Sometimes you meet someone and you instantaneity know that this person is about to change your life for the best, but it takes you a while to have the guts to face your feelings , but when you do...You feel alive for the first time in your life.

Chapter 10 :

Happy anniversary:

As they broke the kiss Jane could see tears streaming down Maura's face.

"What's wrong sweetie?" Jane asked wiping the tears off her face with her thumb.

"Nothing, I just…never felt like this before. I can't l loose you." Maura mumbled shaking.

"Hey, look at me, you're not going to loose me not now, not ever. Let's get off this tub so we can talk." Jane said leaning over to grab Maura's rob that was lying on the edge of the Jacuzzi.

"Thank you." Maura replied as Jane handed her the robe her eyes respectfully closed.

As they were getting off the tub Jane kept her eyes closed so she wouldn't see Maura's body, not that she didn't want to but it was a matter of respect.

"I'm here and I'm not going anywhere, I meant what I said I love you." Jane murmured as she snaked her arms around Maura.

"I know. I love you too. How about we lay down for a while? I studied late last night I'm exhausted."

"Alright." Jane nodded following Maura into her bedroom.

Without realizing it Jane and Maura found themselves lying down on Maura's bed, Jane on her back and Maura on her left side her head resting on Jane's chest listening to her heart beats.

"Your heart is beating so fast." Maura said her right arms across Jane's stomach.

"It's beating that fast for you, only you Maura, you're the only one for me I promise." Jane replied stroking her fingers through her long silk hair.

"I know." Maura sighed.

Holding Maura like that Jane felt closer then she ever felt to a woman before. She never felt so certain of her feelings and of what she wanted in her entire life and it scared her. Up until now she was lucky enough to be able to reassure Maura on everything by talking to her or by showing her how much she loved her. Unfortunately Jane knew that she wasn't perfect and that she didn't have the answer to everything. She was lucky enough that Maura usually told her exactly what she needed or wanted but she was scared that might not be enough at some point. She knew that Maura had abandonment and intimacy issues because she was neglected by her parents and that she would never be ready to make love until she felt certain that Jane would never leave her. Thinking about it Jane found the perfect way to prove her feelings and commitment to her, she would have to change the plans she had made for tonight, but she knew Maura would love it.

"I hope you're going to like the place I'm taking you to for our anniversary."

"How about we stay here and order in?"

"Why do you always prefer to stay in, are you ashamed of me or something?"

"Of course not, it's just where ever we go I can feel women staring at you like they want to eat you up and I don't like it." Maura groaned.

Maura Isles was well educated and was raised not to show her feelings and makes scenes so when a woman would look at Jane in an appropriate way she would just look the other way.

"Easy tiger, you should be flattered, even if they stare at me, I'm with you and I always make sure they know it. Besides both men and women look at you all the time."

"Yes but you don't have to wonder if I slept with them or not."

"Oh, Is this what this is all about?You don't want to go in public places with me because you're afraid that we might run into one of my exes?"

"Yes . I don't want to be confronted to any of those gorgeous women, just so I can reminded that I can't compete with them."

"You're right, you can't compete, you're not in the same league , actually you're a league of your own."

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"It means that's your smarter, funnier, sexier than any of those women. I'm sorry my past is making you uncomfortable and make you doubt yourself. Trust me If I could erase it I would but I can't. The only thing I could do is making sure not to ever take you to a place where we might run into one of them. "

"You're sweet. You're I shouldn't be embarrassed, but flattered and proud that you chose me over any other woman you could have chosen. I think if we met one of your past conquest she would be jealous to see that you're with me and that it's serious."

"Exactly, well not that I like to brag, but yes you should be proud, so don't worry about it."

"I know, I hope you're taking me to a nice place tonight."

"Trust me you're going to like it..."

The truth was that even if Maura knew she should feel proud to be with Jane especially with women hitting on her all the time, but she wasn't. Every time a woman smiled at Jane Maura wondered if they slept together. She would start picturing them together, Jane kissing her, touching her making love to her, and it hurt, every single time. Maura knew she shouldn't feel like this because Jane never even look or smile back at any of those women, but she couldn't help it. Not being able to give Jane what those women could and certainly did in the past made her feel unconfident about herself.

So that sunday night Jane decided to celebrate their 3 months anniversary to take Maura to a very special place.

"Come on Maura just pick one dress already." Jane complained her arms crossed on her chest.

"I'm sorry Jane, but I want to be presentable tonight, especially if you take me to a fancy place." Maura replied standing in front of her wardrobe.

"I know, how about the yellow one? I like it."

"Alright then, yellow dress it is."

Half an hour later Jane was waiting for Maura in front of her car, her heart hammering her chest. She knew what she was about to do would change their relationship for ever, but she was ready . Seeing Maura making so much effort to open up to her and to try not to be so shy of her body, Jane knew she had to make an effort as well, to show Maura she wasn't the only one working on their relationship.

"Come on put this on." Jane said handing a sleeping mask to her girlfriend.

"No, that's going to completely ruin my hair."Maura objected offended that Jane could even suggest such a thing.

"I don't want to ruin the surprise, please."

"Alright." Maura reluctantly nodded as put the sleeping mask on her eyes.

As Jane was driving, she could feel that Maura was a bit nervous, probably because she couldn't see were they were going.

"Don't be nervous, I promise food is going to be terrific and the atmosphere will be pleasant as well." Jane smiled gently squeezing Maura's thigh.

" I know."

After about 40 minutes of driving Jane finally stopped her car and took a deep breath.

"Are you ready?"

"I am." Maura nodded.

"Alright then I should take this off." Jane replied delicately taking the sleeping mask off Maura's face.

"Where are we?" Maura asked looking around them.

"In front of my parents' house, it's sunday night so expect lasagnas."

"Oh God Jane, why…now?"

"Well , I was planing on taking you to that fancy french restaurant you've telling me about for weeks but I realized that today was important and I needed to give you something to show you how important you are to me."

"But I thought you weren't ready…"

"I was scared, because I thought that you would dump me at some point after realizing how screw up I was. I know that introducing you to my parents is a big step and it makes our relationship official and real and I'm just scared but I'm ready."

"Oh Jane, I knew who you were from the minute we had that conversation, but I still kissed you. If I wanted to leave you I would have done it that day. I love you for who you are with your bad trades, and your weaknesses which aren't that numerous I must say. I appreciate you're showing me your commitment by taking me to your family dinner. I'm just a bit nervous."

"Don't worry they already love you. Come on." Jane said opening the door.

"Alright." Maura nodded getting out off the car as gracefully as she could.

As they were walking towards Jane's house Maura felt her heart beating faster at every step she took and as they were finally in front of the door she squeezed Jane's hand as hard as she could.

"Are you ready to go in?"

"I am." Maura replied as Jane pushed the door.

"Ma, Pop where are you?" Jane yelled as they entered the living room.

"In the kitchen." A distant voice yelled back.

"Remember, she already loves you." Jane said as she pushed the kitchen door.

"I know..."

"Jane sweetheart, what a nice surprise." Angela said as she gave her daughter a long warm hug.

"I'm sorry I have been busy, but I brought you someone. " Jane replied as she turned around only to see that Maura wasn't behind her.

"The invisible man?" Angela joked.

"No, Maura, what are you doing here?"Jane said opening the kitchen door, Maura still on the other side of the door.

"I'm sorry Jane, I started to hyperventilate." Maura said looking down at her feet.

"Oh sweetie just breath everything is going to be okay." Jane said pulling Maura against her.

"So who is this person you brought me?" Angela said as she pushed the kitchen door.

"Ma, this Maura, Maura, this is my mother." Jane said anxious to see her mother's reaction.

"Nice to meet you Maam." Maura politely said offering her hand to Angela.

"Please call me Angela, come here." Angela said as she pulled Maura against her giving her a welcome welcome hug.

Feeling Angela's warmth as she was holding her, Maura felt a sensation she never felt before. Her mother never hugged her or kissed her goodnight, she grew up being taught that showing affection were innapropriate.

"Would you let her go, she can't breath." Jane joked pulling Maura back in her own arms.

"Oh, what are you complaining about? You ve been hiding her from us for such a long time that now I'm never letting her go. Please take a seat."

"I apologize Mrs Rizzoli, I have a very tied studying schedule and I barely have the time to do anything other than studying." Maura explained as she sat next to Jane.

"This house sounds empty, where are the guys?"

"Have you forgotten?They're at the cabin, fishing. Tommy was so excited that he didn't sleep last night."

"Oh right, I forgot, god I loved those fishing trips growing up."

"You could still enjoy them if you weren't so busy saving the city."

"Ma!Stop that please, you know my job is important for me and if I want to make Detective I can not afford to count my hours, and besides for your information, I actually cut down my hours to spend more time with Maura."

"Is that right?"

"Yes it is. Jane was working almost everyday when we met, but now she takes at least a day off per week and tries to come home at reasonable hours. Obviously I can not object when she caught up at work, murder investigations are far more important than dinners . I understand she has priorities and duties."

"That's very well spoken."

"Well Maura is very understanding, and she's right, I can't really choose my hours, or when we got a case, but I try to make to make time for us. I've seen so many of the guys loosing their wives because they neglected them. I don't want my job to interfere with our relationship."

"It seems you've grown a lot Jane, I think I should thank Maura for that."

"I'm the one who should be thanking her. Before I met Jane I was focusing on studying . Between that and my rotations at the hospital I never took time for myself. She helped me realized that there are more important things than studying."

"You got that right. So Jane told me you're a fourth year medical student."

"Yes, I still got 6 months before I graduate and next I will be able to start my residency in forensic pathology and also obtain my medical license to practice in the state. " Maura replied trying not to overwhelm Angela with too many details.

"Wow, so we're finally gonna have a Doctor in our family." Angela said clapping her hands together.

"Well I'm going to be a Doctor in 6 months, but I still have at least 5 years of studying forensics before I can become a medical examiner."

"Wow, you're certainly determined and devoted, I like that." Angela said shaking her head.

As the 3 women were talking Maura felt more comfortable that she anticipated. Talking with Angela was so easy, not only she showed genuine interest in her, asking her tons of questions, but she was also a very good listener. As they were eating dinner Maura felt like the center of attention, she was truly enjoying herself and felt closer to Angela than she ever felt to her own mother. Looking back she felt a bit stupid for being so scared of meeting her mother in law, Angela was as warm and welcoming as Jane was, yes the apple never fell too far from the three.

At the end of the night as Jane was helping her mother cleaning up the dishing while Maura was cleaning the dining table Jane took the opportunity to ask her opinion.

"So what do you think?She's great isn't she?"

"She's great, she's smart, ambitious, gorgeous, understanding of your job and the way she looks at you, she's clearly in love with you."

"So I am Ma, she's the one, I can feel it in my guts."

As Jane was professing her love to her mother Maura was standing right behind the door, listening to every word, her heart filled up with happiness. The way Jane talked about her to her mother touched her so deeply that she could barely hold her tears. If she had any doubts before she was now 100 % sure : Jane was the one and she needed to prove it to her...

So guys, what do you think?I figured it was easier for Maura to meet Angela first before meeting the guys as well.

Next chapter...nope not saying anything.

I know guys, I showed Jane at work but not Maura. Writing this chapter I realized that I should show her at the hospital, because as she said she started rotations and that should be fun to write about :)