Jane couldn't quite shake the sinking feeling that she'd ruined everything. Maura had come back to the door in a sundress and a ridiculous hat which she was obviously pleased with and it made Jane's heart clench to see Maura smile, to see Maura smile at her and tip the rim of her hat. She was so gloriously gorgeous, especially now that Jane knew that Maura wanted Jane to observe her as such.
Jo still looked up between them with confusion as they walked to the commons, eyeing one of them and then the other with a little whine until Jane finally picked her up.
"It's the sidewalks," Jane said, defending her small dog. Jo leaned over to lick Maura's cheek, squirming half out of Jane's arms to reach her. Maura's hand reached in and patted Jo's head within the circle of Jane's arms. Her hand brushed against Jane's chest, and Jane blushed bright red but made no move away from the hand.
"She has little feet," Maura agreed, pulling her hand back. Jane eyed the bag at Maura's side as they set off again, wondering why it was so big.
"You look nice," Jane blurted out. "Like, really nice. You always do, but you didn't need to dress up. Not for me."
"I dress up for me, but I do like to be appreciated." Maura eyed Jane's faded jeans and band tee with approval. "You also look nice."
"I look like I'm walking a dog," Jane mumbled. "You look like the society pages."
"I thought I'd take advantage of the cooler weather to wear something new. Is it too much?" Maura looked anxious suddenly.
"No, it's perfect. You're perfect." The words were out before Jane could stop them, and she bit her lip to prevent blurting out an equally embarrassing follow-up.
"Clearly I'm not or I wouldn't have let you agonise all day yesterday," Maura said quietly.
"It's not your fault," Jane said quickly.
"I wish it hadn't happened. Wait, no," Maura said quickly. "Our fight! Not anything else. I wish I'd let you know how much I'd enjoyed..."
"I noticed what you enjoyed. In case I ever got the chance to help you enjoy it again." Jane let Jo down onto the grass and she happily trotted around them, smelling all the smells.
"You did?" Maura asked a little breathlessly.
"It was mostly my boobs," Jane said. "Not a long list, really."
"I hadn't expected - I thought I'd - but I didn't realise how much..."
"They're not a lot," Jane shrugged, glancing over at Maura in her sundress. "Nothing like yours," Jane said, looking away quickly. She hit the water fountain button for Jo, watching her with more interest than was strictly necessary.
"You liked them?" Maura asked timidly, and Jane's heart crumbled at her insecurity.
"Always have," she said flippantly. "Just not... In person, so to speak. Theoretical, rather than hands-on." Maura smiled up at Jane from under that ridiculous hat, and Jane laughed, tilting it back so she could see Maura properly. "There's nothing about you that I don't love, or couldn't love. Even last night, I was so angry because I thought you didn't love me the way I love you - shit, it's too soon for love, isn't it? But we've said it before."
"In different circumstances, in different contexts, yes," Maura agreed. "I don't want to - to assume, or jump into anything without firm forensics, but your reactions to me did lead to a different contextual conclusion."
"You took such a chance on me, and I blew it."
"You didn't," Maura insisted. "I'm glad you made me wait, but last night, when you told me to... to..." Maura blushed. "And you were so..."
"I was a bit worked up," Jane admitted. "Mostly from thinking about you."
"You offered to take me on a date, so I know you're not just after my body," Maura said coyly. "Can we - can we still do that?"
"Yeah," Jane breathed, wondering how she'd got so lucky.
Maura spread a blanket from her bag over the lawn and sat, pulling a thermos from her bag and handing it to Jane as she sat.
"Can we call this a date?" Maura asked.
"It's an apology, not a date," Jane said. Maura pouted and Jane took a sip from the thermos. Coffee. Coffee dates were a thing, weren't they? "But if you insist, it can be a date too."