Maura rubbed the side of her neck. Mindful of her propensity to break out in hives should she lie, she replied, "Ecchymosis."

Angela walked over and inspected Maura's neck. "That a fancy word for a hickey?"

Maura opened and closed her mouth before simply nodding.

"I suppose my daughter gave it to you?"

Blushing, Maura answered, "Uh, yes. Yes she did."

Angela's eyes narrowed and she leaned in close to Maura's eyes. "You two finally have sex?"

"No!" Maura realized what Angela had said, asked, "What do you mean finally?"

Angela laughed. "Maura, it's pretty obvious to everyone but the two of you."

"What?" She tilted her head. "Really?"

Angela hugged her. "Since you aren't breaking out in hives but you are blushing, I take it something happened?"

Maura could feel her face burn and she bowed her head. "Angela...I don't feel comfortable discussing this with you."

Seeing that Maura was in a state, she changed her approach. Gently, she took Maura's hands. In a quiet voice she said, "Maura, look at me." She tilted the doctor's head up, and saw the tears in Maura's eyes.

"Maura, Jane loves you and I know you love her. I don't mean as friends, but as lovers do." She wiped at Maura's tears. "It's ok."

Maura, wiping at her tears, meekly asked, "It is?" Angela nodded. "You...you're not upset with me or Jane?"

Angela pulled Maura into a hug, and was glad when Maura allowed it. "My only daughter has found someone who loves her and is a doctor. Why would I be upset?"

Maura hugged her tighter and finally whispered, "We...we haven't...you know. Not..." Angela's finger on her lips shushed her.

XXXXXXXXXXXX

Jane was looking at Claudia and trying piece together what, if anything, she might have to do with the threat to Maura.

"What does anything mean?"

Claudia shrugged. "Anything. Cell phone, ice cream, smokes, weed, Oxy, whatever." She looked Jane up and down. "We could work out a trade if you short."

Jane half chuckled and shook her head. "I'm married."

"I saw ya wife. She got a fine ass. Bet her pussy is sweeter than honey. I'd rock her world, bend her over and fuck her lights out."

Throwing caution to the wind, Jane charged her, wrenched her arm up behind her back and bit out, "You better not let me hear you say anything like that about my wife again." She wrenched harder. "Do you understand?"

Claudia was in pain, but managed to nod. Jane let go of her.

She pushed Claudia. "Get the fuck outta my cell."

Jane was surprised at the crowd that had gathered outside her cell. "What are you all looking at? Get."

The crowd dispersed and Penny stood outside Jane's cell. "Karen?"

Jane looked at Penny. "Yeah?" She motioned for the mousy woman to come into her cell.

"Karen, be careful." She looked around. "Look, Claudia knows people. Like awful people. People who can do bad things to you or the people you love."

"Really?" Jane leaned in. "How do you know?"

Penny licked her lips. "She...she helped me with a problem."

Jane's voice lowered, "As in terminated the problem?"

Penny shook her head. "Oh no, not that bad! I just needed somebody to leave my mother alone."

"I got ya."

Penny shrugged. "I don't know how she does it, but she has a brother in Walpol, and one in California? At-something or other."

Jane nodded. "Gotcha."

XXXXXXXXXX

Next Day

After her conversation with Penny, Jane had called Maura and and asked her to come visit. It was just after lunch when Maura and a bleach blond woman arrived at the prison. Jane did a double take as she sat down at the visitor's table.

"...Ma?"

"Karen! My baby. Give Mama a kiss."

Jane leaned in and gave this version of her mother a peck on the cheek. She noticed her mother was eyeing the still purple mark on her neck. She then looked between her mother and Maura.

Maura leaned over and kissed Jane. She then whispered, "She knows."

Angela leaned in and whispered, "Yes I do and I couldn't be happier."

"Really Ma?" Angela nodded. Jane broke out into a big, happy smile. She then placed her hand over Maura's and leaned in and whispered, "Does she know everything? You know, when I get out?"

Maura hesitated, getting ready to shake her head no, when Angela leaned back in.

"I know all about that, and the other too." She winked as she said the last part.

Both Maura and Jane looked at her, wide eyed. In unison they replied, "What?"

Angela laughed. "A mother knows."

They chatted for a few more minutes and then Jane told them all she had found out. Maura listened and then said, "Paddy. This is about Paddy."

Jane nodded. "I think so. Make sure you tell Vince and have him keep an eye on things."

As they finished their visit, Jane stood and gave her mother a hug. She whispered, "You really ok with this, Ma?"

"Baby, she makes you happy and that makes me happy. And I adore her."She the fingered the hickey on Jane's neck. "However, I don't want to see anymore of this stuff on either one of you. It's tacky."

kissed her mother goodbye and then engulfed Maura in a hug.

"I love you. And I can't wait to start our life together."

Maura buried her head in Jane's neck, inhaling what could only be described as Jane. She leaned up and whispered in Jane's ear, "I am going to make love to you and then fuck you seven ways to Sunday. I can't wait to taste you." She pulled back, kissed Jane and gave her an innocent smile.

Jane was left hoping there wasn't a wet spot on her pants and that her nipples weren't showing.

XXXXXXXXXX

Maura and Angela drove home in near silence. As they neared the city, Angla asked Maura to drop her off at Ron's and then said, "We need to find a place for you and Janie to spend your wedding night.."

Maura almost ran off the road at what Angela had said. Angela laughed at her reaction.