Chapter 27

Maura started to wake up vaguely aware of the brightness of the room. She had slept soundly and based on the amount of light in the room she realized that she slept later than her internal clock usually allowed. She stirred and went to stretch when she found her movements impeded by a warm body. A smile drifted across her face as the warmth from Jane and her closeness washed over her. They had both slept later than normal.

She listened to the deep breathing coming from Jane and decided that was a sound she could get very used to hearing on a more regular basis. She shifted her position and curled up next to Jane seemingly unwilling to fully concede to the morning. With Jane still clearly asleep she found no reason to break away from her. She draped her arm across Jane's body and nestled further into her.

Maura must have dozed off again because the next time she stirred what woke her was the very nice sensation of Jane's fingers stroking in circles on her arm.

"Good morning," Jane half whispered.

Maura couldn't resist a smile, "Morning. What time is it?"

"It's just shy of 8 am."

"Hmmm," Maura sighed and pulled herself closer to Jane. "Let's just stay in bed all day."

Jane kissed her forehead and chuckled. "If your mother wasn't a house guest and right down the hall that would be an excellent idea. However, I do believe we will have to get out of this bed at some point today."

Maura pouted. She had temporarily forgotten about her mother spending the night. "I suppose you are right about that." Maura's innate sense of manners seemed to win over wanting to stay snuggled up next to Jane. She needed to get up and check on her mother. Releasing a disappointed sigh, she kicked off the covers, momentarily taking out her frustrations on them.

Jane did not seem to appreciate that move, however. The covers pulled off her too and she hadn't decided to rise quite yet. "Hey!" she whined. "Just because you have to get up doesn't mean I have to yet. She is your house guest after all."

Maura looked down and feigned reproach. However, the sight of Jane curling up in a ball trying to reclaim the warmth of the now discarded covers put an immediate smile on her face. It was way too cute to even try to fake being angry. Feeling mildly guilty, Maura retrieved some of the covers and replaced them back onto Jane.

"Thank you," Jane mumbled.

Again, too cute to resist, Maura leaned in and gently kissed Jane. Soft, calm, tender. "Stay in bed. I'll go check on my mother." Maura got up and headed for the door. Just as she put her hand on the handle Jane's voice caused her to turn around.

"So, last night really did happen, didn't it?" It was a statement not a question. And the tone was hopeful not regretful.

"Yes Jane. Last night really did happen." That too was a statement with nothing but happiness to it.

"Just checking. Go check on your mother. I'll join you two in a while. I have my own to appease."

Maura smiled and know a call to Angela was due. She headed out to see if her mother had risen yet.

Jane, awake enough to know she would never fall back to sleep, fumbled around on the night stand for her cell phone. Letting out a small yawn, she found her mother's number and hit send. Not even a full ring before she answered. Seriously, is the phone attached to the woman?

"Jane!" shouted Angela.

"Ma, my name comes up on your caller ID. Why do you have to scream my name into the phone like you are surprised it's me?"

"Oh, sorry sweetheart. I just get excited when you call."

"Clearly."

"So, how are…..things?"

"First things first. What did you say to Maura yesterday when she called? She cried when she talked to you. What did you do?" Jane's tone was not angry but there was disappointment to it.

"I….I didn't mean to make her cry. Is she ok? She cried twice actually. I'm not even sure what I did that was so wrong. I simply said that no one could be upset with her and that she was the perfect daughter."

Jane groaned, "Well that explains the tears then. Ma, you didn't say anything wrong but your timing was way off."

"She mentioned an issue with her father. Is it really that bad?"

"It's pretty bad, Ma. But Maura worked through a lot of it yesterday and I got to tell you, I was so proud of her for…" Jane paused realizing she may be letting too much out. "Let's just say that when Maura decides to stand her ground, I think she could take on even you."

Angela laughed at that. "I don't doubt that one bit. She's tougher than she looks."

"Yes, she is. I mean, she puts up with me so I think that gave her some training."

Angela took that statement in, as well as Jane's tone. There was something different this morning than the previous mornings. She couldn't exactly place her finger on it but if she had to at the second she would have labeled it as hope. But for what or why she didn't know.

"So is she really doing better?" Jane couldn't help but smile hearing the concern and love in Angela's voice.

"Yes Ma. She really is doing better. We should be heading home soon."

"How soon?"

"We'll be back by Sunday at the latest it's fair to say." Jane heard Angela's frustrated groan. "Ma, that's just two days from now. You can make it two more days without us."

"I can but it doesn't mean I want to. I just need to see Maura, and you, for myself to make sure she's ok, that you both are ok. I hate this Jane. I hate not knowing where you are and what is going on. If I was mean I'd point out that it is a cruel thing to do to a mother, but I'm not mean so I won't point any of that out."

Jane pulled the phone away from her ear and rubbed her face with both hands. The woman will be the death of me at some point, I swear to God. She pulled the phone back up to her, "Ma, I'm not getting into this again. I agreed to check in daily, so consider that done for today. We'll be back by Sunday. Once we are home you can pounce all over Maura for the details and answers but, again, it won't come from me."

Angela's frustration with Jane was matched only by her sense of pride for how fiercely Jane was protecting Maura. Very few people earned the right to have Jane in their corner but when they did the rest of the world had better beware. And apparently that included her noisy, be well meaning mother. "Fine. I'll wait until I can corner Maura when she returns."

"I'll warn her. Good bye Ma. I'll call you tomorrow."

"Bye."

Jane flopped back down on the bed. Talking with her mother could be so exhausting.

While Jane was placing her call to Angela, a mental picture that made Maura smile, Maura went to check on Constance. Stopping first at the guest room, Maura lightly knocked but didn't hear anything. She slowly opened the door only to find the room was vacant. She went to the kitchen next and although she found evidence of Constance's recent presence, she wasn't in the kitchen either.

Maura headed out to the terrace and was happy when she found her mother sitting out there.

"I forgot how great the view of the park is from your balcony, Maura."

"It's been a while since you have been here. And yes, it's my favorite feature of this place." Maura took the spot next to her mother and settled in the chair. "Have you been up long?"

"Not really, no. I didn't want to wake either you or Jane."

"You didn't."

"Where is Jane? I never did see her last night."

Maura smiled. "She's on the phone with Angela." Constance looked questioningly at Maura's smile. "Angela isn't really appreciative of the fact that she doesn't know where either of us is right now. She's been a bit of a handful for Jane I'm afraid."

Constance smiled and sighed. "It's a mother's instinct to protect her children. No matter what age she is," and she reached out and took Maura's hands. "Why on Earth has she kept Angela in the dark about where you both are?"

"She's afraid Angela will "storm the city" as Jane puts it. She thinks it's safer to keep her in Boston."

"She can be a force, I'll grant you that. Does Angela know what's going on with your father?"

"Not really. I haven't felt like sharing the details. She knows I was upset. She knows I ran and that Jane followed me. She knows it has something to do with Phillip," Maura was a little shocked she used his name instead of the typical 'Father' identifier but thought she needed to stop calling him that at some point anyway. "But she doesn't know details."

"She just cares about you. I think it's been good for you to have her in your life. She's very motherly. God knows I haven't been that for you in the past."

"Mother, stop. I love you. We aren't going to start doing some in-depth comparison between you and Angela. What matters to me is that you are here and you still want me in your life. That's all I ever needed to know," the love behind those words was obvious.

Constance rubbed Maura's hands. "Ok, ok. Maura you have to know that I love you more than anything in this world. I may not have been the best at showing that love," she immediately stopped Maura from protesting, "but don't ever, for one second, doubt my love for you. You mean everything to me and nothing could ever change that."

Maura leaned over and embraced her mother. Constance sniffled and tried to stop the tears that were coming down her cheeks. Both held the embrace until both had regained composure.

"Ok, enough of that. I don't get to see you often enough to waste time with you on unpleasant things like crying."

"Agreed," said Maura reassuringly.

"So, when are you heading back to Boston?"

"Yeah, when are we heading back Maura?" Jane asked as she walked out onto the terrace. She walked up to Constance and placed a hand gently on her shoulder as if to also offer reassurance that neither held a grudge against her.

Maura caught this interaction between Jane and her mother and it melted her heart. Jane was capable of such tenderness when she wanted to and she had such a subtle way of delivering it that it could almost get missed if you didn't pay close attention. She smiled affectionately at Jane.

"I was thinking about heading back tomorrow actually. I have to be back to work Monday and so do you Jane. If we leave tomorrow that would give us both a full day to get caught up at home before jumping back into work."

Constance had sat back and watched Maura and Jane's interaction. She had caught the looks being given between the two and sensed that there was a shift in their relationship. She wondered. She actually had wondered a few times over the years based on how Maura would talk about Jane or watching Jane protect Maura. But now, watching them interact with each other, the change was obvious. It put a smile on Constance's face.

"Are you sure Maura," asked Jane. "We aren't really on a definite time table here."

"I'm sure. I would, however," she turned her attention to Constance, "like to spend today with you if that's possible."

"I think that can be arranged," she said with a continued smile.

"Great! How about a shopping excursion?" Maura's voice beamed with excitement at the possibility.

"That would be lovely," Constance agreed.

"Oh, yippee," groaned Jane.

Both Maura and Constance took one look at the pained and panicked look on Jane's face and burst out laughing. "Jane, you can stay here if you would like. You've done enough for me this week. I won't torture you with shopping."

Jane breathed an immediate sigh of relief. "Thanks. Anyway, you should have time with your mother alone. Why don't I handle making our return arrangements while you both shop and then we can all have dinner tonight."

Constance, still chuckling, agreed. "That sounds just perfect." She watched again as Jane and Maura exchanged a look that was undeniably motivated by love. It warmed her heart.