It was close to Christmas and a huge crane was setting up the huge tree. Some tree from Austria as Jane had learned by reading some pamphlets from the reception while Maura had put on some make-up for the day. The couple was amongst the crowd who had gathered to watch the event and Jane still wondered why they had chosen a tree from Austria. Didn't they have trees in the US as well?
She felt Maura's eyes on her and turned her head to find the green flecks among the hazel. She put her arms around the doc's shoulder and they giggled at the ohs and ahs from the crowd.
Jane gently kissed Maura's temple and they moved towards the ice rink. "How about doing some ice skating?" Jane asked and Maura shook her head. "No, I'm not good at it. I prefer to go someplace for hot chocolate."
After a bit of coaxing though they stood at the gate which led into the ice rink. "I'm a good ice skater. I used to play ice hockey when I was young." Jane stated. "I can teach you." Maura was holding onto the edge and looking scared. Jane suddenly felt guilty for making her girlfriend feel uncomfortable.
She was about to suggest that they leave when Maura abruptly pushed herself off the edge and made some ginger steps on the ice. The pilot followed her quickly. "What are you doing? Let me help you." She said and offered a hand, but Maura didn't accept it. "I'm trying to remember." The blonde said. People were passing them, and Jane almost slipped when a kid used her as buffer because it couldn't break.
"Holy… !" Jane swallowed the word crap because she didn't want to swear around the girl who couldn't be older than 5. "You have to watch were you stand Ms.!" The girl snarked at Jane who narrowed her eyes. Her brain was looking for an answer. Well, rather how she would react to this little girl when her eyes registered how Maura began to move. "I'm sorry." She apologized quickly, thinking that she couldn't snark back at a little kid. How was the poor girl supposed to learn manners if adults scolded her she thought?
Then she saw Maura skating away in elegant but still wobbly steps. "Holy crap!" she exclaimed when the doc made a small pirouette on the ice. "This is very bad language! Mum says that we are not supposed to talk like this!" the girl scolded her and skated off, obviously thinking that Jane was no good influence.
The pilot shook her head. What a crazy day she thought as she moved towards the doc who looked mighty proud and happy at herself. "No, you can't skate." Jane teased her breathlessly and giggled. "I thought I had forgotten." Maura defended herself and Jane shook her head in no. "Obviously you haven't. This was pretty cool."
Maura's eyes were gleaming, and she moved away again, getting faster and faster with every step. "Catch me!" she chuckled, and Jane dashed after her, catching up almost an entire round later.
"Maybe you should teach me how to ice skate." Jane huffed when she was able to get a hold of Maura. "Well, I can, I suppose. But I won't do it for free."
"Oh yeah. Name your price Dr. Isles." Jane challenged the doc who cocked her head to think. "Hot chocolate?"
Jane whose mind was dirtier than Maura's obviously scoffed. "Hot chocolate? Is that all? That's a piece of cake."
"I wasn't done Jane." Maura winked and skated a bit closer to whisper something into Janes ear that made her blush. Okay, Maura's mind is dirtier than mine she thought and grinned sheepishly. "How about a race instead of a lesson? The loser has to do what you just said."
"Challenge accepted." Maura said and held out her hand to seal the deal with a handshake.
"Deal!" Jane said, licking her lips. They stood next to each other. "At three. Two rounds. Who finishes first is the winner." Jane summarized the rules to an eager looking Maura. "Sure. Are you ready?"
"Sure." They glanced at each other and began counting together. At three both rushed off and Jane gave her best. Maura was a bit behind but always close enough to threaten Janes win. The first round was over and they were still almost at the same hight. When reaching the end of the second round Janes worst fear almost became true when Maura gathered a bit more speed to pass her.
The pilot also managed to find some energy reserves and finished first. She pulled her hands into the air and grinned triumphantly at Maura who was playfully boxing her into her sides.
They ended up having hot chocolate and warming in one of the cafes before returning to their hotel.
R&I
Maura was getting ready for the night at the opera when Jane rushed into the bathroom. The pilot was only wearing some socks, her underwear and a shirt which wasn't even buttoned up. "I need to put on some make-up." she excused herself as she stepped up behind Maura to apply some eyeliner. Maura stopped the work on her hair to watch Jane's face transform. Jane always only applied a small amount of make-up with a huge effect.
"Ready." Jane grinned at Maura who was unable to speak. "How could this woman be so sexy?" she thought before realizing that this was part of her new life. And how they were comfortable with each other like that. She smiled and finished her hair. Upon walking into the bedroom, she saw how Jane pulled up the pants of her suit. The brunette was humming and pushing the shirt into her pants before reaching for the jacket. Her hair was open and flowing over her shoulders.
Decent earrings were shimmering between the dark curls. Maura hurried to get dressed in time herself. Jane helped to zip up the dress, her fingers lingering in Maura's back and causing some goosebumps there. More goosebumps when Jane closed the necklace around her neck.
Maura went to check her appearance in the bathroom mirror and realized Jane leaning in the doorframe, watching her.
"I've got something for you." She said and Maura saw a box appear in her hand. "I haven't forgotten." The brunette smiled and Maura's heart melted. "6 months." Jane stated with a soft smile while Maura took the gift out of Janes hand. Maura bit her lips before falling into the brunette's arms. "Thank you." She said and kissed Jane. "I hope you like it." Jane mumbled against Maura's mouth.
They kissed again and then Maura went to carefully remove the paper to see a box appear. Too big for earrings, too small for a necklace she mused, trying to guess the content of the box.
"Open it." Jane chuckled with shining eyes. And so, the doc gingerly opened the lid and gasped. Inside the box was a watch. Decorated with tiny diamonds. And when Maura took another closer look, she realized that there was a smaller display of time in the big one.
Jane looked slightly nervous, hoping that Maura liked it. "You can put the time into the smaller watch to know what time it is where I am." She said in a mix of shy and proud. "You kept saying that you have to calculate…" Jane's voice trailed off. "And I think its..."
"Its wonderful Jane!" Maura exclaimed. "So beautiful!" she thanked the pilot again. "And you remembered…" Jane blushed. "How couldn't i? Its one of the most important dates of my life." She winked and Maura smiled.