Sorry for the delay! Thank you for all the kind reviews and I hope you enjoy the next chapter...

10

The next two weeks passed with no time at all, probably because both women didn't want it to come to an end. They were both happy in their bubble away from the normalities of their everyday life, that included Angela. Jane had been in contact with her but hadn't mentioned the milestone in her and Maura's relationship. That wasn't a bridge she wanted to cross until she saw her mother face to face. Not because she thought she would necessarily react badly, but regardless, she didn't want the questions or the fussing.

Maura was meant to stay in Paris for longer to focus on her writing. But over the last two weeks her opinion on this had changed. The reason for being away from home wasn't necessary anymore. She didn't need to mourn the loss of Jane from her everyday life, she didn't need the space from Boston to get over a heartache. She now wanted nothing more than to get back to Boston to set up the life she had dreamed of for the past 5 or so years.

It was their final night in the city of love and strangely both women were ok with this. This wasn't the end of anything; this was just the beginning. They had a lovely meal and as cliché as it was, they had decided to go up to the top of the Eiffel Tower at twilight to bid farewell to the city that had finally make them act on their feelings. Maura stood at the railings, Jane stood behind her, wrapping her arms around the doctor's waist and resting her chin on her shoulder.

Maura let out a contented sigh "you know Jane, if you had asked me a month ago what I thought i'd get from this trip, my answer would not have been you."

Jane laughed and turned her head to kiss Maura's cheek. "Well Maur, if life was predictable all the time where would the fun be?"

"Very true, but I hope this part of my life stays predictable now."

"Depends what you are referring to babe...i mean, i can't guarantee predictability in the bedroom if you know what i mean..."

"Can you get your mind out of the gutter Rizzoli! This could have been a romantic moment but thank you for providing the smut to avoid that!"

Jane nibbled at the honey blonde's neck "see...unpredictability - i'm always surprising you."

Maura turned to face Jane with a smile and draped her arms around the taller women's shoulders. "Yes you are. I love you." She climbed onto her tip toes and placed a slow, sensual kiss on the Italian's lips.

"I love you too Maur."

Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

The flight back to Boston seemed like the longest 10 hours of Jane's life...and she made it known. Even though they were in first class, she still couldn't get comfortable. Flying wasn't her favourite activity on any occasion, let alone when it was for 10 hours.

Maura could hear the rustling and huffing coming from Jane's direction, lifting her eye mask the doctor chuckled at the site in front of her - Jane sitting with an angry frown on her face trying and failing to put the ear buds in but they kept falling straight back out. On the last attempt she launched them at the floor with a huff.

Jane looked over at Maura who was still peeking from under her eye mask smiling, "oh, find this funny do you doctor? Well i'm glad to be providing the in-flight entertainment for you between your peaceful and enjoyable napping time!"

"Oh Jane, don't be like that. But yes. I am finding you entertaining. Why don't you just have a couple of beers and watch a movie to relax? Don't worry about sleeping, you can do that when we get home."

"Because Maur, I want to spend time with you when we're home, not alone in bed because i'm too grouchy to socialise with anything remotely human."

"Who said anything about you being alone in bed?" The honey blonde followed up her statement by biting her bottom lip, something she had come to learn Jane couldn't resist.

Jane leaned across into Maura's first class pod and dropped the tone of her voice "well babe...why wait until we're home? Mile high?" The detective watched as Maura pondered this, unable to hold the straight face any longer Jane burst into laughter "I'm joking Maura, don't panic, i'm not going to drag you into an unsanitary airplane toilet...I think it would cause you to have an aneurism instead of an orgasm! I'm than happy to wait for what I want." She leaned over and kissed the doctor. "Anyway Maur, go back to sleep. I'll have the beers you suggested and pick the dullest film on offer, hopefully it'll knock me right out."

Maura smiled "Ok darling, that sounds like a good idea, i'll see you in a couple of hours. Enjoy your movie my love." With that she pulled her eye mask back down and turned on her side.

Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

The rest of the flight went smoothly, Jane managed to get a couple of hours sleep so that she wasn't totally dead to the world once the plane touched down in Boston.

They were first off of the plane and waiting for their luggage. Jane looked at Maura and cleared her throat "hey, so, i'm not sure we've talked about this. Erm, do you want me to go back to my apartment and just come over later? Or should I come with you to your house? No pressure ok. You've put up with me for a month straight, a couple hours breather would be totally understandable."

"Jane, I see us spending the rest of our lives in each others company, so no, after one month I do not want a breather. You shouldn't of even had to ask. Don't doubt this just because we're back in Boston ok. This is it for me now. Wherever we are in the world. This is it. Us." She pulled the lanky Italian towards her and gave her a chaste kiss.

Jane grabbed the cases from the carousel and loaded the trolly. She turned to grab Maura's hand and smiled "Well in that case, let's get going..." her smile dropped and she stopped dead "shit...I've just realised we're going to have to deal with mom on arrival...crap, crappy, shitballs!"

The doctor frowned at Jane "Language! We're in public! Calm down will you. We don't have to deal with her today, we could just not tell her for today and decide the best way to approach it all."

"No Maur I don't want to pretend anything isn't as it should be. I want us to be natural in each others company and especially in your own home. I'll just need to shift this mood and find some patience on the drive to your house...god help us...actually, god help you. I'm used to my mother and her reactions, and my reactions to that matter. You're definitely doing this with me, I'll beg you if I have to it's the only way to keep me sane! Orrrrr I could say I caught the plague in Paris from a rat and although i'm over the worst of it I need to not see anyone but you...you have naturally been vaccinated..."

"Don't be so ridiculous! Jane you are talking utter nonsense and definitely over reacting. Yes it's a big step and will probably be a lot for Angela to take in, but she's a rational person and she has eyes. I'm not sure this is going to be a surprise to as many people as you think."

The detectives head shot round to face Maura "WHAT?! Is that a serious comment?! I actually find that slightly offensive! To think that I waited how long to tell you and everyone else always knew! Why did I not know this?! Jeez!"

Maura chuckled "Jane, can you please just calm down. Lets get out of here, have a coffee, wait for your mother and have calm, rational conversation. She'll be fine. Plus, no one wants to be around a couple in the 'honeymoon' period of the first stages of a relationship, so it may work to our advantage of having more time to ourselves." Maura finished the sentence with a wink and turned on her heels to walk through the exit, leaving Jane behind pushing the trolley full of luggage.

The Italian smiled talking to herself..."god I love that woman."