Alex and Olivia had cleaned up after dinner and Jane and Maura were in Alex's office, going over the case files. Maura had done an updated profile of Hoyt's apprentices, and Olivia had pulled cases that could have been committed by an apprentice. They worked late into the night going over a mountain of files and eventually three potential suspects. They called it a night just after one, and it did not go unnoticed by either Jane or Maura that Alex and Olivia went to Alex's bedroom.

"Are they back together?"

Jane shrugged. "Don't know." She kissed Maura. "I can't wait until we can be truly back together."

Maura wanted to ask Jane when exactly that might be, how much longer they were going to do this dance, but those questions went by way of the dodo as Jane slid her fingers down to Maura's clit. The first time the made love was fast and hard and the second time was slow and loving.

"Jane?"

"Hmm?"

"How much longer do you think it will be?"

"I don't know, Maura,"

XXXXXXXXXXXX

Central Park

Jane and Maura had just gotten to the park and were debating whether or not to take a carriage ride or just walk around the park. Maura was hesitant to take a ride due to the ethical issues New Yorkers had raised concerning the treatment of the horses. Jane had listened patiently, until she couldn't take it anymore. "Maura! Can we please just take a ride? I've always wanted to do this with somebody I'm in love with."

Maura's face softened and she replied, "Ok."

Looking skeptical, Jane replied, "Ok? Just like that?"

Maura nodded. "Yes," as she walked toward a white horse drawn carriage.

Jane had her arm around Maura, who had her head on Jane's shoulder, as they rode around the park. They were quiet as they rode, holding hands.

"I wish we could stay right here, forever, Jane."

Jane kissed Maura's temple. "Me too, Maura." She captured the blonde's lips. "But for now, this will do."

They had dinner at a little sushi restaurant and made their way back to Alex's where they stumbled into the end of a heated argument between Alex and Olivia. Olivia Benson had just stormed out, brushing passed Jane and Maura. Alex Cabot had tears streaming down her face. Maura motioned for Jane to go after Olivia while she tended to Alex.

"Alex, let's sit down. Shall I make us some tea?"

"Yes, please."

Meanwhile...

"Olivia, wait!"

Olivia Benson turned to face Jane. "I need to get home to Noah."

Jane nodded. "Ok, I'll ride with you and then catch a cab back to Alex's."

Once in the car, Jane listened as Olivia poured her heart out about her relationship with Alex.

"Ok, but Olivia, you guys got passed all of that. So what is the real issue?"

Olivia pulled over in front of her building. "I am about to tell you something that you can't repeat to anybody. Not even Maura." She waited for Jane to nod before confiding in her.

XXXXXXXXXX

"I love her so much, Maura. But I don't know how much longer I can stay in this...situation. I want a family with her. Her and Noah. I want to be something besides Aunt Alex. I want to be a...mother. His mother and maybe even another child's mother. I am tired of putting my life on hold." She looked at Maura. "Don't put your life on eternal hold for Jane. There's waiting and then there's waiting. You matter too."

Confused, Maura asked, "But didn't the two of you have carnal relations last night?"

Despite her best efforts, Alex burst out laughing. "Yes, we had sex last night. We do that a lot." She looked away. "Like, a lot, a lot."

Maura frowned. "So what does that mean?"

"It means...we love each other. It means...I don't know what. It's like a relationship without being in a relationship." She shook her head. "It's actually Hell. And wonderful. If that makes sense."

Maura didn't think that made sense at all, but decided Alex wasn't actually looking for an answer, so she just smiled.

Jane found Maura in their room when she returned from Olivia's. She loved having the blonde waiting for her, in bed, reading. It seemed so normal, domestic and right. Jane thought about all of her previous relationships. She had never wanted to come home to someone before or find someone waiting on her. But it was all different with Maura. Maura was different and she had made peace with the fact she would protect her at all costs. Especially after her conversation with Olivia. That had been a sobering discussion and had reminded her of the reality of their lives.

"Hey, how's Alex?"

Maura smiled at her. "Tormented by the state of her relationship with Olivia, I think. But ultimately, she's in love with her, so she sticks with it. Olivia?"

Remembering her promise to Olivia, she shrugged and replied, "Same." She began undressing and getting ready for bed as Maura watched her. "What would you like to do tomorrow?"

Maura stretched and threw the covers back. "Stay in this room, together. Not sex. Well, not all sex, but just be here with you."

Jane nodded and got into bed next to Maura. "We can do that." She wasn't surprised when Maura crawled into her arms and began kissing her. "Somebody's feeling frisky."

"Yep."

XXXXXXXXXX

Jane was awakened to hushed voices in the hall, and was immediately on alert as she freed herself from Maura and slowly opened the door. Sticking her head out, she saw Olivia Benson and Alex Cabot kissing, with Olivia's shoes in her hand. As Alex went back into her bedroom, Olivia saw Jane watching.

"I don't wanna hear it."

Jane shut the bedroom door behind her. "I wasn't going to say anything." She followed Olivia into the living room and sat down across from her as she put her shoes on.

"We can not stand to be together, but we also can't bear to be apart." Olivia stood up. "And I don't know what to do about that." Olivia made her way to the front door. "Sunday is family day. Noah, Alex and I usually do something together, but you and Maura are welcome to join us."

XXXXXXXXX

Jane and Maura were having a lazy morning, sitting in bed and reading the paper. They had said very little to each other, but it was a comfortable silence. Jane was reading the sports page and Maura was reading the fashion section when Alex knocked on the door. Maura got out of bed, threw her robe on and opened the door.

"Alex. What's up?"

"Olivia and I are taking Noah to the zoo. Do the two of you want to come with us? We usually have pizza afterwards."

Maura looked at Jane, who got out of bed and hugged Maura from behind. "We have plans, but how about we have pizza and game night tonight?"

Alex nodded. As she turned to leave, she added, "Have fun."

Maura turned in Jane's arms and asked, "What plans do we have?"

Jane kissed her. "That rain forest shower thing in there. Then a bubble bath in that garden tub, and then just being here with you, snuggled in bed."

Alex had nixed the idea of a bubble bath, citing the potential for a UTI caused by irritation from the bubble bath. Jane had simply listened and nodded, then maneuvered Maura under the shower sprays, where they washed and made love, and then fell into bed for a nap.

XXXXXXXXXXX

They were all in the living room eating pizza and playing Monopoly when Noah piped up and announced, "I want a brother or a sister."

All four women froze as Maura and Jane exchanged glances, as did Alex and Olivia. Olivia put her piece of pizza down and glanced at Alex. "Noah, we talked about this. I am too old to have a baby. I'm sorry."

Noah crossed his arms and looked at his mother and then Alex. "Aunt Alex isn't." He looked between two equally shocked women, rolled his eyes, and continued. "If you two would hurry up and just get married, we could have another baby!"

Olivia found her voice before Alex. "Noah, what makes you think Aunt Alex and I should or even want, to get married?"

He shrugged. "Because you love each other?"

Alex stifled a chuckle. "Noah, how do you know we love each other?"

He rolled his eyes again. "Hello! You are always getting all gooey eyed around each other, I've seen you kissing, and crying over each other." He held his arms out. "And I know you guys sleep in the same bed, a lot! Like married people."

Jane saw the blush creeping up both Alex and Olivia's faces and shot a glance at Maura. "Uh, Maura, let's go for that walk. Like now."

Later...

Maura and Jane had ducked into a coffee shop and were now sitting at a cafe table, having coffee. Neither woman had spoken beyond ordering their coffee and trying not to look at each other. Jane finally spoke. "So...that was...different."

Maura nodded. "Yes. Children are perceptive." She took a drink of her coffee and looked at Jane. "Especially since Alex wants a child."

Jane spewed her coffee and choked as she looked at Maura. "W-What?"

Maura, very deliberately, took her time answering. "Alex told me she wants to be Noah's other mother and maybe have a baby." She shrugged. "And they've been doing this dance for quite awhile."

"Do you want kids?"

"I...don't know. Probably?" She thought about the question for another minute and continued, "I would say I am at 83% for having a child. You?"

"Before Hoyt? Definitely. Now? I am less certain. So, I don't know." She finished her coffee. "83%? That is an oddly specific number."

Maura nodded and took her last drink of coffee. "Yes. I ran my internal algorithm and that is the number that my brain came up with. 83%"

"Ok. Ready to head back?"

XXXXXXXXXX

The walk back to the brownstone was quiet, each one lost in their own thoughts. Jane used the key Alex had given her to open the door, and noted that Olivia and Noah were gone, and Alex was sitting on the couch. Both women looked at each other, and Maura motioned for Jane to go into their bedroom, as she moved toward Alex.

"Alex? Are you ok?"Alex sniffled and wiped at her tears, shaking her head. "Is there anything I can do?"

"No. I...I don't know what's going to happen. Olivia and I are at an impasse." She shrugged. "I just don't know, and that makes me...sad."

Maura sat beside her on the couch. "I'm sorry. I wish I could do something for you."

Alex turned to face her and took both hands in her own. "Promise me that you won't wait indefinitely for Jane. There will always be another case, bad guy or threat. Always."

Maura gave her a small smile. "Thank you." It was all Maura could think of to say. It was all she knew how to offer a woman she feared she would share a destiny with. The destiny of lonesomeness. Of loving a woman who could never truly commit to her out of fear. Fear for her safety and well being. Instead, she opted to leave Alex alone, and made her way to Jane's room.

As they got ready for bed, they discussed the situation with Olivia and Alex. Maura wanted Jane to tell her that that wouldn't be them. That she was ready to give her that ring in her sock drawer. Anything but what she said, which was, "Olivia has her reasons. And they are good reasons." Jane shrugged. "I mean, I understand it."

"Do you really?"

"Yes. She is protecting Alex and by extension, Noah."

Glancing at Maura, she saw that the blonde was beginning to become upset, so she leaned in and kissed her. Maura wanted to refuse Jane, but the feeling of the detective's lips on her felt too good. Jane's hands on her body felt too good, her tongue felt to good. Being in this room with this woman at this moment, felt too good. So she gave in, met this woman, her woman, stroke for stroke. She loved her, loved how they were together and wanted to believe they were end game. So she made sure they made love twice more before allowing Jane to roll over and go to sleep, while she lay awake well into the night.

The next morning as the sun was about to come up, Maura and Jane were awake, loosely entwined. "Maura? Are you ok?"

Maura turned on her side so that she was facing Jane. "No. Jane, I will not become Alex. I can wait for a while...but not indefinitely. My love is endless, my patience is not." As she said this part, she wasn't nearly as confident as she sounded, but she hoped this would set some boundaries.

Jane nodded, understanding what Maura was saying. At least she hoped she did.

Maura hugged and kissed Jane before getting into the car for the long drive back to Boston.