On Thursday afternoon, Jane receives a text from Maura asking if she'd like to join her for a yoga class that evening. Reluctantly, she agrees. Mostly because she's excited to put Maura through one of her workouts next week, but also to spend time with her new friend.

At 7:00 pm, Jane rereads the text with the location information before entering the yoga studio. Maura had said she would bring an extra mat and told her to head straight to the studio when she arrived. After paying the fee and putting her shoes in a cubby, Jane grabs her water bottle and enters studio #3.

What the hell? she almost says aloud as she enters the room. She looks around and sees Maura waving at her, gesturing to come sit on the mat next to her.

Jane takes a seat and asks, "Why the hell is it so hot in here?"

"It's Bikram yoga, more commonly referred to as hot yoga. The room is heated to 104 degrees with 40% humidity."

"You mean to tell me it stays like this the entire time?"

Maura nods, smiling. "You said yoga was easy, so I thought I'd give you a challenge," she explains confidently.

"I'll remember that next time when I'm putting you through one of my workouts," Jane teases. "I was gonna go easy on you, but now I'm not so sure."

Maura has to push thoughts of what "type" of workout Jane is referring to out of her mind, or else she is never going to make it through the class. So instead, she smiles and replies: "I like a challenge."

Before Jane can further the borderline flirtatious conversation, the instructor begins the class and explains the first pose.

This isn't so bad, Jane thinks as she moves through the first set.

Three sets later, it's a different story. Her body is stretched in downward dog and while she's supposed to be focused on her breathing, all she can think about is the drops of sweat that continue to drip from her forehead onto her mat; her hands slipping on the rubbery surface.

Chancing a glance at Maura, the brunette has no idea how the woman manages to looks so calm and peaceful… and dry. Ok, she's definitely sweating too, but of course Maura seems to "glisten" while Jane is dripping all over the place like a wet dog. Real sexy, wait… why do I care if I look sexy? I'm in a room full of women...

Taking one more deep breath, Jane snaps.

"Ok, gross," she exhales as she falls out of downward dog, "can I get a towel or something? Jesus."

"Shh!" voices shush her.

Beside her, Maura's small frame shakes with controlled laughter.

"Yeah, laugh away Miss Isles," Jane replies. "We'll see how much you're laughing next week."

Without breaking her pose, Maura reaches for a small towel she'd brought and tosses it over to Jane.

"Thanks," the brunette grumbles as she wipes her face and hands… and everything else before joining the rest of the class in the next pose.

Twenty minutes later they're in Jane's favorite position: shavasana or corpse pose as Maura likes to call it. The woman is funnier than she gives herself credit, Jane thinks. If she could stay in this position, eyes closed, flat on her back, limbs sprawled out, Jane might say she loves yoga. In fact, she is enjoying it so much she doesn't realize the class has ended and most of the yogi's have begun filtering out of the room.

"Not so easy, is it?" Maura asks as she rolls up her mat.

Jane opens her eyes to look at her, ready with a sarcastic remark, but her words get caught in her throat as she she gets an eyeful of Maura's cleavage. Very full, freckly...sweaty cleavage. Wait… what?!

"Uh...um," she clears her throat and quickly shifts her gaze to catch Maura smirking at her. Busted. Literally. Oh my god. Stop! Why am I even looking at her like that?!

"Pardon?"

"Uh, yeah, no. It was... sweaty. Not sure if I'm a fan."

Maura laughs. "That it is. I'm not the biggest fan of hot yoga either, but I wanted to prove to you that yoga is a "real" workout. We'll have to try a regular class sometime."

"Yeah, I don't know about that."

Maura frowns. "Well I hope you'll at least consider trying some of the positions each night before bed. in the comfort of your own home. I think it might help with your nightmares. Meditation is proven to be a great way to start and end your day. Plus, it's very relaxing."

"We'll see," Jane replies, reluctant to agree.

Maura gives her a pointed look.

"Ok, fine! I'll try it. Geez, you're worse than my mother," she laughs.

"Good," Maura smiles and finishes gathering her things. "But I certainly hope I don't remind you of your mother. I mean-" she clears her throat, flustered. "Anyway… do you need help getting up or do you plan on spending the night here?"

Jane looks around, noting that they're the last ones in the room.

Maura offers her hand and Jane, without thinking, accepts it. She falls back down as her sweaty palm slips from Maura's grip.

"Oh my god," Jane quickly wipes her hands on her pants, "this is so embarrassing." She quickly gets up and rolls up her mat.

Maura bites her lip in an effort to hold back her laughter. Instead, she says, "I don't mind a sweaty woman." Her eyes widen and her face flushes the instant the words are out of her mouth. Oh my god.

Luckily for her, Jane is too flustered with her own embarrassment, she doesn't hear Maura's confession.

"I was gonna ask if you wanted to grab ice cream or something after this, but I doubt you'd want to be see with this," she says, gesturing to her figure.

"Oh stop. Sweating is completely natural and nothing to be ashamed of. It helps regulate body temperature and on the right person it can be seen as very, very sexy," she admits as she rakes her eyes over Jane's glistening skin.

Jane feels herself blush. Is she… hitting on me?

In true Rizzoli fashion, she deflects with humor: "Really? This does it for you?"

"What?!" Maura looks at her with wide eyes. "I, no," hives! "I mean yes… I mean-"

"Relax. I'm just kidding."

"Oh… right. Me too," Maura laughs nervously. No I'm not, she thinks to herself to correct the lie.

"Anyway," Jane says as they walk toward the locker room, "wanna grab a drink or something? Or there's that frozen yogurt place down the street from here."

"Dressed like this?!"

"Ok, maybe a shower first," Jane amends, gesturing to the stalls. "And besides, I'm sure you have an extra outfit in that bag, ready to go. I on the other hand will be slipping back into this wet ensemble."

Maura laughs at her. "You're right, I do, but for your sake, I'll forgo the clean pair of clothes and we can be dirty together," she pauses and watches Jane's eyebrows rise, "oh my god, I mean… I didn't mean it like that… oh my god."

Jane reaches out to place her hands on the flustered woman's shoulders. "I know what you meant," she says, laughing.

"Right, of course. Good."

"You sure?"

Maura nods. "Yes, sorry. The heat must've gotten to me."

Yeah right, Jane thinks. "Alright then, let's hit the showers… separate showers. I mean. You know… ugh nevermind. I'll meet you out front in ten."

xxxx

"You would put only fruit toppings on your frozen yogurt," Jane comments as she goes to stand next to Maura at the topping station.

"Frozen yogurt and fruit is a delicious combination. Plus I'm already splurging on the chocolate flavored yogurt."

Jane rolls her eyes and scoops on extra gummy bears. Maura makes a face at her.

"Don't even make that face," Jane teases. "Here," she says, grabbing Maura's dish and going over to the dispensers.

"What are you-" is all Maura gets out before Jane returns her cup of frozen yogurt, now with an additional two toppings.

The smile on Maura's face is a clear indication that she realizes the significance of the toppings.

"Fruit Loops and Cocoa Puffs."

"Seemed fitting," Jane grins.

"Jane," the shorter woman says as she brings a hand up to her chest, "that's so sweet."

Jane shrugs. "Jeez woman, don't cry on me!" she teases and places a comforting hand on Maura's arm.

"I am not crying!" Maura laughs and the two make their way to the cashier. She reaches for her wallet when Jane stops her.

"I got it."

"Thank you," Maura replies as they take a seat at a table by the window.

"No problem."

The women sit in a comfortable silence for a few minutes, each taking time to enjoy their fro-yo.

"It was pretty sweet of you," the pre-med student says as she brings a Fruit Loop-filled bite to her mouth.

Jane laughs. "It's just cereal, Maura."

"No it's not," Maura replies in an equally amused tone, "we never would've met if it hadn't been for your midnight craving."

"Yeah, well I also wouldn't have ruined your dress either."

"Or bruised my forehead," Maura teases.

"And you wouldn't have witnessed my nightmares," Jane says grimly under her breath.

Maura frowns and waits until Jane looks at her to say: "I hope you're not embarrassed about… about me seeing you like that. It's nothing to be ashamed of and it certainly doesn't make me think any less of you."

Jane shifts in her seat and breaks eye contact.

"I actually feel honored, in a way, that you let me see that side of you; that you even admitted to me that you've been having nightmares."

"You do?" Jane asks, looking up once again.

Maura nods, smiling. "I do. I… I'm not very close with a lot of people, or, I guess not really with any people, to be honest."

Jane watches as the realization washes over her friend's face. It makes her frown.

"Anyway, I'm glad you felt comfortable enough to share it with me. Especially on our first… encounter."

"Of course, Maur. I guess I'm just not used to letting my guard down so easily, but that's what friends are for, right?"

God, that smile, Jane thinks as Maura's face lights up at the word "friend."

"Right," Maura agrees with her dimples on full display.

"You want a bite of this?" Jane asks after Maura eyes her cup of yogurt.

"What?" the blonde looks up, "oh, no I shouldn't."

"Come on, I know you want to. You've been eyeing my chocolate covered gummy bears this whole time. Come on," she says again and shoves the cup towards Maura.

"You are such a bad influence on my eating habits," she teases and gets a spoonful of Jane's coffee flavored yogurt, topped with sprinkles, chocolate chips and gummy bears.

"Mmm," she moans as the sweet concoction hits her taste buds, "that's surprisingly very good."

"Told ya," Jane says before laughing.

"What?" Maura asks.

"You've got a little..." the brunette says and points to Maura's mouth. Maura's skin flushes in embarrassment as she licks her lips.

"Did I get it?"

"No, here," Jane says and reaches out with her hand. Maura stops breathing as her friend's thumb swipes over the corner of her mouth. "There," she says and wipes her hand on a napkin, completely missing Maura's reaction.

"So," Jane says after they each eat a few more bites, "are you doing anything Sunday morning?"

Maura shakes her head, "I'll need to double check my schedule, but nothing comes to mind immediately."

"Great. If you're up for it, I was thinking that's when I could put you through one of my workouts."

"And what does one of your workouts consist of, exactly?"

"You'll just have to wait and see." Jane smirks. "Let's just say, every time your body aches on Monday, you'll be thinking of me."

Maura inhales sharply, her mind immediately going to places it shouldn't.

Jane chokes on a piece of chocolate and chokes out: "I mean because of what I'll put you through- god, no! I mean the workout… the workout. You'll probably be sore and exhausted from the… workout." What the hell, Rizzoli?! She puts her empty cup on the table and covers her face with her hands.

Maura can't help but laugh. She is quickly realizing that a flustered Jane Rizzoli is her favorite Jane Rizzoli.

"I can't wait to see what you put me through," Maura replies in a flirtatious tone. Jane looks up just in time to catch her slowly slide the spoon out of her mouth with a plop and a grin.

Jane's mouth falls open.

Oh god.