Thank You for the reviews. Also I appreciate the folks that stayed with me, after a brief hiatus. I love the awkwardness of this story. It's nice to know there are people who appreciate at the awkwardness of life. Enjoy.
"You sure, I can't get anything for you, Maur," Jane smiled. Maura noticed a warmness in the detective's eye that she hadn't seen in awhile.
"No Jane, I think I'm going to the ladies' room and maybe buy some Nutcracker paraphernalia," Maura replied.
Frankie slid into the empty seat next to his sister and waited till the entire box was cleared before he began to speak.
"You're drunk, Frankie. Why don't you have the limo take you home," Jane sighed?
"I'm not drunk, Janie. Before I say anything promise me you'll still love me," Frankie cried, tears brimmed his soft chocolate eyes.
"Oh, God you are shitfaced," Jane laughed "If you're not drunk, name all the ninja turtles."
"Donatello, Michelangelo, Leonardo, Raphael," He smirked.
"Well I guess you're not drunk," Jane smiled "Ok Frankie of course I will always love you. You are my little brother but what did you do that will make me reconsider my previous statement."
"Ma said that you cashed in that sperm bank certificate," Frankie sighed.
"How do you know," Jane quizzed?
"Mikey is a technician there," Frankie whispered.
"Karla Talucci's son Mikey," Jane huffed.
"Look I thought you would never agree to that bullshit. I suppose we all got pressured by Ma some kind of way. The sperm
you got is mine. I just had to tell you while I still had the nerve. Ma worked out some fucked planned with that retard Mikey Talucci. Just pour the shit out and kill me later," Frankie exhaled.
"Frankie, Maura's pregnant," Jane whispered.
"Fuck, Janie I'm so sorry," Frankie wept. Large unruly tears caught themselves in his stubble.
Jane's mind spaced, it was her fifth existential experience. She watched herself high from the ceiling of the Boston Opera house with the most blank stare. The same one she wore when she found out Tommy was picked up again.
"I'm pissed and I will kill you," Jane exhaled. "But this is the end of the conversation for tonight. We will not discuss this anymore until I'm ready. I promised Maura a drama free night and I'm fucking going to give it to her. Franco just because I'm calm doesn't mean it's over. I'm tired and embarrassed of dragging Maura into my own crazy reality. Tonight she get's sheltered. So sit your ass in that seat and look like you're having the time of your life. Oh and wipe those tears, you look like a bitch."
Jane pulled herself from her seat and headed to the bathroom where she vomited. The combination of champagne, eggnog, and whiskey filled her mouth and nostrils. It took a moment for herself to compose herself as she rested on the cold marble floor. Once she felt she regained the use of her legs she walked out to the sink, where was Maura was waiting with a warm towel.
"I thought you said you weren't sick," Maura cooed.
"I'm not just a bad mixture champagne and my mother's egg nog doesn't really mix without food," Jane covered "Why are you still in here anyway, you left for the bathroom ten minutes ago? How did you know it was me?"
"I think you're the only woman, I saw wearing an Armani wool suit with PRADA boots. Diaphoresis is a common side effect of pregnancy," Maura quipped.
"Dia..what. English just for tonight, sweetheart."
"Constant urination," Maura smiled "We can leave if you are ill. You don't feel warm, although my hand to your forehead isn't exactly medically sound."
"And miss those sugar plum fairies. Not on your life," Jane smiled "I'm fine, Maur. I just need some seltzer water."
"I do commend you for not getting any of it on your shirt," Maura smiled as she wiped the smudges of upchuck from Jane's face. " You are Queen of the porcelain truck. I have a wisp for you."
" It's porcelain bus. Thanks, where would I be without you," Jane replied?
"With Agent Dean or Grant, I imagine. Although, I'm not sure if they would wipe vomit from your lips."
"You are hilarious, the answer is lost Maura. It's funny that a walking encyclopedia wouldn't know the answer to that one. So for future references, I'd be lost without you."
"You're really the charmer today. What happened?," Maura quizzed.
"Nothing that matters," Jane replied "Come on they're blinking the house lights."
The couple settled into their seats and Maura slipped her hand into Jane's. Then the ME rested her head on the detective's slender shoulder. Maura inhaled deeply it was the first time in her pregnancy, she felt it was a chance that everything would be ok. She had always considered herself lucky or blessed. Although she didn't have the most loving adoptive parents, they were wealthy and afforded her with every opportunity of success. The alternative was a woman who's name she didn't know and the mobster Patrick Doyle. Eventually the love she lacked came in a 5'10, olive tone, raven haired, brash, crude, detective woman.
The alternative was a tall, dark, handsome, wealthy murderer. Everything in the doctor's life managed to solve itself, needless to say she never believed in Murphy's law.
Maura knew that something was wrong. Frankie asked to talk to his sister and minutes later she's in the bathroom vomiting. It didn't take a MENSA member to deduce something from that conversation had upset Jane to regurgitation. Maybe Ma finally got the courage to leave Pop, although Maura thought her constant complaining was just feigned for attention. Whatever it was Maura saw that Jane wanted to wait till later to vent. "God knows she hates those sugar plum fairies," Maura thought "Hopefully all Jane needed was dinner."
Clink was the perfect place to end the awkward but drama free night, Maura thought as Jane opened the door to the restaurant. Maura reserved on of the corners that the restaurant was famous for because it location was a former jail. Korsak was waiting for them in the lobby area.
"Korsak," Frost smiled "I see you got off of your shift in time to eat. Fat ass."
"I had to cover for Patterson his mother-in-law is in town. As a newlywed he needs to put some smoozing time, if he wants a happy marriage. Plus I never really been a ballet kind of guy but thank you for the offer Mrs. Rizzoli."
"Maura bought the tickets, I didn't," Angela shrugged.
"He was talking to Maura, Ang," Frank shook his head.
"Oh, Maura I'm so sorry. It's probably because I've been the only Mrs. Rizzoli for almost thirty-six years."
"Ma really I'm getting use to the change myself."
"Speaking about mother-in-laws they can be real bitches," Jane shrugged.
"I thought you liked Karen," Frankie asked? His first words since his box seat confession.
"I do, wrong mother-in-law," Jane spat as she shot daggers at her mother "Ma how is Karla Talucci?"
"We are not doing this here," Frank said calmly "We are going to have a nice dinner, we are going to be civilized towards our gracious hostess tonight the beautiful Dr. Maura Isles Rizzoli. I am not going to be a ringmaster so there will be no circus. Got it Rizzolis, Angela, Junior, Jane, Maura, Barry, Vince. This will not be the forth of july."
"Yes sir," Jane whispered.
"Ok Pop," Frankie replied.
"Sure Frank but you do realize you daughter called me a bitch," Angela steamed.
"Not tonight, Ang," Frank replied.
"Of course, Pop," Maura said confused.
"Thank-you," Frost sighed.
"No problem Mr. Rizzoli," Vince laughed.
After Mr. Rizzoli put his foot down, the party was seated in a cozy little nook. The lighting was slightly dim but the groups faces were lit up by the candlelight. Jane made sure she sat far from her mother and brother and Frank made sure the dynamic duo was far from Jane's reach. Frost made sure he sat next to Frankie just in case his partner lost it. Junior would be in need of protection. The young detective slipped his blackberry from his holster and typed.
"Fuck Franco you are the biggest fucking idiot that I ever met. I SAID NOT TONIGHT." Frost texted
"You told me to tell her and I had to do it while I had the nerve." Frankie replied
"So you couldn't still have the nerve tomorrow?" Frost responded
"No, it was kind of now or never. She took it pretty well. I mean she doesn't want mess up tonight for Maura." Frankie wrote.
"I guess you're safe for now. I feel sorry for Angela. Jane is pissed look at the bulging vein from her right temple."
"Shit last time that vein was that big she broke all my hockey equipment."
"Let's hope she doesn't slit your throat with your skates."
"I know, Maura's pregnant. I don't want to be a father."
"I know and you're not going to be a father, Jane is. Remember Maura is Jane's wife."
"Right, I'm going to be a Jerry Springer uncle/sperm donor. When I actually have kids they will be cousins/siblings. I fuckin hate my mother. How did you know?"
"I'm Barry Frost keeper of all the twisted Rizzoli secrets."
"Boys put the phones away. You're being rude," Frank commanded.
"Sorry," Frost and Frankie said in unison.
Five bottles of champagne later, the tension within the room was a faded memory. Maura liked watching her family get trashed, she reveled in the comedy. First Frank would say the most unappetizing stories about being a plumber, then Angela would rant on about some embarrassing story about her kids, then Jane would tell an embarrassing story about her brothers, then Korsak would say some interesting anecdote about Jane's rookie years, Frankie would tell a Frost/Frankie exploit, and Frost would tell some horrible story about his sisters. Although, the ME had no idea what was actually happening, she was happy that they all decided to take a break. Jane kept her promise, it was a wonderful magical night.