It was just after five in the afternoon and Jane had eaten a greasy burger, a handful of greasier chips, Maura, fried rice, more chips, sweet and sour pork, Maura again and three pieces of a dessert cheesecake that Angela dropped off for them to eat later. She rolled onto her back and belched so loud that it woke Jo up. "Jane," Maura exclaimed from the couch above her.
"Sorry, babe," Jane mumbled from the floor, trying to stifle another belch. "I ate so much."
"I ate quite a lot, too," Maura stated. Maura had eaten the rest of the fried rice, a few chips from Jane's pile, Jane, two pieces of cheesecake, one of which she placed a chip on top, Jane, Jane, Jane, and the last greasy burger.
"I know you did," Jane smirked. "I had no idea you could be so hungry."
"Oh, I have quite an appetite."
"Did you like the Chinese food?"
"I like Italian better," Maura giggled before a pillow flew up from below and landed on her. Jane sat up and lifted the pillow off of Maura's head to reveal the doctor in a fit of laughter.
"You think you're so funny, don't you?"
"Yes," Maura managed through her laughter. Jane reached around and gently tickled Maura's sides and under her arms, which made her laugh more. "Stop! Stop... making... me laugh! It hurts!" she squealed breathlessly. Jane relented and switched to smothering her girlfriend in kisses instead. The blonde's laughter eased and she slowly relaxed as Jane's warmth enveloped her.
"Are you still hungry?" Jane whispered into her ear.
"Yes," Maura sighed, slipping her hands into Jane's hair. She ran her nails along the base of the brunette's scalp and behind her ears.
"Good," Jane said, nibbling Maura's neck. "There's more cheesecake." Maura opened her eyes in disbelief as Jane bounded up and practically frolicked into the kitchen. Maura sat herself up and eyed her girlfriend who had grabbed out the fridge and was fetching the two spoons that they had used before.
"Are you kidding?"
"No, there's tonnes here." Maura sighed, and Jane laughed then joined the blonde on the couch before flicking the television set on to watch something. "What do you want to watch?"
"We never did properly watch Pirates of the Caribbean," she suggested after a gentle punch to Jane's shoulder. Jane handed Maura the cheesecake box and stepped up to place the DVD in the player. She returned to her seat and wrapped her arm around Maura as the movie started.
Angela closed her door and walked over to Maura's back door and spied the two love birds on the couch watching the last few scenes of the movie. She was going to make them dinner, but it didn't matter, she supposed, if she came in a few minutes later; letting them finish the movie in each other's arms. She could see that Maura was tucked under Jane's arm and her daughter's head rested on that of her girlfriend's. They looked so perfectly blissful and loving together that it brought a tear to Angela's eye. She wiped it with the back of her hand and then knocked on the door.
Jane stopped the movie as the credits began to roll, and got up to let Angela in. She had the foresight to lock the back door when she and Maura had gotten a little frisky earlier that afternoon. "Hi, Ma."
"Hello, darling. I just thought I might cook dinner for you two tonight, if that's alright?"
"Oh, well, you see, we ate a lot of food and we finished the cheesecake so we're kinda full," Jane explained looking over to Maura occasionally who was peering over the back of the couch.
"The whole cheesecake?!"
"I'm afraid so, Angela," Maura apologised. "It was just so nice." Angela waved it off, telling herself to buy another one and maybe not share it this time. Jane closed the door behind Angela as she walked towards the kitchen counter.
"You sure I can't make you anything, Maura?"
"No, I'm really quite full."
"Sorry, Ma."
"It's alright, but if you need me to help you, Maura, or even to just look after her when you go to work, Jane, I can."
"Oh yeah, work," Jane thought aloud. "I have to go to work tomorrow, Maur."
"I know, Jane."
"But I don't want to leave you," Jane said walking over swiftly to kneel in front of her sore girlfriend. Maura cupped Jane's face in her hands, squishing her cheeks.
"I'll be fine, babe. Besides, I have Angela."
"We'll be absolutely fine, Janie," Angela assured from the kitchen. She didn't know if Jane's face softened from the reassuring comment or the way Maura was gently stroking her forehead with her thumbs, but her strong daughter looked as if she were about to fall asleep in Maura's lap like a puppy. "Well, I'll just go and make myself some dinner then," she said, trying to get their attention.
"Thank you, Angela," Maura said without turning around. She was too engrossed in the way Jane's eyes closed and the way her eyebrows moved together like she was going to cry from happiness. Angela took her leave and went back to the guest house as Maura pulled Jane up in between her knees and held her head to her chest.
"I'm so afraid that I'll lose you." Jane had said it in such a whisper that made normal whispers seem like shouting, but Maura heard it and felt it warm her heart. "What if I lost you?"
"Don't think about that, please, Jane. I am here right now with you and I am not leaving. I love you. Oh, my god, how I love you." Maura had never thought a heart capable to love someone with such undeniable strength and passion. She felt like she had a twenty-four hour adrenaline rush and the only way to calm her was to hold Jane as close to her body as she could with all of the muscle power that she could manage. She had to feel Jane's skin, and see her smile; touch her scars and smell her hair. She loved every single part of Jane with such intensity that it sometimes made her want to cry; because that pain she felt when she couldn't have these sensations was unbearable.
Jane felt the same way, and wracked her brain constantly to find a reason as to why she had never realised it before. She dug her fingertips into Maura's flesh needing to absorb Maura into her own body. Maura continued her gentle caress now on Jane's neck under her mane of hair. It sent tingles throughout the brunette's body and buzzed in her scalp. She wished that she could just fall asleep wrapped up in Maura and everything she was right that moment.
Well, she could actually.
"Do you want to go to bed early tonight?" she asked.
"How early?"
"Now."
"It's just before seven. That is early."
"I just want to hold you close to me because it was unbearable not being able to climb into that silly little hospital bed when you were there." Maura kissed the top of Jane's head and then tapped her shoulders letting her know that she was going to get up. When she was standing, Jane switched the television off and slipped her hand into Maura's. She led her to Maura's room and closed the curtains before stripping down to just her panties.
Maura struggled a little with her own undressing so Jane helped her, kissing her shoulders and arms and hands when she removed her shirt; and her thighs, knees and shins when she pulled off her pants. She reached around and unclasped Maura's bra and helped it slide off her arms, then pulled back the covers for her to slip in.
The blonde edged in precariously and lay on her side facing outwards, and then Jane stepped around and slid in as well. The late afternoon sun had warmed the bed but the early evening had chilled the covers, so Jane moulded herself to the back of Maura and nuzzled deeply into her hair. She pressed kisses up and down her neck as her arm snaked around to hold Maura's hand. Maura entwined their fingers and then brought Jane's hand up to her lips. She pressed a warm lingering kiss to each finger and then held them against her breastbone where Jane could faintly feel her heartbeat.
The two drifted off into sleep, and cherished the midnight moments where they woke up and could caress their warm skin under the soft touch of moonlight.