Small warning - This chap could be kind of rated M. It's nothing to graphic but there is build up to sex so to be on the safe said, I'm rating this chapter M

Slow and steady was turning into sexually frustrated for both Jane and Maura. It had been nearly a month since they started dating and they still hadn't slept together. Well that wasn't true. They slept together all the time, they did that before they were a couple, what they weren't doing yet was having sex. They both wanted it to be meaningful and special, and they were both kind of scared and anxious about it too. Maura hadn't done more then some innocent fooling around in boarding school and Jane had no experience at all when it came to sex with another woman. They both knew that the other wanted to have sex, neither was leery of a kissing the other until she was dizzy, or letting their hands roam over curves or across skin, but neither of them had been willing to take it to the next level yet.

Maura enjoyed sex, a lot, and she missed it. She wanted to be with Jane in every way and that included being her lover, so Maura decided that it was time to take another risk. At the end of her workday Maura stopped by Jane's desk to let her know that she was going to be picking up dinner and brining it over to Jane's apartment. Jane smiled and said she'd see her there. After leaving work Maura went to her house to shower, change, and check on Bass. She also called up her favorite French restaurant and personally talked to the chef, asking him to prepare dinner for her. After her shower, there was nothing sexy about smelling like the dead, Maura very carefully picked out an outfit. Sexy but causal was her goal so she picked her new Dolce & Gabbana floral print silk crepe top and matching pleated skirt. After packing an overnight bag and tossing it into the passenger seat of her Prius, Maura went to her favorite little wine shop and picked up a very nice wine and then over the restaurant to pick up the dinner for two she'd requested.

When she arrived at Jane's she let herself in using her key. She smiled brightly when Jo Friday came trotting up to her, her little tail waging. Crouching down Maura set the bottle of wine down so she could give the little dog a scratch before standing and walking over to the little breakfast bar that served as Jane's dinning table. She set the bag with their dinner on the counter, put the wine in the fridge, and then put their meals in the oven to keep them warm. Then she took Jo for a little walk. When she returned to the apartment she set the table but didn't do anything to overly romantic. She was aiming for a relaxing evening that would hopefully lead to an active night, and she worried that being overly romantic about dinner would just add pressure that would led to another night of cuddling and no actual sex. Cuddling with Jane was great, but sex would be so much better. Taking her iPod from her purse Maura placed it in the dock of Jane's stereo and chose one of her favorite Pandora stations, then she turned the volume down so the music was more of accent piece then a focal point.

"A girl could get use to this." Jane said when she walked into the apartment to find Maura setting serving dishes of food on the counter. The beaming smile she got from Maura lit up Jane's eyes. "Let me take Jo out real quick and we can eat."

"Already did that." Maura said as she moved towards the fridge. "Why don't you shower instead and then we can eat. I brought a couple of movies with me."

Jane nodded while moving closer to the blonde. "Sounds like a good plan to me, but first things first." She pulled Maura close and kissed her. When they broke apart Jane was smirking. "Hi."

Maura's smile was radiant. "Hi."

Jane took a quick shower and changed into a pair of jeans and the white tank top that she knew Maura liked most. After putting her hair up in a ponytail she made her way back into the kitchen to find Maura smirking at something she was putting on a plate. "What's so funny?"

"Nothing." Maura said as she set the serving dish on the counter. After cleaning up the take out containers Maura poured the wine and then took her seat across from Jane.

"Maura, this isn't normal take out is it?" Jane asked as she looked at the dishes set out.

"Well," Maura said as she looked over it to. "Not really. I called Chef Sebastian and asked him to make a few things. Steamed mussels in Vermouth and wine-poached salmon with black truffles for the main course, the sides are frites and petits pates a la sage, there's a chestnut soup with crème fraiche, and…" Jane had popped several stuffed mushroom caps into her mouth while Maura was talking and it was all Maura could do not to laugh. "Escargot stuffed mushroom caps."

Big brown eyes went impossibly wide. "Escargot?"

"Yes." Maura answered as she hid her giggle behind her hand.

"Maura!" Jane said as she reached for her wine and downed it. "That's snail!"

"Yes." Maura said, her giggle turning to a full laugh. "I know."

"I just ate snail!" Jane said as she glared at her girlfriend.

"And you liked it!" Maura protested, still laughing. "Come on Jane. I know you liked it. You were eating them like you eat popcorn chicken."

"You don't catch popcorn chicken in your garden, Maura!" Jane said as she wiped her tongue with her napkin.

"Oh now you're just being overly dramatic Jane." Maura said with an amused huff. "And one does not catch escargot in one's garden. They're farm raised, organically of course, like any other eatable animal."

Jane glared at the blonde sitting across from her but it wasn't really an angry glare, more of a, I will get you for this my pretty, kind of glare.

"The rest of the meal is perfectly safe, Jane." Maura promised.

Jane huffed. "It's a good thing I love you."

"Yes." Maura said with a prim smirk. "It is."

After dinner while Jane cleaned up Maura set up the movie and then settled on the couch with Jo. She'd gone with two, La Belle et la Bete, the 1946 French version of Beauty and the Beast. The second was a German film from 1931 called Maedchen in Uniform. It was one of the first films ever made about lesbians.

Jane groaned as Maura cuddled close and pressed play. "Black and white foreign films?"

"I sat through all the Die Hard movies last weekend." Maura reminded her girlfriend.

Since meeting Maura all those years ago while she was undercover as a hooker, Jane had been discovering new things that she would have never even attempted to try before Maura. Though she moaned and groaned about them she kind of liked the old black and white films, they were to artsy to be called movies, that Maura almost always choose. "I guess it's better then watching Grease or Dirty Dancing or Havana Nights for the thousandth time."

"I like those movies." Maura said with a point.

Jane chuckled. "I know you like those movies. That's why I'm willing to rewatch them over and over again."

Maura smiled and stretched a little so she could place a soft kiss on Jane's lips. "You also do it so I won't complain when you want to watch The Fox and The Hound for the billionth time."

"That's a classic!" Jane defended as she tickled Maura. "Plus, I only watch it when I don't feel good." Wrapping her arms around Maura she added, "And it reminds me of us."

"A cartoon fox and dog remind you of us?" Maura asked with a raised brow.

Jane poked Maura where she knew Maura was ticklish. "The whole two unlikely friends thing reminds me of us."

"Oh." Maura said with a smile. "Yes, I suppose when looking at us from the outside we would seem an unlikely pair. There was an interesting study done recently in the journal of Evolutionary Psychology about the theory of opposites attracting when it comes to…"

Maura's voice was suddenly muffled by Jane's hand. Hazel eyes narrowed as brown ones sparkled. "Start the movie, Maura." Maura said something that was still muffled because of Jane's hand that Jane was fairly certain wasn't nice and it made her laugh.

About ten minutes into the first movie Maura slipped her hand under Jane's tank top and started to lightly caress the skin underneath. Jane's skin was so soft and warm, and in her mind Maura was naming the tone muscles she could feel beneath it. There'd been a reason for picking foreign films with subtitles, and why she'd picked the French one first. She knew that at some point Jane would get bored and when she did Maura wanted Jane's attention to be focused on her. Sure enough Maura's simple touch had given Jane silent permission to return that touch. While Maura was caressing Jane's stomach, Jane began to trail her fingers along Maura's shoulder, dipping them under her top to trace along the blonde's collarbone. Twenty minutes in and Maura had moved her feather light touches to the under curve of Jane's breast, while Jane's hand had found the curve of Maura's hip. Maura smiled when she felt her skirt shift a little higher and Jane's fingertips skimming over the skin of her thigh. The nature of the second film allowed them both to be a little more darling in their explorations. While they watched the young German student falling in love with her teacher and the intimate moments between them, Jane's tank top was bunched around her breasts like a sports bra and the hem of Maura's skirt was nearly to her waist.

Maura wasn't going to let tonight end like the other nights when their make out sessions on the couch ended with either them cuddling in bed or the other heading home, leaving the other and herself to finish things off alone. Maura shifted from her position beside Jane, throwing one leg over her lap, and then settling in so she was straddling Jane. Hazel eyes were quickly becoming dark as Maura looked down into Jane's almost black with desire brown eyes. Leaning in she kissed Jane deeply while she concentrated on keeping her fingers from trembling as she tugged on Jane's tank top. She felt Jane's body tense at first and knew that her girlfriend was feeling a little uncertain but relief washed over Maura when she felt Jane push her skirt up, and those strong hands cup her backside.

Jane had been startled by Maura's sudden aggression but it didn't really surprise her. Maura, at least when it came to her, seemed to be doing much better with the whole asking for things issue she had. As the kiss began to heat up, as the warmth from Maura's hands radiated through her body, as the feeling of Maura's behind filled her hands, Maura's new found risk taking was pretty much the last coherent thought Jane had before everything went blissfully fuzzy. When they finally had to force themselves to stop because their lungs were on fire from lack of air, Jane looked into Maura's eyes and simply asked, "Are you sure?"

"Yes Jane." Maura said, her voice soft, deep, husky with desire. "I'm more then sure."

Jane nodded and just like that their rolls were reversed. Now it was Jane taking the lead, it was Jane helping Maura to her feet; it was Jane leading the honey blonde woman with the eyes her favorite color to her bedroom. It was Jane pulling Maura's blouse off up over her head. It was Jane who slowly lowered the zipper on Maura's five hundred dollar skirt, which the blonde didn't even bat a lash at when it hit the floor. It was Jane who gently pushed Maura onto the bed.

It wasn't as if Maura had suddenly turned submissive in this whole interaction. While Jane had been undressing her Maura had been making quick work of Jane's clothes as well. She took particular joy in undoing the buttons of Jane's jeans, letting the backs of her fingers brush against the hidden satin behind the denim and metal buttons. For the first time since she became sexually active Maura wasn't taking an internal innovatory of released hormones or cataloging her body's reactions. She was simply in the moment with Jane feeling everything, both physical and emotional. Laying there in Jane's bed in noting but her Victoria Secret hiphugger panties and matching bra Maura felt this overwhelming sense of finally being home and she knew that it had everything to do with the lithe body hovering over her own. Reaching up Maura cradled Jane's face in her hands and whispered, "I love you."

"I love you." Jane replied, her voice deeper, huskier, and laced with desire for the beautiful woman beneath her. She dipped her head, capturing Maura's lips in a searing kiss. She had no idea what she was doing but Jane had always relied heavily on her instincts so that's what she was doing now, listening to her intuition and taking her cues from Maura.

Outside her window the dark night skies of Boston were just starting to turn gray as the sun inched ever higher, and Jane was finally getting to sleep. Once they'd figured out the basics everything else came easy and she and Maura had made love all night. Jane smiled, her body felt physically satisfied, her heart felt full, and even she knew it was corny, but her soul felt whole. She looked down at Maura, who was already asleep in her arms, and smiled. Then Jane let herself drift off to sleep as well.

When she woke up the next morning the sun was up and it felt late but still morning. She didn't feel like actually opening her eyes to look. She was unbelievably comfortable. Maura was on her back, which is how she normally slept, and Jane was on her side. Her arm was around Maura's waist, her head snuggled against Maura's shoulder, and their legs were entwined. Though something felt odd about their legs so Jane did crack open one eye to see what it was, and the sight made her smile. Jo Friday was curled up in the little space where her and Maura's legs left a little opening. It was the best wake up she'd ever had, until she realized that she hadn't awaken on her own, and it wasn't Jo or Maura who done it either. Jane was suddenly alert, listening carefully, her mind already going to where she'd left her gun.

"Janie!" Angela called out. "Janie, the chain's on the door!"

Jane groaned and buried her face in the mass of honey blonde curls fanned out on the pillow. Where'd she leave her gun? Jane slowly, carefully extracted herself from Maura and slipped out of bed. Maura was still asleep but Jo was giving her a dirty look for disturbing her. Jane bit her cheek to keep herself from laughing as Jo walked up the bed and settled herself beside Maura, putting her little doggie head on Maura's shoulder and went back to sleep, while Jane threw on track pants and t-shirt.

"Janie!" Angela called out again.

"Ma." Jane said as she came into the living room. "Shhh. People in this building are trying to sleep." She pushed the door closed and undid the chain to let her mother in.

Angela was frowning as she stepped inside. "Why was the door chained?"

"To keep people with emergency keys who don't know what an emergency is out." Jane answered honestly as she padded into her kitchen to make coffee.

"It's after ten, Jane." Angela scolded. "Why are you still in bed?"

Jane yawned as she plunked a k-cup into the overly priced coffee maker Maura had bought. "It's Saturday and I'm off so I was sleeping in."

"You hardly ever sleep in, Jane." Angela said while looking her daughter over. "Are you feeling alright?"

"Ma." Jane protested when Angela tried to feel her forehead. "I'm fine, knock that off."

Angela was about to ask Jane another question when a soft sleepy voice came from bedroom. "Jane?" Maura had heard voices after waking up because she'd sensed she was suddenly alone. A sleeply smile appeared on her face when she woke up with Jo and then chuckled softly when Jo gave her a dirty look for moving. "Sorry sweetie." She said softly to the little dog and gave her head an affectionate little rub before getting out of bed and pulling on her panties and one of Jane's BPD t-shirts. Last night had been wonderful, even the awkwardness at the beginning, and Maura was feeling very happy this morning. Maura hadn't felt so nervous and excited about sex in a very long time. She liked the feeling of reduced blood flow to the stomach due to redirection of the blood to the muscles around the stomach because of the released of adrenaline and endorphins that happened during the tentative first stages of making love. In the back of her mind Maura could hear Jane's voice asking, 'Couldn't you have just said butterflies in your stomach?' and it made her giggle. "Jane?" Maura called out again as she came into the living room. "I thought I heard… oh… Good morning, Angela."

Angela looked between her daughter and Maura a few times taking them in. She knew the girls often slept in the same bed. She'd also been living in Maura's guest house long enough to know that she never left her bedroom looking disheveled, and there she stood with messy hair, wearing one of Jane's shirts, and blushing. "Good morning, sweetheart."

"Hey," Jane huffed playfully. "How come she gets a good morning sweetheart and I get the third degree about sleeping in?"

"I like her better." Angel teased, and just like that any awkward moment was avoid.

"Good to know." Jane said as she smiled over at Maura. Reaching into her cupboard she pulled out a black coffee mug with white writing on it that read 'Dr. Smartypants' and then set it under the nozzle of the coffee maker to collect Maura's coffee. Once it was full Jane carried it over to the blonde and kissed her softly on the lips before relinquishing the mug. "Good morning."

"Good morning." Maura said with a new blush creeping over her cheeks.

Jane was completely transfixed by the color on Maura's cheeks and the sparkle in her eyes until she heard clattering in her kitchen. "Ma, what are you doing?"

"Making stuffed French toast." Angela replied.

"Ma." Jane started to complain. She wanted to be alone with Maura.

Maura put her hand on Jane's arm. "That actually sounds really good Jane and I am kind of really hungry."

Jane huffed. "See, that's why she likes you better. You take her side."

"I'm taking my stomach's side." Maura teased back.

"Don't worry Janie." Angela said with a smile. "I'll make breakfast and then be outta your hair. I just came by to get your shopping list anyway."

Jane smiled back. "Thanks Ma."

"Anything for my girls." Angela said before diving into Jane's refrigerator and fishing out the ingredients for breakfast.

Jane could see how much her mother's use of girls meant to Maura, the way those beautiful hazel eyes shimmered, and it made her smile as she pulled Maura close and held her. For the past month she'd had this odd little phrase stuck in her head and standing there with Maura in her arms it rang true yet again. Good things come to those who wait. She'd waited for Maura for a long time and Jane knew without any doubt she was never letting her go.