Verena wipes her mouth with a napkin and looks at my mother with a broad grin. „Your meal was delicious as always, Angela."

Ma sits at the head of the dining table and raises her brows. „It's not that hard to beat the junk in prison."

Verena chokes on her coke and raises a hand.

„Aren't I right, Jane?"

I stop chewing and meet my wife's eyes. I don't know why but suddenly everyone is looking at me.

„Should I understand that," Verena asks confused.

I heave a sigh and lower my fork. „I went undercover to jail to save the life of a woman and her little sister."

„Did it work?"

„It did, otherwise my daughter wouldn't sit with us at this table," my mother answers and I glare at her.

„Ma," I growl warningly. My God, some things will never change. I get up and take my empty plate to the sink to tell my mother that this conversation is over.

I briefly close my eyes when someone is approaching me.

„I'd like to know how you pulled my butt out of the fire," Verena says emphatically.

I brace myself on the sink and scoff. „The bartender."

„Excuse me?

„The bartender who was on duty that night gave confirmed your alibi. We had to light a fire under him but it worked."

„The bartender," replies incredulously.

I look at her and set my jaw. „Yes."

She nods slowly. „Now what?"

I pat her arm and glance at the table where our families and friends are sitting. „Now we enjoy the rest of the evening and Bobbi stays the night here so you can ... take care of your wife."

She frowns deeply. „My wife?"

I grin and pat her arm once more. „It's all a matter of opinion, Nicacio. It's all a matter of opinion and a formality."

Verena smirks but rolls her eyes.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

A few days later I enter the break room and see Verena pouring herself a cup of coffee and pat her back. „What it's like to a little girl at home and to know that this is how your life will look like for the next few years?"

The young woman turns to me and I tug in my chin. She looks bleary-eyed and I'm afraid that she'll pass out any moment.

„Shoot me," she whispers. No, she's almost bagging. „Please!"

I take the pot from her hand before the mug spills over.

„I won't do you this favor, Sorry."

„You're such a friend," she growls, taking a sip from the stimulant.

„Is Bobbi such a tomboy?"

„That's an understatement because I couldn't have known that the little one is such a live wire."

„All kids are like that at this age," I reply with an amused grin.

"Thanks for the warning," Verena grumbles and takes a deep breath. „I didn't think that I still would be a part of this investigation."

I look at the young woman and furrow my brows. „From experience, I know that pissed detectives are highly efficient."

She looks at me seriously and I can see exactly that she isn't sure what to make of this statement. „Is that so?"

„Believe me," I reply, looking to the door as it opens.

A young man looks at us and frowns deeply. „Lieutenant, he's in interrogation room three."

I nod slowly and put on a serious expression. "We're coming." I look long at Verena. „Do you think you can handle this?"

She nods seriously and grits briefly her teeth. „I will try not to strangle him."

„Very good, let's do this," I say, making our way to interrogation room number three.

I enter the room and see immediately that the young man in police uniform feels more than uncomfortable.

He has a slender face, blond short hair, and dark blue eyes."Can you imagine why you are here," I ask, sitting down opposite him.

Rodney Cobb hesitates a moment before shaking his head.

Verena sits down next to me and puts her cup down on the table. „Think again, Cobb."

He looks at her as if he can't believe that the young woman is again part of the investigation. „I have no idea."

„Who murdered Luke Crawford," Verena asks without beating about the bush.

Cobb leans back in his chair and crosses his arms over his chest. „I actually thought you lost your temper."

„That's what you, Cabrera, Ellison, and Carrillo wanted the whole world to believe," growls Verena, leaning forward. „Why?"

Cobb blinks a few times and swallows hard. „I don't know what you're talking about."

„Nonsense," the young woman hisses and frowns. „You and your friends invited me for a drink so you could pin a murder on me! I want to know why and why Luke Crawford had to die!"

He only briefly holds Verena's gaze. Then he chews nervously on the inside of his cheek. „I didn't know that you were supposed to be framed for murder! You have to believe me. I just thought the guys wanted to get you sloshed and bust your balls."

Now I'm the one who asks, „Why did you think you'd bust Detective Nicacio's balls?"

„Because I gave Ellison a dressing-down in front of in front of the assembled company a few weeks ago when he handled a guy ... roughly who was arrested by him."

I look at the young woman incredulously. Honestly? And that's what you're telling me now? „But that doesn't explain why you should have a framed for murder."

„No, it does not," agrees Verena without taking her eyes off Cobb.

He hesitates for a moment and takes a deep breath. „All I know is that Ellison owes someone a favor and that your investigation rubs them the wrong way and that they talked to Ellison about obstructing this investigation."

I furl my eyebrows. „Is the name of the friend Justin Crawford?"

Cobb looks seriously at me and shakes his head. „No, Aurora O'Donnell."

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

I enter the bullpen and grin as I see Stephanie sitting at Verena's desk and resting her head on her hand, eyes closed.

I can understand very well that she is more than exhausted when little Bobbi is really such a tomboy as Verena said. I hate to do this, but I clear my throat loudly.

Stephanie jumps, almost knocking over her coffee cup. „I'm up, I'm up!"

„Yes," I laugh and the redhead clears her throat, too. „I can see that." I'm getting serious again and look at the glass board. „What did you find out about Aurora O'Donnell?"

The agent wipes her mouth and tries to be a little more cheerful. „Pretty much and most of you won't like."

I cross my arms over my chest and turn to her. „Why?"

„Because Aurora O'Donnell is the daughter of a very influential Boston industrialist," Korsak says as he also enters the bullpen and I open and close my mouth like a fish. "His family made their fortune by tool manufacturing, The O'Donnell's are a long-established Boston family."

„What does a tool tycoon have to do with a family from?" I wonder aloud and furrow my brows.

Stephanie looks at me and raises her shoulders to show that she has no idea this time.

Jesus, in what did we get in? I know it sounds almost heartless but a simple murder among drug addicts is easier to solve than a plot that takes place in the Four Hundred. It seems that not only Justin Crawford is involved in this case but also Aurora O'Donnell.

Obviously, we've made pretty influential enemies and I have to decide if we should continue to investigate the case and put our careers on the line or helping them get away with murder.

I've never been someone who gives up so easily.

I belong to the unpleasant kind of cop who dares to arrest a rich prig even if they threaten to sue the city.

I'm not sure if that's a good thing, but I've never let a killer get away with murder.

I look for a little encouraging. „Where's Verena?"

Stephanie pauses for a moment. „She's having lunch, at home."

I understand and nod slowly. „Are you free?"

„Yes, why?"

„We both pay Aurora O'Donnell a visit."

„Jane, are you really sure about that," Korsak asks worriedly. I smirk at him and he rolls his eyes. „Why am I even asking?"

„No idea," I reply and Stephanie's grinning.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Stephanie and I didn't talk very much on the way to the O'Donnell property.

I noticed that her eyes were closed again and that's why I gave her the twenty minutes rest.

I know this feeling of exhaustion very well, I felt the same way when Enzo was home for the very first time. At that time, after the first week, I was a bit ... grumpy too, but it's unusual to see Stephanie smiling so little and it's also a bit strange that she hardly says anything. It's even more unusual that she rolled her eyes at young man when we were led by him in a kind of lounge.

A young woman in her thirties comes to us with a big smile on her face and looks at us long. „You have to be the detectives from Boston."

I'll put my jacket aside show her my badge while the redhead is showing hers as well. "I'm Lieutenant Jane Rizzoli and this is Agent Stephanie Bradshaw, we'd like to ask you a few questions, Mrs. O'Donnell."

„Please, call me Aurora," replies the platinum blonde woman and takes a deep breath. „I like to help if I can."

Well, I doubt that. She'll rather try to trick us and perhaps also tries to put us on a wrong track.

„We are grateful for any cooperation." I take a picture of Verena from my portfolio and hold it up so Aurora clearly can see it. „Do you know this woman?"

O'Donnell swallows hard and pulls the corners of her mouth down. „Should I know her?"

I look briefly at Stephanie who is still unusually quiet and put the picture away again. „She was accused of murdering Luke Crawford."

„She was accused," asks Aurora surprised.

Stephanie nods slowly and now participates in the conversation. „We were able to clear Detective Verena Nicacio's name completely."

Aurora crosses her arms over her chest and raises her eyebrows. „What does that have to do with me?"

Stephanie starts wandering in the lounge and looks closely at the finely crafted stucco on the high ceiling. „During an interview, your name was mentioned multiple times, just like the name Justin Crawford."

„I don't know a Justin Crawford," Aurora laughs and takes a step forward as Stephanie approaches a door that seems to be meant for employees only. „But my dad and Alan Crawford are members of the same country club in Cape Cod."

Stephanie pauses and looks at me skeptically.

I pull my eyebrows together and shift my weight from one foot to the other. „Your father is friends with Alan Crawford but you have never met his sons?"

„Maybe I've met them once, I meet many people every day."

Stephanie looks at the door more closely and I watch Aurora getting more and more nervous. „Mrs. O'Donnell, what's behind that door?"

„It's the door to our wine cellar."

The redhead turns the doorknob and frowns deeply as the door doesn't open. „Do you always lock the door to your wine cellar?"

I look at the agent and furl my brows because Aurora suddenly pushes past Stephanie and tries to block the door."What does my damn wine cellar have to do with your questions?"

I was just wondering," the redhead answers with a shrug.

„We are curious by nature," I state and also step closer to the door.

Aurora takes a deep breath and looks at a hall clock. „I think it's time for you to go now. I have an important meeting."

I glance at Stephanie, who is as surprised as I am, raising her eyebrows a bit.

Then I smile and don't even try to hide that it's meant sarcastically. „Many thanks for your help, Mrs. O'Donnell."

Aurora O'Donnell smiling back and waves the orders the young man back. She hasn't missed that my words aren't meant honestly. „Simon will show you out."

I nod slowly and follow him with the redhead through the salon.

„She's hiding something," the agent says without beating about the bush as I unlock the car. „And I'm pretty sure it's related to the murders."

I open the driver's door but don't get in the unmarked car. „Aurora O'Donnell has become a threat to Justin Crawford, let's hope she doesn't become his next murder victim."

Stephanie hesitates and looks back at the property as if she's considering going back and telling Aurora that it's her favor when she works with us, but then her expression changes and she squints against the sun as she looks at me. „My gut tells me that nothing will happen to her."

I raise my eyebrows and then get in my car. I start the engine but don't drive yet, I look at the young woman again. „How's it going with Bobbi?"

She takes a deep breath and nods slowly. "We get along really well, she's a smart little girl."Really," I ask wiggles her brows. „It's almost impossible to think that her mother tried to get a cop in jail for a car."

The agent scoffs before getting serious again. „I have the feeling that Bobbi knows that Verena is also her mother."

„Did she tell you that?"

„No, but my gut feeling has never let me down, and then there's the fact that she always says that she wishes Verena would be her mother instead of Emma."

I furl my brows and turn a little in my seat. „How does Verena react about that?"

„She's never around when Bobbi says that out loud. I mean, I know that Verena eventually has to tell her that Bobbi is indeed her daughter and I'm not sure how the kid will react, but I don't think it's right for us to take Bobbi in with us without explaining the whole situation to her."

„Bobbi is not old enough to understand what the situation is, Stephanie," I reply, frowning. „You have to understand, Verena wasn't there for her as a mother for five years except for birthdays and other occasions, neither Verena nor Emma told the girl who Verena is for real and Bobbi surely wants to know why she grew up without her other mother. I'm sure that Verena will explain to Bobbi why she and Emma never told her that Verena is her mother, why they thought it would be better if Bobbi thinks Verena is just her mother's nice friend, but it's your wife's decision when she thinks that it's the right time for this step."

The redhead runs through her hair and closes her eyes with a sigh. „You're right, but I still don't think it's right."

I pause and quirk a brow. „I don't think we're still talking about the same thing."

She glancing at me and tilts her head to the side. „I don't understand."

I'm about to start the engine but then I turn back to the agent. „I know that you were literally taken by surprise by the fact that Verena has a child, the whole situation is somewhat less than perfect, I mean, you finally get together with the woman you love, then she gets arrested and then it comes out that the love In your life has a child with a woman you thought would only be a good friend. You said it yourself, you wanted to start a family yourself someday, but I don't think you thought of that kind of way."

Stephanie looks at me seriously and blinks several times. „I really like Bobbi, but you're right, I imagined different way when I started a family."

I nod slowly and finally start driving. „Do your parents know about Verena's ... condition and do they know that you're together with her now?"

Stephanie nods slowly and looks out of the windshield. „Yeah, my parents know that Verena is different, she and Zoe actually told us about it pretty quickly after the two got together, so my parents pushed them."

I furl my brows. „Pressured? In what way?"

„You know, grandchildren. They love being grandparents, so They'd pushed Zoe and Verena for another one. They'll be very disappointed when they get to know Verena has withheld Bobbi for five years."

I sighed loudly because I know that my mother would kill me if I had a child she doesn't know about. „And do you know that you and Verena are a couple?"

The agent stops for a moment and I look at her briefly. Please don't tell me that your parents don't know about it.

„Yes, they know that we are together."

„But they're not really happy about it?"

„On the contrary."

„What's the problem then?"

She raises her eyebrows and is about to answer as her cell phone begins buzzing. Stephanie fishes the device from the pocket of her jacket and scoffs. „Speaking of the devil." She accepts the call and smiles broadly. „Hi, Mom."

I grunt and shake my head.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

We come back into the bullpen and I slow down my step as I see my son sitting on Frankie's chair and pretending that he is his uncle. Then I see that Verena is sitting at her desk and Bobbi on her lap while the detective whispering something in the girl's ear.

„What are you guys doing here?" I ask with a surprised look on my face.

Enzo jumps off the chair and runs towards me. „Ma!"

I lift him off the ground with a sigh and smile. „Hey, Smallie."

Bobbi looks at me with wide eyes and it doesn't seem she dares to say anything.

Verena rolls her eyes and shakes her head. „Enzo and Bobbi begged me to show them where we work."

I glare my son and tickle his stomach. „You little fool, you know exactly where your mother and I work."

He turns a little red and points to Bobbi. „But Bobbi did not know where her -"

„You should actually spend the day with your aunt and your uncle, just like your new friend," I cut him off because I'm pretty sure he wanted to say that Bobbi has never seen her mother's workplace.

I narrow my eyes when he doesn't answer me and know that he persuaded Frankie that they're allowed to go with Verena to the BPD.

„You are a little monkey."

„No!" Enzo whines and buries his face in the crook of my neck.

Verena looks down at her daughter and frowns deeply. „They begged me on their knees to take them with me, I hope it's okay."

„We find a way to keep them busy." I put Enzo down and nod slowly. I'm just glad that Verena made sure that the children could not see the cruel pictures on the board.

„Korsak said you visited Aurora O'Donnell."

Stephanie sits down at Frost's former desk after running her hand over Bobbi's back and raises her eyebrows. „The visit was very interesting."

Verena looks over her shoulder as Korsak comes in and puts the girl down too. "Go and tease Vince a little with Enzo."

Bobbi grins broadly and runs to my son.

Verena gets up and frowns. „Why did not you call me?"

I thrust my chin at our children. „You had other obligations."

Verena takes a deep breath and crosses her arms over her chest. „What did you find out?"

Wait a minute, is she suddenly my supervisor to whom I am reporting? Okay, I'll let her get away with that right now, I'd be pissed off if someone I've never met in my life wants to frame me with murder.

„Aurora O'Donnell is trying to hide something big." Stephanie takes off her jacket and looks at me. „I wonder why Aurora got so nervous when I wanted to know why she locked up the wine cellar."

Verena looks surprised at the agent. „Why do you lock the door to your wine cellar? That's a place where you want to go if you're hosting a party."

„I wondered about the same thing, my parents would go crazy when the wine cellar would be locked when they'd throw a party."

I furl my eyebrows and open my mouth, but say nothing. Did I understand the agent right? Her parents have a whole cellar full of wine? I know that only people who are loaded have this and that they have it brag about their wine collection in front of their friends.

Yes, I know, I am prejudiced when it comes to people who are wealthy, even though my own wife is rich. I don't know why but I still think that rich people like Aurora O'Donnell or Luke Crawford are people who think that they don't have to follow the same laws as you and I have to, that they think that they're above all things.

I know why Maura has decided to become an ME. Now I wonder why Stephanie decided to become a federal agent.

„Are Crawford and O'Donnell somehow connected," Verena asks.

I step forward and look at them seriously. „Their fathers are members of the same country club in Cape Cod."

Verena raises a brow and grins. „Maybe we should -"

„What a sweet family gathering," a female voice interrupts voice and we look to the entrance just to see Hannah Frye there.

The lawyer enters and looks at the children. „Is that your son?"

I growl low and want to stand between Hannah and the children as she takes a step towards the little ones, but then I feel a hand on my arm and look into blue eyes.

Yes, I can understand what Verena meant when she said that Stephanie has a calming effect on her. Maura has the same effect on me. Don't get me wrong, I'm not about to fall love with the young woman.

There are only two women in my life whom I love more than life itself. My mother and my wife Maura!

I just want to say that people like Stephanie and Maura radiate a sense of inner peace that keeps impulsive people like Verena and me from doing something really stupid.

My facial muscles twitch but I hold back.

Hannah watches me closely and grins almost wickedly. „I take that as a yes. And who is the young lady?"

"Don't you dare step any closer her," Verena growls, scowling.

Hannah looks first at Verena and then Bobbi, and then back at Verena. „Oh, now I see, the resemblance is bodacious!"

Verena grits her teeth but stays back.

„What do you want, Hannah," asks Stephanie in a calm voice.

Hannah still looks Verena but then she's glancing at her little sister. „I want you to leave my client alone."

I straighten up and furl my brows. „Your client? We didn't talk to Justin."

„I'm talking about Aurora O'Donnell."

Stephanie frowns deeply. „She's your client, too?"

„Just like the whole O'Donnell family, I give you an advice, stay away from them!" She looks back to Bobbi as she's about to leave and smirks. "My parents will be thrilled when they find out you have a daughter."

"Get out!" Stephanie hisses now, approaching her sister.

„Alright," laughs the older woman, turning to leave.

„That was a threat," Verena says louder when we hear the bell of the elevator. „That was an open threat against us and our children!"

Stephanie presses her lips together and sighs loudly.

Yes, I heard it too, but I know that we can't prove it for now. „Alright, guys. let's poke the bear."

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

We all need a breather from time to time, especially if someone threatens us quite openly in a police station.

I'm getting a beer from the fridge and have to admit that I really like Stephanie's parents. I don't know why, but her parents seem to work just as hard as you and me, not rest on their oars, but wanting to make a difference in this country.

No, we don't hold little this family reunion in Beacon Hill, we are at Verena's and Stephanie's home. „Bobbi's Verena's daughter, isn't she," asks an imposing white-haired man with a deep voice called Kenneth Bradshaw.

I lick my lips and look at Maggie Bradshaw who is busy with the girl extensively. „Sir, with all due respect, but it's not my job to tell you about the relationship of Verena and Bobbi is."

„It's obvious, they look alike." He looks at me and frowns. "My wife will spoil the girl."

I expected everything, but not with such a reaction. „Maggie sounds like my mother."

He watches Verena as she talks to Nina. "I didn't like Verena in the first place."

I'm about to lift the bottle to my lips but stop. Didn't Stephanie just say that her parents and the detective got along well with each other? „Sir?"

"I've always known that Verena was in love with Stephanie, as a parent you know things like that, Lieutenant. I even thought that it'd be only a matter of time that Verena would cheat on Zoe with Stephanie."

I take a deep breath and glance at Philip Bradshaw. „And did she cheat on Zoe with Stephanie?"

He shakes his head and studies his beer bottle. „No, never, but I have to admit that I dropped by at Verena's house unannounced a few times when Zoe was out of town and Stephanie started to spent all the more time at Verena's place."

„You hoped to catch your daughter-in-law in the act with our other daughter?"

Philip scoffs and frowns- „I must sound like a terrible person to you. What father hopes to catch the daughter-in-law in bed with the wife's sister?"

I don't answer that question because I don't know any. „What changed your mind about Verena?"

„The fact that she really made Zoe happy," he answers without hesitation and looks at me. „Verena really tried to be there for Zoe at any time, day and night, and that makes her taking distance from Stephanie, which was good for the marriage. At some point, I accepted the fact that Zoe found her true love in Verena. Besides, my wife kept telling me that I should stop thinking that Verena would cheat on Zoe." He pauses and raises his brows. „And then I was surprised when she came to us one evening and asked our permission to marry Zoe."

I have to smile a little. „Sounds pretty traditional."

„Yea, that's why I was surprised.

I nod and laugh in agreement. „She's rather unconventional."

„Exactly."

He sips his beer and furls his brows. „Most of all, I knew I was wrong about her when Zoe was -" Philip trails off and I know that his daughter's death still affects him. „When Zoe was diagnosed with cancer. Verena wanted to take a leave without hesitation after the diagnosis had been made so that she could've been at my daughter's side any free minute."

„Why wasn't she exempted from duty?"

„You know what it's like to be a cop who's about to make a big catch,"

I grunt and nod again. „All too well." I empty my bottle and frown. „You probably freaked out when Stephanie got involved with Verena."

His face darkens as I bring this up. „You mean when they got involved for the first time?"

„Mhm."

„I went ballistics."

„Hannah mentioned that Stephanie was a picture of misery after they broke up."

Philip looks seriously before he glances at his daughter. „That wasn't so much because of the break-up."

„Then what was is about."

„It was because of the miscarriage."

I choke on my beer. Did I just hear right? Did Philip just say that Stephanie had had a miscarriage? Why didn't the two women trust me with this too?

I blink a few times and furrow my brows. „Stephanie was pregnant? With Verena's child?"

Philip makes big eyes and blushes a little. „I thought you know."

I point at my astonished face. „Do I look like I knew?" I scowl at the young detective. „Is that another reason why Verena moved to Boston?"

He groans and runs his hand over his face. „She knows nothing about the pregnancy ... or the miscarriage. Stephanie was pregnant for only four weeks, well, she got to know about it when she was in the fourth week when Verena called their affair off. That night my daughter wanted to tell Verena that she was pregnant with her child but when Verena told her that she'd move to Boston they ended up having a bad fight. Maggie thinks that this was one reason why our daughter lost the child."

I let the latest news sink in and take a deep breath.

The longer I know the two women, the more secrets come out.

I wonder once again how much a young person can or must endure in life.

„Hey, you two," Maggie shouts all of a sudden and we turn our attention to her. „Are you putting down roots back there?"

Verena glances at us and raises amused her brows.

Maura's smiling and sips her wine.

Philip rolls his eyes and grabs his beer.

I furrow my brows and follow the man into the living room and sit down next to my wife before Enzo's climbing onto my lap and whispering something excitedly into my ear.

I listen attentively to what he has to say and my brows shoot up high before I glance back at the young detective. I know that sometimes kids tend to exaggerate. Yes, also my son exaggerates sometimes but mostly in his stories is a grain of truth. And this time I believe what he had said.

„What was so important you had to talk about in the kitchen," Maggie wants to know, and I swallow hard.

„We just exchanged some old stories about our jobs," her husband replies and wraps his arm around her shoulders.

Maggie scrutinizes him for a moment and quirks a brow.

Stephanie's her mother's spitting image.

Maybe I think so because I have the feeling that also has a very similar personality.

The agent has excused herself so she could go up and change into more comfortable clothes and now she wants to walk past Verena into the kitchen. She shrieks surprised when the detective grabs her wrist and pulls her onto her lap without warning.

Maura looks at them surprised but smirks.

I take a look at Stephanie's parent and see Maggie grinning broadly while Philip rolls his eyes."

„What the -" the young redhead laughs and frowns in surprise as the detective kisses her all of a sudden.

I feel someone tugging at my hand and look down, frowning. „Hey, kiddo."

Bobbi looks at me with big eyes. „Is it true that Enzo had a birthday party at Legoland?"

I blink a few times and open my mouth to answer yes and to ask her where she and Emma celebrated the girl's birthday.

My heart stops when someone suddenly says, „Marry me."

My mouth snaps shut again and I look back at the detective and the agent.

It seems like I haven't just imagined these two small but meaningful words because the living room is suddenly dead silent and the redhead looks at Verena as if she's just lost her mind.

„Wh - what," stammers the redhead and can't hide her surprise.

Verena glances at us and swallows hard as she realizes that she didn't only think the words but also said them out loud.

She intertwines her fingers with Stephanie's and squeezes her hand. „I can't imagine life without you anymore, Stephanie, I don't even want to anymore." She pauses and frowns before laughing briefly. „I am not really good when it comes to proposals, I have a really bad timing."

Oh, yeah, I agree with that.

Maura's grinning broadly and takes my hand in hers.

Hey, at least they aren't sitting in a park!

I don't know why but somehow I saw this coming. I mean, Verena proposing to Stephanie.

Verena frowns deeply and shakes her head. „I love you, Steph. I can't even put in words how much I love you. You've given my life meaning again. So here I am, asking you in front of your parents and our closest friends in Boston to marry me."

Stephanie stares at the young detective with big eyes in disbelief and I hold my breath.

I can exactly imagine what's going on in Verena's head right now because the redhead gives her no answer.

At that time I also freaked out inwardly when Maura needed an eternity to say yes.

Verena swallows hard and opens her mouth to say something.

„Yes," Stephanie beats her with a big smile and I release my breath. „Yes, I want to marry you."

„Yes," asks Verena almost incredulously.

Stephanie nods vigorously. „Yes."

Verena exhales in relief and kisses the redhead again.

"Congratulations, you two lovebirds," I say as the two break apart again and Verena grins broadly.

„I am so happy for you," my wife says with a broad smile.

Maggie looks at Philip and I'm not sure she's excited about the development.

Philip breathes in loud and has an illegible expression. „We don't have to welcome you to our family."

Maggie hisses sharply and thrusts her elbow into his ribs. „Philip!"

He rubs the sore spot and frowns deeply. „It was just a joke."

„I know your jokes."

He rolls his eyes but grins.

Bobbi suddenly climbs on Verena's lap and cups her face with her small hands. She looks at the young woman with serious eyes and a deep frown. „But you said that we go together."

Verena also frowns and mumbles, „Where are we going?"

„Shopping."

Okay, the situation is really cute but also confusing. Why does the girl want to go shopping now?

Verena doesn't seem to understand, too, blinking a few times, but then her eyebrows shoot up. „I would never get the engagement ring for Stephanie without you."

Oh!

Bobbi doesn't seem to believe Verena. „Promise?"

„Scout's honor!"

The answer seems to satisfy the little one. She releases Verena's face and looks at Stephanie with some skepticism.

The agent grits her teeth before reaching out and stroking Bobbi's cheek.

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I fold back the blanket and look to our bathroom. „Did you know about it?"

Maura comes out of it and looks at me with a shrug. „Did I know what?"

I let my shoulders sink and scowl at my wife. „You know what I'm talking about."

She puts some lotion on her hands and raises her brows. "Verena may once imply that she wanted to propose to Stephanie."

„And you didn't tell me about it," I ask in a high-pitched voice, quirking my brow.

Maura grins and shrugs. „I can keep secrets."

I scoff and straighten up. „Since when?"

She walks up to me and smirks even more. „Did you forget how long I kept my father's secret?"

Okay, that's a good point. She has kept the secret of her father almost all her life.

I look down at her and lick my lips when I see the short silky nightdress and matching dressing gown.

I put my hands on her hips and pull her closer. „I can keep secrets pretty well, too."

Maura still smirks and wraps her arms around my neck. „I know, honey."

I look long at her before lowering my head and kissing her gently.

Maura hums and smiles against my lips.