The Gala

Jane ran a hand subconsciously over her dress as she glanced around the room, feeling completely out of place. Now that she was married to Maura, her presence at Constance's art galas was expected. Actually, any gala that Maura attended Jane had to attend as well. It wasn't that much different than before they were married and Jane would attend as Maura's plus one. However, once word got out that they were married, there was always at least one photo taken of them during the event that would then surface in an article about said event. Even with Maura helping Jane choose the right dress, the brunette always felt out of her element and out of place next to Maura.

This art gala had been very exhausting. Constance had introduced them to what felt like everyone in attendance. They had both had a long day at work with a case and all they really wanted to do was go home and sleep but they couldn't duck out too early.

Jane sipped on her champagne and let her eyes scan the room. Maura had been dragged away by Constance so Jane had used the time to lean against a wall to try and soothe her aching feet and just observe everyone else. Her stomach gave a small grumble and she realised she hadn't eaten much that day and the canapes at the galas weren't very appetizing or big. The brunette pushed herself off the wall with a sigh as she went in search of her wife in the hopes they could leave early and grab some food.

It didn't take long before Jane spotted Maura and she frowned slightly as she took in the sight of the blonde's flushed cheeks and the slight sway to her body. Jane realised that Maura probably hadn't eaten much either and she had been palmed a fresh glass of champagne as soon as hers was empty. Maura could hold her champagne when she had eaten but on an empty stomach, it was a recipe for disaster.

"Hey." Jane walked up to the group and wrapped an arm around Maura's waist. "I just need to steal my wife away for a minute." She turned them away from the group and noticed how much the blonde leaned into her side as they walked. "Let's go home."

"Home?" Maura questioned with a frown and Jane could hear the slight slur in her voice.

"Yes, home, Maur." Jane took the glass of champagne from her wife's hand and placed it on a tray of a passing waiter as she guided them to the door. Maura let out a contented sigh and let her own arm slink around Jane's waist, her hand coming to rest on Jane's ass. The brunette chuckled to herself and hoped there were no photographers snapping their exit.

Jane managed to get them both into a cab, Maura's movements having slowed from the champagne, and gave the driver their address. Maura settled into Jane's side and looked up at her in thought.

"Jane."

"Yeah, Maur?" The brunette reached out and tucked a stray strand of hair behind Maura's ear.

"You're so beautiful." She let out a contented sigh and let her head drop to Jane's shoulder.

"Not as beautiful as you," Jane whispered and pressed a kiss to the top of Maura's head.

Once the cab pulled up outside of the house, Jane managed to pull Maura out and guide her up to the door. The brunette eyed the stairs and then the heels that the blonde was wearing before she pulled one of Maura's arms over her shoulders and wrapped an arm tightly around her waist.

"Walk with me," Jane instructed as she stepped onto the first step. Maura wobbled from the champagne and her heels as she attempted to climb the stairs. "There we go," Jane encouraged.

"You know, you look reeeeally good in that dress." Maira grinned and used her free hand to run it up Jane's stomach, stopping just below her left breast.

"Maur, now is not the time to feel me up," Jane groaned as Maura's hand cupped her breast, halting both of their steps for a moment.

"Oh." Maura frowned and concentrated on her steps but didn't remove her hand.

"Okay, let's get you changed," Jane said as they made it into the bedroom. "I just need to unzip you." She turned Maura in her arms so she could unzip the dress. Maura took the opportunity to wrap her arms around Jane's neck and pull her down for a kiss.

"Maur," Jane whispered into the kiss as she pulled the zip down of her wife's dress.

"You're such a good kisser, Jane, why don't you kiss me more?" The blonde pouted as she pulled back, but pulled back too far and nearly fell over.

"Do you want me to kiss you more?" Jane smirked as she guided Maura back towards the bed so that she would have a soft landing if she stumbled again.

"Yes." Maura let Jane shimmy her dress off her shoulders and down her body. The brunette raised an eyebrow and couldn't help but let her gaze wander down to Maura's naked chest as the dress dropped. She hadn't been expecting no bra. The sudden attention to her chest caused Maura to reach up and kiss Jane again and the brunette felt herself getting lost in the kiss. A small groan escaped the brunette's mouth as she felt two hands squeeze her ass.

"Maur." Jane pulled back to another pout from the blonde. "We need to get you into bed." She eased the shorter woman down onto the bed and knelt down to remove the heels. Once Jane had removed the heels, she picked up the dress from the floor and put it on the hanger in front of the wardrobe. "Arms up," she ordered as she walked back to Maura with one of her BPD t-shirts. Maura compiled but then wrapped her arms around Jane once more and leaned back onto the bed so the brunette was lying on top of her.

"You're my wife, Jane."

"I am," Jane agreed and tried to push herself up but Maura had a tight hold.

"Then kiss me!"

Jane looked down at the blonde lying beneath her, her eyes wide and full of longing. Jane had never been able to say no to Maura. Gently she pressed their lips together and felt Maura arch her back, pressing their bodies together.

"Make love to me," Maura whispered and Jane slowly pulled back from the kiss.

"You're drunk, Maur." Jane managed to push herself up onto her hands.

"Don't you love me?"

"More than you realise," the brunette admitted, "but you're drunk right now. That's not how… I'm not going to take advantage of you. Ask me when you're sober." Jane pushed herself off of the bed and helped move Maura round towards the pillows, pulling the covers over her.

"Sober," Maura murmured as she snuggled into the pillows. "Tomorrow?"

"Sure," Jane agreed and kissed the blonde's forehead before she began to change herself.

By the time she slipped into bed, Maura had fallen asleep but the blonde instantly snuggled into Jane's side as she settled down. Jane wrapped her arms around Maura as she settled against Jane's chest, her breathing even.

"Tomorrow," Jane whispered and wondered if Maura would remember their conversation when she woke up. Would Maura ask? Or would she be mortified?

Jane ran her hand up and down the blonde's back, a contented sigh leaving Maura's lips. Those lips that had felt so soft against her own. Where else would those lips feel soft against? Where else would her hands stray to if given the opportunity?

Jane froze at her thoughts. When had her feelings for Maura changed like that? Sure they had been married for over a year and had been living together for around half of that but when had these feelings changed? And had Maura's? Did she also feel the same way? There must be something behind Maura's words but Jane had no idea how to even have that conversation with the blonde.

—

Maura awoke the next morning and gave a small groan as she rolled onto her side, away from the bit of light that was escaping the curtains. She blinked a few times and noticed the glass of water and some aspirin on her nightstand. Jane. Maura smiled and reached out to take the aspirin. Drinking on an empty stomach had not been the best idea. She pushed herself up into a seated position and ran her hand over her face and frowned slightly as some words from the night before came back to her. She'd asked Jane to make love to her, hadn't she? Maura knew she had let her hands wander more than normal, the champagne had stopped her ability to know what was appropriate. What had Jane answered after she had asked? Maura couldn't remember her saying no, she couldn't remember her exact answer though. What if Jane was now mad with her? What if she had completely overstepped?

Maura jumped out of bed and made her way down to the kitchen where she could hear Jane. She hesitated in the doorway, unsure of what reaction she was about to get. She shifted her weight from foot to foot as she felt the anxiety build up inside of her. What if Jane left because of what she had said? What if this was it for them?

Jane cursed at the coffee machine before she turned towards the island holding two mugs of coffee. She caught sight of Maura and smiled softly at her. "Morning, how's your head?" She held a mug out towards Maura. The blonde relaxed at the smile and walked closer to accept her coffee.

"Thank you for the aspirin." She wrapped both of her hands around her mug and dropped her gaze down. "Uh, about last night…" She swallowed a lump in her throat. What did she say to make this better?

Jane leaned against the island with one hip and raised an eyebrow. "You don't remember much? You were pretty drunk. If I had realised you hadn't eaten much I'd have stopped anyone else giving you a drink sooner." Jane took a sip of her coffee and studied the blonde in front of her.

"I'm sorry." Maura slowly lifted her gaze to meet Jane's but she saw no anger there. "I was…a bit much."

Jane chuckled and placed her mug down on the island. "Well, I learnt one thing last night." She looked at Maura with a mischievous glint in her eye and flipped open the laptop sitting on the island. "You're an ass girl." She pointed to a photo of the two of them leaving the gala, Maura's hand firmly on her ass. The blonde gasped and placed her mug down too as her cheeks began to burn in embarrassment.

"I'm so sorry, Jane." Maura just wanted to curl up into a hole and die. She'd had no self control when it came to Jane last night, clearly.

"I never thought my ass was my best feature, but last night showed me you clearly think it is. You even got in a few good squeezes." Jane laughed as Maura's hands flew up to her face. Maybe the blonde didn't remember everything about the previous night but maybe that was for the better. It would give Jane time to deal with her own feelings before acting on them.

"I am so sorry," Maura whispered from behind her hands.

"Hey, anytime you need a good squeeze, just let me know," Jane teased and picked up her mug again, turning to the cupboard for some bread. A small groan was the only response she received before Maura slid onto a stool and tried not to die from embarrassment.