Author's Note: Thank you very much for all the reviews and messages. To people who complain: this story takes place in France so there has to be some bits in French. Or else it will simply look as absurd as a Hollywood movie.

Chapter Eight

I don't want to see you. Go away. Go away immediately. What have you said to Jane about me? What does she now know that she still ignored an hour ago? Don't speak to her. Don't look at her. She doesn't belong to your life. She doesn't exist to you. Leave her alone. Leave me alone. I didn't try to reach you. Respect my choice. Please. Respect these years of silence that I have put between you and me. Why are you here? I don't want to see you.

Maura looked at Jane before focusing back on her aunt. Léopoldine was casually chatting with Jane in the restaurant room of the hotel. She was in a good mood and her eyes were sparkling of delight: she was happy to be there, with Jane and Maura.

Maura felt the exact opposite. She wanted to run away from her aunt. She wanted to grab Jane by the hand before turning her back at the woman who had deeply hurt her once. But Maura's heart beat too loud right now for her to actually take action. She was stuck on her seat and stuck in a life that she had suddenly started hating.

And then there was Jane.

Jane was at ease, and confident. She enjoyed the casual conversation that she was having with Léopoldine. Maura understood her friend's reaction for Léopoldine was a fascinating woman and very chatty. She mastered the art of conversation like nobody else.

Maura swallowed back her sour anger: Léopoldine may seem nice, it didn't change anything to what had happened between the two of them.

"Do you still live in the 14th arrondissement?"

Maura's soft voice interrupted Léopoldine more or less politely. The artist didn't take it badly or if she did then she didn't let it show. She gave Maura a nod before smiling brightly. She actually seemed delighted to see that her niece finally talked to her.

"You know I live for this house." Léopoldine looked back at Jane. "It's very rare to be able to have a house in Paris. Most of habitations are apartments, here."

"I've noticed that. I still have to spot a single townhouse."

Jane cast a glance at Maura. Briefly. Meeting Léopoldine had plunged her in an ocean of confusion. She didn't understand why Maura didn't like her aunt. Léopoldine was nice, and very friendly. She even cared for Maura and she was genuinely happy to see her now. Something didn't make sense. Jane could feel it. Sadly she didn't have all the elements in hand in order to understand the whole story.

"You should come for dinner some time. Then you'll be able to tell people that you've seen a Parisian townhouse!"

Jane appreciated the invitation a lot and if it weren't for Maura's reluctance then she would have immediately said yes. She murmured an inaudible reply instead, a reply that made her feel ashamed. Léopoldine was being nice to her and she didn't dare to be nice in return. Because of Maura.

Yet Jane had the feeling that she wasn't being fair at all.

We won't go to your house. We won't be part of your plans. Within an hour, you're going to leave this hotel and you won't come back. I don't want to hear from you ever again. Stay away from Jane.

Stay. Away. From. Jane.

You have ruined my life once. I won't let you do it twice. Even less now. I used to like you, Léopoldine. I used to enjoy your presence. I missed this warm feeling of trust, actually. But what can I say? It's gone. It's forever gone.

"Right, Maura?"

Maura looked at her aunt in the eye. She remained quiet for long seconds. She wasn't pondering the suggestion because she had already made up her mind. She was simply trying to win time.

"We are actually very busy."

"Oh." Disappointment showed in Léopoldine's reaction. She looked down at her lap before nodding quietly. "I see."

Jane swallowed hard. She didn't like what was going on. Perhaps a piece of the puzzle was missing but Léopoldine looked honestly disappointed and it wasn't fair. Family was family. Thus Jane took a deep breath and avoided looking at Maura as she spoke to the artist.

"But I'm sure we can come for dinner one of these days nonetheless. We're on vacation, after all. And vacations are made for last-minute plans."

Jane was defying Maura. Perhaps she would regret it but for the moment she completely assumed her position. Maura didn't complain. The ghost of a bitter smile played on her lips before she excused herself and left the table.

Her sudden gesture raised a wave of embarrassment between Jane and Léopoldine.

"I'm sorry about the awkwardness of this lunch." Léopoldine gave Jane a smile as she watched how Maura walked to the bathroom. "It's... I honestly thought that Maura would have turned the page by now."

Maura's reaction surprised Jane because Maura wasn't a resentful person. She may be a tad susceptible but she usually and easily forgave people. Whatever had happened between her and Léopoldine must have been really serious. The Maura who had just left wasn't the Maura Jane knew. It was a pale and bitter copy of her dear Maura, of the one she loved.

It hurt to witness this happening without knowing the nature of the issue. Jane felt terribly disarmed.

"Yeah... It's okay. I ahem... I'm afraid I don't really know... Maura never told me anything so..." Jane grabbed her napkin. She folded it in order to calm down her anxiety. "I can't judge."

"If she hasn't told you anything then I'm sorry but I can't tell you anything either, Jane. It has to come from her. Let's just say that... That Maura and I disagreed on something very important – something that has changed now – and this disagreement led to the slight coldness you're now witnessing."

Léopoldine's explanation was extremely vague yet Jane appreciated the fact that Maura's aunt hadn't spilled the beans without Maura's agreement. Léopoldine had tact and she showed respect to people's choices. It was wise.

"Oh."

"I would like to take advantage of Maura's absence to thank you for all the things you've done for her... Constance told me about you, and how Maura opened up thanks to you. These past few years spent by your side have been good on hers. I'm really glad to see that my niece has someone like you in her life. She deserves the best."

The compliment went straight to Jane's heart but it only managed to increase the confusion she felt. And the latent pain that tightened a grip on her mind. Because she was leaving Maura behind. Because by saying goodbye to Boston, she was putting an end to the benefits of the last years Léopoldine had just talked about.

...

The weight - the heat - of Jane's eyes on her caused Maura to turn her head. Amused, she squinted her eyes at her friend as if to read whatever was in Jane's mind. The truth was that she felt proud and touched to be Jane's subject of attention.

"What is going on?"

Jane shrugged. The smile that played on her lips expressed the same degree of entertainment as the one that made Maura's hazel eyes glimmer.

"I hadn't imagined you in the metro. It's weird to see you here." Jane motioned the rather empty coach. "You never take public transportation in Boston."

"That's because the Parisian metro is special. Look!" Maura grabbed Jane by the arm as she pointed to something on their right. The train had made it back to the outside world a while ago and for the rails being high above the streets, they could see the Eiffel Tower a few feet away now. "Line 6 isn't like any other line."

"Oh!" Jane opened big eyes. She hadn't expected to see the monument from such a short distance. "Damn, where's my phone? I need to take a pic!"

But the metro didn't stop and the tower disappeared in the distance just as fast as it had appeared.

Jane observed the buildings in silence. When Maura had suggested a metro ride, Jane had simply assumed that her friend needed some fresh air after the incomprehensible confusion of their lunch with Léopoldine. Maura hadn't complained about it but the tension was palpable nonetheless.

Yet at no moment had she imagined that Maura wanted to show her something special. Something unique.

"The line finishes on Les Champs Elysées. I don't particularly like this area but it's a must-see anyway. And please, don't start singing the eponymous song!"

"Oh... The most beautiful avenue in the world!"

As Jane's comment made her laugh, Maura realized that it felt good to be light again. She was glad to see that their lunch with her aunt now was nothing but an unpleasant memory. Perhaps she would give in – if only to please Jane – and they would go have dinner at Léopoldine's house but for the moment she simply wanted to forget till her aunt's existence.

"It's only beautiful if McDonalds and Starbucks are part of what you define as beauty."

Jane sat back on her seat properly. Maura closed her eyes. It felt good to feel the heat of Jane's body brushing hers. She had butterflies in her stomach and her lips had curled up in a big, bright smile.

I want to remember this moment for the rest of my life. You and me, in this empty train. The way your eyes begin to sparkle as you spot the Eiffel Tower a few blocks away only. Then the casualness of your gesture, your hand against my thigh.

In a parallel universe, I would turn around to face you then I would lean over to capture your lips in a kiss. You wouldn't run away from me. On the contrary. You would hold me tightly against you then you would murmur sweet nothings into my ear.

But you know what? I'm actually fine with what I'm having now, Jane. Because you're sitting next to me and I've made you happy. It's worth any fantasy.