AN: I want to try a proper multi chapter fic. I am fascinated between the relationship between mother and daughter and this is what I want to explore here. Hopefully some of you may enjoy the ride with me. There will be some twists along the way.
Maura meets a beaming Jane at the entrance of the Boston Police Department. She can't help than to match Jane's happiness.
" Detective Stevens surely has a positive effect on your composition." Maura greets Jane.
Jane is too in love to argue. "He is the best." She agrees.
Jane Rizzoli is head over heels in love with Daniel Stevens. He is a very successful detective in the Special Victims Unit and just as passionate about the job as Jane. There was chemistry from the very first moment they clapped eyes on each other and things were progressing fast.
"I have good news – Ma is going to be over the moon." Jane announces, practically hopping with excitement.
Maura have to keep her eyes from rolling. She is happy for Jane, really she is, but something about Detective Stevens was gnawing at the Medical Examiner. She can't put her finger on it though. It might be that Jane does not have a very good track record when it comes to relationships.
"Well, I don't see a ring." Maura says neutrally.
"There was not enough time to go shop for one." Jane shrugs.
"Oh!" The Medical Examiner's eyes grow big. "Oh my goodness!" The implication settles in. "Jane, you are engaged."
Maura throws her arms around the detective to congratulate her. It is not everyday that your best friend announce her engagement.
"Careful . . . Careful!" Jane laughs. "That's not all. What are you doing on Saturday?"
"I don't have anything special planned. Do you want to go dress shopping?" Maura asks excitedly.
"Not quite. At least not Saturday. If you are not busy, would you like to be my Maid of Honour?" Jane drops the next bomb.
"Saturday? You getting married in 4 days?" Maura asks stunned.
"Yeah – in about 99 hours from now." Jane confirms.
"Boy, what is the rush? A pistol wedding or something?" Maura asks confused.
"A shotgun, Maura. A shotgun wedding. And yeah, sort of. I mean Dan is not forced into marrying me, but we just don't see the need to wait."
For a third time realization hits Maura hard. She opens her mouth, but nothing comes out.
"Say something, Maur." Jane shakes her gently.
"I am just surprised. This is too much, Jane, I am overwhelmed." Maura admits.
"Well, try being me." Jane smirks. "I am expecting a baby from the man I love, who proposed to me last night and whom I am marrying on Saturday."
"Wow, Jane. Just – WOW! Congratulations. I hope that you will always be as happy as you are today. What does Angela say?"
"Uhm . . ." Jane is looking for words.
"You haven't told her yet?" Maura asks.
"There wasn't time. I was actually on my way to tell her now, but I am late now and I still need to get the weekend off from Cavanaugh. I guess I will have to tell her later." Jane shrugs.
"Jane Rizzoli!" Maura huffs.
"This all very sudden." Jane says defensively.
"Go tell you mother before she finds out and kill you. I will organize some time off for us to arrange your wedding. There is no way that you are getting married the way that you do yoga on a Saturday morning. This is big!"
It turns out that Maura's intervention was sorely needed. Jane's head was in the clouds and she could not be bothered about the details regarding the wedding. She merely shrugged her shoulders when Angela insisted on a church wedding. Angela would speak to the parish priest regarding the ceremony.
The wedding would be low key, but elegant. Jane was adamant that she would rather spend her savings on her baby than a wedding. Maura had to abide to that rule, or she could not help with the arrangements.
Jane's outfit delighted Maura. The detective was no longer keen on a Red Sox jersey and wanted to look gorgeous for her groom. Yet she did not want anything to extravagant or high key, she was still Jane after all. To begin with she refused al bridal boutiques, but Maura finally convinced her mischievous streak that a long elegant dress would allow her to wear sneakers with red socks. Dan Stevens was shorter than Jane and heels was in any case out of the question
With all the preparations, the groom was shining in his absence. Maura almost forgot about him, until a distraught Jane arrived on her door step the Thursday evening. She throws herself on the couch and let her head rest in her hands. Maura gets her a glass of wine and sat down beside her.
"Jane?" she asks hesitantly.
"I am sorry Maura, I am just pissed. Just give me a few moments." Jane grumbles.
They sit in silence, sipping their wine. Jane is trying to calm down and Maura wonders what have upset her friend.
"The fucking bastard!" Jane finally bark.
"Who?" Maura asks confused.
"Daniel Stevens. That is who." Jane practically growl.
"I don't understand Jane." Maura said gently.
"We can't get married as St. Gregory. He was married before." Jane informs Maura after taking a deep breath.
"You are angry with him because he was married before?" Maura frowns.
"Of course not, Maura." Jane sighed. "I am furious because we are getting married in 2 days time and it never occurred to the asshole to tell me that he was married before. I only found out when Fr. Joseph phoned to cancel the ceremony. When I confronted him, he said he did not think that it was important."
"O dear."
"I totally went ballistic on him and ask him if he also have some children that he is hiding. Turns out that he have an 8 year old daughter. One that he hardly ever seen. For fuck sakes." Jane is trembling with rage.
"Jane." Maura says soothingly, gently rubbing the brunette's thigh. "What now?" she asks quietly.
"I don't fucking know." Jane growls.
"Perhaps it is a good thing that you find it out before the wedding. It is not too late, you can still put an end to it. Maybe think things over for a couple of months." Maura reasons.
"I don't know Maura. I don't think I can cope alone with the baby." Jane admits brokenly.
"Jane, you won't be alone. Your family, friends and colleagues are all here for you. I will always be around to help. You don't have to marry him, Jane. You should not marry him just because of the baby."
Jane bends forward, resting her head in her hands.
"I love him." She whispers.
"Is that enough?" Maura asks seriously.
"I don't know. I just don't know."
That was the last words spoken for the evening. Maura did not need to be told that there would be an occupant in her guestroom that evening. Jane needed to sleep things over, get some clarity away from her fiancé.
Early the next morning the door bell rang. Maura opened the door and was surprised to find Detective Stevens on her steps. Maura always had the feeling that he was indifferent to the wedding and even to Jane. That he was not as in love as Jane was. Maura never thought that he will be trying to make amends.
"Dr. Isles, can I speak to Jane?" the sturdy blond man asks.
"I will see if she wants to talk to you." Maura informs him chilly.
Jane's delight for the early morning visitor is piercing Maura's heart. It is like the detective has created a test for the man and he passed with flying colours. While they are sitting on the front porch talking, Maura already knows what the outcome will be. Jane wants to forgive him and will do so.
It does take a bit longer than expected and when Jane returns the evidence shows that she has been crying.
"So?" Maura asks. "Are we looking for a new venue or . . ."
"New venue." Jane answers with a weak smile.
Maura nods and then takes Jane's hands in her own: "Are you sure, my friend?"
Jane bits her lip. "Yes." And then with a radiant smile she confirms. "Yes!"
Satisfied that Jane is happy again, yet uncomfortable with the turn of events, Maura gets a list of alternative venues. If need be, she can always find Jane a good divorce lawyer. Maura immediately feels guilty about the thought and put extra effort into Jane's most beautiful day.
That night Angela insists that Jane spends the night in the guestroom. Jane reluctantly agreed, especially when Maura said that it would be practical, as Jane was getting dressed at her house in any case.
Maura looks at Jane with her head tilted. She is absolutely gorgeous. Angela of course had to shed a few tears. When Jane could not stand it anymore, she lifted her dress to show her mother her white sneakers. Angela nearly fainted. She started to demand that Jane put on proper shoes, until Maura points out that even with the sneakers, Jane is almost half a head taller than Dan. His ego would never survive if Jane was to wear heels.
Angela had to agree and soon Frankie came to pick her up. When Jane broke the news of the wedding, Korsak and Frost wanted to do something for her. They decided to arrange her wedding car. The girls are waiting upon them to show up.
"Shit, Maura! What if he does not show up?" Now that all was said and done, the waiting got to Jane's nerves.
"Then it was not meant to be." Maura shrugs.
She went into the lab early that morning to verify some results. She bumped into Korsak who assured her all was in order for Jane's ride. She needed to share her reservations with somebody. She was pleased to learn that Korsak and Frost shared the same concern. She was even more pleased to learn that they, Frankie and Tommy was planning on a talk with Stevens before the wedding. Maura wanted to know what the talk will entail.
"Come on, Doc. The typical Father of the Bride talk. Since Jane's father can't make the wedding, we will inform Stevens what would happen to him if he would ever hurt her." Korsak chuckled.
"What will happen?" Maura asked interested.
"We will rip his nuts out, feed it to him and then kill him." Korsak suddenly promised seriously.
Maura nodded her head approvingly. "I also want to talk to him."
Korsak nearly choked. "You can't."
"Why not?" Maura asked offended.
"It is not a talk to be had in the presence of a lady." Korsak shrugged.
Maura got a dangerous gleam to her eyes. "Well, just tell him then that if he does hurt Jane, I will rule his death unsuspicious when you are done with him."
"Come on Maura!" Jane stomps her feet and Maura turn her attention to the bride to be.
"Sorry Jane?" she asks politely.
"I said –"
"Don't marry him, Jane!" Maura blurted out.
"Excuse me?" Jane asks with a dangerous tone.
"Jane, I don't have a good feeling about this. Please, you will regret it." Maura pleads.
"I don't think so. I think that you are just jealous that I am getting married before you."
"Don't say it! You know that is not true." Maura disputes.
"Is it not? I will wait outside." Jane moves to the door.
"Does he touch your hands?" Maura yells.
Jane hesitates and then turns back. "What does that have to do with anything?"
"Jane, your hands are always the measure with what you trust people. You once nearly hit Korsak when he reached for your hands and you would trust Korsak with your life. It is a valid question, as you cannot marry somebody who you won't allow to touch your hands. Does Detective Stevens touch your hands?" Maura explains urgently.
"I think so – Maura, I really don't want to fight with you today. Can't you just be happy? For me?" Jane pleads softly.
Maura hesitates, but then answers softly. "I will try Jane. Can you at least promise me that when . . . if you ever find out that you made a mistake, that you will kick him out without a second thought?"
Jane investigates Maura's face before agreeing softly. They can't talk anymore, as Korsak has arrived with a classic car. Both the bride and the bridesmaid have to work on being light hearted. Outside the venue Jane addresses Maura again: "Don't be so worried."
Maura just give her crooked smile and a quick hug before entering the hall.
When the celebrant asks the bridal pair to give each other the right hand, Maura noticed the slight hesitation with Jane. But she puts her hand in the man's hand and smile triumphantly at Maura.
That is when Maura knew that this marriage would be the biggest mistake of Jane's life.