A/N Thanks for all the wonderful feedback, I hope you like this chapter. The ride has only just begun. Strap in and enjoy. I hope I can update more often as life is settling down a bit now.

They were pounding the streets for ten minutes before either spoke. They had headed towards the river then doubled back, taking a hill down to the common. Finally, when they were rounding the common for the second time, the conversation began.

'So what do I do?' Jane couldn't think of anything else to say.

'Well how do you feel, partner?' Frost was looking Jane square in the eye.

'I don't know, or well I do. But I don't get why? And on top of it all Gabriel, I mean. What am I meant to do with all this?' Jane stopped and dropped her head to her knees.

Frost continued for a moment before he realised Jane wasn't coming after so he turned and jogged back, not stopping his jog when he got there.

'Well do you want to see Gabriel?'

'I think so, I'm not sure. Things ended weirdly, after me shooting Paddy and everything. I wasn't really focused on him. And the Casey coming back, then Maura being all gay and all.' Jane stretched high and looked away from Frost.

'Well partner, if you want to go for it. What harm is it going to do? You don't have to marry the guy, Maura certainly isn't about to marry Sam. Are you finished? Cuz I'm gonna run home, I think' Frost glanced at his watch.

'Yeah, I am. I gotta go get my car. At Maura's.' Rolling her eyes, Jane started a slow jog towards the steps. 'Bye partner and thanks. Wait, where is your car?'

'Oh, I jumped on the T. There was an accident on my street and I couldn't get out. Pain in the neck'

'Sure, come on. I'll drop you off.' Jane gave Frost her best puppy dog eyes.

'Okay okay, lets go' Frost started a sprint the opposite direction, so they ran the length of the common and hung a right on Charles to get to Maura's minus the steps.

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'Thank you for lunch, Maura. I had a lovely time. I have to get going. My brother is playing tonight at Roxy.' Sam stood and headed to find her shoes.

'Oh cool, your brother is in a band?' Maura stood to and looked wide eyed at Sam.

'Yes, he is. It's pretty great actually, not that I would tell him that. I totally pretend to tolerate him but I'm a super big fan really. Hey, do you wanna come?' Sam started putting her shoes on and smiled widely.

Maura blushed slightly; she hadn't meant to invite herself along. 'Oh well, I wouldn't want to intrude on a family-'

'Maura, it's a gig. Not a family get together, starts at 7 and he's on at 8.45 so I'll pick you up at 8? I'm on an early tomorrow so designated driver. Yay.' Sam gave two thumbs up and walked over to Maura. She placed her hands on Maura's shoulders, dragged them down her arms. 'Okay?'

Maura smiled warmly. 'Okay, I'll be ready. Thank you.' Leaning forward she kissed Sam on the cheek, staying there for a moment. When she was that close seeing only brunette curls, it was like it was -. No she wouldn't let herself do that.

Sam was surprised to feel herself flush and let her hands fall and take hold of Maura's.

'I can't wait.'

And with that Sam pulled away and headed out the door. Pausing after she closed it behind her, to take a moment. Both hands went to her face and she smiled so widely as she felt her heart beat faster.

Inside Maura reached for her phone and dialled Jane.

'Hey Maur' Jane sounded relaxed and Maura could hear the TV in the background.

'Hey, are you at home? I thought you would have come back here?' Maura sat at the island and looked perplexed.

'Yeah, Frost had me do one too many sprints and I was exhausted. I didn't want to interrupt your afternoon with Sam.' Maura couldn't gage what Jane's face was doing and she didn't like it.

'You wouldn't have been interrupting. Have you decided what you will do about Agent Dean?' Maura put Jane on speaker and reached for an orange.

'Yeah, I'm gonna see him. Just to see how he is. We're all adults, one dinner doesn't mean anything. I don't have to see him after if I don't want to, ya know?' The tinny echo on the phone was making Jane's comments seem slightly whiny.

'What are you doing tonight? Do you want to come see Sam's brother perform in his band?' Maura peeled the last piece of skin from the orange and broke it apart. Popping a segment in her mouth she listened to thin air as Jane didn't respond. 'Jane?'

'Sorry Maur, actually I gotta do something tonight. So I'll have to give it a miss. Coffee before work tomorrow though?'

'Sure, shall I pick you up?'

'Yeah, why not. 6.45?'

'Great, be ready though. I hate when you leave me waiting.' Maura teased.

'I never-! I mean, it was just that one time' Jane sounded flustered and Maura smiled to herself.

'Fine, I'll call before I leave to make sure. Bye Jane'

'Have a blast later, bye Maur.'

Maura disconnected and looked at her phone. You are a funny one, detective she thought.

'Now' Maura stood and looked at Bass. 'What does one wear to 'The Roxy'

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Maura felt someone slam her against the bar for the third time, and as she felt her ribs crunch slightly she decided enough was enough. As she turned to give the offender a piece of her mind Sam appeared.

'Do you mind? Give the lady some space' Not exactly what Maura was planning to say but effective as the man rolled his eyes and walked to another side of the bar.

'Are you enjoying yourself? I know it's loud and crazy, but I swear Paul is worth it' Sam was holding one of Maura's hands and looked at her mock pleading. Maura winked and turned back to the bar.

'I am, I just would really like a drink.' Waving her hand she finally got the attention of the bar tender. 'Two blue moons please and a coke'

'Two? Really? Is Jane coming?' Sam looked around, was Jane about to appear. To her disappointment there was no sign of Jane.

'No she had plans. It's a shame because she'd love this. She loves this kind of music. I didn't fancy trying to get served again tonight. Two is my limit, as I am working tomorrow also' Paying the bartender she handed the coke to Sam and grabbed her beer. 'Where are we sitting?'

Sam took Maura's elbow and guided her through the crowd. 'Let's go find my brother'

An hour later and Sam's brothers set was in full swing. Maura decided she really did enjoy the soft rock, and her hand had snuck around Sam's waist. Sam had moved closer and Maura was close enough to speak without raising her voice. 'Your brother is very charismatic on the stage, does that run in the family?'

Sam had to turn and lean close to Maura to reply 'He is the performer of the family yes, if you put me up there you would have something akin to a deer in headlights.' She shrugged. 'It's not what I want to do with my life so I've never thought too much about it though'

'I don't know about that, you seem very charismatic at work' Maura searched Sam's eyes. All she could see was sincerity and lust. The music seemed louder now, it was pulsating through her and she felt lost in the moment.

'Yeah, I love what I do' It was a whisper and Maura's breath caught. Sam leaned and Maura followed. Their lip met softly and Sam hummed slightly. It was magical.

Maura ducked her head slightly, blushing. Sam put a hand under her chin, and looked into her eyes. 'You're gonna break my heart, aren't you Dr Isles.'

Maura closed her eyes and spoke before their lips met again. 'I hope not, I really hope not'

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Maura rolled her eyes for the umpteenth time since she had awoke that morning, her reason now was Jane leaving her waiting. Technically she had been five minutes early and she had been lucky enough to pull into a space outside her best friends home but she was still slightly annoyed. Flinging open the door, she swung her legs out and stalked up to Jane's apartment, letting herself in.

'Jane Clementine Rizz-' Mid eye roll she didn't see Jane round the corner and stopped just short of slamming into her, leaving them millimetres apart. Maura swayed in her shoes and Jane caught her round the middle.

'I should have just let you fall, since you busted out the Clementine Maur. Lucky for you, saving you is instinctual.' Jane winked, and let her go. Picking up her standard issue weapon and badge, Jane sauntered out the door ahead of Maura, leaving Maura to shut and lock the door.

In the car Jane flicked on the radio, searching for the news station. Maura looked at her bemused for a moment.

'Man, last night was crazy. Well not going out to a gig on a school night crazy but well hmm some kind of crazy. I was catching up on the paperwork from the Sanderson case and in the background i heard this crazy news story. Something about frogs getting loose in Chinatown, you know I never eat there so for me it was like watching a nature show, as reporter after reporter reported live from there. I was too exhausted to stay up to hear where they came from and all that.' Jane turned her attention to the news channel which was currently discussing some vandalism on the banks of the Charles.

'Yes, that does sound crazy. Almost as crazy as me going to a gig on a school night. You should have came, I think Sam was surprised you didnt. She asked where you were' Maura smiled as she pulled into the parking garage.

'She did? I thought you two were on a date?' Jane raised her eyebrows in a question.

'Well, it was her brothers band playing. It was more a night out with friends. You both get on so well, next time you should come her brother is really good, and I think you would really enjoy his music.'

They were walking to Boston Joes now, Maura was holding Jane by the elbow and smiling as she shared the events of the previous evening.

'So what does this mean, Maura? About you and Sam, are you together?' Jane gazed at Maura, her expression unreadable, as they sat down with their coffees and croissants.

'We have yet to have that sort of conversation, and I don't work as quickly as you Detective Rizzoli so maybe not just yet. I'm keeping my options open.' Maura sat back in her chair and held her coffee in both hands. 'So when are you seeing Dean?'

'I think at the weekend, depending on if I'm on call I guess. I was thinking I'm not on call definitely on Friday but-' Jane petered off not wanting to finish.

'But it's movie night? Jane I hope you are not using that as an excuse, we are grown women. As much as I love, and I do love our nights together, it is important that we spend time with other people, or else we'll end up alone. Or with each other, like that show your mom like 'The Golden Girls'

'Sometimes I think I wouldn't have a problem with that' Jane swirled the remnants of her coffee and downed it.

'Oh Jane, as much as I would also enjoy moving to Florida with you, your mother and a sexually promiscuous friend that we do not have you deserve happiness. You deserve a man who loves you, children that will cherish you and friday night movie nights with me are not going to give you that' Maura was impassioned now. Her Jane, she never wanted her to be unhappy. She figured if she couldn't make her happy, she would help find someone who could. She was holding Jane's hand tightly now, have abandoned her coffee.

'Oh Maur-' Jane's breath hitched and she shook her head. Composing herself she spoke again 'I do not deserve you. I want the same for you, but I just, I don't want you to feel like I'm being that sort of girl. Abandoning her friends as soon as a man appears.'

'Jane you could never be that girl'

'But Casey-'

'Casey was an experience, we all have that one bad experience. He's gone now, and Dean is back. Maybe he's not the one either but you never know. I trust that you'll still be my best friend and be there when I need you, as I will you. This is life and we must live it to its fullest.'

Jane sighed as she thought I wish I could be brave enough to live it to its fullest.

'Okay, enough of this. Lets get going' Jane stood and Maura followed. As they exited Maura took Jane's arm again and leaned close.

'I love you Jane very much, please don't forget that'

Jane squeezed the hand that was on her arm and rested her head on Maura's as she walked. 'I know, ya big goof ball. And I love you'

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Friday had come around all too quickly and that meant Jane's date. Jane heard the door and panicked 'Crap, why are people always early. Don't they know me at all' Jane smeared some nude lipstick on and ran to the door.

'You're early' Jane tried to give Gabriel her best angry face.

'And you look amazing. Even when you are trying to be angry' Gabriel handed Jane some flowers and gave her a kiss on the cheek.

'Let's go' Jane went and put the flowers in the sink and grabbed her coat.

'You're the boss'

Thirty minutes later and they were sitting in Jane's favourite seafood restaurant.

'How did you know I liked this place?' Jane looked around and back at Gabriel smiling.

'I remember you mentioned it last time I was in town, before I almost caused a break up worse than Ben and Jerry'

'Wait Ben and Jerry broke up?' Jane looked at Gabriel incredulously, and then started laughing.

'Not that I know of but that would be a break up of epic proportions and you and Maura could be considered as catastrophic'

Jane smiled genuinely, Gabriel seemed highly aware of the damage that day had done. And he wasn't shirking his responsibility, maybe he could stick around.

'I'm glad you're aware of the situation'

'Speaking of the wonderful Dr Isles how is she? It was a pretty rough time for her.' Gabriel took a drink of his red wine, swirling the contents both before and after.

'She's doing well, you know Maura. We should be at our movie night tonight actually. You're only back a day and you're already getting in between us' Jane winked as she nodded her thanks to the waiter as he placed their chowder between them.

'Jane, you should have said you had plans' He looked genuinely dismayed.

'It's okay I was joking, I mean its Friday night. I think having actual dates with someone that isn't your best friend on a Friday at age 38 is acceptable. And she's on a date too so its fine.'

Gabriel nodded as they set about devouring the chowder. He loved spending time with Jane, especially going out for dinner. She wasn't self-conscious and that made everything more comfortable.

The night went quickly as they caught up on one another's lives and soon it was time to go home. Gabriel insisted on walking Jane to her door, and left after giving her a chaste kiss on the cheek. Jane wasn't sure how she should feel, given the fact that they were no strangers to being a little less chaste with one another. She decided to go with happy, he was being respectful and after the Casey debacle she was happy with respectful. Stripping off she fell into bed in her underwear, exhausted and was asleep in minutes.

Jane pushed up to kiss the neck of the blonde on top of her. She was pushed back down as the blonde slid down and crashed their lips together. She shook as those lips travelled down her body taking ownership of her nipples one at a time, nipping and biting until Jane could take no more and pleaded for release. The soft mouth travelled further and Jane gasped as it explored her core, fingers joined the mouth and were inside her. Within minutes she was flying as she watched the blondes head bob between her legs.

Jane awoke with a start. 'Maura' she whispered as she felt her eyes release tears she didn't know where there. Lying back she slid a hand between her legs and knew she was close.

'Oh god Maura' Jane sobbed as she pushed her own body towards release.