Double post today! This is the last chapter... Thanks for all of the feedback :)

Continued right after the last chapter.

Previously...

Jane scowled at the sound of someone knocking on her front door. She got up off the couch and unlocked the door.

Looking into the surprised face of her girlfriend, Maura smirked and pushed Jane back into her apartment. Jane happily grabbed the blonde's hips as the doctor's arms reached around her shoulders. Before the detective could get a word in, her lips were covered with the soft ones of her professor. Pulling softly back, hazel locked onto dark brown. "Hi gorgeous."

Jane smiled adoringly at her lover, "Hey. Not that I'm complaining but what are you doing here?"

Maura pulled away and closed the door. They both made their way over to the couch. "I just wanted to see you." She gave the tall brunette a shy grin.

Jane couldn't help but give a wide smile. She's so damn adorable. I'm head over heels. She moved to place her arm around the blonde, pulling her in close. The two enjoyed the simple comfort of each other's presence as Maura snuggled into her lover's side and Jane switched channels on the tv over to the baseball. Jane turned to place a light kiss on Maura's head and settled further into the couch.

Maura turned to look at the brunette. She was so deeply attracted to this woman, not just physically but on so many levels. She delicately moved a piece of stray dark hair behind an ear and leaned in to place a soft kiss to her neck. "I love you."

Jane turned her head to look into stunning hazel eyes. She kissed the mouth in front of her softly, "I love you too" she whispered against the blonde's lips. The kiss deepened and Jane reached to turn the tv off, never breaking their embrace. She lowered Maura onto the couch and settled between the doctor's legs. Their kissing never became more frenzied, it was just a gentle but passionate expression of their new confession. Jane pulled back slightly to look into the older woman's face. She reverently smoothed her fingertips over the blonde's jaw, down her neck, and across her collarbone. "I'm so crazy, head over heels, in love with you, Maur." She whispered again into her lover's lips.

Maura was completely inundated by how she felt about this woman. It had all occurred in such a short time and she couldn't even place how the detective had broken through her defences but she had. "Mmmm… Tell me again." The older woman embraced her girlfriend around the shoulders and kissed her.

"I love you." Jane kissed her back.

Playing with the hair at the nape of the brunette's neck and running her fingers through unruly curls, Maura stared into dark brown eyes with wonder. "How is this even possible? Are we crazy?" The doctor questioned. She kept voicing her thoughts before Jane could respond. "I mean, we've known each other for several weeks but we haven't even been out in public together… You're my student!" The blonde's skin started to flush, and she drew back from the detective. "I'm 36 Jane. That's a big difference-"

Noticing the change in body language and the concern in her lover's tone, Jane sat up slowly but kept hold of Maura's hand. Facing her and tenderly reaching out to touch the other woman's cheek, she responded with honesty. "It's possible because we want it, Maur. Maybe we're, uh, a little crazy… Maybe we're not. I don't— I don't give a fuck! It doesn't matter that you're my professor or eleven years older than me. I'll be done with school in a few weeks. I just know that you have come to mean so much to me and I love you!" She paused to look into stunned hazel eyes. "Let's just keep taking each day as it comes; keep being cautious and all that shit… Okay?" She begged.

"Okay." Maura tried to blink away the tears threatening to spill but was unsuccessful. Several tracked down her face. She felt a strong hand gently tilt her face up.

"Shhh baby, it's ok. We're gonna be ok." Jane pulled the smaller woman into her arms and kissed away the tears.

"Okay." The doctor nodded in agreement, wiping her eyes.

Five weeks later…

Maura jumped in her seat as a newspaper was slammed down on the table in front of her.

"I fucking knew it!" A familiar but not very welcome voice startled her along with the abrupt action. "I knew there was something weird about your fucking girlfriend parking in the fucking STUDENT carpark a few months ago!" Not even stopping to take a breath, Chris continued her rant in the tiny cafe that she had followed her ex into. "A student, Maura? A God damn studen—" She pointed fiercely at the newspaper.

"Be quiet!" Maura hissed. Looking around at the other people present, even though there were only two others, she went red with embarrassment. She looked down at the newspaper. "What am I supposed to be looking at?" She took a deep breath and calmed herself. How does she know? It's only a week from Jane being completely finished with school… Surely she wont— Her thoughts were rudely interrupted.

"THIS is what you should be looking at." Chris sat down in the chair next to the doctor and pointed at a small picture and an even smaller blurb about the detective.

First Boston Detective to Receive Harvard BPD Scholarship

...Detective Jane Rizzoli is just one week away from completing her

last semester of studies as a Harvard Law student. Focussing on the area

of Criminal Justice, she is the first student and law enforcement officer

to receive a full scholarship to engage in unofficial studies…

"What the fuck, M?" She watched Maura's face as she read the article. It paled slightly and hazel eyes looked up to meet blue ones. If she didn't know her intimately, the history professor wouldn't have a clue that the medical professor was frazzled by what she had just read. "Have you got anything to say?!"

"What do you want me to say?" Maura replied calmly.

"Jesus, Maura! Something! Anything!" Chris was infuriated.

"This is not your business, Chris. You don't have to make a big deal out of it."

"How old is she?" Chris questioned evenly.

"25."

"25! That's eleven years younger than you! You're fucking a-" The brunette stopped herself, noticing the lack of reaction from her ex. "You're not even going to defend yourself?"

"Will a defence benefit me at all?" Maura did not want to play this game. She stood up to leave but a firm grip around her wrist stopped her. She looked around the small cafe once again. "Let go of me" She demanded cooly.

"Sit down… Please?" Chris let go of her ex's arm and watched the blonde intently as she sat back down reluctantly.

"I'm not discussing this with you." Maura stated defiantly. "It really is none of your business."

"Not my business? I'm a university professor, as are you. I know the damage something like this can do to your career!"

"Are you threatening me?" Maura honestly didn't think her ex would do anything with this information but she was starting to think that she was immature enough to possibly consider it.

"What?! NO! You know I wouldn't do that to you. Fuck! I care about you, Maura. This cop is going to end your career."

"Unless you say something, no one will know. We have been very careful. But if I was to lose my job, then so be it. She's worth it." Maura stood up again with an air of finality. "I have to go." She walked out of the cafe, got into her car, and headed home to meet her girlfriend.

The history professor just sat there and shook her head in disbelief.

Maura looked across at her bedside clock. 3:06. Frustrated that sleep was eluding her, she removed the strong arm wrapped around her naked body and carefully got out of bed. Putting a robe on, she made her way downstairs to make some tea.

"Hey there, sexy." A low silky voice greeted her.

"Oh my God, Adrianne! You startled me." Maura had her hand to her chest and got her breathing back under control. She entered the kitchen and turned the kettle on. "What are you doing up?" She asked her housemate.

The red head raised an eyebrow at the blonde. "I'm a trauma surgeon, Maura!"

"Ok! Enough said." She smiled at her best friend and poured herself a cup of tea.

"What's up with you? Not enjoying the gorgeous bedwarmer upstairs?!" Adrianne teased.

"Oh my goodness, Adrianne. She is so much more than a bedwarmer." Maura gushed about her lover. Her student.

That was the reason she was still awake. Chris' confrontation had rattled her. She wanted to trust her ex to not tell anyone about her relationship but she also knew that she was jealous and capable of doing really stupid things.

"Earth to Maura!"

The blonde looked up at her housemate, tears in her eyes.

"Oh sweetie, what's wrong?" Adrianne moved around to her best friend's side of the kitchen bench and embraced her. When the petite doctor started to sob in her arms, she knew something was seriously wrong. "Hey, it's ok. Whatever is going on in that big brain of yours, it's going to be okay."

After standing in her friend's embrace for a few minutes, Maura sniffled one last time and pulled away. "Sorry. I'm being ridiculous." She reached for the tissues on the counter and wiped her eyes.

"No, you're not. You are in love for the first time in a long time. I understand that it's overwhelming you, but just keep taking each day as it comes." The redhead reassured her. Adrianne sat back down at the bench and watched the professor process her words.

"I know. I'm okay, I think. I just—" Tears started to pool again in hazel eyes. "Chris is back."

"Oh no, Maura! You are NOT being fooled by her again! Seriously!?" The trauma surgeon raised her voice. "You're not getting back with that fucking idiot!"

"No, NO! Let me finish… I- I love Jane. God, I love her so much it scares me. I am NOT getting back with Chris."

"Thank fuck for that! You had me worried for a second." Adrianne breathed a sigh of relief.

"You're so dramatic." Maura rolled her eyes and continued. "She knows Jane is my student and I'm concerned about what she will do with the information. God, I can't lose her but I don't want to lose my job…"

"Oh Jeez, Maur. That's awful. She wouldn't say anything would she? I know she's an asshole but she's not nasty like that, right?"

Maura really thought about the question for a moment. "No. No, I don't think she is. I just don't know. I can't help but feel like everything is going to fall apart." She put her head in her hands and began to sob again. She jumped slightly when a gentle hand brushed the hair away from her neck and a soft kiss was placed there. Strong arms wrapped around her from behind and slid around her waist.

Jane whispered into the doctor's neck, "Shhh, Maur. I'll kick her ass if she says anything." She tried to lighten the situation. She really didn't think that Chris would say anything but she knew Maura wasn't convinced.

The smaller woman turned and buried her head into her lover's chest. "I'm being silly aren't I?"

Jane rubbed up and down her girlfriend's back to soothe her. "No baby. You're just over analysing the whole thing. She wont say anything." She pulled back and placed her hands on the blonde's hips, making eye contact. "C'mon, let's go back to bed?"

The older woman nodded and took the brunette's hand. She looked back at her best friend still drinking her tea at the kitchen bench, "Goodnight Adrianne" She smiled softly at the redhead.

"Night, honey."

EPILOGUE

Two weeks later…

"Feels great, doesn't it?" The husky voice whispered in her ear.

Maura pulled the long, tanned arm around her tighter and leaned in closer, "Mmmhmm." She smiled, feeling light and carefree. "Feels amazing." She leaned into Jane and placed a kiss to supple lips. When the brunette went to move away she put her hand up to a strong jaw and kissed her a little longer. Placing one more peck on those lips, she breathed an "I love you" so that no one else would hear. She just heard the detective's mirrored response before someone yelled across the table at them.

"Get a fucking room!" Jane's brother yelled playfully at the pair.

"Language, Frankie!" Angela admonished and smiled adoringly at the couple.

Maura blushed. She couldn't believe they were all sitting around a large table, eating a meal 'family' style, in the middle of a busy Boston restaurant. It was something she had never experienced or imagined in her life but her heart felt so full. She glanced around at the activity happening at the table. Jane was bantering with her brother, Frankie, whilst her arm stayed wrapped securely around Maura; Adrianne was talking softly with Constance about the artist's latest installation; Angela and Jane's work partner and mentor, Vince Korsak, were discussing the additions the Italian woman had made to the Division One cafe menu; and Tommy and Frank Sr were thumb wrestling. The waitress arrived at their table with some of their orders. Chaos ensued as she worked out whose meal belonged to each table member.

Jane turned to watch Maura watching everyone. She fell a little more in love at the awestruck look on the blonde's face. So damn beautiful and all mine. Sensing eyes on her, the doctor turned to look at her girlfriend. Jane gave her a full dimpled Rizzoli grin. Maura gave her a dimpled smile back, leaned forward and kissed her lightly on the lips.

"Seriously?!"

"Ohhhh, so sweet"

"Awwwww"

"Far out, you two!"

"I told ya to get a room!"

Everyone chimed in at once.

They all broke out laughing as the waitress delivered the rest of their meals.

Jane spoke up, "Ok, so… Just shutup for a minute—"

"Janie!"

"Hush Ma! Lemme say something." She cleared her throat nervously. "I, uh, just wanna say that, umm… I wanna thank everyone for putting up with all of my attitude—"

"Attitude? Is that what you call all that shit we went through?!" Vince shouted from the other side of the table.

Jane laughed at his outburst, "Fuck you, Korsak!" She pulled Maura in and placed a kiss to the side of her head and continued her speech. "As I was sayin' before I was rudely interrupted… You guys have all been pretty great throughout my time studying, each in your own way. I'm just heaps grateful and wanted to show my appreciation." She had to add in her customary light-hearted comment, "I'm also very appreciative that I get to FINALLY be 'out' with this amazing woman. I'm totally shameless." She squeezed Maura's side and the two kissed again, ignoring the catcalls around their table. They didn't even try to contain their smiles.

The End (for now)

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