A/N: This story seriously was supposed to be a oneshot, in fact I originally planned for it to be less than 1,000 words. And here we are. After this chapter, I have at least another five or so planned out. Whoops. But I hope you're all in for the ride.
The early morning sun streamed in through Jane's window, bathing the room in a soft orange tinge that seemed to curl around everything and make the edges of everything she looked at glow just a little.
Jane moved to stretch, but as she arched her back, she felt resistance. Warm resistance. Like the kind one might find from another human being. Reflexively, she curled back up into her previous position, only just noticing the slender arm draped around her waist.
Memories of last night came back in a rush, bombarding her mind like pleasant-feeling-filled water balloons. She was overwhelmed with a warmth that spread from her chest to the tips of her fingers. Maura's lips on hers. Her warmth as she fell asleep. Her body curled tightly behind Jane's in the cool sheets of the bed.
Jane could feel Maura against her back now, their positions hardly shifted since the night before. Maura's knees pressed against the backs of her own, the rough material of the sweatpants against the bare skin of Jane's legs. If Jane closed her eyes and focused hard enough, she could feel the soft rise and fall of the doctor's chest against her back, the gentle puffs of air against her messy brown curls. The warm feeling was back, snaking around Jane's limbs like the soft glow that enveloped the room.
Jane inhaled deeply, shifting away slightly so she could stretch as she was doing before. The task completed, she settled back down into the softness of the bed and Maura's embrace. A soft kiss on her shoulderblade made her jump slightly, sending goosebumps skittering down her arms.
"Hi," she mumbled, rolling over. Her voice was especially rough, courtesy of a night of disuse.
"Good morning," her medical examiner grinned back, pressing a kiss to the corner of her mouth.
Jane kissed Maura again when she pulled away.
"You are wonderful," she mumbled against the blonde's mouth. She could feel Maura's response when her lips tugged up in a smile.
There was a moment of silence, where the two of them simply lay in dead quiet, their foreheads pressed together, feeling each other breathe.
"Jane," Maura whispered, "are you okay now?"
The brunette's eyebrows furrowed, and she pulled away slightly to be able to look Maura in the eye.
"What?"
Maura seemed shocked, as though she were scared of how Jane might react.
"You just seemed in some kind of a stupor," Maura bit her lip slightly. "After Casey, is what I mean."
Jane thought for a minute, all the while Maura's eyes remained focused on her face, searching for some kind of a clue that would lead to Jane's response.
"I guess I was," the detective finally replied. "But, thanks to you, now I'm not." Jane flashed the other woman a megawatt smile as she watched a faint blush creep up Maura's neck and settle on her cheeks. Jane kissed the redness, feeling the warmth beneath her lips.
Suddenly, there was a commotion from near the entrance of Jane's apartment.
"What was that?" Maura said, as Jane sat bolt upright and automatically reached for her gun in the drawer of her bedside table.
Moments later, after Jane had swung her legs out of bed and placed her feet on the hardwood floor, the door to the bedroom opened, and in walked Angela Rizzoli.
"Ma!" Jane whined loudly, tossing the gun back in the drawer with more force than was necessary.
"Jane Clementine Rizzoli, how many times have I told you to keep your apartment tidy," Angela muttered, ignoring Jane's protest, as she began to pick up discarded items of Jane's clothing from the floor of the room.
"How many times have I told you that the key is for emergencies only," Jane's voice was exasperated as she flopped back down onto the pillows.
"This mess is an emergency," Angela said, shooting her daughter a glare. Then, finally noticing the presence of another human being, smiled brightly at the slightly shocked blonde sitting on the bed. "Oh, good morning Maura! What are you doing here?"
"Well," Maura cast a brief look at Jane, whose face was completely unreadable – a new field for the doctor. "Last night we-"
"Were talking about the case," Jane interrupted, sitting back up in the bed. Ignoring Maura's shocked and slightly confused look, she barrelled on.
"And it got really late, so I offered for Maura to stay here."
Angela nodded, obviously thinking nothing of it. "Okay. I'm surprised you don't get fussy with Jane about this mess." Angela bent to pick up more clothes, and Maura stole the opportunity to shoot Jane a confused and inquiring look, one eyebrow creeping towards her slightly mussed hairline. Jane shrugged in return, giving Maura a look that could be clearly interpreted as 'please let's talk about this later'.
"I do," Maura belatedly answered Angela's statement. "But she doesn't listen."
"For Pete's sake, guys!" Jane slapped the mattress in frustration. "My apartment. My mess."
"Whatever," Angela tossed the dirty clothes into the laundry basket, then scooped the same basket under her arm and headed for the door.
"Maura, honey, please talk some sense into my daughter."
Maura laughed at Angela's retreating back. "I'll try, Angela!"
Once her mother was out of sight, Jane spun on the bed to face Maura.
"I'm so sorry," she said quickly. "I didn't know what else to say, and I don't know if she'd even think it's okay, and-"
"Jane," Maura lay a hand on Jane's knee, squeezing it gently. "It's okay. We'll tell your mother when you're ready. When you're comfortable." Maura didn't say that she was scared Jane might back out before they told anyone, but she definitely thought it.
"Okay," Jane lay her hand atop Maura's, their fingers interlocking automatically. "You're sure?"
Maura smiled, leaning over and kissing the detective on the lips. Warmth spread quickly through Jane's body, making every nerve ending tingle. Her free hand automatically reached up to capture a rouge lock of Maura's blonde mane, twisting the end of it between her fingers. Sure, Jane had touched Maura's hair before. Brushing it out of the way, putting it up for her, stroking her head when she was scared or stressed or crying. But this was different. This was special. This time, she could appreciate the softness of Maura's curl, how her fingers could feel every silky strand. How that same softness was in such harmony with the gentleness of Maura's lips on hers. She could feel Maura's other hand touching her cheek, the very tips of her fingers dragging across the rapidly warming skin, the caress so light Jane might have been imagining it.
Maura pulled away, pressing her lips to Jane's forehead.
"I'm sure," she whispered, and it took Jane a moment to remember their previous conversation.
"Okay," Jane said, standing up, her hand still intertwined with Maura's. "Let's go and get some breakfast, then."
They made their way out to the kitchen where, thankfully, Angela had disappeared. In her absence, there was a yellow post-it note on the kitchen bench.
Washing is in the machine.
Coffee is made.
Love you,
Ma.
"Oh, you're mother's so sweet," Maura said, lifting the note from the bench and inspecting it.
Jane looked up from where she was pouring the already-made coffee into two mugs. "Sometimes."
Maura just gave her a knowing smile, taking the coffee and sipping it gratefully.
"You really should appreciate your mother more," the doctor said, setting her mug down with a soft clink.
"I appreciate her just enough," Jane retorted, sidling around to Maura's side of the bench.
"No, you don't," Maura said firmly, trying not to let Jane's proximity affect her voice.
"Sure I do," Jane wrapped her arms around Maura's waist and tugged her closer.
"No, you-" Maura was cut off by Jane's mouth, a quiet moan of protest slipping from her lips.
"I love that I can do that," Jane smiled smugly. "You'll never get to rant again."
A/N: Hope y'all enjoyed. I am super excited for the upcoming chapters.
(Also, shameless plug here, if you watch Grey's Anatomy, it'd be awesome if you could check out my crossover My Girl. Thanks!)