After feeling more comfortable with the crowds, Maura suggested to Jane that they could go to a concert after dinner. The famous Amanda Lucille was going to sing Edith Piaf. Jane had no clue who this Amanda person was, despite Maura insisting that they had already listened to one of her CD's in the car. But she knew who Edith Piaf was. Music was very important to Jane, and she liked all sorts of music. And wherever she went, she tried to get a taste of the local music.

Unfortunately, she wasn't a big fan of the French singer. But when seeing the gleaming in Maura's eyes she agreed on going to the concert. Imagining that their life would be very balanced. Maura would drag her to operas and culture and Jane would make her watch sports. She laughed softly and tangled her hand in Maura's hair. Instead of going to the sun deck they had decided to stay on their balcony. It was tiny but comfortable. There was some sort of small couch with lots of cushions and Jane had fetched them some drinks from the minibar in their room.

As she was kneeling in front of the small cooler under the TV, she realized that they hadn't even once turned on the device during their stay. She counted that as a good sign because it meant that they were able to talk and spend time with each other and never got enough. Spending time with Maura was relaxing and so she sunk into the sea of cushions and glanced out to the sea.

The ship had taken up its journey to the next location of which Jane couldn't remember the name. They would arrive there the next day. There would be a guided tour through the town first thing after breakfast and then some time for their own disposition.

Jane had been informed while preparing for bed, that they had to go and do some shopping during this time span, because Maura needed various things. Jane had only once been shopping with the doc and already braced herself for walking around with heavy bason her arms. But it was fine. It just made her realize of how much she had already melted into this relationship. She loved these lazy afternoons with the sun and the soft breeze. And she loved the woman who was smiling like she had won the lottery.

This evening they chose to sit with some other people for dinner. Maura got all excited when learning that there was another couple from the suburbs of Boston. And even more so, when learning that one of the women was a doctor. Soon the two got lost in discussing medical stuff which left Jane and the other woman called Andrea sitting and sipping their wine.

"So, what do you do for a living?" Jane asked after clearing her throat and Andrea chuckled. "I'm an attorney." She stated and gave Jane a questioning look. "Uhm I'm a pilot."

"Yeah, I know. We watched your interviews about career women." Andrea smiled.

"We already thought that you were a sweet couple back then." She stated and Jane scoffed. "That was the day we met." Maura said with a gentle smile towards Jane while squeezing her hand. Neither of them had noticed how the doctors had stopped talking to refocus on a group conversation.

"Oh really?" Lucinda, Andrea's wife asked surprised. "I could have sworn… well.."

R&I

"Did you ever think about getting married?" Maura asked out of the blue as they were later in their cabin, preparing for the concert.

"Excuse me?" Jane peeked her head of the bathroom to see Maura dress up in a beautiful dark green dress. Jane herself was more of a suit person, but she had decided to bring her little black one to the trip and planned on wearing it tonight. For this reason, she also applied some make-up.

Maura looked somewhat surprised. "I asked if you ever thought about getting married like Andrea and Lucinda."

Jane licked her lips. "It was just a question Jane, no need to panic." Maura misread the situation and chuckled softly. Jane had been thinking about proposing to Maura for a while now and didn't want to give away the surprise. Therefore, she hadn't known what to say to that question. Now she felt even more pressured about saying something clever.

"Well, honestly I thought about it. But im indecisive." Maura again misreading her demeanor kissed her gently on the cheek. "Go and get ready, otherwise we are going to be late – again." They both laughed and Jane disappeared into the tiny bathroom again with a smirk. "Every detour so far had its advantage." She said after popping her head out again a few minutes later. Maura chuckled. Judging by the grin on her face she wouldn't complain about their detours for sure Jane thought and shook her head in amusement.

But it was for the first time since boarding the ship that they actually hadn't got lost which Jane regretted for two reasons. One the missing kisses in the corners and second, she didn't like the concert. She assumed that she would leave the concert hall with bleeding ears because of the high-pitched voice of the singer, which tortured her in an unspeakable way.

Whenever Maura shot her a glance though she nodded and smiled. The doc glanced at her often that night because she was mesmerized by how stunning Jane looked in her dress, wearing make-up. And the blonde assumed that this was a rare sight which she had to memorize deeply. Jane on the other hand wanted to glance at her watch secretively so badly but couldn't as long as Maura watched her.

They were 45 minutes into the concert, when Amanda needed a break. The fans immediately stormed towards the stage to get some autographs and Jane had to blink twice when one of the women pushed down her dress so that her breasts almost fell out. "OMG!" she muttered under her breath. "She's not going to..?" But the woman was going to ask Amanda to sign on her boobs. She heard Maura's laughter next to her. "Have you seen this?" she whispered still in shock and Maura nodded. "Oh yes. Come on baby, let's go."

"Good idea. I saw that the bar is in front of the concert hall. Now I definitely need a drink!" she mumbled but stopped in her track when Maura shook her head. "Not the bar. At least not this one. I have another idea." She winked and Jane wasn't sure if this torture was over now until they reached the sundeck which by this time of night was empty. Maura motioned her to sit down into one of the deckchairs and disappeared, leaving Jane alone on the deck with the full moon as only companion.

She was about to close the lids of her eyes to relax, when an idea made her suddenly sit up straight. Nervously she fumbled in her handbag while looking over her shoulder to see when Maura was coming back. There was not much time to think about where her girlfriend had gone because she was totally stressed to find the damn ring she had purchased before the cruise.

Scared that Maura would find it because they were sharing drawers, Jane kept the ring in her pockets or handbag. "Where the hell is the damn thing." She cursed, seeing the door to the deck open and Maura step out with two glasses of champaign. Jane suddenly felt the tiny box and sighed in relieve.

Maura sat down to the deckchair next to her, keeping her feet on the ground. Jane was aware of the sweat which was running down her back and maybe her reddened face. But Maura seemed to be nervous as well for some reason. Jane was about to postpone the question when Maura handed her one of the glasses. And there was… the pilot took a deep steadying breath, focusing onto the glass – there was a ring shimmering in the moonlit fluid.

She swallowed hard. Maura had beaten her to proposing. When she managed to lift her eyes from the ring towards Maura's, she saw hope and a shy smile. The doc nervously played with her glass. "You don't have to say yes. I understand if…"

"Yes!" Jane blurted out and Maura gave her an incredulous look. "Maybe you want to think about it? It's okay, you don't have to.."

She stopped when Jane chuckled softly, reaching into her handbag, pulling out the box with her ring. Now Maura's hands came to cover her mouth and tears were brimming in her eyes, when she opened the box to take a look at the ring.

Jane grinned. "Guess that's a sign huh?" she said around the lump which was forming in her throat and Maura nodded not trusting her voice. "Oh, come here." Jane said and spread her legs to sit between her thighs.

She softly slipped the finger overs Maura's and they brought their glasses together for a toast. Jane had to take a few sips until she managed to get her ring out of the glass. By the time she did, she slightly felt the effects of the alcohol or maybe she was drunken from love.

Both stayed in the deckchair for a long time. Just glancing at the moon, kissing and enjoying this moment.