Hellooo, here we are. This is the end to this one. I enjoyed it immensely. I have to say that beta bitch of mine was right there was obviously more to this story. Don't get a big head now, MSonya! I hope you guys enjoy this one. It left a smile on my face. I hope it does the same for you. TTFN.

Jane glared at her pillow and pummeled it into submission with her fist. She only wished that were possible with everything else in her life right now. On the other side of the bed, Jo whined tuned into her obvious distress. Releasing a long exasperated breath, she covered her eyes with her arm and tried to will herself to stop thinking, stop feeling and go to sleep. Drinking a half a six pack did not serve to calm her nerves so Jane didn't know why she was relying on her own constitution to finish the job no matter how strong it was.

She kicked the covers away and turned on her side. Her tank top had rolled upward, exposing her bare stomach to the cool air. Jane peered into the darkness, seeing only slight illumination from the clock on the nightstand. This had been her routine for the past two hours and no matter what she did she couldn't stop thinking about the expression on Maura's face. She only got a glimpse, but it was enough to know that Maura was devastated.

A wave of guilt assailed her, but it was soon followed by a surge of anger. Her mother was in on this, and not to mention Cailin. It all felt like some kind of weird joke…like she was being punked in the worst way possible. Jane knew something was wrong but this never crossed her mind. The woman who couldn't lie had been lying to her. For how long, she wondered. Had it been from the beginning? Maura had always been so touchy feely with her even then.

Jane grudgingly acknowledged that she had been the same. It was strange even her own mother touching her sometimes made her uncomfortable, but never Maura. There had been men in Maura's life. Some she knew of, and she was sure there were some she did not. Maura was straight. She had to be. Jane sighed knowing she wasn't looking at the whole picture. To Maura, sexuality was fluid. So, the question remained. How long had she felt this way? Were all the secrets Jane told, all the feelings she revealed about men, her family and her job just being used to get closer?

No, this was Maura. She knew her, or she thought she did. Then, there was her mother and Cailin urging things along. Jane ground her teeth together. They were all in collusion with one another and Jane hated being handled. This felt like handling. This felt like she didn't have a choice and everyone expected her to roll over and submit. Well, no she had never been one to just do that.

Then, there was Casey. Jane rolled her eyes. There really wasn't Casey. There was nothing there and she was relieved. He wanted commitment, babies, and such, but she wanted to just be. Jane wasn't ready to be the little woman. She scoffed. She didn't know if she would ever be ready for that. It felt confining to even think about it. In fact, the only relationship she'd never felt constricted in was with Maura.

Jane squeezed her eyes shut, but she didn't want that from Maura. What they had was easy. What they had was on the other side of incredible and now it was possibly ruined. This pissed her off even more. Maura lied. In Jane's opinion, an omission of information was just as bad as a lie itself, and Maura had changed things in a way she would have never thought possible. This was not okay. This was definitely not okay. Then, there was the kiss. Jane had responded to it with enthusiasm. It was something she couldn't deny. She had never been so turned on from just a kiss. She couldn't deny that either.

"Fuck!" Jane angrily tossed a pillow across the room. It hit the wall with an unimpressive thud.

That fact in itself could mean a number of things. Sexuality was fluid…in Maura's world, but it had never been in Jane's of that she was sure. There was nothing to explain away the bone deep need Maura left behind.

They had to talk. Jane was sure of that, but just the thought of it scared her shitless. She wanted answers, and there was only one way to get them. She sat up in bed. Sleep would not be had tonight, but there was plenty more thinking to do.

Maura was surprised to see the natural illumination of the sun filter in through her living room. It didn't seem fair that the night went on and changed to day. She stared at the empty bottle of Vouvray on the coffee table. Beside it was glass she shared with Jane. It was the same glass she continued to use. It was of little solace.

During the night, Maura discovered that there were some things that went deeper than the pain of rejection. There was the agony of regret. It was by her side all night as she paced, as she cried. Maura had let hope get the best of her. It opened her in ways that should have remained shut. Part of her had listened to Angela and Cailin, and apparently that had been enough. In actuality, it had been too much.

In a few seconds, the night had gone from the best in her life to possibly one of the worst. In the past, she would have reached out to Jane. The impulse to call or to drive over had been almost insurmountable as was the need to fix it all. Maura knew better. She knew Jane better. She didn't like feeling cornered, trapped, and Maura couldn't help but think that it was exactly what she did.

Guilt melded with the array of other emotions. Things had been working well between them until this point, and Maura rationalized that this would have continued. It was something she had to hold on to because the alternative, this alternative, was completely lacking. Her head throbbed from the alcohol, but there was work to be done. She may not have found solace in the wine, but she knew she would within the confines of professionalism.

"Maura?" From the kitchen, Angela Rizzoli called out in a stage whisper.

Maura cringed. She didn't feel like answering her, but manners prevented her from being rude. "In here, Angela." Her voice was hoarse from tears and disuse.

A few seconds later, the elder Rizzoli appeared. "Hey, I didn't want to disturb-" Angela stopped and stared. "Maura?"

Maura turned away.

"Oh sweetie." Angela sat on the couch beside her, putting a hand on her shoulder.

Shrugging it off, Maura didn't have it in her to fall apart again. "I can't do this right now."

Angela sighed. "I understand. I know there's nothing I can say."

"No, there isn't." Maura turned, meeting the older woman's gaze. "But, I want you to know no matter what happens between me and Jane you are welcome here."

"Oh honey, nothing is final—"

"No, it was glaringly final."

"You know her. She's gonna want to talk about this. You're the only person she does talk to."

Maura laughed, but it was without mirth. She couldn't afford to be hopeful. "I may have ruined that."

Unable to keep her hands to herself, Angela rubbed circles over Maura's back. She closed her eyes and allowed it.

"I'm going to get to work then."

Cailin walked through the door from the kitchen. "Hey did somebody forget to set the timer on the coffee-" She stopped mid stride and mid-sentence. "Oh shit, what's going on?"

Maura took a cleansing breath and stood, gathering the detritus from the table. "Angela's leaving for work, and I need to get prepared for it." She whisked by the both into the kitchen.

Cailin was the only one to follow her. "So, you're just giving up?"

Maura ignored her.

"Haven't you seen romantic comedies? You don't just let things go."

She spun around angrily. "This is not a movie!"

Cailin's eyes widened. "I know that! It's not a game either. I've only been here a week Maura. I've seen the way she looks at you. There's something there. You just have to make her see it."

Exasperated, Maura pushed her hands through her hair. "You don't know Jane. I can't make her see or do anything." Maura didn't understand why she was continuing this conversation. There was no point in it. If she couldn't do it with Angela, there is no reason why she should be able to with Cailin. Maybe because she wasn't as close to this as Angela was.

"Bullshit." Cailin flailed her arms, making her irritation more than known.

"Language!"

"Bullshit, Maura. Bullshit! Bullshit! Bullshit! She doesn't even treat her mother the same way she treats you. You could lead that woman around by the nose, and she would follow you gladly. I've been watching Maura. I'm far from stupid."

"Of course not. You could never be stupid with your genes—"

"Maura! That's so not the point."

"I'm aware of that as well." Maura tried to center herself and find rationality. "You're a teenager. Listening to you—"

"Got you into this mess?"

"That wasn't what I was going to say but yes." Maura answered primly.

"You were already in this mess, and messes like this come to a head sooner or later."

"How would you know? You're nineteen!" Without her knowledge, Maura moved closer, erasing the already scant distance between them.

Cailin's mouth dropped open. "Is that what you're going with? I'm too young to see the things right in front of my face?"

Maura sniffed and turned away. "This is pointless, and let me reiterate. Why do you care?"

"Because you're my sister! I was an asshole to you, and you turned around and donated an organ to me. I don't know how else to pay you back."

Maura spun around. Cailin's face was red and her eyes were glassy with unshed tears. It felt like her heart was being squeezed in her chest. "Cailin, I—"

"Just fix it, okay? I've never met people like you. I mean, my mom is well…you've met her. She's weird. Brilliant but weird. You are too, but not when Jane's around. You're you but…better."

Maura actually smiled at that.

"Can I hug you?"

Touched, Maura nodded. It was an awkward embrace but she relished it. Still, nothing had ever felt as natural as holding Jane. Maura's chest constricted with pain, but she tried to stay in the moment. "You owe me nothing, Cailin."

"I disagree, but I suppose that's what sisters do?"

"You're posing that question to me?"

Cailin laughed. "Blind leading the blind."

"I understood that colloquialism."

"Then, Maura, there is hope for you yet."

Maura closed her eyes. She didn't think so, but look where she was right now. She never thought this would happen either. Common sense encouraged her to proceed with caution.

Jane shushed Jo 's barking as the beating on her front door continued. "I'm coming for fuck sake!" She wiped at gritty eyes and disengaged the locks.

Her mother stormed through.

"You'd better be glad I forgot my key!"

Jane bristled. She wasn't prepared for this. "Ma, what do you want? I don't have time for this."

"Time? Time! You're making time." She poked a finger into her daughter's chest. "What the hell is wrong with you?"

"What?"

"Oh don't look all surprised! I saw Maura this morning."

Jane held up a finger as well. "I'm not doing this with you." She tried to sound as respectful as possible.

"Yes! You are. She looked like shit, Jane. Complete shit. What did you do?!"

Looking away, Jane mumbled.

"What?"

"I said I had to get out of there!"

"So, she spilled her guts and you just left?"

"I am not doing this."

Angela invaded her space further. "I think you forget who you're talking to. I am your mother. You may be pushing toward grey, but I'm still your mother. I might add because I know you've been thinking it I didn't mettle. She needed somebody to talk to and I was there."

Jane didn't say a word. She knew better.

"Look at me and tell me you don't have feelings."

"She's my best friend, Ma. Of course, I do." Jane pleaded.

"That's not what I mean and you know it."

"I don't know!" Jane threw her hands up. "I've been up all night trying to figure it out. There's something, but I don't know what it is!"

Angela sighed and cupped her daughter's cheeks. "Maybe that something you two have to figure out together."

Jane sighed as well. "I'm going to talk to her, but I just don't know where to start. I'm scared. I'm pissed off. I'm-" She growled in lieu of words.

"I know, baby." She pulled Jane into a hug.

Jane allowed it for several seconds before pulling back. "She's a woman, you know?"

"She is." Angela agreed.

"I'm not gay, Ma."

"That may be true, but you're sure as hell Mauracentric."

Jane glared at her mother. "Wh-what did you just say?"

"Oh, you heard me!" Angela grinned.

There was something about that word that she liked. It seeped into her and settled somewhere deep. "Yeah, well. That's not a word."

"It is for you."

It was sunny and humid. Jane took her jacket off and threw it in the car before heading to the crime scene. She swallowed, seeing Maura already bent over the body. There had been no coffee, no banter, no anything this morning. Jane missed it. She walked toward the medical examiner with Frost at her side. He noticed her subdued demeanor earlier. Jane felt his eyes but thankfully he hadn't said a word.

"What do we got?"

Maura glanced up toward her, shielding her face from the sun, but she looked away quickly. "GSW to the neck and chest. Core liver temperature puts time of death between 24-36 hours." Her words were clipped and lacked their usual warmth.

Jane grasped at straws. "Are you speculating?" It was a joke, a poor one.

Maura didn't even acknowledge it. "I'll have prelims for you soon."

Her heart spasmed. It was her bed. She made it, and she had no choice but to lie in it. Maura stood and waved over her team, shutting Jane out.

"Damn, so that's what's wrong."

Jane peered at her partner.

"You better fix that shit quick." Frost added.

She opened her mouth to speak. He was right. She couldn't let this fester. It wasn't right to do so.

He held up a hand. "I don't want to hear it. It doesn't matter just know that it's your fault and you need to fix it."

Jane's mouth snapped shut and she stared. "Fine," she growled. "Was planning on it anyway." She cringed. She was planning on trying at least, but she still had no idea where to start.

Hours later, Jane stood outside the morgue with her fingertips on the keypad. She took a deep fortifying breath and punched in the code. The door beeped, and she pushed it open. Now outside the main area, she looked through the window.

Maura appeared tired. Her posture was off. Jane noticed red rimmed eyes earlier and knew that her night had been sleepless as well. That didn't keep her from being elbow deep in some guy's chest cavity. Knowing she needed to do this now, Jane input a second code.

Maura peered up as she entered.

Their eyes met. Jane saw sadness, and for the first time in a long while, Maura refused to let her see anything else. Her throat felt dry but swallowing didn't help. Jane held her gaze for a second longer. Without a word, she walked toward Maura's office, and she could only hope that she would follow.

Jane stood just on the other side of the door. When it opened, her heart jumped to her throat. She should have stepped back, given Maura some room, but she couldn't, leaving her to lean against the door.

It was uncomfortable for all of a few seconds with them standing so close, until familiarity kicked in, but Jane found that she wanted to be closer still. Within a few seconds, it became a compulsion, and she had to literally will her body to stay. "Maura, I—" Her voice cracked with emotion.

That seemed to get Maura's attention. Green eyes stared at her in complete concentration.

Jane felt caught by the force of it, but she had to look away if only momentarily, in an attempt to gather her wits. She glanced heavenward and shook her head before returning her gaze to Maura. "I…fuck!" She was a woman of action, and it was that action that usually started a dialogue. Jane stepped closer.

Maura's eyes widened. Her lips parted.

Jane had to know if it was a fluke. She brushed Maura's lips with her own. The softness there had her going back for more. Maura moaned loudly when Jane's hand encircled her throat, holding her still and possessive nonetheless. Maura seemed to surrender then, sagging against her. Jane closed the tiny space that still existed between them, deepening the caress. She growled when nails sank into her shoulders. Heat surged through her. Her stomach clenched hard enough to leave her gasping.

It was no fluke. There was no way she could turn her back on this.

Maura was the one to end the contact this time. Needing space, she pushed at Jane's chest weakly at first then with more vehemence. She pressed the back of her hand to her mouth. Her eyes were alight with confusion and something resembling anger. "No, don't do this to me and walk away again. I—"

"Maura?" Jane reached out unable to stop touching her, grasping her hand. "How long?"

"I don't—"

"How long have you felt this way? I need to know."

Maura lifted her chin. "One year, three months and two days."

Jane released a breath she wasn't aware of holding. Anger rushed up to meet her-toward the woman standing in front of her but most of all toward herself. "Through Dean and Casey?"

Maura's gaze fell. "Yes," she whispered.

Jane slammed her hand against the door. Maura eyes jerked upward with the rest of her body in response.

"The way I talked to you about them?! Maura?!"

"I didn't stop being your friend Jane!"

"I know that! I thought at first you were using-"

"No! I could never do that!"

"I know, Maura, but all this time, I was hurting you. You just let me?"

"I didn't have a choice. We can put this behind-"

"No! We can't. Didn't you feel that? When we kissed?"

Maura's breathing went ragged. "Yes," she murmured.

"I did too," Jane murmured.

Maura's eyes filled with emotion. She let her in again. "What does this mean?"

"I don't know, but I've never felt anything like it. I fucking suck at this. You know that, but-"

"Yes?" Something twinkled in Maura's eyes.

"I've never sucked at anything concerning you."

There was a knock at the door.

"Go away!" They both yelled.

"Sorry," Criminalist Change muttered.

They looked at each other, sharing a moment of mirth.

"Everything has always been easy between us. Will it stay that way if we…" Jane exhaled noisily. "If we explore this?"

"I can't answer that…not accurately."

"I don't want to lose you."

Maura brushed her fingertips over Jane's cheek. She leaned into the caress. "Don't do this if that's your reasoning. We've been through so much, Jane. Surely even this is feasible."

"It's not the reason. I don't think this is going to fizzle out, and I don't want it to."

"Slowly?" Maura asked. Hope was etched in Maura's expression. She wrapped her arms around Jane as if it were the most natural thing in the world.

Jane nodded. "Ma was right."

"About?"

"Me being Mauracentric."

Maura bit her bottom lip as she smiled. "That isn't a—"

"Yes, it is."

THE END