A/N: Thank you all for your patience. Life has been hectic, but I finally found some quiet time to write this next chapter. The long awaited 6th Chapter.

I'm standing out here by myself, listening to all the cheers and laughter coming from the distant inside, wondering why I didn't just clobber the guy. He stole my moment! But I know that in a room full of police officers, that was never a viable option.

I'm having all sorts of visions of me walking back in there, all "McFly from Back to the Future" like, stealing my girl back. Or "Officer and a Gentleman" style, lifting her up in my arms and walking out as people cheer us on. So much corny stuff I can hardly believe I'm even thinking them.

But that insecure part of me still doubts whether my feelings are returned. Which is stupid; I hardly ever doubt my gut instincts, and right now my gut is telling me that Maura feels the same way about me.

Just as I'm about to storm back in there; just as I take my first step back in the direction of the Robber, I see Maura stumble slightly as she falls through the back door, looking around.

"Looking for me?" I ask.

She turns to face me and I can see worry in her eyes. Her eyes are searching mine, but for what I'm not sure. Her mouth opens and closes a few times, as if hesitant to speak the words that are piling up on the tip of her tongue.

"Your mum told me you came out here," is the sentence she finally settles on as she slowly approaches me. She glances over my shoulder, causing me to turn and look at what had caught her attention.

Black clouds are rapidly approaching and flashes of lightening are coming from within them in quick succession. I turn back to find Maura standing just a few feet away.

"You found me," I said, my voice low and gravely, uncertain.

"I did. I found you," Maura says, searching my eyes still. "I found you, and I'd rather not lose you again."

"I think I lost you first," I reply with a small smile. She looks back at me in confusion, shaking her head; her cute little brow creases in the middle.

"Ma said you took a phone call," I explain, looking around the dark alley before looking back at her. "I couldn't find you."

She tilts her head to watch me, intently, as her bottom lip finds its way between her teeth.

"Is that what we're talking about?" she asks.

It is now my turn to be slightly confused, before I realise this conversation goes much deeper than losing each other in a crowded room. I watch her face light up as another bolt of lightning flashes across the sky. I feel the temperature suddenly drop and look up into the sky as a single drop of rain falls on my nose.

"Well, whatever it is we're talking about, I suggest we talk about it inside," Maura says, taking hold of my hand and pulling me back into the store room of the Dirty Robber. I pull the door shut behind me just as the rain begins to fall in bucket loads.

"That was good timing," I sigh with a smile, wiping away the few drops of rain that managed to fall before we found shelter. I feel a soft, cold finger push a stray hair from my cheek, tucking it gently behind me ear. I look down to find Maura looking at me expectantly.

"It doesn't quite make up for Jimmy's poor timing at midnight," she sighs, her hand caressing the length of my arm before entwining with my own. I watch an array of emotions play over her face – hope, sorrow, fear, an apology – all in the few moments it takes for me to catch my breath.

"He didn't kiss me, Jane," she says, looking me right in the eye. I raise my eyebrow, questioning the statement, because I saw the guy lean in for one as I was walking away. "Well, he tried, but…"

She begins to get flustered, her eyes finding the floor very interesting, and my mind wonders to all the possible reasons for it. Her polite, yet stern, 'No thank you, I'm not interested'. A well timed face turn, leaving his sloppy kiss on her cheek.

"But?" I ask, curious about the fate of the kiss I was sure I witnessed the beginning of.

"Well, let's just say that he may have a broken nose," she replies. Her face is guilt ridden, but it quickly turns into a full dimpled smile when she looks up to find me giggling. "You taught me well, what can I say," she finishes with a nonchalant shrug before she, too, breaks out into a giggle.

I realise in this moment just how much I love the sound of her laughter. I watch as her face lights up with joy, and I realise I love this woman more than anything in the world; anything I've ever loved in this world. I wonder how it could have taken long to realise it.

Our laughter subsides and our eyes never part. They are locked together, unable to be deterred.

"Are you finally catching up, detective?" she asks with a cheeky glint in her eye. "Or are you going to back out for the sixth time."

I can only shake my head in wonder as I realise how silly I have been. Has she really been counting too? As I continue to ponder, Maura begins a count down from 10.

"10"

She takes a step closer, her eyes dropping to watch her feet as the step toe to toe with mine.

"9"

Her hands fall into mine and our fingers link together, naturally. Instinctually.

"8"

Her eyes meet mine once more, and I see all. I see everything. All those words I had planned to say before kissing her at midnight are reflected in her eyes.

"7"

"This is a painfully slow build up to something I've been waiting so long for," I sigh, willing myself to let this play out.

"6. How long?" she asks as her eyes flitter briefly to my lips before finding my eyes again.

I struggle to put an actual time frame on it, because I realise that it was probably longer than the first moment I almost kissed her.

"5"

"I think…" I start, unsure what the right answer is.

"4. You think?" she asks, slowly moving her body into mine.

"I think, maybe, always," I whisper.

"3"

Her eyes fall to my lips.

"2"

Her breath is on my lips. My eyes fall closed in anticipation.

"1" she breathes, before capturing my lips in an explosive kiss.

It does not matter that this was not the real count down; the fireworks that are going off in my heart and my belly are better than any New Year's Fireworks I've ever seen. I feel her arm wrap around my waist, pulling me closer until our bodies are flush as our lips get to know each other. Her lips, so soft and supple.

I groan slightly as I feel her pull away. I open my eyes to find her watching me with a smile.

"Happy New Year, Jane," she says, before she pulls me into her arms for a hug.

"Happy New year, Maura," I reply, smiling into her hair as I nuzzle into her neck.