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DISCLAIMER: Let us check... Nope. Still don't own them. We're just two bffs writing on a Google Doc in our spare time.
It was Jane's last day in Boston before she had to return back "home" in the morning. While she was happy to escape the stress and anxiety the weekend caused her, in the back of her mind, she was also a little disappointed. She had come for one reason, to celebrate her mother's marriage. But she had also hoped that she could spend some time with Maura, at least some real time, rather than her quick and awkward stop-by the night before.. She knew that it was easier said than done, considering the circumstances. She also knew that she would never be able to simply waltz back into Maura's life with the hope that everything would be sunshine and rainbows, but she would also at least like explain to Maura why she did what she did. It may have taken two whole years and the sight of Maura again for Jane to realize it, but she knew that leaving Maura that morning was the worst decision she ever made.
And, of course, that feeling completely slapped her in the face the second she saw Maura. Her first interaction with Maura was a shitshow, and she knew that everything had blown up in her face. While Jane Rizzoli was one of the most hard-headed and determined people on the planet, she knew that the damage she had caused may have been irreversible.
And with those thoughts floating in her head, Jane forced herself to get off Frankie's lumpy couch and hop in the shower. She donned an oversized tee with crop leggings, her favorite comfy and cute combo. She spritzed her favorite perfume, the one that Maura always admired, and she "borrowed" Frankie's car, heading to the same beautiful Beacon Hill home that she always barged right into with a smile on her face. Today it was different, as she stood in front of the large wooden door, holding two coffee cups in her sweating hands, hoping that the woman who used to love her would let her in again. She gently knocked, taking a deep breath and blowing a strand of unruly hair from her face. She heard the door unlatch and when it opened, she was met by one of the most beautiful sights she had ever seen: A pregnant Maura Isles in yoga pants and a long tunic top, her honey curls piled up in a messy bun.
"Jane?" Maura whispered, genuinely surprised. "I thought your flight left today."
"Not until early evening," Jane said hesitantly, worried about Maura's response to her showing up again uninvited. "Can I come in?" She asked politely.
Jane offered one of the coffee cups to Maura, who hesitated. "It's decaf. You know, because baby girl and all." Jane smiled, that dimple causing Maura's heart to race.
Maura stepped aside and opened up the door. Jane stepped through, and strolled into the kitchen. "So have you two thought of any names?" Jane asked casually.
"You… two?" Maura asked, confused.
Jane turned red, obviously embarrassed and feeling like maybe this was a bad idea. But before she knew it, she had opened her mouth and out flew a whole bunch of nonsense. Jane could have sworn sometimes that she had Tourette's.
"Yeah, you know, you and the dad? I mean, you're pretty far along right? You two have to have some names you've bounced around. Even when I was pregnant with… well, I had thought of some names. I'm just curious. You know, no big deal. But if you haven't, you all still have plenty of time and I've even heard of people waiting to bring the baby home before they name it and-" Jane trailed off, mostly because she was out of breath and not at all because Maura was standing opposite her smiling this ridiculously radiant smile. Jane had heard some women were radiant with a certain glow while pregnant, and being pregnant was seriously agreeing with Maura.
"Me and the Dad… mmm." Maura trailed off. "I mean, I have thought of a few names," Maura deliberately avoided mentioning the "Dad" again, but not out of embarrassment for the situation. No, it just felt really good to watch Jane squirm. And oh, how Maura wanted to make her squirm. "Nothing we have decided on though."
Jane couldn't hide her disappointment at the word "we," although she sucked in a deep breath and requested something that Maura never saw coming.
"Can I, um, meet him before I have to leave?" Jane asked peering around the living room. Maura thought that maybe this was how teenage girls feel when they requested dating privileges from their fathers. Jane could go from being a normal human to an overprotective Neanderthal in record time.
"Why, so you can interrogate him?" Maura responded, a bit of an edge to her voice. Maura stood as tall as she could, her hand on one hip.
Jane wore a look of shock when Maura shook her head no. She finally conceded with a smirk on her face but still had the conscience to look guilty all at the same time.
"It doesn't matter anyways," Maura stated, shrugging as though it never occurred to her. "He's, well… not around." Maura wasn't lying. He had never been around. At least not to her home.
Jane scratched her ear, worried that Maura could hear her heartbeat and see the apprehension playing across her features. "So, there's not, he isn't um, here?" She asked.
"No, Jane. He isn't here," Maura stated firmly. "You know I wanted to be a Mom for years, so I finally made it happen. I couldn't wait for it to come around the conventional way." Maura explained.
Jane looked confused so Maura, explicitly put her out of her misery. "It isn't like I met him in a bar. I carefully chose him. I won't lie, medical history was important to me but I also obviously chose someone very attractive."
"Medical hist- What are you even talking about, Maura?" Jane scratched the back of her neck.
"He was a donor, Jane," Maura stated plainly. "I picked him from a database, okay? And then I had to take hormone shots and undergo a procedure."
Jane blanched. "Simple as that." Maura waved the information off as if it were no big deal.
"Okay," came the simple response back. Jane took a long sip of her coffee and rocked back and forth on her heels. She was practically ashamed to admit that her heart was soaring. Another silence enveloped them.
"So you're going to raise her alone?" Jane blurted out at the same time Maura asked, "Would you like to see the nursery?"
Jane responded with an enthusiastic "Yes!" while Maura mumbled, "Ummm, yes, that was my plan."
But Jane was already bounding up the stairs, no doubt having forgotten even asking a question, or running away from what she had asked. Probably the latter, Maura decided. Jane reached the spare bedroom and smirked behind a hand when she discovered that nothing had changed since she left. Maura stood beside her, tears glistening in her eyes, hands fisted at her side.
"I can't decide on a theme," she admitted, then burst into tears.
Jane put an arm around Maura, pulling her in and relishing the closeness of their bodies. She cursed inwardly at the physical reaction her body was having. Jane rubbed up and down Maura's arm trying to comfort her.
"It's alright," she murmured soothingly. "When she comes home from the hospital it won't matter if the nursery is done. It will just matter that she has you and that she is loved. Everything else will come in time." Jane reassured but Maura only cried harder.
"Besides she won't even be sleeping in here for a while. You'll want to keep her in your bedroom for the first few months. Maybe you should start with picking out a bassinet?" Jane suggested.
Maura hiccuped and pulled away, her tear-stained face replaced with a grateful grin. "I think I can do that." She admitted.
"One thing at a time," Jane reminded her, "one thing at a time." Maura didn't shy away when Jane, who still had her arm wrapped around Maura's shoulder, placed a kiss to her temple.
Maura pulled away, wiped her face clean of her tears and smiled brightly again at Jane. "I'll go get ready!"
Maura's mood swings are going to be the death of me, Jane thought.
They spent the rest of the morning getting lost in a children's chic furniture store in Boston, where Maura poured over every available bassinet option for Bean, which is what Jane nicknamed the child after seeing the first ultrasound picture hanging on the side of Maura's fridge.
"Maura," Jane called out while she was getting dressed. "This ultrasound picture... you're having a baby, right? 'Cause it looks like a bean!" Then a smirk followed by, "That's what I'm calling her from now on!"
Maura had smacked Jane on the arm for that, declaring loudly that she'd have to pick out an actual name soon so that didn't stick, though she secretly loved it. She had no one else to share her life with, and as much as she despised how easily she and Jane fell back into their old banter, she found herself having all these conflicting emotions.
Elation, that Jane had seemingly "returned" to her. She had been less than kind with her words, yet Jane had continued to seek her out and have interactions with her. That marveled her. Denial, because she knew that this was most likely going to be the most interaction they may ever have again. Jane didn't live here anymore, and they weren't "friends" anymore, so she had to keep herself in check. And finally, she was totally frustrated because she hadn't been able to get the ache between her legs to disappear since Friday night when she had given Jane a piece of her mind.
Almost as if Jane realized that Maura was starting to pull away, she picked up a Mission Critical baby Carrier and strapped it on, placing a baby doll in the front. It looked like a military grade SWAT vest. Maura hated to admit that she melted a little at the sight of tough Jane Rizzoli wearing a baby carrier. Jane paraded around the store, calling out, "Hey, I can take Bean to work with me on call-outs." Maura shook herself out of a trance, smiling and laughing to herself. She shook her head, indicating that no, Jane would not be taking Bean (Oh no, when did that happen?) with her to work. Jane pouted in response.
Maura finally settled on an Orbelle bassinet that Jane was sure cost her more than her first months' rent as an adult. Jane looked longingly at the baby carrier as she put it away, after some decidedly judgemental glares from the staff in the stuffy store. When she wandered away, Maura motioned to the sales lady to include that in her purchases. As they drove away from the store, Jane reached over the console and placed her hand on Maura's belly.
Maura hummed in approval, her body recognizing the need for Jane before her brain could catch up with it. She watched Jane out of the corner of her eye. "Bean is active," Jane said with awe.
Maura nodded, one hand over Jane's. "This is her knee, I think. Or maybe an elbow. She likes to knee me in my ribs when it's time to eat. If I didn't know any better, I would think she's a miniature version of you." Jane laughed and Maura smirked, then a quietness took over the car.
Jane broke the silence as Maura finally parked the car. "I-I have really missed you, Maura. I know that things can't ever go back to the way that they were and I don't deserve a second chance. But I loved you then and I love you now and if you could ever, ever find it in yourself to forgive me… I would like to… I want to help you with Bean. If we can't be, erm-, lovers… then I will always be your friend. I could be a great Aunt to Bean." Jane was imploring Maura, her dark brown eyes wide with hope and Mura sank back into the seat and closed her eyes.
"You're making this very difficult, Jane Rizzoli. I had sworn that I would never give you the time of day again." Maura rolled her head over to look at Jane. She reached out and tucked a stray lock behind Jane's ear. Jane leaned into her touch the same time Maura leaned into her personal space. Jane was only focused on closing the distance.
Maura pressed her lips against Jane's and almost instantly felt an equally pair of soft lips open against her own. She was rewarded when Jane offered a low moan and reached out to thread a hand through her hair, Jane pulling Maura as close as possible as she slanted her mouth against Maura's. Maura gasped and withdrew, her hand flying to her stomach. Jane, head still spinning from that kiss, groaned at the sudden departure of Maura's tongue from her mouth.
"She's already kicking me out of your space," Jane whined and so adorably pitiful, Maura pulled her back in for another searing kiss. As they both pulled away, panting for a breath, Maura promptly got out of the car, moving quickly while Jane clambered out to keep up.
Jane helped Maura in with a small bag of baby items but dreaded that in the next hour she would have to be leaving for the airport. As Maura rounded the kitchen counter, she leaned against it heavily, her eyes brimming with tears. "I swore to myself that I would never let this happen but you're home and it feels so natural and all I can think about is what it would be like to raise this baby with you. I can't stop thinking about what an amazing Mommy you would be, how we would compliment each other. But, you live hours away and my life is here and how could that work?" Maura laid her head down on the cold marble countertop and Jane could hear sobs wracking her body.
Jane couldn't hold in her tears so she gathered Maura up in her arms and led her to the couch where she held her while she cried. She stroked her hair and pressed kisses to her cheeks and wiped her tears, silently berating herself for ever giving up on someone who could love her so completely. "This is all my fault, Maura. I'm going to fix it. I'll do anything I can, I promise. You are not going to raise Bean alone."
Maura raised her head and was met with a look of fierce determination from Jane, and a part of her wanted so badly to believe Jane, to jump headfirst back into everything she had ever wanted and never thought she was going to have. But, a shattered heart was not something Maura Isles could just forget, and too many broken promises in her life kept that future just out of reach for her. She broke away from Jane, got up off the couch and walked to the stairs, not pausing and she climbed them.
"I want to believe you, Jane, but your words mean nothing to me anymore. I'm tired and I'm going to lay down. Please lock the door behind you when you leave." And with that, she was upstairs and shutting her bedroom door behind her.
Jane sat there for a minute, stunned by the suddenness of Maura's departure, stung by the coldness of Maura's abrupt statement. She replayed the last few minutes over and over in her head before she walked into Maura's office and grabbed a pen and some paper. She sat down at the kitchen counter and began to write a letter that she hoped would keep Maura believing until she could make it home again. As she finished the letter, she flourished another piece of paper and started writing numbers down. She crossed one number off and the letter she wrote left instructions for Maura to cross one number off for every day that passed until Jane came home again.
When she was done, She left both pieces of paper on the counter for Maura to read. Then, just as she was asked, she left the Beacon Hill townhouse locking the door behind her.
After Maura woke up from her nap, she descended the stairs and entered the kitchen. Despite being hungry and thirsty, her eyes were drawn to the letter and she picked it up immediately, eyes pouring over the slanted writing.
Dear Maur,
I know that this relationship is hardest on you because of how stubborn and closed off I am. I wish I could go back 758 days and undo the most selfish decision that I ever made. Even if I got to spend the rest of my life with you, I would never be able to prove to you how sorry that I truly am. I knew when I left how madly in love with you I was. I knew how deeply it hurt me, and I am ashamed to admit that I knew it would also hurt you deeply. I have to admit that so that I can accept responsibility for this and the consequences that came with them. I'm not going to give up this time. I won't make that mistake twice.
When I thought you had moved on with someone else, it physically made me sick. I understand I had no right to feel that way, but it's important that you know I had that reaction because I am still head over heels, absolutely and positively in love with you. Everything about you. Even still. Even after being separated from you for two years. I want you to know that my love for you will never diminish and it may take some time to figure out the logistics, but you say the words and I will make it happen.
I love you, Maura. I have missed you more than I ever knew it was possible to miss someone. You are my home. You always were, and you always will be. Please let me love you and Bean like I know I can. Please give me a chance to show you that I can be the best friend, partner, and lover that you could ever have.
You have all my heart,
Jane
P.S.- I have numbered the days until I can come home again. Please cross them off until I can be there with you. I'll be looking forward to holding you again.
Maura sat clutching the letter to her chest, her heart pounding and tears streaming down her face. She looked back at the clock on the wall and picked up the phone. It rang and rang as she tapped her foot absentmindedly, worrying her bottom lip between teeth.
"Hello?"
"Hi, it's me, Maura," She breathed out, flooded with relief and anticipation. "I- I'm sorry to call. I know you're busy. I just… can I please have Jane's address?"
Oh man, what's going to happen? Stay tuned to find out! *evil laugh*
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-R&K(:
