Chapter 4.

They arrived at the pool an hour later. After finding some seats to put their towels on they went off to get into the water. Jane, Sophia and TJ jumped right in, splashing a lot of water around. Maura shivered at the cold drops that reached her skin while she stood by the side of the pool.

"Come on, jump in too Maura!" Sophia called for her.

"I think I'll just use the stairs to get used to the water temperature" Maura said as she stepped over to the stairs that led into the water.

"Oh that's just booooooring" Jane said in a teasing tone. She swam towards the stairs, TJ and Sophia behind her. "Let's help Maura getting used to the cold kids!" and they started splashing water, soaking Maura in a minute.

"Jane Rizzoli! You're playing unfair, three against one! I'll get you back for that!" Maura yelled and she dove into the water to get to Jane.

Jane tried to get away but Maura reached her faster than she expected, pulling at her legs, making her lose her balance. She went under and came up spluttering and coughing. "Okay, I deserved that" she said to a smiling Maura.

They swam around and played catch with Sophia and TJ. After a while the kids went for the water slides. Maura pushed herself out of the water and sat down at the side of the pool, her legs still in the water. Jane also swam up to the side of the pool but stayed in the water looking up at Maura "You having fun Maur?"

"I am Jane, I love swimming. You look like you're having fun too"

"Yeah I am, I'm a bit tired though from all the sprints to catch Sophia and TJ"

"Well, let's use this time without the kids then and come with me for some relaxing in the spa baths" Maura said, already getting up.

"A spa bath?! Really Maur?! I bet that's the only reason you've wanted to come with us!" Jane muttered.

"Of course not Jane! And it's hardly a spa bath, it's just a bubble bath with some oils to relax. Maura started to walk away. "But if you don't like it then you're free to stay and I'll enjoy myself"

Just as Maura expected, Jane got out of the pool as quick as she could and walked after her. "She'll do anything for me" Maura thought as she smiled to herself.

Just like Jane, Maura had made a small plan too. It was six years ago that Jane told her she loved her. At that moment she was shocked, shocked that Jane felt the same thing for her as she felt for Jane. But it was complicated back then, Jane was still with Casey, even expecting his kid! So she told Jane that she couldn't start a relationship with her at that moment. Jane broke up with Casey and Maura felt she couldn't leave her best friend alone, raising a baby girl, so she offered to help.

Part of that plan was her thought that if she had Jane close to her she could still enjoy their little attraction. The touching and the cuddling could be called friendship couldn't it?

But she must admit to herself that it was getting harder to let their friendship just be a friendship. She felt a craving for having Jane around her, for touching Jane and being touched by Jane, she felt that she wanted more. She loved Sophia so much that it felt like she was her little girl too. She felt like she was already a part of the little family. So why shouldn't she make that a bigger part by starting a relationship with Jane?

It was fear that kept her at a safe distance from Jane. She loved being a part of the Rizzoli family and she was scared that she would give that up by starting a relationship with Jane. Of course, being in the relationship would mean that she was a Rizzoli too. But what would happen when things went wrong and they broke up? Then she would lose her lover, her best friend and her family. Was that worth it? But the way things where now wasn't satisfying for Maura either. So she decided she would dive in and just see where things would end. And when things went wrong there would always be a way to make them right again.

So here they were at the pool. Maura thought that this would be a good moment to see how Jane thought about her and their relationship.

"You want to share a bath? They're big enough for two" Maura asked casually.

"Uhm... Sure Maur..." Jane said, trying to calm down her imagination. The sight of Maura in a bikini was hard, but sharing a small tub with her would be even harder. Maura put some money in and the bath started filling itself with warm water that smelled like flowers. They got in and sat opposite each other, al little insecure at first.

"Mmm this feels heavenly!" Maura sighed as she leaned down, closing her eyes and enjoying the warm water that surrounded her. Jane sat still, trying very hard to keep her body parts close to herself, not wanting to touch Maura.

"Relax Jane, we always cuddle on the couch why would you think you can't touch me now? Maura looked up at Jane.

"Well, maybe because now we're both half-naked?! I don't want you to feel uncomfortable..."

"I wouldn't have shared a bath with you if it would make me feel uncomfortable Jane, just relax, I don't mind if our bodies are touching".

Jane tried to stretch her legs a little, putting a leg on each side of Maura.

"Well this feels uncomfortable too" she pulled her legs back.

"You're feeling uncomfortable around me Jane?"

"No! Well... I mean... Not particularly... Only now... Maybe a little" Jane was struggling finding the right words.

"Why do you feel uncomfortable Jane? like I said, we touch and cuddle all the time, it's just what we do right? Being the friends we are"

"Yeah... Friends... " Jane sighed "But friends don't do this Maur..."

"Don't do what Jane?"

"Sitting together in a small tub, all the touching and teasing we do, we're not just friends Maura, you can't tell me you don't feel more for me than just friendship"

"Well maybe I do feel more for you than just friendship..."

Jane looked shocked, what was Maura trying to say? She said before that she loved Jane but couldn't be in a relationship with her. Had she changed her mind? Before Jane could react Sophia called for her "Mommy! We're back! And hungry!". Well that was the end of their conversation.

Jane got up out of the tub and walked over to get Sophia and TJ some snacks. Maura got out of the tub too "We'll talk about this tonight" she said to Jane when she reached her. Jane could only nod. Maybe her plan to show Maura how good they were for each other didn't need to be worked out anymore. Maybe after tonight she could call Maura her girlfriend, a word she wanted to use for many years.