Jane and Maura had taken a cab back from the club where they had the worst double date ever. Jane tipped the driver and followed Maura to her front door. Maura was struggling with her keys, still tipsy from the wine she'd had through the evening. Jane reached for her hand and grabbed the keys from her.

"Here, let me help". She wasn't much more successful, which made them giggle.

"Are you sure this is the right key?", Jane complained, trying to stick another key in the lock. She dropped the whole key ring on the porch. Right then, the porch light came on, and the door opened.

"Ma! What are you doing up? It's past midnight!"

"I was checking the Crockpot for tomorrow's oatmeal! And then I heard all this noise, I thought someone was trying to break in."

"So you opened the door for them?!"

Maura gave Jane a side glance and put her hand on her arm to calm her down.

"I apologize, Ms. Rizzoli. I seem to have dropped my keys. I'm glad you opened the door for us."

"You girls are drunk. I'm going back to bed."

After Angela went back to the guest house, Jane threw herself down on the couch. She unbuttoned her shirt and untucked it from her pants, revealing her usual tank top underneath. Maura came over with two pint glasses full of water. She handed one to Jane.

"Drink this. Water will counteract the dehydrating effect of the alcohol."

Jane paused to look at the glass, and belched.

"Jane!"

"Sorry, I never do that."

"Actually you do. A lot. The carbonation in beer..." Jane rolled her eyes at her. "Oh, it was a joke..."

She sat on the couch next to Jane and took off her Louboutin heels. She set the expensive shoes down next to each other, sat back and put her feet up on the coffee table. Jane did the same, except with her boots still on.

"Jane!"

"Aaaaaw, Maura. Come on, I'm tired!"

Maura sat up and grabbed Jane's ankles. Jane watched as her friend unzipped and pulled her shoes off. Then she gently set her feet back on the table. Maura settled back down. Jane lazily turned her head towards her.

"Thank you..."

"You're welcome" Maura smiled back.

"I'm giving up on dating. I'm never gonna find a man. I'm gonna grow old, sad and alone." Jane whined.

Maura chuckled and put her hand on Jane's upper arm. "You won't be sad and alone. I'll be with you, taking your shoes off for you."

Maura's warm hand felt good and Jane covered it with her own.

"I'm so glad to have you, Maura... It's so hard for me to connect with anyone. Work gets in the way, or it freaks people out. You can't ever talk about what we do with normal people. You still go to sleep thinking about the horrors you saw at work, and you can't ever talk about it. You know how it is... I'm glad we found each other. You have no idea how important you are to me. I've never had a friend like you."

Maura was staring at Jane though hazy eyes, touched by Jane's openness. The detective never allowed herself to appear vulnerable in front of anyone, and Maura loved that she made Jane feel comfortable enough to talk freely with her. She wanted to hug her friend and hold her, and kiss her... cheek... neck... lips. However, instead of leaning over she remained still and enjoyed Jane's hand on hers.

Jane noticed her silence and frowned. "What?"

"Nothing, I'm listening. I'm glad you're talking about your feelings, it's a rare occurrence, I wouldn't want to distract from it."

"Well, don't you have anything to say back to me?"

"Oh, I'm sorry. I'm really glad you value my friendship. I do as well. I hope you know that." She frowned. "You do, don't you?"

"Yeah. I have to pee."

Jane stood up, steadied herself and headed towards the bathroom.

Maura took a sip of water and pondered her previous impulse. She loved having Jane as a friend. Like the brunette, she'd never had a friend like this before. She had never felt as comfortable with anyone, and always had to work hard to conceal her phobias and quirks, to even try to fit in. Jane teased her, but she didn't judge her or made her feel weird. Maybe they were both weird in their own way, in a perfect way.

If Maura had kissed Jane, would Jane have freak out? Would it change everything? Would it be weird? The medical examiner had never hesitated to ask anybody out she was interested in, but Jane was different. This time, it could cost Maura her best friend. But it could also turn out to be the best relationship she'd ever have.

Jane stepped back into the living room. "I'd better go. Tomorrow's work".

"Given the amount of beer you drank, and the elapsed time, I'd recommend waiting another twenty minutes. And drinking the other half of your water."

Jane sighed. "Seriously? I feel..." Jane tilted her head at Maura, and it triggered a wave of dizziness. "Ooh, yes Doc."

She plopped back down on the couch. She looked at Maura, who was staring at her again.

"Maura, you're staring again. What is it?"

"May I... May I kiss you?"

The words cut through the haze of Jane's brain, but failed to shock her. Jane heard herself say "Okay".

Maura hesitated for a second, having expected a little bit of protest. She leaned forward and pressed her lips to Jane's. She didn't dare to move for a couple of seconds.

Jane had closed her eyes and was focusing on the feel of Maura's lips on hers. Maura started pulling back, but Jane leaned forward to recapture her lips. They were soft and warm, and made her want more. The brunette explored her friend's lips with her own, gliding over them, relishing the sensation. She brought a hand up behind the blonde's head and pulled Maura's face towards her, moaning as she snaked her tongue into her mouth.

Maura was pleasantly surprised by Jane's eagerness, hoping it wasn't only the alcohol. Even though this probably wouldn't have happened without it.

She welcomed Jane's exploring tongue and led her own expedition, tasting Jane's lips and mouth. Her hands started roaming over Jane's body, lingering on her waist and hips. Jane reached around Maura's back and firmly pulled them closer together. Their breasts mashed together, and Jane moaned at the feeling. She looked into Maura's eyes, her pupils dark and dilated, and looked down at her cleavage. She put her hand on her left breast, shy at first, and started slowly massaging it. She'd always admired Maura's spectacular breasts, curious about how they'd feel. Maura's nipple hardened under her touch, and she teased it with her thumb. Jane lowered her mouth and gently bit it through the fabric of her designer dress. A soft moan escaped Maura's throat, and the doctor cradled Jane's head to encourage her. The brunette reached around and slowly pulled Maura's zipper down, loosening up her top. As soon as she could, she pushed aside Maura's straps and released her prize from the confines of her bra.

"Oh, damn, you're hot...," Jane hoarsed, her eyes fixed on Maura's full, heavy breasts .

She looked up at Maura's face, saw the desire in her eyes, and dipped back down, sucking as much flesh into her mouth as she could. She grabbed the other one in her hand and teased the nipple between her fingers. Maura arched into her touch, breathing hard.

This is happening too fast, Maura thought, but couldn't bring herself to stop. She reached with both hands and pried Jane's face off her breast, pulling her up for a searing kiss. It was hard and deep, hungry and desperate. Their tongues dueled and licked, lips sucking and teasing. They were both moaning into each other's mouths, fueling their desire.

Then Jane slowed down and pulled out. She was straddling Maura's lap, pinning her friend down into the couch. The doctor was laying halfway down, her dress pulled down to her waist, panting through her parted lips, wet and swollen from Jane's kissing. Jane groaned and closed her eyes, trying to gather herself. Her heart was racing and she exhaled in an attempt to calm down. She got up.

"I've got to go. I.. I'll see you tomorrow, okay?

"Of course. Are... are we okay? Was it too much? I didn't mean to push you. That's why I asked."

Jane had slipped her boots back on and was headed for the door.

"We're fine. I'll see you tomorrow. Have a good night."

Maura watched the door for a minute after Jane left and got up to lock it. She pulled her dress up and covered herself. She could feel the wetness between her legs, soaking through her lace thong.

Once in bed, she pulled out a small vibrator from her nightstand drawer. It only took her seconds to come, but sleep didn't come as easy as usual afterwards. Her mind kept flashing back to Jane, and her chest tightened with regret. She wished she hadn't asked. She didn't want the next morning to come, when she'd have to find out exactly how weird it would be to face Jane.

Maura was talking to Frost and Korsak in the bullpen. They all looked up at Jane when she walked in. Korsak grabbed his jacket.

"Finally! Dr. Isles here got us the results for the glazer's body. I'll catch you up in the car. Get your coffee. Come on!"

Jane turned around to follow Frost, but looked back at Maura with her puppy eyes. The doctor tilted her head in a smile and shrugged. Jane sighed and smirked back at her.

"Talk to you later..." Jane mouthed.

The M.E. went down to her morgue, and got to work on her backlog of evidence to process. Maybe it wasn't as awkward as she'd feared after all.

The pair didn't see each other for the next two days. Work was busy, no dead bodies, plans with mom. Jane was trying to think of a way to tell Maura she just wanted to go back to being friends. She just wanted everything to go back to normal. She loved hanging out with Maura, and dreaded having the conversation turn weird, and ending up hurting her feelings. Was Maura falling for her? Did she encourage it? They'd flirt and tease each other, but it was all because it felt safe. Right?

Friday night, their movie night. Jane wondered if Maura would come pick her up as usual. At 8:00 sharp, she heard Maura's car park in front of her apartment. She was both relieved and nervous. She opened the door when she heard the click-clack of heels on the front porch.

"Hey Maur..."

She didn't know how to continue.

"Hello Jane, are you ready?" Jane wasn't moving."Oh, did you want to talk about Tuesday night?"

"Yes! Listen... we were drunk, and..."

"I know, I'm sorry Jane, you were being so adorable, I just got carried away. I really didn't mean to turn our friendship into something complicated!"

"Can we just pretend it never happened and just be best friends?" Jane pleaded.

"Oh, goodness, of course!" Maura stepped forward and hugged Jane. At first Jane froze, but she quickly relaxed and hugged her back, sighing at the familiar feeling of embracing her friend, like they'd done hundreds of times before.

"Are you relieved? Your posture says so." Maura asked as they headed to the car, very aware she also was speaking for herself.

"Ugh! Yes, you have no idea. I don't want to lose my best friend over a stupid drunken night." She glanced at Maura who chuckled. Things were back to normal, thank goodness. "Come on! Popcorn's on me!" Jane offered.

And it did go back to normal. They fell back into their routine, enjoyed spending evenings and weekends together. They'd joke and tease each other, holding hands and throwing their arms around their shoulders, planning sleepovers and movie nights.

More and more though, Jane's mind would flash back to their kiss, the look on Maura's face, the sounds she had made when Jane had sucked on her nipple. Maura truly acted like nothing had happened. Did she think about it too? Was she really not interested in pursuing Jane anymore?

After an evening out with Frost and Korsak at the Robber, Maura drove Jane back to her apartment. They'd had a few drinks, just enough to relax. They chit-chatted in the car for a while, discussing the latest case Jane was on. Maura was passionately debating the unusual quantity of blood found at the crime scene, way more than any one body could bleed out. Jane couldn't focus though. She was staring at Maura's lips.

Jane's mind wandered back to that evening, and she closed her eyes at the memory.

"Jane! Am I boring you?"

"Sorry, I'm... tired. I'd better go."

"Oh, ok. Movie tomorrow?"

"Yeah. I wanted to go see the one with the chick and the guy..."

"Oh yes! I love the previews. Sounds good."

Jane sat still for a moment.

"Hey, are you okay?" Maura's voice was serious. She raised her hand and placed in on Jane's forehead. Jane closed her eyes at the touch, and she felt a pinch in her stomach. Her lips parted slightly as her mouth suddenly became dry. She leaned ever so slightly into Maura's touch.

"You don't seem to have a fever, even though I'd be guessing. When you go in, take your temperature for me, okay? You might be coming down with something."

"Maybe. Thank you. I..."

want you.

The words formed in her brain, but didn't escape her lips. "I will." Her brain hiccup shocked Jane out of her daze. She stepped out of the car and headed in.

Jane washed up and went to bed. She was staring at the ceiling above her in the darkness of her room. She slipped a hand inside her panties, slowly, as images of Maura, naked on top of her, kissing her, flashed through her mind. Her fingers circled her clit, then dipped lower into slippery wetness. She arched her hips up, and increased the motion of her fingers, until she came and whispered Maura's name in the dark.

The next day at work, Maura came up to the bullpen.

"Morning Jane! How are you feeling? You seem fine today, your face isn't flushed and your eyes seem clear and alert. I can only guess you had a good night's rest."

"Er.. yes, I feel much better. Thank you for checking, Doc."

"Well, actually, I have to cancel movie night. A former college professor called this morning. He was scheduled to give a lecture about Cerebral Ischemia at a convention in Florida this weekend, but he fractured his femur last night. He asked me to cover for him. I'm booked on a redeye to Orlando."

"Oh, but wait... Did you tell him you already had plans... with me?"

"Jane..." Maura rolled her eyes and continued: "I was wondering if you could take me to the airport? My flight departs at 10:45."

"Sure. 8:30?"

"Perfect! Thank you."

Neither of them got the opportunity to see the other all day. Jane couldn't help thinking about the night before, about the kiss, and how she wanted Maura to ask her again. This time she wouldn't run away. This time she'd be ready. The M.E. always took everything so literally though, there was no chance she'd ask again, ever. Now Maura was going away for a couple of days, to a convention full of geeky doctors like her. What if she met someone there? Jane would have wasted her only chance. The detective's mind churned all day, replaying the kiss over and over again, skipping forward to Jane masturbatory fantasy from the previous night.

Jane worked late, catching up on filing reports, patiently waiting until it was time to pick up Maura. She drove to the house, and Maura opened the door when she heard Jane pull up. She was dragging a small carry-on in three-inch heels, swaying her hips in the most suggestive manner, or so Jane thought. The brunette stepped around and opened the back seat door. She reached for the luggage, and for a brief moment their hands touched and seemed to linger. Maura looked up and smiled, utterly oblivious to Jane's butterflies. "Thank you."

She then settled in the passenger seat and waited for Jane to start driving.

Jane vaguely heard Maura updating her on her professor's injury, the lecture she had to prepare for, but she couldn't pay attention. Maura's perfume was making her dizzy, she could tell she just had showered. All Jane wanted to do is stop the car and bury her face in her friend's neck, smell it, kiss it, suck on it, and do the same thing to her mouth. But she just kept driving instead.

Jane parked in the white loading zone in front of Maura's airline. She stopped the engine and Maura reached for the door handle. Jane held on to her forearm.

"Wait..."

Maura settled back down and looked at Jane with a frown. "What is it? Is my hair ok?"

"Your hair is... a mess." Jane couldn't resist. She quickly turned serious again:" Listen, I... I changed my mind."

Maura gave her an even more confused look.

Jane leaned over and captured Maura's lips with hers. She cupped the doctor's cheek and moaned as she inhaled deeply, breathing in Maura's perfume. Jane pulled back with a loud "smack" to gauge Maura's reaction.

Maura's lips were still puckered in anticipation, and she opened her eyes slowly as she realized Jane had stopped.

"Why didn't you try to kiss me again after the first time?" Jane cried out.

"But you said you weren't interested! What happened? Why did you change your mind?

"You! You, playing hard to get, with your... your sexy outfits, your perfume, and your... hips!" Jane gesticulated, pointing at all of Maura's body.

Maura took offense at Jane's answer. "I didn't intentionally play any games with you. I have very good boundaries, Jane."

"Ugh, I know!" Jane threw her hands up in the air. She looked at Maura with sad puppy eyes, and as always Maura melted and smiled back at her. The blonde pressed her forehead against Jane's. "I'm sorry I have such good boundaries and you took so long to make up your mind.", she whispered before giving her a peck on the mouth. "I hope I can make up for it when I come back on Monday."

Maura ran the back of her fingers against Jane's breast, lingering on the bump of her nipple. "Unlike you, I haven't had the pleasure of seeing you topless."

Jane groaned at the memory, and tried to kiss Maura again, but the doctor skillfully deflected and stepped out onto the curb. She grabbed her suitcase from the back seat.

"I'll see you on Monday. My place. 7 PM. Bring your overnight bag."

Jane's heart skipped a beat and her stomach clenched painfully as she watched Maura disappear into the terminal with her luggage in tow. It was going to be a long weekend.