Friday

"Are you ready?"

"One moment, Jane"

"C'mon Maur, I reeeally want to be home before it's dark!"

"Well, I don't think this will be possible considering the fact that we have to buy some supplies first."

"Really?" I tramped on the ground like a 5 year old. "Can't you do this another time? I'm hungry!"

"You know, I love your company, but i won't eat your canned food."

She got me there. "Okay okay", I mumbled.

She just grabbed her keys and smiled at me. This wasn't a friendly smile. At least not only a friendly smile, it was a triumphant smile. I hated and loved her at the same time and sometimes I didn't know which one of those feelings was overwhelming.

So we went to the supermarket. Although we bought things for my home, I didn't really had much freedom of choice. I wanted to have pizza, she bought gnocchi, I wanted to have beer, she bought wine, I wanted to have some ketchup for the gnocchi, she bought some stuff for a fancy Italian sauce she heard from.

Some fancy Italian Sauce? Oh oh. I knew she wanted me to cook. What the fuck? She buys things I don't want and I have to cook this shit?

When we were sitting in the car I tried how far I could get. "So Maura … I didn't know you could cook Italian food."

"I don't", she simply said.

I hate her literalism. "So a butler will cook our food? That's unusual. They don't visit my apartment very often."

"No … we will be alone this weekend." She knew exactly what I wanted to say. God dammit.

"So you want me to cook, huh?"

She smiled at me. Way to long despite the fact that she was driving the car. "I had a little chat with your mother." Oh no. "I was a little surprised after I heard you'd be a fabulous cooker."

"I'm going to cut her."

"Only if you'll cut the onions first."

"Really?" Although it was terrible, I had to laugh at her stupid joke. "Since when do you make jokes, Dr. Isles?"

"I'm just looking forward to our weekend."

What does she mean, our weekend? I never said she can stay the whole weekend … well, I didn't even say she could come over … but this became our little tradition. One weekend at my place, the other at Maura's. I just never noticed this before.

So when we were at my place, she put the bags on the kitchen table and started unpacking them. I have no idea why, but I just watched her, not even thinking about helping her. I was pretty sure this wasn't because I was pissed at her for letting me cook, but because I just liked to stare at her. Even the gayest man on earth couldn't deny that this woman was beautiful in every way.

"Are you just staring at me or do you want to help?", she joked with a bright smile on her face.

"Staring sounds good to me as long as the cooking-part hasn't began yet." I playfully winked at her, well aware that it wouldn't really bother her.

"Then I'll hide your beer for you."

"Okay, okay", I gave in, although I didn't know if she was telling the truth.

So I put all this expensive stuff out of the bags while Maura sorted it in my cupboards. Good for me, she already knew, where she had to put everything.

When we were finished she smiled at me, expectantly. "May I stare at you now, while you're making the sauce?"

I just rolled my eyes, not giving an answer and started to get everything ready. Cutting boards prepared, vegetables washed and knifes set ready I started to cut some leek. After 5 minutes of cutting and sweating – I really don't like cooking – it was too much for me. "You could at least cut the onions!", I commanded, while I placed two already peeled onions on another cutting board.

"But I'm wearing makeup, Jane!", she complained in the most female voice, I've ever heard. But maybe it was just my imagination.

Without a word I took her by her shoulders, placed her in front of the cutting board and exchanged the onions with three tomatoes. "Here!", I said, a bit too loud.

She made an offended face, her mouth opened so widely I could have put one of the onions in it, but I decided better not to and just laughed at her 'stupid' face, even though it was still beautiful.

After everything was cut, I put it all together into a bowl and pureed it until it had the consistence I wanted. Putting a finger into the sauce I tested the first sauce I've done in years. Maura for her part, just watched me, but didn't say anything, for my surprise. Knowing what was coming I was about to put my finger a second time into that bowl, before Maura slapped my hand away.

"Jane! Do you know how many germs are on your hand right now? You licked it!"

I just laughed and put some sauce on my finger anyway and tried to stick it into Maura's face.

"Eww! Jane, stop it", she screamed at me while she tried to dodge away from my dirty, little, 'infested' finger.

First attempt: I hit her cheek, leaving a red, wet mark on it. I laughed at the view and enjoyed it way too much. So I took another bit of the sauce – way more than the first time, and draw her a little mustache with it.

The party ended there. "You. Are. A. Horrible. Human. Being.", she glared deadly at me.

"Oh c'mon, Maura! I was just playing around!", I apologized, still laughing.

"Nope!"

"Okay okay, I'll stop … just boil the water while I clean up this little mess here."

"No, not gonna help"

Really? "Really, Maur'? Stubborn?"

"I", she started, her voice pitched in a supercilious undertone. "Am going to take a shower now. I'm looking forward to the dinner you are going to finish without my help. See you in a bit."

Well aware of the fact that she will be 'normal' again after the shower I couldn't help but smile a stupid sunshine-smile at her. Sometimes I couldn't handle the cuteness that is Dr. Maura Isles.

I watched her heading out of the room and immediately finished the dish, after she was out of sight.

The dinner itself was awesome. I was surprised by myself because I managed such a good meal … for a moment I thought it would have been for the better if I had ruined it so I would never have to cook again. Dammit.

"Oh my god, Jane", Maura said after she finished her serving. "This was delicious!"

"Thank you. I never could have done this without your enormous help", I said sarcastically.

Without a word she just shook her head while she laughed into her wineglass and took a small sip. I hated when she did this. I always could have finished half of the glass at once but when it came to Maura, attitude was the most important thing.

"So my lady. Please make yourself comfortable while I clear the table, okay?" I joked. Alluding on her royal manners.

"Thank you, Jane. I appreciate that", was her serious answer. What the fuck?

Somehow I actually ended up cleaning this mess all by myself.

"Do you have any clothes I can sleep in?", Maura shouted out of my bedroom.

"Somewhere at the bottom of my closet", I shouted back. "On the left side!"

"But these are sport clothes."

I rolled my eyes. I was lucky that she couldn't see this. "What is wrong with shorts and a top for sleep?"

"They are not made for it!"

"Maura, my whole apartment is not made for someone like you."

Silence. Enjoyable silence. It took whole 5 minutes until I heard her footsteps coming in my direction. I looked up from the plates I was about to wash and saw Maura standing there, in a sporty top and pants that could count to underwear.

"Wow", I said, not quite understanding why.

"What was that supposed to mean?"

"Ehm, well ... you look good. Different, but good."

"No I meant the 'my whole apartment is not made for someone like you'."

"That? Seriously? It means that you're a flawless, beautiful, rich woman, from high standards that usually shouldn't be in an old, shabby, apartment like mine."

"So you think I'm too good for you?" Her tone was serious.

"Yeah … well, you are" I pointed at her direction. "I mean, look at you!" I stopped for a moment, smirking at the view. "Okay apart from the clothing you are wearing right now."

"Oh Jane", Maura looked at me like a little girl that got a cute puppy for Christmas. She took a few steps forward and embraced me into a loving hug. "You are such a sweetheart", she said before she kissed my cheek. "I am not even kind of too good for you, because you are a gorgeous, human being! I love your company, your character and your little rusty apartment, because it's all you, the things that make you and I love you."

I couldn't help myself but look ashamed to the ground. Not even my mother would say such sweet things to me. "Thank you", I mumbled shyly.

She just laughed at me and grabbed me by my arm. "C'mon, let's go to bed, I'm unbelievable tired."