A.N. Ok, I'm really sorry about the delay but I hope you like this chapter. Did nobody like Nonna?

What lies behind us, and what lies before us are small matters compared to what lies within us. - Ralph Waldo Emerson

Chapter Eleven - Shipping Back To Boston

Maura tried to hold tightly to the next day. She found herself, illogically, wishing for time to slow down and the next thing she knew she was back at her parent's house saying goodbye to Jane again. She spent dinner with her parents having a discussion with her father whilst her mother was silent. She went to bed immediately after, sensing her mother's anger about something. She decided to try out a suggestion of Jane's as she heard her mother angrily say something to her father that ended with her name. She picked up her CD player and quickly put the headphones on, turning the volume up much louder than she normally did and went about making sure that everything was packed. About an hour later, she hesitantly pulled the headphones off and sighed in relief at the silence. She decided to leave her new box that Jane had made her at the Rizzoli's so it wasn't left where her mother could get her hands on it. She had told Jane that she wanted it for her new room.

The next day her father dropped her off at the airport.

"Maura I want to tell you how proud I am of you. I know it doesn't always appear that way my dear, you've always been so independent, sometimes we forget that you're still a child. Well a young adult now but I hope you know that you can always come to your mother and I for anything." There was a pause. "You know I don't like talking about feelings or any other such nonsense but I do love you. You will always be my little girl."

Maura reached across to give her father a tight hug. "I love you too Daddy." She whispered. "You've given me everything I needed to succeed at whatever I want."

They smiled at each other before he ushered her out of the car and onto the flight. When Maura was back at school, she studied hard and came top of every class despite being the youngest graduate ever of the school. Jane continued to write and sent her a new origami figure for her birthday. This time it was an intricate tortoise made from green paper. She had laughed until she had cried because Jane knew how much she wanted a tortoise. The hardest thing about leaving a place you had spent the better part of a decade at was saying goodbye to the people she liked. The list was short but Mrs Reckless, Mrs Hughen and Lorelai were hard to say goodbye to. There wasn't a graduation ceremony as such, instead they had a leaver's assembly where certain school awards were given. Things like greatest effort, attainment and attendance but then best in subject given by each department as a whole. Maura, of course, had a lot of awards and didn't notice the glares from the more jealous of the students, instead she realised that neither of her parents had made it to the ceremony. She packed and once again made her way back to Hartford. It was July and her father collected her from the airport.

"I have good news Maura." He smiled. "I've found the perfect apartment for you. It's a lovely three bedroomed near your campus. It's a top storey and has a little rooftop garden so your mother and I have bought you a present." He lifted a cover off a glass tank and inside was a tiny tortoise. "I know you always wanted one and I know these little guys need a place to graze."

Maura smiled happily, "His name is Bass." She said firmly. "After the ... well his name is Bass."

"Are you ready for university?" He asked, the rest of the car journey passed quietly as they discussed Maura's potential classes and when they got back to her parent's house she was told that they would be moving on Monday. As soon as dinner was over that night, she asked to use the phone and ran up to her room where she grabbed the handset from her private line.

"Hello?" It was Mr Rizzoli.

"Hi Mr Rizzoli, it's Maura."

"Maura! It's great to hear from you. Are you all done with school now?" he asked with a smile.

"Yes, I'm all ready to start college soon, that's why I'm calling. Is Jane around?" She asked

"Of course." He replied. "Give me a minute." She heard the receiver being put down and Jane's name being called, it wasn't long before she heard running footsteps and the phone being picked up again.

"Maur?" Jane voice spoke.

"Hi Janey, everything ok?" She grinned.

"Yeah, how was your graduation?" Jane asked. Maura hesitated and Jane instantly knew why, she sighed. "They didn't show, did they?" She asked.

"Can we talk about this later, face to face... and when I'm sure no one's listening?" She asked pointedly.

"Sure." Jane said instantly, she knew when to push Maura for answers and when to leave it for a while. This was definitely a 'leave it' moment.

"So father's found an apartment!" She said happily. "The decorators are in this weekend and we can move in on Monday!"

"That's awesome!" Jane yelled. "What time will you be coming to Boston?"

"I don't know yet but listen, father has bought furniture including a bed for each of us, I know you hate your pink canopy." She smiled.

"Bless you." The relief in Jane's voice was palpable. "Still not sure about not paying rent though ..." She started but Maura cut her off.

"I'm not paying rent either, Janey."

"Yeah but it's your folks ..."

"And your family put up with me all the time and won't hear about me paying for anything, besides you ... well, I'm not sure how to put this but you ... protect me? I think that's the best word and I look after you. We're exact opposites in certain things and I will not have my best friend pay to stay with me."

There was a pause on the line. "I think you're right, I won't mention it again ... about paying rent I mean."

"Good and I promise to let you save up your own money for your own car like you were talking about at Christmas. Hey Jane, guess what?"

"What?" Jane asked.

"Daddy got me a tortoise! I've called him Bass."

"No doubt after some scientist or other." Jane said, amused.

"Well ... yes." Maura admitted, sheepishly.

They talked for a while longer until Jane was told it was time for her to start packing by Mrs Rizzoli who had heard the conversation. There was a mini argument where Jane tried to say it was too late that night to pack and she'd start the next day but Mrs Rizzoli was having none of it so Jane said a grumpy goodbye to Maura. The next few days saw Maura packing her room up, getting ready for taking her things to her new home. Most of what Maura owned were clothes and books but by late Sunday it was all ready. Her father had hired movers to get all her things moved and to pick up the furniture from the various stores. Maura had her father's driver take her to Boston first thing and she arrived just after 8am. She knocked on the door and smiled at the excited squeal from Mrs Rizzoli.

"Hi Angela." She greeted as Mrs Rizzoli pulled her into a tight hug.

"Maura dear, I hope you're prepared to put up with my daughter full time." She said as she ushered Maura over the threshold.

"Of course!" Maura replied. "Why wouldn't I be?" She asked confused.

"Don't worry Princess, Ma's trying to be funny." She yawned sleepily and then hugged her friend. "You ok?"

"Yeah I'm great." Maura replied, returning the hug. "I'm excited!" She grinned into Jane's shoulder and felt the taller girl chuckle.

"I'll bet you're really organised and everything is labelled right?"

"Well it will be so rushed so I ..."

"I'm kidding." Jane whispered and squeezed her a little tighter. They both jumped apart at Mrs Rizzoli clearing her voice.

"Breakfast?" She asked with a smirk.

After breakfast Jane jumped into the shower and then they started hefting boxes into Maura's car. Mrs Rizzoli put some in her car as well and they all drove to the apartment. There was an elevator that took them up to the top floor of the apartments. Maura fumbled with the key her father gave her and pushed open the door. The alarm started to beep and she turned it off before stepping out of the way to allow Jane and Mrs Rizzoli to enter. The living room was comfortable with a large kitchen that was half separated and there was a large patio window directly in front of them leading to a roof garden. To the left (by the kitchen) was a single door and then there was a corridor to the right with three more doors. The door next to the kitchen was a guest room, nicely done with a bed already made. The living room had two nice two seater sofas all focusing on the large TV in the corner and then down the hall were the two larger bedrooms, each with a little ensuite and then a large main bathroom was the first door on the corridor. Each of the two bedrooms were the same. Both had new beds already set up. One of the rooms had a large walk in wardrobe which was instantly given to Maura. They unpacked their boxes steadily over the next few hours stopping for lunch and dinner when Mrs Rizzoli cooked. As she left that evening, she asked for a key for emergencies.

"Sorry Angela but I only have a copy for Jane and I at the moment." She smiled, apologetically.

"Yeah Ma, we'll get you one soon!" Jane said quickly and gently moved her mother towards the door. "Bye Ma!"

"Bye Angela." Maura grinned.

"Bye girls." Mrs Rizzoli just managed to say as the door shut.

"Jane!" Maura scolded but the effect was diminished slightly as she laughed.

"What?" Jane asked innocently. "I thought she'd never leave. Now! Movie night?"

"Yes please." They grabbed some snacks and a VHS before sitting on one of the small two seaters. Jane sat down first and as Maura sat next to her she pulled her friend's legs over her own.

"Press play Princess." She said, resting one hand on her calf and the other reaching over to grab some popcorn. It wasn't long before they were both falling asleep on the sofa. Maura jerked awake a few hours later to find Jane had somehow slid down in her sleep and her hear was resting on her stomach and her left hand was fisting the material of Maura's silk shirt. Maura smiled and ran her hand through Jane's hair.

"Janey." She whispered, trying to wake her gently. As comfortable as she was, she knew Jane wouldn't be when she woke up in the morning, sleeping at that angle. "Janey, wake up sweetie."

Jane groaned and sleepily opened her eyes. "Hey Princess, what time is it?" She asked trying to glimpse her watch in the dark.

"It's after 2am, I think we should go to bed, your neck will be sore tomorrow if you stay in that position."

"Good call." She groaned as she sat up and stretched.