DISCLAIMER:I do not own Rizzoli & Isles nor any of the characters from the show. I am writing this purely for entertainment, not profit. Rizzoli and Isles are property of Tess Gerritsen and TNT.

Please find the full disclaimers in the beginning of Chapter 1.


Chapter 38

Maura parked her car on her driveway, completely exhausted.

It was a Friday. The first full week since she had been fully back to normal workload, performing all the autopsies and going to the field.

And if her ribs had not bothered her, she was very much aware of the other impacts to her body and to her feelings.

More and more she felt compelled to her decision. It was time to wrap up this chapter in her life. She was more and more inclined to resign when her term was over in a few weeks.

But, for now, she was desperately looking forward to a quiet weekend.

Angela was out of town, having taken the train to visit an older cousin in New York who had fallen ill, and Angela had given her the heads up there would be no Rizzoli Sunday lunch or dinner planned.

Maura unlocked the door, and was met by the delicious aroma of Italian food.

She shook her head. "Angela! I thought you had already left for New York… Any changes in your plans?" Maura asked, while she moved to the office to drop off her medical bag, since she was not on call for the weekend.

Maura was surprised not hearing a response from Angela.

She was even more surprised when she walked towards the kitchen and saw the table beautifully arranged, plates, glasses, cutlery, candles. Her favorite wine was breathing in the decanter already.

And, on the top of the kitchen counter, her crystal trumpet vase was sitting with a single red rose in it. Maura was impressed – the rose had obviously been hand-picked, it was absolutely perfect. And it was only then Maura noticed a card in a little tent by the base of the vase.

Opening it, she felt her heart swell and warmth envelope her, her laughter echoing clearly through the empty house. It read: "Would you have a dinner date with me? J. PS: text me your response."

"Jane?" Maura called, looking around.

"Is that a yes or a no, Maura? You are not following the instructions..." Jane whined from the guest bedroom, making Maura laugh again.

Jane had been anxiously waiting for Maura. She had taken the Friday off as soon as she had learned her mother would be out of town. She had flown in early, ordered food on the Italian restaurant Maura favored, prepared the entire house accordingly, showered and dressed up. She had heard Maura's heels entering the house, had to hold her laughter to Maura talking to an imaginary Angela, and felt her heart warm to Maura's crystal-clear laughter. Jane knew she would do anything – and she meant anything – to keep that laughter always present.

Maura picked up her phone, and texted Jane.

"Do you even need to ask? Of course!"

Jane smiled and walked out of the guestroom. She had dressed nicely, knowing Maura would have been dressing nicely from the workday, as was usual.

"Sorry to disappoint you… I am not Ma, and I didn't cook." Jane offered, sheepishly.

Maura hugged her best friend tightly. "I thought it was your mother because I had absolutely no idea you were coming, Jane."

"That was the point of it: to be a surprise!" Jane hugged Maura back. "It is good to see you not wincing when you raise your arms…"

"Oh, the longest six weeks of my life. But they are over now. No more movement restrictions." Maura moved freely to show off.

"Good. Let me settle you." Jane guided Maura gently to the table, pulling the chair for her.

Then, she went back to grab the decanter, and poured the wine for Maura to try.

"Hmmm, it is perfect, Jane." Jane proceeded to pour the glass for Maura, and one for herself.

Then, she poured water for both of them, before bringing in the salads – that she had the decency to remove from the delivery plastic containers and plate beautifully for them.

"This looks fabulous!" Maura praised. "And it tastes delicious too."

"I am glad you enjoyed." Jane replied gently.

After the salad, Jane removed their salad plates and brought in the plated entrees.

"Oh my, this is to die for!"

"It is Turturro's." Jane smiled, satisfied to see Maura enjoying herself.

When they were done, the dinner crowned by Maura's favorite Belgian chocolate mousse, Jane topped Maura's glass, and insisted Maura moved to the living room sofa while Jane put things away.

"But I can help."

"No. Today you are the guest. Allow me, please..."

Maura nodded and relaxed on the sofa, and Jane soon joined her, bringing her own glass of wine, and the bottle on its chilling bucket.

Maura hated to assume or to guess, so she was trying not to guess why Jane was really there. Her heart had been out of compass since Jane arrived, but she wanted to keep her expectations in check. She was about to ask, when Jane volunteered.

"I am not nearly as good with words as you are, Maura. And after starting a few times to write to you, I decided I needed to talk to you. Face to face." Jane began, raising her eyes to meet Maura's, that were wide and a bit frightened.

"I told you in the letter I didn't expect you to ever talk about it, Jane." Maura gave her a final way out. And if it was even possible, Jane loved Maura even more for that.

She smiled. "I know… But I realized what a coward I was being for not sharing with you how I feel as well before it is too late, and I come to regret it…"

"Okay…" Maura sipped her wine, trying to calm herself down.

"Relax, Maura. It is just us…" Jane offered with a gentle smile, noticing Maura's anxiety.

Maura nodded, and placed her glass down, smoothing the imaginary wrinkles on her already spotless skirt.

"I should start by saying that I love you, Maura. As a person. As my best friend. And as a woman." Jane chose to use the same wording Maura had used addressing her – Jane had re-read Maura's letter so many times in the past month, that by now she knew it by heart.

Jane was looking intensely into Maura's beautiful hazel eyes. So she saw when realization dawned on Maura, and Maura blinked twice, hard, as if trying to reassure herself.

"You do?" she asked, with incredulity, swallowing hard.

"I do." Jane smiled at her, blushing. "You are absolutely gorgeous, wickedly smart, and unbelievably kind and generous. If I am completely honest with myself and with you, I felt attracted to you the first time I saw you."

"You did?" Maura seemed unable to form more coherent sentences, her heart drumming in her chest.

"I did. I still do. I am pretty sure I always will." Jane smiled lovingly at her, and Maura blushed under her appreciative gaze.