You may have noticed the change in rating...as I said before, don't get too excited, it's just me playing it safe :). Thank you so much to everyone who has followed / favourited / reviewed this - I can't tell you how much it means. And it's certainly encouraged me to write more of these two! There might be another story in the future...

Enjoy x

The first thing that Maura became aware of, before she had even opened her eyes, was that she was lying on the wrong side of the bed.

The second thing was the quilt that covered her. It felt different, somehow. Not quite as thick as it should have been, although still soft, and the faint lavender smell it held wasn't quite right either.

And then, as she turned over, her hand struck something warm. Something smooth, something that felt suspiciously like skin.

Something that grunted.

'Ummph. Gah-way, Jo'.

Maura's eyes flew open, and her heart thumped out a couple of beats before returning to normal as she realised where she was.

Jane's apartment.

In bed.

With Jane.

Who, judging by the grumbled, sleepy comment, obviously thought that Maura was Jo Friday come looking for breakfast.

Relaxing back into the pillows, Maura smiled to herself as she looked over at the woman lying next to her. The early morning sunlight was bright and fresh, dancing its way around the gaps at the side of the curtains to fall in radiant beams across the bed, but Jane's eyes were still tightly closed. Her dark hair fell in unruly curls over her face as she lay on her side, and Maura wondered whether she could reach out and brush it away without waking her. She decided not to risk it for the moment, settling for looking - and remembering - instead.

Although remembering didn't take very much effort. She wasn't sure that the feel of Jane's fingers inside her, or of Jane's mouth on her, was something that she would easily forget.

To start with, Jane had been unsure. Nervous. She had left it to Maura to take the lead, and Maura had been quite happy to do so. Taking her time, making sure that Jane was comfortable with everything she was doing, exploring, touching, tasting...just that had been incredible. Jane really was gorgeous. But Maura had also felt very close to her, in ways that went beyond the obvious physical intimacy that they were sharing. She had wanted to make Jane wet, had wanted to make her writhe and cry out and beg for more. She had wanted to hear her name on Jane's lips when she came, and she hadn't been disappointed. But she had also wanted to make her feel cared for. Treasured. Loved.

And then Jane had turned the tables.

Maura closed her eyes again and squirmed a little, wriggling further down under the quilt as she recalled being flipped over onto her back, remembered feeling the wetness pool between her legs as Jane straddled her and hearing the throaty chuckle when, after several minutes of teasing, she hadn't been able take any more and had pushed Jane's hand down to exactly where she wanted it. She had vague recollections of expressing disbelief that this was Jane's first time, before she had felt Jane's mouth on her inner thigh and the rest of the world had disappeared in a sensual haze. And she remembered drifting off to sleep with Jane's arms around her, a lingering feeling of warmth and safety following her into her dreams.

Opening her eyes, she pulled herself up slightly and, before she could stop herself, reached out to brush Jane's hair away from her face. The movement made Jane's eyes flicker open, her face creased in a sleepy frown before she blinked, and focused.

And smiled.

'Hi'.

'Morning'.

Maura smiled back before lowering her lips to Jane's upturned cheek, the kiss soft and warm, and she felt Jane's hand curl around her waist in response.

'Thought you were Jo. Waking me up for breakfast'.

'Thanks very much'. Maura tried to sound indignant, but failed miserably and ended up spluttering with laughter instead as Jane snuggled in closer, mumbling against Maura's shoulder.

'You're much nicer'.

'Pleased to hear it'.

'Whassa time?'

Maura leaned over to check the small clock on the bedside table.

'Almost seven'.

'Ugh'.

Maura smiled again. Jane was never at her best in the mornings, and she was just about to offer to go and make some coffee when she felt Jane move away and flop over onto her back.

'Maura?'

'Yes?'

'Are you...I mean, do you...'

Maura waited patiently. Jane was gazing up at the ceiling, more awake and alert than Maura had given her credit for, and the slight panic on her face was clear to see as she frantically tried to process the events of the previous evening. Maura thought she knew what Jane wanted to ask. But still, she gave it a minute or so before speaking.

'No'.

Jane turned her head, her eyes wide.

'But you don't even know what I was going to say. Or are you mindreading as well, now?'

'You were going to ask if I'm glad I stayed, and whether I regret anything that happened'.

She saw Jane swallow as she nodded.

'And the answer is no'. Maura took a deep breath. 'Do you?'

She was surprised that Jane didn't even hesitate before shaking her head.

'No'. She paused, and reached for Maura's hand. 'I...'

She suddenly stopped and propped herself up on her elbows, her brow wrinkling and her eyes alarmed, and Maura cocked her head.

'What?'

'Can you hear that?'

'What?' Maura strained her ears, and heard a faint noise coming from the direction of the living room. 'That scratching? Isn't it Jo?'

Jane shook her head, and slipped her hand out of Maura's to point to a corner of the bedroom.

'Jo's there'.

Maura watched as Jane threw back the covers and quickly pulled on a pair of panties and a t-shirt, but was prevented from following her by a warning hand and a soft command.

'Stay here'.

Jane padded over to the door, silently opened it and stepped out into the living area before pushing it closed again. All Maura could do was to listen, and wait...and hope that an early-bird burglar hadn't decided to pick on the wrong apartment. She had no doubt that any intruder would come off worst, and she couldn't have coped with a body at this time in the morning.

But when she heard a crash and a shout, she jumped up. Forgetting about the fact that she was stark naked and had nothing to defend herself or Jane with, she ran towards the bedroom door, ignoring a now-barking Jo Friday, pulled it open...and stopped dead in her tracks.

Jane was standing by the open front door, gun in hand, and an astounded, infuriated expression on her face. Two huge bags lay dropped on the floor in the doorway, and Maura could just see someone beyond Jane, in the hall outside the apartment, two hands held up in a gesture of surrender.

'It's only me, Janie, please don't shoot!'

Oh hell.

Angela.

Jane couldn't believe that this was happening.

She had been about to tell Maura that it had been a long time since she had felt so close to anyone, and that it had been even longer since she had made love rather than just taken the edge off - and that last night had been different because it had been with Maura.

She had been about to say that, far from regretting anything that had happened between them, she wanted it again. Preferably as soon as possible, so that she could make sure that it hadn't all been an amazing, glorious, technicolor dream.

She had been about to suggest now as a good time.

But instead she was standing by her front door, looking like the world's biggest idiot dressed in just tiny black panties and a bright purple t-shirt, holding a gun on her mother. Angela looked terrified as she held up her hands, a key still clutched firmly in her fingers, and Jane realised that she had been trying to let herself in. At seven in the morning. Damn.

Whatever had possessed her to give her mother a key to her apartment?

'Ma, I gave you a key for emergencies'. Jane hissed as she stood to one side, lowering her gun. 'Emergencies only. I could have shot you!'

'This is an emergency!' Angela wailed, as she stepped inside and gestured to the bags. 'It's Frankie's birthday and I have no running water in my kitchen, and I was going to let myself in and not disturb you, but I guess the key must be a little sticky and...'

She broke off suddenly, and her mouth formed a perfect, silent 'o' as she caught sight of something over Jane's shoulder. Whirling around, Jane was just in time to hear a little squeak, and to see the bedroom door slam shut on a very red-faced, very naked Maura.

She closed her eyes, and took a deep breath. Could this get any worse?

'Why...' She forced the words out through clenched teeth. 'Why do you have no running water in your kitchen? You're married to a plumber, for heaven's sake'.

'So ask him! I don't know. He says he's trying to fix it, but he's not going fast enough'.

But her reply didn't sound as strident as usual, and when Jane opened her eyes again, she saw that her mother was still gazing, transfixed, at the bedroom door. She groaned inwardly, snapping her fingers in front of Angela's face.

'Earth to Ma...what has that got to do with Frankie's birthday?'

Angela gave a start, and looked round at her.

'Well, I can't make birthday cake in a kitchen with no running water! Anyway, your father told me to get out of his way'.

Oh God.

Jane sighed as she looked at the bulging bags. Of course. She could see flour, and chocolate - lots of chocolate. Sugar. Hazelnuts. And the biggest baking tin that she had ever seen. By the looks of it, Angela was going to be making Frankie's favourite. Torta tartufata. Extra large.

'Ma, I've actually lost count of how old Frankie is, but I think he's past the stage of needing a birthday cake. Anyway...' She paused as a thought struck her, and she folded her arms. 'I never got one'.

'You said you didn't want one!' Angela protested, her eyes wide. 'I would have made you something, but you insisted'.

'So you've come to use my oven'.

It wasn't a question, but Angela nodded.

'And I thought that we might as well have the party here later as well, seeing as your father always leaves one hell of a mess. He never does that in anyone else's kitchen, so I don't know why he does it in mine, but...'

Jane held up a hand to stop her. Right there. Party?

'Party? What the hell?'

'Just a little gathering, family, mostly...you won't mind, will you?'

'I never got one of those, either!'

Angela looked reproachful, but Jane shook her head before she could reply.

'Never mind. Just...use what you need to use, and don't give Jo any chocolate. I'm going to go get ready, I need a shower'.

As soon as she had said it, she regretted it. Angela's raised eyebrows and mischievous expression just made her wish even more that the floor might open up and deposit her safely in the apartment below, well away from this madness. And the next question just made it even worse.

'Did I just...uh, interrupt something?'

Jane felt like screaming.

But she just blinked. Swallowed. And decided against answering at all.

Instead, she gave her mother her best grumpy, early morning glower before turning and heading back to the bedroom to make sure that Maura hadn't made an escape out of the window.

Although if she had, Jane didn't think that she would blame her.

Maura didn't think that she had ever been so embarrassed in her life.

After realising that Jane's mother had seen her - all of her - she had escaped back into the bedroom, jumped back into bed, and pulled the covers right up to her chin in case Angela decided to investigate further. She could hear snatches of the conversation outside, but had no intention of getting up again to listen at the door. Even the thought of what had happened made her want to die of mortification, and the flame-red colour of her cheeks had only just lightened to a pale beetroot shade when Jane opened the door and slipped in.

She looked as if she couldn't decide whether to laugh or cry.

'I am so sorry, Jane', Maura began. 'I...'

Jane shook her head, and plopped down on the side of the bed.

'It's my crazy mother. I'm the one who should be sorry'.

Maura could already hear Angela in the kitchen, clanging tins and running water and generally making as much noise as she could get away with. It did, however, mean that they could talk without whispering, and it struck Maura that Angela was doing it on purpose.

'Do you think she, um...'

'Realised it was you?' Jane finished for her. 'Oh yeah'.

Maura tried to sink further under the covers.

'I've slept over before, though'. She was desperately trying to think of excuses - any excuse - that they might conceivably be able to give Angela when the inevitable happened and they had to leave the bedroom, but Jane just shook her head again, her mouth starting to twitch.

Maura couldn't believe it. Was she actually going to start laughing? This really, really wasn't funny. Crying would, in this instance, have been a more appropriate response.

'You've always worn pyjamas before'. That was definitely a giggle. A slightly hysterical one, but a giggle none the less.

'Jane!' Maura whispered frantically. 'This isn't funny!'

'Oh believe me, I know'. Jane blinked rapidly as she swallowed her laughter. 'Do you know how insufferable my mother can be when she's proved right?'

'What do you mean?'

'When she thought the other day that she'd interrupted something, that we might be...you know. And now she actually has interrupted something, and she's seen you coming out of my bedroom in your birthday suit...'

The covers were now up to Maura's eyes.

'...She'll be thrilled it's you, I just don't know how many 'I told you sos' I can stand'.

It took Jane's words a few seconds to penetrate Maura's haze of humiliation, but, when they did, she cautiously sat up and let the covers slide down to her neck.

She'll be thrilled it's you.

'Really?'

Jane, however, obviously thought that she was questioning Angela's ability to gloat, and nodded her head gloomily.

'Her record is six weeks, but this might beat that. Consider yourself warned'.

A warm feeling began to steal over Maura, and she pulled her hand out from under the covers to rest it on Jane's arm.

'No, I meant...do you really think she won't mind?'

Jane looked at her, genuine astonishment on her face.

'Of course she won't'.

'And...' Maura paused, unsure of how to phrase her next question. 'Are you glad it was me?'

She saw Jane's eyes soften, and felt a hand come up to stroke her cheek.

'Yeah, I am'. It was a whisper, but it was all that Maura needed to hear. 'I was going to tell you that before'.

'And, uh...what do you want now?'

Please don't say just friends.

It was a silent plea, but it came straight from Maura's heart as she waited for Jane to answer. What they had shared had been amazing, and it had been made so much more special because it was Jane. If friends was what Jane really wanted, of course she would try and accept it. She would have to. But it would be the hardest thing she would ever do.

'Well, I don't really want to take my mother's crowing all by myself'.

Maura forced herself to look over at Jane, to see if she had just heard correctly or whether it had just been wishful thinking.

'But if you don't want...I mean, I wouldn't blame you if you don't want that, it's a bit, well...'

The words were coming out in a rush, betraying Jane's nerves as she concentrated on fiddling with the hem of her t-shirt.

'Jane'. Maura moved her hand from Jane's arm to her chin, and gently pulled her face around so that she could look at her properly. 'That's exactly what I want'.

Jane looked as if she couldn't quite believe what she had just heard.

'Really?'

'Really', Maura confirmed. She was smiling now, almost laughing with pure happiness, and she saw the same on Jane's face as she leaned over to kiss her.

'You know...' Maura paused as Jane's lips met hers. 'We should probably go and say good morning to your mother properly'.

'Umm-hmm'. Jane moved her mouth down to Maura's neck and the tingle that shot through Maura's body made her incapable of coherent thought for a good few seconds.

'In fact...' She gasped as Jane's teeth nipped lightly on her ear. 'We should probably thank her as well. I'm not sure I would have...if she hadn't made me think about it...'

Jane chuckled, and Maura felt that delicious shiver again. God, she loved that sound. Especially in bed. And now she would get to hear it a lot more.

'Maybe you should try and find the horsefly that bit me and thank him, too'.

'Actually, it couldn't have been a 'him', Jane, it's only the female flies that bite and anyway...'

'Maura'. Jane's tone was firm. 'Close down the Google browser. It's too early in the morning'.

And as Jane kissed her way down Maura's neck, Maura had no problems complying.

It wasn't until a few minutes later that she remembered that Angela was just in the next room, and that it was actually a week day. If they carried on for much longer she would not only have to explain herself to Angela, but to her lab staff as well. She had never, ever been late for work.

'We should get up or we'll both be late'.

'Ummm'. Jane didn't sound too pleased at the idea, but reluctantly pulled away and stood up, slowly stretching.

Another sight that Maura was looking forward to seeing more of.

'Party for Frankie later, apparently'. Maura could see a sudden shyness in Jane's eyes as the detective looked down at her. 'You wanna come?'

Maura's breath caught in her throat as she realised that Jane was not asking her as a friend. It would have been taken for granted that she would be there in that capacity.

Jane was asking her as her girlfriend.

Was she ready for this? Was Jane?

She nodded.

'I'd love to'.

The radiant smile on Jane's face could have lit up half of Boston, and, basking in the glow, it was a few moments before Maura remembered. Frankie's birthday.

The present.

'I almost forgot!' She pushed down the covers and jumped out of bed in her excitement. 'Frankie's present!'

'Maura, you don't need to worry, it's not your responsibility to buy my little brother a present'. Jane walked over to her closet and threw it open, contemplating the few clothes that were in there. 'I'll pop out again at lunch and...'

'No, no, I've ordered something! I just, well, with everything else...' She paused, and was sure that she could feel herself blushing again. 'I forgot to tell you. It should be arriving this morning'.

Jane's brow furrowed. 'Maura, what have you got?'

'You'll love it'. Maura knew that she was practically bouncing with enthusiasm, but she didn't care. 'Oh, and so will Frankie'.

'Great, so what is it?' Jane looked really curious now. 'And more to the point, how much do I owe you?'

Maura shook her head. 'You don't owe me anything. Perhaps...' Maybe this was going too far, but what the hell. 'Call it a joint present?'

Jane nodded slowly, a smile spreading across her face. 'Fine. In principle. But what is it?'

Before Maura could reply, there was a loud knock at the front door that managed to reach them even over the sound of Angela's electric whisk. Jane swore, and was about to grab a pair of jeans when the whine of the whisk stopped abruptly. Maura heard the front door open, heard Angela thanking someone, and grinned to herself with excitement. The delivery guy had come early.

'Who was it, Ma?'

'Delivery man...I must say, they come very early these days. This feels heavy, Janie, what is it?'

Jane didn't bother with the jeans, but opened the bedroom door a crack and peered out.

'Hey, Ma, you're opening my parcel now? No, you get to use my oven, not open my post...'

She opened the door wider, and Maura gave a warning squeal.

'Sorry...hey! Ma! What is it?'

'What do you mean, what is it...you mean you don't know? Hold on...'

'Ma!'

Jane was practically stamping her foot in frustration, and Maura couldn't help giggling as she pulled one of Jane's oversized t-shirts over her head. She didn't think Angela would come in, but better safe than sorry.

'Oh, Jane! You really got this for Frankie?'

'I got what for Frankie?'

'It's signed! Oh, he will love this...'

Jane finally opened the door wider so that she could see properly, her inquisitiveness getting the better of her self-consciousness, and Maura could almost picture her eyes widening to saucers, could sense her mouth drop open even though she was facing the other way. Angela was right. Frankie would love it.

'You got him a signed bat? Ortiz?'

Jane had turned around, leaving the door wide open now, and in two strides had crossed the room and flung her arms around Maura.

'How the hell did you...? Never mind'.

Maura squealed with laughter as Jane practically picked her up and spun her around, but she was cut off when Jane's mouth pressed down on hers in a fierce, hard kiss that left Maura gasping for breath. Neither of them saw Angela in the doorway, still holding the bat in one hand but with the other placed firmly over her eyes.

'You two do know that I can see you now, right...? Maura, was this your idea? Frankie is going to be thrilled!'

'Ma...' Jane turned, and tried not to laugh at the sight of her mother peeking through her fingers. 'Don't you have a cake to make?'

'Oh my goodness, the chocolate!' Angela dropped the hand from her face and thrust the bat at Jane, before spinning on her heel and all but running back to the kitchen. Maura couldn't help a smug smile as Jane carefully, almost reverently, turned the present over in her hands.

'You know, my mother was wrong about one thing'.

'What?'

Jane managed to tear her gaze away from the bat long enough to smile over at Maura. It was a smile that turned Maura's knees to jelly and, for once, she couldn't think of any scientific explanation for it. It was just the effect Jane had.

'You definitely are my type'.