Jane woke tangled up in Maura. She knew they sleep-snuggled but Jane so rarely woke first to enjoy it. Maura was hot. Extremely hot, Jane thought to herself with a grin. Jane tended to run cold. It meant that inevitably at some point in the night, they ended up with their legs tangled, their bodies snuggled in close to one another. It was nice. Jane never got cold in the middle of the night anymore and she had never slept better. She lay in the early morning light, enjoying the feeling of being wrapped up in Maura. When nature began to call, Jane began to gently untangle their legs.
A soft groan came from Maura, 'Jane? Where are you going?' At least, that's what Jane assumed the moan was. It sounded more like 'Ane? Where go?'
'Shhh, Maur, I'm meeting Frankie for basketball. Go back to sleep, it's early.'
'Five more minutes.' Maura replied grabbing one of Jane's arms and tugging it around her so that Jane was effectively spooning Maura from behind, her hand trapped tightly beneath Maura's against the smooth plain of her abs. Her pajamas silky smooth.
Jane smiled goofily. She loved sleepy Maura. Her bladder could wait five more minutes. Jane snuggled in to Maura, burying her face in the crook of Maura's shoulder and neck. Jane breathed in that all Maura scent. Jane pressed a kiss to Maura's mostly bare shoulder. Maura's heat was searing, her shoulder bare except for the small strap on her pajamas.
'Jane?' Maura sounded somewhat incoherent, 'more.'
Jane's stomach flipped, coming alive with butterflies. Jane pressed another tender kiss to that freckled shoulder. This time she let her lips linger for a moment longer. Maura sighed happily. Jane stayed nuzzled in that space for as long as she possibly could, marvelling at how just kissing someone could feel so good.
'I gotta go Maura,' Jane mururred softly. She pressed a kiss to Maura's temple as she slipped her hand away.
'Noooooo,' Maura moaned.
Jane chuckled, 'yeah, sweetie. I have to pee.' Jane pressed another kiss to Maura's temple and then rolled as gently from bed as possible.
Jane disappeared into the bathroom. She got ready quickly, changing in to workout clothes. She was excited to play with her brother, even though it meant leaving Maura snuggles.
Jane entered in to the bedroom to find Maura staring sleepily at the door, pouting. It was enough to make Jane stiffle a laugh. 'I'm sorry Maura. I promised Frankie.'
Maura's pout deepened, 'I was enjoying that.' It was all she said but it was enough to twist Jane's heart.
Jane settled on the bed beside Maura, 'I could always cancel on Frankie.'
Maura closed her eyes, pressed her lips together, as though it greatly pained her to respond. 'No,' Maura said, 'go play your beat-up basketball.'
Jane grinned, 'it's pick up basketball.'
'Not the way you two play,' Maura retorted.
Jane laughed. It was true. She pressed a kiss to a still pouting cheek. 'If you stay in bed long enough, I promise I'll come back and spoon you.'
'Tempting,' Maura said with a yawn, 'but only if you shower first.'
'You don't want me sweating on your sheets?' Jane asked playfully.
Maura's eyes flew open and Jane saw a flash of something she couldn't identify, a kind of heat. 'Oh, I do,' Maura replied earnestly, 'I just prefer to be the one making you sweat.'
Jane didn't see it coming. She should have. It was the perfect set up but somehow she'd missed it. Jane coughed on the unexpected heat of it. When she had sucked in enough breath to respond, she replied, 'well I'm going to go, before you try to strip my clothes off.'
Jane heard Maura mumble a reply, something that sounded like, 'I'd make sure you enjoyed it.' Jane didn't have the heart to ask what she actually said. She fled from the room, dogs hot on her heels.
Jane met Frankie at a park near the police department. After a few polite rounds of ball jostling, Frankie called for a water break.
'Getting old there Frankie?' Jane teased, gulping down her own water.
'Ha ha,' Frankie replied, 'no. I just haven't played with anyone who fouls as much as you do since you left.'
Jane swatted at her brother, a grin on her face. 'You're just bitter because you can't keep up.'
'Wanna bet?' Frankie asked, raising an eyebrow.
'You do know you're on a pretty bad losing streak, right?'
'Alright, when I win,' Frankie replied, 'you have to tell me what's going on with you and Maura.'
'Not gonna happen little bro,' Jane shot back her heart thumping, 'when I win you have to tell Nina I'm not wearing that ridiculous bridesmaid dress.'
'You're kidding me. You want me to gamble on my wedding?' Frankie asked, 'Nina will kill me.'
Jane grinned, predatorily, 'so do we have a deal then?'
Frankie considered it. 'Tell you what, if I win you wear the bridesmaid dress and anything else Nina asks you to for the wedding. If you win, you get to choose your own bridesmaid dress with Nina's approval. Win or lose you tell me what's going on with Maura, we can call it the price of admission.'
'You're on!' Jane replied.
Frankie checked Jane the ball, Jane sent it back. 'First to 15?' Frankie asked as he dribbled in place. Jane just nodded. Then Frankie was off. Jane played back a bit, giving Frankie space at the moment. Frankie siezed the space to shoot a three-pointer. It arched beautifully, hitting the backboard squarely in the center of the square before falling in to the net.
Jane caught the ball, 'nice shot junior.' She teased Frankie with a smile.
'Thanks, Janie.' Frankie grinned, 'so you and Maura are...'
Jane dribbled the ball a few times before checking the ball, 'together?' Jane ventured.
'Romantically?' Frankie asked throwing the ball back.
Jane nodded before faking right and driving left. Frankie's recovery was a second too late and Jane drove the ball in for two.
'Is this recent?' Frankie asked, trying to fit the pieces of the timeline together in his head.
Jane shrugged, 'I guess.' Jane wasn't sure how to define them. Maura seemed to imply they had been together for a while but the specifics were hard to nail down.
Frankie moved left, dribbling the ball slyly between his legs. He tried to push forward but Jane knocked the ball away.
'Does she make you happy?' Frankie asked, pausing to catch his breath while Jane set up.
Jane didn't need to think about it, 'more than anything. Does it bother you?' Jane asked, 'me, being with a woman?'
Frankie shook his head emphatically, 'not at all. Love is love, right? The Rizzoli's certainly have a type.'
That made Jane chuckle, 'pretty sure Maura is any one's type.'
The pair got to the business of competing. Frankie did some fancy dribbling to get space for an easy lay up. Jane made a beautiful jump shot from beyond the 3 to tie the game up.
'Ma know yet?' Frankie asked after they'd been quiet for a bit.
Jane nodded, 'she doesn't think Maura feels the same.'
Frankie caught the ball and stared at Jane, 'that's crazy, Janie.'
'I know,' Jane replied.
'Maura is crazy about you,' Frankie said. 'She uprooted her whole life to be with you and when you walk in a room, her whole face lights up.'
'You mean like yours does around Nina?' Jane teased softly.
Frankie's features went all soft. Jane knew something mushy was coming. 'Yeah, exactly like that.' Jane grinned. It was good to see Frankie so happy. 'Think it's the catholic guilt?' Frankie asked, 'with Ma, I mean.'
Jane shrugged and grabbed the ball to get the game going again. 'Dunno.'
'She'll come around,' Frankie murmurred. The pair jostled back and forth, neither able to walk away with a score. After Jane landed on her ass and Frankie missed his shot the pair called for a water break.
'Are you gonna tell Pa?' Frankie asked, gulping down more water.
'If he ever calls,' Jane offered.
'You sure that's a good idea? He didn't really like Maura.'
Jane shook her head, her eyes fierce. 'Maura is non-negotiable. If he wants to be a part of my life, he has to figure it out.'
'If that's the way you wanna play it,' Frankie offered, 'then I'm with you.'
'You heard anything from him? How's his treatment going?' Jane asked, tentatively.
Frankie shrugged, 'last I heard, he was doing okay.'
Jane nodded. They'd forgiven their father for a lot of things over the last few years. Jane certainly didn't want him to die but it would be a very long time before talking about Frank Rizzoli Senior was comfortable. 'So,' Jane asked with a grin as she headed back to the court, 'caught any interesting cases lately?'
Another 20 minutes of playing lead to Jane eeking out the narrowest win. Frankie had sighed and admitted defeat, promising he'd talk to Nina. Jane had told him to just try. If Holiday really wanted her in an atrocious dress complete with puffs and bows, Jane would do it. Jane also really hoped she was right in thinking Nina couldn't care less about what the bridesmaids wore as long as Frankie was waiting for her at the end of the aisle.
Maura tried to stay in bed after Jane left. She really did. She considered forcing herself to stay there just so she could make Jane follow through on her promise to snuggle more but then she thought about Jane being sweaty, which lead to her thinking about making Jane sweaty, and well... then Maura needed a cold shower. They hadn't even gone on their first date yet. Not that Maura was opposed to sex. Not at all. Jane, however, was more sensitive to the topic. Maura wanted to respect that. Wanted to make sure that Jane was completely comfortable and consenting before anything happened. The cold shower helped. Remembering the feeling of Jane kissing her bare shoulder did not. Maura decided to lean in to it, a kind of exquisite torture.
Downstairs, Maura was half way through breakfast when Jane came home. Maura felt a blush blossom in her cheeks. She'd seen post work-out Jane but in the context of their conversation this morning it was a mind warping view. Maura was grateful that Jane called out a quick hello and headed straight up the stairs, two at a time, to take a shower. Maura refused to let her brain think about Jane in the shower. She drew a firm line around it and shoved the thought away from her. She was Doctor Maura Isles, a professional human, a rational scientist. She refused to let her more carnal desires to govern her. At least, not until it was a mutually agreed upon experience, her brain thought back traitorously.
A tap on the back door stopped Maura's mental debate. Maura moved a barking Boston aside and opened the door to see Angela standing there.
'Angela,' Maura said, 'please, come in.' Maura fought the desire to be petty and resentful toward the older woman.
'I was going to offer to make breakfast,' Angela spoke hopefully, 'before you girls leave.'
Maura stepped back to let the older woman in, 'I've already eaten but I am certain Jane would appreciate it. Can I get you some coffee?'
'Please,' Angela replied.
Maura poured her a cup, fixing it the way she liked it, setting it before her before settling back in her seat. Maura watched the older woman take a sip of it before she busied herself making breakfast. 'Jane always talks how much she misses your blueberry pancakes.' Maura offered quietly.
Angela gave Maura a small smile before she began assembling the ingredients for pancakes. Jane did love her pancakes but Maura was the one who loved blueberry pancakes. It was a tiny admission but an important one. 'Should I make you a few too honey?'
Maura sighed looking at her half finished parfait. She supposed she could indulge a bit, 'that would be lovely.' Maura pushed the uneaten food away, sipping on her tea.
It took Angela mere minutes to have a pair of pancakes on a plate for Maura. The blueberries were laid out in a heart and a smiley face. Angela put them in front of Maura. Then in a soft murmur Angela said, 'I hate when you're mad at me, Maura.'
Maura looked away from the older woman, willing her emotions to be calm. When she could trust her voice, Maura whispered back, 'I hate being mad at you.'
Angela blinked back tears and nodded, 'it wasn't a very good weekend for the two of us, was it?'
Maura sighed, picking up her fork, she twirled it softly in her hand. 'No, it wasn't.'
'Is there anything I can do to fix that?' Angela asked. Silence greeted her question. Maura turned her face away from Angela. Angela turned to give the younger woman some emotional space to process, putting a few more pancakes on. Silence was hard for her but she's known Maura long enough to know it was what Maura needed.
'Why am I not good enough for Jane, Angela?' Maura asked. Her voice brimming with emotion.
Angela whirled to look at the younger woman who was deliberately looking anywhere but at her. 'Maura,' Angela began to respond. The younger woman shook her head, stopping Angela's next words.
'I understand, I am not what you wanted for your daughter. I'm not male and I cannot impregnate her but,' Maura took a ragged breath, 'I love her. I take care of her. I make her happy. What, exactly, do I have to do to win your approval?'
Angela hung her head, feeling ashamed. 'Maura,' Angela began, 'I'm so sorry I've made you feel that way.' Angela took a deep breath, fighting the urge to cry, 'I didn't know how you felt. I thought,' Angela let out a small hiccup, 'I thought Jane was alone in her feelings. I thought she was devoting her whole life to you but that you were just going along.' Angela swiped angrily at the tears on her cheek, 'you love my Janie?'
Maura met her eyes then, 'more than anything.' It was spoken with a soft resolve. Undeniable but comforting.
Angela smiled and whispered, 'oh sweet heart!' Angela had to resist the urge to hug Maura. 'That makes me so happy. You don't have to do anything to win approval. Just keep loving my girl.'
Maura shook her head, 'I'm not Frank you know. Just because I'm rational doesn't mean I don't have feelings.'
Angela gasped. She turned to flip her now slightly overcooked pancakes. She spoke quietly, 'I don't know what to say.'
'That is what you meant when you said heart people and head people can hurt each other? Right? That you were a heart person and Frank was a head person. That's what you blame for your divorce?' Maura could be so painfully clueless but she was observant. Angela always underestimated her in that. Angela considered the accusation as she poured two new pancakes. She wasn't sure she had a response.
'I'm not Frank,' Maura said it again quietly, 'Frank hid his emotions, ashamed of how they made him feel. He drank and gambled and goodness knows what else.' Maura took a breath before continuing, 'I might get confused by my emotions but I express them. I do my best to show and tell Jane exactly what she means to me, every chance I get.'
Angela flipped her pancakes considering her ex-husband. Maura was right, of course. Frank did have emotions. He bottled them up until they exploded in some unhealthy fashion or another. Maura wasn't perfect but she was always honest.
'I'm sorry Frank hurt you,' Maura said at last, 'and I understand your concerns for Jane. I just... I needed you to know that we're on the same team. We both want what's best for Jane. I hope, maybe, one day, you can see that.' The clinking of silverware on a plate filled the silence. Angela smiled when she heard Maura sigh, 'god, I've missed these.' Angela's eyes misted over. She knew they probably had a ways to go to repair the damage that Angela had done that weekend but that was okay. Angela would happily make as many blueberry pancakes as it would take.
Jane came bounding down the stairs, 'is that blueberry pancakes I smell?' Angela watched Maura's face light up as her daughter pressed a warm kiss to her cheek. The weight of their conversation disappearing under a look of adoration so strong, Angela wondered how she had missed it before. 'Maura spent every weekend trying to recreate your pancakes Ma. She said they never quite turned out right.'
Maura blushed and didn't meet Angela's eye, 'yes, well, you'll have to teach me your secret recipe some time.'
Angela beamed, 'it's no secret dear. I put an extra bit of love in yours so they taste extra sweet.'
Maura gave her a look full of gratitude and adoration. Maybe, one day, Angela might feel worthy of it again.
