A/N The Wedding- Rizzles style. Enjoy!
Chapter 29
And then the morning came. It was finally the day of the wedding. Both Maura and Jane had managed to make it through the night without each other and both had slept well considering what was still ahead of them on the day. Neither was apprehensive about getting married. But both wanted the day to turn out as they both had hoped it would. Any nerves either lady felt was more about the details and the day than about finally being about to pledge themselves to each other.
Maura had insisted that they don't see each other before the ceremony. Part of her was regretting that decision. She missed waking up with Jane next to her and she had to fight the urge to send her a text to come join her. She knew Jane would be at her door in no time flat so she would have to maintain the resolve not to break the tradition. It was only one morning she would just have a figure out a way to manage. She had a private breakfast planned for her and Constance and then would spend the rest of the morning getting ready for the ceremony.
They would have the ceremony and then there would be the session with the photographer. After that there would be a break Maura was hoping to spend alone with Jane and then the reception would start. Maura, thinking about the day while lying in bed, knew she would not sleep anymore and decided to get up and take a shower. Her mother was due up to her room at 9 am.
Jane also had her morning and day planned out. She too was having a private breakfast with Angela. After that she would have to see to the last minute arrangements for Maura's double surprise. The Manor staff had not been allowed to set one of the surprises up early to help keep Maura in the dark. Jane had been afraid Maura would notice something during the rehearsal so she refused to allow any staging before this morning. And then she had to speak with Vince about a slight change to the way the ceremony would proceed. Again, Jane refused to alter anything yesterday to keep Maura from thinking anything was changing.
The men of the bridal party were being treated to a private breakfast of their own. Tommy, Frankie, Barry and Vince would all get to spend the morning in a relaxed setting with plenty of food to eat. Most of their wedding responsibilities wouldn't occur until the ceremony and then at random moments during the reception. They all were happy to part of the ceremony but were also happy not to have too many responsibilities.
Promptly at 8 am there were two knocks on two doors. The Manor staff had packages for both Maura and Jane. Each bearing a gift from the other. Each delivered at the same moment. They both knew they were getting each other a gift but neither really knew what to expect from the other.
Maura opened her gift to find a Chiarugi Classico Italian leather Doctor's bag. It was a beautiful black leather bag that made Maura smile the minute she saw it. It had engraved on the metal buckle of the bag: MDR-I. Jane's note was simple. To my wife on the first day of our Happily Ever After.
Jane opened her gift to find a Movado Amorosa watch. It was an elegant silver design that Jane loved immediately. The back was engraved: JCR-I. Maura's note was also simple. To the one who has the power to make time stop when we are together.
At 9 am both Constance and Angela headed up to their daughter's rooms. Both mothers had talked the night before about how difficult getting through the day without crying was going to be. Angela had no chance and Constance, while usually emotionally reserved, knew she wouldn't make it through breakfast without some tears. Both mothers were tremendously proud of their daughters and all they had accomplished in life. Both had nothing but affection for their soon to be daughters-in-law. Angela loved Maura like a daughter and had for years. Jane marrying her seemed to be just the icing on the cake. Constance had come to care for and admire Jane. She was in awe of the life and family Jane had provided for her daughter over the years and was just feeling blessed and lucky to finally be a real part of it all. She owed that to Jane and would never forget that.
About midway through breakfast Maura asked Constance if she had any last minute advice for her about married life.
"Darling, you don't need any advice from me. What you have found with Jane is a remarkable love. Trust in that love and seek shelter there as you need. Maybe the only thing I can caution is to just never take what you have for granted. It's special and rare and should be cherished. Remember that and the two of you will have a happy life." Neither lady made it through breakfast without shedding tears.
Over in the other bridal suite Angela and Jane were having a similar conversation.
"Janie, there isn't anything I think I can tell you that you don't already know. Believe it or not your father and I were very happy for many years. However, we let our love slip. We stopped making each other the most important thing in our lives. I had you three. Your father had his work. Somewhere along the way we lost our connection. So that would be my advice. Don't let your bond as lovers slip away. You will always be friends. On that I have no doubt. But don't let the passion fall from your everyday lives." Neither lady in this suite made it through breakfast without shedding tears either.
Maura had enough time after breakfast and before she needed to seriously start getting ready for the ceremony to take a walk around the grounds. She grabbed her coat and headed out. The estate was really beautiful and even though it was cold out it wasn't too bad and Maura relished the calm and quiet. She kept her hands in her coat pocket as she walked. Her right hand was holding onto the envelope Patrick had sent along through Agent Dean. Jane had been right not to let her destroy it before she read it. And that morning she decided she wanted to know what it said.
Stopping along a footpath she finally paused and opened the envelope. And she began to read.
My darling daughter-
The hardest day of my life was the day I had to give you up to Constance. I can only assume that one day you will have a family of your own and maybe then you will understand what it was like for me to walk away from you. My family. It was only because I wanted a life better for you than I would have provided that I had the strength to walk away. Never think that I left you because I didn't love you. My love for you was what allowed me to give you up. I'm fatally flawed Maura. There was too much malice in my world and in my heart to believe that you would have been spared that as a child. I knew Constance and Phillip would give you the chance at a life you so deserved.
I'm not sure what it will mean to you but know that not a day went by that I did not think about you and wonder about you. I followed your life as best I could and everything I ever saw you do or accomplish made me proud. Your very life makes me proud. You are an incredible person- a lot like your mother was. Never doubt that. Never let your fears about me and my life interfere with the fact that your heart was spared the malice that so choked mine. We are not the same Maura. And I thank God every day for that.
What has turned out to be the easiest day for me was the day I agreed to Jane's plan. I was at first astonished that she would even suggest such a plan but then I realized that she was only trying to do what I had tried to do for so many years. Protect you and keep you safe. At that moment was I comforted only by the understanding that she loves you as much as I did when I gave you up. Knowing that lets me believe that you will never be alone in this world. It was because of Jane's love that I am able to do the one remaining thing I can for you. I can help give you the freedom to experience the rest of your life without fear of my legacy.
Know that I always loved you and I always will. Be happy in this life you have created. Your happiness will forever honor your parents- Constance, Hope, Phillip and me. All four of us played a part in your life. What you now chose to do with it is up to you.
Your loving father
Patrick
Maura wiped a lone tear from her cheek and folded up the letter. She returned it to the envelope and turned around and walked back towards her future happy to be closer to putting her past into a better perspective.
Jane finished with the last minute preparations for one of the two surprises she had in store for Maura. This was the one she was most nervous about. She had been working on it for three months and still had no idea if in the moment she would be able to pull it off. She had gotten herself as ready as she could and now only time would tell. She finished up with the Manor staff and went to go find Vince. She had to run a few changes by him before the day got away from her. Then she, too, had to get ready.
Jane walked back up to her suite after covering everything with Vince. She was surprised to see Frankie was up there with Angela.
"Frankie? I figured you'd be hanging out with Tommy until the ceremony."
"Oh, I have been. I just wanted to make sure Ma wasn't falling apart," he said with a smile.
"I'm holding my own I'll have you know," shouted Angela from Jane's sitting room. Both Jane and Frankie smiled.
"Now little brother you have the rings, right?"
Frankie reached into his pocket and pulled out the velvet box that held both bands. "Right here. But I'm confused about something."
"What? It's a box with two rings. At some point you hand them to us. It's pretty simple."
"Normally yes, Smartass," he chuckled. "But you two didn't help a guy out. First of all, which one will be yours and which one will be Maura's? And second of all, what the hell do the inscriptions say? You guys couldn't have settled on English?"
Jane smiled. They had inscriptions added to their bands about two weeks ago. "Look genius, they both say the exact same thing. It's just mine is written in Italian 'Solo quando mi trovo tutto'," she pulled out her ring and showed him. "And Maura's is written in Latin 'Solum cum partier sum totum'," and she did the same thing with Maura's.
"Ok. I get the Italian for you but why Latin for Maura?"
"It's to honor her medical background. Most sciences we use today were originally written and taught in Latin."
"I think it's romantic and sweet!" shouted Angela from the sitting room again.
"It's something alright," Frankie tried to be sarcastic. "So, to us English speaking folk, what does it mean?"
"Both translate to mean 'Only when together am I whole'," she said but smiled as she said it.
Frankie was quiet for a minute. "Oh. That's really nice." He leaned in and kissed Jane's cheek. "I'm very happy for you Sis." And with that he left to go find the boys leaving Jane and Angela alone to finish getting ready.
The next few hours just flew by. Wedding guests started to arrive and the minutes seemed to pass faster than either lady was ready. Constance seemed to be able to keep Maura relatively calm as she got ready. Maura had been happy for the company and since Constance had helped Maura select the dress she was glad Constance got to watch her evolve into what was now in front of her.
Maura's dress was Alabaster in color. The dress of was an A-line gown draped with soft shimmer satin coupled with embellished corded lace. The exposed boning added structure to the bodice while the detachable grosgrain ribbon belt with beaded embellishment highlighted Maura's natural waist. The dress had a scoop neckline finished with a corset closure and the scoop neckline was the perfect showcase for the diamond and emerald necklace that was once Jane's Grandmother's. It looked on Maura like it had been designed specifically with her in mind. Her honey blonde hair was in a modern, twisted low bun that further accentuated her neck, the necklace and her beauty. She looked absolutely breath-taking.
"Oh Maura!" Constance exclaimed when Maura was finally ready. "You are absolutely beautiful." And again both ladies struggled not to cry.
"Don't make me mess up my makeup," was Maura's only plea. Constance nodded trying to oblige to the request. It was just about time to start the service.
Over in Jane's suite, Angela was helping Jane with the last minute touches. She had been impressed with Jane's behavior. Normally Jane squirmed worse than a toddler when it came time for hair and makeup. But today, today she let her guard down at least long enough to become presentable. When she was finally ready there was a knock on the door. Angela let Frankie and Tommy into the room.
"Wow! Jane you look great!" Tommy said with sincerity.
"Thanks Little Brother. You clean up pretty good yourself." He did indeed look very handsome in his tuxedo. Frankie also looked very handsome. Angela stood back and took in the moment. Her three children together, happy and her oldest about to get married to her best friend and a wonderful woman. Angela would not have been able to find a better moment for them as a family than watching her kids casually joking around and truly enjoying each other in that suite. All of what made Angela blessed in this world was standing right in front of her. She wiped a tear from her eye. There were going to be plenty more of those shed before the night was over and she knew it.
"Are you ready? If you want to pull off your surprise for Maura we all need to get downstairs," Angela pointed out.
Jane let out a long, slow breath and nodded. "Let's go." And the entire Rizzoli clan headed down to the Essex room to wait for the ceremonies to begin.
In Maura's suite a few minutes later, a knock was heard. Maura hollered to come in and Vince stepped into the suite slowly in case Maura wasn't completely ready yet. But just one look at her told him she was more than ready. "Maura, you look amazing!" he said in a stunned toned. Not because he was surprised but because her beauty really was that overwhelming.
"Thank you Vince. You look very distinguished in that tux yourself. That's a very good look for you." She smiled. Her comfort level with Vince had grown over the years and she wouldn't have wanted anyone but him walking her down the aisle. She had come to cherish his friendship. It meant the world to her that he was involved in this day.
"Think it would play in the bullpen?" he asked with a smile.
"I think it's a tad bit overkill, Lieutenant," Maura said. When Jane turned down Cavanaugh's offer of the promotion she requested that the division be given to Korsak. One phone call from Cavanaugh to Hamilton got the promotion squared away and everyone in the department was thrilled that Vince would be the replacement Lieutenant.
"Maura, it's time to head down if you are ready." She nodded. She was most definitely ready. "Constance," Vince added turning to Maura's mother, "Barry is just outside waiting to escort you downstairs."
Constance nodded, grabbed several going to be needed tissues and headed out to find Frost.
"Dr. Isles? Might I have the honor of escorting you downstairs?" Korsak asked as he extended his arm for Maura to grab ahold of.
"The honor would be all mine Vince." And they both started towards the Essex room.
The original plan had been for Jane and Frankie to walk down the aisle, followed by Tommy and Angela, Frost and Constance and then Korsak was to escort Maura down last. That was what Maura had been expecting. But Jane had done a significant re-write to the plans and chosen not to share that with Maura. She actually had made two major changes to the ceremony and had managed to keep both a secret from everyone except Angela and Vince. But both were about to revealed. It was almost time to start.
Vince escorted Maura to a sitting room off to the side of main room being used for the service. 50 guests had RSVP'd and there didn't appear to be an empty seat in the place so it looked like they would receive full participation. Once Maura was securely into the sitting room, Vince did a double check with Jane to make sure everything was ready on her end. She indicated that she was ready and Vince quickly gathered Tommy, Frost, Frankie and Constance to explain what change was about to happen and that it was a surprise for Maura. Everyone was touched, a little shocked and happy to make the requested changes to what had been previously rehearsed.
So, all that being set, it was finally time to get started. The room was set up with chairs evenly divided and placed into two square patterns 25 chairs on each side. The aisle was draped with flowers and there were lit candles every four feet. The Manor staff had also done an excellent job with setting the mood with lights, candles and flowers. The whole scene was quite romantic.
Vince returned to the sitting room. "It's time," and said and again offered his arm to Maura.
He was slower walking from the sitting room to the entrance to the Essex room than Maura would have imagined. Or maybe it was that she was so excited that even running down the aisle didn't feel like it would get her to Jane fast enough. Either way, their pace was a deliberate one. Too deliberate. She slowly started to get the feel that something had changed in how the service was proceeding.
Sure enough, when she got to the entrance to the Essex room, the doors were shut where as she had expected them to be open.
"Vince?" she half whispered.
"Just enjoy Maura. There has been a small change in plans," and he was beaming with a smile.
Before she could open her mouth to question him she heard something. And everything stopped.
Within a few seconds she had been able to make out that she was hearing a wonderful rendition of Claude Debussy's Clair de lune being played. At first she didn't understand because she had agreed to soft chamber music. But what she was listening to wasn't chamber music and it wasn't recorded. It was a live piano performance. She thought 'maybe' for one second, but she dismissed the thought. Until the doors opened to the Essex room and she now both fully heard and fully saw the sight in front of her.
At the end of the aisle instead of Jane waiting for Maura to walk down, Jane instead sat behind a grand piano and she was playing for the guests. For Maura. And there was no way Maura was going to stop the tears. She had known that Jane had been a gifted pianist before Hoyt's first attack damaged her hands so badly that she couldn't, or wouldn't, play. Maura had always been curious. And curious no more would she be. Jane was giving a masterful performance. The sounds she was able to make come from the piano just blew Maura away. She was so totally enthralled with the music she wouldn't notice Jane's second surprise for a few more minutes.
Jane finished with Clair de lune and proceeded right into Beethoven's Piano Sonata #14 in C-sharp minor. Maura immediately recognized the piece and listening to Jane work her magic over the piano melted Maura completely. She had heard renditions of the Moonlight Sonata all her life but not one was as perfect or as beautiful as what she was listening to in that moment. She thought briefly about the fact that she hadn't started heading towards Jane yet but decided Vince knew what he was doing and would know when it was time to move. Until then, she just closed her eyes and listened to the music.
Once the piece was finished Maura's eyes snapped to when she heard the applause from the guests. She thought it was maybe now time for everything to get started but noticed Jane hadn't gotten up from the piano yet. Clearly there was more to come. But Korsak indicated it was time for Maura to get ready to walk and she was still a little confused, until she heard Jane's next selection. Johann Pachelbel's Canon in D started and Maura realized she was being played down the aisle to her fiancee by her fiancée. And there quietly was not a dry eye in the room, including the men.
How Maura managed the journey down the aisle she would never quite figure out. It was all a little surreal for her. But moving and beautiful. Again, the grace in which Jane played the piano was beyond brilliant. She truly was gifted. Vince got Maura down the aisle just as Jane was finishing. Again, the guests all broke out into a solid level of applause. Most were still crying. But everyone was amazed as almost no one knew Jane had the skill she had with a piano.
And if that hadn't been enough to tear at Maura's heart strings, she was about to encounter surprise number two. Jane slowly got up from the piano and walked around to join Maura. It wasn't until that moment had Maura finally taken in Jane's appearance. Surprise number two. That, too, was nothing like what she thought had been agreed upon. Instead of the suit they had finally decided upon, Jane was instead now standing in front of her in a wedding gown of her own.
Jane was in a stunning white wedding gown. It was a modern mermaid satin gown with a sweetheart neckline. It had hand beaded cap sleeves that trailed into an open beaded back bodice with corset complete with a chapel length train. The dress highlighted all of the feminine features Jane usually tried to disguise. Her hair was pulled into a half updo with a subtle but gorgeous crystal and floral hair accessory. The complete sight of Jane took Maura's breath away and Vince had to steady her to ensure she didn't fall over. Maura had never seen such a beautiful sight and doubted she ever would.
"Oh my God!" she breathed in a whisper. It was all she could say in that moment.
"I'll assume that means you were okay with a few last minute changes," Jane whispered back with pure affection. She accepted Maura's nod as her answer. Watching Maura's reaction was one of the best moments in Jane's life.
As a calm settled down in the room Maura, and quite frankly most of the people in the room, gained composure the officiant of the service took over. Jane and Maura had agreed to use of friend of Maura's who was a Reverend for a non-denominational church that supported gay marriage. She started the service thanking the friends and family members for both Jane and Maura for attending the service and coming together to celebrate the love Jane and Maura so clearly shared. She gave a brief prose about love and marriage and commitment and Jane found herself thinking that was being said was important but she was so totally drawn into the hazel eyes of Maura standing in front of her that she really didn't hear most of what the Reverend was saying. Jane too was entranced by the beauty in front of her.
It came time for Jane and Maura to speak to each other. Jane went first. She had to steady her voice before she could start.
"Maura Isles, to say that you are my everything just doesn't seem to do justice to the place you hold in my life, in my heart. You are my best friend when I never thought I'd find one. You are my confidant when I never thought I'd confide in anyone. You are my lover when I never thought I'd let real love into my heart. You are the light that somehow managed to illuminate the darkness right out of my soul. When I'm with you all the bad in my world fades away. You make me want to be the absolute best I can be. I pledge to cherish you and your love and to earn the right to claim it every day. I'm so honored that you are willing to spend your forever with me. I promise to make forever seem too short a celebration of our love."
And then it was Maura's turn.
"Jane Rizzoli, you have been responsible for some many firsts in my life. You were my first real, true friend. You were the first to accept me for who I was without question and without an attempt to change me. You were the first to give me a sense of belonging. Your family took me in simply because you chose to care about me. You were the first to care for me so unconditionally that you would risk your own life to save mine. You were the first to make me believe that love really could conquer the world. I owe you my family. I owe you my life. I'd offer you my heart but it's been yours since the day we met. So instead, I will only offer you a promise. I promise to love you all the days of my life and earn the love you so freely give me now during each one of those days."
On cue, Frankie stepped forward and handed a ring each to Maura and Jane. He had quadruple checked to make sure he gave each lady the correct ring. The officiant turned to Jane and instructed her to repeat after her as she placed Maura's wedding band on her finger.
"I, Jane, take you Maura to be my wife, my partner in this life and my one true love. I will cherish our friendship and love you today, tomorrow and forever. I will trust and respect you. I will laugh and cry with you. I will love you faithfully and unconditionally through the best and the worst of times. Whatever may come, I promise I will always be there for you. Solum cum partier sum totum."
In turn, Maura placed Jane's wedding band on her finger.
"I, Maura, take you Jane to be my wife, my partner in this life and my one true love. I will cherish our friendship and love you today, tomorrow and forever. I will trust and respect you. I will laugh and cry with you. I will love you faithfully and unconditionally through the best and the worst of times. Whatever may come, I promise I will always be there for you. Solo quando mi trovo tutto."
The Reverend took in the scene with a smile. "By the powers vested in me and recognized by the state of Massachusetts, I hereby pronounce you Jane Rizzoli and you Maura Isles as wives for life. You may kiss your wife."
Jane wasted no time. Within a second her lips pressed against those of her wife. The kiss was perfect. Their first as a married couple and the first at the start of a new chapter in their lives.
