.

Thankfully, (not that she condoned murder) she was called out to a crime scene before even making it to the precinct. It was the sort of distraction she needed. Then it dawned on her that she was going to be seeing Maura for the first time at work after having sex. She wasn't sure how she was supposed to act. All those thoughts went flying out the window when she spotted Dr. Pike just as she pulled up.

''Where's Maura?'', she asked without so much as looking at the scene before her.

''Had something to attend to'', Frost responded. Him and Korsak saw Jane was vexed just by the way she opened her car door and were in no mood to increase her temper. Pike knew better than to even offer a condescending remark.

You ok – J. She texted Maura.

No reply came as they began to process the scene. She was getting even more frustrated by the second. It was in that moment that she understood exactly what her mother was trying to say about expectations. Normally she would have just gone about her business and waited to find out what Maura had been up to, later. But now, no. She wanted to know where Maura was and what she was doing, immediately. Normally, it may have worried her just a little. But now she was furious. Wondering if Maura was planning other arrangements without her knowledge. It was juvenile, even to her, but she couldn't help it.

The guys had been alerted by Angela at dinner the previous night about Maura's situation. And seeing how on the edge Jane was, they didn't dare utter a word about her mood. They just went about their business, ignoring her sour state, because they knew that's what the brunette preferred.

She was leaving the scene when Maura finally texted back.

I am alright Jane, why? – M

''Are you fucking kidding me?'', she said to herself.

I'm guessing it never occurred to you that I would worry that you didn't show up and are God knows where – J

Jane picked up her phone on the second ring, ''Yeah'', she rasped.

''Hello Jane, I'm sorry I got caught up''

''Sure'', Maura didn't even catch the bitterness in Jane's tone.

''My lawyer had a family affair he needed to attend to and the best time for him to meet me ended up being this morning. By the time dispatch called I was in his office so I had Dr Pike fill in for me''

''Why didn't you say anything?''

''It all just happened Jane'', Maura answered obliviously.

''But still'', she persisted.

''Jane, I wasn't aware I had to inform you about every little detail about my day''

Jane was silent. She knew she had no right, just as her mother had warned her. And she knew she had been childish lately, and lashed out at Maura more than was warranted. ''Can we talk?'', she eventually said.

''Of course. I am on my way back, do you want to come over to my office before you proceed with the case''

''Sure''


Twenty minutes later, Jane was walking into Maura's office with a bouquet of flowers looking guilty as ever. She closed the door behind her and strode to Maura's desk.

Maura quietly took the flowers looking amused. She plucked the card out without saying anything and began to read out loud ''I love you Maura, and I know I don't say it as much as I should, as much as you deserve to hear it. I'm sorry for my behaviour of late. I act like an ass, and always feel terrible after. Don't forget that you're loved, so very much. Jane''

The blonde stood up and pulled Jane into a kiss she had been dying to give her since walking out of the house.

''Please don't use such vulgar language, written or spoken, in Joyleen's presence. You ought not to use it in anyone's presence anyway'', Maura warned kindly.

''I better start learning right'', Jane offered a weak smile.

''I realized after I got off the phone that you were very upset. What's the matter?'', Maura asked looking directly into Jane's soulful eyes.

''Sit with me'', Jane guided them to the couch were she began to retell parts of her conversation with Angela that morning. She told only the parts about being in a relationship and having different expectations as opposed to just best friends.

''I'm not saying to do anything about it. As in to change what we talked about last night. I just want you to understand why I was upset this morning. And why I may be upset again at a later date. I am trying to handle this better, I swear''. Jane didn't want to mention everything else to Maura because she hadn't made a decision yet. She just wasn't sure about a lot of things. And better for her to be unsure on her own, that to drag Maura along with her.


A murder had to be solved, so that's how they spent the rest of the day.

Murder unsolved, they called it a night and headed home. It was to find Angela setting up the table for dinner when they got home. Jane's heart almost exploded out of her chest, scared to death that Angela was going to begin to say to Maura all she had said to her. Seeing the look of utter fear on her daughters face, Angela gestured that she wasn't there to talk about what Jane was afraid of. Relief instantly flooded the brunette, as she began to tend to Jo Friday while Maura helped Angela set dinner.

They enjoyed a light conversation with their meal. And Maura shared the details of the documents she's written up with her lawyer, before Angela called for their attention. ''I wanted to talk to you guys about something''

Jane begged with her eyes again, but Angela just shook her head. ''I was thinking that I'd like to stay over at Jane's apartment when Joyleen arrives''. It didn't go unnoticed that what Angela wanted to say was 'when Margo is around'.

''You mean while Margo is here?'', Maura called her out on it.

''Yes'', Angela said truthfully. ''I know I am popular for my 'meddling' as you call it, but I like to think of it as 'caring'. I figured you guys will better solve things without me in the process''

''A move won't be necessary Angela. If you'd like to keep some distance you could just stop coming over as frequently as you do, no need to move'', Maura reasoned.

''It doesn't seem as if it's necessary now, but just in case, I'll just be out of the way. If you need me for anything you know I will be here in a heartbeat''

''Thank you Angela. If you do change your mind at anytime, the place will be untouched and waiting for you''

They smiled at each other. Jane seemed to just be a spectator, she hadn't voiced her thought as yet.

''Jane'', Maura prompted when she saw her brunette was lost in thought.

''Yeah sure Ma, use my place''

''Well then, I'll move on Wednesday. I'll ask Frankie or Tommy to help with anything I need. I'll be off to bed now'', she stood and gave her girls both a hug and kiss goodnight before she was on her way.


''Why do you think your mother wants to leave?'', Maura queried as they got ready for bed.

''Doesn't want to be involved in the arguments'', Jane snorted.

''Are you really expecting the worst from Margo's visit Jane?''. Maura's tone had turned really serious.

''I don't know Maur. I don't even know what she looks like. Have you even seen Joyleen? Have you even seen Margo since twelve years ago?'' Jane settled in to her side of the bed, Maura tucked-in beside her as well.

''I haven't seen Joyleen yet, neither have I seen Margo since the day I left her in the hospital''

''Why Maur?''

''I don't know. I just told myself I'd see them when they got here. When I went to New York my mother had some photograph's of them but I refused to see them'', Maura said sadly.

''How could you not even want to see what they look like….what Joyleen looks like?''

''My mother sent an email with the photo's. Many a time I've just stared at those unopened images, but I could never bring myself to open them''

''Can I see them?''


AN: Is Maura going to agree to this? One more chapter and then we finally meet Margo and Joyleen. Do you guys have any preconceived ideas about them? I Love talking to y'll...