A/N: So, I guess that's it. I'm very sad that this is the last chapter, but it just feels right for me to end it here. I enjoyed it very much, writing it has been a lot of fun for me and I hope you enjoyed the story as much as I did in some way. I didn't plan to have it end like this, actually the only thing I really planned was the first chapter... I just want to thank you for staying with me for so long though I teased you quite a lot with all these cliffhangers. Thank you very much for all your wonderful reviews, they really made my day and it's nice to know that there are some people out there who actually enjoy what I did! And I wanna thank winegirl very much for the messages and all the lovely words! Thank you so very much!

Maura quietly took Jane's hand and was followed without any further questions. She closed her yes for a second and trusted Maura with all her heart; she knew the way through her friend's house well enough. She'd walked through it so many times that she'd memorized each step already.

Jane was tired; she felt physically and emotionally drained; her mind appeared clouded and she was sure that her hands still trembled a little. Without giving it a second glance Jane knew that Maura was heading for her bedroom and there was a sudden feeling of nervousness spreading inside of her.

Would she really want that now? Jane thought and Maura opened the door.

Am I ready for that? She thought and waited for Maura to do something.

I have no idea what to do, Jane told herself and closed her eyes. What if I do something wrong? Okay... really, Rizzoli?

A part of herself wanted to laugh, but she decided not to.

'Are you alright?' Maura asked and put the last pillow away to make more space on the bed. Jane still didn't sit down; she was still hesitant.

'Yes,' Jane answered quietly and looked at her friend who stood at the other side of the bed. 'I... I was just... thinking,' Jane said quietly and her eyes wandered to the bed in front of her and Maura understood why her friend suddenly appeared to be nervous; Jane didn't look at her, but she heard her chuckling.

'What? Jane asked and looked at Maura who was obviously amused; she walked around the bed and stood right in front of her.

'You really thought I would...' Maura said and pointed to the bed. Jane bit her lip and shrugged. Maura laid her arms around her, burying her face in her neck to breath in the familiar scent of Jane before she laid her head on her shoulder.

'I'm tired Jane,' Maura whispered and Jane closed her eyes, wrapping her arms around Maura. The sound of her laughter seemed like the most beautiful thing she heard in a very long time. She closed her eyes and suddenly felt a little ridiculous, but it felt good to laugh with Maura; she couldn't help it and for a moment everything seemed so easy.

'You look tired,' Maura said and cupped Jane's face with her hands to kiss her lips softly.

'It's nice to hear you laughing again,' Jane whispered and the sound of Jane's low voice and her warm breath on her face sent a shiver down her spine; Maura leaned her forehead against Jane's.

'I wanted to be so mad with you Jane Rizzoli,' Maura whispered. 'I really, really wanted to.'

'What made you change your mind?'

'I don't know... you did,' she said and Jane smiled.

'That, my love, sounds quite logical,' Jane said and Maura didn't miss the mocking tone in her voice. She knew it didn't make much sense, but it was the truth.

'You... you just stood there and all my anger was gone. All I could think of was how much I missed you,' she whispered and Jane tightened her arms around her friend.

'I missed you too,' she answered 'I know I've been a little... stupid,' Jane whispered and blinked the fresh tears away. 'And I'm tired of being... like this!' she said and pointed at herself. She was indeed not the person Maura faced at work every day. Her hair was even messier then it usually is, her eyes seemed dull and the dark shadows beneath her eyes were a sign for her lack of sleep. She looked pale and exhausted but it didn't make Maura love her any less.

'We'll be fine,' Maura whispered and took a deep breath; she didn't know if there'd be a 'we' in the future, there were still many things left to talk about but for now she loved the imagination that sooner or later things would be better for both of them. Maura got out of the embrace and laid down on one side of the bed.

'Feel free to use the guest room...' Maura said but Jane ignored her and carefully sat down on the edge of the bed.

She reached out and tucked a few strands of hair behind Maura's ear. The blonde watched her laying down and gratefully welcomed Jane in her arms as she snuggled up to her. Maura laid her head on Jane's shoulder; her arm around Jane's stomach. She silently listened to her friend's even breath and a part of her hoped that this wasn't just another nightmare she had yet to wake up from.

'Jane?' Maura asked after a few minutes of silence.

'Mhm?'

'What made you change your mind? Maura asked without moving.

'Frost did,' Jane simply answered and Maura lifted her head.

'Frost?'

'He dropped by to tell me how stupid I was!'

'I really have to thank him one day...' Maura said more to herself and leaned back again. They went back to silence until Jane broke it; finally asking what troubled her ever since.

'Why did you leave?' she asked quietly. 'After you yelled at me... you could've slapped me after... you know... or tell me how stupid I was...' Jane said. 'I'd probably deserved it.'

'I don't know Jane,' Maura said calmly. 'I was afraid and... totally confused.'

'I wanted to hold you back, you know?' Jane said and Maura looked at her again. 'When I realized what I did I went downstairs but you were gone already.'

Maura shifted a little; her body perfectly matched Jane's and it made her feel safe. She took Jane's hand, their fingers entwined.

'I guess my mum actually felt sorry for me...' Jane said.

'Doesn't she always?'

'I mean, really sorry. She didn't even try to dig for some information about... she just dropped it.'

'About what?' Maura wanted to know and somehow had an idea about the hings that might've troubled her.

'You,' Jane said and looked at their hands. 'I guess you weren't the only one who was scared.'

'Yeah,' Maura whispered. 'I actually have to thank your mum too.'

'What for?' Jane wanted to know.

'She was wonderful, you know,' Maura began to explain. 'When you were in surgery... she... she was there for me,' Jane said and she didn't miss the sadness in her voice.

'I'm glad she did and you weren't alone,' Jane whispered and meant it.

'I really wish I had a mum like yours...'

'Wow...' Jane answered.

'It's not that I didn't love my parents, but...' she said and tried to find the right words. 'Did I ever really tell you anything about my parents? Maura asked.

'No,' Jane answered and remembered that there were many things she didn't know about her.

'I will tell you one day,' Maura said. 'Just not tonight.'

'Okay.'

Maura gladly surrendered to sleep: ignoring the time of day. She'd secretly been afraid of going to sleep; knowing that there would be nightmares disturbing the peaceful night. She'd lie saying that she wasn't afraid any longer but at least she wouldn't be alone when she woke up. Jane watched Maura sleeping soundly next to her; she appeared so calm in the sema-darkness of the night. It almost seemed like nothing changed but Jane knew there were many things that needed to be talked about.

It'd take a while until she'd go back to work; that was a fact she had to face. Somehow it had all changed now; it didn't seem that bad any longer, she'd do whatever it takes. She was done with being weak. She hoped that they'd be able to figure it all out without loosing their friendship or one another. She couldn't life without Maura but she'd taken the risk when she allowed herself to fall in love with Maura; a part of her knew that it'd happened a long time ago.

How would they react at work? Jane knew that there was lots of gossip concerning Maura and herself, but what if it was actually true? She'd dealt with bad guys so many times that it suddenly seemed ridiculous to be afraid of admitting her feelings to the person she loved, or anyone else for that matter.

What about her family? For them Maura was already a part of her family. Frankie knew and so does her mum. The best thing she could do was wait and see what was going to happen. It couldn't all be easy and Jane was aware of that; that would be boring.

She sighed and Maura moved next to her; she turned toward Jane. She laid her arm around Maura and waited quietly for her to go back to sleep; she didn't want to wake her up.

'You should try to get some sleep...' Maura whispered sleepily and took Jane's hand; it was her reassurance that she was still there.

'I'm sorry, I didn't mean to wake you up,' Jane said and Maura leaned back; Jane was laying on her side, watching Maura for a moment.

'What is it?' Maura asked; she knew there was something that kept her from getting some sleep. Jane's right hand rested on Maura's cheek and she leaned forward to kiss her softly.

'I love you Maura Sofia Isles,' Jane whispered and looked into her eyes; she knew that everything she did was right. Maura seemed stunned by her words and Jane saw the tears glistening in her eyes; she bit her lips and closed her eyes for an instant and Jane wiped a tear away with her thumb.

'I love you too Jane,' she answered and they kissed for a long time and neither one even considered going back to sleep.

Jane thought that the silence between them had never been more soothing.

'How did you know?' Maura asked after a while.

'Sofia?' Jane asked and Maura smiled. 'I'm a detective, remember? Most of the time...'

'So... you checked my personal information?'

'I would never do that.'

'I know.'

'I was just curious... about the name.'

'You could've asked,' Maura suggested.

'That would've spoiled it all. I've known it for a while but I just needed the perfect moment to let you know.'

They spent the rest of the night in silence and when Jane finally went to sleep, the sun started to rise.

A/N: Just a little shameless pimping... I'm already writing a new story. It'll be a NCIS/Rizzoli & Isles (Rizzles) crossover! Stay tuned, I guess the first chapter will be posted very soon! Let me know what you think!