A/N: This is the end of Christmas I promise. I couldn't resist adding in this bit. Please read and enjoy.
When they arrived back at Maura's house that night, Jane would have run to the couch, if she had the energy. Jane was exhausted, just as she was after every family gathering. However this time she wore a tiny smile on her face that would not fade, all because of Maura. The doctor's presence generally had a calming effect on Jane, the exception being when Maura avoided absolute answers during an investigation. But in this case the sheer fact that Maura had been there made the entire holiday more bearable for Jane.
"I still can't believe you brought your doctor bag," Jane flopped onto the couch and closed her eyes.
"I've learned to keep it close when I am around you," Maura placed her purse and medical bag down on the kitchen table. Jane opened one eye and peered over the couch's arm at her girlfriend.
"Really?" Jane asked, not sure if Maura was teasing her or not. Truth was Maura wasn't too sure herself. Maura walked over to the couch just as Jane tried to toe of her boots, which was proving to be a fruitless task. Maura lifted an eyebrow at Jane before she lifted up Jane's legs to sit down on the couch, then she lowered Jane's legs and began untying the laces on the detective's boots.
"Tommy seemed to be grateful for my preparedness," Maura slipped the first boot off of Jane's foot and placed it on the floor.
"Because he sprained his wrist during the game but didn't realize it til we came inside and he couldn't get his glove off," Jane propped herself up on her elbows as Maura worked on her other boot. "Though I gotta admit, watching him try to eat with his hand all wrapped up was pretty funny." Jane snickered and closed her eyes again, allowing her head to fall back onto the pillow. Maura took off Jane's second boot placed it on the floor next to the first.
"Thank you," Maura murmured.
"For what?" Jane asked.
"For inviting me," Maura paused, causing Jane to open her eyes just in time to see Maura begin to tear up.
"Hey," Jane sat up quickly and wrapped her arms around Maura, she pulled the smaller woman into her chest and held her there tightly.
"I've never had a Christmas like that, ever, surrounded by so many people who love and care about each other so much. I just, I just…"
"It's ok," Jane nodded as her hands rubbed Maura's back and shoulders. "You'd better get used to it though, because that's how Christmas is going to be from now on." At Jane's words, Maura lifted her head from Jane's chest and looked up into Jane's eyes. "That's better," Jane smiled as she gently wiped the tears from Maura's face.
"I don't understand," Maura managed to choke out.
"I mean that you're coming to Christmas next year, and the year after that, probably Thanksgiving, Easter, and the Fourth of July too. No matter what happens between us, to you or me, you're a part of my family now, and nothing can change that," Jane smiling as she pulled a blonde piece of hair behind Maura's ear. "You're stuck with us now, each and every one of us. Sorry." Jane suddenly found her smirking lips covered by Maura's soft ones. Jane expected the contact to last just a moment, but when three moments had passed and she felt herself getting pushed back onto the couch, she pulled back from Maura.
"Thank you," Maura spoke before Jane had a chance to. Maura sat up slowly and brushed the tears from her eyes. She reached under the coffee table and pulled out a present. "Here," She pushed it towards Jane.
"Maur, I told you not to get me anything." Jane resisted accepting the gift, but Maura was even more adamant than normal.
"And I said that you shouldn't get me a present, yet there is still a box in your coat pocket," Jane sighed in defeat and reached into her pocket to take out a small wrapped box. Jane silently handed Maura the box, knowing that whatever Maura had gotten her was going to be better than anything that Jane could ever give Maura. They unwrapped the gifts as the same time, though Maura got the tiny box open before Jane.
"Jane," Maura gasped at silver bracelet sitting in the box. She lifted the bracelet from the tissue paper to see a half heart charm handing from the chain. Maura looked to Jane as the detective pulled the matching bracelet from her coat's inner pocket.
"It's cheesy," Jane shrugged as she brought her bracelet next to Maura's and the magnets in the hearts brought the two halves together perfectly. "But you're my better half."
"It's perfect," Maura grinned before she placed a gentle kiss on Jane's cheek. Jane slipped the metal bar through the loop to close the bracelet around Maura's wrist, and then did the same for herself. "Open yours," Maura nodded at the large box on Jane's lap. Jane hoped that the clothing sized box contained just that, some nice clothes, and not something that would make Jane's gift look ridiculous. For a second Jane held onto that hope, she opened the box and saw the familiar red and white pattern of a Red Sox jersey. But then Jane lifted the jersey from the box and saw the black sharpie signatures, she counted one, two, three, Jane looked up at Maura.
"Did you get the entire team to sign this?" Jane asked as she continued to count the signatures.
"Yes, and the coach," Maura nodded proudly. Jane's glance happened to fall back into the box to see an unlabeled envelope. Jane very carefully laid the jersey down on the table before she picked up the envelope and opened it.
"You didn't," Jane stared at the numerous pairs of tickets sitting in the envelope.
"Season tickets, I was told they are great seats," Maura nodded.
"These are down the first base line," Jane barely got the words out. Having just calmed Maura down, Jane tried really hard not to cry. In her entire life she had gone to maybe twenty games, one game every year or so since she was seven. Now she could go to every home game she wanted to, thanks to Maura. Even though she did not cry, her eyes did water significantly. "I…I don't know what to say," Jane could only wrap her arms around Maura and pulled her close to show her gratitude. "Merry Christmas Maura," Jane breathed softly.
"Merry Christmas," Maura whispered back.
A/N: Next chapter is New Years. Review please and I should have it up by then, meaning tomorrow.