Maura stared into the bathroom mirror. Her eyes directed to her own reflection and yet they remained unfocused. She wasn't sure how long she had been standing there, only that the once cold porcelain of the sink had become warm under her palms. She leaned forward a bit, her gaze falling to the basin and gave a quick shake of her head.

Her thoughts crashed around in every direction, leaving her bouncing from one to another to another. Her engagement to Garrett. Her marriage with Jane. The upcoming wedding. The looming divorce.

They filled her head completely. Overwhelming. Drowning. Everything else fell silent for a while. Until finally the world began to creep back in. A subtle noise filtered through, mumbled and murky at first, as though she were underwater. It became louder and clearer with each call. And finally it broke through with a snap.

"Maura?" Garrett's voice was firm and a little impatient.

Startled, she straightened and turned. Garrett stood at the bathroom entry, adjusting his tie as he waited. Slowly she fully came back, her focus falling to him. "Hmm?"

"Didn't you hear me? I said your name four or five times."

"No, I'm sorry." She shook her head. "What… what is it?"

He looked at her, perplexed or concerned, she wasn't sure. Even after all the years they had been together, there were times when she felt as though they were practical strangers. The look quickly vanished.

"My work dinner -" he started again, taking a step closer. " -the big one I've been mentioning, it's this Saturday evening. We're still planning to arrive together, correct?"

"Of course," she replied quickly. A moment later her own social calendar came rushing forward. "I have my charity fundraiser earlier in the day, but then I'm yours the rest of the night."

A shadow of irritation moved over his face. His tone tried to hide it, but Maura noticed it in every word. "Right, your fundraiser."

"Garrett, it's been scheduled far longer than your dinner." She hadn't asked him if he wanted to attend, she knew he would have politely declined. It was so important to her and she only wanted people who would truly appreciate the cause to be there.

He held his hands up in surrender, before adjusting his cuff links. "I know it's just… Maura this is big for me. My bosses are expecting to meet you and practically the entire firm will be there. I just need you to promise me that we'll arrive together, and be on time, and each of us will be ready to awe everyone."

"I know it is, Garrett. And I understand. I'll be there with you, promise" Her answer felt short somehow. Sharp. Fiery. All of it coming from how business-like this whole conversation had been. How business-like their whole relationship was. How it wasn't what she'd pictured everything would be and how it had been Jane that caused her to really see everything as it was.

He gave a soft, appreciative smile, before taking the few steps to close the distance between them.

"Thank you," his words genuine, before leaning in to press a kiss to the side of her head. "I'll see you tonight."

She watched as he disappeared beyond the doorway. And as the pressure of the kiss to her skin was still fresh in her mind, she couldn't help but wonder why she thought of Jane. She attributed it the fact that she was on her way to discuss construction plans with her and not because she wondered what a kiss from Jane to the side of her head would feel like.

21 years before

The gravel crunched beneath their feet as they wandered between the different bushes and shrubs of Constance's garden. Maura's eyes focused on finding the prettiest flowers for the bouquet they were making for Jane's parent's anniversary. Jane's focus split between the task at hand and any possible sight of the Isles matriarch.

"Are you sure this is okay?" Jane asked for what felt like the dozenth time, no longer trying to mask her apprehension.

Maura didn't look away from the rose bush she was scanning. "My mother hardly comes out here anymore and were only taking a few. No one will notice. I promise it's fine."

Jane just nodded, giving another sweeping look across the grounds. Word had gotten back to Constance about their little game at the gala and she hadn't been pleased. She had given stern warning to them both to be on their best behavior if they wanted to continue spending time with one another. It hadn't been the sharpness of her words or her stern glare that had frightened Jane, rather it was the threat she'd actually lose her best friend.

Maura clipped a single rose, careful to avoid its thorns, and added it to their growing pile.

"What else do your parents do for their anniversary?" She asked, genuinely curious.

Her parents never did anything to celebrate theirs, at least not to her knowledge. They barely even acknowledged it. She looked over her shoulder to Jane, smiling as she watched her manage to successfully cut a flower from the middle of the bush almost out of arms reach. Jane turned towards her, a smudge of dirt across her brow. Maura chose to not say anything. It fit perfect with Jane's triumphant grin.

"My Pop usually cooks a nice dinner," she started, tossing her own flower onto the pile. "Whatever my Ma wants, and he makes sure were on our best behavior. Usually there's dessert for all of us. Last year Ma got cannolis from Mike's. Once dinner is over we give them a gift and they exchange their own. It's simple, but they make it special.

"My favorite part, and I think maybe theirs too, is when they finish cleaning up and they think none of us are watching, they dance in the kitchen. Sometimes my Pop just hums, but sometimes they put on a record really low. I like to watch them sway."

"That sounds lovely."

"Yeah."

Maura picked up flower, twisting the stem between her fingers, making the petals twirl as though they were dancing. Graceful and elegant. She looked up quickly, a bright idea sparkling in her eyes. Jane had seen that look before. The last time when she proposed they get married.

"What?"

"We need a song."

"A song?"

"Yeah. Sometimes people have a song they dance to at their wedding or one that reminds them of the other person. One that's just theirs. A song that's special. We should have one." She quickly scooped up the pile between them and grabbed for Jane's hand. "Come on. I have an idea."

She pulled Jane back into the house, moving so fast their feet tangled up a couple of times, each of them just managing to keep their balance. Her speed didn't let up until they found themselves a room that fell somewhere between a library and gallery.

Jane had only ever seen the space in passing. Its door was usually shut. Neither of them with any reason to really enter. But now that she stood in it, she thought it might be her favorite room in the Isles' house. Old books filled the shelves. Classic paintings hung on the wall. Without realizing she found herself in one of the corners, unable to take her eyes off the old gramophone that sat there.

"It doesn't work," Maura said, a twinge of sadness in her words. "I asked my mother if we could fix it, but she said it was probably a lost cause. So now it's more of a decorative piece."

Jane nodded in understanding, but her eyes remained on the large, flaring horn. She ran her fingers over its smooth edge before gently picking up the arm and moving it as though she were about start playing a record. She wondered what was broken. Wondered if maybe she could fix it.

"This one works though." Jane turned to find Maura lifting up the dust cover of a much more modern record player. One that from what she could tell seemed almost untouched. Maura pulled out three organized boxes of pristinely kept records. "Last year my father briefly became interested in musicology, as a hobby of sorts. It didn't last very long, work became his number one priority again, so it's not a big collection. But it spans over a number of years and quite a few artists, so there's a chance we could find a song."

"Yeah, maybe."

They worked their way through the odd collection. Immediately casting some aside, while others they played through though both of them knew they wouldn't pick a song from it. Occasionally they fell off track as they attempted to find the craziest song title or voted on the coolest album cover art. All the while keeping the music low and their laughter hushed.

And then it found them.

Lying against the floor, hands behind their heads, they fell quiet as it played. So simple and light and lovely. 'Here comes the sun, doo-doo-doo-doo'. Jane watched as Maura's eyes fell shut, genuine happiness making her glow. She too shut her eyes as the music wrapped around her, warm and gentle.

"I really like this one." Maura's words were soft and thick as she came back as the song played its final few notes.

"I do too, but…"

"What?"

Jane propped herself on her elbow, head resting in her hand. "Well, it's just… if it's supposed to be our song, like for our wedding, doesn't it have to be romantic?"

Maura sat up. Their faces closer than usual. A seriousness to her features as she thought it over. Brightening as her answer formed. "I don't think so. It just has to be one we both like. A song we think fits. And this one is perfect. I know it."

"How?"

"Because when I'm with you, I'm happy." A blush began to color her cheeks. "And, I don't know, I also feel warm and free and lucky. Kind of like you're the sun."

"You make me feel like that too, Maura."

They grinned wide at each other before rolling back flat against the floor, their shoulders up against one another, eyes fallen shut again. The song had finished. Music no longer filled the room. But the melody buzzed through them until they both were humming.

'Here comes the sun. Here comes the sun.'

Maura stood still as the bell above the door chimed above her, her heels no longer clicking against the worn wooden floor, as she let the store greet her. The place had a character like nothing she had experienced before. A warm familiarity, as though she'd been welcomed here a thousand times over. Her mind was quick to sharply remind her it had actually only been twice.

"Hello? Jane?"

A man, tall and skinny, peered from around the edge of an aisle and smiled. Again, that sense of familiarity settled heavy in her stomach. She'd seen that lopsided grin before, she just couldn't place it. He took a few steps, his brow furrowing further the closer he got.

"Maura?"

She squinted and it all came rushing back. "Tommy?"

He laughed with a nod and wrapped his long, lanky arms around her. Enveloping her in a crushing hug. Like the bear hugs he'd given when they were younger. She'd always thought he'd squeezed so hard as a kid to be mischievous. Jane and Frankie squeezed hard in fun, so he did right back. But now she wondered if that was simply his hug. Wondered if Jane's had changed any over the years.

"I knew that was you. How've ya been?"

"Really well, thank you. Very busy as of late, but good. How about yourself?"

Tommy nodded enthusiastically. "Life's good. I've got a wife and kid and another on the way. It's crazy how things turn out ain't it?"

Her smile faltered for a split second. How right he was. How crazy the past couple of weeks had been to lead her where she was. But then the grin was back.

"Do you work together with Jane?"

"No, no," he said with a couple of swift shakes of his head. "I actually have my own house painting business. I'm just helping Janie out here and there. She's got some big project she's workin' on for a customer."

Her heart soared, hoping the project was the one Jane had agreed to do for her, but then quickly sank, realizing it meant Jane probably wasn't around. Tommy noticed the subtle down turn of her lips and the soft crease that formed between her eyes. He hiked his thumb over his shoulder, gesturing to the back of the store.

"Janie's out back in the workshop. Told me to send anyone lookin' for her back there. Thought she meant customers, but now I'm thinking maybe it was intended just for you." He gave a quick wink.

Her cheeks flushed light pink. Tommy had always been good for a kind-hearted tease. She set her hand against his upper arm and gave a grateful squeeze.

"Thanks, Tommy."

"Of course, Maura. It was really great to see you. Don't be a stranger. 'Kay?"

"I won't. Promise." And as she walked out the front, she honestly hoped it was a promise she would be able to keep.

A steady thrum of buzzing power tools directed her to the back of the building. The large, worn-down wooden door, something similar to a barn door, sat propped open and she took a step inside, leaning against the wall. She stood in awe for a moment. The workshop was much larger than she realized, easily the same size as the entire hardware store at the front-half of the building. Its exposed rafters and large skylights added to the magnificence of the space. It was all she needed to know that this was Jane's sanctuary. The way their fort had been hers when they were kids.

There were so many power tools within the space. Large and small. Some of them frighteningly elaborate. Most she could only guess to what their function was. But Jane knew them all. Maura watched as she gracefully moved between a couple of them. Precisely cutting. Efficiently sanding. All of it sending sawdust into the air that eventually clung to the thin layer of sweat across the tops of her shoulders and back of her neck. The sight sent shivers up Maura's spine.

Jane stood from her hunched over position, softly blowing against the freshly cut edge of the 2-by-4 in her hand, sending more sawdust into the air. It practically created a fog, but when some of it settled and cleared, Maura found Jane's eyes locked on hers. Wide in pleasant surprise. She turned the saw off and set the piece of wood down, fumbling with both tasks in an effort to be quick. She pushed the clear, protective glasses onto the top of her head.

"Maura, hi."

"Hi, Jane."

The both stayed still. Frozen in place. Jane's eyes flickered, a mix of disbelief and merriment, as she swept them over Maura. Trailing them over the oversized sweatshirt and well-worn jeans that only Maura could make look cozy and elegant at the same time. She shook her head, her face turning light pink in embarrassment, as she realized she had been staring. Caught staring.

"Sorry," she said with another head shake, taking a few steps closer and dusting off her shoulders the best she could. "Please come on in. I apologize for the mess."

Maura began to wander, avoiding anything that looked particularly sharp, lingering in spots that seemed to be a home for a project in progress. A bookshelf freshly stripped of old lacquer, ready to be stained again. A toaster oven that had seen better days, heating coils and wires twisting in every direction. An old clawfoot tub on its way to becoming new once more.

"I see you haven't lost your touch," she said, looking up to find Jane's gaze still upon her.

Jane let out a soft laugh. "I don't think my Pop would let me even if I tried."

Maura's smile crept wider at the mention of Frank. His, sometimes gruff, guidance and the respect he showed her even as a child meant more than she had ever been able to tell him.

"Any of these your own?" Maura asked. Jane had always seemed to be tinkering with something when they were younger, she couldn't imagine that had changed over the years.

"A few." She pointed across the space. An odd looking lamp with Edison bulbs and an old ornate frame sat huddled together in mid completion.

There was a hint of pride in Jane's eyes as Maura faced her, but it was a different gleam that caught her own eye. Tucked near a back corner a reflection of light bounced off a well-polished piece of metal. She walked past Jane as if in a trance, drawn to the item she couldn't really see, half covered by a drop cloth.

Jane's throat closed as Maura pushed away the cover. Any words she wanted to say sat trapped. Unable to escape. Instead, only a soft strangled noise broke through. She reached her hand out as if it would have any chance of doing something, but it did what she should have figured. Nothing. Maura let out a small gasp, immediately looking back over her shoulder at Jane. Her eyes asked questions Jane never though she would need to answer.

Is this what I think it is? Does it play? Do you remember?

Jane walked the short distance between them and lifted the cover away, fulling revealing the old gramophone that sat beneath. She smiled fondly as she looked it over. It had been a while since she last worked on it and it seemed only fitting that Maura was the one to bring it back to memory.

"Is this yours?" Her words were soft.

"Yeah," Jane replied with a nod, running her hand over it gently. "This has been my pet project for a long while now."

"It looks like the one from when we were kids."

"It is." Maura's jaw fell slightly as she looked up wide eyed at her. She started quickly again, understanding how her words had sounded. "I mean it's the same model. It can't be the same one. I found this one at an antique shop years back."

Maura nodded without realizing, consumed by the memory of how unceremoniously her mother had gotten rid of that old gramophone years ago. Not caring about how much she cherished it, only that it didn't align with the vision of her remodel. And now, a tendril of possibility, crept to mind. Because what if.

"Does it work?"

"Not yet. I've been trying to fix it with original parts and they're harder to find than I planned. But one day."

"Well when you get it to work, maybe we can find a song on this one too."

For a moment Jane found herself unable to breathe. All of the air vanished from her lungs. No trace of any around them. And only then did she notice how close they stood to each other. How close feelings and memories she'd tried to bury over a decade ago had bubbled to the surface. But by some miracle the air came rushing back and she took in a deep breath to steady herself.

"I've got some rough sketches over here, if you want to take a look. See what you think."

Maura nodded and followed Jane over to her current work station. It took only a moment for her to pluck out the few particular pages from the scattered pile of papers. Maura took them carefully and wasn't sure what she felt as she looked them over. A confusing mixture of amazement at their elegance and an unsettling uncertainty of what they actually represented.

"I can change pretty much anything at this point if you don't like them," Jane said into the quiet.

She shook her head, her eyes never leaving the rough, penciled lines. "Jane, these are amazing." Maura ran her fingers over one in particular. An arbor looking structure. Simple and elegant.

"That's my favorite."

Maura looked up with a soft smile. "Me too."

"Great. I can get started right away then, unless… do you want to show this to uh…" Jane trailed off as she realized she'd forgotten the name of Maura's fiancé.

"Garret," she filled in.

"Right, Garrett. Want me to wait until he sees it?"

Maura looked back down at the sketch. In its perfect mess she could see exactly what Jane had envisioned. A sour taste filled her mouth as she thought of what would come if she showed it to Garrett. The critiques and doubts she would have to ease away. It would be simpler if she didn't. But it wasn't only that. If she didn't, this would just be theirs. Hers and Jane's. And that idea made thoughts of her wedding day exponentially better.

"No. It's perfect."

Maura looked up, met with silence, and caught Jane staring. Again. Jane quickly coughed and shuffled some papers around, creating a bigger mess than if she'd just left it.

"Great. That's great." She internally groaned, seemingly unable to find another word. "It should be done pretty quick. I've already started."

Jane pointed to where she had been working earlier. Maura nodded as her gaze lingered on the large saw. An idea flickered behind her eyes as she turned back to Jane.

"Do you think I could help?"

"Really?"

"Yeah. I wasn't that terrible of an assistant when we were kids."

Jane laughed, choosing to not bring up that all they really did as kids were the smallest of tasks, and even then she was certain her Pop re-did everything they touched. "Sure. Of course. I'd love the help."

An expectant second passed between them before Jane seemed to realize. "Now?"

"Why not?" Maura replied with a shrug.

Their smiles grew together. Jane's eyes softened and Maura's brightened. An energy settled over them. New but familiar. A rediscovery of something unforgettable. Jane scurried across the workshop, returning with thick work gloves and some protective eye wear.

"You'll need these."

Maura pulled her hair up and slipped out of her sweatshirt before enthusiastically putting on the gear Jane had handed her. Jane could only stare. Struck by how good Maura looked. Like she belonged there.

"What?"

Jane cleared her throat and gave a quick shake of her head. "You look good."

"Why, thank you."

"Ready?"

The anticipation of working so closely made everything fuzzy. Maura only grasped the basics of what they were actually doing, having difficulties concentrating. She needed a warning label. Do not operate heavy machinery in the presence of Jane Rizzoli. It wasn't until the shock of the saw turning on that things became clear again. Her breath hitched as Jane stood close behind. Goosebumps ran up her arms as Jane guided her hands with a soft, assuring touch. Every movement showing the trust between them hadn't faded.

They sawed through the lumber. The entire time Maura was acutely aware of Jane's breath on her neck and the occasional laugh in her ear. Aware of just how wide her own smile was across her face. And then they were finished. That last piece felt heavier than the rest. And as Jane stepped back and Maura moved to the side, the heat that neither of them quite wanted to admit had built between them began to dissipate.

"That was amazing," said Maura. She could still feel the vibrations up her forearms.

"You're a natural."

Without warning, Maura brought the piece of wood still in her hand up to her mouth and gave a hard blow. But unlike the evenly distributed plume Jane had created earlier, this one sent most of the dust directly into Jane's face. Shocked, Jane took a sharp gasp in, making her cough then laugh then cough some more.

Maura's face went bright red as she frantically apologized. "Jane, I'm so sorry. Oh goodness. Really I'm sorry. Here let me help you." Maura tried to brush some from her hair without much success.

They both wiped at her squeezed-shut eyes until finally she could open them. Everything stood still for a moment as Maura ran a light finger across the top of Jane's cheek. It broke quickly as Maura began to laugh. Jane reached for a rag and gave a better swipe over her face.

"I can't believe you did that." Her words were light and joking.

"I'm sorry. I saw you do it earlier and it was lovely, but apparently there's a finesse about it."

They stared at each other a moment longer before the both of them completely lost it. Laughing so hard their stomachs hurt. Almost like it had been when they were kids. Almost.

"Can I help clean anything up?" Maura asked after they finally settled.

Jane shook her head. "Nah, I've got some other work to finish up first, so I'll take care of it."

"Well, thank you for a fun afternoon." Jane nodded back.

A chime went off signaling the top of the hour. It was only then that either of them realized how fast time slipped by. Thoughts of goodbye began to fill her head, sharply interrupted by something else entirely.

"Could I ask you something?"

"Sure."

She stuffed her hands in her pockets, as unexpected nerves fluttered in her chest. "I know it's short notice, and you probably have plans, but would you consider coming to a fundraiser with me this Saturday?"

Jane narrowed her eyes playfully. "Do I need to wear a dress?"

Maura laughed. Memories came to mind of how much Jane avoided them when they were young. How she had refused to wear one even for their wedding.

"Still hate them?"

"I think the hate has only grown stronger as I've gotten older."

"I promise, nothing formal. No dresses. Nothing fancy. Just jeans and a t-shirt."

"What kind of fundraiser is this?" Her eyes narrowed in general confusion and curiosity.

Maura smiled. "One that I believe you will quite enjoy."

Jane took a step closer and crossed her arms, leaning against the workbench. "But you're not going to tell me what the event is exactly?"

"No," she crossed her arms as well, unspoken banter flowing between them. "I believe I'll keep that a secret. So?"

"I'd love to accompany you." And she was sure she would never let Maura know, but had a formal dress been required, she still would have agreed to go with her.

"Thank you, thank you," she exclaimed. Jane's chest bloomed. There had always been something so magical about making Maura as happy as she was then. "I'll pick you up here. 10:30 sharp."

"Sounds good."

They said quick goodbyes. And as Maura walked out, Jane couldn't be sure but she thought she heard humming. Her favorite Beatles song. 'It felt like years since it's been here. Here comes the sun'.

So, here's a strange little story: The ideas for this chapter have been planned for a while. So with everything outlined I started writing and took a little break one day to watch Amazing Stories on Apple TV. Well, the first episode had Sasha Alexander and a gramophone in it and it was the weirdest feeling of deja vu and coincidence. Like what are the freaking chances! Anyway, I appreciate all of you so much! Hope you enjoyed.