Jane hummed happily as she washed their breakfast dishes. Normally, Jane would run over the day's courses in her mind. Think through the exercises she wanted the recruits to practice or the things she wanted to test them on. It wasn't stressful, exactly. Especially coming from the position of Boston's most targeted homicide detective. It did not, however, inspire humming. No the humming was a new thing. A because of Maura thing. Jane's hum turned in to a smile as Maura wrapped her arms around her waist for a long hug while Jane washed.

In the two weeks since their conversation, this had become one of their things. Jane would sneak in for a hug while Maura was applying make up. Maura would get one in when Jane did the dishes. Jane had tried to hug Maura once when cooking but after a burnt hand a long lecture about safe kitchen practices, Jane kept her cooking hugs short. It wasn't kissing. It wasn't sex. But it was sweet and comforting. Jane was still working up to the rest. Maura, from what Jane could see, was in no rush. They just were... together.

Maura pulled away to Jane's dislike. 'Are you ready to go back to Boston tomorrow?'

Jane shrugged, 'I think so.'

Maura leaned on the counter beside her, drying the dishes she washed. 'Have you told Angela we're coming yet?'

Jane studiously avoided the blonde's eyes.

'Jane!' Maura snapped the towel playfully at her.

'What?' Maur!' Jane exclaimed, flinching her thigh, 'everyone else knows, they've cleared their schedules for a dinner at Ma's.'

Maura shook her head, 'and what about your mother? She might have plans she needs to clear.'

Jane shook her head, 'nah, Korsack took care of it.'

'Jane we can't drive all the way back to Boston without telling your mother!'

'Yes,' Jane huffed, 'but if we tell her then we will have to see her.'

Maura laughed, 'yes but if we don't see her then we don't get to eat her lasagna or gnocchi.'

'Touché,' Jane replied turning off the water. 'I will call her today, okay?'

'You had better!' Maura said with a shake of her head. 'I don't understand why you're avoiding telling her.'

Jane shrugged. She was more of a go-with-your-gut kind of gal and less of a introspective reasoning type. 'I don't know Maura but I'll tell her today.'

Maura gave her a look that told Jane that Maura most definitely did not believe her.

'I will!' Jane said defensively. A glance at the clock told Jane she needed to leave. Jane grabbed her keys and her coffee. As she passed Maura, Jane hesitated for a moment. In the last few weeks, moments like this had come up where Jane had a chance to show Maura how she feels. Maybe past Jane would have brushed past these moments but now? Now Jane tried to live by Maura's advice: do what feels natural. Jane pressed in to Maura's space and pressed a quick kiss to Maura's cheek. 'Have a good day Maura,' Jane murmurred, 'I'll call you later.'

Jane didn't see Maura's hand fly to her cheek. Maura didn't see the happy little smile on Jane's face.


Maura's afternoon in the clinic was proving to be a slow one. Maura was sitting in the staff lounge drinking tea and pretending to read a science article. She had the best of intentions. It was an interesting topic. She meant to read it but every time she started her mind re-routed her to Jane. The physical affection between them had risen a statistically significant amount. It was a quantifiable fact. What Maura couldn't figure out was why. They had an established baseline after years of friendship. Furthermore, neither she nor Jane were particularly prone to affection with others. Maura had hypothesized that after their most recent conversation around being committed friends, there would be a noticeable decrease in affection. Jane's avoidant tendencies in combination with her aversion to committment would tend to lend itself to this theory. And yet... Jane was huging her and returning her hugs for an extended length of time. Jane had also taken to holding her hands when they were on the couch or in the car.

Then there was the kiss this morning. Jane had kissed Maura on occasion. When illness or injury brought out the soft and terrified Jane. But this had been a regular moment. A beautiful show of affection placed in the mundane happenings of a Thursday morning. It had caught Maura off guard. Perhaps, Jane was more comfortable in their new dynamic than Maura gave her credit for. Whatever the reason, Maura had to admit it was a pleasant surprise. One she hoped would happen again. Perhaps she would even try it herself.

'Excuse me, Dr. Isles?' Alyson, one of the nurses Maura worked with regularly poked her head into the lounge, 'Dr. Martin is on the phone for you.'

'Thank you Alyson, I'll be right there.'

Maura took the call in the shared office space the doctors shared when on call. 'Hello Hope, how are you doing?'

'Maura! Hello! I hope I'm not catching you at a bad time.' Hope's warm voice spoke through the phone.

'Not at all,' Maura replied, 'the clinic is having a slow afternoon. How are you doing?'

'I'm doing well. I just wanted to confirm that you were still making the drive to Boston for the weekend.' Maura heard something that sounded like excitement in the older woman's voice.

'Yes, Jane and I are leaving early tomorrow.' Maura replied, her own excitement growing. 'I'm excited to see you and to introduce you to the dogs.'

'Excellent! So we're still on for breakfast on Saturday then?' Hope sounded somewhat nervous.

'Of course Hope. I'm looking forward to seeing you.'

'I am too Maura,' Hope spoke softly, tentatively.

Maura let the space between them fall silent. She wasn't certain but it seemed as though Hope had more to say.

'It...' Hope cleared her throat, 'it hasn't been the same without you here. And I know we haven't been in each other's lives for long. I just... thought that you should know that I've missed you.'

Maura smiled, albeit sadly, 'I've missed you as well Hope. I was growing rather fond of your presence in my life.'

'I...' Hope began, 'thank you... for saying that Maura. I am rather fond of you as well.'

Maura felt the sting of tears. She cleared her throat quietly, 'well I will see you Saturday?'

'Yes,' Hope replied, 'goodbye Maura. Drive safely.'

'We will,' Maura replied, 'goodbye Hope.'


'Don't pick up,' Jane muttered, 'don't pick up, don't pick up.'

'Hi, you've reached Angela Rizzoli, I can't answer my phone right now. Please leave a message after the beep.' Jane let out a sigh of relief.

'Ma! It's Jane. Just wanted to let you know that Maura and I are driving down to Boston tomorrow. So I'll uh see you soon. Okay. Love you! Bye!' Jane hung up the phone quickly, as though her mother might pick up at any moment.

Ten minutes and three missed phone calls later, Jane got a text from Maura.

'A voicemail Jane? Really?'

Jane laughed. Of course her Ma had called Maura. Maura was family.