Author's note: here comes a new story, I hope that you will like it; daily updates as usual.

Prologue

She was nervous. It was an undeniable fact. From her heartbeats increasing by the minute to the way her hands were moist, Maura had no choice but to admit that she had succumbed to quite a terrible anxiety before the events that were about to occur. She repeated the scenario in her head then made sure that she had the required elements at reach to make it all as perfect as it could be. Jane wouldn't give her a chance to be wrong. The situation was delicate to say the least.

Jane.

As if the Italian had heard her friend call her name, she passed the door of the coffee shop – turned around – and waved a discreet hand before going to order a drink. Maura straightened up and took one long breath. It was now or never.

"What is going on by Essex Street? I got stuck in traffic right at the corner of Oxford and..." As the waitress brought her a large mug, Jane stopped complaining and politely smiled at the employee.

Maura's nervousness had officially reached a new level in the meantime, the kind of one that didn't allow her to move an inch unless she wanted to pass out. The more she thought about her plan, the more it appeared to be extremely stupid. It wasn't too late yet to give it up.

"So why did you wanna see me?"

Maura pursed her lips and made a face. It was now too late to ever come backwards. For a moment, she observed her friend on the other side of the table; completely unaware of what was on the verge of happening to her. Jane seemed relaxed, in a good mood. Something told Maura that it would not last.

Without torturing herself any more time, she grabbed the box out of her bag and made it slide on the table, right by Jane's mug. She swallowed hard and forced a smile.

"For you." Her shaking voice betrayed her anxiety.

Surprised, Jane didn't touch the box at first. She stared at it with her big dark eyes – wrinkled her nose – and frowned. She was confused, almost suspicious as a matter fact.

And it was fair enough.

"What is it?" The words passed her lips very slowly as she finally looked up at her friend; her hand now brushing the velvet of the blue box.

Maura cleared her voice and ran a hand through her hair. She seemed extremely embarrassed, on the verge of breaking into hives. Perhaps the coffee shop wasn't such a good idea. She had assumed that a public place would be better if only because Jane wouldn't dare to throw a scene at her but she had to admit – now – that there was nothing less sure at all.

"It is a box, a velvet box. A Tiffany one..."

Jane chuckled and – growing out of patience before her friend's way too literal statement – grabbed it. She raised a sarcastic eyebrow, let a smirk play on her lips.

"Why thank you, Captain Obvious." But the brunette's infamous tone vanished as soon as she went and opened the box. She blinked – cast a glance at the rest of the room as if to make sure that not a single person around had seen anything – then locked her eyes with her friend's. "What is this?"

Pale like a ghost, the medical examiner shrugged and tilted her head on a side as if to give herself a semblance of casualness. In vain. She miserably failed.

"Why it is a wedding band..."

Jane rose a hand in the air to make her stop immediately. The box closed back in a sound that made her jump of surprise and blush. She hissed.

"I know what it is, Maura. I'm not that much of a cat lady either that I wouldn't be able to recognize a wedding ring." Jane shook her head and laughed nervously. "I'm asking you why you offer this to me. Here, in front of everyone." She paused and frowned before the words she had just said. "Okay I mean anywhere. Why would you offer me a wedding band?"

"I knew it was going to be a bad idea..." Maura moaned and buried her face in her hands. She shook her head before what looked like a complete fiasco.

"Well, I usually tend to do better when this kind of proposal is preceeded of... What I know? A meal and at least a couple of Margaritas!"

Maura dared a timid look at her friend through her spread fingers. Jane was hiding the box under the palm of her hand, desperately trying to look casual. She wasn't fooling anyone, though.

"I am not asking you to marry me, Jane." Trying to find some courage, the medical examiner sat up and let a long sigh pass her lips. "Or at least not really."

"Is everything okay?"

Jane snapped her head on her left to cast a glance at the waitress. She hadn't seen her approach. Nor had Maura by the mortified expression that was now lighting up her features.

"Yeah, yeah. We're good, thanks."

The employee nodded – satisfied – and walked away to another table; leaving both women finally alone. Jane waited for a couple of seconds. She had hoped that Maura would explain it all but the scientist seemed to have lost any courage to do so.

"Is this a prank of some sort? That'd explain why Cavanaugh agreed on letting me go earlier, today."

Maura shook her head, her attempt at a casual laugh dying into an inaudible whisper of a sound. She bit her lower lip – uncertain of the way she was supposed to bring it up – then closed her eyes.

"Do you remember how enthusiastic I was – back in May – when my mother told us about this err... This French association that allows high-school students to spend some time abroad at a family to... To follow an international cursus?"

Jane snorted and took a sip of her coffee, suddenly regretting the fact that she hadn't ordered an Irish one instead. She needed a stronger drink right now. Caffeine wouldn't do it.

"How could I forget? You ordered new pillows for your guestroom and was about to send the..." All of a sudden, the detective sat up and frowned at her friend. "Wait. You sent the application form?"

Maura nodded apologetically and looked down at the table. Her hands were so moist that they had left prints on the wood.

"I did and got accepted..." She swallowed hard. It is now or never, Isles. Come on! Speak! "Except I had missed a clause in the contract." The blonde looked up – locked her eyes with her friend's – and spilled it out. "I am supposed to be married. They don't want the children to stay with an adult who would be single."

Jane frowned. She wasn't feeling angry but lost; very confused. She trusted her friend and knew for a fact that Maura wouldn't put her life in danger either but still, the current situation was unexpected to say the least.

"Why?"

Maura shrugged and grabbed her napkin. She proceeded to tear it in a thousand pieces; the gesture highlighting her nervousness.

"They find it better for the students to experience a family scheme based on two parents, if only for affinities to grow and to multiply the different activities parents can offer to their guest. And... Well – since they don't mind about the idea of same-sex couples – I thought that..."

"You didn't have to buy a Tiffany ring for a fake marriage, Maura!" Jane frowned at her very own remark. She surely hadn't assumed that such detail could be a point of argumentation. It was really not a priority in all this. "I mean err..." She ran a hand through her hair, still not daring to open the box again. Not with so many strangers around. "Have you lost your mind? You can't lie! It's going to be torture for you!"

The scientist widened her eyes in hope and smiled brightly for the first time.

"Are you telling me that you accept it? Two months. The student would stay at my place for two months only. After that, you are free to... Ask for a divorce!" Maura laughed but stopped almost right away as Jane didn't even crack a smile. "Please. You know this is something I would like to try... If only once. I swear that I didn't know I was supposed to be married."

Jane crossed her arms against her chest and sat further on her chair. She had been pouting for the last minute or so. As she looked down, her eyes stopped on the velvet box abandoned on the table. Maura had certainly not done things by half. Tiffany, of all jewellers. What would she do of such a ring once the undercover was over? Since when are you that materialistic, Rizzoli? Look at her, she has never seemed so insecure, dammit.

Jane leaned over the table – suddenly – and crossed her hands over the box. She bit her lips as if in an intense effort of concentration then nodded.

"Fine. But as ugly as our divorce might be... I keep Jo Friday." She winked – put her sunglasses on – and grabbed the box. "Honey..."

Maura's relieved smile vanished at the last comment from her friend. She frowned in disapproval – shook her head – then wrinkled her nose.

"Jane! You know that I hate pet names."

Admiring the platinum wedding band on her finger, the brunette smirked. She was now in a teasing mood and – the more she thought about it – the more she started thinking that she had real chances to have a blast with this fake marriage. Getting on Maura's nerves was worth every single penny.

"Why sweetie... Aren't marriages made of compromises?"