Maura had never been one for wearing foundation, a little, yes to cover up any unfortunate blemishes or such, but she preferred a light cover up for that; she hated the oily clogged feeling foundation gave her skin. Yet here she sat applying layer upon layer of foundation trying her hardest to cover up the glowing red mark on her face.

"It's your own fault."

He had hissed cruelly into her ear as he dragged her by her hair into the room where she was to get ready.

"Look at you!"

Maura found it hard to focus on her injury or even the pain he was still inflicting on her, from his vice like grip in her hair, all she could see was that look in his eyes, that crazed and dangerous look.

"Get dressed and cover that up! I don't want people to know what a slut you are! I'll deal with you later!"

The threat hung heavily in the air long after he had slammed the door as he left. She sat still for the first few moments completely stunned. There were no tears, no sadness, no anger, in fact Maura couldn't bring herself to feel any kind of emotion whatsoever. She picked up her make up bag and began trying to cover the welt on her cheek.

As she stared into the eyes of her reflection Maura didn't recognise the woman in front of her. She looked empty like a mannequin; no feeling, no thought. She was on autopilot as she put the finishing touches to her make up. As she lay down her make up brush she considered how others would see her, would they spot the redness under her make up? Would they talk? It was for her own sake she wondered, not the embarrassment or shame...but the punishment that would inevitably follow if they did. Once satisfied she could do no more to hide the shame on her face she stared over her reflection's shoulder. It hung silently and yet it seemed to mock and haunt her. She could hardly believe that just a matter of weeks ago she had to hold herself back from trying it on in case she marred it. Now it was everything she could do not to tear it apart or run from it. Wearing that dress was the last thing in the world she truly wanted.

A knock on the door jolted her out of her daze and she stood up hurriedly surprised to feel the wetness of tears against her eyelashes; the emotion had crept up on her.

"Darling."

The term of affection was curt and filled with hardly any warmth whatsoever; a Constance Isles special. Maura's mother was a character of cool indifference and class, barely anything permeated her stoic exterior. "Hello mother." Maura did her best to discreetly wipe away her tears without smudging her make up.

"The hair girl should be here any moment." Constance flicked the briefest of glances over her daughter "Really Maura why do you insist on doing things yourself? We have someone for make up...oh never mind." She sighed in exasperation "Honestly I don't know what you were thinking when you disappeared the way you did but you haven't been yourself since you got back." She shook her head "Thank goodness we have dear Garrett to sort you out."

The flinch that her comment made went unnoticed by Constance as she floated out of the room quite unaware as to what she had just said; the truth of which would never come to light for her. Maura sank back down in her seat and took a moment to try and steady her nerves. She looked at the time; she didn't have long until the rest of her life began. She had butterflies fluttering around her stomach and anxiety chewing at the back of her neck. She had of course heard about getting cold feet and such on your wedding day and she supposed the physical symptoms may not differ too much from what she was feeling bright now, but the underlying terror was far from the norm and Maura for the first time in her life felt truly alone and helpless.

Jane snuck her way around the country club eavesdropping on conversations and peeking into rooms to try and locate Maura or Garrett. She made her way upstairs to the private suites when she heard that sleazy laugh that made bile rise at the back of her throat.

"Of course Constance. I'm hardly going to let her run off again like that!"

Jane heard a woman's laugh and as she peered around the corner she saw a well dressed lady chatting with Garrett with her hand affectionately laid on his arm.

"Well I'm glad to hear it Garrett darling, I mean honestly how one can lose my daughter is beyond me, she's so obedient usually, you had better not be corrupting her." The woman laughed airily as she floated away with an arrogant grace that Jane watched in astonishment. "She's getting ready upstairs so no peeking now!" The older woman winked at Garrett before disappearing down a corridor.

"Oh no Constance don't you worry I'll straighten her out." Garrett was speaking to himself by this point and he downed the dark liquid in a glass he was holding and winced at the bitter taste.

Jane couldn't help but clench her fists at the sinister tone in his voice and she slipped back around the corner as he turned and walked into a room. Jane stood in front of the door and could hear his arrogant laughter from inside. She could feel the money in her pocket but she had a feeling deep in the pit of her stomach not to let him see her, instead she placed the money outside his door and made her way upstairs. I have to make sure Maura is ok.

Once upstairs the brunette was confronted by yet more doors that all looked the same and she sighed wearily. How big does this place need to be? She began opening doors to find empty rooms and a ridiculous amount of bathrooms. She flung open a door expecting to see her thousandth toilet when instead she was confronted by an image she had not expected to see; Maura in her wedding underwear, a basque, stockings and suspenders to be precise. Jane stood there momentarily with her mouth hanging open like a fish grappling for any words but none came.

Maura heard the door fling open and froze in fear, when no sound came she looked up at to her surprise found herself face to face with a certain female brunette "Jane?!"

At the sound of her name Jane spring back into action and words fell out of her mouth like vomit "I'm so sorry. Congratulations. No, I don't mean that. That's just what you're supposed to say. I mean, shit! I'm sorry it's all my fault I didn't mean for this to happen I-" she stopped her sentence mid garble as her eyes zeroed in on Maura's cheek. Fury like she had never known grew inside of her and she ignored the fact that Maura was half naked, she forgot that they didn't even know each other well; she walled straight up to her and gently held the other woman's cheek as her eyes filled with tears.

Maura was stunned and stood frozen as the brunette she barely knew started babbling as words and thoughts seemingly fell out of her mouth and Maura barely had chance to collect her thoughts and try to make sense of what she had said when Jane came over and ever so gently caressed her bruised and swollen cheek.

"He did this." It wasn't so much a question as a statement and Jane didn't need an answer to confirm her suspicions. "Bastard!" Her rage subsided as she looked into those beautiful hazel eyes that were now glistening with tears. "Shit, I'm so sorry Maura. This is all my fault."

Maura had so many questions; what was Jane's fault? Why was she here? And many more but before she had a chance to ask anything Jane withdrew her hand and rubbed both over her face. Maura frowned at the brunette in concern but when Jane removed her hands Maura found herself doing the last thing she expected in that moment.

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