DISCLAIMER: I do not own Rizzoli & Isles nor any of the characters from the show. I am writing this purely for entertainment, not profit. Rizzoli and Isles are property of Tess Gerritsen and TNT.

Please find the full disclaimers in the beginning of Chapter 1.

Chapter 4

Jane moved from where she was sitting to join Maura by the tree, taking the smaller woman in her arms. She felt relieved when Maura didn't tense or resist her, rather relished the touch, leaning into Jane. Jane hugged Maura tightly to her, burying her head on the crook of Maura's neck, inhaling the scent that was so very much Maura, and that she thought she had lost. And Maura reciprocated the hug, holding Jane tightly to herself.

They remained like that for a long time, as if their bodies needed to replenish the energy lost in the past few weeks while they drifted apart. They felt as if they had been broken into pieces, and this pause, together, was finally making them whole again.

Jane finally felt the weariness of the past few days catching up with her. The lack of sleep, the lack of appetite, the rollercoaster of emotions, came all crashing down on her. And she sobbed. Maura felt the shaking body against hers and held Jane even more tightly, whispering her love gently by Jane's ear.

"When was the last time you slept?" Maura asked, when Jane's sobs calmed down a while later.

Jane paused, unsure. "A few hours the night you left, I slept in the sofa waiting for the time when I could try to call your mother in Europe."

Maura stood, and offered her two hands to Jane, who took them to stand herself.

"Let's get you some proper rest then."

Maura passed an arm around Jane's waist, and Jane circled Maura's shoulder with hers, and together they slowly walked back up the meadow towards the house.

Constance, who had been observing every few minutes from the kitchen window, placed a hand on top of her heart, as happy tears sprung from her eyes. Jane seemed to have done her miracle. Again.

Constance had never seen her daughter as happy as when she had told her that she and Jane were finally together. When Maura showed up alone, broken hearted, the other night, Constance was utterly confused, and had to do a lot of prying to get Maura's motivation, and even in all her efforts she had been unable to make Maura see clearly through that maze of her feelings. Constance understood Maura was trying to think of Jane's happiness, but Maura forgot that only Jane could define the parameters of her happiness, Maura could only guess. Constance knew the only person who always could get through Maura was Jane. And she had done it again.

They entered the kitchen, and Constance pretended just to be entering the room.

"Mother…"

"Should I get a room prepared for Jane? I know she travelled the past twenty hours and is likely exhausted…"

"It won't be necessary, mother…" Maura blushed, and smiled shyly to Constance.

Constance just approached her with a knowing smile, kissing her forehead.

"I am glad you came to your senses, darling. Now go, you both can use some proper rest."

Jane nodded thankful to Constance, and Maura guided Jane through the mansion to her bedroom. Jane's carry on was on the corridor, and Jane rolled it into the room. While Maura closed the curtains and unmade her bed, Jane stripped down for a quick shower to wipe the chill from the time spent by the lake and the tension of the past few days. When she came out of the bathroom, Maura had the room ready for their nap, and was already in her warm PJs.

But first, Jane met Maura in the middle, and cupping her cheek, tilted her head back, and kissed Maura deeply. "God, I missed you." Jane husked when they parted for air.

"You have no idea how much…" Maura echoed. She slipped in bed, and Jane laid behind her, spooning her protectively, as if still afraid she would dissolve out in thin air. In seconds both drifted off to sleep, the emotional exhaustion taking its toll.

Jane woke up first, still jetlagged and lost in time, but at least rested. It helped to feel Maura's body nested into hers.

And Jane realized she was hungry, she had not eaten in the past two days, too concerned, and consumed by Maura's sudden departure, so she delicately removed herself from behind Maura, covering her with the blankets, and putting on her clothes, she left the room.

Finding her way back to the kitchen was a feat in itself, given the size of the house. Attracted by the noise, Constance came to find her.

"Couldn't sleep?"

"I am lost in time, Constance. I slept for a while, but I woke up starving."

"It is past lunch time, so no surprise you are starving. I doubt you ate much since Maura left." Constance chided.

Jane nodded.

"There is a plate for each one of you in the oven. I can also ask Francis to prepare something else if it is not to your liking."

"It is perfect." Jane said, opening the oven and retrieving one of the plates, uncovering it and being met by the delicious aroma of well-prepared food.

"I didn't even ask about Arthur, how is he?" Jane asked, while she ate, Constance having joined her on the table.

"He is doing good, travelling for a series of lectures."

"I need to ask you something…"

"I am listening, Jane."

"I… I know Maura and I have only been together for about five months now. And I know this must have seen as a major crisis. God, it felt like a major crisis... But it was not, at least not as I see it. It was one more of the miscommunications and nuances of this world creating a trap for Maura's social inabilities and insecurities. I know Maura for twelve years; we've been close for at least ten of those by now. I want to marry your daughter, Constance. I have been waiting for the right moment to propose to her. But I want to know if you are okay with that. I know I am a blue collar from Southie, but by now you should know I couldn't care less about Maura's money. I love her, I want to make her happy, and I want her to know I am committed to be with her for as long as we live."

Constance gave her a satisfied smile.

"You can spare me about your intentions with Maura, Jane." Constance chuckled. "If there is one thing I don't doubt is your endless love and devotion to my daughter. You have my blessing, and I am sure Arthur's too. How do you plan to do this wedding, considering all the danger surrounding Maura?"

"My plan is simple. Bureaucracy wise, I will be marrying Dory Selsi, only Maura and I and a justice of peace and a witness – the FBI agent who helped me track Maura on Witsec and who already knows she is alive. Then, Maura will choose a remote place – Santorini as it was her dream, or Maine, or Cape Code, or wherever she wants – and we will rent a house for a long weekend. You and Arthur fly there, my mother and my brothers fly there. No priest, just family, and we can exchange our vows, and she still can wear the gown and have the cake she fantasized about since she was a child."

"Doesn't a small wedding bother you?" Maura had confided in Constance, after a lot of insistence the night she had arrived by surprise, on what had been the trigger to this latest mess.

Jane chuckled. "I couldn't care less, Constance. If I am marrying Maura, I will be a happy woman, no matter how it happens, where it happens, or how big it is."

Constance smiled gently. She didn't know how to approach the other subject, of children, and she was not sure if Maura had shared it with Jane. But Jane was always refreshingly direct.

"I also want you to have the right expectations – and I will set my mother's expectations straight as well, God knows her big mouth was the trigger for all this mess... Children are not part of the plan. Living a lie is a daily challenge for Maura. Home is the only place where she can be Maura instead of Dory, and it would tear her apart to have to begin lying at home to our children. Being a mother was never top priority on my pre-requisites in life, although I would have been glad to have and raise children with your daughter knowing it has always been a dream of hers… But being with her, making her happy and keeping her safe is all that matters to me."

Constance nodded.

"I hope Maura realizes how lucky she is having you, Jane."

"No, Constance, trust me… I am the lucky one…" Jane had finished eating. "Now, if you excuse me, I will go back to her. She might still be sleeping, but I missed her terribly..."

"Of course, darling. I will see you both for dinner."