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Angela Rizzoli poured herself a glass of orange juice and sighed. She was still processing everything that had happened yesterday. She was sure that Jane and Maura was too but it was a lot to take in. The mother in her was desperate to interfere or at least try and help matters, but she decided that now might be a good time to accept Jane's warnings and keep her nose out of things. So despite her temptation, she had promised herself that last night's conversation with Jane would stay between them. She was certain that Maura felt the same but she couldn't say a word; if it backfired, Jane would never forgive her. So she would stop trying to play the Fairy Godmother or Cupid, but no one was going to stop her from being there for either of the girls, no matter what. They were both too important to her. Even though Maura wasn't her daughter, she felt a motherly love for her, more than she ever had for any of Jane's other friends. No child, in Angela's opinion, deserved to grow up the way Maura had. All those years, starved of motherly affection.. It broke her heart to think of it. She hardly knew anything about Maura's adoptive father but she presumed it was the same situation as it was with her mother- he was too focused on his work to be the kind of father his little girl had deserved.

'Morning Angela.'

'Hm?' Angela looked up at Maura, snapping out of her reverie. 'Morning, honey. You want some breakfast?'

'No thank you, I'm not that hungry.'

'How about a drink? Coffee, mango juice..?'

'Mango juice would be lovely, thank you.'

'My pleasure. You sit down and take it easy.'

Maura frowned but did as she was told. Something was definitely up. Angela was always sweet to her, of course, but she never sounded so..

'What's Jane been saying to you?'

'Nothing,' the woman said a little too quickly. 'I mean.. Well, she mentioned that you

were a little stressed..'

'She told you.'

'Well, no.. But.. Well, yeah. Sorry, I was being nosy and-'

'It's fine. I'm glad you know.'

'When do you plan on telling your parents?'

Maura groaned. 'I have no idea. What do I say? I can't just drop this bombshell on them and expect them to be okay with it?'

'Why not? Maura, you're their daughter. A parent doesn't stop loving their child, no matter what.'

'You don't know my parents.'

'You don't know the strength of a mother's love.'

The blonde cast her eyes down at the glass of mango juice in front of her. 'You're right, I don't. Well, I didn't. Until I saw you and the way you are with your children. It never really occurred to me that parents actually loved their children before then. The warmth and kindness you've shown me proved me wrong.'

Angela felt her heart twinge at Maura's words. 'Children are the most precious things in the world, Maura. If your parents don't see that they're blessed to have a daughter like you, someone so selfless, so funny and warm.. Well, then you've always got me.'

'Oh dear God, what the hell happened to you two?'

The two women looked round to find Jane standing at the front door, eyebrows raised and a grin on her face. Maura smiled.

'I know what I'm going to do. Could you pass me the phone please?'

'Do I look okay?'

'Maura, for the hundredth time, you look stunning. Now shut up.'

'They're going to be here any second..'

'And in the meantime, you need to breathe. It's going to be fine.'

'Promise?'

'I promise.'

'Okay.'

The doorbell rang loudly, making Maura jump. She was far too tense, she knew that.

But she couldn't find a way to make herself relax, not now. She smoothed down her dress, adjusted her hair and answered the door.

Cassandra and James Vaughn stood on her doorstep, as elegant a couple as ever. She could see within seconds that they were nervous too, their knuckles were turning white from holding each other's hands so hard.

'Cassie, James, please come in.' She stood back to let them through. 'This my friend, Jane Rizzoli and her mother, Angela.'

'Lovely to meet you both,' James acknowledged politely. Jane could tell straight away that he'd been born into money, but he didn't seem as rude or flashy as the Fairfields, the family she'd met a couple of years ago. Maybe not all of Maura's friends were stuck up snobs. He certainly didn't seem to have that 'holier-than-thou' attitude that Jane despised.

'You too, Mr Vaughn. It's so nice to meet Maura's friends from outside work.'

Maura gave her a momentary glare as she pulled out a hug with Cassandra. 'Would you like something to drink?'

Ten minutes later, the five were sat in Maura's living room. It was evident that the Vaughns were anxious; they both kept trying to break the tension but never quite getting there. Finally, Maura spoke up.

'I asked you over because I've made my decision..'

They both nodded and gripped each other's hands a little tighter.

'..And I've decided that if you want me to carry your baby for you, then I'd be honoured.'

Cassandra's face lit up. 'You'll do it?'

'I'll do it.'

The redhead beamed and flung her arms around Maura's neck. 'Maura, thank you! Thank you, thank you, thank you!'

'My pleasure.'

'No Maura, honestly, I don't know how we can ever thank you enough. What you're doing for us is wonderful. We owe you.' James smiled and Maura knew that he'd never been more sincere in his life.'

'You don't owe me anything. Just.. Be good to him or her, okay?'

'Of course we will. Look, we'll sort out all the hospital appointments and that but we won't do anything without consulting you first. We just.. We want everything to go right so we don't have to try again and we want you to be as comfortable as possible with everything that's going to happen.'

'Honey, I'm a doctor. I know what's going to happen.'

'Providing all goes well.'

'Well, yes. The chances aren't as good as we'd like them to be but I've got a good feeling. This is going to happen for you, I'm going to do my best to ensure that.'

Jane smiled as she wanted her friend share the excitement with the pair. What Maura was doing was truly amazing and she could tell that the couple in front of her couldn't have been happier. This was her time to step up now. She wasn't thrilled with the situation but it was Maura's choice and she respected that. She would be there for her friend. Jane wasn't usually one to let her personal feelings cloud her judgement, or at least, she tried not to. This was one of those times. As she watched the smiles and laughter, she made a silent vow to Maura to never leave her side, no matter what.