I can handle criticism when it is constructive and accurate but to the guest that made the comment about Alex's pronunciation of 'birfday' from ch 5… You may or may not have children but I have two (7 & 9 year old). Both had some difficulty with the 'th' sound around 5/6, especially my son. It is one of the last sounds to develop in English and is very age appropriate at 6/7 for them to be lazy and replace it with an 'f' or 'v' sound.
Thanks to everyone that has reviewed and given some feedback! It is so appreciated.
Warning: Brief mention of domestic violence.
Angela let herself into the massive house and quietly made her way to the kitchen to start the coffee before Maura woke up. She was startled when the smaller woman greeted her, dressed in her scrubs, sitting at the kitchen bench and eating a bowl of oatmeal. "Good morning."
"Oh, good morning, Maura! Did you just get home?"
The honey blonde looked up from her bowl and almost dropped her spoon. "Angela!" She practically jumped off her seat and got in the older woman's face, touching her cheekbone cautiously. "What happened?" She asked with increasing concern as she got a better look at the swelling and bruising on Angela's right side.
The Italian woman had never been a good liar and she had no idea how to respond to the care that Maura was showing her. "I uh- I walked into the door." It was the lamest excuse in the book.
Disbelief clouded Maura's features and she stepped back. "There are three distinct marks on your zygomatic arch and you have a large hematoma underneath your orbit."
Angela just stared, not understanding what she was saying but knew she was talking about the big ugly bruises and red marks on her cheekbone.
"Someone hit you." Maura accused and continued to give details on how. "It looks like they backhanded you! Angela?"
Maura caught the older woman in a hug when she all but collapsed in a sobbing heap.
"Oh, Angela." Maura had no idea what to do. "Shh. It's ok. It's going to be ok. Here sit down." The medical student helped the traumatised woman onto one of the dining room chairs and knelt over to look at her injury. "When did it happen?"
"Last night." Angela whispered, her head pounding.
Maura's eyes widened and she went into doctor mode. "Let me get a few things." She went to her freezer and retrieved an icepack and wrapped it up in a thin cloth. "Here, hold this to your cheek." The petite woman got some ibuprofen from her pantry and a glass of water. "Take these." She instructed and the older woman obeyed. "It doesn't look like it's fractured but we'll know if the swelling doesn't go down soon. I think you should go to the hospital, Angela."
"No Maura. I- I can't."
"Was it Frank?" It didn't make sense for it to be anyone else.
Angela just nodded, holding the icepack to her swollen face.
"I'm going to call the police."
The Italian woman's eyes opened, scared. "No! Maura please."
"Angela, I have to- He shouldn't get away with this." Maura knew the woman's fear was very real but this was unacceptable. Frank couldn't get away with this.
"Please Maura, I've left him. I can't stay there anymore but I don't want this to cause the kids any problems." She begged. Her kids were her world and she didn't want them to think less of their father.
"Where are your things?"
"In the car. I'll go back and get more later when he goes to work."
"I'll come with you. I can call Carmela and get her to watch the children. Then you can put your things in the guesthouse and stay there." Maura ordered.
"No Maura, I can't impose-"
The honey blonde wouldn't hear any protest. "Nonsense! No one lives in it, my parents bought their own place for when they visit. It's yours! Please don't argue with me." Maura may have only been twenty four but her parents had taught her how to run the Isles empire if need be and she wouldn't take no for an answer.
"Alright, but I want to pay to stay there."
"That's not necess-"
"If you want me to stay here, I am going to pay for it, ok?" The Italian woman knew how to be bossy too.
"Fine, we'll talk about it once you have everything moved in." Maura agreed and got up to finish making the coffee. "What would you like for breakfast?"
Lifting the icepack from her face, Angela tried to protest. "Maura! I'm supposed to-"
"Keep that to your cheek! Now, you're taking a personal day and I am making you breakfast. What would you like?"
And just like that, Angela Rizzoli got a taste of her own overbearing, considerate, loving medicine.
"What the hell are you doin' here?!" Frank yelled at his wife as he came in the front door.
Angela flinched and took a step back into Maura, who pushed the Italian woman behind her and stood defiantly in front of Frank.
"You!" He took a step forward to point a finger in the petite woman's face.
In a very confident, collected but clearly angry voice, Maura addressed the abusive man. "If you take another step closer, I will call the police and you will have a lawsuit on your hands that will cost you everything!"
Frank stopped and folded his arms, full of rage. "What?! Coz you got money, you think you're better than me? That you can do whatever the fuck you want coz you can afford it?!"
"No, Mr Rizzoli. I can help Angela press charges because her husband caused her physical harm."
"Aww that. I didn't mean nothin' by it!" He defended himself testily.
"Bullsh-" Angela tried to argue but stopped when Maura put her hand up.
"Whether you meant to or not, it is done. You have two choices: Let us leave with Angela's belongings or face the fact that I can afford to do whatever the fuck I like and I absolutely will!" It was rare that the mother of four found herself lowering her vocabulary to this level but Frank had gotten her to boiling point and she was going to make him pay if need be.
Knowing he was defeated, he put his hands up but gave them both a sour look. "Fine. Do whatever the fuck you want." He stalked off in the opposite direction and left them in peace to leave.
Once the two women were safely in the Land Rover, Angela began sobbing.
Maura reached her arm out to rub the woman's back. She couldn't imagine how the older woman felt but she was going to be there for her no matter what.
"Angela, does this look ok?" Maura asked anxiously as she stepped out from the hotel ensuite.
"Oh honey! Absolutely stunning. Janie will love it." She watched the younger woman's eyes light up at the comment.
"Do you think so?" The blonde asked, still anxious but excited too. She did a half spin to check herself out in the mirror. Maura's hair was out and styled in perfect waves. Her make up was flawless. She wore a forest green Chanel dress with a not-so-modest v neck and long sleeves. The dress fit her like a glove with no room for wrinkles and stopped just above her knees. Gold hooped earrings and four inch black Prada heels completed the look.
"I definitely know so!" Angela beamed. She really hoped that Maura would work out her feelings soon but she had an inkling that it might take some time. The mother of four had expressed to her multiple times that she wasn't interested in finding anyone. She had been burned badly enough the first time and never wanted to marry again.
"How is my makeup?" Angela asked, paranoid that her bruise from several days ago, would be visible to her daughter.
"You look great, Angela." Maura stepped closer for a more thorough inspection. "Let me just get the concealer and dab a bit more to your injured area."
"Alright." Angela nodded and kept her emotions at bay.
It had been ten days since she moved into Maura's guest house.
Frankie and Tommy had found out about their father's behaviour only a few days after the incident. Frank wouldn't tell them where she was and when they had turned up at Maura's house they had found their mother and noticed the poorly concealed bruising on her face.
Frankie had gone quiet and refused to speak with his father at all. Tommy had gone to confront him and pay him back with a bit of his own medicine but Angela stopped him, explaining how Maura had threatened Frank and they didn't want to aggravate the situation.
Both men regarded the honey blonde as their new hero and were grateful for the care that she had shown their mother.
The brothers agreed to staying tight-lipped about it. No one wanted Jane to find out before graduation.
They had all come up with the story that, when Jane asked where her pop was, they would tell her that Frank had a big job and couldn't make his only daughter's graduation. Maura reminded them of her inability to lie and compromised with the willingness to state that she didn't know what he was up to, which was the truth.
Frankie knocked on the door. "Ma? Maura? We're ready to go!"
Maura opened the door and Frankie's jaw dropped. If Jane didn't make a move soon, he sure as hell was going to. Sibling code could be damned. Tommy looked up from playing with Madeleine and had the exact same thought but wasn't as quiet about it.
"Oh damn, Maura. You look hot!"
The petite woman laughed appreciatively. "Uh thanks Tommy. I'm not really sure if 'hot' is the look I'm going for." She walked into the living area of their large hotel suite and into the noise of her four children. "Alexander, can you please come over here and let me tie your laces?"
"Ok mommy!" He skipped over to her and placed his hands on her shoulders as she bent down to fix his shoes. "Are we really gonna see JJ now?!" He could barely contain his excitement.
She looked into his light brown eyes and grinned back happily. "Yes, darling! We are going to see JJ but remember we have to be very quiet when she gets her award."
"Uh huh." He agreed and ran off as soon as his shoes were done up.
Maura stood and addressed the other Italian woman, "Carmela are you sure you're ok to stay here with the twins?" The girls had just turned three and were proving to be quite an energetic handful.
"Of course, Maura." The older woman rolled her eyes. She looked after them five days a week. She could handle one night.
"Elizabeth, are you ready my pretty girl?"
"Yes mommy." The little girl responded shyly, twirling in her pretty dress.
"Well, shall we go?" Frankie asked the room full. "I just have to stop by Barry's door and let him know we're leaving now."
"Of course. Let's go." Maura held Alexander's hand and Tommy held Elizabeth's. She suspected her five and a half year old daughter had a slight crush on the youngest Rizzoli and liked holding his hand but… not quite as much as holding Jay's.
"Jane Rizzoli." Malcolm Rivers' voice announced and Jane walked onto the stage, shook her captain's hand, and received her award. She stood with the rest of her classmates and watched the last few graduate and join their group.
The tall woman searched the crowd for the faces she was desperate to see. Jane hadn't had a chance to see any of them yet due to the formalities of seating and them turning up just before the ceremony was to start.
Jane scanned the audience and caught a glimpse of her mother. Elizabeth was sitting on her lap, Frost was on her left and Tommy to her right, Frankie next to him and Alexander next to Frankie. Then there was Maura. Dark eyes met hazel from the distance and Jane grinned like a lovestruck fool. Maura looked at her in the same manner, excited to see Jane and to have her coming home after all this time.
Maura had been over the moon to hear about Jane's assignment in New York. They all were. The only thing that could be even better was if she had been assigned to Boston.
After the applause had died down and the official part of the evening concluded, the newly graduated special agents made their way off the stage.
Maura had seen the tall brunette descend the stairs but then lost her in the crowd of suited graduates, all excited to see their loved ones who had come to see them. She had to take Alexander to the restroom and when she returned, Angela and the others had disappeared.
Maura went in search for them, holding Alexander's hand as he anxiously waited to set eyes on his favourite person too.
The medical student knew whose arm had wrapped itself around her waist before she saw them.
"Hey Maur." A husky voice sounded in Maura's ear.
The honey blonde turned and embraced Jane, smiling excitedly. "Hi. Congratulations!" They held each other tightly for only a moment until they were separated slightly by the little body inserting himself in between them.
"JJ! I missed you." Alexander wrapped his arms around her hips and smiled up at her, his chin resting on her stomach, a small gap in his teeth showing. Jane reluctantly let go of the petite woman and bent over to wrap her arms around him.
"I missed you too, buddy! You've grown so big!"
"Yep!" He responded, proudly. "And I lost a tooth! See?"
"I see that! You can fit a straw through there." Jane was so excited for him. "Did the tooth fairy give you some money?"
He rolled his eyes at her. "There is no tooth fairy, Jaaaay."
Turning towards Maura, Jane straightened up and took hold of Alex's hand. "Maura, he's six! You gotta let him believe in the tooth fairy!"
Rolling her eyes much in the same manner as her son, Maura argued, "He's almost seven, Jane, and I absolutely will not lie to my children about some make believe creature that supposedly leaves money as a substitute for children's teeth."
Jane huffed comically and put her arm across the smaller woman's shoulders in a rather possessive move and pulled her in a little closer. Maura looked up at her as though she was the only person in the world. "Did you see everyone else yet?" Maura asked softly. Jane nodded, lost in the hazel gaze.
"Remember what I said, Rizzoli." A smart mouthed Darren Crowe sounded right near the trio, interrupting their moment.
Jane turned her head to give him a warning glare but he didn't get it.
Crowe looked Maura up and down and continued his taunting, "Just say the word and I'll show your little wifey there-" He halted abruptly when Jane let go of Maura and Alex, taking an angry step toward him. She was stopped by gentle hands wrapping around her bicep.
"Jane, don't." Maura warned, not quite sure what was happening but she knew that if Jane allowed this man to provoke her into a fight, she may as well kiss her placement in New York goodbye.
This seemed to give Crowe the satisfaction he was after. "Yep, definitely the butch one." He whispered loud enough for Jane and Maura to hear and then a little louder, "Too much girl hormones in this family. I feel sorry for your poor son." He sneered out one more comment at Jane before walking past.
Maura frowned but ignored the jibe. Jane did too but she was seething.
"Mommy?" Alexander's concerned voice sounded.
Maura had forgotten her son's presence momentarily. She looked down into his questioning light brown eyes. "Yes honey?"
He grabbed at her hand and stared at Jane with a confused expression on his face. "Is JJ my mama?"
Jane and Maura's eyes met and both widened in shock at the question.
"No!" The two women answered in unison. Maura's "no" came out a lot stronger than Jane's.
"I- No, I'm your mother, Alexander. Why are you asking that, sweetheart?" The blonde gently queried.
Slightly exasperated and with the articulation of a much older child, he explained to his mother what he was thinking. "I know you're my mommy and I was in your uterus but that man said to JJ I'm her son. That means she's my mama, right?" He looked up hopefully at her.
Jane smirked at this. He was definitely his mother's child. She remembered when she asked Alex one day about whether he remembered being in his mommy's tummy. Maura thoroughly corrected her about the female anatomy and teaching children silly things like that when they were capable of learning the correct terms.
"Oh darling, no-" Before Maura could answer properly, Angela and the others joined them.
"Jay! Please can you pick me up?" Elizabeth's sleepy voice asked as she raised her little arms to Jane.
"Of course, my little Eli." Jane responded, affectionately. Reaching down to lift the blonde girl into her arms, the brunette glanced at Maura quickly. She knew that look. The soon-to-be doctor's mind was working overtime to figure out what had just transpired. It would have to be a conversation for later as they were ushered into the dining hall to commence dinner and the less formal part of their evening.
Once everyone was seated and dinner had been consumed, Jane caught Maura alone for a moment when they had excused themselves to go to the restroom.
"Maur?" Jane asked cautiously.
"Mmhmm?" The honey blonde washed her hands and responded obscurely. She finished drying her hands and turned towards the taller woman, not quite able to meet her eyes.
"I'm really sorry for that asshat."
Maura looked up sharply at Jane, not expecting an apology. "You have nothing to be sorry for. He was awful."
"Yeah, he's been like that for a while." Jane angrily rubbed her neck, not sure how to proceed in the conversation without swearing.
"Well, I'm sorry you've had to deal with that, but Jane, did you tell him that we're married?" Maura had been dying to know why the bald man had made such a statement.
"What?! No! Why would I- No, he made that assumption after Frost's graduation. He uh- saw you coming out of my room and just- He's a fucking jerk!" The newly graduated FBI agent was so flustered. She loved the idea of being Maura's wife and was a little upset at how Maura was reacting to it all. It just confirmed her suspicions that the honey blonde was completely straight and freaking out at the idea of having someone think she was married to another woman.
"Language Jay." Maura softly scolded but with care in her voice. "I'm sorry if it caused you any problems."
Shaking her head in disbelief, Jane stopped any more apologies. "You didn't cause any problems at all. Let's just surmise that Crowe is a loser and if he thought someone like you could be married to someone like me, then that's a compliment, ok?!" She continued before Maura could get a word in. "I'm sorry if it confused Alex… God, did you see his little face though when he asked?" Jane gushed at how hopeful he had been to have his beloved JJ as his other mother. "Uh sorry. I guess I shouldn't be so happy about that but I love him, all of them actually, like they're mine, Maur." Jane offered sincerely.
Maura stood there in shock. Everything she could ever hope for in a partner was being unfolded right in front of her… but… she wasn't ready for this. She couldn't go there. She wasn't even sure that Jane would reciprocate her feelings, whatever they were, if she allowed herself to acknowledge them.
"Oh, Jane." She breathed out. "Alex adores you and I love how much you love them. I- I guess that in a way you have been a very important parental-type figure in their lives so, it's natural for him to want that. You'll always be his JJ." She reached for Jane's hand as the bathroom door opened and she couldn't continue her side of the conversation. Maura lowered her volume, "Let's talk about this later. Come on." She kept a hold of the hand and led Jane back into the dining hall.
"What the fuck, Frankie! You coulda told me before I left Boston! Jesus!" Jane yelled into her phone, running her hand through unruly curls. "I've been trying to contact that asshole for weeks!"
The tall woman had just arrived at her apartment in Cobble Hill, Brooklyn, New York, an hour prior with an excited Maura in tow. The medical student had the weekend off and was helping her move and settle into her new place.
Jane had been missing for the last ten minutes and Maura had begun to worry when she heard the Italian woman shouting at her brother. She was pretty sure that she knew the reason for the call. They had all chickened out from telling Jane about Frank when she was home for the short few days after arriving from Quantico.
The bedroom door slammed and Jane's heavy-footed steps came thudding down her hallway.
Maura looked up from her task of unpacking and was alarmed at the furious face of her best friend. "Jane?" She asked softly, worry lacing her voice.
She became more alarmed when the long body plonked itself down on the couch, head in hands.
Maura sat next to her and placed a hand on Jane's back, rubbing up and down soothingly.
"Did you know?" Jane's gravelly voice asked.
Taking a deep breath, Maura knew it would be of no use to her to try and hide anything. She removed her hand and placed both in her lap. "Yes." She confessed quietly." She flinched slightly when Jane stood up abruptly and began pacing.
"Fuck! Are you serious?! How could you-" Before Maura even knew what was happening, the angry brunette grabbed her keys from the kitchen counter and stormed towards the front door and flung it open.
Maura jumped up from the couch. "Wait Jay! It wasn't my place to-"
Jane whirled around in a fury. "YOU of all people should have said something." She pointed her finger at the smaller woman's chest, not quite making eye contact. "I thought that- Nevermind! I'll be back after I cool off." She turned again to leave but Maura's gentle touch caused her to pause.
Desperate and upset at the thought of Jane being angry with her, Maura couldn't allow her the space requested. She stepped forward and put her hands on Jane's hips, her front almost touching Jane's back. "Jane, I'm sorry. I'm not- I don't understand your family's dynamics."
Jane huffed in disbelief at this but didn't move.
"No, let me finish, please?" Maura pulled at the narrow waist and got Jane to come back inside.
The brunette turned around and broke contact with Maura, stepping backwards to lean against the closed door. She crossed her arms in a closed off stance.
"I really didn't know what to do. Please, Jane, I wanted to tell you. It was only a few weeks ago-"
"A few weeks?!" In true Italian style, Jane's arms flew outwards and waved about.
"We didn't want it to affect your training or graduation!" Maura tried to reason.
"Fuck training! My family is my top priority!"
"I'm sorry! I wish I could change things but I can't and I'm sorry. I don't think this is the real reason for your anger, Jay. What your father did… It's unforgivable and your mother-"
"She wouldn't have told any of us." Jane stated flatly. She slumped her shoulders. Maura was right. She wasn't really mad at her brothers or Maura for keeping it from her. She was bitterly disappointed and angry with her father. "I'm gonna fucking kill him." She said with no emotion in her voice and walked back to flop onto the couch.
Maura followed and sat next to her, rubbing her back again. She was relieved that Jane was allowing her touch. "No you won't. Sure, talk to him but Jane, don't do anything to jeopardise your career." The blonde begged, knowing how irrational Jane could be at times.
Jane sighed in defeat. "Ok." She let out a small sob and laid her head down in the petite woman's lap, weeping softly.
"Shhh, darling. It's ok. It's going to be ok." Maura stroked her hair until she calmed down and fell asleep.
"Maur?" Jane's voice croaked from the couch.
"In the kitchen." Came a muffled answer.
The tall woman sat up slowly and looked around her tiny two bedroom apartment. "Whoa! Maura, did you do all this while I was asleep?!" The place was almost complete unpacked.
"Uh huh." The blonde panted slightly, sweaty and tired from her afternoon's activity. "Do you like it?"
"It's fantastic! Thank you." Jane stood and picked up a box meant for her room.
"I haven't unpacked your room because I thought you'd prefer to do that but everything else is pretty much finished. You really don't have much." The medical student wiped her brow and dusted off her hands.
Taken by surprise, Maura was engulfed in a big bear hug and lifted from the ground. "Jane!" She was put down almost as quickly as she was picked up.
Jane grinned at the smaller woman in appreciation. "You're the best, Maura!"
"Mmm I know. Now, let's get your room finished so we can shower and order dinner." She turned slightly red at her phrasing. "I meant shower individually, not together, and-"
"You sure, Maur? You sounded pretty keen. I mean, who could resist the Rizzoli charm, huh?" Jane joked and laughed loudly, completely amused with herself.
"Very funny, Rizzoli!" Maura picked up a pillow from the bed and threw it at the teasing woman.
"You're so easy to tease!"
"Wouldn't you like to know." The blonde shot back, flirtatiously.
The atmosphere shifted slightly and both women ducked their heads, hiding the blushes covering their cheeks.
"Why don't you shower, Maur. I'll order dinner and we can finish my room after?"
"Sounds wonderful." Maura entered the small bathroom and freshened up. She chastised herself over her comment. Did Jane even get it? Yes, of course she did! God, am I really flirting so blatantly with her? She psychoanalysed herself as she had a long, hot shower. She was snapped back into reality when Jane called out that their dinner had arrived.
"Jane?" Maura whispered into the darkness of the room. She had been laying there on her back, hands clasped over her stomach, staring at the ceiling for the past thirty minutes.
"Uhnn, yeah?" Was groaned out, half asleep. Jane rolled over to face the honey blonde.
The women had finished unpacking Jane's room and once the brunette had showered, they decided to go to bed. It didn't matter that there were two beds and a sofa in the spare room, Maura slept in Jane's bed. This time, however, both of them kept a slight distance and it was disturbing the smaller woman.
"Are you upset with me?"
This woke Jane up. She leaned on an elbow and looked down into the face of the woman she loved more than anything or anyone else in the world. "No! Why would you think that?" She placed her hand on Maura's arm and stroked gently.
Maura felt stupid now… and embarrassed. "I don't know." She said unconvincingly.
"Maura…" Jane drawled, knowing something was bothering her friend.
"I just thought that- Well, usually you hold me and- god, I sound pathetic-" She was gathered up into strong arms and pulled in close. Her nose touched Jane's clavicle and her arm instinctively wrapped around the muscular body.
"Better?" Jane's sleepy voice sounded from above her head.
Maura nodded contentedly and snuggled in, falling asleep within moments.
Reviews are like addictive drugs my friends! Keep them coming :D