I think since last time I posted, this story hit its 1000th review. Thank you so much for the continued support! And most importantly thank you for being so patient. I know I am not very timely with my updates, so I appreciate you all immensely for sticking with me through this journey. :)

A special thank you, as usual, to my beta!

"Vous êtes tous fin prets?" Christophe asked quietly as he approached the side door to leave, Samantha and Ethan trailing behind him. ("All set?")

He was dressed in a charcoal gray suit and a light blue silk tie. Samantha wore a dress with a teal and white chevron pattern, tied with a bow on the front. A small matching bow had been clipped in her hair. Ethan, having decided to be difficult, had refused to wear a suit like his father, but agreed to a pair of khaki pants and a white polo shirt.

Beige heels clicked in a frantic pace across the kitchen floor as Maura hurried behind the three of them, trying to put the back of an earring on. Her dress was knee-length and sapphire blue with a v-neck, empire waist.

Ethan frowned. "Papa, where is Jane? Elle ne vient pas avec nous?" ("Isn't she coming with us?")

"Ben, non. Pourquoi-" ("Uh, no. Why-")

"Jay isn't coming?" Samantha pouted. "But why?"

Maura swallowed hard and looked to her husband. Small hands tugged on the hem of her dress.

"Mama, I want her to come, too," Samantha said, still pouting as she looked up at her mother.

"I…" the blonde hesitated as her eyes met small, pleading ones.

"S'il te plaît?" Ethan added quietly. ("Please?")

"J'ai fait la reservation pour quatre personnes," Christophe noted. ("The reservation is for four.")

Hazel eyes met dark ones. "Mais Christophe, les enfants…" ("But Christophe, the children…")

"Mama, s'il te plait!" Samantha begged, tugging harder on the fabric clutched in her small fist. ("Please!")

The blonde bit her lip and tried to calm the slight panic rising in her chest. Decision silently made, she turned on her heel and headed back through the kitchen.

"Maura, quatre personnes!" Christophe called out. "De plus si on part pas tout de suite, on sera en retard!" ("Maura, four people! ... And if we don't leave right now, we'll be late!")

At the doorway on the opposite side of the kitchen, Maura froze and turned. "Les enfants veulent que Jane vienne donc elle vient. Appelle le resto." ("The children want Jane to come so she's coming. Call the restaurant.")

"Mais," Christophe began. ("But…")

The blonde's eyes turned cold. "Appelle-le, Christophe." ("Call them, Christophe.")

"Jane," Maura called out, tapping her knuckles against the brunette's bedroom door before turning the door knob and slowly opening the door to poke her head through.

Immediately Jane, who had been reading, sat up quickly, alarmed. "What's wrong?"

"Nothing!" the older woman said brightly. "We have to get you dressed. You're coming with us."

Dark eyes widened. "I'm what?! But I thought-"

"The children want you there." Maura grinned. "We've got about 10 minutes at best."

"Maura, there's a dress code at Lucca! I don't have anything nice enough. Or nice shoes!"

"You have those black heels," Maura said simply, shaking her head in disbelief that she'd try to lie. "Don't think I haven't noticed them, even if you haven't worn them. As for the dress," she continued, grabbing her hand and pulling her along, "follow me."

Barely two minutes later Jane and Maura were standing in front of the full-length mirror in the older woman's closet. "I hate dressing up," Jane whined.

Hands settled on slim hips. "But you look so damn good," Maura murmured as she peeked around Jane's shoulder and looked at her lover in the mirror.

"This is too tight."

"It fits me, Jane."

"Well, it's too short."

Maura sighed. "It's only about four inches above your knees and you think it's short because you have long legs."

The brunette tried yet again. "My boobs are out there for everybody to see."

Closing her eyes, Maura breathed in deeply to try and calm herself. "Your breasts seem more 'out there' because of your point of view." Opening her eyes, she stepped around the young woman and stood in front of her. "Excellent decolletage." An eyebrow raised, her eyes skimmed up from Jane's cleavage to a slim neck and finally to darkened eyes. "Now I have to do something with your hair."

Half a beat. "What? No!"

"Minor changes, I promise," Maura replied as she turned away and walked back into the bedroom, then to the bathroom, her lover following behind. "Sit." She pointed at the toilet.

Shoulders tensed, the young woman sat on the closed toilet seat and closed her eyes, sighing as she placed her hands in her lap. Hearing a spritz of something, Jane automatically flinched, preparing herself for an onset of odor of some perfume or hairspray. The spritzing continued and Jane opened her eyes. Maura had a spray bottle of something in her hand.

Setting the bottle down, the older woman then gently ran her fingers through Jane's curls before she picked up the spray bottle again and lifted sections of hair, spritzing underneath. Pausing, Maura then quietly instructed, "Stand up and bend forward toward me."

Though confused, Jane complied and she felt Maura flip all of her hair forward before smoothing her hands over it.

"Okay, flip your hair back over and sit back down." Maura smiled as she repeated the process on the top layers of her lover's hair, also running her fingers through the dark, thick curls.

As Maura began to scrunch Jane's hair, Jane looked up at her in annoyance. "Really?"

"Shh!"

"You did not just-"

"Jane."

Jane scoffed and crossed her arms on her chest. The movement created even more cleavage, which Maura definitely noticed.

"If you don't want more cleavage," Maura said quietly, amused, "then I'd advise you to not cross your arms like that. I'm getting an eyeful right now." She tucked her tongue behind her top teeth momentarily, lips slightly parted. "Not that I'm complaining," she added.

Arms immediately uncrossed and shoulders slumped.

Finished, Maura set the styling products back in their proper places and grabbed her makeup bag. Pulling out a thin stick, she told her lover to close her eyes. "Normally I don't like to share makeup items, but sometimes it's warranted and it's easy to buy replacements." She placed her hand under Jane's chin and tilted it up before carefully applying dark gray eyeliner.

Jane flinched at the contact, but tried to keep as still as possible.

Only moments later, Maura took a step back. "Okay, stand up and open your eyes." When the brunette did so, Maura had to take a step back and she couldn't help but bite her lip.

Their eyes met.

"Wow," Maura breathed out. "You're beautiful all the time, mon amour, but right now...you are just...stunning."

"Stop looking at me like that," Jane replied, tugging at the hem of her borrowed dress, feeling suddenly self-conscious.

The blonde swallowed hard. "Okay, go get your heels and I'll get a clutch for you."

"It's gonna look weird, you know," the young woman said quietly. "A couple, two small children, and me."

"Then let it look weird." The older woman shrugged. "The children want you to come with us."

While left unspoken, Jane heard the And I do too.

Stepping back into Jane's personal space, Maura, now level with Jane because of her heels, and kissed her lover on the corner of her mouth. "I love you," she murmured. "You look so beautiful." Pulling back to meet Jane's gaze. "I wish I could take this dress off you after dinner when we get home."

The young woman groaned. "Okay, now that's just wrong. You can't stay stuff like that when we're about to go out in public, and you definitely can't if you know you won't be able to follow through."

"Excuse me," Jane said suddenly, quietly. She cleared her throat. "I'm...I'm not feeling so good." Scooting back her chair, Jane stood and gently placed her white serviette on the table before rushing off in the direction of the restrooms.

"Jane." Stunned, Maura was unable to call out her lover's name until after she'd gotten half a dozen feet from the table. By then, it was too late. Any louder and she would've attracted attention. "Pardon," the blonde said quietly to Christophe and the children. "Je vais…" Her voice trailed off as she too scooted her chair back from the table and stood, heading quickly but gracefully in the direction Jane had gone. ("Excuse me...I'm going…")

Maura pushed open the restroom door to find Jane standing at a sink, hands braced on it. "Are you okay?" she asked softly.

"I feel so awkward out there," her lover replied, still gazing into the sink, breathing deeply.

"Jane," Maura replied sympathetically, stepping close to Jane. She placed her hand on her lover's bicep and rubbed it gently. "Relax. Just enjoy the good food if you can't concentrate on anything else."

Before replying, Jane paused and listened for any noises, then turned and looked under the door of the stalls. The bathroom was empty. "I can barely even look at...him," Jane said gloomily, finally facing the older woman. Her arms crossed over her chest. "The only thing on my mind right now is 'Oh hey, guess what? I'm banging your wife!"

A disgruntled expression crossed Maura's face. "Must you be so crude about it?"

"Maura," Jane whined.

Closed eyes. A heavy sigh. "We still have to order dessert." She opened her eyes.

Jane bit her lip, thinking hard. "Can't you just tell Christophe that I'm not feeling so great and I'm gonna take a cab home or something?"

Considering it for a few seconds, the older woman replied, "I suppose we could get dessert to go…"

"No!" Jane said immediately. "I mean, no, I don't want to cut your dinner short just because I feel too weird about this. And it'd look weird if you came with me, too."

"Mon amour, what can I do right now to help you?" Maura asked. "Aside from calling you a cab because I'd really like for you to stay."

Shaking her head, Jane looked down at the restroom tiled floor and sighed. "Nothing," she whispered. "There's nothing you can do."

Maura regarded her lover for several long moments and silently made a decision. "I love you," she said quietly. "I'm sorry this is so hard. For both of us, but very much for you, it seems."

"It's fine." Jane shrugged. "I know it's part of this. I'm just having a hard time figuring out how to act."

"I know I don't venture into the realm of hypotheticals," Maura said slowly, "but how would you feel if I told him? Tonight or sometime tomorrow?"

"But…" Jane hesitated. "I thought you said you didn't want to put a damper on this trip for him or whatever."

"Maybe it'd be for the best if I were to get it over with," the blonde said quietly. "I agree it's really hard to figure out how to act around him, most especially when you're there, too."

"I dunno. Maybe just think about it a little more," Jane said with a hesitant smile. "I don't want you to feel pressured to do it."

"Okay." Maura nodded.

When the restroom door creaked open, Jane immediately jumped back from her lover, not realizing just how close they'd gotten. Swiping her hand across her forehead nervously, Jane said just loud enough for Maura to hear, "I'm gonna use the bathroom before heading back out there." She turned away from the older woman and went into a stall.

Maura stood there for a few seconds, debating on whether she wanted to wait for the young woman or return to the table. She decided not to wait and headed out of the restroom.

"Ca va?" Christophe asked as Maura slid back into her chair. ("Everything okay?")

Nodding, Maura smiled at her husband wistfully. "Yes. Jane thought she might be sick, but it seems to have been a false alarm, I think."

"Oh," the Frenchman said, concern appearing on his face. "Do we need to leave?"

"I think we're okay for dessert, but perhaps a little shorter than usual, just in case," the blonde replied.

"T'es sure?" he asked. ("You sure?")

Maura nodded and smiled. "Oui."

"Tell me, Jane," Christophe said, sneering. "Did you think you could just get away with fucking my wife? Is that what you thought?"

Eyes widened in fear, Jane swallowed hard. "Christophe, I-"

"She doesn't love you," he interrupted. "You're only 19. You're just a shiny, new toy for her to play with."

"That's not true," the young woman stammered. "She does. I know she does."

"Did she tell you that you were the love of her life? That she's never felt that way about anyone?"

The words prompted a trembling bottom lip. Jane bit it in an attempt to stop it.

"T'es conne, Jane," Christophe hissed. "Do you know what that means? You're fucking stupid if you think she loves you."

Slamming her fists against her thighs, Jane cried back, "And you're a fucking liar, Christophe! You know she loves me and you just can't stand it!'

The Frenchman's jaw clenched as his eyes narrowed. "Dégage de là," he replied, voice low. "Get the hell out of my house!"

The venom in his voice made Jane flinch. After several seconds, she turned immediately and fled from the room.

Maura bolted upright, gasping, her chest tight. She sat there for several seconds, breathing heavily, eyes closed as she willed back the tears and the panic that had gripped her heart and lungs tightly in its fists.

Her sudden wakening didn't disturb Christophe, so she slowly slipped out of the covers and the bed as quietly as she could.

The dream had felt so real. It wasn't true, of course. She knew it wasn't true because she hadn't even told Christophe yet. But still she had to see Jane for herself, touch her lover, just to be 100 percent sure. It was the only way she would feel fully calm again.

After creeping down the hall as quickly as she could, her hand finally touched the cool metal of Jane's bedroom door handle. She gripped it and twisted, opening the door quietly.

Her breath caught at the sight of her lover curled into a ball toward the middle of the bed, facing inward, arms wrapped tightly around a pillow. The tension in her body uncoiled rapidly and the panic disappeared completely. She stood there in the open doorway, head resting against the door as she watched her lover sleep for several long moments. Finally she stepped fully into the room and closed the door behind her silently. Making her way toward the bed, she peeled back the covers as gently as possible before she crawled underneath them.

Much to her surprise, the young woman did not rouse. "Jane," she whispered. When there was no reaction, she said louder, "Jane, wake up." It was only when her fingertips grazed the young woman's arms did the brunette startle awake.

Eyes widened with panic, Jane calmed when she realized it was Maura in her bed and touching her. "Hey," she said, voice raspy. She cleared her throat and pushed the pillow between them out of the way. Her brow furrowed. "What's wrong?"

Maura scooted closer. "It's silly, but I had a bad dream with you in it. I woke up and I just felt panicky."

"Do you want to talk about it?" Jane asked.

"No, it's okay," the older woman declined. "I already feel better."

"You sure?" The concern was evident in her voice.

"Yes," Maura replied, lifting her hand and placing it gently on her lover's cheek. "I love you so much, you know."

Jane smiled and scooted even closer before leaning forward and pressing her lips gently against Maura's. Lips moved in tandem, slowly at first before becoming more demanding and desperate.

Before long Maura used her body weight to push Jane onto her back and maneuvered her way underneath the covers to climb on top of Jane, straddling her hips. She braced her arms on either side of her and leaned down to continue kissing her lover. Her tongue sought entrance between Jane's lips, which was granted immediately.

"Wait wait," Jane mumbled against the blonde's lips, pulling back. "Should we be doing this right now? What if-"

"I want you," Maura said softly as she kissed along Jane's jaw to her ear. "It's the middle of the night. And I can take a quick shower after."

"You have to be at work in a few hours," the young woman countered.

"I had to swap with a coworker, remember?" Maura reminded Jane. "I don't go back until Monday."

Jane smiled. "Well we had sex several times yesterday. Friday. Whatever. I think we can survive."

Brow furrowed, Maura replied, "When did you become the logical one?"

"Hey! I resent that!" The brunette pinched Maura's side. "I can be logical, thank you very much."

Biting her lip, Maura chuckled.

"I love you," Jane said quietly.

"I love you, too," the older woman said.

"You should probably get back to bed," Jane said, disappointment spread across her features.

"I wish I could stay in here with you," Maura replied, expression mirroring her lover's.

Jane frowned. "I wish you could, too. I never thought I'd like sharing a bed, but I do with you. You don't snore and you only hog the covers about...hmm...maybe half of the time." She bit her lip to fight back a laugh.

"Oh you're one to talk, mon amour," Maura replied, shooting her lover a mock scolding look. "You hog the covers sometimes, too."

"Call it payback," Jane murmured.

Maura smiled. "Fine." After a couple of seconds, Maura sighed. "Okay, I should go." She leaned down and brushed her lips against her lover's. "Goodnight."

"Goodnight," Jane whispered back.

Heh. Scared you with the start of that last bit, didn't I? :-P

Real conversation coming soon!