Here it is, the final chapter, but not the end of the story...there's an Epilogue to follow. I hope you enjoy it...let's crack on shall we?

Chapter 7

"Jane, honey, are you going to be long in there?" Maura said impatiently through the bathroom door. She checked her watch - six forty five - they were going to be late if Jane didn't get a move on.

"Won't be a minute!" Jane called back, sounding a little flustered. Maura was intrigued, Jane had been acting oddly since she'd got home.

"What are you doing in there anyway?" she asked. Jane had already been in there for what seemed like hours, though in fact it had only been about one.

"We're going to be late." she said, as she checked her purse for about the fifth time - she didn't want anything to be forgotten, not tonight of all nights.

Just as she was about to bellow at Jane again, she heard the bathroom door open. Turning around as she closed her purse she looked up and caught sight of Jane 'adjusting' her underwear...and Maura's eyes almost popped out of her head.

"I just need to put my dress on and I'm done...can you help me with the zipper Maur?" she asked, seemingly oblivious to the effect she was having on Maura.

"Uh...yes..." she stammered, the glorious sight of Jane Rizzoli in her underwear never failed to make her mouth go dry and her heart skip a beat.

"But we'd better hurry this up, we're going to be beyond late..." she said as Jane slipped the dress on. Maura moved Jane's hair out of the way and slid the zipper up slowly so as not to get it caught on it's way up. Jane turned around and stood in front of Maura, smoothing her dress. She looked breathtaking.

"Thanks Maur...I'm sorry I took so long, I just wanted to look extra nice for you... I didn't get a chance to wax so I had to shave my legs, but then I had to moisturize... and then I thought that I might need a trim...you know, down there..." she said nodding her head to indicate exactly where. "And then I thought that I ought to do my eyebrows while I'm at it...I just wish I'd been more organised, but this week seems to have been crazy busy...sorry I kept you waiting...you ready to go?" she asked, finally noticing that Maura was eying her up and down, with that look in her eyes..."Do I look okay?" she asked innocently, knowing full well that Maura was loving what she was seeing...Jane still loved to fish for compliments once in a while.

"You look beautiful my darling, just like you always do." Maura replied, giving Jane a kiss on the cheek. She'd have preferred it to be a real kiss but time was ticking on - there was no time to re-apply lipstick.

"If you're ready, we should go, the table's booked for seven thirty but we need to stop off at your Mother's remember..." she said, as she headed downstairs, obviously keen to get going. Jane followed, shaking her head - she was hardly likely to forget, but she knew that Maura liked to have the minutiae of anything planned down to the second.

"I haven't forgotten Maur, and we have plenty of time, the restaurant is only a few minutes away from Ma's...hey, slow down just a sec will you?" she asked as she got to the bottom of the stairs. Maura turned to look at Jane who had stopped on the bottom stair and so now appeared to be about three feet taller than Maura - she looked...statuesque in that dress and those fabulous heels. Maura almost had to pinch herself that this woman was hers, and would be forever.

"You really do look beautiful tonight Jane, and I'm so glad you decided to wear that dress..." she said, casting another admiring glance over Jane's curves as Jane climbed down from the bottom step and kissed Maura on her cheek.

"Well, you did say you wanted me to wear it again and I guess it doesn't often get an outing...have I said yet how gorgeous you look? It's like 'Throwback Thursday' tonight isn't it? Well, except it's a Saturday, and 'Throwback Saturday' doesn't work as well really...anyway...we should go, come on, scoot...you're making us late!" she said and she cheekily patted Maura's behind to hurry her along.

Maura tottered to the door in her five inch Manolo Blahniks with a tut and an ''honestly" and headed to the car, sending a hurried text message as she went...while Jane just followed behind and admired the view.

~0~

Meanwhile, Angela was at Jane and Maura's home in Beacon Hill - everything was underway, and she just hoped that Maura had managed to keep it all under wraps. Even after all this time Maura was still hopeless at lying, although to be fair, this wasn't really a lie, more an alternative version of the truth, but even so, if she had let slip anything, then all the hard work and preparation would have been scuppered.

Angela cast her mind back to when Jane first introduced her to her new friend Maura - she knew then that she was something special. And now? Well, it had turned out she was right.

The house and courtyard were ready, and almost everyone had arrived, she was just waiting on Tommy and TJ - that boy of hers had never once arrived on time for anything, and there was no reason to assume tonight would be any different.

Thank goodness Jackson hadn't inherited his Uncle's bad time keeping.

She watched her seven year old grandson playing chess with his 'Grampy' and her heart filled with Italian pride - since she'd married Vince Korsak five years ago, Jackson had become the apple of his eye, and it didn't matter that he wasn't a blood relative - as far as Vince was concerned, the boy was his grandson and he was only too glad to baby-sit. Jackson adored the older man and with Vince, and the rest of the family guiding him, he was becoming a credit to the Rizzoli name.

Retirement suited Vince, and he and Angela had built a happy and comfortable life together. It also meant he could pursue some rather 'different' online pastimes...which would prove very useful this evening.

Angela had one last look to make sure everything was ready to go, glanced at her phone for the umpteenth time and told everyone to get ready to take their places...the wedding party was on their way.

~0~

In the car on the way to Angela's, Jane and Maura were reminiscing about old times, and how the last ten years had gone by so quickly - it really didn't seem that long ago that they'd finally got together after Jane lost her memory falling off that ladder. (Ever since then whenever Jane decided to go up on the roof or into the loft, Maura had her medical bag discreetly to hand, just in case.)

"Ten years...I still can't get my head around that, it's just flown by don't you think?" Jane asked Maura, as she drove, glancing across at Maura from time to time. She still took her breath away, just as she did the first time she saw her, and just as she did on their first official date...

August 2013

Jane and Maura had both declared their feelings for each other, and they'd shared some rather spectacular kisses - and got very hot and bothered in the process - they were now, officially, a couple. And couples tend to do coupley type things, like go on dates.

But not Jane and Maura it seemed.

With ridiculously hard work schedules, and an extended family of Rizzoli's and Isles, who always seemed to need something or other, their new relationship status seemed to consist solely of snatched kisses in the morgue, or the elevator...even occasionally in the relative privacy of the ladies room at BPD. But no actual date, which was frustrating when you've been in love with someone for an age and dreamed of spending your life together...dates would seem to be the natural way to move things forward.

Now that they were a an actual couple Jane had come over all proactive and decided to take the bull by the horns.

"Maur, we're going on a date." she boldly announced, when she popped down to the morgue to 'check on some lab results', which was actually code for 'I'm going to see my shiny new, beautiful girlfriend and kiss her behind the filing cabinets'.

Maura was impressed by Jane's forthright approach, but did feel that she could have phrased it a little more...romantically.

"We are?" she asked the detective, who was standing with her arms crossed and looking very determined. "Well, where are we going? And when? We haven't had a day off for over a week, and we're on call all this weekend...the first thing I'm going to do when I can is sleep!" she laughed, not really joking, they'd had what felt like the case load from hell in the last two weeks.

"Well, how about our first date is the second thing you do? Friday night you sleep...Saturday night, you spend with me, some dinner, maybe a movie, and then you can sleep again...I've cleared it with Cavenaugh so we're off on Saturday and Sunday...how does that sound?" she asked, looking very pleased with herself. Maura's shoulders visibly relaxed at the thought of some time off, and of course, a real date with Jane.

"I think that sounds almost perfect Jane...have I told you how much I love you?" she asked, glancing round to make sure no one was watching - they were still at that awkward stage with public displays of affection - before she kissed Jane slowly and seductively.

"Not in the last five minutes you haven't" Jane replied a little breathless, "but if that's how you want to tell me...remind me again, just how much do you love me?" she asked,

Maura proceeded to show her, several times, until Susie Chang popped her head around the door to bring some actual lab results, and they went their separate ways again...both mildly frustrated.

Making the transition from 'friends' to 'girlfriends' wasn't always easy, and Jane and Maura were proving no exception. Long held feelings of love, and lately, lust, had now been brought to the fore and how they dealt with them was proving difficult.

Kissing, whilst extremely pleasurable, soon aroused desire in other areas, and sometimes it was hard to resist the temptation to just move to the bedroom, bur neither woman felt quite ready for that just yet...though both hoped that it wouldn't be too long before they did.

Jane in particular seemed almost ready to explode with longing for Maura, but at the back of her mind was the worry that she wouldn't know what to do, or would just blunder on regardless and make a total hash of it. Dr Mason had assured her that they would be fine, that all new couples have that 'bedding in' period, so to speak, and she should just stop worrying, and just go with it. And if their kisses were anything to go by, Jane thought to herself, then the rest of it ought to be incredible.

So, with her confidence buoyed, Jane got busy for Saturday night and organised an early reservation at one of Maura's favourite restaurants, not too expensive, but it had just the right atmosphere - relaxed yet intimate - and then a trip to the movies to see one of Maura's all time favourite's, 'An Affair to Remember' with Cary Grant and Deborah Kerr.

After both of them had the best and longest nights sleep in weeks Maura did some housework in preparation of Jane coming over to pick her up later. The house had been neglected all week and by her own critical standards it really needed blitzing, but she settled for dusting, tidying and vacuuming. You never know, Jane might stay over...

Jane went to the dry cleaners to pick up her suit and even braved her local salon to get a leg wax, much to the amusement of the staff...'Jane has a date then' was the general consensus - she only went in on special occasions - and they were all wondering who the guy might be.

Jane let them wonder all they liked, Maura was so special she wasn't going to jinx anything by telling them just yet, they'd only told a few close friends and family...and anyway, she kind of liked leaving them guessing.

She didn't presume for one minute that anything would happen tonight, it was still very early in their relationship, but there was always the possibility - Maura seemed to arouse feelings in Jane she never knew were possible and that almost painful ache of desire she had whenever she thought of the ME was a constant reminder that she'd been longing for this for the last four years. If Maura felt the same way, which she was pretty sure she must, then there was the very real possibility of 'something' happening tonight, even if only underwear was involved.

By the time Jane rang the bell at Maura's, she was taking deep breaths and praying that their first date was going to go well...

Dinner turned into a triumph of success over planning - when they got to the restaurant on Newberry Street they were told there was no reservation under the name Rizzoli until next Saturday, and a table wouldn't be available for at least ninety minutes. An irritated Jane almost lost her temper at the Maitre 'D, but Maura just took her to one side and instructed her to take a deep breath. She told the irked Maitre 'D it was fine and they'd find somewhere else.

After a walk around the harbour they still hadn't found anywhere until Maura had an idea. "I know the perfect place, come on!" she said excitedly and grabbed Jane's hand.

A few minutes later and they were sitting in a booth in Joe's Diner, looking at a fifties themed menu and each sipping on a Blue Moon, much to Jane's delight. They may have been a tad overdressed but the atmosphere of the diner had them feeling totally at home, and Jane relaxed immediately - stuffy restaurants had never really been her style.

They ordered burgers and fries, and homemade cherry pie...with extra whipped cream. There was even a jukebox, with a selection from the 50's and 60's. They sat and chatted, the conversation slipping from light hearted to flirtatious quite easily, and Jane was admiring Maura's dress of shimmering midnight blue, which seemed to accentuate her curves in all the right places...god she looks so beautiful.

After a few beers and a fabulously unhealthy dinner, Jane went to the jukebox and after some deliberation she finally selected a record. As the needle went down onto the scratchy vinyl she strolled back to the booth and held out her hand. "Would you like to dance?" she confidently asked a surprised Maura, as Bobby Vinton's 'Blue Velvet' began to play.

"Um, yes...but are you sure Jane?" she asked, knowing that Jane wasn't a great lover of dancing, and that they were in a packed diner with other patrons watching them. Jane just smiled, the Blue Moon, and the atmosphere having lifted her confidence without making her cocky.

"Sure I'm sure, look, there are others dancing...and I'd love to dance with my girl...if she'll let me..." and she gently tugged on Maura's arm.

"I would love to dance with you Jane" Maura replied, "And my card is empty...looks like you'll have me to yourself all night..." and she let herself fall into Jane's arms.

The thought of having Maura all to herself, all night sent a jolt through her entire body and she pulled her closer...it felt as if she could never be close enough.

"This song seemed appropriate" Jane whispered in Maura's ear as they held each other and slowly moved to the music, hardly straying from the spot - Jane's assumed lack of dancing skills didn't matter at all.

"You look beautiful tonight Maura, that colour really suits you." and without thinking she gently kissed Maura's cheek.

Such a simple show of affection but one that sent a shiver to Maura's centre and a visible reaction to her chest...and one that Jane could feel through her shirt.

The song eventually came to an end but neither Jane or Maura had even noticed, they were still moving slowly on the spot to their own song, and it would have been understandable if they'd just left now and gone home to Maura's and made love, but Maura wasn't sure that either of them were quite ready.

She wanted Jane more than she'd imagined was possible, and Jane knew that too, but now wasn't the time. She wanted their first time to be when they both felt comfortable, and could just enjoy the closeness of being together, privately, with no interruptions - especially Jane who she knew was worried about it.

If they left for home now this spell might be broken en route, and Jane may find that trying to cast it again later somewhat awkward - she wanted Jane to decide when she was ready, she loved her too much to ever have her feel pressured.

They walked a block or so to the movie theatre, hand in hand when they didn't think about it, awkwardly arm in arm when one of them did - being a couple in public was going to take a while to get used to.

The theatre was half full when they sat down with a bag of popcorn and a soda each, and as they waited for the ads to finish and the movie to start they chatted a little and got themselves comfortable...

Ninety minutes later they woke up to Cary Grant realising why Deborah Kerr never made it to the top of The Empire State Building and the immortal and heart tugging line...'If you can paint, I can walk...anything can happen don't you think?'

They'd slept through the entire film, much to the amusement of their fellow patrons. Stretching and yawning and rubbing their tired eyes they sat up and laughed as they looked at each other sleepily.

"That was the nicest nap I've had in ages Maur, remind me to come here again will you?" she joked as Maura picked some popcorn from Jane's shirt.

"I think this is a sign don't you Jane?" Maura asked as she fumbled under the seat for her purse and her left shoe. "We should head home, and get some proper sleep...we're no good to anyone like this...I've had a wonderful evening though sweetheart. thank you!" she kissed Jane, not caring who was watching, and it was returned, with interest.

In the cab on the way home they sat in almost silence, holding hands, their fingers entwined, and they exchanged small glances and shy smiles, both feeling that little bit closer to each other. Once back in Beacon Hill, Jane held the door for Maura but before they went in she leaned down and met Maura's lips with a searing kiss that sent a shockwave throughout their entire bodies. Walking in, still attached at the lips Jane kicked the door shut and they continued kissing, becoming more passionate as the minutes went by...apparently Jane had decided she was ready after all.

"Would you like to stay tonight?" Maura asked as she stopped to catch her breath. She sounded husky with want as they finally pulled apart, and Jane looked into Maura's eyes with such desire that it was all Maura could do not to just rip her clothes off there and then.

"You can stay in the guest bedroom if you want to...I mean...I just thought..." Jane stopped her talking with a kiss that seemed to stop time in its tracks.

"If it's alright with you Maur I'd like to stay with you...here..." she replied as their lips parted briefly. Maura nodded silently and they made their way to Maura's bedroom.

The lighting in the room was set so low that their figures cast shadows on the walls and ceiling as they stood together. They slowly but deliberately undressed each other - Jane slid Maura's zipper down and let the dress fall to the floor, admiring the curves in front of her as it went. Maura slowly undid the buttons on Jane's shirt, never once looking away from Jane's near black eyes.

She carefully unhooked Jane's belt and slowly slid it off and then undid the button on her trousers. Jane took them off, again, not breaking eye contact. The room seemed suddenly so small and intimate and the air was charged with electricity. The level of desire was now at an all time high as they met again to kiss and they held on to each other as if their lives depended on it. Hands were free to wander wherever they wanted, both feeling an incredible need to show just how much love they had for one another.

They were now almost naked - just down to underwear - this was the most intimate they'd been together, but as they moved to the bed neither of them felt any embarrassment or were self conscious, just an incredible need to be closer, to feel skin on skin...and an arousal level that was not only a revelation to them, but that was palpable.

Kisses and the power of touch led each of them to explore the other in their own time and their own way, not hurried, no constraints of time or interruptions, and no pressure to prove anything to the other.

...they could just be...together.

Throughout that magical first night of lovemaking the stars shone down on them, with the moon casting it's entrancing spell, it's dappled light shimmering and dancing seductively over the two of them.

As a new dawn nodded a gentle goodnight to the moon and the sun took its place in the early morning sky, Jane and Maura finally drifted off to sleep. Wrapped safely in each others arms, elated, exhausted, but more in love with another soul than they had ever thought possible, they just slept, and barely moved an inch.

They were both home.

~0~

September 2023

With the happy memory of their first time still fresh in her mind, a smiling Jane was roused from her daydreaming by Maura stopping the car.

"Jane, we're here...and it looks like Jackson is ready for us..."

Jane looked at Jackson Rizzoli standing at the front door with his Gramps and wasn't sure what to make of it. He was dressed in a...wait, is that a...

"Maur, why is our son wearing a suit... with a buttonhole...is someone getting married?" she asked as she got out of the car and walked round to open Maura's door. Maura smiled knowingly, and when she was out of the car she waved at Jackson to come over. He ran towards them and Jane caught him in her arms.

"Hey buddy, what's going on? Why the fancy suit?" she asked, looking at Maura for answers. "Oh, I know, are you getting married little man?" she joked, planting a kiss on his head as Jackson laughed.

"No silly Mama...you are!" he said excitedly to a bemused Jane as Maura just looked on, a picture of innocence. She took a small box from her purse and walked over to Jane and their son and took both their hands in hers.

"Jane Clementine Rizzoli, ten years ago I said I wanted your heart, and your soul...but really, all I wanted was you...and when we married, you gave them all to me, and I've cherished them every year since...would you do me the very great honour of marrying me all over again...here, tonight?" she asked and opened the box to reveal a sparkling diamond eternity ring, designed to fit beside her wedding band.

As Jane gasped at the ring and kissed Maura so passionately that it almost took her breath away, she did manage to get out a muffled "yes" between all the kisses. The 'guests' then all came to meet them...including Korsak, who looked a picture of sartorial elegance on the arm of Angela.

"Hi baby" Angela said to Jane...did you say yes?" Jane nodded and Angela hugged Maura in mock relief...as if there were some chance she might have said no.

"So, you're all in on it then...Et tu Korsak?" Jane joked, poking him in the ribs. "And that explains why you wanted me to wear my wedding dress again Maur...why you sneaky little..." she said poking Maura too.

"Well, yes Jane, we are all in on it" Korsak said..."but I have a particular reason for being here actually...I'm the one marrying you two...are you ready?" he asked a now completely incredulous Jane as she looked to Maura for an explanation.

Korsak really had been pursuing some 'different' online hobbies in his retirement.

~0~

I hope to see you for the Epilogue...