A/N: Gonna give this an M rating...although...you may have figured that from the title.

It's our last day in Rio de Janeiro. We are departing tomorrow afternoon on a return flight to Boston.

We should be out enjoying the city. We should go see a few more sights, soak up some sun on one of the city's many beaches, or experience more of the culture.

But we're not doing any of those things...and I'm not sure we're going to.

I woke this morning to the sight of Jane, propped up on her elbow, gazing at me with an enamored expression. She looked magnificent as beams of light shone through our bedroom window and lit up her face.

I didn't care how silly the idea was...in that moment, I believed that she was made of sunshine.

As my eyes opened and met hers, she gave me a radiant smile. She then lowered her head and adorned my lips with a feather soft kiss. It was an innocent touch that simply seemed to say, 'Good morning. I love you.'

She must have been made of sunshine, because that gentle contact immediately warmed some very erogenous places in my body.

She tried to pull her lips away, but I followed them with my own and engaged her in a more passionate embrace.

My lover happily complied to my unspoken insinuation and we enjoyed the slow, luxurious process of baring ourselves completely to one another.

That was almost two hours ago, yet, we are still in bed.

She's laying on her back. One of her hands is behind her head and the other is combing through my sweat-dampened hair as she peacefully smiles up at the ceiling.

My head is resting on her torso and I watch my fingers as they lightly trace the random patterns of some bruising on her ribs and hip. The black and blue patches are badges of achievement from the recent training she's received.

She has been absolutely incredible in her martial arts practices. It's fascinating to observe and ponder the changes in her as a fighter from her time in Thailand to now. Not only has her physical technique improved, but she is mentally more focused. You can see her strategizing in the ring, thinking through her physical altercations, as opposed to just throwing strikes whenever the opportunity arises.

What she has learned will aid her in all aspects of her future. Not just with fighting, but with the various life difficulties that she is destined to face.

I'm pulled from my musings as she gives a contented sigh. She deeply inhales and exhales and I smile as my head rises and falls with the movement of her chest.

I lay my palm flat against her belly and speak for the first time this morning.

"We're going home tomorrow."

She's silent for a few moments, but continues to run her fingers through my hair.

"Okay."

I can't decipher any emotion behind her response and I get a little worried.

"We don't have to yet...if you're not ready."

I feel the vibrations of an inaudible chuckle against my cheek.

"No, its okay. I'm ready to be back."

I prop myself up and gaze down at her. She looks relaxed and happy.

She grins up at me and I believe what she said. She's ready to be back in Boston. She's confident in her abilities to face any negativity that may be waiting for her back home.

I'm confident in her abilities as well.

"Have you enjoyed our trip?"

A serious expression crosses her face. She brings a hand up to brush a vale of hair from the side of my face and she wraps it around the back of my neck.

"I don't think 'enjoyed' quite covers it. This has been amazing. I can't ever thank you enough for what you've given me."

I laugh.

It's a horrible time to laugh...but...the absurdity of the statement. She's dead serious. She really believes that she won't be able to 'thank me' enough. She doesn't realize that she already has.

She loves me.

She loves me and she lets me love her.

That is more than I could ever ask for in return.

"And just what is so funny?"

Her serious expression has given way to a pout and she juts out her bottom lip.

I should find it adorable. However, knowing from personal experience exactly what she is capable of doing with those lips has me feeling a little...aroused.

I rake my eyes down her body and begin to massage the flesh of her upper thigh.

"Well, if you're truly concerned about repaying me...I know something you can start with."

My gaze treks back up and I let it linger on her mouth a few seconds before meeting her eyes once more.

I quirk a suggestive brow.

Her entire body begins to flush and her eyes darken with desire.

She suddenly rolls me onto my back and begins to slowly kiss her way down my body. When she finally reaches my naval, she glances up at me.

Her voice is a delicious cocktail of lust and playfulness.

"Well, I suppose it would be a start."

She winks, then drops her head and continues her path.

I let my fingers thread through her raven locks as she begins to work miracles on my wanting body.

Our conversation comes to a definite end. The only sounds in our room for the next long while are those of our love making.

I love seeing the usual 'perfectly put together' medical examiner like this. She is mussed from the morning's activities. Her expensive wardrobe has been abandoned in favor of nothing more than a blissful smile and her porcelain skin is decorated with a few marks from my loving ministrations.

We're laying on our sides, facing each other. We've just woken up from a short nap.

"When did you know you loved me?"

Her voice is slightly gravely from sleep, but it's still one of the sweetest sounds I've ever heard.

I take time to carefully consider my answer. I am, after all, speaking to Dr. Maura Isles. She'll want something in depth...she likes details.

"I knew something was different about you from the moment we met."

I smile and laugh as I think back to the day.

"It was such a weird way to come into each other's lives. But, I guess that's pretty much symbolic of our relationship. It's always been very...unique."

She giggles and playfully swats my arm.

My tone turns wistful as I continue.

"I could tell...in that one, random interaction...that you were going to be important to me. I didn't know how important until a little later...but...I suppose I knew I loved you not long after we met."

She leans in and gives me a quick kiss.

She pulls back and I ask in a playful manner...although...I am genuinely curious.

"So what about you? When did you realize that my intelligence, charm, and insanely good looks had swept you off your feet?"

She smirks and reaches for my hand, which had been resting on my hip. She looks down as she laces her fingers with mine and responds.

"It's hard to tie it to an exact date. My heart knew I loved you before my mind did. I've never been well versed concerning matters of my own emotions...so, when my mind finally realized what my heart was trying to tell me, it was a 'duh' moment, as you might say. I wish I would have acted on my feelings sooner...seeing now what I could have had back then."

I lift the back of her hand to my lips and give it a soft kiss.

"I think our relationship developed the way it was supposed to. I'm not sure I would have been ready for something this intense at that point in my life."

As I say this, I disengage our hands and place mine against her cheek, then trace her lips with my thumb. She kisses the pad of the appendage and I feel her face begin to warm beneath my palm. She scoots closer, tangles our legs together, and kisses me with unmistakable need.

The conversation is over.

And so is nap time.

We are well into the afternoon hours. Yet, we remain bed bound.

Jane's weight on top of me feels amazing. It's like being under the safest and most comforting blanket that was ever created.

Earlier, we got up to stretch our legs and order room service. We ate a light meal, but returned to bed soon after.

After our most recent bout of physical exertions, she collapsed in place and didn't have the energy to roll off of me. I didn't mind at all and happily settled underneath her as she rested.

She's now laying on top of me...for the most part at least. She's settled herself between my legs with her belly pressing into my pelvis. Her head is resting just beneath the swell of my chest and her face is turned to the side.

I let the fingers of one hand play with her hair, while the fingertips of my other lightly ghost over the skin of her back.

She hasn't said anything in a while and her breathing is steady and even. I can't see her face, but I'm almost sure she has fallen asleep.

However, her voice interrupts the silence.

"Have you ever thought about...having kids?"

The question takes me completely by surprise. It's something I would expect to be asked by Jane's mother, not Jane herself.

I remain silent as I stare down at the top of her head in slight shock.

She brings both hands to my stomach and lays them flat atop each other, then lifts her head and rests her chin on them. She gives me an encouraging, if not slightly insecure, smile. I realize that it took courage for her to make this inquiry...it is certainly out of character for her. But, I also realize that no matter how I answer, she will not judge me or be disappointed...she will love me no matter what.

I take a cleansing breath and answer honestly.

"Not very often. Children are generally something one thinks about when in a committed and stable relationship with a partner. I haven't had much success with such things."

She drops her eyes and purses her lips. She seems to carefully consider my statement.

Her gaze meets mine once again and she asks...

"Do you want kids?"

Now there's a good question.

I really hadn't thought much about procreating. In the past, I considered children to be a viable life option...much like building a career, buying a car, or owning a home. I've just never really wanted them, never had the maternal drive that so many women speak about.

But Jane has changed that.

In the matter of a few short weeks, I am able to envision what our lives would be like if we had a family.

I can see myself nurturing our kids' analytical abilities and teaching them an obscene amount of facts that will make Jane crazy. I can picture Jane, showing them how to play sports and demonstrating what it means to be brave. She'll teach them how to be witty and it will undoubtedly drive me insane.

We would provide them with everything they could need. We would love them and support them through any triumph and sorrow. We would help them grow up to become strong and caring individuals.

How could I not want that?

"Yes. I suppose I do."

She drops a kiss to my sternum and smiles back up at me.

Her brow scrunches and her next words are hesitant. It looks like she needs to be absolutely sure of something.

"So...you want to raise kids with me?"

I giggle at her nervousness.

"Yes, Jane. One day...I want to have a family with you."

She turns her face to the side again and begins to run one of her hands up and down my side.

"I've thought about...looking into adoption? There's a lot of kids in the world that need a good home; a safe place to grow up. I think we'd make pretty great parents for them."

I hum in agreement.

She lifts herself up a little and carefully slides her body up my own, then settles herself back down on top of me. Her face is hovering above mine and she's looking at me with complete and utter devotion.

"And then...I've thought about a baby that has golden hair with strands of red running through it. It has hazel eyes that glisten with emerald flecks when it smiles and laughs. I think about being a parent to the child of the most beautiful and intelligent woman on the face of the planet. What are your thoughts on that?"

Tears begin to silently stream down my face.

Her words are beautiful and make me incredibly happy. They paint an amazing picture that comes to life in my mind.

The scenarios I was imagining a few moments ago are now filled with the face of the child she has described.

I smile as new scenarios form in my imagination. The day we find out I'm pregnant, the day we have our first sonogram, when we discover the baby's gender, when we hold our child for the first time...

She kisses away my tears before claiming my lips with her own.

The following love session is the most passionate we've had to date.

I feel like I'm trying to pull her essence into my body...like, by the sheer magnitude of my love for her, I should be able to overcome the biological impossibility of conceiving her child.

It's a ridiculous notion, believe me I know. The scientist in me would be ashamed of my irrational thoughts. However, in this moment, I am a little too distracted to care.

No more words pass between us as Jane and I otherwise involve ourselves.

We needed a day like this.

There's been so many distractions on this trip...wonderful distractions...but distractions all the same.

We've been needing to talk through everything that's happened.

What better way to go about all this than a day of questions, answers, and sex?

I'm spooning her from behind and my arm is slung over her midsection. My face is buried in the thick mane of her golden locks.

I take a deep breath and enjoy the unique aroma that is my own scent on her body. It may seem a bit possessive, but I love the fact that she smells like me.

I feel her beginning to play with my fingers before placing kisses to the tips of each.

Eventually, she asks...

"What are we going to tell everyone back home about us?"

I was wondering when we were going to get around to this topic. It's an important one after all.

But, the answer is simple. There's no need to make it complicated.

I kiss her shoulder before coaxing her to roll over. When she's facing me, I answer.

"I want to tell them that I love you...that I'm going to spend the rest of my life loving you. I want them to know about our relationship."

She smiles.

She doesn't look surprised and that makes me happy. She shouldn't be surprised by the fact that I am proud of what we have between us...that I want everyone to know that she is mine and I am hers.

"Do you think they'll be accepting?"

I detect a hint of concern in her tone.

Truth be told, I think a lot of people have been suspicious of our growing closeness over the last few years. I doubt they'll be all that taken aback.

Others, I'm not so sure about. I suspect they'll be surprised, but, I believe they will be understanding. It may take everyone some time to adjust, but I'm not too worried about it.

"I think so. Some people might be surprised...but we have great friends and family, Maur. They'll love us no matter what...and I'll love you no matter what."

She nods her head and gives a satisfied sigh.

My lover pushes me onto my back and settles herself against my side.

"I've missed all of them."

I smile. They may drive me crazy, but I have to agree.

"I have too."

We stay in our position for several minutes, gently caressing each other's skin and dreaming of our future together.

Her voice rouses me from my thoughts.

"We should really go out and enjoy our last night in the city."

I chuckle and turn my head to give her a seductive grin in response. I let my hand trail down and message the flesh of her backside.

"Oh no you don't, detective."

She hops up out of bed and glares down at me.

Her glare is the furthest thing from intimidating that I can imagine. It's cuter than a puppy and a kitten trying to crawl into the same sock.

I offer a pout in response to her abrupt departure from my side.

She grins and is playfully stern when she speaks again.

"Jane. We've spent all day in bed and I want to get out for a little while. There's a restaurant not too far away that I'd like to go to."

I stick my bottom lip out further and soften my eyes as much as I can. It does nothing to change her mind.

She begins to walk over to the bathroom.

"Now, I'm going to have a much needed shower before getting dressed."

As she reaches the doorway, she peers over her shoulder at my unmoving and sulking form.

"Aren't you coming?"

She winks and disappears into the seperate room.

It takes a moment for her inquiry to sink in. I was so sure that I was being shot down just a second ago.

But...

'Aren't you coming?'

...that was definitely an invitation.

I jump off the bed and fly toward the sound of running water.

What better way to top off a day of questions, answers, and sex...than with questions, answers, and shower sex?

A/N: Hey, everyone! One more chapter left...for sure this time. ;) Thanks for hanging in there with me. I really hope you have enjoyed the work. I've greatly appreciated the feedback that you have provided. Thank you!

Before sitting down to write this chapter I watched the news, sent a text to my mom, then plugged my phone in to charge as it was almost dead. I went into another room (the window blinds were closed) and sat down at my work desk. I plugged my headphones into my computer and listened to music as I began to type. A little over thirty minutes later, I leaned back in my desk chair to survey my work...I decided to stretch my legs and removed my earbuds so I could stand up. As soon as the deafening melodies of Dvorak's 7th symphony (fantastic piece) were no longer obstructing my hearing, the unmistakable sound of tornado sirens filled my ears. I went over to my window and peeked through the blinds to find a storm-blackened sky. I immediately grabbed my pet out of his cage and high-tailed it to my apartment's basement. (I would later find out that a supercell had rapidly formed and a tornado had been spotted on the west side of my city.) My city was lucky, the most damage that occurred was caused by hail.

Tragically, another city was not so fortunate this past weekend. My heart and prayers go out to the people of Moore Oklahoma and to all those who are struggling in the wake of disaster. -SJR