Chapter Thirty

Epilogue

"Jane!" Maura turned around and waited for Jane to walk down the stairs. "I think I've heard their cars. Would you mind welcoming them? I need to check the turkey. I can't go out now."

Jane nodded. She would never admit it – not even to Maura – but she felt quite anxious right now. She had looked at her reflection in the mirror of the master bedroom for long minutes as a powerful wave of uncertainty did its damaging work on her self-confidence. And then the conclusion: she didn't look as good as she wanted to. Of course they wouldn't say a word about it but she knew that she had reached this stage when - no matter what - she would look bad.

"Sure... But it smells good and you know my turkey theory, Maura: if it smells good then there's nothing to worry about."

Maura wrinkled her nose. She obviously and openly disagreed with her partner. She rolled her eyes then walked back to the kitchen area before mumbling a semblance of reply.

"Do I really have to remind you what happened last year?"

Touché.

Jane didn't insist. The truth was that Maura was right: Jane had decided to be in charge of their first Thanksgiving as a couple and she had let the turkey burn in the oven. It had caused a major drama and Maura's eternal distrust whenever Jane walked into a kitchen now.

Jane walked to the door. She couldn't see the street from the large French windows of the living-room as the house was on a hill. However, she could admire the bay of Portland, Maine. She admired it every day, every morning as she drank her coffee in one of the armchairs that they had settled next to the windows.

The view was breathtaking: she would never get tired of it.

She opened the door and walked out on the porch. Slowly. Too slowly to her own taste. She took the few steps down that led to the small path and grinned as soon as she saw her mother walk towards her.

As a matter of fact, everyone was here: Angela, Ron, Frankie, Nina, Korsak and Kiki.

"What's that?! A Bostonian invasion?! I hope you didn't come to mess with Portland!" Jane burst out laughing. She would have never been able to express her current feelings but her heart was burning of that heat that only love can bring. She had tears in her eyes. Tears of joy. "Hi, ma'..."

Angela hugged her daughter as tightly as she could.

"The turkey isn't ready..."

Jane turned around. She hadn't heard Maura walk outside of the house in order to welcome their guests. She rolled her eyes at Maura dramatically before giving a wink at Korsak.

"Maura's developing an obsession for turkey. Thank God it only happens on Thanksgiving."

Thanksgiving. The first one in Maine, in their new house. Jane passed a hand on her stomach: with their future child.

Everything had gone fast after she had showed up at Maura's on that snowy night of November. She had managed to get a new contract with the FBI – one that allowed her to give conferences during three days every two months – while Maura had quit the morgue. They had moved to Portland, Maine, where Maura dedicated herself to her writing. She also gave lectures at Boston medical school one day per week.

They both missed the adrenalin of crime scenes and investigations but the truth was that they had found an unexpected balance in their new life as well. Then almost immediately they had talked about having a family. Together. The first IVF time had been a charm for Jane: she was due in January.

Portland was only an hour and forty-five minutes away from Boston. A mere nothing. Thus they hadn't cut off with their previous life completely. They still had the same friends whom they met on a regular basis – either in Boston or in Portland – just as their relatives. They had also started making new connections in their new city.

Jane liked Portland. She liked the quietness of the city, and the quality of life. She had fallen in love with it as soon as Maura had taken her there for a weekend. They had found the house by accident – during a stroll – and had loved it as soon as they had landed eyes on it.

A very old house, from the 19th century. With fireplaces and hardwood floors that cracked.

Maine was perfect to raise a family. Jane could picture it all happening here, her new life. She was looking forward to being able to hold their baby in her arms in this house. In this city. With Maura.

"Have you put on weight?" Angela looked at her daughter a tad closer as everyone walked in the large and bright living-room. "You need to put on weight, you know. You're seven-month pregnant. Are you eating well?"

Jane had put on weight. It wasn't her fault if most of the weight had gone in her stomach. It was even misleading: everyone thought that she was expecting twins.

"Oh god... Yes. I am." Jane rolled her eyes. "Maura! Maura, tell ma' that I eat all the time."

Maura gave Angela a quiet nod. She was proud of Jane who was handling her pregnancy with a lot of seriousness. At first Maura had been afraid that Jane would refuse to slow down but her doubts had vanished as soon as they had got the pregnancy test back. Jane was being careful, and she was very dedicated to it too.

It was even surprising.

"She's doing really fine." Maura planted a feather kiss at the corner of Jane's lips before looking at their guests. "What would you like to drink?"

Of course she and Jane could have driven to Boston for Thanksgiving but the two of them had insisted to invite everyone instead. They really wanted to take advantage of the holidays to celebrate this new life. It meant a lot to them.

Sadly Maura's parents hadn't been able to come. Léopoldine would only be there for Christmas, she had too much work in Paris for the moment.

Everyone gave a choice of drink before Maura getting the attention of most of the audience as she showed them her last purchase at the antique market. Jane noticed Korsak. Her ex-colleague had remained outside of the group. He had walked to the large windows instead to admire the view. Jane joined him right away.

"Beautiful, hmm?"

Korsak nodded. His hands in his back, he gave Jane one of these smiles that called back a thousand memories of their time at the BPD.

"Who in their right mind would like to return to crime scenes when you can face that every day?" He laughed lightly. "How are you doing?"

"Fine..."

"Have you taken a decision regarding the FBI and the BPD?"

Jane shook her head. She had got an offer from the BPD, a consulting job of some sort. A contraction caused her to frown briefly.

"No. But I guess the rules of the game have changed." Her dark eyes glanced at Korsak. "I have other priorities now. I want to be here for this child. He... Or she... Is my priority now. I'm fine with it. That's what I want."

Just like Maura.

They wanted this family. They wanted this child more than anything. Of course a part of them would always miss the pace of investigations but times were different now. They wanted to give it a try to something new, to something more peaceful. They needed to celebrate life after wandering for so many years in the dark labyrinth of crimes.

And then, they would see. Time would tell.

"Follow your heart."

Jane barely had time to look at Korsak. Maura had just walked to them and she had slid an arm around her waist. She rubbed Jane's lower back sweetly. Lovingly.

"Is everything alright?"

Maura didn't sound concerned but curious. Korsak nodded immediately.

"I'm glad to see you're taking great care of my long-time work partner, Maura."

The remark was genuine. Pure. It carried the weight of sincerity and quietness. Maura blushed slightly but she remained as close to Jane as she could nonetheless. Today would be a glorious day: she felt it deep inside.

"It doesn't come from me, Vince. It's actually Jane who looks after my life."

Who looks after my smiles, after my dreams. She's the one who shows me the path to follow when I'm having doubts. She's my light. That's what she is: Jane is my light. I ower her my life.

The End

...

Author's Note: Thank you very much for all your reviews, all along this story. I'm glad to see that many of you enjoyed it. I will be back on Monday, 21st with the first chapter of the sequel to Nine Months. I need to re-read Nine Months and to make a few research. I hope you will like it as well. And I hope that this bloody doc manager thing will work better. I don't know for you but when I try to add a sentence in the document I have downloaded, it takes forever to appear on the screen. I'm not patient so it pisses me off. Anyway... See you soon!