And how can I blame you
When I built my world around
The hope that someday we'd be so much more than friends
~ Michael Bolton, How Am I Supposed To Live Without You? ~
This was by far the worst day of her life. She had faced demons and come out on top, but it was love that destroyed her in the end. Not even Charles Hoyt compared to how bad this felt, her broken heart.
Ian Faulkner was back. Doctor Ian Faulkner, the love of Maura Isles' life. He came back, again. But this time, instead of a quick roll in the sack, he decided to stay. To stay. And he asked Maura to marry him, and she said yes.
Maura was so incredibly happy when she told Jane that he had proposed. That he was staying with her forever. That they were going to live happily ever after. She was just so happy that Jane couldn't do anything but smile for her, her friend.
She put on a brave face, because Maura was the most important person in her life and she deserved to be happy. And if being with Ian made her happy, then Jane swore she would make sure everything went according to plan. She was going to be the best maid of honor in the entire world. Oh, yeah, Maura had asked Jane to be her maid of honor, oblivious to how heartbroken Jane would be, standing next to her as she watched her get married, but Jane had agreed. Any excuse to spend more time with Maura before she was gone forever. Because they planned on moving, Maura and Ian. They were going to move away from Boston, away from Jane.
The ceremony had just ended. Maura looked radiant as she walked down the aisle. Standing next to the altar, Jane could almost halfway imagine that Maura was walking towards her, that they were the ones getting married. But then Maura stood next to Ian, looked at Ian the way Jane always wished she'd look at her. It all went by in a blur. Jane tried not to pay attention. To drown everything out by just looking at Maura, memorizing her every feature, the curl of her soft hair, the way her dimples showed when she smiled, the gentle cadence of her voice as she said "I do." Then it was all over. Maura was married. Jane was alone, heartbroken.
She was outside now, while everyone else celebrated in the reception hall. She was crying, openly. She couldn't take it anymore. Her heart physically hurt. She would swear to anyone that it was actually broken in half. It was all she could do to stand, to plaster a smile on her face for photographs so that Maura would have happy memories of this day.
Jane heard the click-clack of heels approaching her. Without turning around, she knew it was Maura behind her. She tried her best to wipe away her remaining tears, to look happy. But Maura saw through that. She knew something was wrong. She always did manage a way to figure it out in the end. It was just too late now.
"What's wrong, Jane?" she asked, her voice laced with concern.
"I love you."
Author's Note: Oops, I forgot. Haha. This chapter is dedicated to chakeroo. Thanks for requesting the song! Hope you like what happened (although, to be honest, it made me sad)!
