We are embarking on what I saw originally as the last sections of my story. I have had most of these scenes in my head since the start of the story over a year ago. I am excited that you my loyal readers can read along as I write it.
*Okay as always I own nothing of Criminal Minds or Rizzoli & Isles just enjoying using the characters.
Chapter One
The team finally settled into their new offices and homes in Boston. Frankie had left for the F.B.I academy and Pen was missing him badly. The girls decided to have a ladies night at Maura and Emily's to cheer her up since Chessie was spending the weekend over at the ambassador's house. The young girl had moved into her mothers' house the weekend after the picnic because Emily wanted her home after finding out the little girl had panicked when she had gone to Tennessee.
They took Declan's old room and made it into what looked like deep space nine. The little girl was still infatuated with anything space related. Emily had fun watching Maura and the little girl pick everything out for her room. Jane and Frankie had fun painting the room but wouldn't let Emily near it because of the fumes. She was banned to the Ambassador's house for two days while they painted and the smell dissipated. They also painted the nursery which was formally the guest room a soft lavender color since both Emily and Jane were opposed to the idea of pink.
The team was being put back into the rotation starting on Monday. They were all ready to get back in the field. The rest was nice but stressful with everyone moving to Boston from D.C. It took Spencer three different dates to get enough nerve to ask Nathaline to move in with him in the Carriage house behind Maura and Emily's. They painted and baby proofed the house the same week that the expecting couple did their own house.
Emily was sitting in on the couch with her feet up since her ankles were swelling and Maura had been hovering over her for weeks about her health. She had been concerned about the underlining pain she could feel flowing in her love's emotions since the picnic. She knew that Emily was enjoying joining their family together, yet there was a haunting of whispers from the past causing terrible pain. The voices manifested themselves in far away looks and deep sighs that her love couldn't explain with vocal words at times and it broke her heart not to be able to help. Maura was putting the finishing touches on the salad that would accompany dinner, and watched as one of those far away looks on Emily's face manifested itself before her eyes. She couldn't take it anymore, the loving thoughts and secret blown kisses she was sending out wasn't enough. So she walked over and kissed the brunette on the head. "Penny for your thoughts habibiy."
"Mmm... just in a quiet place love." Emily said and pulled the hands on her shoulders down causing the warm arms they were attached to hug her.
"I'm worried..." Maura's sentence was interrupted by the door bell. "You stay sitting love. I got it."
"Welcome..." Maura said as she saw everyone invited standing at her door.
"Hey it's the whole gang all at once." Pen said as JJ and Jane followed her inside.
"Yeah... your favorite screw ups." Jane said still feeling guilty at what had happened at the morgue earlier that week.
"Speak for yourself." Pen said to Jane.
"Well I was for the most part." Jane answered and hugged Maura who whispered, "It's okay Jane you didn't mean to cause the flash back."
"What's going on?" JJ asked Maura concernedly when she hugged her.
"It's all good Jennifer. We will talk later." She answered and hugged the woman tightly. JJ looked at her when they pulled a part knowing everything wasn't right but she would wait for the explanation.
"There is wine on the bar and beer in the refrigerator." Maura announced to everyone even though they had already migrated over that way.
"So Emister you happy to get your space back?" Pen asked as she came into the living room from the kitchen where she got herself a glass of wine.
"Yeah right. I'm with you more now than when I worked at the B.A.U." was the sarcastic answer back.
"You know you love it. You can't fool me."
"I am just adoring it. Now I have to go pee." She said rolling her eyes and heading to the restroom.
"What bee is in her princess bonnet britches?" Pen asked knowing Emily was being grouchy.
"I believe it's called pregnancy Pen." JJ said smiling.
"I'm not so sure about that JJ." Jane said looking at Maura. "She hasn't been right since that day in the morgue."
"That wasn't you fault...well it was but not intentionally." Maura said with a smile trying to ease Jane's guilt.
"Okay what's up?" Pen asked looking between Jane and Maura for answers.
"Nothing...let's just let it go for now please. This is about cheering you up about Frankie not about her." Maura said as they heard the door opening to the rest room.
Emily came and stood by Maura putting her arm around her waist. "When shall we expect this party to get started love, your daughter is making her apatite known."
Maura smiled knowing Emily was pretending to be present with them because she hadn't eaten much in the last few days. "The pizzas should be here in a few moments and the salad is already made."
"Great grass to go with the best meal ever." Jane said trying to help lift the atmosphere a bit.
"Jane... salad is not grass." Maura said feeding into the banter.
"It's green and grows in the ground Maur. That's the definition of grass. I looked it up and it says grass is a vegetation consisting of typically short plants with long narrow leaves, growing wild or cultivated on lawns and pasture, and as a fodder crop." She said with a broad smirk on her face.
"She has you there habibiy." Emily said with a short laugh.
Maura looked at her and laughed. "Your right love she has me. So let's all go have some grass then." They all laughed as they heard the doorbell. "That's the pizzas being delivered."
"I got it Maur." Jane said as she headed for the door. She brought the pies to the table where everyone had gathered. Maura had taken the chair beside Emily and they held hands under the table. JJ noticed that Maura had to take Emily's hand. A action that concerned her because Emily was usually the one to take the lead in physical contact. She also noticed the far away look just behind the present look Emily was pretending to have.
"After we eat I want to see Chessie's room and the nursery. I hear it looks amazing and it should since my man had paint in crazy places after painting with Jane." Pen said trying to open a topic dialog.
"I don't want to know where you looked for paint Pen." Jane said with a disgusted look on her face as they all laughed.
"Well if you two wouldn't try to make painting two rooms into a paintball match he wouldn't have had paint..."
"Hold it right there...I said I didn't want to know." Jane said adamantly holding up her hand and widening her eyes at Pen.
"Okay...Okay." Pen surrendered laughing at her.
"They did a fabulous job. It looks really good." Maura said smiling at Jane.
"Yes they did." Emily agreed with almost a sorrowful tone as she tried to swallow a mouthful of pizza that was growing in her mouth. "What did Henry decided on finally...Jennifer?" She asked trying to push past her feelings and hormones to add to the conversation.
"Well we have past the fireman stage thankfully. He is now on a baseball kick with the Red Sox being the theme for his room."
"My kind of guy." Jane said smiling proudly.
"You and Frankie are the blame. All those games have made him a fan."
"Hey just teaching him the ropes. If he's going to live here then it's the Red Sox, Bruins, and..."
"Oh no you don't... he will not be a New England Patriots fan. He will be a Redskins fan all the way." JJ said holding up her hand in protest.
"Okay we will see."
"There isn't..."
"Enough sports you two." Pen interrupted, "Remember the rules. No politics or sports talk due to conversations like this."
"Okay..." They said laughing.
"Have you heard from your tall dark and handsome?" JJ asked trying to change the subject.
"No... you know they can't call for another two weeks which sucks."
"It's training Pen." JJ said patting the woman's shoulder.
"I know but I miss scooter butt."
"Who?" Jane asked looking up with the rest of them surprised at Pen's nickname for Frankie.
"Oh... You all didn't hear that."
"Oh...but we did." Jane said smirking knowing she had just increased her ammo in the world of sister brother fights. "Now spill."
"No... it's private and I will not have you torture him over the nickname I gave him."
"Wow...Pen you really like him." JJ said looking at her friend with a knowing look.
"What are you talking about JJ?" Jane asked wanting to know what was going on.
"She is protecting him." She answered Jane and then looked at Emily who was shaking her head in agreement with Maura.
"I hate profilers."
"I'm not a profiler." Maura said looking at Pen.
"No but you are a soul mate to one...same thing." She said as they all busted out laughing at her.
"No it's not Pen." Emily said gaining everyone's attention. "You are just scared because you are truly having deep feeling for him and you are trying not too...am I right?"
"Yes..." She said like a child caught with their hand in the cookie jar. "Can I ask you guys something? How will I know if his the right one or that I'm in love?"
"That's simple..." Everyone looked at Emily again waiting her answer, "You will know when you want to give him your heart without ever thinking of asking for it back." She said smiling and kissing Maura on the head. The table grew silent after those words with everyone pondering the depths and meanings of them.
Maura noticed shortly afterwards that Emily had barely eaten a bite of pizza and was still chewing on the one she had in her mouth. She took her wine glass and finished the little bit of liquid that was in there. "Who needs a refill?" She asked getting up to refill her own glass. No one seem to need anything and were still lost in their thoughts so she refilled her own and went to the refrigerator where she had a glass of milk and a peanut butter and jelly sandwich on stand by. She had prepared them earlier just in case Emily couldn't eat the pizza. She came back and placed her glass on the table and took Emily's plate away and replaced it with the sandwich and then placed the milk in front of her. "So Jennifer has Henry settled into his new school?" She asked as though everything was normal and trying to break the silence of the moment.
JJ smiled, "Yes he has made a few friends even." She said as Emily leaned over and kissed Maura's cheek then proceeded to eat her sandwich. The action wasn't missed by anyone but nothing was said knowing Maura was trying not to make a big deal of the menu change for her love.
After finishing half of her sandwich and milk Emily looked up at everyone, "If you ladies don't mind I'm going back to the couch for a few. My ankles are starting to swell again and I'm felling tired."
"Go ahead habibiy we will join you in a few moments love." Maura said standing up and hugging her letting her know everything was okay.
She went to the couch and laid down. Maura followed shortly covering her up knowing that she had fallen asleep. The ladies waited in silence for her return wanting answers to the questions they had held back all evening.