AN: I know that in Season 2 episode 12 Maura tells Jane that she love her. That indicates that she does not really have issues saying "I love you"; however it is something totally different in a romantic setting. Please ignore it for the purposes of this piece.

'The Couch' is a series of one shots. I will keep the ladies in the same universe throughout this series, but the chronology will be off. This piece is set before the first story in this series.

There is some talk about sexual fantasies, but it is not graphical at all. The information that I used in this regards were from various internet sources, not from the Cosmopolitan magazine. However I did read similar articles in it before.

Of course I don't own Rizzoli & Isles or Cosmopolitan.

I hope you enjoy.

Tell me you love me

The Medical Examiner and the detective enjoyed a rare day off. They were not even on call. After a number of horrendous and taxing cases, they were given some time off. They were in desperate need for it, they needed time to regroup and centre themselves. Besides, any time spent together was appreciated, but those days that it was only them, was really treasured.

It was pouring outside. Generally the weather was just miserable, but on the other hand it was the perfect day to lazily lounge around and do very little of anything else. Or translated in reality: the ladies were snuggled together on the couch and catching up on the magazines they never have time to read.

Maura's magazines to be more precise. Jane was pleasantly surprised to learn that it was not all scientific journals. Maura considered those to be work, she made sure to diligently work through as she receives them. Maura Isles were a scientist to the core, but there was a few – maybe a lot – of other interests as well. She subscribed to a vast variety of magazines, from home improvement to fashion magazines. There were even a few sport magazines, although Jane had trouble to accept Equestrian as a legitimate sport. Be it as it may, it was not beneath Maura to indulge in the occasional tabloid and off course she was also an avid Cosmopolitan supporter.

After some giggles with the quizzes and a few 'what the fuck's' from Jane, they curled up together and page through the pile of Cosmopolitans together. Maura found it to be a surprisingly fun activity. She never even considered it possible that two people could share a magazine at the same time. They came across an article of the 10 most common sexual fantasies for women.

Maura took the magazine and lean back from Jane. "Let us see. How would you feel about a threesome, Detective?" she asked coyly.

Jane pulled a face. "No fucking way." She snorted.

Maura giggled. "I had a threesome before."

Jane was truly shocked. She stared at Maura with her mouth open. "With men or women?" She finally asked. They agreed at the beginning of the relationship to let bygones – including old lovers and experiences – be bygones.

"Both." Maura shrugged.

"Maura!" Jane exclaimed shocked.

"It was in college, Jane. I used to be wild."

"Is it still something that you fancy?" Jane asked timidly.

Maura patted her knee. "You are all I need, Jane. I would hate to share you."

They smiled at each other and Maura moved on to the next fantasy. "Voyeurism."

"Hell, no!"

"I have to agree." Maura smirked. "Domination?"

"Being pinned with scalpels to a floor sort of ruined that for me." Jane said sarcastically.

Regret flooded Maura. She just read the next item on the list, without considering what the effect will be on Jane.

"I am sorry."

"It's okay." Jane waved it off. "I over reacted."

Maura quickly looked at the next item, but the idea of force fantasy nauseated her. She did not want to upset Jane again. She sensed that the detective had lost her amused astonishment with the magazine. Therefore the doctor set aside the magazine.

"What is your sexual fantasy, Jane?"

"I am not really the adventurous type, Mo." Jane smiled shyly.

Maura's eyes sparkled and she sat up excitedly. "Let me tell you mine. I always wanted to do it in the wild. I would love to have sex in the Serengeti, amongst the wild animals."

"Like a wild animal?" Jane grinned.

"Exactly! Sex is natural and I can't think of anywhere it could be more natural than there."

"You are a wild woman!" Jane groaned affectionately.

Maura giggled. "So will you have sex with me in the Serengeti one day?"

"Maybe." Jane smirked. "If you are really nice to me." She hesitated a bit and then added: "And if there are no elephants and bears watching."

"There are no bears in Africa, Jane." Maura corrected automatically. "What is your fantasy?"

"I told you, Maura, I am a plain Jane with you-know-what."

"There has to be something." Maura insisted. She reached forward and pulled Jane half on top of her. Jane would be more inclined on sharing if she felt safe. "What about spanking?" Maura prodded.

"Who is spanking?" Jane grinned.

"I won't be opposed to you spanking me. I trust you, Jane; more than anybody. If you prefer I can also spank you. Is that your fantasy?"

Jane shook her head. "I will play along if you want it, but I don't fancy it."

"Jane, you can tell me. I told you mine!" Maura wanted Jane to share her fantasy, she wanted to give Jane her wildest dreams.

"Maura –" Jane tried to protest.

"Jane, don't you trust me?" Maura asked sadly.

Jane groaned frustrated, nestling her face in Maura's neck. Maura kissed her temple and nudged Jane to look into her eyes.

"It is not a fantasy," Jane began hesitantly. "More like a dream."

"Yes?" Maura encouraged gently.

"It is stupid, Maura." Jane tried to get up, but Maura held her in place. "You will say I am insecure and ridiculous and it will be all weird and –"

Maura kissed the brunette to silence her. "Trust me?"

Jane sighed: "I dream that you hold me in your arms."

"Like this?" Maura asked eagerly.

"Yeah." Jane smiled. "You look me in the eyes."

Maura stretched her eyes and looked exaggeratedly in Jane's eyes. That made Jane giggled a bit, but then she became solemnly.

"And-then-you-tell-me-that-you-love-me." Jane finished in a rushed tone.

Maura laughed unbelievingly, causing Jane to hide her face. Maura immediately regretted her instinctive reaction. That is no way to reward Jane for trusting her.

"I told you it is stupid. It is just something you never said to me." Jane mumbled, still hiding her face.

"Jane, just because I don't say it, doesn't make it less true."

Jane sighed deeply. "I know – I am being silly."

"Jane, sweetheart, I am sorry. Please look at me?" Maura asked kindly.

After a long moment of hesitation, Jane obeyed. Maura gently turned her face so that they were staring in each other's eyes.

"Jane Rizzoli, I –" Maura hesitated a bit, but Jane picked up on that before she could correct herself. Jane laid her finger on Maura's lips, stopping her from speaking.

"Please don't force it, Maura, if you say it now it will be like a pity fuck." Jane said desponded.

It was the doctors turn to hide her face. She just could not understand it. It was not that she was not feeling it, it just that the words would not lay in her mouth. Both women were occupied with their own thoughts.

"Let's just go to bed." Jane said later.

She got up and went to the bathroom to perform her nightly routine. Maura joined her upstairs a few minutes later, as Jane was getting dressed in her pyjamas. When Maura came out of the bathroom the detective was already in bed, turned towards the edge. Maura got into bed as well and after some liberation, scooted over to her lover. She folded her body around Jane, thereby forming the big spoon, and placed her arm over Jane's waist. Jane intertwined their fingers. It was a small gesture, but it was enough for now.

"Do you know about the languages of love?" Maura asked quietly.

"Is it another Cosmo story?" Jane chuckled a bit.

"No." Maura was slightly offended. "The five languages of love were defined by Gary Chapman. Physical Touch, Quality Time, Acts of Service, Words of Affirmation and Receiving Gifts. Often partners have different primary languages."

"Maura, can we please forget it now and get some sleep?"

"But Jane –"

"Maura, please?"

"Okay." Maura kissed the slim neck in front of her and then started her meditation to drift off to sleep.

R&I

After that night, Jane tried to pretend that the conversation never occurred. She might even have been successful in it, but it bothered Maura. It bothered her a lot.

Maura was never one to give up easily; she would try and try again until she succeeds. She would love to practice on Jane, but Jane's disgust by comparing it to pity sex, prohibited it. Yet, Maura always had every intension to give Jane her fantasy. If Jane dreamt of hearing Maura telling her she love her, then she will tell Jane so – often. She only had to get the first time out of the way.

Maura really wished she could speak to somebody about it. Preferably her best friend, but since her best friend was also her lover, it was out of the question. It did not feel appropriate to approach Angela on the matter. So Maura turned to same person she always turned to when there was trouble between her and Jane.

"Sergeant Korsak, how do you tell somebody that you love them?" she asked when they were the last to leave the scene.

"Jane knows that you love her." Korsak may have had 20 years of experience, even if it was with three wives, but some things were just so obvious.

"She would like to hear it as well." Maura said dejectedly.

Korsak realised that she was serious and he took her hands in his own. "Don't worry about it, Doc. The more you fret, the more difficult it would be."

"It is all I can think about." Maura admitted.

"If it is really that important, maybe start by giving her compliments. Tell her why you love her and it will slip out eventually."

Maura thought about the advice for a moment. Then she excitedly threw her arms around Korsak and rushed off. That may just work.

Bestowing genuine compliments on Jane was not a hard task. She was after all a gorgeous woman, witty, caring and she had a beautiful mind. Whenever she was alone with Maura; she would tone down a bit on the sarcasm and she always trusted Maura enough to let down her defences and show her vulnerability. The more complements Jane received from her girlfriend, the more she bloomed. Words of Affirmation were truly getting the best out of Jane.

Jane was sitting on the couch, talking on the phone to her mother. As normal, this was accompanied with a lot of eye rolls and sarcastic comments. Then Jane fell silent, intently listening to something Angela was saying.

"Ma, you don't have to be alone. Would you like it if we go for brunch tomorrow?"

That invitation calmed Angela down a bit and it was not long before Jane ended the call with "Love you too, Ma." Maura hugged her from behind.

"You are the perfect daughter. Your mother really enjoys spending time with you and she treasures invitations like that from you."

Jane slipped her arms up against Maura's and then unexpectedly pulled Maura over her shoulder onto the couch. Maura landed with a squeal in Jane's lap. She shoved Jane playfully against the shoulder and then got absorbed in the beautiful, mischievous eyes that brimmed with adoration for Maura.

"I love you, Jane."