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
Author's Notes: So, the last chapter kind of started to write itself... so let's see how this one goes. Thanks to my LOVELY reviewers! I read and take to heart EVERY one. Keep it up with the feedback! I'm ALWAYS super interested to hear from you all.
And don't worry. This is rated M, and you will get your wish soon enough. Patience my lovelies. Now, ON TO 4!
Maura walked into her apartment that night feeling more accomplished than she ever had in her life, and that was saying something. She had managed to kiss Jane Rizzoli under the mistletoe; she knew she had a reason to love the holidays. She hadn't been at all surprised by Jane's doubts and questions, knowing those same ones had gone through her mind a million times. But Maura knew that she was tired of wondering, hence the mistletoe setup. She couldn't believe how successful it all had been. The radio songs were perfect, the moment perfect, the kiss... perfect. At this last thought she smiled. She always had a feeling that kissing the detective would be more than pleasurable.
As she sat down on her couch, she thought through the last few things she and the brunette had said to one another before leaving the precinct.
"Then what's the problem?" Maura asked her nonchalantly. They both enjoyed the kiss. It wasn't awkward in any way, and neither was the moment really. It had all happen with surprising fluidity, and Maura was glad that the moment wasn't ruined by feet going into mouths.
"I guess there isn't one, Maura. But... what happens now?" the detective questioned. Maura had been expecting this. She knew that there were questions to answer about what happened, and about the future and what it held. But, Maura had been thinking about this moment for a long time, and had an honest answer to just about anything the detective questioned her about.
"Jane, I'm going to be honest with you. I don't know. I almost halfway expected you to bail. But you didn't, and I'm glad. I'm not holding my breath for anything, Jane. I've just... for a long time I've been curious about what that would be like." At this statement, Maura observed as the detective's eyes grew larger. "Yes, Jane. I've been hoping for this to happen. It's the whole reason I bought the mistletoe. I'm a scientist, Jane. I find a question I want answered, I form a hypothesis based on the facts, and then I do an experiment to come to a conclusion. I've been... thinking about you... a lot, and how I feel and what it means. I had questions I needed to answer. I decided that the best way to decide exactly what I felt was to somehow kiss you and see if I felt anything. So I set up this 'experiment' so to speak, and decided that I would make up my mind after it was complete."
After Maura completed her spiel, all she could do was wait for the obviously confused detective to say something. Maura had watched Jane's expressions change as she was talking. She saw the obvious marks of misunderstanding, contemplation, overload... all of them she had expected. But there was a flicker of something else, something Maura hoped she hadn't imagined: relief.
She watched as Jane connected the dots, and waited patiently as the detective tried to find something to say.
"Maura... I don't... I just... I had no idea..." was the answer she received.
Maura only gave a nod and small smile as her response, so as to not disrupt the thought process of the woman who had oddly enough never removed herself from their current almost hugging stance.
Maura watched as Jane cocked her head to the side, with the detective's brown eyes never leaving her own hazel ones. Jane was still searching for an answer, for something to say, so Maura decided to give the detective one last statement of her own.
"Jane, I'm not expecting anything, really. I was just... tired of asking myself the same questions over and over again, so I did something about it. I have my conclusion, now, as I'm sure you're starting to form one to your own questions as well. Jane, I apologize if I've put you in an awkward position, but my inquiring mind couldn't rest until it KNEW what was going on." Maura gently raised her hand from where it was still resting around the detective's arm to gently stroke the side of the brunette's face. "It's okay if you don't know what to do, or what you want. I have my answers. Don't feel any pressure to do anything because of me, okay? I'm your best friend, and I love you, and it's all okay." As Maura said this she gently squeezed Jane's arms one last time, before completely removing herself from the detective's grasp. She could here the detective trying to form words as she gathered her purse, and turned off the radio, which was playing "Silver Bells." As she reached the door to her office, she finally heard the detective speak.
"Maura... you said you had your answer. I'd like to know what you've concluded."
Maura turned slightly in the doorway to meet the eyes of a now smirking Jane. She gently smiled at the woman and replied. "The research shows that my assumptions were correct. It's all just as I suspected it would be. Don't forget to lock up when you leave, please." And with a smile, she turned and left the office, and the morgue.
She knew Jane had a lot to think over. She still, even now, had no idea what the woman felt for her, or if she felt anything at all. She said she had enjoyed the kiss, but that doesn't mean anything other than the fact that the kiss was enjoyable. Maura couldn't jump to any conclusions for Jane. She knew that her friend would have to figure it all out on her own. Maura put it all out there, which she'd never done before in her life. But she trusted Jane, and knew that even if Jane didn't have any feelings for her, she would at least be there to help her sort through everything, and that was okay with her.
With her second glass of wine emptied, she leaned back to relax into her couch as she heard a knock on the door. She glanced at the door, feeling both fear and excitement, knowing that there were only a handful of people that would show up at her house at this hour. She gently stood and made her way to the door to find a flustered Jane Rizzoli on the the other side. Not surprised in the least, Maura moved aside and motioned her hand, inviting Jane into the room. Jane entered with a few steps, as Maura locked and alarmed her house. She turned around to see Jane standing right in front of her.
"How long, Maura?" was the first thing that came out of her mouth. Of course she still had questions. Jane was a detective. She went in search of answers for a living, why should now be any different?
Maura carefully considered her next response. She knew that the detective was close to a decision, and had to tread very carefully in order for this to go well. "For a while, Jane. I'm really not sure when it all started, to be honest. I think I've always considered it, Jane, since we first met. But I've always just shoved it aside as an over attachment complex of sorts."
Jane stepped closer to her, causing Maura to take a step back and into the door. Maura had seen this look in the detective's eyes before, right before she 'broke' a suspect into admitting their guilt. She was both intrigued and terrified by the fact that it was present in her eyes at this particular moment in time.
"So, Maura, you're just now telling me that you may have always had these feelings for me?" With this question, Jane took another step toward Maura. Maura had run out of room behind her, and just stood still as the distance between her and Jane got ever so small.
"Jane, you know I don't have great social skills. You're the best friend I've ever had. I didn't want to ruin it over something I wasn't sure about."
Jane was still searching Maura's eyes for something, and Maura didn't know what. All she could do was be honest, and not crack under the pressure the detective's gaze, questions, and proximity were causing.
Jane was surprised at how well Maura was holding up, but knew that she couldn't stop her process until everything she wanted to know was answered.
"Fair enough. Why now?"
"Why not now, Jane?"
"Maura, that wasn't an answer," Jane said in a slightly harsh tone.
"I don't know, Jane..." Maura took a deep breath, which was getting harder to do due to her current situation. "It was getting harder for me to focus on anything else. I had all these questions that were constantly floating around in my head, and it became harder to do anything other than think about them. I've been getting distracted at work, and at home, and just about everywhere, Jane. It was getting ridiculous. So, I decided to take my chances."
Jane nodded at the woman's answers. She just had one more question to ask before letting the blonde relax.
"I have two questions. One, since when are you into girls? And two, why me?"
Maura knew this was bound to come up. This was one thing she and Jane had never talked about in detail, it had only come up briefly in passing after an undercover case.
"Well, Jane. I'm not afraid to experiment, as you've found out. I dated women in college, and actually found out that I enjoy relationships with them. I've always admired the female form, Jane. They're beautiful creatures. The longest relationship I've ever had was with a woman shortly after I completed my Masters. Now, to answer your second question. Jane... there are so many reasons." At this Jane smiled softly. Maura fully intended to elaborate, but was glad to see the smile she had been waiting for. "You're my best friend. Somehow, someway, we put up with each other. We're both so different on the outside. But I realized shortly after..." Maura tried to think of a delicate way to put her next phrase, knowing it could upset Jane. After realizing there wasn't one, she decided to continue her speech anyway. "I realized after the Hoyt case that deep down you and I aren't so different after all. I started to see sides of you that I hadn't seen before, and that I'm pretty sure not many people get to see. You're so caring. Sometimes cases get to you, and I see it, and everyone else sees you, but you hate to show it, so you toughen up and get into your detective mode and do whatever you can for the people that matter. You're so protective, not just of me, but of everyone in your work and biological family. You're smart." At this Jane chuckled slightly out of amazement, and raised her eyebrow, as if to question what Maura said. "You are, Jane. Okay, you're not a walking encyclopedia like I am, but you are smart. Don't ever doubt that. You're trustworthy. I can't remember a time when I've EVER trusted anyone as much as I trust you. You're beautiful..." At the Jane blushed a little.
Maura paused for a moment to smile at the pink spreading across the face and down the neck of the detective she was still in very close proximity to. If anything, Jane had gotten closer to her during her speech. Jane gave an embarrassed smile, as she cleared her throat, signaling she was about to speak.
"Okay, okay. Point proven. You can stop gushing about me now." Both of the women smiled at each other when this was said. Maura knew the detective had reached some sort of conclusion by the look in her eyes, and patiently awaited Jane's next statement.
"I have to admit, it surprises me, this whole thing," Jane said as she motioned her hand between the two of them. "But since you've been so honest with me, which I appreciate, I guess it's my turn to let you in on what I've been thinking a little, huh?" At this Maura nodded cautiously. She held her breath as she watched the detective think over her next statement.
"Tomorrow is Christmas Eve. We technically have the next two days off, unless something high profile floats across our desks. So... let me take you to dinner tomorrow." Maura was shocked at the brunette's statement. She finally let out the breath she had been holding, and let out a sigh of relief. When she met Jane's eyes again, they were anxiously awaiting an answer, as if Jane thought she might say no.
"Are you asking me on a date, Detective?" Maura asked, putting both of them at ease. Jane chuckled lightly, and nodded her head.
"Yea, Dr. Isles, I suppose I am," Jane replied with a smile.
"Well, I'm going to have to check my calendar and get back with you on that. You see, my best friend and I may already have plans for tomorrow night, and we wouldn't want to upset her, now would we?" Maura said this, trying to hold back the laugh that threatened to escape her lips. Jane could only grin larger at the doctor's statement. She was glad that Maura had decided to lighten the mood.
"No, I suppose we wouldn't want to do that. But, I'm pretty sure that your friend wouldn't have a problem letting you go on a date," Jane replied, enjoying this new line of conversation.
"Well, you see, she gets awfully jealous," Maura replied. At this Jane gasped, and pretended to act hurt, which Maura couldn't help but laugh at.
"I do NOT!" Jane exclaimed, causing Maura's laughter to increase in volume. Jane couldn't help but laugh along with the woman. Her laugh was contagious, and oh so adorable.
As they caught their breath, Maura smiled and looked into the eyes of the woman before her. "Jane... I would love to. I don't know why you even felt the need to ask," Maura stated matter of factly.
Jane smiled. She was pretty sure Maura was going to say yes, but it still made her nervous. The woman was out of her league, and she knew it. But for some reason, she felt like it didn't matter. Maura had feelings for her, feelings that Jane had hoped existed. She looked at Maura, and saw her eyes were happier than had seen them in a while. When a smile giggle escaped Maura's lips, Jane raised her eyebrow in question. "What?"
"Jane... I was just thinking. We're going on our first official date tomorrow... but haven't we technically been dating for a while?"
Jane stared at the woman before her, wondering what on earth she could possibly mean. When Maura saw Jane was confused, she decided she better explain herself.
"Jane, we go out for drinks after work, we have constant sleepovers, we eat lunch together as often as possible, we fight like we're married, we go out for dinner and a movie all the time, I've met your parents, and we have keys to each others' places. I'm pretty sure we're already in a committed relationship with one another."
She watched as Jane took in everything she said. When Jane started to laugh hysterically, she knew she had done her job. Jane pulled her into a hug and Maura rested her head against the woman's shoulder.
"I had never thought about that. I suppose you're right. Well, I guess that will make tomorrow more of an anniversary dinner, then?" Jane heard Maura chuckle into her shoulder, and relished the feeling of the woman in her arms. How long had she hoped for this?
"I guess so," Maura replied against Jane's neck. "But let's skip on the gifts, Christmas is too close."
Jane only hummed her approval, as the two held each other in the doorway.
It seemed like they'd been standing there forever, when Jane came up with an idea. She pulled away from Maura so she could look at her.
"Maura... would you like to accompany me to a Christmas dinner at work?" Jane smiled as she saw Maura's confusions.
"You know that I'm already going, Jane. And two dates in two days? Adventurous, are we?" Maura said, as she smiled.
"I know you are Maura, but not as my date. And why not two dates in two days? It's Christmas," Jane replied.
Maura resumed her place on the shoulder of the detective, and she felt Jane sigh at the contact. She smiled into the detective's neck. "Sure Jane. I'll go as your date. But we'll have to do some more talking about what we are and aren't going to tell everyone." She moved her hand that was resting on the brunette's back to stroke her thumb along the back of Jane's neck. She moved her mouth from Jane's neck to Jane's ear as she said, "And yes, it is Christmas. Are you okay with me counting you as one of my gifts?"