Jane jolted upright when she awoke and tried to quell the panic in her gut when she realized Maura wasn't in the room.

They'd had an honest, tender experience the night before but Jane still felt fear knotting in her stomach. Waking up alone after a night of making love was never a good sign.

When the scent of coffee and bacon assaulted her, her fear abated somewhat. She took a moment to compose herself, to breathe deeply and stretch her tired body, before standing.

She inhaled the scent of Maura's bedroom, but her stomach rumbled, interrupting her romantic musing. Smiling, she threw on her shorts and one of Maura's shirts, and padded quietly out into the kitchen.

Jane stopped short at the sight of Maura, swaying to soft music as she chopped something at the counter. Maura was wearing nothing but underwear and Jane's sweaty Red Sox shirt, her hair up in a messy twist. Jane held her breath, straining to confirm her suspicion- Maura was singing along to the music.

Stepping forwards quietly and quickly, Jane put her arms around Maura's waist and pressed herself against Maura's back.

Maura tensed briefly, then relaxed, and Jane was elated when Maura leaned back eagerly into the touch. Jane kissed the exposed skin of Maura's neck.

"You really shouldn't sneak up on people with knives, Jane," Maura scolded lightly.

"You're not people," Jane retorted. "You're you. I trust you not to stab me."

Maura snickered and continued chopping, Jane's arms still around her waist.

"I hope I didn't wake you," she said. "I tried to keep the music turned down."

"Nah," Jane shrugged. "But I didn't like waking up alone."

"I'm sorry," Maura stopped chopping and turned in Jane's embrace, her hands finding Jane's. "I wanted to make you some breakfast- I'm sure you haven't been eating properly."

Jane smiled and kissed Maura softly.

"I appreciate that," Jane told her. "But I've always wondered what it would be like to wake up with you in my arms, and I still don't know."

Maura stepped around Jane, moving a pan and turning the burner off.

"I can help with that," Maura said. She laced her fingers through Jane's and wordlessly led her back to the bedroom. Climbing into bed, Maura looked at Jane expectantly.

"What are you doing?" Jane asked, a bemused smile on her lips.

"Going back to bed so you can wake up with me in your arms," Maura said matter-of-factly.

"Damn you're adorable," Jane sighed. Maura blushed and Jane crawled into bed next to her. Maura immediately moved into Jane's space, throwing an arm across her waist and tangling their legs together.

"I had a nearly impossible time getting up this morning," Maura admitted. "I didn't want to move."

Jane skimmed her hand up and down Maura's forearm, her other arm wrapped around her shoulders. She was awed at the perfect fit of Maura's lithe frame against hers.

"Are you asleep?" Maura teased. "Because I am."

"Yeah," Jane laughed. "Alright, I'm asleep."

Both women closed their eyes and took a moment to soak in the closeness. Then Maura pretended to yawn and stir against Jane.

She rested her chin on Jane's chest, peering up through lowered eyelids. Jane cracked one eye open.

"Good morning," Maura cooed, stretching up to kiss Jane. The kiss was slow, exploratory, and thorough enough to make Jane's toes curl. "Are you hungry?"

"Famished," Jane purred, grazing her hand down to Maura's ass.

Maura giggled, squirming against Jane.

"Jaaane," she cautioned. "You should eat first."

"Ok," Jane relented, pulling Maura into a bear-hug. "I like waking up this way."

"Me too," Maura admitted. "I love you."

"I love you too," Jane replied, and her stomach made an angry noise. "I guess you'd better feed me."

"Come on," Maura rolled out of the bed and offered her hand to Jane. "I have a surprise for you."

Curious, Jane took Maura's hand and allowed herself to be led to Maura's back porch.

Maura had set the small table there, and the set-up revealed she'd gone to a lot of effort, expending a fair amount of energy with great care and attention to detail. Guiding Jane into a seat, Maura kissed the top of her head and went back inside.

"I'll be right back," she promised.

Jane swallowed the lump in her throat and nodded silently. She wondered if Maura would ever stop surprising her, or if she'd ever find the right words to explain to Maura how important, perfect, everything, she was.

In a few trips, Maura burdened the table with coffee, fruit, juice, pancakes, bacon, yogurt, and a handful of other things. Jane tried to help but Maura denied her assistance.

"Just let me do this for you," Maura encouraged. "Please?"

"Ok," Jane relented. Maura's attention was difficult to swallow, and Jane realized that it was Maura's way of speaking in actions. Jane might be able to hear Maura's words, to feel the love there, but to her, nothing communicated more clearly than actions.

So having Maura make all her favorite things, put so much effort into caring for her, it filled her to the brim with warm, tender emotions. On her final trip outside, Maura slid the screen door closed and soft music reached Jane's ears.

"Go ahead," Maura smiled. "Eat while it's hot."

Before she could sit down, Jane grabbed Maura's wrist and pulled her into Jane's lap. Pressing her lips to Maura's, Jane tried to telegraph her overwhelming gratitude with her lips and tongue.

When Jane pulled back, Maura looked pleasantly dazed.

"What was that for?" she asked.

"This," Jane indicated the table. "Everything. I love you, and I love that you love me too."

Maura kissed Jane briefly and then stood, taking a seat adjacent to her. Their chairs were close together, and Jane skimmed a hand across Maura's back tenderly.

"I do love you," Maura responded. "And while I communicate primarily in words, I recognize actions are a very powerful way of communicating. I hope you like the pancakes."

Jane nodded, and they ate in companionable silence. At the end of the meal, Maura wordlessly handed Jane the sports section of the newspaper and flipped open a magazine. Jane tried to focus on the sports page but it was difficult, with Maura looking so effortlessly sexy and close enough to touch.

Reaching out, Jane soothed her fingers across the back of Maura's neck. Maura shivered and Jane smiled. She kept up the light touch, watching in fascination as goosebumps skittered across Maura's arms.

Maura continued reading, and Jane moved to rubbing small circles at the top of Maura's spine, the smooth skin exposed by her shirt. Jane was incredibly grateful for the pampering Maura gave her body- her skin was intoxicating, silken and warm and… perfect.

Leaning over, Jane pressed a kiss to Maura's shoulder.

In her mind's eye, an image of them in the same position but with two girls playing in the grass formed. Jane could picture the toddlers dressed to the nines but staining their clothes with dirt and grass, little dark-blonde girls with loud laughter and bright smiles, who were smart as hell and would someday throw a mean right hook.

"Jane," Maura's soft voice snapped Jane out of her reverie. "Where did you go?"

"Sorry," Jane shook her head to clear the muddled thoughts. "I was just thinking I really love it here, with you. It's like your own private little world back here. I don't want to leave it."

"We don't have to," Maura suggested gently. "I don't mind."

Jane kissed Maura softly, in awe that she was allowed to do so.

"Just for a little while?" she asked.

"Alright," Maura nodded. "For as long as you'd like."

"Forever," Jane whispered.

"That's a given," Maura met her gaze.

The look was filled with tenderness, love, joy. Jane held it, attempting to reflect back her own matching emotions.

Finally, Maura leaned over and sealed it with a kiss.

"Forever," Jane breathed. "I like the sound of that."