Hey y'all! Here we go again- here is another cute little chapter of fluff, before you'll get some action in the next ;) Enjoy the read and thanks for your sweet messages. Love you all

CHAPTER 12.

Staying over was much more exciting than she would have expected in the first place.

Teenagers do it all the time, right? Not a big deal. Well, at least it shouldn`t be.

She hadn`t thought about who Jane was. What Jane was.

She hadn`t thought about who SHE was- that she never had slumber parties in her life… That she was used to being alone.

She hadn`t thought about the fact that she had feelings for Jane. Feelings she couldn`t even begin to understand. Feelings, she never had before.

What was she thinking, when she agreed to stay over so light hearted? Obviously, she hadn`t thought at all.

Jane was gone.

She went out to grab some dinner for Maura. Considering the speed of her "running", she would be back in a couple of minutes.

Maura wandered round the house, her thoughts racing round in her head so loud and so fast, it made her dizzy.

She couldn`t believe, what had been happening in the last 24 hours. She knew, she wasn`t dreaming, but it sure felt like it.

Jane had told her, everything she wanted to know and still she was full of questions, she couldn`t even express.

How did she live her everyday life? Had she really spend more than 30 years all by herself?

She stopped by the bedroom and her eyes rested on the big dark and cosy bed.

The thought of sleeping in it tonight- her bed, her smell- let her heartbeat speed up a little.

Would they sleep in it together?! Her eyes went wide. HOLY CRAP. She hadn`t even thought about that.

Great. If that was the case, she was sure, she wouldn`t sleep at all.

Not that she was afraid. No. But sleeping next to Jane... come on- who could sleep next to JANE?!

Her thoughts were interrupted by the sound of a soft knock on the front door.

Maura swirled around.

Who was that? Who would knock on Janes door?

Had anyone seen, that Jane had left and was now trying to get in? But why?

It knocked again. "Maura?".

It was Jane! What the hell?!

Maura sped to open up.

Jane stood in the doorway, tall, dark, her hair a wild mess from running, her smile shy but bright as the sun and her hands full of bags.

"Why do you knock on your own door? I thought someone was coming for me, or... or...".

Jane looked at her blankly. "Uhm... I just thought, it was polite not to burst in here like a hurricane. I didn`t meant to scare you- and now I did. Ah, crap. I`m sorry." she said and let out a bemused chuckle.

Maura, who felt pretty silly now, joined in and took some of the bags out of Janes hands.

She inspected them curiously, while she headed into the kitchen and found it all to be different kinds of food.

She stopped in motion and turned around to Jane who looked back at her in question. "Uh... what?", she asked obviously clueless.

"Is this ALL food? I mean, in all of those bags?".

Jane looked guilty. "Yes mam."

Mauras jaw dropped.

"Who is supposed to eat that? Are there any more guests invited? I mean... that`s... a lot!"

Jane smirked like a kid, who just got caught in the act.

She was adorable. Ah, hell...

"I know. It´s all for you. I went to five different places- all different styles, cause I wasn`t sure, what you would like. We have Japanese- Sushi and stuff, we have Italian- Pasta and Pizza, we have Greek and Thai aaaand this... are burgers from the US.", she closed and smiled from one ear to another.

Maura shook her head in disbelieve but she couldn't help but giggle at Janes face, who looked like a child on Christmas day.

"That`s... really thoughtful of you, Jane. You`re so kind. But I don`t think, I eat that much in one week..."

"That`s okay- just eat as much as you like and I will freeze the rest, so you can eat it, next time you`re... I mean... IF- you`re staying over again. Some time. Maybe. If you want." , Jane fumbled at her sleeve, trying to avoid Mauras eyes.

Mauras heart had just exploded in her chest- or, at least, that`s what it felt like.

She felt all warm and fuzzy inside and she wished, she could just wrap that feeling around her shoulders like a sheltering blanket.

"Well, in that case... thank you so much! I don`t even know, where to start!", she laughed as she unpacked the bags and settled herself on the dinner table.

She tried to push away the question, why Jane had a dinner table at all.

Ridiculous pictures of human body parts on plates popped up in her mind and she suppressed a wicked giggle.

Jane sat opposite of her, joining her, while she was eating.

Maura felt awkward.

"Don`t you wanna do something, while I finish eating... I mean... you surely don`t wanna watch me eat. Isn`t that- disgusting- for you... in a way... maybe?", Maura asked honestly.

Jane was watching her closely while Maura took one bite after the other. Her expression was dreamy.

"What? No. No... I love it. Tell me what it tastes like...", she said without taking her eyes off Mauras mouth.

Maura frowned for a moment. Then a hint of understanding flickered in her eyes.

"Oh... okay... well, the noodles are al dente- they`re really good, not every restaurant does it this good, actually- and the pesto is mild but spicy, the herbals taste fresh and intensive- just right, if you ask me... and... I don`t know, how to describe it any better...", she chuckled.

Jane joined in and let out a dreamy sigh.

"Perfect. Now try something else... What does this taste like?", she asked while pointing at the Sushi and Maura understood. She picked up a piece and described the taste as good as she could.

Jane hang on her lips.

They continued until Maura had tried a bit of everything and until she felt like her skirt would burst into pieces, cause she was so full of everything.

She sat back in her chair und put her hands up, "I surrender. If I`m gonna eat just one more bite, I`m gonna explode in the middle of your kitchen and you wouldn`t want that, would you?", she asked, trying to breathe without opening the bottom of her skirt.

Jane pouted. "Okay... if you say so. Uh, when you describe it, I can almost taste it on my tongue... I would cut off my leg, just for one slice of oily, salty pepperoni pizza...!", she whined and even if she tried to be funny, Maura felt the truth behind her acting.

She smiled sadly at Jane. "So, what does blood taste like?", she asked suddenly and her courage took Jane aback for a second.

"You know what blood tastes like." she answered coldly and her gaze dropped on the table.

"Yes, I know, but what does it taste like FOR YOU?", she added calmly and Jane looked up at the softness of her voice.

She took a few moments until she answered honestly, "It´s delicious. It tastes like everything I can dream of, you know... It tastes like life. It`s warm and sweet and spicy and salty and just... everything I could dream of, really. I guess, that`s part of the secret, otherwise I would go crazy. But even though it`s still delicious after all of these years, it`s just not the same as good old simple food... I can remember what things taste like, you know... fried chicken and even coke or beer... and I just miss it like hell... Sounds silly, huh?".

Maura reached for her hand and gave it a quick squeeze. "No. Not at all.", she simply said and Jane feared, she would fell into her eyes.

She looked so tired- I knew she needed sleep, but something inside me just couldn`t let her go.

I wanted to talk to her. More. All night, if I could.

I wanted to watch her. How her face changed, while she was speaking, how she laughed and crinkled her nose, how she moved her hands while she was talking...

I was just afraid, that I would miss her so much, it would actually hurt the moment she would close her eyes.

Oh come on, Rizzoli, don`t be such a girl! You can do this!

"Okay then... time to sleep, young lady.", I said seriously, but I couldn`t suppress a stupid grin as I saw her pouting at me like a five year old.

I headed for the bedroom and pulled my best pyjama out of the back of my closet. Just the best for her, of course.

I was used to sleeping in old, oversized T-shirts, but I guess you couldn`t offer that to a lady, could you?

"Here. Put these on- second door on the left is the bathroom. Oh wait!", I jumped around the corner to get her the toothbrush I had bought, when I was out for the food.

"There you go. I guessed, you wouldn`t want to share with me.", I added as I handed it to her.

She beamed. Oh... No one on earth would smile over a simple toothbrush like that.

My stomach did something funny every time she smiled like that. And every time she looked at me. And every time she touched me.

It felt like my guts would just swirl around and turn upside down. And it kinda hurt, but in a good way... I guess.

"I can`t believe, you thought of that! Thank you!", and she stroke my arm, just for a second, before she disappeared into the bathroom.

I shivered.

It took her forever to get out of there again. I had changed in the second bath and now I was running up and down the living room, like a tiger in the cage.

Had I thought of everything? What did humans need for the night?

Bed- check. Pillows, blankets- check. A bottle of water and a glass- check. Me to hold her warm- sigh...

The door closed quietly and soft footsteps made its way up to me.

I tried to seem relaxed and cool and busy. HA! Not really.

She appeared in the doorway- like an angel.

My PJ`s were far too big for her, so her hands and feet were lost somewhere in there and oh my gosh, she looked so tiny and fragile like a porcelain doll.

Her face without make up looked so much younger and so damn vulnerable, that I wanted to put her behind glass, where nobody could ever hurt or even touch her.

She was MY doll- just so you know. I didn`t think, she would like me to call her that, but luckily she couldn`t read MY mind.

I was staring and I knew it, but I couldn`t change it.

I opened my mouth and nothing came out, so I shut it again.

She started an embarrassed giggle and tried to roll up the far too long sleeves.

"You`ll fit in there, once you grow up, you know.", I managed to joke and she just kept on giggling and I loved it.

"You wanna wear one of my shirts instead? They would easily reach to your knuckles, I guess.", I added with an ironic grin and she slapped my shoulder as she passed me on her way to the bed.

"Hey, it may be a small body, but with a great mind in it!", she acknowledged me laughing and I had nothing more to say than, "I would never doubt that.".

She hopped onto the bed with her tiny naked feet and I wished, I could freeze that moment and frame this picture forever.

I had to focus hard, not to stand there with my jaw dropped, staring stupidly.

"Oh wow, this is really comfortable!", she let herself sink into the blankets.

"Uh, it feels like lying on a cloud...", her muffled voice came from somewhere lost in the pillows.

I grinned like a dumbass.

"Yeah, I know. That`s how I capture the beautiful virgins in here... you know, once they snuggle up into my bed, they never wanna leave again.", I stated seriously, but I heard her giggle continue.

"If that`s the case, where are all those women then?", she asked playfully as her head popped up from under the pillows.

I lifted one eyebrow, as if she had to know the answer, then I told her frankly, "I ate them up, of course.", and her expression was remarkable.

"Oh... eew... JANE!", and she burst into laughter.

I watched her for quite a few seconds and inhaled that image into my mind, until it hit me on the head. I loved her.

It hit me so hard, that it almost slipped out of my mouth.

I jumped a little by the thought and refused the urge to press a hand on my lips.

Her laughter had died down, as she realized that I wasn`t laughing.

"Uhm... you`re okay?", she asked, still smiling.

No. I love you.

"What? Yes. Yeah, I`m good." and I forced a smile.

"So, you`ve got anything you need for tonight?".

Maura went serious, looking around, then looking back at me.

"I guess so, yes.", she answered simply.

"Okay then. I wish you sweet dreams, sleep well and if you need anything, just ring the bell and I`ll come running." and I winked at her.

"Wait, where are you going?" she asked and I thought, she looked a little bit disappointed, but I guess it was just wishful thinking.

"Oh, I`ll stay on the couch... I`m a sleep fighter, you know. I wouldn`t want to kick you outta bed accidently. I`m just around the corner, so you`ll be safe.", I explained. Of course I lied.

I just didn`t know how to ever find a minute of sleep next to her.

Her smell was just soooo damn overwhelming, I was afraid I might not be able to control myself when I was tired... and lonely... and ...

Anyway. She nodded with a fake smile and I did the same.

"Night, Maura.", I said quietly.

"Good night, Jane.", I heard as I left the room and took a deep breath to ease my mind.

Of course I wasn`t able to sleep anyway.