Christmas eve finds Jane tugging at the hem of her green blouse, adjusting her dress pants while she looks in the mirror. 'Maura!' Jane calls, 'we're going to be late!'

'No we will not,' Maura calls down the stairs without appearing, 'we have plenty of time.'

Jane knows she's right without bothering to look at her watch but it doesn't stop Jane from sighing anyways. 'You do know we have to eat before Mass, right?' Jane calls up the stairs, 'which means having time to eat?'

'I am aware,' Maura calls from beyond the top of the stairs. Jane grumbles and begins to walk away when Maura's voice at the top stops her. 'Here I am, Jane,' Maura says teasingly.

Jane's jaw drops. Her mouth goes dry. Her eyes drink in every inch of Maura's frame. Jane drinks in the red and gold of her dress as it moves against the woman's body, her eyes tracing every line, every curve of her figure as she descends the stairs. Gorgeous.

'Thank you,' Maura whispers, leaning in to press a kiss to Jane's lips, smelling like Christmas embodied. Jane hadn't been aware she had spoken aloud. 'You look gorgeous as well.'

Jane seizes the moment. She wraps her arms around Maura and brings their lips together tenderly. Their movements synchronised as Jane moved Maura back towards the wall, her hands traveling the path her eyes had roamed a few moments ago. Jane moves to Maura's neck, breathing in the perfume she had used. 'You smell amazing,' Jane murmurs before trailing tender kisses over the fluttering sensitive skin there.

'Jane,' Maura moans, her own hands finding purchase under Jane's blouse, 'we're going to be late.'

'Nuh-huh,' Jane murmurs, her mouth moving to just behind Maura's ear, her breath hot on Maura's flesh, 'we have plenty of time.'

Maura shudders as Jane's fingertips trace one of the gold flowers on Maura's hips. 'Jane, please?' Jane's not sure what she's begging for Jane to do. It doesn't matter though, Jane's hands have decided for her. Jane tugs the hem of Maura's dress up, her fingers trailing over soft blazing flesh and Jane knows that they will absolutely be arriving late.

Lola, Noemi and Aarna are already seated and talking when Maura and Jane arrive. Jane shoots Maura a teasing grin and says, 'sorry, someone takes forever to get ready.'

Maura's eyes twinkle with mischief. For a moment, only a moment, Jane wonders if she's about to get a snarky comment in return but Maura simply smiles at the group before asking, 'have you all ordered?'

Jane settles into her seat, feeling a sort of relief. Jane wasn't sure she had the same level of comfort talking about sex in front of Lola as Maura would. A sharp kick to her shin draws Jane's eyes up to see Noemi and Aarna looking at her with nearly identical raised eyebrows. Jane blushes, shrugs and returns to hiding in her menu. Judging from the chuckles of the pair, they had picked up on precisely what had taken Maura so long. Jane opts not to reappear until the waiter appears to take their order, taking her hiding place with him.

Dinner is oddly quiet. Maura tells the group about their decision to foster which garners a round of congratulations and a series of questions but things lapse into an uneasy quiet quickly. Jane frowns into her wine, her mind observing and analysing faster than Jane could put into words. Both of her recruits held themselves stiffly, as though they weren't completely at ease with one another. Noemi, who could be called stiff on even the best day, held herself in almost a state of rigour. Her eyes kept drifting to Aarna, a frown tugging on her mouth. It was subtle but present. Aarna, for her part, was lacking her usual charm. If Jane had to describe her, Jane would say she looked defeated. She tried, at times, to engage with her usual ease and comfort but her jokes fell flat and her smile never reached her eyes. Jane resisted the urge to slap both of their heads, sighing into her wine instead. Maura caught her eye and raised an eyebrow. Jane smiled reassuringly but was no less grateful when Maura's hand found her thigh under the table. Not all endings were happy ones after all, but at least her and Maura's was.

Midnight Mass started at 9:30 pm, for which Jane was both amused and grateful. She didn't have it in her to listen to the liturgy and stay awake at Midnight anymore. Lola leads the small troop into the church, stopping to do the sign of the cross at the holy water. Jane and Noemi follow suit while Aarna and Maura stand off to the side. Lola chooses a pew close to the front, sliding in and turning her attention forward. Aarna follows her, settling somewhat uncomfortably on to the hard wood beside her. Noemi slides in next and if Jane was looking for confirmation that something was wrong, she found it in all the places their bodies did not touch. Jane slides in next, settling into a familiar kind of discomfort beside Noemi. Maura slips in beside her making the whole affair instantly more tolerable.

Lola is fastidious in her observation of the service. Noemi and Jane were a hair's breadth behind the older woman, though far more stiff in their execution of the movements. Aarna tried to keep up, fumbling through the complications of kneeling, standing, chanting and responding while growing increasingly flustered. Maura for her part, mostly observed. Jane could see the delight in her eyes as she catalogued everything, probably analysing 'this ancient human worship ritual.' That was Maura. Always learning something. Jane thought it might be a tad ironic to find them all in a church on Christmas eve. One grandmother struggling existentially with her faith, two women who had been raised in the church and were now in homosexual relationships, one Hindu woman who hadn't ever set foot in a church before, and one science worshipping atheist who thought 'all religious rituals had interesting anthropological implications.'

They end the service singing 'Silent Night' and Jane is pleasantly surprised when Maura's voice joins hers in the chorus, sounding soft and sweet and like absolute perfection. They say a quiet goodnight and Merry Christmas before heading home. Maura yawns sleepily in the passenger seat as Jane drives. They take the dogs for a brisk last walk before settling in for the evening.

Maura is already in bed when Jane comes in. Unlike most nights, she is not reading one of the ten giant books on her stand. Instead she's looking expectantly at Jane. Jane smiles at her, 'hey you.' Jane climbs into bed, stretching out beside the doctor who is sitting with her knees pulled up to chest.

'Jane,' Maura begins so seriously that Jane can't help but to grin, 'I was thinking.'

'A rare phenomenon indeed,' Jane teases.

Maura rolls her eyes but presses on, 'I am really happy we're spending our first Christmas together.'

Jane takes one of Maura's hands and kisses the back of it tenderly, knowing exactly what Maura meant. Still Jane teased, 'you are aware that we've spent every Christmas together for the last ten years right?'

'That was different,' Maura insists, the taunt going over her head entirely, 'we were not together and your family was always there. But this Christmas it is just us, together. We should do something special.'

Jane's first thought is of the small velvet box in her nightstand drawer. The one she intended to give to Maura tomorrow morning. Her second was that she still didn't know their anniversary date. 'Yes,' Jane replies with a smile and a kiss to the inside of Maura's wrist, 'but can I ask you something first?'

Maura shifts to be laying beside Jane, turning her body so they are face to face. She smiles that fond little smile that Maura only ever smiled at Jane, 'alright. What is it?'

'Do you know when our anniversary is?' Jane asks, 'I keep trying to figure out when we went from being friends to being more than friends and I can't quite pick a moment.'

'Well I suppose it depends,' Maura replies softly, 'which would you prefer, the day I asked you on a date or the day of our first date?'

Jane grins, 'yeah but we were already this then. That was like a formality.'

Maura shakes her head in amused confusion, 'I am afraid I do not know what you mean by this. This what?'

'This, Maur.' Jane says gesturing between them, 'living together, being all affectionate and couple-y.'

'We've always been this,' Maura says with a frown, 'even in Boston. I know you technically didn't live with me but it never felt like home without you there.'

'Okay,' Jane says with a laugh, 'so we've always been naively attracted to each other then?'

Maura chuckles, 'I suppose some would say that.' Maura captures Jane's hand pressing a kiss to her knuckle, 'you are very attractive.'

Jane grins, her dimples out in full force, 'okay so when did it become romantic?'

Maura looks at her with a hint of annoyance, 'are you trying to trick me?'

'Trick you?' Jane asks laughing, 'why would I be trying to trick you? I just want to make sure I don't miss some big anniversary date.' Silently Jane added, 'and so that I don't mess up how long we've been dating when I give you my big speech tomorrow.'

Maura's annoyance turned to a frown now, 'well if our anniversary isn't when I asked you out and it isn't our first date, when do you think our anniversary is?'

Jane considers the question for a moment, 'what about the day you told me we were in a committed relationship?'

'Why would that be relev-' Maura's mouth pauses mid-sentence. Her face goes blank before forming an 'O' shaped mouth.

It's so comical it brings another laugh from Jane's lips, 'what? Did you figure it out? Because that is definitely your solved-it face.' Jane watches Maura's face as a million thoughts speed by her. It was a look Jane was well accustomed to. Internally she thought of it as the pinwheel cursor face, it screamed 'please hold, Doctor Isles will be with you in a moment.' And Jane would always wait, impatiently at times, but she would always wait for Maura.

'Jane?' Maura whispers her face now looking sufficiently horrified enough to make Jane's smile falter, 'I think we may have a problem.'

'Is this a we should talk-talk?' Jane asks skeptically even as her heart begins to thump faster, 'should I sit up? Is this a we should sit up thing?'

'No!' Maura says an arm flying out to hold Jane's shoulder in place on the bed, 'don't sit up. Please?'

Jane frowns, 'Maur you're really starting to worry me here.'

'I apologise,' Maura says, 'I… think….' Maura pauses, trying to find the right words, 'we may have had an important miscommunication.'

'Okay…' Jane says prompting Maura to continue on. When she doesn't, Jane touches her cheek softly, 'whatever it is we'll work through it, together.' Maura closes her eyes, leaning in to the touch.

When Maura finds the courage to speak she asks, 'what did you mean, that day, when you said all your coworkers thought we were in a committed relationship?'

Jane frowns, this conversation was not going in any predictable direction. 'Well Davies was surprised I had gone to Paris with you, which I guess is a vaguely romantic city. And then you moved here and we moved in together, which I guess is vaguely couple-y. And then I told him we got dogs together which is definitely couple like. So he thought we were a couple.'

'And is that a…' Maura hesitates, 'common synonym? Committed relationships and coupling?'

'Yes?' Jane ventures, 'usually when someone says they're in a committed relationship it means they're together romantically. Why?'

'And is that how you interpret it?' Maura asks, her cheeks tinted a beautiful pink.

'Well, yeah,' Jane nods, 'how else do you interpret committed relationships?'

'A relationship is defined as when two or more people are in a state of connection,' Maura says in her google mouth tone, 'and a commitment is when you have made a pledge, promise or other verbal or written contract to a person or cause. So a committed relationship would be two or more people in a state of connection who have made a pledge, promise or contract with one another.'

Jane blinks twice. 'Well that was technical but yeah. That's the idea of it. Two people promising to be with each other.'

'Jane,' Maura's eyes seem to grow watery, 'there's nothing that specifies the type of relationship. Romantic, platonic, or otherwise or even the type of commitment they share.'

Understanding comes over Jane slowly. Like the world's slowest moving monster truck. It punches hard, leaving Jane staggered, 'so when you said committed relationship?'

'I meant two people in a platonic relationship with a variety of pledges between them,' Maura acknowledges. Silence stretches between them. 'Jane?'

'So we weren't dating before labor day?' Jane asks again, not sure what she's feeling.

'No,' Maura says gently, 'Jane? Are you alright?'

'So when I started hugging you from behind?' Jane asks numbly, 'what did you think was happening?'

Maura takes a steadying breath, 'you were so uncomfortable with being in a committed relationship with me. I thought… well… I thought you were afraid of commitment.. I just wanted to make you comfortable so when you seemed to embrace it both physically and metaphorically I could not question it. I did not want to. I wanted you to feel natural again.'

Jane groans, 'so 'do what feels natural' wasn't your way of easing me into a physical relationship?'

'No,' Maura affirms, 'did you think I had some long term plan to coerce you into a relationship?'

'No? Yes? Maybe?' Jane throws an elbow over her eyes, 'you usually know everything first. I assumed you knew better than I did about what was happening between us and I just… followed your lead.'

'You followed my lead?' Maura asks. Jane can hear her eyebrows raising in skepticism from across the bed. 'You mean you just let me tell you we were in a romantic relationship without any regard for what you wanted?'

Jane does her best to shrug while laying down and hiding in her elbow, 'you usually know me pretty well so I just… I assumed you'd already figured out how I felt and decided on the best course of action.'

'You thought,' Maura asks again this time her voice is laced with amusement, 'that I know you so well, I am able to know what you want before you do and then decided to make a life changing alteration without your input or opinion and you just trusted me?'

'I mean that basically describes our relationship Maura,' Jane says in her own defence, 'you tell me I'll like zucchini and I end up loving it. You tell me I need dogs and I end up loving them. So when you told me we were in a relationship, I knew I'd just end up loving you.'

'That is the most illogical, ill-advised,' Maura begins her voice shaking, 'and sweetest thing you have ever said to me.' A giggle bursts from her lips as she tugs Jane's elbow away, her body hovering over Jane. 'And do you?'

'Do I what?' Jane asks grumpily, feeling as though the tables had somehow been turned on her. She still can't stop her fingers from tucking an errant bit of hair behind Maura's ear.

'Love me?' Maura asks with a cheeky grin that brings out the green in her eyes and the dimple on her cheek.

Jane can't help the small gasp of air that escapes her lips when Maura asks her that while looking at her like that. Jane's answer is reverent and instantaneous, 'more than anything.' Maura's lips find hers in a tender embrace. When Maura pulled away it was almost enough to distract Jane. Almost. 'I can't believe you told me we were in a committed relationship before we started actually dating,' Jane teases.

'I can't believe you let me tell you we were in a committed relationship without your input,' Maura teases back softly. Jane chuckles, her hands roaming Maura's back. Maura speaks shyly, 'so are we okay?'

Jane's eyes open wide, 'yeah. Why wouldn't we be?'

'Because I mislead you and you believed we've been together longer than we have been?' Maura ventures.

'Are we still in a committed relationship?' Jane asks, then with a mischievous grin she adds, 'the romantic kind.'

'Yes,' Maura says confidently.

'Rude,' Jane teases, 'not even going to ask me?' Maura sputters, blushing. Jane pulls her in for a kiss. Just before their lips connect Jane whispers, 'that's okay though I like it when you tell me what to do.' So Maura does just that.


Christmas morning comes quietly for Jane and Maura, even the dogs seem content to sleep in. When Maura does begin to stir, it's with a calm kind of anticipation. Maura had plans for the two of them and she couldn't wait to do it all with Jane. Maura sneaks away, letting the dogs out while she pours the coffee. Maura lets the dogs in, grabs the mugs and her present for Jane from it's hiding place in her office. Jane is just stirring as Maura returns.

'Mornin' Jane mumbles towards Maura as Maura places the coffee on Jane's nightstand.

'Good morning and Merry Christmas Jane,' Maura whispers, pressing a kiss to Jane's temple. 'I have your present if you'd like to open it.'

'Present?' Jane asks sitting up and suddenly sounding very awake, 'yeah. I have yours right - hey you brought me coffee. Best present ever!'

Settling on to the bed, Maura chuckles, 'that's not your present silly.' Maura holds up the neatly wrapped box, 'this is your present.' Jane's eyes linger a moment longer on her nightstand but excitement over the unknown wins out over her coffee. Jane holds out an expectant hand. Maura passes the box over but only after getting a good morning kiss first.

Jane unwraps presents with the same zeal she attacked her mother's lasagna, savagely and efficiently. In the space of time it took Maura to take a single sip of her coffee, Jane had torn the paper clear off. She groans when all she sees is a white box. Maura laughs. Jane opens the box's flaps dumping out another wrapped present.

'You layered it?' Jane says looking up at Maura with obvious delight.

'It seemed prudent,' Maura acknowledges, 'given your love of unwrapping.' Jane beams at her before tearing in again. She pulls out a thinner box, also wrapped and her smile widens. Jane rips it open pulling out a mailed envelope.

'Oh,' Jane says with false cheer, 'a bill, just what I've always wanted!'

Maura hums amusedly, sipping her coffee as Jane opens the flap and pulls out the letter. She begins reading aloud, making Maura smile into her cup. She knew what the letter said but hearing it read in Jane's voice was something else entirely.

'To Doctor Isles and Agent Rizzoli,' Jane begins, 'it is my great pleasure to inform you that your application to become foster parents has been accepted.' Jane stops there to look at Maura with watery eyes, 'we're gonna be parents?'

Maura smiles, her own eyes surprisingly wet, 'yes we are. We still have to do a few home visits but Nia has promised to help us move through the process quickly. We could have a child placement before Valentine's day.'

Jane stares at the letter, 'we're going to be parents.' Her voice is quiet and awed. Maura watches Jane in that moment. Her eyes sparkling, her hair an uncontrollable disaster, the sun bouncing off her olive skin. Maura drinks it all in, knowing this would be a moment she wanted to remember forever. The moment they found out they would be parents. Together. 'Can we frame this?' Jane asks, her voice cracking in emotion.

'Absolutely,' Maura agrees readily, not bothering to mention she'd already bought the frame and chosen a spot in the living room for it.

Jane sets the letter aside carefully, 'I have my gift for you too. In my drawer but I kind of have a speech planned before I give it to you. Is that okay?' Maura can't help the laugh that springs from her lips when she sees Jane's face flushing.

'Oh this must be very serious,' Maura teases. Maura puts her coffee cup down beside Jane's, 'alright I am listening.'

Jane switches positions, crossing her legs and leaning forward to take Maura's hands in her own. 'Maura Dorthea Isles,' Jane begins, the gravel in her voice lending a kind of seriousness to the moment, 'I had no idea the moment I met you how much you would come to mean to me. I thought you were some snobby, elitist woman who really needed to keep her nose out of my business. But you haven't. You are constantly butting into my life and changing things around and forcing me to do things I don't like.'

Maura felt her eyebrows raise, her tone hovering somewhere between annoyed and amused when she spoke, 'this is not the speech I thought you had in mind Jane.'

'Shush,' Jane says, squeezing her hands affectionately, 'you're always there Maura. For my family. When they need a place to stay or help with God knows what. You're there. That goes double for me. Most of the time, you're there for me before I even knew I needed you. You make us eat healthier, you make us exercise more, but the thing you have changed the most? You make us happier. You make me happier. The last four months have been the happiest of my life even with your sister getting kidnapped.' Jane pauses, 'that sounded a lot better when we had been dating for longer but it's still true. Being in a romantically committed relationship with you is the best thing that has ever happened. And I know the next year is going to have some difficulty. I know parenting isn't going to be easy but I need you to know, there's no one I'd rather be doing this with.' Jane releases Maura's hands before bringing out a velvet box with a red bow on top. 'This,' Jane wiggles the box, 'belonged to my Ma's, Ma. She gave it to me when I was 18. I think she wanted me to wear it on my wedding day but I don't think she'd mind if you were the one wearing it.' Maura's heart seems to flutter at the sight of it. Her mouth goes dry and her hands begin shaking. Jane pushes the box into Maura's hands, her own fingers trembling.

Maura's heart seems to be exploding as her fingers find the seam of the box, gently prying it open. Maura's eyes grow wet as she stares at it's contents. Inside is not the engagement ring she had expected. Instead, Maura stares down at a gorgeous pair of earrings cut in a pear shape. 'They're beautiful,' Maura says, trying to convey a sense of excitement rather than disappointment. 'Thank you Jane.' Maura leans forward to kiss Jane softly, hiding the tears threatening to fall.

'Do you like them?' Jane asks when Maura pulls away. 'I know you always said you didn't like diamonds that couldn't be traced to sustainable and ethically sourced mines.'

'They're lovely,' Maura whispers staring at them. And they were. They simply weren't what her heart wanted, 'and I think as they are a family heirloom, we can overlook their history.'

Jane beams, 'good because I was kind of hoping you'd want to wear them on our wedding day.'

Maura closes the box gently. Maybe Jane hadn't proposed to her but there was still a promise in her gift. The promise of a future proposal. Of a future wedding. And Maura would happily wear these earrings then. 'I'd be happy to,' Maura whispers pressing a kiss to Jane's cheek, 'whenever you'd like.'

Jane smiles, 'should we go help the girls unwrap their presents?'

Maura chuckles but permits Jane to lead her to the tree. They had sufficiently spoiled the dogs, the tree overflowed with new toys, new dog beds, and in Jane's case, a new pair of tactical backpacks for their walks so the dogs could 'carry their own poop'. Maura had been skeptical of that particular gift until Jane wrestled Boston into one of the backpacks and then gave Maura a look that screamed 'I dare you to say she isn't adorable.' Maura conceded the point then. Maura is certain they've gotten all the presents under the tree and in their stockings and is gathering up the torn paper when Jane murmurs, 'hey we missed one.' Maura glances to where Jane is pointing and sees an oblong box under the tree addressed to her.

Maura unwraps it while Jane plays with the dogs, pulling on Boston's toy with her left hand and on Berry's with her right. Another velvet box. Maura smiles at Jane, opening it to find a beautifully matching necklace for her earrings. 'It's lovely Jane,' Maura says, pressing a kiss to Jane's cheek. Jane releases both toys, seizing Maura around the waist and tugging her into Jane's lap on the floor. Maura giggles as she falls, confident in Jane's ability to catch her.

'That one is definitely sustainably sourced. I made sure,' Jane says nuzzling her neck gently.

Maura laughs, 'well thank you for confirming.'

'And it matches,' Jane says proudly.

'I can see,' Maura says with another giggle, 'you did very well Jane.'

'Yeah?' Jane asks, 'because I've never bought jewellery for another woman before and I wasn't sure if you would want big and extravagant or simple and elegant or something else entirely.'

'I love that it matches your grandmother's earrings and I can think of at least a dozen outfits it would accessorise well with,' Maura says earnestly.

'Only a dozen,' Jane whines, 'you have like a million outfits and that will only go with twelve of them?'

Maura laughs again, her head thrown back, 'alright, perhaps a few dozen.'

'I suppose that's better,' Jane grumbles. 'So you really like it?'

'Yes,' Maura affirms with a kiss to Jane's lips, 'you did well.'

Jane lets out a breath of relief, 'it was mostly Claire.'

'Who is Claire?' Maura asks curiously.

'My new jewellery person. She helped me restore my grandmother's earrings and design a necklace that matched them well,' Jane says dutifully. 'I had to show her a bunch of photos of you and your style but I think we got it right.'

Maura smiles, 'you, and Claire, did beautifully.'

'Thanks,' Jane says beaming. 'I just wanted to try and get you something as beautiful as you.'

'I think you succeeded,' Maura says, twisting to straddle Jane's lap, wrapping her legs around her waist. Maura presses their lips together, offering her praise in an alternative form. Jane accepts it happily, tugging Maura impossibly closer.

They're just at the precipice of desire and arousal when Berry joins the fray, attempting to slather both women in wet doggy kisses. Jane closes her eyes and mouth and accepts it happily while Maura rolls screeching away. Boston sensing an opportunity to play, attempts to pin Maura to the ground and cover her in her own wet smelly dog kisses, eliciting peals of laughter and breathy, half hearted 'no, Boston! Stop!' By the time the vicious dog attack has ended, Maura's core is sore from laughing so hard and her hair has one awkwardly licked wet spot on it.

The rest of the day is spent in a similarly happy way. They make breakfast together, Jane snagging blueberries from the bowl while Maura makes the pancake mix. They go for a walk together, both dogs looking adorable in their backpacks, even if they were only going to the dog park. Berry carried hers with pride, her tail held jauntily aloft the whole walk. Boston, however, sulked until they took it off at the park and then again all the way home, her tail tucked between her legs. They watch Christmas movies while snuggling on the couch, laughing often. All in all, Maura would call their first Christmas together as a couple a success. Jane finishes getting ready for bed first, leaving Maura to finish in the bathroom. When Maura walks out, she finds Jane sitting cross legged on their bed in her BPD hoodie and a pair of light blue snowflake pants. She looks expectantly at Maura.

'Jane?' Maura asks, smiling fondly at Jane. 'You look cozy,' Maura says.

'When my mother asks,' Jane begins, 'please don't tell her that I was in my lazy pyjamas and you were nude under a robe, okay?' Jane asks.

'Why would your mother ask about our sleepwear?' Maura asks playfully as she walks over to turn off the overhead light.

'Believe me,' Jane says with emphasis, 'she's going to ask.' Jane lets out a deep breath, 'I have one more gift for you Maur.'

Maura freezes her hand on the knob of the lights, 'you do?' She asks lightly.

'Yeah,' Jane says softly, 'and I've been looking for the perfect moment to give it to you. It was all I could think about today, actually. I wanted to give it to you when you brought me coffee and again when you told me we were going to be parents. I wanted to give it to you when you were in my lap laughing, and when I stole that blueberry and you swatted my hand or when you threw that snowball at me at the dog park. I wanted to give it to you when we were on the couch and you ate all the popcorn even though you always say you won't. Or when you were singing Christmas carols in the kitchen while we were making dinner. I wanted to ask you when you were brushing your teeth.'

Maura didn't miss that slip up. She couldn't. Maura's heart thundered, Maura was glued to her spot, unable to turn around. 'Give it to me or ask me?'

'Both,' Jane sounds sheepish, 'it's a gift with a question and if you're not ready, that's totally okay. And if you want to get a different gift because you don't like this one that's okay too.' Silence stretches between them, anticipation making the air between them both electric and heavy. At last, Jane asks, 'are you going to turn around?'

'Jane?' Maura asks, her voice quivering, 'when I turn are you going to be holding what I think you are holding?'

'Only if you want me to be,' Jane replies solemnly. 'Do you want me to be?'

'Yes,' Maura replies immediately.

'Even if I'm only wearing my BPD hoodie and my snowflake pants and you're nude under your robe and there aren't any candles or champagne or any of the other super romantic things that are supposed to be part of it?' Jane asks, babbling slightly in her nerves.

'Yes,' Maura replies again more confidently. 'So long as it is you asking, I don't care about anything else.'

'So why are you still facing the wall?' Jane asks in a teasing lilt.

Maura closes her eyes, takes a breath, and turns to find Jane holding a velvet box, opened this time, with a ring in it's cushions. Maura sees only that it is a ring before she looks up in to Jane's eyes. They're shimmering in the evening light. Her dimples are out but in the relaxed way that told Maura that Jane was happy. Completely and totally. Maura commits it all to memory. Maura moves to Jane. She sinks to the mattress beside Jane, folding her own legs underneath her.

'So,' Jane murmurs softly, her eyes never leaving Maura's, 'Maura Dorthea Isles, will you do me the honour of being in a romantically committed relationship with me for the rest of our lives?'

'Yes,' Maura replies, her voice cracking with emotion. She reaches toward her own nightstand bringing out a red velvet box, 'because I already knew you would want to marry me.' Maura opens the box for Jane to show a simple platinum band that was absent of any stones. Maura had opted for sleek and simple promising herself she'd buy Jane something fancier if she wanted it later. 'Though,' Maura says softly, 'I suppose I should actually ask you. Will you marry me Jane? Because I want to spend the rest of my life 'butting' into your business and being there for you and your family. I want to make you love zucchini and eggplant and tortoises and dogs. I want to be the one who knows what you need before you do. But mostly I want to have the privilege of loving you for the rest of our lives. So say yes?'

Jane's smile is watery but she nods, 'yes, Maura. Of course! How did you know? How do you always know?'

Maura's laugh is born of high emotion, 'I knew the day you flew to New York. I just didn't know when.' Maura passes the box to Jane, 'I bought this the day after you left New York. I carried it everywhere I went, all across the country, just waiting to ask you to marry me.'

Jane shakes her head, her eyes full of amazement, 'God I love you Maur.'

'I love you too, Jane,' Maura replies.

Jane stares at both rings in her hands. 'I can't believe we're getting married and having kids,' she whispers in a kind of awed confession.

Maura moves to wrap her arms around Jane, pressing a kiss to her cheek, 'We have plenty of time, okay?'

Jane looks up to grin at her, 'are you kidding? I can't wait to do all of this with you.'

Maura beams back before teasing, 'are you going to give me my ring or will you wear them both?'

Jane laughs, offering the box to Maura. The ring is beautiful, simple and sleek, its stones flush with the band. It was a comment she had made offhand years ago while doing an autopsy, that Jane should inform any potential suitors that large stones were the doctors personal nightmare. The inlaid diamonds were in the same pear cut as her necklace and earrings. Realisation dawned on Maura, her voice is awed as she whispers, 'you layered it?'

Jane laughs, 'I did. I hope you weren't too disappointed with the earrings earlier. You looked devastated.'

Maura feels the lump in her throat, 'they weren't what I was expecting, certainly.'

'And now?' Jane prompts, pressing her own cheek to Maura's teary cheek.

'I love them. All of them.' Maura removes the ring, slipping it on her finger. Jane follows her lead, slipping her own ring on. Maura gulps back a fresh wave of tears as she sees Jane's engagement ring finally sitting where it had belonged all along.