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 57

"Do you realize that you have now two books basically outlined from beginning to end?" Jane asked Maura, incredulous.

She had just finished reading what Maura had written during the day after Jane had come home from work and they had dinner together.

"Yes… Of course now comes the exercise of redistributing the clues along the chapters to make it more compelling, but I think these two stories are solid to pursue."

"Solid? Maura, this is incredible! You have been doing this full-time for what? A little over two months now?"

"Two months and ten days."

"And you already have two solid stories written that you just need to edit?"

"Well, before I would write three to four hours a week, if and when I managed that much… Now, I have been able to comfortably write for at least six hours a day every weekday…"

"My love, having time of course plays a factor. But most people, including me, could have all the time in the world, and still not be able to spin out anything meaningful in that time… I am so proud of you…"

"Yes… I can also say that I am proud of myself…"

Jane smiled gently at her.

"But more important than being proud, Maura… Are you happy?" Jane asked, seriously, looking deeply into hazel green eyes, raising a hand to cup a regal cheek.

"Do you even need to ask, Jane? I am happier than I have ever been…" Maura smiled gently at Jane, raising her own hand to mimic Jane's gesture and cup Jane's strong jaw.

Jane turned her face slightly to kiss Maura's palm, before leaning on her touch.

"So what is the outcome of your experiment so far?" Jane asked with a glint of mirth in her eyes.

"A resounding success… I feel I have definitive proof that yes, I can be a full-time writer and feel challenged, fulfilled, engaged and active. With the plus side that I feel much healthier and way less stressed out…"

"I am glad to hear that…" Jane grinned widely. She loved Maura very much, and it warmed Jane's heart to know she had found a new, better, calmer path of life that she could live with.

"And I think I also have enough of a verdict for the parallel experiment that we were running…" Maura teased.

"You do?" It was Jane's time to sober up, looking inquisitively into Maura's serene eyes.

"I do." Maura nodded.

"Later, that same day…" Jane teased, and Maura laughed out loud. "Are you planning to tell me any time soon?" Jane pouted.

Maura leaned in to kiss Jane's lips softly.

"I am surprised the best detective I know even needs to ask…"

Jane rolled her eyes.

"I don't want to guess, or infer, or assume, Maura… This is too important for me to risk getting it wrong. I cannot afford being wrong. I would rather hear from you in unequivocal terms…"

"Unequivocal… Wow… living with a full-time writer is rubbing on you!" Maura teased.

"Maura!" Jane practically growled. "You are deflecting!"

"No, my love, I am just teasing you… I also deem our experience in cohabitation a resounding success."

Maura saw Jane wincing at the word.

"Let me guess… Cohabitation is another turn off word…"

"Totally…" Jane chuckled, shaking her head.

"Well, let me put it this way, then. I love waking up with you. I love going to bed with you. I love everything we do when we are in bed, including sleeping. I love spending any time I can together with you. I love the fact that you treat our relationship as a partnership. That you respect and value our differences. I love that we can count on each other as if it was second nature, without having to even think about it. I love how much you make me feel safe and cared for. I love your cheerleading and support in everything I try. I love the way you are, so direct, so there is no mistake on how you feel or what you mean, and I don't need to keep second guessing myself when I am with you."

Maura paused for a moment, making sure her words have sunk in, before she continued.

"I love all of you, Jane Clementine Rizzoli. And I love all of me when I am with you. You bring out the best in me, and I feel like I am a better person when I am with you."

Jane had her eyes welled in tears. The way Maura referred to them, together, touched some deep chord in Jane's psyche. She tried to hold back her tears, not wanting to breakdown. Twice she tried to speak to answer to Maura, but after clearing her throat, the only word that came out and that would not make her cry was "Ditto."

Maura laughed out loud, picking Jane's face between both of her hands. "I love that you've been such a good influence on me that I know what this reference of the 'Ditto' is about." Before Maura leaned forward, totally invading Jane's personal space, to kiss her slowly and thoroughly.

They were comfortable in the sofa, Maura cuddled against Jane, just enjoying their closeness.

"You are unusually quiet…" Maura mused. "Are you okay?"

Jane kissed Maura's forehead. "I am fine… Just thinking…"

"Care to share?"

They had promised to talk, Jane reminded herself. And Maura's declaration a few moments before had brought to the surface some thoughts that had been swimming in Jane's head since Maura had been living with her in DC.

Jane moved, to encircle Maura with her long arms, and to lock her in place with her long legs.

Maura chuckled. "What do you think you are doing?"

"Making sure that you won't run for the mountains after I begin to talk…" Jane spoke in a small voice.

Maura turned in her arms, hugging Jane tightly. "I promise I will not run for the mountains, Jane. It would be too far to run to any mountain departing from DC anyway…" Maura teased, and Jane slapped her thigh lightly in reproach.

"I was about to ask you what your experiment being successful means?"

"It means I can continue being a full-time writer…"

"And the fact that you considered our cohabitation…" and Jane winced as she pronounced the word. "… experiment also a successful, does it also mean that we can continue living together?" Jane asked, hopeful.

"It depends, Jane… What do you want?"

Jane inhaled. "I know we never talked about it, and it scares the shit out of me to talk about it, and I don't want you to run for the mountains…"

"We already established that I will not run for the mountains…" Maura squeezed Jane tightly.

"Okay… I… I want to ask you to move in together with me… Not temporarily… For good. For good, good… For… as long as you will have me… Hopefully for as long as we live?" Jane added, seriously, her chocolate brown eyes searching for hazel ones, and unconsciously holding tighter to Maura.

Jane observed Maura looking at her, searching for her eyes, and Jane could almost hear the wheels and cogs in Maura's mind.

"Are you…" Maura stopped, swallowing hard. "Are you proposing to me?" Maura asked, in an uncertain voice.

It was Jane's turn to swallow hard before responding. "I am… And I realize this is not the romantic way of doing it you deserve, Maura… But we never discussed the topic, and we promised we would talk about things… So I am talking… We will find a bigger place so you can bring your things and have an office to write. And I wi…" but Jane was cut short by Maura's mouth crashing into hers into a soulful kiss that left Jane lightheaded.

When they broke for air long moments later, Jane looked expectantly at Maura, who was grinning widely.

"Was that a yes?" Jane asked with a shy smile.

Instead of responding, Maura stood up, and moved to the shelf on Jane's living room where a few books stood, leaving a puzzled Jane by the sofa. Maura found the book she had autographed to Jane that evening back in New York, and handed it to her. "You clearly have not read my dedication from that night yet, have you?" Maura teased, sitting back in the sofa and finding her place comfortably curled against Jane.

Jane opened the dedication page to read it:

"To my beloved Jane, who rescued me from the heart of the jungle when the world had already given up on me… With you – always with you – I am willing to face everything and anything, for as long as we live... Love, Maura."

(The End)