A/N: This has been around for a while, at one point posted both here and on tumblr, but it's been hidden away in my documents for ages. I decided to take another look at it and change a few things and make it somewhat presentable as a way of getting back into writing.
Disclaimer: I do not own Rizzoli & Isles or associated characters, etc.
1
Jane had a growing suspicion that this day would arrive sooner or later. And while she can honestly say she has nothing against the man that her best friend has chosen to be in a relationship with, she would be perfectly content if he were to leave their lives as suddenly as he had entered it. Many months ago when Maura met a man, Jane had no doubt that the two would eventually part ways—though hopefully not due to circumstances that were unfortunately the norm, with Jane happily being the one to don shining armor and rescue her.
It was with slight dismay that Jane realized that for once in her life, Maura had met a decent man. And when Maura knew Jack was someone that would never want to harm her in any way, she had let him into her heart and he hadn't left. The relationship Maura had been seeking her entire adult life was now within her grasp, and she wasn't going to let it slip away. So while Jane knew this was inevitable, she hadn't expected it to happen so soon. Ten months, and that was still the very beginning of a relationship and—how could it happen when Maura herself stated on more than one occasion that she was not ready for marriage? God, what kind of man would simply disregard Maura's words the way Jack had?
"Jack asked me to marry him tonight," are the words that spill from upturned lips, and Jane feels jagged glass cut into her. It becomes hard for her to breathe.
"Oh, yeah?"
"He's a good man, Jane, and he asked me to be his wife."
Silence. Jane is unable to say a single word as she stares at the woman she is desperately in love with, the words on the tip of her tongue. She swallows thickly and pleads for Maura to understand that this was not right. Not for her or for them, but maybe. Maybe there was still time to say—
I love you. Be with me. Don't ever leave me. Marry me, Maura.
"I said yes."
And Jane knows that she will never get the chance to say those words, because Maura had been bound to Jack Armstrong for months… and now she always will be.