And the end is nigh, my friends. Never fear though, there's one more chapter to come after this one.

Own nothing.

'How's she doing?'

Jane looked round to see her mother standing in the doorway. The paramedics had taken Maura and the babies into the hospital to be checked over. The twins had been taken straight to the NICU; the conditions of their birth and the fact that they were a couple of weeks early had the doctors concerned. Maura, on the other hand, was fast asleep in the maternity care unit. Jane had taken a seat beside her the second she had come in and she hadn't left that seat for longer than two minutes. She was determined to be there when Maura woke up.

'She's still sleeping. Did you see the babies?'

'Yeah, they let me see through the window.' Angela smiled as she sat down beside her daughter. 'They're gorgeous.'

'I know.'

'Jane, you hungry?' Korsak poked his head around the door.

'Hungry.. Uh..' Jane thought for a minute. 'Yeah.. Actually, I'm starving. I haven't eaten in seven hours. I'd kill for a coffee too.'

'I'm heading down to the canteen so I'll pick up something for you. How's Maura?'

'Fine, she's asleep.'

Korsak nodded. 'How about you, Mrs Rizzoli? Anything I can get you?'

'No thank you, Vince, I'm fine.'

'Okay. I'll be back in a bit.'

Once Korsak had disappeared, Angela turned to Jane. 'Have you told her yet?'

'Told her what?'

'Don't play ignorant, missy. Have you told Maura how you feel?'

'No Ma, of course not. She's had other things on her mind. I couldn't tell her while she was pregnant and I can't tell her now. Her friends have just died. She's got to make so many decisions now and she's got to deal with losing them.. I can't just drop this kind of bombshell on her.'

'Not even if it could give you both something you've always wanted?'

Jane hesitated. 'I'm scared she'll say no. I mean, it wouldn't be so bad if we weren't so close, but what if it gets awkward?'

'Well, I guess you're going to have to decide if she's worth the risk.' Angela put her arm around her daughter and brought her in close. 'She loves you, Jane. I know that much.'

'You really think so?'

'I do. I'm going to go get a bottle of water. I love you, baby.'

'Love you too, Ma. Thanks.'

'You're welcome, sweetheart.'

***

'Turkey sandwich, chips and a coffee. Okay?'

Jane grinned up at Korsak. 'I love you, man. How's Frost?'

'Recovering. He nearly had a panic attack earlier. I hear he did well though.'

'He did, actually. He delivered the first baby.'

'Really?'

'Uh huh. Didn't even pass out.'

Korsak chuckled. 'Good on him. Has Maura woken up at all?'

'No, she's been asleep for about three hours.'

'Three hours?'

'Well, yeah. When was the last time you pushed two 6 pound something babies out of your-?'

'Okay, only saying.'

A quiet groan from the bed made them both look over. Maura's eyelids fluttered open slowly and she looked over at the pair.

'I'll leave you two alone.' Korsak patted Jane's knee and left quickly. He didn't really fancy dealing with, what he supposed would be a weepy Maura.

'Hey you..' Jane smiled as he left, squeezing Maura's hand. 'You look better than you did a few hours ago.'

'Mmm.' Maura blinked a couple of times, adjusting to her surroundings. 'Hey.'

'You okay?'

'Yeah.' Her voice was still filled with sleep and she stifled a yawn. 'Am I thin again yet?'

Jane chuckled. 'Not quite, honey. You're still pretty fat.'

'Oh.'

'We'll get you back into shape, don't worry.'

'Okay.'

'Do you want anything?'

Maura shook her head, shuffling into her pillows. 'Thank you for helping me before.'

'You did most of the work. You did so well, Maura. I'm proud of you.'

'Thanks.' Maura smiled slightly but the smile faded from her lips. 'Did I dream it?'

'Dream what, Maur?'

'I.. Are.. Are Cassie and James really dead?' Her voice was barely a whisper.

Jane's heart melted into her stomach. She really didn't want to have to say yes but she couldn't lie to her, not now.

'Yeah, sweetie. They're gone. I'm sorry.'

The blonde nodded and a tear slipped down her cheek. 'I never told her.'

'About Senegal?'

'Mmm. I never told her the truth. Why didn't I tell her the truth?'

'Because you didn't want to upset her. Right? You kept it from her for a reason, a

good reason.'

'She died without knowing the truth. God, I.. I can't believe she's gone at all..'

'I'm so sorry, Maura. She was good person. They both were.'

'You couldn't stand James.'

'It's not that I couldn't stand him. Well, he wasn't my favourite person but he was a good guy. He respected you.'

'Well, I did carry his babies for him. Oh God, the twins.. What's going to happen to them?'

Jane shook her head. 'No idea. Maybe they'll be able to track down one of their relatives to take them.'

Maura thought for a moment. 'Maybe. Cass's parents are dead and her sister is married with three children of her own. She doesn't talk to her much anyway. James is an only child and his parents live in Australia. I don't know.'

'Care then, perhaps? They might be fostered or adopted.'

'Or they might end up stuck in the system, being passed from one social worker to another. No, I won't let that happen to them. Even adoption.. One day, those children are going to want to know where they came from. I'm not sure I could put them through all that. It hurts, believe me.'

Jane ran her thumb lightly over Maura's hand. 'You could take them.'

Maura raised her eyebrows. 'Say that again..'

'You could take them. My mother would love to help and so would I. I've practically lived with you for the past three months, I might as well stay a bit longer.'

'It's not practical. We work such long hours, Jane..'

'We'll find a way around it. We always do, Maura. That's what we do, we work things out. Right?'

'Yeah..' Maura considered Jane's proposal. 'It could work.. You really think we can do this?'

'Nope, I think we'll just blunder about, messing it up like everyone else. But we'll never know unless we try. You up for it?'

'Yeah.. Yeah, we could do this..'

'Damn right, we could. You probably need some time to think it over, I get that. But whatever you decide, I'm proud of you. I.. I love you.'

Maura smiled softly. 'I love you too.'

'No, Maura.' Jane slipped her hand away from Maura's and rested in one her arm. 'I love you. I really love you. More than anything else in the world. I don't know where I'd be without you. So unless you tell me not to, I'm about to kiss you.'

Maura looked surprised but she didn't say a word as Jane leaned over and planted a tender kiss on her lips.

'Like I said,' She whispered as they drew away, her breath hot against Jane's cheek. 'I love you too.'