A/N I'm sorry you had to wait, but I was out of town for a few days. And will be again for the next few, so... enjoy.
p.s. This chapter wasn't proofread cause it's after 4am I was in a hurry to publish while I still can so you don't have to wait too long, so please excuse any stupid mistakes.
You turn comfortably under the covers and are greeted by the chilly feeling of the empty sheets. When you open your eyes you are alone in your room and your mind instantly realizes that waking up next to her was by far better. Your thoughts swim off to the memory of turning and finding her there, facing you, but with calm sleeping eyes. To that moment when you did it, you woke up and kissed her.
You remember your hand resting on her side, moving lower and dipping as you trail her waist, and then rising to her hip. Your fingertips ache for that feeling again but it's not something you can have because you're already home and it's... wait, you reach for your phone to check the time... it's 11 pm. You woke up next to her about ten hours ago after the short nap on her couch. Both of you had lunch and then split ways, partly because you felt exhausted, needing a shower and a proper rest, partly because you weren't sure how appropriate would be to be together all the time and what would be hogging her and what would be boring her. Of course you used to be together like ninety percent of the time. But now it suddenly seems like a big deal to do it all in a somewhat calculated manner.
So you went to bed in the afternoon, thanking the universe for the days off, and now you're still feeling lazy and still need a shower. You end up in front of your laptop and it's two hours later and you've done zero things. It's Saturday night but on this one you are absolutely immune to the public's and particularly Maura's insistence on dressing up and going out. That's why you have mixed feelings when you hear the sounds at your door.
"Hi." you manage as you open it, quickly throwing on a hoodie over the t-shirt you slept in. For a second everything halts and you are suddenly unsure of what the appropriate greeting is. Do you just walk away and let her walk in as if she's at her own place, as usual? Do you actually ask her to come in? Do you hug her? Do you kiss her? Can you kiss her? You know you want to.
She saves you from the pondering by stepping in as you're holding the door open, grabbing you by the back of your neck and pulling you in for a kiss.
"Maura," you barely manage to speak as her grip is strong. " Casey's on Skype over there."
She laughs at this and kisses you even harder so you can't even speak anymore.
"So?"
When she lets you go, you shoot a look at her that probably screams disbelief at her audacity. You both walk back in front of the camera and she greets him. Formalities, pleasantries, all that crap. One "I'm sorry, I gotta go" and the call is over.
And then...
"Jane, that place I told you about, the one that is opening tonight,-"
"Yes?" you see where this is going.
But can't we just sit on the couch and cuddle and watch a movie or like make out? Just casual pg13 make-out?
"Bran has reservations and him and Jo are waiting in the car downstairs and you're coming with." Was that a command? It sure sounded like one. You didn't realize she was all dressed up because she's still wearing her long coat. You, however, are standing there in your hoodie and are on the opposite side of the excitement scale about this.
And wait, Bran, are they still... wait what?
You cut the thought off with the notion that doing whatever that thing from last night and this morning was, didn't gift Maura exclusively to you, as much as you wish it had. You never discussed parameters. Nice work detective, assuming and overlooking. Wonderful. You think of her kissing him and you want to vomit.
"Wait, they're downstairs in the car? And who's Jo?"
"He's Bran's friend. You know him, you met a while back."
A mental clip of you telling Maura how much you hated the guy's hair replays in your head and convinces you that she's not trying to set you up or play this as a double date.
"There are things called phones, Maura."
"Yeah but I had a feeling you'd think of a way out if I just called. So I came by."
The logic is nearly flawless. She knew she'd drag you in if she just showed up and planted that kiss on you, her taste unreservedly intoxicating you.
You exhale.
"Maura, I need a shower and make-up and I..." you scan your own body "I guess I gotta find something to wear."
"That's okay, I'll text you the address."
She's out the door before you can complain. You almost run for her. Well, for her lips. And that's when the two of them come by from the end of the hallway and she looks at you as if knowing what you were up to.
"Hey, what took so long?" Jo's hair really sucks. Like, really.
"All good, let's go." she tells them.
"Is she not coming?" Bran asks, pointing at you with a tilt of his head, as if you're a baby or an animal or just someone absent that had no say and not even a tongue to speak for themselves.
"She will, she just needs to get ready."
And they move back downstairs. Maura is last. Before she disappears, she turns to you one last time and destroys the entire team of brain cells working to come up with an excuse to skip this.
"Please, please come, I really need you to be there."
Need? Need? NEED?
You're a masochist, you decide as a sudden feeling that you are catering to her settles with you. Yet the idea of not being there is unacceptable and you step into the shower.
Jo is playing a mini game on his Smartphone and you realize it will be equally as boring if you two actually got in a conversation, plus the awkwardness that accompanies any small talk, so yeah, this works for you. He should keep playing his game. You wonder if Bran dragged him over here the same way Maura dragged you. Probably.
Mister squeaky-voice gets up from his seat and goes to greet some friends and Maura turns to you. Like a back-up plan. Second choice. Bullshit.
"Jane, would you mind it if I left you here for a second?"
What are you, a five year old that she's babysitting?
"Of course not."
When she goes after Bran you roll your eyes involuntarily, take a quick look at Jo who's again lost in whatever is happening on the screen and you start chanting a sentence like a mantra. It's none of my business to mind. It's none of my business to mind. It's none of my business to mind.
It's almost suffocating just sitting right now and as bad as you feel about leaving face-in-screen alone on the table, it's not like he tried to be any less rude. So you excuse yourself and slip away, asking a waiter where you can find the bathroom.
You stare at yourself in the mirror.
Reboot your system, Rizzoli. What's up with you?
She walks in, rummaging through her bag, and she's so into it, she doesn't notice you standing at the other end. She takes her lipstick out to fix the one that you assume is now somewhat smudged on her lips. You don't really think about it, you just walk up to her and turn her sideways and this time you don't worry about how strong your grip or perseverance is. Your hands slide down to her waist and push her, so she takes a step backwards and is now pressed to the wall. You might not know what words would be appropriate for expressing your state of mind right now, but it doesn't matter because your lips speak in another way. They say it all when they join hers.
I want you.
I don't like it when other people have their hands on you.
Or lips.
I hate that I can't do this anytime and anywhere.
I hate that I'm never sure if I'm allowed.
Or if you want it.
Kiss me.
Kiss only me.
I want you.
When you back off, and relax the grip of your fingers, letting her step away from the wall, you see her eyes flip from stunned to entertained and she jokes with you.
"Oh, someone wants more, huh?"
Don't escape it, it's lame. Admit it.
"Obviously."
You exit the bathroom but don't go for the table. You go for the exit, and she follows.
"Jane..."
"Look, I really should, no, I really want to go. I'm sorry, I'm not really feeling like... any of this." You point around to the balloons and decorations. "You should stay and have fun though."
It's none of my business to mind.
"Okay, um, let me walk you to your car."
Sure, whatever.
When you get outside, she gently presses her fingers to your cheek, turning your head, and then kisses you softly.
"Haha, are you guys making out?"
Squeaky voice calling from the entrance twenty meters away. You don't even know why he's here. He probably saw Maura leaving and followed her. For fucking fuckfest, you figure.
"Of course not." she says, and pretends to be wiping something off your cheek. "Call me in the morning?"
"Sure."
Some coldness reigns the air around you.
Due causes inexplicable to you, it seems favorable that you light the mood up.
"Next time you get me off the couch, showering, dressing up and putting on make-up, you better come up with something more fun." Nudge nudge, wink wink. You make it sound teasing. She purses her lips, smirking.
"Good night, Jane."
"Good night."
You slam the wheel in front of you and exhale loudly before slamming both the car door and the building door behind you as you walk, not caring about what time of night it is and who you are waking up in the process. What are they gonna do, call the police on you? Ha! The couch welcomes you again, and so does the beer as you try to clear your head.
Because, you need to face it.
It's none of your business to mind.
A/N: As always, please please pleeease review :)
40ish hours left.