Author Note: Thank you, so much. What an amazing response, again. I am so honoured to have you all here, to know that you're enjoying my new story. It's going to be a rollercoaster; I hope it'll be one worth riding, and one that you don't get sick of halfway. I'm really enjoying writing this one.

I have to work tomorrow, so won't be rushing out another chapter - hopefully I'll have one up by the end of Monday at the latest. I'm also working on a one-shot that takes place after Paris, though I may be persuaded to make it a longer story.

Around midnight, Maura placed the novel she'd been reading on her bedside cabinet and flicked off the lamp. She lay in the darkness, wide awake and conscious of the boy sleeping in the next room. She tried to picture his face, but all she could see was his two-year-old self staring up at her with a toothy grin. Regret and guilt pierced her heart. She didn't know how long it would take to form a memory of his current appearance, or to stop the pain of his existence; she hoped it wouldn't be too long. If she got the opportunity at all.

After half an hour, she reached for her cell phone to call Jane, then stopped. Remembering the truth she hadn't told her, the words she hadn't spoken aloud. She opened up her messages anyway.

"I love you, Maura x"

Pressing send, she waited, staring at the small screen until the three circles appeared and a moment later she got Jane's response.

"I love you too."

The abrupt end unsettled her further. She started another message, then deleted it, until she'd tried to write something several times only to give up completely. She returned her cell to the cabinet and lay back down.

She sat up at the sound of thunder in the distance. She stilled, listening intently to the silence that followed. Then another crack sliced through the night, and the constant tapping of rain against the window shrouded the house. Another tap infiltrated the sound of the rain; louder, longer.

"Come in," she said, staring at the door.

It opened. Cloaked in moonlight from the window in the hallway, Luke stood in a pair of sweatpants and an oversized shirt that reached his knees – the only clothing she could find.

"Are you okay?"

He shrugged. "Couldn't sleep."

"Me neither," she said, patting the bed beside her. "Would you like to sit for a few minutes?"

Another crack of thunder preceded a flash of lightening. The room lit up, then darkened. Maura turned the lamp back on. Luke stalked across the room, the ends of the sweatpants dragged across the floor. She smiled, thankful for another opportunity to attempt to build the relationship they'd never really had.

"A new bed is never easy to sleep in," Maura said.

"No," he said, leaning back against the headboard.

She perched herself up beside him. "How do you usually sleep at school?"

"Better."

"You know," she said. "I went to boarding school when I was your age."

"I didn't know that."

"I suppose the only difference is I chose to go," Maura said, pushing the uncomfortable feeling regarding that period of her life to one side. "I chose to leave my family because I was unhappy."

"Oh."

"I take it your father made that decision for you."

He shrugged. "He said it was a good school."

"You're an intelligent young man," Maura said. She pressed her fingertips to the edge of her eye, brushing away the tears that formed. "Someone I can be proud to call my son."

He pursed his lips, his fists balled on his lap. Maura's heart sank. He stared down at the bedsheets. "You didn't do anything."

"I know." She closed her eyes and lowered her gaze. "I wish I'd had more of a role in your life."

"Then why didn't you?"

"I want to tell you," she said, forging a smile. "There's just too much to say, and I don't want to harm your relationship with your father. It wouldn't be fair on either of you."

He rolled his eyes and scurried off the side of the bed. "I knew you'd say that."

"Luke, where are you going?"

"Back to bed," he said, gritting his teeth.

Maura closed her eyes, nodding, as she listened to his footsteps pad across the carpet. The door closed. Eventually, she reopened her eyes. Another flash of lightening. She climbed off the bed and opened her closet door. On the top shelf she found a small shoebox, which she placed on her lap and sat back up against the headboard.

She didn't have much, there wasn't time in the two short years they were together, but they were all she had managed to take with her. Three photographs, well-worn at the corners. The wristband he'd worn in hospital the day he was born. His first onesie. A tiny pair of handprints on a sheet of paper they'd done a week before she left. She pushed the contents to one side and slipped back down on the bed. She rolled away from them and shut off the light. Teardrops slipped along her face, down toward her pillow, pooling in her ear.

At some point, in the midst of the tears, the door creaked and a pair of arms slipped around her shoulders. She twisted round to find Luke sitting there, his blue eyes dark with the absence of any real source of light.

"I'm sorry," she said, wiping her face. "I didn't want you to see me like this."

"It's okay."

She slid her arms around his back and pulled him in tight. He smelled different than she remembered, yet so much the same. Fresh tears continued their descent. She ran a hand across the back of his head, like she used to do when he was a toddler.

"The last time I held you like this," she whispered.

"It was thundering, like tonight."

She pulled away, her breath caught in her throat. "You remember?"

"Barely." She squeezed his hand. "I just remember you being there until I fell asleep."

"Would you like to see the things I kept, from when you were a toddler?"

"Okay."

She turned the light on again and moved across the bed. He hopped up beside her. She handed him the wristband. "This was from the day you were born; seeing you now, it's hard to believe you were ever so tiny. You were three weeks premature. There was a storm, like tonight, and your father nearly didn't make it to the hospital in time."

x

Jane sat down on the couch in the guest house, her mother sat beside her with a bowl of cereal and a mug of steaming coffee. She waited, hopeful that the all-seeing, all-knowing woman she'd grown up with, would know more. When no information was shared, she sighed.

"Spill."

"Spill what?" Angela asked, checking her shirt.

"The kid, Ma. Who is the kid?"

"Which kid? How should I know?"

The pressure in her forehead built with the deepening of the crease. She sipped her coffee, checking her mother's face for any hint of deception.

"The child staying at Maura's," she said, leaning forward. "I know you know who is he. You know everything that's going on."

"I don't know everything," Angela said. She dropped her spoon into the bowl and placed it on the coffee table. "First I've heard."

"How?"

"I don't spend my every waking hour in the house, Janie. When did he arrive?"

"Yesterday."

"I was working yesterday, didn't get in til late, and I haven't been in this morning because I know you're working on a big case. I thought I'd give Maura some space to recuperate."

Gritting her teeth, Jane rolled her eyes back and sighed. "You're no help."

"I'm sorry I can't be the person you obviously want me to be," she said. "But I ain't God, I don't know everything. Why don't you just ask her yourself? Surely Maura will tell you who he is if you'd just ask."

"I did, and she won't."

"At all?"

"No." The cushion molded to her back, pulling her into a place of comfort. Jane closed her eyes for a moment. Between Maura and the case, she could have benefited from a few more hours sleep. "Why won't she tell me, Ma?"

"I don't know, Janie."

"She knows I'm not very good at talking about things, she's the one that asked me to be honest with her. I thought it went both ways."

"I'm sure Maura believes it should."

"Then why won't she tell me?" She cupped her mug in front of her mouth, breathing in the earthy scent of her coffee. "She doesn't keep secrets, that's not Maura."

"Except Ian."

"Ian who?"

"Her ex-boyfriend, or whatever you might have considered him to be," Angela said, crunching on another mouthful of cereal. "The hot Australian."

"Her fuck buddy," Jane said, glaring across at Angela. "I'd rather not be reminded of one of the many reasons Maura and I didn't get together sooner."

Angela rolled her eyes and laughed. "You didn't get together sooner because of you, Jane, not the men in your lives. My point is when Ian came for a visit, Maura became secretive."

"That's true," she said, sitting forward again. "The bit about Ian, not me being the reason we didn't get together."

"No?" Angela shrugged. "I thought you were too scared to risk your friendship."

Leaning further forward, Jane narrowed her eyes. "Who told you th...did Maura tell you that?"

"I'm your mother, Janie. I know you better than anyone."

"No, you don't."

The idea that Angela knew her better than anyone had never sat well with her, not as a teenager, or in the years she spent doing little more than work and have the occasional boyfriend. Especially not as an adult, who lived away from home and had her own, very independent, life.

"I know you skinned a knee every week in the fourth grade, you were reckless that year. I thought we'd never make it to your next birthday."

"That proves nothing."

"I know you get a little wrinkle on your forehead when you're feeling emotional, even if you don't say anything."

She placed her fingertips between her eyebrows. "That is kinda true."

"And I know that when you were sixteen you lost your virginity in the backseat of your father's..."

"How the hell did you know that?" she asked, her mouth dropped open.

Raising her eyebrows, she stared at Jane, a small smirk pushed her lips out of symmetry. "I'm your mother. I know things."

Sighing, Jane stood up, abandoning her half-drunk coffee on the table in front of her. "Well, you don't know which position I like to try in the bedroom, or where Maura needs to touch me to get me in a state, so you don't know everything, do you?"

"There are some things a mother should never know."

She threw her fist against her thigh and groaned. "Why don't you know who he is?"

"Ask her again. Eventually she's gotta tell you something."

"Unless she doesn't," she said, picking up her jacket. She leaned over and kissed Angela on the cheek. "Thanks Ma, I'll catch you later."

x

"I brought bagels," Jane said, walking into the kitchen the next morning. She placed the bag on the counter and headed straight for Maura. She lay a hand on her hip and leaned in.

Maura stepped back, placing her fingers on Jane's mouth. "Hold that thought."

Luke entered the room carrying his school uniform, fresh from the laundry. "When are we gonna get my clothes from school?"

"I'll arrange to have some sent over, in the meantime we can go shopping," Maura said, refilling her coffee mug. "Go get changed, I have to go to work."

"Can I watch another autopsy today?"

"No."

"Why not?"

"If your father knew I'd allowed you to watch one autopsy, I'm sure he'd be unhappy. So that's your limit."

He placed the clothes on the counter and opened the bag of bagels. "Even if it's educational?"

"Even then." Maura took a bagel out of the bag. "Eat that while you change. We need to leave in fifteen minutes."

He groaned and walked out of the room, tugging up the edges of his long sleeves. Maura smiled, her attention diverted until Jane waved a hand in front of her face.

"Hello," she said. "What was that?"

"Sorry," Maura said. "You were about to kiss me."

Jane raised her eyebrows, her mouth agape. "Seriously? You want me to kiss you now?"

"Was that not what you were about to do before Luke came in the room?"

"Yeah, that's what I was about to do."

"Now he's gone, you may kiss me," Maura said, closing the gap.

Jane turned away. "I don't wanna."

"Why not?"

She moved back, distancing herself from Maura. "Because you're still lying to me about something and I don't like it."

"Jane."

"I know. It's too hard, you'd rather keep it a secret, yada, yada, yada," she said, rolling her eyes. "Except now you're talking with him like he's going to be staying longer."

"He is." Maura took a bagel out of the bag and handed it back to Jane. "I spoke to his father and he's going to stay for two weeks before his father returns from China."

Jane's eyes grew wide again, taken aback. "And who is his father? Who is this kid?"

She took another mug out of the cupboard and filled it with coffee. She handed it to Jane. "I need to finish getting ready for work."

"Is he Ian's?"

"Where did that come from?" Maura frowned. "I haven't spoken to Ian since…well, since he visited years ago. All you need to know is that Luke was an important part of my life a long time ago."

"That's all I need to know?" Jane put the mug down on the counter. "Seriously?"

"Please, Jane, we've talked about this."

"Not enough."

Rubbing her temple, Maura finished the rest of her coffee and filled the mug with water. She stood at the window, staring out at the edge of her garden. The spring flowers were rearing their heads, opening out their petals for the world to see.

"We have a significant case to work on," Maura said. "I anticipate today being exceptionally busy. Now if you'll excuse me, I need to organise some things to keep Luke occupied today."

She walked around the edge of the counter toward her bookcase. Jane moved around the opposite site, stopping in front of her, blocking her path. "No."

"What do you mean no?"

"I mean no." She folded her arms and stared into Maura's eyes. The piercing glare made Maura retreat slightly. "We've been together for months. We promised we'd always be honest with each other. I've been holding up my end of the deal, even though I hate talking about my feelings. So spill. Or I'll arrest you."

She glanced at the rug in the living area, following the spiral pattern around and around. Jane's voice strained and it made her feel guilty. She hated the uncertainty spreading through her veins, forcing her into a situation she didn't ask for.

"Now that you have no just cause for," she said, turning around and walking across the room.

"Maura!" Jane shouted, her voice following close behind.

"I need you to give me some more time," she said, turning around again.

"How long?"

"I don't know."

"Does he even know we're together?"

Maura creased her eyes, confused by the direction of their conversation. "Why would he?"

Jane tried to smile but it barely reached her eyes. "Because you love me, and I'm important to you."

"Of course you're important to me," Maura said, reaching out to Jane's elbow.

"Funny." Jane shrugged her hand away. "Because right now I feel like I'm just your annoying detective friend."

What sounded like a herd of elephants bounced down the stairs; Luke slung his backpack over his shoulder, his school shirt tucked haphazardly into his pants. "Ready."

"No you're not," Maura said, pointing to his shirt. He rolled his eyes and tucked it neatly into the waistband. "Great, let's go."

Picking up her keys and purse, Maura opened the front door. Luke sped down the driveway, with Maura at his heel.

"We're not finished, Maura."

"Yes, we are," she said, unlocking the car.

"No, we're not."

She slipped into the driver's seat and waited for Luke to buckle up beside her. She closed the door and opened the driver's side window. Jane stood a few feet away, lines creased her forehead.

"Fine." Maura forged a smile. "You want to know?"

"I do."

She put the car into reverse and rolled slowly down the driveway. "Luke is my son."

Jane's eyes grew wider, her chin dropped and her mouth sat open. "Wait, what?"

"Goodbye, Jane," she said, placing her foot on the accelerator. The car moved faster.

"You can't just tell me that and leave," she shouted, walking across the driveway to stand in front of the car.

The confusion, the betrayal, in her eyes should have been enough for Maura to stop the car and talk to her. But the tumultuous feelings battled it out inside. She couldn't breathe, so she focused on the one thing she knew how to do; drive.

"Maura!"

Luke turned in his seat. Jane stared back at him as they turned onto the road and sped off. A couple of tears gathered in her eyes. She brushed them aside and refocused her attention on the road ahead.

"What was that?" Luke asked, turning on the radio.

She turned it off. "Nothing for you to concern yourself with."

"It was about me," he said, turning it on again.

"Please leave it alone," she said, turning it off once more. Her voice more strained than she anticipated. "I told Jane that you were my son."

"I know that." He frowned. "Why didn't she already know?"

"Why would she?" Maura slowed the car down as they approached a stop light.

"Because I'm your son, duh."

"Duh?" Maura glanced at him. "Who taught you that?"

"I dunno." He shrugged.

The car fell silent. Maura had little to say. Her emotions were already hitting maximum and she couldn't think straight to speak. She'd opened a can of worms she wasn't ready to deal with, and she had no idea what the ramifications were.

"Can I at least look at the bodies?" Luke asked, once they'd been driving for a few more minutes.

"No."

"Can I help with the experiments?"

"Which experiments?"

"You know," he said. "The tissue samples and finger prints."

"How do you know about those?" She narrowed her eyes. The desire to cry overwhelmed her. She pressed her lips together, hoping to ward off the depth of the feeling. "I can't allow that."

"Every cop show ever," he said. "Why not?"

Focusing on the methodical detail brought about a sense of calm. "We're required to ensure that there's an official chain of events with all evidence. If they found out a teenage boy had been helping out, it would not go down well in court."

"Oh."

"But perhaps we can find other samples for you to analyse." She pushed a smile across her face. The least she could do was show her son a good time, even if she was falling apart inside. "Your own hair and tissue samples, for example."

"Can I do yours?"

"Sure."

Author Note: In the words of '10 Things I Hate About You' the shit hath hiteth the fan...eth. So, Jane knows...dun, dun, duuuh! (LOL)