A/N: Jane has a little revelation in the grocery store. (This one barely made the 1000 word cut off, whew.)

Disclaimer: Don't own the characters. Not making money. ETC. ETC.


The wheels on the basket squeak as Jane pushes the cart around the grocery store. She follows Maura like a lost puppy. It's unintentional, but she's bored out of her mind. (Though she knows she'd be bored out of her mind at home, too. And alone. And sometimes she doesn't want to be alone. Which is why she's on this wonderful adventure in the first place.)

Maura leads them on fearlessly into the vegetable section. Jane leans forward, forearms braced on the handle bar, barely suppressing a sigh while Maura inspects the green things. With nothing better to do, Jane can't help the way her eyes wander and stick on Maura.

(She spends a lot of time watching Maura. A realization she's only just come to.)

Maura is holding some kind of squash. Strong, steady fingers slide over the smooth surface, pressing and stroking. Jane has no idea what Maura's searching for, but she must find it because a few seconds later she nods and places it gently in the basket.

Dutifully, Jane follows Maura as she starts walking again. They are, of course, still in the vegetable section. (They'll be here a while. Shopping with Maura is much different than her solo trips where her basket is full of frozen pizza, instant coffee, and white bread.)

They are at the peppers, this time. (There are so many.) Once again, Jane finds her eyes drifting toward Maura.

The harsh florescent light shines on top of Maura's head, somehow making her hair shine a pretty golden color. She furrows her brow adorably as perfect teeth bite down on a plump red lip. And Jane watches, transfixed, as those fingers – sure and strong – fill little bags with different peppers after a careful inspection.

Their eyes catch for a brief moment, "almost done." Maura promises softly.

There's something in those words, something in the softness of Maura's tone, in the golden hues in her eyes, that hits Jane hard.

Jane can almost feel something shift inside her chest. Like an earthquake.

I'm in love with her.

The thought slams into her with the subtly of a freight train. She grips the handle bar tightly. It's hard to breathe and the store feels entirely too hot.

She must've been staring too intensely, because Maura's face crinkles with concern. "Are you okay?"

Jane blinks a few times. Is she? Okay? The brightness of the moment has dimmed, but her heart is still racing. What does one do when they realize they're in love with their best friend next to the bell peppers?

The intercom above them squeaks to life, alerting them of the deals of the week.

It breaks the spell.

But still, Jane feels…changed, somehow. Different.

She gives Maura half a nod.

Maura looks unconvinced, but leads them forward anyway.

Jane's quiet revelation plays over and over in her mind while Maura fills the basket. Maura's smiling just a little, sometimes she hums to herself. Overall, she is just carefree and gorgeous and Jane forgets to breathe occasionally. Because holy shit.

When they get to the cheese section, Jane's head is spinning and her palms are sweaty.

Of course, she loves Maura, Jane rationalizes with herself. Who wouldn't love Maura?

Next, is alcohol.

Jane's heart does a little dance when her beer makes the cut and is placed in the basket next to the cheeses she can't pronounce and the bottle of wine that Jane knows better than to look at the price tag for.

Her internal monologue continues as they make their way to the crackers.

Is being in love much of a stretch from where they are now? After all, she's at the grocery store with Maura on their day off. And not even because her mother is planning a family dinner and they're in charge of procurement. No, she's here because Maura asked. She's here because she's rather be with Maura, even doing something as mundane as this, than be anywhere else.

She'd always rather be with Maura.

Didn't that mean something?

By the time they get to the checkout lane Jane feels she's somehow worked through most of her feelings.

She had no idea how she didn't realize this about herself until now. (And she calls herself a detective!) They are basically dating already. (She already has a "drawer" at Maura's place, already has a "side" of the bed, her beer already has a home in the fridge.) The one thing they're missing is the commitment and…other stuff. (Other stuff sets her skin on fire, and suddenly the idea of sitting down next to Maura on the couch and sharing a simple, every day type of kiss or snuggling down next to her on Maura's obscenely comfortable bed – is wholly appealing.)

They're loading the trunk – Jane handing Maura bags while she meticulously places everything inside.

She is in jeans today and sneakers, wearing an old college sweatshirt. Her hair is down and her make-up so minimal that Jane has a strange desire to count the freckles that dust across her cheeks. This Maura – low-maintenance and gorgeous – is Jane's favorite. She feels touchable somehow. More accessible.

When Maura turns to Jane the sun hits her eyes just right, and Jane is drowning in shimmering hazel.

It doesn't matter that she's only had this realization barely thirty minutes ago. Not really. Because this – she and Maura – it feels right. The most right.

Jane, always a woman of action, ignores the way she can't voice the feelings swirling around inside of her and steps closer. She reaches a hand up, softly tracing the angle of Maura's jaw. She grins as Maura settles a step closer, telling Jane that this play is not unwelcome.

Jane leans forward, tilting Maura's chin upward and captures Maura's lips in an incredibly soft, sweet kiss.


A/N: Apparently, I'm only capable of writing the same story ten different ways...one day I'll come up with something else to write about and then it will be a breath of fresh air! Until then, thanks for reading!