Jane POV

You had your checkup at the hospital this morning, so I drove you there and then decided to drop by the station while waiting. It was more of a formality, so you didn't want me to wait around there. I'll officially be back at work starting Monday, but I wanted to stop by and say hello to others and catch up on what's been going on over the past few days. I take everyone down to the bar, under the guise of having a coffee and a chat, immediately resuming good old habits.

Everyone will come to Dirty Robber tonight to celebrate our return to work, including your mom who I'm about to pick up from the airport right now. She took the opportunity of coming to see you, having to settle some matters for the detachment of her association here in Boston. She couldn't have chosen a better time, really. Although my relationship with her has improved since we were shot, I have to admit that Hope always makes me a little in awe… I think it's normal for her to have that effect on me, us being a couple, but today I feel it even more.

Maura POV

Blessedly the check-up went well, so by Monday I can officially return to work and our lives will be normal again. You texted me that you hit traffic after you stopped to pick up Hope at the airport, so I took the opportunity to go to the bar near here to get coffees. They have some really interesting blends, I know I'll find one to suit my mom's refined tastes. I'm glad she's coming to town… as much as we've talked every day since I was discharged, having her here is totally different, even if it's just for a couple of days.

I pull the car over and get in on the fly, and as soon as you see the coffee you almost snatch it out of my hand… your caffeine addiction worries me a little. You see my amused face because of your impetuosity, so before driving on you leave me a tender kiss on the lips, thanking me for the nice thought. I don't know why, but I'm a little embarrassed about you kissing me in front of my mother. I turn to her to pass her the coffee and in her face there is happiness at the sight of that gesture so simple and full of love. I didn't think she'd be so accepting of our relationship. I wonder if she'll feel the same way when we tell her about our living together.

You made me promise to not give her any special treatment, so she's gonna find out tonight, along with the others.

"So, Hope, how was the flight?"

"Ah, all right, long but quiet… then it wasn't very crowded, lucky for me!"

We drive my mother to her home: coming often to Boston, she decided not to sell or rent it. I offered to host her in the guest house when she needed it, but she categorically refused to not risk invading my privacy. Let's just say this time it came in handy to maintain the surprise effect for tonight's announcement: she would have immediately noticed that you moved in with me.

On the other hand, every time she comes here, she always informs me a few days in advance, so I can arrange to meet her and this makes me really happy. I wish my mother, Constance I mean, was just as willing to be a part of my life.

We greet her, giving us an appointment for this evening, you offer to pick her up but she says that she prefers to reach us directly there, having to go to the clinic first. After all, I'm not sorry for that… the detour to come to her would have forced us to leave earlier, so we'd have a little more time for us. I can't help it, I can't get enough.

Jane POV

"Maura, come on… We're gonna be late!"

I'm impatient. I always have been, but tonight... Tonight is a big night. In front of all our friends, we're going to take an important step. As always, I realize every second of waiting was definitely worth it when I see you coming down the stairs. You're gorgeous, and your beauty just takes my breath away. I think this feeling will never go away... inside me I know I will always have an astonished look for you.

"What's the matter? Too elegant?"

You look at me, perplexed by my expression.

I get up from the kitchen stool to come towards you. I take your hand to get you down the last stairs... you always make me bring out my most romantic side. As soon as you get down, I put your hand on my shoulder, bringing you even closer to me. You shake your head, and your flowing hair falls better on your shoulders, with a gesture so natural, but to my eyes so sensual.

We stay like this, looking at each other for a few seconds, in your eyes I see reflected the love you feel for me and I understand that I really can't live without you anymore: I just need one look from you to completely fill my soul.

My lips move, guided by their own will, but a moment before settling on yours, you interrupt that perfect moment, bringing me back to reality. "Weren't we late?" you tell me, laughing amused that I seem to have forgotten everything else while I'm here with you.

"Actually if we leave now we'll be right on time… but I won't let you leave home without doing this first," I reply, leaving my lips free to reach yours as I hold you in my arms gently dipping you.

I feel your hand put more force on my neck to hold on, our kiss manages to be a perfect balance between chaste and passionate. I keep that pose, even after I have moved my lips away from yours, and I see your eyes lost in mine.

"I love you, Maura... I'll always love you"

"Me too, Jane. Don't ever stop loving me this way!" you answer me, before you reunite our mouths again, while you caress my face. I would like to get lost, to let myself go totally at this moment, but we have all the time in the world... and now we just risk being late. I'm sure we'll have something to celebrate when we get back. At least I hope so.

"Doctor, come on, it's time to go"

"Won't you stay here? With me?" you reply, in a provocative voice... very provocative. Your neckline is making it hard for me, but I try to cool my jets and convince you that we actually need to go.

Maura POV

You're being a little weird tonight. You seem like the night you took me to dinner at that wonderful restaurant. Instinctively my hand rests on my chest, where the pendant you gave me right in that occasion. I'm actually a little nervous too: I think what we've done is an important step. After all, why wait?

We're not kids, who're getting caught up in the excitement of something that's still in its beginnings.

No, we've been through a lot, actually through a lot. We approached slowly, we were afraid of the feelings we felt growing. We tried to repress them, or better, we tried, surrendering to them only after we realized we couldn't escape them. But I don't want to get too lost thinking about what could have been. Now we're together, that's what matters.

We arrive at the Dirty Robber, I find a parking lot just before the pub and I thank God: apparently one week was enough to make my feet lose the habit of wearing heels and leaving the car here I won't have to walk much. I put my hand on the handle to open the car door when you block me, grabbing my left arm just above the wrist. Your look is… I don't know how to define it, a mixture of many things, which remain indecipherable to me. You see how I watch you, and you turn your expression into a smile. Your smiles are rare, often small, but they make me fall in love all over again every time.

But I recognize one thing in the depths of your dark eyes. It's always there, every time you look at me... it's that force that wins everything.

"You don't think you're gonna get out of the car without kissing me first?" you ask me, and I immediately grant your request, putting both hands on your face, as if to make that contact between our lips even more intense.

"Okay, I'd say we can go now."

We get out of the car and enter the pub and I realize that they're almost all here already.

Korsak made us prepare a table practically in the center of the bar. I see that he brought Kiki and I'm glad: they are a really nice couple and that man definitely deserves to be happy. Your mother interrupts the conversation she was having with Hope to greet me with a hug. We haven't seen each other after I've been discharged… sometimes I see our mothers and I think we're much more like them than we want to admit. I greet everyone and then I come sit next to you.

I'm glad they had this idea... after all, this is our family, all the people dearest to us are in this place to celebrate with us our narrow escape. I was about to order drinks, but you beat me and order champagne for all. Nice move Jane... we'll have a perfect time to announce our coexistence. Let's just hope the wine makes them well-disposed to the news.

Jane POV

"Waitress...could you get us all some champagne? My treat!"

"Jane, next time you could buy a drink even without getting shot!" says my dumb brother Frankie, making fun of me. Out of spite, I steal the bottle in front of him, draining what was left of the beer he ordered to kill the time before our arrival. He looks at me sideways but I have my answer ready.

"Come on Frankie, you would never have finished it before the waitress brought us the champagne… I wanted to help you!"

He looks up to the sky, knowing that even if he did, I'd always find a way to get the last word. Actually, I needed liquid courage… now. You turn around, and I realize you probably didn't appreciate it, because you're staring at me. I make a fake guilty face and immediately I see a smile on your face... I make you laugh but you don't want to give me the win.

The waitress arrives, and as soon as everyone gets their glasses full, you stand up.

"I'd like to thank you all for being here… Jane and I really dodged a major bullet this time and it's nice to be here with you to celebrate that everything went well. I'd like to thank Frankie and Korsak, for catching the culprits in a surprisingly short time," you begin with great confidence. Then you turn to me, as if to ask my permission to be the one to make the announcement. I don't even need to nod my head at you, you can tell just from the look on my face what the answer is. You take me by the hand though, and I stand up next to you, feeling that you ask for my support.

"Jane and I realized that there is no certainty of tomorrow, and that we want our future to start now… in short we felt this was the best time to tell you, our family, that we have decided to move in together!"

You look at me saying those last words, as if you suddenly don't care about the reaction of others, but only about me. The reaction they have is one of unanimous happiness… like they were waiting for it, like this were the obvious evolution of our relationship. It is in their eyes as much as it was for us… so I understand that the moment couldn't be more perfect to gather up my courage and take the floor, in this little hubbub of joy.

"Actually, that's not all we're here to tell you," I say as I feel my heart start beating like a jackhammer.