Jane lay awake for a very long time this night. She should have probably panicked, knowing that she had to get up early to go to work. But she just couldn't sleep. There were too many emotions flooding her heart and mind. Yes, there had been a time, she hadn't wanted kids. And whenever Peter complained about his one she wondered about his eyes turning misty sometimes.
After meeting Maura her mindset had slowly changed. Probably because she had settled down. Her priorities had shifted and sometimes she still couldn't fathom how it had happened. Suddenly she could imagine having kids. Maybe the knowledge that Maura would be there helped. She took on a soft smile and glanced at her sleeping wife. With Maura everything was easy.
Now they had a foster child. And as crazy as it sounded, Jane had seen Brian as her own right from the start. To her he had become a member of the family just by climbing into their car. How was this possible? When he had repulsed her at the beginning, she had been hurt somehow but understood that he might need time. After what had happened to him…. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath, thinking about her secret call to Korsak who had worked the Shirts' case.
He had told her a lot about how they found out, that Brian had been abused. Not sexually, no, but emotionally. She could hardly imagine the torture and the hell he had gone through. No wonder he had become silent and reclusive. But now? He trusted her obviously she mused. She had been surprised by his hug and his words. Her feelings were running high. It was overwhelming to her. These little boys' arms that held on to her.
She wanted to tell Maura so badly about his first whispered words and her feelings, but she knew that the doc needed her sleep. So she turned once more and sighed before returning to her thoughts.
It didn't matter that neither she or Maura had given birth to him as it didn't matter that he was already ten. But he was only to foster the woman at the orphanage had said. No option for adoption. Why? Jane wondered.
She shook her head, feeling confused about the situation. His parents' killer was still out there. Was the boy safe with them? What if he had seen something that could lead the police to the killer?
Being tired to death didn't exactly help to think clearly. She was grateful when Maura shifted into her arms, her own wrapping around Jane's waist. "Sleep." Maura mumbled and Jane closed her eyes. Yes, Maura did indeed make everything easier. She took a deep breath and whispered, "I love you." Before finally drifting off.
R&I
Maura hadn't been aware what had happened the previous night. She had only looked out for Brian as she hadn't found him in his bed. Panicking she had run to the office to find Jane and him sitting peacefully at Janes desk, working on a model kit. Jane had been cutting out the parts for Brian to assembly them.
At first, she had thought that she must hallucinate. It was such a harmonic scene with both looking comfortable with each other. He had let Jane ruffle through his thick blonde hair as if she had done it his whole life. And Maura had seen how the boy had let part of his guard slip to become the kid he was.
She smiled softly as she stood in the kitchen, leaning against the counter and sipping her coffee. Waiting for Jane to come down. If she didn't come soon, she would be late for work.
Maura glanced first at her watch, then at Oliver who was benched over his bowl, drinking milk. The baby cat had ended up in Brian's room and slept in his bed. She had heard the boy talk to Oliver this morning. "You lost your parents too huh?" the boy had silently said at one point.
It occurred to Maura that they had no clue where Brian came from or who his birth parents were. Jane could be right. The resemblance between them were striking. Maybe they were related in some way. Maybe her birthparents – whom she still didn't know, and she wasn't sure if she wanted to – had had another child. Maybe, she thought, she had a brother or a sister or both.
She would ask Susie to bring a DNA kit later that day. Then they would know. Maura pushed herself off the counter when hearing Jane's footsteps on the stairs. She watched how the tall woman appeared in the kitchen, dressed in black Jeans and a white shirt. Yes, Jane was very attractive especially when she gave Maura her dimpled smile like she did right now.
Maura felt her heartrate speed up and dragged Jane closer for a kiss. They smiled at each other and remained in each other's personal spaces for a little while.
Then Jane picked up Oliver who had finished his breakfast and was striding around her legs. She gave him a quick kiss to his forehead and rather felt than heard him purr. "You all behave while I'm at work!" she stated with a teasing grin and laughed as Maura playfully rolled her eyes.
"You better behave at work!" she retorted with a grin and Jane smirked. "I always behave at work." She said lightly, and they laughed again.
Brian appeared in the kitchen, his teddy bear firmly clutched against his chest. "Good morning." Jane greeted him and he looked scared. Not over the top yet, Jane mused and only touched his head lightly without rubbing it as she walked out of the kitchen towards the garage. "Have a good day!" she called over her shoulder and waved at them.
She hoped that the weekend would come soon. Then she too could relax and take her time for breakfast. She craved for more time with her family. She thought about Maura who had taken a few days off, but she too was due back to work the following week. Brian? They had hoped in their initial plan, that he could stay with Angela and eventually got to school. But it looked as if he wasn't ready yet. And Jane refused to push him. If he needed more time, it was okay. They would manage.
R&I
"I'm home!" she yelled and kicked of her shoes as she returned some 6 hours later. The absent smell of dinner made her slightly worried. But when she rounded the corner to the living room, she found her two loved ones sitting on the sofa and watching TV. Brian's head was resting against Maura's shoulder and his feet were tucked up on the seat next to him.
"Hey!" she said, and Maura smiled. "Hey yourself. How was work?"
Jane opened the first two buttons of her shirt and grinned. "Good. I like it." She stated and padded over to make an attempt of sitting down next to Maura. Brian shifted, glancing at her hopefully. She noticed how his feet slipped of the seat to make space for her.
She grinned at padded back to sit down by his side. "And how was your day?" she asked, thinking how wonderful it was to have a little family. Her heart stopped though when Brian's eyes dampened and turned dim.
"Its okay honey." Maura whispered to him, and Jane watched with a raised eyebrow. "We had a little accident this night." Maura said and Brian shrunk deeper into himself. "I'm sorry." He whined and judging by Maura's widened eyes she had heard him talk for the first time. Jane hadn't had the opportunity to tell her so far and she smiled reassuringly. First at her, then at him.
"Hey, don't worry. Happened to all of us buddy." She tried to sooth him. He studied her as if trying to find out whether she was making this up or not. But he must have concluded that she was speaking the truth because he pulled a bit out of his shell.
"I was just so tired you know." He whispered and Jane and Maura nodded. Yeah, Jane could only imagine. "Its okay." She said and ruffled through his hair, a small smile playing around his lips. "And we appreciate your honesty. Mistakes or accidents happen." Jane felt like letting him know values. He nodded and Jane and Maura both moved a bit closer, so they all touched. Janes arms reached to caress Maura's neck as they turned to the movie to relax.
R&I
"We are having pizza?" Jane asked flabbergasted as Maura picked up her phone to order it asking Jane and Brian what they wanted.
"Yes, we were quite busy doing nothing today." Maura laughed and Jane felt Brian following their exchange with interest. She wondered if he had ever lived with a couple that actually loved each other.
"Sounds awful." Jane scrunched up her nose playfully, feeling a bit jealous because she hadn't been there. But she was also relieved that the boy didn't only bond with her only. It was important for all of them if they were to be a family.
"It was…. " Maura paused as if looking for words, glancing at Brian. Jane could feel that she hoped he would say something. But he remained silent. "Well it was awful to say the least. Its good that you are here now." Maura said and Jane chuckled.