Chapter 11: Black and Gold Minefield

After school had started again for the girls, Jane felt her mind relaxing back to its normal state. She had her alone time. She had her time with Maura. Everything was good.

That Thursday, the twins had insisted they go to Maura's house after school to see Liz, and Jane really couldn't have said no. So she had followed them as they ran off, all the way until they were knocking on the large front door. Upon entry, she had been greeted with a beer and a smile, and she found herself relaxing on the honey-blonde's couch, watching their kids running around in the front yard while Maura finished the newspaper.

"How can you stand reading that?" Jane grumbled, her eyes drifting to study Maura. "It's so depressing."

"Information is information, Jane," Maura laughed. "And I want to know things."

"There isn't that much to learn. People are bad. End of story."

"Do my ears deceive me?" Maura mocked. "Is Jane Rizzoli Jones jaded?"

The brunette gave a dark laugh, letting her head fall back.

"Yes. Yes I am, Maur. And you should be too."

"I'll never be tired of the world."

"You see too much good in people. They don't deserve the chances you keep giving them."

"Someone might surprise you," Maura countered, leaving Jane temporarily speechless.

Was Maura talking about her? Because she definitely felt the same about the honey-blonde, who seemed too engrossed in the paper to even realize what she had said.

"You did," Jane answered quietly.

Maura's eyes shot up from the line she was reading, turning to look at the brunette. She looked vulnerable, her worried eyes staring back at Maura from the opposite end of the couch.

"Then I think you should have a little more faith in people."

Jane shook her head, taking another drink.

"No. You're just special."

The doorbell rang, saving Maura from having to answer. She stood, and Jane did too, but she went back to the kitchen to throw out her empty bottle.

"Hey, did you want something? Water? Tea?"

Jane frowned when Maura didn't answer her, reentering the living room to find the honey-blonde staring blankly at a piece of paper. She recognized it as a telegram, and was instantly on guard. Nothing good came from those.

"Maur?" she asked tentatively, taking a few more careful steps toward the honey-blonde. Maura didn't answer; she barely even responded when Jane placed herself carefully on the couch beside her. Slowly, Jane extended her thumb and forefinger, taking the corner of the telegram between them.

"Can I…?" she asked quietly.

Maura's grip loosened, letting the paper hang between Jane's fingers. But Jane's eyes were locked on Maura's face. She saw a genuine fear in Maura's eyes, and the woman looked years older, a new kind of worry settled in her features. For the first time, Jane saw wear in the hazel eyes. A dimness. Carefully, she looked down at the telegram now in her hands.

Mrs. Maura Fairfield,

The navy department deeply regrets to inform you that your husband Petty Officer 3rd Class Garrett Fairfield was killed in action in the performance of his duty and in the service of his country. The department extends to you its sincerest sympathy in your great loss. Because of existing conditions the body if recovered cannot be returned at present. If further details are received you will be informed. To prevent possible aid to our enemies please do not divulge the name of his ship or station.

Of all the thoughts running through Maura's mind, missing her husband was not one of them. How she could raise her children on her own, was. Would her children want her to marry again? How could they grow up without a father to make them well-rounded?

"I…I'm scared for him, Jane," Maura said quietly.

The brunette didn't push, though she had no idea what Maura was talking about. She just sat, unsure whether or not she should reach out, touch Maura and comfort her.

"Garrett…He was going to help Charlie. Teach him everything about being a man….I…I can't do that for him, Jane. He was already lacking in that area to begin with! He doesn't hang out with other boys…He doesn't know how! I don't want him l-living the same childhood that…I did…"

That was enough to make Jane's decision for her. She scooted closer, her arms extending hesitantly to wrap around Maura's shoulders. Giving a gentle squeeze, she let her cheek rest on the top of Maura's head.

"You saying you wasn't treated so good?"

She tried to let the honey-blonde go, but Maura just snuggled deeper into Jane's embrace, her head falling against Jane's shoulder, her arms locked in a steel grip around the brunette's waist.

"I…I didn't fit in. I didn't like what all the other children liked, and I couldn't…adapt. I don't want that for him. I can't bear the thought—"

She cut herself off, hoping the brunette missed the waver in her voice.

"Hey, hey, hey," Jane soothed, her hands rubbing softly up and down Maura's arms. "It'll be okay."

"How can you know?"

"I'm gonna do something about it."

"What?" Maura asked, pulling away to give Jane a confused look.

"I'll teach him something all boys should know. That way he'll have something to fit in with, okay?"

"What?" Maura asked again, more forcefully.

"Football."

"Football?"

Jane nodded.

"It's something athletic, and sports are how boys feel each other out. If he can play football good enough, they won't care what else he likes."

"You sure…?"

"I promise. It don't matter how athletic he is. Long as he has the right moves, he can beat all the kids in the school."

"Thank you," Maura murmured.

"But not right now."

"What? W-why?"

"You need to mourn. Your kids need to."

Maura let out a sigh. She had forgotten Jane's status. The brunette didn't know about the rules of the upper-class. Her parents had her marry Garrett simply to keep their money in the same circle. His parents had wanted the same. It was never about love. Never about what she had wanted.

"I'll be fine," she mumbled.

But Jane surprised her again. She gently squeezed her tighter.

"It wouldn't hurt to pretend a little," she whispered. "For the world. For your kids."

Maura hadn't thought of that.

"Go," Jane motioned upstairs to Maura's room. "Get cleaned up. Get some new clothes on. I'll be here when you come back, okay?"

Their eyes locked, hazel searching chocolate for any sign of a lie, but Jane meant it. She would stay. Maura nodded slowly, gingerly standing up, her gaze lingering on Jane as she started to leave.

Jane sat, content to stay in her own thoughts and wait for Maura. She listened to the sound of water running through pipes in the wall. The sound was calming, and sitting there, reclined, her eyes closed, listening to the quiet sounds of the rushing water, she found her mind wandering.

She had a friend. Besides Riley.

The thought felt strange, and yet it made her happy. There was someone out there she could be herself around. Maura didn't seem to mind when she was rowdy, when she didn't understand…Was this what being accepted felt like?

She was pulled back to reality when she realized the water had stopped. Listening more closely, she heard rustling. Lots of rustling. She opened her eyes, turning her head towards there stairs, and there was Maura. She had donned a new dress, a black one. It fell in light, flowing waves to the floor, billowing out with each of her steps down the stairs. The sleeves were that of black lace, swirling in intricate patterns all the way to her hands, the sleeves ending in 'V's attached to her middle fingers.

Jane's first response was, as always, to tell her how beautiful she looked, but given the circumstances, she held it back, standing immediately when Maura's feet touched the wooden floor.

It was then that she saw the golden star clutched in Maura's hand.

"Would you…?" Maura half-asked, and it was all Jane needed.

She gave a terse nod. With a careful touch, she gently removed Maura's red flag from her window, carrying it over to the dining room table. She moved to take a step back, but Maura grabbed her hand.

"Help," she requested, the word barely audible as it tumbled from her lips.

Jane waited, unsure if she heard the honey-blonde correctly. She watched as trembling hands tenderly placed the golden star over the blue one. Her shining hazel eyes peered up at Jane as she too waited. For a moment, all Jane could do was stare back, feeling herself being sucked into the woman's innocently beautiful eyes.

She reached out, their gaze never breaking, to put her hands atop the star, and atop Maura's hands. Chills raced down her arm at the feel of Maura's soft skin, but she suppressed the feeling, her eyes finally dropping to look at the star.

Maura extracted her hands from under Jane's, using them to start the tedious process of sewing the star onto the flag. Throughout all the waiting, Jane never moved. Her hands stayed glued exactly where she had first placed them. Even when Maura's needle got dangerously close, she didn't flinch. She held the star in place, her eyes locked on Maura. And every so often, the honey-blonde would look up nervously. Jane would simply give her a warm smile and a reassuring nod. It was always enough to push Maura's focus back on the star until it was securely in place.

"Will…will they know what that means?" Jane asked quietly.

"Charlie will. I'm…not so sure about Liz."

"Is that how you want them to find out? The flag?"

Maura tensed beside her.

"W-what can I say to them, Jane? What…what would possibly make it hurt less?"

"Tell them he died protecting them. And that he'll live on through them. And through you."

"That will…work?"

"Sure. From…what you've told me, he wasn't a…huge part of their lives. They've got no proof of who he was, and for what it's worth to you, that is the truth. He did die protecting them, and all of you will always remember him."

Maura considered briefly before nodding her head.

"Should I tell them now, or…?"

"Whatever you think is best."

Carefully, Maura stood and walked to the front door. Jane saw her try and collect herself, her head bowed, her eyes closed. Her shoulders rose with the deep breath she took it, dropping suddenly when she released it. When she reopened her eyes, she looked back to find Jane.

"Would you mind…coming with me?"

Jane blinked, unsure if she had heard right. But when hazel eyes bore into her expectantly, she nodded and followed Maura outside.

She didn't exactly hear what Maura told her kids, but she watched as Liz cried and ran into her mother's arms. A few tears slipped from Maura's eyes, too, as she cradled her daughter's head to her torso, but why, Jane was not exactly sure. Charlie stood, shell-shocked for a moment, before walking forward and leaning against Jane. She wrapped her arms around him, running a soothing hand up and down his back.

Her twins stood in the yard and watched. They understood, at least enough that they stayed back.

And before long, Jane was being pulled away with the grieving family, helping them hang their red flag back up in the window, the new gold star catching the sunlight as it swung slightly.

After, Jane went to visit her mother. Because in all honesty, she was scared. Scared for her own family, because the blow she felt today, of death's grip snatching someone so close to her own loves, was sobering. And now? Now Maura…Charlie and Liz…they were on that list. That family list. And as luck would have it, she was officially on theirs too.

A/N: A little shorter than the last few. Hope that's alright...All your feedback is incredible. Seriously, thank you all so much.