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 53
Jane woke up alone in bed.
She showered quickly, before moving through the apartment, finding Maura already up, showered, and quietly doing yoga in the living room, with Central Park beneath her feet.
"Hey… did you sleep well?" Jane asked, with a coffee mug from the coffee machine, and a tea mug for Maura, when she saw Maura had finished her yoga sequence.
"I think I was too agitated to sleep really well... But I didn't have nightmares, and whenever I woke up, I went back to sleep because you made me comfortable... I always sleep better by your side…"
"Glad to be of service…" Jane chuckled. "Here, I thought you would prefer tea to help settle your nerves – is chamomile okay? Or I can make you some of this wicked coffee…" Jane offered her the steamy mug.
"Tea is perfect, Jane, thank you…"
"I can also prepare you some scrambled eggs – only whites – and a toast?"
"I am not hungry…"
"You cannot spend the day without eating, Maura. Please?"
"Some fruits, and yogurt, then."
Jane nodded. Whatever it was, she would make Maura eat. Jane served Maura first, while her scrambled eggs were getting ready, and was happy to see Maura stealing a fork or two of her plate.
"You can have more, there is plenty…" Jane offered.
"No, I should be going. I have the appointment on the nail salon and with the hairdresser. They are both at street level on this building complex, so it is convenient."
"Is there anything you need me to do for you in the meanwhile?"
"Come with me?" Maura asked, in a small voice.
"Of course."
Jane went downstairs with Maura. The salon was very upscale, and the attendants seemed to know Maura's likes and dislikes from previous trips.
They efficiently did her manicure and pedicure, and then, while that was drying, they proceeded to do her hair.
Jane kept talking to Maura, asking her questions and keeping her distracted, entertained and relaxed. She didn't want Maura to go into a spiral of worry.
Jane always had thought Maura's hair was something out of this world. Thick, lustrous, silky and shiny. She saw the ladies praising her, and discussing with Maura how she wanted it done. They showed her a few possibilities, and after agreeing on some adjustments, they proceeded to apply the highlights and then to hydrate and coiffe it for Maura. They also helped doing her makeup.
When they were done, Jane had to pick her jaw from where it had hit the floor. Maura was always beautiful, but right now she looked absolutely gorgeous.
As per Maura's request, the attendants also did Jane's manicure, and Jane agreed to them hydrating and coifing her hair, and even agreed to them doing her makeup following Maura's instructions.
"We should eat lunch, and then we need to get ready to move to the press-conference building." Maura offered, after they paid. "There is a nice bistro on the corner where I can get a salad."
Jane was happy that Maura had not yet ditched the food.
She offered her arm to Maura, while they walked leisurely. People kept turning their heads at them.
"Is there something wrong with us?" Maura asked, noticing the heads turning in their direction.
Jane looked at Maura, and chuckled.
"Yeah…"
"What?" Maura squeaked, stopping Jane. "What is wrong? And why didn't you tell me before we left the salon?"
Jane laughed. "What is wrong with us, honey, is that we are too beautiful for their standards… We are literally turning heads in New York, Maura… You are about to stop traffic next!"
Maura ran her eyes appreciatively over Jane's body, and Jane did the same with her.
"Yeah, I guess you are right." Maura admitted, with a smirk, blushing.
They enjoyed a light lunch, before they moved back to the Isles' apartment so Maura could get ready.
Jane tried to stay out of her way, and specially to get herself dressed so Maura didn't need to stress out about Jane being ready.
Jane was struggling with the cuff link for the tailored suit Maura had gotten her, so when that was the only last thing missing for Jane to be ready, she decided to show up in the bedroom Maura was using to get ready herself.
"Hi…" Jane poked her head through the door, and her jaw immediately went slack. Maura was simply stunning.
"Hello…" Maura turned to look at her with bright hazel eyes. "Are you okay?" she asked, seeing Jane's slack expression.
Jane remembered to breathe again. "Yes… It is just that you are… breathtaking…" Jane replied stuttering.
"Thank you, Jane." Maura blushed in response. "Do you need help with that?" Maura motioned to the cuff links on Jane's hand.
"Yes…" Jane finally entered the room, and then it was Maura's turn to look impressed at her. The tailored pinstriped suit was perfectly form-fitting, and the high heels Maura had convinced her to wear made Jane look all-powerful.
Maura's breath hitched as Jane got closer to her, and Jane could notice Maura's slightly shaking hands as she adjusted the cuff links on Jane's shirt wrists.
"There. You look absolutely gorgeous… Looking at you I can only think of one thing…"
"And what is that?" Jane asked, curious.
"That if we were not on a schedule, I would want nothing more than to undress you…"
"I will hold you to that thought… Later?"
"It is a date…"
Jane held Maura's hands in hers, noticing that besides shaking, they were slightly cold.
"Are you okay?"
Maura closed her eyes and exhaled loudly, the tell-tale she was trying to keep calm using her yoga relaxation breathing technique. "Nervous. But it is almost time…"
Maura picked the jewelry she was going to wear, and Jane helped her to set it around her neck.
"There, all set."
Maura's phone buzzed. "The driver is downstairs."
"Are you ready?"
"As ready as I am ever going to be, I guess…" Maura raised uncertain eyes to Jane.
"Then let's do this!" Jane squeezed Maura's hand lightly, and tugged her to follow.
