The Following Morning

Maura awakened to the morning sun making it's way through the breaks in the curtains. She watched it as it danced against the bare skin of the beautiful brunette laying next to her. She smiled to herself, she loved how something so beautiful could come in such a difficult time. She lightly runs her thumb across Jane's face careful not to wake her, she didnt know why but she just felt the need to touch her.

Today was going to be difficult but tomorrow would be next to unbearable for the brunette. Maura gazed on for a few more minutes before slowly removing herself from her girlfriend's embrace. She made her way into the bathroom to brush her teeth and her hair before heading into the kitchen to make breakfast and coffee for everyone before they arrived. As quietly as she could she opens the bathroom door and had to stifle a chuckle.

Jane had completely taken over her bed. Her dark hair splayed out on her pillow, one arm holding tight to Maura's pillow and her legs stretched across the bed. The sheet barely covering the bottom half of her naked body.

"How in the world did I get to be so luck to have this gorgeous woman love me the way she does?" Maura thought to herself before exiting the bedroom. She was going to let Jane sleep in a little because after their activities, when Jane did finally fall asleep it was fitful.

Maura made her way into the kitchen she put on a fresh pot of coffee and started on breakfast. She made eggs, bacon and toast for everyone and made sure to cut up some fresh fruit to make sure they all had something healthy to eat along with the very unhealthy breakfast she just made. As she was putting away the last bit of dirty dishes in the dishwasher the doorbell rang. She quickly wiped her hands and headed for the door.

Upon opening there stood Frankie, Camille and Robin.

"Good morning everyone please come in. I made coffee and breakfast for anyone who is hungry please help yourselves." Maura said stepping out the way for the group to enter. She placed a gentle hand on Camille's arm as she passed giving her a soft, comforting smile. Camille placed her hand over Maura's as if thanking her for everything.

"Oh here Maura." Frankie says handing her two hanging bags."Jane had laid out her clothes for today and tomorrow so I thought I would bring them over for her along with her bathroom bag."

Maura takes both bags and hangs them in the hall closet. "Thank you Frankie that was very sweet of you I'm sure Jane will appreciate that."

"Its no problem." He says shrugging his shoulders. "Hows she doing?"

"Well she's still asleep at the moment, she had a bit of a fitful nights sleep."

"Camille was the same way last night. I don't think any of us have been getting much sleep." Robin says placing her hand on Camille's back giving it a soft rub.

After everyone had a plate of breakfast and coffee Maura spoke.

"Camille everything has been taken care of today and tomorrow. So you don't have to worry about a thing, you just focus on grieving the loss of your son." Maura says with a sadden smile.

Camille looked up in shock. It was as if Maura had pulled her thoughts straight from her mind. "Maura...I- I don't know what to say."

Maura makes her way around the island, taking the womans hands in hers. "You don't have to say anything, you are Jane's family and that means you are my family as well. Its the least I can do, I owe it to Barlow for bringing Jane and I together."

Everyone looked up at Maura with a confused look.

Maura paused when she realized all eyes where on her. "I guess he never told anyone." She says with a soft smile.

"Tell us what?" Frankie asked the one question that everyone else wanted to know. But just as she was about to tell them the doorbell rang again. "That must be Angela and Tommy. If you will excuse me for just a moment." She says leaving the kitchen to answer the door. Once everyone had settled in the kitchen Frankie spoke up.

"So Maura you were about to tell us something before ma got here."

"Oh yes right."

Angela's interest peaked but she remained silent.

"As I was saying, this is the least I could do. I wanted to take the stress of some things off your shoulders Camille just like Barlow did for me." She paused momentarily thinking back to the days when she and Jane met and the things that followed the day after and how Frost helped her see what she had infront of her.

"Well?" Angela asked not being able to keep silent much longer.

"Okay." Maura says taking in a deep breath before speaking."It was the week after Jane I had met. She had already left to go work back on the rig I had run into Frost at the cafe where I met Jane for the very first time. He noticed me and asked to sit of course I told him yes. He was quiet for awhile before asking me if I was okay. I tried to cover what I was really feeling but he seen right through it. He told me that he had talked to Jane, which at the time I was not. Not because she had did something to upset me but because i was upset with myself. He told me how much Jane was thinking about me. He told me she would never forgive him if she found out he had told me. He went on to tell me how Jane's eyes lit when she spoke to him about me, how she smiled so big at just the mention of my name. He told me that night that there was no doubt in his mind that Jane was head over heels inlove with me. He didn't have to wait very longer for me to admit that was madly inlove with her as well. Now I never believed in love at first sight, that was until the night Jane came into my life. I told him how my father was going to be taking a trip to the rig, being part owner and all. I was fighting with myself about weather or not I should go. As much as I wanted to see Jane the fear of being helplessly in love with her frightened me beyond anything. He simply looked at me and said. "Go to her, go see her you wont regret it, stop being scared and just do it she feels the same about you." With his words I made the choice to go with my father. So what I'm trying to say is that without his words, without him being the friend I needed at that time. It may have taken me longer then it should have to face my feelings for Jane and who knows where her and I would be right now had it not been for him."

Maura took a deep breath and wiped away her tears.

"So, I owe to him everything that I have. Because without him pushing us together I would of never known what family was, a real family. A family full of love. And I would of never know what it meant to love someone so much and have them love you back just the samr. He was my guiding light in one of my darkest times. And for that I owe him so much. I wish that I could have told him this." At that moment Maura's breath caught, and the tears she had been fighting back came roaring out as if the damn had broken.

Camille, Robin and everyone in the room all held each other in a big family hug.

In the midst of Maura speaking no one had heard Jane on the stairs. When she heard Maura starting to speak about Frost she sat at the top of the stairs out of sight and listened to the story of how her best friend since grade school helped the woman who she loved beyond anything see through all the bad things happening and see the person who loved her unconditionally from the moment they met. The tears streamed down her face, she sat at the top of the stairs for a few more minutes trying to get her emotions in cheek. After a few minutes she stood and made her way into the kitchen.

"Morning everyone." Jane muttered.

"Morning gorgeous." Maura said with a smile.

After breakfast, Angela and Robin helped clean up the kitchen while Jane and Maura made there way back upstairs to get dressed.

Jane placed her hanging bag on the bed and pulled out her clothes. Maura smiled when she noticed Jane had a dress to wear.

"Today is a dress, tomorrow is this." Jane says pulling out a pair of ironed black slacks and crisp white button down and a new pair of black boots.

Maura noticed a small black box that was tucked into the pocket of the bag. "What's that?" She asked while putting her earrings in.

Jane pulled out the small box and sat on the edge of the bed. "This is a birthday present from Frost gave me the night I told you I loved you." Jane's voice was soft. Maura made her way across the room and sat down next to the brunette.

"Can I see?"

Jane smiled. "Of course." She opened the little box and turned it for Maura to see.

"They are Red Sox cufflinks." Jane said with a smile. "I seen them in a shop window one day while we were walking from my apartment to the cafe. I guess he never forgot. I'm going to wear them tomorrow, I know they dont match with the blue roses that are going to be pinned to us but I just want to have them with me." Maura rubbed her finger across one of the cufflinks and heard Jane sniffle.

"Oh Jane love." Maura didn't say anything else she just grabbed the other woman and held her close. After a few minutes in this position Jane finally say up removing herself from Maura's embrace. She took a big breath.

"I guess I should get dressed so we can go."

"Jane." Maura says taking hold of Jane's arm. "I love you, I'm here with you." Jane smiles and pulls Maura to her.

"I know love, thank you for being so amazing throughout all of this. I love you too." Jane says leaning in to kiss her girlfriend.

"Let's finish getting ready." Jane says with a soft smile before heading into the bathroom.

Once they arrived to the funeral home Angela, Tommy, Frankie, Jane and Maura all gathered in the parking lot.

"I guess we should head inside."Angela says taking Frankie's hand. Everyone silently agreed. As the walked through the doors Jane slipped her hand into Maura's and squeezed. Maura placed her hand on the brunettes upper arm for comfort.

As they walked into the viewing room Jane's heart dropped. She could see Frost casket and him, her feet stopped instantly.

"I can't do this. I can't go up there." Jane said frantically, letting go of Maura's hand desperately trying to make it through the people coming in.

Maura looked at Frankie who was walking his mother to the front. She let the incoming people pass before quickly heading to find Jane.

She searched the bathrooms, and the cafeteria area with no luck lastly she checked outside. There she was sitting on a bench in her black and blue dress, black heels, legs crossed and face buried in her hands.

Maura sat next to the brunette amd softly rubbed up and down her back not saying a word. If there was one thing she learned about Jane is that sometimes actions spoke louder then words. So she sat and comforted her grieving girlfriend.

"I'm sorry." Jane finally says leaning into Maura.

"You have nothing to be sorry for my love. I know this isn't easy. You have lost your bestfriend in very tragic way. No one expects you to be okay."

"I seen him the night of the accident but this...seeing him laying in that casket..I don't know of I can bring myself to be in there. I know tomorrow I will be carrying my bestfriend to his final resting place and I will deal with it then. I just don't think I can handle today and tomorrow."

"Do you want to leave?" Maura asked wiping away the tears on Jane's cheeks.

"If I leave does that make me a horrible person? A horrible friend?" Jane asked looking into the hazel eyes that always calmed her.

"Oh Jane, love. Is that what you think? You think that Camille and Robin are going to be upset that you left? Jane look at me...they love you and I promise that they both understand."

"Do you want me to take you home?"

Jane sighed heavily. "Would you? I just don't think I can handle this today...tomorrow I have no choice but today I just want to lay with you and reminisce about the good times I shared with him."

"Of course I can take you home Jane, just let me go and tell Camille. Just stay here I'll be right back."

Jane nodded as Maura walked away to fill everyone in.

Jane's phone vibrated in her hand she looked down at the screen to see a text from Camille.

"I love you Janie I understand why you had to leave you are grieving to in your own way I'm not mad sweetie."

Jane swallowed the lump in her throat and chocked back her tears as she waited for Maura.

Everyone came back to Maura's home. More of Frost family and friends. Jane made sure to make herself known and offer her condolences to anyone who showed. She talked to many people and shared many stories about her friend who I return had their own stories to tell. Many tears were shed, alot of laughs shared. As Jane held Maura looking out over all the people who showed up she smiled to herself.

"Frost was a very loved man." She said to Maura.

"He really was Jane. And you get the honor to have been able to call him your bestfriend."

Jane in that moment made a promise to herself and Frost to live her best life. To not take those around her for granted, to live everyday like it was her last and to marry the woman she was holding so closely.