Epilogue 2 years

The two women stumble through the door laden down with packages and leftovers. Another successful Rizzoli Christmas Eve celebration was in the books. Stray snowflakes follow them in as it had begun lazily snowing an hour before.

Maura unwound her red scarf from her neck so she could hang up her coat. Extending her hand out for Jane's coat, she takes it and tucks it safely in the closet as well.

"Is it me or was the gnocchi particularly delicious this year?" Maura murmurs as she feels long arms slink around her waist and warm lips on her neck.

A quick squeeze and kiss on a sensitive neck, Jane lets her go before answering, "It was good but I think we were just hungry."

"Hmm…could be but I think gnocchi always seems to taste better on Christmas Eve." Maura muses, smiling as she heads to the kitchen. She fills a glass of water from the tap and brings it to the living room where Jane is sitting cross-legged in front of their Christmas tree just taking it in, humming the Twelve Days of Christmas. Smiling to herself, she walks into the room. After taking a long drink from the water glass, Maura hands it to Jane who finishes it off. She sets the glass behind her on the coffee table and reaches up to pull Maura down into her lap.

Twin sighs come from the women as arms settle around each other and they gaze at the tree in sacred silence, pondering blessings and possibilities and this life.

Many moments later Jane abruptly breaks the silence. "We are building a good life together? I mean we are loving each other and growing and arguing and working and building a good life, right?" Jane asks quietly.

Maura turns in her arms to see Jane's face. She silently takes in pleading eyes and a wrinkled brow. Maura turns completely around so they are facing each other cross legged, knees touching. She reaches up for an olive skinned cheek, a thumb running over the delicate skin below a brown eye.

"Yes, Jane. We are building a good life. We love each other and our friends and family. We try to be our best selves every day. We are building a good life." Maura finishes in a hush and seals her testament with a kiss, smiling at her friend, her partner.

Jane nods and leans her forehead against Maura's. She'd been having a hard time with all the unrest between citizens and police officers and struggling with both sides and her role in the entire thing. Maura hated to see her struggle especially during this time of the year Jane enjoyed so much.

Jane took a big breath in and blew it out. "Sorry, Maura. It's just a lot of emotions and I am so glad we get to build this life together."

Maura leans in to kiss Jane squarely on the mouth. "No worries, Jane. I won't tell too many people what a sap you are."
Jane pinches the doctor on the side causing a yelp.

"Hey!" Maura squeals.

"No spilling my secrets, woman!" Jane challenges.

They both laugh, relieved to be back in the festive moment.

One more big breath by both. "OK. What do you say to one gift each tonight before heading to bed?" Jane suggests.

Maura nods in assent.

Jane hops up and chooses a gift from under the tree. Maura resituates herself so she is facing the tree; lights twinkling in hazel eyes. Jane sets the wrapped present in her lap and plops down beside her.

Maura makes a show of inspecting the gift, shaking it-going so far as to sniffing it.

Jane chuckles, "OK, OK you goof. Just open it."

"Alright, alright." She begins methodically peeling back the snowflake wrapping paper. When Maura uncovers the front of her present, she brings her hand to her mouth, eyes becoming wet.

"Oh, Jane." She whispers as she runs fingers over the front cover of a cook book. Not just any cook book but a book of 'Rizzoli Family Recipes'. The front cover also included a 'family' photograph taken last New Year's Eve of the Rizzoli family along with Maura, Korsak and Frost. Maura feels Jane's arm around her shoulders and a squeeze.

"Right? It's pretty great. Open it." She kisses Maura tenderly on the head. Maura sniffles and nods. She pages through the recipes seeing the gnocchi recipe, Angela's delicious veal parmesan and the amazing chicken piccata Jane made for her birthday last year. She gasps a little as she passes by an artichoke dip from Korsak and a lemon meringue pie courtesy of Frost and even her Grandmother Isles' shepherd's pie recipe.

Maura finally closes the book, sets it aside and turns so she can throw her arms around Jane's neck.

"I love it. I love it. Thank you." She kisses Jane soundly on the mouth. "Thank you."

Jane grins into Maura's lips. "You're welcome. We've been working on it for you for a few weeks now. There are even recipes from Frankie and Tommy too plus Ma's Rizzoli favorites. And maybe there is a peanut butter and fluff recipe from me." Jane says sheepishly, still grinning.

"It is so wonderful. I can't wait to try some of the recipes."

Jane leans back, rubbing her belly, "My stomach can't wait for you to try them either."

They laugh together giving Maura this chance to collect herself from her emotional reaction to the sweet gift from her girlfriend, a gift of a tangible reminder that she is a part of the Rizzoli clan, a very important part indeed. That she is being trusted with the family recipes, it makes her heart clench wonderfully.

Maura moves to pick up a rectangular wrapped box from under the tree and hands it to Jane. Maura smiles at Jane a bit nervously. Jane's eyes widen with glee. She loves opening presents especially from Maura.

Jane finally notices Maura's face full of nerves and she stops tearing into her gift. "Hey…" She beckons quietly.

Maura finally looks her in the eyes, a mixture of love, anticipation, love and fear…Jane thinks. "Hey. I will love it, whatever it is. You know I will."

Maura flutters her hands in front of her, "I know, I know." She trails off, blowing out a big breath. "Go ahead, open it."

Jane opens the box to reveal a new bathrobe, blue and green plaid on the outside and fleecy on the inside.

"Oh my God, Maura, this is great! I love it! Just like my old one but better."

Maura finally smiles, dimples popping, "I thought since Bass nibbled your other one and sort of adopted it as his bed I should replace it. Plus it was sort of my fault it was on the floor in the first place. "

A blush rises up both women's necks and they both remember the afternoon not long ago when Maura appeared in the kitchen wearing nothing but Jane's robe, when breakfast in bed interrupted turned into a brunch at the kitchen island several hours later.

"Hmm, yes. You in my robe, all sleepy and mussed and gorgeous? Totally worth it." Each word punctuated by a kiss to trembling lips.

Maura smiles widely, "Well why don't you try it on. See if it fits right, not too short?"

Jane instantly gets up and puts it on with a flourish, tying it snugly across a slim waist. She stands absently admiring the colors when she puts her hands in the pockets prepared to spin around so Maura can see all sides of the new robe.

Distracted her fingers close over something in the pocket, she pulls it out, "Oh Maura, did you get me a used robe? There is something in the pocket." She pulls it out to find a small black velvet box. Jane hadn't noticed when Maura moved to kneel in front of her.

Jane takes her eyes from the box, "Maura, what is…." She trails off locking eyes with the hazel ones before her. "Maura?" Jane whispers, surprised eyes wide.

Maura reaches for her hands, "Jane?"

Jane kneels down in front of the smiling doctor, her brain working to wrap itself around what is about to happen and nods.

Maura begins softly, "Jane, I love you. I want this life. I want to keep building this life with you. Together we are better, together I am better, the best version of myself and I would very much love to marry you? So will you? Will you marry me, that is? "

The black box abandoned on the floor, long arms reach around the doctor's neck, "Yes, yes, a thousand times yes." She kisses the doctor soundly and thoroughly until they both part breathless.

They pull apart enough for Maura to find the ring box and extract the thin platinum band lined with diamonds and sapphires, understated but elegant. Maura pushes it definitively on the detective's left hand ring finger. She pulls the hand close to her face and leaves a kiss on the ring and on warm knuckles.

"I love it and I love you."

"I love you."

Jane falls backward onto the floor. "Oh my God, Maura, what an awesome surprise! You are so sneaky! You totally surprised me." Jane says, laughing.

Maura smiles tentatively, "Thank you?"

Jane reaches for Maura's hand and pulls the other woman on top of her.

"Best surprise ever! Merry Christmas, Maura."

"Merry Christmas, Jane."

"Take me to bed, turtle dove?"

"Don't ruin the moment, Jane." Maura says laughing into the detective's neck, long arms wrapping her up firmly.