A/N: Hey guys, sorry this update took so long, to be honest I was just having so much trouble with this chapter! I'm still not happy with it but I decided to just post it anyway before I went completely bonkers. Hope you like!


The next morning found Jane and Maura curled together under the warm blankets. Maura, generally being an early riser, woke first, and took a moment to enjoy the feeling of her best friend's body curled around her own, a long fingered hand pressed tight against her flat stomach. This, Maura thought, she could get used to. Waking up next to the woman she loved, safe, warm and perfectly content. For a moment, she let herself imagine. She would roll over and press a soft kiss to Jane's mouth, waking the brunette who would then respond eagerly. Then Jane would flip them, leaning over Maura as she trailed a line of kisses down her stomach. Maura sighed as she looked at the sleeping detective. That was her fantasy, what she wanted. Not what Jane wanted. Maura frowned slightly and disentangled herself from her friend. She'd feel better after a cup of coffee.


Jane awoke alone and she reached over instantly, feeling the empty space where Maura had been. The sheets were still warm, Jane noted and she rolled over to look at Maura's alarm clock. 7:30am. Seriously? 7:30am on a Sunday? That woman was crazy. Jane sighed, stretching her along body out across the whole bed, before kicking off the covers and going to find Maura.


Jane's phone was ringing. The first time it went off, Maura ignored it, thinking that whoever was calling would figure out that Jane was still asleep and call back later. But after the first call was another, and another, and when she checked the screen it read eight missed calls. All from Casey. She didn't want to wake Jane, she'd looked so peaceful sleeping, and the dark shadows under her eyes had showed that she needed to rest. But eight missed calls in an hour meant that Casey really needed to speak to Jane. Maura sighed.

"Jane Rizzoli's phone," she answered politely.

There was silence on the other end.

"Hello?" she asked.

"Maura?" came Casey's reply.

"Hello, Casey."

"Where's Jane?" Why are you answering her phone?"

"She's still sleeping," Maura replied calmly. "May I ask why you're calling so early?" Balancing the phone between her ear and shoulder, Maura poured two steaming cups of coffee.

"I was worried about her," Casey said angrily. "I woke up and she was gone. Not even a note saying she'd taken Jo for a walk. I called her and she didn't answer and I was worried."

This was the reason why she shouldn't have answered Jane's phone, Maura thought. Casey was in her apartment, and Jane was in Maura's bed. She had come to Maura for comfort, while Casey was still in her bed, and the honey blonde had no idea how to process that information.

"I'm sorry, Casey," she finally said. "I'm sure Jane didn't mean to worry you. But I assure you, she's fine."

"I want to speak to her? Where is she?"

"I told you, she's sleeping–"

Maura was cut off by a hand on her shoulder and she jumped slightly, before realizing that it was Jane. The brunette held out her hand, gesturing for the phone.

"Hold on Casey, she's just gotten up."

Jane accepted the phone calmly and turned her back to Maura as she spoke.

"Hey."

Maura turned back to the coffee, trying not to eavesdrop but failing miserably.

"Look, sorry, I just came round to check on Maura and I fell asleep."

Maura cringed slightly at the brunette's casual tone; it was an accident, it seemed, that it was Maura Jane went to for comfort. Simple convenience. And it seemed that Maura was the one who was reading too much into a perfectly ordinary situation.

"It's nothing, Casey, I woke up and came round to see her."

That word made Maura flinch. Nothing. She meant nothing to Jane, at least in relation to her own feelings. They were friends and that was all.

There was a slight queasiness in Maura's stomach and she fought the urge to retch into the sink.

"Nah," Jane was saying, "I've got clothes here. I'm gonna go to the museum with Maura. But you can come to family dinner later if you want?"

Maura listens as Jane plans and when she says goodbye to Casey, it is gentle and almost loving.

Jealousy, Maura thinks, and indignation. That's what she's feeling. She doesn't want Casey at family dinner. She doesn't want him in her house. But she doesn't know what to do about that.

"Thanks for the coffee," Jane is saying, and Maura forces herself to focus on the brunette in front of her. She finds a smile from somewhere to give to her as she takes a sip from her own.

"So," she says, "We're going to see the exhibition?"

Jane looked a little nervous.

"Well, only if you want," she says. "I mean, if you already have plans then that's cool, but if you don't…"

"I'd love to," Maura interjects, cutting off Jane's rambling. "Just let me have a shower and get ready."

Jane's smile is contagious, and Maura thinks that maybe tonight won't be so bad if Jane just keeps on smiling at her like that.


The day passed quickly but was enjoyable for both women. They viewed the exhibit slowly as a delighted Maura spoke of the artists' influences and discussed the intentions of each work with great enthusiasm. Jane, on the other hand, trailed behind her friend, making the occasional sarcastic comment in between begging for a lunch break.

They had lunch at a nearby café, a burger and fries for Jane and a salad for Maura, before heading home to where Angela was already in the kitchen working on Sunday dinner. All in all, it was a very enjoyable day, which Maura thinks she would have appreciated more fully if the idea of Casey coming to dinner hadn't been looming over her. It was immature and foolish, but she didn't want Casey in her home. She didn't want him intruding on their weekly gathering of friends and family and she didn't want him anywhere near Jane. She supposed it was jealousy mostly, as well as a possessive streak that she didn't even know she had. But whatever the cause, the fact was Maura did not want Casey Jones in her life, but if she wanted to keep Jane, she was going to have to welcome him with open arms anyway. Maura didn't think she was a particularly selfish person, but the whole situation was just so unfair. Casey had swooped in and stolen the love of her life from her without even trying, and now she had to play nice and act like it didn't even bother her, as if she was happy for them. The thought made her teeth set on edge and she found herself frowning again as she stepped into the kitchen to help Angela.