"Yet some things linger,

their weight pressing softly into eternity."

Jane stepped into Maura's house, the familiar warmth and faint scent of flowers welcoming her instantly. She barely had time to set her keys down before Beni came bounding into the entryway, his tiny feet thudding against the hardwood floors.

"Jane!" he squealed, his little arms outstretched as he ran to her.

Jane's face lit up, and she crouched down just in time to scoop him up, lifting him into the air as he giggled. "Hey, buddy! Look at you, all ready for bed in your new pajamas; those firetrucks look cool. Do you feel better?"

Beni grinned, holding onto her tightly. Jane gave him a quick spin, which only made his giggles louder.

"I feel gooder now," Beni smiled as they spun again.

From the living room, Maura's voice cut in, gentle but firm. "Jane, I just got him calm and ready for bed."

Jane winced playfully, turning toward Maura, who stood with her hands on her hips, her expression a mix of exasperation and affection. "Sorry, Maur," Jane said, bouncing Beni lightly on her hip. "But how can I resist this face?"

Beni snuggled into Jane's shoulder, clearly pleased with himself.

Maura sighed, crossing the room and reaching out to smooth Beni's hair. "He's feeling much better, as you can see. I was just about to get him settled in bed."

Jane smiled, giving Beni a squeeze before gently handing him over to Maura. "Alright, alright. I'll stop riling him up. Promise."

Maura gave her a knowing look. "You always say that, and yet…"

Jane grinned sheepishly as Maura carried Beni toward the stairs and their room, the little boy already starting to yawn despite his earlier excitement.

With Beni snuggled in their bed, finally drifting off after a little bit of fussing, Jane and Maura tiptoed back to the living room. Maura flicked on the dim lamp beside the sofa, and Jane sank into the cushions with a tired sigh.

"I swear, that kid could charm the pants off a jury," Jane said, running a hand through her hair.

Maura smiled, settling beside her. "He's certainly full of personality. But he's also still recovering, so I decided to take another day off to make sure he's alright."

Jane looked at her, the corners of her mouth lifting. "I thought I was going to stay if he needed another day home. Do you want me to stay instead?"

Maura tilted her head; her cheeks tinged pink. "No, I already submitted the sick leave request. I have so much saved up. I just want to be sure he's cared for."

Jane reached for her hand, lacing their fingers together. "You do more than that, Maura. You make everything better—for him and for me."

Maura opened her mouth to respond, but Jane leaned in and kissed her softly, her free hand brushing Maura's cheek. Maura melted into the kiss, her hand resting on Jane's shoulder.

Before Jane could pull back, Maura shifted, whispering against her lips, "It's okay, Jane. You can touch me."

Encouraged, Jane's hands moved to Maura's waist, gently pulling her into her lap. Their kisses deepened, and for a while, the rest of the world disappeared.

When Jane finally broke away, her forehead rested against Maura's, her voice barely a whisper. "Are we… dating?"

The question lingered in the air, and Maura's brow furrowed slightly. "I… I suppose we haven't labeled it yet."

Jane's jaw tensed, and she looked away for a moment. "I just… I don't want you to be seeing anyone else. I don't think I could handle that. I know we haven't really established what we are, Maur, but I don't think I could bear to see anyone else here in this house with you."

Maura's eyes softened, and she cupped Jane's face, turning her back to meet her gaze. "Jane, you don't have to worry about that. I'm not interested in anyone else. You're the only one I want."

Jane exhaled slowly, the tension leaving her shoulders as Maura kissed her again, a soft reassurance that she meant every word.

"Good," Jane murmured, holding Maura closer. "Because I've wanted this for a long time, and now that I finally let myself admit that, I'm not letting it go now."

Maura smiled, her fingers brushing through Jane's hair. "Then stop worrying about labels and just let us figure it out together."

Jane nodded, a faint smile tugging at her lips as she kissed Maura again. For the first time in a long time, she felt like everything was finally falling into place.

Jane started to kiss down Maura's neck, finding a spot that earned a slight moan when her lips and tongue found it. Jane quickly committed this area to memory. Maura moved her legs to straddle Jane's lap, slowly grinding against her. Jane let her hands wander under Maura's pajama top, massaging just under the swell of Maura's breast.

Maura was moving in encouragement of Jane's slow exploration with her body with her hands. Maura relished the taste of Jane and the feel of the warmth of their bodies together. Maura would be lying to herself if she hadn't admitted she hoped that Jane would come to realize what was between them eventually. It took a scared, helpless, three-year-old for Jane to be open to the feelings Maura knew they always shared but Jane was too afraid to admit.

Just as Jane's hand grazed over Maura's breast, Maura gasped and then greedily kissed Jane, letting her hands tangle in Jane's hair. Jane pulled back slightly, letting their foreheads rest against each other, and couldn't help but smile.

Jane then kept her hands moving, massaging Maura's breasts while kissing that spot she had committed to memory. Maura then shifted her body until her core was directly over Jane's thigh and began grinding back and forth as Jane continued to move her let her hands wander Maura's skin.

Maura quickly felt herself building higher and higher. She had dreamt about Jane touching her like this for too long that her mind was still wrapping itself around the fact that this was reality. Jane was a quick learner, and Maura was so thankful for that because Jane had already identified and memorized some of those spots that drove her body crazy. Just as Jane found the spot over her pulse point, she dropped her forehead to Jane's head as she crashed into her release.

Jane had a huge smirk when Maura finally brought her eyes to meet Jane's. Jane gently cupped Maura's face, pulling her into a slow, deep kiss before murmuring, "You are so beautiful."

Maura smiled, "You are beautiful too, Jane. And your hands, I love the way they feel on my body."

Jane had only really let Maura touch her hands; well, now Beni had that privilege. No one else was allowed to touch the scars. Maura brought one of Jane's hands to her mouth, kissing the scar right in the middle of Jane's hand.

Maura then stood and led Jane by her hand toward their bedroom where Beni was peacefully sleeping. Just before they walked in, Jane pulled Maura back into her, kissing her again.

"Good thing he is cute because he definitely is a little cock blocker," Jane smiled as she kissed Maura on the lips again.

Maura swatted Jane's arm as they slipped into their sides of the bed, snuggling up against Beni.

Jane woke to the soft glow of morning light filtering through the curtains. She blinked, adjusting to the brightness, and glanced to her left. Maura was curled up on her side, her breathing soft and even, with Beni tucked securely against her chest, his tiny hand resting on Maura's arm. The peaceful sight made Jane's heart swell, but the call of coffee was too strong to resist.

Carefully, she slipped out of bed, doing her best not to wake them. Padding down to the kitchen, Jane ran a hand through her messy hair and sighed, ready to start the day.

As she rounded the corner, she nearly collided with Angela, who was bustling around with her ever-present energy.

"Morning, Ma!" Jane said, surprised.

Angela turned with a broad smile, a cup of coffee already in hand for her daughter. "Morning, Janie. Figured you'd be up soon."

Jane accepted the coffee gratefully, leaning against the counter. "Thanks. Didn't expect to see you up this early."

Angela waved her hand dismissively. "Oh, you know me. Can't sleep when there are things to do. Speaking of which…"

Jane groaned internally, recognizing the tone. "Speaking of what?"

Angela smiled slyly, leaning on the counter across from Jane. "Are you just going to stay here forever, or are you planning to move all of your stuff from that apartment of yours?"

Jane nearly choked on her coffee. "What are you talking about, Ma?"

Angela shrugged innocently. "Oh, I don't know. You're here every night; you've got Beni calling the shots, and Maura… well, Maura looks happier than I've ever seen her."

Jane frowned, trying to deflect. "I'm just here because of Beni. It's easier with us both taking care of him."

Angela gave her a knowing look. "Sure, Janie. But what happens after? You really think you're going back to that tiny apartment?"

"I like my apartment!" Jane protested weakly.

Angela smirked, stepping closer. "Jane, honey, I love you, but you've never liked your apartment. You like this. Here. With Maura and Beni."

Jane opened her mouth to argue, but Angela pulled her into a tight hug, cutting her off. "I'm so happy for you two," Angela said warmly. "You're finally figuring it out."

"Ma, we're not—" Jane started, but Angela pulled back, placing her hands on Jane's shoulders.

"Don't even try to dodge, Janie. Everyone can see it. You and Maura are perfect for each other. Just admit it already."

Jane sighed, her face flushing slightly. "We're… figuring things out," she said carefully.

Angela beamed. "That's all I needed to hear."

Jane shook her head, taking a long sip of her coffee. "You're impossible, Ma."

"And you're lucky to have me," Angela said with a wink before turning back to the stove.

As Jane navigated the familiar streets toward the precinct, the quiet hum of the car left her alone with her thoughts. She sipped her coffee absentmindedly, Angela's words still ringing in her ears.

Admitting to her mother—well, half-admitting—that she and Maura were "figuring things out" should have left Jane squirming with Catholic guilt. She had braced for a lecture, a disappointed sigh, or at least some dramatic hand-wringing about tradition and propriety. But instead, Angela had pulled her into a hug, glowing with unfiltered happiness.

Jane snorted softly to herself. That was unexpected.

Growing up in a devout Catholic household, Jane had always felt the weight of expectations: get married, have kids, do it all the "right" way. She'd been convinced that admitting she was in a relationship with Maura—even one still taking shape—would bring a tidal wave of guilt crashing down on her. Yet, here she was, driving through Boston, feeling… fine.

Better than fine, really.

Her mother's reaction had caught her completely off guard. Angela hadn't hesitated, hadn't so much as blinked. She'd simply accepted it—and been thrilled.

Jane tightened her grip on the steering wheel, her lips twitching into a faint smile. "Figures," she muttered under her breath. "The one time I expect a fight, she's all rainbows and sunshine."

But deep down, it wasn't just Angela's acceptance that surprised her. It was how little resistance she felt within herself. For so long, Jane had brushed aside the idea of being with Maura, telling herself it was too complicated, too risky, too much. Now, though?

Now, she couldn't imagine her life without Maura at the center of it.

As Jane walked into the bullpen, the familiar hum of activity greeted her. Before she could even take off her coat, Frankie appeared at her side, holding out a steaming cup of coffee.

"Thought you might need this," Frankie said with a grin.

Jane smirked, accepting the cup. "You're a lifesaver. How's the digging going?"

Frankie gestured toward the conference table, where a stack of files and a laptop stood waiting. "Frost pulled up more on the guy who introduced himself as Colin. Turns out, our pal is actually Travis Walker—no big surprise there."

Jane took a sip of coffee as they walked over to the table. "Alright, what's the story on this guy? Please tell me we've got something solid."

Frankie opened a file, revealing a photo of Travis. "Walker's got a spotless public record, but Frost found some interesting discrepancies in his history. For starters, his employment history is a joke—he's listed as working at three different places at the same time last year, none of which can confirm he ever actually showed up."

Jane raised an eyebrow. "So, he's a liar and a leech. What else?"

"Frost also found some suspicious financial activity," Frankie continued. "Walker's bank account is full of small deposits—hundreds of them—just like Derrick's hidden account. Looks like he was running the same game."

Jane groaned, setting her coffee down. "Let me guess: the women Derrick was stringing along weren't the only ones being conned."

"Bingo," Frankie said, flipping to another page. "It gets better. Walker's been using multiple aliases, just like Derrick. One of those aliases is tied to an unregistered phone number that was active at the same time, around the same general area, as Derrick's murder."

Jane's eyes narrowed, her mind racing. "So, we've got Walker lying about who he is, running cons with Derrick, and potentially in the area when Derrick was killed. Why didn't he mention meeting any of Derrick's women?"

Frankie shrugged. "Probably because he didn't want us to know how deep he was in with Derrick's scheme. If one of those women remembered him, it could blow his cover."

Jane leaned against the table, staring at the photo of Walker. "Alright, let's pull all the strings on this guy. Phone records, financials, known associates—everything. I want to know where he was the night Derrick died and what his role was in this mess."

"You got it," Frankie said, already reaching for his phone.

The bullpen buzzed with activity as the team gathered around Nina's desk. Her screen displayed detailed financial reports and charts, the numbers almost dizzying in their scale. Jane leaned against the edge of the desk, arms crossed, as Nina began her explanation.

"So here's what we've got," Nina started, gesturing to the screen. "Over the past two years, Derrick pulled in about $750,000 through these 'donations.' Most of them were small but very regular—$50 here, $100 there—but there were a few much larger ones mixed in."

"Let me guess," Jane said dryly. "The larger ones came from the wealthier women."

Nina nodded. "Exactly. But here's where it gets interesting. Travis Walker's account shows even more—just shy of $1 million over the same time period."

"Wait," Korsak interrupted, his brow furrowing. "So Travis was running his own scheme alongside Derrick?"

"Looks like it," Nina replied. "But it gets better—or worse, depending on how you look at it. The money isn't staying in their accounts for long. Almost as soon as it's deposited, it's transferred out—usually within a month."

"To where?" Jane asked, her tone sharp.

"An offshore account," Nina said. "I'm still tracing the details, but it looks like they were funneling everything into one central account. Whatever they were doing, they had it down to a science."

Frost let out a low whistle, leaning back in his chair. "That's a well-oiled scheme if I've ever seen one."

Jane's jaw tightened. "What about now? Is the money still being moved?"

Nina shook her head. "Not since Derrick's death. The offshore account hasn't seen any activity in the past week."

Jane exchanged a glance with Korsak. "So whoever's behind this—assuming it's Travis—is lying low. Probably trying to figure out their next move."

"Or covering their tracks," Korsak added grimly.

Jane turned back to Nina. "Keep digging into that offshore account. We need to know where the money's going and who has access to it. If Travis is our guy, we need to nail him."

Nina nodded. "I'm on it. But this might take some time—offshore accounts aren't exactly easy to crack."

"Do your best," Jane said, her mind already racing.

As the team dispersed, Frost muttered to Jane, "You think Travis killed Derrick to keep all the money for himself?"

Jane frowned, considering. "It's a theory. But until we figure out how the offshore account ties in, it's just that—a theory."

"Guess we'd better hope Nina cracks it fast," Frost said, heading back to his desk.

As Jane stared at the evidence piling up against Travis Walker, a familiar determination settled over her. She didn't know exactly how Walker fit into Derrick's death yet, but she was going to find out.

Korsak leaned back in his chair, rubbing his temples after reading his notes from the original conversation with Travis Walker. "He says he's out of town, Jane," he reported, his voice tinged with frustration. "Convenient, isn't it?"

Jane, sitting across the bullpen with Frost, muttered under her breath, "Too convenient. We need to keep the pressure on him."

"Frost is already digging," Korsak assured her.

Frost, focused on his laptop, chimed in without looking up. "Speaking of digging, I found another social media account tied to Derrick. This one's different, though—he was talking with a girl his age. Not older, like the others."

Jane straightened. "A thirteenth woman?"

"Looks like it," Frost confirmed. "The messages are… different. Less about money, more personal. I'm trying to track down her identity now."

Before Jane could respond, her phone buzzed on the desk. She picked it up and saw Maura's name on the screen. "Hold that thought, Frost."

Answering the call, Jane leaned back in her chair. "Hey, Maura. What's up?"

Maura's voice was calm but hesitant. "Jane, I just received an email from the social worker assigned to Beni's case. She mentioned that she may have an official foster family lined up for him."

Jane froze, her hand tightening around the phone. "What? When did this happen?"

"This is preliminary," Maura clarified quickly. "She said she's finalizing the details and will come by in a few days for a meeting."

Jane's jaw clenched, her voice rising slightly. "A meeting? Without even asking us? We've been taking care of him—shouldn't we be part of this decision?"

Maura's tone softened. "Jane, I know this isn't easy, but we need to hear her out. She is doing her job. Beni deserves stability."

"He has stability," Jane snapped, standing abruptly. The bullpen went quiet as Korsak and Frost exchanged looks, sensing Jane's shift in mood. "With us."

Maura paused on the other end of the line. "Jane…"

"I'll see you at home," Jane cut her off, ending the call abruptly. She tossed her phone onto the desk, her frustration evident.

Korsak approached cautiously, lowering his voice. "You okay, Jane?"

Jane exhaled sharply, trying to rein in her emotions. "The social worker thinks she's found a foster family for Beni."

Korsak nodded, understanding her reaction immediately. "That's tough news, kid. But you and Maura have done an amazing job with him."

Jane crossed her arms, her mind racing. "What if they take him, Korsak? What if they decide he's better off somewhere else?"

Korsak placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder. "You'll figure it out, Jane. Just like you always do."

Jane nodded reluctantly, forcing herself to refocus. "Let's figure out who this thirteenth woman is. The sooner we crack this case, the sooner I can figure out what to do about Beni."

Jane's eyes flicked from one photo to the next on the murder board, her pacing never slowing. The faces of Derrick, his many girlfriends, and Travis Walker stared back at her, but no new connections clicked. The weight of the case and Maura's earlier call about Beni gnawed at her, making it nearly impossible to focus.

Korsak leaned back in his chair, watching her with a mix of concern and exasperation. "Jane," he said, his voice cutting through the tense silence.

She stopped mid-step and turned toward him. "What?"

"You've been pacing for twenty minutes. If you're trying to wear a hole in the floor, you're doing a damn good job," Korsak quipped, though his tone was kind.

Jane exhaled sharply, running a hand through her hair. "I just… I feel like we're missing something, Korsak. This new woman could be the key, but we can't even figure out who she is. And on top of that—" She stopped herself, shaking her head.

Korsak stood and approached her, his expression softening. "Look, I know you've got a lot on your plate right now. Beni, this case—it's a lot. But you're not going to figure it all out tonight."

Jane crossed her arms, her gaze drifting back to the board. "I can't just leave, Korsak. There's too much to do."

Korsak gave her a pointed look. "And it'll still be here in the morning. You've been burning the candle at both ends, and it's not doing anyone any good—not this case, and definitely not you or Beni."

Jane sighed, her shoulders slumping slightly. She hated admitting when Korsak was right, but she couldn't deny the exhaustion creeping in.

"Go home," Korsak urged. "Spend some time with Maura and Beni. Get some rest. We'll keep at this tomorrow."

After a moment's hesitation, Jane nodded. "Fine. But call me if anything breaks."

"Of course," Korsak said with a small smile. "Now get out of here."

Jane grabbed her jacket and headed for the door, her mind already shifting to thoughts of home.

When Jane walked into the house, the soft hum of the kettle on the stove welcomed her. She set her keys down and slipped off her boots, her tired eyes scanning the cozy kitchen. Maura stood by the counter, her back to Jane, pouring hot water into her favorite teapot.

The tension in Jane's shoulders eased slightly at the sight. Beni was nowhere to be seen, which meant he was likely already asleep. For the first time all day, the weight pressing down on Jane seemed to lighten.

Without saying a word, she walked over to Maura and wrapped her arms around her from behind, pulling her into a firm, grounding hug. Maura froze for a brief moment before relaxing into Jane's embrace.

"Hey," Maura said softly, setting the teapot down.

Jane buried her face in Maura's shoulder, holding on as if letting go would unravel her completely. "I just needed this," Jane mumbled, her voice barely audible.

Maura turned in Jane's arms, her hands coming up to rest on Jane's shoulders. "Rough day?"

Jane nodded, her eyes closed. "Yeah. You could say that."

They stayed like that for a long moment, the silence between them filled with unspoken understanding. Eventually, Maura pulled back slightly, her hazel eyes searching Jane's face.

Without thinking, Maura leaned in and pressed a soft, lingering kiss to Jane's lips. It wasn't hurried or hesitant—it was warm and reassuring, a quiet promise that they were in this together.

Jane responded instinctively, her hands tightening on Maura's waist. When they pulled apart, Jane rested her forehead against Maura's, her voice soft but steady. "You have no idea how much I needed that."

Maura smiled, her fingers brushing lightly against Jane's cheek. "I think I do."

Jane closed her eyes briefly, allowing herself to savor the moment. "Thanks, Maur."

Maura stood in Jane's embrace, her hands resting gently on Jane's shoulders as she studied her face. The faint worry in Maura's eyes made Jane sigh.

"What's wrong?" Maura asked softly, her voice filled with concern.

Jane hesitated for a moment, her grip tightening around Maura's waist. Finally, she exhaled, the weight of her thoughts spilling out. "I want everything, Maura," Jane said, her voice low but steady. "I want you. I want Beni to stay with us. I want a family."

Maura's lips parted in surprise, her hazel eyes widening slightly.

"And yeah," Jane continued with a laugh, a bit of self-consciousness creeping in, "we can send him to that crazy expensive child genius daycare if you want. I'll figure it out somehow."

Maura's expression softened, her lips curving into a tender smile. "Jane…"

"I'm serious," Jane interrupted, her voice gaining strength. "I never thought I'd want this—any of this—but now that I have it, now that we have it, I don't want to lose it. You, Beni… this feels like home. This feels right."

Maura tilted her head, her gaze searching Jane's as if trying to gauge the depth of her sincerity. Slowly, she reached up, her fingers brushing against Jane's cheek.

"I want that too," Maura admitted, her voice barely above a whisper. "But this is all so new, and there's so much to figure out."

Jane nodded, a faint smile tugging at her lips. "I know. And we'll figure it out together. But I need you to know—I'm in this, Maura. All the way."

Maura's eyes shimmered with unshed tears as she leaned in, pressing her forehead against Jane's. "You have no idea how much that means to me," she whispered.

Jane chuckled softly, her hands moving to cradle Maura's face. "Oh, I think I do."

Jane smiled softly as Maura rested her forehead against hers. The weight of everything they had shared hung in the air, but for the first time, it felt lighter, more manageable. Without overthinking, Jane's hands slid down to Maura's waist, and in one smooth motion, she picked her up and set her gently on the counter.

"Jane!" Maura exclaimed, her surprise quickly giving way to a breathless laugh. "What are you doing?"

Jane grinned, stepping between Maura's legs and placing her hands on Maura's hips. "Making sure you really get it, Maura. I'm all in."

Before Maura could respond, Jane leaned in, capturing her lips in a deep, lingering kiss. Maura's hands found their way to Jane's shoulders, pulling her closer as the kiss deepened.

When they finally broke apart, Maura's cheeks were flushed, and her eyes sparkled with a mixture of emotion and amusement. "Well, I suppose you've made your point," she teased, her voice soft but full of affection.

Jane chuckled, her forehead resting against Maura's. "Good. Because I don't want there to be any doubt, Maur."

Maura's fingers brushed lightly through Jane's hair, her voice tender as she whispered, "There isn't. Not anymore."