Chapter 36 :

Epilogue :

The next day Jane woke up around 10 AM and after taking a few minutes to allow her eyes to get used to the sun light slightly turned her head only to find Maura laying on her belly, the sheets pulled down on her thighs.

Rolling on her side gently lifting her tank top Jane started wander her hands on Maura's lower back where the words "Property of Jane Rizzoli " was marked deep into her flesh. Marveling at the little piece of art Jane couldn't believe that someone as rational as Maura would actually do such an impulsive thing. Roaming her fingers on Maura's back Jane could barely believe that Maura was now officially living in Boston, that they would never have to worry about not having enough time ever again.

"You're not planning of taking advantage of me in my sleep are you?"Maura mumbled her arms folded under her pillow and her eyes still closed.

"Actually I was just looking at the wonderful tattoo you got down there." Jane smiled sliding her hand in Maura's PJ's slightly squeezing her ass.

"So do you think it's real?" Slowly opening her eyes seeing Jane's beautiful face Maura suddenly realized that was she was about see that smile every morning and every night for the rest of her life.

"It looks real, but you're the most rational woman I ever meant and that marking your flesh with my name seems a bit our of character."

"Well I think I changed a lot since we met, I'm more adventurous and more spontaneous, don't you like the new me?"Maura pouted rolling on her back.

"Yes I do but I fell in love with you just the way you are but I must say that I love your spontaneity, speaking of which do we have plans today?"Sliding her hands under Maura's top wandering her fingers on her soft skin Jane was heartbroken knowing she would have to back to work the next day.

"Considering you're going back to work tomorrow I was thinking we could stay in bed and enjoy ourselves."

"I'm sorry about that, but you know I have taken a lot of free and sick days to come visit you so I have to be careful If I want us to be able to go away for Christmas."

"I know, don't worry about it. I start working in two weeks anyway, I will use my free time to get more acquainted with your mother."

"I'm sure she would love that." Kissing Maura tenderly Jane knew that today marked the start of a new chapter in their relation and that learning to live with each other would certainly be a challenge. Luckily for the couple if there was something Maura had thought Jane was to be more patient and understanding and the Detective was determined to use those new skills to make sure the transition was as smooth as posible.

About a month later after only a week as SVU's new chief medical examiner Maura was still trying to get used to work with living victims. Working at homicides her job was easy : she performed autopsies and forensic analysis. Unfortunately working with SVU was slightly different. Obviously most of her victims were dead but some of them weren't and in those cases her job consisted in processing evidences which including rape kits and reading inglorious details on how victims were sexually assaulted or tortured. As excited as this new challenge was for Maura it was also excruciating. Obviously she had performed autopsies on raped or tortured victims before but helping living victims was something she wasn't prepared for. Listening to their testimonies, seeing the marks on their skins was something that make her sick to a point she could barely allow Jane to touch her.

That night Maura came home around 11pm after finally closing her first case. A serial rapist had kidnapped and raped at least 6 women, drugging them and releasing them in the street once he was done. The case was particularly hard because the perp didn't leave any physical evidences, no DNA, Prints or fiber. Unfortunately he underestimated his last victim who bite him before escaping and Maura was able to match the DNA from the victim's clothes to someone in the system. Unfortunately for over a week Maura had to process every single piece of clothes and swaps that was brought to her, picturing every single details of those women's nightmare as she read their statements.

Stepping in their appartement, taking her shoes off, walking towards the couch all Maura wanted was to rush in Jane's comforting arms.

"I heard you finally caught the basterd. Congratulations."Wrapping her arm around Maura kissing the top of head Jane could see how exhausted she was after working that case non stop for two entire weeks.

"Yes we got the DNA result this afternoon, but I didn't do anything but processing it. The last victim bite him and it's thanks to her that we caught him."Slightly shaking her head buried in Jane's chest listening to her heart beat Maura was finally able to relax after two weeks of having nightmares.

"From what I heard she fought like a tiger, she's a fighter I'm sure she's going to get through this. Now what I like us to do is go to bed so I can help you relax , you deserve it."Gently kissing Maura's neck innocently placing her hand on her thigh Jane was hoping that after 2weeks of not being able to enjoy her Maura would have enough strength for a night of passion.

"Not tonight Jane. I'm exhausted." Maura objected pushing her away.

"Don't worry I'll do all the heavy lifting." Pulling Maura back against her Jane wasn't willing to let Maura push her away, not tonight.

"Damn it Jane!Do you ever think about something other than sex!"Pushing Jane away more violently this time Maura bounced out off the couch and ran towards their bedroom.

"Maura!"Rolling her eyes as she followed Maura into their bedroom Jane started to think that working at SVU might have been the worse idea Maura ever had.

"Just go away, you can sleep on the couch tonight!"Maura hollered throwing a blanket and pillow in Jane's face.

"No, I am not sleeping on the couch. I'm going to sleep in our bed, in your arms where I belong. I'm sorry for being so insensitive. I know how hard it must be to work with SVU." Sitting on the edge of the bed her hand on Maura's shoulder Jane hated herself for not being more supportive.

"It is. I have worked with raped victims before but they were all dead. That's why I became a Medical Examiner Jane, because I'm not good with living victims. Now my victims are alive and I had to perfect swaps and blood work on them and listen to them telling their story, over and over." Curled in fetal position shaking from head to toe Maura was unable to get those images from her head.

"I know, working with living victims hearing their testimony rather than reading about it or writing it yourself during the autopsy are two different things. It's like the horror of what they experience is thrown right at your face, there is no way of distancing yourself from it. " Jane replied snaking herself around her.

"Exactly, and I don't know if I can do this Jane. I don't know if I'm strong enough. Look at me I can't even let you touch me."

"Hey, look at me. You're the strongest person I know and most importantly you're the best ME I know. Those women need you. It's going to take time for you and I can't tell you that you're going to get used to it because you won't, but it does become a little less hard when you see the results of your work. "

"But look what it has done to our relationship already. We haven't had sex since I started working there."

"You just need time to adjust and to learn to distance yourself. I can wait okay?"Jane replied kissing Maura's cheek.

"Thank you. I love you." Maura replied closing her eyes feeling the last bit of energy she had leaving her body.

"I love you too. Just sleep we'll talk about this later."Kissing Maura's shoulder Jane was determined not to let her new job come between them and to be as supportive as possible.

About 5 months later things were much better. After struggling for a couple of months to adjust Maura had started to distance herself from her job while still caring about her victims and was now able to have a perfectly healthy and normal sexual life with Jane. It was now the middle of october and after working on two particularly hard cases Jane and Maura decided to treat themselves with a few days off, the first since Maura had moved to Boston. After 6 months of living together and 8 and a half months of dating Jane and Maura things were as good as they possibly could. After a period of adjustment they successfully managed to find the perfect balance between their time consuming jobs and their relationship. Obviously things were a little hard at first, living together after being single for so long was a real challenge for the two women especially considering they had only one bathroom and that their apartment was so small. Luckily neither of them were willing to let small details get in the way of their relationship.

So on that cold saturday Jane decided to take Maura to a place very special for both of them, to the place where it had all started : Boston annual fair.

"Oh Jane, I was hoping you would bring me back here." Clapping in her hand, overexcited Maura jumped out of the car wearing comfortable boots and a pair of very tight jeans.

"Well I figured since we had our first date here we should come back every year." Jane teased.

"Date?So you were already planning on seducing me when you took me here the first time?" Maura frowned wrapping her arms around Jane's waist.

"Oh yeah, I also had planned of taking advantage of you that night but you fell asleep on me."

"Very funny Detective."Poking Jane's belly Maura was a bit embarrassed because even if she knew Jane was joking, she actually wasn't and had fell in love with Jane long before she admitted it to her.

So that afternoon Jane and Maura did all the funny things that completely rocked Maura's world the first time : They played with bump cars. ate lots of candies, Jane even won another enormous bear for her.

Around 6 O'clock Jane invited Maura on the big wheel which offered the best view in town. Once at the top the wheel suddenly stopped.

"Why are we stopping and how come we're the only one on this wheel?Are you sure it's safe?"Maura replied grabbing Jane's arms a bit scared.

"It's perfectly safe. We're the only one here because I rented the whole thing just for you and we stopped because I asked for it. God I think I should have considered it twice before deciding to do this here." Jane said smiling trying not to look down.

"Do what?"

"This." Jane replied taking a deep breath as she pulled a small blue box off her jacket.

"Oh God..."Swallowing hard, unable to believe it Maura also wished that Jane had done this on solid ground.

"Maura, I love you. I don't know when I fell in love with you but I knew from the first e-mail you sent me that you sent me that you were different from anyone I knew. By the time we finished our first chat after talking for hours I realized that I had just met someone who was going to have a really special spot in my life. For the first time in my life I started to talk about my feelings, my fears without feeling ashamed or weak. Maybe being behind my screen helped me, maybe not seeing your face and your reaction helped me being more comfortable, I don't know. All I know is that you saved my life and I know I will be for ever in your debt for that. Actually I think I was born again the day we started talking. I love you Maura, I'm madly, insanely, unreasonably in love with you. Not only you're the woman I want to spend the rest of my life with but you're also my best friend. You're the person I think about telling first when I argue with my mother or when we caught a break in a case. I don't have a lot of certainties, but I know that you and I are going to spend the rest of our lives together, and that no matter what challenges or crises we might encounter we're going to face them together. Would you do me the honor of marrying me?" Jane muttered opening the box revealing the most exquisite ring Maura ever saw in her life.

"Yes, I will be honored to be your wife Jane."Rushing her lips against Jane's her heart suddenly started to race in her chest.

"God I love you so much." Feeling the tears running down her cheeks as she put the ring around Maura's finger Jane was overwhelmed.

"I love you too."Feeling the ring around her finger felt something she never experience before : she felt complete.

Sitting there for another hour the two women never felt so complete in their entire lives. Looking back both of them had always been lonely unable to connect with anyone until they met each other. As different as it was they were immediately drawn towards each other, to a point where they almost lost themselves into each other. Thinking over the past years they couldn't believe how a simple email had changed their lives for ever. When Maura started to email Jane the only thing she wanted was to help Jane because she like Korsak and wanted to help him. But the more they talked online and over the phone the more Maura fell in love with Jane without even noticing it. She quickly found herself unable to sleep without hearing Jane's voice and waking up thinking about Jane first even before opening her eyes. Jane on the other hand never suspected she would found in love with someone online, especially after what had happened with Hoyt. Thinking about it Jane was grateful they met online because she felt safe, able to confide into her without seeing the look of Maura's face as she was telling her about what Hoyt had put her through. Talking over the phone allowed her to talk freely without even feeling judged, not that Maura was though.

Some people say that internet doesn't bring people together, that it just allows superficial relationship to exist, that because you can be who ever you want online you're never really yourself. Well for Maura and Jane being exactly who ever they wanted to be without feeling judged allowed them to be themselves for the first time in their lives. Maura and Jane's relationship was born online but was the more real and intense and honest relationship they ever had in their life and after 6 months of living together their love was still growing and they were still discovering new things about each other almost everyday. Yes when they met online 14 months ago Jane had just been through the most traumatic even of her life and never though she would survive it. And today exactly a year after meeting Maura for the first time face to face she knew she would never be able to live without her, that not only she had saved her life but that she was the reason she was hanging on life everyday. On the other hand after a life of being as lonely as a wild wolf Maura had finally not only meet her better half but also a solid group of friends and a new family that loved her very much and who immediately welcome her among them.

Yes thinking about how their relationship was born Jane and Maura could barely believe how something as virtual and unreal as a simple email had lead them to the most intense and passionate relationship they ever had in their entire life and looking back they wouldn't have done it any other way.

Alright guys I hope you're not disappointed with this end. I wanted to write about Maura's issue getting used to work with SVU and I wanted Jane to propose and to end this story right there...I didn't want to drag this story for another 30 chapters. I think it was time to end it(leaving with a big question : is Maura's tattoo real?I'll let it to your imagination!) Please check unconditional support and broken trust my other new stories!

Ps: I feel that my Rizzles muse is slowly abandoning me and I think I might take a break after closing the two other stories if I ever finish them.:(

Thanks for your support!You guys rock!