A/N: This is my first foray into Rizzles fanfic, so please be gentle. But let me know if you liked it! enjoy!
Angela:
"Maura and I aren't a couple, Ma." Her daughter's words swirled around in her head. Angela had to fight not to laugh at the time, but now, in the comfort of her own bed, with the knowledge that everything between the girls was fine, she laughed. Because it was a ridiculous notion stuck in the head of her eldest child.
They were more alike than either of them realized. She'd always known, but it really struck her at the hospital, when Maura didn't want any sort of affection. As a mother, their reactions to what was supposed to be a comforting gesture made her heart break. Sometimes all she wanted to do was wrap her kids in bubble wrap and remind them that it would all be okay, but two of her children faced danger every day and her psuedo-child provided a voice for murdered people, so she knew they knew otherwise. Sometimes she was the one who really needed the hug, the assurance that their hearts were still beating and they were okay. But Maura and Jane were never interested, either brushing it off with a polite, "please, no," or running as fast as they could in the other direction.
They always found comfort in each other, though. She had walked in on many a long hug, each of their eyes closed as they squeezed each other even tighter, their laughter bubbling to the surface as they pulled away. Even before she moved in with Maura, she knew that's where Jane went when she was the most distressed. And on the very few nights she had to stay in the guest room instead of the guest house, she noticed the little breadcrumbs Jane left behind. A few shirts hung up in the closet, or one of the few pairs of earrings she owned lying on the dresser from the last time they had to dress up for a case, or how the sheets and comforter were always tucked under the mattress instead of draped over it like Maura always did when she made the bed.
Neither of them liked to talk about their feelings either. Maura would tense up, and start spewing gibberish that only she could understand whenever conversations made her uncomfortable. Jane met discomfort with a hard mask, trying her hardest to appear tough and directing them to a different subject entirely. But she figured they must talk to each other. She'd be lying if she said she never noticed their hushed voices and wide eyes whenever she came through the front door, Jane always chewing on her lower lip as she waited impatiently for her mother to leave. And although it hurt that her daughter wouldn't talk to her about whatever she was struggling with, it helped knowing that she at least had someone she could talk to.
She'd thought back on her parenting style a lot through the years, and watching Jane's budding relationship with Maura had only made her question things more. Did she tell Jane enough growing up that she would always love her, no matter what? That it didn't matter who she loved as long as she was happy? Maybe forcing her to go to Mass every week only made her feel like she had to live a certain way to please a higher power, and she could never be truly happy.
Of course, there were other reasons Jane might not have acted on her feelings toward Maura. Maybe she wasn't aware of them yet. Or maybe she worried that Maura didn't feel the same way. Angela snorted at that thought. There was no way that Maura didn't feel the same. When they were in a room together, the world got just a little bit brighter, and she could just feel the energy change in the room. Those two were made for each other, meant to be in each other's lives. If only they would both use those big brains of theirs to do something about it, maybe they could both be happy for once.
It was usually at this point that Angela pushed her brain into other territories as she tried to drift off to sleep. Wondering about her daughter and Maura only frustrated her, and would sometimes keep her up at night while she tried to think of creative ways to bring them together. So instead, she played songs in her head, or went over her favorite memories, anything other than Jane or Maura, and let herself drift into sleep.
The next day she found Maura in the kitchen, dressed for work, a deep purple blouse and a black pencil skirt. But it was what was on her feet that had Angela's heart racing as her motherly instincts set it. "Maura, what are you wearing on your feet?"
The younger woman grimaced, holding out her bad leg to show off her pumps. "Shoes."
"Heels. You still can't walk without limping, but you're wearing heels." Angela met her at the island. "Take them off."
The blonde set her jaw, lowering her leg and standing with her shoulders back. "Well, these just happen to match my outfit perfectly. I don't have a pair of flats that match as well."
The older woman laughed, moving around the stationary blonde to the cabinet, reaching for her coffee cup. "I've seen your closets, missy, I don't believe that for a second."
Maura turned, her face fighting the grimace as the pain shot up her leg. "I'm sorry you don't believe me, but it's true."
"What's true?" The husky voice of her daughter floated from the front door, and Maura turned only her head to greet the woman.
"Look at Maura's feet!" It didn't matter if it was juvenile, tattling on the blonde. It didn't even matter that Maura glared at her, honey colored eyes squinted as she bit the inside of her cheek. If it got her to change, it was worth it.
Jane raised an eyebrow and crossed her arms over her chest. "Maur, those are cute and all, but I don't think you should be wearing them the day after I cut open your leg."
"Please, I'm fine." Angela didn't have to mention the splotchy patches of skin appearing on Maura's neck. The blonde did that herself as she brought her hands up to cover them. "Okay, it's a little painful. But none of my flats match as well."
Jane scoffed. "Well one of them has to match enough! Go upstairs and grab them. I don't want to see you in another pair of heels." When Maura refused to move, Jane's voice became deeper, laced with more authority. "If you don't go find better shoes, Maur, I will hold you down and force you into the running shoes I have in my trunk."
This threat was what made Maura move, her nose crinkled in disgust as she limped towards her stairs and out of earshot. Angela reached for her daughter's hand, giving it a reassuring squeeze. "Thank you."
Jane reached behind her head, pulling down a mug and pouring herself a cup of coffee. "No problem. I knew that if she wore those, Frankie would have to carry her home by the end of the night."
The image made Angela laugh, her eyes following her daughter as she made herself at home in the doctor's living room. "I don't think he'd appreciate that again." Jane's small smile told her that it was more than just being considerate of her brother. She truly wanted her friend to be comfortable, and not suffer through the day. And Angela watched as she looked toward the stairs, a hopeful look on her face as she waited for her friend to appear. Angela grinned to herself, sitting next to her daughter and laying the groundwork for her master plan. "So, did Michael Germano ever give you a call?"
The brunette turned her head, her eyebrows knit together in a puzzled expression. "I'm sorry, who?"
"Oh, he's a wonderful guy from Southie. He works with animals or something. His mother and I are good friends, and she mentioned that he's single." She delighted in the grimace on her daughter's face as she spoke, and fought hard to keep her own face blank.
"Ma, I don't need you to set me up."
"But Janie, I'm tired of waiting for grandchildren. Don't you think it's almost time to start settling down, with a nice man and a few dogs, and maybe have a few children just to keep your old mother happy?"
"Gross Ma, stop."
"And if you get the dogs at christmas time you could name them Nick and Noel. Or Tinsel and Star. And the kids could spend weekends with me while you and Michael work, maybe have a date night…"
"Ma!" Jane shouted, pushing herself away from her mother. "If I agree to go out with him, will you please stop talking?"
Angela fought to hide her triumphant grin. "For now."
"Good." With that, Jane rose, walking to the bottom of the stairs and shouting up. "Maur, I need you to hurry. Mom is trying to set me up with all of Southie."
"I'm sure I can find a date for you too, Maura!"
At that, they heard her shuffling around upstairs, her limp making her leg fa;l harder as she travelled through the hallway and went as fast as she could down the stairs. She offered Angela a polite smile. "That won't be necessary, but thank you for the offer." With that, they left, Jane practically dragging the medical examiner behind her as they rushed through the door.
Angela laughed to herself, the look of panic on both of their faces priceless. She knew that she couldn't force Maura to do anything she didn't want to do. But Jane, well she knew how to press all Jane's buttons. She knew how to get her to go out with a man she would never be interested in. And maybe, if she set up enough bad dates, she could help Jane realize what she really wanted. Maura.