Chapter 3

Maura had cleared her schedule and by Monday Jane who hadn't been home since they found the body on Saturday was overdue a break. Jane just wanted to go home and sleep, the couple of hours she had managed at work did nothing to improve her outlook when it came to the task she was about to face, she just had to get it over and done with.

They left headquarters together and headed to the small family run bridal boutique that Maura had located and booked. Jane had agreed in a non-committal way to all the dresses that Maura had picked out and now they moved to the dressing room above the store to try them on.

Jane was silent as the large lady with the tape measure rambled on about recent brides she had fitted and what was popular this season. Jane thought that even Maura was finding it difficult to be interested in every detail of what must have been every wedding in Boston. Maura remained reliably polite.

Jane had zoned out completely when she heard Maura say her name and shook her head to clear it.

"Have you thought about footwear?" Maura asked as the rather robust woman roughly pulled a very fitted dress over Jane's form, almost lifting the detective fully off the ground.

Jane's brow furrowed and her eyes nearly shot through the roof at the unexpected assault. "I...not much, what should I be thinking?" Jane shrugged trying to hold herself upright as she was tugged at.

Maura considered Jane with her objective eye and shook her head. "Not that one, the bottom of the gown comes out at too low a point for your figure."

"You may be right honey, makes her look like a street lamp." The older woman agreed cheerfully as she without warning began yanking the dress back down Jane's body and scuttled away for another.

Jane held her arms around herself. "I feel violated." She said in a hushed tone.

Maura grinned as she turned away from Jane and began to wander aimlessly around the other end of the room trying to look anywhere but at Jane standing in her underwear.

"Try this one next." The woman re-appeared with another gown, her arms pushed up inside it and ready to strike. "This one is very popular; you picked out some of the best dresses we carry." She said obviously pleased.

Jane quickly stepped out of her reach and held out her hands for the dress. "I think I can manage to get myself into this one." Jane said through gritted teeth and a grimace that she tried to present as a polite smile.

Maura tried to hide a chuckle and continued to amble around the room looking at the pictures of happy brides and couples on their big day.

Jane did struggle to get in to the dress herself much to the dress fitters smug satisfaction. The matriarch had finally gone quiet, obviously put out by Jane's less than gushing, un-bride like demeanour.

Maura was sure that it should have been down to her to gush and coo but she couldn't quite muster it. Perhaps they should have invited Angela along after all; she would have been enthusiastic enough for all three of them.

Maura stopped and shook her head again. "No."

Jane looked up as she tugged and pulled at bits of the dress. "It feels okay, I think its fine." Jane looked over her shoulder at the full length mirror.

Maura sighed patiently. "Your wedding dress should not be fine Jane, it should be amazing, the best dress you will ever wear, and the most special and beautiful you will ever look or feel. That dress is not okay. The hint of colour looks wrong with your skin tone."

Jane shot a confused look first at the dress and then at Maura. "It's white" she said.

The woman by Jane's side stifled a gasp and Maura shook her head giving her a sympathetic look.

"It's actually oatmea, I suppose you could call it off white." Maura tried to appease both women.

Jane rolled her eyes and started to pull herself out of the dress, making it surely look more difficult than it could be and mumbling something about a god damn straight jacket.

"Try the ivory." Maura suggested.

Jane looked blank as she received the dress thrust at her by their one time happy helper. Jane thought that by now this woman would probably be close competition for her title as the women's surly champion of the world; Jane decided she liked her better this way.

They were interrupted by the sound of the door bell (which played a little bridal waltz) from the floor below and their accomplice seemed visibly relieved to have to excuse herself.

As Jane stepped into the next dress Maura turned away again. Jane wriggled the dress into place and looked at her reflection, moving around to look from different angles and throwing her hands in the air with a clueless shrug. "Well?"

When there was no response from Maura, Jane span around to check that the Doctor hadn't just got up and left her for a lost cause as well. Jane found Maura stood stock still and staring in her direction, mouth hanging slightly open and if Jane wasn't mistaken a flush of colour in her cheeks.

Jane first felt a little self conscious and then amused but as she saw Maura take a step toward her she suddenly felt frozen by the intensity in her eyes and felt her own heat rising.

"That is the one." Maura said in a voice that wasn't her own as she continued to step slowly toward Jane, never taking her eyes from her for a second.

"You think?" Was all Jane could get out.

"I think you will make the most beautiful bride I have ever seen." Maura said sincerely as she now stood close to Jane.

Jane narrowed her eyes suspiciously but smiled in spite of herself. "Really?" She whispered.

Maura didn't say a word; they both knew she meant everything she said as she could not lie. Maura raised her hand to brush some unruly curls out of Jane's face and let her hand linger on the hot skin of Jane's cheek.

Jane closed her eyes at the touch and drew a ragged breath, desperately trying to push away the feeling that everything she had ever wanted was standing in front of her. The next sensation she felt was Maura's soft lips upon her own, so softly it was almost the ghost of a kiss. Jane leant into Maura briefly before pulling her lips away, bringing one hand up to cup Maura's face and rest her forehead against the smaller woman.

"Maura." She whispered, pleading.

Jane stroked Maura's face with her thumb, Jane's eyes still closed as if blocking out everything but the way that Maura felt swaying slightly against her. Jane breathed Maura in until she felt the moisture on her thumb and opened her eyes to see a tear run silently down Maura's flawless face.

"Maura." Jane's voice filled this time with concern.

Maura shook her head away from Jane's touch and took a step back. "I'm sorry." She offered.

"Don't" Jane begged "Don't cry...don't please..."

Maura dabbed at her eyes with a tissue she had snatched up from a nearby table.

"It's an amazing dress Jane; you would be hard pressed to find anything better given such a short time frame. I think we are done looking." Maura moved further into the room.

Jane advanced on the Doctor, dress forgotten. "Maura, look at me." She demanded.

Maura did. When Jane didn't speak Maura made an attempt to pull herself together.

"Why are you doing this Jane?" She asked quietly.

Jane looked confused. "Me?, Why am I? What am I doing Maura?"

"I meant why are you marrying Casey?" Maura quickly clarified. "You must love him?"

Jane was silent and then she began to pace, as well as she could in her current state of dress. "He loves me, he is a good man, and he asked me." Jane stopped pacing and looked directly at Maura. "And while we are on why? Maura, Why? Why? Why now, why haven't we tried this before? Why didn't you tell me how you felt sooner? Why have I had to watch you date a parade of undeserving men? Why?" Jane dropped her flailing arms to her sides.

Maura did not know what to say, and then. "Would it have made a difference?"

Jane looked defeated. "You have no idea."