7
Jane and Maura sat on Maura's couch eating Chinese takeout, watching a documentary on Deep Ocean life. Jane spent most of it watching Maura geek out over the different little facts, and smile as Maura added her own commentary. 7 months pregnant and Maura was stunning. Her eyes shined brighter and her hair was a luxurious gold. Yes Jane thought pregnancy looked magnificent on Maura. Jane loved days like this, when it was just the two of them together, just being themselves, happy and content. It was 10:30pm and soon, just after 11, Maura would start to nod off onto Jane's shoulder. Jane would feel a little guilty about taking advantage of Maura like this, but as her Nona told her, "The heart wants what the heart wants." Jane's heart more than anything wanted Maura. Jane always had a great appreciation of the Medical Examiner's body before, with her one of a kind dresses and heels that displayed all of Maura's assets magnificently. But since Maura told her about her pregnancy, Jane has been stealing moments of closer appreciation of her. With Maura's head on her shoulder sound asleep, Jane would inhale a scent that was completely Maura: clean, pure, and good. She would wrap one arm around Maura's shoulder, and hold her close. Nothing ever felt so right as holding Maura close. And when she would wake Maura to help her to bed, the half lidded look she would give Jane with pouted lips would send an electric shock through Jane's system, and it took everything Jane had not to lean down and taste them. Rather Jane would just press a kiss to Maura's temple and help her off the couch and up the stairs so she could go to bed. But for right now Jane would sit back and observe secretly, from a distance, Maura as she softly caressed her stomach while watching the documentary.
Maura watched the documentary half heartedly as she ran her hand over her belly feeling the small child within her move. She could keenly feel the detective's eyes on her. She wished that Jane would acknowledge the tension between them. She had always had deep feelings for Jane, and she knew that deep down inside Jane felt something more than friendship for her too. But Jane was just afraid to take that final step. And Maura knew that if she took it that Jane would just bolt. So Maura tried to indirectly encourage Jane to make the first move. She began by falling asleep on Jane's shoulder, and initiating physical contact whenever she could. Slowly over the past few months Maura could see Jane's walls dropping, soon that wall will crumble and hopefully, Maura thought, so would Jane. Maura reached over and took Jane's hand and placed it on her growing belly. "Jane do you feel that?"
A huge grin broke Jane's face, and she scooted closer to Maura. "Wow Maur, she is going to town."
"She's going to be really strong."
"And really smart if her mother is any indication." Jane whispered to Maura's round stomach.
Maura turned her head, her lips only inches from Jane's. She knew the gaze was torture for Jane but she held it a second longer, licked her lips and then folded herself into Jane's side. Wrapped in a warm cocoon of love within Jane's arms Maura began to relax and fall into the best sleep she would have for the rest of the night. Sometimes Maura would just sleep on the couch with her face buried into Jane's spot, just so she could go back to sleep surrounded by the Italian's scent. Having the dark beauty with her made Maura's heart soar. It was the second best thing about this pregnancy, having Jane closer than ever to her. Maura let out a contented sigh she knew that this baby was the best thing to ever happen to her and Jane, and one day she would tell her daughter just that. From the beginning when that test, well several tests, read positive Jane had been there every step of the way for Maura and the baby. Jane was present at every doctor's appointment and prenatal yoga and birthing class. She would spend her days off prepping the nursery to each and every specification that Maura desired. No task was to great or embarrassing to Jane, not when it came to Maura and the baby. Many people would often mistaken them as a couple and while Maura would deny that it was the case, she would internally wish that it were true.
The father was no one special, a one night stand at one of her mother's art exhibits in Italy. Maura had yet to inform him of her happy condition. It had been a wonderful evening but the copulation was just a Band-Aid for the person she was truly desiring, Jane. He was Italian with thick curly hair and a charming smile, physically he almost reminded Maura of Jane, though she would never tell either of them this. He was an artist that her mother had sponsored on that trip. And Maura had spent the later part of that evening worshiping his well formed musculature. But beyond his art they had nothing in common and as Maura thought the morning after, he just wasn't who she was truly pinning for. She supposed that she should send him an email soon, he had a right to know about the baby after all.
A small smile appeared on Maura's face as she felt an arm reach across her shoulders pulling her closer into the chest beneath her head, and a nose burying itself into her hair. Jane was showing her physical affection only because she thought that Maura was asleep. However Maura decided she would taunt Jane a little, just to see what kind of reaction she would get. She sighed and moaned, "Jane."
She could feel Jane tense, "Maura?" she whispered. Maura regulated her breathing, thank you yoga, but she could feel Jane's heartbeat escalate. "Maura are you awake?" Jane asked again.
Maura stayed quiet a moment longer and then softly moaned again, "I love you Jane."
She felt rather than saw Jane smile, "I love you too Maura, more than you will ever know."
The next day in her office off of the Morgue, Maura stared at the computer screen at the email she had just sent to Antonio, her 'baby daddy' as Jane calls him. She explained her condition and told him that she had no objection to any relationship that he would have wanted to have with the baby. Maura then picked up a file from her desk and continued with her work. When she had reached her second trimester she pulled back on the autopsies that she performed and remained more in her office examining files and test results. She missed working with the victims directly, but the risk of being exposed to any dangerous pathogen that would harm her child, held any potential pouting she would have normally done at bay. Besides the nausea was overwhelming as decay would hit her nose and would send her rushing to her bathroom.
There came a knock at her door and Jane stood there against the door frame grinning from ear to ear, "Hey I came down to see if mother and child wanted to go and grab a bite of lunch."
Maura smiled and the grin only got bigger when she felt the baby kick upon hearing Jane's voice, "I would love some food! Can you bring me something? I just have so much work to go through before I go on maternity leave."
Jane moved forward shaking her head, "Oh no! it is a lovely day and you and the baby both are in need of fresh air and food. The work will be here when you get back." She grabbed Maura's purse and jacket holding it open for her." Come on let's get half-pint away from all the death." Maura raised an eyebrow, "Either you come with me now or I will call my mother." Jane raised an eyebrow of her own.
Maura knew that Angela would be down here doing 'helicopter mom' as Jane was fond of calling it and then Maura would definitely not get any work done. "Fine, but I get to choose where we go."
Jane pulls Maura up out of the chair and helps her put on the coat, then bends over to talk to the baby, "Come on half-pint, let's go get mommy some brain food!"
Once again the baby kicks at the sound of Jane's voice and Maura laughs, "I think she agrees."
"Is she kicking again?" Jane smiles up at her best friend.
Maura takes Jane's hand and places it on her stomach, "Talk to her."
Jane blushes a little and looks back down at Maura's stomach, "Hey little one, do you want kale or a big burger and fries?"
Again a solid kick into Jane's hand and Maura shares a warm smile with Jane, "I think she likes the sound of your voice."
"Smart kid, just like her mommy." Jane keeps her head close to the baby as she speaks.
As this tender moment occurs, Suzie walks in, "Oh excuse me Dr. Isles those test results are back."
"Hey Chang, I was just taking the good doctor out to lunch." Jane stuffs her hands in her pockets.
"Hello Detective. Then I will just set these on your desk Dr. Isles. You three have a nice lunch." Suzie smiles as she exits the office.
Jane smiled taking Maura by the hand before she could pickup the file and delay their lunch any longer.
"I sent Antonio an email today." Maura said as she and Jane sat at a red light in Jane's unmarked.
"Oh? Has he replied yet?" Jane's expression was unreadable, but a seething twinge of jealousy knotted in Jane's stomach.
"Not yet." Maura replied, "I sent it before you walked into my office."
Silence hung in the air for a few minutes until Jane cleared her throat, "What do you think his response will be?"
Maura shrugged, "I am not sure. I said he could be a part of her life as he wished, but that I wasn't expecting anything from him. It's not like I will need child-support. But I thought he deserved to know."
"I guess." Jane kept her gaze straight forward on the road in front of her. She didn't like this Antonio, yes it was unfair of her since she never met the man. And according to Maura he was a talented artist and sculpture. But She disliked the man on principle because he had the one thing she wanted, Maura. Jane carried a worry in the back of her mind that one day this man would find out about the baby, then come and take her Maura away. Sure the kid deserved both of her parents. However Jane knew that if Maura stayed that both her and that little girl would want for nothing. It would have all the love and support the Rizzoli clan could offer. Jane looked over at Maura, "I am sure of one thing Maur, if he is not a part of this little gals life, her Aunt Jane and Uncles Frankie and Tommy will make sure she won't even notice."
Maura laughed at this, "Not to mention your mother will enjoy lavishing affection on a little girl. She is already buying some cute little outfits and dresses."
Jane smirked, "Not to mention the collection of shoes you will be giving her." She then reached over and placed a hand on Maura's stomach, "But don't worry half-pint, if your not into all those frills and pinks your Auntie Jane will get you a Red Sox's jersey and a mitt. Then we will go and watch the games instead."
Maura shook her head, "If she does become a tomboy like you, I will have a head of gray hairs by the time she is 18."
Jane now laughed out loud, "You are timeless Maura, even when you're old and gray you will still awe people with your beauty." She then gave Maura one of her trade mark Rizzoli grins.
Maura felt her heart flutter in her chest and knew that if she had been standing she might have melted into a puddle on the floor, "Well I don't feel beautiful, I resemble a whale at the moment."
"Don't see it. If anything pregnancy looks great on you. We are here." Jane got out of the car then walked around to Maura's side to open the door for her.
"I am so glad chivalry isn't dead." Maura excepted Jane's hand to help her stand.
"Nope, I am bringing it back with style." Jane gave Maura a cocky grin.
This was one of Maura's favorite French bistro's that had a little outdoor terrace that Jane told the host to set them in. As Maura placed their order, due to Jane's lack of ability to read or speak the language, Jane smiled at the flawless way Maura spoke French. Whenever Maura spoke the language, Jane turned into Gomez Adams and would squirm at the arousal she could do nothing about. When their waiter left Jane cleared her throat, "So have you decided on a name yet?"
"I am having trouble deciding, I like the name Sophie and Alexandra."
Jane nodded, "Good strong names, I always like Katherine."
"With a C or a K?"
"K, it seems bolder."
"Sounds fierce for a baby." Maura frowned.
"Well we can call her Katie until she grows up. Dr. Katherine Isles looks great on a name plate."
"What makes you sure she will be a doctor?" Maura smiled at Jane.
"Well her mom's one of the most brilliant minds I know. But if not a Doctor then, Judge Katherine Isles, or Senator Katherine Isles, Oh President Isles! Even if she becomes a nun she will outshine Mother Theresa herself with a name like that."
Maura laughed at the last comment, "And become what? Saint Katherine Isles?"
"No matter how you say it sounds amazing. Admit it, it is growing on you." Jane wiggled her eyebrows.
Maura shakes her head, "I suppose so, it would be a good strong name, a great many heroic women with the name Katherine, like Katherine of Aragon. She was Henry VIII's first wife, a devote catholic, and a hero to most of the English people."
"Well that settles it! A heroic Catholic it is! Ma will love her more than T.J." Both women laugh as their food is set in front of them. "Hey Maura."
"Yes Jane?"
"Look I know the circumstances are not ideal for you or this baby. But I just want to say, both of you have me and the whole family's love and devotion. And we are excited to have this little girl join our family."
Maura reached across the table and took Jane's hand into her own, "To me Jane, that is the most idea situation to be in right now. With you and your family, along with everyone at the station; I have everyone I will ever need."
Jane blushed and looked down at her plate. "Well no matter how they say it, this chicken looks great!"
Maura sighed, internally she had been hoping to have created that moment where Jane would open up, but she just retreated and changed the subject. "Yes it looks amazing. However, I believe I will want some ice cream after this."
Jane's eyes lit up, "Great! We will grab and ice cream cone on our way back to the station. Maybe a pickle too!" She smirked at Maura's eye roll.
"To be fair I have not had any strange cravings of any odd mixtures of food. Though Mexican and Chinese seem to deliver to the house about 8 times throughout the week. I should eat more home cooked meals." Maura started eating her salad.
"If you would like I could come by tonight and make you dinner. A real dinner, not delivery, of something that will both satisfy and delight you and half-pint." Jane added between bites.
"I love how you call her half-pint. Nick-names are endearing, and can strengthen bonds between individuals. Doubtless you calling the baby half-pint will create a strong bond between the two of you. Though I think it odd for you to use a unit of measurement as a nick-name." Maura smiled as she felt the baby move around inside of her.
"It's was what Pa called Laura on Little House on the Prairie. Haven't you seen that show?" Jane asked.
Maura shook her head, Jane continued, "Really? How did you miss that? Okay fine we are watching that tonight, and you will learn of the beauty and joy that is the Ingles family."
Maura looked at Jane and smiled, "It's a date!"