Sunday

Doctor Isles straightened her dress, looking at the address Jane had texted through and confirming that she was in the correct location. She checked her reflection in the rearview mirror, put on her lipstick and fluffed out her hair. The idea of going to a family dinner at a colleague's house had never been presented to her, had never occurred to her, but Angela had been insistent, and Jane had given Maura one, long, pleading look that Doctor Isles assumed meant that if she went, Jane would be nag-free for at least a few minutes. It would be rude to turn down such an honest invitation. And that look had melted Doctor Isles; she knew if she went she'd spend time with Jane, and the idea of that was appealing. They didn't have much in common, but from what Doctor Isles had seen, what she knew of Jane she found admirable. She knew Frankie Rizzoli in passing, and she felt she knew Jane. Angela she had only just met, and Jane's father was an unknown. The family dinners she usually had were at estates, not brownstones. There were usually more guests than just herself, and usually... She watched as the front door opened and Jane burst out, hair flicking behind her as she turned, laughing, at Frankie. The sunset light caught on her face, made her glow, the tanned skin, chestnut highlights in her black hair, deep brown eyes filled with laughter. She was so aggressively happy in that moment, bouncing a ball behind her to keep it from her brother, feinting and ducking as he charged her. The jeans she wore fit her well, and the BPD shirt she wore jogging completed the ensemble. Maura felt her breath catch at the sound of Jane's laughter.

Doctor Isles got out of the car, closing the door quietly, still unsure, still nervous. Jane threw the ball to Frankie, headed across the street to greet her.

"I can't believe you actually came, Doctor Isles," Jane said. "Ma is going to be so happy. You look amazing." It was true; the setting sun caught the honey highlights in Doctor Isles' eyes and hair, gave her a soft glow. "I did say it was casual," Jane said, eyeing the green dress Doctor Isles wore, the heels and matching jacket.

"This is casual," Doctor Isles said, looking down at her outfit. She took a deep breath. "And since it's casual, you might as well call me Maura," she said, watching Jane's face break into a soft smile, dimples flashing as Maura ducked her head, her own smile obscured partially by her hair.

"Maura," Jane said, her throaty voice drawing the name out. "Yeah, I suppose I could."

Angela caught Maura in another bear hug as she came into the house, and Maura relaxed quickly this time, knowing she wouldn't be released until she did so. Frank Senior offered his hand, and Maura shook it. Frankie tilted his head back in a nod, and Angela cuffed him on the back of the head, and he, complaining at Angela, came forward to shake her hand too.

"I work with her, Ma," he grizzled, and Jane chuckled at his discomfort, eyes flashing to Maura to include her in the joke. Maura smiled uncertainly. "It's nice to see you outside work, though," he added quickly, seeing Angela's glare. Jane chuckled again, and Maura could bottle that noise, bring it out on her lonely nights to warm herself.

"Likewise," Maura said, shaking his hand solemnly, mouth quirking up when he rolled his eyes and shook his head at Angela's formalities, earning himself another slap from Angela.

Jane struggled with the silverware, Maura noted, pulling Jane's plate over to herself and slicing her meal into bite-sized pieces Jane couldn't choke on.

"Excellent surgery, Doctor Isles," Jane said sarcastically, a smile softening her words. Maura didn't comment; she hadn't meant to draw attention to Jane's struggle, but no one else appeared to notice or care that Maura had sliced Jane's food for her.

"So what's it like, being the Chief Medical Examiner?" Angela asked, and Maura had answered harder questions in court, had answered harder board questions, yet she didn't know how to answer this particular question. Small talk. She'd heard of it, had it aimed at her before. She could feel her breath quickening. She felt something brush her bare thigh under the table, her dress having ridden up a little when she sat down, and then felt Jane's distinctive palm curl around the clenched fist in her lap, pulling gently at Maura's fingers to unfurl them, to splay them open against her own palm, Jane's thumb rubbing carefully over Maura's. Maura looked over, and Jane was still shoveling food in her mouth with her left hand, appearing uninterested in the stalled conversation. There was no indication, above table level, to make anyone suspect they were holding hands, but they were, Maura's grip now equally firm on Jane's hand, bracing herself with the strength Jane offered from that simple contact.

"The Commonwealth of Massachusetts has been very accommodating."

"Y'dont need to talk like a dictionary," Jane mumbled around her mouthful. The smile she shot Maura when she finished chewing softened the words.

"I like it here. I went to BCU, so Boston feels familiar."

"I love all of your outfits," Angela tried again. "You always look so fashionable in the news."

"Thank you - Jane mentioned you were a fan." Maura could feel Jane's palm pressed against hers, fingers curled around Maura's thenar webspace. could feel the heat from the scar seep into her own hand. It didn't look as though Jane was inclined to let go any time soon, so Maura resumed eating with her right hand, knowing it was poor manners but also knowing that in this context not eating would be seen as ruder. She let her thumb run against the back of Jane's hand, let it brush and trace the scar, seeing that Jane didn't flinch, that she obviously felt safe here, felt safe with her hand in Maura's. "But my job requires a lot of meetings with officials, the press, judges, and councilors, so I always have to be ready. It's not always convenient or appropriate at our crime scenes. Frankie's uniform and Jane's suits are much more suitable. I have to uphold an image, as a representative of the Commonwealth. I do love fashion, but I couldn't do their jobs in this dress, and neither could they." Jane shot her a thankful look; Maura didn't know where that had come from, but she had an instinct that Angela would listen to her, even if Jane had already said the same thing.

"Do you have any tips on looking so glamourous?" Angela asked, and Maura relaxed. Fashion advice she was comfortable with, and Maura was able to relax into the conversation a little, complimenting the bone structure of Angela's face and giving some colour tips for her complexion. However, Jane's hand remained in Maura's, on her lap, the thumb's soothing pattern not halting. Maura had met people's parents before, even the parents of people she was dating, and the small talk always staggered her. Never had anyone shown such casual kindness, a discrete hand under the table - and from anyone else Maura wouldn't interpret it as a kindness. No one else had ever seen past her confident demeanour through to her insecure core. Maura was unused to physical contact without a romantic or sexual intent, but she couldn't interpret this contact through either of those lenses - it wasn't as though Jane had laced their fingers together, wasn't as though Jane's hand had been aiming for Maura's thigh or lingered there on her quest to Maura's hand.

It was comfort that Jane offered, Jane who knew that Maura wasn't a people person but had never remarked on it. Jane, who knew Maura was adopted, and that to someone adopted, families might be difficult. Jane, who Maura had been deliberately rude to a few weeks ago. Maura held the hand in hers tighter, swallowing suddenly. Jane had so much - a mother that fussed after her, a father that took her seriously, a brother that looked up to her. She had a family that cared about her, warm and loving and supportive. Maura hadn't had dinner with both of her parents in - decades, now. Jane squeezed Maura's hand, and Maura looked at her. Jane's expressive brows were arched in concern, as though she'd sensed the change in Maura's mood, her deep eyes soft and full of questions. Maura nodded, smiled and shook her head, returning to her meal. The hand in hers defied explanation, and if it was anyone else's Maura would have pulled away the instant their hand had touched hers. Before, even. At the moment that cautious hand brushed against the skin on her thigh. Jane laughed suddenly at something Frankie said and Maura eyed the Rizzoli's. Relaxed and honest, they'd forgotten already that they hardly knew her, drawing her into the conversation and not minding that she wasn't an expert in their interests, sharing their knowledge with her. It took a while to relax, but when she did, she felt the soft hand in hers withdraw, and for a moment she felt as though she'd lost something important.

"You look really nice, did I say that yet?" Jane asked Maura as they went into the longue room to watch the game as usual after dinner. "I mean, you always look nice, but I like the way your eyeshadow matches your dress."

"Thank you," Maura said, confused. Had she misread the entire situation? Meeting the parents, Sunday dinner, holding hands underneath the table. They'd slept together - in the same bed at least, curled up like kittens, and Jane had commented a few times on the way Maura looked. Maura had to admit the way Jane's hands skimmed over her skin always raised a spark of interest in her libido, and she'd already taken note of how attractive Jane was. Was this a date? Were they dating? Maura wasn't opposed to dating Jane, but she would prefer to know it was happening. However the house was too small for her to ask right now without being overheard so she slid onto the couch next to Jane, asking questions about the game, questions that Jane answered easily, an annoyed tone in her voice that dissipated the second she looked at Maura, sending her a rueful smile.

"I forgot you don't watch football," Jane said, leaning back, her bare arm brushing against Maura's, settling there, skin against skin like she hadn't noticed, as though she was so used to having her skin touch someone else's that it wasn't noteworthy anymore. "So, he has the ball, and that guy - oof - yeah, he has to tackle him if he wants to win." From there the others shot asides to Maura and she melted in the inclusion, in the warmth of Jane's arm brushing her own each time she leaned forward, engrossed in the game, leaning back as she drank from her beer, always settling back against Maura with a little glance to make sure she was ok.

Angela hugged Maura again at the front door.

"You're welcome any time, sweetheart," Angela told Maura, whose face managed a shaky smile, a little overwhelmed at her foray into the Rizzoli family.

Jane walked Maura to her car, carrying leftovers. Maura opened the backseat door and Jane placed them carefully on the seat.

"Do you need a ride home?" Maura asked, half-hoping for another invite to Jane's home, extending their time together. Which was ridiculous - they'd spent the last few hours together, but Maura wanted something different, something closer to how it had been when they'd been alone the day before.

"Nah, Frankie will drop me home," Jane shoved her hands in her pockets, shifting her weight from foot to foot. "Thanks for coming. I know it's no art gallery or museum or anything like you must usually do..."

"I had a lovely time," Maura assured Jane. "But I have to ask - we are friends, aren't we?" Maura asked, hoping the space between them would cushion the conversation.

"Well, I don't bring enemies home," Jane laughed.

"What about dates?" Maura asked finally.

"Dates?" Jane flushed bright red, visible even in the dim streetlight. Maura watched her carefully. "Oh, you mean... you looked uncomfortable, I was trying to be supportive, not gay. Did it come across as gay? I don't have many female friends." Jane's hands shoved deeper into her pockets and her worn Chucks kicked at the bitumen.

"I assume anyone can be attracted to any gender until informed otherwise. You know I don't guess, and taking me home to meet your family and holding my hand - I don't have enough information to form a solid conclusion."

"Well... This wasn't a date. If that's what you were asking. I wouldn't bring someone home to meet my family on a first date, that'd be... I told you, my Ma... She asked me to bring you and Frost home to meet her. She makes Frankie bring uniforms home too. She's a people person, and the more people there are the less I need to do. But the more you need to do, which obviously made you uncomfortable. So I just wanted to show you support. And sympathy. Wait, are you saying you wanted this to be a date?" Jane asked.

"I couldn't collate enough evidence, either way," Maura said, not technically lying but not actually answering the question. She sighed. "I find informal social situations difficult to navigate."

"You did really well," Jane enthused. "Ma likes you. You can tell by the amount of leftovers she gave you." Maura looked in the backseat; five large Tupperware containers sat there.

"Will you have enough? I know she prepares your weekly meals."

"I'm fine," Jane shrugged. "You don't have to eat them, she's just... Like that."

"I like that she's like that," Maura said. "I could bring them into work. To share?"

Jane grinned. "It's a date," she said, opening the driver's side door for Maura. "Text me when you get home safe, huh?" Impulsively Maura leaned in to awkwardly hug Jane, all arms and no torso. Jane let her arm drop from where it was draped over the car door, pulled Maura in close by her waist. Angela's hug had still felt awkward to Maura, but Jane managed to close the circuit somehow, pulling Maura close against her, holding Maura like she'd never been held - and Maura hadn't been held like this, couldn't remember ever being held like this. Maura's breath caught when their bodies met. Jane was warm despite the cold night air, and she was softer than most people she allowed this close to her, that faint smell of lavender wafting up from under her shirt. She could feel Jane's hand against the ridges of her ribs, even through her jacket, could feel them wrap tighter so they were pressed together, Jane's breasts a little higher because she was taller despite Maura's heels, the muscular stomach under the thin tee pressing gently against Maura's ribs. Maura let her hands settle as well, exploring those shoulder blades they'd met the day before when Jane had been crying, down the spinal column to rest either side of the trim waist. They were so close, no space between them, that Maura could feel the steady beat of Jane's heart again, strong and rhythmic, could feel the pump of her own heart, slightly heightened from anxiety over the close contact, from the unknowns of the evening. Two heartbeats against her chest, two hands rubbing across her back, and she could see now why Jane had found it so comforting the day before. She let her eyes close for a moment, feeling comfortable in the company of someone else for the first time. Jane hummed when Maura's hand brushed the column of her spine, and Maura took it for approval, let her hand wander up and down. On some level she knew this was just a hug, something people often did with their friends and people they liked, but Maura had never seen why anyone would enjoy having their body pressed up against someone else's.

"Thanks for helping me out on Friday," Jane said lowly. "But you know, now you've seen me at my worst, now we're friends, you're going to be seeing a lot more of me, and my family. I won't always... I won't always know what you need from me, but I'll try." Maura remembered Jane's snappish answers about the football, how she'd caught herself, realised what Maura had really been asking. Jane pulled away a little, and Maura found herself reluctant to let her go. "For someone so reluctant to interact with people, you did really well. Thanks for coming tonight."

The urge to hug Jane had been a strange impulse, but she was glad now she had. Jane was looking at her as she thought, a little smile on her face, as though she already knew how Maura processed new information and was waiting patiently for Maura to come to a conclusion. Maura couldn't pull away, found the gravitational pull of Jane too strong to pull away.

"I had a duty of care," Maura said. "And as far as people go, I've interacted with a multitude of far worse individuals than yourself." The thinking process was substantially hampered when Jane's hands were running across her back, which she noted with interest to process later. She wasn't disappointed that this hadn't been a date; meeting the family on the first date seemed very fast. Everything that had happened in the last three weeks had seemed very fast, though, and Maura had repeatedly found herself thinking about the attractive detective after work, wondering when she'd trust Maura with her fear of scalpels, wondering why it was Maura she watched. When Jane had trusted Maura with her hands, Maura had felt a jolt of elation. She'd wanted to use the information as leverage if Jane turned sour on her, but Jane had remained doe-eyed and subdued around her. When she saw Jane interviewing suspects, she saw that fire she'd seen when they'd first met, but when it was aimed at someone else it was striking rather than crushing. It was part of her job, and she was good at it. Jane had used that impatient tone on Maura tonight, but it had been gentle in comparison to the way she spoke to her family. The affection of the Rizzoli's was so loud and aggressive - but it was strong, and always tempered with an affectionate hand on a shoulder or the slap of a bicep. Maura had felt like a frightened puppy at a parade. So much movement, the capacity to be hurt was so high, but they were gentler with her - but still more than Maura had ever known.

"Are you cold?" Jane asked, breaking the silence. Maura realised she was trembling. She shook her head. "I should let you go, you're shivering." She pulled back a little and looked at Maura, one hand brushing Maura's hair back from her face again, cupping her cheek.

"If it'd been a date, this is where I'da kissed you goodnight, huh?" Jane asked, her eyes sparkling mischievously in the street lights, shaking Maura from her thoughts. Her eyes dropped down to Jane's mouth, suddenly close to her own, watching as Jane's mouth opened slightly as she swallowed. Jane leaned in closer, one hand still soft on Maura's cheek as she ducked to the side to graze her lips against Maura's other stunned cheek. "Goodnight," Jane said, pulling away, and Maura gulped.

Maura reluctantly pulled away and slid into her car. Jane closed the door with a smile, stepping away as Maura started the car. Maura looked into the rearview mirror, seeing Jane's silhouette with a hand half-raised watching her drive away. Maura made it two blocks before pulling over, observing the way her hands were shaking too much to hold the steering wheel in confusion.

Notes:

I don't think this is a Be My Guest prequel any more, or even a Rizzoli and Isles tv show prequel. It's its own thing now.

Shorter chapters since they're at work upcoming.