Disclaimer : I do not own Rizzoli and Isles, just the story.

Jane wasn't sure whether to discuss the kiss with Maura or not. Admittedly, the whole situation was safer territory for her. Given that this was their first kiss, whatever action followed could hardly be construed as odd in nature or out of her character - neither of them could beforehand really predict the aftermath of crossing that threshold. Jane, seeing this as an opportunity to capitalize on the swift progression of a plan she had anticipated to take at least a couple of weeks, knocked on Maura's office door.

''Come in'', the blonde calmly called out.

''Bad timing?'', the detective inquired.

''Of course not''. Sensing where the visit was inevitably headed, Maura shut her laptop screen as Jane closed the door behind her.

There was this nagging feeling within Maura that she still couldn't quite place. She had diligently studied Jane for years, she knew just about everything there was to know. But this inkling that something was different about Jane wouldn't leave her. Again, she brushed it off and focused on their previous actions and their consequences.

''I know you're probably tired and wanna get to bed as soon as you get home, so I figured I'd drop by before you leave'', the Medical Examiner was watching her intently waiting for whatever explanation she had to give. Jane had initiated the kiss, yes. But she had responded with equal fervour, heck, she'd even given Jane the permission. And truth be told, she was hoping to whatever god there was that Jane didn't regret it and ask to forget it ever happened. As it was, Jane was fidgeting as usual, and looking quite unreadable.

''I'm no good at this you know that. So I just wanna ask you a few questions and I'll be on my way''

Maura looked at her disbelievingly. ''you want to question me, then leave?'', she repeated.

''Don't say it like that!''

''Well, is that not what you meant?''

''Ok fine. What happened this morning….''

''Jane'', Maura cut her off. ''If this conversation..in fact- if all of this-'', she gestured between the two of them, ''-is going to go anywhere, we need to speak to each other like adults. You've been avoiding me all day. And now you want to question me, and speak to me cryptically. No Jane! Don't say 'what happened this morning'. State it as it is''. Maura spoke so calmly and composed Jane couldn't believe she had heard well. When the doctor kept staring at her, she eventually continued.

''It wasn't a passing moment. Kissing you I mean.'' The next words came hurriedly and in one breath. ''I like you a lot and I know this isn't the most eloquent of ways to express myself but between this morning and now, I just didn't get enough time to string the words together nicely and I didn't want to just leave without speaking to you about it.''

Essentially, Jane hadn't said anything at all according to Maura. She liked Maura a lot – that was a given. A fact even. And with the murder, it's obvious the day had been a busy one (despite Jane making an extra effort to avoid Maura). And seeing as to that she was now leaving for the day, stopping by Maura's office indicated that she wanted to see her before she left. Securing them in the office pointed to the direction of wanting to discuss something in private. So yes, after dissecting all of Jane's words, the smart detective had wasted her breath, and she knew it.

''That sounded silly didn't it?''

''A little, yes'', Maura responded truthfully. Her countenance was of nervousness anticipation and Jane decided in that moment to just give it a shot. What's the worst that could happen honestly?

''I kissed you because I saw an opportunity than I didn't want to miss. If I didn't I would have lost my nerve like I have many times before. Please tell me you feel the same way?''

''I can't'', Jane's demeanour visibly dropped. Maura was quick to reassure her though. ''Because you haven't told me how it is you feel. So I can't be certain as to say I feel the same way''

''Right'', Jane rocked on her heels with her hands clasped at her back. Taking a deep breath she said, ''I love you. And I would like to kiss you again''.

Boy did that need to go into the Guinness Book of world records. Who the hell royally fucks up like that?, she thought Their location, the current circumstance, her posture, and God forbid the words she picked. That was no way to tell the woman you have loved for years how you feel about her. She was wishing in that moment that she had just gone home and waited to talk to Maura another time. This was a very bad idea, she didn't even need anyone to second her – it was that obvious. What she seemed to forget, or maybe didn't quite know is that Maura was different.

''You know one of the reasons my relationships never worked out is because the men I dated always tried too hard'', Maura stood from her chair and walked towards Jane. ''they put so much effort into places they took me. They concentrated so much in their appearance. It was hard to have a relaxing and honest conversation because they were busy selecting their words with precision. All those efforts took focus off the most important things – like us, or how he actually felt, or who he was. At the end of the day it came off as a choreographed, dull, evening. But look at you Jane'', she pointed her hands up and down the detective's figure. ''you didn't wait for a moonlight evening to kiss me. You didn't go and dress in your best attire and take to me to a five star restaurant just to tell me you love me. You didn't recite a speech for me to make it believable to my ears. You are just you, standing in my office after a long day of work, in your usual attire trying to tell me how you feel about me. That's what makes you different, and that's what makes me love you''

Tough ass Detective Rizzoli couldn't hold the tears in. Maura's words were so genuine and pure, it broke her heart to think of what she was planning to do to this innocent soul. But it had to be done.

''Can I kiss you? Again?''

''You know Jane, you're going to have to learn to stop asking for permission to do that'', Maura chuckled, closing the distance between them.

''I think I'll get there eventually''. And she sealed her words with a passionate kiss. My, did the doctor have a way with her mouth. It was impossible to suppress the moan that left her lips when Maura pushed her tongue into her mouth. She briefly wondered if it would feel like this each time. With great effort, she pulled away, albeit holding reverently onto Maura's hips.

''I'm meeting the guys over at Frankie's for the game. I'm pretty sure you don't wanna join''

''True'', Maura lugubriously replied.

''May I take you for dinner tomorrow night?''

That came out of nowhere and surely surprised the heck out of Maura. She recovered quickly though, ''I would like nothing more''

Jane placed a chaste kiss as ways of saying goodbye and walked out. If Maura hadn't been so caught up in the moment she would have asked a few more questions. But she was just coming to her senses and evidently, Jane was gone. She knew the detective was a smart woman, so this was Jane's way of saying ''let's think about all this and discuss it over dinner tomorrow night''. Maura was game. Thinking, then discussing, was definitely something that had to be done. So in a daze, the doctor finished off her work and called it a day about an hour and a half later.

Meanwhile, Jane had made it to Frankie's and was revelling in the chance to bond with her brothers. She had made a quick stop just after work and a 'friend' of hers was gobsmacked to hear of the progress Jane had made in just days. ''Damn Casanova'', he laughed.

''It wasn't really hard you know. Chicks over the moon for me you wouldn't believe it''

''What did I tell you?'', he shoved her playfully.

''Well when you said it, it seemed like some sappy soap opera, but damn. It's no joke.''

''So are you gonna fill me in?'', he eagerly asked.

''We just kissed you perv'', the brunette shoved him back, though feeling utterly smug with herself.

When the game finished, Jane made her way home and began contemplating where to take Maura for the impromptu dinner she had promised.

Wednesday Morning

Meeting consciousness that morning, Jane realized Maura finding out about her leave from her boss was not going to be such a good idea. So she quickly got dressed and headed for the precinct. Her partners also deserved an apology in person.

''Korsak. Frost. My office'', Cavanaugh demanded. The two obliged and soon found themselves sitting in front of their superior. ''Rizzoli is on a three week leave from today''

''WHAT?'', the two men chorused.

''She's not feeling well and is taking some times off so I am assigning Anderson to your unit for that period''

''That's short notice Sir'', Korsak complained. ''She didn't even say anything''

''I know there wasn't enough time. I felt the same way too. But if she needs medical attention, and help, I can't deny her that. She probably was feeling a little self-conscious about it that's why she never said anything to you. Wouldn't even tell me what the exact problem was''

''Sheesh'', Frost muttered solemnly.

''Very well then, enjoy your day detectives''. Taking that as their cue, they left the office.

''She wouldn't even think to tell us'', Frost whined. ''that's why she was acting all funny yesterday. I knew something was up''

''But Maura never said anything yesterday. She seemed a bit puzzled as well''

''You think she doesn't know too. Boy Rizzoli sure knows how to dig a hole for herself. What a girlfriend she makes?'', he chuckled humourlessly.

''I'm sure the doc knows. She probably just felt it wasn't her place to say anything'', Korsak reasoned.

Maura walked into her office and found Jane comfortably secured in her office sofa – shoes tossed unceremoniously, she was lying down with one hand tucked underneath her head.

''Jane''. Maura was not at all expecting to be met this way on that particular morning.

''Morning you'', she remained in her positioned.

''What are you doing here? Why aren't you dressed for work?''

''One question at a time doc'', Jane laughed.

Maura set her things on her desk and went to sit next to Jane where the detective has scooted to make room. Settling with her lower back against Jane's pelvis, the brunette snakes her hand around the smaller woman.

''I wanted to talk to you about something'', Jane started seriously.

''Is everything alright Jane?'', Maura was full-on panic now. There seemed to be so many things wrong with Jane since Thursday and not being able to decipher the problem was giving her a headache.

''Yes Maur, don't look so worried'', she comforted.

''Well I have to Jane'', Maura responded, now on the brink of hysterics.

''Do you promise not to get mad?''

''You know as much as I do that I can't make such a promise Jane. Please just talk to me''

''I'm on leave starting today'', Jane said in slight terror.

''On leave! Jane, why? And how come you never mentioned all this before''. Maura was about to stand and start pacing when Jane held onto her tighter.

''I asked Cavanaugh on Monday after work, and yesterday just kinda got busy, so here I am'', Jane smiled.

''Can you explain it all to from the beginning. Because I am going to ask you so many jumbled up questions and in the end I may not understand well enough'', Maura stated calmly.

This, Jane could do. ''On Thursday at lunch I just needed some air so I went to the Common. I just got this weird headache from nowhere that's why I took the two personal days. It was probably just the past rough couple of weeks finally catching up'', Maura was listening intently. How she had longed for Jane to open up and just say what was really going on. ''and like I texted you, I spend those day just lazing around at home doing nothing. Doing nothing has a funny way of making you think a lot you know''

''I know'', Maura answered the rhetorical question.

''I've just been working so hard and I just really felt I needed a break. Just to divorce myself from police work for just a short time. And I wanted to spend time with my family, and you, just relaxing you know.'' Maura nodded her understanding. ''I thought a lot about how I feel about you. And I figured if I wanted to start something lasting between us maybe having some free time would be beneficial for such a foundation. So I asked Cavanaugh for three weeks off, starting today''

''Three weeks'', Maura exclaimed in nothing but shock.

''Is it too long?''

''For anyone else, no. But I'm yet to see if you will survive that long out of work Detective'', Maura smiled despite herself. Inwardly she was thrilled Jane was taking time for herself to just relax.

''I will have you to keep me sane'', the brunette flirted.

''In that case then…..'',Maura leaned and captured Jane's lips. The slow sensual kiss led to light groping in which Maura didn't hesitate to run her hand over Jane's toned muscles while Jane dug into the blonde's hips. They parted for air but remained close.

''I have a lot to look forward to these three weeks. Hope I don't bore you eventually by being home and around you too much''

''I can assure you, that is the last thing that can ever bore me''

With great effort Jane left and went upstairs to endure the harsh words from her partners. They were not pleased to say the least. After repeated apologizes they let her off the hook and she became a free woman for three 'very eventful' weeks.

AN: Right, I haven't heard anything from you guys...is the story ok? boring, confusing, uneventful, etc.? If you get the time, just let me know please. I would hate to waste my time