[AN] Hey, to make sure I don't totally burn out on my usual LOK haunts, thought I'd throw my hand into another fandom, shake things up a bit. Change gears, if you will. It's a little nerve wracking because there are some wicked good writers in the Rizzles' fandom, but what the hey. No guts, no glory, right?

:)

I'm also a long time Agatha Christie fan, so I've come up with a story that hopefully blends the two in a fun way. I hope. Guess we'll see.

For my LOK readers, I'm still writing there, but maybe you'll enjoy this too. Any new readers, welcome!

-V95

"Damn, girl, what's your hurry?" Detective Barry Frost looked over at his partner, the frantically scribbling Jane Rizzoli. She didn't acknowledge him, her attention completely focused on the paper in front of her. He cocked his head as he considered her in the fading afternoon light filtering through the dusty blinds of the homicide division. Her tousled black curls were partially obscuring her face as she hunched over her desk, and he could just make out the furrow in her brow. His own paperwork finished, he decided a little entertainment was in order.

"Jane."

No response.

"Jane."

Still nothing.

A well-aimed crumpled piece of paper hit her on the side of the head "JANE!"

Startled, she glanced up, her look of concentration replaced with one of annoyance. "What, Frost?"

He merely smirked at her, then tilted his head at the paper in front of her. "What's got you in such a lather? You stare any harder at that DD-5 you're gonna set it on fire. You got a hot date tonight or something?"

Jane snorted and scribbled a few last lines, then threw her pen down on the desk and leaned back. "I need to finish fast so I can get home. Making Maura dinner tonight before she leaves."

Frost nodded. "Where she going again? Prague?"

"Vienna. She's giving the keynote speech at some forensics conference over there."

"Chief Medical Examiner of Massachusetts giving a key note in Vienna," he mused. "That's something. Probably give it in German, knowing her." He grinned, not missing the look of awed pride on his partner's face that she hadn't quite managed to suppress. "You're going to be a grumpy pants detective the entire time she's gone."

She glared at him but he merely grinned.

"Don't you be thinking you can hide anything from me, partner." He watched as she stood up to leave, shaking out her long arms and rolling her neck to loosen up after hours hunched over her desk. "Hey, seriously."

She paused, glancing at him.

"Just nut up and tell her okay? You don't want some dashing Euro-trash type sweeping her off her feet while she's over there."

Jane blanched and swallowed hard, a automatic retort on the tip of her tongue. Then she gave him a brief nod and hurried out the door. Frost stood up and straightened his tie, then smiled fondly in the direction of the closing elevator doors. He had watched the lanky detective and the fashion-conscious doctor circling each other for too long. It was time somebody did something.

"Good luck, partner."

Jane stepped back and considered her table. She had borrowed a tablecloth from her stunned mother and scrounged up some candles and honest to God candlesticks, a previously forgotten bequest from a deceased great aunt. A bottle of Maura's favorite pinot noir sat breathing between the two wineglasses, both washed multiple times until Jane was convinced even Maura would find them spot-free. The pot simmering on her stove filled her apartment with the delectable aromas of garlic and basil from her mother's failsafe marinara recipe. Spinach and mushroom raviolis, her Nonna's specialty she knew to be a favorite of Maura's, were waiting for the medical examiner's arrival so they would be as freshly cooked as possible when she plated.

Behind her she heard the rattle of keys and shouted, "It's open!"

Doctor Maura Isles stepped through the door, all five foot seven inches of tailored Chanel and Louboutin heels. Some form of designer tote dangled from her elbow and seeing her caused Jane's blood pressure to climb rapidly.

"Oh Jane, this looks lovely," Maura exclaimed at the sight of the place settings, bag discarded on the couch before she pressed a delighted kiss against Jane's cheek.

Jane blushed hard, then grabbed the bottle of wine. "A little wine while we wait for the raviolis? I'll just toss them in now that you're here."

"Please," Maura sat down, examining the candle holders with interest. "I must admit, I was fully expecting pizza and beer on the couch. I brought yoga pants and a t-shirt to change into."

"Oh!" Jane stammered. It had never occurred to her Maura would want pizza and beer. "Would you prefer that? I mean, I guess I shouldn't have changed our routine—" Soft fingers pressed gently against her lips.

"I'm delighted, Jane." Maura's eyes twinkled. "So what are we having?"

Jane hurried over to the stove, her heart pounding painfully in her chest. She made a show of hovering over the raviolis in an attempt to recover her composure. To her dismay Maura peered over her shoulder and took a delighted sniff, her chest pressing into Jane's arm.

"Angela's sauce and Rizzoli raviolis?"

"Mmm-hmm."

Maura stayed close, her hazel eyes warm with affection.

Jane found herself floundering for something else to say. "I mean, just making sure to feed you well enough so that you'll come back," she finally managed.

"I'm only gone for two weeks," Maura pressed another kiss to Jane's cheek. "You'll barely notice I'm gone." She returned to the table to collect the plates, discarding her heels as she went. Jane dished a liberal amount of raviolis and sauce onto each plate and followed Maura back to the table. She watched with eager anticipation as Maura closed her eyes and moaned around her first bite.

"So good," Maura mumbled, her face rapturous. "You need to make these more often."

Jane shook her head and reached for her wine glass. "Jesus, Maura. It should be illegal how you eat those things."

Maura merely winked as she took another bite. They managed to eat the rest of their dinner with their more usual light-hearted banter, but after a while Maura cocked her eyebrow at the sight of Jane nervously ripping a piece of garlic bread to shreds without actually eating it.

"Jane, what's wrong?"

Jane jerked her eyes up to see her friend looking at her with concern. "What? Nothing's wrong." She collected their plates and returned to the kitchen. "Did you get enough to eat? Let me get you some more."

"I'm quite satisfied, Jane, but I'm worried about you now." Her fingers gently divested Jane of both plates, and she placed them carefully in the sink before turning Jane to face her. She searched the detective's face for clues. "Something is bothering you."

There was a long silence as Jane stared at the floor and Maura stared at Jane.

"I'm going to miss you, Maur," Jane finally mumbled, her face beet red.

"Oh, honey," Maura said smiling, grasping Jane's hands. "It's only two we—"

"Maur," Jane interrupted, her voice raspy with emotion. "Two hours is too long to be away from you."

Maura's breath caught, her eyes widening. The dark haired detective's body was taut with tension, her eyes full of emotion Maura had never seen before.

"I'm sorry," Jane whispered. "I — I've needed to tell you, but I've been such a coward," she paused, gathering herself. Maura took a slow step forward, her hands tightening their grip on Jane's, her eyes never wavering. "I just haven't found the words."

"It may surprise you to hear me say this," murmured Maura as she closed the final distance between them, tilting her head up. "But sometimes words are overrated."

Jane's lips captured Maura's, hesitantly at first, then with growing confidence. Her fingers slid into honey blonde tresses and her thumbs caressed a perfect jaw. She groaned as Maura bit down gently on her bottom lip before releasing it, deepening the kiss. After a few blissful moments the finally broke apart, their foreheads resting against each other.

"That…" Jane gasped. "That is what I wanted to tell you."

Maura pressed light kisses along Jane's neck. "I told you words weren't always necessary." She ran her tongue of Jane's racing pulse point, reveling in the sharp inhale above her. "In fact, a recent study published in the Stanford Journal of Psychology—" She broke off as Jane kissed her again with a smile, and nudged her backwards until they fell onto the couch still clutching each other. Their tongues dueled languorously and hands slid under shirt hems onto the hot skin beneath. Long blissful minutes passed before Jane registered that she was cupping a lace-covered breast, one thumb reverently brushing across a hardened nipple as the doctor's body began to arch into her hand. With a level of self-discipline she didn't know she possessed she tore herself away, sitting back against the arm of the couch. Her chest heaved and her hair was even more tousled than usual.

The doctor's eyes were dark with arousal, and she licked swollen lips as her eyes raked down Jane's body. "I suppose some words might be prudent at this point, otherwise I strongly suspect we will start losing articles of clothing."

"Oh geez, don't say that," groaned Jane. "It's hard enough to not touch you as it is right now."

Maura's eyes twinkled even as she let out a frustrated huff. "You would choose the night before I fly to another continent to make this declaration, Detective."

"Did you want me to take it back, Doctor?" Jane challenged playfully with a raised eyebrow.

"Don't you dare." Maura straightened her blouse and smoothed her hair back into it's usual perfect state, to Jane's annoyance. Her hair probably looked like she'd stuck her finger in a socket. The rest of her body certainly felt that way.

"We can text," continued the doctor, "and you can keep me appraised of anything interesting that goes on."

"And you can send me pictures of Vienna and whatever."

Maura beamed. "Of course. Also the River Danube and Budapest.""Buda-what?" Jane flinched as Maura swatted her arm.

"Budapest is the capital of Hungary, as I'm sure you are perfectly aware. A dear college friend lives there and is also attending the conference, so we decided to take a river cruise from Vienna back to her home," Maura smiled wistfully. "We haven't seen each other since college, I can't wait to catch up."

Jane frowned. "Just a friend, right?"

Maura's face went blank, then realization dawned and she smirked. "Jane Rizzoli, are you jealous?"

"Of course not," Jane retorted. She crossed her arms and pouted, pointedly looking away from the amused blonde.

It didn't take long for Maura to chuckle and push herself onto Jane's lap, snuggling under her chin and breathing in the warm scent that was so indelibly Jane. She felt Jane's arms pull her tightly against her. "I never thought this would happen," she whispered. "I never believed you would ever feel this way."

"Baby, it's been years." Jane pressed a kiss against Maura's head and she smiled as she felt Maura's lips brush her collar bone. "I wish I'd known how you felt."

"We're both ridiculous."

"Utterly ridiculous. There should be a law."

They sat for a while longer, enjoying the feel of the embrace.

"Stay tonight?" asked Jane hopefully. "Just to sleep, I promise."

Maura stirred against her, her grip tightening on Jane's arm. "I'd like that."

The alarm blared with its usual painful demands, and Jane rolled over and stretched, groaning. She stared blearily at the ceiling before hauling herself upright. A small smile touched her lips as the previous night's memories washed over her. She had finally done it, she'd talked to Maura, and to her enormous surprise Maura had not only accepted her feelings, she'd returned them. She fell back against the bed, her arms spread wide. A crinkle of paper under hand caused her to blink, and she picked up the folded note left on Maura's pillow. She'd managed to rouse herself long enough to kiss the doctor when she'd had to leave earlier that morning to catch her plane, but fallen back asleep soon after to happy dreams.

She unfolded the note, and as she scanned Maura's precise script, her eyes once again teared up.

"Smile the while you kiss me sad adieu,

When the clouds roll by I'll come to you,

Then the skies will seem more blue,

Down in lovers lane my dearie,

Wedding bells will ring so merrily,

Every tear will be a memory,

So wait and pray each night for me,

Till we meet again."

Jane caught herself sniffling, but kept reading.

Jane,

This was my grandmother's favorite song. You might consider it overly sentimental, but I will admit you've turned me into mush, Detective Rizzoli. I'll be thinking of you, as I hope you'll think of me.

-Maura

Jane kissed the note reverently, then blushed despite the lack of audience. She leaned over and rummaged in her pants, discarded on the floor. Fishing out her wallet from her pocket, she tucked the note inside.

"Mush indeed, Doctor Isles."

Notes: Enjoy your fluffy start! The real action starts next chapter.

The song is "Till We Meet Again", an American song from the time of WWI. The music was written by Richard A. Whiting, the lyrics by Raymond B. Egan in 1918.