It was Maura who opened the door to Amanda, a shy looking girl who was almost as tall as Jane. „Hello, you must be Amanda. I'm Dr. Isles. It's nice to meet you." Maura greeted their visitor. The brunette stepped up behind her wife and smiled friendly.

„And I'm Jane. This…." She pointed to their son „is Will." She held out her hand to Amanda who shook it timidly. It was obvious that she was kind of scared and that she wanted to make a good impression.

„You definitely didn't feel the need to make the right impression when meeting my parents. " Maura chuckled once Amanda was in Julia's room and Jane mentioned how polite the girl was.

„Excuse me, I was really nice to them. " Jane huffed and Maura grabbed her hand. „Let's see: you shot my birthfather, you gave mother a lecture about how she neglected me and told my birthmother that she couldn't treat me the way she did. Is this what you call making a good impression?" The doc laughed and Jane smirked.

„I only wanted…. "

„To help me. I know. And like Julia said: your honesty is appreciated. I grew up with the idea that everything needed to be shiny to the outside. That speaking the truth isn't always the right thing to do, which honestly gave me a hard time because you know that I can't lie. And which at the end is ironic because all children are taught not to lie. So, I find your honesty quite refreshing. And you made them change things. You helped us all in a certain way. So, thank you."

Maura finished her monologue with a kiss, leaving Jane speechless.

„Okay." She stated slowly, glad that the incident with her shooting Paddy didn't seem to be a cause for bad blood anymore. „Well, I did it for you, because I want you to be happy. And if I feel that something isn't right, I can't shut up." She added while Maura grabbed for a medical journal.

It was Sunday, and often they spend the afternoon with split activities in the same room. Maura stretched out on the couch, like she usually did and rested her head in Jane's head to read, while Jane put her feet onto the coffee table and watched a game.

Both glanced up when a lonely and lost looking Sophie padded into the room. Her arms were swinging by her side and she wore a desperate facial expression.

Julia and she had grown up like twins. They had been best friends more or less for as long as they could remember. No wonder that Sophie felt left out, now that Julia suddenly had a seemingly more interesting person.

Jane patted the spot next to her and gave her a soft smile. „I'm watching the Sox play. Care to join me?"

„Do I get popcorn?" Sophie asked and Jane nodded quickly before Maura could interfere. „Sure. And bring some chips too." Jane felt Maura pinching her into her side. „Ouch! That hurt." She complained and glanced into the beautiful Hazel eyes she loved so much.

„She needs a little bit of extra love." Jane whispered and Maura nodded. „She's sad." The doc sighed. „But I don't get why you need chips." The doc teased Jane who smirked. „Because I'm a good woman and you love me. I'm sure that you want to see me happy, right?"

Maura huffed playfully. In reality Jane could eat whatever she wanted. If Maura lectured her it was just their old pattern or banter. They just liked it that way. And Jane was sure, that Maura would reach for the chips as soon as the package was opened. She smiled softly at Maura who mirrored her smile with a wink.

Sophie made a show of slumping into the couch and handed Jane the chips. The girl watched the game in silence for a while before turning her head to Jane. She began asking loads of questions about the players and Jane tried to answer every one of them.

„Would you like to got out and throw a few balls?" Jane asked, feeling that Sophie was getting bored.

„What about your friends? " Maura asked and looked at both of them.

„They are all busy. Looks like some epidemic has broken out and everybody is in love but me." Sophie half whined half huffed. She picked up Will who had been playing with his cars on the floor and sat him into her lap. He liked the attention that he suddenly got from his big sister and smiled at her.

„Hey, there is a new action movie with Bruce Willis. I already asked Maura, but she's not interested. We could watch it together. I know how you like action movies. And I don't want to go alone to the cinema." Jane offered truthfully.

Her eyes noticed an approving look from Maura's part. „Sounds like a great idea." She mumbled while turning a page. So, Jane gave Sophie an expectant look. The girl said yes, and soon they were sitting in Jane's car and driving towards the movie theatre.

„Listen Ma." Sophie started halfway through their ride. „I know that you try to make me feel better and that you want to cheer me up. And I appreciate it, but I don't want pity."

The words made Jane scoff. „I know that you don't want pity. And I know that you don't need it. Its okay. But I still want to help you. Not because I feel pity for you, but I love you and I want you to be good. Moreover I'm really dying to see the movie." She stated with a serious face.

Teenagers are all the same she thought. She wasn't any different. She recalled acting tough and as if she didn't need love or help. But she still had craved for her mother saying that she was proud of her or that she loved her. Sophie lit up when she said that she loved her, and it made Jane happy.

„So what do you say if we stop at KFC to get us some junk food to smuggle into the cinema to eat during the movie?" Jane winked while asking. And she saw the girl reflecting about if Jane was really cool or just acting like it.

„I used to do it when I was your age all the time. I haven't done that in ages." She said more to herself than to Sophie. „We are not going to tell mum are we?"

„Are you crazy? Of course not!" Jane stated with a horrified look on her face to put up a show which earned her a playful slap and a laugh.

The theatre was already dark, when they entered the room with chicken wings and sauces tucked under their cloths. After finding their places they sat down, and Jane shrieked when Sophie suddenly groaned.

„What is it? What happened?" Jane's voice was low so that only her daughter could hear her. „Brian is sitting two rows behind us. He is going to think that I'm such a baby for coming to the movie with my ma." Jane rolled her eyes.

Sophie groaned again when they walked out of the room after the movie was finished. Brian, who as Jane found out, Sophie had a crush on, was leaning against the wall on the opposite side of the door as if waiting for them.

„Hey!" he greeted her daughter with a cheeky smile. „I didn't know that you were into action movies." The smile spread further and his face showed interest. Jane pushed Sophie inconspicuous, feeling that her girl was frozen.

„UHM yeah. My favourite is 60 seconds." Jane listened when Sophie described some of her favourite scenes and watched her blush when Brian complimented her.

„Okay, well, I'm going to leave you. You might go on a milkshake or so." Jane mumbled and handed Sophie a 20 Dollar bill. „You call me, when you are ready for me to pick you up?" she added, earning a wide smile. „Sure!" Sophie said and when Jane walked away from them with a silent grin she heard Brian say: „Your mum is so cool. I mean my parents would never come to the cinema with me. And then leave me money to go on a milkshake."

Jane still smiled when bumping into Maura who in the meantime had begun watching a documentary about some strange sea creatures. „Hey honey." Maura greeted her and asked where Sophie was after noticing that Jane had returned home on her own.

„Oh, she's with Brian. And Brian said that I'm sooooo cool." Jane chuckled amused, still finding the whole thing sweet and sat down next to her wife who gave her a puzzled look.

„Who is Brian?" she asked stunned and Jane told her the story while their fingers intertwined.