DogCat77: I thought about it, but I think it fits both of them much better to have a romantic, instrumental number for their first dance. I don't think Jane ever actually looked up the song to listen to it, after Maura told her what it was about, and would probably prefer something a bit more refined for their dance.
stargazer982: Too many reviews like yours, and my head might get so big it pops. I managed to write the perfect story? Really? Yep, that feeling is my head getting bigger. Thank ^_~
The week before Christmas, Jane was a nervous wreck. It was her first Christmas with maura, and she had no idea what to get her. She'd even asked everyone for suggestions, with limited success.
Angela went on for almost ten minutes about a set of ceramic mixing bowls Jane was pretty sure she just wanted for herself. Frost suggested perfume. Frankie laughed and said he hadn't even figured out what to get her, yet. Tommy pointed out that he'd only known her for a few months, and they hadn't really spent much time together. Korsak refused to answer, reminding her that he'd been divorced twice and probably wasn't the best person to ask.
Jane had desperately tried to remember if Maura had ever mentioned wanting to get anything. The problem was, if Maura wanted something, she just went out to get it. So, she had to come up with something Maura would love, but didn't know existed.
Thinking back to try to remember if she'd seen anything recently that Maura might like, she had a thought, then immediately discounted it. A couple moments later, she realized she actually COULD afford it, snorted, and barely keeping from head slapping herself. She got up, waving to the guys.
Frost called after her, "Hey, Rizzoli, what was that about? Did you forget the dry cleaning, or something?"
She debated giving him the finger, but was in too good a mood. "No, Maura has the cleaning delivered. I just realized I'm an idiot, and have some shopping to do. I'll be back in like an hour."
Maura's problem was narrowing down what she wanted to get Jane. For as long as they'd been friends, Maura had always been conscious of the fact that expensive gifts made Jane uncomfortable, so she held back and kept herself to a strict budget. Now, she knew she didn't have to worry about it.
Remembering a conversation they'd had more than a year ago, she chuckled and started making phone calls. An hour later, she was online, a mischievous smirk on her face.
The week leading up to Christmas looked a lot like the week before Thanksgiving. Angela and Maura were preparing for another large family gathering. This time, though, Maura didn't insist on quite as much food. Instead, she bought a huge tree, and enough decorations for the entire house, inside and out. Jane was kept busy helping decorate, which she figured was better than being constantly shooed out of the kitchen.
By Christmas Eve, they had all the decorations up. Jane insisted on sitting in front of the fireplace in a nest of pillows and blankets, with only the fire and the tree for light, and listening to quiet Christmas music. At first, Maura tried to convince her it would be more comfortable in their bed, but Jane won as soon as she had all the lights turned off and Maura saw the scene it created.
They cuddled under the blankets, talking softly every now and then. They talked about past Christmases, favorite gifts, favorite memories and what it was like for Jane to fight her brothers on who got to open their gifts first.
Jane smiled happily at the ceiling, running her hand up and down Maura's back as she lay on her chest. "Do you realize that in a few years, we'll probably be spending this time wrapping presents and setting them out under the tree? We'll have letters to Santa, wrapping paper and toys everywhere, and excited squealing that wakes us up way too early. I'll be up late putting together bicycles. You'll be helping make cookies for Santa. There won't be any time to just cuddle in front of the fire on Christmas Eve."
Resting her head on her hands, Maura studied Jane's face. "You know, we can wait as long as you want, before we have kids. We can have a couple years for just us."
Still smiling, Jane ran one hand hand through Maura's hair. "I know. I love spending time with you, like this. But I'll love having kids with you, too. All the chaos and excitement and joy that I remember surrounding Christmas when I was little, with kids of our own. I look forward to it. Right now, is for us. We'll both know when we're ready for kids. When that time comes, I don't think I'll miss this. Instead of cuddling in front of the fire, we'll be watching our kids sleep, and opening presents."
Maura reached up to kiss her, humming happily. "I think you're right. And I want that. I want our kids of have the kind of Christmas I never had, and I know you'll be able to create it. For now, though, I think it's time we go to bed. It's late, and Angela's coming early so we can finish preparing dinner."
They cleared away the pillows and blankets in silence, put out the fire, and went to bed. The lights from the tree lit the room, and presents underneath.
The next morning was hectic. Maura and Angela were busy in the kitchen, and Jane was tasked with making sure the house was clean and the table was set. When people started showing up, she put presents under the tree and made sure everyone had drinks.
They sat down to eat early, talking and laughing and sharing Christmas stories. Frost got up to call his mother, who hadn't been able to get enough time off to make flying over the holidays practical, and they all yelled Merry Christmas as he was hanging up.
After they were done eating, Maura nodded to Jane and they got up, heading toward the door. Korsak noticed, checked his watch, and started to follow them.
Tommy watched them, confused. "Hey, Sis, where are you guys going? You guys planning on going caroling, or something?"
Nodding to Maura, Jane signaled for her to answer. "No, caroling would be rather unpleasant, since singing is not something I do even remotely well. I volunteer at a homeless shelter, every Christmas. Usually I just help serve the food, but this year Korsak agreed to dress up as Santa and pass out the presents. You're all welcome to come with us. They could always use more help during the holidays."
Exchanging looks, the rest of them got up to get their coats. Angela quickly put the food away, and joined them.
At the shelter, they helped serve the food and do clean up. Once everyone had eaten, Korsak came out in his Santa suit. The rest of them helped get the children settled down, and lined up by age, starting with the youngest. 'Santa' made sure each child got a warm coat, hat, gloves, and a toy. Once all the children got their turn, they made sure all the adults had a warm coat and got to pick from the other donated items. Frost was surprised when one woman clutched his hand with tears in her eyes when he handed her a toiletry kit.
They were all quiet when they got back to the house. By silent agreement, they sat around talking, instead of opening gifts right away.
It was a couple hours later, that Frankie moved to the tree and started passing out gifts. Tommy just shrugged when everyone laughed at his gift of dog walking services for Korsak. Frankie tried no to blush when he got the red version of the action figure he and Frost had fought over, from Frost. Angela didn't even pretend to look surprised when she got ceramic mixing bowls from Jane. Tommy and Maura set up a weekly chess date, when he opened the new chess board from her. Jane glared, and Maura blushed, when Maura unwrapped a whip from Korsak, then Jane blushed when she had to explain the meaning of the term 'whipped.' Jane gave Angela a confused look when she got the first three seasons of L Word from her, and Angela explained that she thought they could watch it together.
Maura nudged Jane when she realized everyone was watching them expectantly. Jane stared at them, finally giving in and asking. "What? Why are you staring at us?"
Angela looked pointedly at the still wrapped gift next to Jane. "Aren't you guys going to open your gifts from each other? Or are they not appropriate to be opened in public? You didn't buy each other sex toys, did you? How many could you possibly need?"
Jane coughed, choking on air, while they both turned bright red. "MA! SERIOUSLY? You think that would be any of you business, or we would put them under the tree? Why are you guys so interested in what we got each other, anyway?"
She got up to get a Jane a glass of water before responding. "Really, Jane. It's your first Christmas together, of course we want to know what you got each other. And after what I saw the last time, I really don't know what to believe. If you don't think to shut your door, how am I supposed to know you wouldn't put your 'personal' gifts under the tree?"
Maura took the water from Jane when she started to choke, again. "After what you saw? You WALKED IN on us. On purpose. Why should we have to close our door, when no one else lives here? Why would you even bring that up?"
Handing the water back to Jane, Maura rubbed her back to calm her down. "Angela, I can assure you that any sexually oriented gifts will be opened in private. However, Jane does have a point. Had you not chosen to let yourself into the house, with the intention of catching us having sex, rather or not our bedroom door was closed wouldn't matter. Since you haven't repeated the action, I can only assume that you learned your lesson, and it still doesn't matter if we close our door. Now, if you'd like, we can open our gifts, since you are all so anxious to see what we chose."
Maura picked up the gift between them on the couch, handing it to Jane to open. Tearing the paper off and opening the box, Jane gaped. "Is? It's. You didn't. How? I mean. It's. It is what I think it is, right? How did you do this?"
Tired of waiting, Frankie spoke up. "Hey, are you going to show us what it is? Or do we have to guess?"
Since Jane was still staring at her in disbelief, Maura answered. "It's a jersey signed by the starting players of the Boston Celtics. Whenever Jane managed to overcome her shock enough to remove it from the box, she'll find something else underneath it, as well."
Taking the hint, Jane carefully removed the jersey, finding an envelope underneath. When she opened it, everyone started to worry when she started to almost hyperventilate, before launching herself at Maura and kissing her deeply. When they finally broke apart, they were both breathless.
Maura smiled at her. "I guess that means you like it? I was told they're good seats."
Jane stared at her. "Maura, they're great seats, but it wouldn't matter if they were nose bleeds behind a giant pole. You got me season tickets to the Celtics."
Suddenly, the guys were gathered around Jane, trying to see the tickets in her hand, but Jane barely noticed. Maura's smirk had all her attention. "Well, you did say you would 'flip' for season tickets to the Celtics. I figured since you had already 'flipped' for me, it was only fair that you get the tickets. I called an acquaintance, and he offered to get me the signed jersey, as well."
Jane pulled her into a kiss, smiling against her lips. "I am so glad you're already taken. You're the perfect woman. I think the guys are plotting how to steal you away from me."
Laughing, Maura turned to find all four men standing around them, trying to look innocent. "Well, it's too bad for them, that I am madly in love with you, and they have no chance of succeeding. Perhaps I should open my gift, now."
Jane glared at the guys, putting the jersey and tickets safely back in the box, then handed Maura her gift.
Carefully pealing open the paper, she opened the box, gasping at the bracelet and earrings inside. "Oh, Jane, they're beautiful. I love them."
Resting her chin on Maura's shoulder, Jane looked down at the jewelry. "It's the bracelet that caught my eye when I was ring shopping. That stone, in the middle, is almost the exact color of your eyes."
She turned to place a sweet kiss on Jane's lips. "They're beautiful. Thank you. I think I'm beginning to become quite fond of emeralds, thanks to you."
Angela came over, and Maura dutifully handed her the jewelry box so she could get a better look.
After everyone got a chance to see the jewelry, and Jane let the guys get a better look at her jersey, they started to clean up. It was getting late, and Angela started shooing the guys out, with leftovers in tow. When they'd all gone, she finished putting the food away, then excused herself to the guesthouse.
Maura looked around, saw that everyone was gone, and turned a heated gaze on Jane. "Looks like we're alone. I guess that means I can give you the rest of your gift. You make sure everything is locked up, then come meet me in the bedroom."
Jane hurriedly checked all the doors and set the alarm, turning off lights as she went. When she got to the bedroom, she found Maura spread out on the bed wearing a very small, very tight Celtics jersey and matching boyshorts.
She undressed as she walked toward the bed, licking her lips as she looked over Maura's form. "Merry Christmas to me."
A/N: Well, that was Christmas. I hope you guys enjoyed it.
Having spent some time homeless, I can say that something as simple as having good quality toiletries can and will make you cry. It's knowing that someone cares enough to help you, and having just that little bit of dignity restored. The FIRST thing I did, when I had enough money, was go out and buy myself a conditioner that worked, followed shortly by a better shampoo. It's very eye-opening to realize how your priorities change when you have nothing.
If you're in a position to do so, spend some time helping out in a homeless or battered women's shelter. Especially over the holidays. It's hard, and lonely, to be homeless over the holidays. Just being treated like a person, and talked to on an even level, makes a world of difference. Being homeless often means being invisible, treated like less of a person, talked to like a child, and seen as some sort of undesirable bane on society. Not all homeless are addicts or criminals. Many are just people who've had their lived turned upside down, and just need a little human kindness.