Dudes, words cannot describe how fucking epic this is, that I've gotten so much of a response from ONE CHAPTER. Seriously, I wanted to giggle madly when I realized just how many of you liked this! You guys are fucking amazing. Happy Easter, by the way, although I don't celebrate the holiday as it was intended, I'm just in it for the roast beef and time with kin and friends. Don't forget to leave suggestions if you have any!
1970Kate-H gets a cookie for being 50th follower!
*hands cookie shaped like turtle*
*Maura glares silently and Jane snickers*
Tortoise, I mean tortoise! Jeez...
Read on!
Ages: 10 & 8
Maura squirmed with excitement (and a healthy dose of nerves) as her mother drove through the streets of Boston. "Now, dear, are you sure you'll be alright here all night? I'm sure Jane won't mind if-"
"Mother, I've stayed here before."
"But not all night, darling. I'm just worried that you won't be comfortable."
Maura caught her mother's eyes through the rear view mirror and smiled reassuringly. "I'll be fine, mother. I know her family, and I like them. They seem to like me as well."
Maura's words turned quiet at the end and Constance glanced in the mirror again. Maura's eyes were distant, her face contemplative, and she dug for a response. "Jane likes you, Maura, so I'm certain her family does as well." Maura nodded and the ride continued in silence (punctuated by uncharacteristic bursts of impatient questioning from Maura) until they were parked in front of the Rizzoli's house. Constance unbuckled Maura, led her up the sidewalk, and sidestepped in surprise when a dark blur rocketed out of the door and tackled Maura into a crushing hug.
"Maur, you're here! I thought you'd never come!" Jane smiled widely, showcasing her dimple and bright eyes, and led Maura inside, both girls chatting happily. Constance (feeling rather abandoned on the stoop) retrieved Maura's forgotten overnight bag and went inside, shutting the door behind herself.
She was assaulted by the smell of cooking and made her way into the kitchen, where she found Angela stirring a pot on the stove while four kids talked excitedly at the table. Tommy and Frankie were vying heavily for Maura's attention, making (ridiculous) faces and telling (even more ridiculous) stories. "One time I-"
"And then I was like-"
"-we ran through-"
"-found a-"
"Guys, knock it off!" Jane spoke over them both and thumped her small fist on the table. They quieted immediately and looked at the table (her glare was amazingly effective, even at ten), and Jane nodded. "Maur just got here, don't bug her so much!"
"Janie, your brothers just want to catch up with Maura." Angela chastised Jane from the stove, waving her spoon around in the air, and Constance's eyebrows crawled up her forehead as Jane stared at her defiantly.
"But maaa..."
"No buts, Jane Cleme-"
"No, nononono! Okay, fine!" Jane clapped her hands over her ears and shut her eyes. She didn't see the victorious smirk on Angela's lips or the way Maura put her hand over her mouth to smother her giggles.
Constance shook her head (the bedlam was disorienting, and the familial bonds even more so) and set Maura's bag beside the table. "Maura, I expect you to behave yourself and listen to Mrs. Rizzoli." She pecked Maura's temple perfunctorily and barely waited for her daughter to say goodbye before sweeping out the door.
Five sets of eyes watched the empty space for a moment (three in confusion, one in repressed anger, and the last with hope and resignation warring for space), then sound slowly returned to the kitchen. Angela told Jane's brothers to find their father and tell him dinner was nearly ready, and hummed to herself as she finished making food.
Jane turned to Maura and noticed her still staring (sad and little and hurting) at the space Constance had been moments before. She fiddled with the hem of her shirt, then an idea blossomed in her mind and she hopped off her bed. "Hey, Maura, come with me!" She tugged at Maura's dress, impatiently dragging her toward her room.
"Jane, what-"
"It's a surprise! I was gonna wait 'til later, but..." She trailed off and opened the door to her room, shutting it behind them once Maura had walked in. "Over here! C'mon!" Maura quickened her steps despite her lingering sadness over her mother's abrupt departure. She knelt beside Jane at the side of her bed while Jane rooted beneath it (for what, Maura couldn't begin to guess, but she kept a sharp eye on the sports equipment which was being haphazardly tossed out). "It was – darn it, where did I – aha!"
Jane shimmied from beneath her bed and victoriously held aloft a book. A rather thick book with a pristine spine and unwrinkled edges (unlike the others Jane had scattered throughout her room). Jane presented it to her in a princely fashion, showcasing it dramatically with her eyebrows waggling hilariously and a smile tugging at the corners of her mouth. Maura took it with a curious expression and ran her finger over the lettering on the front. "Encyclopedia of Tortoises...Jane?..."
Jane shuffled in place (nervous and uncertain, Maura realized), eyes downcast. "I just...saw it at the bookstore and asked ma to buy it for me. You love turtles-"
"Tortoises."
"Sure. You love 'em though, and I thought you might like it. It's nothing special." Jane picked at a stray string on her shirt and didn't see the tears welling in Maura's eyes. She jerked her head up when she heard a sniffle and her eyes rounded in panic. "Maur? Hey, what's the matter? I'm sorry, it was stupid, I shoul-"
"Thank you, Jay. I – I really like it." Maura smiled and threw her arms around Jane, the book awkwardly pressed between them. Jane hugged her back and hummed happily.
"Great, now you can learn more about turtles," she laughed and warded off Maura's half-hearted slaps to her arm, "tortoises, I meant tortoises!" She sighed when she saw the smile on Maura's lips and in her eyes (mission: distraction, accomplished) and stood. "C'mon, ma's finished dinner. You hungry?" Maura set her new book reverently on Jane's bed and they ran back to the kitchen.
Dinner was the usual Rizzoli affair: loud, full of laughter and under the table fighting, which Angela stopped briefly with a stern eye (although her mouth twitched like she wanted to smile), and generally chaotic. Jane sat next to Maura, who was across from Tommy and Frankie, while Angela and Frank occupied the ends, and everyone had something to add while they were eating. Tommy snorted as Frankie told a story and milk came out of his nose, Jane kicked Frankie when he tossed a pea at her, Angela warned Tommy that he wouldn't get a cannoli if he didn't finish his plate, Frank told her to let him eat what he wanted and threw Maura a wink when Angela huffed, and the whole time, Maura felt a comfortable warmth in her chest (it felt like belonging).
That warmth spread when Angela gathered their empty plates and dropped a kiss on the crown of her head thoughtlessly, and her extremities tingled as Tommy and Frankie dragged her toward the living room to watch TV with them. She leaned comfortably against Jane when she joined them (Jane had shoved Frankie over so she could squeeze in next to her) and they watched TV for a while, then the girls escaped upstairs when Jane's brothers began vying for control of the remote.
They found Maura's bag in Jane's room and Maura changed quickly before they tumbled onto Jane's bed. Maura reached for her new book and ran her finger down the page as she read. Jane watched her for a few moments, then scooted closer so she could see the words, too. Maura began reading aloud, pausing over longer words and sounding them out. Eventually, they had spread a dictionary open to look up words they weren't familiar with, and Maura was gushing about a particular breed of tortoise she'd found to be ideal for a pet. "It's so cool, Jane, the African Spurred Tortoise sounds like the perfect one for me!"
"I know, I can see the words, too, Maur." Jane smiled easily and tapped her finger against the page they were open to. "It looks like all the other ones to me."
"But Jane, can't you see the different markings on its shell? And the way its head is shaped slightly-"
"Maur, I'll just take your word for it, okay? You'll just have to show me when you get your own."
Maura nodded decisively and set a bookmark (Jane's) in the crease where the pages met, then shut the book. "Mother said I'm old enough to have my own pet if I wanted one; I'm going to ask her for a tortoise of my own!" She clapped her hands and Jane laughed.
"So, what will you name this turtle?" Maura shot an exasperated look at her friend and tapped her chin thoughtfully. The silence was comfortable but Jane was feeling excitable (and playful) so she jumped off the bed and struck a dramatic pose. "How about Captain Shell? Defender of turtles everywhere!" Maura smothered a giggle behind her hand and Jane shook her head, curls hiding her face as they swung. "No, no, this is better! Red Sox, for our team! I'll even buy him a helmet to put on his head and-"
"Jane! That's ridiculous!" Maura was laughing loudly, eyes crinkled shut (and Jane thought it was the most amazing thing she had ever seen) and she slunk onto the bed.
"That's ridiculous, huh? Well, if you don't like my name ideas, I'll just have to resort to drastic measures..." Maura felt the bed dip and barely got her eyes open before the brunette had leapt on her and was tickling her. She screeched as long fingers found her ribs and swatted ineffectually at Jane, who was laughing loudly and leaning across her. "Say my names are good, Maur!"
"Ne...never! I wo-no!" Maura tried to curl into a ball and protect her ribs, but Jane just moved to her feet and tickled the soles, ducking as her legs kicked out spastically. She ducked a flailing limb and jumped on top of Maura's legs, pinning them to the bed so she could keep tickling.
"Say it!"
"I-I, Jane, please, I'm gonna...ah, pee!"
"Better say it, then! I can't promise I won't stop, otherwise!"
Maura held out valiantly for a few more seconds but finally caved and cried out, "Uncle! Uncle!"
"Why ya saying that? My uncle's not here, Maur." She didn't stop tickling her feet, although the attack had ebbed slightly.
Maura dragged in a breath and choked back her laughter. "Mercy, I give! Jane, I give!"
Jane sat back (feeling smug and satisfied) and crawled off her friend. "That wasn't so hard, was it?" Maura couldn't answer because she was still out of breath but she shook her head and swatted Jane's arm. Jane warded her off easily and collapsed next to her. They met each other's eyes and began giggling madly again.
Neither girl noticed the door opening a crack so Angela could peek in, alerted by the sounds of their laughter. She smiled happily as she saw the two girls, breathless and sated, laying together and breaking into fresh laughter every time they looked at each other, a couple books abandoned at the foot of the bed. She quietly shut the door and continued down the hall, the echoes of laughter still lingering in the air.
