Hole in her soul
It takes a brave person to mess with Maura's shoes and decorating. Angela Rizzoli was one of the few who cross that line and lived to tell the tale. Maura did attempt to show her displeasure, but it was not forceful enough to make Angela take notice.
Jane was a brave and strong woman by all counts. Yet she wouldn't dare to cross Maura with her shoes or interior decorating. Unlike Angela Rizzoli, Jane Rizzoli-Isles could be forced to spend an evening or two on the couch.
Generally Jane was easy going with her surroundings. She was not really bothered when they moved in together, she only insisted on a place to keep her sport gear. She was more than satisfied to place her sport memorabilia in her little workroom. Furthermore she was more than content to donate her furniture to charity. Maura's stuff was nicer and more comfortable.
It was not that Maura has forced her in to this; Maura did not even ask Jane to subject to her interior decorating. However, Jane knew how much Maura enjoyed her home and she would never mess with her wife's joy. Maura did reward this rather small sacrifice handsomely. Jane therefore had very little reason to regret or to complaint. It was not even that she wanted to have anything else than what Maura already offered.
That was, until now.
Many years ago Jane arrived home to a raided apartment and her most treasured possession in bits and pieces. The detective was devastated. Although, it would not be the first time that she had to deal with shattered dreams. It would not be the first time that she had to deal with the lost of a valuable family heirloom. If you are a blue collar Italian, you do not wallow in this. You lift your head high and continue as if it doesn't matter at all.
Her Nona used to say where God closes a door, he always open a window. Jane had lost her piano, but she gained a dog. She loved Jo Friday to pieces, yet the mutt will never be able to repair the hole in her soul. As the last pieces of the piano were cleared from the apartment she vowed that she will replace it someday. Since then she purposely saved every last penny for a high quality piano.
Jane's needs were simple. She did not have vices or hobbies eating all of her savings. She did not have her own car that she needed to maintain. She had married a woman used to the finer things of life, but that was the best investment ever. Even better than a piano!
Over the years Jane's priorities did change. A certain goofy medical examiner took up the centre part of her heart and moved the piano to a small isolated corner. Nevertheless, there will always be a part of her heart, soul, being reserved for the piano. She will always have this longing for on. She will always be handicapped till the day that she had access to a good piano whenever she needed it. Preferably one that she could call her own.
Jane may not be a compulsive shopper like her wife, but in times of extreme boredom, she was known to spent time on E-bay. Generally she would amuse herself with what is on offer and the ridiculous prices that was charged. She will always have a quick peak on what pianos was on offer. Not that the type of piano she was after would readily be available on E-bay, it would not hurt to keep an eye out for it. E-bay was known for delivering treasures to the faithful.
Jane could not believe when she stumbled across the piano of her dreams. By some miracle it was within Jane's reach. Finally she could take back the last of the things that Hoyt took from her. There was however one, small problem.
The piano had to take up residence in Maura's carefully decorated house. The workroom just did not have enough space to accommodate the piano as well. The basement would not do the magnificent instrument justice. There was this one corner in the living room that would be perfect. However, Jane's definition and Maura's definition of perfect did differ.
Jane spent hours trying to think how she would convince her wife to make room for the piano. She absentmindedly agreed to the documentary Maura proposed for the evening. Jane brainstormed various propositions; however Jane had little hope of Maura accepting any of them. She even contemplated ordering the piano and then apologise the rest of her life. That would not work either; Maura would have no reservations of donating Jane's hard earned piano for charity.
Jane sighed deeply.
"Everything okay?" Maura asked.
"Yeah. Peachy." Jane replied.
'It wouldn't hurt to just ask her.' Jane silently encourages herself.
"Maur?"
"Yes, Sweetheart." Maura paused her documentary and turned to Jane.
"I have been thinking . . . a piano would look good over there by the stairs." Jane rambled.
"A piano?" Maura asked confused.
Jane swallowed hard. "Yes. Don't you think that it would look grand?"
Maura actually considered this for a moment. That was much more than Jane ever anticipated. "No, it will throw the feng shui of the room totally off. It will also not fit with the rest of the theme of the room."
Jane expected this answer, but was yet disappointed in it. It hurt, but she would never even consider playing an emotional card.
"Just an idea." She mumbled and then stood up. "I am beat. I am going to shower and hit the sack if that is okay, Dear."
Maura unpaused her documentary. "Of course. I will join you when this is finished."
Jane was devastated, she actually needed to cry. The shower was the best place to hide her disappointment and sadness. It took her a long time to calm down enough to face the world again. Jane managed to fall into bed just as Maura came up the stairs. She pretended to be asleep as her wife went through her evening routine.
Jane felt Maura getting into bed and first hovering a bit over her. If Maura saw that Jane was not asleep, she did not say anything. But she still curled up behind Jane to form the big spoon and held her wife close for the night. It was not a piano, but Maura would always cure any hurt that Jane may be experiencing. It did not take Jane long to drift off to sleep in her wife's arms.
The piano was not sold as fast as Jane feared. It almost became routine to greet the piano every morning. As long as it was posted, Jane had some silly hope. She spent days trying to figure out where she would be able to store a piano. The guesthouse was too cramped already. Frankie would never be able to appreciate the value (monetary or sentimental) of the piano. Jane loved Tommy dearly, but would never be able to trust him with something as precious.
She was considering renting an apartment, but she did not know how she would justify it to Maura. Maura did not understand how much it would mean to her. Jane just could not bring herself to explain this side to Maura. Strictly speaking it was her own fault, but it was a tough one to get over nonetheless.
Jane arrived home after Maura that evening. Maura was cooking, but had time to turn around and kiss Jane deeply.
"You are very tense." She observed as she hugged Jane.
Jane merely shrugged, pinching a piece of carrot on the chopping board.
"After dinner we will do some yoga and see we can get rid of that stress." Maura announced.
Jane groaned. That was the last thing she wanted to do. She just wanted to slumped in front of the TV and pretend that she is watching the game while she was sulking.
"It would be good for you." Maura tried to sweeten the deal.
"Yes, dear." Jane relented, knowing that Maura will not let it go.
She went to her room to change into something she can relax in, but would also suffice as appropriate yoga attire. Jane sneaked another look at the piano, it was still available. It was clearly meant for Jane, if she could just find a place to house it. Perhaps the basement was not such a bad idea after all. She just would need to sell it to Maura.
Dinner was a quiet affair. Jane done the dishes without complaining and then joined Maura in the yoga room. She was in no mood for banter; therefore she kicked off her shoes before pushing the door open. The sight before her took her breath away. Maura was leaning against a brand new grand piano. Some comfortable chairs were around the piano and a bookshelf was brought in for any music books. Jane was speechless.
"Do you like it?" Maura asked excitedly. "I understand that this is the best piano available on the market."
"How . . . How did you know?" Jane asked quietly, still trying to compute her dream coming true.
Maura walked over to Jane, taking her hands in her own. "It was the first time that you actually asked to bring something in our home." She said gently.
Jane just could not believe her luck. "Maur, you shouldn't have. What about your yoga room?"
Maura rubbed gently her thumb over Jane's knuckles. "My sweet, sweet Janie; you don't have to make all the sacrifices in this family. I am more than happy to make sacrifices as well. I love you and will never deny you anything that is important to you. I enjoy yoga, but it is not a passion as the piano is your passion. Besides, we don't need 4 guestrooms. I can convert one into a yoga room. So it was not even a sacrifice at all. You only needed to tell me." Maura said firmly.
Jane just stared at Maura. This was a dream that she would never dare to dream come true. This here was heaven.
"Thank you." Jane whispered. Her face crumbled as she was overwhelmed with emotion. "Just, thank you. You'll never know how much this means to me. You filled the hole in my soul." She cried.
Maura smiled brightly and pulled her wife in a hug. "I love you, Jane. Your happiness means just as much to me, as my happiness means to you."
Jane hugged her wife even tighter, crying tears of unabashed happiness.
