* I own nothing of Rizzoli and Isles I just have the privilege of playing with the characters for a while.
Maura was laying in the bed thinking about the last two days events. She had woken up earlier half expecting Jane and her family to be down stairs waiting on her even though Jane had said she would see her at noon for Sunday dinner with the Rizzoli's as usual. She smiled thinking of entering the house full of spices and laughter the night before and having to run with her bags up the stairs so certain ones wouldn't steal a peak. It truly was beginning to feel like a Currier and Ives Christmas.
It was almost 8:30am and she began feeling guilty for lounging around so late so she slipped into her silk robe and made her way down to the espresso machine that Jane hated. She smiled the whole time while making her coffee or having her "coffee orgy" as Jane would have said. She took her cup into the living room so she could just look at the tree that she and the family had decorated.
She knew how little Susan felt in the movie Miracle on 34th Street. She was brought up not believing in fairy tales and yet she had hope that a man claiming to be Santa Claus could give her the wish of a dream home. She laughed thinking "I'm a scientist and can't and never did believe in Santa and yet I'm here over thirty something hoping a mythical Santa can make my wish come true." She sipped her coffee and was so deep in thought that she didn't here Angela come in the back door.
"Good morning Maura." Angela said smiling at the woman on the couch.
"Oh Angela...you startled me. I didn't hear you come in."
"I'm sorry sweetie but I was going to start a pot of soup to simmer for lunch before mass."
"Help yourself Angela. I was going to go and have a shower anyway."
"Would you like to come and help me a moment?"
Maura looked at the woman and smiled softly, "Sure...what do you need me to do?"
"Well I need someone to cut up some veggies while I cook the sausage."
"I would be honored."
"The tree is beautiful isn't it." Angela said as she looked at where Maura had been looking.
"It is, I was just admiring it."
"You know I haven't seen Jane this much into Christmas since she was fourteen and wanted a new hockey stick."
"A hockey stick hum." Maura smiled and shook her head.
"Yeah... she never asked for dolls or dresses. She would get so mad if the first package she opened had one of them in it. You would have thought she was given a box of coal or something."
"I can see that." Maura said laughing as she imagined a pouting young Jane rolling her eyes and huffing at a box containing a dress. "I'm done with the veggies."
"Good...can you put them in the pan to sauté?"
"Sure..." She said as she slid them into a hot pan with some olive oil in it. She turned to put the cutting board in the sink and turned into Angela who was standing there with her arms open like she was going to hug her.
"Maura...thank you for giving Jane the Christmas spark again. She has lost it piece by piece over the years and since her Father and I split up she has become even worse."
Maura smiled and leaned forward and hugged the teary eyed woman, "Angela I'm not sure I'm the one to thank."
"Oh...yes you are. I do not know what spell you have cast but keep it up."
Maura just smile and excused herself to go and shower after putting the cutting board in the sink.
XXXXX
At noon the hustle and bustle began again as the Rizzoli's descended with Korsak and Frost to watch football and eat lunch. Maura watched as her house became the center hub of cheering and laughter.
"So what part of Christmas is this?" She asked Jane who was sipping on a beer.
"This is the part that last until the Super Bowl."
"Jane..." She said laughing.
"No this is when we write our Christmas cards."
"That's why my cards always have a food thumb print on them." She said laughing.
"Hey how more original of a signature can you get than a finger print."
"I think I'll stick to my..."
"Oh no you don't... this is Christmas Rizzoli style." Jane said stopping any thought of getting out of the activity.
"But what will people think with a food stain on their card."
"That you did them while watching football and enjoying yourself, let go and have fun with it."
"Jane..."
"Oh there... there... Dr. Isles no frowns. Santa wouldn't be pleased." She said giving the woman an up turned eye brow and smirk.
"Believing in Santa Claus is going to get me talked about."
"It could be worse."
"Yeah...how?"
"You could be like that creepy guy that had the twitches in the movie who didn't believe in Santa Claus."
"That is true."
"Let's face it Maur... I'm not an expert on fashion but I do not believe twitches are in this year."
She couldn't hold back the laughter, "No they aren't."
"So go pick out your cards from that box over there."
"Jane I print mine of the computer."
"Oh no...that will not do. I had ma pick up some from the church this morning. The proceeds go for under privilege children to buy their parents and in most cases parent a gift. They draw them out and a local print shop makes the cards for them to sale."
"That's so sweet."
"Yeah...yeah...now go pick your cards and don't worry about food stains. Your friends will not be able to see the difference between food or crayon." She said smiling and taking a swig of beer.
Maura went and looked at the cards as tears welled up in her eyes. She thought how big of heart Jane had even if she herself didn't see it. Sunday football and Christmas card writing was a new tradition she planned on keeping. The rest of the afternoon was filled with cheers, laughter, card writing and most of all trying to keep Jane from food printing all her cards that went to people like the governor, senators, and several other prominent people.
Jane's a mess...and there is still twenty two more days of fun left. I promise I am pulling these out of thin air and having a blast with it. I wish we all could spend a Christmas like this with our ladies. If nothing else just to watch them.
