Author's note: thank you very much for all the reviews; I think there are four or five chapters left.

Chapter Fifteen: How To Talk In Public

"I never thought that I was going to get married one day. Even less to Jane."

The crowd melted in a perfect 'aw' that made Maura blush and laugh nervously. She looked down – suddenly intimidated – and tried to calm down her heartbeats.

Talking in public was not something new to her but the people who were observing her right now had little to do with colleages. Same – if she dared to say so – about her speech. Why had life to be complicated when it wasn't related to medicine?

"I haven't written anything. As a matter of fact, I wasn't thinking about making a speech tonight but the truth is that... When I see you all gathered in this room – some coming from the other side of the world – then I want to say thank you. I want... I want to share endless anecdotes with you. The ones only Jane knows about for having lived them with me. I want... I want you all to understand what it means to me. How much this wedding is..." She shrugged, swallowed hard as a lump formed in her throat. "I lack words to tell you how I feel."

The brunette's hand suddenly pressed her forearm. She turned around and locked her eyes with the Italian's then bit her lower lip. Yet a smile pierced through it.

"Sometimes, I am not sure to understand how we made it here; how we made it so far. But there is not a single moment that I would take back from it. I am very proud of what we are, Jane... I owe you my life."

A delicate silence floated above the restaurant room for long seconds before the detective to react and plant a shy kiss at the corner of Maura's lips. The little speech had completely taken her aback but wrapped perfectly the nice pre-wedding dinner they all had shared together.

"And now... Let's dance! To the brides!" Laurence raised a glass of champagne before grabbing his bagpipes and being imitated by three other men.

Jane forced a smile and discreetly leaned over to talk to Maura.

"One of your cousins has a fiddle? Isn't that Irish?"

The medical examiner nodded as she settled back on her seat. She gladly accepted another glass of wine and brought it to her lips.

"It is. After all, I am mostly from Irish descendants. Although, don't repeat it. I don't want to create some sort of conflict now."

"But they're both gonna play... Different stuff... At the same time?" Jane made a face and lowered her tone of voice. "It's not I don't like music, Maur', but one genre at a time."

Too late. Although to Jane's utter uncertainty – the combination of both instruments actually gave a very nice effect to the whole. Unless she was just too drunk and happy to realize how awful it was going.

...

"So. Does anyone need advices about marriage? I'm starting to have some experience on the matter, actually."

Apolline laughed at James' remark and shook her head before grabbing the bottle of champagne out of Amy's hands.

"We have been married for six months, dear. You are a little newbie at this game." A bit tipsy, she turned to Jane and Maura then winked. "Don't listen to him. He will only say silly things. What do men know about marriage, anyway? You will do well without any. Hahahaha!"

Jane chuckled slightly, more amused by the idea of witnessing an intoxicated Apolline than by her words themselves. She cast a glance at her own cousins; the ones who were more or less her age. Everyone seemed to get along in spite of coming from different worlds, different spheres.

She was relieved.

"About this Casey..." Tapping playfully on her pack of cigarettes, Amy pouted and went to sit a bit closer to Jane.

"Oh God. Will you stop it, now?" Maura rolled her eyes and heavily sighed. She squinted her eyes at the campus in the dark; somewhere in the distance, in front of her. It was late and she was cold – if not just freezing – but for nothing in the world she would have gone to bed now. She liked it the way it was; chilling out in the middle of the night. "You know, there is a reason why she broke up with him."

"Of course. She went for you instead. But that doesn't mean anything. I mean..." Amy frowned and shook her head at Jane, suddenly uncertain. "He wasn't... Satisfying?"

"Amy!"

But the socialite dismissed Maura's complain and bit her thumbnail; obviously waiting for Jane to answer her.

Embarrassed at the most, the brunette laughed and cleared her voice yet not saying the slightest thing. Maura shook her head, feeling sorry.

"He err... Casey... How to say this...?"

Amy blinked yet lit a cigarette. She seemed to have all her time, especially seeing the confusion on her face.

"What? He isn't good in bed?"

"My sister is obsessed. Don't pay attention to her." William laughed – actually not bothered by the questions asked by Amy – and winked at Jane's cousins.

"Why you can say it, Jane. I guess it is all fine by now. Anyway, he isn't even here." Maura turned to Amy and made a face.

"Ah, I see. You don't need to go to the bathroom anymore to finish it by yourself, am I right?" The socialite nodded and patted Jane's knee. "We all went through this at some point. Mister Muscle is not always token of quality. Let's just be honest, here. Appearances can be tricky. My cousin, however..."

This time, Jane simply burst out laughing. She didn't own Amy's carefree attitude when it came to sex but she nonetheless found the woman entertaining in all her exhuberance. She accepted a beer that Frankie handled her.

"Here's to Casey and his... Very relative skills!" Barely believing her own boldness, she raised the bottle and winked at Maura before kissing her loudly on the cheek. "And to you. You are worth all the Caseys in the world, believe me."

"Technically I could have attended your wedding with someone. Is it too late to call him? Unless... What is his name, again? The face licker mechanic?"

Maura straightened up. Your time to feel uncomfortable, Isles.

"Giovanni..." Her whisper only found echo in Amy's loud voice. So much to try to pass unnoticed.

The socialite nodded and formed small hearts with the smoke of her cigarette.

"Maybe he is available tomorrow. Believe it or not but being the one who is always single starts... Weighing a bit. I could count on Maura, before. Now I am just going to be the odd ball in this oh so dysfunctional family."

"Oh but you already are, sweetheart." Apolline shook her head at her cousin and stood up. She took James' hand in hers. "Well, it is a bit late now and I guess we have a wedding to attend tomorrow so it is time for us to wish you all a good night."

Little by little, everyone began to leave until Jane and Maura finally found themselves alone on top of the stairs that led to the Bed & Breakfast. Cuddled against each other – looking for heat through their embrace – they stared at the night without moving an inch. Harvard was peaceful, the snow – pale layer of white in the dark – seemed to glow all around.

"It is going to be beautiful outside tomorrow..." Maura's whisper barely reached Jane's ear. She was too cold to properly speak.

"But freezing!"

Not really bothered by the answer, the scientist sat up and took a deep breath. She closed her eyes, her face suddenly lit up by a serene smile.

"The Queen of the Dead is turning into The Ice Queen. Fair evolution, some would say."

Jane frowned, uncertain of the way she was supposed to interpret Maura's words. Her tone had not been clear enough; an ounce of bitterness floating above it.

"You don't like this nickname, do you?" Stupid question. She was herself aware of her own ones – the whole series her colleagues had come up with – and they all went on her nerves. "People are not being mean to you when they give you these, you know. It is just teasing."

Maura pouted – pondering her lover's words – and finally stood up before turning around towards the door of the Bed & Breakfast.

"I guess I have got used to it and – against all expectations – I grew attached to it. Just don't say it to anyone. I am too afraid that they would look for another one, just to annoy me."

Jane stood up and passed a hand on Maura's nape. She gently caressed her hair; passing her fingers through the blond curls. She bent over and let the scientist's scent go to her head. Bewitchingly.

"I owe you my life as well..." Her murmur disappeared in a kiss.