Hi, I hope this finds everyone well. Thanks to those who kindly pointed out a few mistakes in the last chapter that I have since fixed (I hope). Please take care and have a nice holiday weekend… and as always, thanks for all of the support. It means the world to me. :)

BLT

Chapter 11

With a long, slow inhale, Maura put her car in park and thanked the God's above that Jane wasn't home yet. Letting out a heavy breath, she leaned her forehead against the wheel as she turned the car off and sat in quiet solitude as her mind raced over the events of the day. For once, she hadn't gotten herself in trouble with her assistant, Kelly. Instead, the young woman had been a source of strength and comfort for one of the worst days Maura had ever had in her professional career. And when Jane found out, it would probably just get worse.

It had started like any other day as Maura went over her appointments and prepared to see her patients. After several uneventful visits that included a few standard immunizations and lollipops, she slipped into examining room five expecting the same uneventful visit as all of her others, but then something went horribly wrong, making her realize that the year maybe 2020 but some people still lived in an age of purposeful discrimination and perpetual denial that she should be able to love with her heart and not according to what some in society would rather dictate. Her two-year-old patient was all smiles and giggle's as she examined the little girl and she couldn't help but offer a sympathetic smile towards the very pregnant mother who leaned against the chair looking exhausted. Their conversation had been easy and impersonal until the woman asked if Maura had any children of her own.

"Actually, I have a daughter and another on the way." Maura smiled at Mrs. Strickland as she continued to examine little Annie. "How far along are you?"

Rubbing a hand lovingly over her belly, Mrs. Strickland let out a tired but contented sigh. "my due date is next month. I suppose you've got some time since you aren't even showing yet."

"Oh, my wife is pregnant and due next month as well." Maura gave little Annie a gentle poke in the belly drawing a giggle from the toddler. So caught up in what she was doing, she didn't feel the atmosphere change around her at first. But then it was as if all of the air had been sucked out of the room, leaving her in a vacuum with no sound. Glancing at Mrs. Strickland, she noticed that the woman had a sour expression on her face as if she had just eaten something very bitter. Maura could see the once-friendly countenance slide into something more sinister as dark eyes narrowed her direction. Her heart began to race with uncertainty as the woman continued to stare… no glare… at her and unease settled in her stomach. This was something new, something she had never encountered in her professional career and it made her feel sick.

"How much longer with this take? We have another appointment to get to." Mrs. Strickland shifted uncomfortably in her seat as she continued to glare at Maura with what could only be described as disgust.

"Well…" Maura gave little Annie one last quick once over before turning to Mrs. Strickland. "You're good to go. Just stop by the receptionist's desk to make an appointment for Annie's next round of immunizations." She picked the toddler up and handed her to her mother.

"Oh, that won't be necessary…" Mrs. Strickland huffed as she gathered her things and little girl under her arm.

"What won't be necessary? The immunization or another appointment with me as your pediatrician?" Maura crossed her arms and held her ground.

Mrs. Strickland stopped her bustling around the room and looked at Maura in surprise. Perhaps she was surprised that Maura was calling her out on her bigotry or maybe it was just the fact that Maura had the audacity not to be ashamed. "I don't agree with your choice of lifestyle… you people are destroying the sanctity of marriage. We won't be coming back and I will make sure everyone I know hears that you're a 'lesbian'…" she whispered the last word as if she needed to protect her daughter from hearing it.

"Well, good luck with that." Maura took a deep breath as she pushed her hair over her shoulder as nonchalantly as she could. It took everything in her power not to let the other woman see that she was upset. As she turned to leave, she paused and glanced over her shoulder at the little girl who was still giggling in a carefree manner and it crushed her think that Annie would grow up with the same hateful ideals as her mother. With that last thought rattling around in her brain, weighing her down, she slipped out the door and close it before the tears could fall.

It wasn't shame or embarrassment that fueled the wet, hot tears that now ran down her cheeks, but anger, plain and simple. It was a wave of anger she hadn't felt in a long time because the support system built of friends and family that surrounded her and Jane had protected them for some time, making what had happened even more unexpected. So, when she felt the tears build up in her eyes and then fall, it was a surprise and she wasn't sure how to manage the sudden surge of emotion that threatened to drown her under a wave of intolerance and hate. So lost in the moment, she wasn't even aware that her feet were carrying her towards her office until she found herself slipping inside and quietly closing the door, effectively shutting out the cruel world that threatened to follow her in.

Taking a few deep breaths to slow the free-flowing tears, Maura ran shaky fingers through her hair as she dropped down on the small couch that acted as a divider separating her desk from the casual sitting area she now found herself sitting in. She just didn't have enough energy to walk the extra steps across the room to sit as her desk. And could blame her… no one.

For what seemed like hours, Maura sat with her head in her hands, doing her best to bring her emotions under control. She didn't look up until the anger and disappointment were finally at rest, giving her the peace of mind she so craved. And when she finally did finally look up, her eyes met the concerned ones of Kelly who was standing in the doorway, quietly assessing her next move.

Maura didn't say anything as she watched Kelly take a step closer, yet still keeping her distance to give Maura the space she could see was needed. After wiping her eyes, Maura offered a small, sad smile in response to the unasked questions she could see Kelly was afraid to ask.

But then the heavy, oppressive silence was broken when Kelly cleared her throat nervously before speaking. "I just talked to Mrs. Strickland…" she started to say as she took another step closer to Maura. Her voice was laced with sadness as she continued to watch carefully for any sign she should stop talking. When Maura just shook her head, it was all Kelly needed to finally step close enough to place a hand on the shoulder that was still shaking from adrenaline. "We'll all be better off if she goes somewhere else." She ventured to say as she slowly lowered herself down on the couch next to Maura.

"I know…" Maura let out a heavy sigh. "If I'm being honest, it isn't what she said or the fact that she isn't coming back that bothers me most. It's that her daughter Annie is going to be raised to hate and discriminate."

"Well, we can hope that when she's old enough, she'll realize that way of thinking is wrong."

"I suppose…" Maura allowed the comfort Kelly was offering to flow through her. "Thank you." She tried to smile, unfortunately it didn't reach her eyes.

Even though she wanted to wrap Maura up in her arms, Kelly knew this wasn't the time to cross that line, so instead, she made a suggestion that surprised even her. "Why don't you go home to be with your family? I'm sure Jane will help you forget what happened here today."

"But I have a few more appointments left."

"I'll have the PA handle them. Provided there are no surprises, we should be able to handle it. Go home…" It came out with a firm tone, but there was also a gentleness to the edge of Kelly's voice that caused Maura to smile. It was enough to have Kelly second-guessing her suggestion but when Maura stood up, she knew it was too late to suggest otherwise.

"Okay, but only if you think it's okay." Maura was already moving towards her desk to gather her things and hang up her white coat.

"We'll be okay… I promise. Just go home and hug your family." Kelly sighed wistfully, wishing she was the one Maura wanted in her arms for comfort and… other things.

The thought of going home to Jane and Valley and wrapping herself up in their love warmed her to her core. That cold grip that twisted a knot in her stomach was beginning to subside as she gathered her things on her way out the door. Knowing what waited for her at home was enough for her to put what happened aside to make room for the wonderful things in her life, because if she thought about it… really thought about it, she was lucky and she wouldn't trade it for anything. As she continued to ready herself to leave, she glanced over at Kelly who was still sitting on the couch, watching her with a faraway look in her eyes. Something settled over her under the watchful gaze, something she wasn't sure she could identify. It wasn't uncomfortable but there was a sadness outlining the edges that caused her to feel bad for Kelly. Perhaps she should do something nice for her assistant, like take her to lunch. It was an idea she would have to put away until she had more time to think about it. For now, all she wanted to do was get home to the strong arms she knew would chase away the uncertainty and sadness she was doing her best to cope with. So, with a glance over her shoulder, she offered Kelly a thankful smile that lite up her hazel green eyes for the first time since her encounter with Mrs. Strickland and was rewarded with a smile equaling her own. It was all she needed to know that everything would be okay… eventually.

A loud knock on her car window pulled Maura from the memory that threatened to pull her down under the wave of insecurity that had plagued her since her arrival home. When she raised her head from the steering wheel where her forehead was resting, she was surprised to find Davi watching her with a look of concern in his light blue eyes. Pulling the keys from the ignition, she smiled as she opened the door and stepped out so she could talk to him. He took a step back so she could get out and close the door and watched with a curious gaze as Maura leaned back against the car door and crossed her arms.

"Bad day?" He asked because it was clearly obvious that she was indeed, having a bad day.

"You could say that…" she let out a heavy sigh as she ran her fingers through her hair, pushing it over her shoulder and away from her face. "It's Davi… right?"

"Yes… and if I remember correctly, you're Constance's daughter, Maura." He tried to smile at her reassuringly. He could see by the slope of her shoulders that something upset her, something that carried home with her. "I was visiting with Angie but remembered I left my cell phone in my car and then when I saw you out here. Is everything alright?"

Blinking back the tears of frustration that were stinging her eyes, Maura cleared her throat around the lump that had formed making it difficult for her to talk. After a few seconds, she finally found her voice. "I lost a patient today…" she started to say but was interrupted by a gasp from Davi.

"Did they die?" He asked, his voice laced with shock and sadness.

"Oh, um… nothing like that. They just decided that we were no longer compatible because…" she paused as she took a deep breath before continuing. "Well… because I'm married to a woman."

"Oh my God… you're a lesbian?" Davi dramatically brought a hand to his chest in a show of shock before laughing and waving away the uncertainty now written all over Maura's face. "I'm just kidding. Trying to lighten the mood, I suppose. I'm sorry to hear that some people are stuck in… how do you say… perhaps, middle ages… no?"

"I guess so." Relief rushed over Maura when she realized that Davi was joking.

"I wish I had better words to help, but maybe Angie can help." Davi nodded towards the side gate that led to Angela's cottage.

Turning around, Maura saw Angela tentatively approaching them with a worried look on her face. She could feel the knot twisting in her stomach again but she knew she would have to accept whatever solace Angela had to offer. It would be the fastest way for her to get inside where she wanted to be.

"Maura…? You're home early. Is everything alright?"

"Um, not exactly Angela." Maura shook her head as she prepared to repeat her story, yet again. "I lost a patient today… and no, they didn't die… it just turns out they were a bigot."

Angela regarded Maura with a look of confusion as she tilted her head to see her better. "I don't understand."

"They found out that Maura is a lesbian…" Davi offered in an attempt to fill in the blanks.

When Angela continued to stare at her in question, Maura shrugged her shoulders and sighed. "I had a patient's mother leave today with no intention of returning because she found out that I was married to a woman. And she had some not too pleasant things to say to me about it."

"Oh…" Angela's eyes widened in surprise. "Oh, honey… I'm so sorry." She reached for Maura and pulled her into a hug.

Welcoming the arms around her, Maura took the comfort being offered like she did when she and Jane had first started dating. All those years ago, Maura learned to accept the unconditional love from Angela without restraint. The memory of those times made her smile sadly as she let Angela hold her before she reluctantly let go.

"Does Jane know?"

"No, she isn't home yet. I thought I'd take a shower and wash the ugliness of this day away before she and Valley get home. I don't want to ruin her day as well." Maura gave a sheepish grin.

"Don't you dare keep this from her. She'll be devastated if she finds out that you didn't tell her." Angela reached out and placed a hand on Maura's arm, giving it a gentle squeeze. "Look, we have plans to have dinner with your mother tonight, but I've got some pizza dough in the fridge. How about I give it to you so you can have a family night together. I know how much Valley loves making pizza with you. I've got plenty of cheese if you don't, so how about I stock up your fridge with the necessities while you take a shower."

"I think that would be a wonderful idea." Maura accepted the offer with a grateful smile. "I would love nothing more than to spend the evening with my family and…" she dropped her eyes from Angela's sympathetic gaze. "I'll tell Jane… I promise." She threw out the last word with some effort but knew that Angela would probably tell Jane if she didn't. "So dinner with my mother? Is it a double date?" The question was out of her mouth before she had a chance to stop it.

Pleased that Maura took her up on her offer, Angela reached out and pulled Maura into another hug, this time holding her tighter. She had always feared that this would happen and even though she knew this was something they all encountered on occasion, she could see that it was an especially hurtful experience for Maura. For someone to take their child away from the care that Maura provided as a pediatrician was not only hurtful but the wrong thing to do. She knew that Maura was one of the best doctors in Boston and someone would have to be crazy not to see that. When she finally let go, she leaned in to place a motherly kiss to Maura's forehead before giving her a gentle nudge towards the front door. "Yes, I suppose so. We haven't met her date yet, but I'm looking forward to meeting the person who's put the smile back on her face. Go on and take that shower. I'll make sure you have everything you need for your night in."

Nodding, Maura slowly headed towards the entrance as if her feet were filled with lead. Stopping halfway there, she turned to glance over her shoulder. "Thank you, Angela. I appreciate everything you do for us."

A small smile lifted Angela's lips as she waved away Maura's appreciation. "You know I've always got your back…" her smile dipped on one side as the rest of her words got stuck in her throat.

Maura could see the love shining from Angela's hazel eyes and she knew that as long as they had people who loved them unconditionally in their lives, there wasn't anything that she and Jane couldn't conquer but she wished that it wasn't so hard sometimes. Day's like today were few and far between but the left a mark on her heart none the less but she knew it would heal and Jane would be the one to make it happen.

"Mommy…" Valley squealed as she ran towards Maura who was laying on the couch with Joe Friday curled up next to her.

The five-year-old projectile landed squarely on Maura's chest, disrupting the little pup who huffed impatiently before moving to the other side of the couch for more peace and quiet. Wrapping her arms around Valley's small body, she buried her face in the honey blonde hair that smelled like baby shampoo and gave a tight hug, absorbing all the unconditional love being offered. When she let go, she could see Jane watching them from across the room, a worried expression on her face and when their eyes met, her heart lurched at the sight of her very pregnant wife. Even though Jane looked tired, she radiated a beauty that took Maura's breath away and suddenly her day didn't seem so awful. It also didn't hurt that she was wearing one of Jane's t-shirts, wrapping herself up in the memories that came with it as it protectively clung to her. It was something she was prone to do when Jane wasn't around to make her feel safe. If Jane couldn't be there in person, her clothes were the next best thing.

This little tidbit didn't go unnoticed by Jane who watched Maura with a raised eyebrow and a question in her dark brown eyes. She had been surprised to come home to find that Maura was there before them and that she was already out of her work clothes and appeared to be relaxing on the couch. But upon closer examination, she could see there was something more to it and that Maura seemed tense and… sad. There was an uncertainty radiating off Maura that Jane could feel from across the room and the need to protect washed over her like a wave threatening to drown her, yet she couldn't get her feet to move. She knew that she needed to give Maura the chance to process whatever it was that was bothering her because if she pushed before Maura was ready, nothing productive would come from it. So, instead of rushing to Maura's arms, where she wanted to be, she allowed Valley to fill Maura up with all the love she could at the moment… until it was her turn, and then she wouldn't hold back anything when the time was right.

"Mommy, why do you look sad?" Valley brought her little hands up to frame Maura's face. She pressed her forehead to Maura's so they were looking into each other's eyes and she stayed there waiting for a response.

"I just missed you and Mama… that's all." Maura did her best to convince Valley that their absence was the reason for her melancholy.

"We home now… you don't have'ta be sad no more." Valley smiled and then snuggled against Maura's chest, hugging her close.

Maura let out a contented sigh as she held Valley, but she missed the presence of the one person who could always make things better… Jane. When their eyes met again, she could see so many questions in those dark, brown eyes that studied her with curiosity and uncertainty. When those eyes drifted to Joe Friday on the couch, Maura knew she had been caught. It was Maura's rule that Joe wasn't allowed on the furniture but coming home to find the house empty, she had craved the warmth of another body against her own and Joe was always willing to snuggle and offer comfort so Maura had accepted it, even if she was braking her own rule. All she could give Jane in response to the silent question that floated between them was a weak smile and the silent promise to explain things later. Right now, all she wanted to do was lay there with Valley in her arms and not think about the fact that there were still people in this world that would try and take everything she had worked for her whole life away from her.

"Should I order some take out?" Jane asked as she hung Valley's book bag up on a hook near the front door. It was usually Valley's job to hang her things up in the hallway, but Jane didn't want to disturb the tranquil scene in the living room.

"Your mother was kind enough to provide us with everything we need to make pizza tonight, so if you're up for it… I thought we could have a family night… make dinner together and watch a movie." The uncharacteristic stutter indicated that Maura wasn't sure if Jane wanted the same thing she did at the moment but when Jane smiled warmly, accepting the challenge of making dinner together, a warmth spread through her chest and she wasn't nervous anymore.

At the mention of pizza, Valley popped up from her position on Maura's chest and started to jump around. "Pizza, Pizza, Pizza…" she chanted, and just like that, the once peaceful quiet that had filled the room was interrupted by an excited kid who was now bouncing up and down on Maura's middle, taking her breath away again but for a different reason than before.

As delicately as she could, Maura moved Valley from her stomach and set her down on the floor so they could both stand up. "Why don't you go change out of your school clothes while Mama and I get everything ready." She gave Valley a gentle pat on the backside, pushing her towards the stairs.

With a running start, Valley headed towards her room with Joe Friday at her heels. Apparently, the pup had had enough lounging around or perhaps she knew that Jane was there to take over, whatever it was, Maura couldn't help but smile as she watched them chase each other up the stairs. "Is she always this energetic when she gets home?" She looked over at Jane who was watching her with an intense gaze, one that refused to let her minimize the pain that she was trying to hide. With a heavy sigh of resignation, she sat back down on the couch and patted the space next to her, indicating that Jane should join her.

The invitation to sit was one that Jane was happy to accept. It meant that she would be able to offer her comfort to Maura who was clearly still distraught over something she wasn't privy to. They didn't have much time to talk before Valley would come barreling down the stairs, demanding their undivided attention so she had to act fast if she was to find out what had brought Maura home early carrying a heaviness that still weighed her down. She would do her best to lift that weight as best she could but by the looks of Maura's posture, it would take more than a few minutes of reassurance to get them past whatever was bothering her.

"So, I guess you want to know why I'm home early…" Maura started to say as Jane sat down next to her. She took comfort in the feeling of Jane's leg pressed against her own and she suddenly craved more contact. Leaning her head against Jane's shoulder, she let out a shaky breath as tears of frustration threatened to fall.

The feeling of Maura's head against her shoulder took her by surprise but it was enough for Jane to realize that Maura was seeking comfort in being close to her so she reached an arm around Maura's back and pulled until they were leaning back against the couch. "I was hoping it was because you missed us terribly and couldn't wait another minute for us to be together." She said, trying to lighten the mood.

"Well, while that is mostly true… especially today…" Maura's voice trailed off as she leaned further into the warmth of Jane's body. "I found out that one of my patients has a bigot for a mother and they won't be coming back to the clinic anymore because… well…" she hesitated before continuing. "Because I'm married to you…"

"Wow, my reputation is pretty widespread I guess…" Jane tried not to smirk even though she knew what Maura was eluding to. It wasn't about her personally but the fact that Maura… a woman… was married to Jane… a woman, plain and simple. "So what you're saying is that this woman is a hater…"

"Yes, and although I know there are plenty of people out there who experience this type of prejudice, it just took me by surprise. It's been a while since we've had to deal with something like this." Maura sighed sadly.

"I'm sorry…" Jane reached up to run her fingers through Maura's hair. "But you know people like that aren't worth the effort."

"I know, what really makes me sad is that her daughter isn't much younger than Valley and that little girl is probably going to grow up with the same views as her parents." Maura shivered at Jane's touch. It was the touch that calmed her heart and filled her with so much love she thought she might burst. And the patience that Jane was showing was something she hadn't expected. Jane was known for her temper and flying off the handle, but not today… today she was all gentle and soft edges wrapping herself around Maura in a protective and safe way.

"Well, that sucks…" Jane leaned close to Maura and placed a gentle kiss on her forehead. "At least we know our kids won't be that way."

Reaching over, Maura ran her hand over Jane's swollen belly and rubbed it lovingly. "I can't wait until she gets here." She mused quietly.

"Her, huh?" Jane pulled back so she could look at Maura, a crooked grin on her face.

"I just have a feeling." Maura ducked her head, a shy smile on her face.

"Well, she or he… is going to be so loved by so many people." Jane put her hand on top of Maura's. She knew that their kids would be surrounded by their friends and family, all of the people in their lives that have been there to support them and love them through all the good and the bad. It was enough to keep those who didn't understand or wouldn't tolerate far away from their little family. "It won't be much longer."

"About a month…" Maura grinned happily. "And as far as what happened today… it's in the past and I don't want to think about it anymore. All I want to do is make dinner and watch a movie with the two… well… three, most important people in my life. I won't waste any more energy on people who would keep us apart." She leaned over and kissed Jane's belly before moving up to place a long, slow kiss to Jane's lips.

"I'm glad to hear that…" Jane started to say before Maura's lips touched hers.

"Mommy, Mama…" Valley chanted as she flew down the stairs wearing a rainbow tutu and unicorn sweatshirt. "I want pizza… cheesy pizza…" she ran towards Maura and Jane sitting on the couch then stopped abruptly. Carefully, she climbed into Maura's lap and wrapped an arm around both of her mom's, gently so as not to jostle her Mama or the baby. "I love you…" she placed a quick kiss to each cheek on either side of her.

"I love you too, Butter Bean." Jane tickled Valley's middle causing her to laugh. "And, have I told you today how much I love you?" She turned her attention to Maura who smiled warmly at her.

"Maybe but it never hurts to hear it again." Maura couldn't resist leaning over to give Jane another kiss, causing Valley to giggle and squirm in her arms.

"You're not sad anymore, Mommy…" Valley looked up at Maura with a wide smile.

"I'm not, thanks to you and Mama… and you're magical unicorn kisses…" Maura pulled the hood of Valley's sweatshirt over her head, showing off the unicorn horn and rainbow mane. And even though she was teasing, she meant every word of it.

"More cheese?" Maura seemed surprised by Valley's request, considering there was already what she would consider a sufficient amount of cheese spread out over the pizza dough.

"Yes, Mommy… more cheese… peeze…" Valley pointed at the nearly naked pizza dough, adding that last word to sway her argument.

"You can never have too much cheese on a pizza." Jane leaned a hip against the kitchen counter next to where Valley was sitting.

"I beg to disagree…" Maura started to say but stopped when both Jane and Valley stuck their bottom lips out in very effective pouts. "Okay… more cheese…" she reached in the bowl that held the freshly grated mozzarella and sprinkled it over the dough. "Better…?" She asked, glancing over at Jane and Valley to see if they approved.

"Well…" Jane grinned widely as she reached for the bowl before dumping the rest of the cheese out, topping the pizza with a fresh mound. "Better…" her grin turned to a slightly smug smirk as she leaned over to kiss Maura on the cheek to placate her.

"Ohhh… that's a lot of cheese Mama." Valley clapped her hands together excitedly. "Yummy…"

"You two are incorrigible." Maura laughed as she started to lay sliced tomatoes on one side of the pizza, followed by basil leaves.

"We are not corrigible…" Valley huffed impatiently as she watched with an eagle eye to make sure the tomatoes didn't touch her side. "Member, no matoes on my pizza, Mommy."

"They're 'tomatoes' and I know." Maura waved a hand over the side with just cheese to emphasize that she did indeed understand. When she was satisfied that everything was in its place, she grabbed the pan, slid it into the oven, and set the timer for fifteen minutes. Spinning around, she put her hands on her hips and glared at Jane and Valley. "You two will have to have some kind of vegetable with dinner…" she started to say but was interrupted when Valley waved her hands around impatiently.

"Mommy, I ate my carrots and apples for lunch."

"Yeah, Mommy, me too…" Jane laughed at the surprised look on Maura's face. "See, we do listen to you… sometimes."

"O-k-a-y…" Maura drew the word out on a long exhale, followed by a smile. "I'm glad to hear you had your fruit and veggies today. Especially you…" she wrapped her arms around Jane and pulled her close, or as close as she could with Jane's pregnant belly between them.

"Mama has to eat them for the baby… but why do I haveta?" Valley asked.

"Well, because you're still growing and you need them so you can be big and strong… especially if you want to play soccer in the spring." Maura tried to reason. She could see Jane smiling at her in a knowing and proud way because they both knew that Maura would have answered that question differently a year ago. Since Valley had come into their lives, Maura had learned not to dictate facts but to use her reasoning skills when explaining things. It was important to address Valley's curiosity with something on her level but to challenge her as well. After a few hits and misses, Maura had finally found her groove.

"Okay…" Valley relented. "But I can still have ice cream?" She seemed worried that the answer would be no.

"As long as you eat your fruits and veggies first." Maura grabbed Valley off the counter where she had sat to help make the pizza. "Now, why don't you run upstairs and get cleaned up for dinner." She gave Valley a gentle nudge in the right direction.

"O-tay…" Valley smiled as she held her hands up, smiling proudly because she hadn't wiped them on her shirt. "I be right back."

"You feeling better?" Jane asked when they found themselves alone.

Nodding, Maura smiled a full genuine smile that lit up her eyes causing the green to sparkle. "I am. I have a lot to be thankful for and I don't ever want to take that for granted."

"Hey…" Jane stiffened slightly. Grabbing Maura's hand, she placed on her belly and immediately relaxed under Maura's touch. "The baby's moving…"

Maura grinned ear from ear as she felt their baby move under the palm of her hand. "I think it's a foot or an elbow this time." She offered Jane a sympathetic smile. She knew that the baby had been very active over the past week or so in preparation for the birth. "Have you gotten any sleep lately?" She asked, a concerned look on her face. Her hand remained where it was as she continued to marvel at the feather-light tickle that danced across the palm of her hand.

"A little, here and there." Jane let out a tired sigh that was followed by a slow, lazy smile. "I'm just glad the semester is ending next week and I can start my maternity leave a few weeks early."

"It won't be long…" Maura leaned over and placed a soft kiss to the corner of Jane's mouth. "You know, it's occurred to me that we haven't discussed names. I think that maybe we should start…"

"Pizza!" Valley shouted from the stairway. "We should name the baby Pizza!"

"What?" Both Jane and Maura asked in unison.

"Well, we all really, really love pizza so we should name the baby Pizza." Valley tried to reason.

"While that is a very unique and unusual name, I think we should refrain from naming the baby after food." Maura shook her head.

When Valley just looked at Maura in confusion, Jane couldn't help but laugh. As much as Maura tried to keep things on a level that Valley could understand, it was obvious she wasn't sure if Maura was agreeing or not. "I think that's a hard 'no' Butter Bean." Jane reached down to ruffle the honey blonde hair that was so like Maura's.

"But why? I like Pizza…" Valley stomped her foot and frowned.

Before things could escalate, Maura's phone buzzed indicating she was getting an incoming text. Reaching for the phone on the counter, she smiled when she saw who it was from. "Look's like Nona wants to know how the pizza making is going." She said even though it was a text asking if she was feeling better about things. "How about we take a selfie and send it to her as thanks for making sure we had enough cheese."

"Yes, yes…" Valley lifted her arms in the air so Maura could pick her up and set her on the counter.

With Jane on one side and Maura on the other, Valley squeezed between them while Maura lifted the phone to take a picture. "One, two, three…" Maura started to say.

"Cheese!" Valley grinned wide as the phone make a click sound and the picture was taken.

Typing out her response and thanks, Maura sent the picture with a smile and heart emoji. Within minutes she had another text from Angela. This time it was a picture of Angela, Davi, her mother, and… a woman she didn't recognize. Upon closer examination, she noticed that her mother and the woman were leaning into each other and their hands were joined in what could only be described as familiar. The shock must have registered on her face because it caused Jane to lean over to look at the picture.

"Who's that?" Jane asked, pointing to the woman with silver, shoulder-length hair, and sparkling blue eyes.

"Um… I don't know…" Maura stuttered. She had a feeling she might know but she wasn't sure she was ready to say it out loud.

"If I didn't know any better, I'd say she was your mom's date."

"You think?" Maura seemed flustered by Jane's statement.

"I wanna see Nona and Gigi…" Valley reached out and moved Maura's hand down so she could see the picture too. "That's Gigi's friend Ree…" she pointed out as if it was common knowledge.

"Gigi has a friend?" Jane questioned as she continued to study the picture. The woman that Valley had called Ree was beautiful in a classic way, radiating warmth and… well… is she was being honest… a look of adoration directed at Constance. "Well, they do look good together."

"I don't understand why she didn't tell me… but… Valley's met her." Maura couldn't contain the hurt in her voice.

"We've been pretty preoccupied, honey. Maybe she was just waiting for the right time." Jane offered.

"I suppose so." Maura bit down on her bottom lip in the way she did when she was nervous. "I mean, it's not like we wouldn't approve or anything… it's just I never knew… well… that she…" she stammered on as she tried to get the words out.

"Well, she is an artist… who goes to Paris a lot." Jane shrugged her shoulders.

"What does that have to do with anything?" Maura tried not to sound exasperated.

"I don't know…" Jane threw her hands up in the air.

"What's wrong, Mommy? Ree is fun, she plays go fish with me." Valley interjected her own opinions on her Gigi's friend.

"I'm sure she's very nice." Maura took a deep breath to release the tension that was gripping her. With a smile, she playfully booped Valley's nose to prove that everything was okay.

"I guess your mom has some explaining to do…" Jane laughed as she gave Maura's forehead a quick kiss.

"Yeah, I guess she does..." Maura said as she took another look at the picture. This time she focused on the radiant smile coming from her mother. She looked happy, smitten… maybe even in love and it was a beautiful thing to see. Maura couldn't stop the tears that filled her eyes at the sight of her mother and the happiness that lit up those dark blue eyes that usually held storm clouds to hide her loneliness. "I haven't seen her smile like that since my dad died." She said as she wiped at her eyes. And just like that, everything that had weight her down… all the sadness and uncertainty that had followed her throughout the day disappeared for good. 'Love is love…' she thought to herself. Everyone deserves to love somebody and be loved in return and by the looks of things, they were coming full circle. Angela and Constance were finally moving on with their lives, allowing love and laughter back into their hearts and Maura couldn't be any happier or prouder for that matter.