2-ish Months Ago
Jane was nervous channel-surfing in her DC apartment when she heard commotion at her front door, followed by a key turning in the lock. She jumped up to help Maura with her luggage.
"Maura, hey," she said, grabbing the leather carry-on from her and tossing it on the floor. "Your flight got in early."
Maura's face lit up. "I thought you had to work late!"
"I wanted to pick you up at the airport," Jane said, pulling Maura into her arms.
"You did?" Maura was surprised to hear this, as Jane hadn't picked her up at the airport for any of her visits since the first one, when it hadn't gone so well.
Jane reached around Maura and slammed her apartment door closed, then brought both hands back to slide down Maura's back and ass and gripping the backs of her thighs. She lifted Maura onto the small table by the door where Jane kept her wallet and keys. A water glass she'd forgotten she set there days before fell to the ground and shattered, but Jane didn't care. Maura responded in the best possible way, by wrapping her legs around Jane and pulling her closer, hard enough to shake the table.
Maura laughed. "We may break this foyer table."
"Good thing I don't have a foyer," Jane said, moving Maura's head gently to the side by her ponytail. Jane leaned into her and kissed down her neck, biting with the amount of pressure she knew drove Maura wild.
Maura groaned and tightened the grip she had on Jane with her legs and felt Jane's hands slide down past the waistband of her yoga pants, tugging at them. She grabbed the wrists with a firm grip. "No, Jane, wait."
Jane pulled back a little, meeting Maura's eyes. They were still darkened with desire. "What's wrong?"
"You're always in control," Maura panted. "And as much as I love being dominated by you, I want the control this time."
Jane couldn't form words. It wasn't easy for her to relinquish control in most situations, but Maura asking for it this way had her more excited than anything else. She slid her hands back up Maura's body to rest at her hips and Maura loosened her grip with her thighs and Jane lifted her off the table.
With her feet back on solid ground, Maura put her hand on the back of Jane's neck and pulled her head down to meet her own, kissing her deeply. She pulled away sooner than Jane would have liked, tugging lightly at Jane's bottom lip with her teeth. Then she grabbed Jane's hand and dragged her across the apartment to the bedroom. They passed the guest room, which still held some of Maura's things from home, even though she was living back in her house in Boston. She liked knowing pieces of her were always with Jane in DC. The guest room still had never been slept in.
In Jane's room, Maura slowed them both down a bit with gentle kisses, while taking her time undressing her lover. She sat Jane down on the edge of the bed and took off her own shoes and yoga pants, standing out of Jane's reach. Then Maura came closer, tugging Jane's t-shirt up over her head, allowing her fingers to linger for a moment over the scar on her abdomen. She intertwined the fingers of both of her hands with Jane's hands and climbed onto the bed, her knees on either side of Jane in a mount position, then pushed back with some force so Jane was flat on her back. Maura leaned over Jane, pinning her arms above her head, and kissed her deeply. She let Jane's arms go to palm her breasts with a gentle squeeze. Jane thrust her hips up into Maura's pelvis, causing Maura to let out a gasp. She climbed off of Jane to again slow things down, raking her fingernails down the sides of Jane's torso as she got off the bed. Maura unbuttoned Jane's jeans and tugged them and her underwear off her hips and down her legs. She took a step back for a moment to admire her best friend's naked form, ready and waiting for her. She put a hand on the backs of each of Jane's strong thighs, starting at the back of the knees and sliding up, lifting Jane's legs over her shoulders as she went, so she could fit between them. Maura slid her hands up to grip Jane's hips hard, allowing her nails to bite into Jane's lower back.
"Maura, please," Jane gasped, more than ready for her.
The feeling of making Jane wait, of being in control of her desire, had Maura so turned on she almost couldn't stand it. She wouldn't make her wait any longer. She lowered her head to her lover's center and used her tongue to make Jane scream with pleasure.
—
For the rest of the day and night, Jane and Maura only left bed to get water or coffee or cereal. They spent the rest of the time exploring each other's bodies. Maura only had the three-day weekend in DC and both women were determined to make the most of it. Jane wanted to spend the entire time at home, talking and cuddling and doing other activities. But Maura wanted to go to museums and fancy dinners. Jane was willing to compromise. They spent most of Saturday lying in bed together, then got ready side by side in a comfortable silence, the way they had so many evenings while in Paris. Jane had to muster a lot of self control so she wouldn't tear off the beautiful red dress Maura put on.
"Let's just order some really good take-out," Jane suggested, not for the first time that day. "You're far too covered up in that."
"You don't like the dress?" Maura asked, sounding disappointed.
Jane tried a quick recovery. "No, no, no, Maura, the dress is gorgeous. You're gorgeous."
"I can go by myself tonight, Jane, if you would like to stay home." Maura crossed her arms over her chest and turned to leave the bathroom.
Jane put a hand on her shoulder to stop her. She pulled Maura back toward her, interlacing her fingers at the small of Maura's back, then kissed her softly. "I don't want to be anywhere that isn't with you."
"You're sure? In Paris, we went out and did things together all the time. But here, you never want to go anywhere. And when you came to Boston last month, you didn't tell anyone you were there. You didn't even see TJ. We never left my house. I'm beginning to think you don't want to be seen with me anymore.
"It isn't like that. I promise," Jane said. "I'm just new to this, is all."
"New to what?" Maura asked.
"To being out with a woman, I guess," Jane shrugged. "Dating or whatever."
"Do you not enjoy it? We spent time out together nearly every day before Paris. What has changed?"
"What's changed?" Jane laughed. "Everything. But also nothing, I guess."
"You're not making any sense, Jane," Maura sighed.
"I know." Jane moved her hands to Maura's hips and kissed her again, deeper this time. "We'll talk about it more later. I want to go out. It's gonna be fun. I can't wait to show you off to all of DC."
—
Jane didn't disappoint Maura that night at dinner, or on Sunday when they had brunch and went to a few museums. They held hands and kissed and Jane didn't look around to make sure no one was watching, at least not that Maura noticed. But she was still uneasy about Jane's feelings. Sunday evening, they walked arm in arm through the airport. Neither woman was ready to say goodbye so soon.
Jane wanted to scream. Why had they waited to get together until they lived in different places?
Maura wanted to cry. Why wouldn't Jane just come home and be with her completely?
"Guess this is it," Jane grumbled when Maura was called to board her plane. She felt like a toddler about to throw a tantrum. Nothing was fair about them not being able to be together in the way she wanted. But Maura had never been one for commitment, or even labels. She'd loved people, sure. But never in a permanent way. Jane needed more than that. She hoped one day Maura would be the one.
"It's time for me to go," Maura said softly, tears filling her eyes. She wished Jane was coming with her. But Jane was never one to make sacrifices for love. She'd been in committed relationships before, sure. But never in a way where she was willing to compromise or shout to the world she was taken. Maura needed big gestures, big declarations, more than hiding in a hotel room or apartment for a weekend every month or two. She hoped one day Jane could see that.
Jane gently wiped at Maura's tears with her thumbs and then kissed her lips softly. "Maura, I - I think I'm in love with you."
Maura pulled away in surprise. There was no doubt in her mind she was in love with Jane. She had been for years. But for some reason, Jane saying it out loud made it feel destructible. "I have to go." Maura grabbed her carry-on and walked to her gate as fast as she could. When she looked back, Jane was gone.
A/N: What's a chapter without an equal mix of smut and angst? I'm so glad I set myself up for multiple timelines in this fic. Hope y'all enjoy! Follow me on twitter, torino1389, where I'm currently live tweeting my current Rizzoli & Isles rewatch.