I know it has been awhile but I started working more hours and I am not going to lie it has been kicking my ass. I have still been writing this story it is just taking me a lot longer to proof read than before because of time restraints. With that in mind please forgive me any mistakes in this chapter. I am working on chapter and it will most likely be the last chapter at this age. Our next time jump will put us in their junior or senior year of high school. I am not sure which yet. Now without further ado I give you chapter 12.
Constance smiles as she watches Maura make plans. Her daughter has never been one to get overwhelmed or flustered. Maura has always been practical and analytical but now as she watches her daughter pour over the details of the plans she has made for her and Jane she can see a touch of frustration on the young girls face.
Maura is so concerned with making everything perfect and has allowed the pressure to get to her. Constance observes a little while longer until Maura pushes her hands through her hair for what has to be tenth time before finally stepping in. Maura looks up at her mother flustered.
"Darling I think for once you may be over analyzing. Jane will love anything you have planned for her." Maura let's out a breath and looks at all the papers across the dining room table.
"I know mother. I am just having trouble figuring out how to end the day. I have plans to start at the batting cages and then we are going to go buy Patriots Jersey. Jane's is getting too short and I want to get her a new one." Maura smiles fondly at the pictures of Patriot jerseys she has been looking up online. Constance waits patiently for her daughter to return to their conversation. It does not take long; Maura seems to remember she is having a conversation and brings herself out of her thoughts. Maura sighs deeply still at a loss with how to finish the day. For Constance however the answer is right in front of them.
"Darling you know Jane well otherwise you wouldn't be able to put a day together at all. You know how much she loves the batting cages and the Patriots. I suggest you continue with that theme, all the things Jane loves." Maura looks at all the papers in front of her and after a few seconds her eyes light up as the missing piece falls into place. Maura turns and brings Constance into a hug. At first Constance is taken aback by the sudden change but quickly adjusts and hugs her daughter back.
"Thank you mother." Constance smiles.
"You're welcome dear."
Maura is a nervous ball of energy Saturday morning, Constance finds it endearing. Jason is astonished that even though his daughter is technically a genius she has yet to figure out why she is so nervous. It seems that everyone seems to know that this is Jane and Maura's first date, except Jane and Maura. Constance asks if Maura needs any money for the day but she shakes her head adamantly. Maura had taken money from the money she had earned over the summer tutoring. She is determined to pay for the day on her own. Constance leaves it at that and slightly puffs up with pride.
Maura leaves shortly after with Oliver to pick up Jane and although she is nervous she is all smiles. The girls are gone almost all day and Constance finds she has to keep herself busy. She has grown used to a group of kids running through her house and eating up more food than a small country.
When Maura returns she is still all smiles. Constance is surprised to see Jane but she walks up to the older woman all smiles as well and hugs Constance much to her surprise. When Jane pulls away she smiles at Constance again.
"Thanks Mrs.C."
"For what dear?"
"For today and making it possible." Constance looks confused at the young girl until she realizes that Jane does not know that Maura was behind the whole day including financially.
"This wasn't me dear; this was Maura and Maura alone. I offered to assist but she insisted that everything today come from here. I simply made a suggestion or two nothing more." Constance watches Jane take in the information and the gears in her brain start to turn.
"So you mean everything today she planned and paid for?" Jane asks. Constance nods her head and Jane's attention goes from her to Maura.
Maura is talking to her father clad in a brand new Patriots jersey of her own. The goofy grin that spreads over Jane's face as she watches Maura Constance finds absolutely endearing. It has come to the point that she can't imagine her daughter ending up with anyone other than Jane or anyone that will be good enough for her daughter. Constance was by no means a romantic but she knew that these two were special even at such a young age.
Angela can hear Jane and Maura enter the house before she can see them. Actually she can hear her children; she only knows Maura is with them because Frankie and Tommy greet her loudly at the door. She hears Jane because she is the first to comment on the smell of food coming from the kitchen. Angela can hear Jane coming straight to the kitchen. Frankie and Tommy holler that they are going to set up a video game and not to take too long.
"Hi Ma." Jane says as way of greeting to Angela as she starts to poke around in all the pots and pans. Angela shoos her away but not before Jane is able to snatch a piece of bread from the counter. Jane smiles triumphantly and breaks the bread in half tossing a piece to Maura. Angela rolls her eyes with a smile.
"Will you make sure your brother's aren't fighting over who gets first player and let me work." Jane waves her hand. " I always get first player." Jane replies with a confident smirk. Jane looks to Maura at the same time Angela does but only Angela can see the total look of adoration on Maura's face.
"You coming Maur?" Maura nods her head.
"I'll be there shortly save me the..."
"purple controller. I know." Jane smiles and takes a bite of her bread before heading out of the kitchen.
"Do you need any help Mrs. Rizzoli?" Angela smiles at Maura and motions for her to pull up an apron. The older woman dips a spoon in one of the pots and spoons out some sauce into a small bowl.
"To dip your bread in but don't tell those hooligans or I will hear about it for days" Maura smiles and dips her bread into the sauce. Angela hands Maura a knife and the young girl immediately starts chopping without direction which causes Angela to beam at Maura. Even though Jane and Maura had been in another country for months they still work like a well-oiled machine when cooking together.
"Thank you for helping make dinner for Jane Mrs. Rizzoli. I wanted to do it myself but I am afraid my skill level isn't quite up to par with yours yet." Angela turns to Maura with a smile intending to tell her that her cooking skills are already better than most adults. She also needs to add some ingredients to a pot when she finds that Maura is already doing what Angela had been intending to do without instruction. Angela's smile turns into a confident smirk. She sees that she has trained her grasshopper well. Angela knows that both Maura and Jane will soon be able to cook without directions or measuring cups just like Angela had been taught to cook.
Maura stays in the kitchen with Angela for another fifteen minutes before she shoos her out to the living room assuring Maura that everything was almost finished. Maura had come to her a few days earlier with her plans and how she wanted to end the day with a big family dinner and when she said family she meant everyone. Not only the Rizzoli and Isles clans but Barry and his mother and Susie and her parents.
Angela can hear Frank arrive and the commotion her kids make as they go to greet their father. Angela pokes her head out of the kitchen and finds Maura there as well just much quieter. When Frank see her he smiles wide. He admires Jane's and Maura's new jerseys and Jane beams proudly.
Angela knows Maura isn't into sports the same way Jane is but Maura has always held more interest in football than any other sport. They had gone to games over the years and to both Angela's and Constance's' surprise Maura had become a diehard screaming Patriots fan. It is the only time Maura's upbringing falls to the wayside.
Frank puts an arm around Maura and compliments her on her excellent choice in jerseys and this time Maura beams with pride.
Jason and Constance arrive shortly after followed by Susie and her parents and Barry and his mother. Angela watches her daughter as everyone is seated around the table eating. She is sitting next to Maura laughing both girls still in their jerseys. Angela can see that Jane is truly happy and it brings Angela a great deal of joy because this joy was brought on by Maura. She had planned the whole day from the batting cages to the family dinner because even though it was a day meant for her and Jane, Maura knew that a part of Jane's happiness came from being with her friends and family. Maura knew Jane well and even though Angela would not push the girls one way or another she was really starting to root for them.
