And here's another chapter for y'all. I've got up to chapter 10 written and it's still coming. I may get chapter 8 up tonight as well, but I want to give it another read through first.

I am bringing in a character for this chapter that will be referred to in the next two chapters as well to help push Jane's insecurities regarding the duo's relationship just a little further. Part of me feels a little unsure of Jane's personality in this chapter, but I think it wasn't portrayed too badly.

Enjoy.

It had turned out to be the weekend from hell, Jane decided as she collapsed on the couch Tuesday morning. She didn't even care if she made it to the bed or not. And the worst part of the weekend was that Maura had been called away to D.C. and Jane had to make do with a couple rushed phone calls and no known return time.

"Damn Feds," she growled as she curled up. Then, with a sigh, she got up. "Fuck this I'm going to Maura's. If I'm gonna end up passing out on a couch, it's gonna be a comfy one!" Grabbing some things, Jane left her apartment again.

There was an unknown vehicle with rental tags in the driveway, making Jane bristle with caution and anger as she parked and grabbed her bag. Walking up to the door, she contemplated whether she should knock or not until she decided if Maura happened to be home, and she was going to sulk over not being called if she was, it would be impolite of her to walk in unannounced if she had a guest over, which was the only explanation for the unknown car.

So she knocked, only to have the door answered by not Maura.

"Hello," Jane told Ian with a growl.

"Ah, Jane, it's good to see you. I'm afraid Maura's not here at the moment," Ian told her, though he moved to let her in.

"I'm well aware of that," Jane told him, moving to the living room so that she could collapse on the couch with a grunt. "What are you doing here if you know she's not here?"

"I called her when I arrived last night, and she told me how to get in."

Jane made a mental note to make sure Maura changed her security codes, and anything else she could think of that could keep Ian out in the future.

"I'm surprised to see you here, actually. Maura mentioned a falling out when I saw her a couple months ago; though I don't know much about it I'm afraid."

Jane made some noise to let him know she heard, and Ian seemed to get the message because he mentioned something about a few more hours of sleep and disappeared upstairs to, she presumed, Maura's room. Her eyes were closed, but she couldn't summon sleep anymore knowing that Ian was here.

"Fuck," she growled, grabbing her bag and going to the guest room as she grabbed her phone and called Maura. She heard a sleepy hello and felt a little bad for waking her, but then remembered Ian. "Sorry to wake you, but I found an Ian in your house."

"Oh God," Maura said, sounding very awake now. "I was going to call you, but I knew you were busy with the case. He's there for supplies and then he'll be gone, Jane."

"So don't do anything rash," Jane growled, knowing that was what Maura wasn't saying. When she didn't hear anything, she knew she was right. "Fine, I'll be… hospitable."

"If it makes you feel better, I will be getting on a plane in a couple of hours and I'll be home soon," Maura told her.

"I want to tell you that I don't care if you ever come back," Jane mumbled as she sank into the guest bed, "especially since Ian has decided he has liberties with your room." Maura made a noise that couldn't bode well for the man, and Jane smiled. "However, I can't wait to see you again. It's been a horrible time without you now that I've gotten used to having you around again."

Jane could hear Maura's smile as she said, "I've missed you too, Jane."

"Good. Hurry home, okay?"

"I will." Jane was about to hang up, but she heard Maura yawn out an "I love you, Jane" before she could. "I love you too, Maura. Call me when you land, whether you need a ride or not."

"Get some sleep," Maura told her with a laugh. "I'll be sure to call."

Maura hung up first, so Jane ended the call as well and set the phone off to the side. She stared at it for a moment before glancing at the door to the rest of the house with a frown. She knew Maura wasn't lying when she said she loved her, or that she was going to call her. And it was just like Maura to not want to call and interrupt a case. But this was Ian, and he mentioned them seeing each other during the other woman's time away from home.

"It won't do me any good worrying now," Jane told herself before rolling over and closing her eyes. She couldn't smell Maura on this bed, because Maura hasn't slept in here for a long time, and it bothers her enough that she turns over and stares at the phone again. "I can't bother her now."

If anything, she'll make Maura come back here and lay down with her for a nap when she came home.

The nap never happened, because when Maura came home she was faced with two Rizzoli's and Ian all standing there in some kind of stalemate.

"Should I ask?" Maura asked. Ian broke free first, smiling at her and stepping towards her. Maura raised a hand and looked at Jane and Angela. Jane broke next, and Maura had hoped she would also greet her with a smile but was disappointed. No matter, she could fix that, she decided, hanging up her jacket and walking over to Jane to wrap her arms around her. She felt the brunette tense up for a moment before giving in. "Now, can you tell me what's going on?"

"When you called to say you were on your way home from the airport, Ma was coming in so I told her you were gonna be home soon. She wanted to make a big early dinner and get my brother's over here to welcome you home," Jane explained, though her voice lacked any enthusiasm. "Ian told us we didn't have to, because we were guests, and he'd take care of it so we didn't have to bother."

"I see…" Maura said before turning to Ian. "The Rizzoli's are family, Ian. If anyone is a guest it is you." She looked at Angela, who was grinning like a fool at the sight of the two girls hugging. "Angela, I think having an early dinner would be lovely."

"I'll get started right away, then," Angela said, shooting Ian a look that told him to get out of the kitchen, which he did quickly. "Janie, why don't you help Maura get her luggage upstairs and unpacked, hm?"

Jane nodded, though Maura saw the look of distaste she had when she turned to get the suitcases. Maura took the small carry on, because it was the only thing Jane would let her carry, and led the way to her room. She was glad the bed was made, though she was quick to take the bag Ian had left at the foot of the bed downstairs and to the guest room, ignoring Ian's look as she walked back upstairs with Jane's bag to find Jane sitting in the lounge chair in the corner.

"Do I need to buy a completely new bed?" Maura asked her softly, half joking to try and get Jane to smile a little as she pulled off the bedding to put on a clean set. As fragile as their relationship was, she wasn't going to do anything to compromise it.

"No," Jane answered, watching her. "He said you two had run into each other while you were away."

"We did, for a little while. I was actually surprised when I found myself wanting to move on rather than stay with him. It was nice to see a familiar face after so long, though, that I hesitated to leave," Maura admitted. Jane grunted, still unwilling to shift her mindset, and Maura chose to leave it be while she took the sheets to the laundry room, a little glad that it was accomplished without being seen since Ian was being put to work by the elder Rizzoli.

When she walked back into the bedroom, Jane had gotten out her spare bed sheets and had started putting them on the bed. Maura moved in to help immediately.

"I'm sorry for not telling you immediately," Maura said softly.

"Don't be," Jane mumbled. "It's not your fault I decided to come by at five in the morning, or whatever time it was that early in the morning. I don't know when he came in, but you are always self-conscious about calling me when I'm waist deep in a case and close to cracking it so it doesn't surprise me that you didn't call."

"Still-" Maura stopped when Jane shot her a look, and looked away ashamed. When she felt Jane's arms around her, she relaxed and leaned into her.

"Look, I'm an idiot and still a little shaky about pretty much everything when it comes to you. It's not your fault and I'm trying to deal with it," Jane told her. "Besides, don't think I didn't see how you handled everything down there before. You made sure to keep him at a distance and came to me, though I was afraid you weren't going to at first even if you did make him stay back."

Maura looked up at Jane, trying to decide what part of Jane's statements to attack first. She decided to start from the beginning. "Jane, you're not an idiot. Or, if you are, then you're my idiot and I wouldn't change you. And to be honest, I'm still insecure about all this as well, because I'm afraid that I'm going to do something that will trigger another relapse with you and I'll end up losing you for good. As for what happened downstairs… I'm only disappointed that I didn't move to you sooner."

Jane hummed and kissed Maura's temple. "You're really too good to me."

"Yes, but I could honestly say the same about you. Though, right now it's a little shaky," she teased with a wink and a bump at the waist. Jane chuckled and slowly pulled away, only for Maura to turn and step forward, arms lazily going to Jane's shoulders and around her neck as she pushed herself against her. "Jane, you don't doubt that I love you, do you?"

Jane sighed and shrugged, hands going to Maura's waist. "A little, sometimes… I'm still struggling with the idea that you could love me, you know?"

"I thought so," Maura said. "Would you mind if I kissed you?" Jane shook her head, and tilted her head down as though to meet Maura halfway and Maura wasted no time in closing the distance. She kept the kiss soft and explorative, not wanting Jane to feel pressured with it. But after a couple seconds, she felt Jane add more pressure to her lips and her arms pulling her closer, pulling a moan from her.

That seemed to scare Jane a little, because she ended the kiss and lifted her head. They kept their physical proximity though, and Maura used that to study Jane's expression, which looked almost surprised.

"Jane?"

"Wow, Maura…" Jane whispered. "Fuck, why haven't we done that before?" Maura, having not been expecting that response, giggled. "Hey, it's not funny!" Jane exclaimed, even as she grinned. "I love you. And I want to do that again later, but as much as I don't like Ian I wouldn't leave him to my mother alone for hours."

"It would be rude to lock ourselves away while there are others here," Maura agreed. "Though, when your family leaves later tonight I wouldn't say no to locking ourselves away." She was awarded another chuckle as they pulled away. "I love your smile, Jane."

"Then, hopefully someday it will be a little more permanent," Jane commented. "Shall we go face the lions?"