Chapter 15.

The next couple of days passed in a blur of activity. Deciding that her apartment held to many memories and seriously enraged by the constant presence of Casey that didn´t know how to give up, Jane had been looking for another place to live. She´d rejected her Ma´s offer to live with her and her brother, but has the days passed she was becoming frustrated at her lack of options. Maura had been comprehensive enough and had also asked for her to just move in with her, but due to her confusion regarding her feelings for the beautiful ME and the fact that she had spent the last 7 months sharing a space with Colonel douche, she wanted a place of her own.

One morning, as she sipped a lukewarm coffee while bootlessly searching the newspaper for affordable and somewhat livable condos, Andrea sauntered over to her table and laid out a sheet of paper with a list of addresses and phone numbers.

"I took the liberty." She´d uttered evenly, as Jane raised an eyebrow.

"Your father really knows a lot of people…" The detective voiced playfully, as she gazed at the scribbled notes, before she turned thankful chocolate eyes to warm emerald orbs.

"Yes, he does." Andrea grinned boyishly as she patted the taller brunette on the shoulder affectionately, before coolly walking away.

Two days later, Jane had signed a lease agreement for one of the loft apartments. It was a cozy, contemporary place with more than enough room for her and Jo Friday. It also didn´t hurt that it was near the station and that it had a small green space that her puppy would certainly appreciate.

She smiled to herself as she settled down in her posh grey couch in the lightly decorated living room, with a bottle of beer in hand.

"I´m beat." Andrea murmured next to her, twirling her glass of red wine before resting it casually on her dark ripped jeans.

"Ugh! Me too." Another voice added from the ground and she chuckled at the slouched form of her younger brother, resting against the side of the couch that Andrea occupied, his own beer bottle in hand.

A familiar click of heels echoed in the spacious room and she turned her gaze to the beautiful ME that was approaching the fatigued group.

"Dinner´s ready." The blonde stated softly, smiling delighted at the slouched forms of the tired Italians.

Jane easily clicked off the flat screen television and stepped towards the kitchen.

"Come along suckers. I´m not picking your plates."

"Ugh!" Two sets of voices complained and the detective laughed as she heard the rustling of her new friend and brother following her.

Half an hour later, Jane pushed her plate back with a groan. "I´m gonna burst."

"Mrghe too." Her younger brother mumbled, between mouthfuls of lasagna, before he yelped, rubbing the back of his head with his free hand while his other continued to shove food into his mouth.

"Don´t talk with your mouth full." The taller woman admonished.

He gulped, chugging the last of his food with a beer, before turning apologetic eyes to the other two occupants of the table. "Sorry." He mumbled sheepishly. "Damn. I still want more…" He all but whined, rubbing his stomach while looking at the rest of the lasagna that lay in the pan.

Maura melodic laugh filled the division and Jane smiled as her being filled with warmth at the sound.

"Don´t worry, Tommy. I´ll pack it up for you."

"Hell yeah!" The younger Rizzoli youthfully celebrated, as he tried to bump his fist with the confused ME.

Andrea and Jane chuckled as the brunette man tried fruitlessly to teach the gesture to the blonde beauty. Taking pity on her brother, the detective carefully grabbed the ME´s wrist and softly closed her fingers with her free hand. "There. Now you just bump it with his."

"Oh… thank you." The soft murmur hit the taller woman on the side of her neck and she turned slightly, realizing their closed proximity. Blushing heavily, she awkwardly dislodged her contact with the beautiful blonde.

"Hmmm… yeah. It´s cool." Jane mumbled as she combed her fingers through her hair, nervously.

"Soooooo, what´s for dessert?" The younger Rizzoli quirked and Jane chuckled, turning thankful eyes to her brother.

"You can eat more?" She deadpanned as she looked inquiringly at her younger sibling.

"Well, yeah."

Laughing at the sheepish looking man, Jane got up and left the table in order to fetch some pits of Ben&Jerry´s that she was sure Andrea had bought.

It was a little after eleven when Maura was at the door. Andrea and Tommy had already left, with the older Italian providing a ride to the younger man, who happily left his sister´s loft with the lasagna safely tucked under his arm.

"Thanks for today."

Jane smiled contentedly, like she had been most of the day. "I should be the one thanking you. You know, for all your help."

The blonde giggled.

"I only cooked. You, Andrea and Tommy were the ones carrying everything."

"You didn´t even have to cook. We could just have ordered a pizza. I´m just… I´m glad that I could spend the day with you."

Maura smile was enormous and Jane felt her own growing.

"Well, I´m glad that I came."

Jane felt inebriated by the gorgeous smile and the mere presence of the blonde beauty and she faltered for only a brief second, before she leaned in and brushed her friend´s cheek with her lips.

"Night Maur." The taller woman murmured, her breath ghosting against a pale cheek.

"Have a good night, Jane." A soft voice replied in the same tone, before Maura smiled one last time and walked in the opposite direction.

The dark haired woman leaned against the doorway and watched the beautiful ME until she disappeared behind the closed doors of the elevator. Breathing deeply, she turned back into her loft and smiled as she absentminded brushed her fingers over her tingling lips.

Over the next couple of weeks, Jane and Maura found themselves in a continued pattern. They would often go together to work, usually ending up dinning at the brunette´s place which was closer to the station. Sometimes, they would change the scenery and end up having dinner at Maura´s or even at Andrea´s loft, usually leaving the weekends to lounge at Angela´s house with the rest of the Rizzoli´s family.

That Friday night, although, the pattern had been altered. Maura was out at some charity event and Jane had declined the beautiful ME invitation to accompany her. The detective´s usual ungracefulness combined with the theme of the event that regarded the military had left her in a state of anxiety and she had remorsefully stayed at her loft.

It was a little past eleven when she heard the bell. Resting her almost empty beer bottle on the coffe table, she rised from the couch.

"Who is it? She huffed into the intercom, almost sure that it was one of her brother´s just wanting to play videogames in her massive TV. She could understand the appeal, but she was starting to get pissed off at how many times they ended up at her loft these days. Damn! They´re gonna eat all my food again.

"Hello Jane. It´s Maura." A quite timbre uttered uncertainty.

"Maur-?" She mumbled, before hitting her forehead, remembering how she had answered the bell. Rizzoli, you´re an Idiot! "Ouch!" Daaaaamn. That hurt.

"Jane? Are you ok?" The alarmed voice of her best friend inquired.

Shit! "Yeah. Everything´s ok. Come on up." She buzzed the blonde in. "Ugh! You´re such an idiot, Rizzoli." She mumbled as she quickly dashed to the living room, hastily picking the empty beer bottles and tiding the couch.

The knock on the door was soft and Jane´s pulse accelerated, as she took another quick look at the division. Seems clean enough. Petting the comfortable couch one last time, she made it to the steel front door in a few strides, before opening it.

Her breath caught in her throat, as her eyes roamed the figure of her best friend.

"Hi."

A large grin escaped her and she invitingly stepped aside to let the adorable figure of her best friend enter her home.

She was greeted with a shy smile as Maura swiftly ducked inside.

"Hey." Jane murmured back, as they shuffled nervously in the spacious entryway.

"Hey." The smaller woman bashfully murmured back.

"I didn´t think I´d be seeing you tonight…" Jane tucked her hands in her pajama´s pants as she rocked back on her heels, uneasily. "… shouldn´t you be at that posh stuff?" She mumbled playfully as her gaze roamed the lean figure of her beautiful friend encased in a long black dress.

The blonde shook her head cutely. "I left early."

Jane beamed before grasping one of Maura´s hands. Tugging softly, she lead the beautiful woman to the L shaped couch, positioning herself so that she was facing the blonde ME. The taller woman grinned nervously as she scratched the back of her head with her free hand before she turned mischievous chocolate orbs to hazel ones.

"Was there a specific reason why you decided to visit?"

The blonde ME blushed cutely.

"Hmmm, well… I really… I just …" She sighed, letting her gaze drop to her hands. "I missed you."

"Really?" The taller detective almost squealed, before she scoffed and repeated in a huskier tone. "I mean, I missed you too."

She watched as the petit woman looked up, hazel eyes shining in delight as a smile encompassed her whole face and Jane grinned happily, at being the reason behind it.

"I´m glad that I´m not the only one." The blonde teased playfully and she chuckled, before lifting and locking suddenly serious chocolate orbs into soft hazel ones.

"Well, yeah… of course you´re not…"

A thumb softy traced patterns on their still intertwined hands and she breathed deeply, searching for some courage.

"Jane?" Maura´s hand lifted to her face before trekking down and resting lightly against a broad shoulder.

Jane breathed deeply as she looked at the beautiful face of her friend, inches apart of her own. This was the moment she needed. Maura was holding her gaze expectantly, her petite hand still locked firm on her shoulder, and Jane felt light headed as the lights surrounded the blonde in an almost ethereal glow. Hazel eyes blinked and their spark intensified. Maura knew. And she wanted the same thing. So why couldn´t she move the remaining few inches?

Surprisingly, the ME smiled knowingly and the hand on her shoulder moved to the detective's side lovingly. "It´s okay. I… I want you to kiss me."

Jane breath caught in her throat and she opened and closed her mouth a few times, before a soft murmur escaped her suddenly dry lips. "How…"

"I can see my own emotions reflected in your eyes." The blonde voiced tenderly.

The detective was silent for a few seconds as she processed the information, before a smile encompassed her face.

"Really? I mean- I…" She was baffled. Overjoyed but baffled and she couldn´t help the flutter in her heart as she looked into kind hazel orbs that shinned with unrestricted adulation. How could she have missed that?

Maura´s smile grew, her eyes twinkling with warmth, as she lovingly squeezed the taller woman´s side. "Of course. So now, you have no excuse to kiss me like we both know you want to." Jane watched as the blonde woman´s cheeks colored slightly. "Like I want you to."

Feeling the blonde´s hands hiking their way up her body, Jane shivered slightly, as her own hands went to the ME´s waist, and for a moment they felt like awkward teenagers sharing their first kiss with their high school crush. Smiling softly, the taller woman brought her right hand to the Maura´s cheek and leaned forward.

It was several minutes of roaming hands and breathless moans before they mutually broke apart. Maura cleared her throat as she slowly opened her eyes, smiling softly as she looked at the jubilant face of her love. She was still watching, as a moment later, Jane opened her eyes and dark brown orbs, darker than she had ever seen them, gazed into her own.

"I... I really wanted to take you on a date, Maur."

The blonde beauty remained silent for a few seconds and Jane could see the doubt and the apprehension displayed clearly in the hazel orbs that she adored.

"What´s the matter, Maur?"

At the mention of her name, the blonde locked her gaze firmly on the taller woman.

"I´m just afraid." The blonde sighed. "I´m afraid that I´m the rebound…" Maura replied hesitantly and Jane heart broke a little at the insecurity dripping in her answer.

Her slightly calloused fingers tenderly grabbed a delicate wrist and she lovingly stroked the soft skin. She took a breath, releasing it slowly in a white puff as she tried to formulate her answer.

"Maur, that honestly never even occurred to me. Casey is the last person I've been thinking about these days." Jane husked sincerely, swallowing hard, as she waited.

"Well, if that´s the case, I think I would be inclinable for such an event."

"Really?" Her eyes that had been focused on her lap, whipped hastily to focus on warm hazels and she groaned at the pain that her movement had caused on her strenuous neck.

"Of course." The blonde beauty giggled at her obvious awkwardness and she smiled at the delightful sound despite her pained body.

"We can try and go on actual dates, then? And not pretend to be friend's hanging out?" Jane asked as she stepped closer.

"I think we can do that," Maura said, grinning at the detective´s mischievousness.

"We can take it slow…" Jane murmured.

"Hmmmm." The ME acknowledged.

A manicured hand reached up and massaged her neck, and Jane sighed blissfully as her unoccupied hand rested against a slim waist and softly squeezed in appreciation.

The smile that she was graced with aroused congeries of electrifying feelings and the detective felt herself tugging the smaller woman closer, as she reclined until she was laying on the comfortable couch. Jane sighed contentedly as Maura´s head laid snuggly into her clavicle and her petit frame curled into her taller body.

"Jane, if we don´t move soon, I´m going to fall asleep." The soft timbre, husky with sleep murmured into her neck and she shivered.

"Good." She replied in the same tone as she lovingly tightened her hold on the ME´s body, before her eyes closed and her tired body let itself succumb to sleep. Her fingers trekked affectionately through lavish blonde locks, and she sighed happily as she momentarily recalled that night in her former apartment when she thought that everything was going to be okay. In that moment, with Maura´s warmth surrounding her body and with her lips still swollen, she realized that she had been right.

That night, as Jane thought about the day, she turned her head to look at Maura. "This has been the best day ever." The tall brunette mumbled contentedly, burrowing further into the blankets and closer to the other woman. "Is it too soon to tell you that I love you?" She asked a moment later, as she peered sheepishly at the beautiful face next to her.

Maura turned sleepy eyes to the detective´s face, placing a hand against a warm cheek. Jane watched enthralled as the smaller woman shifted herself above her, before she leaned down and brushed her lips against hers.

The brunette sighed blissfully as they slowly drew apart. "Not too soon?" Jane murmured bashfully, as she cautiously looked into bright hazel orbs, waiting for an answer.

Maura inhaled deeply, sighing softly as she shuffled in her place, legs untangling and re-tangling, and Jane watches as hazel eyes left her own before they settled downwards. The ME kissed her warmly and Jane pulled at Maura´s hips, bringing her closer and getting the answer she needed, the answer she hoped for, slowly and fully, in a conscious, careful gesture that nonverbally says no, no, no, wordlessly and expressively. She feels Maura smile against her, hand running down her thigh, to her knee and back up, to her waist, her shoulder blade, her neck and her lips and she opens her mouth more, breathing Jane in with a quiet hum at the back of her throat.

Sometime later, Maura whispers `I love you too´ and Jane feels her breath catching in her throat as her hands grasped the small waist in front of her. Her being filled with euphoria and chocolate eyes moistened as she looked at hazel orbs, hoping that her ecstasy was patent in her gaze. Tongue tied, she replied in the same way that the blonde next to her had done. As their lips meet again, she sighed blissfully. Everything will be ok.

THE END!

Thank you for reading and for the kind reviews.

I apologize for any grammar or spelling mistake, but I didn´t have time to revise the fiction and I really wanted to post it today.

I also want to apologize for cutting this story short, but I´ve been swamped with work and it was either cutting it short or not finishing it at all. I hope you understand. Thanks once again.