Author's note: welcome to the sequel of Orando Laborando; questions that haven't been answered or you were eager to see developped will find their moment here - if you haven't read the previous story, it is all fine. You should have no problem to follow this one - updates every two days, as usual!

...

"Open your window and look upon

All the kinds of alive you can be

Be still, be light, believe me"

The Weepies, Little Bird

Prologue

March

It had turned to be her favorite moment of the day, when she passed the door of her Beacon Hill house – abandoned her files and bag on the desk – and finally found back Jane's arms on her waist. Her lips – warm and inviting – against her very own ones. At times, the kiss turned eager and their evening plans took another direction; a more intimate one. But even if it remained chaste and soft enough, Maura had the certainty – deep inside her heart – that this was where she belonged in.

Discarding her umbrella by the door along with her trench coat, the honey blonde dropped her medical reviews and Hermès bag on top of a precarious pile of magazines then rushed to the Italian who was in the kitchen cooking.

"Good evening..."

Jane's voice slid in a soft whisper, soon melting in a kiss. She hadn't grown accustomed to it but simply addicted. To every single detail, if she had to be honest; from Maura's scent to the way the scientist got a hold on her lower back, letting her fingers caress her there softly.

"Are you hungry?"

A light flickered in Maura's hazel eyes. Like a child, she bent over the kitchen island to cast a glance at the saucepan and eagerly nodded.

"As a matter of fact, I am starving! Give me a minute to change of clothes and we will be able to have dinner. Thank you for having waited for me..."

Jane shrugged away the remark as a timid smile embraced her lips and she let go of Maura who rushed upstairs immediately. The medical examiner had been dealing with a tough schedule, lately. She left in the early hours of the morning only to come back home late at night. As much as they had always been close, this was a detail that Jane had found out rather quickly when their relationship had been taken to the next level officially; when the routine of Boston – so far and different from their time in England – had wrapped them up in a dizzy whirl.

The sound of sliding papers made the detective look up. Maura's bag – probably too heavy – had fallen on the couch, from the desk behind it; its contents landing on the sofa.

"Ah shit..."

Jane abandoned the wooden spatula she had been holding and went to pick up everything. Not paying much attention to what she was doing, the brunette sat on the edge of the sofa and began to put all the items back in the bag.

It is when the box caught her attention; there, at the corner of her eyes. Black on the beige fabric of the couch, cruelly contrasting with the rest. If you had asked her a few years later, she would still have told you that the world had stopped. Suddenly, quietly. That nothing had made sense anymore and that right against her temples, her heart was beating fast. Loud.

With a shaking hand, she grabbed the velvet box and opened it. The diamonds caught the lights and let their typical glimmering embrace the tiny space that separated them from the brunette's fingers. It was neither her birthday nor their anniversary. Just another random day – sweet enough, she hoped – in the peaceful rhythm of their life. Or at least until now.

"I was thinking that maybe we could go to the movies, tomorrow. I will leave the office earlier and..."

Maura froze, stopped talking. Jane didn't move. She couldn't do so, actually. Hypnotized by the ring she was holding, the Italian had got lost in time and wonders. She was barely breathing.

"Oh no... What... Why have you rummaged through my bag?"

Maura's offended tone of voice finally made Jane react and completely taken aback – still looking for her words – she shook her head painfully.

"I haven't. It... Your bag fell down on the couch. I just put everything back in... Is it..."

The brunette frowned, confused. She didn't know what to say, way too scared to sound stupid. And all of a sudden, Maura burst into tears. The scene was surreal, senseless. And way too troubled, Jane let a very upset Maura sit on the coffee table. The blonde took back the box and shook her head.

"It was supposed to be a surprise..."

Maura was overreacting and she knew it but she couldn't help herself. The disappointment was too big, hurt too much. It was not how she had imagined it, how she had planned everything in her head second by second.

Passing a hand through her hair – completely letting the panic take possession of her – she bit her lips and shook her head.

"It was supposed to be... To be one of these moments in life that will remain forever engraved in your mind... It was... It was supposed to be beautiful, and sweet. And... This isn't how you ask someone to marry you. This isn't... I've screwed it!"

An emptiness had invaded Maura, bringing along its typical sentiment of failure; the one she felt too often deep inside but never dared to admit out loud. Except it was worse than usual for having to do with her personal life, with Jane. This time, she had dragged her down in her spiral of clumsiness.

"You... You wanna marry me?"

Finally looking up at Jane, the blonde shrugged – defeated – and closed her eyes before nodding. The incredulity in her lover's voice made it even worse. Perhaps the whole idea was ridiculous... After all, they had never talked about it. Not yet. They had been together for eight months, three of which had been led in the purest clandestinity. And if it weren't for a mishap from her part – another one – they would have probably not be open and loud to everyone right now.

"I am so sorry... I wanted it to be nice, and romantic. And... Everything."

She couldn't even come backwards, couldn't pretend it hadn't happened. She didn't even know what to say anymore. She swallowed hard. You're a big failure, Maura Isles.

"I think it is. I think... I think it is romantic. Right now..."

The medical examiner locked her eyes with dark ones, lost herself in one of these sweet and shy smiles that Jane only used in private. Maura frowned, made a face; unconvinced.

"You really do?"

Jane nodded – looked how Maura passed the ring on her finger – and smiled brightly.

"Yes. I do."