*Hello to everyone… I hope this finds you all well… I decided to take a little mental health break last month but I am back now. I just needed some time to rest and recoup so I could get back to the writing. Thanks for the patience and words of encouragement along the way. Please take care and stay safe out there… and now… on with the story…
BLT
16
Maura stood in the kitchen, leaning a hip against the counter as she waited for the tea kettle to whistle to let her know the water was ready for their tea. Letting out a heavy sigh, she knew she needed to offer her own suggestions to the conversation that was taking place in the living room between Jane and Liam but she had already chickened out more times than she could count. Perhaps it was because her suggestion included the help of the last person she wanted to bring back into their lives or maybe she just wasn't sure yet if it was worth the fight Jane would surely put up.
Jane's instinct to protect, as usual, excluded her from the planning on how to deal with Kelly, something she had a very pointed opinion about. Of course, she had to admit that she hadn't taken it seriously from the beginning and at the time she didn't see the problem with a harmless crush but that had changed quickly when the truth had come out about Kelly's past. And now, she regretted not going with her gut instinct and picking the young man named Wyatt she had initially intended on hiring in the first place. But when she met Kelly, who at the time seemed personable and very outgoing, the decision seemed an easy one. Wyatt was great at the administration stuff but his social skills left a lot to be desired. He had been abrupt and straightforward, something she usually valued but she also knew in her new line of work, it was important to be good with people… so, she went with Kelly. As an after thought, she decided she would see if Wyatt was still available when after everything was said and done.
With another heavy sigh, Maura ran her fingers through her hair as her eyes moved across the room to the large bouquet of roses that Jane had brought home for Valentine's day and she couldn't help but smile. It had been a pleasant surprise after having been home, alone with the kids, for her first week of maternity leave. It had been a hard week of learning new routines and getting used to not having any adult contact for most of the day but with the help of Angela and Jane when she came home from work, they had all settled into a new routine with her at the helm. She had even found the time to bake cupcakes for Valley's pre-school class before the week had come to an end. Now all she had to do was get through the next five weeks, but thankfully, Jane had pared down her schedule so she could be home more.
When the kettle on the stove started to whistle, it startled Maura from her thoughts causing her to jump away from the counter she was leaning on. She quickly removed the noisy, steam producing pot and turned the burner off before setting it to the side to gather the tea bags and mugs to place on the serving tray she would present to Jane and Liam because at this point she felt like all she had to offer to their plan was a hot mug of tea and freshly baked banana bread.
"Hey… everything okay in here?" Jane appeared from around the corner, a small smile on her face but her eyes dark with concern.
"Yeah, just waiting on the kettle to boil the water." Maura held the kettle up to indicate what she was talking about.
Jane chuckled as she moved closer so she could wrap her arms around Maura in a hug. "I forgot that you are a tea snob and won't use the microwave to heat the water." She reached up to give the tip of Maura's nose a gentle boop.
"As if I'd ever make a cup of tea in the microwave." Maura scoffed as she pulled Jane close so she could lay her cheek against the strong, broad shoulders she had come to depend on. "And if you continue to tease me, I might have to accidentally give you the panda poop tea."
When Jane didn't answer, Maura lifted her head so she could look at her with a questioning raise of her eyebrow. "I'm thinking that it might be worth it to tease you… just a little. Besides, the panda poop tea isn't that bad…" the playful twinkle in Jane's eyes had replaced the concern that had been there earlier.
Maura gave Jane's side a gentle pinch before laying her head back down and letting out a heavy sigh. She could feel the rumble in Jane's chest as a chuckle caused them both to shake just a bit but it didn't alleviate her melancholy as she burrowed closer to the warm skin at the nape of Jane's neck.
"What's wrong?" Jane asked as she rested her chin on the top of Maura's head. She had sensed the distance Maura had placed between from the moment Liam had arrived but she wasn't sure what had caused it. Maura had been quiet throughout their discussion on how to handle Kelly and it made her uncomfortable because she didn't want Maura to think that she was purposely excluding her.
Shaking her head, Maura tried to quell the shaky breath that threatened to release the tears she had been holding back. "I just want this to be over. I hate pretending that we're fighting…" her voice trailed off.
"Well, with Liam's help… I think maybe we can find a solution. It's gonna take some time though… you've got to be patient."
"What's to ensure that she'll leave us be?" Maura asked as her courage to finally bring up Paddy started to grow. "I think we need to bring someone else in on this…" she hesitated briefly before Jane pulled away to look at her. At that moment, her confidence faltered slightly but she knew she needed to say it. "I want to talk to Paddy…"
Jane didn't let Maura finish what she was going to say. "No, no…. No… not a chance…" she said, shaking her head vehemently.
Maura's temper flared as she gave Jane a gentle push away. "You won't even hear me out." Her voice was shaking with her anger. "I've heard all of your ideas, and while they are mostly good… there is one person with the connections we may need to get at Kelly's father. All I'm asking you to do is listen to my idea… please." She held her hand up in a silent plea.
Biting down on her lip, Jane frowned at Maura's request but held back the quick retort that came to mind. As much as she didn't want to admit it, Maura's idea was good and she had a point about Paddy's connections… but she didn't have to like it. As she looked down into Maura's hopeful expression she knew she would have to give Maura a chance. "Okay, I'll listen but I won't agree to it if unless Liam does."
"I can live with that." Maura moved to wrap her arms around Jane's middle again. Lifting on her toes, she placed a quick kiss on Jane's pouting lips before placing a quick kiss to the dimple in her chin. "And, thank you…"
"Don't thank me until we run it past Liam..." Jane said, trying to keep her grumpy frown on her face but she just couldn't stay mad at Maura. They had come a long way in building their trust in each other and as hard as it may still be to not keep Maura in the dark for her own good, she knew she would never be able to do that again. They wouldn't survive it if she did.
With a nod, Maura acknowledged Jane's trepidation as she readied the tray with their tea and condiments. She knew that there would be reservations about bringing Paddy into the fold but she also knew he would have the best insight into how powerful Kelly's father really was. It was evident he had enough power to make certain things and people go away, allowing Kelly to continue her reign of terror over whoever she set her sights on… and at the moment, that was her and Jane.
Following Jane into the livingroom, she couldn't help but smile at Liam who was holding baby Liam in his lap. This was their second meeting and both seemed smitten with the other from the beginning. And it had laid to rest whatever misgivings anyone may have had about whether baby Liam would have enough male role models in his life. Liam already adored Valley and the baby, and the feeling was mutual so it seemed only natural that it would spill over to any more children they might have in the future. As that thought washed over Maura, the idea that they would be adding to their family caused her stomach fluttered in anticipation and excitement.
Liam looked up as Jane and Maura entered the room and then nodded towards baby Liam who was sound asleep in his arms. "He fell asleep. I didn't want to move and wake him up…" his voice trailed off with uncertainty.
"Here, I'll take him and lay him down for his afternoon nap. I think we got a good solid hour or two before Valley and my Ma get back from their monthly trip to Costco and he wakes up." Jane whispered as she took baby Liam and carried him off to his room.
"Thank you for letting me be a part of your family. I never really had time to have one of my own." Liam said when he and Maura were finally alone.
"You've always been a part of our family." Maura seemed surprised as she set the tray of tea down on the coffee table. "Why would now be any different?"
All he could do was shrug as he watched Maura fidget around with the teacups filled with hot water. They both knew that he had carried a torch for Constance over the years and although they had tried for something more than friendship, it wasn't to be. Although he would always love Constance, first and foremost, he wanted her to be happy and if it wasn't with him, he accepted it would be with someone else. And they would always be friends at the end of the day, no matter what.
"Got him down… guess it's time to move on to other things…" Jane's voice trailed off as she slipped back into the room. She wasn't looking forward to the impending conversation about Paddy but she was confident that Liam would see things her way and it would quickly put an end to that which she was dreading.
"Yeah, I suppose so." Liam accepted his cup of tea from Maura with a warm smile but then frowned at the uncertainty he saw in her hazel-green eyes. "What's going on that I don't know about?" He asked as he looked between Jane and Maura.
"Well, Maura has a proposal…" Jane sat down and reached for her own cup so Maura could sit down and share her idea.
"O-k-a-y…" Liam drew the word out as he continued to watch the two women for any clue as to what was going on between them. "Why do I have a feeling you aren't on board with whatever Maura is suggesting."
Lifting her mug to take a sip of tea, Jane crossed one arm over her chest and let out a long, heavy sigh. "Because I'm not…"
"You never are..." Maura said as she sat down in the recliner, putting some distance between her and Jane. It wasn't that she was mad at Jane, she was just tired of always having to defend her ideas as if they weren't good enough to consider.
Jane looked over the rim of her cup, her dark eyes locking on Maura's briefly before looking away. Maura's statement was true and it wasn't something she was proud of but it was because they usually involved Maura doing something dangerous and she just couldn't justify it.
"Okay, enough of whatever this is…" Liam waved a hand in Jane, then Maura's direction. "Just give it to me straight."
"I think we should talk to Paddy…" Maura said in a rush.
For a moment, Liam was quiet as he thought about what Maura said and it was obvious that Jane took it the wrong way as a sly grin slid across her face. Looking between the two women, he quickly calculated the pros and cons and then suddenly came to a decision. "I agree…" he started to speak but was interrupted by Jane.
"See, I told you it wasn't… wait… what?" Jane quickly turned to look at Liam, surprise written all over her face. "You agree? Are you crazy?" This wasn't going as she expected and her heart sank to the pit of her stomach at the thought of having to see Paddy again.
Holding up a hand to indicate that Jane should be quiet and listen to what he had to say, Liam glanced at Maura to find a sad but grateful smile on her face. "Maura's right…" he paused as his eyes came back to Jane's. He could see all the arguments she was compiling in her mind and he agreed with every single one of them but he was also realistic. He knew that Alan Wolfe was a powerful man and if there didn't play their card right, his daughter would continue to harass Jane and Maura, eventually driving a wedge between them. "Paddy still has the connections I think will help us here. If we want to make this problem disappear, we have to cut it off at the head." He made a cutting motion across his neck to emphasize what he was talking about.
Jane set her cup down, crossed both arms, and sat back with a huff. She knew Liam was right and she also knew the moment Maura had suggested it that it had been a good idea but she wasn't ready to admit it just yet. "I don't like it. We did everything we could to get him out of our lives… I don't want to invite him back in…" she frowned as she stuck her bottom lip out in a pout.
"We'll go together." Maura offered. She knew that Jane would eventually give up because they both knew this was the best way to get the upper hand, but she also knew that Jane had to come by it slowly with a lot of huffing and puffing in the meantime. It was just the process, one she had become accustomed to. If she knew one thing about Jane, it was that she never conceded without a fight even when she knew she was wrong.
"Pride aside… let's say I agree, will you let me do the talking?" Jane gave Maura a sideways glance.
"No, we're in this together. You have to stop whatever this is… this need to protect me by keeping me at arm's length. When you do, it never turns out well…" Maura sighed as her voice trailed off. She was tired of always having to prove that she was strong enough to fight alongside Jane for their family.
Dropping her arms to her sides, Jane relented with a groan. "Okay…" she finally said as she rolled her eyes dramatically. It was hard for her to give Maura equal footing in situations like this because she just wanted to protect her. However, she did realize that every time she tried to hide things or refuse Maura's help, it usually ended badly for one or both of them. Reaching across the great divide that had grown between them in the few minutes that had gone by, she grabbed Maura's hand and gave it a gentle squeeze. She watched as the shadow of doubt dimmed in Maura's eyes to be replaced by understanding. Trust was a two-way street and although it was hard for her, she would have to give Maura the same courtesy that was being offered to her without question. "We're in this together and we'll get out of it together."
"'Bout damn time you agreed on something." Liam sat back and sipped at his tea.
"We're not that bad… are we?" Jane frowned as she looked at him before realizing that it was her that almost always had an argument they all had to contend with. "Okay… I guess I can be a little… cautious…"
"Look, I get it… I feel the same about protecting family but you really need to accept that Maura is a smart, capable woman who deserves your respect and deserves to be treated equally in situations like this." Liam couldn't help but push Jane just a little. It was time for her to accept that Maura could hold her own.
"Thank you." Maura seemed surprised by Liam's impassioned plea to Jane. While she understood that Jane was only trying to protect her, this argument had been a source of contention between them for years. "You know that I would never put myself or anyone I love in danger, but I won't sit back and let you put your life on the line time and again." Her gaze fell to Jane and with a stern look, she dared her to argue.
Holding her hands up in surrender, Jane relented. "I know, you win…"
"This isn't about winning because if we don't work together we both lose in the long run." Maura frowned at Jane's comment and shook her head.
Jane was quiet for a minute as she thought about what had been said. The truth resonated deep within her and even though it pained her to admit it, she nodded. "You're right, I'm sorry." She said as she gave the hand in hers another quick squeeze.
"Okay, now that we have that settled, just let me know when you set a time to meet with Paddy and I'll make sure to give you some questions to ask. I'll research Alan Wolfe and Wolfe Industries so we have a better understanding of how powerful he is in both the business and crime worlds. Did you rehire the woman yet?" Liam asked. He didn't say her name even though he knew it because it left a bad taste in his mouth every time he did.
"Yes, and it was so humiliating…"
"It had to be done." Jane gave Maura a sympathetic look.
"I know and you have no idea how glad I am to be on maternity leave right now. At least I don't have to see for a while. It gives us some time to figure out what we're dealing with and how to put an end to it."
"So…" Liam clapped his hands together causing both Jane and Maura to jump in surprise. "I think I should meet with Frost to go over some of the technical specs but I'll set that up for next week." Glancing down at the sliced banana bread sitting on the coffee table, he lifted a questioning eyebrow and pointed at it. "Can I have a slice now?"
"Please…" Maura smiled at him before turning to Jane and mouthing a 'thank you.' She knew it had been hard for Jane to let go of some of the control but she was grateful they had come to an understanding. And since she had been too tired over the last week to properly thank Jane for the roses, she decided it was time to plan some alone time… the sooner the better.
As she watched both Jane and Liam scarf down her banana bread, a plan started to formulate in her mind just as the front door interrupted her thoughts.
"We home…" Valley's sing-song voice carried to them causing Liam's face to light up.
"Would you like to stay for dinner?" Maura asked, knowing that alone time with Jane would have to wait a little longer.
Nodding enthusiastically, Liam agreed just as a small projectile shot across the room into his waiting arms.
"Unca Liam…" Valley giggled as he swept her up into a hug.
Maura smiled at their interaction, thankful for having such a wonderful person in their life. Glancing at Jane, she gave a quick wink that held the promise of things to come later when they were alone and got a glimpse of those dimples she loved so much when Jane offered a full-on smile in return. She knew things were complicated and would probably get even more complicated before they could put everything behind them, but right now… at this very moment, she knew without a shadow of a doubt that it would all be worth it as long as they stuck together.
YYY
Jane tried to study the menu in her hands but her eyes kept drifting up to meet Maura's across the table from her. They sat in one of her favorite Italian restaurants, a treat she hadn't experienced since before Liam was born and she couldn't wait to get home to show her appreciation for the surprise date Maura had set up. The kids were with her Ma… for the whole night and that meant they would be alone until the sun rose high in the sky tomorrow. A shiver of excitement ran up her spine as she continued to glance over the edge of the menu she was currently having trouble concentrating on to find Maura watching her with a mixture of anticipation and desire. The sexual tension between them was so thick that she actually considered just foregoing dinner and heading home for the dessert but then her stomach growled and she realized she hadn't eaten anything since lunch. At the low rumble from her stomach announcing that was hungry, Maura started to giggle and then smiled knowingly.
"You skipped lunch again?" Maura asked as she set her menu down, already having decided on what she was getting.
"Um, no… I just had half a sandwich though because I didn't have much time between classes today." Jane frowned at the thought of her Friday schedule. She had opted for a Monday, Wednesday, Friday schedule allowing her to spend Tuesday and Thursday at home with Maura and the kids but the days she was at the academy were filled from beginning to end with little time for anything but teaching.
Reaching for her glass of wine, Maura picked it up before swirling it around to observe how well it stuck to the sides. She had opted for the bottle tonight, hoping that Jane would forego the beer in exchange for the nice red blend she had ordered and to her surprise, Jane had. "Do you like it?" She tilted her head towards the glass as she brought it up to her lips to sip.
Nodding, Jane followed Maura's lead and also picked up her glass to take a sip. "I think it will go well with the spaghetti and meatballs I'm gonna order." She smiled over the rim as Maura watched her. "What?"
"Nothing…" Maura grinned as she shook her head. She still marveled at Jane's ability to eat whatever she wanted without gaining a single pound. Her metabolism, however, caused her body to hold onto every ounce of food she consumed, usually depositing it around her hips.
"Let me guess… you're gonna get a salad?" Jane tried to scoff.
"I'm not as lucky as you are when it comes to food. I don't burn calories like you do… instead, they settle around my hips and stomach…" Maura sighed heavily.
"I love your hips and little potbelly." Jane offered a sexy wink in response.
"I do not have a potbelly." Maura objected as she brought her wine glass down to sit on the table and glared at Jane.
"Ummm…" Jane mimicked Maura and set down her glass as well before crossing her arms and glaring back at Maura, but the twist of her lips into a smile indicated she was just teasing. "If you say so."
"You should save the teasing for later…" Maura used her hand to flip some hair over her shoulder with a huff but she had a playful glint in her eyes.
Suddenly, Jane's smile transformed into a more serious expression as she watched Maura fidget under her gaze. "You do know that I think you're beautiful exactly as you are… right?" Her dark brown eyes sought out Maura's hazel-green that reluctantly looked away. "Hey…" she reached across the table and took Maura's hand. "You are gorgeous and I love exploring every inch of that body of yours."
"Yeah?" Maura finally brought her eyes up to meet Jane's but then something over Jane's shoulder caught her attention causing her to stiffen and her expression to turn grim. "She's here…" her voice was barely a whisper as her eyes widened.
"What? Who?" Jane twisted around only to be met with the smug grin of Kelly from across the room. "Shit… she must have followed us." Her shoulders dropped under the weight of what they were going to have to do.
"I don't want to do it…" Maura's voice trailed off. There was uncertainty written all over her face as she watched Kelly move around the room with practiced confidence giving her a small smile of recognition.
"We talked about this, Maur…" Jane said as she ran her fingers through her hair. "She has to think that we're fighting about her… I don't want to do it either… but we have to." She said as she reached in her jacket pocket for her phone to send a text. "I'm gonna let Frankie and Frost know that I'm leaving you here just in case she doesn't offer to drive you home… and if she does, they can keep an eye on you."
Shaking her head with each word that Jane was saying, it was clear that Maura was becoming visibly upset. "Why can't she just leave us alone?" She asked.
Jane stopped texting to give Maura her full attention. "Well, because she has really good taste in women…" she tried to quip to lighten the mood but had the decency to look chagrined when Maura continued to stare at her with disbelief. "Sorry, just trying to lighten the mood."
"Fine, let's just get this over with..." Maura said with a heavy, impatient sigh. She could see that Kelly was sitting alone at a table trying her best not to look like she was watching them but failing miserably.
"Maur, honey… I don't like this any more than you do but we both know what we have to do. Until we know we for sure that she's gone and out of our lives, we have to play the game. She's been accused of and gotten away with some pretty awful things and I don't want you to become the victim of any of them."
Closing her eyes and taking a deep breath, Maura knew that Jane was right but it didn't make it any easier. Perhaps she should use some of the impatience and frustration she was feeling to convince Kelly that she was really mad at Jane. "Okay, your right… I guess there's no time like the present…" she said with a wave of her hand.
"Oh, so we're doing this now?" Jane picked up on Maura's cue and raised her voice.
"You're being childish…"
"I'm being childish? I'm not the one on a date with her wife while her girlfriend is sitting over there…" Jane waved her hand towards the table Kelly was sitting at. When she glanced over, she could see that the other woman was listening to their conversation intently but appeared complacent.
Maura's eyes widened at Jane's comment and for a minute she wasn't sure what to say. The look of surprise on her face was genuine but she quickly composed herself and fell back into the role she was playing. "She's not my girlfriend, Jane…" she said on a heavy sigh but not before glancing at Kelly who was now watching them with open interest.
For a moment, silence descended on them as they stared at each other waiting to see what would come next, and then Jane pushed herself away from the table with a silent apology that only Maura could see in her eyes. "Fuck this… I'm done. I'm outta here." She dropped the napkin she had been holding in her lap on the table with a dramatic flourish.
"What? How will I get home?" Maura asked as she watched Jane lean across the table. Bracing herself for an angry outburst, she turned her head slightly so Jane could whisper in her ear.
"Frankie and Frost are outside… you'll be safe. I'll see you at home." Jane's voice was soft and barely audible but it brought Maura some measure of comfort as she gave a slight nod that could be misconstrued as a flinch. "I don't care how you get home… take an Uber or better yet…" she glanced over her shoulder at Kelly with a smug expression on her face. "Get your girlfriend to take you home." And with that last statement, she shoved her chair in and stormed out of the restaurant without looking back.
Watching Jane leave brought tears to Maura's eyes even though she knew it had all just been an act, although it didn't feel like it at the time. For a long moment, she sat silently trying to swallow down the sob that was stuck in her throat as she found herself alone on a night they were supposed to be spending together. When she glanced over towards where Kelly had been sitting, she was surprised to find the table now empty and she couldn't help but wonder if Kelly had left as well. Suddenly the fear that Kelly had followed Jane out intending to hurt her washed over Maura like a wave threatening to drown her but that fear was quickly quelled when she felt a hand on her shoulder. She didn't have to turn or look up to know who it was.
"Maura?"
Kelly's voice was like nails on a chalkboard to Maura's ears but then again the dull ringing was doing a pretty good job of drowning it out.
"Hey… are you alright?" Kelly moved around to stand in the place where Jane had been sitting so Maura could see her better through her tears.
"No…" Maura let out a shaky breath. "I'm sure you saw what just happened… everyone did…"
"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to cause you any problems."
"Problems?" Maura blinked a few times as she tried to reign in her desire to tell Kelly exactly what she was feeling. "No, you didn't cause any problems…" she bit her tongue so she wouldn't say anymore.
"I didn't know you were going to be here…" Kelly dropped her gaze from Maura's as the lie fell from her lips. "I wouldn't have come if I had known." There was a slightly smug edge to the words as she finally brought her eyes up to meet Maura's again.
Maura was quiet as she studied Kelly intently. There was no apology in those light blue eyes that watched her with thinly veiled desire. It made her skin crawl to let those eyes rove over her body unabashed. "Um, why are you here… if you don't mind my asking?"
Kelly's mouth dropped open as if she had been caught doing something she shouldn't be doing but then she quickly regained her composure. "I'm meeting a… friend…" her voice trailed off as she ran her finger along the table in an effort to distract herself.
"Oh, um okay… I guess I need to arrange an Uber so I can get home and you can get back to waiting for your friend." Maura emphasized the last word. When Kelly was silent for a minute, Maura thought that maybe she had let her facade slip but then Kelly smiled and she realized the plan had worked… Kelly was about to ask if she needed a ride home. All of a sudden she wasn't so sure she was ready to be alone in a car with the other woman.
"Hey, how about I give you a ride home. I can text my friend and meet up with them later." Kelly pulled the chair Jane had been sitting in out and sat.
"I, no… I wouldn't want to inconvenience you. I can just get an Uber…"
"No, I'd feel much better if you'd let me drive you, that way I know you get home safe and sound." Kelly waved off Maura's protest.
There was an unfamiliar glint in Kelly's eyes that made Maura feel uneasy. "Are you sure?" She asked tentatively.
"Absolutely!" Kelly said, her tone full of pride at having convinced Maura to trust her. "But how about we finish up this wine… it'd be a shame to let it go waste." She waved at the server and tipped her hand back to indicate she needed another glass.
With a weary smile, Maura agreed even though it was the last thing in the world she wanted to do. She just needed to get through the next hour or so and then she would be back home with Jane where they could shut the door on Kelly and her intrusive attempts to insinuate herself into their lives.
"Sure…" Maura said with a smile that didn't quite reach her eyes. She hoped that Kelly wasn't perceptive enough to notice that she was felling reluctant. But based on the huge grin directed her way, it was safe to say that she and Jane had done a good job convincing Kelly that they were fighting over her presence.
Kelly watched Maura settle back in her seat as she set about to enjoy the rest of her wine. Her plan had worked and now instead of Jane sitting here with Maura, it was her. Although she knew her time with Maura would be fleeting, there would come a time when they would be together, sharing those moments that Jane had once herself occupied. She looked forward to being alone with Maura as she drove her home and thought perhaps there would even be another kiss in the future… if she played her cards right. Those cards were held close to the vest at the moment but soon, she would reveal her ace and blow Jane out of the water as she claimed Maura for herself. Of course, it would be much easier if Jane and Maura continued to fight over her because then Maura would come to her willingly even though she was prepared to whatever she had to. She didn't want to have to hurt Maura either but if it came to that… she knew there was a fine line between pleasure and pain, and she would make sure Maura knew the difference.
YYY
Jane sat in the living room shrouded in shadows as she waited for Maura to come home. Frankie had texted her to relay that Kelly had indeed brought Maura home but as of that moment, Maura hadn't emerged from the car yet. It took everything in her to stay seated and not get up to look out the window to see what was going on but she knew that the house needed to appear empty. So instead of checking on Maura, she sat, brooding over what had happened and the fact that Maura was with Kelly and not her. Of course, it was her own fault. She could have just let it go and they could have had a nice dinner but deep down she knew they had done the right thing. The more they convinced Kelly that there was trouble in paradise, the sooner she would reveal her true intentions. And then she could drop the hammer because that was exactly what she planned on doing. She was so lost in thought that she almost didn't hear the soft click of the lock at the front door just before Maura opened it and then quietly closed it. On bated breath, she watched Maura hang up her jacket and purse before heading towards the stairs without so much as looking in her direction.
At first she thought that maybe Maura didn't see her but then uncertainty washed over her at the thought that maybe Maura didn't want to see her. She sat in silence until she heard the shower start and she realized that Maura was probably trying to wash the figurative dirt and grime off of her body because it was the first thing she had done when she got home. As she contemplated what to do next, her stomach growled, reminding her that they still hadn't eaten dinner and an idea came to her mind as she pushed herself up from the couch and headed towards the kitchen with the hopes of elevating some of the stress they had both been under. Some food would be that answer to relieving them both of the burden of the evening that had up until that moment, gone so wrong.
YYY
When Maura had slipped into the house, she had sensed Jane's presence close by and knew that she was waiting for her so they could talk about what had happened, unfortunately, she couldn't bring herself to acknowledge Jane as she headed straight for their bedroom. All she could think about was how much she wanted… no needed to wash away the feeling of Kelly's hand on her thigh and the touch of lips against her cheek that made her cringe internally. She had played nice and it had emboldened Kelly into thinking that some of the barriers that should have been between them had fallen. The lines had been blurred and it made Maura sick to her stomach. She hadn't even waited until she got to the bathroom before she started to strip away her clothes, dropping them on the floor in a trail down the hall and throughout their room. When she finally reached the bathroom, she turned the shower on hot and waited for the steam to fill the air around her. As she stepped under the hot water, it fell over her head and rolled down her back pleasantly stinging her skin. For some reason she thought the hotter it was, the more sterile she would become after having to endure Kelly's unwanted touch. She's only ever felt that way one time before and she had been lucky enough to have Jane waiting for her with open arms after. With a heavy sigh, she placed her hands against the wall and dropped her head so the water could curtain her face. She wondered how long it would take for this dirty feeling to subside because all she wanted to do was climb in bed and comfort herself with the feeling of Jane surrounding her but she knew she couldn't let herself be touched just yet. With that thought in mind, she grabbed a washcloth and began to scrub at her skin in an attempt to wash away everything that had transpired over the evening.
Steam poured from the bathroom into the bedroom when Jane opened the door. It was hot and humid and almost took her breath away as she stuck her head inside to see if Maura was still in the shower. Once the steam had dissipated slightly, she could the silhouette of Maura's body moving behind the closed shower door. When the door opened suddenly, it caused her to jump in surprise and her mouth dropped open at the sight of Maura stepping out. Her skin was red and ruddy from all of the scrubbing she had done and something that should have brought that familiar heat to her nether-regions now only made her sad.
"Hey, you okay?" Jane asked as she went to hand Maura a robe.
"Ummm… yeah…" Maura sighed as she took the offered robe. She didn't seem surprised to find Jane waiting for her, but why would she… Jane was always there to make her feel better. "I just needed to wash away the memory of… well… everything…" she said as she slipped into the warm, fluffy robe.
"I get it. I did the same when I got home."
"You did?" Maura seemed surprised. She couldn't help but feel a little bitter that she had been the one that had to allow herself to be groped by someone she hated.
Jane nodded as she watched a range of emotions play across Maura's face. She could sense a distance between them and she really wanted to ask Maura what happened in the car while they sat in the driveway for what seemed like hours but was probably more like ten minutes. But she knew Maura would need some time to process even though she had an idea what had happened and why Maura had scrubbed her skin so hard and it broke her heart to know she had let it happen.
"I'm sorry…" Jane whispered as she reached out to pull Maura against her.
When Jane reached out for her, Maura stiffened slightly but then when Jane held her closer, her body relaxed and accepted the comfort being offered. "I don't like having to do this…" she sighed as she laid her head against Jane's shoulder.
"I know, but I promise when we get our lives back… it'll all be worth it." Jane nuzzled the wet skin along Maura's neck.
"Promise?"
"Promise…" Jane placed a kiss to the top of Maura's wet head as she squeezed her harder in a hug she wasn't willing to relinquish yet.
Before anything else could be said, Jane's stomach growled, and it cause Maura to laugh. "We didn't get to eat dinner…" she reached down to place her hand against Jane's stomach as if her touch could tame the hungery beast that was making its presence known.
"Well, I made us one of those chart-two-e board thingies you like… with the cheese and salami and stuff."
"Chart-two-e?" Maura pulled back so she could look at Jane with a raised eyebrow. "Do you mean charcuterie board?"
"Yeah, one of those…" Jane offered a lopsided grin at Maura's sly one.
"That's very thoughtful of you."
"I thought we could watch some Netflix, cuddle, and eat in bed…" There was a hopeful tone in Jane's voice as she silently pleaded with Maura agree.
Maura was quiet for a minute as she thought about Jane's proposal. She wasn't a fan of eating in bed but tonight, she just didn't care. The sheets could always be changed in the morning if they got crumbs in bed. All she wanted to do was snuggle up against Jane and forget this night had ever happened. So with a quick nod, she relented and got a huge smile in response.
"We're gonna be okay, ya know. We always are…" Jane said as she pulled Maura into a hug again.
"I know." Maura tried to sound sure of herself. She believed in her heart that they would overcome this newest obstacle that had presented itself in their lives but she couldn't help but wish that just for once they didn't have to fight so hard to find their happily-ever-after. She vowed that once they were past this Kelly situation, she'd never complain about their quiet, boring life ever again. All she wanted was to grow old together without anything else trying to come between them, and if she could have that, she'd consider herself the luckiest woman in the world.