AN: Don't get to upset at the end of this chapter. Trust the process, you won't be disappointed.
When they arrived back at Maura's home Jane sighed and shut off the car. "I'm sorry about tonight. I shouldn't have said anything. Sometimes I just don't know when to keep my mouth shut."
"Jane, stop." Maura said, cupping Jane's face. "You did nothing wrong. I wouldn't expect anyone, much less you to sit there and take my mother's belittling. I had fun tonight. I enjoyed spending my birthday with you and my friends. Me and my father haven't talked about so many things like that since I was little. You gave me the best birthday I could ever ask for."
Jane smiled as she met Maura's eyes. "Even though you didn't get to dance with me?"
"Even though I didn't get to dance with you." Maura replied with a soft smile before closing the distance between them.
"Let's go inside and get changed. I'm sure you're dying to get out of those heels and dress."
Jane laughed as they stepped out of the car. Once inside Maura headed to change. Jane took this moment to set up an impromptu dance floor.
She moved the furniture back a little, dimmed the lights, lit a few candles and turned on some soft jazz.
When Maura came back Jane was standing in the middle of the living room. "What are you doing?" Maura asked with a nervous chuckle.
Jane confidently strode over to the blonde and held her hand out. "May I have this dance?"
Maura giggled. "Jane."
"I saw the disappointment in your eyes when you said you didn't get to dance with me. So, dance with me." She said with a grin.
Maura took Jane's hand and let herself be led to the middle of the living room.
Jane stepped in close as they let the slow rhythm sway them side to side.
"So, you can dance." Maura remarked with a chuckle.
Jane just smiled and continued their movements. Her heart was beating hard against her chest when Maura's eyes locked with hers.
The kisses that followed were slow and tender but both women could feel the passion and eagerness that pulled at them.
Taking a breath, Maura caressed Jane's face before taking her hand in her own, walking them towards her bedroom.
Her movements were slow, not only because she didn't want to rush this night but because she was giving Jane a chance to change her mind, which didn't happen when the tall brunette shut the door behind them.
Sometime around 2 am Jane and Maura lay wrapped in each other's arms. Skin to skin, nothing covering them but a thin sheet.
Soft caresses and kisses were shared, their bodies void of energy from the night spent together.
"Thank you." Maura said softly.
"For what?"
"For making this the best birthday I've ever had."
Jane chuckled, "Is that because of the sex or…"
Maura snorted with laughter and gave Jane's arm a little slap. "No, for everything."
"You're welcome Maur," Jane replied, her lips just inches away from Maura's skin.
Maura shuttered when Jane's breath tickled her skin just before she kissed her neck and shoulder. "Can I ask you something?"
Jane hummed as she continued her trail of kisses. "Sure,"
Maura turned over onto her side to face Jane.
"Will you miss me when you return to Boston?"
Jane propped herself on her elbow. "Of course, I will Maur."
Maura smiled slightly.
"You know," Jane says, rubbing Maura's arm softly. "The offer still stands. I know what you're going to say before you say it but just know that I would love to have you come visit sometime. And my ma is chomping at the bit to meet you. I could even take you to some of my favorite places."
Maura reached behind Jane's neck and pulled her down for a passionate kiss.
When Jane pulled away for air she looked into Maura's eyes and could see the unspoken words.
"What's wrong?" Jane asked, studying the other woman.
Maura sat up, pulling the sheet close to her body but remained silent.
Jane grabbed her shirt and pulled it on. "What is it Maur? I can see that there's something you're not saying."
"Do you, do you believe in destiny? Like having an immediate attraction to someone?" Maura asked, keeping her eyes casted down.
"Uh, um, like love at first sight kinda deal?" Jane asked, not sure where this line of questioning was headed.
"Yes. Exactly."
"Well, um," Jane cleared her throat, it was now or never. "Honestly? No, I didn't. I didn't believe that in this big world that there was one perfect person for each of us. That was until I met you…. Maura I…."
Jane was stopped when Maura's hand covered her mouth.
"Don't say it. Please don't." Maura could tell by Jane's expression she was confused. "If you say it then it makes this real. Makes us real."
Jane moved Maura's hand from her mouth. "What? Maura, that's crazy. This IS real. We're real, what we've shared over the last few months is real."
Maura's heart broke with the vulnerability she could hear in Jane's words, but she was scared. This with Jane scared her to death. Never had she felt so strongly for another person but with some many unanswered questions of how they would make this work once Jane left, left her confused.
"Maura, look at me."
Maura lifted her head. The heartache she saw in the dark brown eyes that she had lost herself in so many times, tore her apart inside.
"I love you Maur. And I know this is scary and, and I don't have all the answers for how we can make this work once I leave but, we owe it to ourselves to at least try. Right?"
Maura swallowed thickly as she looked away. She couldn't watch the pain she was causing.
"You didn't see this going any further once I left, did you?" Jane asked, her pain giving way to anger.
Maura's silence spoke loudly against the bedroom walls.
Throwing back the covers Jane grabbed her clothes and dressed.
It was the sound of keys that jostled Maura back to reality.
"Jane, what are you doing? Where are you going?" Maura asked as she stood, wrapping the sheet around her bare body.
Jane didn't say anything as she walked to the closet. In the back, on the top shelf she pulled down a small box and placed it on the bedside table.
She paused for a moment, "Happy Birthday Maur." She said as she walked to the bedroom door.
"Jane, wait. Stay. It's late. We can talk about this in the morning." Maura pleaded.
Jane stopped her hand resting in the doorknob as she looked over at Maura. "There's nothing left to say, Maura. Your silence tonight spoke volumes. I, I need to clear my mind."
Jane sighed before opening the door and stepping out.
Maura stood in silence as she listened to her front door slam shut and hearing Jane pull away. She knew this was for the best. Jane's life was in Boston and hers was here in Paris.
As Jane drove away, she fought back her tears. How could she have been so stupid to think it could actually work between them?
Pulling to a stop light she searched her pockets for her phone. "Damn it!" She yelled, slamming her hand on the steering wheel. In her hurry to leave Maura's she had forgotten her phone.
"Well, it hers now. I can't rightly go back for it. Not after that." She said out loud to no one.
Sighing, she headed back to the penthouse. She needed to pack, she needed to get as far away as she could.
At this thought Jane laughed. Ironic how she left Boston with that same feeling, that same want to get a way. Only to have the want of the comfort of home pulling her back.
She shook her head as she continued her drive.