I don't own Rizzoli and Isles, but I wish I did.
A/N: Hello, dear readers. I apologize for my long absence. I had to go back and reread my story to get a feel for my characters again. I'm sorry for all the typos and spots of poor grammar along the way! I hope this installment more than makes up for it all. Heads up. It's a little grown up in parts. I'd say it's high on the PG-13 bordering on R scale. Adult themes, language, and the like. Nothing graphic. Oh yeah, props to Dean Martin for the following song...Enjoy!
Jane stood in her socked feet glaring at the piano in her living room. The instrument hadn't moved from its spot in well over a decade, and in all the time that it has sat there, never once did Jane display photographs or keepsakes on it. Jane dusted and polished it out of habit and respect for her Nonna, but beyond that she ignored the piano and all the bad memories and self-perceived failures it personified. Only after Maura entered her life, did the instrument become a part of Jane's consciousness again. One by one, Jane added framed photos of her and Maura along with mementos from parts of her life, which Jane once preferred to ignore. Her badge now gleamed brightly from its case on the piano's lid.
Gnawing on her thumbnail, Jane began to pace in front of the offending instrument. Willing it to call out a challenge.
"Oh, for fucksakes!" Jane rolled her eyes at her own stubbornness and resolutely approached the piano. The brunette gave the piano the stink eye one last time before finally making the decision to sit down and play the damn thing.
The bench creaked as Jane sat on its polished lid. Swinging her legs around to situate her body in front of the keys, Jane shifted to find a comfortable position. The brunette extended her hand to lift the cover off the keys, but stopped midway and hopped off the bench. Muttering to her herself about being thirsty, she stalked off towards the kitchen. There she retrieved a bottle of beer and popped off its lid before returning to the piano. Along the way, she grabbed a coaster from the coffee table; Maura had trained her well.
For the second time that evening, Jane found herself sitting in front of her long silent piano. This time she managed to lift the cover off the keys. The black and white keys looked the same as they did when her Nonna first taught Jane her scales when she was five. The only difference was the chip in the D-Flat key which was still visible from when Frankie accidentally knocked the metronome onto the keys. Of course, Angela blamed Jane. She should have known better than to leave the keys uncovered and unsupervised with her brothers running around. Oh, the joys of being the oldest.
Jane flexed and unflexed her hands in an effort to loosen up her fingers. The stretch of the skin around her scar was uncomfortable but not painful, and at the moment she had no tingling or numbness in her fingers. She took this as a good sign.
As a result of the injury years ago, Jane had suffered nerve and tissue damage, which sometimes caused loss of sensation in her fingers. By this point in her life, Jane had grown used to it and didn't really give it too much thought. The only time it was a real hindrance was a instance like this one where dexterity mattered. She thanked God everyday that her non-dominant hand was the one affected.
The brunette gently rested her fingertips on the keys ready to play, but when she looked down at her hands, she stopped. She was still wearing her watch.
Slowly, Jane unfastened the latch of her timepiece and laid it on top of the piano, pausing to examine her wrist again. The scar was still jagged and nasty, and it pulled her skin tight, but she no longer felt the revulsion she once had towards it. For years, Jane regarded it as a sign of her failure.
Her failure to protect and serve.
Killing someone, even when justified, changes a person. Jane knew the man intended to kill her, and his death was justified, but it didn't change the fact the she ended another person's life. Much like the way her wound healed jagged and ugly, Jane felt her spirit healed the same way. On paper, she appeared well adjusted, but beneath the surface, she carried feelings of guilt and failure; that was the case until Maura entered her life.
Maura was damaged, too. She was escaping the ugly parts of her past that she no longer wanted encroaching on her present and future. The doctor had scars, but unlike Jane, hers were only on the inside.
Both women had hid their pain so well that it had become effortless; It was easier keeping people out rather than letting them in.
Jane inhaled and exhaled sharply through her nose to center herself.
She had tried months before unsuccessfully, but now she had a reason to play again.
Maura.
R & I R & I R & I
"Jane, will you stop pacing, please? It's making me nervous." Maura joked. If she didn't know any better, Jane was up to something.
For a change of pace, Jane had insisted that she and Maura have dinner at her apartment instead of going out to eat like they originally planned. Honestly, Maura didn't care what they did as long as they were together. Jane had been exceptionally busy every night that week. The brunette either left Maura's house early in the evening or stayed at her apartment grading papers. At least, that was what the doctor was led to believe.
The distracted brunette stopped midstep. "You say something, Maur?"
Maura gave Jane a funny look; something about the brunette was off. The doctor sat a little straighter in her seat, which was difficult to do since Jane refused to let Maura replace her old saggy armchair with a new one. It was honestly a struggle to get out of the chair because it had the propensity to suck you in and never let go.
"Yes, I asked you to stop pacing. Is something wrong?" Maura couldn't hide the concern in her voice.
Jane realized that her attempt to calm her nerves was only making Maura nervous.
"Umm, no. Come here." Jane pulled Maura by the hand from her place in the armchair (not the easiest of feats) and led her over to the chair nearest the piano.
"Yeah, uh, sit here." Jane awkwardly pointed at where she wanted Maura to be.
"Jane, you're perspiring excessively. Are you feeling alright?" Maura moved to stand from her seat, but Jane intercepted her,
"Yes, I'm fine. Just sit. I..."
No more stalling. You're freaking her out.
Jane nervously approached the piano bench, wiping her sweaty palms on her thighs as she sat down.
Maura's face clearly conveyed her confusion.
What is she doing?
Without preamble, Jane slowly tapped out the beginning of a familiar tune. Soon, her voice joined the melody.
Heart and Soul
I fell in love with you heart and soul
THUNK
Jane tripped over one of the keys and threw a apologetic glance at the doctor. Maura's confused expression had melted into an unwavering and encouraging grin.
The way a fool would do madly
Because you held me tight
And stole a kiss in the night
Jane waggled her eyebrows at the giggling doctor.
Heart and soul
I begged to be adored
The brunette's fingers continued to strike the familiar melody and the timber of her voice rose and fell with the simple notes. She felt her confidence growing.
I lost control and tumbled overboard gladly
That magic night we kissed
There in the moon mist.
Maura's mind flitted back to the moment the two shared beneath the tree at Angela's house and their almost first kiss.
Oh, but your lips were thrilling, much too thrilling...
Both women blushed at all the memories of stolen kisses at school.
Never before were mine so faintly willing
But now I see what one embrace can do
That little kiss you stole
Held all of my heart and soul...
Jane's brilliant white smile grew larger as she neared the end of the song. The doctor bit her lip to keep in the happy tears that were threatening to fall.
Now I see what one embrace can do
Look at me it's got me loving you madly
That little kiss you stole
Held all my heart and soul.
Jane rounded out the song with an extra flourish. She brought her hands to her lap and shyly lifted her eyes to meet Maura's.
"I'm really sorry that it's not Mozart or Handel or something like that. For now, it's the best my hands can manage, and I thought…" Jane trailed off suddenly feeling self-conscious and berating herself for her song choice.
"It was perfect," Maura slid onto the bench next to Jane. Cupping the brunette's face between her hands, she kissed the brunette deeply.
Jane blushed furiously and quickly wiped away an errant tear with her thumb. Suddenly feeling shy again, she closed her eyes and rested her forehead against the blonde's.
Maura pulled back to study Jane's face. "I didn't know you were playing again."
"Well, to be honest, I wasn't. This was your mother's idea." A crooked smile pulled at Jane's mouth.
The doctor's puzzled expression caused Jane to continue her explanation.
Jane pulled back from the doctor and wrapped her arm around the her waist. Maura responded with resting her head on the brunette's shoulder.
"She suggested I use my talent to show you how much I love you."
Rather sheepishly, Jane held up her damaged wrist.
"I promise that I used to be really good, but well, you know."
Maura gently took Jane's wrist into her hands and planted a delicate kiss on the scar tissue. "I loved it, Jane. It was completely unexpected. I never thought I'd hear you play."
"Well, you're the first and only person to hear me since the attack." Jane said as she softly ran her finger across the keys.
The doctor turned the brunette's face towards hers with the gentle touch of her fingertips.
"Really?" Maura felt honored that Jane would share such an intimate part of herself with her.
"Yes, really, Maur. No one else but you could make me want to play." Jane pulled the doctor in for a chaste kiss. "This is all for you."
"I don't know what to say, Jane. I've never had someone love me as deeply and selflessly as you have." Maura brushed her thumb across Jane's cheek, relishing the softness of the brunette's skin.
"Maura, I can say the same about you." Jane wrapped her arms around the blonde. The two women, holding each other tenderly, sat in a comfortable silence.
Jane smiled softly before pulling away to face the keys again.
"Now, I have a very important question for you, Maura." Jane's eyes danced and her smile stretched across her face.
Maura's heart sped up a beat as her mind reeled with possibilities.
Jane smirked at the doctor. "Did anyone ever teach you how to play "Chopsticks"?
Hiding her disappointment from the brunette, Maura chuckled, "No, as a matter of fact."
What was I hoping she'd ask? I'll revisit that later...
"Well, let's fix that, my love." Jane grinned brightly.
Nearly half an hour and countless laughs later, the two women agreed that Maura should stick to science.
R & I R& I R& I
"Mmm, do you want to stay the night, Maura?" Jane pulled more of the blonde on top of her. The two women shifted from their spooning position on the couch.
This was the opening Maura was looking for.
"I don't know, Jane. I have a big test coming up." Maura propped herself up on her elbows to look the brunette in the eyes.
Jane's brow creased in confusion, "But, Maur, you've already written your test for next week. What do you…"
The doctor cut her off, "Jane, this is that big test you promised to help me study for." Maura could tell by Jane's expression that she hadn't cottoned on to her scheme.
"Remember, the test I need to pass so I can attend BCU?" Maura smirked as realization dawned on the brunette.
Eager to play along, Jane responded, "Oh, yeah. You needed help with your Anatomy class. Is that right?"
This will be fun. Both women thought simultaneously.
"You're right. Can we maybe study tomorrow night? I know it's Saturday, but…" Maura trailed off.
Schooling her features, Jane replied, "Saturday will be perfect. My parents are going out that night, so we shouldn't have any interruptions."
Maura, although she had started this whole scheme, was struggling to suppress her giggles. "Sounds great. I'll bring a pizza."
The women only held each other's gaze for a moment before cracking up.
"This should be fun, Maura." Jane nibbled on the doctor's neck.
Maura rolled her head to the side to give the Italian better access. "Mmm...it will be," she giggled.
R & I R & I R & I
Knock Knock Knock
Carried by her socked feet, Jane skidded to a stop in front of her door. Through the peephole, Jane spied an adorable Maura Isles dressed in a loose fitting Boston East tank top and cotton skirt. Under her right arm, she held her binder, Anatomy book, and purse. In her left hand, she precariously balanced a large pizza from Jane's favorite restaurant.
She's so cute. I wish we could have been teenagers together.
Maura's excitement ratcheted up a notch as she heard the deadbolt and chain unfasten.
I can't believe we're doing this!
Looking as badass as possible, Jane Rizzoli answered the door in her own Boston East t-shirt and her super short athletic shorts. The long expanse of exposed thighs made the doctor's stomach clench.
"Hey, Maura. Come in." Jane held the door wide open and ushered the blonde into her kitchen.
Internally, Jane cringed at the role play about to happen. She loved Maura and wanted to do anything to make her happy, but Jane had to admit that she felt a little nervous and slightly silly.
C'mon. You're Badass Jane Rizzoli! Own this and make your woman happy!
Little did she know that Maura felt equally nervous.
This was a dumb idea. I hope it doesn't turn into a disaster.
Jane jumped in with both feet. "You're lucky. My parents just left."
The Italian took the pizza box from the doctor and placed it on the counter.
Maura pretended to look disappointed. "Darn, it would have been nice to meet them."
"Well, maybe some other time." Jane shrugged and struggled to keep a straight face.
Maura decided to give Jane an out. "Jane, I really appreciate your willingness to pretend that we are study partners, but we don't have to do this if you don't want to. I'll admit that it feels a bit silly now that we're actually doing this."
Jane's warm chocolate eyes twinkled. "Maura, I love you. Let's just have fun with it and not take ourselves too seriously." The brunette squeezed the blonde's hand affectionately.
"I don't think that will be a problem," the blonde confessed and immediately felt her excitement grow again.
"Ok, then." Jane proceeded to plate the pizza and grab the two women drinks.
"Maura, I promised to give you the full high school experience, so you can expect a lot of cheap and cheesy moves." The brunette smirked. "So be prepared because my end goal is to get into your pants."
Maura snorted, "Get into my pants? I want to see you try."
The Italian leaned against her counter and smugly folded her arms. "Oh, good Doctor, you will see me try and succeed."
Jane threw down the gauntlet.
Maura narrowed her eyes at the brunette before she took the lead. "So, Jane. Where should we study?"
The blonde glanced at Jane's kitchen table, which was sorely in need of decluttering. Jane had the bad habit of letting papers pile up.
Jane replied with her typical cockiness, "Let's eat on the couch. It's much more comfortable."
Maura to followed Jane into the living room. Placing the plates on the coffee table, Jane parked her butt on the couch.
"I thought it would be more comfortable to study in here. How about we eat as we work?" Jane grabbed her pizza and took a large bite. This was Maura's cue.
"Oh, great idea." The doctor cleared her throat and sat next to Jane on the couch.
The blonde took a few dainty bites before speaking again. "Thank you, Jane, for helping me study."
"No problem. What specifically do you need help with?" Jane took a deep swig of her soda.
"The female reproductive system." Maura quipped.
Jane spit out her drink in surprise.
"Seriously, Maur?" Jane wiped some of the dribbled soda off her chin.
Maura folded her arms indignantly. "Well, would you rather I suggested the digestive system?"
"No, fair point," Jane grumbled.
Suddenly, a devilish idea came to the Italian. Jane pulled the shirt over her head revealing a navy sports bra and well-toned physique. "Excuse me a minute. I'm going to go change my shirt."
Maura felt her stomach clench at the sight of her girlfriend's body. "Sure, I'll wait right here," she squeaked out.
The doctor tried gathering her wits as she racked her brain for an idea.
Two can play at this game. The blonde thought deviously.
Jane reemerged from her bedroom wearing the lowest and tightest tank top she could find.
"Ok, I'm back," the brunette announced, "you ready to get started?"
Maura took a dainty sip of her water. "I am if you are."
"Let's start with the chapter about reproduction." Jane rolled her eyes before taking a seat on the floor instead of the couch. The coffee table served as their desk.
Jane rubbed her neck before confessing, "I left my book at school. Can we share?"
Well played, Jane.
"Of course," the doctor replied and took her place on the floor next to the brunette. Jane scooted closer than necessary.
"Can we look at the section about arousal?" Maura said innocently.
This time Jane did a mental eye roll before flipping to the page. "Sure, let's read for a little bit."
For the next few minutes, both women pretended to read. Sharing the book between them, Jane and Maura's thighs pressed against each other's. Maura shifted in place and rubbed her neck.
Jane momentarily forgot about the game. "You ok?" Her concerned eyes scrutinized the blonde.
Devilishly, Maura replied, "Oh, I'm ok. My neck is just a little stiff."
Jane caught on to the doctor's scheme. "I can rub it for you if you'd like." She repressed the snort that threatened to escape.
"Thank you, that would be wonderful." Maura made a show of gathering her hair into a high ponytail. Jane had a weakness for the nape of Maura's neck, so the doctor capitalized on this.
"Um, here," Jane stumbled over her words, "turn around so I can reach your shoulders." Jane narrowed her eyes at Maura's back. So far, the blonde was beating her at her own game. She needed to step it up a notch.
Jane positioned herself so she was stradding the doctor from behind. Her long legs stretched alongside Maura's. Jane could easily pull the doctor's back against her front when the time was right.
Take that Maura!
As Jane kneaded the blonde's shoulders, Maura purposely and quietly moaned in pleasure. Feigning the need to hold on to something, Maura wrapped her arms around Jane's knees. The doctor was rewarded with the sound of a sharp intake of air behind her.
Maura gave herself a mental high five.
"According to the book, Jane, stimulation of certain parts of the body helps prepare a woman for intercourse."
The Italian broke character. "Intercourse?! Geez, Maura! Can we call it something else? Like doing it or having sex?"
Maura let out an exasperated sigh and rolled her eyes, "Fine, prepares the woman's body for doing it."
Jane can be such a prude sometimes.
"Thank you. Now where did we leave off?" Jane repositioned herself so she her body was pressed closer to the blonde's. .
"Stimulation." Maura smirked and momentarily leaned back against Jane to tease her.
Jane cleared her throat before continuing, "Right, stimulation." The Italian leaned in close to Maura and brushed her lips against the doctor's ear.
"You know, Maura," Jane said softly, "many people learn best through hands on experience."
The doctor feigned surprise, "Really? I didn't know that." Smirking, she continued, "Do you think we could try that? A hands on approach I mean."
Both women suppressed their giggles. They were laying this on pretty thick.
Jane had to remind herself that this was a scenario played out by teenagers. She couldn't be too smooth. The challenge was being cheesy while still accomplishing her goal of getting into Maura's pants.
"Sure, let me show you." Jane pulled away from the blonde and put distance between the two.
Thoroughly confused, Maura turned around as well. "Jane?"
Jane smiled broadly, "Sorry, Maur'. I forgot that we have to be teenagers in this scenario, and honestly, most teenagers aren't that smooth."
The doctor could see Jane's logic. "That's being smooth?"
Jane quirked her eyebrow at the blonde.
"Fair enough. I'm ready for the average teenage experience," she winked.
"Average!?" Jane replied indignantly. "I never said anything about it being average! Just not overly smooth."
Maura barely suppressed the laugh that Jane's outburst elicited.
The brunette's pride was on the line.
"Ok, so where were we?" Jane focused her attention on the blonde.
Maura smirked, "Hands on stimulation."
"Right!" Jane's mind clicked back into character. "I can show you if you like? Would you be ok with that?" Jane's tone resembled that of a nervous teenager.
"It's for school, right?" Maura replied innocently and bit her lip.
The brunette smirked, "Of course, this is completely for educational purposes. What kind of stimulation were you wanting to try, I mean, learn about?" The lecherous gleam in Jane's eyes challenged the blonde.
"I'd like to try kissing. I've never done that before." Maura feigned embarrassment.
Nice, Maura.
"Never?" Jane pretended to be shocked, "Someone as hot as you?!"
Maura smiled demurely at the Italian. "No, never."
"Well, I can help you with that. Um, just follow my lead, I guess." Both women leaned in and shared a chaste kiss. They pulled back grinning like idiots.
"Did that work?" Jane teased.
Maura pretended to deliberate. "A little. Maybe we could try again?"
Jane rolled her eyes, which caused Maura to chuckle. "Ok," Jane leaned in again.
The kiss this time was much more passionate and ended in an intense French kiss.
"Soooo?" Jane drawled. She knew it worked.
"Very effective," Maura shyly replied. "What else works?"
Jane's mind flitted back to her younger days.
Aha! Got it!
"A lot of girls like to have their boobs played with." Both women couldn't suppress the small chuckle Jane's word choice caused.
The brunette waggled her eyebrows at the sexy doctor.
"What do you mean by played with?" Maura tilted her head curiously.
Jane shifted her weight; everything below the belt was demanding more of her attention.
"Take off your shirt, and I'll show you," Jane said smugly.
Maura fired back, "I'll only take mine off if you take yours off, too."
Jane grabbed the hem of her shirt and pulled it up and over her head. Maura did the same without hesitation.
The two smirking women, both in their bras, sat facing each other.
"Now take off your bra, and I'll take off mine." Jane needed to take control of the situation. There was no way that she was going to make this an average experience for the doctor.
Jane watched as Maura freed her chest from its confines. She would never get tired of seeing Maura's (appropriately nicknamed) Rack of God.
"Ok, Maura. Take your hands and start, um, touching them, your breasts, I mean, like this," Jane said lamely.
This is harder than I thought.
"Anything?" Jane asked; she felt pretty awkward about massaging her breasts in front of her girlfriend.
Quirking her eyebrow, Maura challenged the brunette. "I think it would work better if you did this for me." Maura punctuated this remark with a subtle shimmy.
Well-played, Doctor. Now, it's my move.
"Would you mind scooting closer? Maybe slide your legs over mine...um... kind of straddle me? For educational purposes, of course."
Jane smirked at the doctor, who was obviously thrown off guard by Jane's bold move.
"Ok, this is how it's done." Jane snaked her hand between their two bodies and began to stimulate Maura's breast.
Rather smugly, Jane asked the doctor, "Working?"
"Yes," she panted slightly, "I'm starting to think the book was right."
Jane could feel herself getting worked up, too. She pulled back a little to get some much needed air.
"It works best if you pair kissing with this," Jane suggested to the excited blonde.
Maura stared directly into Jane's eyes; the doctor's pupils were completely dilated.
"I'm game," Maura panted.
In their eagerness to kiss each other, the women moved too quickly and bumped teeth.
"Ow! "Sorry!" they said simultaneously.
Maura sheepishly chuckled, "Can we try that again?"
Jane answered the blonde with a searing kiss.
When the need for air became too great, they pulled back.
"I think I understand how it works now." Maura giggled.
Jane was having a blast. This was turning out to be more fun than she anticipated.
"Maura, I promised to give you the full experience, so in full teenage fashion…let's pretend that we've got less than an hour before anyone gets home."
The brunette gently pushed Maura down on the rug and climbed on top of her. For several minutes the two women rolled their hips in a slow, steady rhythm before Jane stopped abruptly.
"Jane, what are you…?" Maura's question was cut short by Jane's next move.
The brunette slipped her hands under the blonde's skirt and jerked the doctor's panties down around her ankles.
"Shh...Maura, we don't have a lot of time left." Almost frantically, Jane yanked down her own shorts and underwear.
Playing along, Maura wrapped her arms tightly around the Italian.
"What if we get caught?" Maura momentarily forgot this was all pretend.
Mustering the cockiest grin she had, Jane replied, "Don't worry. We won't."
Maura couldn't help herself; she just had to throw it in there. "But, Jane." Maura said innocently. "I've never done this before. I'm a virgin."
The two women briefly held each other's gaze for a few seconds before bursting into hysterics. It took several moments before they could look at each other without laughing.
Jane finally managed to get a hold of herself. "Well, Maura, do you want to stay that way?"
From underneath Jane, Maura snickered, "No. I don't."
Jane's face broke into a wolfish grin, "I didn't think so..."
So, in classic teenager style, Jane and Maura had half-naked sex on the floor with their papers and notebooks scattered everywhere.
…..
"Goodness, Jane. We didn't even get completely naked." Maura said trying to catch her breath.
Jane chuckled, "That's the point, Maura."
"What do you mean?" Jane's answer puzzled the doctor.
The brunette propped herself up on her elbow. "Isn't it obvious, Maur?"
Still lost, Maura confessed, "No."
"Getting completely naked was way too risky, and it took too long if you were in a hurry," Jane smiled wolfishly at the blonde. "You never knew how much time alone you actually had; time was of the essence."
"Oh really?" Maura's smirk made Jane feel slightly self-conscious.
Jane squirmed a little under her girlfriend's scrutiny. "Well, at least that was how it was for me...and my friends, too, I guess."
The grinning blonde pulled Jane down for a kiss. "Well, let's pretend that we're having a sleepover then. That way we have lots of time."
Jane proudly sported carpet burns on her knees for the next two days.
R & I R & I R & I
"I'm exhausted" Jane collapsed on the mattress. She smirked as she watched a grinning blonde emerge from under the covers.
After they had sufficiently fooled around on the floor, the women moved their fun to the bedroom.
"I know, me too." Maura settled beside the brunette. "Doing it on the floor was incredibly arousing." Maura heard Jane chuckle.
"I especially enjoyed pretending that we were teenagers when you moved down and started sucking on my...Oh!"
Maura quickly propped herself up on her elbows. "Sucking!"
Incredibly confused, Jane responded, "Huh? What are you talking about!?"
Maura laughed, "Was that what Frost was talking about?! You, sucking?!"
Jane flushed beet red. "I don't know what you mean...I, uh," Jane stammered.
"Jaaane." Maura stretched out the brunette's name. Her tone indicated that she wanted answers.
"What?" Jane was caught.
Fuck you, Frost. I'm going to get you back.
"Your talent in pleasuring me orally is what Frost was referring to, wasn't it?" Maura's tone betrayed her amusement.
Jane covered her face with her hands.
"Ok, yes," Jane mumbled begrudgingly. To be honest, reliving this memory was embarrassing as hell.
Still covering her face, Jane continued, "I actually had sex with a few girls in high school. One girl, named Jennie Fowler, really had the hots for me and convinced me to fool around with her. Apparently, Jennie thought I had...um...great skills with my tongue, so she spilled that to her friends. Since being gay in high school in the late 90s wasn't as accepted as it is now, everyone kind of played it off as experimenting with friends. You couldn't possibly be gay if you still dated boys."
Both women rolled their eyes. "Yes, because everyone knows that's how it works," Maura snorted.
"Anyway, Jennie told one friend who told it to another friend, and that friend must have confused me fooling around with Jennie as actually fooling around with a guy."
Maura's eyebrows shot up in disbelief. "Honestly, Jane. How would one confuse fellatio with cunnilingus?"
"Ew! Gross, Maura. Don't call it that!" Jane emerged from behind her hands.
Maura looked confused. "Why Jane? Those are the proper names for the acts."
Jane squirmed a little. "I don't care. They just sound gross. Can't we agree to call them something else?"
"Fine, is oral sex, ok?" Maura rolled her eyes.
Begrudgingly, Jane conceded, "If the choice is between oral sex," Jane still cringed a little, "and those other words, then yes."
Maura chuckled, "Ok, agreed. Now back to your story."
"I figured they confused it because what straight girl goes down on another girl? Even if they're just experimenting. Well, the rumor got out. It took a good two months for it to die down, and that was only after I punched a few jerk-offs in the balls for bringing it up or for hitting on me. Eventually, everyone either moved on to better gossip or figured it was made up."
Jane now sat up fully.
"Frost thought it was hilarious since he knew that I had done that with Jennie and not some guy. He's still proud of himself for figuring out that I was gay before I ever said anything to him. He was actually one of the first people I came out to."
"Did you know his mom is gay?" Jane asked the blonde.
"Really?" Maura had no idea.
"Yeah, that's probably why he was so cool with it. Frankie had a hard time at first, but Frost helped him through it. I didn't tell Tommy until a few years later because I honestly didn't know how he would take it, but he's smart and figured it out on his own. I just didn't want to burden him with it because he took our parents' divorce pretty hard. It's still a mystery to me why he wanted to go live with Pop after everything that happened with Ma, but everyone has their reasons, I guess. He needed a fresh start after getting sober, so who knows."
Maura pulled the brunette down into her arms and snuggled in closely. "So, when is the big move supposed to happen?"
Jane had to think for a minute, "Easter is at the end of the month, and we get both Good Friday and Easter Monday off, so we're going to head down then."
Maura volunteered, "I'd like to go down and help. It would mean a lot to me to help Tommy with the move."
Jane considered it for a minute. "Well, ok. It'll be nice to have someone in the moving van with me."
Maura turned in Jane's arms and purred, "Thank you, Tiger."
The Italian turned a dazzling grin on the blonde before growing pensive. "Maura, I want you to know that I appreciate your offer of paying for movers, but this is something Tommy wants to do for himself. You being there to help pack up his apartment and load up the truck will mean a lot to him."
"I understand." Maura was content to help out in anyway she could.
Jane mused aloud, "Let's see...if we can take a half day on Thursday, we can catch an earlier flight down to Destin. Tommy's going to pick up the truck Thursday afternoon, so we can load it first thing Friday morning."
Jane glanced at the blonde. "Does that make sense, Maur?"
Maura's lips pulled into a soft smile, "Of course. Keep going."
Jane didn't realize she wanted Maura's approval. She did things on her own for so long; she wasn't used to having someone else there to help her.
"That night we can finish packing up and cleaning out his place. You and I can stay in a hotel, and Frankie can sleep at Tommy's. It'll be a twenty-two hour drive, so we'll have to break it up over two days."
Both women groaned at the prospect of driving twenty-two hours in a moving van.
Jane drummed her fingers on Maura's side. "I really want us to get home in time for Easter Mass. That would be a great surprise for Ma."
"I think that sounds great, Jane, but do you think your father will come around?"
Jane deliberated for a moment before replying. "I don't think so. We had such a bad argument last time that I think he'll want to remain scarce."
Maura released the breath she didn't even realize she was holding. "Alright."
"Hey, is something bothering you?" Jane ducked her head to catch Maura's eyes.
Maura thought about biting her tongue, but she decided it was best to be frank. "Truth be told, Jane. I hope we don't run into your father."
Jane quickly tried to reassure the blonde, "Don't worry, Maura. He's won't do anything to…"
"I'm not afraid he will do anything. I'm not sure if I won't. There are more than a few things I would like to say to him."
This was not what Jane expected to hear, and honestly it was bit of a turn on. Jane liked protective Maura.
"I appreciate your desire to stand up for me, Maura, but I don't think it'll be necessary. Thank you though."
Maura smiled softly, "I'd do anything for you, Jane."
"I know." Jane kissed Maura softly before the two rolled over to sleep on their separate sides of the bed.
Jane had nearly drifted off to sleep when she felt Maura poke her ribs.
"Jane?" Maura said quietly.
"Mm, yeah, Maur?" Jane replied groggily.
"Thanks for helping me study tonight. I'm definitely going to get an A," Maura purred.
Jane snuggled a little deeper into her pillow with a satisfied smirk on her face. "With a tutor like me, anyone can pass, even you," Jane teased.
Thwack!
Maura's pillow came out of nowhere.