A week had passed since the wedding and things with Jane had been going from strength to strength. I loved having her around, and so did Rosa. Jane was still splitting her time between my house and Angela's condo. I longed for her to move in with me full-time, however, I didn't want to rush her or scare her off.

One morning, Jane barged into my office. She'd spent the night at Angela's and I had really missed her. I missed the comforting smell of lavender in the morning, I missed the feeling of her warm breath against my neck as we held each other, and I missed the way she smiled at me as her eyes fluttered open. I missed everything about her. It was like my heart was breaking all over again, every single time she left me to stay with Angela. It's stupid, I know. I know that Jane will come back to me soon enough. I know that she isn't going anywhere for good, but I can't help feeling like a piece of me is missing in her absence. It isn't like an appendix or tonsils, it is something vital to my survival. Something like a heart.

"Urgh!" She huffed as she slumped down on my couch.

"Good morning to you too!" I smiled.

"I'm sorry. Good morning, Maur. How was your night?"

"It was fairly pleasant, thank you for asking. Rosa and I watched Frozen again, had a little dance party, and a nice early night. The only thing that would have made it better would have been having you there to enjoy it with us. What about you? Did you have a nice evening?"

"Oh yeah, it was delightful. My mother tried to help me 'combat the clutter'… I tried to tell her that I only had a few boxes of things but she still made me sort through everything anyway! That woman is driving me nuts!"

I couldn't help but chuckle. I remembered the time Angela reorganized my kitchen. I couldn't find anything for weeks!

"It's not funny, Maur!" Jane snapped.

"Sorry." I smirked.

It was a little funny.

Jane tilted her head to one side and started rubbing her neck.

"What's wrong with your neck?"

"Oh, it's nothing. It's just a little sore from sleeping on the couch. No big deal." She brushed it off, but I could tell that she was still in pain.

"May I take a look?"

Jane nodded and jumped to her feet. I made my way towards her and gently placed my hands on her neck. I let my fingers smooth out the knots and kinks, and she sighed as it eased her tension.

"How does that feel?"

"Magical." She sighed.

I continued to massage Jane's neck and shoulders for a moment before bringing my arm across her neck. I bent my arm slightly so that her chin was resting in the crook of my elbow.

"Hey! Maur! What are you doing?" Jane panicked and tried to free herself from my grasp.

"I'm about the realign your vertebrae. What did you think I was doing?"

"I don't know… Trying to strangle me or something!" She retorted.

"Why would I do that? Now, please, just relax."

Jane exhaled deeply, however, her body only stiffened.

"Jane, that's not relaxing, that's tensing! What's the matter? Don't you trust me?"

"It's not that I don't trust you, babe. I would never say that… Especially not when you have your arm around my neck! It's just, I really don't want to have to rely on a helper monkey for the rest of my life!"

"Relax, Jane. I know what I'm doing."

Jane sighed again.

"On the count of three. One… Two… Thr–"

Before I could put Jane's vertebrae into alignment, Frankie rushed into my office.

"Frankie! Thank god you're here!" Jane cried, untangling herself from my arms.

Jane bolted towards a very confused looking Frankie.

"Am I interrupting something?"

"-No!"

"- Yes!"

Jane and I answered at the same time.

"I'll just come back later." Frankie replied cautiously as he turned around to leave.

"Frankie, stop! What did you need?" Jane asked, grabbing both of his arms and preventing him from leaving.

"Nothing. It's not important. I just wanted to talk to Maura about something, that's all."

"Well, she's right there! Go ahead!"

"No, it's okay. It can wait." He sighed.

"It's okay, I have plenty of time. What's wrong, Frankie?" I questioned gently.

He glanced over at Jane and then back at me. It was evident that he was reluctant to discuss this issue in front of Jane.

"I'm just gonna go… Upstairs. Because I have work to do. Lots of important work." Jane stated, clearly taking the hint.

I frowned as Jane scurried away.

"We're not done here!" I called after her, but it was no use.

"What's up, Frankie?" I smiled warmly, and gestured for him to take a seat on the couch.

"You remember how you helped me deal with my anxiety before my Detective Exam?"

"Yes, I remember. I read some studies on how to help anxiety through hypnosis."

"Well, I think it really helped and I was hoping that you'd be willing to do it again. You see, I really like Nina. I mean, I really like her, if you get what I'm saying. Anyway, I was hoping that maybe you could hypnotise me again or something!"

"Frankie, you don't need me to hypnotise you! Just ask her out on a date!"

"I'm so nervous, Maura! I don't know what to say to her! What should I say?"

"I'm probably not the best person to ask…"

"Come on Maura, you've gotta help me!"

"Okay, okay. I've heard that role playing can be very helpful in these kinds of situations. Sometimes it helps to rehearse what you want to say. I'll be Nina and you can be yourself."

"You don't really think this is gonna work, do you?!"

"It's worth a shot. What have you got to lose?"

"How about what's left of my dignity!"

"Come on Frankie, just go with it."

"Fine… Hey Nina –"

"Great start, Frankie!" I beamed.

He scowled at me, clearly displeased about being interrupted.

"Sorry, please continue. I'll be quiet now." I assured as I drew my thumb and forefinger across my lips.

"Nina." Frankie sighed as he looked down at his hands.

"You know, Frankie, you should really make eye contact when you talk to her. It is so important; did you know that people who maintain eye contact are usually perceived as more reliable, warm, sociable, honest, confident and active?"

"Maura!"

"Sorry… Again!"

Frankie made a point to look me in the eyes. He cleared his throat before continuing.

"As I was saying, we've known each other for a while now and I really feel like we have a special connection. I just thought you should know that I like you. I really like you. I know that things have been pretty crazy for you lately, but maybe, when things calm down and you feel ready, you'd consider going on a date with me."

"What the hell?!"

An angry voice bellowed from behind me. I turned around slowly to see Jane standing in the doorway. Her features etched with confusion and annoyance. She folded her arms and leaned against the doorframe, informing us that she wasn't leaving without a good answer.

"Jane, it's not what you think –" Frankie began as he scrambled to his feet.

"It better not be, Frankie. Cause from where I'm standing, it looked an awful lot like you were asking my girlfriend out! Now I get why you wanted me to leave the room earlier!"

"Janie, Maura's been roleplaying with me. I – I wanted to ask Nina out but I was too nervous and I literally have no game! I came to Maura so that she could use hypnosis on me but she suggested roleplaying instead. That's all. There's nothing else going on here!"

Suddenly, Jane erupted into a fit of laughter, clutching at her sides and turning slightly red.

"I'm just messin' with you, I heard the whole thing! You should have seen your face!"

"You're an asshole, you know that?!" Frankie scoffed as he brushed past Jane.

"Thanks, Maura." He sighed.

"Good luck!" I called after him as he stormed out of my office.

I cast my eyes over to Jane; she still had this goofy grin plastered across her face.

"Don't you think that was a little cruel, Jane?" I frowned.

"Come on, Maur, that's just what brothers and sisters do. They mess with each other!"

"If you say so. I'm assuming you didn't come back here to let me realign your vertebrae, so what can I do for you?"

"Korsak wants to know if you have the results from the blood sample yet."

"No, not yet. The lab should be calling any minute though. I'll meet you upstairs shortly."

"Thanks, Maur."

"Hey, Jane? Are you still on for our date tonight?"

"Of course." She smiled.

"Good, because I have something really incredible planned!"

"Awesome! Can't wait! Catch you later, Maur." She beamed as she walked away.

I smiled happily to myself as I sat down in front of my laptop and made a start on one of my reports.


A few hours later, I was still drowning in paperwork. I had spent all afternoon writing reports, and making phone calls. I had barely seen Jane and I didn't even get to participate in anything remotely scientific. I hated the administration side of my job, but I reminded myself that, however boring it was, it was still vitally important. My stomach growled with great ferocity, reminding me that I had neglected to eat lunch earlier. I decided to take a break and head over to the café. As soon as I arrived, I immediately noticed Jane sitting at a table with her back towards me. She was nursing a hot cup of coffee, and twisting and rubbing her neck. I seized the opportunity and snuck up behind her. I quickly placed my arm around her neck once more and corrected her vertebral alignment. It was one swift movement that resulted in a loud cracking noise.

"Ow! My neck! My neck!" Jane cried.

She was frozen in pain and I too was afraid to move.

"Jane! Are you okay?! This wasn't supposed to happen!" I panicked, rushing round to face her.

Jane looked up at me and beamed broadly.

"Gotcha! Again!" Jane smirked.

I placed my hand on my heart and let out the breath I had been holding. Relief flushed through me.

"It actually feels much better! Thanks, Maur!"

"You're terrible!" I laughed as I playfully slapped Jane's upper arm.

"But you love me!" She gleamed, wrinkling her nose as she spoke.

"I do. I really do." I smiled as I leaned over to kiss her cheek.

I pulled out the chair next to Jane and sat down beside her. I couldn't help but chuckle and shake my head again. Angela happily strolled towards us.

"What can I get you girls?" Providing both service and a smile.

"Ooh you've started serving Caesar salad! Are the eggs coddled?"

"Um, I don't know. Why?"

"Caesar salads can be extremely dangerous if bad eggs are used. Of course, it would be fine, if they're coddled."

"Just get the salad, Maura! I'm sure you'll be fine!"

"But Jane –"

"Hey, ma? Can I please get a Caesar salad for Maura, and another one with a side of extra uncoddled eggs for me?! Thanks."

"I think I'll stick with a Cobb salad, thank you Angela." I frowned at Jane before handing the menu back and smiling politely at Angela.

"Coming right up!"

"What?" I frowned at Jane.

"Nothing!" She smirked again.

"You're laughing at me!"

"No I'm not, I'm just smiling at you! Am I not allowed to smile at you anymore?!"

I frowned at Jane, still unable to believe that she wasn't making fun of me. It didn't bother me either way, I mean, Jane wasn't doing it to be malicious, so it didn't really matter. I just didn't understand why it was funny… Salmonella is not a laughing matter.

"So, what are your big plans for date night?" Jane asked excitedly, rubbing her hands together in anticipation.

"I'm so excited, Jane! You're going to love it!"

"What's Jane gonna love?" Angela asked as she returned to the table with our salads.

"Ma! I was joking about the salad!" Jane huffed.

"You're not so funny now, are you?! Eat your salad!" Angela quipped and I chuckled.

"As you already know, tonight is date night." I began.

Angela had offered to watch Rosa for me again, so this did not come as a surprise to her. I had been keeping my big plans under wraps for a while, but I deemed right now to be as good a time as any to share them with Jane and Angela.

"Well, a couple of weeks ago, at a charity auction, I paid for a ten course, gourmet meal at Clio. It's supposed to be one of the best restaurants in the area. It's so popular that I've never been able to get a table before!"

"Clio? That's the restaurant in Back Bay, with celebrity chef… what's-his-name!" Angela exclaimed, rolling her wrist as she tried to remember his name.

"Yes! Ken Oringer! Oh, just saying his name makes my mouth water!" I added dreamily.

"Yeah, mine too." Jane replied sarcastically.

Angela and I rolled our eyes at her in response.

"And isn't his place famous for its duck confit?"

"Yes. The meat is cooked until it is spectacularly moist and tender, and seared until the skin turns golden and crisp. Oh and the duck is served on a bed of heavenly pommes sarladaises."

"Wow. That sounds really fancy." Angela sighed pensively.

"And we" I pointed my finger between myself and Jane. "Get to enjoy a romantic dinner at the chef's table, right inside the kitchen!"

"Wow! They let you sit in the kitchen?! Maybe for another $300, they'll let you wash the dishes!" Jane replied sarcastically.

"Jane! It's Chef Oringer! I would pay to lick those dishes!" Angela retorted.

"I'm not sure Stanley pays you enough to do that, ma!"

"Probably not!" Angela chuckled as she left to clear the other tables.

Once she was out of earshot, I turned my attention back to Jane.

"Are you excited?" I practically squealed, grinning from ear-to-ear.

"Sure." She exhaled noisily.

"You don't sound excited." I replied, my voice rich with disappointment.

I had been really looking forward to trying out the food at Clio. It is so exclusive and always receives rave reviews. It is a spectacular restaurant and I couldn't imagine sharing this incredible experience with anyone else.

"No, I am. I'm really looking forward to having an amazing night with the woman I love." She smiled half-heartedly.

"Listen, Maura. I should get back to work. Want me to meet you at your place when I'm done?"

"No, I'll pick you up at 7pm. It is date night after all, I want to do this properly." I smiled.

"Sure, see you then." She sighed.

"See you then." I replied sadly but it was too late, she had already gone.


"Have you decided on your wine?" The waiter asked in a beautiful French accent.

"Yes. Please may we have a bottle of the 2007 Gaja Barbaresco?"

"Certainly Madame."

"Ah, no need for me to weigh in." Jane scoffed as she handed the waiter the drinks menu.

"I'm sorry, you can order something else if you'd like. I just thought that the fragrant raspberry notes and incredible poise would really complement our meal."

"I'm sure the wine you chose will be just fine, Maura… Well, it certainly should be at 220 bucks a bottle!"

"Pardon me, it is my great pleasure to present to you Chef Kenneth Oringer." The waiter introduced.

"Good evening, ladies. Welcome to the Chef's table. So our first course is a pan-seared coho salmon, rubbed lightly with lemon and pepper." Chef Oringer explained as he carefully placed our plates in front of us.

The food was arranged on the plate in such an aesthetically pleasing way. The presentation alone far exceeded my expectations. I cut a bite-sized piece of the salmon and delicately placed it in my mouth. The flavours were so rich and intense that it felt almost like a mini explosion, or a party in my mouth.

"This is delightful." I beamed at Jane.

"Oh my god!" She exclaimed as she took the salmon out of her mouth, dumping it back on her plate. "This is raw! It's awful!"

"No, it's seared to perfection." I explained gently.

"Maura, look at it! My salmon is still swimming upstream!"

"I am looking at it, Jane. It looks just fine to me. Don't eat it if you don't want to. There are nine other courses, so hopefully you'll enjoy the next ones a little bit more." I smiled uncomfortably.

This was not how I wanted the night to go. We were supposed to be enjoying a lovely, romantic, ten course meal in one of Boston's finest restaurants. I wanted to treat Jane the way she deserved to be treated and she deserved to be spoilt.

The rest of the night didn't go swimmingly either. Jane picked at her food and only spoke when spoken to. The duck really was divine, however, even that wasn't enough to rescue the evening. It was a disaster. I had taken a taxi from my house to Angela's, picking up Jane there and going on to the restaurant together. Taking a taxi meant that we could both enjoy a drink and not have to worry about driving home again. After we had finished the meal, I thanked the chef and Jane and I went outside. Jane hailed a taxi.

"Where'd you want to go?"

"Two stops please." Jane began as she scooted across the backseat.

"Two stops?"

I know it may have been a little presumptuous to automatically assume that Jane would be coming home with me, however, we had already spent many nights together. It didn't make any sense.

"Yeah, Maur. I'm really tired. I just wanna go home."

"Oh, okay." I sighed dejectedly.

This was the second consecutive night I would have to spend without Jane. The journey from Jane's old condo to my house seemed disproportionately long.

"Hey girls, how was your meal?" Angela called from the couch.

She was clearly right in the middle of a good book as she didn't even turn around to greet us properly. Not that Jane was there to greet. It was just me. Alone again. Naturally.

"Hi Angela. I'm afraid it's just me."

"Where's Janie?" She asked worriedly as she placed the book down on the coffee table.

"She went home." I sighed, making my way to sit at the kitchen counter.

"What? Why? Did something happen between you two?"

Angela rose from her seat and moved towards me.

"I don't think so. One minute she was fine and the next she was all morose. She was being somewhat salty with me before we left. Well, ever since we ate lunch at the café."

"Maybe she was just having an off day." Angela soothed as she affectionately rubbed my upper arm.

"I don't know, Angela." I shook my head. "I think there's more to it than that."


Jane and I were kneeling beside the dead body of a man in his late thirties. His body was partially covered by surrounding leaves and there were obvious lacerations to his face.

"Jane, can we please talk about last night?" I asked calmly.

"Really? You want to discuss this over a body?!"

"Where else am I supposed to do it? You've been dodging me all day!"

Jane huffed in response. I had tried to be calm. I had tried to be patient, and nice, and fair with her, but now – now she had used up all of my grace.

"I don't understand! We went to a lovely restaurant and you barely said a word to me all night! And now – now you're avoiding me like the plague! What happened? Did I do something to upset you? Tell me, Jane! What is it? Because I have been going over and over it again in my head, turning myself inside out trying to understand what I did wrong and I –"

"We went to a fancy, expensive restaurant, Maura. The duck cost more than my weekly shopping budget and I would need to sell my kidney and probably a bunch of other organs on the black market just to be able to afford the bottle of wine you ordered. I don't have that kind of money, Maura. And I know, you paid. But I don't belong in that world, Maura. I don't belong there but you do!"

"I'm sorry, I didn't think –"

"I know, you didn't think. Excuse me, I have work to do."


I felt terrible. Really, truly, terrible. All I wanted to do was make sure that Jane had a lovely evening, and all I actually did was make her feel lousy. Maybe I should have known that going to a fancy restaurant would make her feel bad. Maybe I should have been more considerate of her feelings. Throughout the day, I dwelled on all the things I could have done differently. Should have done differently. When I got home, I decided to call Jane. I had to make this right. I couldn't bear the thought of losing her again, especially over something so trivial.

Straight to voicemail.

"Hi Jane, it's me. I know you are pretty mad at me right now, but there was something I really wanted to say to you. We don't need to go to fancy restaurants. We can stay home and eat pizza… Or – or Chinese food, or whatever the hell you want. It doesn't matter where we go, or what we eat. I just want to spend time with you. I just want you. None of the rest of it matters. And I hate fighting with you, so please just –"

Suddenly, I was interrupted by a loud knock on the door.

"Sorry, there's someone at the door. I'll have to call you back. I love you." I sighed before hanging up the phone.

I opened the door to see Jane. It was pouring outside and she was just standing there, in the rain. Her hair was wet, her clothes were completely sodden and they clung to her tiny frame. She held a brown paper bag in her hands, and that too was soaking wet. She had obviously been waiting out there for a while before actually knocking on my door.

"Jane. I was just leaving you a voicemail." I stated in shock.

I didn't expect to find her on my doorstep. I thought we were fighting. I thought she was avoiding me. I thought she hated me.

"Can I come in?" She asked desolately.

"Of course, come in. Come in! You must be freezing. Let me get you a towel."

"Maura, wait." Jane said, catching my arm to prevent me from leaving the room. "There's something I need to say."

"No, Jane, please. Let me go first. You were right, I didn't think. I mean, I didn't think about how going to a fancy restaurant would make you feel. I didn't think like you would think. I thought like I would think, which was stupid because I have been known to think very differently to most other people. I really am sorry, Jane. I never meant to make you feel bad and I am truly sorry that I did."

"No, Maur. I'm sorry. I'm the jerk. I was being selfish and irrational last night… And again when I was rude to you this morning. We come from very different worlds, and the collision of those two worlds is probably always going to cause some sort of conflict. I know that you have to compromise to make any relationship work, and you have been trying so hard to fit into my world, but last night, I wouldn't budge. I should have made more of an effort to be a part of your world. I want to be a part of your world. In future, I will go anywhere you want me to go… and I won't even moan about it! And Maur?"

"Yes, Jane?"

"Keep thinking like you'd think." Jane replied sincerely.

"I can do that." I grinned.

Jane moved towards me and pulled me close to her, squashing the brown paper bag between us. Our faces were merely millimetres apart and I could feel her breath tickling my nose. Jane closed the distance between us by placing her lips against my own. The kiss was soft and warm and incredibly passionate. It was soothing and healing, and just what we both needed. I allowed Jane's tongue access to my mouth and sighed contently as the kiss deepened. We kept kissing, refusing to stop until we absolutely had to break away for air.

"Jane, will you stay with me?" I asked quietly.

"Of course, Maura. I would love to stay with you tonight."

"I don't just mean tonight, Jane. I want you to move in with me. I want you to stay with me forever."

"What?"

"I know it may seem like we're moving too fast, and I don't want to scare you away, but I want you to move in with me. With us – me and Rosa. I love you and Rosa loves you. You practically already live here anyway, and it's not like we haven't lived together before… I just – I want you to have more than just a drawer in my dresser and a shelf in my bathroom." I paused, trying to gauge Jane's reaction.

Nothing. Her expression was completely unreadable.

"Unless that's not what you want. If a drawer is enough for you right now, then – then I would be okay with that."

My vice was shaky and I was rambling.

"Yes." Jane interjected.

"What?" I asked as I lifted my head to meet Jane's eyes once again.

I watched as a giant grin swept across her mouth and her skin crinkled around her eyes.

"Yes, I would love to move in with you, you goof! I love you and I love Rosa. And by the way, despite ma's best efforts, I still own far too much crap to fit it all in one drawer!"

I quickly threw my arms around her and held her so impossibly close. Holding onto her tighter than I had ever held onto anything before.

"Maur?" Jane whispered quietly.

"Yes, Jane?"

"You're kind of crushing the cookies." She croaked.

"I don't know what that means. Is that some kind of innuendo or something?" I asked as I broke away from her embrace.

"No, Maura. You are literally crushing the cookies."

Jane held out the brown paper bag for me. I carefully peered inside to find a couple of giant cookies and a small carton of milk.

"You brought me milk and cookies?"

"Uh-huh. There's nothing a glass of warm milk and cookies can't fix." She smiled happily.

"I guess not." I chuckled.

"So, what should we do now?" Jane asked.

"Do you want to watch a movie or something?"

"Sure, but it's my turn to pick!"

"What?! That's not fair!"

"Uh, yes it is! We watched 'An Inconvenient Truth' last time… That definitely wasn't my idea of fun!"

"Fine." I huffed.

"Great! 'Field of Dreams' it is then!"

"But Jane! You've made me watch it at least ten times already!" I whined.

"Shut up and watch the movie!"

Jane and I snuggled up on the couch, eating cookies, drinking milk, and occasionally bickering. During the film, Jane reached behind us and lovingly draped the blanket over me. Without even having to look at me, Jane could just sense that I was starting to feel cold. She shuffled in closer so that she could fit under it too. I was completely encompassed by warmth and love. This was the life.