Jane parked the car across from the clinic and waited. She knew it would be closing soon so she had taken a break at this time from the case to come here. She watched Shandra turn off the sign, say something then leave. Jane remained in her car until Hope's nurse had driven away then she exited the vehicle and walked towards the clinic. She had her usual swagger which if Maura were there she would find extremely sexy.
Cailin looked up when the door opened. "Hey Jane," she said continuing to file away the patient records.
"Hey Cailin," she answered. Her voice tired.
"Do I need to stay and pick my mother up off the floor?" her sister-in-law asked as she placed the last folder in the drawer.
"I am not going to hurt your mother," Jane answered frowning.
"Jane, the only time you come here is to explain to my mother what an effed up job she is doing as it pertains to your wife." Jane chuckled. That was true. This time wasn't any different.
"Maybe you should," Jane replied as she tapped on the door.
Jane wasn't the person Hope expected. Jane wasn't the person Hope wanted to see.
"Hope."
"Jane what a pleasant surprise. What brings you here?" she asked placing the paper down.
"What would bring me here Hope?" Jane asked quite certain Hope knew why she would be here. Hope swallowed hard.
"How is Maura?" Hope questioned as she squirmed in her chair. She wasn't exactly sure what she had done to Maura but she knew it had to be something for Jane to be here now.
"Maura hasn't seen much of you lately," she said getting directly to the point.
"No she hasn't. With all she has going on it has been difficult since she isn't volunteering at the clinic anymore," Hope offered as explanation. Jane shook her head. Somehow it was always Maura's fault that they didn't take the time to do what they should.
"You will be attending dinner tomorrow."
"Jane, I am sorry. As I told Maura, I made other commitments."
"Yes, you did tell my wife that but this isn't a request."
"I can't," she stated staring at Jane.
"You will," she replied. Hope looked away. She was no match for the Jane Rizzoli glare.
"Every week Hope. Every week she invites you. Every week you decline. You came to her and asked to be a part of her life. She gave you another chance. Since she and I got together you have been MIA. Yes you were at our wedding and baby showers but it is rare you are in our home. Is it me?" she asked not wanting to be the reason her wife was disappointed by this woman.
"No, Jane," she answered appalled Jane would even think that to be true.
"Your grandchild has rarely seen you."
Hope stood and paced. "I have three grandchildren, Jane."
"You don't have to say that because I'm here."
"I'm not simply saying it. I mean it," she replied sincerely.
"What is it then?"
"It's hard Jane. Can you understand that? It's hard being around Constance and Arthur. It's hard knowing they had what I didn't," she replied closing her eyes to keep the tears from falling.
"Don't you think it's hard for them? Constance has to look at you and see Maura in you. The features. The quirks. You are a reminder that she didn't give birth to their daughter. A reminder that you are more like Maura than they are." Hope sat back down in her chair.
"There is enough pain for everyone but they have worked hard to put Maura first. Don't you think it's time for you to do the same?"
"That isn't fair."
"Nothing about this situation is fair Hope. If it was fair, Paddy would have never done what he did and you would have raised Maura."
Jane stepped through the door. "She let you back in Hope. Don't make her regret it and don't make me regret encouraging it. Dinner tomorrow is at four."
Jane entered the home on Beacon Hill. She sighed heavily as she locked up her service weapon and slid her badge into the drawer. She had hoped to be home before now but Boston had lost its mind recently and homicides were coming at her squads fast and furious. Jane had taken on this latest homicide to allow her people to breathe. Even Maura had stepped in to autopsy a few of the victims to help Kent.
She removed her boots leaving them by the door. She knew her family was sleep or she hoped they would be. She knew Maura had tried to wait for her but the last message Jane sent pleaded with her to go to bed. Jane turned out the lights and walked quietly up the stairs.
She stopped at Aiden's room first. She chuckled. She wouldn't have to go to the twin's room. At some point, they all ended up in the same bed piled on one another. God she loved them. They were these magnificent little creatures that stole her heart every day and made her want to be a better person. Having children was one of the greatest accomplishments of her life. Loving and being loved by Maura was another. She kissed her children inhaling their scent. This life of hers still amazed her.
Jane quietly entered the master bedroom. Maura was sleeping in the middle of the bed looking as beautiful as ever. Maura she knew would argue with her that it wasn't possible for that to be true. But nothing could change Jane's mind because she honestly believed it. She showered before easing into bed. Maura opened her eyes to see Jane leaning on her elbow staring at her. Maura smiled. Jane was home and she was safe.
"Hey," she said barely awake. "You're home."
"Go back to sleep baby," Jane told her then kissed her sweetly.
"I love you."
"I love you too, Maur."
"I missed you."
"I missed you too, sweetie now go back to sleep." Maura closed her eyes and drifted off. Jane watched her as she tried to wind down from her day. She moved the hair from Maura's face so she could see all of her. She traced her eyebrow then kissed her forehead. She ran her thumb across her cheek and gently brushed her lips. Every day. She was blessed with this woman every day. To be able to come home to someone like Maura, balanced her world. Jane settled in, wrapped herself around her wife and fell asleep.
Jane felt the bed move. Before she opened her eyes she knew three small bodies were climbing into their bed. Maura situated the boys between them, covering them with the blanket. She whispered for them to be quiet and not wake mama. But today was family day and they were too excited to be quiet for long.
Neither Jane nor Maura knew when it happened exactly that Jane stopped working Sundays unless it couldn't be avoided. She was thankful that the case she caught yesterday was solved. When the call came and she took the case, she wasn't sure she would be able to stamp it closed in time. She knew that she had twenty-seven hours to catch a killer and not disappoint her sons. Thankfully, the homicide was neither well planned nor well thought out. Jane did make it home. Riley had agreed to do the paperwork in exchange for Sunday leftovers.
"Thanks Cooper. I owe you," Jane said pulling on her jacket.
"You owe me Sunday dinner leftovers, sergeant."
"You could just come to dinner," Jane offered. Riley shook her head.
"Thanks Jane but when I am done with this I am hitting the bed. Not coming up for air until Monday morning."
"Thanks again, Riley. I really appreciate it."
"You're welcome. Can't have my cutie pies missing their mama."
Jane opened her eyes to find four beautiful faces smiling at her.
"Yay! Mama waked up," Nicolas squealed. All three boys jumped on her. She hugged and kissed them. Maura snuck her own kiss.
"I believe you woke mama, young man," Maura accused Nicolas.
"No mommy. She waked herself," he answered confident it wasn't him.
"Yes mommy. I waked myself," Jane said agreeing with her son.
"Who picks this week A?" Jane asked their oldest son as she pushed herself up in the bed. Every Sunday, the Rizzoli-Isles family hit the fine streets of Boston to have family time. This had been Maura's idea. She insisted on giving her children what she didn't have. She wanted them to have good family memories and be connected to their parents.
"Evan," their eldest son responded. He was the keeper of turns as he called it and he took his job seriously.
"Okay Evan. Where are we going today?" Jane asked watching Maura watch how happy their sons were.
"Skate." All three began jumping on the bed and screaming "Skate! Skate! Skate!"
"Well mommy I guess we are going skating." Maura shook her head. They each had their favorite thing. Aiden loved the aquarium and zoo. Nicolas loved the children's museum. And Evan loved to skate.
"I am not surprised," Maura replied crawling out of the bed.
Maura went to get ready while Jane brushed teeth, washed faces, combed hair and dressed the boys in the layers Maura had set out for them. Maura dressed then took the boys downstairs to make breakfast while Jane showered. She entered the kitchen in time to cut the fruit to go with the toast, scrambled eggs, and bacon, which Jane was sure was going to be made of turkey. Yuck.
Jane loaded the skates, equipment and blankets into the car while Maura put on hats, mittens and coats. Jane snapped a picture with her phone. They were so cute. Aiden with his tiger hat, Evan his frog hat and Nicolas his panda hat. Everyone was loaded into the car and the fun began. Aiden taught them all a new song from his pre-school class, which they sang all the way to the Boston Common Frog Pond. Maura absolutely loved Sundays.
Jane sat the boys down and changed their boots to skates while Maura snapped on their helmets. Jane shook her head watching her wife. She remembered the first time they took Aiden skating and Maura pulled out that helmet. Jane made the mistake of saying it wasn't needed. None of the Rizzoli children ever wore helmets and they turned out fine. Well, mostly fine. Twenty minutes later Aiden was wearing the helmet and Jane could recite the statistics about ice-skating head injuries in young children.
Evan took off once they hit the ice. Aiden and Nicolas tried to keep up with him. Evan's skill on the ice at his age was amazing. There was a natural easiness about his skating that Aiden and Nicolas didn't have yet. Jane took Maura's hand in hers keeping a close eye on her children.
"I love you Jane Rizzoli."
"Good to be loved by you, Dr. Isles. I love you too."
"They are beautiful," Maura said watching with pride.
"So are you," Jane replied stealing a kiss then skating away to join Evan. She grabbed his hand. She skated with her son – backwards, forwards, spinning. His laughter melted her. He was happy.
Maura caught up with Aiden and Nicolas. Each held her hand and together they made their way around the rink. Jane would circle back and switch out one boy for another spending time with each. Like a well-choreographed dance, Maura would change places with Jane and spend one on one time with their sons as well. The interactions between parents and children were seamless. Maura hoped this would always be the case but Jane warned her they would turn into teenagers one day.
"Hey little ones how about some hot chocolate?" Jane asked their children. They nodded enthusiastically. Who would turn down hot chocolate? They sat, little legs swinging, drinking room temperature hot chocolate, which Maura had prepared especially for the boys. With the chocolate mustaches wiped off of tiny faces, the Rizzoli-Isles family hit the ice again.
"Jane, I think it is time to go," she said pointing to Evan who she could tell was tired. "I think if we get them home they will have time for a nap before dinner." Jane nodded. Tired children at a dinner table never went well.
Maura opened the house. Jane picked up Evan. Maura returned and placed Nicolas in her other arm then followed her in with Aiden. The ride home lulled them to sleep. Jane fell on the bed when she entered their bedroom after putting the twins to bed. She was tired. She didn't have much sleep last night. Maura climbed on top of her and kissed her. Jane smiled.
"Thank you," she told her wife.
"Today was fun," Maura said rolling off of Jane.
"Yeah. I love us Maura. I love everything about us. You are wonderful. The boys are wonderful."
"You are wonderful too, sweetie."
"You don't need to say that."
"I'm not just saying it, Jane. It is true. You must know that. I love everything about us too and you, my love, are the best."
"Thank you," she replied humbled. Maura kissed her gently and laid her head on Jane's shoulder.
"Maura on any other day with three sleeping kids I would devour you but I am so tired. Can we take a nap too?" Maura laughed.
"Oh honey, me too. I could use a nap." They both laughed.
"I think we are getting old, Mrs. Rizzoli-Isles," Jane said snuggling in with her wife.
"Never," Maura replied.
Maura stretched. Something smelled delicious. She looked at the clock and sat up quickly shaking Jane.
"Honey, it's three thirty." Jane sat up as quickly as Maura had done rubbing her eyes.
"How?" she asked her voice raspier than normal.
"I don't know." Neither of them thought to set an alarm. If they didn't wake on their own surely the boys would have done so.
They checked for the boys but they were not in their beds. Jane followed Maura who was panicking a bit down the stairs. Angela was in the kitchen, which explained the delectable smells. The boys were with Arthur, Tommy and TJ in the family room.
"Hey girls," Angela called out as they entered.
"Ma," Jane answered.
"Hi Angela."
"I came over early to start dinner," she said. "The boys woke up so I called Tommy over to play with them so you two could sleep."
"Thank you," Maura said appreciating her mother-in-law. "How can I help with dinner?"
"Get yourself a glass of wine and sit. Dinner is ready. Arthur helped me. Now we're just waiting for everyone to get here."
Maura went to greet her father and was bombarded by hugs from her kids and TJ. She kissed her father and he hugged her too. The feeling of him hugging her never seemed to get old.
Jane went to her mother and kissed her cheek. "Thanks, Ma. You're the best." As annoying as her mother could be at times, Jane loved her and truly appreciated her. Angela was loud and intrusive but she was kind, considerate and giving. She made Jane and Maura's lives so much easier as did Constance and Arthur. Jane understood how lucky she and her brothers were to have a mother like the one they had.
"You're welcome Janie. Get a beer. Sit," her mother said waving her away.
The house was filling quickly. All the usual suspects were going to be there – Frankie, Nina and Abigail, Tommy and TJ, Vince and Kiki, and Arthur. Constance was in Europe for another installation.
Vince and Kiki arrived and greeted everyone. Retirement still looked good on Vince. So did marriage. He disappeared under the hugs of the boys. All of them loved Vince. He was wonderful with them. Jane said it was because he had all that practice with animals that he couldn't help but be good with kids after all the only difference was these animals talk.
"I would appreciate if you would refrain from calling my children animals," Maura told her.
"Hey, they are my kids too."
"No, I don't think so," Maura replied indignant. "Not with that attitude Jane Clementine Rizzoli."
Jane knew she was in deep when Maura called her by her name but left off Isles. That particular lapse in judgment required fudge clusters, the promise never to refer to their children as animals again and brunch and shopping on Newbury Street to get Jane out of trouble with her wife.
Angela told them they were waiting on Frankie. He was running a few minutes late. Jane was surprised they were coming. The BRIC was as slammed as homicide.
"Janie, I put some food away for Riley," Angela said pointing to some containers.
"Great. Thanks Ma."
"She stopped by the Dirty Robber earlier and said you promised her leftovers for doing your paperwork?"
"Yeah. I wanted to get home this morning so we could take the boys today," Jane replied.
"That was extremely nice of her," Maura said as she entered the kitchen. She made a mental note to thank Riley personally.
"Why didn't you just invite her over?" Angela asked thinking it was the most obvious thing to do.
"I did, Ma. She didn't want to be part of this crazy," Jane replied.
"Jane, really," her mother reprimanded.
"What? Like it's not true?" Jane asked.
"I'm glad she's your problem now Maura," Angela said shaking her head at her daughter. Jane chuckled.
"I'm glad she is too, Angela." Maura kissed her wife.
"Get a room already," Frankie said as he entered the house with his family.
The front doorbell rang. "Maura do you want to get that," Jane asked sipping her beer. Maura looked at her wife.
"Sure," she answered. Nicolas jumped out of Kiki's lap to go with his mother.
"Who it is, mommy?" he asked as he grabbed her hand and walked with her.
"I don't know sweetheart. We have to look."
"Me see, please?" he asked. She lifted him to look through the peephole.
"Cailin," he said with a smile. Maura put him down and opened the door. She watched her son hug his aunt and pull her in towards his brothers. Maura looked at Jane who continued to sip her beer aware her wife was looking at her but refusing to engage.
"Hello Maura. I hope it's okay I came too," Hope said greeting her daughter.
"Of course it is," she answered happy to see her standing there. "You are welcome here any time. Please come in."
"Thank you," Hope replied giving her daughter a hug.
"Come on everyone," Angela called out. "Dinner."
The Rizzolis, Isles, Rizzoli-Isles, Korsaks and Martins filed into the dining area. Jane directed Hope to a chair across from Maura then situated the kids at the kid table.
"Hey, shouldn't Cailin be sitting at the kid's table?" Tommy asked laughing.
"You're funny, Tommy," Cailin replied smiling.
"Good one, bro," Frankie said holding the chair for Nina.
"Stop horsing around Tommy before someone gets hurt," Angela yelled at her son.
"Seriously Ma? Who gets hurt from saying Cailin should sit at the kid's table?"
"I thought it was funny," Jane offered.
"Stop encouraging your brother, Janie."
"Frankie was encouraging him first," Jane said to her mother as she sat down next to Arthur who was smiling at the verbal exchange. He still found their interaction amusing.
Maura listened to the banter. She smiled. Tommy and Frankie had recently started picking on Cailin. She was happy they felt they could. They still didn't tease her though. Not really. She knew that she was off limits or they would have to deal with Jane. Neither seemed to want to deal with their sister.
Maura watched Hope enter the conversation. She knew Jane had everything to do with why she was here. She wasn't sure how she made it happen but she knew she was responsible. She watched her father be gracious and regale Hope with stories. And she watched Angela be Angela and put them both at ease.
"I love you," Maura mouthed to her wife across the table. Jane smiled.
"I love you too baby," she mouthed back as she put a slice of lasagna on her plate.