See Ch 1 for disclaimers…


Amused, Maura wondered how much of their conversation Jane and Barry would remember tomorrow morning. Apparently the fate of the world depended on the logical age a child stopped believing in Santa Claus. Jane's voice was slightly thick from the alcohol.

"I'm just saying Frost that there is no way you still believed in Santa at 10 years old. You can't tell me that somebody didn't slip up somehow before that or knock you on your ass and beat it out of you. Not a single slip?" Jane turned to face Frost in the darkness and leaned against Maura.

Maura chewed her lip when Jane's hand idly clasped her knee, her thumb gliding over the nylon surface as she continued her debate. Each stroke pinged up her thighs. The wine she'd been drinking all night made her feel warm, heavy and acutely aware of Jane. Aware enough that she could feel each breath the other woman took. Beside her Jane laughed at something Barry said and her hand gripped Maura's knee hard. The touch shot straight to her groin, pulsing there delicately and she bit her bottom lip as she tried to focus on the outside world passing by.

The night had started innocently enough. Excitement about the case when the DNA matched down in Florida, meetings were suffered through, an interview with The Boston Globe completed, time off requests granted and her own schedule rearranged. Maura tried not to feel guilty for the extra time off. Tried to remind herself about all the double coverage she had done over the past few days. Everything else was difficult to schedule until after Christmas, reports could be written at home so for once the season offered them a small lull in responsibility.

They were almost giddy if there were such a thing as they bundled up and headed off into the late afternoon light. Choir practice was over at The American Legion Hall and Maura towed a complaining Jane along several snow encrusted blocks. Behind them Barry and Vince crunched along over the sidewalk, morose voices promising various forms of retribution for Jane peppering each step. All three of them shut up the instant she stopped abruptly and simply glared at them. Vince had even sheepishly pulled his Santa hat from his pocket and plopped it on his head with a smile.

When they finally made it into the function hall the atmosphere was jovial and Maura couldn't help but smile. Angela waved her over to where she was standing with Marty Hill and Frankie. Jane had caught one look at the beer can lofted in her brother's hand and pulled free from Maura's grasp to hurry over. Snagging it out of his hand her voice had been reverent. "Oh thank god." She'd cracked it open. "Your idea?" When he nodded she hugged him and Maura had to refrain from rolling her eyes.

From there the night had rolled on. More people arrived along with more beer. It wasn't long before Maura wondered if she was back at a college frat party or at a choir practice. The singing became louder, voices free. Officer DeAmato stood in front of them, his face florid beneath his shock of white hair when one beer became four. His movements becoming animated as he tried to direct them. When voices faded during a rather muddled version of "Carol of the Bells", DeAmato pumped his fists in the air, enthusiasm and his Boston accent thick on his lips as he bellowed "MORE power men, more power."

The effect was lost when his Santa hat fell forward and the white ball on the tip hit him on the nose. With that even DeAmato was in tears, laughing until he couldn't breathe. Finally he clapped lightly until everyone pulled themselves together and huddled closer. Maura used the excuse to step backward and into Jane. When the next round of caroling was kicked off she leaned back to she could hear Jane's voice and Jane put a hand on her hip to balance them.

It was delicious, the timbre of Jane's voice and the vibration of her singing along her back. Maura let the whiskey smoked tone of Jane's voice seep into her and run just under her skin. She let herself be swept along by the sound, by the people around her, enjoying the hat on her head and the feel of her family around her, participating in this for her. She tried to commit every sensation of this moment to memory. Carefully imprinting it and storing it away so if she was ever in need, if she was ever lonely, she could pull it out and savor it.

When DeAmato called practice to a close with his fist in the air, declaring it the "best practice in his history as director" Maura had to pull herself together, remove herself from her mind and into the present, the tingling of Jane's voice still playing with her senses. As everyone started to depart DeAmato loped to the door and ordered them all to the Robber for a drink on him. It was a slightly ribald crew in Santa hats that flowed out onto the street and along the sidewalk until they finally poured into the Dirty Robber.

Jane had taken the ribbing and banter from the senior officers and detectives already inside with ease, flaunting her Santa hat in the air and giving it back as good as she got.

DeAmato started singing Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer for Mary behind the bar and before Maura knew it, the bar was singing and even Jane had joined in. It was off-key and it was horrific but Rudolph became Jingle Bells and soon people were shouting requests. A glass of wine was shoved in her hand, and then another. Somewhere in the back of her mind she found herself waving goodbye to Angela and moments later Vince.

The alcohol warmed Maura's innards, dilating her vascular system, dulling the edges of her senses. The bar buzzed around her. At some point she and Jane had ended up standing at the bar, leaning against it. Jane's arm was light around her waist, keeping her near, the alcohol freeing her enough to pull Maura a little closer than usual. Officers started offering Jane a free drink in exchange for a song and she'd bargained back, auction-style, snagging a free drink for herself, Maura, Frost and Frankie for one verse. Jane had readjusted her hat with a smirk and again her voice wrapped around and in Maura, the effect now intensified by the alcohol and the delicate pulse between her legs bloomed.

Slowly Maura sipped her third glass of wine and looked around. Frankie seemed intent on impressing Cavanaugh's new assistant, his hat placed jauntily on the side of his head and Barry was already shrugging into his coat, ready to head home. She took a deep breath. Home sounded perfect right now. Home was where she could slide her hands under Jane's shirt and run her palms over Jane's skin.

Her body twitched when Jane reflexively grabbed her hip to lean over and yell something across the bar at Officer Hill. Fingers burned through her dress and she could almost feel Jane's hands grabbing her hips to guide her as they moved together. She polished the wine off quickly and grabbed Jane's elbow to pull her down. She whispered, needy, against her ear. "Take me home Jane." Jane had been ready to argue, tense under her hand, until her tone registered. One look had her yelling at Frost to wait to share his cab.

They'd piled into the back and now here she was, trying desperately not to focus on the tiny stroke of Jane's thumb against her knee. It was almost a relief when the cab stopped outside Frost's building. His good night was muffled by the cold air that whipped past him into the cab interior. The icy air highlighted the warmth of Jane pressed against her side and her nipples tightened against her shirt. The cab pulled away again and Jane didn't move. Daring a glance, Maura realized Jane knew exactly what her thumb was doing. Folding her arms she crossed her legs and captured Jane's hand. The smirk she received made her laugh but two could play this game.

Jane didn't move and didn't stop the minute motion of her thumb even with her fingers wedged between Maura's legs. All Maura could do was focus on the moment they were out of the cab and inside her house. She counted familiar snow covered landmarks and breathed a sigh of relief at the sight of the first lit brownstone of Chestnut Street, ready to feel the sweep of Jane's hands along her skin. She closed her eyes and let her imagination wander.

Suddenly Jane's hand gripped her knee, hard. "What the hell!"

Maura's eyes flew open and Jane's mouth literally formed a small 'o'. As the cab came to a stop outside her place she followed Jane's line of sight and instantly covered her mouth. Jane burst from the cab and jogged to the middle of the street, stopping to stare at her house. Settling with the cabbie quickly, Maura stepped out into the biting cold and moved to Jane's side, watching her profile become highlighted off and on by sporadic bursts of colored lights.

Maura slipped her arm around Jane's as the cab drove off. She cleared her throat. "I take it you hooked up the extension cords earlier with Frost when you dropped off the tree?"

Jane's horrified expression turned to face her as they stood in the flashing glow. Her voice was a strained whisper. "We did." She woodenly turned back to the house, watching patches of the colored lights blink on and off, while other parts remained stationary and yet another chased up, down and around. "They didn't do this growing up."

Raising an eyebrow Maura looked at the patch over her bedroom window that flashed on and off. "Didn't do what Jane?"

"Move. Flash. Light up your house like a fucking sign on the Vegas strip." Jane gestured wildly at the house. "They didn't blink!" Her voice was almost a desperate keening wail. "Why the hell are they blinking?"

Maura looked at the other row houses up and down the street. She looked at either house flanking hers with their balanced perfection of white lights and artistically arranged evergreen garland. Maybe it was the haze of the wine or maybe it was the aghast expression contorting Jane's face as she stood there staring at her house, but whatever it was Maura found herself laughing, leaning into Jane and just laughing. "I love it." Jane looked at her completely bewildered. She reached up and cupped Jane's face, brining her down, trying to stop laughing as their teeth knocked together. Controlling herself she grinned against Jane's lips, stealing them for a moment to wipe away the confusion and leave behind a smile. Still grinning when she broke the kiss she left their noses touching for a moment. "I mean it. It is simply the most perfect thing I have ever seen."

Maura slipped her arm around Jane's waist and stood there staring at her house in its blinking, unapologetic, mismatched glory. The rest of the neighborhood looked remote in comparison. This was what Jane brought into her world. Color, brightness and lights that glowed through the snow crust promising warmth and good cheer. Glancing at Jane she could see her mind working rapidly. She reached up again to kiss Jane's cheek. "Don't you dare change a thing if that is what you are thinking. It's unique. It's us." She squeezed Jane's waist tightly. "I love it and I love you, but I'm freezing. Let's go inside."

She let Jane take her coat and wandered through her living room and into the kitchen. "Your mother left us a note. She loves the tree." Maura let out a small sigh, her plans for the next day slipping away as she read. "And apparently since we now all have tomorrow off, we're going to bake cookies and decorate it. She wants you to invite the guys and she'll invite your brothers." Maura tried to ignore Jane's smirk as she walked up. "I have an errand in the morning but I suppose I can manage a tree decorating party."

Jane tried to cover up a yawn but failed as the hour and the alcohol pulled at her. "What can I say? She has a vision. You know what Ma is like when she has a vision."

Maura sighed, her own fatigue catching up with her and simply nodded. "I need to go to bed. I am exhausted."

"Yes, right there with you. I'm showering tonight though. I feel like the Dirty Robber crawled all over me and died." Jane followed Maura into the bedroom and grabbed her towel out of the bathroom. "I'll be right back."

After her own shower Maura slipped into bed, scooting backward until she met Jane in the middle and her eyes flew open when she met bare skin. Jane ran a hand along her bare hip over her ass, before sliding up to caress the skin of her abdomen and Maura felt her breathing catch. Hot breath sent shivers racing down her spine and the same dulcet smoky tones from earlier burned in her groin. "Great minds apparently, but I thought you were exhausted?"

Maura turned over and pressed a leg between Jane's until they melded together, the feel of their skin aligning turning the burning that had teased her all night into a pounding need. She traced along Jane's spine until she could press her thumb into the dip in her lower back and Jane arched into her, rubbed against her and she massaged the skin under her hand, holding her there. Her breathing became ragged as they pressed together. "I am, but I was hoping I could convince you to put me to sleep." Jane's breath puffed erratically against her cheek.

The entire night's awareness pounded rhythmically in her and Maura shifted for relief. Jane could feel her she knew, had to at least feel the diamond hardness of her nipples scraping along her own as they moved against each other. It was almost torture the way Jane's lips hovered before touching down. The surface brushing lightly against hers, playing with her, touching the tip of their tongues together until she couldn't help but shift restlessly, deliberately, to knead the back of Jane's thigh, to push her own upwards until Jane rocked slightly against it.

Maura groaned her approval when Jane rolled her onto her back, when a thigh finally pressed against her hard and she let her hips move, let her mouth be claimed, felt Jane pressing against her, ready. It felt absolutely perfect, the way they flexed together, rocked together, climbed together. Too soon she crested to the edge, her clit twitching, her muscles tensing but she was hopeless to resist. She had craved this moment all night.

Muscles clenching, she went to press harder and then Jane withdrew, leaving her body trembling at the precipice. Maura broke their kiss, a curse escaping her. Jane's voice played warm and wet on her neck. "Not so fast. I want to feel you from the inside." She wanted to claw Jane back to her but there were fingers tapping along her body, touching, pressing before skipping along to another patch of sensitized skin. When teeth bit against her nipple and a tongue soothed the ache Maura dug her fingers and nails hard into Jane's back before reaching up to tangle in her hair to hold her mouth in place.

She could feel Jane wet and heavy against her thigh, could feel her muscles twitching and Maura brought her leg up higher, pressing into Jane and offering herself up simultaneously as a plea. Fingers trailed along the edges of her wetness, captured her clit at the base, making her move helplessly until a fingertip teased the tip and all Maura could focus on was the clawing need to have Jane inside her. Fingertips pushed in before withdrawing and Maura grabbed at Jane's hips. "Fuck Jane, I know ways to make you beg for days." The chuckle was low, dark and against her breast and then fingers pushed in, slowly, withdrawing, rushing back in with a third as her eyes slammed shut briefly. Each movement, each push, ripped up her spine to bloom over her body, Jane was grinding against her and echoing her every thrust. It was becoming harder to keep her eyes open, to watch the slide of them together. Jane's fingers were everywhere in her, her palm and wrist pressing into her clit with each motion. It was all Maura could do to add two fingers between her thigh and Jane's clit and the thrusting inside her instantly sped up.

Everything started to rock and crash over her at once, propelling her upward and into oblivion, landing her hard before rocketing her up again. White pinpricks hit her vision and Jane's fingers pressed roughly in and around until she was spiraling over the edge. Falling in an overwhelming rush as Jane tensed violently and sagged against her. They lay connected, catching their breath. Maura slowly relaxed the grip she had along Jane's back. Gently she wrapped her arms around Jane and held her close, breathing her in, breathing them together in, feeling her body pulsing around Jane's fingers.

In this moment, with Jane inside her, with them together wrapped in her senses, owning her mind and emotions all at once, Maura believed in forever. Understood the cliché of completion. She only wished she could articulate the knowledge, the certainty with words and share it.

She felt Jane slip from her body and sighed softly at the loss. When Jane went to shift off, Maura held her closer and pressed her head against her collar bone. Jane somehow understood. When it was them, like this, she always understood. An arm wrapped around her shoulders as Jane pulled Maura with her, rolling them onto their sides, tangling their legs together and drawing her tightly against her. The grip released for a moment until the duvet floated coolly around them and Jane's arm settled back against her.

It was easy then with the light pressure of Jane's chin on her head to let her eyes drift shut, to let her body relax and to let the night claim her.


A/N – This writer is going to find herself on next year's naughty list for taking so long. But we're almost there. And there are strong song clues in here. And considering what this chapter has in it… maybe maybe you'll all forgive me just a wee bit ;) Please :)?