...December 25th, time to put on a brave face...Maura managed to pull herself of bed. She knew her father would be here soon. She went and put the turkey in the oven and headed for the shower, the one place she could cry and not be disturbed by the men who sat outside her door morning, noon and night. Maura put her hand in the shower to check the heat, it was scoulding hot but she couldn't feel it, like with Jane, no pain could compare to the pain in her chest. She didn't even realise how hot it was until she pulled her hand out and it was as red as an English postbox. She changed the heat of her shower and got in. The water pounded on her back and she couldn't hold it an any longer, she had tried to be strong but se couldn't. Everything was building up: she missed her mother, she fell for Jane and had her heart broken, she feltlike she was cheating on Jane whenever she was with Cassie, the whole situation her father wouldn't tell her about. Maura sat in the corner of her shower, brought her legs in tightly to her chest and her head rested on her knee's. After about 10 minutes of crying Maura stood up...got to be strong, Maura. Even if its just for today... After her shower she wrapped a towel around her wet naked body and one around her head and went to get ready. She looked over and over at all the clothes in her walk in wardrobe...no, wore that the first time I met Jane...wore that the first time she made me smile...wore that the first time I felt something for her...pull yourself together Maura, they're just clothes, beautiful, designer dresses that are made to be worn...She re-assured herself as she picked up a blue satin blouse with white birds, her black leather jeans and headed towards her makeup table - placing her clothes on her bed. She tok the towel off her head, blowdryed and curled her long beautiful locks applied some makeup and then got changed into the clothes she had picked out. She checked her phone and she had several 'Happy Christmas' messages off her collegues and one off Cassie:

'Happy Xmas babe, I wish I was with you today but you and Paddy can come over today that way we can spend Xmas together, the way it should be spent and I know Kenz and Grandma would love it too. Anyway, it's up to you, I have your present here, it's not much but it comes from the heart. Miss you, Cas xoxo'

But no messages from the one person who she actually wanted one off...Not suprising since you said you more a less told her you never wanted to see her again...A stumbling around in the other room pulled Maura fromher thought, she took the gun from under her pillow and opened her door, clearing the room to just find her father and pots and pans everywhere. She lowered her weapon and placed it on the side.

"Geez Daddy, I nearly shot you" Maura smiled

"Sorry honey, at least you know how to protect youself" Paddy smiled, kissing his daughers cheek

"You taught me when I was 12, had weekly target practice. Just what a 12 year old girl wants" Maura laughed

"Better to be safe than sorry" Paddy smiled "So how are you holdin up?"

"I'm fine"...lie...

Patrick saw right through Maura's lie. He knew full well she wasn't 'fine'.

"Maura, I know when you're lying. I also know that things between you and Jane are, well over, and that you're back with Cassie...Is that a good idea?"

"Why wouldn't it be Daddy? I love her, she loves me-"

"-I know you love her, but not the way you used to. You haven't loved her like that since you met Jane" Paddy put his hand on Maura's

"Did I like Jane? Yes, but I love Cassie"...another lie...

"Well, if thats what makes you happy, I don't think Cassie does and even though I did't really trust Jane, I know she made you happy but who am I to tell you what to do, you're 32" Patrick replied,not wanting to get into a screaming match with his daughter

Maura smied and wrapped her arms around her father, his arms wrapping back around her.

(-)

Jane had barely said a word, she had threw on a few smiles when giving and recieving presents. She sat on the couch, Frankie next to her, their parents argueing in the background, Dean and Tommy on the chairs next to the sofa.

"Jane, want to shoot some hoops?" Frankie asked, more a statement than a question

Jane got off the couch and followed her younger brother outside.

"Jane, what's wrong" Frankie asked

"Nothing Frankie. I thought you wanted to play" Jane replied coldly

"I do, but I also want to know what's wrong with my sister"

"Well, there's nothing wrong so just play ball" Jane snapped

Jane and Frankie had always been close, they were besfriends. They told eachother everything, always had since they could remember. It hurt Frankie that Jane wasn't telling him what was wrong.

"For every hoop I make, you tell me something what's wrong with you?" Frankie asked

"Fine" Jane answered, she was pretty certain he wouldn't score...shit, he just did...

Frankie shot Jane a look.

"I screwed my job up"

"What do you mean?" Frankie asked

"I mean I screwed everthing up, the Doyle case. Maura hates me and wants nothing to do with me"

"Why, what did you do?"

"She found her case file"

"And you couldn't think of a good lie?"

"She didn't give me a chance too"

"That's not all it is, is it?" Frankie pressed

"No" Jane replied under her breath

"Well, what is it?" Frankie asked

"It's not something I can jus say. I need to work through it on my own first-"

"-YOU'RE PREGNANT?" Frankie burst out

"No"...at least I don't think I am...

"Well then what?"

"Look Frankie, this is personal. I need to figure it out for myself. I don't understand it myself"

"If you're not pregnant then what?" Frankie persisted, he wasn't going to give up

"No Frankie!" Jane snapped

"If you don't tell me I can't help you"

"That's just it, Frankie, you can't help me with this. Nobody can"...except Maura...

"Why don't you trust me?"

"I do trust you Frankie but you have to trust me...I have feelings for someone else" Jane told him, she wasn't going to say who

"That's it?"

"That's it? Frankie, i'm engaged-"

"-I know"

"Look, it's not just that Frankie. It's who I have feeling for" Jane let slip

"Who?"

"It doesn't matter. I've already said to much" Jane walked off into their parents house.

She took her seat on the sofa next to her mother and checked her phone. It had 1 new message:

'Meet me at the docks at 12am sharp. Come alone. P'

It was off an unknown number but Jane knew full well who the message was off. She slipped her phone back into her Jeans pocket and crossed her arms across her chest. She could feel Frankie glaring at her...I am going to tell him, once I know myself, although now there isn't really anything to tell him, Maura hates me so nothing's going to happen there...

Hope you guys liked this chapter! Will Jane turn up at the docks? What will Patrick say to her if she does? You guys know what to do, review, leave ideas. Thanks for all the love:)