And, finally, here is Chapter 3. The ending took me a bit, but I got tired of staring at it. Anyways, I'll try to update every weekend for those of you who have been kind enough to read my story.
It's taken a different direction than I had originally planned, but hopefully none of you want to kill me too badly. So enjoy!
Disclaimer: I do not own these fabulous ladies. I only wish I did.
Maura awoke, legs and arms entangled with another living soul. Her head pounded as she leaned back enough to glance down at a peacefully sleeping Arizona. They'd been drunk last night. Not incredibly drunk, but drunk enough to have not fully thought things through.
Midway through their all night romp, though, the alcohol had started to wear off and Maura had started to feel conflicted. She was in love with Jane, but Arizona was bringing her such pleasure that it was making her thinking fuzzy. She wasn't with the detective and knew she couldn't have her, so there was no reason to feel the guilt she was feeling. But, dammit, her heart wanted one thing and her body another. She could no more stop Arizona from pushing her over the edge than she could force herself to stop breathing. She just couldn't cease feeling like she was betraying herself, betraying Jane, even if she held no responsibility to the dark haired woman in the area of physical touch.
So she'd gone on. She'd taken everything Arizona had given her and then made the peds surgeon cry her name out over and over. Despite her internal struggle, the night had still been amazing for Maura. It was likely a one time deal, but what had started out as just sex had turned into something more. Arizona's touch had gone from feverish to tender, and the very last time she'd pleasured Maura, it had felt more like lovemaking than sex. She had stared into the honey-blonde's eyes as she brought her to climax and Maura could see what she had once seen when they were dating in med school: pure admiration.
It had thrilled her, to have someone look at her like that. But it had also frightened her, because it wasn't Jane. She and Arizona lived across the country from each other and were content in their current roles. They weren't willing to give up anything, right? That's what Maura had concluded last night. Before their little workout. But maybe, just maybe, Dr. Maura Isles was wrong for a change.
She brushed a few strands of hair out of Arizona's face and felt soft lips press against her palm. Maura looked into brilliant blue eyes as they fluttered open, a smile spreading across those delicious lips of Arizona's. "Good morning, Dr. Isles. I take it you slept extremely well. Well, when you were sleeping." A devious smirk made its appearance.
Maura flashed her bed companion a brilliant white smile and bobbed her head. "That I did." She leaned her head down, her lips just inches from Arizona's. "I was so exhausted that once I closed my eyes for good, I was out like a light bulb."
Arizona chuckled and wrapped her arms around Maura's back to pull her down for a kiss. The medical examiner rested her cheek on the pediatric surgeon's shoulder once they broke apart. "I never thought I'd hear you use common phrases like that."
Maura kissed the blonde's shoulder and smiled. "It's my friend Jane's fault. She, her family, and some of the other detectives. I spend more time than I can recollect with them."
Her heart ached and Arizona noticed the shift in her lover of last night, the now furrowed brows. "Is she the friend you're interested in?"
Maura bit her bottom lip and nodded. "Yes."
"Well, I at least got you to forget about her for one night, right?" Arizona shifted so she was now lying on top of Maura. She kissed the honey-blonde's lips and made a path down her chin to her neck where she nipped. "Right, Maura?"
Arizona was making her feel so good that Maura wanted to tell her yes, but she honestly hadn't. Not fully. "I, uh, I.." She was starting to hyperventilate just from thinking about lying and Arizona started laughing.
"Shh, Maura." She kissed her neck gently and nuzzled her nose against Maura's flush. "Just please tell me you weren't imagining her or my ego will be forever bruised."
Maura shook her head vehemently. "Oh, no! It was all you that had me screaming last night." Arizona blushed slightly and Maura grinned for a second before her face turned somber. "I just started to feel guilty and contemplated ending our tryst right around the time we began to sober."
"Oh." Arizona caressed the medical examiner's cheek. "You have it bad then."
"Wait. What would 'it' be in this scenario? And why would it be bad?" Maura asked seriously, pulling another laugh from Arizona.
"Oh, god, Maura. I have missed you." She smiled down at the honey-blonde and then realized what she'd said. "I mean, as a buddy. Someone to talk to. I haven't…"
It was Maura's turn to hush her. "Shh." She leaned up and kissed the light-haired doctor. "I know what you mean. Perhaps it's time we get up and ready to head to some more lectures?"
Arizona nodded and slid off the medical examiner and bed. She headed to the bathroom nude, fully aware that Maura was watching her, and paused just before turning the corner into the restroom. "Would you like to join me for a shower?" She knew she shouldn't ask. She didn't want to get attached to Maura again. The medical examiner was in love with someone else anyways. But, what had started off as a one-night stand with an old flame was quickly turning into something else. And dammit, Arizona knew she should have known better last night. That getting involved with Maura Isles in any way would just lead to wanting more.
Because Maura was special.
The medical examiner sat on the bed contemplating for a moment. She had been so sure Arizona would have run off last night and not stuck around for this morning. Or at least darted once she's managed to crawl out of bed. Instead, she had surprised Maura. And a part of the honey-blonde, the part that loved Jane, just wanted her to go. But the other half that knew Jane would never be hers and that Arizona would make a great companion for her as she once had, wanted to get in that shower with the surgeon. And, being the rational adult she had always been, Maura decided to go with logic.
Jane Rizzoli was straight and would never date her, no matter how much she loved her. But Arizona Robbins, whom she had once loved and thought she'd spend her future with, could become a viable choice again if one was willing to move; if they were both willing to be patient with one another's schedules. So Maura got up and walked past Arizona into that bathroom, shooting her a sultry smirk over her shoulder. "I'll wash your back if you wash mine."
Jane had called Maura a couple of times, and each time the doctor was out with Arizona. It made Jane jealous, and it wasn't even a guy. So Maura wasn't there in New York screwing someone, but had found her old bff. Well crap, Jane thought. If Maura could choose just one, it'd probably be her sophisticated, highly intelligent friend from medical school.
It sucked.
She'd taken Frankie to the game and had fun, but missed the ME. She knew Maura would probably spew out facts about the history of baseball or something along those lines the whole time, but she would've been in pants and a Red Sox shirt. The Sox shirt Jane had bought her specifically for the game. And she would've looked amazing.
She'd joined Frankie and Frost afterwards for drinks at the Robber, but any sort of discussion they had held had flown right over Jane's head. Both her brother and partner had called her out on it, but she had attributed her lack of attention to lack of sleep and excused herself. Dammit, she could hardly function without Maura.
Jane fought her weekend of lonely solitude off with six-packs of her favorite beer and all the movies she loved to watch but knew drove Maura crazy with scientific inaccuracies. Her Ma had, of course, made her appearances, but Jane had assured her she was just tired after a long work-week and chased her out the door.
Then it had finally come. Monday morning. And Jane was at work bright and early to welcome Maura back. But as she walked down into the morgue, Jane quickly realized she hadn't come alone.
"Jane!" Maura's bright smile had melt the detective's heart. But she gave the blonde behind her a wary glance.
"Maura!" She pulled the petite honey-blonde into a tight hug and shot the light-haired blonde a death glare. 'Gee, wonder who that could be?' she thought. "Man, Maur, I missed you. How was your trip?"
"It went extremely well." Maura smiled. She turned her body slightly and looked back at the woman behind her. Her smile actually widened. "Jane, this is Dr. Arizona Robbins, whom I told you about over the phone." Maura then turned her head to look at Jane again. "And, Arizona, this is Detective Jane Rizzoli."
Arizona stepped forward with a huge smile and held out her hand. "It is so great to meet you, Detective Rizzoli. Maura has told me so much about you."
Jane, for her part, stood a little dumbstruck before accepting Arizona's hand and giving it a firm shake. "It's nice to meet you too, Dr. Robbins."
"Arizona's taking vacation time and thought she'd come back with me to check out Boston." Maura answered, seeing Jane's questioning gaze. She knew the brunette all too well.
"Ah, well, that's really cool. How long are you staying?" Jane crossed her arms and studied Arizona closely.
"Well.." Arizona pursed her lips and raised a brow, clasping her hands together and rocking back and forth on the balls of her feet. "About a week. Maura's being nice enough to let me stay with her." The light-haired blonde shot a smile and lingering gaze in the direction of Jane's medical examiner friend, who's eyes locked with hers as another bright smile formed on the ME's lips.
Something was off here. Jane's detective skills sensed it right away. "Awesome. Well, I'll let Maura get back to showing you around. Maur, when you have the chance we need to talk."
Maura glanced over at Jane with a concerned look and tilted her head. "Okay, Jane. Arizona and I are going to lunch together, but we could talk after then."
Jane nodded, feeling a little hurt that Maura didn't want to have lunch with her and catch up. "Sounds great." She shoved her hands in her jacket pockets and begun heading for the elevator. "Um, it really was nice meeting you, Dr. Robbins. I'll see you later, Maura."
"Oh, and, Detective?"
Jane cringed and turned slowly at the sound of the light-haired blonde's sing-song voice. "Yeah?"
"It's Arizona. May I call you Jane?"
The brunette nodded and forced a smile. "Sure."
It was finally the end of the work day and Jane was staring at Maura, her head slightly tilted and her expression less than enthusiastic. "So, who exactly is this Arizona chick?"
Maura was seated at her desk, Jane across from her. "Don't call her a chick, Jane. She's a well respected pediatric surgeon."
"Whatever. What's going on? Why is she here, Maura?"
"To sight-see Boston, Jane."
"And…?"
"And to spend time with me."
"Because…?"
"We're friends. We missed each other."
"Uh huh…"
"What?" Maura huffed, actually annoyed. She'd come in so confident she'd tell Jane and anyone else who asked exactly who Arizona was. An ex-girlfriend she was considering giving it another go with. But, looking at her best friend now, it was hard. Not because she was ashamed, but because she loved that dark-haired detective.
Jane hadn't said another word. Just stared. It was a fantastic interrogation technique, actually. Maura had to admire her skill as she let out a sigh. "She's my ex-girlfriend, Jane."
The detective heard her, and knew deep down the sort of girlfriend she meant, but she didn't want to admit it to herself. She didn't want to admit that she'd been wrong this whole time. That Maura was, in fact, bisexual and that she could've possibly had a chance. "You mean, you two wanna be girlfriends again? Like bff's who do each other's hair and make up?"
No, no chance. Who was Jane kidding? Even if Maura is bisexual there's no way she'd want to date some blue collar Italian detective with no taste in clothing or sophistication.
Jane's rock hard expression softened, the look one of, Maura couldn't be sure, but perhaps rejection. It confused the doctor. "No, I mean girlfriend as in we used to be a couple who was intimate with one another."
"Oh."
Maura sat and waited for more, but Jane never continued. "I'm still the same person, Jane. Just because I don't discriminate against gender doesn't mean I'm a different person."
Jane suddenly seemed to snap out of her trance. "Oh, no! It's nothing like that. If you're bisexual, Maur, that's fine. That's cool."
"Then what is it?"
Jane shrugged. "I-I don't know. I guess I'm just upset you felt you couldn't tell me." She lied.
"I'm sorry I didn't tell you about Arizona or any other girl. I've only dated men since we've become friends so I didn't think there was any need to say anything."
Dammit, if only Jane had known. She would've tried with Maura. "Well, now I know. Wanna share some details?"
Maura nodded. "She was my first girlfriend. There's a lot of history between us…"
And that's all Jane needed to hear to know she still had no chance of winning Maura's heart.