Author Note: Here we are. The final chapter. It's been a long and at times difficult journey, but we're here and I have to say farewell. Thank you to everyone who has commented, favourited, followed and enjoyed this story. I appreciate you all for being here, for joining in despite the times when we haven't agreed, and for letting me write what I wanted to write. Until next time...and there will be a next time, because I have at least two other stories planned. I just need to get worked on them. One is half written, I want it complete, and edited, before I post it. Unlike most others. Thanks again, you all make this so much more fun.

A baby seat in each arm, Jane stepped into the house for the first time since their birth. Everything felt completely different, right down to the colour of the couch and the design of the kitchen counters. She could see obstacles where before she just saw wooden flooring and tiles. She could see dangers that previously made her lunch. She could see the light shining in through the blinds at a height that she feared could blind her tiny daughters' eyes. Placing each baby seat down on the floor, she rushed across the room, ignoring the small gathering of family and friends, the nauseatingly pink balloons and banners, to get to the window.

"What are you doing?" Maura asked, following her, wrapping an arm around her own and forcing her to step back from the light.

"But the light is too bright," she said, reaching forward.

"It's fine," Maura said, pushing her towards her mother who stared at her, with the most ridiculous grin and arms outstretched.

She stepped into her arms. "Did it feel like this for you?" she asked.

"Like what?" Angela asked, holding her at arm's length.

"Like everything's going to hurt them."

The lightest chuckle filled her ear. Angela scooped her back up and kissed the side of her face. "It'll get easier. I promise."

One of the babies squawked from her seat, then a second later her sister joined in until they screeched out in unison. Jane sprang into action, rushing across the room. She scooped Isla up, as Maura pulled Addy from the other seat.

"Shh," Jane cooed, rocking her back and forth until she quietened down and there was relative silence again.

She carried her daughter across the room, following Maura's lead. What she really wanted to do was go to bed, curl up with her girlfriend, and listen to their babies breathing. She didn't want to entertain, or expose them to germs, or let anyone else touch them. It had been different in the hospital. Every doctor or nurse who visited was there to make them grow, to help them reach that day so they could go home. Now their bubble had burst and everyone looked at them with hungry eyes.

"Here you go, grandma," Maura said, handing Addy over to Angela like it didn't matter that she was so small that one false move and she could break.

"Nonna," Angela said.

"Be good for your Nonna, Adriana," Maura said, kissing her forehead and stepping back.

Jane stared at Cailin, knowing full well she'd have to relinquish her daughter soon enough, but not quite brave enough to make the first move.

"Can I?" Cailin asked, stepping towards them.

Jane resisted the urge to rush upstairs and hide her; pushing aside guilt that she'd be holding her back if she did that. She lowered into her waiting arms, ready to tell her how best to hold her, but not needing to say a word.

She stepped back, Maura's shoulder brushed against hers as she sidled up beside her. She stared from Isla to Addy and back again. Fingers wrapped around her wrist and she turned to Maura.

"They're okay," she said, slipping an arm around her back and resting her head against Jane's shoulder. "Don't worry."

"They're too young," Jane said, her eyes filling with tears. "They don't know who they are."

"They're fine."

"What if..." Jane began, only to be cut off by Maura's lips against hers. She stared into her eyes, directly in front of her, her hands on each hip, holding her in place.

"You're going to be okay." She cupped her cheeks, their eyes locked. "Enjoy the moment alone. They're ours for the rest of our lives."

x

Maura curled up on the bed, wrapping her arms around Jane. She nuzzled her face against her neck and closed her eyes. It was only seven but it felt much later. She made a mental note to ring Kent the next morning to get progress on their latest case. The much sooner delivery of the babies made it harder to leave work and yet she didn't want to be away from her family.

"Don't go to sleep," Jane said, leaning away, creating a space for cool air to tickle her face.

"You were sleeping," Maura whispered, her eyes still closed as she inched closer to Jane.

"My eyes were closed, I was waiting for you."

She opened her eyes. Jane stared at her, her lips curved in a way that only made her love her more. The last couple of weeks had been so busy, fitting in hours at work with trips to the hospital until the babies were finally cleared to go home.

"Hi," Jane said, smirking.

"Hi," Maura replied.

"Don't we have a house to tidy?" Jane asked, groaning.

"Cailin and Angela are clearing up." Maura pulled herself up and leant against the headboard. "They're going to leave us tonight, let us all settle in."

A screech filled the air followed by a whiff that forced Maura's senses to react. She dropped her face to Jane's shoulder.

"Regretting that now, aren't you?" Jane laughed.

Maura joined in. She slipped off the edge of the bed, a groan far from her lips. She didn't mind it, really. She just wished for more sleep, as she expected most new parents did. Scooping up Isla, she carried her across to the changing table.

"There she goes," Jane groaned, as Addy screamed in tune with her sister. She rushed across the room and cradled her.

Once changed, Maura perched on the edge of the bed and scooted back against the headboard. She rocked Isla back and forth, listening to her soft breaths.

"They're gonna drive us crazy, aren't they?" Jane asked, sitting beside her with Addy.

Maura leaned back against Jane's shoulder and yawned. The night was still young, their daughters would be up and down for feeds and though they planned to express milk to make the job easier, it just hadn't happened yet.

"Give me Isla," Jane said. Addy suckled away on her right breast.

"She'll be okay here for until Addy's finished," Maura said.

"Two in one," Jane said. "They'll be done faster."

She lowered her into her arm and pulled her unbuttoned shirt to one side, angling the baby's head until she latched on beside her sister.

"I wish I could help."

Jane leaned over and kissed the side of her head. "You are helping."

"I wish I could do more."

"You do enough."

"Stop that."

"I promise you, you're doing enough."

"I just don't feel like I am."

"We're not in a routine, when we are, you'll do your fair share. It's not a competition."

Wrapping her arms around Jane's back and resting her other hand against Isla's arm, Maura settled down beside her.

"I thought for so long that I'd be okay."

"What do you mean?" Jane asked.

"Not being a mother." Maura sniffed back a couple of tears. "Never being able to sing lullabies for my children, righting the wrongs my parents did to me."

"Maybe it's time you forgot about those things."

"I feel like I can now. You've given me everything I could possibly want and more."

"Which lullabies?"

"Hush little baby, the usual ones."

"You can sing all the lullabies you want."

"Now?"

"Or tomorrow."

Yawning again, Maura's eyelids fluttered closed. She forced them open again. "Are they done? I need to sleep."

"Addy's still feeding, but you sleep."

Her eyes half closed, Maura shook her head. "That's not fair on you."

"Go to sleep, Maur, we're good here."

"Are you sure?"

"I'm sure."

"Goodnight, Jane," she whispered, her eyes pressed tightly together. She tried to open them again but they were too heavy. "Goodnight babies."

"Goodnight Mama," Jane replied.

The End