I love her. I'm in love with her. She's my best friend. I can't be in love with her. I'm straight. She's straight. But we have been doing this song and dance since we met. We flirt but it never goes anywhere. Once of us always backs down. I don't know if it's for fun or if it's for real. But as I stand here trying to not to be obvious that I am gawking at her as she's getting dressed. I want to kiss her. I want to touch her. She calls my name, pulling me out of my trance.

"Jane" Maura says calling my name again.

"uh. Oh yeah. What's up?"

"You were somewhere else, everything ok?"

I open my mouth to say yeah I'm thinking about what it would be like to make love to you. But all that comes out is, " oh. Sorry. Just hungry. Are you ready to go get food?"

"yeah let's go"

We walk to my car, because I was not about to endure her driving. The car ride is silent. I want to tell her. I need to tell her. But what if it drives her away? I feel her warm hand rest itself on my leg. It sent shockwaves down to my core.

"Jane are you ok?"

"yeah, just thinking"

"about?"

"I can't say. Not yet. Not like this. I'm processing. But I promise I'll tell you soon enough."

"I'm here for you Jane. Always. I hope you know that. I love you. So whenever you're ready to talk, I am here."

I put my hand on top of hers. I'm content. I know I should tell her. But I can't. Right now she's my best friend, who loves and supports me always. I can't bear to loose her.

Maura's POV

I sit in the car next to the woman I love. My hand rests upon her thigh. I feel content. At peace. There's nowhere else I'd rather be than right here with her. I want nothing more than to be hers forever. And for her to be mine. But what if she doesn't feel the same? I can't loose her. I glance over at my hand, it's so close to her center. I want to move my hand up further. I want to caress her skin. Intertwine my tongue with hers. Brush my teeth against her nipples, my tongue against her core. But for now, her hand intertwined with mine…I feel content. It's enough, for now.

We pull up to the place, and get out of the car, and resume holding hands. This is something we did daily. But today it feels different. Jane is keeping something from me as I am her. A shiver runs down my spine as she rubs her thumb on my hand. I took the liberty of calling ahead to get us a table quicker. We sit, each sipping on a beer. I don't drink beer often. It's certainly not my drink of choice. But Jane has been begging me to try this kind. She's right, it is good. I look at her longingly, as she brings the bottle to her lips, caressing it. Man what I wouldn't give to be that damn bottle. My breathing increases. Fuck Maura. Get it together. She's bound to notice.

"enjoying the view?" Jane asks.

We play this game often. It's who we are. It's my turn to fire back with a naughty response. We'll both cave before this actually goes anywhere. She's straight. She just likes to toy with me because she knows it gets to me.

"most definitely. I am imagining what it would be like to be that bottle." I say, very sure of myself.

"you couldn't handle me. You would be putty in my hands in five minutes."

"Is that a challenge Rizzoli? Don't tempt me. I would win."

"Oh really?" Jane takes her foot and begins rubbing it up and down my leg. I quiver at her touch. Shit. Busted. Totally a dead giveaway. She pulls away.

"point proven" She says smirking at me.

I breathe in. I breathe out. Damn you Jane Rizzoli for having this affect on me. Well two can play at that game. Round 1- Jane Rizzoli. Let the second round begin.

Jane's POV

First round of our game has ended. We always seem to play this out and then we both cave and quit. For once, I don't want to. I want to win. I need to. Our dessert arrives and of course she picks Strawberries and Chocolate. She knows how to torture me. Maura dips the strawberry into the chocolate and brings it to her lips. She swirls her tongue around the strawberry. I hold my breath. I can't move. I can't breathe. It would be a dead giveaway.

I hear a slight moan come from Maura's mouth. Holy shit, that was hot. What I wouldn't give to be the cause of that moan. The face she makes as the sound escapes her mouth is enough to make me loose her. She smiles at me. I watch her grab another strawberry and she dips it into the chocolate. She then brings it to my lips and I open my mouth to take it in, her fingers too. I suck off all of the chocolate. Our eyes are locked. No one moves. No one speaks. It's now or never. We either stop now or go all the way.