Maura rose from the couch, her hand falling from her lips and down to her side. In the kitchen Jane stood clutching the counter, her mind tried to focus on something other than the woman approaching her from the living room, and the heat coursing through her own body.

"Jane" she heard the quiet voice of the honey-blonde, but it didn't register a response from within herself. Not long after she felt a warm hand gently placed midway along her back. "Look at me, Jane" she could hear desperation in her voice, and fear too.

Turning slowly, Jane took the hand that had been on her back into her own. Staring up at her through worried glistening eyes, Maura's mouth remained slightly parted.

"I don't know..." Jane began. She paused for a moment, not quite sure what to say. "I liked it" she settled on.

Visibly the doctor relaxed, her shoulders lowering slightly, and her head rising. "I did too" she replied softly.

"Err..." Jane leant forward slightly, pausing just short of Maura's lips and glancing at her eyes before finally closing the space. Maura kissed back instantly, and ran her tongue along Jane's bottom lips, eliciting a moan from the brunette. Jane pulled back again "sorry I – err"

Maura shook her head lightly "don't be sorry, never be sorry" she whispered, cupping the brunettes cheek.

"This is so weird... I want you so bad, I've never felt this way about you but it's as though it's always been there" the detective's voice was almost a breath as she spoke.

"I feel the same..."

"We can't...not tonight...I need to get my thoughts together"

"Right" Maura nodded and looked down. She backed away slightly "I'll call you in the morning" she smiled to Jane before turning.

"What? No!" Jane pulled her arm, a little too hard. Maura landed against her side, somewhat encased in Jane's arms. "Sorry...Please, stay... I need you here...but" her face flushed with frustration.

"Just tell me what you want" the doctor's voice held no sign of impatience, only a loving.

"Just lay with me" Jane's eyes stared into Maura's as she spoke. "Please".

This was a new side to the detective, vulnerability. She'd never quite needed Maura, needed her in this way.

"Of course" with her reply, Maura took Jane's hand and silently led her to the bedroom, flicking off lights along their way.

They stepped into the bedroom, Maura never letting go of Jane's hand as they crossed over to bed, each climbing onto their respective sides, lay atop of the covers. Jane turned her head to face Maura, hazel eyes eventually looking to meet her dark brown ones. Jane pulled the doctor gently, encouraging her to shuffle across the bed and lay against her side, slightly on top of Jane, her head on her shoulder. Jane's finger tips traced aimlessly along the line of exposed skin on the doctor's back, and other hand fiddled with the doctor's hand as it rested on her own stomach.

"I really, really like you" her hoarse voice had a great contrast against the quiet of the room. "No...fuck that..." Maura looked up in confusion, eyes lost and filled with worry. Jane looked back to her with determination "Maura I love you...so so much"

For a moment Maura simply looked back at Jane, her mouth slightly agape and eyes searching the dark orbs of the detectives. Then she sat up, Jane instantly felt the cold, and a pang of fear ran through her. But as quickly as she had sat up, Maura was back down again, in a slightly new position, somehow lay more on top of Jane, her head now facing her completely.

"I love you too, I-" but she didn't finish her sentence, instead she lowered herself quickly, heatedly, and kissed Jane hard. It wasn't long before Jane could feel the wetness against her cheek, causing her to push the doctor gently off her.

"Hey hey" Jane whispered wiping Maura's tears and sitting up so she was kneeling next to her. "Don't cry, please...I can't bare it when you cry" Jane moved to kiss away the rest of the tears, and Maura began to chuckle lightly.

"Thank you" she whispered, wiping some away herself. "I just got overwhelmed. I love you so much Jane, and I always have... I never thought that we'd get to this place. I thought..." A new onslaught of tears began.

"Stop" Jane whispered, cupping her cheek, using her thumb to catch stray tears.

"Sorry" Maura croaked.

"You never have to say sorry to me" Jane sat up and kissed the doctor. She pulled away for a moment and looked into her eyes "aw screw it" she muttered.

Gently she pushed the doctor down on the bed, laying on top of her. Her lips kissed the Maura's passionately, the honey-blonde taking a moment to register the change in position. Jane's hands pushed up the silk pyjama top, her fingers clawing slightly at Maura's skin, Maura moaning and arching her back into Jane's touch. Maura moved her hand under Jane's top and raked her nails along her back, an action which caused Jane to buckle slightly against Maura, her knee taking a new position in between Maura's legs. Jane moved her lips down to Maura's neck, the doctor moving her hands to Jane's hair to hold her in position.

"Feels so good" she gasped as Jane sucked against her pulse point. Jane felt her cheeks flush red with the moan that followed. She lowered her lips, nipping at her collarbone, the skin just above her breasts, then down to her stomach, lips finding those sensitive spots instantly sending sparks flying through Maura's body. Jane's hands moved up and toyed with Maura's bra, she looked to her for approval but Maura paused. She lifted her head and looked at Jane for a moment. "N...no" she said shaking her head, instead she opened her arms, gesturing for Jane to return to her first position. "Not tonight" she whispered against Jane's lips. "We-we should wait" she added breathlessly.

"Why?" Jane moaned, toying with Maura's hair.

"We love each other, I don't want to mess this up, Jane and...it never works out if you know, you rush into things. We should date and...we need to get what this is, between you and I, straight in our minds"

Jane bit her lip for a moment and then smiled shaking her head "yeah, you're right. But you're also incredibly good looking...I don't think I can help myself" Jane's eyes raked down Maura's body, noting how her pyjamas had been moved and pulled to the extent that they were now acting more like underwear than actually clothing. Maura's eyes followed and she laughed.

"Well, it's not easy for me either... but we will manage" she kissed Jane's cheek. Jane looked to her with a smile.

"Do you know, I have never seen anything as beautiful as the way you look right now? I hope this isn't a dream, and if it is I never want to wake up" she kissed the doctor gently.

"Let's go to sleep..." Maura replied after the kiss, a slight blush on her cheeks. "I can't wait to wake up next to you tomorrow morning"

Jane smiled and nodded. They moved back, and under the covers. Maura lay on her side while Jane scooted forward, arm wrapping around Maura's middle, hand naturally beginning to trace patterns against her stomach. 'I can't believe that this is how it's all started' she thought absently as her mind thought back to earlier in the evening. 'Food network and a relaxing gesture, turning into a hot make out session with my best friend, well... girlfriend? And a declaration on my love for her...'. Jane laughed slightly and shook her head.

"What are you laughing at?" Maura asked, Jane could hear the smile in her voice.

"Just...how tonight turned out, very well might I add" she kissed Maura's neck.

"Mmmm I agree..."

"I love you" Jane whispered, moving to kiss against Maura's jaw.

"I love you too" Maura lifted Jane's hand from her stomach and kissed it, before placing it back, her hand resting on top of it.