Author's Note: This story has been kicking around in my head since the series ended. I thought it was finally time to get out of my head so I could concentrate on other things. Like that Sanvers story that has been kicking around in my head since I found out Floriana Lima is leaving the show.
FYI this is mostly dialogue not a lot of descriptive content so if that's not your thing I totally get it.
FYI #2 the story is completely written, have no fear I'll leave you hanging. I was going to post the whole story (4 chapters) at once but I decided to give the rest of the chapters another run through tomorrow. I don't use a beta so I like to do a thorough review before I post.
Finally the obligatory disclaimer: I do not own R&I, I'm not making a profit on this story. I just wrote it for the fun of it. Enjoy!
"Would if ruin everything if I kissed you right now?"
Jane and Maura were lounging on the king-sized bed in their hotel suite flipping through photos on Maura's tablet of their trip so far. She had just flipped to a picture of the two of them sitting in a little sidewalk café in the south of France. In the picture they were laughing about something and Maura had just put her hand on Jane's forearm the expression on both there faces had been such that a fellow tourist and budding photographer, convinced they were lovers, had snapped the photo and offered it to them as a memento of their romantic trip to France. Neither woman had bothered to correct his misconception.
Maura's body tensed beside Jane's "What?"
Shit, shit, shit, shit! Did I just say that out loud! Jane cursed herself for her slip. She and Maura had been in France for 3 weeks and had just one week left before they returned to the states. As per Maura's original travel plans they had spent the first three weeks traveling around the country revisiting some of her favorite spots, places she was considering as venues for her book.
They had arrived in Paris just that morning where they were planning to spend the last week of their vacation before returning to Boston. Of course Jane hadn't told Maura yet that they were both returning to Boston. She hadn't worked up the courage yet to broach the subject with Maura. Not that she thought Maura would be upset that she wasn't moving to Virginia. She just knew that Maura would want to know why she had changed her mind and that was a conversation Jane had been rehearsing in her head for the entire trip. She hadn't quite figured out how to say everything she wanted and needed to say without screwing up everything.
Nevertheless, Jane decided to put on her big girl panties and press ahead. After all they only had a week left in France and now was as good a time as any to come clean with Maura.
Taking a deep breath and letting it out slowly she met and held hazel eyes that were clearly shocked but maybe just possibly hopeful as well? "I said, would it ruin everything if I kissed you right now."
Jane could see a myriad of thoughts and responses warring in Maura's eyes. Hard as it was not to back track, to give them both a way out of this conversation she held her tongue and gave her friend all the time she needed to formulate a coherent response.
"I guess it depends."
That was certainly not the response Jane was expecting. "What?" she echoed Maura's earlier question.
"I said, it depends."
"It depends? Depends on what?"
Maura sighed, "Really Jane, you pick now to get into this. Now when we have just a week left on our trip. When you're about to start a new career 477 miles away from Boston! Now when I'm just getting started on my writing career!" Maura was clearly becoming agitated.
"Better late than never?" Jane offered in a halfhearted attempt at humor. When Maura just glared at her she returned to the question at hand. "Depends on what, Maura?"
Maura gave an exasperated sigh, "It depends on a number of things. Like, is this just your way of saying goodbye, a one night stand? If so did you consider the effect it would have on our friendship? Just because you're moving away doesn't mean I'm willing to ruin our relationship for a little roll in the hay. If not, are you planning on us commencing a long distance relationship? If so, do you plan on coming back to Boston often or do you expect me to travel to Quantico? Have you considered how your Catholic mother might react to this, or your brothers, or our friends? Of course if this is just a one night stand maybe you just planned for them never to find out. It could be our dirty little secret! Is that it Jane?"
Maura was really building up a head of steam, pacing and waving her arms about in an excellent imitation of Jane when she was upset. Jane knew she had to cut her off before she stormed out of the hotel room in a rage. "Those are all great questions" she interjected calmly when Maura paused to take a breath. "And I'll answer them all if you just answer two quick questions for me first. Do you love me and do you want me to stay in Boston?"
Maura looked stunned like Jane had just walked up to her and flicked her in the middle of her forehead with her finger for no apparent reason. "Want...Love...do...what?" She stuttered unintelligibly.
"You're adorable when you're flustered." Jane smiled softly at Maura. "Let's take the questions one at a time. Do you love me? Because I have been in love with you for a very long time and I'm pretty sure you feel the same way but like me you've been too scared to lose the best friend you ever had so you never said anything. But now that we're about to lose each other anyway I guess I figured it was time to fish or cut bait."
"Only" was Maura's confusing reply.
"Excuse me?"
"I was afraid to lose the only real friend I ever had and 'fish or cut bait' really Jane?" The goofy grin on her face belied the exasperation in her tone.
"So that's a yes, you do love me?" Matching Maura's goofy grin with one of her own.
Maura smiled softly and reached out to take Jane's right hand in both of hers. "Yes Jane, I love you, I'm in love with you and have been for a very long time."
"So I guess that gives me the answer to my other question. You'd like it if I stayed in Boston instead of moving to Quantico."
"Well you know how I feel about guessing," Maura smirked at her friend, "but in this case that would be a safe assumption."
Jane took her free hand and caressed Maura's cheek, sliding her hand around to the back of Maura's neck to pull her in for their first kiss. It start slowly, even tentatively but soon gained steam, as Maura let go of Jane's right hand and wrapped her arms around Jane's neck and Jane placed her newly freed hand in the middle of Maura's back and pulled her in closer producing the most adorable little squeak that Jane had ever heard.
After what seemed like seconds but also an eternity the two pulled apart just far enough to look into each other's eyes.
"Wow!" Jane breathed in her sexiest, huskiest voice.
"Wow, indeed!" Maura agreed but then her face fell. "Oh no Jane, what about Quantico? You have to report there in a week, you have a contract. Do you think they'll let you break it?"
Jane's expression turn sheepish "Actually I don't."
"What do you mean you don't? You don't have to report there next week? You don't have a contract? What?"
"Yes" Jane replied, unable to curb her flippant response even at a time like this. Maura's flat stare made her think better of it. "I never signed the contract"
Maura looked pole axed "You never signed the contract? I don't understand, up until this moment I've been under the impression you had to report to Quantico as soon as we returned to the states."
"I know Maura, it's kind of a long story and it's just about dinner time. Why don't we order up some room service and I'll tell you all about it over dinner."