So I was thinking, I've never actually written a 'straight' canon Rizzles fic (like not AU)… But I have no idea why not. And since I'm sick and my brain is mush, I thought now would be an excellent time to remedy the issue :P Enjoy! (P.S. this is totally spoiler free, based on a hypothetical answer to the proposal in the midseason finale.)

Jane took a deep breath. She'd been parked outside Maura's house for ten minutes with no idea why she felt so nervous. She looked down at her hand again, at the ring sparkling on her finger. It had been the only possible answer. He'd been kneeling there, waiting for her, waiting for her to say yes, to say that she loved him too. Everyone always said that sometimes in life you had to take a leap of faith, a jump into the unknown. And this was hers. Casey had given her the chance to be a grown up, to be in a real, happy relationship, with someone she cared about and trusted. Uncertainty was normal - who wasn't nervous before they got married?! It was a big deal. But it would be fine, she'd done the right thing…

She got out of the car.

"Maura, I've told you a hundred times, don't leave your front door unlocked!" she said as she strode into her best friend's living room. Maura rolled her eyes.

"If someone wants to get in enough that they try the door, they're going to get in whether it's locked or not."

"I-" Jane stopped herself, putting on her best smile. Maura narrowed her eyes.

"What's happened to your face?" she asked. Jane blushed and rearranged her features into a more normal position.

"Sorry, I'm just happy!" she lied.

"Oh?" Maura asked. Jane gleefully presented her hand.

All the colour drained from Maura's face. She stared at the ring, knowing what had happened, but still unable to believe it.

"He… he proposed," she whispered.

"Yes!" Jane said excitedly.

"He… and you said yes," Maura managed, her tone devoid of all emotion.

"I did! I thought… You're happy for me, right Maur?"

Maura bit her lip. "I… I guess I didn't expect you to-"

"I know it's soon, I was surprised too, but when you think about it, it's great really."

"Yeah, great," Maura echoed. She forced a smile. Jane felt uncomfortable.

"I… Look, I know you don't like him very much but he's a good guy, Maura. He's the best guy I know."

Maura held in a sigh and found her positivity. "I'm so, so happy that you're happy, Jane," she said softly, pulling her friend into a hug, feeling the warmth of Jane's body and holding tight as Jane's strong arms embraced her tightly. She felt so good in that moment that she almost forgot…

"I gotta go tell my Ma," Jane said suddenly, letting go of Maura. "Is she in?"

Maura nodded weakly.

"I'll be back with her in a minute. Open some champagne or something!"

Maura told herself firmly that the forced happiness in Jane's voice was a figment of her imagination, then went to put her nicest bottle of sparkling white wine in the freezer. She was embarrassed not to have real champagne, but she doubted Jane or her mother would actually taste the difference. There had been a time when she would have thought that rather derisively, but now she found it endearing, even admirable. There was a beauty to simplicity, to appreciating everyday things and having little knowledge of delicacies. Maura wasn't so sure that her expensive tastes were something to be proud of.

She got out the glasses, wondering where Casey was. She was slightly surprised Jane wasn't with him… If she ever got engaged to someone she hoped it would be because she didn't want to spend a single moment away from them. She didn't know why she felt so down about the whole thing. It wasn't as if she was jealous or anything, she didn't even like Casey! Maybe that was it, of course. It was natural to be protective of her friend… But however misguided, Casey had always been good to Jane. Maura didn't approve of everything he'd done, but he'd never wanted to hurt her and he was clearly trying to support her. Jane needed someone to do that. She might act all strong and independent but underneath she was sweet and sensitive. She needed someone who saw that, someone who'd look out for her. And Casey would do that… Wouldn't he?

Maura leaned against her kitchen counter, fiddling with her bottle opener. He would. He would treat her well, he was a gentleman, he was committed… So why did she feel so strongly that it was all so terribly wrong?

Angela was grinning from ear to ear when she came into the kitchen.

"Isn't it wonderful Maura? My little Janey getting married!"

"Yes, it's wonderful," Maura said. It was already getting easier to sound happy about it, but Jane saw through her. She put her hand on Maura's waist, leaning in from behind as Maura retrieved the wine from the freezer.

"Hey. It's going to be fine. I'll stay and talk to you about it later, okay?"

"Okay," Maura said softly.

Jane took the bottle and opened it amazingly neatly for someone with so little experience. Casey arrived when they were still drinking.

"Hello," he said, grinning at Jane and giving her a kiss. He smiled around at the women in the room. They all looked so happy. It had definitely been the right thing to do. Jane was happy, she was… He took a deep breath, pushing all thoughts of the tour he needed to sign up for this week if he wanted to go. He wasn't going, he was staying in Boston and getting a job and getting married. That was what he wanted. Yes. He wanted to settle down, he wanted to stay in one place, he wanted to start a family- He shuddered. But it was years before that would happen, anyway. He didn't need to worry about children or anything. Just a wedding… He could cope with a wedding. It was what he wanted.

"Right. How about I take you all out to dinner?" he asked enthusiastically.

"Sounds lovely. Let me just go get my purse…" Angela practically skipped out of the room. Maura ran a hand through her hair and didn't meet Casey's eyes.

"Come on Maura," he said, winking at her. "I know I'm not your favourite guy in the world but aren't you a little bit glad I'm going to make an honest woman out of your Jane?"

"She isn't my Jane," Maura said, not really knowing exactly what she meant. "But yes," she forced a smile, "I'm very happy for you both."

"And you're coming to dinner," Jane told her firmly. Maura bit back the excuse she'd been about to make. If Jane wanted her there, she would be there.

Casey drove them all to a little Italian restaurant in town. Maura could see Jane gritting her teeth as he parked. She reached forward and put her hand on her friend's shoulder to keep her calm, and felt Jane relax at her touch.

They piled out and went inside. Everything seemed to take far too long, from Angela choosing a starter to the poor waitress clearing away the dessert plates and bringing them the bill. When Casey finally drove them all back to Maura's place it was after midnight. Jane gave him a quick kiss before she went inside.

"I'll see you tomorrow," she said, trying to make her voice gentle and fiancee-like. He smiled at her, but it looked more like a grimace. Jane closed Maura's front door and locked it, sliding the dead bolt across too.

"No one's coming in, Jane," Maura teased her. Jane laughed.

"One day you'll appreciate me for keeping you safe."

"I already do," Maura said earnestly. Jane looked at her, a thought in the back of her mind that she couldn't quite catch, something she was feeling but didn't understand…

"Good," Jane said, flopping down on the couch. "Now. Take off those ridiculous heels, come sit down, and ask me anything you like."

Maura did as she was told, kicking off her heels and curling up at the other end of the couch.

"Okay… Well… Why did you say yes?"

Jane grinned. "Getting right to it then… I said yes because he asked, Maura. And because I want the kind of future I'll have when I'm married. I'm ready to settle down, I'm sure I am, if I give myself the chance… And Casey's ready too."

Maura nodded.

"You're not convinced, are you?" Jane asked. Maura sighed.

"Not really. But if you're happy, I mean it, I'm happy too."

Jane leaned against the cushions. "To be honest, Maur, I'm not convinced either. And I don't think Casey is. But… I guess we're at the age where getting married is what you do. We've known each other forever, we know we get on, the sex is good, the conversation-"

"The sex is just good?" Maura teased. "Don't you think you should aim higher than that?"

"Aim higher to what? Where am I gonna get any better?"

"Was Agent Dean better?"

"Maura!"

"He was!"

"Maura, that's not the point, stop it!" Maura was laughing, she couldn't help herself. Jane throwing a pillow at her just made it worse.

"You're worse than a teenager," Jane said, rolling her eyes, but she said it lovingly. "And I'm going to bed. You coming?"

Maura nodded. Jane stripped down to her underwear on the way to the bathroom, dropping her clothes in a heap in the corner before getting her toothbrush out of the cabinet. Maura joined her, changing into a silk nightdress, suddenly embarrassed by taking her clothes off with Jane in the room. Jane didn't notice and Maura fetched her own toothbrush. Their eyes met in the mirror. Jane crossed her eyes. Maura wrinkled up her nose. They were laughing again in a few moments, perfectly relaxed and content by the time they got into bed.

Jane snuggled in close, needing the contact. She was so worried, her friendship Maura was the only thing keeping her sane. Maura was the one person she could always rely on.

"I'm so glad I'm here," she said. Maura smiled.

"I'm glad you're here too. I'm going to miss you."

"What d'you mean? I'm not going anywhere."

"I don't think you'll be having so many sleepovers once you're married."

Jane smiled. "Maura, I'm still me. And we're still having sleepovers, until we're old and grey."

"Yeah," Maura said, wishing she believed this.

"Hey," Jane said. "I mean it. Don't be sad, okay."

She moved down the bed and touched her forehead to Maura's, looking right into her eyes. And felt something inside her that she couldn't comprehend. Before she could think about it, she gently pressed her lips to Maura's, a soft, careful kiss that deepened into something much more passionate. Maura felt her body writhe with desire and need as her brain finally registered what her heart had been telling her for years. Jane had undergone a similar revelation a few seconds ahead of her and her hands were now grabbing at Maura's nightdress, sliding under the silk to explore underneath it…

A/N: More soon... Thanks for reading, please review!