A/N: So... The end is here. I can't believe I actually managed a story a day for 25 days in a row. Writing discipline is my biggest problem, so this little challenge has been extremely helpful, and anyone who has the same problem I recommend this sort of challenge wholeheartedly.
I want to thank each and everyone of you who have read my stories, taken the time to review/repeatedly review, and messaged me. I appreciate it all.
On to this last story... It turned into a bit of a long one (almost twice as long as the previous longest). I hope you like it!
Thanks for joining me on this crazy ride. MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE!
Jane hopped up and down excitedly as she burst through Maura Isles front door.
"Is she here? Is she back yet?" Eager eyes scanned the familiar surroundings.
Her mother, Angela Rizzoli, stepped forward arms flapping in the air. "Keep it down! ...And no, she's not here yet."
Choosing to ignore the "keep it down" as her mother had her own volume control issues, Jane's perky mood lessened slightly.
Maura had been away at a conference somewhere in Canada all week, and she was missing her terribly. Aside form a few phone calls they hadn't been able to communicate much.
She had been due back late last night, but bad weather had led to all flights being cancelled. With the prospect of Maura being stuck across the border, Jane's mood had taken a nose dive, afraid she'd be spending Christmas without her best friend.
Maura had called back an hour later telling Jane she was on her way. She had managed to find someone to drive her to Boston.
It was a 12 hour drive her friend was undertaking, she did not envy her one bit. She was however beyond happy that Maura would be home for Christmas.
It had been a late night, taking the opportunity to talk to her friend while she had her on the phone, then the excitement of soon seeing her keeping her up.
In her haste to see her best friend, she'd left the gifts in the car. Heading back outside to retrieve them, she spied the snowman she and Maura had built just before the doctor had left.
"What are you doing?"
"I'm attempting an anthropomorphic snow sculpture."
Jane screwed her face up in thought, trying to work out what Maura was talking about.
"A snowman?"
Wrapped up in a thick winter coat, an adorable woolly hat perched stylishly on her head, the blonde nodded.
"That's what I said."
Laughing, she bent down beside the curious woman to help.
"Here… You gotta roll it. You'll build this sucker much quicker that way."
They spent the next hour rolling snow, building their master piece. Trading the odd snowball aimed at one another.
As Jane went in search of the perfect sticks for arms, Maura rushed out of the house complete with designer hat and scarf in her hands.
"Maur, I said old."
A confused face graced the M.E. as she looked over at Jane. "They are old. They're last season."
Shaking her head, Jane shrugged it off. It was doubtful Maura would be wearing them again. "We're going to be the only home in the United States with a snowman dressed in designer gear."
"We?" A knowing smile was aimed at Jane.
"Uh… I meant, you. You're house. Home."
Deciding to let the flustered detective off, Maura continued on. Acting as if her very good friend hadn't just completely tripped over her words.
She dressed the snowman in his hat and scarf, and Jane joined her giving him his arms, and used some smooth stones for buttons and eyes.
Moving away, Jane handed Maura a carrot. "You can finish the stylish man off."
Maura gratefully accepted the carrot and gave the snowman his nose.
Stepping back, Jane slipped an arm around her waist, pulling her closer.
"Best anti-morphing snow sculpture ever!"
As Jane's focus snapped back to the present, she noticed the nifty designer scarf was missing. Opening up the trunk of her car, she made a mental note to replace it (albeit with something a lot less pricey).
Angela bustled about the kitchen readying food.
As she popped some nibbles in the oven, she noticed her daughter pacing back and forth, checking her phone for what seemed the hundredth time, then moving over to the window to look out of it.
She grinned to herself. Her daughter's impatience to see her "friend" was cute.
"Janie, stop pacing! You'll wear a hole in the rug… and you're making me dizzy."
The impatient woman merely raised an eyebrow at her. Continuing to pace, she scooped up a Santa hat from the table. Playing with it in her hands.
Angela decided to have a little fun at her daughter's expense.
"Why are you so worked up anyway? Dr Isles has only been gone a week."
"Yeah, and for a week all I've had for company is Korsak and Frost bitching at each other."
The elder Rizzoli decided to take a different tack. Busying herself, pulling ingredients out of cupboards, she made sure she looked busy so Jane wouldn't think she was paying too much attention to her.
"Maybe she met someone while she was there. Wouldn't that be nice?"
Jane's face said that was anything but nice. She grunted in her direction, reaching for her phone again. Typing out a message, Angela would bet good money that it was to Maura.
"A handsome doctor sweeping her off her feet in a foreign country. How romantic."
She made sure to really ham it up. Swooning slightly.
"It's Canada, ma! Not freaking Europe."
Looking as if she were about to strangle something, Jane made a hasty exit from the room.
"I'm gonna go feed Bass."
Taking pity on her eldest, Angela let her leave. Throwing out a comment as she passed, hoping she'd take the hint.
"She won't be single forever."
Feeling as if her work were done, Angela got back to the serious business of baking.
Jane sat on the floor of Maura's bedroom. Leaning against the back of the bed, knee's drawn up to her chin.
"You don't think Maura met anyone do you?"
Bass was sat next to her, his wrinkly head poking out.
"I know we don't always get along, but you can be honest with me. I can take it."
She reached out her hand, resting it on the shell of Maura's beloved pet. Flexing her fingers, scratching at it slightly.
"You like that? I don't really know how to interact with you. You're not as easy to figure out as the cute furballs we humans normally keep…
Anyways, your mommy would have told me if she met someone. I'm sure of it… Unless she was waiting until she got back? We haven't exactly had much time to talk."
Bass blinked solemnly back at Jane.
"You're right, she'd tell me. The important stuff is always told.
You know, you're pretty smart. I guess all these years with Maura have rubbed off."
They sat in silence for a while contemplating life, strawberries and Maura Isles.
Still running the Santa hat through her fingers, Jane reached over and placed it atop Bass. Fitting it as snugly as possible, she once again rested her hand on the now partially furry shell.
"Looking pretty snazzy little dude."
Jane yawned, the late night, early morning and earlier pacing catching up with her.
Tilting her head back, she rested it on the mattress.
Eyes closing, Jane told herself a 5 minute nap wouldn't hurt.
Bass edged closer, as if to nuzzle into her side.
An hour later a bright flash of light startled Jane awake.
Opening her eyes, she found familiar tired green eyes peering intently back at her.
"Man, are you a sight for sore eyes."
The brilliant smile on Maura Isles' face only grew brighter.
She had arrived home mere minutes ago. Greeted warmly at the door by Angela, she had excused herself to her bedroom to drop off her bags, only to find a sleeping Jane and Bass cosied up together.
Her heart had swelled, figuratively speaking, at the sight. Unable to resist, she had pulled out her camera to capture the heart warming moment.
Hearing Jane's words only made her homecoming all the sweeter.
Looking down at the sleepy brown eyes, she leaned in close brushing her lips over Jane's cheek. Lingering a moment longer than a friend should.
"It's good to be home."
Jane and Maura walked into the living room together, all smiles with eyes only for each other.
Angela cleared her throat. "I'm going to go get ready. You're brothers will be here for Christmas lunch soon."
"Okay, ma."
The two women sat on the couch together. The air seemed thick with an unspoken tension.
Jane spoke first. "I missed you." In return she was graced with another of Maura's heart stopping smiles.
"I missed you too."
Jane bit down nervously on her lower lip, then rushed her next words. "You didn't meet anyone while you were there did you? Ma had this crazy idea you might have."
She looked everywhere but at Maura. Afraid of the answer.
"What? No. What on earth gave your mother that impression?"
Jane shrugged, trying not to show the relief she felt.
Feeling suddenly brave, Maura ploughed on. "There hasn't been anyone else in a while."
That got Jane's attention. Her deep brown eyes studying her intently.
"Else?"
Maura reached out, entwining her fingers with Jane's. She felt strangely calm now that she had finally found the courage to try and break the holding pattern she and Jane were in. She took a deep breath. Inhale. Exhale.
"Jane…"
Suddenly shy eyes were once again looking anywhere but at her.
"Jane. Look at me."
She waited patiently. At peace with the moment. Things were about to change.
Jane took her time and Maura was willing to give her as much as she needed. Eventually her eyes met Maura's.
"I think you know what I'm about to say… About to do."
Jane swallowed thickly. Nodding in understanding. Her voice barely a whisper. "I'm scared."
Maura smiled in understanding. "I was too. For a very long time, but not anymore. You know why?"
Jane shook her head.
"I'm not scared anymore, because you love me."
Brown eyes went wide. The detective looked ready to bolt. Her breathing becoming noticeably more rapid.
Maura couldn't help but grin a little. "You don't have to look so scared Jane. I'm not going to make you say it. I'm not asking for anything you're not ready to give. I just wanted you to know that I know, and that it makes me, me, the people shy socially awkward weirdo, feel safe. Able to sit across from you in this moment and tell you that I love you. That I'm in love with you."
Jane's breathing had slowed somewhat during Maura's mini-monologue, but now she sat there frozen. Unable to move forward and do the one thing she wanted most.
They sat there in a silent deadlock. Neither moving, just staring at one another. Maura waiting to see if Jane could overcome her fears and take the next step.
"KISS THE GIRL, FOR CHRIST'S SAKE!"
Both women snapped their heads towards Angela Rizzoli, who stood on the opposite side of the room, hands clasped over her mouth.
"Really ma? Really? Get out!"
The woman beat a hasty retreat, and the two women looked at each other. Neither knew what to say. Seconds passed and Maura sighed. It seemed the moment was lost. Standing up she turned to leave. "I should probably shower and change. Your brothers will be arriving shortly."
"Yeah…"
Jane watched as Maura left, and suddenly it all clicked into place.
Jumping up off the couch, she caught up to the retreating woman. Spinning Maura around she pulled her close, their lips meeting, heatedly moving together.
As sudden as the kiss was, so was its abrupt ending.
Foreheads resting together, Jane finally found her words.
"I couldn't watch you leave again… Even if it was just to shower."
The two women laughed.
"Merry Christmas, Maura."
"Merry Christmas, Jane."