Disclaimer: I do not own any part of Rizzoli and Isles.

Thirteen years later:

Jane put a little more swagger into her step as she slid form the car and approached the yellow crime scene tape. She'd done this hundreds of times before, ducking under the tape to greet the officer, the techs, the detective. Of course that had been in training only and today was her first day as a true detective. She was in control and she wanted to show them just how much.

She slowed as she approached the body, her movements and her mind sluggish at the sight of an impossibly beautiful woman kneeling in dangerously high heels. Those heels showed off smooth muscled calves, the curve of her butt and the long line of her back. Golden curls tumbled over her shoulder. She was incredibly sexy, incredibly beautiful and not something she should be thinking about when there was a body just...there.

It had been a long dry spell and a long time since she'd let herself acknowledge her attraction for women, that was all.

She couldn't lie, not even to herself. It was more than that though, it was that she looked impossibly like...no, it couldn't be.

Maura was simply on her mind today, as she often was, slipping into her mind make her smile, to make her cry, to hold her hand. It was because of her that she'd made it to where she was today. In her mind, she heard the words of encouragement, she saw the wide eyes of admiration and it fueled her.

She shook herself, took the time to pull her hair into a pony tail and to take one last look at the delicious sight before she knelt down beside the woman, "Well what do we have here?"

Her glance sideways nearly had her toppling over into the bloody remains, "Maura freaking Isles."

The other woman gasped when she looked up, teetering to her feet, "Jane? Jane Rizzoli?"

They were stepping into each other's arms for a fierce hug. She still fit perfectly into the curve of her body and oh god she still smelled the same, warm vanilla and sweetness like summer sunshine.

"It's actually Dr. Maura Isles now," She whispered into her hair.

"Of course Dr. Smarty Pants, I never expected anything less." Jane pulled back to gaze into her eyes, that were a few shades darker than they had been that summer. They were guarded but still brimming with warmth for Jane.

"Hey," Maura swatted at her arm, falling easily into their old teasing. "What are you doing here?"

"I'm the detective assigned to this case, it's my first one."

"Oh Jane," She breathed, her voice husky, "I'm so proud of you."

"Thank you." Jane blushed, at once grateful for the words as well as mindful of how Maura's voice still had the power to make her weak at the knees.

Korsak came over and clapped Jane on the back, "Look if you two are finished doing whatever it is you're doing, a cause of death might be nice. "

With a final glance and promise to meet at Jane's precinct after work, their returned their attention to the crime scene.

The second time Jane sees her after thirteen years, she sees her across the lobby. Her hair is glowing golden in the light from the setting sun that is streaming through the doors. She has a boxy purse clapped in both hands and her gaze darts nervously around the hall.

"Maura!" She called, jogging towards her. It had been a long time since she'd spoken the name out loud and she enjoys the way it rolls of her tongue.

The other woman relaxes easily, a familiar smile spreading across her features. "Jane."

She enjoys even more to hear her own name, spilling from full pink lips. "Would you like to go someplace and catch up?"

"I can offer my house, I have great wine and it'll be quiet," Maura suggested timidly.

"Sure!"

Not twenty minutes later they found themselves sipping wine on Maura's couch in an awkward silence.

The grandfather clock on the fireplace mantle ticked and the dishwasher whirred from the kitchen.

They broke the silence, speaking at the same time.

"It's so great to see you," Jane gulped.

"I never thought I'd see you again," Maura mumbled into her glass.

The two women giggled nervously.

"You go ahead," Jane motioned, nudging Maura's skirt-clad thigh.

She's momentarily at a loss for words, her gaze taking in the brunette before her, "You look really beautiful Jane."

"You are incredibly beautiful Maura, and damn sexy."

She blushed, letting her hair fall forward over her face like she did as a girl, "Really?"

It was a habit to brush the curls back from her face and tuck them behind her ear, the pad of her thumb brushing over her cheekbones. "Yes."

"You're rather attractive yourself."

At long last their gaze met.

And held.

They still sat a ways apart, not touching, but the ice was broken. It melted away completely in fact, and the magnetic tug that had always been there came springing up between them.

For over an hour, they danced around what they really wanted to ask, instead discussing what the years had been like for them.

They talked about Maura's path through university, followed by medical school. Maura proudly described her specialization in pathology like she always wanted and how she'd came to work for the city about five years ago.

Jane on the other hand recounted the trials of finishing her degree and working her way through the academy. She'd been working as a uniform for years but the past six months she'd been training for detective. She passed the exam and today was her first day officially on the job.

"Oh Jane, that's just wonderful." She sighed happily, "We both got what we wanted, what we dreamed of."

Over the hour they've kicked off their shoes, and curled up on the couch. Maura's feet are resting in Jane's lap, while the brunette massages them. Her hands still and come to rest on her calves, "We got everything except one thing Maura, what happened?"

"I don't know." She tensed as if to move her feet, but Jane stops her, her thumb brushing over he sensitive skin at her ankle.

"I called you," Jane admitted, "I called and called and you were either busy or out of the house. I left so many messages for you to call me back but you never did."

Maura grimaced, her eyes fluttering shut. "I never got to tell my mother about us. A family friend saw us at the beach and told my mother. She went insane, calling me a sinner and a disgrace to society and our family. She forbid me from having anything to do with you. She screened the calls, she had a driver take me everywhere, she had me monitored at school...I just thought that if you really cared you would have tried to come and see me. I was devastated and I was furious."

"I tried." Her voice cracked, "Maura, I tried at your house, I walked around campus one day, I even tried the coffee shop you once talked about. I was convinced that you'd changed your mind about us and didn't love me anymore, so one day I just stopped trying."

"I never knew, they wouldn't tell me anything."

"We were what twenty Maura, we were adults and you let your mother dictate our relationship." Her thumbs dug into the arch of Maura's feet, releasing years of pent up frustration.

"You know I wasn't that strong."

"I thought you were stronger than that."

Tears sprang to her eyes, "I wasn't Jane, I'm sorry I wasn't."

"Why didn't you come find me, why didn't you call."

"You were strong enough for the both of us, and your strength made me want to try, and I did try. I wrote you a letter but I never received a reply. I thought you didn't want me anymore, nobody really wants me."

"I never got it..." Her touch gentled once again. "Maura how could you forget the facts so quickly, that I loved you, that I wanted you, that you were my best friend."

"I... I don't know ...I'm so sorry Jane."

"No, I'm sorry for getting upset. It's not your fault. I should have tried harder to show you there was something to fight for."

She ran a finger beneath her eye, wiping away the mascara and the tears. "Jane?"

"Yeah?"

"We're here now." The blonde reached for her hand, lacing their fingers together.

She swallowed audibly, meeting the other woman's gaze, "We're here now."

They kiss tentatively, their lips brushing over one another.

The sparks that had been dormant for so long surfed, tongues slid, teeth nipped and hands roamed eagerly.

Jane panted ad Maura's lips burned a trail down her neck, "Maura, we have so much we should talk about."

"There's plenty of time to talk later. "She disentangled herself and led them upstairs.

They lay facing each other on the bed, eyes exploring, before they met in the middle. Their bodies fit together in the same exhilarating way, their touch still sent shocks of pleasure to their centre and their lips and tongue still melted into heated kisses.

"Wow you know what you're doing now," Jane gasped as Maura expertly undid her bra with a single flick and began to mold and tease her breasts.

"I knew what I was doing back then," She countered huskily against Jane's tanned skin.

"Oooh," Jane hissed, arcing up to meet her mouth, "That's definitely new."

"Yes, I suppose so," She giggled, her breath tickling sensitive skin, "Do you like it?"

Jane's fingers entwined in blonde curls, pulling her close, "Yes Maura, just please..."

With soft touches and eager kisses and with skilled fingers and breathy moans, they reacquainted themselves with each other's bodies.

At last they were thoroughly satisfied, for now, and they lay together, comfortably entwined. Their hands rested with familiarity at each other's hips, their heads cradled in each other's arms, their legs slipping into place. They were Jane and Maura as they always had been.

Maura traced a line between her breasts, her fingernails scraping lightly, making the other woman shiver. "I'm happy Jane."

Her low laugh rumbled, her body vibrating against Maura's, "I just bet you are."

The blonde swatted at her hip, "I mean I'm happy. I..."

Jane pressed a kiss to her forehead, "I know babe, I'm happy too."

Maura raised herself on one elbow, her hair tickling the other woman's shoulder so that she squirmed out of the way." I love you so much."

Dark eyes sparkled in the low light, "I love you too."

"I never stopped."

" I didn't either, you were always there. " She reached for her, settling her against her side once again, not eager to be so far apart so soon.

"Jane, is there someone?"

The brunette laughed again, "You don't think you should have asked that before you slept with me...like three times."

Maura shrugged simply, "No, I would have anyway. I feel the same attraction to you now as I did back then. "

"There isn't anyone serious, there never has been. " Jane had slept with men primarily since then, never chancing her heart with the emotional connection she could make with a woman. Dates were few and far between, only leading to sex when she needed it. But it was never satisfying, not really. She asked, "And you?"

"No, not since a summer in college," She answered, her tone teasing, her words true. "I haven't had the time to put into someone that I could ever love half as much as I did, I do, you. It never seemed worth it."

"So what now?" Jane hummed thoughtfully, her mind sluggishly processing the very recent events. "Are we just supposed to fall back into what we use to be?"

"No," The blonde shook her head, "That rarely works, but we can move forward... if you want."

"It's been a long time."

"I never stopped loving you," Maura's grip tightened around her waist.

"I never let go of my feelings for you either."

She traced patterns on her exposed skin, "I still remember imagining how our life was going to be."

Jane shivered again under her touch, sighing with pleasure, "It still can be everything we imagined Maura, we'll figure it out."

"How do we begin?"

She glanced at their bodies, still glistening with sweat. "This is a pretty good start."

"Yes, yes it is." Maura pressed a kiss over her heart.

"How about a date this weekend and we'll see how it goes?"

"I'd like that, " She breathed, wiggling impossibly closer to her lover.

The brunette smiled against her soft skin, enjoying the scent of her perfume, her musk. "Me too. I love you."

"I love you too."

The words felt forever right, forever perfectly true. They slept in each other's arms that night as they would for every night until their time together on this earth would come to an end. A love like theirs never truly ceased to exist though, it was always present on an ethereal plane, bringing hope to young lovers for eternity.

In stories there are always sections where characters float along though the narrative and nothing in particular happens, functioning as a link in the chain to the next important element. It may seem unnecessary, but in fact it is what brings life to the characters and depth to the setting.

In between seasons, there are often weeks where the weather takes a pause from its regular scheduling and it floats along through a middle ground of hot and cold, sunny or rainy. It may seem unnecessary but in fact it is a recalibration, a setting the stage for the months to come.

Even in relationships, such as the one between these summer friends, there is a pause. For some, the pause is the length of time between sentences and for other's it's years. There are cases of men and women who find each other by some miracle after more than fifty years, and they're at long last able to continue their story. For Jane and Maura, they can only be glad it was thirteen, and that they have a long life together before them. This pause, while it may seem unnecessary, may be the fates at play, allowing for character development and as a way to set the stage for their lives to unfold together.

Call it fate, call it chance or call it a miracle but above all it is true. True friendship that lasts a lifetime and true love that can withstand time. It was no longer summer, but they were forever them.

A/N: This is exactly how I planned on ending this fic from when I jotted down the idea in a notebook. " Maura freaking Isles" and "Jane? Jane Rizzoli?" - that exchange has always been there in my mind. I'm sorry to those who thought I ruined it, I hope you enjoy a little :) I can't thank everyone enough for reading and reviewing and following this story from Summer 2012! Can you believe it! I can't! This story is so special to me and it's really strange to finally be ending it. Like I mentioned before, I'll be making this more into a novel so I'm sure I'll write a few more snapshots of their lives to share, weddings and kiddies and growing old and sighs I love these two. Thank you thank you thank you from the bottom of my heart xx

P.S. Like I did earlier, I'll post the picture of my notes for this story on tumblr, if anyone is interested in getting a behind the scenes look :)