Maura’s eyes drifted again from your eyes down to your shivering frame, layered with clothes that were clearly not attuned for Boston weather. She stepped aside as an invitation and you gladly took it.

You followed Maura to the kitchen as she searched the labeled cabinets for wine glasses. Were all her kitchen tools, plates, glasses, and silverware sorted by alphabetical order? The doctor turned around amid her rummaging to meet your quizzical look. 

“A friend’s mother. She’s working on being a professional organizer and my house was first on her to-do list. I think it’s here somewhere… Found it.”

You stared at her as she opened the wine and poured two glasses. Scanning her face now, the lines on her face reminded you even after so many years have passed, Maura was still gorgeous. You wanted to engrave this vision of her, this close to you— to memorize the shape of her lips, the furrowed brows when she’s concentrated, and those eyes. It didn’t matter the circumstances, you knew that you’d still do anything Maura asked when she looked at you with those sparkling eyes. And she knew that too. 

Your thoughts were disrupted when Maura handed you a glass. Accepting it gratefully, you took a sip. A Chianti Classico. She still liked the same wine that was atop the table of your first date together.

“So what brings you to Boston?”

“The university sent me out here for a conference. I thought I’d come and see you… and how you’ve been doing.”

Maura placed her glass down and made her way around the counter towards you, eyes never leaving yours.

“And how have you been doing?”

“I’ve been alright. I can’t say I enjoy this weather though. It’s frigid compared to Sacramento.”

Maura chuckled lightly and shook her head, she missed your quips. She’s missed you.

A silence bloomed between the now-intimate space. Your head was racing with all the things you’ve wanted to tell her. You slowly stepped closer and took her hands in yours. 

“Maura, I’ve missed you. I know we haven’t really talked about what happened since I left Boston, but it hasn’t been the same without you. And I’m sorry for not reaching out since, but I knew if I heard from you, I wouldn’t be able to sleep or work. But even then, I’ve never stopped thinking about you.”

You let your confessions simmer in the air as your eyes tried to study Maura’s face, to try and replicate as a memory just in case she told you to leave and you’d never see her again. Maura took a deep breath as she stepped closer to you, holding your hands tighter.

“Look, I-”

A loud ringtone disrupted the intimate atmosphere between the two of you as Maura backed away to answer the call.

“I’m sorry, I have to go. You can stay if you’d like.”

You shook your head.

“It’s okay, Maura. Have a good night, I’ll see you later.”

You escorted yourself out and gently clicked the door shut. Maura turned the lock and leaned her head on the door. She hadn’t forgotten about you. Really, how could she? Now that you were back in town, those feelings from a distant memory came bubbling back to the surface. 

Jane slammed her car door shut and walked into the crime scene, ready for the day. She spotted Maura already kneeling down at the body and inspecting the bloody head wound.

“Morning, Maura. It’s a good day, isn’t it?”

Maura looked up slightly with a brief smile.

“Not for her.”

The doctor motioned to the woman laying dead in the alleyway with multiple wounds across her body.

“So far, I can’t say her cause of death. She has a posterior skull fracture, most likely due to a heavy object. Her lacerations across her body seem messy and almost fractured.”

“Well, can you take a guess at her cause of death?”

Maura looked up at Jane completely now. 

“You know very well that I don’t guess.”

“Fine, then make an educated guess.”

The doctor sighed. 

“It’s still too early to say, Jane.”

Maura went silent for a bit while looking aimlessly at the body, lost in thought. Jane noticed her friend’s absent-mindedness and raised an eyebrow in questioning.

“Maura, did something happen? You seem in your thoughts.”

The brunette took her eyes away from the body, fully standing up now, and looked at Jane.

“Nothing happened. I’ll see you at the police department.”

Maura walked past Jane back to her car as the detective’s gaze followed her friend’s figure. She would let it go for now, but she knew Maura was lying.

Jane walked into the morgue to find Maura staring at her phone. It was unusual— almost every time, Maura went straight to performing the autopsy. As the detective walked closer to her friend, Maura snapped out of her thoughts and quickly placed her phone down on the tray. 

“What’s going on, Maura? And don’t say that you’re fine, because I know that you aren’t.”

Maura sighed. Ever since you visited her that night, she couldn’t stop thinking about you. It was honestly infuriating. She was at work, for God’s sake. She’s supposed to be focused on helping this poor woman. 

“This can wait. My autopsy revealed that it was definitely an object that caused the back indentation on her skull, not a fall or anything like that.”

Jane rolled her eyes. 

“Wow, I’m shocked. I definitely could not figure this out without the autopsy, Maura. I was beginning to think she got hit with a pillow.”

“Is that supposed to be sarcasm?”

“Yes.”

“Well, it’s not just that. The weapon that was used to batter the back of head was also the same weapon used to create those lacerations across her body. I’ve also noticed something fascinating. Come look.”

She made her way around the body to lift the victim’s hand up for Jane to see, and the detective saw it.

“No fingerprints.”

Maura nodded.

“Whoever did this didn’t want her to be found.”

Jane broke from her brainstorming to find Maura looking at her phone again, almost looking thoughtful.

“Okay. You’ve gotta tell me what’s haunting you right now. You look absolutely distracted. Oh my god, are you talking to the guy that gave you his number last week?”

Maura shook her head. She’d honestly forgotten about him.

“No, it’s something else. Or more like someone else. I had a visitor that I haven’t seen since university, who showed up to my house a few days ago. That’s all.”

“Oh… so this isn’t a new romance. We’re rehashing something old. Well what happened to him?”

“Her, actually. We dated for awhile when we were both in college, and had to go our separate ways after. I’ve never heard from her until a few days ago where she practically confessed her love for me after all these years.”

“Oh, wow. I didn’t know you dated women, Maura. Good for you. Well, how do you feel about all this?”

Maura ran her hands through her hair. 

“Well, I was shocked! I didn’t expect her to say that to me after years of no contact. I mean, I still love her too, but I didn’t have time to respond to her declaration of her love for me because I got called in.”

Jane nodded in understanding.

“I think, the next time you see her, you should tell her your thoughts. And she sounds interesting. I’m surprised you never told me about her before. I’d like to meet her.”

Maura smiled weakly.

“She was a significant part of my life before I became the chief medical examiner. And I was heartbroken when she left. I guess I was just trying to push down all the pain those memories of her gave me.”

The brunette listened silently and stood up, moving closer to console her friend.

There was one day left in Boston before you had to head back to Sacramento and here you were spending it at the Boston Police Department’s downstairs cafe. You’ve briefly texted Maura to come and meet her, to see her one more time before you boarded your flight back. The last time you saw her— at her house— ended abruptly and you didn’t want to leave Boston with that unaddressed confession. You read some articles on your phone, scrolling through celebrity tabloids. A woman named Angela, working the front, offered you what she said was her newest recipe: egg omelets with diced potatoes on the side. You took it, and decided to order a coffee out of gratitude. 

After a few minutes, you saw Maura and a curly-haired brunette following closely behind. She searched for you in the busy cafe, and quickly made her way over to your table. Her arms opened, almost automatically, and wrapped around your neck. Your arms found familiarity around her waist, and you felt like a puzzle completed, finally reunited with the missing piece. Her perfume and warmth drew you in, and you didn’t want to let her go. The two of you were caught up in the embrace that the surprised expression of brunette went unnoticed.

“Hey! I want you to meet Jane Rizzoli, she’s a detective here at the Boston Police Department. We’ve been working on a murder all week, so it’s been a bit hard to get away.”

Maura didn’t want to tell you the real reason she put off this meeting so long; she couldn’t find the nerve to see you again. She was afraid that if she dove back into this relationship, and you left again, she wouldn’t be able to survive. If it weren’t for Jane, that night at Maura’s house might’ve been the first and last time you’d see her in years.

You extended your hands to meet Jane’s. 

“Hi Jane, nice to meet you. I’m afraid I’ve already eaten without you guys. Here— come sit.”

Once settled, you spotted Angela once again coming up to your table. Just as you were about to politely decline, again, anymore food because you were absolutely stuffed, she turned to Jane.

“Jane! I didn’t know you knew this young lady here. I was just offering her a taste of this newest dish I made for the cafe: egg omelets and diced potatoes! Let me get you and Maura one.”

As Angela dashed back to go prepare, Jane suddenly turned to you.

“Look, I’m so sorry about my mother. She’s like this with everyone I know.”

You laughed. 

“Don’t be, detective. I find it endearing, even.”

You and Maura exchanged an amused glance as Jane groaned in embarrassment. 

“And let me tell you about that time we ran that marathon. Maura prepared matching tracksuits for us that had the acronym, P.U.K.E. I was absolutely horrified.”

You let out a loud laugh as Maura spluttered to defend herself.

“Hey, it was for a good cause! That stood for Professionals for Underprivileged Kids of Excellence.”

“Yeah, yeah, still terrible.”

“Hey, that suit was water and sweat-resistance, and is proven to promote flexibility.”

Maura rolled her eyes in feigned annoyance and Jane turned to glance at you, expecting an exasperated expression from you too. But all she saw was your staring. Maura wasn’t paying attention, still talking about the marathon, but you looked at her like she’s the center of the universe. You didn’t say anything about her facts because it was a part of Maura and you loved everything about her. Jane smiled to herself, happy that she found someone who deserved her best friend.

Half an hour passed in conversations when the door swung open loudly and a loud shout came from the entrance.

“Mrs. Rizzoli!”

“Oh no.”

Jane muttered to herself as the friends quickly attempted to position themselves more intimate as Giovanni came closer. Temporarily distracted by that man’s outburst, you looked back to Jane and Maura to find them almost cuddling. Pursing your lips a little, you didn’t remember them sitting that close to one another, but you brushed it off and turned your attention back to the new visitor at the table. 

“Giovanni… Hello…”

“Hey Jane. Who’s this new hot chick?”

Your eyes widened as Jane tried to save you.

“Not available, Giovanni.”

Giovanni let out a huff of annoyance.

“Of course all the hot chicks are taken.”

Angela came by the table again, with two plates of omelets and diced potatoes and placed them on the table. 

“Oh hello, Giovanni! It’s good to see you.”

The woman moved to hug the man and you saw Jane, in your peripheral vision, rolling her eyes. Giovanni removed himself from Angela, and took a quick glance at Maura and Jane, and chuckled.

“I see you guys are still batting for the other team…”

You looked back at Maura with confusion as the two moved even closer to each other.

“Yes, we are… aren’t we babe?”

Maura was conflicted. She didn’t want to give you the wrong idea that she was dating Jane, but Giovanni was right there and if they didn’t stick to the dating idea that she herself made on the fly a few months ago, then it would get even messier. 

“Yes… we are.”

It killed her as the last word left her lips. Maura dared herself to be brave and glanced to the side to check your reaction. Even after so many years, she could still read your body language. Your eyebrows were scrunched. Your smile was there, but it was tense, and your fingers were fiddling with the rings on your fingers. She was so focused on scanning for more tell-tale signs of your discomfort, that she didn’t notice Giovanni’s disappearance at the table, and your chair scraping across the cafe floor.

“It was really great to see you again, Maura. And it was a pleasure to meet you, detective.”

You hastily grabbed your purse and walked out of the building. Scrambling for your phone, you dialed a cab to take you back to your hotel. Maybe this entire thing was a bad idea. You don’t know the relationship between Maura and Jane, but right now, you were too upset by what you witnessed at the cafe. 

Maura stayed planted in her seat as Jane slowly turned to look at her with an apologetic look on her face.

“What just happened?”

“I think she got upset seeing us act like a couple in front of Giovanni.”

“What is he even doing here?”

As Jane angrily rambled about Giovanni and needing privacy from men like him, Maura stayed put on that chair, still thinking about how taken aback and embarrassed you looked before you left. 

“I think I have to go.”

Jane turned around and was about to question her friend, but saw the conviction in her eyes.

“Okay, go. Before she leaves Boston.”

Maura repeatedly tried to call you on the way to your hotel. She may have urgently asked Jane to make a few searches to find out what hotel you were staying at. Damn it, you weren’t answering. Could you really be that upset? She didn’t remember you being a jealous person, but then again she hasn’t seen you in practically a decade. 

The doctor quickly got off the elevator and paced towards your room. She knocked strongly and waited for your response. As Maura waited, her temporary courage, fueled by panic, started to fade and she began questioning if she should even be here. What if you didn’t open the door? What if you never wanted to see her again? But her thoughts were interrupted by the door as your face peeked into frame. 

“Maura. What are you doing here?”

“Can I come in?”

You opened the door wide and stepped aside to let her in. Maura noticed your still-wet hair, as you moved to put your towel away. You came back, standing in front of her, with your arms crossed and eyes expectant. Maura took a deep breath. Now it was time for her to be brave, just like how you were, boldly announcing your feelings for her in her kitchen that night. 

“I miss you too. I’m not dating Jane. I’m not dating anyone, right now. And ever since you’ve come back to Boston, you’re all I could think about. I’ve been distracted from my work, which never happened, but it’s made me realize that I need you in my life.”

She finished her confession slowly, letting it simmer as your expression remained unchanged. Maura was about to say something to you, to try and fill the silence, but she forgot what it was because in the next moment, you moved forward to close the distance and kiss her. Her hands found your waist, pulling you closer as you deepened the kiss. All those years of absence, the unspoken tension, and the night confessions, finally made you decide. Even though the path ahead had many obstacles for the two of you, you knew that it’d be worth it as long as you had Maura. 

You grabbed your suitcases out of the trunk and gently closed it. You got on the platform and turned to look at Maura. Looking at one another, you pulled her into a hug and kissed her cheek. 

“I’ll call you when I land in Sacramento. And I’ll find a way to be here with you in Boston soon.”

You didn’t say that you loved her, but Maura knew already. She watched as you walked away into the terminal, eyes teary. But she knew that this was only the beginning and unlike last time, she would see you again.