Prompt: Jane and Maura find a teenage girl who was nearly murdered and she helps Jane and Maura realise they're meant for each other.

A/N: Hey, so it was one of my follower/followee's birthday a while ago, and I decided to write her a fanfic for her birthday, based off an idea she gave me. For morerizzlesplease. This has been up for a while on Tumblr, most of my writing comes out there first. And check out "A Headcanon Series" and "a Song-Inspired Series" if you like my writing. Reviews are love! Enjoy!


Jane could feel the case getting to her. It was nine o'clock at night, on their third night of working the case, and it felt like they were going nowhere. Hunching over her desk, head in her hands, she went over the files and reports again, desperately trying to pick up the pieces and put them together so they made sense. But it was like looking at pieces from five different kinds of puzzles. Forty-nine year old man found shot dead three nights ago in one of the poorer neighbourhoods of Boston, and his sixteen year old daughter missing. His ex-wife lived across town, and had hardly any contact with either of them since the divorce five year ago. The man worked in the docks, and his daughter went to the local high school. She'd been reported absent for the past week.

Too many loose bits of information. Too little to go on. Jane could feel the headache growing as she kneaded her forehead in frustration.

Suddenly, the sound of high heels down the hall interrupted the silence. Jane didn't have to look up to know it was Maura who had pushed open the door, and turned with a stretch to watch the doctor make her way over, bearing two cups of coffee.

"Have you been up here all day?" Maura sat down in a second chair by Jane's desk and handed the detective her coffee, double cream, extra sugar. At a glance, she knew it was exactly what the brunette needed. The dark circles around her eyes and the slump of her shoulders were sure signs of exhaustion caused by sleepless nights.

"Yeah, I just… I feel like we're missing something." Jane curled her hands in frustration, before taking a sip of her drink. "Oh god, I needed that."

Despite the concern she felt when she saw her best friend like this, Maura couldn't help smiling a little at the admission. She liked the idea that she knew what it was that Jane needed.

"Jane, you need to rest."

"I'll be fine."

"Jane."

"Maura."

The honey-blonde only looked back at her with that face that Jane had come to recognise as the "Do not argue with me" face.

"Jane, I can see you aren't sleeping well. And you're working yourself to the bone on this case. You have to rest, or your body won't be able to cope. You're mental functions will become inhibited, causing you to miss facts or clues, and to become more easily unfocused, and you'll have slower reflexes, which would be extremely dangerous when you're out in the field…"

"Okay, okay, fine, you win." The brunette held her arms up in surrender. "I'll take a break. But only after I finish going over this report again."

Sighing, Maura knew better than to argue. It was the best she was going to get out of her stubborn friend at the moment. Settling back in her seat, she sipped her own cup of coffee. She had been feeling the strain of the case as well, much of it being borrowed across from Jane. She hadn't been able to sleep easily, knowing Jane was most likely turning restlessly in bed, her mind on the missing girl. It was one of the few things that really bothered Jane when it came to cases. Missing girls always made the detective push harder to try and solve the case. Leaning on the corner of the desk, Maura pinched the bridge of her nose. Unbeknownst to her, Jane had followed her movements.

"You don't have to stay, Maura. I know you're tired too."

"Oh, no. I'll stay. I don't want to leave you here alone."

Jane decided not to correct her, and mention that Korsak and Frost were both here as well, but flicking through cold cases to try and find some clues. She only nodded, throwing the blonde a tired smile and turning back to her file.


Jane rubbed her eyes in exhaustion, as she followed Maura into her large house. Glancing about in the hallway, she caught sight of Bass, hiding behind the doorway and observing her with beady little eyes. Shaking her head at the thought, she followed her best friend as she led the way to her bedroom. Standing in the doorway, confusion on her face, Jane watched as Maura pulled out Jane's old Red Sox jersey and a pair of her running shorts. Jane recognised the ensemble from two weeks ago, when she'd come over to Maura's to hang out. She'd accidentally spilt some beer on it (she still said it was Maura's fault for making her laugh too hard), and had to change out of it. She'd had some spare clothes in the boot of her car, so she'd changed, and Maura had taken the spoiled clothes and put them with the rest of the dirty laundry.

"Here," Maura turned towards Jane, handing her the change of clothes. She gestured towards her own bathroom. "Go shower."

"Thanks, Maura."

The blonde simply smiled back, before she turned to get her own things. After they had finally left the precinct it was eleven, and Maura could see how tired the detective was. She didn't feel it was safe for Jane to drive home when she was this exhausted, and instead offered to take her to Maura's, to sleep over. It actually came as a bit of a surprise when the brunette didn't put up a fight, simply agreeing and following Maura into her blue Prius. They'd driven back mostly in silence, and whenever Maura chanced a glance at her friend, she could see Jane fighting to keep her eyes open. It was a mark of just how exhausted Jane must have been, being so tired even after having a coffee.

After locking up the doors and windows around the house, noting that the guest house lights were off, indicating that Angela had gone to bed, and feeding Bass, Maura returned in time to see Jane come out of the bathroom, hair in its wild messy unbound state, wearing the jersey and shorts, barefoot and rubbing her eyes. When she looked up at Maura, her trademark half smile appeared, albeit a tired version of it, but still the same nonetheless.

"Locking up and feeding Bass?" she guessed.

When Maura nodded, smiling back at her, Jane felt herself grin a little wider. It was oddly satisfying, knowing that she knew all Maura's habits so well. Stretching a little, she yawned and then looked around a little awkwardly.

"Well… I better get some sleep then…" she mumbled, taking a step towards the door, with the intent of making her way to the guestroom. But her path was blocked by the shorter woman, who laid a hand on her arm.

"You can sleep here tonight, Jane."

Jane was slightly surprised, but found that she wasn't averse to the idea. "Are you sure?"

"Of course I'm sure. Now go settle down while I shower."

The detective only nodded, changing tracks and making her way over to Maura's giant king-sized bed. As she lifted the covers and crawled underneath, she decided that it was perhaps the most comfortable bed she'd ever been in. And there was something extremely comforting about having the smell of Maura wrapped around her. She cuddled the pillow, feeling her eyelids grow heavy even when she tried to keep them open. Just before she sunk into oblivion, she noted that her jersey also seemed to have the faint smell of Maura on it.

When Maura finally stepped out of the bathroom, finished with her nightly ritual, she immediately noticed the brunette, curled up and asleep on the right side of the bed. The doctor smiled at the image: Jane's arms wrapped around the pillow, cuddling it in her sleep, the slow rise and fall that came with her breathing only just perceptible through the sheets. As quietly as possible, Maura made her way to her side of the bed, climbing in between the sheets. As she settled down next to the sleeping detective, she felt Jane stir. Thinking she'd accidentally woken her, Maura turned, ready to apologise, but Jane didn't open her eyes. Instead, she reached out with a hand blindly, until it found Maura's. Wrapping her fingers around those of the doctor's, Jane seemed to settle into her sleep more easily, her face more peaceful. The action brought a smile to the blonde's face, as she gently squeezed Jane's hand, before she too slipped into the realm of sleep.


When Jane was jerked awake by the sound of her phone ringing, she cursed. Trying to reach out with her left hand for the phone, she realised that it was being claimed by something, held down. In a sudden moment of panic, her eyes flew open… to see Maura fast asleep beside her, golden hair a mess, face relaxed. Jane found herself taking a moment to appreciate the beautiful vision beside her. She'd never admit it to anyone, but she thought the doctor was the most beautiful woman in the world. And even more so now than ever before. It was only then that she noticed Maura's fingers intertwined with hers.

The incessant ringing drew Jane's attention away from the woman beside her, and reluctantly, she disentangled her fingers from the doctor's and picked the phone up. "Rizzoli."

Maura stirred, feeling movement beside her, and the loss of warmth in her left hand. Frowning, her hand searched for the missing object she'd been holding moments before, when Jane's voice filtered through her still-foggy mind.

"We'll be right there."

Opening her eyes at last, Maura was greeted with a visibly better-rested Jane, sitting up and putting her phone back on the bedside table. The brunette turned to her, giving her a smile.

"Morning."

"Good morning, Jane. You look like you slept well."

"I did." It struck Jane that she had slept well. Better than she had in the last three days. "So do you."

Maura nodded. She hadn't felt this well-rested since the start of the case. "Who was that?"

"Oh, Korsak. He said he had something, and we need to get over there now."

With another nod, Maura climbed out of bed, stretching. "We better get ready then."


Jane kicked down the door, gun in hand with Frost at her back. Doing a quick sweep of the room, it was soon obvious that there was no one there.

"Damn it!" Jane kicked at a waste paper bucket next to the desk. "Where the hell is she? I thought we had them!"

Frost shook his head, looking around at the scene. As he walked over to what looked like large fancy tapestry, he frowned. Looking over at Jane, he held a hand up, gesturing for her to be quiet. Leaning in towards the wall, his eyes widened, and he lifted his gun once more.

Jane matched her partner's actions, quietly making her way over to where he stood. As she drew nearer, she heard it too. Calls for help. She frowned at the tapestry. It was coming from behind it. Trading another glance with Frost, she reached out with a hand, pulling the thick fabric aside to reveal a small door.

"Bastard has a hidden room." Jane could hear Frost cursing under his breath. Steeling herself, she gave her partner a nod, trying the door, and finding it unlocked.

"Bastard left in a hurry?"

"Bastard might've thought he was coming back before we showed up." Jane pushed the door open, blood pumping around her body, the thudding loud in her ears. Climbing through, there was a short flight of stairs. Her gun held tightly in her grip, Jane slowly made her way down, Frost close behind.

The small room was lit with a single light bulb in the middle of the low ceiling. A girl sat in the corner, hands and feet tied, calling for help until she saw the two officers show up. At the sight of them, she burst into relieved tears. Jane immediately rushed over to her, cutting open the ropes as Frost stood by the foot of the stairs, calling Korsak who was outside the building.

"Hey, hey, it's okay, I promise. We've got you now, you're safe with us." Jane comforted the girl, trying to get her to calm down. "Are you hurt, he didn't do anything did he?"

"N-no," the girl managed to get out, shaking her head. "H-he… he almost… he had a knife a-and… he was g-going… he was…"

"Hey, it's okay, he's not going to touch you. He can't hurt you, okay? We'll keep you safe. We'll protect you."

The girl nodded, gulping back her tears, before hugging the detective. Caught slightly off-guard, Jane returned the gesture, before helping the girl up, and slowly leading her towards the stairs, and out of the house.

When they emerged from the building, Maura quickly made her way over, relief at seeing the girl, Frost and Jane all unharmed. When Jane caught sight of her, she gave her a smile, but Maura could see she was still on edge, knowing the criminal was still on the loose.

"Hey, Maura." Jane turned to the girl, "Okay, Kelly, this is Dr Maura Isles. She's my… a really good friend of mine, my best friend in fact, and she's gonna take really good care of you, alright?"

Maura smiled at Kelly, while Jane introduced them, but when she said the last part, Maura immediately looked up at the detective, worry on her face. "Where are you going, Jane?"

"Frost just got a call, our guy was spotted down at the docks. I have to get down there, and mow this guy down. I have to go now, I'll see you soon. We'll catch him, Kelly, just stay with Maura here, she'll make sure you're okay. She's the best." And with that Jane was off, leaping into her car with Frost riding shotgun, as they raced off.

Maura stared after her worriedly, biting her lip before she finally gathered herself and turned back to the kidnapped girl. Beginning to comfort and reassure her, as she took her over to the paramedics that had been notified just in case, Maura didn't notice that Kelly had watched their exchange closely, or the tiny knowing smile on her face.


The man was safely behind bars now, and awaiting trial. The evidence against him was solid, and it was just a question of how long he'd enjoy the comfort of a prison cell. The entire matter had been a messed up affair, with money, drink and gambling, and the poor girl had been caught in the middle of it. Jane went to talk to Kelly one last time, before she went off to stay with her best friend for a while, until all the legal affairs were set in order.

Kelly was sitting up in a hospital bed. She'd been treated for shock, and the bruises she'd suffered to her arms and legs were checked but there was nothing more serious. She looked up at the tall detective when she entered.

"Did you catch him?"

Jane nodded, smiling as she watched the girl relax at the news. Finally let go of the fear she'd been holding for the last week. "Thank you," she whispered, and it almost broke Jane's heart.

"Hey, Kelly, I just wanted to ask you a few questions, if that's okay? I know you've been through a lot, but it'll help make sure nothing happens to you ever again."

It was Kelly's turn to nod, as she settled against the pillows and waited for the detective to speak.

"This man was…"

"A 'friend' of my dad's." Kelly finished before Jane could. Her chin only shook ever so slightly, but she swallowed and her voice was steady. "It was only after my parent's divorce. When he started drinking and gambling. He lent my dad money."

Jane nodded. This confirmed the report information. "He was the go-to when your dad was in financial trouble for the last three years?"

"I think so. I don't know how long, but he started coming around to our place regularly for the last two years. I-I never liked him. I always thought… there was just… something about him. He… he scared me."

Jane laid a comforting hand on Kelly's. "It's okay, Kelly. He can't touch you now. What about your mother? What happened there?"

Kelly's face darkened at the mention of her mother. "She abandoned us."

Jane's face softened, as she felt something inside her break for this young girl. She'd lost her dad, in more ways than one. Her mother didn't even acknowledge her existence. She had almost been killed. Jane knew she needed to know more, about exactly what happened, but she didn't want to push Kelly. So they sat in silence for a moment, before Kelly spoke up again.

"Uh, Detective Rizzoli? Seeing as you asked me these questions, can I ask you one?"

Jane smiled. "Sure. And you can call me Jane."

"Oh… well… I just wanted to ask… why aren't you and Dr Isles together?"

The brunette's mouth dropped open in shock. She had no idea what Kelly wanted to ask, but that was not anywhere near what she'd expected to come out. She stared at the girl for a moment, before she found her voice again.

"I– wha– I– why would we be together!?"

"Oh, I'm sorry, I didn't mean to offend you or anything," Kelly quickly backtracked, nervous.

"I– no– it's okay. I'm not offended, I– just, uh… what makes you think we'd be together?"

"Oh, um, nothing much, it's just… well…" Kelly fidgeted a little, thinking. Finally, she looked up into Jane's eyes. They were hazel. It reminded her of Maura.

"I grew up in a home that fought. Every single minute of every single day. My mother was always picking on my dad's flaws, always finding something wrong with him. Nothing he ever did could please her, nothing he ever did was enough. On my eleventh birthday, though, I thought for a moment that things might be okay. That one day in my whole life, there was no shouting or fighting. We went to a park. We were in the middle of hard times, financially, but my parents gave me an iPod. And for a second I thought things would be okay, maybe we'd be okay. Maybe I'd finally know what it was people talked about when they talked about their happy families and the stuff they'd do together.

"Three days later, my mother… that… woman… she just up and left. She didn't even say goodbye. I… My dad went after her, telling her to give them another chance. That I needed my mom. I cried for her… I begged her to come back on that lawn, and she didn't even look back. I watched my dad break. I watched my mom, the one person in the world that's not supposed to turn her back on her child, just walk away. I hated her, from that moment on.

"She tore us apart. Dad turned to drink, and gambling, he couldn't bring the money in. Meanwhile she went off and got hitched to some new guy, with money and status. And she ignored us from then on. Like we didn't exist.

"I don't know what it is to grow up in a loving home. I don't even really understand what love is. I'd read about it, and see it on TV, or in movies and stuff. And it was always this overly dramatized thing, full of passion and all that kinda crap. And I didn't really believe in it, because that passion dies. It did for my parents.

"But I guess… today… when I saw you two… there was just like… something different. I don't even have experience or anything, so it probably sounds crazy, and maybe I'm completely wrong, but I just… felt like you and Dr Isles really… got each other. Like you'd always be there for each other, and really cared about each other. I saw the way you looked at her, when she came over after we got out of that house. And the way she looked at you, all relieved that you weren't hurt or something. And when you introduced us… you paused, as if trying to figure out what to say. And the way you said her name… I remember hearing that tone once in my life, when I was five, and my dad said it to my mom. She never used that tone back. But I know my dad loved my mom. And when you rushed off, you didn't see Dr Isles face, but I did. She was really worried for you.

"I guess… I just thought this was what love would be… I imagined it'd be something gentler, deeper. I just wanted to see my parents like that, loving and caring. And… well… I asked Dr Isles if she was okay afterwards, and she said she was, but she just looked so worried and kept looking at her phone until you finally called and told her you caught that twisted guy. It was the first time I saw her relax, since she saw us come out of the house.

"Um… and… well, I asked her if maybe you two were together…"

Kelly fell silent, and Jane found herself overwhelmed with the avalanche of words that had come forth. Her heart ached for the poor girl, as she recounted her history, and her head spun at the things she had said about her and Maura. When her mind finally caught up, she found herself on the edge of her seat, wanting to know what Maura had said to this sixteen year old.

"What did she say?"

"Well, she said you weren't…"

"… Was… that all?"

Kelly looked down at her hands. "I can't say."

She can't say? What does that mean?! Is it because of the answer? Or because Maura told her not to? Or…? Jane found her mind whirling at all the possibilities. And then she finally seemed to realise what it was they were actually talking about. Dr Maura Isles, Chief Medical Examiner for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, and Jane's best friend, being a possible romantic interest for her. It seemed like a ridiculous notion. But is it really so unbelievable? They did so much together. They understood each other, at least… more than anyone else understood either of them. And they got along so well. But they were best friends, that was expected… wasn't it?

But Kelly had seen more. Or she believed she saw more. No one else had ever really considered that Maura and Jane could be more than just friends. Except… It wasn't a regular occurrence, but sometimes officers around the BPD would crack a joke about them. But it was just a joke, because they were so close together, and two women who happened to be best friends was fodder for teasing, wasn't it? And then another thought occurred to Jane. What if they weren't just teasing for the sake of it? What if they had seen something too? Jane thought carefully, at what could possibly give anyone any indication that they weren't just friends. The result was shocking.

The looks. The touches. The smiles. The banter. Knowing each other's habits as well as their own. Sleeping together in the same bed. Spending more time together than apart. The only time Jane ever really returned to her apartment these days was at night when she had to sleep. And more often than not, she seemed to be sleeping over at Maura's. Hell, Maura even had a drawer of her clothes over there. And beer in the fridge. Jane knew every inch of Maura's home, like it was her own. And Jane knew Maura. She knew what made the blonde smile, what made her upset. She knew how to get under the doctor's skin, and how to make her laugh. She knew Maura only liked ballet and fencing as her "sports", that she swore things by that giant book on Darwin's evolution theory thing, and that she liked shoes more than anything else in the world and organised them especially by boxes in her closet.

Realisation hit her like a tonne of bricks.

"Just… Detective Rizzoli? I just… when I saw you two together, I saw the kind of caring and love I never thought I'd ever witness. I just… I don't want to think that it'll be wasted… or something… not when you have it."

Jane smiled at Kelly, squeezing one of her hands. "Kelly. I promise you, I won't waste it. I… I just took a long time to realise I had it. I've got you to thank for that."

Tears came to the girl's eyes at those words.

"And Kelly. You will see that love again. You'll find it for yourself, and you will know what it's like. You're a smart girl. You'll know when it's the right one."

Kelly began to cry in earnest, but they were hopeful tears. "You think so?"

"I know so," Jane grinned. "You may just be the strongest girl I've ever met, Kel. There's something I realised once, not so long ago. Sometimes, life is unfair, and throws us a tough one. But it's up to us what we choose to do with it. We can move past it, or we can get caught up in it. You've been through a lot, Kelly. But I know you'll get through it. And you'll come out the other side even better. And you will find someone who loves you for it. Loves you for everything you've been through, and how strong you are. And whoever gets you will be unbelievable lucky to have you."

Kelly threw her arms around the detective, hugging her tightly. "Thank you. Thank you," she whispered, as tears streamed down her cheeks. Jane rubbed her back soothingly. When she pulled back, Kelly wiped her eyes, and smiled up at the detective. "What are you going to do now?"

Jane smiled back. "Do what you told me. Not let what I have be wasted."


Maura was at home, drinking a glass of wine, and staring sightlessly out the window. She was still stunned by her revelation. That final realisation concerning one of the most important things, if not the most important thing, in her life. Not that Jane was a thing. No, she was a person. She was Maura's person. Her best friend, her rock. How had it taken her this long to realise?

And yet, it wasn't even Maura's own doing. She had Kelly to thank for it, and then she wondered if ignorance would really have been bliss in this case. When she had conversed with the girl for a while, making sure she was alright, and Kelly finally asked her if she and "Detective Rizzoli" had been together, the realisation of how much she wanted to say yes to that shocked the doctor. And when she had to answer in the negative, she found it almost painful. Admitting that they were really only best friends, when Maura wanted so much more.

The things came spilling out, how Jane could always make her smile or laugh, how Jane's hug could make her feel better straight away, how Jane could read her mind, how she slept better whenever she knew Jane was nearby. When she started, she couldn't stop, and as she told tales about the brave detective, her mind worked, picking up bits and pieces, analysing them and turning them over for inspection. The way they could understand each other like no one else could. The way they knew what the other was thinking without having to say a word.

It was startlingly obvious. Maura was very much in love with Jane. Had been in love with the tall, dark brunette for a long time.

And now here she was, sitting in her kitchen, drinking wine and wondering what to do with her newfound realisation.

After she'd told Kelly about all her feelings that she never even realised she had, she'd felt embarrassed, putting all this on a girl who had been through so much. It should have been about Kelly, and here she was, a grown woman, a doctor and Chief Medical Examiner for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, talking all about herself.

But when she went to apologise for her behaviour and assure her that it was very uncharacteristic, she was met with a wide smile, and hopeful eyes. And what this bright sixteen year old had said touched Maura, bringing tears to those hazel eyes.

"Don't be sorry, Dr Isles. Really, I'm glad you told me. Because it gives me hope. It gives me hope, because all my life I've never really believed that love could really exist. 'Cause I grew up in a house without it. But when you said all those things, and how you felt about Detective Rizzoli… it makes me think that maybe it does. You must really care about her. I want to be able to find someone who cares about me the way you care about her."

Maura had almost cried then. At the bravery this girl had shown, and at her spirit. It was so like Jane's. And she knew that an amazing, clever, beautiful girl like Kelly would have no trouble with that in the future, and told her as much.

It was a comfortable silence that fell over them now, a more relaxed one, and at last, when Maura was about to leave, Kelly called out to her with one last question.

"Dr Isles?"

"Yes, Kelly?"

"Are you gonna talk to Detective Rizzoli?"

Maura knew what she was really asking, and gave her a smile. "Yes. I am. Thank you for making me realise that I needed to."

Kelly smiled, eyes sparkling. And when Maura hugged her, she felt those arms tighten around her, filled with a new hope and happiness in them.

But now, Maura felt herself overwhelmed with a sense of terror. As she sat in that kitchen, thinking, her mind began to dig up all the statistics and problems that came when a person developed feelings for a best friend. Maura had no idea if Jane had felt the same way… Despite their interaction, the looks and touches… What if Jane didn't feel the same way?

But then a thought struck her… why did Kelly think they did?

Maura felt herself getting dizzy as her mind began to leap and bound from one theory to another, but before she could gather them up into any kind of order for proper analysis, she heard the sound of a car pulling up in front of her house. She didn't need to look to know whose it was. There was only one person who would turn up at Maura's without calling, whose car was so much a natural fixture of the house front now. There was no time to organise and plan now. So Maura took a deep breath, and made her way towards the front door.

Jane stepped out of the car, nerves jangling, but fuelled by the conversation she'd shared with Kelly. She knew it was now or never. It had been going on long enough now, and Jane needed to do something about it. As a detective, she was trained to act. And in her life, she had acted, putting herself in front of guns, going into buildings without knowing what was waiting for her, shooting herself to save others, fighting back even when all hope seemed to be lost. She'd been in so many scary situations… but for some reason, this felt the scariest of all. Walking towards Maura's front porch had never been so hard. Reaching a hand up to knock had never felt so nerve-wracking…

The door opened just as Jane was about to knock, and she was greeted by the sight of her best friend, Dr Maura Isles, looking at her nervously. And with something else Jane couldn't pinpoint.

Maura could feel her heart beating rapidly, her palms were clammy, and she felt shaky and feverish. All signs of her anxiety. But as she looked up into those dark eyes in front of her, she felt a little of the nervousness slip away. Just a little.

"Maura."

"Jane."

Jane cleared her throat, feeling a little awkward as she stood in the doorway. As if Maura had realised, the honey-blonde quickly stepped aside, allowing Jane to enter. It felt different, almost alien, standing in that hallway of what had become a second home to Jane. More a home than her own apartment.

"Would you like something to drink?" Maura asked, trying to keep her voice calm. She'd already made her way into the kitchen, reaching for the fridge where Jane's beer was stored before there was an answer.

"Beer," Jane followed the doctor into the kitchen, smiling a little at the sight of Maura already standing by the island counter with beer in hand. "Thanks."

Maura had her wine glass in hand again, watching Jane lean against the counter. Silence fell again, and neither could meet the other's eye, until at last Maura broke the silence. "Jane? I… I need to talk to you about something."

Jane looked up from the toaster she was studying intensely to meet her best friend's beautiful hazel eyes. After a moment, she nodded, and Maura could see her mentally preparing herself. It was a surprise when Jane responded.

"Okay. I need to talk to you too."

Maura led the way to the couch in the living room, taking a seat at one end, Jane at the other. After a moment of consideration, she put her glass down on a side table, clasping her hands and looking across at the woman who had changed her life in so many ways.

Jane could feel Maura's eyes on her, watching her as she took another sip from her beer. Finally, with a sigh, she followed suit by putting the bottle of beer aside. Deciding that she might as well just go for it, Jane leaned forward a little, kneading her hands.

"Um… okay, Maur, I have to say something, and I really need to just get it all out without you going all 'Google' on me." She waited for Maura to nod before she continued. Taking the plunge.

"Today, I talked to Kelly, afterwards, in the hospital. I asked a few questions and we started talking and… well… she asked me something that… that surprised me."

Maura's eyes widened. Had Kelly asked Jane the same thing she asked Maura?

"It… it was a bit shocking at first… but… it also made me realise so much. Stuff that's been right in front of me this whole time, and I just never even thought about it. And I just… now I know, and I can't… I can't just let it go to waste. I told her I promised I wouldn't let it go to waste. I don't want it to, and I have to take this chance. But I'm scared. Because I don't… I can't lose you."

Jane stared down at her hands, beginning to rub the scars on her hands again. After a minute, another pair of hands reached across, covering them and stopping their movements. The detective looked up to see Maura looking down at their linked hands, then back up at her. And something in those eyes gave her the strength to continue.

"Maura… you're the best friend I ever had. And y'know I don't do this emotional stuff well. But… you were always there for me, and looking out for me, and you… you were the only person I ever felt really safe with. Whenever I looked for a safe place, I always… I always came to you. You… you became my person. Like, we'd… we'd talk, and it was just so easy. Nothing was easy in my life… until you. Everything is easy with you. And… I guess I just accepted that. I accepted that you were my best friend.

"But… you're not. You're not just my best friend… you're… you're so much more. You… when I'm with you… I just… I feel better. I just feel… happier and better and safer… with you. And… Kelly noticed something. That I've missed for so long. She… she noticed… us. As in… she… saw something more than just… friendship. And… and… I thought… maybe she was… right."

Maura couldn't keep the smile off her face, as she listened to Jane's rambling. It had become clear that Jane was trying to say, and Maura couldn't help feeling a little light-hearted with the words that were coming out of the brunette's mouth.

"I… I realised how much you really meant to me. How… how important you were to me. When she asked me… why we weren't together… I… I asked myself the same question. Not that I think we would be together, I mean, it takes two people, and if you just want to stay best friends and stuff, then that's okay, I mean… just… I thought maybe we could be more, we just… I mean… I–"

Jane was cut off by a pair of lips on hers, and her eyes widened in shock. Too stunned to move, she sat frozen, as her mind tried desperately to snap back into gear. She'd never been incapable of movement before, but Maura had her paralysed. When Maura pulled away, Jane still sat with wide eyes and in shock. Finally, Jane managed to find her voice.

"I– wha– I–"

The doctor smiled a little, blushing. "I'm sorry, Jane. But you were too adorable to warrant any other action. And you don't have to be so nervous. I happen to feel the exact same way."

A smile slowly came over the detective's face. "You do?"

"I do."

This time, Jane leaned in to kiss Maura. The blonde could feel the smile against her lips, and decided that this was her new favourite past time, more than shopping for shoes, or organising her notes, or spending time with Jane. Kissing a smiling Jane was something else entirely.

"So… what was it you needed to talk to me about?"

"Oh…" Maura smiled, as she intertwined their fingers. "Well… funnily enough, Kelly talked to me too. She asked me whether you and I were together… and well… I realised how much I wanted to say yes."

"You did?"

"I did."

Jane reached a hand up to brush back a loose golden curl. "Huh… I'll have to thank Kelly again."

"What for?"

"For making you realise that you actually want to be with someone like me."

"You mean making me realise that I always wanted to be with someone as amazing as you?" Maura reached up to stroke Jane's cheek.

Jane smiled, blushing a little at both Maura's touch and her words. "Kinda crazy to think it was a sixteen year old girl who made us realise we were meant for each other, huh?"

"You think we're meant for each other? Like soul mates?"

Jane's eyes widened slightly, and she hurriedly began to backtrack, lest she scare Maura off. But a reassuring hand on her cheek, and a loving kiss on her lips stopped her.

"For the record, I think we're meant for each other too."