A/N-I recently watched an R&I rerun and decided that these ladies look gayer and gayer with each viewing. During that same viewing, I also decided that I will never ever own any rights to Rizzoli and Isles, and will never make any money off this fanfic writing business. But I decided to carry on, because I get too much enjoyment out of it to stop any time soon...
Maura had minimal experience with close friendships before her relationship with Jane, but, by all estimations, things seemed to be going smoothly. Despite the mutual sexual attraction that they both seemed to recognize without acknowledging, Jane and Maura had managed to maintain a safe distance and enjoyed non-romantic, nonsexual time together in the few weeks since they had become more than work aquaintances.
For example, Maura had finally achieved her goal of getting Jane into a high end clothing store, one of the most sought after in Boston. She just knew the clothes would fit Jane perfectly. After some hesitation, a minor guilt trip, and a gentle reminder of her promise to let Maura take her clothes shopping, Jane relented and allowed Maura to take her along.
As a treat to Jane for welcoming Maura into her little group of friends, Maura had decided to treat her to a visit to one of the finest couture boutiques that Boston had to offer. So, after getting Jane out of bed and into some marginally acceptable clothes, Maura drove Jane to her 10am appointment at Arianna's, the place to go for fashion forward clothes. It was one of Maura's favorites, both for its selection and for Millie, the fashion consultant that Maura had requested. Millie was honest without being unkind, just the kind of touch she thought Jane needed.
When they arrived at the store just before 10, Millie was at the front desk waiting.
"Hello," the woman said as she approached Maura and kissed her on each cheek. "I've been looking forward to seeing you Maura. It's been such a long time!"
"I know, far too long," Maura said. "But this appointment is not for me."
"No? Who for then?" Millie asked.
The question seemed odd, given the fact that Maura assumed Jane was at her shoulder. When she turned around though, Maura saw that Jane had made herself scarce as she wandered through the floor samples. She looked alternatively bewildered and shocked as she looked at one particular item, then its price tag.
"Oh, she's over there. Jane, come here," Maura called. When Jane approached, she stuck out her hand for Millie.
"Hi, Jane Rizzoli, nice to meet you," Jane said before stuffing her hands into her pockets and looking around.
"Well, it's nice to meet any friend of Maura's. Now let me take a look at you," Millie said. She took a step back and Jane straighted her posture, as Maura had suggested in the car.
"You certainly have the figure and build for some of our finer pieces and your features are absolutely stunning. We just need to work on accentuation rather than hiding those qualities," Millie said. "Come with me."
Jane and Maura followed the thin blonde woman up the stairs towards the VIP dressing rooms.
"Maura," Jane whispered as they followed a few feet behind Millie. "This place is way too expensive. There was a shirt, a plaid shirt down there for $580. Almost 600 bucks, Maura! For plaid!"
"Shh," Maura whispered back. "I know what shirt you're talking about and that is the standard price for such a well-known designer. And this is going to be my treat."
"Maura, I don't care if it's designed by the queen and made with gold," Jane said. "That's too expensive."
Before Maura could answer, Millie slowed to a stop and unlocked the door to one of the dressing rooms.
"Here we are," the fashion lady said as she gestured around the room. "Make yourself comfortable, and I will go find a few pieces for Jane to start with so we can get a feel for what works best."
When the door clicked shut, Jane said the only thing that came to mind.
"Holy shit," she said as she looked around the room. "This place must be wicked expensive. It's too much Maura. Really, honest and truly. This isn't just something I'm saying."
The place was probably bigger than Jane's first studio apartment, with light, airy shades of blue and white, high ceilings, and a few expensive looking abstract paintings along the walls. Then there was the luxurious white sofa situated in the middle of the room, the same sofa that Maura had settled into as if there was nothing special or interesting about this particular room.
" I know that you're not 'just saying.' Just, please don't worry about that today," Maura said. "I want to treat a good friend to some fine clothes. It makes me happy, especially when I know that you will wear it so well."
"Geez, you and that lady are really trying to pump up my ego today, huh?" Jane said as she settled onto the sofa next to Maura.
"It's all true, Jane," Maura said, as she scooted a little closer to Jane and rested her arm on the sofa behind Jane, a casual, almost unconscious gesture as she settled into the sofa cushions. "You are a beautiful person. I wish you would believe me."
Maura was not even touching Jane now, but she might as well have been stroking Jane's leg or kissing Jane's neck or something equally intimate, because that look, just that look. God that look was enough to make Jane forget why it was that they hadn't picked up where they left off after vacation. But now there was something more intense in the look that Maura was giving Jane; it was lust, for sure, but what else? What was that? Adoration? Affection?
"I'm back," Millie said, busting right on in without knocking or looking up. Jane tried her hardest not to scowl at the woman for interrupting. She wasn't sure what that moment had been, but whatever it was, Jane had been enjoying it. "Oh, I'm sorry to have barged in like that."
So apparently Jane had not succeeded in suppressing her glare.
"Oh, its no problem at all," Maura said, glancing at Jane before sitting up and putting both hands in her lap. "What do we have here?"
Jane watched as Maura oohhed and ahhed over the dresses and pantsuits that the woman had brought in. Jane dreaded the day ahead if that impressive collection of outfits was just her starter set. She had promised this to Maura though, and Maura had been going to a number of events that probably weren't her cup of tea at Jane's request. Besides, they'd become friends, close friends, and Jane knew that sometimes you do things for a friend that you would never, ever to do otherwise.
So Jane tried on one outfit. And then another. And another. A few of the outfits, both Millie and Maura agreed were not flattering on Jane's figure, and they disagreed on one or two more. But the majority drew rave reviews, as Millie kept remarking on how Jane's body had been made for couture. Honestly, Jane could have found worst ways to spend her Saturday than being told repeatedly by a fashion expert that she looked good in nice clothes.
Despite the ego boost, the trying on clothes thing was becoming rather tiresome after about two hours or so. Millie, bless her fashionable little heart, seemed to pick up on that and promised that she would only bring in one more piece for Jane to try on, a dress that she was just dying to see on Jane.
As the woman returned to the floor to get the dress, Maura looked through the few items that Jane had approved for purchase.
"How are we doing over here?" Jane asked as she held the robe provided by the store tightly around her body. That plush white robe was actually the most comfortable thing that Jane had tried on all day.
"Fantastic," Maura said, grinning as she ran her fingers over a gray shirt that Jane had just reluctantly agreed to. It was a bit dressy for Jane's taste, but Maura had insisted on it. "I'm really glad that you chose this piece. The stitching is impeccable."
"I do hear that gray is the new black," Jane said with what she knew was a poorly executed British accent.
"Really? Where?" Maura asked sincerely.
She had obviously only been half listening as she continued examining the stitching on the shirt. When Maura glanced up from the shirt to see Jane's reaction to the question she didn't seem hurt or put off by the fact that Jane looked ready break into a broad smile at the misunderstanding, as Jane had feared.
"Oh, I see," Maura said, turning around so that she was facing Jane. Jane had been leaning in, taking pretend interest in the stitching that she knew nothing about, so they now found themselves in uncomfortable proximity. "Are you teasing me, detective?"
"You're getting better, doctor," Jane said.
Jane pulled at the sleeve of her robe, but kept eye contact with Maura. She couldn't not look at Maura, they were standing that close, and for some reason, neither had seen fit to move. If anything, Maura leaned a tiny bit closer, her eyes flicking down to Jane's lips, then back up to her face. Jane would have kissed Maura right then and there, had they been in the privacy of one of their own homes, she really thought she would have. But they were in a very public, very fancy place with a fashionista lady who didn't know how to knock.
And thank God Jane resisted, because Millie barged in for the third time that day not a half a minute later. Jane did have to admit though, that the dress she had chosen was actually really nice.
"I know Maura said that you don't like dresses, but everyone needs an LBD and this is going to be just perfect for you," Millie said as she hung the dress on the only empty hook. She smoothed her hand over the dress as if there were some kind of imaginary wrinkles of something and stepped back. "Go ahead. Give us one last show."
Jane took the dress and disappeared behind the partition set up for changing. Maura leaned against the wall facing Jane and folded her arms, while Millie did the same. Although the partition was completely opaque, Maura's gaze stayed locked on the spot. Millie laughed under her breath.
"The anticipation killing you, or what?" she asked, turning to face Maura.
"Hmm, yes, she, I mean, it's beautiful," Maura said, glancing at Millie then back in Jane's general direction. She felt distinctly uncomfortable at the fact that Millie likely noticed her slip if the subtle, knowing smile was any indication. "It's not literally killing me of course, although I understand your implication. What is it? A McQueen?"
"Very good eye, Ms. Isles," Millie said, genuinely impressed at Maura's power of observation when it came to the latest in high fashion.
"I'm ready," Jane said. "Not sure how it looks. So, I mean, just be honest, ok?"
Jane emerged a second later. She walked tentatively at first, as if unsure of how to move in such a dress, but when Jane caught sight of herself in the mirror, her posture changed. Maura noticed that Jane moved towards the mirror with her usual confidence and even did a little twirl for their benefit without Millie having to ask.
Maura could understand entirely why Jane would appear so confident in the piece. The black vneck dress fit her as if the designer himself had sewn it specifically for Jane. It accentuated all the right places without being too obvious or revealing. On Jane, the dress struck a perfect balance between showing off the body and leaving some mystery.
Maura moved from her spot against the wall and walked slowly towards Jane, who now stood in front of the three way. She stood behind Jane and put her hands on Jane's hips under the pretense of examining the fit. She felt Jane tense at her touch, but Maura remained in place, intent on offering an explanation of the piece.
She couldn't not touch Jane at the moment. It was all Maura could do to keep from having her way with Jane right then and there. But even Maura knew that doing that would have been very inconsiderate of Millie's feelings.
"The fit works very well for you. See this here," Maura said, smoothing her hands over Jane's hips. "It shows your shape where off the rack or a less fitted dresses might not."
Maura then moved around to take in the dress from the front. She ran her fingers over the v neck and looked directly at Jane to gauge her response. Jane looked right back and bit her lip while Maura moved her fingers towards the point of the vneck.
"And this element, this element here," Maura said, putting every last bit of focus on maintaining her train of thought as she noticed Jane's breath hitch. "It draws attention to your toned midsection while providing some lift for your breasts."
Maura daren't use her hands to demonstrate the lift that the dress structure provided, for fear that she might overstep some invisible line in her thinly veiled attempt to put her hands on Jane's body.
"Ok, then," Millie said brightly. "So you're thinking that's a keeper?"
"Definitely," Maura said, removing her hands from Jane as if she had been burned. She had almost forgotten that Millie was still in the room.
"Super," Millie said. "I'm just going to go ahead and return these no go outfits to the rack and let you two decide on the maybes. And, please, take your time. I have a 12:30 that I have to make a quick call anyway."
Before Maura could say anything more in response, Millie was out the door with a handful of outfits.
"Great, so, I'm just gonna go get this thing off before I damage it or something," Jane said as she moved quickly away from Maura and disappeared behind the screen.
Maura made herself comfortable on the sofa and contemplated a shirt that she and Jane had vastly different opinions on.
"Holy shit!" Jane said from behind the partition. "Maura you are absolutely not buying me this dress. Were you even going to tell me that this thing is over two grand?"
"I told you not to worry about the price tag, Jane," Maura said calmly. "Besides that's a good price for a McQueen, and it's not often that one can find a dress that fits so well without tailoring."
"This is like friggin robbery Maura. I should be arresting that woman, not letting her take almost two and a half grand of you money," Jane grumbled as she emerged from the behind the curtain, fully dressed in her casual blue shirt blazer combo.
Maura grinned at Jane's hyperbole. It was such a different attitude than the one she grew up with. In Maura's world as a child and teen, spending thousands on one shopping trip was not only acceptable, but expected. She had never known anything different, so Jane's pragmatic view of spending was something that Maura found refreshing, if a bit puzzling.
"But, I really do want to buy you that dress, Jane. Please, I am asking you to let me buy you a nice dress," Maura said. When Jane folded her arms in an indication that she was going to stick to her convictions, Maura decided to change her approach. "Alright, what if you give me a spending limit, and I will work within those parameters."
"How about three hundred bucks?" Jane asked.
"I can't purchase more than a tanktop for that price," Maura said. "What about $3000?"
"Seriously? A tank's suppose to be like ten bucks," Jane said. "And three grand is way too much, Maura."
"Please?" Maura said. She was going to need more than reason to persuade Jane, who, she was quickly learning, was a very tactile person. She stood up and placed a hand on Jane's arm. Maura ran her hand down the side of Jane's arm until their fingers brushed. "You look absolutely ravishing in that dress."
Jane rocked back on her heels, then leaned forward again as she bit her lower lip, all while maintaining steady eye contact. She broke eye contact and sighed.
"Fine. fifteen hundred and that's my final offer," Jane said.
She still would not be able to buy the dress at that price, but Maura suddenly thought up a brilliant plan that would involve some tricky subterfuge on her part. It was definitely doable though.
"You have yourself a deal, detective," Maura said. "I'll be right back, I just have to see Millie about getting a price adjustment."
Jane looked skeptical, as if this agreement was just too easy. Maura was a strong willed person and would normally have done whatever she wanted without Jane's permission, and Jane knew that from her experience trying to get Maura to hurry autopsies. That Maura was giving in so easily clearly had Jane a little bit concerened. Maura just smiled offered a little wave and disappeared from the dressing room.
Jane paced back and forth in the airy room, counting her footsteps as she crossed to the far wall and back. She stood close to one of the weirder looking paintings and squinted to try to make some sense of it. It looked maybe like a light blue dog if you squinted your eyes and tilted your head to the side just at the right angle. Nope, now it looked like a malformed dinosaur.
All of these strange thoughts and inane observation just to keep from imagining Maura and that cute little excited smile at the prospect of buying that stupid dress. It wasn't actually a stupid dress; it was really nice, just way too expensive. Jane didn't think she could spend that much on clothes in an entire year, let alone on one shopping trip on one dress.
It was cute though, that Maura wanted so badly to buy the damn thing. Cute? Cute was definitely a new thing with Maura; she'd always been sexy, but only very recently, after spending a good deal of time with the doctor outside of work, had Jane taken to thinking Maura was cute. She couldn't tell if that was a good or bad sign, but it was definitely something new.
Speaking of something new, Maura was getting awefully handsy lately. Maura had always been affectionate, but the extra touching was a new habit that Maura appeared to be developing. Jane guessed Maura might have picked it up from Jane, who was very tactile with people she cared about. And she cared about Maura, strictly as one of her only close female friends, of course. So the subconscious touching had become a regular thing with Jane when talking to or hanging out with Maura. Never anything over the line or overtly sexual, but, still, Jane had to admit that it was there, and now Maura was picking up the habit big time.
Maura was apparently dead set on showing off what she would call her 'learned behavior.' Every outfit, or at least every outfit Maura liked, Maura had to touch Jane at least once to show how well it fit. As for the dress, well, Maura had practically groped Jane. And Jane gladly let the groping happen. They were just asking for trouble, Jane thought, she and Maura were just tempting themselves and each other for the hell of it. And because it felt good. But also because they were likely both mildly masochistic...in a non-sexual way, of course.
Before Jane could get too far into reminding herself of all the reasons not sleep with Maura, Maura returned looking downright giddy with Millie following behind her. Millie smiled and winked. Oh Jesus, what had Maura done?
"Millie has done something wonderful," Maura said. "She has decided to sell the dress at cost and the rest of the clothes at the employee discount rate. It will come in just under your budget."
"Oh, um, gee, thanks," Jane said. She stuck out her hand to shake Millie's, but Millie pulled Jane into a hug before Jane could avoid it. Jane started to wonder if Maura had told the lady that she was dying or something.
"Anytime," Millie said. "A partner of Maura's is a friend of ours, especially one that cares enough to indulge her passion for fashion."
Maura moved closer to Jane and took her hand all the while looking directly at Millie and smiling. She gave it a light squeeze.
"Oh, oh, yeah," Jane said. "We're um, we're great partners. Although, I mean, she's obviously going to make it worth my while when we get home."
Millie raised her eyebrows and Jane felt Maura squeeze her hand a little tighter.
"Well, I'll just go and get you ringed up then," Millie said. She took the dress, three shirts and three pants off of their hanger and left the room.
"Really?" Jane said as she turned to Maura.
Maura grinned and shrugged.
"Start thinking about what I can do to repay you," she said before following Millie out the door.
A/N-Another single scene chapter, but I can assure you it is not here without reason...
I loved hearing thoughts on what last chapter did for people in terms of advancing the story. I got some really great responses from you all that helped me to better organize my thoughts on what's going on here in addition to providing the usual motivation that reviews offer me...Thanks a bunch, and here's to hoping that I continue to entertain. Feel free to lodge any comments or complaints in the review box below and I will get back to you as soon as possible! :)