AN: Okay, so this ended up being a bridge between last chapter and the next chapter.

Later Thursday night…

The two women were just settling down to watch a film after the day's events had passed. They both seemed to be in great spirits, though Maura was in no mood for a movie. She'd had enough of the schoolgirl behaviour and had to put a stop to it.

''Heeeeey, what was that for?'', Jane whined when Maura grabbed the remote and turned the telly off as a movie was about to start.

''I need to talk to you Jane, preferably now''

''Oh boy. History suggests nothing good comes from the words 'we need to talk''', Jane wasn't sure why she was suddenly getting sweaty, and speaking like Maura.

''That is the sort of history you know?'', Maura scoffed

''It's something right?''

''Don't confuse me Jane, we're not talking about history now, exactly the opposite actually''

''So we're talking about now?'', Jane asked.

''I believe the opposite of the past would be the future''

''Correct'', Jane smiled nervously.

''I'd like to take you out on a date tomorrow night''. Maura said in a rush, as if someone would take the words away from her if she didn't let them out. Jane's heart stopped beating. Like completely fucking stopped. She couldn't believe her ears. Had Maura Isles just asked her out on a date? It was surreal for Jane. She was looking at Maura in absolute disbelief, Maura had to ask again.

''Jane Rizzoli, would you like to go out on a date with me?'' That was even worse. Phrased like that, it might as well have been a marriage proposal. The heat in her body was rising to dangerous levels and she wouldn't put fainting past her.

Maura watched in delight. She didn't mistake Jane's silence for hesitation or a 'no', she could see the detective struggling to pull herself out of a dream she wasn't in. It might have been laughable, had Maura not been so eager for a response.

All vocabulary gone, Jane pulled Maura into her arms. She was at a loss; she wanted to go on a date with Maura so badly it seemed like a dream that it was actually happening. Part of her felt ashamed at the thought that it had been Maura who had asked her something she so desperately wanted to ask but was too chickened out to do.

''It would be an honour'', Jane finally let out, embarrassed by how overly sentimental she was getting. Her eyes were watery and she had the biggest grin on earth. Maura blushed at the effect she had on Jane.

Friday morning brought Jane out of sleep to an empty bed, worse still she soon realized – an empty house. She had gone to bed elated over the progress she had made with her best friend (soon to be more), but now said best friend was nowhere to be seen. The 'detective', belatedly stumbled upon a note Maura had left right beside the house phone.

Jane Rizzoli, thank you for introducing love to me. I feel slightly insane being this much in love with someone I haven't even pursued a relationship with. Maybe it's crazy, I don't know, and I don't care either. I wanted to do something special, 'and different' for you tonight. Someone will be there to pick you up at 7pm. It's unfortunate we have to spend the day apart. I'll be most delighted to see you tonight. Just put on your smart usual. I love you Jane, a whole lot! Maura.

Jane was grinning like an idiot. Boy was she glad she was alone. It was certainly a face even she didn't want to see. ''smart usual?'', she asked herself. ''that woman definitely has a way with her words. What the fuck is smart usual'', she continued to herself.

The day had hardly begun but Jane knew it was going to equate to a day in hell. No Maura! That thought alone was dreadful in its own right. She was going on her first date with the one and only Dr Maura Isles. That was a privilege many would die to have to have. And she had no clue what this date entailed; neither did she know what to put on. It really was supposed to be a fun experience, but it was proving to be horrific in every way possible.

She stupidly tried some breathing techniques she had seen Maura do years back, it was funny even to her. But it at least sustained her long enough to make cereal and take a bath. She knew she would shower again before she left, but she really needed to while up time with a non-destructive activity.

After submerging herself in all sorts of bath oils for at least an hour, she fished out her pruned body from the water. She hadn't spoken to her mother in two days and she didn't want that thought interrupting her date, so she decided to get it out of the way. She lay in bed in one of her over-sized tee's and dialled for Angela.

''Janie is that you?'', Angela bellowed. Jane wondered why her mother was always in a state of panic. Was it some kind of parent thing? She honestly couldn't understand.

''Yes Ma'', Jane answered back, shaking her head to herself.

''Oh it's so good to hear from you. It's been days Jane. I hope everything is fine. How is Maura?''. Angela always got things out like vomit. She seemed to not know how to take it easy. Jane was used to it anyway, and often just picked one question to answer from the many. She knew anyway that the unanswered ones would be asked again.

''Everything is ok Ma, it's only been two days since we talked, geez''

True to form, Angela repeated, ''how is Maura?''

''She's alright'', Jane blushed to herself at the mention of Maura.

''Are things ok between you too?''. Nosey- that, Angela was.

Jane let out a long sigh.

''What is it Jane? You can tell me you know''

''She asked me on a date tonight. I'm so nervous Ma'', Jane confided.

''Awwwww, baby'', Angela squealed. ''that's so sweet. Where are you going?''

''I have no idea. Can you believe it?''

''What?'', Angela was starting to sound panicked again.

''She asked me last night, and I woke up this morning and she was gone. She left a note saying someone would pick me up tonight, and she said to dress my smart usual'', Jane rolled her eyes to no one in particular.

''Your smart usual?''

''That's exactly what I said!'', Jane answered excitedly. She was happy she wasn't the only one confused by that.

''She probably just means a nice shirt and some jeans'', Angela helped.

''Well I hope so. I don't wanna look like a jerk on our first date''

''You wouldn't Jane. Don't act like you don't know Maura. She loves you just like that''

''That's the next problem Ma. Part of me feels like I don't know her at all''

''Jane!'', Angela admonished.

''Do you know what job she was doing here?''

''No, I never asked. You never said when we talked before either''

''She was working at a school, with children. You should have seen her Ma. It was so beautiful how they all loved her and she was playing with them. It was SO beautiful Ma'', Jane repeated, near tears already. She hated her emotional side.

''Oh Jane, that's wonderful''

''And her house, it's so different.'', Jane continued. ''It has all these pictures with her and the kids. And antique stuff. She doesn't even wear heels anymore. She has like three pairs only!'', Jane shouted the last part like it was a sin against mankind.

''What happened shook her so much Jane. It's probably why she changed so much. It was all too much. We had each other here in Boston, but she was all alone, despite the fact that she is the one who left. I can see why she would change so much. But her heart is still the same Jane, don't forget that.''

''I won't'', Jane cried. ''I love her so much Ma. I don't want to mess this up. And that scares me so much''

Angela was astonished at how Jane was opening up to her. It meant the world to the elder Rizzoli. ''you won't mess up Jane, I know you.''

''Thanks Ma. I am going to just spend the day relaxing and trying to guess what Maura has in store. I will call you soon ok. We'll probably be coming back in a week I suppose.''

''Ok honey. Thank you for calling. Take care of yourself alright, and Maura too. Tell her I said hello''

''Ok, bye''

''Bye'', they both hung up.

Talking to Angela about Maura's job just reminded the brunette about the envelope she had received from the kid at the school the previous day. She had placed it in her pocket and completely forgotten about it. She located her dirty clothes and pulled the envelop out. She stared at it for a while, as if waiting for it to tell her what was inside. When that didn't happen, obviously, she hesitantly opened it. She wasn't sure why she felt a tad scared to see what was inside. It was just a little something from a small kid, it didn't have to be such a big deal – right?

Jane pulled out a hard piece of paper, coloured red inside with a water colour. The paper had been cut into the shape of a heart, but she only held half of it. It was torn into half and the detective had no idea what to make of it. She flipped over the back, where there were a few words in untidy child-like writing.

This is the half you took with you. Now you are here. Can you give it back.

The brunette stared at these very confusing words for long moments. She couldn't understand the sentiment. After a short while she put it back in the envelop and decided she'd show Maura and hopefully get an explanation from there.

More time on her side- she called Frost and Korsak. They exchanged a few words then she called her brothers. Those phone calls didn't tide her for a long enough time, so she plopped onto the couch to drown into a really time spender – television. She watched sport, comedies, a couple of movies, and it was nearly 6pm. ''time to get ready'', she told herself.

She nearly scrubbed herself to death. It wasn't clear to her why it suddenly felt like she was going to be vetted. Nonetheless, she cleaned the best she could. After careful deliberation, and a slight headache, she put on a pair of dark blue jeans, a burgundy shirt, and blue converse. She eliminated the bag on last thought, opting for a wallet in her pocket, as per usual. Her black curls where falling down her shoulders and she had on burgundy coloured earrings. Little make up, eye liner, and lip gloss, and she was ready to go. This was as 'smart usual' as she got, so she figured that's what Maura had been referring to. It didn't help with the nerves though.

Before she could pull herself together and go through a round of self-pep-talk, a driver arrived in a black Mercedes to pick her up. She locked up, took a deep breath in, and jumped into the car. The night marked the beginning of what she was soon to coin ''Jane and Maura''. She didn't know where the journey would end, but she knew where to start. Whatever happened that night, she knew she would be glad to be with Maura, and the love they had for each other would suffice for any short fallings.

AN: So for those like me who love Avicii, Wake me up. you saw a line in the last paragraph there from the song. Listen to it if you haven't, its awesome.