Maura normally loved going to conferences. She thrived on the chance to learn something new and talk about her own recent findings with people who would understand what she was saying. But this was her first conference since she and Jane became girlfriends and her first time leaving Jane's side since taking her mother to rehab at the very start of their relationship, so she was struggling with some pretty deep mixed feelings. As she stepped off the plane and into Heathrow airport Maura had a soft pout on her lips because despite being excited about the conference she was already missing Jane. Pulling her phone out of her purse as she walked to baggage claim she sent Jane a text to let her known she'd arrived in London safe and sound and would call her later after settling into the hotel. After getting her luggage she walked over to where the waiting drivers were to find the one she'd hired for her stay. Since she was staying in the city and driving in London was worse then driving in Manhattan she'd hired a car.

"Mr. Kent?" Maura asked the man holding the sign with her name.

The older gentleman gave a nod. "Doctor Isles?"

Maura nodded and they exchanged the proper information. Mr. Kent took Maura's bags and carried them out to the waiting car. She was staying at the St. James rather then one of the larger luxury hotels so Mr. Kent drove her over there and carried her things up the stairs of the converted Victorian home and into the warm welcoming lobby. Before leaving he made sure she had his card so she could call him when she needed him and then left. After checking in Maura was lead to her suite, the Westminster suit, which had a sitting room, king sized bed, and roof top terrace. Maura decided that since she'd be there for little over a week she wanted to be comfortable. As she looked around the suite, making her way to the terrace Maura wished Jane were there with her. One of the things Maura wanted to do most was travel with Jane. She wanted to show her lover all the places she loved and watch as Jane experienced the world beyond Boston, beyond Massachusetts, and even beyond the United States.

Sinking into the white padding of the black terrace sofa Maura pulled her phone from her pocket and hit the number one, holding it until the speed dial kicked in and dialed Jane's number.

"Rizzoli." Jane answered as she sat back in her desk chair. She'd been grumpy since leaving the airport after seeing Maura off and it showed in the tone of her voice.

Maura raised an eyebrow. "Jane?"

"Hi." Jane said as she sat up and smiled. "I got your text. Are you at the hotel?"

"Yes." Maura answered. "And it's lovely. I wish you'd come with me."

Jane sighed. "Yeah, I know, but once things get into full swing you'll be to busy and caught up in your medical stuff to miss me."

They talked for about ten minutes before Jane heard Maura yawn. She told the blonde to eat and get some sleep and they'd talk tomorrow. Maura told Jane she'd miss her and they exchanged I love yous before hanging up. After ordering dinner Maura emailed her aunt to set up something for later in the week, and then spent the rest of the evening going over the paper she would be presenting on medical forensics. The next morning after a breakfast of tea and scones Maura called Mr. Kent as she gathered up her things and then headed over to the conference center at the Royal College of Physicians. She smiled pleasurably as she checked in and was giving the welcoming packet. She had a little over and hour before the opening meeting so she decided to find a nice place in one of the gardens to look over the information she'd been given.

Sitting on a bench under a shade tree Maura read over the calenderer of events and a few other things before getting to the announcement that there was a change in the key note speaker. Maura went pale as she read the name of the new speaker. Dr. Hope Todd would be replacing the navel pathologist Maura had been hoping to see. Maura hadn't done much of anything with the information Jane had found on her birth mother. She'd been caught up in her relationship with Jane and all the newness in her life that had brought. And there was the fact that she'd been put through a lot with Patrick and she didn't know if she could handle it if things with Hope turned out to be as dramatic. She didn't even know if Hope knew about her the way Patrick did, she'd never gotten up the courage to ask him. There was a slight tremble in her hand as Maura pulled out her phone to call Jane.

"Maura." Jane's voice was sleep laced. "It's barely five in the morning here."

"My mother's here." Maura said, her breath slightly rapid.

Jane groaned. Maura use to hyperventilate all the time when Constance was coming to visit but she'd thought that had stopped since the two had worked things out. "I thought Connie was in rehab for at least another month?"

Maura didn't even bother to correct Jane regarding the nickname her lover had assigned her mother. "Not my Mom, my mother, my birth mother Jane. Hope Todd is speaking at the conference."

That got Jane's full attention. "What? Since when?"

"She's a replacement speaker." Maura explained. "I had no idea she'd be here."

Jane was sitting up in their bed listening to the panic in Maura's voice. "Do you want me to come to London? I'll be on the next flight…"

Maura wanted nothing more then for Jane to come to her but she couldn't ask Jane to do that. "No, no I'll be alright. I mean I don't have to speak with her. It's not like she'd even know who I was."

"True." Jane replied while trying to decide if she were going to go anyway. "Or you could use this as a change to finally meet her."

"I know who she is." Maura said softly. "That's good enough for me. I have you and I'm closer to my real mother, and I have Angela. I don't feel that overwhelming need to meet her anymore."

"Then there's nothing to be afraid of." Jane said gently.

Maura nodded after giving that some thought. "Yes, yes your right Jane. I'm sorry I woke you."

Jane smirked. "I know I'm right." She teased. "And you can wake me whenever you need me baby. Are you sure you don't want me to come over there?"

"I'll be alright." Maura promised. "Though I do miss you."

"I miss you too." Jane replied. "Call me later when you get a chance."

"I will." Maura said. "I love you Jane."

"Love you too, Maur." Jane replied before they hung up.

Jane worried about Maura all day. When Maura called during a break she let Jane know that Hope wouldn't be arriving for another day because her filling in had been such short notice, which was both good and bad. Maura wouldn't have to worry about running into her birth mother unprepared, but on the other hand it would also give her time to freak out. Jane had so much vacation time and sick days saved up that she could take a couple of days off easy, but Maura had insisted that she'd be fine. When she'd asked her mother what she should do Angela's response was to go to Maura right away, but Frankie had a point out that Maura was a big girl who could take of herself. Yes, Maura could take care of herself but Maura still had issues with asking for what she wanted and needed if she thought it would interfere with Jane's wants or needs.

That evening Jane was sitting on the sofa trying to watch the game while eating a slice of pizza when there was a knock on the door. She grumbled as she muted the tv and then got up to answer it. The last person she'd have expected at Maura's door was Agent Dean but there he stood. "What do you want?"

Dean was surprise when Jane answered the door but he wasn't sure why. "Is Doctor Isles at home?"

"No." Jane answered as she blocked the doorway with her body. "What do you want?"

"I need to speak with Doctor Isles." Dean said in his best professional voice.

"She isn't home." Jane replied. "I'll let her know you stopped by."

When Jane went to close the door Dean held out his arm to stop her, his hand slapping against the wood, the sudden stop causing the brass knocker to clack. "This is official, Detective. I'll wait."

"You'll be waiting awhile." Jane said as she gave the man an angry glare. "Maura's out of town until the twenty-fourth."

"Where is she?" Dean asked. "When did she leave?"

Jane crossed her arms over her chest. "What is this about?"

There was a long pause before Agent Dean answered; "Paddy Doyle escaped federal custody this afternoon."

"Fuck." Jane said in that drawn out way she had of saying words when she was suddenly flustered. "Nice going there big bad agent man. How the hell did you manage to let that happen?"

Dean bristled at the implication this was his fault. "I need to speak with Doctor Isles. Where is she?"

"What?" Jane said, getting defensive. "You think she has something to do with this? She's been out of the country since yesterday, she's at a medical conference."

"Where?" Dean asked.

"Narnia." Jane snapped back.

Dean somehow managed not to roll his eyes. "You're impeding a federal investigation Detective Rizzoli."

"You're being an ass hat Special Agent Dean." Jane replied. "Maura isn't here, she hasn't been here, she hasn't talk to Doyle since he was shot, and she has no freaking clue where he is now. She doesn't even know he got away."

"How can you be so sure?" Dean asked.

Without hesitation Jane said, "I can be sure because she's the person I love. We trust each other, we don't keep secrets, and if she'd known anything about Paddy she'd have told me."

"Would you tell me?" Dean asked.

"I wouldn't tell you if you had burning dog shit on your shoe." Jane answered. "I'll let Maura know what's going on. She'll call you as soon as she can."

After closing the door on Dean Jane's mind was made up. She headed right for the bedroom, grabbed a bag from the closest and started shoving clothes into it as she made the calls she needed to make. An hour later Jane was at Logan waiting on her flight to London.

The lecture Hope Todd gave on women's health in first world urban centers was fascinating and it left Maura with a lot she'd like to talk about, but she didn't have the nerve to go to Hope and join a discussion. After the key note address and lecture there was a meet and greet. Maura had been able to focus on what Hope had been talking about medically for the most part, but she did allow herself a few personal thoughts about her birth mother's intelligence and the ease in which she gave her address. She also let herself draw genetic parallels between herself and Hope. It was more then evident that Maura looked like her birth mother, the resemblance was rather striking, and more unnerving then she'd expected. In every other way Maura was clearly Constance Isles daughter, but standing across the room watching Hope Todd, she could finally see herself in someone physically. For the first time in her life she could answer the questions that lingering in the back of her mind. Where had the shape of her eyes and nose come from? Did someone out there smile the way she smiled? Where did her cheekbones and hair color come from? The answer to those questions and more stood on the other side of the room chuckling at something someone said.

Maura walked over to the refreshment table to get a cup of coffee and something to nibble on. There was a discussion on pediatric forensics that afternoon that she was looking forward too, and then she'd return to her hotel room to get ready for her lecture tomorrow. When she turned around after picking up a small bowl fruit and cheese a soft squeak of surprise bubbled up in her throat as her hazel eyes went wide.

"Hello Maura." Hope Todd said softly.

It took a moment for the shock of suddenly finding herself standing face to face with her birth mother to wear off. "Hello Doctor Todd." She managed to say in soft, professional voice.

Maura was about to make a comment on Hope's lecture when Hope cut her off, "It's startling." She said softly. "You look so much like my nieces." The surprise and uncertainty flickered in Maura's eyes. "I know you know who I am. I'm not sure if you know I know who you are."

"How long have you know?" Maura asked as she gripped the coffee cup in her hand tightly to keep it from trembling.

"Patrick called me shortly after the first time you met him." Hope answered. "He called to tell me that you were good, safe, happy, a brilliant doctor." Hope smiled. It was a smile Maura had often seen in the mirror. "And that you'd asked about me."

"He wouldn't tell me who you were." Maura said. Her emotions were a tornado ripping her apart on the inside. "Not until he thought he was dying."

Hope nodded, she knew that. "He was trying to protect me."

"From me?" Maura asked, a flicker of anger in her tone.

"From the past." Hope answered.

Before Maura could say anything one of the conference coordinators came over with a fake professional smile plastered on his face. "Excuse the interruption Doctors, but Doctor Todd, the CNO of the NHS would like to have a word with you. Do you have a moment?"

"Of course Doctor Langley." Hope said before looking at Maura. "I'm staying at The Dukes if you'd like to finish our conversation over dinner, Doctor Isles."

Maura simply nodded. "I'll keep that in mind Doctor Todd. Thank you."

Maura had been distracted for the rest of the afternoon and it didn't help that she couldn't get a hold of Jane. Speaking to Hope had rattled Maura, she hadn't been ready for it, and she was over thinking the encounter, analyzing everything, and she couldn't make herself stop. She had so many questions she wanted to ask but wasn't sure if she really wanted to know the answers. Standing on the terrace looking out over London Maura had just dialed Jane's number again when the doorbell rang. Making her way inside she stopped to set her wine glass down on the table before making her over to the door. "Jane!"

"Are you ok?" Jane asked, as she looked Maura over as if she expected her to be wounded or something.

"I'm fine, Jane." Maura said, though her eyes told a different story. Throwing her arms around Jane, Maura hugged her tightly after giving her a deep kiss. Feeling the tension Jane's lithe body she could tell that something had really upset Jane so she asked, "What are you doing here?"

"Making sure you're alright." Jane said as she slowly started to relax, her hands coming up to cup Maura's face.

Maura smiled softly at the concern in Jane's eyes. "I'm alright, a little shaken up but alright."

Jane frowned as she took Maura's hand and led her over to the sofa. "What's got you so shaken up?"

"I spoke to my birth mother." Maura answered. "What's got you so shaken up?"

"Oh." Jane said as she put her arm around Maura. "It didn't go well?"

Maura shrugged. "It was a brief encounter but she did invite me over to her hotel."

"Are you going?" Jane asked.

Again Maura shrugged and then she repeated, "What's upset you, Jane? Why did you come all the way to London?"

"I was worried about you." Jane said honestly. The look Maura gave her told her that Maura knew there was more. Jane sighed softly. "Paddy Doyle's on the loose."

"Oh." Maura said softly. "How?"

Jane shrugged. "I didn't get the details from Agent Dean. I was to busy giving him a hard time because he wanted to question you as if you a criminal or something."

"He hasn't contacted me." Maura said with a questioning look.

Jane smirked. "I didn't tell him where you were only that I'd have you call him. Well, no, that's only partly true. I told him you were in Narnia."

Maura shook her head and chuckled softly. Then she snuggled into Jane and closed her eyes. "I'm glad you're here Jane."

After calling Agent Dean and answering his questions about Paddy Doyle Maura got ready to head over to The Dukes to have drinks with her birth mother. Having Jane there had given her the courage to face the woman. When she and Jane walked into the hotel's bar they found Hope sitting at a corner table waiting on them. Maura had a death grip on Jane's hand that was making the taller woman hide a wince as they approached.

"Hello Maura." Hope said as she stood to greet her adult daughter. "You must be Jane Rizzoli."

Jane raised an eyebrow. "Yes, must be."

"Patrick told me about you." Hope explained. "He said that you were Maura's friend."

"She's my girlfriend." Maura said softly.

Hope raised an eyebrow and it made her look so much like Maura it was weird for Jane to see. The older woman looked at the two younger women and then nodded, smiling a tight little smile. "Please, both of you join me."

Maura and Jane slipped into the chairs across from Hope. There was a lingering silence between the three women, broken only when Maura and Jane gave their drink orders to the waitress. Maura wasn't sure what to say or what to ask first and Hope was waiting for her to start. Finally it was Jane who asked, "You knew about Maura?"

Hope nodded. "No details, not until recently, but Patrick kept me up to date on her."

That gave Maura the nudge she needed to ask, "Why? Why did you give me up?"

"I was eighteen." Hope said, not seeing a reason to beat around the bush. "I was unmarried, and your father," She paused. "Well, we couldn't give you the kind of life you deserved. We couldn't even promise to keep you safe. Patrick promised me that the couple he gave you to could give you the kind of life neither of us could. He said they were a family of influence and wealth. He said you would want for nothing and be safe. It was the right thing to do, Maura. It was the best thing for you, and I don't regret doing it."

Maura sat there for a moment taking in what Hope was saying and what she herself was feeling. Finally after a few long moments of silence she said, "I love my parents. I wouldn't change my life even if I could. So, thank you."

The three women talked for a little while longer. Maura found out she had a half sister named Caillin Martin who was eighteen years younger, an aunt, uncles, and cousins. Once of her cousins was a doctor, a surgeon in fact, so medicine seemed to run in the family. They talked about Hope's work, about her acquaintance with the doctor who couldn't make it to the conference, who she'd meet though another cousin who'd passed a few years back. It was odd for Maura to think about the sudden blood ties she had to perfect strangers. Maura told Hope about her work, about her life in Boston, and about Jane. It wasn't anything to deep and meaningful, it wasn't the kind of conversation she'd have with Constance or even Angela, it was simply three people who have just met chatting about their respective lives.

In front of the hotel later that night while they waited on the car Jane took Maura's hand and asked, "Are you ok?"

Maura nodded as she gave Jane a soft smile. "Yes, I'm ok. Actually I'm good, Jane, I'm really good. I feel like I can finally close this chapter of my life and move on."

Jane smiled back at Maura before kissing her quickly on the lips. "That's great Maura."

Across the street Patrick Doyle watched as his daughter and her friend climbed into the car that had pulled up. He waited until they were long go before crossing the street and entering the hotel.