A/N: Sorry for taking so long to update. Writer's block is never fun. Thanks for the fic love, everyone, and an extra special thank you to Bambibelle84 for giving me that extra push I needed to get this story going again. :)

Maura wanted to be friends. Jane kept that in mind as she lied in bed with Jo Friday. Maura's usual spot on their bed was still empty and it probably would be for awhile, but Jane knew it was only a matter of time until she no longer slept alone. She had no other woman in mind—she couldn't even fathom dating another woman—but Jane knew friendship with Maura would eventually lead to the two of them dating and then living together. They had followed this path before and Jane knew they could follow it again.

A month had passed since Jane had gone to Maura's apartment and, although she had seen her at work, she had yet to spend any quality time with Maura, but it wasn't for a lack of trying. She had asked Maura to come over and, when Maura refused, Jane chocked it up to her not being ready to set foot in their house—or what was their house. Maura may have moved out and taken her belongings with her, but Jane left their house exactly how it had been when Maura lived there. The living room was still the same and the bedroom was still the same and, regardless of how many times Jane had attempted to change it, she just couldn't bring herself to rearrange a single thing Maura had put in place. Instead of progress, there was a constant void in the house. Maura's side of the closet was still empty, except for the dress she had worn the day they were married.

The white dress was the solitary item hanging in Maura's side of the closet, which made it especially noticeable for Jane. She knew there was a reason why Maura had left that particular dress and she knew there was a reason why it was now hanging instead of tucked away in a chest like the rest of the mementos from their relationship. Maura had wanted it to serve as a reminder of what she had lost and what she could never replace. The dress was still there, but Maura would never be in it. Jane would never again zip up the back and wrap her arms around Maura's waist afterward. Most importantly, she would never again unzip the dress and leave it tossed on the side of their bed while she was making love to her wife.

With thoughts of Maura still running through her head, Jane took the dress out of the closet and ran her fingers along the fabric. It was soft to the touch and if she closed her eyes she could picture Maura wearing it on the day they were married.

"Do me?" Maura asked as she emerged from the bathroom in a half-zipped knee-length dress.

"Not until after we're married," Jane said jokingly. She knew exactly what Maura was asking, but her nerves were getting the best of her. Jane had to add some levity to the situation and Maura had given her the perfect opportunity.

"Jane Rizzoli is refusing to have sex?" Maura asked.

Jane zipped up Maura's dress and wrapped her arms around her waist from behind. The scent of Maura's perfume was intoxicating and Jane was finding it difficult to resist her. She placed delicate kisses on her cheek and noticed the smile widening on her future wife's face. "Save your energy," Jane urged her. "After we have dinner with my family, I'm going to wear you out in the best way."

Maura turned around so she could face Jane. "You're so sure of yourself. What if I'm the one who wears you out?"

"Is that a challenge?" Jane asked as she pulled her even closer to her.

"Jane?"

"Yes, my future Mrs. Rizzoli?"

"This is the last dress I'll ever wear as an unmarried woman and I look fantastic in it!"

"You do," Jane agreed. "Which is why I'm going to keep my hands and eyes on you before some other woman steals you away from me."

"No woman could ever steal me away from you," Maura promised.

With that in mind, Jane returned to her bed. No woman could ever steal her away from me. Maura will be mine again. Just be patient, Jane. Be patient, be sweet to her, and do whatever you can to win her over. Maura is a special woman and she deserves to be treated that way.

Jane grabbed her phone and decided to call Maura. Maura's picture was still on the lock screen and home screen of Jane's phone and just the sight of those pictures brought a smile to Jane's face.

"Jane?" Maura asked.

"Is this a bad time?"

"No," Maura responded. "Is everything okay?"

"Everything is fine," Jane insisted. "I was just thinking about you. I really miss you, Maura. Maybe we could do something soon."

"I'd like that," Maura told her. She wants to spend time with me. This is a good sign.

"I was going to watch the game with Frankie tonight, but he bailed on me to spend time with his girlfriend. Do you want to go to the Dirty Robber? We haven't been there since—"

"Since before all of this happened?" Maura interrupted.

"Yeah," Jane said sheepishly.

She heard Maura take a deep breath. "I would love to, Jane, but I have a date tonight."

"A date?" Jane asked in disbelief. "You have a date?"

"I do," Maura said nonchalantly. "It's been three months since our separation and I'm dating again. I owe it to myself."

"What's she like? How did you meet?" Jane asked. She tried to be civil, but she just couldn't hide her anger.

"Jane, I don't think that's any of your concern," Maura said as calmly as she could.

"We're friends, right?"

"We are," Maura insisted.

"If we're friends, we should be able to talk about these things. Are you going to have sex with her?" The words just spewed from Jane's mouth and she couldn't believe she had asked that.

"I'm not going to answer that. Jane, this is a mistake. We're not ready to be friends. I think it's best if we don't see each other outside of work until you can accept the fact that I'm dating other women."

"Maura, it wasn't supposed to happen like this. You're not supposed to be dating," Jane told her. Had this conversation occurred face-to-face, she would have latched on to Maura and practically begged her not to see another woman, but Jane was grateful they were on the phone so Maura wouldn't have to witness something so pathetic.

"I was never supposed to date again. I was a married woman, Jane, but we're separated now and there's only so long I could cry in my apartment."

"I'll see you around," Jane said before hanging up. She was about to cry and the last thing she wanted was for Maura to hear her, but the moment they hung up, Jane sobbed into Maura's pillow.

In a few hours, her Maura would be on a date with another woman and there was nothing she could do about it. She pictured some nameless, faceless woman taking her Maura out to dinner and telling her how beautiful she looks. At the end of the night, they'd probably kiss and Jane hoped with all of her heart that it would end there. A kiss was heartbreaking enough, but what if Maura invited her upstairs? Please, Maura, don't give up on us yet.