Author's Note: Thank you very much for all the reviews, I really appreciate them.

Chapter Seventeen

"And... Goodbye, Boston. See you in four days."

Jane tried to sound casual and even cheerful but something in her tone of voice betrayed the latent stress she had felt since Maura's birthday. She glanced at her friend on the passenger seat. Maura had put her sunglasses on and a peaceful smile played on her lips. She looked rather serene, and happy.

Lightness. Jane saw their getaway as a moment of lightness they both needed. It was actually her birthday gift to Maura: five days in Maine, far from the frenzy of Boston and its unbearable temperatures. Just the two of them.

Perhaps this two-week suspension came in handy in the end.

"Please let me know if you want to have a rest. I can drive too."

Maura's offer was nothing but an act of politeness because she knew that Jane preferred to drive. Besides, they weren't going too far. Jane had booked a small house by the sea on Airbnb that was only a few hours away from Boston. Just as planned, Jane shook her head.

"Nah. It's your birthday present so you gotta relax and enjoy the moment. Seize the day!" Jane gave Maura a smile but she remained focused on the road. "You can even take a nap if you want to."

The words burned her lips but Jane didn't dare to ask about Finn. Her mother had told her that he and Maura had broken up just after her birthday. Jane didn't feel sorry but confused. Yet since Maura hadn't alluded to it, then she had preferred to remain quiet over it too. She knew how Maura worked: she wouldn't say a word if she didn't want to.

The truth was that Mateo had distanced himself with Jane too. She had called him twice only to land almost right away on his vocal machine every time. He hadn't called her back. Not yet. She didn't really understand what was happening.

Of course, spending less time with him and more time with Maura was a blessing but she didn't like being between two things without knowing what to expect from both sides. Mateo's silence was strange, and stressing too.

"I'm glad we're going away for a while..."

Maura's soft voice filled the car briefly. It passed underneath Jane's skin before reaching her heart to embrace it lovingly. Seeing Maura happy made her feel happy. Perhaps it was ridiculous but she didn't have a hold over the whole thing.

"Ma' suggested Provincetown but it's... It's too packed at this time of the year."

Jane blushed. Her argument was true yet it wasn't the reason why she hadn't even looked for a room out there. The symbol of Provincetown bothered her. She knew that it was a top destination for same-sex couples and the last thing she wanted was to give fuel to the rumors that were going on at the BPD. Besides, it was cliché. Just because she and Maura slept together didn't mean that they wanted to go to same-sex couples only destinations.

"I love Maine. I couldn't ask for a better place..." Maura hesitated for a few seconds before finally squeezing Jane's knee tightly. She didn't want her friend to misinterpret her gesture. Though she didn't know herself whether it was a friendly one or if it hid something more complex. "Thank you very much, Jane."

...

The house was small but cozy. Perfect. It overlooked the ocean and was located at the end of a small road where very few cars drove by. Maura opened the French windows and walked outside onto the first-floor balcony as soon as their host left the house after a warm welcome. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath.

The temperatures were high but it wasn't as humid as in Boston. The sea breeze made it bearable, even pleasant. She turned her head to look at Jane and flashed her friend a bright smile.

"You know, I may never feel like coming back to Boston after these four days we're about to spend here... It's such a gorgeous little town. I love it!"

Against all expectations, the city girl Jane was enjoyed the charms of the town very much as well. She had just sent a text message to her mother in order to let her know that they had made it to their destination safe and sound. Their getaway could now start.

Except Jane didn't know what to do.

A part of her wanted to undress Maura, to plant endless kisses on her skin and to carry her to the king-size bed of the master bedroom to have sex for the next hours or so. But another part of her was hoping for something quieter and sweeter. Something that wasn't lustful.

She simply wanted to go for a stroll on the beach and perhaps, if she felt confident enough, then she would hold Maura's hand tightly.

From what she had seen as they had driven by the beach, only a few families were there. The town was intimate enough, perfect for the long and quiet weekend Jane wanted to have with her friend.

"I'm sorry I took you away from Mateo."

Maura's remark took Jane aback. She had thought about him and Finn since the moment they had left Boston but she had preferred to not mention any of them to Maura. The circumstances were different now, though.

"I'm sorry for you and Finn. Ma' told me about it."

"Oh." Maura nodded but she remained focused on the ribbon of blue that spread in front of her. She wasn't angry. As a matter of fact, she couldn't care less if Angela had told Jane about her breakup with Finn. "It's okay... I'm fine."

Jane swallowed hard. Her hands were moist and her heart was beating fast. She walked to the end of the balcony and mirrored Maura. She stared at the ocean in front of her. Peacefully.

"Really?"

"Yes." Maura didn't show any sign of hesitation. She replied immediately, with a very clear confidence. She couldn't lie anyway. "He was just a fling, a stupid fling. I don't even know why we started dating."

However, she still didn't understand what had pushed him to break up with her nor why he had alluded to her and Jane in such terms. Maura hadn't forgotten about his text message. She had deleted it though, too afraid of the possibility a third party may find it. She didn't know how he had managed to guess that the friendship she shared with Jane wasn't a classic one. Lucy hadn't told him about it either. It didn't make sense.

"If we're being honest..." Jane sighed loudly. "I don't think it'll work out with Mateo either. I don't feel it. Do you see what I mean?"

Maura turned her head slowly. She looked at Jane then nodded.

"I do." She ran her tongue over her lips and hesitated for a while before finally giving in. She walked to Jane and rested a hand on top of her friend's shoulder. Jane hadn't moved an inch. She was still deeply focused on the ocean and the waves that kept on crashing below. "You don't have to force yourself, Jane."

The kiss Maura planted on top of Jane's shoulder turned out to be very quiet. However the touch burned Jane's skin. It made her heart beat faster and her cheeks redden.

They rarely showed such display of affection, even in private. They didn't kiss, they didn't hold hands and they barely hugged. They had never liked all these gestures. Yet it had felt right to Maura, this time. She had wanted to kiss Jane's shoulder.

"So it's just the two of us... What do you wanna do?"

Jane's lack of transition felt like a betrayal but she didn't see herself allude to the ephemeral kiss Maura had just given her. Besides, she didn't know what to say about it.

Maura shrugged. A gust of wind caused her hair to dance wildly around her face. Jane held back a smile. It was in these moments she loved Maura the most, when her friend let go of everything and accepted life the way it happened to be. Maura was makeup free and her hair a bit messy from the drive. The ocean breeze added a natural touch to the whole.

It's when Jane realized that, no matter what would happen next, she would never forget these few days in Maine. They would get engraved in her heart for the rest of her life because of the feelings they would have stirred up.

Untold feelings.

"Perhaps we could go explore the area a little bit. What do you think?"

The fact Maura didn't want to have sex oddly reassured Jane. They were on the same page. Of course, they didn't jump on each other every single time they were left alone but the closeness of a bed often resulted enough to drag them to more primary and carnal desires.

"Sounds perfect to me. I need to walk a little after all this driving anyway! Hannah said the fridge was full but nothing prevents us from going to the restaurant tonight. Oh and by the way: you're my guest so... It's all on me."

"Really...?"

Jane nodded and before Maura had a chance to say anything back, she grabbed her friend's hand to lead her downstairs to the main room. They picked up their phones and belongings then left.

Hand in hand.