I found this chapter on my iPad. Apparently I wrote it months ago and never posted it. Hope you like it!
"Mama, it hurts!"
"I know, baby girl, I know."
Jane carried her four year old daughter into the house on one hip while carrying a skateboard with her other hand. She had been teaching the little girl how to ride. Emma had been doing so well but had taken a spill just moments ago. Her hands had some minor abrasions but her knee was bleeding.
"You're such a brave girl! Stay right here while I get the first aid kit." Jane deposited the little girl on the counter top and walked to the other side of the island to retrieve the kit from under the sink.
"Where's Mommy? I want Mommy to do it! She's the doctor!"
Jane smiled, "Mommy is taking a nap with Lizzy, Ems. I can handle this! I have patched up plenty of my own scrapes over the years. You won't lose your leg. I promise."
The little girl didn't smile at her mother's joke but quietly responded. "Ok."
The detective went to work; opening up the first aid kit and retrieving the items that she needed. "This is gonna sting a little bit baby girl. Can you be brave for me?"
The mini version of Jane bit her lip as she nodded. She took a deep breath as her mother began to clean the wound. Jane could tell that her daughter was fighting back tears. The little girl hated to show weakness in front of her brunette mother. She wanted to be just like her - to make her proud. Jane and Maura had explained to her plenty of times that it was ok to cry but the little girl still tried to stay strong as often as she could.
Jane didn't acknowledge the single tear that slipped down the girl's cheek. She smoothed the bandaid into place and pressed a light kiss to the top of it. "There you go." She said softy. "All better. What do you want to do now?"
"I wanna snuggle with Mommy."
The mother smiled. Emma always sought comfort in Maura. She couldn't blame her. She knew what it was like to be comforted by the Medical Examiner. "That sounds like a great idea."
Jane picked up her daughter and carried her to the master bedroom where she found her wife and youngest daughter just where she had left them. Maura was in the middle of the bed with her arms wrapped around their 18 month old. The toddler was the spitting image of Maura.
She placed Emma down on the bed and helped her slip her shoes off. Emma carefully scooted over so that she could snuggle into her blonde mother's side. The woman naturally adjusted her position so that she was embracing both children.
Jane smiled at the sight before turning to leave the room. She hoped to have all of the dishes done before Maura woke up. A tiny voice stopped her in the doorway.
"Mama? Don't you wanna snuggle with us?"
The detective smiled widely as she crossed back towards the bed. Dishes could wait. She slipped off her own shoes before she lay down on the other side of Emma. She could've sworn that she saw a smile pass across her wife's lips. She rested her long arm across her eldest daughter and her wife; her hand coming to rest on top of Lizzy's leg.
"Always, baby girl." She said as she kissed her daughter's forehead and closed her eyes.
"Always."