Prologue
It is still dark outside as Jane Rizzoli is sitting half asleep at the dining table and a cup of coffee is standing in front of her, untouched.
Her mother Angela enters the main house and freezes as she sees her daughter and has to stifle a laugh. She recognizes these kind of signs immediately, she suffered from them when her oldest child still was a baby. She clears her throat and goes to the kitchen island.
Jane jumps and straightens up, but her eyes are still closed. It is a natural instinct since she and her wife were allowed to take their daughter Elizabeth home. They alternately take care of the baby if she wakes up in the middle of the night. "I'm up!" She slurs and wipes the saliva off her chin. "I'm up! I am up!"
Angela chuckles amused and opens the fridge. "What is wrong?"
Jane groans and rubs her face with both of her hands. "Nothing. Liz just got the gripes and keeps us up all night."
"She keeps you up all night anyway." Angela says beyond amusement.
Jane stretches her arms over her head and gets up from the chair. "Don't be so malicious about it, Ma."
"Now you know what I went through when you were in Lizzy's age." The matriarch retorts and looks pleased at her daughter.
Jane takes a new mug out of the hanging cupboard and pours herself a cup of coffee, the other one on the table already forgotten. "I was a nice baby."
"So is your daughter."
"When she's sleeping."
Angela huffs and slaps Jane's arm, earning an grin from Jane. "It is perfectly normal that a baby get a colic."
"I know." Jane sighs and kisses her mother on the cheek. "Maura said so too."
Angela places an pan on the stove a word and places an hand on her hip. "Speaking of, where is your lovely wife?"
"I don't know," the detective answers and sips her coffee."
Angela looks horrified at the drowsy Jane. "Jane Rizzoli," she says with raised voice and the detective spits the coffee back in the mug. "how can you not know where your wife is?"
Jane groans and rubs her eyes. "Jesus, Ma. I don't even know where I am of who I am."
"At least you know who I am." The older woman huffs.
Jane smiles and shrugs. "How could I forget that. Maura is upstairs in the nursery and probably fell asleep in rocker. That's currently the only way to get Liz sleeping."
Angela can't suppress the chuckle and points at a chair at the island. "Sit, I make you breakfast. Do you wanna have scrambled eggs and bacon?"
"Only if it's real bacon."
"Sure it is."
Jane is grinning and gives her mother thumbs up.
Angela starts her task and shrugs. "You liked it too, you know."
Jane sips her coffee and furrows her eyebrows. "What?"
"Falling asleep in my arms when I was sitting in the rocking chair." Angela answers matter-of-factly. "And when that didn't work, your father put you in the car seat and drove all around Boston until you slept."
Jane smiles wryly and nods approvingly. "I still fall asleep in the car if I don't have to drive."
"I know," Angela chuckles and the two women turn their heads as they hear footsteps coming from the staircase.
The detective furls her brows as an exhausted Maura rounds the corner with their daughter in her arms. "Why didn't you put her in the crib? She's asleep." She whispers.
"I know," the doctor whispers harshly back. "But every time I want to put her down in it your daughter stirs. I can't feel my arms anymore."
Angela chuckles silently and shakes her head.
Jane rolls her eyes and gets up from the chair. She carefully takes Liz from her wife's arms and rubs the baby's back. "You're an handful these days, huh." She whispers and kisses the side of her sleeping daughter's head.
Maura sighs in relief and shakes her arms. She looks at her mother-in-law and frowns. "That smells delicious." She says with a hushed voice.
Angela looks confused at the ME and newly mother. "It's just scrambled eggs and, I quote, real bacon." She scoffs as she sees the unimpressed eyes of the blonde. "I make you the same."
"Thank you," Maura replies and puts the kettle on the stove.
"How are you feeling, Maura?" The matriarch asks and scrutinizes Maura from the side.
Maura takes a deep breath and licks her lips. "Exhausted, but happy. I am grateful that we have her."
"Even with colics?"
"That's a part of motherhood."
"Yes, it is." Angela says and looks at her daughter who is bobbing the baby up and down with closed lids.
Maura chuckles softly and walks to her wife. She stands on her tiptoes and kisses the Italian lightly on her lips.
Jane hums approvingly and cracks her eyes open again. "Hi."
"Hi," Maura scoffs.
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Jane is sitting with her family and friends in the backyard of Maura's and her new house.
After their daughter had turned four, they had decided that they need a bigger place with more rooms and a swimming pool in the yard.
Maura wasn't pleased with the idea of a pool but she couldn't refuse it as she had to look into two pair of dark brown, pleading eyes. So she gave in with a huff.
So, their throwing a house-warming party today after they had adapted the new house.
Jane is standing with Oliver Logan and discusses work-related things with a cold beer in her hand. She looks down and meets brown eyes as she feels a tug at her jeans. Heart is always skipping a beat when she looks in the face of Liz. She really does look like copy of her, with the difference that Liz' hair are a little brighter and not as curly as her own.
She runs her hand through the said her and her eyes soften. "What is it, kiddo?"
Liz shifts her weight from one foot to the other and frowns as well. "Mom promised to swim with me today."
Jane nods approvingly and smiles. "Yes, I remember that very well."
"But Mom is standing over there." Liz states and points in her mother's direction.
Jane follows her daughter's finger with her eyes and they land on Maua who is talking with Susie and her boyfriend. Probably scientifical stuff. Maura is wearing a jeans as well and a plain red tee and the Italian comes to the conclusion that her wife looks just as beautiful like she laid eyes on her for the very first time.
She releases her breath and looks down at the girl. "Well, we can't let that happen, can we?"
Liz starts to smirk and shakes her head and Logan scoffs.
"Excuse me," Jane says to him and hands her beer to him. She takes Liz' hand in her own and starts to walk towards the ME.
"You are right, Susie." Maura agrees with a smile. "Pica is characterized by an appetite for substances that are largely non-nutritive, such as paper, clay, drywall or paint, metal, chalk soil, gla -" She trails off as something else seems to catch Susie's attention and she turns her head in the same direction.
A chill runs down her spine as she sees the mischievously smile on Jane's lips and she licks her own.
"You are bad, Mommy." Jane says with a hint of amusement in her voice.
The blonde tilts questioningly her head to the side. "Excuse me?"
"Last night, Maura."
Maura isn't sure what her wife implying and blushes as the pictures of Jane pleasing her the last night rushes through her mind.
Susie notices the reaction of her supervisor and drops her eyes to the ground with a scoff.
Jane's shoulders slump and she stares blankly at the blonde. "Really?" She laughs and looks down at the girl. "Last night, you promised Liz to christen our brand new pool with her. Today."
Realization washes over the doctor's face and she blushes even more. "I also told her that we can go swimming after everyone has left." She grows wary as the detective even closer and she back away from the Italian. "Jane, what are you doing?"
Jane doesn't answer the question and scoops the smaller up easily, carrying her towards the water.
Maura shrieks and catches everyone's attention, and Liz is laughing on top of her lungs. Don't you dare, Jane Rizzoli."
The Italian arches an eyebrow and eyes the water. She takes a deep breath and steps over the edge of the pool so both of them plunge into the water.
Their guest laugh and cheer amused.
Maura resurface immediately and gasps as she feels hands on her hips.
Jane comes up with a big smile and looks into hazel eyes. "Hi."
"Don't you Hi me, Jane." Maura laughs and swats the detective's shoulder.
"Mama, me too." Liz yells on top of her lungs.
Jane chuckles and steps closer to the edge, holding her arms open. "Alright, bug. Jump."
The girl doesn't need to be told twice and jumps off with all her strength.
Jane catches her easily and groans as she holds the girls close. "That's my girl."
Maura laughs heartily and walks to her favorite girls, kissing each of them.
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Maura lays down on the mattress and heaves a sigh, staring at the ceiling. "I can't believe she said that."
Jane props herself up on her elbow and furrows her eyebrows. "She's twelve, Maura."
"I thought Liz would go to college and get a good job."
Jane bites her snippy comment back and lowers her eyebrows. "Again, she is twelve, Maura."
The ME turns her head and looks long at her wife. "How old were you when you decided to become a cop, Jane?"
That question surprises the detective and she frowns. "I, uh … Well, I was -"
"Exactly," the doctor cuts her off and Jane groans. "And Elizabeth is just as stubborn as you."
"And you are not?" Jane chuckles and sobers as she catches the warning gaze. "Alright. Look, you are the Chief Medical Examiner of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and I am Sergeant in Homicide. Did you really expect that this wouldn't affect our daughter's life? And being a cop isn't that bad. Liz is smart, Maura. And we still have time until she makes her final decision."
"But she is as stubborn as you." Maura tries to argue.
Jane kisses her wife with a smile and furrows her brows. "But it is a good think that I am stubborn, isn't it? Otherwise, you wouldn't lay here with me now and have this amazing girl, would you?"
Maura looks long into brown eyes and tucks a strand of hair behind Jane's ear. "No, probably not."
"See," the Italian replies and smirks as she tucks the strap of Maura's nightie to the side, kissing the bare shoulder. "Now, let's not talk about it."
Maura smiles and bites her bottom lip as Jane trails kisses over her collarbone.
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Jane comes after a long day home and just wants to open a beer and sit down, watching her sports. The years have gone by in a rush and she can really feel it. She enters the kitchen and wants to turn on her heels as she sees the pissed face of her teenager daughter and the annoyed face of her wife.
Liz crosses her arms over her chest and looks extremely like a young version of Jane. "It is just a get-together with some friends, Mom." She also inherited the voice of the Italian. It is just a little higher.
"I know what those get-together means, Elizabeth." Maura argues and start to wash the salad. "I was in your age once."
Jane is surprised that she didn't get engaged in this discussion by now, whatever it is about, and she praises the heaven. Play it cool, Jane.
"I doubt that." Liz grumbles.
"What was that?" Maura barks and spins around.
"Hey, whoa." Jane's voice booms in the room and she points at her daughter. "Watch your mouth, young lady!"
"You're home?" Maura asks a too little surprised.
Jane furrows her eyebrows and opens the beer in her hand. "Apparently! What is this about?"
Maura takes a deep breath and glares at her daughter. "You're daughter wants to go to a party at John's."
"Who is John?" Jane asks confused.
"It is not a party, Mom." Liz says with raised voice. "Old friends just gather at John's."
Maura looks like a cat that got the cream and arches an sculpted brow. "John is Elizabeth's boyfriend. I heard about him for the first time one hour ago."
"Your boyfriend," Jane asks with an high-pitched voice and she can feel the heart attack coming up.
Liz huffs and rolls her eyes. "He is not my boyfriend."
"I caught you in the act."
"What?" Jane's voice raises two octaves higher.
The teenager huffs again. "We were just making out."
Maura walks to her wife and points at their daughter. "He had his hand under her shirt as I come into her room."
"You barged in, Mom."
"I knocked and then I heard you moan. That's why I entered your room."
"Please, stop!" Jane begs.
Liz gets up from her chair and scoffs. "Like you and Ma never make out."
Maura points at the Italian and furls her brows. "Your Ma and I are adults, and we are married."
"So I am only allowed to make out when I am over twenty-one or am married?"
"No," Maura says.
"Yes," Jane says in the same time and the two women looks confused at each other.
The corners of Maura's mouth are twitching in the next moment.
Jane takes a deep breath and glance at her daughter. "Let me have a say."
"All right." Liz says with a smirk.
"The only place you are going is …" Jane points at the stairs and her face is dead serious. " upstairs. You're grounded."
Liz' smile is falling instantly. "You can't be serious."
The older Italian points at her face and growls. "Does my face look like I am joking?"
The teenager snorts and hops off the chair. "I thought you're cool."
"I am cool." Jane yells after Liz.
"No, you're not!"
Jane flinches as the door gets slammed shout and walks to the blonde one. She looks long at Maura and drops her head to the smaller woman's shoulder. "What happened, Maura?"
Maura smiles sadly and let her hands roam over the Sergeant's back. "Our baby is becoming a adult, honey."
"Why?" Jane whines and huffs. "You just gave birth to her."
"That's sixteen years ago," Maura chuckles sadly.
"Why?"
"I don't know." Maura whispers and closes her eyes. And she means it.
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Jane is wearing her dress uniform and smiles proudly as she looks at Maura who is dressed in a simple black dress.
She wears her graying hair in a tight bun and takes a deep breath as she sees the disapproving look of her wife. "Embrace the day, Maura."
"I am," Maura whispers back. "I just -"
"Hush," Jane cuts her off and frowns. She was just as surprised as the ME when their daughter told them that she is going to join the force and take night classes at once. "She is a smart kid, she knows what she can do. Just be proud of her, alright."
Maura nods and shrugs as a tear escapes from her eye. "I am proud of her. It's just … She just slipped out of me and in the next moment is an adult."
"I know what you mean," Jane whispers and kisses the temple of the ME. She still remember who she had changed Liz' damper or how the girl made her first steps. She had not missed one single moment that changed everyone's lives. She looks at the someone who punched her shoulder and smiles at Frankie.
"You guys okay?" He asks
Jane blinks the tears in her eyes back and frowns. "Um, no." She laughs and Maura smiles sadly.
He nods understanding and smiles. "Thank God, I am spared from that." He pauses. "For now."
Maura laughs heartily and wipes her eyes.
Jane snickers and looks at his wife Emilia and their son ten-year-old son Samuel. "How are son and wife?"
"Great, thanks." He says with a nod.
"Good," she says and hugs him tight.
Maura gasps and taps on the Italian's arm. "Jane."
The Sergeant pulls away from her brother and her breath hitches as her younger self comes towards them. The same proud smile plastered over her face that she carried at her graduation day.
Liz is wearing her dress uniform as well and raises her shoulders with a heavy sigh.
Maura is the first one who has her daughter in a bone crushing hug. "I am so proud of you, baby."
Liz groans and rolls her eyes. "I only became a police officer, I am not moving out of town, Mom."
Maura pulls away and smiles like a Cheshire cat. "Still."
Jane chuckles and is the next who holds her daughter in a embrace. "We can be proud of you, kid. I love you."
Liz smiles at her and nods. "I know. I love you too."
Frankie punches his niece shoulder and grins. "You're creating quite an Rizzoli tradition, huh?"
Liz smiles broadly and hugs him. "I think you and my mothers were the trailblazers, Uncle Frankie." She whispers and smiles at him as she pulls away.
Jane shudders and smiles at her wife. That is what she calls a turn over a new leaf.
Maura nods approvingly and wipes her happy tears off her cheeks.
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So, that was the new life of Jane and Maura in a fast forward, I hope you liked it. Of course there is more to come.
Tell me what you think.
Thank you.
T73.