Author Notes: Thanks for the reviews, and for anyone who has favourited or followed me or my stories since the last updates. Sometimes I get reviews for older stories, it's nice to see people enjoying stories I've almost forgotten about.
I finished my main job today. I'm working Sunday/Monday at my other job, so writing may be a little more troublesome for a couple of days (I finish 9pm Sunday night and start again 9am Monday morning). But I'm hoping Saturday will be a big day for writing (when I'm not having to get out of the house for an hour when someone comes to look at maybe buying it).
Maura leaned back against her bed, Jane's thigh pressed between her legs, her body weighted down on her chest. She wrapped her legs around her back, tugging her closer, fighting for breath as she claimed Jane's lips. She moaned, running her hands down Jane's back. When her hands hit Jane's belt, she tugged at the fabric, releasing it from its prison. She slipped her hands beneath the material, pushing it back up, revealing bare skin to the room.
The front door opened downstairs, Jane sprang back, her knees on either side of Maura. She stared down, her eyes darted about.
"Who's that?"
"I would hazard a guess at either Cailin, or your mother," Maura said. "Cailin's supposed to be out with friends. I was under the impression that Angela was working."
The familiar sound of Angela pottering about the kitchen travelled upstairs, her need to mutter loudly to herself made it all the more obvious. Jane groaned and rolled onto her back, away from Maura.
"What is she doing here?"
"We don't need to stop," Maura said, trailing her hand across her stomach and resting her head against Jane's shoulder.
She pushed it away. "I can't do this with her down there. She makes too much noise, she's distracting."
"Just block it out," Maura said, closing her lips around her earlobe, her teeth nipping her skin. She closed her eyes, scooping Maura into her arms, pulling her over her.
She opened her eyes again, letting out a loud, frustrated groan. "I can't."
"We'll have to reschedule," Maura said, lying down beside her, their little fingers linked between them. "Unless you'd like to get a hotel room."
"It's too late." Jane gritted her teeth, pots and pans clanged downstairs. "The moment we go downstairs she'll feed us pasta and we won't have a good enough excuse to leave."
Maura smiled and kissed her. "It wouldn't be the first time. I came home one night from a date and she was there. I really wanted to go upstairs and have some alone time."
"Alone-alone time?" Jane asked, raising her eyebrows.
"Yes, Jane," she said, smirking. "Alone-alone time."
"What happened?"
"I spent three hours trying different sauces, she was practicing some new dishes so she could make some for the man she was seeing. I think she wanted some alone-alone time with him."
"Ew. Maura." Jane rolled off the bed and stood up. "Now I'm really not in the mood."
"Are you at least hungry?"
"I could eat a horse," she said, heading for the door, her arms slouched by her sides. "Might as well eat something tonight."
x
The bedroom door opened in the night. Maura, pulled from sleep, sat up, her eyes landed on the silhouette walking toward her. Her heart thumped against her rib cage, until her eyes adjusted to the lack of light, and Jane's dark curls came into focus.
"Jane?"
"Yeah, it's me," she said, her footsteps silent across the floor.
"What are you doing here?" Maura glanced at the clock on her nightstand. "It's the middle of the night."
"Couldn't sleep."
"So you thought you'd scare me half to death?"
The bed lowered on one side, Jane's silhouette shifted across the bedsheets. Maura opened her mouth to speak, stopped only by her lips. She tangled her fingers up in the back of Jane's hair, holding her steady, their tongues danced between them.
"Didn't mean to scare you," Jane whispered, between kisses. "Thought now might be a good time."
"For what exactly?"
She was cut off again, Jane's body pressed against her, pushing her back down against the bedsheets. Her tongue trailed across Maura's lips. She lifted her shirt and tossed it across the bedroom.
"Okay," she said. Maura pushed the sheets off her body, removing the barrier between herself and Jane's skin.
"I love that you sleep naked," Jane said.
Maura wrapped her legs around her back, pulling her closer. She dreamed of that moment for weeks, she'd let her mind drift in the night, pushing her own body to its limits to ward off the need for more. Feeling Jane's pert breasts crushed against her own sent sensations coursing through her whole body.
She dragged her fingernails up Jane's back, then back down, teasing her skin. She cupped Jane's rounded behind, moulding the skin to her hands and peppered kisses along her collarbone, fighting the urge to speed things up. Jane's lips nibbled and sucked her skin, working her soft lips across tender nipples, and down to her thighs. Maura lifted her hips off the bed, her fingers tangled back up around dark tendrils, then down to the bedsheets.
She moaned with every touch, fought her desire to let go, her fingers clenched around the sheets, gripping so tightly she expected her hands to ache in the morning. She writhed under supple skin, capturing Jane's lips when they returned to her mouth, tasting the salty taste of her own body on Jane's tongue.
"I can't believe you came back," Maura whispered, her lips so close to Jane's ear, her heart raced. She gasped for air, her hips moved against Jane's body. She nibbled her earlobe, trailing kisses down her neck.
"All I could think about was this," Jane said, her fingers following her lips up across Maura's swollen nipples. "I couldn't sleep without doing something."
Maura cupped her cheeks, tugging her mouth closer, tangling their tongues together as she pushed her thigh between Jane's legs, and turned them over. She gripped her skin, digging her nails into her shoulder blades, returning the favour as she trailed her tongue across Jane's body. She moaned beneath her, wrapping her legs around Maura's back, luring her closer and closer as they worked together into the night.
x
Opening her eyes, Maura stared our across her bedroom. The morning sun streamed through the curtains, illuminating the room. The alarm buzzed noisily on her nightstand, cutting through the exhaustion it pulled her from. She reached out and shut it off, and felt the tug of happiness as she remembered her night. She could still hear Jane scream out, hushed quickly by Maura's hand, as she tipped over the edge. Maura turned over. Her eyes landed on Jane's hair, and her heart leaped about. She reached out to touch it, then changed her mind. Instead, she slipped a thigh against Jane's, and wrapped an arm around her naked torso.
"It's too early," Jane muttered, her voice croaked. She twisted around and shifted herself closer to Maura. Chewing on her bottom lip, she opened her eyes. "Hi."
"Hi yourself," Maura said, leaning in and brushing her lips against Jane's. She pulled back, until Jane returned the favour and she deepened the kiss, digging her fingernails across Jane's thigh.
"Round two?" Jane asked, barely breaking the kiss.
Maura sighed and lowered her head. "I can't. I have an early meeting."
Jane ran a hand across Maura's forehead. "What's that? You have a fever? Sorry, the Chief Medical Examiner of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts can't come in today, she's sick."
Laughing, Maura removed Jane's hand and pressed her lips to her palm. "I'm sorry."
"It's fine," Jane said. "Abandon me, leave me to suffer in silence."
"I think you're capable of looking after yourself," Maura said, pulling her bottom lip into her mouth and nibbling her skin. "From the way you were last night."
"You mean this morning," Jane said. "How long did we actually sleep? Three hours?"
"Closer to two," Maura said. "After you decided you wanted me one last time."
"I want you one last time now."
"I hope it wouldn't be the last time."
"Not if I have anything to do with it." She sat up and lifted a leg across Maura's body, straddling her. She leaned down and sucked Maura's nipple, trailing her fingers across her thighs. "The first. Of many."
Maura sat up, resting her chin on Jane's shoulder. She succumbed to the reactions of her body, the desires making Jane's physical demands harder to resist. She closed her eyes, moaning against her ear with every touch. She could hear a soft tapping sound coming from the door.
"Busy," she shouted.
"What was that?" Jane asked.
"Nothing," Maura said, her eyes rolling back in her head. She needed to get ready for work, and Cailin no doubt needed to borrow something, but Jane's fingers had rendered her helpless and she didn't really want to leave her.
x
"Finally, I thought you were never gonna surface," Cailin said, handing Maura a to-go mug of coffee and a bagel, and picking up her purse. "You're gonna be late for your meeting."
"I know," Maura said, slipping the bagel into her own purse. "Thank you."
She followed Cailin out to the car. They sat in silence for the majority of the drive. Maura tried to find things to say, but her heart and mind were distracted. Her body still tingled from the feel of Jane's hands on her skin. She pressed her lips together to disguise the ridiculous smile that seemed insistent on forcing its way across her mouth.
At a stop light, Maura took a sip of coffee. She gripped the wheel with one hand, and swallowed a mouthful. She took another sip, the junction was particularly slow. The caffeine went straight to her head, pulling her out of the exhaustion she'd found herself in moments after waking.
"Sounded like Jane enjoyed your sleepover," Cailin said.
She attempted to swallow, the coffee got caught up in her throat and she coughed quickly. She returned the coffee mug to the drinks holder and coughed louder. Resting a hand against her neck, she cleared her throat.
"How did you know about that?" Maura asked, feeling the warmth spread to her face. A car honked behind them, and Maura put the car into drive.
"I got woken up," Cailin said. "You weren't very quiet."
"I," Maura sighed. "I don't know what to say."
Cailin shrugged. "You don't need to say anything. I'm pleased you finally got laid."
"Do you have to say it like that?"
"Too vulgar?"
Maura pursed her lips, fighting a smirk. She allowed her lips to curve and turned briefly to Cailin. "It's never been like that before. With anyone."
"So, you liked it?"
"I like Jane," Maura said, slowing at another stop light. She twisted slightly in her seat. "You know those songs that talk about love as this amazing, wonderful thing and it feels completely untouchable?"
"Yeah."
"It's not so untouchable anymore. It's the complete opposite. Nothing has ever come close and I don't anticipate it will again."
They set off, turned left and pulled into the BPD parking lot. Cailin stayed silent for the rest of the journey, on the walk from the car to the office. Maura hung her jacket on the hook by the door and folded her arms.
"You've not said much," she said.
"There's nothing much to say."
Maura narrowed her eyes. "You were quite verbose earlier. What's wrong?"
"I'm worried that this is too big."
"My relationship with Jane?" Cailin nodded. "How can something be too big? We haven't said it, but I expect you were right when you said Jane loves me. I love her. I didn't realise how close I could feel to someone, and that's not because I haven't tried, it's because they were the wrong people."
"I know." Cailin walked toward her and reached for her hand. "I'm happy for you, so happy. You know that. I just don't want you to get hurt. When it's big, you fall faster, and it hurts more."
"There's no reason for it to hurt," Maura said, rubbing her other hand across Cailin's and walking across the room. She pulled a book off the shelf and placed it on her desk, before firing up the laptop. "I have my eyes wide open. I know how important this is, to both of us."
"Okay, if you're sure."
"I am."
"Great." Cailin placed her hands on the edge of the desk. "What should I do, Boss?"
x
Jane closed the case file on her desk and pushed it to one side. She ran a hand across her stomach, resting it there for a moment as she stared down at her fingers. She imagined it swelled, the baby nearing full size. The last time she was pregnant she didn't get to reach that stage. She still remembered the day she found out her baby hadn't made it, and the tug of her heart when she realised what that meant.
"You might not want to do that," Maura said, standing beside her desk.
Jane jumped upright, her hand dropped to her side. She glared at Maura. "Don't do that."
"Sorry," she said, rested a hand on the back of Jane's chair. "I wanted to see how you were feeling."
"After my bout of nausea this morning?" Maura nodded. "It comes and goes. Hasn't amounted to anything, thankfully."
"You know where I am if it gets too much."
"I know." She searched the vicinity, then lifted her hand up to Maura's, tapping a couple of her fingertips across the side of her hand. "I think I'm good. Better for seeing you."
"Can we get a drink tonight?" Maura leaned against the desk and rested her hand down against Jane's stomach. She diverted her attention across to the case board. "I thought we could talk."
"We talk all the time."
"Lately there's not been much talking," Maura said, leaning closer, she lowered her voice. Her eyes fixed on Jane. "Not since you discovered that thing that makes it impossible for me to speak."
"The thing we did this morning or last night?"
"Last night."
"I'll see you at the Robber after work."
Maura nodded, sliding her hand across Jane's stomach. "I'll see you later."
x
"A glass of Pinot Noir and a non-alcoholic beer," Angela said, emptying her tray. "I'm worried about you, Janie. This health kick isn't doing you any good, you're already skinnier than I've ever been."
"It's fine, Ma," she said, averting her gaze. She hated lying to her.
"Thank you," Maura said. "Would you like to join us for a drink? I feel like we haven't spent much time together lately."
"Nah, it's busy," Angela said. Jane followed Angela's gaze around the room; the bar was nearly empty.
"We've all been a little busy lately." Maura lifted up her glass and stared at Jane. She stared back, her eyebrows creased together. She pursed her lips. "It's the first time I've been out with Jane outside of work in days."
"Sure," Angela said.
Jane watched her, searching her face for some suggestion that she was on to them. They'd been sneaking around all week, and Jane was growing tiresome of it. She wished to leave the house with Maura, instead of hiding out in her bedroom until everyone else had gone. Or going back to her apartment at an ungodly hour.
"Will you be home tonight?" Maura asked. Jane groaned, then covered it up with a cough.
"I'm here til close."
Jane sipped her beer, her eyes trained on Maura, her smile hidden by the lip of her bottle.
"Wond..." Maura began, cutting herself off quickly. "That's good to know."
With a crease of her brow, Angela picked up her tray and carried it back across the bar. Jane watched her for a moment as she turned her attention to an older police officer and his younger partner. She cracked a smile, playfully resting a hand against the younger man's shoulder. Jane rolled her eyes and turned back to Maura.
"I wish she wouldn't do that in public," Jane said, sipping her beer.
"I'm sure it's all just part of the job."
Jane cleared her throat and placed her beer down beside her. "Why are we lying to her?"
"I thought you didn't want her to know yet."
"I know, but lying to her is different than sneaking around."
"So, you'd rather be honest but not too honest?" Maura asked.
"Yeah."
"I don't know how we can do that." Maura ran her fingertip around the top of her glass.
"Nicely done with the thing about not seeing each other outside work," Jane said. "She bought that one hook, line and sinker. But you nearly spoiled it with your happiness that she wouldn't be home."
"I tried," Maura said.
"We should make this a quick one."
"Hopefully not too quick," Maura muttered. Jane froze, Maura's foot slipped out of her shoes and pushed her slacks up. She fluttered her eyelashes and chewed on her bottom lip. Jane leaned forward and stared into her eyes. "Do you know what last week was?"
Jane's eyebrows knitted together, search her brain. She sipped her drink in the hope it would help her think. She glanced around the bar, but there were no clues. She had absolutely no idea what last week was. There was every possibility that she'd forgotten completely, which unsettled her. "Your birthday?"
Maura pursed her lips and lifted her glass to her mouth. "My birthday was a few months ago."
"Oh yeah," Jane said, frowning. "Mother's Day?"
"Mother's Day is in May."
"The day of our scan?"
Maura rolled her eyes. "I think you'd know if you missed our scan. It's not for another few weeks."
"Gay Lover's Day?"
"Now you're just being facetious."
"Give me something, what am I missing?"
"We've been together for a month," Maura said, taking an envelope out of her purse and handing it to Jane. "Here."
"What's this?" Jane raised an eyebrow. "Did you buy me something? I didn't buy you anything. I didn't realise we were doing the one month thing."
"It's okay," Maura said, resting her hand against the back of Jane's hand. "You don't need to. This is something I wanted to do."
"Okay," Jane said, staring down at the envelope in her hand. She glanced up, practically bouncing. "Can I open it?"
"Go ahead," Maura said. "It took me a lot of work to track it down. You said it was the Washington Nationals mascot but the man I spoke to said it can't have been because they didn't exist. He said I wanted the Montreal Expos."
"Yeah, it's a long story but they're the same team." Jane opened the envelope and stared at the rectangular sticker inside, her chin dropped. "You found my missing sticker?"
"It wasn't easy."
"I can't believe you found this." Jane leaned forward. A wave of emotions flooded her, forcing her to swipe at her cheek to remove a tear. "You do know Ma probably binned my sticker books years ago."
"I know," Maura said, cupping her hand across the table.
"This is...I dunno what to say." She stood up and leaned over the table, wrapping her arms around Maura's shoulders. She pulled her in close, about to kiss her when she remembered the public arena. She diverted her lips to Maura's cheek. "Finish your drink, so I can kiss you properly. You're amazing."