AN: Let it be known that I have no abandoned any of my stories, and working six days a week sucks. That said, this story I feel is coming to a close unless anyone has any suggestions of where to take it...

And with that she released Jane from her turmoil. With a firm hand she directed the brunette's face to hers, she met glossy eyes briefly before closing hers. Breaching the infantismal space between them she captured quaking lips with her own, barely waiting for a response before deepening the kiss. The tighter grip at her back confirmed her hypothesis beyond reproach.

Everything in the doctor's life was calculated down to the second, every step, gesture, movement deliberate. In this moment it was no different. When Jane gave, she took. Her hands finding purchase at the base of the taller woman's skull, finger tips lightly scratching at sensitive skin she found there. Relishing in the feeling of Jane softening against her, the reactions to her touches, no matter how subtle, were filed away to be re-used again and again. Wrapped together impossibly close, the need for oxygen became apparent much sooner than either had wanted.

Jane pulled her head back to look down into darkened hazel eyes. She sighed before leaning her forehead against the other as she gripped her hands tighter into Maura's shirt. She could sense a reluctance in the detective, even after everything they had discussed. She cupped an olive cheek, softly rubbing her thumb across the impossibly defined bone there. Before she could speak her thumb found a track of dampness in its wake as shoulders began to quake.

"Oh Jane," she left the question unsaid.

A scarred hand covered the one that had found a home on Jane's cheek. There was a quiet sniff as she spoke,

"I need to just take a minute ok. You have no idea how much I've wanted this, but you need to know."

Jane used her hands to bring the doctor's own in front of them, she kept her head bowed as she spoke. Petrified that the wrong words now could shatter everything into irreparable shards.

Maura tried in earnest to get Jane to look at her as she spoke but instead settled for a reassuring squeeze of the strong hands holding hers.

"This, right here, is already more than I could have even tried to imagine. And we both have these pre conceived ideas of each other, whether they're true or not. Damnnit, why is this so hard?"

"It doesn't have to be Jane, it's still just me. There's nothing you can say here that will shock me, just please, please don't you dare say you regret it."

At those words Jane's head rose sharply to meet her eyes, both sets now glossy with the threat of tears.

"Oh no Maura, God no. I will never regret a moment spent with you. I'm just, fuck, I'm scared Maur. This right here, the kissing, the holding, this, this I can do without a care. In fact it makes my mind go completely blank."

Maura tried not to smile as she went to speak,

"Please, let me get this out, if you stop me I don't know if I'll be able to continue, and I really have to."

The blonde nodded grasping a little tighter.

"I don't want to try and come on too strong here Maura, but you have to know that nothing about this can be casual. Please don't think I'm trying to tell you that you are, it's just, for me, it can't be. I don't want you to mistake my reluctance for something that its not. I just can't go into this without you knowing that. I can't be with you if you don't know."

Silently Maura let go of the Detective's hands as she used her own to bring Jane's head to her shoulder.

"I understand Jane, I do. And if I have to spend every day from here on out to prove to you just how much I love you, know that I will. There is nothing in this universe or another that will make me stop. I would move mountains to be with you Jane, and if I have to wait until tectonic plates come together to make more, I will."

She punctuated the sentiment with a soft kiss below the ear, encouraged by Jane moving her head to give her more access.

"It is enough that I can hold you," another kiss

"It is enough that I can kiss you" another,

"For now,"

"Forever Jane,"

The day had worn on with them both making themselves comfortable on Jane's sofa. Neither had been back to Maura's house even after Vince had hung a new front door. The old one cut up to add to the firewood pile out back. Maura continued to idly play with the cast on Jane's arm while she watched the sports casters on tv. Reaching over the brunette handed her a sharpie pen.

"Come on, I know you're dying to sign it somehow,"

She took it with a smile. "I have a better idea,"

"Yeah well whatever it is, make sure its work and Ma-appropriate ok?"

"Oh because that is?" She raised an eyebrow in triumph as Jane shifted at the mention of the small contusion on her neck that she had gladly acquired.

"You know what I mean. Do you maybe want to head back to your place this afternoon? Check out Korsak's handiwork?"

The doctor didn't look up from her work on Jane's cast, "Are you sick of me already Jane?"

"No, I, wait, you've been hanging around me too long, that was almost sarcasm!"

"I try. But yes I think we should. I would like to see what needs replacing. It's perhaps long due a redecorating. Maybe you could help me pick out a few things?"

"Its your house Maur, what ever you pick looks like its come from a show home anyway. I'd only pick out a bigger tv and a couple of Lay-z-boys"

"Well maybe I'd like that,"

"Hives Maura,"

"Ok maybe not in the living room, but maybe one of the spare rooms? You could turn it into a sort of a rec room I suppose."

"Maura Isles, are you offering me a Man Cave in your house?"

She cocked her head to the side contemplating the statement, "I suppose I am, would you like that?"

"Have I ever told you just how amazing you are?" Leaning over she captured smiling lips with her own

"Once or twice. Here all done, what do you think?"

Lifting her casted arm Jane could see a perfect drawing of every bone in her arm and wrist.

"You broke this one," the doctor pointed to the ulna,

"No, you broke that one."

Maura tried to hide a pained expression but Jane caught it,

"Hey, I'm just giving you a hard time. You know that I'm proud of you, if it had been him that opened that door, this cast would be on his arm along with the one Frankie has put on his leg. I'm serious Maura, I'm fine, I'll be good as new in now time at all. After all I've got an amazing doctor to look after me."

"How do you always know the exact thing to say?"

"That Maura is one of life's many great mysteries." Jane lifted her arm inviting the doctor closer as she placed a kiss on the golden crown.