Jane looked at herself closely in the mirror as she methodically brushed her teeth. She took in her brown hair piled on top of her head, and her brown eyes, sighing at the crow's feet clearly showing around the edges. Squinting she notices a faint hickey low on her collarbone. She can't help the smile on her face as she leans down to spit into the sink. It had been a tough week; it had been a tough case. But they had solved it, finished things. Normally that case would've dragged her down, made it difficult for her to sleep, and caused her to drink more than she should. Instead she found herself grinning stupidly into her bathroom mirror on a sunny Saturday morning. She is grateful things aren't like that anymore, that she doesn't have to hold on to things, that she has someone in her life to share the load.
Just as that last thought leaves Jane's brain she looks down to see familiar arms wrap themselves around her waist as mischievous green eyes pop up over her left shoulder in the mirror.
"Hey, sweetie. What are you doing in here? Can we get breakfast and take Joe for a walk? It is beautiful outside." She says and leaves a kiss on Jane's shoulder and then neck, causing the detective to shiver slightly.
Jane smiles widely as she turns around in Maura's arms. Letting Maura into her life, into her heart, working to worm her way into Maura's heart had made the last 8 months quite the wonderful adventure.
"Are you asking if I'm hungry? Have you met me?" Jane asks laughing before wrapping her arms warmly around her girlfriend. "Of course, breakfast and a walk sounds great." She presses her lips warmly onto Maura's, tangling her fingers in the doctor's long blonde silky hair.
Maura can't keep the moan to herself as Jane continues the assault on her mouth and wraps her arms more firmly around Jane's back.
They pull back from each other eventually; Maura sucks in a huge breath, and rubs her hands up and down Jane's warm back. "What was that for?" Maura asks breathlessly.
Jane rubs her thumbs warmly along Maura's cheeks, her chin, down along her collarbone. "Oh, Maura, I don't know. Can't I just show you how much I love you by just laying one on you?" She asks laughing.
Maura chuckles, "Of course." She places a quick kiss on Jane's lips, "I'm glad to we have each other too." She smiles and turns to walk back out of the bathroom. "Come on. I want blueberry coffee cake."
More than an hour later they sit across from each other at their favorite diner finishing their coffee, having enjoyed eggs and bacon and toast and shared a bit of blueberry coffee cake.
They had stumbled on the Sunshine Diner after working a crime scene. It had been a long night and Jane's grumbling stomach had been distracting Maura at the crime scene. So Maura had insisted on stopping before heading back to the precinct and morgue. Ever since then they had kept coming back to the Sunshine Diner, it was like their place. They would often bring Joe and wander around the neighborhoods surrounding the diner and pick out their favorite houses. It was one of their favorite things to do on weekends when they had free time and the weather was nice.
The waitress came by and dropped off the check just as they were finishing.
Maura digs in her purse for money, lays down some bills, "Let's go get Joe and take a walk."
Jane downs the last of her coffee and stands up, holds her hand out for Maura to take. Maura stands and follows her out, grinning idiotically.
Jane can't help but laugh, "What is with you, Dr. Isles? You have been a giddy mess all morning. What have you got going on in that big brain of yours?"
Maura stops, "What? I am not a mess. Can't I just love hanging out with the love of my life and enjoy breakfast and taking a lovely walk on this gorgeous day? She says indignantly, a smirk on her lips.
Jane raises her eyebrow, "Oh really? Well if you say so. You'll tell me eventually." She leans down and kisses Maura square on the mouth. "Let's go."
They have been walking and talking and planning what they need to get at the grocery store, what needs to be brought to gnocchi night at the Rizzoli's and the Red Sox and why Joe must stop at every fire hydrant along the way among other topics. Jane has peeled off her sweatshirt and tied it around her waist as they finally turn down the street into their favorite neighborhood.
"That is what I have been trying to tell Pop, I don't need a new dishwasher but he doesn't listen to…" Jane trails off when she notices that her favorite house has a 'For Sale/Under Contract' sign on the lawn.
"Maura, when was the last time we got here? Was this house for sale the last time we walked?" She asks incredulously.
"It was probably sometime last month, we have been busy, the weather hasn't been great…" she answers quietly, looking up at Jane, "why?"
Jane shrugs, gesturing widely with her arms. , "I don't know, this is my favorite house in this neighborhood, we both love it actually and it was for sale, for crying out loud. We could've, I don't know…" She looks up at Maura.
Maura tips her head to the side and gazes softly into Jane's warm brown eyes. "We could've what?"
Jane looks at Joe sniffing at the mailbox and then back at the house. "I mean look at it, Maura. It is perfect."
The house was an old craftsman, grey with blue shutters and a huge porch on the front. It was a narrow lot but plenty of yard for Joe and a family if they had one. It was pretty close to work. Jane could picture them living here, building their life here and she knew it was soon but being with Maura felt like forever should start now. And now the house, Jane's 'house' had been for sale and someone else had pounced on it.
Jane turns to Maura, takes her hand and starts talking before she can lose her nerve, "I can just picture us living here. I know we haven't talked about the future very much and I don't want to move too fast but I can see us building our life here, raising our children here." Jane finishes in a whisper, leaning in and leaving a whisper of a kiss on Maura's lips.
Maura's eyes are moist as she gazes at her girlfriend, knowing in her heart she made the right decision.
Maura reaches up to wipe a wayward tear from Jane's cheek, "Oh, sweetheart, I can picture us living here too. Sitting on that porch swing, walking to the diner." She takes a deep breath, "Which is why, if its OK with you, I put an offer on this house which you can tell by the sign was accepted."
Jane's eyes go wide, not understanding. "You are moving here? You are buying this house? Why didn't you tell me?" Jane can feel her chest getting tight, her emotions rising in her chest.
Maura frames Jane's face gently, "Jane. Look at me, right now."
Jane brings wet eyes up to meet dancing green ones. Jane is puzzled.
"I want to move, I want you to move with me. I want us to buy this house. I want this to be our home, our house, the beginning of our life together. I know it might feel fast but we both know life can be fragile and we need to make the most of it. I want us to do that here, together. What do you say?"
Maura's eyes are nervous and she bites her bottom lip, waiting for Jane to gather herself together enough to speak. Slowly Jane's face breaks into a wide smile and she wraps her free arm around Maura's neck.
"Maura, really? We could live here together? This can be our house?"
"Yes, if you want to."
"I would love nothing more than to live the rest of my life with you in this house, on that porch, with our pets and kids." She moves in closer to leave a promise of a kiss on Maura's lips. They both turn back to gaze at their new house.
"So what does it look like inside?" Jane asks giddily.
Maura laughs, "Well…there are three bedrooms and a big eat-in kitchen and my realtor is actually meeting us here," she looks down at her watch, "in about 15 minutes and we can go in and take a look."
"OK," Jane murmurs before snapping her head up, "What? You planned this whole thing didn't you, the breakfast and walk and…that was why you have been grinning ridiculously all morning." She hugs Maura fiercely, leaving tiny little kisses all over her face. Maura can't help the laugh that bubbles up her throat.
"I love you so much." She whispers into Maura's ear.
"I love you, too." Maura's eyes flutter closed as she tucks her face into Jane's neck.
