Hey Readers,

I have some good news, which is that I had time to write this update.

The bad news (for you) is that I'm on my way to Cuba for about two weeks so you won't get another update for a while! Enjoy this one though! Very quickly edited...


Maura had to fall asleep alone for the first time in a long time. She quickly decided that she no longer liked sleeping in her comfortable, king-sized bed by herself. Jane had to continue following leads for a case and ended up working late into the night. Maura donned on the cotton BPD T-shirt that Jane had given her and got into bed wearing only that and a pair of lace panties. It wasn't outside of the norm to have Jane stumble through the front door in the early hours of the morning and fall asleep on the couch or in the spare room. What Maura wasn't anticipating was waking up to hear Jane fumble quietly through the house and into her bedroom. She stirred awake more at the sound of Jane removing layers of her clothes and tossing the items into the laundry baskets in Maura's closet. Jane cussed slightly as she stubbed her toe on her way to the washroom, but eventually, Jane pulled the comforters up and slid into bed behind Maura.

Maura hummed contentedly as Jane wrapped an arm around Maura's middle and pulled her into her chest, embracing her from behind. Maura lazily reached behind herself to touch Jane, where she discovered that Jane too was wearing only a t-shirt and underwear. She let her hand caress from Jane's hip down her thigh and then Jane tucked their legs together and Maura enjoyed the feeling of their warm skin pressing together.

"Mm, I missed you," Maura mumbled as she reached to pull Jane's hand from her stomach, to her mouth for a kiss, and then held Jane's hand to her heart. Jane grumbled slightly, kissed Maura's shoulder and nuzzled into Maura's hair to kiss the exposed skin of her neck. Maura tilted her head deeper into the pillow to give Jane more access and Jane continued to sleepily kiss Maura's neck. In Maura's hazy state, she enjoyed the feeling and pressed her backside more firmly into Jane with a hum of approval. Jane's hand drew from Maura's heart down to her hip and down the outside of her thigh.

"You're so beautiful," Jane mumbled, also half asleep, before her hand drew back up the inside of Maura's thigh, back over her hip bone and underneath the shirt Maura wore. Jane's hand stopped just below the swell of Maura's breast and they both settled into each other, content with the closeness and the feeling of the other's skin.

When Maura woke up she was once again alone. She entertained the notion that she might have dreamed Jane's presence but when she moved to her closet, she confirmed that Jane's dirty clothes were there (and even in their proper baskets). She smiled but then frowned, wondering what had caused Jane to leave. She knew Jane hadn't gotten a new case, as Maura was the ME on-call. She decided to text and ask.

Back to work so early? - Maura

It took a few minutes for the reply to come in.

Took Jo back to my apartment. Don't want her to get too used to you spoiling her. See you at work. - Jane

Maura considered the text. It was unusual for Jane to worry about Jo getting spoiled. The dog had spent weeks at Maura's house before. Maura considered that Jane was using the dog as a ruse to hide the real reason she left. She wondered if she had accidentally done something inappropriate in her sleep. She did sometimes talk and move, according to previous sleeping partners, but she couldn't be sure. She decided to let Jane tell her on her own. Acknowledging the fact that they hadn't been that intimate with each other before, she considered the likelihood that Jane had panicked about it. Maura progressed with her morning routine as normal, minus the presence of her best friend.

She was getting ready for work when her phone rang. She glanced down at the caller ID and smiled as she recognized her mother.

"Hi, mom," Maura answered the phone happily as she watched Bass eat a cactus pad.

"Hello, darling. I'm so sorry to bother you with this, but I was wondering if you and Jane might like to stand in for a fundraiser for me this weekend?" Constance spoke into the phone. Maura considered the words and noted that her mother was actually asking her and not telling her. It was more than she could have expected even a year ago.

"What is the fundraiser for?" Maura asked out of curiosity.

"It's the annual gala and fundraising auction for LGBTQ youth in Boston. I enjoy it every year. Three years ago, actually, a lovely woman named Elanor tried to entice me with her number. You should have seen the look on your father's face when I showed him," Constance laughed into the phone.

"Mother!" Maura scoffed in surprise but laughed as well. "I'd be happy to attend… I'll ask Jane if she would like to be my date, though I'm not entirely sure she'll accept," Maura spoke truthfully.

"Thank you so much, my love. I'll put you down for two just in case?"

"That sounds good. Thank you, Mother," Maura smiled into the phone. "Why won't you be able to attend?"

"It is I who should be thanking you. Apparently there's an art emergency in Paris, and you know how I hate being absent from the gallery when something goes wrong. I love you, darling." Constance said genuinely.

"I love you," Maura murmured back before they said their goodbyes and hung up. Maura was always happy to attend high-class functions. She adored any excuse to dress beyond the realm of what she considered 'normal' attire. Though Jane might protest to the idea simply because it would be their first time going out officially as a couple to an event like this. She wasn't sure how far along Jane was in her therapy and although Jane seemed to be growing bolder, Maura was fearful of pushing Jane too far. She further considered that she would have to take Jane shopping… or simply buy her an outfit. Maura smiled at the thought of matching outfits. She did already know all of Jane's measurements and had longed to see her in a nice tailored suit. She continued to ponder over the idea on her way to work and she was pleased to see people treating her normally again for the most part. People were being especially kind. She didn't have to touch a single door from the parking garage to the café, and as she walked in she saw her usual hot latte sitting at the pickup counter.

"Your latte is ready, doctor Isles," Karly motioned to the cup and Maura nodded in thanks, still putting a five-dollar bill in the tip jar. She continued on to the elevators.

"Going down?" A uniformed officer asked as she approached.

"Yes, thank you," she told him and he pressed the button for her. "Have a nice day."

"You too, doc," the man smiled at her before the lift doors closed. Maura was used to special treatment. She'd had maids and butlers for her entire adolescent life, but to experience this level of service at her place of work was excessive. They had all already made up for their pranks the day before in her opinion. She was glad when she finally reached her floor where her lab techs treated her normally and she could work in peace. She finished a report for one of detective Crowe's cases and although she would normally have a lab tech bring it up, she decided to use it as an excuse to go see Jane. She took the file to the bullpen and gave the file to Crowe.

"The reports for the Richardson case," she told him and he nodded wordlessly as a few people chuckled at him. It was clear he was still slightly nervous about her standing with the governor. She moved over to Jane's cluster and overheard the midst of an argument.

"Frost, come on! I didn't mean to kick you in the nuts last time, I swear!" Jane was arguing across her desk to her partner, unaware of Maura behind her.

"Jane, I'm not going to scrap with you again. I said I wouldn't do it ever again, and I am a man of my word," Frost spoke calmly but with finality.

"Maybe if you cut your freaking talons he'd do it… remember the time before? You almost scratched his eyes out," Frankie added to the discussion with a laugh and Jane glared at him.

"Nobody asked you," Jane sassed, "shouldn't you be getting us coffee?"

"No," Frankie sassed her right back, "I have a uniform getting us all coffee, because I'm nice, and in case you forgot, I'm also a detective now," Frankie complained and Jane rolled her eyes.

"Well you could have fooled me, you still can't detect when to shut it!" She snarked.

"Jane!" Maura chastised and Jane cringed before she slowly turned around in her chair and with a guilty expression, looked at Maura. "Don't bully Frankie."

"It's not my fault!" Jane defended. "I was asking them to scrap with me to get over my nerves about going to the dentist but they all refuse. Because I won too many times."

Both Frankie and Frost began to correct Jane, claiming that she hadn't technically won, but cheated. Maura held up a hand to stop them and they quieted instantly.

"You're nervous about the dentist?" She asked in surprise.

"They drill into your skeleton, Maura. That's kind of a big deal," Jane explained and stared and Maura had to work to hide her grin. Jane never ceased to surprise her.

"Okay, well… I'm no longer busy. I'm always happy to exercise and practice self-defense," Maura offered and playfully punched Jane's shoulder. Jane scoffed at her and looked back and Frost who shrugged. Frankie was grinning at her. Maura tried to glare but ended up pouting at Jane. "You don't think I could do it?"

"Come on, I just don't want to hurt you," Jane waved her off but Maura could see that Jane was cocky and overconfident.

"Jane, you've taught me self defense and I've broadened my studies on my own and with Angela. You won't hurt me, I'm fully capable, in fact-"

"Okay, okay, but there's no way you're going to be able to pin me in those," Jane pointed to Maura's heels. "Or at all, but I need to at least give you a fighting chance," Jane continued competitively and Maura felt her own competitive nature rise.

"Care to place a wager, detective?" Maura enticed and Jane quirked an eyebrow at her.

"You don't bet unless you know you can win," Jane pointed out and Maura smiled at her.

"Exactly," she explained to Jane and Frost made an odd 'oooh' sound while Frankie rubbed his hands together.

"Name your terms, Isles," Jane stood from her chair and stood imposingly over Maura. Maura felt a surge of arousal at the display but refused to back away from Jane, eager to prove the detective wrong.

"When I win…" Maura began cockily. "I get to buy you an entire outfit for an evening out. You don't have to be there, I just get to buy you an outfit and you can never, never, ask me how much it cost." Maura decided and she thought about Jane wearing a formal suit to an event somewhere. Perhaps the event that weekend, though she would never force Jane to go.

"Seriously? You want to fight me so you can buy me a dress?" Jane scoffed at the idea and her posture changed from imposing to indignant.

"No. I want to wrestle with you and buy you a tailored suit," Maura corrected and Jane frowned at her.

"For what?" Jane asked suspiciously.

"For you to wear. Now, name your price," Maura prompted and Jane rolled her eyes.

"Oh! Make her wear your cheap suits for a week!" Frankie inputted.

"Hey!" Jane glared at him, clearly offended.

"No, no! Get her to clean up the mess in your desk from when you spilled that bag of-"

"Shut up, Frost!" Jane interrupted her partner and then turned to fully face the men. "Not another word from either of you." She pointed threateningly and they quieted again. She turned back to face Maura and seemed to be thinking. "I want you to cook gnocchi." Maura was confused by the term but Jane seemed adamant.

"Jane, I make that all the time-"

"No," Jane held up a hand and grinned devilishly, "I want you to cook my mother's gnocchi." Maura and Frankie gasped in unison. Frost stared in confusion at the group and Maura debated Jane's terms in her head. Angela was the sole person alive who knew the recipe to Jane's favourite dish and she once claimed that she would only ever share it with the person she was sure Jane was going to marry. All of the Rizzoli children had a meal like this and gnocchi was Jane's. Maura would have to ask Angela for the ingredients. It would be asking Angela, face to face, if she approved, if she loved Maura like her own child and if the Rizzoli matriarch thought she and Jane would last.

"Janie… are you sure? I mean… it's gnocchi," Frankie spoke seriously and Frost looked more and more confused as time wore on.

"I know what it is, Frankie, and I know what it means," Jane spoke to her brother but did not look away from Maura's eyes. "It's Maura."

"Yeah… it's Maura," Frankie agreed with a shrug and a nod of the head. He moved from his sitting position on Frost's desk and put his hand on Maura's shoulder. He nodded to her once before walking off. He clearly thought Maura could either beat Jane in a fight or get the recipe from Angela.

Maura looked back into Jane's winning face. It seemed that Jane was sure Maura would back down but Maura squared her shoulders and lifted her chin defiantly. She silently held a hand out for Jane to shake and Jane's winning smile faltered almost imperceptibly. Maura had agreed. She agreed that she would either beat Jane in a physical duel or marry her one day. Maura grinned mischievously. Jane thought she'd backed Maura into a corner but either option, winning their match or asking Angela for the recipe, suited the Maura just fine. Jane reached up and they shook their hands once before letting go. They continued to stare each other down until Frost interrupted.

"Okay, what the hell is so important about gnocchi?" He asked, completely flabbergasted by that point.

"Everything," they said in unison.

"Be on the mat in a half-hour," Jane ordered.

"I'll be waiting," Maura spoke just as confidently and she walked out of the room. Several people followed her movement out of the room. She moved to her private bathroom and changed into her workout gear, electing to wear her sports bra under her sweater and forgo her usual loose-fitting workout shirt. She walked out of her office to find Susie waiting for her with a water bottle.

"Guess it's true then," Susie spoke as she handed the water over.

"What's true?" Maura asked as she took the beverage, surprised at the Susie's seeming foresight.

"You're going to wrestle Jane? Barr- uh, detective Frost just bet me fifty bucks on it…" Susie explained and Maura squinted her eyes at her friend.

"Who did you pick?" She asked.

"You, duh," Susie scoffed and Maura smiled at her.

"Good choice, senior criminalist Chang," Maura singsonged as she began to walk back to the lift. "You're about to be richer." Maura was going to fight, but she never said anything about fighting fair.

Maura walked into the gym and began to stretch on the mat. She noted several people in the room were simply pretending to work out, but would glance over at her every once in a while. Some people were even dressed in their usual uniforms or street clothes and simply standing around. Maura considered the possibility that other people had placed bets on her and Jane's agreement. Jane walked into the room with a cocky grin, looked at Maura stretching on the mat and then to all the people in the room.

"Okay, anybody who isn't in here to actually use the gym can clear the hell out, you can all lose your money later," Jane snarked to the audience and people started shuffling out of the room. "Maloney, you haven't used this gym in the entire ten years I've worked here, beat it!" Jane continued to boss the crowd away and Nina entered the room.

"The guys were fighting over who would ref… I told them they were nuts if they thought you'd let any of them do it," Nina joked with Jane and Jane looked at her gratefully.

"Good call, Holiday," Jane nudged the other woman. "Maybe I'll kick Frost in the nuts on purpose next time."

"Jane, are you going to stretch?" Maura asked and Jane rolled her eyes but did as asked. "What did you mean when you told everyone they could lose their money later?" Maura asked and Jane sighed.

"They all bet against me," Jane explained in annoyance, and Maura grinned. "No, it's not because they think you'll win, it's because they all want me to lose so bad," Jane defended and Maura chuckled while Nina failed at hiding how amused she was.

They stood up on opposite sides of the mat and Maura removed her sweater before tossing it aside. Jane's eyes glanced down at the exposed skin of Maura's waist and abdominal muscles before she shook her head and scowled.

"Where is your shirt?" Jane immediately complained.

"I thought it would be too flowy for the purposes of this exercise and give you an unfair advantage," Maura reasoned. She didn't add that she was trying to give herself an unfair advantage by distracting Jane but she seemed to know anyway.

"Just get in position," Jane rolled her eyes and Maura chuckled.

"So, single round, first one to get pinned and tap out is the loser, fair?" Nina asked from the sidelines.

"Fair," Jane and Maura said together.

"Alright, uh, go?" Nina started the match.

Jane grinned as she approached Maura who took on the appropriate stance and tried to predict what Jane would do. She blocked Jane's hands for the most part, but Jane was fast. To Maura's utter astonishment and dismay, Jane reached around Maura's range of block and quickly messed up Maura's tidy ponytail.

"Jane!" Maura complained and then slapped the detective's hands away. "How am I supposed to win when I'm distracted by having frumpy hair?"

"You want to fight dirty, two can play at that game," Jane accused Maura with a pointed glance to the sports bra.

"What exactly are you accusing me of, detective?" Maura smirked as she continued to try to assess Jane's weak spots.

"Oh, I think you know," Jane said.

"Are you guys gonna fight or are you just gonna flirt the whole time?" Frankie called from the other half of the gym where he pretended to lift weights.

"Zip it, Francesco," Nina hollered at her fiance and he stuck his tongue out at her.

Jane took the opportunity to try to grab Maura's waist, but she dodged and tripped Jane, grabbed her shoulder, and guided Jane to the floor before straddling her back.

"I win," Maura said, but Jane laughed and began to stand up with Maura clinging to her back.

"You are not the winner, and you are not a koala. Get off me, you little cheater," Jane said with a laugh.

"No," Maura denied. "There are no rules about this in freestyle wrestling. Give up."

"In your dreams," Jane snarked and reached around her back to tickle Maura's sides until she could no longer hold on. Maura quickly let go and moved around to try to tackle Jane from the front. Jane anticipated the maneuver and they toppled to the floor, each holding onto the other's wrist with one hand. Maura used her flexibility from yoga and used her leg to force Jane onto her back, then twisted her captured arm until Jane's hold was broken. She quickly grabbed Jane's second wrist and pinned Jane's hands behind her head.

"Say I win!" Maura demanded happily.

"No," Jane pouted from beneath her.

"Break the hold, or admit that I win!" Maura continued to tease and Jane struggled under her. Jane tried to wrap her long legs around Maura's torso but couldn't quite get the right angle. She tried to break Maura's hold on her wrists but failed to do that, too. She tried to raise her hips up to throw Maura off of her but Maura remained steady. Jane looked up and Maura's smile faltered slightly as she noted Jane's dilated pupils, her labored breathing, and the goosebumps that had exploded over Jane's flesh. Maura licked her lips and stared into Jane's eyes.

"I need you to get off of me, Maura," Jane murmured and Maura immediately loosened her grip on Jane and un-straddled her. She rolled over to lay beside Jane and they calmed their breathing together.

"So I guess Maura wins?" Nina asked from her spot at the sidelines.

"...Yeah," Jane nodded solemnly and Nina walked off to let everyone know. "Man, I am never going to hear the end of this," Jane whined and Maura chuckled at her.

"It's okay," Maura turned to look at Jane with a smirk, "you can tell them you lost because you were distracted by my feminine wiles," Maura joked and Jane chuckled.

"I'm not going to talk to anybody about your feminine wiles," Jane teased and Maura laughed. "Can't I just say I let you win?"

"No!"

"Aw, come on! I totally would have won if you weren't so…" Jane stammered.

"...so… adept as using every opportunity to my advantage?" Maura offered and Jane smirked at her before shaking her head.

"Sure, let's go with that," Jane laughed off and then sat up. Jane looked at the clock on the wall and cursed under her breath, "I have to go, I have an appointment in like thirty minutes. Shit," Jane stood and offered a hand to help Maura up.

"I thought your dentist appointment was only at three," Maura mused.

"It is, this is with doctor Peddar, uh, I gotta go, good match!" Jane called as she quickly moved to the changing room, leaving Maura behind and pleased with herself for winning. Maura immediately put her sweater back on and thought about what stores she would go to for Jane's new suit. She continued to think about it throughout the day and eventually decided to go to her friend Antione's boutique.

She was in her office working on reports a couple of hours later when Jane walked in and immediately threw herself onto the couch with a huff. Maura assessed her body language as stressed.

"Busy yet?" She asked.

"No. We're still working on cold cases," Jane complained. Maura wondered why Jane was so stressed out if she was working on old cases.

"You seem agitated. Can I do anything to help?" Maura turned from her work completely so Jane knew she was genuine in her offer.

"Don't you go and read my occipital spatula face muscles to tell that I'm stressed out," Jane pointed accusingly and Maura grinned.

"I did not observe your orbicularis oculi, I noticed your heavier than usual steps and your excessive exhalation of breath after you sat down. You're also not complaining about how uncomfortable those throw pillows are, which indicates that you are too distracted to notice them. You're stressed. Is this because I won?" Maura teased and Jane frowned.

"No! It's not because you cheated to win. Fine, I'm stressed. Since when did you become a detective?" Jane asked and Maura chuckled.

"You're deflecting," Maura pointed out and Jane sighed largely.

"…I have homework," Jane sheepishly told Maura, as if she was embarrassed by what she had just said.

"Homework? For a case?" Maura asked.

"No… for therapy."

"Oh. Can I help?" Maura offered freely and Jane blushed and then covered her face before groaning.

"No. no no no. Nope. I can do it. What, uh… what time will you be done work at?" Jane asked, avoiding eye contact. Maura thought the behaviour was odd but decided not to push Jane about the issue.

"Likely around seven tonight. I'm going to come back after I make sure you're settled in after your dentist appointment," Maura explained and Jane smiled at her.

"Right. Thanks for bringing me. My homework will be much easier if I'm high off my ass while I do it," Jane laughed nervously.

"You shouldn't be working while under the influence of any type of drug, Jane," Maura chastised. "What will doctor Peddar think about the homework if you hand it in-"

"Don't sweat it, Maura, it's not the type of thing you hand in," Jane elusively brushed off her concern, "anyway, meet you in the lobby at three?" Jane stood from the couch and headed to the doorway.

"Of course," Maura smiled from her desk and let her eyes flicker down to the long expanse of Jane's legs, remembering how they felt pressed against her own. "Three o'clock." Jane nodded and left, leaving Maura to wonder once again why Jane had left before she woke up that morning.


Maura found Jane in the lobby at three, and Jane handed her a coffee.

"What's this?" Maura asked as she grabbed the drink.

"Well I bought it but then Ma showed up for some reason and yelled at me for drinking coffee before going to the dentist so I guess you can have it," Jane pouted and Maura smiled at her before taking a sip.

"It's for the best, Jane. I'll need it if I have to deal with you under the influence," Maura teased as they began to walk toward the car park.

"Frankie's right. I am a bad influence on you," Jane joked. "When did you learn how to tease?"

"I can give you several sources that might claim I'm an expert in teasing," Maurna smirked as she opened the car door and Jane flushed at the double entendre.

"Get in the car," Jane complained to cover up her embarrassment. Maura chuckled and made her way through the city to Jane's dentist. They parted ways in the waiting room and Maura picked up a National Geographic magazine to read while she waited. She was almost all the way through her fourth magazine when she heard a familiar voice shout from down the hallway.

"Why aren't you listening to me?" Maura heard Jane yelling and began to get up and walk toward the sound. She sounded loud and delirious; obviously, the nitrous oxide had taken effect.. "I need my doctor!"

"Ms. Rizzoli, I am your doctor. I've just been-"

"No you're not," Maura heard Jane scoff at the voice before she found the right room. "My doctor is much prettier than you... no offense."

"Jane!" Maura scolded from the doorway, and Jane turned from the other doctor in the room (who was actually rather good looking) and grinned widely at Maura.

"Finally! I've been telling them to call you for ages!" Jane droned on and Maura noticed the droop in her face.

"She's been awake for less than five minutes," the dentist explained to Maura.

"How are you feeling?" Maura asked Jane, glancing over to the other doctor but Jane ignored her question and looked at the man as if she'd just made a very important point.

"See? I told you my doctor was prettier than you. Probably smarter too."

"Jane, that is so rude! I'm so sorry," Maura apologized to the dentist, but he seemed entertained.

"Her skin is as soft as it looks if you were wondering," Jane said to nobody in particular but then she seemed to get angry. "Don't wonder about that! I can arrest you, you know." She angrily told the dentist who lifted his hands up in surrender.

"Okay," Maura moved over to help Jane out of the seat. "We're going to go home now, okay, Jane? And we're going to stop harassing the nice dentist," Maura patiently said as she helped Jane to her feet.

"He's the one wondering about your skin," Jane complained, "mmh, and your legs. Jesus, your legs, Maura." Maura had to chuckle at the detective. The dentist quickly explained what aftercare Jane would need and that the drugs should wear off within two hours.

"Thank you," Maura said to the dentist before they started to move out of the room.

"I wish I was a kid. They used to give me stickers when I was a kid. I want a sticker," Jane said and then her eyes started to well with tears. Maura had to fight to hide her smile as she pulled Jane out of the building and toward the car.

"If you still want stickers tomorrow we will go out and get you as many as you like," Maura offered and Jane smiled, flashing her dimples adorably.

"This is why I love you so much. So nice," Jane mused aloud as Maura opened the passenger door. Jane sat in the car and looked expectantly up at Maura. "Aren't you going to buckle me in? Safety first, doctor Isles."

"Good idea, Jane," Maura complimented and reached into the car, across Jane to buckle her in. Jane reached up and gently cupped both sides of Maura's face.

"You're real. I can't even believe it," Jane looked at her in wonder and Maura looked back with just as much reverence. "You're so, so beautiful, Maura. In your heart, you're the most beautiful person ever born and on the outside, it's the same. Can you kiss me, please? I don't know if my lips are there." Jane pouted and Maura laughed lightly. She reached up with a tissue to wipe the bit of drool that had escaped Jane's mouth before she leaned in and gently kissed her.

"Yes. Your lips are there," Maura said as she pulled away and Jane grinned lopsidedly at her and then laughed.

"I know. I knew the whole time," Jane admitted cheekily and Maura joined in on the laughter before she pulled away and closed Jane safely in the vehicle. She moved to the driver's seat and began the trip to Jane's apartment. Jane asked how cars work so Maura explained as well as she could, given the complexities of the machine and Jane's state. It took the entire trip and Jane stared at her in wonder for the entire explanation. She quickly got Jane settled in and made sure she wouldn't be able to harm herself in any way before she left back to work until seven.