Chapter 14

Janes POV
"Are you ready?" I called through the house to Maura who was waiting patiently for Imogen and I in the living room. Imogen was standing in front of me in her ballet costume, her long blonde hair pulled into a neat bun on top of her head; I knew Maura was going to freak out.

They had been home for a week, and it had been the most incredible week. We had taken Imogen to the park every morning and every night we had family dinners where Imogen was always the centre of the conversation. We were finding our happiness.

"Extremely." Maura laughed nervously. I held onto one of Imogen's hands and pointed toward the living room, where she happily let me walk her holding her hand the entire time. "What…" Maura sat with wide eyes, her brow creasing as she looked down at the little girl before her. Imogen was wearing a supple pale pink tutu with a black leotard underneath. I didn't bother to mention how long it took me to get her into the leotard.

"We are taking her to dance class today." I smiled, proud of the fact I had managed to not only keep something secret from Maura, but that I was able to pull it off without anyone else ruining it for us. Maura stood up and made her way past Imogen to wrap her arms around my middle, pulling my body impossibly close to her own. I was surprised at her reaction, expecting more of an excited giggle than a quiet hug.

"Thank you." She whispered, her lips moving against my neck and sending shivers down my entire body. I think she knew that it would never be my idea to take Imogen to dance class; but I knew it would matter to her. I knew how happy it would make her, so I was more than willing to go along to dance practice and recitals every weekend if it meant seeing Maura this happy.

"Are you ready, nugget?" I asked Imogen who was twirling and staring down in amazement at the way her tutu moved with her body. Maura pursed her lips and let one of her arms go around my waist, both of us standing in complete awe of how beautiful she was.

Then out of nowhere, Imogen dropped to the floor, her eyes wide and fast blinking as she looked around and tried to comprehend why she was suddenly on the floor. She looked up at Maura whose worried expression set her off, tears and screams filling the living room.

"Baby." I chuckled as I walked toward her, her arms extending toward me the closer I got. I lifted her into my arms but refused to let her hide her face and be upset. "We're going to go to dance!" I told her in a voice so high with excitement it made me flinch. I bounced her around on my hip and looked to Maura for help.

"Oh. Right. Yes! Yay! Dance!" Maura exclaimed, jumping toward us and shaking her hips enough to make Imogen's cries turn to laughter.

"Mommy!" Imogen called, holding her arms out to Maura who kept dancing as she took the little girl from me, twirling and moving her hips with Imogen giggling in her arms the whole time. I leaned against the back of the sofa and watched the scene before me play out, and I felt like I wasn't in my body. This couldn't be my life. I could not be this lucky.

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Mauras POV
"She seemed to really love it, didn't she?" I asked Jane as we drove home after watching Imogen fall flat on her ass so many times we lost count. I had never seen a little girl as happy as I saw Imogen when she was twirling and playing with the other children. "And I think you secretly enjoyed yourself." I teased Jane quietly, poking her side as she drove. Jane checked her mirror to ensure Imogen was still sleeping before she spoke.

"She was so bad it was good." Jane chuckled, covering her mouth as if she couldn't believe the words had just left her mouth.

"She's as uncoordinated as her ma." I joked again, a soft smile coming from Jane as she turned to look at me, extending her free hand to rest my thigh, her thumb tracing small circles as we both bathed in the moment of pure happiness.

"I wonder if she'd be any good at baseball." Jane mused ater a few moments silence, causing me to giggle and shake my head quickly.

"There will be no balls or bats near my little girl until she's at least six." Jane chuckled at my words, but nodded in understanding none the less.

"Have you heard from your father recently?" Jane asked me and my fingers tightening ever so slightly against my thigh told me she was worried she shouldn't be asking.

"He's been trying to contact me, yes." I told her honestly, placing my hand over hers reassuringly. She bit down on her bottom lip slightly, nodding slowly as her eyes glanced to Imogen in the rear view mirror.

"When do you find out if the adoption went through?" She asked, her voice coming across with a slight edge when she spoke. I frowned lightly, lifting her hand and bringing her fingertips to my lips.

"No one is taking her from us, Jane." I had stopped worrying Kate was going to show up and demand he daughter back. It had been too long, surely if it was going to happen; it would have happened a lot sooner than this. The fear was still fresh on Janes beautiful face though.

"I love that little idiot." She laughed, sighing loudly as she shook her head, as though she could shake the thoughts right out of her head. If only life were that simple.

"Maybe we should invite them over for a family dinner." I thought aloud, giggling when I noted the shocked look on Janes face. "Oh! We could do a BBQ."

"You want to have a family dinner with your mobster father and sister and my cop brother, jail bird brother and goody-goody mother?" I frowned at the obvious nature of her question.

"Shut up, we're doing it. Imogen deserves to have all her family in one room at least once." I told her, crossing my arms across my chest to let her know the conversation was over and my word was the last word. She smiled sweetly at me and I knew I had won.

"I'll grab Imogen." She laughed quietly as we got home. I got to work on grabbing our bags and Imogen's new dance bag out of the car when Jane was suddenly walking toward me, her face tight as she began to hand the little sleeping girl to me.

"What…" I started in confusion, dropping the bags I had in my hands to the ground.

"Put her back in the car and go to Frankies place." My heart sank into the bottom of my chest. I didn't hesitate to put Imogen back in her car seat, my hands shaking as I turned back to look at Jane, her hand lingering on her gun holster at her hip.

"What's happening?" I asked her as I climbed into the drivers seat, turning the car on and waiting for a response.

"Someone has been in the house." I looked over the dashboard and into the open house, the paintings Imogen had drawn for me months earlier scattered across the front entrance way.

I didn't look back as I drove away, my eyes constantly darting to make sure Imogen was still with me.