Jane took a deep steadying breath, watching as young fresh eyed recruits for the Federal Bureau of Investigations filed in to her classroom. Jane felt a buzz in her body. It took Jane a moment to realize she was excited, ready for a new challenge. It wasn't the adrenaline rush of chasing down bad guys but it still thrilled Jane. A look around the room told her that her recruits were a predictable mix of excited and nervous, all of them looked tired with dark circles under their eyes. Jane made a mental note to ask about the recruit's schedule. Jane took a deep breath and began her first lesson as an instructor.
Maura sat at her island counter, scrolling through houses in Virginia. She had a growing list of houses to send to Jane. If they agreed on any, then Maura would speak with her realtor. Maura took it for granted that she and Jane would live together. It simply made the most sense. Maura would be back and forth between Quantico and Boston. Living with Jane meant that Maura didn't have to ask her to house sit every time she left. Besides they would just end up staying over with one another all the time anyways. As for her Boston house, Maura hoped Angela wouldn't mind taking care of the house. She didn't really want to sell her home in Boston and it gave both her and Jane a familiar place to call home when they returned to Boston.
Angela breezed through the back door. 'Good morning Maura!' Angela spoke cheerily.
'Good morning Angela! How are you doing today?' Maura replied, closing her laptop to focus on the woman she considered with motherly affection.
'I'm doing just fine honey,' Angela said, busying herself over the teapot. 'What do you have going on today? When do you begin work again?'
Maura took a deep breath, 'actually I wanted to talk to you about that.'
Angela turned to face her, two steaming cups of tea. She placed one before Maura and sipped quietly on the other. 'Go on,' Angela said.
'I,' Maura took a steadying breath, 'I resigned from being the chief medical examiner.'
'Maura! You did not!' Angela exclaimed. Maura couldn't quite read Angela's emotions.
'I did,' Maura confirmed. 'I've decided to move to Virginia, at least on a part time basis.'
'Oh,' Angela said. Maura could see tears in her eyes, 'I see.'
Maura wanted to hug the older woman, wanted to make her understand. 'I couldn't do what I do without Jane, Angela. We're partners. Where she goes...'
'You go,' Angela supplied softly. 'I get it. Will you become an FBI instructor too?'
Maura shook her head, 'I'm not certain. For now I am concentrating on my book. There's also a MEND clinic that I can volunteer in. Hope wants me to consider taking on a more full time role in the clinics and it is a proposition I am considering.'
Angela wiped angrily at her tear. 'So both of my girls will be safe and far from me, isn't that just something.'
Maura stood and swept Angela in a hug. She held the older woman close, 'we will be safe but Angela we could never be far from you. You're Jane's mother. And I think of you as one of mine as well.'
Angela hugged her back for a few moments before pulling away. 'So what will do with this house,' Angela gestured broadly to the room around them, 'I hate to think of you selling it.'
Maura smiled, 'I was hoping you would agree to be it's caretaker. Jane and I will need a Boston residence and if you agree then it would help me out a lot.'
Angela smiled, 'of course I will!'
'I will have to stop charging you rent though,' Maura warned, 'after all you are providing me a service.'
Angela laughed, 'of course you will!'
'How did it go Maur?' Jane asked, talking on the phone later that evening. 'How did Ma take it?'
'She was sad,' Maura replied steadily, 'she feels as though she is losing both of us.'
Jane rolled her eyes, 'of course she does.'
'I think asking her to watch the Boston house helped some though.'
'Good. I saw you sent me a list of houses, did you want me to scope them out or something?'
Maura blushed, 'actually, I was thinking we could look at them together.'
'Sure Maura. When are you out here next?' Jane replied with a chuckle, 'I'm great at giving unsolicited advice!'
Maura cleared her throat, 'well I was hoping that you would want to move in together. So it would be your home too.' Jane was silent. 'I just assumed since I would be back and forth, Angela could look after the Boston house and if we lived together then I wouldn't have to worry about the Virginia house every time I was away. And we spend so much time at each other's house anyways...' Maura trailed off. 'Do you hate the idea?'
'No Maura,' Jane spoke softly. 'I guess I'm just processing how the finances will work but I like the idea. It does make sense.'
Maura smiled, 'good. We can fingure out the finances later. You know I have more than enough money to afford a second house. Just tell me if you like any of the houses I sent you. I'll be out next weekend and we can go view some of them.'
'I know you have the finances Maura. But I don't want to be dead weight.' Jane replied. There was an edge to her voice.
Maura paused, 'well what if I bought the house and you covered the other expenses? Insurance, utilities, etcetra?'
Maura could hear Jane thinking on the other end, until at last, 'that could work.' There was a moment of quiet between them. Jane spoke again, in a tone that Maura had come to know as her teasing tone. 'Do any of those houses you sent me have an indoor pool or like a slide instead of stairs? Cause that would be awesome.'
Maura laughed, 'no Jane. They are all perfectly normal houses.'
'You're no fun,' Jane replied. Maura laughed again. 'Maybe I don't want to live with you after all. You're like the no fun zone.'
'You're going to live with me and you're going to love it!' Maura replied with a laugh.
'Yeah,' Jane said sounding sleepy, 'I probably will.'
'Good night Jane, see you next weekend.'
'Night Maur. Can't wait to see you.'
'Me too.'
