Author's note:
Hey guys! I'm so sorry it took me forever to post this new chapter. The holidays came up, I had a lot of work, got really sick and then had to start studying for final exams. Now I finally managed to sit down (yay, procrastination) and produce this chapter that is probably the most important chapter I have ever written. Even though it's rather short (sorry!), I hope you like it and get excited about it as much as I do/am – you're very welcome to leave any comments in form of a review or a PM for me. I can't wait to hear what you think of it! And with regard to future updates: I have a big final exam coming up in the middle of February so I might not be able to post much until then. But I will try. And now, enjoy!
During the car ride, Jane was so nervous she could barely speak, the ravioli in her stomach moving around menacingly. Who knew how eternally long 20 minutes could be? She tried to imagine Maura's face opening the door but she had absolutely no idea what was going to happen. Maybe by now, Maura was already fast asleep and wouldn't even hear the doorbell. Or maybe she had gotten angry with Jane because of her sudden departure and no longer wanted to see her. Or maybe, and that was the worst option of all, her mother was still with Maura and would make any kissing impossible.
"It's gonna be okay, Jane. Try breathing, it helps", Judith smiled at her as she pulled up in front of Maura's driveway, "I'm not sure you have ever followed this piece of advice from anyone but maybe this once: just follow your heart. I highly doubt you could do anything wrong then."
With a helpless shrug, Jane opened the door and hoped that her legs would not forsake her: "Thank you so much for everything, Judith. I wouldn't be here right now if it weren't for you – both literally and metaphorically. I'll talk to you later. Tell Sherlock sorry for basically throwing him off my lap." And with that remark, Jane carefully closed the passenger door behind her, turned around and faced what clearly was the longest driveway in history. Lights were still on both in the guest house (which probably meant that Angela was no longer with Maura) and in Maura's living room, which meant that Maura was still awake… and would most likely open the door. Her legs barely carrying her weight, her entire body shaking uncontrollably, Jane finally reached the front door. What would Maura say? What would she herself say? Would there even be any speaking? Would they really kiss? Her mind was racing so fast that, at least for a moment, Jane was afraid to actually lose it. There was only one way to find out, and it was about time she did. Due to her trembling hands, she barely managed to ring the doorbell, and it took an eternity until footsteps could be heard (or was it only her heartbeat?).
When the front door opened and Maura stared at her in surprise, Jane was unable to speak for a moment. Maura had changed out of her dress and into pajamas and a robe, her uncombed hair framing her perfect face, and she had never looked more beautiful to Jane than in this very instant. "Maura", Jane said without knowing what else to say, as it became clearer and clearer that this was not the moment for words. Instead, Jane slowly walked up the two stairs that still separated them and shyly asked, "May I come in?"
Maura, apparently at a loss of words as well, merely stepped aside to let Jane in and closed the door behind them. Inside, she leaned against the door, her hazel eyes observing every move Jane made. The latter, dropping her jacket to the floor, turned around and slowly walked towards Maura, none of them making even the slightest noise, until they were so close their noses almost touched. Jane reached up and lightly touched Maura's cheek, brushing a strand of hair out of her face. Her stomach clenched when she realized that Maura was just as nervous as she was; none of the two had breathed in what seemed way too long. She brought her other hand up to Maura's face, gently caressing her other cheek, forehead, nose and finally, her lips, as if asking for permission. It was granted when Maura reached up for Jane's T-Shirt to pull her even closer towards her and buried her hands in Jane's black hair. The moment their lips touched for the very first time, fireworks seemed to explode inside Jane's stomach, sending a wave of heat and desire through her body, and Jane could almost feel an electric current running between their bodies. Maura's lips were softer than anything she had ever touched before, and she still tasted of a mixture of chocolate and chardonnay. At first, their kiss was slow, shy, tentative; then more and more passionate, long and demanding, and by the time Jane finally broke away from it, Maura had her pinned against the door and held her by the hips. "Wow", was the only thing she managed to whisper, completely out of breath.
"I didn't expect any of this, but I am glad you came back", Maura mumbled into her hair as she buried her face in the soft curve of Jane's neck, "you smell heavenly, has anyone ever told you this?"
Jane chuckled as she put her arms around Maura and placed a kiss on her forehead: "I'm happy, too. I shouldn't have left in the first place but I needed some… processing before I could finally see things clearly. Has my mother eaten everything, or is there any chocolate fondue left, by any chance?"
Maura answered with a sigh, apparently unwilling to break the embrace, but ultimately took Jane's hand and led her into the living room, where the chocolate fondue was still set up on the coffee table. While Maura was lighting the candle and refilling the fondue pot with chocolate, Jane kicked off her shoes, made herself comfortable on the couch and under Maura's softest blanket, and held out her hand for Maura to sit with her. When Maura took her hand, Jane pulled her into her lap and held her in her arms, smiling like an idiot. For a moment, she didn't know what to say and everything she wanted in this world was to look down into Maura's face forever. Maura reached up and gently touched her, her hand moving down from Jane's face to her neck and shoulder and back, until she pulled Jane into another, second kiss. Once again, Jane felt like her whole body was on fire and she felt like Maura's lips were not only on her lips but everywhere on her skin. A barely audible moan escaped her when they actually broke away from hers and started to wander; first across her cheek, to her ear – Maura's fast breathing sent yet another wave of desire through her – and down her neck. In this instant, Jane wanted nothing more than those lips to never stop wandering south but her reason finally intervened: it would have been too much too soon. When she slowly pulled away, she needed a moment to take everything in: Maura's blushed cheeks and her sparkling hazel eyes full of desire, the fact that they had just shared the best two kisses of Jane's entire life and that burning heat inside her that wanted nothing more than to take Maura to her bedroom and do things she didn't even know how to do. Finally, it was Maura who broke the embrace when she sat up to dip two strawberries in chocolate, handed one to Jane and snuggled up to her.
"Maura. I feel like I should explain myself. I think I left earlier because I almost kissed you right there, right then. And that terrified me", Jane started but was interrupted by Maura, who told her there was no need for explanations. "… No, but I want to. I want you to know that what just happened was the best thing that has ever happened to me. I have never felt this way before; I feel something for you that I never would have thought possible. But it is. And I think I started to realize all of this earlier and I didn't think I could manage. But that was stupid and I came back. And now I know I can, and I want to. But you'll have to be patient with me because this is all so new and I have no idea what to do and how to do it."
Maura smiled at her and leaned in to kiss away a drop of chocolate on Jane's lips: "It is new for me, too. We can figure it all out together. Step by step, and without any rush. If that's what you want… to be together, I mean."
A week ago, Jane would have laughed at anyone who would have suggested that, soon, she'd discuss the possibility of "togetherness", of a relationship with her (former) best friend. Was Maura her girlfriend now? Her partner? It still felt weird to think about her as such, but she was absolutely sure that "together" was indeed what she wanted: "Yes, Maura. I want to be with you and I'm sorry it took me so long to figure that out."
"No apologies, Jane. I needed my time and you needed yours. But now we're here. Together. Is there anything you want right now? Another glass of wine? Anything? Would you like to stay over? The guest room is yours if you prefer to sleep alone and take things slow." Maura seemed nervous as she was hiding the important question (Would you like to stay over?) among the others.
And yes, indeed; she definitely wanted to stay over: "I would love to, yes. You might be right; the guest room is probably a good idea." After all, the heat inside her was still there, ready to take control of her body and mind in search for Maura's soft skin. "But for now, I would love to eat more chocolate strawberries and kiss you", she almost whispered as she dipped a fruit in chocolate, fed it to Maura and pulled her in to kiss away every trace of chocolate on her lips. If chocolate fondue was heaven, then chocolate on Maura's lips was paradise.
When they were finally tired (and had to stop kissing because of it), they went to bed and their goodnight kiss in the hall was almost awkward. Brushing her teeth and looking at herself in the bathroom mirror, Jane realized how ridiculous this attempt of sleeping apart was. She wanted nothing more than to snuggle up to Maura, enjoy the warmth of her body and fall asleep with her face buried in Maura's neck. What was the harm in that? She took off her pants, realized she had taken her "Maura's house pajamas" home with her the last time she'd stayed here, merely shrugged and tiptoed along the hallway in only her T-Shirt and underpants. Maybe Maura was already asleep? Her room was dark.
But the moment she lay down, Maura switched on the bedside lamp and turned to her, laughing: "So. Are we having a sleepover, or is this your way of telling me you're attracted to me?"