Author's Note: Thank you very much for all your reviews and messages, the fic will come to an end tomorrow (more or less as planned).

Chapter Thirty-Three

Jane barely hid her annoyance the moment Frost walked back into the squad room. She frowned at her colleague and waited for him to sit down at his desk to ask him the question that burnt her lips.

"What's so interesting in the morgue that you stayed there for so long?"

Her question was probably inappropriate since she was the one who had asked Frost to go see Maura in the first place. Jane wanted to avoid Maura. Barely a day and a half had passed by and she wasn't ready to see her partner anew. As a matter of fact, she was even glad that she and Maura hadn't had to go on a crime scene together. Fate had been nice to them and they had been able to keep a reasonable distance.

"Dr. Isles and I needed to have a talk."

Jane's hear skipped a beat. She swallowed hard and subconsciously pursed her lips. This was not the kind of answer she had hoped to hear. Even from Frost whom she could trust.

"... 'Bout what?"

Frost stared at her in disbelief which caused her to immediately raise her hands to apologize for her obviously intrusive question. He was right. Jane had to admit it. Frost was nice enough to adapt to the situation. Thus she couldn't ask him more efforts.

"If you really wanted to know then you had to go downstairs all by yourself, Jane. Deal with it."

"Is she okay though?" Jane's voice broke. Of course she had been thinking about Maura a lot these past few hours. She needed to be sure that Maura was fine. "She's working on her speech for tonight, right? I'm sure she is."

Maura's office and the BPD joined for a charity event later during the day. It took place every year and Jane had to admit that she often had fun out there. Sadly she didn't think she would be able to say the same about this year. She dreaded the moment she and Maura would be in the same room, at the same table. Because it was exactly what was about to happen. Jane knew it. She and Maura were always at the same table.

It was the kind of evidence that had always made sense. Or at least until now.

Frost nodded. He held out to Jane a medical file with lab results and folded the legs of his action figure so it could sit down on top of his desk.

"Her speech is ready, indeed."

"Ah! I knew it." Jane had spoken very loudly but she couldn't care less. "She read her speech to you, that's why it took you so long to come back up here. I'm right, hmm?"

Frost seemed to hesitate for long seconds but the glowing of his face betrayed his inner thoughts. He finally smiled at Jane before giving her a nod.

"It's a wonderful speech... The kind of speech we won't forget."

The remark made Jane feel proud. Her reaction was a bit ridiculous but she couldn't help it. She was glad and felt very proud of Maura's achievements. Even if they still avoided each other right now.

...

Jane pulled on her collar. She didn't feel at ease. Not only was she forced to wear her uniform but she knew that Maura would show up any minute now.

The event was in full swing. The guests were arriving and groups of discussion had formed before people to finally go sit at their designated tables.

"Tell me once again why we have to wear this uniform when everyone else is dressed up to the nine? It makes me feel so stupid."

Frost laughed quietly. He wasn't very fond of the idea of wearing his uniform either but he didn't take it as badly as Jane did. They both walked to their table where Korsak was already sitting. Like every year.

Jane honestly liked the event even if she complained it always followed the same scheme, the same program. She wasn't exaggerating. It was true. She could tell her friends and colleagues what and when every single point of the evening would take place. She could even place her bets on their boss' jokes.

The charity event was nice but everything was way too expected.

"Last-minute change." Korsak waved the program each guest could find next to their glasses. "It's the Chief Medical Examiner of the Commonwealth who launches the meal."

Jane held back a moan. She knew what was coming and she wasn't ready for it at all. But then Korsak couldn't guess anything. Only Frost had a vague idea of her current state of mind.

Her dark eyes fixed upon the stage. Within a few minutes now, the woman who had made Jane believe in love again would be there. She would talk about the work of her team as well as the work of the BPD. Then she would share a few words for the families who had lost their beloved ones on duty.

It was the whole point of this evening. The charity raised money for the children of late officers.

"Has she arrived yet?"

Jane obviously didn't sound as casual as she had hoped to because Korsak stared at her as if she had just spoken to him in Greek.

"You didn't make it here with her? That's usually how it works."

Jane heard Frost laugh discreetly but she preferred to remain focused on Korsak's remark. He had a point, one that explained why her dating Maura wasn't surprising to many.

"Nope..." A bright but painful smile played on Jane's lips. "Not this year, I'm afraid. I've come straight from Back Bay."

"Dr. Isles was working until 7pm today. She told me she'd come here straight after work."

Jane cast a glance at Frost and thanked him in silence for his clever remark. She knew that Maura worked late today but it hadn't crossed her mind that she could use this detail as an argument. Frost had done it for her. Thus Korsak wouldn't ask any further question.

The room was full now. As a matter of fact, Maura was the only one missing. Jane frowned as confusion invaded her. She hoped that Maura wouldn't skip the event because of their argument at the coffee shop. That would be disastrous.

"Ladies and gentlemen, your attention please."

A feminine voice caused Jane to turn around and look at the stage. The founder of the charity event, Carla Dominguez, was now speaking in the microphone. The evening was obviously about to start now.

This is when Jane spotted Maura. Her partner was timidly standing on the very far end of the stage. She was patiently waiting for Carla to introduce her to go and deliver her very own speech. Jane swallowed hard and immediately focused back on Carla in order to avoid an uncomfortable eye-contact with Maura.

"Welcome to our annual charity held by the BPD and the chief medical examiner's office. I won't make you wait any longer... Thank you very much for being part of this evening. Now please welcome the Chief Medical Examiner of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts: Dr. Maura Isles."

The whole room politely applauded. Jane more timidly than the rest of the guests. She barely dared to look at Maura for two seconds.

"Good evening, everyone." Maura's voice sounded loudly in the room. It was very self-assured, full of this sweet authority Jane loved so much. "Before I go any further into this speech, please accept my apologies for the last-minute change in tonight's program but... I would like to talk to you about... About someone before us to share this delicious dinner together in memory of the men and the women who lost their lives on duty."

Jane's heart sped up its pace. Her blood turned icy and she literally froze as Maura's words passed underneath her skin.

"I wanted to talk to you about someone who holds a very, very special place in my heart. We met six years ago under... Unsual circumstances... And she instantly changed my life. For the better. She is kind, and caring. A bit stubborn at times but honest and passionate. She is in this room tonight and..."

Jane glanced at Frost. She held back a sigh of frustration as she noticed the way her colleague and friend was now smiling. He had known since the very beginning. Frost had known that Maura would speak about Jane in her speech.

"Her dedication to the BPD is exemplary. She doesn't hesitate to risk her life to save people... As she did for me, on several occasions in the past. The person I am talking about as some of you must have guessed by now is Homicide Detective Jane Rizzoli."

Jane held her breath as she felt a hundred pairs of eyes on her. She didn't particularly like being the center of attention.

"Jane, please. Look at me."

Jane did. Reluctantly. And because Maura's voice was suddenly shaking.

"Within these past six years, you have offered me a lot more than a mere friendship. You have allowed me to understand that I didn't have to be lonely, that I deserved to be loved and... To be listened at. I wouldn't be standing here right now if you hadn't supported me, if you hadn't led me to understand that... That I had a place in this city and a role to play in this world. You are my light, Jane. I owe you my life." Maura held back a sob but bravely kept on talking. She did not have any paper to read because she simply had to let her heart talk for her. And the words came easily, so easily. "I hope that Jane Austen won't mind me stealing her words... I only do it because she is a lot more talented than I am to express something that is burning my lips: "In vain have I struggled. It will not do. My feelings will not be repressed. You must allow me to tell you how ardently I adrmire and love you." I love you, Jane. I am in love with you. And I am not afraid to say it now just as I am not afraid to ask you to marry me."