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This chapter isn't much and it's short, but I'm almost finished with chapter 4, which should more than make up for this filler chapter that just pushes things along to where they need to be.

Disclaimer: JTam just wishes she were as awesome as some of the writers in this fandom. (Not me. Can't include myself amongst these writers, for I am truly nothing compared to some of you.)

I started thinking about what message I wanted to send Maura with flowers.

You're my best friend and I love you. I don't ever want to imagine my life without you.

Yeah, that was pretty much how I felt.

Once I got home from work that evening, I plopped on the sofa and opened up my laptop, which had been sitting on the coffee table in front of it.

I googled everything I could think of about flowers: flower meanings, flower color meanings, flowers that say I love you forever…and though I would never admit it to anyone else, I even googled 'unique wedding flower arrangements' just to find a good combination of flowers to send to Maura. Some of the flowers I found I didn't even know what they were, so I had to look them up too.

Sending flowers was fucking complicated. I knew I'd never look at flowers the same way again.

Finally settling on a combination, I wrote them down on a sticky note and stuck it on the back of the door of my apartment so I wouldn't forget as I rushed out the door the next morning to work.

The next morning, I actually remembered to grab the sticky note on my way out the door and stuffed it in my pocket. I stopped at a florist shop about half a dozen blocks away from the precinct.

I parked my car on the street and walked inside. "Uh, I need some flowers. Well, I need a bouquet or arrangement or whatever of," I paused and pulled the sticky note out of my left pocket. "Pink roses, orange spray roses, orange and pink Gerbera daisies, and orange and pink stock?" I requested, nervously rubbing my hands together.

The petite woman in front of me looked a little like Maura, but an older version. She smiled warmly. "Good morning! Wow, that's, uh, quite a combination you have there. This person must be very special to you."

'Special' didn't quite cover what Maura was to me. Maura had started to feel like my entire life. We spent a good bit of our time at work together and most of our time outside of work together too. Our lives were completely intertwined and had been for quite some time. But I didn't have time to explain that to the florist.

I swallowed hard, but then grinned back. "Uh yeah. We do seem to be quite inseparable."

"If you don't mind me asking, how long have you two been together?" the woman inquired.

I'm pretty sure I actually blushed this time because my cheeks definitely felt like they were burning. "Actually we aren't. At least not yet, anyway," I replied to her.

"Ah, let me guess. You're using these flowers to ask her out on a first date," she stated.

Clearing my throat, I nodded. "How did you know? And how did you know it was a woman? Actually," I blabbered on nervously "Of course you knew it was a woman. Who buys men flowers, right?"

She laughed heartily, "Officer –"

"Detective, actually," I corrected with a smile.

She started again, "Detective, I've been in this business almost 30 years. I've sold a lot of flowers, but I've only ever had maybe two dozen requests similar to yours, if that. And if I remember correctly, most of them have been from women for another woman. Most men know what they want to say, but don't know the flowers to send, so they don't come in here with specific flower requests. Now, I don't rightfully know why they don't take the time to look it up like women do, but there you have it."

I laughed lightly, "I see. Women do tend to be more thoughtful at times."

"Exactly. But honey, I have to tell ya – the orders I've filled similar to yours since gay marriage became legal in this state, well I've also done the flower arrangements for at their weddings."

I suddenly imagined Maura in a white dress, walking down the aisle to me. Shit, shit! Stop it. You can't be that kind of lesbian.

Lesbian? Huh. Guess I am now.

"Really? That's…wow. I mean, I already can't imagine my life without her. She's my best friend, but I guess I've never really given marriage a serious thought. People have either been turned off by the whole cop thing, or they, uh, want to use the handcuffs, ya know?" I stuttered a bit, blushing. "Nobody's ever understood me, but she does. She understands what I do. And she still loves me despite it all."

Realizing how much I'd just revealed to a stranger, I cleared my throat and apologized. "Sorry for that. Probably TMI."

"Honey, don't worry about it. You obviously love her very much. It's beautiful and refreshing, honestly. I love love. And it sounds like you shouldn't let this one go," she replied, smiling.

I bet Maura looks like this in 20 years. I smiled at the thought.

"I'll try not to screw it up. But I can't make any promises," I told her.

"Good. I look forward to seeing how it works out," she responded with a wink. "Okay, honey, Do you have time to wait for the arrangement, or would you like to have it delivered?" she asked.

"Delivered please. Think you could get it to her by about 3pm today?"

"I think I can manage that," she replied with another wink. "Let me get all the information I need to process your order."

Also...don't just follow the story! Review as well! I need feedback too! Be specific - was a certain line very in-character? OOC? Think something was awkwardly phrased? I need constructive feedback, readers. Please and thank you! :)