A/N: Thank you so much for the reviews, favorites and follows!
Later that evening at home there was a knock at Maura's door. She opened it to see Jane standing there with a big smile on her face. Jane's smile quickly vanished when she looked at Maura, "Have you been crying?"
"What are you doing here Jane?" Maura asked wiping a tear from her cheek then turning to go back into the living room.
Jane came in and shut the door behind her, "I thought we could watch a movie or something." She said following her.
"Hey." Jane said grabbing Maura by the arm and turning her around. She stepped closer to Maura and cupped her face. She wiped a tear away with her thumb, "Tell me what's going on."
Maura closed her eyes at the touch, "It's nothing you can help with."
Jane pulled her in and wrapped her arms around Maura, hugging her tight, "I can try. Please let me try."
Maura shook her head, "No, it's nothing." She pulled out of Jane's arms and went to sit on the couch.
Jane sat down right next to her, "Would you like me to stay the night?"
Maura was surprised by her request, "Why?"
"You just seem like maybe you need me tonight." Jane said to her, "But mostly because I miss you."
Maura gave Jane a small smile, "I miss you too."
"Good then it's settled." Jane said smiling back at her.
The two women sat and watched only half of a documentary that Maura had picked out before Jane faked a few yawns and suggested it was time for bed.
Upstairs in Maura's bedroom Jane was in the bathroom changing into the pajamas she kept at Maura's.
Maura was just about to get into bed when Jane stepped out of the bathroom, "Hey, that's my side."
Maura smiled, "How could I forget?" She said then went to the other side of the bed.
They got into bed and covered up. Maura turned off the side table lamp and they lay in the darkness. Maura felt the bed move as Jane shifted her position. What Maura didn't see was Jane's hand slowly creeping over to her. The next thing Maura knew Jane was tickling her side and laughing hysterically.
"Stop it!" Maura yelled breathlessly to Jane who didn't relent and kept tickling her sides and stomach. Maura countered back and started to tickle Jane who was even more ticklish then she was.
"Okay Truce!" Jane yelled removing her hands from Maura, "Truce damn it!"
Maura stopped tickling Jane, "Truce."
Jane lied down on her back and stared up at the shadowed ceiling. Eventually both women calmed down and fell asleep.
In the morning Jane woke first. She smiled when she realized Maura was snuggled up to her. She realized just how much she missed this. Having Maura so close to her, feeling her against her body. She felt comfortable and safe like this. No one made her feel like this but Maura.
Jane's cellphone rang and broke the silence and the moment, "Shit, shit, shit." Jane said quietly trying to get to her phone that was on the night stand without disturbing Maura.
Maura woke up and looked up at Jane. "I'm sorry." Jane said to her quietly as she grabbed her still ringing phone, "Go back to sleep." Maura put her head back down as Jane slipped out of bed.
"Hello?" She answered as she stepped out into the hall closing Maura's bedroom door behind her.
"Hey, it's me." Casey said on the phone.
After the phone call Jane went back into the bedroom and smiled at the sight of Maura lying in bed asleep. She had a sudden urge just to crawl back into bed and fall back asleep with her. She went over to Maura's side and sat on the edge of the bed. She put a hand on Maura's arm and rubbed it gently, "Maura, I have to go." She said quietly.
"No, get back in bed." Maura mumbled in her sleep.
"I really wish I could." She said as she moved a strand of hair from Maura's face, "I'll see you later." She said fighting the urge to lean over and kiss her on the cheek. With a sigh, Jane got up, got dressed and left.
Driving to work Jane realized that she never found out why Maura was so upset. She had never seen her that upset before and it bothered her that she wouldn't talk about it. She missed Maura and was glad she decided to stay over. But what the hell was with wanting to kiss her? She never had a problem with being close with Maura. She liked when somehow Maura would find her way into Jane's arms during their sleepovers. She liked the lingering touches and the hugs that lasted maybe a bit longer than they should. But wanting to kiss her was something entirely new and different and something she couldn't stop thinking about.
At work Jane went down to the café to get some coffee when Angela came busting out of the kitchen her arms stretched out and practically tackled Jane when she hugged her tight.
"Oh Janie!" Angela said squeezing her.
"What Ma?" Jane said trying to get out of Angela's arms.
Angela released her and cupped Jane's face, squishing her cheeks, "I can't believe you're getting married!"
Jane grabbed Angela's hands and removed them from her face, "Ma, keep it down!" She said then looked at her, "Where'd you hear that?"
"Casey told me!" Angela said getting excited again.
"He shouldn't have said anything." Jane said getting angry.
The smile from Angela's face faded, "Why not?"
"Because I didn't say yes." Jane said to her.
"You will." Angela said with confidence.
Jane clenched her jaw, "Is he here?"
"He's upstairs waiting for you." Angela said and she watched as Jane stormed out of the café.
Jane saw Casey sitting in her chair at her desk, "Get up." She said to him and walked over to one of the empty interrogation rooms.
Casey followed her in and she shut the door behind them, "Why in the hell would you tell my mother we're getting married?" She asked him.
"Because we are." He said.
"We're not even engaged yet." Jane told him.
"Well that can all be changed with a simple word." He said going over to her and holding her around the waist.
"I told you I need some time to think." She said removing herself from his arms and taking a step back.
"What's there to think about?" Casey said to her. "We love each other. You're going to be my wife and we're going to live on base where I'm stationed. We'll be together and happy."
"Whoa wait a minute." Jane said to him, "You think I'm going to give up my job and live on base with you?"
"Yes. That's what military wives do." Casey told her.
Jane looked at him with confusion and shock, "You're unbelievable."
"What?" He asked her.
"You just assumed that if we get married that I'm going to give up my job and follow you from base to base?" Jane asked him.
"You expect me to give up my career?" Casey asked her, "I'm up for a promotion. The military is my life."
"My whole life is here in Boston." Jane told him, "My family is, my friends. I love my job. You can't really expect me to just leave all that behind."
Casey could tell he was losing Jane, "Look, let's just step back a bit here." He said to her. "We have plenty of time to talk about this and work it all out."
"I don't have time right now." She said to him as she opened the door, "I have work."
She walked out on him and headed right for the elevators. She stepped inside and smashed the down button. She saw Casey still standing in the interrogation room as she waited for the doors to close.
"You're not going to believe the shit Casey tried to pull." Jane said as she stepped into Maura's office.
Maura looked over at Jane then over to Angela who was sitting on the couch in her office.
"Ma, what are you doing down here?" Jane asked irritated at seeing her there.
"Oh Maura and I are just doing a little planning." Angela said as she stood up.
"Planning for what?" Jane asked her as she headed for the door.
Angela left without giving Jane an answer.
Jane looked back at Maura, "Planning for what?"
"Your engagement party." Maura told her, "Among other things."
"Jesus Christ!" Jane said loudly, "I'm not even fucking engaged yet!"
Maura got up and took Jane by the hand and led her over to the couch and sat down.
"What did he do that made you so mad?" Maura asked her.
Jane took a breath, "He assumes I'm going to quit my job and leave Boston behind if we get married."
Maura panicked a little thinking about the possibility of Jane leaving Boston. She thought it was hard enough not getting to see her or spend time with her now but if Jane left Boston it would be impossible and it would completely destroy her.
"Do you want to leave?" Maura asked her.
"No." Jane said to her, "But I don't know what to do."
"Maybe you should leave." Maura said to her playing Devil's advocate.
Jane was distracted by the fact that Maura was still holding her hand. Jane brushed her thumb across the back of her hand.
"How can you say that?" Jane asked surprised she would even suggest it.
"I'm trying to support you." Maura said letting go of Jane's hand and standing up.
"By telling me I should leave?" Jane asked her, "What's going on? This isn't you talking."
Jane got up and went over to her, "Did Ma say something to you?"
"Jane, all I want is for you to be happy." Maura told her.
"And you think marrying Casey, quitting a job I love and moving away from my friends and family is gonna make me happy?" Jane asked her. She was starting to get frustrated. She came down here to bitch and she wanted Maura to take her side, to support her, to see what a ridiculous request Casey was making of her.
"I don't know what you want me to say." Maura said to her.
"Tell me to stay." Jane said to her, and then realized how that sounded. Jane sighed, "Tell me I shouldn't have to give up everything for Casey."
"People who love each other give up things every day Jane." Maura told her. The thought made her sad because it was true. When Jane marries Casey Maura would be giving up the one thing she wanted most in the world.
Jane growled in frustration, "Who the hell are you and what did you do with my best friend?!"
She couldn't handle it anymore and stormed out of Maura's office. She slammed the door and missed the quiet, "Please stay." Maura had said.
Sometimes having a friend like Maura was hard. She wanted Maura to take her side and support her maybe even tell her that Casey was being unreasonable and that she shouldn't have to give up the life she had now to have a new one with Casey.
Angela caught Jane in the hallway, "Oh Janie, I'm glad I found you."
"What is it Ma?" Jane asked as she continued to walk fast.
"Have you decided on a color scheme yet?" Angela asked.
Jane stopped dead in her tracks and turned to face her mother, "Stop. Stop planning right now."
"But Jane, you want to know these things ahead of time." Angela said to her.
"Ma, he just assumes I'm going to quit my job and leave Boston to be with him." Jane told her.
"So?" Angela said to her.
Jane was shocked by her mother's response. "He wants me to leave my family and friends."
"Janie, part of being a wife is sometimes letting go of things." Angela said to her, "But you'll be married to a wonderful man who loves you and will take care of you. Isn't that what you want?"
"I can't do this right now." Jane said then just turned around and walked away.
After work Jane went home and grabbed a beer from her fridge. She was just about to take a big sip when her doorbell rang.
Jane went to the door, "Maura I really don't want to talk." She said as she opened it.
"I'm not Maura." Casey said as he stood in her doorway.
'No shit.' Jane thought as she let him in.