First, may I say, forgive me for creating the generic Stamp Out Illness Benefit. There are so many cancers/diseases/illness benefits and charities, that I did not want to promote just one. After reading this, please make a donation to one that means something to you for the New Year coming up.
A nod to Tess Gerritsen and TNT: Thank you for creating these lovely characters that we love to play with at times.
"Alright everyone, that about covers it all. Let's have a safe …."
"Excuse me, sir?" Lieutenant Cavanaugh is trying to wrap up the meeting when he is interrupted by Patrick, their temporary office intern. "Don't forget this." Patrick hands Cavanaugh a sheet of paper.
"Ok, one more thing I guess." He looks down and quickly scans the paper. "Oh, right. Listen up. 'Stamp Out Illness' is asking the assistance of the Boston Police Department in a benefit venue. Last year, the Boston Fire Department helped them and they made a shit-ton of money. I guess this is also a little challenge from our friends of the BFD to see if we can match the money they made.." Cavanaugh scans the crowd. "Let me just say this, I expect full participation from this department. Understand? Not only are we going to match what the BFD raised, we're gonna beat them! Check your emails for more information." Cavanaugh glances at Patrick for confirmation and Patrick nods. "Let's have a safe day." Cavanaugh walks back into his office.
Jane double clicks to open her mail. She is curious to see what is expected for participation for this benefit. She finds two attachments in the email, one is the flyer describing the evening as a "Black Tie Preferred" event with all of the date, time and location information. The other one is the description of possible jobs to do that evening; bar, hors d'oeuvre table, information tables…
"What?! 'Everyone is expected to do karaoke? A song of their choice and be prepared for requests'?' What is that about?" Jane is leaning forward in her chair hoping that she has misread the document.
Frankie makes a face at his sister. "Pffft. What are you worried about? I've heard you sing, you have a great singing voice."
Jane rakes her fingers through her hair. "Maybe in the shower…."
Frost chuckles. "Want us to install a special effects shower on the stage so you can sing?"
Korsak chimes in, eyes twinkling. "If the male attendees know that Jane will be singing from a shower, I'm sure that would boost donations."
Frankie leans back in his chair, "Sounds like a plan to me!"
Jane rolls her eyes. "Not to me."
The day progresses slowly with the team looking through evidence and tracking down leads with their latest case. Progress has finally been made. Jane feels her phone vibrate.
Maura: Would you like to come over tonight?
Jane: Pizza and movie?
Maura: Of course, it's Friday night.
Jane: My turn to pick out the movie
Maura: From our list, correct? I'll pick up the pizza
Jane: Yes. See you soon xxx
Maura: xxx
Jane smiles. They each had a list of approved movies that the other was willing to watch that they created after some failed Friday movie nights. Jane makes a quick stop at her apartment to grab her overnight backpack. Next stop, is the Red Box that is conveniently located next to a liquor store so she can pick up a movie and some beer and wine to go along with the pizza that Maura is getting.
In no time at all, Jane is pulling into Maura's. She grabs the bags and makes her way to the front door, a quick knock and she walks into the delicious smell of pizza. Maura walks out of the kitchen to wrap her arms around Jane's waist and gives her a warm kiss.
"Hi there, perfect timing. I only walked in 3 minutes ago."
Jane grins. "Great, the pizza hasn't had the time to get cold and the beer not warm." Jane no longer rolls her eyes at Maura's very precise time reports. It was never, 'a couple of minutes ago'.
"Jane, you realize you don't have to knock when you walk in."
Jane shrugs. "Habit."
Maura gently shakes her head while Jane is pouring the wine. They had been dating for 5 months last month when Maura asked Jane if she would like to move in. Jane spends most weekends and usually 1 or 2 nights during the week at Maura's, it would be the logical next progression in their relationship, but Jane said not yet. Maura knows that Jane is fully committed to their relationship, she just didn't seem ready to make it public.
Maura gets the plates out. "Would you like to eat while we are watching the movie?"
"Nah, let's eat out here." Jane takes a bite of her pizza. Her eyes close as she savors the flavors dancing on her tongue.
The ladies talk about their days in between bites of pizza. Jane's eyes widen as she remembers the email about working the benefit.
"Hey, Maur. Did you get an email about the BPD helping out a benefit that will help the 'Stamp Out Illness' benefit?"
Muara daintily dabs her mouth with a napkin. "Yes, I did. I think this a wonderful benefit that we will be involved in. The Isles Foundation usually provides a generous donation to the various benefits for the 'Stamp Out Illness' Society."
"Well, can you explain to me what Black Tie Preferred or Request means exactly?"
Maura shifts her seating as she goes into teacher mode. Her eyes sparkle. "Do you want me to explain ALL the different level of Black Tie affairs?"
Jane waves her hands in front of her face. "No! Just this one. I don't need to be any more confused than I am."
Maura smiles. "Some other time. Can I just say that a white tie affair is the most formal? For women, it's very complicated. Depending on the time of the event, the formality of the invitation, the age of the woman; these all play a part of the length of the dress. It can be anything from a long formal gown; to a little black dress."
"Ugh!" Jane lowers her head to the table in a defeated gesture.
"Jane, you look beautiful in dresses!" Maura hears a muffled "Thank you" from the mass of hair on the table. Jane runs her fingers through her hair when she lifts her head up. She sighs.
"What if I am a bartender, or person walking around carrying hors d'oeuvres? I can't do that in a dress! What are you going to wear?"
Maura gets an excited look in her eyes. "Well, after I opened the PDF invitation, I noticed that it suggested wearing formal for this benefit, so I looked online!" Maura does a little handclap.
"Of course, you did." Maura chooses to ignore Jane's comment in her excitement.
"I love the designs by Zuhair Murad. He has some very elegant gowns, some of which are….. quite daring."
Jane almost drools thinking of Maura's breasts in a 'daring' gown, but then her forehead gets the wrinkly frown look. She will have to beat away all the guys that will undoubtedly flock around Maura's Rack of God.
Maura watches the emotions cross her lover's face. "Would you like to shop with me for yourself?"
Jane rolls her eyes. "Can't I wear dress pants and a jacket?"
"No, but can I make a suggestion?" Jane shrugs. Maura knew that Jane would have a problem with dressing in a formal gown, even though she always looks gorgeous in any dress, so Maura came up with a plan B.
"A woman's, fitted, tuxedo." Maura waited as Jane thought about it.
"They make tuxedos for women?"
"They do."
Jane raises an eyebrow. Maura wipes her fingers and grabs her phone. A minute later, she slides it along the table to Jane.
Jane is about to scroll on Maura's phone when Maura clears her throat. Jane quickly wipes her greasy fingers on a napkin. She slowly chews her pizza as she looks at the pics.
"I can do that?"
"Of course you can, Jane. You will look extremely sexy." Jane grins at Maura's compliment.
"Can you show me an example of Murad's dress designs?"
Maura takes her phone back, spends a minute looking for what she wants, and shows it to Jane. Jane stops chewing and swallows slowly.
"When do you want to go shopping?"
Maura laughs gaily. "Jane Rizzoli wants to go shopping?"
Jane grins. "If it's for a dress like that, to go on you, hell yes!"
The ladies finish their pizza and bring their wine to the couch. They get into their "movie watching position - Jane leans back into the corner, legs spread, one on the couch and Maura settles between Jane's legs. Jane is content feeling Maura in her arms. As Maura presses play, Jane looks over her shoulder at the overnight bag she brought with her.
'I never want this to end. Time to get my big girl panties on and stop being afraid.'
Happy Holidays everyone! This was going to be a one shot, but it grew.
Special thanks to L2GQ for the prompt. Hope you like it!
Hugs to all!