AN: don't own a thing, just playing. Again I'm sorry if this is a little short but writers block hit me pretty hard! That and unadulterated laziness.
"Isn't that what this holiday is all about? Giving? Helping? Trust me I'll figure something out."
Frost and Korsak shared a look of concern, "But what if you can't?"
Maura smiled, waved her hand, "I have enough wine to intoxicate an elephant. I'll work it out"
"Didn't we already do this Maura?" Jane curled her legs underneath herself on the sofa.
"Jane we do this at least once a week, here" passing over a glass of wine the doctor sat herself down next to her friend.
"That wasn't what I meant and you know it, last night? Don't you remember, I freaked out yesterday and you brought me home. We talked, we drank, I went home then defied the laws of space and time." Putting a hand to her own brow and shaking her head. "There is something seriously wrong here."
Maura placed a reassuring hand on Jane's thigh. "I can't even pretend to know what's going on, but here is what I do know. You are my friend, you are healthy and you are here. And I'm grateful for all three of those."
Jane tried to hide her smile but broke, she bumped Maura by way of thanks. "I suppose you won't remember the conversation we had about presents then."
Maura's face lit up brighter than ever before, "you got me a present? I spent hours online looking for gifts for your family, I really hope they like them." Her brightness dimming a little at the remote prospect her gifts wouldn't be 'enough'.
"Hey don't pull that face, Ma keeps pulling the same one about tomorrow. You are coming right?" She groaned as the blank on Maura's face was placed with mild shock. "I guess that was something I tried to tell you 'last' Christmas Eve. Lets try it again, Maura would you like to spend Christmas with my family?" Jane barely had seconds to still her glass as Maura threw herself at her, "That's a yes then!"
Maura regained her composure sitting back. "I have never been more excited for Christmas! I feel like a child again. It'll be so nice to see your parents and Frankie open their gifts."
"Can't help but notice Maur you didn't mention me there,"
"About that, of course I have a present for you, but I can't take it to your mother's house," Jane raised her eyebrow, her face a lot more relaxed and even playful. "No guessing Jane! It's not fair if I can't lie about it!"
"What could you have possibly lined up that you can't bring to my mother's house?"
Maura rose from the couch to find more wine in the kitchen, "I'm warning you Jane!" Jane merely followed at a leisurely pace,
"Is it a car? Of course not, hmm what about a pony?" Maura's laughter was reassuring, she was almost beginning to come to terms with it all.
Following into the kitchen she leaned on the counter as her friend poured more of the comforting wine. Maura turned and handed a glass to her with a beaming smile, her eyes kept darting above Jane's head. She groaned when she saw what was there. "Dr Maura Isles, why, why is there mistletoe in your kitchen?" Maura's eyes danced with mischief,
"Why not? It's festive." Jane saw through the explanation, "what's wrong with it?"
"What's wrong? You're my best friend and that is mistletoe! It would be weird." Maura was not put off,
"While that is the case, you do know its bad luck if we don't." Jane's shoulders slumped in defeat, which truth be told hadn't taken much. Besides she had been caught under the mistletoe by much, much worse.
Maura stepped forward emboldened by the wine, she lifted her chin, then their lips met. Before either could register the moment they broke apart.
"Still weird?" Jane stood still, silent. Her mind should have been racing, she should be protesting, she should be repulsed. At least that's what she expected to happen, but nothing. At least nothing bad. "You do know that no good scientist would rely on one result to substantiate their hypothesis."
Jane's voice cracked a little, "meaning?"
Maura smiled with a look Jane had never seen, "conclusions can only be drawn from repeated testing," Maura moved closer to Jane, a gleam in her eye. However she let out an involuntary squeak when Jane met her half way. Both of them temporarily lost, minds this time racing taking in the new information. When they parted, each was struck with a childish grin. Maura rested her head on Jane's chest, expecting to hear her heart hammering at her ribs. But a slow steady beat eased her mind. Jane placed her glass on the counter before reaching both arms around her holding her there.
"Do you know what is weird?" Jane looked down at Maura, "How 'not weird' this is." She placed a chaste kiss on the top of the blonde's head. "See?" Maura giggled into Jane's shirt but a deft hand brought her chin back up. "Tell me you planned that,"
"Can't we just blame it on Christmas?" Maura's eyes were wistful, carefully hiding the fear that their moment was nothing more than just that.
"No Maura we can't. Blaming it on Christmas would emply that as soon as the holiday is over, so is this."
"You just gestured to all of us,"
Jane merely smiled, at least alleviating some of the fear. "Have you ever just wanted something, and not known what that 'something' was?" Maura put her head back to Jane's chest while the taller rested her chin atop her head. "I have felt like that for the longest time. Feeling like there was something I wanted, needed, but getting frustrated that I couldn't figure it out. And right here, right now, I'm almost certain I've found it."
Maura lifted her head so that their eyes could meet again, Jane's face was set but her eyes sincere,
"I used to feel like that, but then I met you. And even if we go to sleep and wake up on Christmas Eve, again, not one part of that will change." Their lips met in an effort to cement their sentiment. Everything conveyed in such a simple notion.
"So..." The blonde looked up to see a smiling face, "Did you get me a motorbike?" Jane burst out into a fit of laughter when Maura tried to bat at her, she tightened her grip bringing them impossibly close. "I'm sure I'll love it, but I don't see why I can't open it with everyone else."
Burying her face further into Jane's shirt she thanked her shorter stature to hide her blush. "Just trust me, it's better if you don't." She gave Jane a quick squeeze before letting her go to return to their wine.
Jane wiggled her eyebrows, "Well then, could I open it now? You know the Germans open their presents on Christmas Eve,"
"You are incorrigible!" Maura was returning to the living room shortly followed by Jane, as they returned to their previous spots.
Maura leaned into Jane who happily lifted her arm allowing them to snuggle even closer. "You're serious about what you said, you know if it is truly possible to contort time and space to reduce me to a ranting idiot."
"Only if you have enough wits about you to come straight to me and say something."
"What like, 'morning, Maura, could I possibly interest you in a scintillating game of tonsil hockey?" She cried out when a hand slapped her thigh, jumping off the sofa she continued, "what about, 'Dr Isles may I offer you a motorboat after this morning's briefing?" She ran from Maura trying to think of another while dodging the playful beats.
"You know that isn't what I meant Jane!" She swung an arm out to try and get her again, only to have Jane grab her wrist and wrap it around her. The detective pulled her close and lowered her head to Maura's ear,
"What if I just came up behind you like this, and then," peppering kisses along the exposed skin.
"And then, I would find it very hard to remain professional detective,"