Author's Note: Thank you very much for all the reviews and messages; I would say that there are two chapters left in this story before starting the sequel (I'm not too sure though as I write one chapter a day).

Chapter Thirty-Seven

Maura looked at her reflection in the small mirror of the bathroom. The neon light didn't do justice to her skin. However, it stronly emphasized the dark circles she had under her eyes. She pouted, not really satisfied of the result but nonetheless eager to find something positive to keep in mind. She was a cheerful person. Being positive was her motto.

She took a deep breath and focused on her reflection.

At least she had changed and she had washed her hair with dry shampoo. She was a bit more presentable than she used to. Her silky knee-length black negligee matched her kimono and she was wearing the bracelet Jane had bought her when Jane had moved in at her place. She looked as elegant as a woman who had given birth sixteen hours earlier could.

"Maura?"

The sound of Jane's voice made Maura smile brightly. Jane had only left for a few hours but Maura had immensely missed her during this time. She needed Jane's presence in her life more than ever right now. She felt emotional, and fragile. Yet very powerful as well. It was a very strange mix.

"I'm in the bathroom."

Maura cast a last glance at her reflection. Her eyes then fixed upon the pack of maternity pads that she had set down on top of small shelves. She frowned as hesitation invaded her. Perhaps she should put it somewhere else just in case one of her visitors needed to use the bathroom.

Lochia was definitely not a side of maternity that many people wanted to face nor hear about.

She picked up the aforesaid pack and walked back into the room. Perhaps she could simply put it in her closet or in one of Camille's maternity bags.

"I went to change." In spite of the ridiculous pace of her steps and the feeling that she was walking like a cowboy of some sort, Maura closed the distance that separated her from Jane at relatively light speed. She slid an arm around her partner's waist in order to pull her closer before capturing her lips in a long and tender kiss. "I really needed to freshen up a bit."

"You're the most gorgeous mom on the whole floor. And the only one who's wearing Chanel sunglasses...!" Jane laughed lightly. "Take them off, Maura. You don't look as tired as you think you do. You're too self-conscious." Jane rubbed Maura's back for support. She motioned the huge pack Maura had in her hands. "Where are you going to with these pads?"

Maura looked down at the pack that she was carrying. She found it quite ironical that babies weren't the only ones who had to wear diapers after a delivery. Although it wasn't a very pleasant irony.

"I just wanted to hide them. We're going to have plenty of visits, this afternoon. This may be... You know... Intimidating. People may feel uncomfortable if they come across them. I don't let boxes of tampons wide open by the toilets at home... So I don't see why it should be any different here."

Her father hadn't mentioned them when he had used her bathroom earlier in the morning though but perhaps he had simply been too polite to say anything. Or too embarrassed.

Maura walked to one of the maternity bags that Jane had set down on a shelf. She put the pack in it before going to drop it anew in the bathroom. Problem solved.

"By the way... Where's Camille?"

Jane had walked into an empty room and if Maura had happened to be in the bathroom then she had no idea where their daughter had gone to. She wasn't really worried though. Maura looked very relaxed which tended to comfort Jane rather effectively. Obviously nothing bad had happened to their daughter.

"Our daughter is officially passing her first important medical exams." Maura dragged herself to the bed anew. Her body was too sore for her to stay up on her feet for too long. She sat back on it and tended her hand in order to push Jane to join her there. "She should be back in an hour."

Reassured, Jane nodded. She immediately went to sit down on the bed next to Maura. She was very eager to cuddle with her partner but Maura's sore body worried her. She didn't want to do more harm than good. Besides, she didn't know what Maura really wanted. Jane had to be attentive, and patient. Or at least it was how she saw their current situation.

Maura laid down a bit but she tilted her head almost immediately to make sure that her lips would brush Jane's neck. She had instinctively understood Jane's fears, as well as her desires.

It was actually the first time in twenty-four hours that they had some time for themselves. The break was well needed even if Maura was eager to see Camille anew. She was glad to find back the serenity that only Jane could bring her on a daily basis.

"Did you go to the BPD?"

The question caused Jane to blush. Of course, she had rushed there as soon as she had been able to. She had just lived the most important night of her life and she wanted to make sure that everyone would know about it. Yes, she felt like bragging about it and so what? It was perfectly normal: she was in love with the sweetest person in this world and this person had just given birth to the most gorgeous baby of Boston.

"They all think she looks like you." Camille had dark hair and the color of her eyes still had to be determined even if they looked gray but Jane agreed with the general opinion on the matter: their daughter had the same jaw as Maura, and the same lips. She had her traits. Or at least Jane imagined that Camille did because the truth was that she hadn't seen a lot of pictures of Maura as a newborn. Because of the singularity of her birth and the aftermath. "You have no idea how much I love you."

The declaration took Maura aback. She didn't have any doubt over Jane's feelings but she hadn't expected her partner to say it out loud now. With such emotion in her voice. Jane had showed her affection in the delivery room but it had been a whirl of whispers and timid kisses.

Her discretion had probably been caused by the fact that they hadn't been alone by then, and by the shock of seeing Little M on Maura's chest. As a matter of fact, Maura had remained speechless herself. She planted a soft kiss on Jane's shoulder in return though. They were now alone and the powerful emotion of the delivery was slowly fading away. She only felt like spending the afternoon in Jane's arms.

"I love you too. All of this..." Maura cast a glance at the room. "I knew that if there was one person I had to live it with then it had to be you. Nobody else but you."

Jane turned around slightly in order to look into Maura's eyes. She needed the eye-contact because of what she was about to say. The words had burnt her lips the moment she had walked into the room. Of course she would have preferred to have Camille with them but perhaps the moment of intimacy they were currently sharing was actually a lot better. It fit.

"I was thinking about something... I know we haven't talked about it and... I don't want you to feel pressure or anything... Actually, it's a just a maybe – a why not - but... Do you think that once we're settled at home with Camille and that we've started our family life... Ahem... Do you think that there's a chance – even in a remote future – that you... Ahem... That you'll marry me? I know I've filled the adoption papers so Camille is safe from a legal point of view but..." Jane shrugged. She hadn't prepared any speech. She didn't have any beautiful metaphor to say nor any author to quote. She simply let her heart speak for her instead. And it was comforting. "Do you think that... Maybe we could get married?"

Maura wasn't very fond of the idea of getting married and the truth was that Jane didn't obsess over it either but something had hit her as soon as she had driven away from the hospital. Something that she couldn't really explain.

However she could feel it, deep down in her heart: her perspective on life had changed.

The silence that followed Jane's awkward semblance of proposal felt warm, and gentle. There was no fear behind it, even less hesitations. It was sweet and it matched the atmosphere of the moment that they were sharing.

Maura nodded enthusiastically. She rested her head on top of a pillow but her hazel eyes were plunged in Jane's dark ones that were only a few inches away from her face. She flashed Jane a bright smile as her heart skipped a beat.

"Yes. I think I would like it a lot, as a matter of fact."

Jane didn't say anything back because words werent needed. She cupped Maura's face instead before kissing her softly on the lips. Deeply. The intensity of their bond seemed to follow a different pace now that Camille was born. It seemed to be almost untouchable now. Even more powerful if that was ever possible.

"How are you feeling?"

Jane grabbed Maura's hand. She intertwined their fingers before tightening her grip on Maura. She needed the touch. She needed to feel the heat of Maura's body against hers. Her whisper barely passed her lips. Maura's smile embrace her heart lovingly.

"I couldn't feel any better."

...

"Camille is an Isles and an Isles will certainly not show up in pj's in front of guests." Maura snorted. "Guests whom she's supposed to meet for the first time."

Jane rolled her eyes before shaking her head apologetically at her daughter whom she was holding in her arms. Poor Camille had no idea that one of her mothers happened to be such a fashionista.

Camille had passed the usual medical tests with flying colors. Everything was going fine and breastfeeding worked out just fine. They now expected the first visitors to arrive within thirty minutes which was the reason of Maura's sudden stress.

"She's not even one day old, Maura... Besides, her pj's are lovely."

"She'll look even better in her woolen plaid dress..." Maura showed Jane said dress before grabbing the cashmere cardigan that Hope had bought. Perhaps it was a tad too hot in the room to add another layer of clothes though. "She has plenty of clothes, let's make sure we use them before she actually outgrows them."

Fair point.

Besides if Jane was in charge of changing Camille then it meant that she could give her daughter extra-kisses. It was a bonus that surely boosted her enthusiasm.

Jane walked towards Maura with Camille in her arms. She loved these moments more than anything. It was a new routine in her life but she was already addicted to it. It was her family; the two people she loved the most on Earth. Just the three of them.

Maura let Jane do. She positioned herself behind her partner and slid both her arms around Jane's waist before leaning her chin on top of Jane's shoulder. It was a glorious day to be alive. The most glorious day Maura had ever had.