Author's note: thank you for the reviews; no worries, every couple argue for more or less fair reasons.

Chapter thirty-seven – Apologies

"What happened to your carbs diet?" Raspy, timid voice. Almost inaudible. Apologetic.

Looking down at her plate of lobster settled on her lap, Maura shrugged and cleared her voice. "I don't have any match tomorrow since it is the Santo Domingo excursion so I indulge into something different. For once..." Same timid voice, full of uncertainty and regrets.

Lunchtime. The beach was packed and noisy, not really appropriate for a personal talk of some sort. A game of beach volley had just started a few feet away and the cheers of the small crowd covered – from time to time – the conversations going on around. Yet there they were: Maura gorging herself on seafood on her deckchair as Jane had finally showed up after an absence of several hours.

The Italian sat down Indian style in the sand by her partner and held out to her a small bag that wore the colors of the Club Med. She made a face – unsure, uncomfortable – then rolled her eyes.

"This is for you." Pause. Timidly, she looked down at her lap as the honey blonde opened the present. "I couldn't find a proper ring. I mean they have some but you aren't the dolphin type and rainbow wouldn't match much all of your outfits either so..."

A bracelet. A thin, brown leather bracelet. Basic. One that perfectly settled on her wrist as Jane tied it carefully.

"I hope you like it."

Grin. Silly grin. If she had had a mirror to see her reflection at this exact moment, Maura would have probably died of shame for looking a tad stupid; ridiculously in love and staring like a dummy at the jewel that was now on her wrist, the leather contrasting with her shyly suntanned complexion. She bit her lower lip and nodded vehemently.

"I do. I like it a lot... Thank you." One, two three. She looked up and finally locked her eyes with Jane's after a way too long moment of pain. Quiet kiss on her lips. "Thank you very much."

A shade of pink rushed up the detective's cheeks as she nervously began to play with the sand. She shrugged – looked aside – and sighed heavily before shaking her head to nobody but herself.

"I'm sorry for being an ass. Yes, you are a control freak when I am just... The queen of mess... But I should – and will – make an effort because I don't see why you should have to bear with it here."

Jane was sincere. Once Maura had left their room – slamming the door – she had tried to focus back on the map of Santo Domingo but guilt had slowly crept in and paid off. First, she had cleaned up and tidied up her clothes. Then she had rushed to the boutique only to find herself not knowing what to do, what to buy. Sure flowers could do the trick again but if it went on, the resort would be left without any of them in their garden.

No. She needed something that would last and remain for a while. If not just forever.

"We are both stressed. You don't need to apologize. I overreacted myself. I..." Sigh. Piece of lobster in hand, the medical examiner frowned and pursed her lips as if fighting with words that didn't manage to come out and yet burnt her throat. "It isn't easy."

There. She had said it. Without any further explanation, it remained a bit blurry but at least now she wouldn't come backwards. It was impossible. They needed to speak. She needed to speak, to say how she really felt if she wanted to give a chance to their relationship.

"I... I am a bit scared." Pause, shrug. Panic as she saw Jane's face turn livid. "I am apprehensive about coming back to Boston at the end of the week."

It hit the brunette like a ton of bricks. At no moment had she assumed that her partner was going through the same patch of doubts and uncertainties. Taken aback – troubled – she frowned and tried to think about a detail she would have missed yet she didn't find any. Maura had seemed perfectly fine, joyful and serene.

Jane felt bad. First her feelings and now her insecurities. Would she ever be able to read through the honey blonde at some point? What a bad partner she was, incapable of seeing things that she should have no issue whatsoever to notice.

"I might have... Had a bad dream about it too. And... It might have consequences on my current stress level as well." Pause. Scan of her surroundings. She was still alive. The earth hadn't opened in two nor had she been dragged into the sea by a tsunami. No, nothing. Then why did she dread so much talking about this? "I know it's only a dream, I'm not stupid. But..." But what? She sighed. "I can't help it."

The cheers coming from the volleyball game made them jump of surprise. Slightly. The three vacations were congratulating each other for the win, jumping around ecstatically. Jane smiled at the scene.

She didn't want any of this to cease. The joy, the lightness of the days. It was sweet, so much better than a stressful week at the BPD. She loved her job but it made her feel exhausted. At every single level. Physically, emotionally.

Sigh. A heavy one. "I love you, Maura. I really do. Maybe it took me years to realize it but what is done is done and anyway I can't come back on it so what's the point?" Don't be so nervous, Rizzoli. It's Maura. Maura. "I've always had a hard time thinking about the future and planning things. I hate that. I don't know why... But I want this – us – to work out. I'll do my best yet I know anything can happen. I... Jeez, what a team we make. You should have told me you were scared."

Shrug. "I am not very good at communicating with people who aren't dead yet. Not that it means I want you to die, of course. If you could wait for a while before it to happen, that would be nice."

Jane laughed and stole a piece of lobster from the tray in an implicit attempt to close the argument and leave it behind once and for all.

"You'll be there for me, won't you?" Her serious tone was justified yet she regretted it. She knew the answer. It was obvious. The mere fact of asking was ridiculous.

"Of course, I will. I have always been here for you and will always be." Pause. Long one. "However, if you feel like eating something, I suggest you to order your very own dish. I am starving. Stop stealing my food!"

Gasp. Falsely offended, Jane pursed her lips – crossed her arms – and pouted. "That's all I get for a bracelet? Really?"

A peaceful smile lit up Maura's features. Without a word, she discarded the tray and bent over to capture her partner's lips in a deep kiss. A warm feeling embraced her, stirred up moans and quiet sighs as Jane's arms passed around her waist protectively.

"No... This is what you get from me. And probably more once you are done with your lunch." Sultry voice mode: activated.

And cold shower. Literally. Their gasps of surprise died under the unexpectedly cold water they received straight on their heads before it sliding down their bodies in a thousand drops. Miranda burst out laughing, bucket in hand.

"It's a hot day, girls. Don't make the temperature rise like that or we'll have no choice but to take you to the ER for spontaneous combustion."

Before they had time to react, the Chief of the Village had walked away; balancing joyfully the empty bucket in her hands.

Baffled, Jane and Maura remained still for a long minute. Then – slowly, as if the world had resumed its revolution – the medical examiner grabbed her bag-now-turned-into-a-full-watering-can and proceeded to let the water run out of it.

"It is not that I don't have a sense of humor, Jane... But really...?"

The detective pursed her lips and grabbed a bath towel to dry herself. "Oh, it's not just you... It's not just you, Maur'. Believe me."

If she weren't afraid to be put in the paranoia category, Jane would have wondered if the bucket of water hadn't been a request from her BPD colleagues. This was definitely their kind of humor if she dared to define it as one at all. Almost twenty years in the house and she knew their pranks by heart for her being their target most of the time unfortunately.

Maura nodeed. "Good thing I put my cell phone in a waterproof poof." After a close inspection, the item turned out to be intact. She smiled.

"Wish I could say the same about mine..." Yet thankfully the device was still working, probably somewhat protected by the jean fabric of the brunette's shorts.

If it weren't for the landscape and the impressive amount of activities, Jane would have said that the Club Med was a pure nightmare. Especially for a couple.

They never had a minute for themselves and between the crazy signs dance and the pranks, she was pretty certain that she was paying for something she had done wrong at some point in the past.

Karma was a bitch and would always be. Punta Cana was the alive proof of the whole thing.