Title: Coffee, Cold Weather, and New Beginnings
Genre: Romance
Rating: M
Pairing: RIZZLES!
Summary: Can Winter change the lives of our favorite duo?
Disclaimer:I do not, nor will I ever, have any rights to Rizzoli & Isles. I also do not own Judy garland, nor the songs. Just saying.
Author's Notes: Thank you lovely fans for the reviews! Now, with a little support... ON TO CH3!
Crime was always higher around Christmas time. Suicides increased in number, people killing each other for toys for their children. It never got any better. As Jane entered the squad room, she realized that with only 3 day til Christmas, it was just going to get worse.
Today had been particularly hard. A mentally unstable teenager killed his older brother over the fact that his brother was getting a better present than he was. This is what the holidays did to people. It made them crazy! The family was in tethers now, all because of the jealousy over a stupid video game console. It was sickening, and Jane was glad that they had put this case to rest rather easily so she could relax a little with her favorite "Queen of the Dead."
Jane knew Maura hated it when people called her that. Jane also knew that when it came to Maura, she could get away with a few things others couldn't. So, as long as she used the term endearingly, she knew the ME wouldn't mind a little teasing.
As she made her way to the familiar confines of the morgue, she noticed all of the winter decor sprinkled throughout the hallway: surely Maura's doing. Jane always thought Maura was adorable, but especially around this time of year. She just seemed, for lack of a better term, giddy, and Jane found it almost irresistible.
Upon entering the morgue, Jane started to hear light humming sounds coming from the general direction of Maura's office. Hoping to catch her off guard, Jane quietly tiptoed toward the ME's office, which had a conveniently open door.
Jane peered in to see Maura, facing away from her, sprinkling little bits of Christmas cheer around her office. Garland here, mistletoe there. "Ugh,"thought Jane, "mistletoe. How I hate it with a fiery passion. It will never be the same after having to kiss that gross guy in the fifth grade. Man we he terrible! He had this..." Jane thoughts were interrupted by the change of song, and the change of dance coming from the still oblivious ME. As "Jingle Bell Rock" streamed through Maura's radio speakers, Jane noticed how her swaying hips picked up tempo to keep up to the beat. As the ME reached down to grab more thistle, Jane noticed her ever so slightly doing the twist, and a small chuckle escaped her lips. Immediately Maura's motions halted, but instead of turning around, she just continued about her business.
"Might I ask what's so funny, detective?" Maura asked. Of course she knew the detective was there. Who else would just pop in randomly and stay to observe? Jane brought herself further into the room and relocated herself to the box at the foot of Maura's step stool.
Handing her another piece of thistle, she replied, "Nothing much, Maur. I was just observing."
Maura, never one to turn down an opportunity to retort, took the thistle from Jane and did just that. "See something you like?"
"Of course," Jane replied, which earned a quizzical glare from the ME. Jane knew thought she might've just put her foot in her mouth, which happened a lot around the doctor. But the endearing smile that adorned the face of her favorite coroner put her at ease. She watched as Maura very meticulously placed the last bit of decoration in her office, all the while never ceasing her little dance routine. Jane gladly offered her hand as she eased her off of the step stool and back onto solid ground.
"So, Jane," Maura began as she straightened out her perfectly clung dress, "what do you think?"
Jane looked from the expectant face of the woman standing before her, then quickly scanned the room. It really was perfectly done. Maura was a known perfectionist, and this was no exception. It looked flawless.
Jane returned her eyes to a pair of hazel ones, and said, "It's lovely, Maura. It really is."
Maura's face soon filled with gladness, and Jane smiled back, glad that Maura was in such high spirits after the case. She watched as the doctor made her way to the radio to turn UP the volume on what was the middle of "Have a Holly, Jolly Christmas." Maura returned to her spot in front of Jane and grabbed her hands.
"Dance with me, Jane," she proposed. The detective groaned and shook her head, all the while knowing that Maura would undeniably win this argument.
"Come on Jane! It's easy. You just have to... wiggle. You have rhythm. Don't be SCARED."
As Maura said this, she began to dance a little in front of Jane, enticing the detective all the more. As soon as she said the word "scared," Maura knew she had convinced the detective. Jane started to slowly twist along to the up tempo beat. Soon the two were dancing around Maura's office like idiotic little kids, but neither of them caring. Jane was turning Maura around and around under her arms, as the two continued to dance foolishly, not worrying about anything else in the world.
When the song ended, the two looked at each other, and couldn't help but laugh. They were having such a great time, it really was what the both of them needed. As the familiar chords of "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" started streaming through the speakers, Maura looked up at Jane with a plea in her eyes. Jane, who was unsure of her next course of action contemplated her next move. Maura wanted to slow dance with her. Jane knew that this could cause a slight problem on her end. She KNEW she was utterly smitten by the woman before her, and knew that a slow dance wouldn't improve anything. But, on the other hand, Jane couldn't look into those eyes and say no. This was her best friend, and all in all, she didn't see too much harm in giving into her friend's wishes.
Jane, having made up her mind, looked at Maura, and with a slight nod, Maura's smile got even wider, which Jane didn't know was possible. Jane slipped her arms around Maura's middle, and Maura's went instinctively around Jane's neck. As the two swayed slowly to the music, the words of the song filled their thoughts.
"Have yourself a merry little Christmas,
Let your heart be light
From now on,
our troubles will be out of sight.
Have yourself a merry little Christmas,
Make the Yule-tide gay,
From now on,
our troubles will be miles away.
Here we are as in olden days,
Happy golden days of yore.
Faithful friends who are dear to us
Gather near to us once more.
Through the years
We all will be together,
If the Fates allow
Hang a shining star upon the highest bough.
And have yourself A merry little Christmas now."
Maura noticed that as the song progressed, their swaying slowed. By the last verse, they were just standing there, holding each other as they listened to the beautiful voice of Judy Garland flow through the room. Maura was glad this song came on the radio. Judy was one of her favorites, and she knew that she was one of Jane's, too. This is just what she wanted. Herself and Jane together, just being, for once. The shift was over, there was only them and now to focus on, and it was a relaxing change.
When she heard the final words of the song, Maura gently lifted her head from where it was resting on Jane's shoulder, and ran her hands down from Jane's shoulders to her elbows as she created a little room between herself and the detective. Jane looked down at this sudden change of position, and was met with a glare she was all too familiar with, Maura Isles' eyes were full of love. But Jane saw a hint of something more. She didn't know if it was wishful thinking, or if Maura Isles was actually looking at her with what could only be described as want. Jane questioned Maura's look at her with one of her own, and Maura only smiled at the detective.
Maura had the woman almost right where she wanted her. She was between the brunette and the door, and they were still holding each other. But she knew that the mistletoe she ever so strategically placed was not quite overhead. So, taking advantage of the new song on the radio, "I'll Be Home for Christmas," Maura returned to her head to the spot on Jane's shoulder. Jane quickly replaced her hands to encircle the beautiful woman she held, and had been holding for some time, as they once again started to sway. But Maura had a plan. In time with the music so as to not be suspicious, she gingerly maneuvered herself and her partner below the hanging plant. After about thirty seconds, Maura again pulled slightly away from the detective so as to look at her. Jane thought Maura was up to something, but wasn't quite sure what. As soon as she saw the doctor look up, she realized just exactly what had happened. She looked down at the blonde in her arms, who happened to be faking a look of innocence. All Jane could do was smirk at the woman before her. This is what Jane had always wanted. She just held the woman of her dreams for a good five minutes straight, and now they were under the mistletoe. Jane still had doubts as to what Maura was thinking, though. Did this mean that the feelings were mutual, or was her friend just trying to put her on the spot? Should she pass on the opportunity out of politeness and possibly miss out on the best experience of her life, or should she go along with the situation and fulfill the evilly awaiting Christmas tradition?
Maura saw Jane's expressions as she thought through her next move. Maura could only wait as Jane sorted out all of the things going through her head. Maura knew what she wanted. She wanted the detective to kiss her under the mistletoe. She had gotten to the point of not caring what the repercussions were, or what happened after that. She just wanted one simple kiss. Maybe once that was out of the way, then something else would develop, but for now, all Maura could hope for was that Jane would fulfill her wishes all in the name of Christmas.
Maura decided Jane had thought long enough. "Well Jane. You know what this means..." Maura was hoping to brush this off as calmly as possible, so as to put Jane at ease. When Jane's dark brown eyes met hers, she saw the smile begin to form across her friends face.
"Actually Maura, I do know what this means. This plant had caused me quite a few awkward moments in my life. I guess I shouldn't be surprised by it's arrival, now."
All Maura could do was smile at Jane through her response. Jane was in good spirits. She was lighthearted, and it pleased Maura to know that Jane actually seemed like she wasn't going to back out of this one. Maura gently brought her hands to Jane's face, and gently rubbed her thumbs along Jane's temples. She felt Jane's grip on her waist tighten, as Jane pulled her slightly forward. Maura still saw a slight hesitation in the eyes of her friend. They always spoke without actually speaking, and this time was no different. Maura tried to ease Jane's slight discomfort with a smirk, but Jane was still unsure.
"Maura... if this is going to make you uncomfortable, I say we..." Jane didn't even get a chance to finish her sentence due to a pair of lips meeting her own. The kiss was sweet and gentle, and the two relished in the feeling of this feat that they had both been hoping for for a while. Maura was the first one to pull back from the kiss, and she heard the detective groan slightly at the loss of contact. Jane gently kissed her on the forehead, as Maura's head came to rest against Jane's. Maura was shorter than Jane, so Maura's forehead was about perfectly positioned for Jane to rest her cheek on. Neither of the said anything, afraid to ruin whatever moment they had just experienced. They just stood there completely blissful, but with a few thoughts of concern on what was about to happen.
Maura decided that since she'd been the adventurous one throughout the course of the evening, that she would break the silence. "I'm quite impressed, Detective."
Jane chuckled lightly and pulled away slightly so she could look at the woman still wrapped around her. "And why is that, Doc?"
Maura smiled sweetly and circled her hands around Jane's neck, thumbs gently rubbing the skin under the woman's jaw. "I am surprised you actually went through with that. And I have to say, you're skills are more than appreciated."
All Jane could do was stare at the woman before her. Did Maura just say she had ENJOYED the kiss? I mean, Jane did, no doubt. But Maura, too? What does this even mean?
Maura, getting a little nervous at the lack of a clever response, spoke again. "Jane... is everything okay in that head of yours?"
Jane was surprised at the concern in her friend's voice. "Yea, Maur. I'm just... I don't know... what just... you enjoyed that?"
Maura chuckled lightly at the detective jumbled response. She knew Jane was having a tough time comprehending everything going on in their current situation. This could mean one of two things for Maura. 1. Jane could be deciding how to put Maura down gently if she wasn't interested. Maura hated the thought of that, but she knew it was a possibility. Or 2. Jane enjoyed the kiss just as much as she did, and she's trying to put all of the pieces together in her head before saying something. Maura hoped for the second option, and decided to answer the detective's questions with a question of her own to find out.
"Of course I did, Jane. I mean, it's not like you're a terrible kisser. You didn't?"
Jane searched the eyes of her friend for any sort of hint as to what was going through her head. She found nothing there to help her. Just a pair of eyes awaiting an answer.
"I mean, I did. Don't get me wrong, Maur. It was... definitely... nice," Jane said as she stumbled to find the right thing to say.
"Then what's the problem?" Maura asked her. Jane thought about this for a second. Maura was right, as always. Jane had enjoyed the kiss, as did Maura apparently. So, what was the big deal? Jane now knew that there was a spark of something between them. They had made the official first leap, and if something happened, it happened. If it didn't, at least they both knew what kissing the other was like. Jane still had one question to answer.
"I guess there isn't one, Maura. But... what happens now?"