Sitting there watching the game, Jane didn't doubt that others could see their son's potential. Aiden had been playing soccer for as long as he had been able to walk. What TJ did, Aiden tried to do as did Evan, Nicolas and Abigail. They all would be ahead of the curve skill wise having an older cousin.
"He does look good out there," Jane observed as he participated in the drills.
"He's wonderful."
"Being his mother as nothing to do with that assessment?"
"Leave her alone, Janie. She's right. My grandbaby is wonderful," Angela piped in as she took pictures with her phone.
"So you think we will be telling him he can't play?" Maura swatted at her. She knew they wouldn't. Maura had watched practice and was pleased with his instruction and the quality of the coaches. They took great care to explain things and promote sharing and safety. Aiden was learning and having fun. She couldn't ask for more than that. Besides how could you say no to that face?
"Where are the boys?" Jane asked laughing.
"Stop making fun of me. They are with Tommy and TJ," she answered. Jane nodded. She took Maura's hand in hers as she settled in the chair to watch Aiden when the game started. Jane enjoyed seeing unadulterated pride on Maura's face. This was their first-born and he was doing well.
"Nice one little girl in the blue shorts," Jane called out.
"Her name is Rebekah, Jane."
"I'm sorry I missed team introductions, Maura."
"You wouldn't have had you been ready this morning."
"Well, I'm sorry but this," Jane said pointing to herself, "level of perfection doesn't just happen. It takes time. You don't just wake up looking this good."
"That," Maura replied pointing back and waving at Jane, "level of perfection took ten minutes. You wouldn't get out of bed."
"So are you saying you lied before and I don't look good?" Maura laughed.
"What am I going to do with you?" Jane leaned over and kissed her. She loved to hear her laugh. It was one of the most beautiful sounds.
"That was precisely the problem. You figured it out and exhausted me, woman. Rendering me powerless. That's why I couldn't get up." Maura blushed.
Jane stood. "I'll be back in a few."
"Where are you going?" Maura asked curious. "The second half will start in a few minutes."
"I'll be back before they do. Just going to pick up a lady. At least I hope she's a lady," Jane answered winking.
"Where did she say she was going?" Angela asked.
"To pick up a lady," Maura repeated.
"Is she serious?" Maura raised her hands in surrender while shrugging and shaking her head. This was Jane. That could mean anything.
Jane approached the woman across the field. She had dialed in that Rizzoli swagger. She wanted this lady to be caught off guard.
"Hi," she said as she approached the woman who hadn't expected Jane to speak to her.
"Hello," the woman responded politely.
"Who are you watching?" Jane asked. The woman hesitated before settling on a friend's kid as her reason for being on the sideline. Jane appreciated the truth.
"A friend's kid," Jane repeated.
"Yes," she answered uncomfortably as Jane moved closer to her encroaching on her personal space. The closeness made her nervous. They stood silently for a few moments. Jane debated whether to make her more uncomfortable than she already was but decided against it.
"I am at a disadvantage here," Jane said breaking the silence. "You know who I am but I don't know who you are."
"Excuse me?" Jane continued to look out onto the field. The teams were getting ready to return.
"You are dating my brother."
"Your brother?" she repeated stalling.
"Yeah, Tommy Rizzoli."
"Tommy?" Jane chuckled. Note to self never get into any trouble with this one.
"Yes, Rizzoli. Tommy Rizzoli. I am sure you know my name. What's yours?"
"I…I'm…hmm…Lauren." Jane laughed.
"You sure about that?" Jane asked.
"Yes," she answered embarrassed.
"Well, hi I'm…hmm…Lauren," she extended her hand which Lauren shook. "I'm Jane which you knew but now you know officially."
"Hi," she said understanding that she and Tommy had been found out.
"Your boyfriend has successfully kept you squirreled away."
"It wasn't him," she admitted. "It was me. He speaks so highly of you all I was intimidated to meet you and well your mother..."
"You have to come in hard. Can't be intimidated and survive us. The Rizzolis will eat you alive and if my mother smells blood, then it's all over."
"Oh God," she responded nervous about the possibility of ever meeting this family.
"Tell my brother to bring you over tonight for pizza."
"I don't think..."
"Not a suggestion."
"Okay," she agreed quickly.
"See you can't just say okay that fast. Get some fight in you."
"Then no?" she answered unsure.
"Cute," Jane replied laughing. "But that won't work. My Ma is working. It will just be my wife and the kids."
"I…"
"Will come. I promise we won't bite. At least the adults won't." Lauren sighed then smiled.
"Okay," she agreed. "How did you know?"
"It's what I do. See you this afternoon." Jane jogged back across the field.
"What were you doing? Who is that woman?" Angela asked when she took her seat.
"I told you. I was picking up a woman. Maura is insatiable," she answered wiggling her eyebrows.
"Jane!" Maura chastised embarrassed.
"Janie, you're awful," her mother said shaking her head. Jane laughed.
"You really shouldn't antagonize your mother."
"But it's so fun."
"You are awful," Maura replied.
"Awfully good."
"Who was she?" Maura questioned out of curiosity.
"Lauren. Tommy's girlfriend," she whispered not allowing her mother to hear.
"Oh."
"I invited them over for homemade pizza. Time we met this woman."
"Agreed," Maura said nodding.
The game ended much as it started – pre-schoolers running back and forth chasing a soccer ball though not necessarily kicking it. If they were keeping score, which they weren't, Aiden's team won. His team – him in particular – were the only ones to score on their own goal. Jane and Maura were proud of their son. Aiden played hard. He listened. He shared. He tried. Maura loved seeing him happy and Jane loved seeing Maura happy. So everyone won.
He ran over to Maura climbing into her lap to hug her.
"Hi, Mommy." Jane held her fist out for him and he reached around to fist bump her.
"Hi, Mama," he said smiling.
"Hey bud. You were awesome."
"Thank you."
"Did you have fun?" Maura asked. He nodded enthusiastically. "I am so proud of you."
"Mama too?" he asked.
"Mama too," Jane responded.
Angela kissed him good-bye she needed to head to work.
"Thank Nona for coming," Maura told Aiden.
"Thank you Nona."
"You're welcome my sweet boy. You were so good."
"Tell Korsak hello for me," Jane called out.
"Please tell Korsak hello," Maura corrected her. Jane frowned. She hated being corrected.
"Please tell Korsak hello," she repeated.
"I know I tell you this all the time but I am so glad she is yours now Maura," Angela replied kissing her daughter-in-law on the head tenderly.
"See you Janie."
"Bye Ma."
Tommy approached with TJ and the twins who wiggled away and ran towards their mothers both jumping into Jane's lap since it was empty. She kissed them repeatedly causing them to giggle.
"Mama no," they said in unison. Maura reached over and touch them. God she loved them.
"Good job little man," Tommy said to his nephew as he high fived Aiden.
"Thank you."
"Nice game Aiden," TJ added. "Come on. You can help me warm up for my game." Aiden slid off of his mother's lap to follow his cousin.
"We go too," Nicolas called out pulling Evan out of Jane's lap and running behind his brother.
"Right here, guys," Tommy ordered. "I need to be able to see you."
Jane and Maura stood and folded up the chairs.
"I invited Lauren over for pizza. It would be nice to get to know her," Jane said. Tommy balked.
"4:30," Maura added. "TJ on field 3?" Tommy nodded. Jane smirked and took Maura's hand in hers.
"Come on boys. Field 3."
Tommy came back in and fell on the couch. He was grinning. Jane hit him in the arm.
"She really likes you guys," he said happy.
"Why wouldn't she? We are very likeable," his sister replied. "Besides I think she should be wondering if we really like her."
"Jane," Maura cautioned.
"What? We're already in the family. She's not."
"She wants to have you and Maura over when she meets Frankie and Nina."
"Why don't you just invite her to family dinner?" Maura asked.
"I promise to run interference with Ma," Jane offered recognizing the hesitance.
"Maybe next week," he said.
"Why did it take so long for you to let us meet her?" Maura asked. Lauren was by all accounts a very sweet girl. She was funny, smart and she obviously loved Tommy. She was excellent with TJ and Maura thought Nicolas might have fallen in love with her.
"He didn't let us meet her. We forced the issue because of my superior skills," Jane corrected.
"If you have to say so yourself?" Maura asked amused.
"I did say so myself."
He shrugged. "Guess I wanted her to get to know the me now. Not the screw up me all of the stories you guys tell talk about."
"Tommy, there are other stories too," Maura replied empathizing with him. "All the stories about being a great dad, a fantastic uncle, a wonderful brother-in-law."
"But those aren't the ones that are generally told."
"It takes all the stories, little brother, for someone to get to know you. You can't leave out the embarrassing stuff. Makes you human. And from what I can see, she would have fallen in love with you no matter what."
"Maybe," he responded.
"As goofy and robotic as Maura is I still fell in love with her," she offered. Maura shook her head.
"Yes and as stubborn and annoying as your sister is I still fell in love with her," she countered. "Because that is only part of her story. She is also kind, considerate, gentle, and she shot my father." Jane laughed.
"See Tommy? You ran over a priest and I shot my wife's father." He chuckled. They all had stories.
"Did you see her making eyes at him when she thought we weren't looking?" Maura asked causing him to blush.
"I know. She loooves him," Jane teased.
"Stop it," he said grinning so widely it had to hurt.
"She is a very nice girl," Maura said touching his arm.
"Thank you," he replied. It meant a lot that they both liked her. Neither had really liked Lydia with good reason. Maura wasn't thrilled with Veronica nor was Nina. The rest weren't worth a mention. They never made it to a meeting. He had known they weren't the one. None had met his son or his family. He'd been careful with TJ after the situation with Veronica but Lauren was different. A good different.
"I'll run a check on her Monday."
"Jane!" Tommy chuckled. He wanted this type of banter and he wanted it with Lauren.
"Hey before I forget, I tried setting up a meeting with Pop. He said he was going to Florida but would be back."
"Yeah, left last night. Not sure why."
"I'll talk to him when he comes back."
"Cool. TJ!" he called standing.
Four sets of feet bounded down the stairs.
"Ready little man?" Tommy asked his son gently ruffling his hair.
"Yeah." He walked over to Maura and hugged her then Jane.
"Thanks for coming to my game today," he said.
"Love watching you play," Jane replied.
"Grab your stuff, TJ." His son collected his bag and said good-bye to his cousins. Maura enjoyed seeing them interact. TJ was so patient with them. Hugging each one. He was getting older and the years between them seemed greater now but he still treated them with care.
Tommy gave TJ the keys.
"I'll be there in a minute buddy."
"Okay dad."
"Come on boys," Maura said to her sons. "Time to call papa and grandma."
"Grandma!" the twins yelled.
"And papa," Aiden added.
"And papa!" they echoed.
Maura laughed. Their kids. She hugged Tommy and kissed his cheek.
"I really like her," she whispered in his ear.
"Thank you."
"Say hello for me," Jane said to Maura who nodded and herded the boys up the stairs after they said good-bye to Tommy."
"Your girl is a keeper bud," Jane said. She spent the evening doing what she was trained to do. She asked questions and guided the conversation to get the answers she needed to hear to feel comfortable. This wasn't only about Tommy. Tommy was a big boy.
Her concerned was for TJ. She would protect that kid with her life as would Maura. It also concerned Abigail and the newest Rizzoli yet to be named and her sons. She would kill for her sons. Truth be told she would kill for all of them and she was pretty sure Maura would help dispose of the bodies although she would need to confirm that before testing the theory.
She wasn't kidding when she said she would run a check on her. She meant it but not through BPD. She would contact Jerry on Monday. He was already running a background on her father.
"You think?"
"Yeah I do but it doesn't matter what I think. What do you think?" she asked. He smiled and bowed his head.
"She's my Maura, Jane. My Nina."
"Really?" she asked excited for him. He nodded.
"Then you are a very lucky man, little brother," she responded hugging him. "Hold on to her."
