"Promises carved into stone

outlast the breath that spoke them."

Jane walked up to Maura's house, juggling two bags of groceries in one hand and trying to maneuver a stack of packages from the mailbox tucked under her arm. She stopped at the door, sighing as she noticed yet another pile of deliveries sitting neatly on the porch.

"Maura," Jane muttered to herself, shaking her head. "At this rate, you're going to need a second house just for all this stuff."

She managed to balance everything, nudging the door open with her foot and stepping inside. Before she could set anything down, a small, familiar voice rang out.

"Jane!"

Beni came running from the living room, his face lighting up as he spotted her. His little legs moved as fast as they could, and he practically launched himself at her, wrapping his arms around her knees.

Jane grinned despite the awkward load she was carrying. "Hey, buddy! Careful, you're gonna knock me over!"

Beni looked up at her with a beaming smile, his excitement bubbling over. "Groceries?" he asked, pointing to the bags.

"Yup," Jane said, finally managing to set everything down on the entryway table. "And more packages from Maura's favorite online store."

As if on cue, Maura appeared from the kitchen, wiping her hands on a towel. "Jane," she greeted warmly, her eyes flicking to the packages. "Oh, those must be the new educational toys I ordered."

Jane raised an eyebrow, gesturing to the stack. "Maura, at this rate, you're going to need a warehouse. Or maybe just a bigger house."

Maura smiled, unbothered by the comment. "Beni needs enrichment, and I want him to have the best."

Jane rolled her eyes good-naturedly and crouched down to Beni's level. "Alright, kiddo, you're in charge of opening the packages. Let me cut the tape, and you can take everything out of the box."

Beni nodded eagerly, clapping his hands together. Maura watched the exchange with a soft expression, her gaze lingering on the ease with which Jane interacted with Beni.

As Beni tore into one of the boxes, Jane stood and stretched. "So, Maur, what's for dinner? Because this kid's gonna burn through his energy with all these new toys."

Maura chuckled, folding her arms. "I thought we could make something together. A healthy option, of course."

"Of course," Jane echoed with a smirk. "Lead the way, Maur. But fair warning—this guy's probably going to want dessert after."

Jane was slicing vegetables while Maura carefully measured spices when the sound of small footsteps pattering across the floor interrupted them. Beni appeared in the doorway, clutching a large book that seemed to weigh as much as he did.

"Book heavy!" he exclaimed, his little arms wobbling as he carried it toward Maura.

Jane set her knife down, glancing at Maura with a raised eyebrow. "What did you order this time, Maur?"

Maura took the book from Beni and turned it over, her cheeks coloring slightly. "It's the book on potty training and other tips for raising a child I ordered. I thought it might provide some helpful strategies for us."

Beni's eyes lit up at the mention of the word. "Potty!" he exclaimed, clapping his hands.

Jane smirked, leaning against the counter. "See? The kid's already on board. You don't need a book for this."

Maura raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "And what exactly is your method, Detective?"

Jane grinned, wiping her hands on a towel. "Simple. You toss a Froot Loop in the toilet and tell him to aim for it. Worked like a charm with Frankie and Tommy."

Maura blinked, a mixture of amusement and disbelief crossing her face. "You're joking."

"Not even a little," Jane replied, her tone smug. "That, and letting them pee outside when they were toddlers. Boys love that kind of freedom."

Maura looked genuinely horrified. "Letting them pee outside? Jane, that's not exactly the structured approach I was hoping for."

Jane laughed, leaning closer. "Hey, it worked. Both of them turned out fine. And honestly, potty training doesn't need to be rocket science. Beni's smart—he'll pick it up when he is ready. We just need to let him tell us when he is ready."

Maura sighed, shaking her head but unable to hide a small smile. "I'll keep your 'Froot Loop method' in mind. Though I think I'll also read this book—just in case."

"Suit yourself," Jane said, turning back to the cutting board. "But don't say I didn't warn you when he's potty trained in record time thanks to the foot loop technique."

Beni, still standing nearby, looked up at Maura and repeated, "Book!" with a big grin.

Maura crouched down to his level, her tone gentle. "Yes, Beni, we'll learn all about the best way to teach you all kinds of new things. It's very exciting."

Jane chuckled as she glanced over her shoulder. "You're gonna make this way more complicated than it needs to be, aren't you?"

Maura stood, holding the book close. "I prefer to think of it as being thorough."

"Thorough," Jane echoed with a smirk. "Right. Let's see how that goes."

After dinner was cleaned up and Beni was happily playing with his new wooden puzzle in the living room, Jane and Maura settled at the kitchen table with glasses of wine. Jane leaned back in her chair, her expression thoughtful as she tapped her fingers against the side of her glass.

"So," Maura began, studying Jane's face. "What did you find out about Derrick Mallory?"

Jane let out a small sigh, setting her mug down. "Turns out Derrick wasn't as squeaky clean as he seemed. Frost found over a hundred dating profiles on his devices—some under his real name, some with fake names."

Maura blinked, her brow furrowing. "A hundred profiles? That's… excessive. Was he running some sort of scam?"

Jane shrugged, her fingers drumming against the table. "We're not sure yet. Could've been phishing, blackmail, or something else entirely. There's no clear pattern yet, but it doesn't look good."

Maura tilted her head, her analytical mind already spinning. "And no leads on who might have wanted him dead?"

Jane shook her head. "Not yet. We're digging into his contacts and messages, but so far, it's just a lot of dead ends. He doesn't seem to have any family or close connections—aside from his roommate, who didn't know much about what Derrick was up to."

Maura frowned, her lips pressing into a thin line. "If he was using these profiles for something malicious, he could've made enemies without even realizing it. It might explain why he was targeted."

"Exactly," Jane said, leaning forward. "And get this—his roommate said Derrick was super neat, super organized. Everything in his life looked perfect on the surface. But with all those fake profiles? It's like he was living a double life."

Maura nodded, her gaze distant as she considered the information. "If that's true, then the answer lies in the discrepancies. What did Derrick keep hidden, and why?"

Jane smiled faintly. "That's why I've got Frost tearing through every message, every app, and every account. If there's something there, he'll find it."

Maura reached across the table, her hand resting lightly on Jane's. "You'll figure this out, Jane. You always do."

Jane's smile grew a little wider, the tension in her shoulders easing slightly. "Thanks, Maur. And, hey, if you have any brilliant insights while you're analyzing the evidence tomorrow, let me know."

Maura gave a small, confident smile. "You'll be the first to know."

Their moment of quiet focus was interrupted by the sound of Beni's laughter from the living room. Jane glanced over her shoulder, her expression softening as she watched him play.

Jane moved to behind the sofa, sipping the last of her wine as she watched Beni play with his puzzle in the living room. She couldn't help but smile at his determination as he carefully tried to find the right place to put the pieces. But as the minutes ticked by, she noticed the telltale signs of sleepiness creeping in—slower movements, a few yawns, and the way his eyes seemed to linger shut a little too long each time he blinked.

"Uh-oh," Jane said softly, setting her glass down and stepping into the living room. "Looks like someone's running out of steam."

Beni shook his head vigorously, even as he rubbed his eyes with a tiny fist. "No, not sleepy!" he protested, though his voice carried the unmistakable whine of exhaustion.

Jane crouched beside him, her voice gentle but playful. "Oh, really? Then why do your eyes look so sleepy?"

Beni pouted, letting out a huff. "Not sleepy," he repeated, though his words were accompanied by another yawn.

Jane chuckled, scooping him up despite his half-hearted protests. "Alright, tough guy, let's take a little break. You can try again tomorrow."

Beni squirmed in her arms, trying to fight the inevitable. "No break! Play!"

Jane settled into the rocking chair by the window, cradling him close and gently rocking back and forth. "Shh, it's okay," she murmured, her voice low and soothing. "Just relax, buddy. You've had a big day."

Beni squirmed again, his hands fisting into her shirt. "No sleepy," he mumbled, though his movements were slowing.

"Alright, alright," Jane said, a teasing lilt in her tone. "You're not sleepy. You're just… resting your eyes."

Beni's eyelids fluttered, his resolve weakening with each rock of the chair. Jane rubbed his back in slow, soothing circles, humming softly under her breath.

Maura appeared in the doorway, her expression soft as she watched the scene unfold. "He's fighting it, isn't he?" she asked quietly.

"Like a champ," Jane replied, her voice just above a whisper. "But he's losing the battle."

Sure enough, within a few minutes, Beni's head drooped against Jane's chest, his breathing evening out as sleep finally claimed him. Jane looked down at the little boy in her arms, a small smile tugging at her lips.

"Gotcha," she whispered triumphantly.

Maura stepped closer, brushing a hand lightly over Beni's hair. "You're good with him," she said softly, placing a kiss on Jane's temple.

Jane glanced up, her smile widening. "Thanks. It's easier when they're this small—and this tired."

Maura chuckled, reaching out to straighten the blanket draped over Jane's lap. "You make it look effortless sometimes. I feel like I struggle to get him down for naps or bed."

Jane shrugged, still rocking gently. "It's not. But he makes everything worth it."

Jane carefully carried Beni upstairs, his small body limp in her arms as he slept soundly. She nudged the door to the master bedroom open with her hip and stepped inside, gently laying him down in the center of the bed. He stirred slightly, letting out a soft sigh, but quickly settled back into the deep rhythm of sleep.

Maura followed a moment later, leaning against the doorframe with her arms crossed. "You know," she said softly, "letting him sleep with us isn't exactly fostering independence."

Jane straightened, pulling the blanket over Beni's small frame. "Yeah, well, it's fostering sleep. Which is something we all need."

Maura sighed, stepping into the room and sitting on the edge of the bed. "I'm not disagreeing," she said, her voice gentle. "But we agreed to keep trying to transition him into the guest room. He needs to learn that it's his space, his room."

Jane sat down beside her, keeping her voice low. "I know, Maur. And we will. But the last few times we tried, it was a disaster. The kid cried half the night; you paced the halls worrying about him, and nobody got any sleep."

Maura frowned slightly, though her expression softened as she looked at Beni. "He's been through so much already. I just want him to feel safe."

Jane reached out, resting a hand on Maura's shoulder. "He does feel safe. That's why he wants to be close to us. It's not forever, Maur. Just until he's ready."

Maura glanced at her, a small smile tugging at her lips. "You're surprisingly good at this; you always seem to know exactly what he needs."

Jane smirked. "Surprisingly? Thanks a lot."

Maura chuckled, her gaze returning to Beni. "I mean that as a compliment. He can stay here for now. But we'll keep trying. Slowly."

"Deal," Jane said, leaning back against the headboard. "And hey, at least he doesn't take up much space."

Maura gave her a playful look. "For now."

Jane laughed quietly, watching as Maura smoothed the blanket over Beni one last time. The room fell into a comfortable silence, the only sound being the soft hum of the house settling around them. Jane then followed Maura as they continued their nightly routine, heading back to the living room.

The soft hum of the TV filled the living room as Jane flipped through channels, finally settling on SportsCenter. The familiar sounds of game highlights and commentary filled the air as Jane leaned back into the couch, one arm resting along the back.

Beside her, Maura sat curled into Jane's side, a child care book open in her lap. She was intently reading, her brow slightly furrowed in concentration, while Jane's hand absently played with the edge of the throw blanket draped over the couch.

After a few minutes, Jane glanced at Maura, her gaze lingering. "Hey, Maur?"

Maura hummed in response, her attention still on the book.

Jane hesitated for a moment before speaking. "Do you think we should talk about… us?"

That got Maura's attention. She blinked, closing the book and setting it aside. "You want to talk about our relationship?"

Jane nodded, rubbing the back of her neck. "Yeah. I mean, we're living together, raising Beni, and… there's the whole kissing thing."

Maura tilted her head, a small, intrigued smile playing on her lips. "What about the kissing thing?"

Jane rolled her eyes but smiled. "You know what I mean. We've crossed into… something else, and I just think we should, you know, talk about what it means. Maybe just clear some of the air?"

Maura studied Jane for a moment, her expression thoughtful but warm. "I don't feel the need to label it unless you want to. I'm perfectly content continuing to explore this with you—whatever it becomes."

Jane looked relieved, her smile softening. "Yeah. I like that. Exploring."

Maura smiled back, but her words were cut off when Jane leaned in, pressing a gentle kiss to her lips. The kiss quickly deepened, Jane's hand finding its way to Maura's cheek as Maura's fingers curled into Jane's shirt.

When they finally broke apart, Maura's eyes searched Jane's face. "What was that for?"

Jane chuckled, her forehead resting against Maura's. "I've been wanting to do that since I got home."

Maura's smile widened, her voice soft. "Well, you can do that anytime you want."

Jane grinned, pulling Maura closer.

The TV flickered softly in the background, showing a replay of a baseball highlight Jane had seen at least three times, but she wasn't paying attention. Her focus was entirely on Maura, who was now tucked against her side, one arm draped casually over Jane's waist.

Jane leaned down, brushing her lips against Maura's in another kiss. It started slow and sweet, but Maura responded instantly, her hand gently cupping Jane's face as the kiss deepened. Jane was savoring the last of Maura's lips, something she had now committed to memory and was sure she would always remember.

When they finally pulled back, Maura rested her forehead against Jane's, her lips curved into a soft smile. "You know," she murmured, "this is quite a departure from our usual evenings."

Jane chuckled, her voice low. "Yeah, but I could get used to it."

Maura smiled, her fingers lightly tracing patterns on Jane's arm. "So could I."

They sat like that for a while, exchanging kisses and having quiet conversation. The TV continued to play unnoticed in the background as the room filled with a comfortable warmth.

Eventually, Maura glanced at the clock on the wall and sighed. "We should probably head to bed. Beni will be up early, as usual."

Jane smirked, brushing a strand of hair from Maura's face. "You're the one who always says sleep is important."

"And I'm right," Maura replied with a teasing smile.

With that, they reluctantly untangled themselves and turned off the TV. Jane grabbed the blanket they'd been sharing, folding it neatly before taking Maura's hand and leading her toward the stairs.

As they climbed up to their room, Jane glanced at Maura, her voice soft but teasing. "You know, for someone who doesn't want to label things, you're pretty cuddly tonight."

Maura laughed; the sound was light and melodic. "Consider it part of the exploration process."

Jane grinned, squeezing her hand. "I like this process."

Maura smiled, leaning against Jane briefly as they reached their room. Together, they quietly checked on Beni, who was still sound asleep, his small frame curled up in the middle of the bed. Jane and Maura exchanged a fond glance before slipping in on either side of him, settling in for the night.

As Jane pulled the blanket up over the three of them, Maura rested her head on Jane's shoulder, her voice barely above a whisper. "Goodnight, Jane."

"Goodnight, Maur," Jane replied, pressing a soft kiss to the top of Maura's head.

The next morning Jane was on the floor, surrounded by a colorful mess of superhero action figures. Beni, in full concentration mode, had two of them locked in a dramatic battle, complete with sound effects.

"Alright, buddy," Jane said, grabbing one of the figures. "Looks like Batman needs some backup. I'm calling in Spider-Man."

Beni giggled, his eyes lighting up. "No! Batman win!"

"Oh, so that's how it's gonna be?" Jane teased, playfully moving Spider-Man toward Batman in slow, exaggerated motions.

Before the epic superhero showdown could reach its conclusion, Angela walked into the living room, hands on her hips and a warm smile on her face. "Jane, shouldn't you be getting ready for work instead of battling with Power Rangers?"

"Not Power Ranger, Nonna, Batman," Beni stated confidently.

Jane glanced up sheepishly. "Nonna's here to ruin all the fun, huh?"

Angela rolled her eyes, picking up a few scattered toys. "I'm here to keep this house in order while you go fight real bad guys." She turned her attention to Beni, who had already scooted over to her side. "Alright, sweetheart, let's give Jane a chance to get to work. You and I are going to have a fun day, okay?"

Beni nodded enthusiastically, holding up Batman as if to introduce him to Angela.

Jane stood, brushing off her pajama pants. "He's had a good morning—ate breakfast, played superheroes, and even put his toys back in the bin earlier. Mostly," she added with a grin.

Angela nodded approvingly. "Sounds like you're doing a good job, Janie. Now go get ready before you're late."

Jane quickly ran upstairs to change into her suit for work and was ready in fifteen minutes.

Jane appeared back downstairs and crouched down to Beni's level, ruffling his hair. "Alright, buddy. Be good for Nonna, okay? I'll see you later."

Beni threw his arms around her neck, and Jane hugged him tightly before pulling back and pressing a quick kiss to his forehead.

"Bye, Jane!" Beni called as she grabbed her bag and keys.

"Bye, buddy!" Jane replied, smiling as she headed out the door.

Once in the car, Jane pulled out her phone and dialed Korsak's number. He picked up after the first ring.

"Hey, Korsak," Jane said, starting the engine. "I'm on my way to Derrick Mallory's office. Thought I'd take a look around before I head into the precinct."

"Good idea," Korsak replied. "You want backup?"

"Nah, I'll be fine," Jane said confidently. "Just want to see if there's anything his coworkers can tell me—or if he left something behind that could point us in the right direction."

"Alright, let me know if you find anything," Korsak said.

"Will do," Jane replied, ending the call and setting her sights on the road ahead.