A/N: Thank you all for the kind words and I appreciate everyone who's reading!
I'm quiet you know. You make a first impression. I've found I'm scared to know I'm always on your mind.
"Jane…" Maura said, gently shaking Jane's shoulder. They were lying on the couch, limbs entangled. They fell asleep together shortly after their confessions to one another that morning and now it was creeping towards 4 o'clock.
Jane was holding Maura close to her, a faint smile on her lips and warmth radiating from her entire body. Maura loathed leaving her side, but her hunger pains were increasing with a vengeance. She needed food, and then she and Jane needed to have a more serious talk about their relationship, if that's where this thing is headed.
"Maura…" Jane groaned, pushing Maura's hand away and burying her face deeper into the couch cushions. A smile played on Maura's lips as she leaned in toward Jane. "Five more minutes," Jane murmured.
Not on my watch. Maura thought. She brushed Jane's hair away from her neck and pressed a light kiss right below Jane's ear. "Wake up," Maura whispered into Jane's ear, biting her earlobe gently.
"Mmm..." Jane hummed, stirring from her sleep. She opened her eyes lazily to see Maura sitting on the edge of the couch where she was laying. Maura was perched precariously, sitting almost sideways so she could lean over Jane; her hair was slightly mused from sleep and her face was clear of makeup. Jane had never seen her so beautiful. Her heart fluttered at the way Maura was looking at her. Jane sat up and stretched before reaching out to Maura. She placed her hands on Maura's waist before tugging gently, situating her so she was straddled against Jane's lap. "Come here," Jane rasped.
Maura leaned in and met Jane's lips with hers. Jane was humming against Maura's lips and when their tongues tangled together in a frenzy of emotion, it was Maura who moaned. Maura rolled her hips lightly into Jane's as she tangled her fingers into raven colored locks. When Maura lifted her hips away from Jane's slightly, Jane pulled her back down hard, causing them to both to cry out in pleasure. Just when Jane was about to busy her hands beneath Maura's shirt, she felt Maura's stomach growl in hunger. Jane laughed against Maura's lips.
"Are you hungry?" Jane whispered.
Maura quirked her eyebrow suggestively at Jane. "You bet," she replied, moving her hands down Jane's body before her stomach gurgled again. Jane laughed out loud this time.
"For real food, Maur," Jane clarified. "You're starving! Let's get something to eat." Maura fixed her mouth into a pout.
"My stomach insists on crotchblocking us!" she said, still frowning. Jane laughed again, kissing Maura's forehead.
"You're the dumbest genius I know," Jane said teasingly.
"So you've said," Maura replied, losing her frown and replacing it with a wink. Grudgingly, Maura removed herself from Jane, then offered Jane her hand. Jane took it and pulled herself up, but instead of letting go, she interlocked their fingers before walking towards Maura's kitchen.
"What are you hungry for?" Maura asked, opening her fridge. Jane winced at all the vegetables and the leafy greens Maura seemed to love so much. It wasn't that Jane really hated vegetables, but she didn't find them particularly filling or satisfying. And she loved irritating Maura just a little bit. "Jane, I promise vegetables won't kill you," Maura teased, noticing Jane's reaction.
"Don't you have anything… Less green?" Jane whined. "Oh, I know!" she exclaimed. "What about alfredo!"
"Actually, alfredo sauce has a very high fat content due to all the cheese and-" Maura tried to dispute, but Jane cut her off.
"Oh my God, Maura, we haven't eaten all day, a little fat won't kill us!" Despite their little quarrel, their hands remained intertwined and their eyes were sparked with affection.
"Alright, fine," Maura surrendered, dislodging her hand from Jane's to grab a box of pasta from the cupboard. Jane smiled triumphantly and grabbed some cream from Maura's fridge to start the sauce.
The two moved effortlessly around the kitchen in comfortable silence, stirring noodles and sauce, chopping vegetables for salad. The only difference between this night and any other was the way they didn't brush off their touches as accidental. Hands lingered on lower backs, bodies brushed against one another without apology. It felt different and liberating and lovely.
"Jane," Maura said, breaking their silence.
"Hm?" Jane asked, not looking up from the sauce she was stirring.
"What are we doing?" Maura asked, a knot tightening in her stomach.
"We're making pasta and alfredo sauce," Jane smirked at Maura. Maura rolled her eyes, but smiled good naturedly.
"I know that, Detective Smartypants," Maura said, trying to keep the mood light as she continued. "I mean with… Us. What are we doing?"
Jane dropped the spoon she was using to stir the sauce with a clang. She picked up the spoon clumsily before turning around to face Maura. "What do you mean? I thought it was pretty clear what we were doing?" Her palms were sweating from nerves as she struggled to look Maura eyes.
"I mean, what happens tomorrow at work? Are you going to kiss me goodbye at the elevator? Are we going to tell your family and our co-workers? I just want to know where this is going because I can't lose your friendship, Jane."
Jane took a deep breath and pinched the bridge of her nose and Maura winced visibly. She knew that Jane pinching her nose was a sign of stress or frustration and she hated being the cause of it.
"I don't know exactly what's going to happen, okay? There are a few things I do know, though. First of all, I love you. I'm in love with you. Second of all, if you're okay with it I'd like to shout it from the rooftops that you're mine. I've wasted years of my life trying to avoid my feelings out of fear. And now that I know you feel the same as I do, I want to make up for the lost time. I've never done anything like this. But this is different. This is you," Jane was being so honest and open it made Maura's eyes fill with tears. This was the Jane that Maura loved so deeply. As much as she loved the brash detective that was strong and unwavering, the Jane underneath who was sweet and loving and honest made Maura's knees weak. "As long as you want this too, Maura, I'm all in."
Maura turned back toward the counter to set down the knife she was holding before crossing her kitchen and wrapping her arms around Jane. Maura found Jane's lips with her own. The kiss was soft but passionate and full of love and longing and warmth. "I love you," Maura whispered against Jane's lips, wrapping her legs around Jane's hips. Jane held Maura up with her strong arms, never breaking contact. Jane turned with surprising ease and flicked the stove off before walking purposefully toward the stairs. Any thoughts of food were long forgotten as the two made their way up to Maura's room. They fell into bed together where Jane showed Maura just how much she meant every loving word.