A/N: Okay, so were going to have Jane speaking some Italian but because I don't speak it and I have to assume most of you don't, I'm going to use quotes because of spoken words and it will be in Italics. (Example: "So it will appear like this," the author said.) Follow? Cool. Also, because of my admiration and adoration of these fine characters and the lovely actors who play them, we will be keeping this out of the mature category, so no funky get nasty in the bedroom. If I couldn't put it on FX (racy as that is) I just can't ship it on this one. Sorry. But on a good note, tons of history here.

And if Ms. Alexander or Ms. Harmon just happens to be reading this, please understand that I have tried to stay true to your characters and have gone through every effort to treat them with the respect they deserve. Now, on with the show.

Castle came up behind his daughter and looked over her shoulder, quietly. Alexis had yet to move her pen in more than a half hour. He was beginning to get concerned so he pulled a chair over and sat next to her. She didn't move, just stared off into space.

"Alexis?" he said.

She blinked, just now noticing him sitting next to her. "Hey Dad, You need something?"

He nodded, "You to tell me what's bothering you."

"Nothing." She said, "Just doing homework."

"Okay." He put his elbow on the table and rested his chin in his palm, "So that's why you've been staring at the wall for the last half hour?"

Alexis blinked as she looked at her watch, a watch her Aunt Jane had given her. Sure enough, a half hour had gone by. "Wow. I didn't even realize…"

Her father just waited. It was a move he had to perfect with Jane.

"It's Aunt Jane." She said as she stared into her lap, "I know that going out with Maura is a good thing for her but…"

He put his other hand on her shoulder, "You worried she's going to get hurt again?"

Alexis looked up at him, "No. It's more selfish than that."

He let his arm drop as he thought about it. "You're worried that now that Maura's back, she won't have as much time for you."

"I told you it was selfish."

"Well, Alexis. You know that out of everyone in this house, you are the one she loves most so I know she'll make time, honey."

"I know but it still stinks." She flopped back into the chair's back rest and pouted.

"I know" he said as he turned her to face him, "I felt the same way when she started distancing herself from me. I know that it's because I seen her as no man ever has but it still hurt."

"How do you deal with it?" she asked and he could hear her grief.

"Hope." He said simply, "hope that eventually she'll see me like the brother in-law who was there when she needed me to be. Just like Kate was the sister she needed, and like when she needed you, too."

She frowned, "But Kate and Olivia still have strong ties with her. I don't want the distance to be a Castle thing."

He hugged her tightly, "Neither do I. I love her too, Alexis, and as moody and fiery as she is, she brought a very welcomed chaos into our neat little home and shook us all up. And in my own selfishness, I haven't forgotten how Kate moved in with us when we took in Jane."

She sighed at the memory, "Yeah. Kate had been so hesitant to take that step with you."

"And Jane made it happen, just like that." He smiled, "She does have a way of making us all do things we don't want to."

"Yeah." She said, "She pushes us. I'm going to miss her when she goes back to Boston."

He nodded with a tight lipped smile, "Me too. Just don't tell Kate I said that."

"She doesn't want to think about it either?" she asked, worried about her step mother to be.

He shook his head subtly. "I think Kate has come to the realization that she needs Jane in her life more than all of us put together."

"It'll be hardest on her." She said into her Dad's shoulder.

"Yeah," he kissed her head, "and she'll need us to love her more than ever."

They sat for a few minutes like that before Castle cleared his throat, "So. Enough of this serious stuff that's too far away to get us down, how about going a couple of rounds of laser tag."

She laughed, "Dad, C'mon." She waved at the homework.

"I know it won't be as much fun without the Dark Queen of Bostonia invading but I think old Voltar needs to be put in his place by the rabble. Who knows, maybe we could even Voltar's love interest slash bitter rival to play tonight."

She smiled, "I'd like that."

He kissed her head again and took off to the bedroom to get the laser tag equipment.

The Bella Roma was packed tonight as Jane sat at her favorite table. The same one she and Frankie had shared whenever he came to town. The Bella Roma's owner, Guido Amendola, was a man who never forgot a person. Since Jane was an Italian who spoke it and a regular, he had always had his best waiters work her table. But his true admiration came when Jane had figured out who was stealing his expensive wines and lightening his till. Jane had run the bus boy down after she confronted him and Guido had never forgotten it.

Despite her protests, Guido had never allowed someone to sit at her table on days she was known to visit and he never allowed her to pay for a meal.

Jane sat watching the door as Maura walked in. She caught Maura's eye and smiled. Maura pulled of her long coat and handed it off to a man by the door who handed her a ticket, which she promptly put into her large purse. As the hostess asked for her reservation, Maura pointed to Jane. The hostess smiled warmly and waved her in.

As Jane stood up to greet her, Maura raised an eyebrow at the rather expensive outfit Jane was wearing, it was typical Jane except for a few things. More expensive grey slacks instead of her usual bargain black and a well cut feminine blazer to match. Jane's traditional boots had been exchanged for some tasteful low heeled shoes but as Jane took the blazer off Maura couldn't help but admire the way the rather expensive black silk shirt clung to a body Maura hadn't remembered being so fit. Jane had always been athletic but now she was lean and toned, as if cut from marble. The sight made Maura's heart skip, Jane was hotter then she had ever been and it was playing havoc with her hormones.

Jane too was having heart trouble as Maura sashayed over to her in a sleek blue dress that hugged every curve of the blonde's lovely body. Jane smiled as she realized Maura hadn't changed a bit. She still dressed to kill and was still wearing high heels. It was a far cry from the rather conservative wear that she had had on earlier that day.

"I'm sorry I'm a few minutes late, but I really wanted to go home and change." She said quickly as Jane kissed her cheek and pulled the chair out for her.

As Maura let her seat her she laughed, "It's okay. I actually would have preferred to do the same but I had to come straight from work."

"Well I must say that your back up suit is much more flattering on you than the one you had on earlier."

Jane frowned, "Actually, its Kate's back up." She sighed as she sat, "I don't own anything really nice and I wanted to look nice for you. I guess I should break down and go shopping."

Maura smiled at Jane's confession, "Well I dare say that it looks better on you than it would on her. But she does have good taste."

She smiled. Maura was reaching so she could too, "Thanks. I kinda like it, feels better than my usual stuff."

Guido himself came over then with a bottle of wine and a beer. "Ah, my dear Detective Jane. It's so good to see you again." He said in Italian as he set the beer in front of her before placing the wine in front of Maura, "and with the lovely Dr. Isles no less. A pleasure, as always to have such a beautiful woman grace my humble establishment." His voice held admiration in that thick Italian droll.

Jane turned to him, "Wait! You know Maura?"

"Absolutely," he said as he poured her wine, "Dr. Isles has been a regular patron for almost three months. She comes in every Sunday around six and orders my humble gnocchi."

Maura looked a bit sheepish.

Jane smiled at the older Italian, "Thank you, Guido. I think we'll both need a minute tonight."

"As you wish my dear." He said, "Take all the time you need. I'll be back with some fresh bread from the oven in about two minutes."

Jane turned back to Maura as he left, "Family dinner." It was a statement not a question.

"Yes." She said her eyes meeting Jane's, "Family dinner. Guido's gnocchi isn't Angela's but it is delicious."

A nod, "I come here a lot too." She said, "Whenever I missed them."

Maura reached across the table and took Jane's hand, "You can always go back, Jane."

Jane shook her head, "No. I can't, not yet anyway."

"Why?" she asked as she squeezed the scared hand.

"Ma says I can't come home without you." she said, and then softly added "But I'm not done here. I'm still figuring out who I am and this has been a good place for that."

"I know the feeling," Maura responded. "Mali helped me realize that I wasn't happy and when I came home, you were gone and I didn't have anyone to help me find myself."

Jane grabbed Maura's hand, "You had the whole family there. You should have stayed, Maura."

"There your family, Jane." she said with loss, "Without you I had no right to them."

Jane squeezed tighter so Maura would look at her, "How many times has Ma told you that you were like her daughter? I think she was hurt more than anyone when you left."

"No." she sniffed, "You were harder on her."

Jane's guilt at hat left her quiet. Sensing a lull in the conversation, Guido placed a platter of steaming bread on the table along with real butter, two plates and a knife. He quietly excused himself and left.

Jane got to work cutting the bread and passing a plate to Maura before she cut one for herself. "So do you want to talk about the elephant in the room or go over all the things that happened while we were apart?"

Maura looked around, "I don't see a pachyderm anywhere."

Jane laughed, "It's not a real elephant Maur. It's an expression for what we talked about after your class ended."

"Oh I think I like that." Maura said, and in a lower tone, "The elephant in the room." And in her normal tone, "What's the context?"

Jane laughed, "It's like something big goes on but everyone is ignoring it. So you pay no attention to the elephant in the room."

"Oh, and in this case its…" she paused. "You telling me that you love me."

"Yeah." She said, "Me telling you that I'm in love you."

Maura sipped at her wine, "When did you know."

"Hoyt." She said, "The night I killed him. When he cut you, I felt like I was dying inside. Some other things happened that night that I need to tell you about later but that was the moment I knew that I loved you and the same moment I knew that Charles Hoyt would never leave that room alive. He sealed his fate with your blood, Maura. That was when I knew even though I couldn't accept it."

Maura nodded as she digested that. She knew what Jane was talking about. She had seen the look in Jane's eyes. If she believed in the Grim Reaper, she would swear she had seen him in Jane's eyes that night.

"I guess we should signal Guido before he has a heart attack." Jane waved him over, "What do you feel like, tonight?"

Making love to you. Maura shook the thought from her head and thought of food, "even though I just had it, I'd love to share gnocchi with you."

Jane smiled and as Guido approached, "My friend, an order of gnocchi, my date and I will split it."

"Anything for you Jane and don't tell Father Vinzini I said so but you make a beautiful couple." He smiled as he rushed off to the kitchen.

"I caught the gnocchi, but Patre?" she said, "Isn't that Father?

"Yeah." She said uncomfortably, "I may have overstepped when I told him that my date and I would share. He said he wouldn't tell our pastor."

"He likes you then." Maura said. "You didn't overstep, Jane. I do think of this as a date."

Jane set her bread down, "Maura I know you care and I loved kissing you but you don't have to feel like you're under any obligation to me."

"I don't feel that way, Jane." Maura stared at her, "There's something I need to tell you to. Something I've known ever since you shot yourself. You use to ask me why I couldn't leave you at the hospital then."

"Yeah, you told me that you were worried about me." She said right before shoving the freshly buttered bread into her mouth.

"That's true but there's more." Maura took a deep breath, she didn't realize how hard it would be to say this, "It's because I knew I was in love with you, Jane and I still am."

Jane stopped chewing as the words registered. She swallowed quickly and coughed into a napkin before she could speak again, "How come you never told me?"

"Because I was afraid. Like you I always thought you were straight. Sure you stared at my breasts when we were at the Merch and we always had that closeness but I was afraid you wouldn't reciprocate and I'd lose the best part of my life. My best friend. That's why I never brought up my feelings about you."

"Wait, so that day in the car when I thought you wanted to have sex with me and you denied it?" She said, not believing what she was hearing.

"I was hoping you didn't notice me getting hives." She said honestly.

She continued, "And when we were talking about what kind of women we'd like if we liked women? You said I wasn't your type."

Maura nodded, "That's because I didn't know you were my type at the time. The people I had been with before were nothing like you. I guess now I know why it didn't work out."

"I can't believe this, Jesus Maur, we could have…"

"What," Maura said, "Gone out? Had sex? Jane, you yourself told me that you couldn't accept that part of you. What do you think would have happened had I came on to you, openly? You would have felt awkward and I would have lost my best friend. I dropped hints all the time, the first one was while you were in my guest bed. You had said 'either were having a sleep over or this is your way of telling me your attracted to me.'"

"You didn't answer me."

"No, I didn't. I left it open deliberately because I thought you might be and I wanted to know. I didn't have to stick my boobs in your face at the Merch but I did. When you talked to me about dating Tommy I was brutally honest that although I liked Tommy, I loved you."

Jane dropped her head in her hands, "And I have the nerve to call myself a detective."

Maura grabbed both of Jane's hands and pulled them to her, "Jane. I know why. You couldn't accept that you were attracted to women so you hid behind the sarcasm you're so well known for and you subconsciously blocked out any interest from me."

Jane pouted, "Now that I'm thinking about it, it was pretty obvious. Awe hell, I was even responding and didn't know it. No wonder half of the department thought we were sleeping together."

"Yes." She said softly. "And after the shooting, I wished it was true, that it could come true."

Jane held both of Maura's hands. "I wish I could do it all over again. You have no idea what happened to me over the last year."

Maura raised her eyebrows, "Actually, I do."

"You couldn't." Jane said incredulously.

Maura let go and opened her purse. Jane watched as Maura pulled out a red leather bound book. "After I came to the 12th to see you and you left, I thought you hated me. I was going to move out of Boston and go back to California. Your friend Rick gave me this." She set the book on the table and slid it into Jane's hands.

Jane stared at it, hoping it wasn't what she thought it was. Her hands shook as she flipped open to the first age where Rick had pen the night she had almost froze to death getting to his loft. How he had carried her to his oversized tub and how Kate had stripped down and climbed in with her to get her temperature up. She slammed the book shut and her anger filled her. She wanted to excuse herself and run off to the gym before she killed Rick Castle but she allowed just a small portion of her other side to control that anger.

"I'm going to kill him with one of those antique pens he has on his desk. He had no right to write this."

Maura placed her hands on Jane's again, "If he hadn't, I wouldn't be here, Jane. I wouldn't have moved to New York. I'd have gone back to California. I read this book the first night I had it, cover to cover and I knew that I couldn't leave you like that. I loved you too much and I hated myself for what you went through."

Jane's eyes narrowed, "It wasn't for you to carry or ever to know about. He broke my trust and gave you the one thing I swore you would never know. My pain and suffering were never supposed to be passed to you, ever. He knows better." Her voice was cold, but it was all Jane could do not to shout over the whole restaurant.

Maura took the book from her, "He has done something for us both in this, Jane. Because of him, I knew that you had loved me and I knew what I had to do."

"What was that?" she said as she ran a hand through her hair, "Do you have anything that could possibly excuse this?"

"Richard Castle gave me hope when I had none." She simply said as a single tear crept down the side of her face, "This is the only one, written in his own hand, he gave me your pain and also gave me hope that you might one day come looking for me to tell me what this did. I keep it with me wherever I go because it tells me that you love me a lot more than a friend and it has kept me going when nothing else has. You can't be angry at him because he set it all in motion by giving me this one book, everything from my decision to take the job at Icahn that led to this very moment right now. He was the one who tossed the stone that caused the rockslide."

Jane wanted to argue, she wanted to cry, but Maura's words had resonated in her. As much as she wanted to deny it, Rick had probably brought them together by throwing Jane's heartache into the light where Maura could see it. It had been a gamble, and as much as he liked to play games, Rick wouldn't do something like that unless he was sure. She was beginning to regret the distance she had put on him and wished that she could take it back. Still she wouldn't let him get off scott free.

"How much of my life is in there?" she said as her anger dissipated. "How detailed?"

"Probably a lot more than you want me to know but it covers your first eight months."

Jane cringed, "Well I won't really kill him but I guess I have to read it before I decide how long he's going to be in traction."

Maura passed her a sympathetic look, "Well if it's any kind of consolation, there is one thing he hasn't put together."

Oh this had to be good, she wanted to vomit. "What?"

"He never figured out why you went to Olivia Benson's apartment every week." She sighed, "Aside from you, Olivia, and her girlfriend, I'm the only one who knows the truth."

Jane nodded but all things considered that was a detail she wouldn't have minded, at least in comparison with other things over the last year. Maura fell silent as she watched Jane process it all.

Guido returned with dinner and sensing the heavy air around them he remained silent as he served the pasta. Hoping that whatever was going on between them was a healthy thing they both needed, he bowed and left again.

Maura took the opportunity to change the subject, "So I've met Alexis and she surprised me a great deal. I know what Rick thinks of you and her but I'd love to hear what you have to say about the red head with the Jane Rizzoli curls and attitude."

Grateful for the change, Jane laughed, "Oh well there's a subject that will break your heart."

As they ate Jane told Maura all about how the little genius had warmed her heart over the last year. How much she adored her and how it was a constant effort to challenge Alexis intellectually.

The hours flew by and before they knew it Jane and Maura were catching a cab back to Maura's home. Jane couldn't remember the last time she had been so happy and for the first time she wasn't looking forward to going home tonight.

Since Maura had confided in her that she had never really felt safe in New York which had explained why Maura had wanted her to walk her home, Jane had escorted her all the way to her door and even looked around her condo to make sure Maura was alone. She had planned on thanking Maura for a great night and giving her a goodnight kiss with the promise of calling her in the morning. Instead, that goodnight kiss had set fire to both of them and Jane now found herself on her back with Maura draped over her with her honey blond hair tickling her cheek as Maura's head rested on her shoulder.

Jane's hand was absently running up and down Maura's back. Her body had finally stopped quivering from the mind blowing orgasms she had shared with Maura, whose body had also come to rest. Both were awake at 1:30 AM and neither had any thoughts of movement.

Only Maura's blankets hid the nude bodies that both of them had been exploring over the last few hours and Jane had marveled at the other woman's soft curves had molded to her own hard body as if they were made to fit together. Jane loved the feel of Maura's ample breasts pressed into her upper abdomen. Abs that Maura had taken great care to lavish with hot kisses.

Jane sighed in comfort at the warm touch of Maura's body against her own. She had never been one for cuddling after sex but as with most things that involved Maura, she found bliss in things that were out of character for her. And Maura reveled in the knowledge that she could see a side of Jane that no one had seen. Jane had lost all control in the heat of orgasm and was left completely bare. It was the most beautiful thing Maura had ever seen.

Maura ran her free hand up and down Jane's arm, tracing the muscle patterns with her fingertips until her contentment was broken by her phone.

She hadn't put it on vibrate and the opening lyrics for Its Not You by Halestorm broke the late night peace.

She stiffened and curled tighter into Jane, "Oh God, go away!"

Jane tightened her hold on Maura, "Interesting ringtone. Who's that and when did you start listening to hard rock?"

Maura buried her face in the crook of Jane's neck, "Its Dr. Nelson."

Jane blinked, "'I'm in love with somebody and it's not you' is a ringtone for a doctor?"

Her jealousy started to rise. It wasn't hard to imagine the blond with others while Jane had gone without. It was Maura after all who enjoyed sex. Jane needed to put some distance between them before she said something she would regret.

As she loosened her hold, Maura grabbed the taller woman's body tighter, "It's not what you think, Jane. Please wait."

The only thing that kept Jane in bed was her memories about what had happened to them when they didn't communicate. She sighed as the ringer quit, "Okay. I'm listening."

Maura rolled on top of her so she could look into Jane's eyes. The position was doing amazing things to Jane but she kept that defiant glare going and waited.

"Dr. Nelson works in the hospital. Shortly after I started at Icahn, he came down to consult with me on a patient. It was bullshit, Jane."

Jane jerked at the language Maura had not used before. Maybe she's different, too.

Maura continued without reacting, "I consulted with him and gave him my number in case he had any other questions about a patient. It wasn't until a few weeks later I found out that he trolls the hospital and school for new staff and interns that he claims to take under his wing or ask for a consultation but it's only so he can sleep with them. He is handsome and a prime specimen of male physiology so he's largely successful."

"I don't want to hear all of this, Maur."

Maura leaned in closer, "I need you to hear this." She kissed her softly, "I need you to know that nothing has happened."

Maura turned down sex with a prime specimen? Jane frowned, "Okay, I'm still listening."

Maura started kissing on Jane's neck as she spoke, "A few years ago I probably would have but the truth is that I didn't want to sleep with him or anyone else but you."

"Huh?" she pushed Maura away so she could look at her, "Could you say that again?"

Maura lowered her body on top of Jane's and cupped the fine bones of the other woman's face, "I haven't slept with anyone since you saved me from Dennis Rockmond. After that I was constantly searching for a way to tell you how I felt without losing you."

"What about Ian?" Jane said.

"I hadn't slept with Ian at all, before or during our stay in Mali." She looked up at Jane, "He tried but I loved you and he had a hard time accepting that, but he eventually got the message."

She chuckled at the way Ian had gotten the message as she caressed Maura's arm.

Jane kissed her quickly and fell back onto the pillow, "Then what's with this Nelson guy?"

"He's not used to being turned down and he won't stop chasing me. I've told him I wasn't interested and that I wasn't available. I even told him that I was in love, I've done everything short of calling myself a lesbian and I can't say that because it's not true."

"Because I'm the first woman you've been with." Jane said as she stroked her hand through the blond strands.

Maura looked at her, "No. Jane, My last relationship before I came to Boston was with a woman."

Jane stared at her, "Really? I thought I was your first."

"I wish it were true, Jane." She said, "But after Kristy, I went back to dating men alone and when I started being friends with you, I didn't want you to think I was weird so I turned down any woman who expressed an interest."

She didn't know what to think. On one hand she was grateful that Maura had more experience, mostly because Maura always had more knowledge than she did. On the other hand, Jane had really thought Maura was straight until she had fallen for her. So much for her ego, but Jane thought about it and decided she would rather have the experience more. She went back to the original subject.

"So this Nelson guy is a stalker?" she said and reached for her gun on the bedside table. It was halfhearted at best and her hand drifted back to the small of Maura's back.

"No. Just persistent." She sighed as she slid down and rested her head on Jane's chest. "He's one of those doctors that only value their own opinion. Even if I could tell him I was gay, I think it would make him want me more. He'd feel it his moral obligation to try to turn me back to men."

"Just tell him that your girlfriend is a very jealous woman and carries a gun, both are true enough."

"I didn't tell him that exactly but close." She said, she straightened and looked at her, "My girlfriend?"

Jane smiled, "Yeah. If you'll have me but you should know I come with some baggage."

"I know all about your baggage" She said as she resumed her oral examination of the hollow of Jane's neck, "I've been there for most of it and read about the rest."

Jane stopped her from kissing, "No. There are things that happened that won't be in that book because they happened after you came to the 12th. Things I'm not ready to talk about yet."

She pulled back in concerned, "But you will talk to me about them? You won't hide them from me?"

Jane pulled Maura a little closer, "I'm done hiding anything from you."

Maura smiled, "Then I'm your girlfriend and your mine." Maura started kissing Jane again and in a few minutes she was ready to go again.

She rolled Maura onto her back and straddled her before glancing at the clock, "Shit!" she said as she realized the time and looked down at the gorgeous sight beneath her. "I have to go home."

Maura smiled, "you have a curfew or something?"

Jane didn't, "No. It's just that… Colin is coming in from Aberdeen tomorrow to spend Thanksgiving with Liv because Alex is in the Congo and Kate and I were going to meet him at the gym so I can get more lessons and Kate can work on her kickboxing and since Colin's meeting Liv tomorrow afternoon, the morning is the only time…"she stopped as she caught the quiet laughter erupting from her naked bedmate, "I'm rambling."

"Yes, you are." Maura cupped Jane's hips so the brunette couldn't escape, "Are you always so busy?"

"Most days," she said as she bit her lip, she didn't want to say this but she was determined to keep her word, "I've been keeping myself as distracted as possible because… well, you know how I hate crying."

"Yes. I do know." She smiled as her hands reached around behind Jane's hips, "Stay with me, tonight? We've been without each other for so long. Let me show you how much I missed you."

Jane shifted her hips against Maura's stomach, "I think I know, but despite tonight's…umm…things that happened, I really do want to take it slow. I'm so much different than I was in Boston and I'm sure you are to and I just. I don't want to mess this up. I want to get to know you again but this time as the woman I love."

Maura nodded as she looked over the side of the bed. Jane's eyes followed the movement until she seen what Maura had. Jane's suit was neatly draped over a chair along with the bra and her panties, which matched, were sitting in the seat. Maura's dress on the other hand was still lying in a ring on the floor where it had fallen from her body. Her bra was hanging of a dresser handle where it had caught on the way to the floor and her panties were nowhere to be seen.

Jane smiled at the odd reversal, "See what I mean."

Maura smiled warmly at those words, "Okay then tomorrow, we can take it slow. Tonight, let's just celebrate what we've had and what we've gained. But Jane, I need you to make a promise to me."

Jane ran a hand through her hair, "Maura I really don't drink anymore, you seen me at the restaurant, I can sip at the same one beer all night long and I never drink the hard stuff anymore."

"That's really sweet, Jane but that's not the promise I'm asking for." Maura lifted herself on her elbows, Jane scooted back to allow her to sit up, Maura took Jane's head into her palms, "Promise me that you will never run away again, this last year has been the hardest of my life and I don't think I can do that again." Maura's eyes watered.

Jane wrapped her arms around her and pulled her tight, "I promise, Maura. I won't. I won't run away again, I swear it."

Maura smiled warmly, Jane kept her promises, always. "What time do you have to be home?"

"About nine A.M."

"So I'll set my alarm for eight." She reached over to the clock.

"Set it for seven." Jane said.

"Why seven?" Maura asked without looking back as she fiddled with the alarm.

A cocky grin spread on her face as Maura returned to her, "Because before you leave this bed, I intend to make sure you're wearing the same smile as the one I'm going to make sure you go to sleep with." She pushed Maura down onto the bed and started nibbling her ear as she repositioned herself to trail a line of kisses lower.

A/N: Whew, big chapter with lots of info. Sorry but I told you that I was going to keep it clean so just imagine those frustrating camera angles that keep everything hidden. Post up, tell me what you think.