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The Black Cat (current day)

Vicky looked at Maura and Jane in turn with sympathy etched on her face. "You really don't remember anything do you?" she sighed, "We drank, well you two drank, several glasses of whisky before I called you a cab and you headed home. It was quite a celebration."

Jane couldn't look at Maura. She just could not. She had listened to Vicky's narration of the night before with growing elation and discomfort. What if..what if it had only been the alcohol talking? What if Maura was already regretting her confession of love and whatever had happened in her bed? Her mind ran off on a tangent imagining the awkwardness of unrequited love and a working situation where they would see each other every day.

Vicky stood up. "I'll be right over here if y'all need me," she said and walked back over to the counter where she took out a drawing pad and began to doodle.

Maura scooted closer to Jane until their legs were touching. She placed one hand on Jane's thigh. "Jane are you all right?" she asked with a very slight waver in her voice.

"I don't know," came the quiet response as Jane kept her gaze focused on her linked hands, her thumbs tumbling over each other forwards and backwards nervously. Finally she raised her head and turned to look at Maura.

The glisten of unshed tears in Maura's eyes was evident. Vicky's revelations had driven home how much she truly loved Jane and the knowledge that their professions of love (and other not quite as innocent actions) had taken place while inebriated was somewhat upsetting. Jane's obvious distress was feeding into her vulnerability in the worst possible way.

"You're not going to cry, are you?" Jane asked, concern plastered all over her face, "Everything will be fine. We'll figure something out," she continued.

Before Maura could respond, there was a noise over by the counter. Vicky was still immersed in her drawing but the blue-haired guy who had greeted them was quite noticeably eavesdropping on to their conversation.

Jane sighed heavily. "Let's continue this discussion back at your place," she said, "away from prying…ears."

As the women made their way to the door, waving to Vicky as they did so, Jane suddenly stopped. "You head to the car," she said, "I have a quick question for Vicky." In a few minutes they were in the car and on the way back to Maura's house.

Enroute to Maura's House

At the first red light Maura turned to Jane "I wasn't going to cry," she began. Jane looked at her with the patented Jane Rizzoli face of disbelief. "Well, perhaps I was," Maura said a little defensively, "I'm sure you think last night was a huge error of judgment and by that I am referring to the declarations of love, not the tattoos although you may consider that to be a blunder too."

The hurt tone in Maura's voice was palpable. Jane sighed again. "Maura, this is difficult for me. Telling someone you love them and not being able to remember, that's..that's not how I imagined…I mean, shit I don't know. I do know one thing. If I told you I loved you, drunk or sober I meant it." Her voice dropped to a nervous whisper while speaking the last sentence.

Maura's face broke into a small, hopeful smile. Before either could say another word, the car behind them honked long and loud. The light had changed to green and neither of them had noticed. "I suggest we wait until we're out of the car before we continue," Maura said. Jane nodded.

The next few minutes played out in silence. Neither woman wanted to engage in small talk with so many thoughts weighing on their minds. As Maura pulled into her driveway, Jane began twiddling her thumbs again anticipating and dreading the conversation to come.

Once inside, Jane strode to the kitchen and poured herself a glass of water. As tempting as the hair of the dog was she wanted a clear head while talking to Maura. "Do you want one?" she asked her friend. Maura nodded. The two stood by the granite countertop sipping from their glasses and as the uncomfortable silence stretched out Maura set hers down and began to talk.

"I have to agree with you that alcohol-fueled avowals of love are not exactly the way most people envisage that special moment. However, if it precipitated me coming to realize my real feelings for you then I believe that in this instance it was a good thing. I am in love with you Jane. It was true last night and it's still true today."

She looked expectantly at Jane. The detective had kept her gaze steady on Maura the entire time she was talking and held Maura's eyes for a few seconds more before looking away.

"I think you know how I feel, " she began slowly, "I can't deny my heart and desires any longer but.."

"Does there have to be a but?" Maura asked, interrupting with a small look of annoyance.

"I wish it could be that simple," Jane sighed, "you know we didn't…just sleep in your bed last night? I..we.."

"Had sex? " Maura responded, "i..knew that, yes. I wasn't sure if you did – silly really given what a great detective you are."

"That doesn't bother you?" Jane asked, "God, I want so badly to remember." She walked around the counter until she was standing by Maura. The pent up hunger she had tried so hard to control since awaking naked in bed was clamoring to be released. She reached out and began trailing her finger tips up and down Maura's bare arm.

"Of course I want to remember," Maura replied, "given the response your touch is eliciting in me I can only imagine how incredible last night was." She looked into Jane's soft brown eyes. "We can always make new memories," she said, "if that's what you want."

Jane groaned. "If that's what I want? My brain might not recall what happened in your bed but my body definitely does."

Maura smiled, her eyes taking in Jane's dilated pupils and the pulse points in her neck. "Is that a proposition?" she asked.

"W-what?" Jane answered, licking her lips nervously.

"You heard me, " Maura continued, stepping closer to Jane. Jane backed away and Maura followed until Jane was up against the wall.

Maura placed one hand on the wall on either side of Jane. The sexual tension between the two was practically a living, breathing entity.

"Do you want this Jane?" she said, "I see every indication that you do on a physical level but I want to hear you say it."

As Jane looked at Maura in her obvious flushed cheeked arousal an image from the night before surfaced – one with Maura's head between her legs. They had already been intimate. In that moment Jane realized that all the repercussions from family, friends and work were worth it. Maura was undeniably worth it.

"Yes, I want this," she replied softly. Maura leaned in and kissed her. The contact was soft and electric causing heat in all the right places. Neither made any attempt to deepen the embrace, merely enjoying the moment as if it were the first time. As Maura pulled away, Jane touched her fingers to her lips. "Wow, that was…I've never…well, I guess I did last night." She moved away from the wall and caressed Maura's cheek with her left hand. "I'm not entirely sure how I got so lucky. A working-class Italian Boston cop and.."

"..and the woman who loves her." Maura interrupted, "We're both lucky Jane."

Jane smiled. "Ready to make those memories over again?" she asked taking Maura's hand, "I can't wait until your tattoo is healed enough to trace with my fingers."

The two women walked into Maura's bedroom and closed the door.

…here is my love and anger, these are my gods, these are my scars. Here is my love and anger, my arms are burning but they're open wide…