Disclaimer: As always, Rizzoli and Isles and their lovely characters don't belong to me.

Ok, I was just teasing. Of course I'd give you all the next chapter! (being unable to stand the suspense myself). Anyway, without further ado, here's the next installment. Enjoy! :)

Chapter 3

There comes a time in everybody's life when they have to make a decision. Some are harder than others, some are minor, some have very little impact on one's life, some remain with you forever. They can range from anything - from what cereal they should buy, beer or wine, should they kiss the girl or not, to the one Jane faced now, standing in the middle of Maura's office. Hearing the clack of Maura's heels, she turned to see her walking through, attention fully focused on the file in hand but upon feeling Jane's presence in the room, the ME gave her brilliant smile..

"Hey," she said, coming over to give Jane a peck on the cheek. She moved away to put the file on her desk so that she could focus her attention on the brunette.

"Hey." She stuffed her hands in her pockets. Maura took in her hesitant stance, the rubbing of fingers on palms, and the smile on her face faltered slightly.

"Jane?" She stepped closer, reaching for the Detective. "Jane, what's wrong?"

"Nothing. Uhh...it's just - we need to talk."

The ME felt her heart beat faster. Those words were never positive in nature. They were the same ones people used before the deliverance of bad news but for the life of her, she had no idea why Jane was using them now.

She'd thought things had been going well between them. She'd worked her ass off in an attempt to re-establish their friendship, gain back that trust. Two months later, she'd been successful. Jane had stopped flinching every time she tried to make physical contact, a simple touch, a hand on the arm, and then came the ultimate show; Jane allowed her to touch her hands once more. They'd started hanging out again but that too had caused the ME to make an extreme decision; she'd moved from her house in Beacon Hill. Simply because Jane refused to step anywhere near the vicinity of her home.

She'd come in.

Once.

With the intent of spending dinner and a movie and it had gone well enough.

At first.

They'd stood at the kitchen counter piling food on to plates and then the doorbell had rung and Maura had gone to answer it. It had been the UPS man delivering the latest order of shoes she'd put through. By the time she'd gone back to the kitchen, Jane was nowhere to be found. She'd checked the living, her bedroom, the guest room, even the bathrooms.

But Jane had gone.

Her heart had sunk at the realisation behind the brunette's sudden departure. She'd called of course. To check she was ok. But all her calls had gone straight through to voicemail. The next day, Maura squared her shoulders, intent on not confronting the brunette. Instead, she carried on as if nothing had happened the night before and no more was said about it. And for that, Jane had been grateful. Three days later, Maura made a decision.

Move or risk losing Jane completely.

Move...

...or else Jane will run.

Because it was clear to the honey blonde that there was no way the brunette would ever not disappear or flinch every time the doorbell rang. So she did, telling Jane about her plans. She had been vague on the reason why. Something about how she wanted more garden space and seeing as how there were houses to either side of her, expansion was out the question, leaving moving as the only option. Technically, what she'd said had been true. She had had the intention of doing up her garden a bit, especially with summer only a couple of months away. Whether Jane saw through it or not, she didn't let on.

It ended up becoming a bit of a project between them - they went to look at houses together, all the while asking for her opinion on the structure, the number of rooms it should have, which one she liked etc. She asked for her opinion on colour schemes and fixtures, what room should be for what. She did it all so she could to ensure that Jane was comfortable both in her surroundings and around Maura. Of course, she'd done it with an ulterior motive in mind; she wanted Jane to move in, regard the home as hers not just as Maura's and hopefully one day raise a family in.

Because she knew.

Jane was it for her.

And once the move was complete, they'd gone back to the way it had been before with movies at Maura's, takeout, the game on Sunday, Rizzoli dinners and roughly one and a half months later, she stepped up to the plate putting aside her fears that her next move would bring them two steps back.

She kissed her.

And Jane had kissed her back. And they'd been together ever since. They'd moved slow of course; hand holding, touching, making out before finally taking it to the next level, going to the next point of intimacy. And it had been amazing. Or so she'd thought...

"Ummm...ok."

"Dinner. Tonight? 8pm?"

"Sure. Where should I meet you?"

"I'll see you at the house. Wear something..." she gestured in the air randomly trying to find the right words, "...casual...but formal...ish." Maura wrinkled her nose at the description.

"Jane..."

Her hands started doing that flying thing again. "You know..." she said, "one of those dresses, you always look beautiful in." Maura's eyes softened at the compliment, a slight blush ran up to her cheeks. She would never get tired of this sweet side of Jane. She knew that for a fact. And she loved how it was a side of the Detective that was hers and only hers.

"Aww...you really think so?" Jane just rolled her eyes in response.

Not wanting to give the ME a chance to question her further, she pressed a kiss to Maura's temple saying, "I'll see you later," she said disappearing out the door.

That had been that afternoon.

Now, the two of them sat across from each other in a secluded spot in a quaint little Italian restaurant by the harbor. While the meal had been very good, the ME had noticed the Detective's anxious nature all evening, from the way she fidgeted with the napkin in her lap to the way her eyes darted round the restaurant taking everything in. Maura placed her hand on top of Jane's to still her drumming fingers effectively bringing her out of her reverie.

"Not that I haven't enjoyed this but I believe from the pointed looks they're sending our way, they too, would like to go home. Shall we go?"

The brunette nodded indicating for the check. Once paid, she got up and walked round to Maura's side, pulling the chair out as she got up. The ME linked her arm through Jane's grateful for the sudden gesture while at the same time craving the Detective's presence. They left the restaurant arm in arm, Maura making her way to the Detective's car before being abruptly pulled back as she realised that Jane stood rooted to the spot.

"Jane? Aren't we going home."

The Detective tugged on her arm slightly pulling her in the direction toward the boats. "Let's take a walk," she said.

Silently, the ME complied, happy to continue with their date. They walked along for a bit in silence, Maura taking comfort in their closeness for however long it was to last, Jane lost in her own thoughts. Suddenly, they stopped. She moved away from Maura going to stand over by the railing, forearms resting on top as she took in Boston's city lights and the boats docked before her. Maura simply looked on with uncertainty. She ignored the fluttering in her stomach, the little voice that spoke to her, warned her.

"Jane?" She stayed where she was not wanting to invade the Detective's space. "Jane, talk to me." The brunette remained where she was leaning on the railing quietly watching the boats bobbing up and down, her fists clenched tightly.

She could not screw this up.

"Pop used to bring me here," she began. Maura tilted her head in confusion. She had no idea where this was going. "Every weekend, Pop brought me here.

Only me.

We'd sit by the harbor, ice-cream cones in hand and just sit. Watch the boats, people, go by. Everyone with their own life, doing their own thing." The ME came to stand beside her, taking up position by her side, her hand settling next to the Detective's. She silently stood by, letting whatever it was Jane needed to say be said.

"It was our place. Away from the world. And after he left, it became my place.

To sit.

Watch the world.

And one day...I hope. It'll be our place. And our children's place.

To sit.

Watch the world.

That is if you'll have me." She turned to look at the honey blonde, changing position as she did so, one knee on the pavement, head craned up, palm out.

Maura just stood there, shocked to the core. She'd been so sure that Jane had brought her here to break up with her that when she was hit with this most intimate gesture of love and commitment, she was left speechless, unable to move even. In that moment, time stood still for the ME; the stars and the moon collided; there was such a thing as God. She heard Jane's words, saw her move, watched her get down on one knee before holding out the most gorgeous ring she'd ever seen in her life in the hand it had been tightly encased in. Her hand shot up to her mouth as her love uttered her next words.

"I guess what I'm trying to say is...

...Maura Isles, will you marry me?"

I'm awful, I know but halfway through writing this chapter, I decided to split it! So till then, I hope you've enjoyed this one.