Ch. 4

Monday morning, Maura and Jane had woken up more satisfied than either one had felt in years.

This wasn't just because they had mind-blowing sex the night before, that was part of it. What really had them excited was that they had come out to their family and coworkers, friends more like it, and they had been accepted. Sure, they had some hesitation from the Rizzoli matriarch but, when she really thought about it, she couldn't deny the love between her daughter Jane and the woman that she had taken as a second daughter, Maura Isles.

"I told you they loved you." Jane gloated, as she nuzzled the back of Maura's right ear.

"Jane." Maura chastised her dear detective but lost some of her sting from the contact Jane was applying. "I know you were tense and worried when your mom showed some initial resistance. I was, too." She caressed Jane's arm.

"Honestly, I was tense. Only, not for the reason you were or may think I was." Jane contradicted.

A memory from last night's dinner played in both Jane and Maura's mind.

Ma, if you have a problem with anything we just told you all, let it out now. But, be advised, it will have no effect on what we have become or how we will progress in the future.

"I've always felt safe with you, Jane. I know that you would and have put your life on the line to save those you love. But, when you stood up to your mother, defending our relationship, I finally understood, viscerally, what it means to 'have one's back.'" Maura disclosed.

"Maur, sweetie, I will defend you and us until the day I die and then, I would fight St. Peter to send me back just to be with you. Because there is not a single moment I wouldn't want to spend with you." Spouted, Jane.

By that point, Maura had all but climbed into Jane's skin from the closeness she exhibited in response to the declaration of love and loyalty. The answer she had been searching, long forgotten. Luckily, Jane had a very good sense for conversation tracking and picked right back up where she left off, confessing her concerns from the past evening.

"Now, as for the reason I was tense, I didn't know how far I would have to take my defense. I know we had established that we would put up a united front, I just hadn't expected to get so worked up. I was worried I'd go too far and hurt my mother. Which, is something I seemed perfectly able and willing to do were the occasion to call for it. I just knew I'd be willing to deal with the consequences because sharing my love for you would be worth any and all backlash."

Never had Jane been so open with her feelings or so eloquent in expressing those feelings that she had surprised everyone, including herself. Her newfound ability to lavish Maura with expressions of love, desire, and care had given Jane an ego boost, much like flexing a newly discovered muscle could do for a bodybuilder. Jane thought, 'I could get used to this.' Whereas Maura, always knew Jane had it in her because she had been the sole recipient of Jane's well-rounded doting in the past.

It appeared that the people of Boston seemed to be sharing in a mass state of tranquility for, neither Maura nor Jane had been called into work for any murders all that week, following their big coming out. It was almost as if the city had surreptitiously bestowed the newest power couple with a much deserved "honeymoon" period.

Jane and Maura had been able to ride into work, takes lunch, and leave work at decent hours together, leaving little time to miss one another. Though, they had managed to shoot off quick texts of, 'I miss you,' 'wish I were looking into your eyes right now,' or 'can't wait to get you home' throughout the day.

Little did they know, Jane and Maura would encounter their first hurdle as a couple merely one week after coming out to the family and two weeks after admitting their feelings to one another.

So, none of you had any questions or suggestions from the last chapter leading me to believe I gave the story a decent enough place to end or you all are kind of just sick of me. If the first, great. If the latter, "Thank you and goodnight!" Only, I couldn't seem to let it go these last couple of days. Be it the cold I have developed or the reading of other Rizzles fanfic. Who knows, maybe I caught the writer's bug? In any case, let me know if you'd like me to continue or if I should pack away the keyboard and ignore the ominous last sentence.

Thanks for your time. It's been a blast!

Clonedanceparty