**Disclaimer I do not own R&I**

The sun was rising. Two months. It had been two months since she lost the woman she loved. The horizon was beautiful but made Maura feel so small at times. There was still wonder in the world she decided.

"Maura!" Hope called out. Maura smiled.

"Hello Dr. Martin!" She shouted after her.

After she had testified against Paddy Doyle things had settled down. Maura knew that things were better. That strange kinship as Hope would describe only grew stronger as they embarked on this journey together.

Hope wanted Carlin to join them as soon as she got out of college. Ian was there as was expected. He was kind enough, he had not tried to push her, but one could see the excitement on her face when she landed at the Airport. He would eventually want something out of her.

Hope drove around Maura in circles in an open jeep camouflaged to the terrain. They would not want to scare the animals and wanted to go undetected when out in the open fields as Maura was now. She followed her trail, dirt coming up from the ground.

Maura could not help but laugh, seeing how free her biological mother was at this moment. She now understood now why Hope took the money. There was an air of freedom in the wild, a feeling of duty, of fulfillment. She had a place as expected.

It aided her in forgetting.

She had realized that she had not left any word. It shouldn't matter however. Boston was a life away, and any calls or any letters would just make her sad.

She would wonder what her detective was doing. How her detective was doing. Yes, out in the middle of nowhere in her mind she could lay claim on the woman. She could be free to admit her feelings.

She knew she would be married. She knew she would be in her apartment with her new husband. They would sleep together. Love one another. Support one another. They would be happy.

She pushed these thoughts away quickly.

She missed the thrill of the chase at times. Being in forensics she felt like a super hero at times. She could save the little people. She could save the world.

Here it was a different type of achievement. In Africa she was, bringing relief. She was bringing peace of mind of food, and fresh water, with her science, and peace of mind by providing medical care to those in dire need. AID's and HIV were running ramped.

Dr. Martin viewed her child. She saw happiness in her eyes. She saw contentment.

Yet, when Maura did not think she was looking she saw longing, want, melancholy feelings in those same, at times tired, eyes.

All this was exhumed from her body. Her pheromones and hormones excreting those particular chemical compounds.

Maternal instinct one might call it.

"Maura, are you alright?"

"Fine thank you."

"You miss them don't you?" She questioned.

"Desperately."

"Why don't you call? Write? I do not enjoy seeing you like this!"

"They do not want me! I had this little girl fantasy that they would want me and they do not. It's fine, but I just have to let go of my past."

"I remember you saying the same thing about me at one time." Hope said, with a knowing look on her face. "And look how that turned out.
You could never deny me now could you?"

"Never." Maura's lips twitched up. She had been playing with her ring, a very bad nervous habit.

"I'm not saying for you to go back. You know I want you here. You can be used her, you are needed. I just also know there are other places,
other people, and other opportunities. It's prioritizing. I want you to be where you gain the most. I want what is best for you."

Maura shed some happy tears.

"There will always be a place for you here, just as there will over there. I know this because you are so odd and unusual but so astonishing. You are my daughter after all!"

Hope was joking of course, but this was not taken in lightly by Maura. It was the one of the only times she had ever recognized their true relationship outside of when she talked about her "dead baby". Maura remembered there was a time when she would have not even trusted Hope. She remembered the times she was so heartbroken over the woman standing before her.

She thought she was quick to judge, harsh, uptight. Now she saw more simplicity. Hope made things look so effortless. She was so insightful and was intently hanging on to Maura's every word.

She understood Maura's past bringing with her a new piece of history but a fresh slate at the same time.

She in turn would consider her every word. It was a mutual respect.

"Come on we should be getting back! Ian cannot handle it all on his own now can he?"

They came to the village in which they resided. Ian was making a hut call. It was much like a house call, but after all they were in the most reserved parts of Africa.

A woman who was pregnant and they had been seeing for quite some time walked in. They did a routine checkup. She was doing well.

It seemed as if there was always something to do. This is why she loved it here. It kept her occupied.

Nothing could shatter the lonely nights, but, that was an impossible yearning that only one could stifle and she would never give her
opportunity to.

He walked into the medical clinic.

She understood also why Ian did what he did also.

The people here were in need of sterile supplies. Using and reusing needles was very dangerous and the fact remained there was no way of getting enough. Medication also ran low.

She was pleased she had helped all that time ago. If she had not, he may have not come back to Africa and met her mother in the first place.

"Hello!" He says with his Australian accent. He comes from behind and picks her up with a hug and tight grip.

Maura had to admit it was amusing, but sadly nothing more just a mere distraction. She tried not to lead him on too much.
She had always been so unlucky in love. Diagnosing people who seemed a prospect, finding out they were a serial killer, one trying to pin a murder on her. If they didn't she ruined it herself somehow.

Dr. Martin simply laughed. She could see the gentleman suitor was quite taken with Maura.

"Hello Doctor Faulkner." She says with a smile.

She blushed remembering being in Boston and practically attacking the man as he was at her door.

Him lifting her in his arms as she wrapped her arms around his broad shoulders, he was strong that's for sure.

Then she remembered how weary Jane was of him. She excluded her when it came to their history.

"How can you love someone and not be able to be with them?"

She remembered asking Jane this question pleading for an answer. Now here she was, the only difference being, she was no longer in love with this man. Her heart belonged to her Boston beauty.

How the fates liked to play. How they enjoyed tempting. How things could be so much better if she were able to skip from that moment to now, skip every little thing since then that made her fall in love with the even stronger woman. She however would not ask to forget even if
she had the opportunity because she knew they loved one another and their kind of love was once in a life time.