A/N: I am only putting this once and only here I don't own these characters or any that I may use I am merely playing with them.

Jane stared awkwardly at the ground as she waited for Maura to answer the door. They had waited for Maura's injury to be fully healed so that she could wear her heels again and be able to walk in them properly. Maura didn't know whether to feel relieved by that fact or not because she'd really wanted to go on their first real date.

The flowers Jane had in her hand were already beginning to wilt and she could feel herself sweating nervously through her nicest dress shirt. Even so when the blonde did finally open the door Jane couldn't help but smile broadly, some of her nerves easing away.

"I um… I brought you these." Jane held out the flowers for Maura. "God, I'm sorry that they're already kind of dead I'm just so nervous. I feel like a teenage boy taking a girl out for the first time. I keep half expecting your father to pop out of nowhere and threaten to kill me if I so much as think about you in an inappropriate way." Jane laughed nervously before realizing that her biological father probably wouldn't hesitate to shoot her if anything happened. Oh god I can't believe I just said that. What if Paddy does just show up suddenly? What if Maura takes that the wrong way. Shit, shit, shit way to go Rizzoli, ruining your first date with the woman. Calm down, Paddy is still in the hospital recovering being watched 24/7. I'm going to relax and enjoy Maura. Jane took a deep breath and gave the M.E. a tight smile.

"They're beautiful Jane." Maura smiled reassuringly at the detective. "And don't worry I'm a grown woman now. I don't have anyone telling me what I'm allowed to do."

"Right." Jane replied. "You look great." Jane added quickly when she saw Maura turn towards the house. "By the way." She added softly.

Maura smirked. "Thank you, I'm just going to go put these in some water."

"God I am so awkward." Jane complained to herself as she followed Maura just inside the doorway. What the hell is wrong with me? I'm not a freaking teenager. I'm a homicide detective. And Maura's not just some random woman I just met. I know her. I even know how I feel about her and I'm fairly certain she feels the same. I just need to calm down and play the cool detective I always am. I can do this. "I can do this." Jane repeated out loud.

"You can do what?" Maura asked as she picked up her jacket.

"This." Jane said gesturing between them. "I can go on dates with you. Real dates and they'll be dates."

"Of course you can. You have no reason to be nervous Jane." Maura said kissing the taller woman gently. "I already love you. Really this is just a way to spend time together outside of the house."

"That makes me nervous too. What do we say if someone we know sees us? " Jane asked with a frown. "You can't lie Maura."

"Oh." Maura couldn't help but frown. "You don't want people to know we're involved?"

"It's not that." Jane grumbled frustrated at herself. I am such a screw up. Now I've hurt her feelings. "I don't want to talk about this right now. I just… let's just go okay?"

Maura wanted to say she'd changed her mind about going out on a date. She wanted to say she didn't care that Jane was unsure and part of her was. But she couldn't help but be sad. "Okay, we'll go." Maura said trying to sound as cheerful as she had felt before as she followed Jane. She was surprised when Jane opened the car door for her.

"I'm sorry." Jane said just before closing her door as well. When she climbed into the driver's seat Maura looked at her expectantly. "I'm sorry I am not doing a very good job at this so far. It's just… I don't know what I'm supposed to do. I thought it would be easy I guess. Because being near you and close with you has always been easy for the most part." Jane started the car but kept talking as she drove. "I'm not ashamed of my feelings for you Maura, I'm not. But I'm scared of what will happen when people find out. Part of my job, a very large part of my job, means trusting the guys I work with everyday to have my back and some of them aren't very open minded. Defending a 'dyke'" both women cringed at the word, "would go against what they've been born and raised to believe."

Maura considered what Jane was saying for a moment. "Barry and Vince would never let you get hurt if they could help it."

"But they aren't the only people I work with." Jane said with an exasperated sigh. "I'm not saying we can't be together Maura, I'm saying I would just like to keep it between us for awhile. Can't we do that? Am I really asking so much?"

Maura frowned. She knew that what Jane was asking for was more than reasonable. It was just hard for her to accept. "We don't have to tell anyone any time soon Jane. I never said we did."

"But you're still disappointed that I don't want to yet." Jane pointed out.

Maura didn't respond because she couldn't honestly say that she wasn't disappointed.

Jane gave a half smile and reached over to give Maura's hand a squeeze. "Just wait for me to catch up to you okay. I promise not to take too long. I've just always denied liking women. So…"

"Jane you're worrying about nothing. I can wait for you to be ready." She smiled.

Jane chanced a glance at the blonde. "I'm really glad we're finally doing this."

"Me too" Maura smiled brightly.

When they reached the restaurant Jane waved of the valet that attempted to open Maura's door so that she could do it herself. Jane took the blonde's hand shyly as they walked in.

"What's the name on your reservation?"

"Rizzoli," Jane said with a confident grin. She reached over and took Maura's hand. Her nerves started easing away little by little but as soon as she let go of the other woman's hand they came back, not quite as badly as they had been before but still lingering.

"Right this way."

They had a table in a more private corner of the restaurant; Maura couldn't help but be impressed by it all. She'd noticed that, despite the detective's obvious nerves, she'd been behaving like the perfect gentleman she was even more surprised when Jane pulled out her chair for her.

"I'm… I'm really sorry if it's not as nice as you're used to or something." Jane mumbled as she took her own seat. "I've never actually had to plan a date before. And I don't actually have a lot of good experiences with dating."

"Jane," Maura said softly reaching across the table to take the other woman's hand. "It's perfect; you're absolutely doing everything right. I would've been happy if our first date would've been staying in with take out and just enjoying each other's company."

Jane frowned. "You're worth more than that. Besides I waited to take you out this long so that you could wear your fancy shoes and your fancy dresses that I know you love wearing."

Maura turned a light shade of pink and smiled. "That was considerate of you."

"A little bit." Jane gave a smirk. "But it was also selfish, I love the way you look in your dresses and fancy shoes. You have very nice legs." She winked which caused Maura's blush to deepen.

"I'm glad there isn't any scaring." Maura said softly. "I know that's vain but I've always really liked my legs."

"Would it be wrong to say I've always liked them too?" Jane asked with a cheeky grin. I am making a fool of myself right now. I just know I am, but I have no idea what to talk about. This is ridiculous we always have things to talk about.

"I'm flattered."

Jane smiled brightly as the waiter came back to take their order. Jane allowed Maura to order first. As they waited Jane found that talking to Maura became easier and more relaxed the longer they sat there, proving to her that her nerves were misplaced. It's exactly like it always is with her. It's easy and comfortable and I really just need to stop freaking out.

"Are you still feeling nervous Jane?" Maura asked taking a sip of her wine. They'd both finished their meals but they weren't yet ready to leave.

"Not as much." Jane admitted while she watched the blonde.

"I'm glad you aren't nervous." She couldn't help but chuckle. "Though you're exceptionally cute when you are. I don't think I've ever seen you so flustered before."

"Well it's not every day I go out with the most beautiful woman in the world for a first date." Jane smirked.

Maura blushed brightly at the compliment. "You're exaggerating."

"I don't think I am." She replied with the same easy smile Maura grown used to over the years that they'd known each other.

Maura choose not to comment any further recognizing that anything she said would draw away from the fact that Jane was freely complimenting her. "Can we have dessert?" she asked instead.

"Of course." Jane nodded she waved the waiter over. "The lady would like dessert would you be so kind as to tell us what our options are?" Jane listened patiently as the waiter listed off the regular dessert options but Maura didn't seem very interested in any of them.

"And tonight our special is a chocolate raspberry tart. It is made with a luscious rich chocolate ganache and fresh raspberries. We use a pâte sablée for the tart crust which has a buttery, crumbly texture almost like a cookie." He finished.

Maura looked at Jane excitedly. "I'd like that."

"Excellent." He said with a smile.

When he came back with the dessert Maura was excited to try it. Jane took her fork before she could though which caused her to pout. "I want to eat it Jane."

"And I want to feed you your first bite." Jane replied as she cut into the tart. She brought it to Maura's mouth slowly. "Tell me how it tastes."

She closed her eyes as she took the fork in her mouth. God that is probably the sexiest thing ever, Jane couldn't help but think.

"It tastes amazing." Maura said softly eyes still closed enjoying the flavor. "You should taste it"

Jane grinned. "I think I will." Instead of taking a bite she leaned in and kissed Maura slowly, running her tongue over Maura's bottom lip. Maura opened her mouth with a bit of a moan allowing Jane to enter. The taste of the tart still lingered. "You're right very good."

Maura blushed. She couldn't help but think that despite being very sexy that it was kind of cheesy.

"I'll let you finish the rest." Jane smirked and handed Maura her fork.

"I appreciate that." She said trying to calm the pounding in her chest.

Jane watched as Maura finished her dessert. She seems to be enjoying herself. I'm really glad.

The car ride back to Maura's house was spent in a comfortable silence. When they pulled up to her house Jane parked to walk Maura to her door.

"So… did I do alright?" She asked with a shy smile.

"It was wonderful Jane." Maura leaned in a kissed the detective, debating on whether she wanted to invite her in or not.

Jane sensed her dilemma and made the decision for her. "I'm going to go home tonight. Not because I wouldn't like to come in, but because I want to take things slow. Is that alright?"

"That's perfectly alright." Maura kissed the brunette one more time before opening her door. "Goodnight Jane."

"Goodnight. I'll see you tomorrow."

Jane waited until Maura was safely inside and she heard the lock click into place before turning to leave. She was grinning the entire ride home.

I told you all I'd write a sequel. I'd like to write longer updates this time but that may mean it also take's longer to get them. So tell me what you guys think. Thanks for reading please review. Love and Hugs R.W.