I've had a few comments that not everyone is able to see all chapters, I also upload to AO3 for anyone having a problem seeing all chapters
Jane groaned and ran a hand over her tired face as she leaned back in her chair at her desk. The case that she was working on with Korsak and Frost seemed to be dragging on. It constantly felt like two steps forward and then one step back. All Jane wanted was to go home to Luna but it was looking less likely that she would see her daughter before bedtime. She hated nights when she wasn't there to say goodnight to Luna. It had been a busy few weeks between work, Luna's clubs and finding a routine with Maura where everyone felt like they were getting the right amount of attention. They seemed to have found their balance of spending nights between both houses, nights where Luna had all of Jane's attention herself, nights where Jane had time for Maura and nights where they all spent it together.
Jane pulled her phone from her belt and cursed when she saw the time. She was supposed to be home in half an hour. She quickly typed out a text to Tommy to apologise for being late and to ask if he could watch Luna longer. Her phone quickly dinged with a response but not the one she was hoping for.
"Damn," she grumbled.
"Everything okay?" Frost asked as he entered the bullpen carrying three cups of coffee. He handed one to Korsak and placed one down in front of Jane.
"No, Tommy has Luna but he can't watch her longer than usual. Frankie's still here, I'll have to ask Ma."
"Sorry, Jane." Korsak gave her an apologetic smile. He knew how much Jane tried to see Luna before she fell asleep.
"Hey," Maura called as she entered the bullpen, her coat and bag slung over an arm. Frost and Korsak both gave her a smile and turned their attention back to the case. Jane had told them both about her relationship with Maura and both men were happy for her. However they had decided to keep it discrete in work to keep the gossip mill low. They had however found themselves both making sure to say good morning and goodnight to each other everyday.
"Hey, it's going to be a late one tonight." Jane let out a sigh and looked up at Maura as she stood next to the chair. "I'm going to have to ask Ma to have Luna for the night."
"I could watch her," the doctor offered. "It would save disturbing your mum from her evening. I have no plans. I was just going to go home to watch a documentary."
"Would you?" Jane let her shoulders sag in relief. She hated having to ask Angela last minute. It meant one of them had to sleep on the sofa and Jane always felt too guilty to let her mother do that so she always ended up with backache the next day.
"Of course." Maura smiled brightly. "I can head there right now."
"Thank you, Maura." Jane reached out and squeezed her hand. "I have no idea if Tommy has given her anything to eat yet. If he hasn't just whatever she wants and in bed by 9pm. I'll try and keep you updated with a time I'll be back."
"I'll see you later." Maura bid them all a goodnight before she headed towards the elevators.
—
"Thanks, Maura, see you later Luna!" Tommy called as he grabbed his jacket and left the house. Maura turned to Luna with a bright smile as she put her bag down on a chair but she could see the sadness in the girl's face.
"I'm sorry it's me here tonight and not your mum," Maura spoke softly.
"It's okay." Luna gave a small shrug. "She has to work, I get it."
"Doesn't mean you're not sad about it." It was the first time Maura had witnessed Luna being sad about being in Maura's company. Even though she knew the sadness was because her mother was working late, she couldn't help but feel her own pang of sadness. "So, dinner, what would you like?" Maura walked into the kitchen to figure out what there was to eat. "Do you need to take lunch tomorrow?"
"Ma usually makes me a sandwich." Luna leaned against the island as she watched Maura.
"Okay." Maura opened and closed the cupboards before looking into the fridge.
"Ma hasn't done the food shop yet," Luna commented. "There's pasta in the cupboard."
"You just want some pasta?" Maura turned back to the mini Rizzoli who just gave a shrug. "Okay, pasta it is then." The doctor busied herself in the kitchen making them both a bowl of pasta for dinner while Luna sprawled on the sofa to watch some TV.
Luna was still quiet when they sat down to eat and Maura was trying to figure out the new situation. "Is it okay that I'm here tonight?" Maura finally asked when they were about halfway through their pasta. "If you'd rather I wasn't I won't come again," she spoke softly.
"It's okay that you're here. It is weird that you're here without Ma" Luna spoke quietly as she looked up at Maura. "When Ma works late it's usually Nonna, Uncle Tommy or sometimes Uncle Frankie that stay the night. It's never been anyone else. Ma never lets anyone else apart from Uncle Frost and Grandpa Korsak look after me." She gave a small shrug and pushed some pasta around her plate.
"I don't want you to feel uncomfortable about this. I know your mum and I being in a relationship is a big change for you and I don't ever want to come between you and your family. I want you to know that I will always be here for you. If you are ever uncomfortable, please, tell me so I can change it, okay?" Maura reached a hand out and gently placed it on Luna's shoulder.
Luna was silent for a few minutes before she gave a small nod. Some days it was easy dealing with the new dynamics but others were a bit harder. "I do like spending time with you," Luna spoke quietly, "I just wish Ma didn't have to work so late."
"Would you like me to ring her so you can say goodnight?" Luna's eyes brightened at the idea and she watched as Maura pulled her phone out to dial Jane's number.
"Hey, Maur, is everything okay?"
"Yes everything is fine. Luna just wanted to say goodnight," Maura instantly reassured her girlfriend as she heard the concern in Jane's voice before she passed the phone over to Luna.
"Hey, Ma."
"Hey, baby. I'm sorry I have to work late tonight. I'll come and give you a kiss goodnight when I get in, okay?"
"It's okay, Ma. I understand."
"I love you, Luna. You look after Maura, okay? I have to go but I'll see you in the morning."
"I love you too, Ma." Luna hung up the phone and handed it back to Maura, her body language happier than she had been. They finished their dinner while Luna talked about her day at school before they sat on a sofa together. Luna had pulled a biology book off the table to look through with Maura before bed.
The time passed quickly and before either of them had realised it was time for bed. Luna hugged Maura goodnight before she headed up the stairs to her room. Maura, unsure what to do with herself, decided to have a little tidy up before she decided to turn in for the night as well. It felt weird climbing into Jane's bed without her there. She'd only received one message from Jane apologizing for being late so Maura knew it was a busy night for the team.
–
It was nearly 1am when Jane finally arrived home and she was exhausted. She kicked her boots off at the door before she made her way upstairs. Quietly she opened the door to Luna's room and crept in. She brushed a strand of hair out of her daughter's face before she kissed her forehead. Jane studied Luna for a few moments, marvelling at how fast her little girl was growing up, before she padded quietly into her own bedroom where Maura was sound asleep. She changed quickly and slid in behind Maura. She wrapped an arm around the blonde's waist and buried her face into her hair as she breathed a sigh of relief. It felt nice to come home to both Luna and Maura, it felt safe, domesticated.
–
The sound of an alarm followed by Jane's groan pulled everyone from their slumber the next morning. Maura gave a yawn and stretched out her body before she rolled over to face Jane. She hadn't heard the brunette arrive home.
"What time it?" Jane murmured sleepily and slung an arm over her eyes.
"Time to get up." Maura propped herself up on her elbow and noticed for the first time the third body that was in bed with them. Luna smiled and snuggled further under the covers as she realised she had been spotted by Maura. The movement caught Jane's attention as well and she moved her arm to look at her daughter.
"When did you sneak in?" She reached an arm out and Luna instantly snuggled into her mother's side.
"Did you catch your suspect?" Luna asked.
"Not yet but we're getting closer."
"Do you need to work late tonight?"
"No, I'll be home tonight, baby." Jane kissed the top of her daughter's head.
"I'll go make some breakfast." Maura slipped from the bed to give mother and daughter some time together. Jane smiled gratefully and wrapped both her arms around Luna for a morning snuggle, both needing a bit of time together.
Maura and Luna sat at the island as they ate a breakfast of scrambled eggs while Jane shovelled her eggs in as she put a lunch together for Luna for school. Once they had all finished the mini Rizzoli gave both women a hug before she was out the door ready for the school bus.
"Thank you for last night." Jane turned towards Maura and pulled her in for a hug, wrapping her arms tightly around the blonde's waist.
"It was no problem." Maura gave a small shrug. The evening hadn't exactly been how she had imagined it would go. She was once again reminded of how much she had underestimated inserting herself into a family.
"It was more than you realise." Jane smiled and bent her head down to kiss Maura. "Was Luna okay?"
"She missed you," Maura admitted and let her hands rest against Jane's chest, just below her shoulders. "It was weird for her that I was here last night without you. It's only been just me and her at the station and you were only a few floors up. It was just a new situation last night."
Jane let out a small sigh at the words. "That makes sense. She's never met anyone I've dated before, not that any of them were ever serious, but it's always just been the two of us."
"We talked a little before we called you and I think that helped ease Luna."
"Okay, that's good. I'll talk to her tonight and make sure she's okay. I really do appreciate you being here last night." Jame let her hands run up and down Maura's back soothingly. "It also felt really nice to come home to you and Luna." A small blush appeared on her cheeks and Maura let out a small laugh before they shared one last kiss before work.