Another chapter! I know, right? The writers block has well and truly gone. And good riddance! :-D Okay, so... it turns out I had more to say than I originally thought. So while I could end it here, I also think I could add another chapter. Let me know, k?

On to the story!

R&IR&IR&I

CHAP THREE

2:15. It was only 2:15pm. Jane flung herself backwards on her computer chair and groaned loudly. How was it possible that the day was going so unbelievably, so unbearably slowly? She pressed deeply onto her closed eyelids until it hurt, then let her hands flop down by her side, sitting up and blinking around owlishly as her vision cleared.

Good God, she hated doing paperwork. And doing paperwork on a day when she was awaiting Maura's return? Positively torture. She glared at the stack of paperwork in question before proceeding to resolutely ignore it, choosing instead to stare at a clock that, despite her heartfelt death threats, wishes and, dare she say it, prayers, refused to tick time by any quicker.

She was desperate to see Maura. She missed her. And, despite Maura's reassurances last night, Jane was still worried that things would be strange between them. It made sense that it would be, didn't it? To go from a friendship to more... Jane could remember a time when she and a schoolmate went from being friends to trying to pursue a relationship. "Billy..." she whispered, and smiled softly. He was handsome for a young lad of only 12 tender years... his eyes were wide set and the deepest brown imaginable. His skin was olive toned and no blemishes marred it as far as she could see. But his hair... his hair was the real kicker for a young, besotted Jane Rizzoli. It was a bright, startling blonde, long and wavy. It should have looked strange on such an obviously Italian child, but somehow it didn't, somehow it suited him like no other hair colour possibly could. Jane and Billy were friends from the ages of just-barely-7 and 6-almost-7 respectively, but when they began approaching the tumultuous teenage years, those feelings of friendship began to change into something else... something sweet, mysterious, and deeply alluring to two youngsters who were only just beginning to discover what their bodies were for. They shared a secret kiss on Billy's 12th birthday, but by the time Jane was officially 12 and a half, only a short three months later, their budding relationship had soured. They had begun to feel awkward around each other; the easy casual vibe of their friendship squashed because of their hormones. Regretfully, and with no small amount of sadness, they decided that the first relationship of their young lives should end, but both vowed to remain friends.

"We never did..." Jane whispered, and stared at a photo of Maura that she had taped to the desk under her keyboard. It was actually a photo of the both of them, hugging each other after the Boston Marathon. Angela had taken it when she thought neither was looking but Jane had caught her, bitched her out and proceeded to confiscate the photos. Most of the pictures from that day had been deleted with haste but the one of the two of them... Jane kept that one.

"She'll be back soon."

Jane jumped and let her keyboard fall back on the desk with a loud clatter, spinning around to face her brother. "What?"

"Maura. I said she'll be back soon."

"How'd you know I was..." Jane shook her head, "I mean, yeah, and?"

"And, you miss her," Frankie replied, pulling an unused computer chair over and straddling it. "You were looking at that damn picture. You only look at that when you miss her."

Jane schooled her expression into a picture of blank incomprehension. "What picture?"

Frankie laughed. "You don't keep secrets as well as you think you do. Or at least, you don't keep your own secrets well anyway. I've known about that picture ever since you put it there."

Jane frowned, crossing her arms over her chest. "Liar."

"Fine. I've known about it since maybe..." he paused, considering, "a week after you put it there. But still. I knew where you hid your diary as a kid too."

Jane's mouth fell open. "You did not!"

"Yep. Tucked into a pillowcase that was filled up with face washers and stuff, then thrown under your bed. You kept the key taped to the inside of your sock drawer."

"You little..." She raised a hand threateningly but he lifted his hands in surrender.

"Hey, you should be thanking me. Do you know how many times Ma tried to wash that pillowcase and those washcloths? I rescued them each time."

Jane grunted. "Hmm. But of course you didn't read my diary... right?"

Frankie shrugged, folding his arms once more. "I'm your little brother. It was practically my responsibility."

Jane let out a frustrated groan and turned back to her computer, hitting random keys in an attempt to look busy.

"Hmm. Well, big sis, gotta say that you've got a great report happening there," Frankie said, leaning over her shoulder. "Quick question though... 'Teryignhaop'? What is that?"

"Nothing..." Jane hit the backspace button with excessive force.

"Oh. Okay. Gee, you know what, I bet Maura would know," Frankie added slyly. "Or, you know, she'd say 'maybe you meant to say..." he shrugged, his eyes wandering as he seemed to search for a lengthy enough word, his eyes, sparkling with mischief, finally landing back on Jane's, "terignophobia. Which is a fear of, you know... terig-nobs."

Jane couldn't help herself, she started laughing. "Terignobs? Really? You're a dork."

Frankie smiled and nodded. "Yeah, maybe so. But c'mon..." he punched her lightly in the shoulder, "what's going on?"

"Nothing."

"Jane," he countered, looking at her seriously now and Jane felt the smile drop off her face as she studied him in return. He was her little brother after all... family... and while he was a pain in the butt at times, he was also a damn good kid.

"Come with me," she said quickly, and stood up, heading into the break room. She didn't look behind her to check if Frankie was following: she knew he would.

Thankfully the room was empty when Jane arrived. She didn't know what she would have done if there were people in here. Pitched a fit, maybe. Nothing felt outside the realms of possibility today, not when her nerves were as stretched and tenuous as they were. She waited until Frankie sat down before closing the door, hesitating briefly then dragging a chair over to place in front of it. At least that way, she figured, if someone tried to come in they'd have some prior warning.

"What's up?" Frankie asked placidly, and Jane started pacing, feeling Frankie's eyes following her movements. She paced back and forth across the room for several long moments before speaking. She could only get five paces in before needing to turn, four if she really rushed, but she made them all count, whirling at the last possible minute and starting the count again.

Finally... "Do you remember Billy?"

"Billy?" Frankie asked, his brow furrowing. "The kid you were friends with for a few years since you were like 8 or 9?"

"I was younger than that, but yeah."

"Yeah," Frankie said, nodding slowly, "I remember him... why?"

"Okay, well... I don't know if you know this, but when we were 12, we started dating for a while." Frankie raised an eyebrow. Jane rolled her eyes. "We were 12!" she exclaimed, then heaved a sigh, clarifying, "We kissed and held hands."

"Right. Yeah, I remember."

"It, uh... it didn't last long. Things got weird between us."

"Weird?"

"Yeah." Jane shrugged. "Like... we didn't know what to talk about anymore."

Frankie shrugged. "Sometimes that happens."

"Yeah, well... we promised each other we'd stay friends, but..." Jane took a deep breath and let it out slowly, finally going over to the table and sitting down, "we never did. I lost him as a friend and it... it was really upsetting at the time."

"Okay..." Frankie said slowly, "but you know, you were just a kid. That sort of thing... it happens. Even as adults, it happens."

"Yeah. I know, but..." Jane found herself standing up again, her entire body seeming to be thrumming with energy that was impossible to contain, "it got me thinking."

"Oka-a-ay..." Frankie's eyes watched her movements cautiously.

"And... okay. Um... you remember Troy? I was 15, he was 16..." She waited for Frankie's nod before continuing. "We were friends for a couple of months, then we went out on two dates. It felt weird to be dating, so we decided to stay friends."

"Right..." Frankie said, when Jane stopped and stared at him, making it clear she was waiting for him to say something.

"We didn't stay friends, Frankie! We tried, but it got too..."

"Weird. Yeah. I get it."

"Okay, then..." Jane started pacing once more, "what about Sam Michaels?"

"That guy you met at the police academy?"

"Yeah!" Jane gestured emphatically, feeling her voice getting more high pitched in her increasing hysteria, "Friends, tried dating, didn't work, back to friends, but oh no, I'm sorry, that just won't work anymore!"

"Jane, I don't..." Frankie started but stopped abruptly when Jane stopped in front of him and poked him in the chest.

"Casey."

"Ow! And... what about Casey?"

"We were friends. Then we tried dating. Then he asked me to marry him, I turned him down, we decided to break it off but oh no, wait, I'm pregnant with his kid. Last time we talked, it was just..." she shook her head and slowly sunk down in her chair again. She propped her elbows up on the table and let her head fall into her hands wearily, "weird."

"Jane..."

"Do you think it happens all the time?"

Frankie frowned. "What do you mean?"

"Do you think that... that, that going from friends to more thing... d'ya think that... it always leads to weirdness? That the entire friendship will end up breaking up because they... y'know, tried to pursue something more?"

"No-o-o..." Frankie began slowly, but Jane interrupted, her mind racing.

"I mean, like... maybe friendship is all we're supposed to have. Maybe to ask for anything more is asking, y'know, the universe or God or whatever for too much. Maybe... maybe we should all just be grateful for what we've got and..."

"And... what? And risk missing out on something that could be truly spectacular?" Frankie broke in, grabbing Jane's hands. "Janey, the best relationships can come from friendships. If you don't try... you'll never know."

"Yeah, because we both have the best track records when it comes to relationships," Jane scoffed, shaking her head. "God, the whole family! Mum, divorced, single but who knows with Cavanaugh, Tommy is... well, Tommy. You... single, had a girlfriend that tried to kill us both, me, pregnant and single, and Pop! God only knows."

"Yeah, he's living it up with some skinny little blonde chick probably."

Jane huffed out a laugh. "Yeah. Probably. They're always blonde, right?"

"Right..." He shook his head and smiled fondly at Jane. "Look, Jane... I mean it. You have to give it a go. The best relationships..."

"...come from friendships, I know, I just... I..." Jane looked up at him, only slightly surprised to feel a tear rolling down her cheek, "I can't lose her Frankie. I can't. What if we... we do this... and I end up losing her? I... I..."

Frankie squeezed her hands tightly. "Hey, since when is Jane Rizzoli ever scared of anything, huh? Maura loves you, Jane. You love her. You guys have got something that most people only dream of. I know it's scary, but you need to pursue this. You once said to me..." he said softly, waiting until Jane raised her gaze to meet his, "that you hoped that when you die, you wouldn't have any regrets. This, Jane... I can guarantee you that this will be one of your regrets if you don't pursue it."

"What if..." her gaze skittered away before coming back to his hesitantly, "it becomes one of my regrets because I did pursue it?"

He shrugged and leaned back. "Well... at least you'll have some awesome memories."

Jane let out a soft laugh and looked down at the table, using one of her newly released hands to discreetly wipe her eyes. "By the way," she asked, "how'd you know I was talking about Maura?"

Frankie grinned. "I'll say it again... you don't keep secrets as well as you think you do."

Jane shook her head and reached out, punching him hard on the arm. "Ha. Well... thanks, little brother."

"Ow! You're not welcome, you big bully..." he muttered, rubbing his arm, but smiled at her anyway. She smiled back, but got suspicious when his smile didn't fade.

"What?"

"I was just wondering when you were going to go back out to your desk."

Jane frowned. "Why?" she asked slowly.

Frankie shrugged. "I don't know. There might be someone waiting for you, that's all."

Jane's mouth dropped open and her eyes darted to the clock on the wall. "No, but... it's only 2:48! She said approximately 3!"

Frankie shrugged. "Hey, it's 12 minutes to 3. I think that counts as approximately 3. Don't you?"

"I..." Jane trailed off and stood up, kicking the chair back with such force that it almost fell over before heading for the door. She pulled the chair out of the way and then hesitated.

"Jane..." He said softly, encouragingly

She looked at him. "Make some good memories, yeah?"

He smiled. "No regrets."

Jane nodded and opened the door, striding purposefully down the hallway, back to her desk, stopping abruptly in the doorway as she took in the sight of Maura sitting in her chair, honey blonde curls cascading over the back of it, chatting to Korsak enthusiastically. He glanced over towards her, then turned his gaze back to Maura and gave a significant nod in Jane's direction. Maura turned.

Jane felt her breath catch in her throat. How could one person look so beautiful?

"Go on..." she felt a prod in her back and slowly, feeling as though her feet were lead, started walking closer, watching as Maura's face lit up and she stood up.

"Hi," Jane whispered.

"Hi," Maura smiled.

Mindful of the room full of cops, Jane pulled Maura into a hug. "Welcome home."

"Glad to be here," Maura replied, then, tucking her face more firmly into Jane's neck, she added, "with you."

When the two women finally separated but still held hands, Korsak smiled at them. "Dirty Robber tonight?"

"Yeah," Maura nodded, looking at Jane. "Yeah. I think I'd like that."

"I think I'd like that a lot," added Jane, then glanced over as Frankie clapped a hand on her shoulder. "Time to make some more good memories."

"Sounds good to me," Maura smiled.

"Me too Maura. Me too."

END CHAP THREE.

Like I said, I could end this here... it might be a nice ending spot. Or I could add one more chapter. I'm of two minds about it, so let me know what you think please. Do you want more, or will it be pushing it a bit?

Love to all! xo