"How is the baby?" Kaplan asked.
"Emma is wonderful," Jane said as a huge smile engulfed her face. "It's crazy how she fills this void I didn't even know was there." Kaplan nodded familiar with the feeling.
"I had a fantastic wife, three great kids and along comes this one who seems to complete everything. I mean she's only been with us a few weeks but I can't imagine life without her."
"That's fantastic, Jane."
"Yeah it is."
"The boys?" he asked.
"Aiden won his first science fair," she started. "I was a wreck. Maura left it up to me and I just felt he would be better with her. I didn't think she was helping him enough. I mean I didn't expect her to get up out of bed and help that way but to guide him."
"But he won," Kaplan stated.
"Yeah he did. He was a rock star. And yes, she was proving a point to both of us. She wanted me to see that I wasn't just fun, athletics, walk the dog mom but that I could contribute to everything they were a part of and she wanted people to see A and his abilities and not see Dr. Isles' son. She wanted him to know he could succeed without her."
"She wanted you to see that you could too," he offered.
"True."
"So he won?"
"Yep. He was brilliant too. I mean he didn't send anyone to the moon or anything but we made his display panel, he demonstrated his project and was able to answer all the questions."
"So Maura was right?"
"Yes she was right," she answered rolling her eyes.
"Come on doc? When hasn't she been?" she asked incredulously. He nodded again.
"She did let some of that mama bear out when one of the parents implied he didn't do his own work. Needless to say that didn't end well for them," Jane said holding up her hands. "And everyone thinks I am the one that needs to be controlled." Kaplan laughed again.
"How about Nicolas and Evan?"
"We agreed to move Evan up a division in youth hockey and Nic is taking dance now," she continued.
"Hey Rizzoli?" Evan and Nic's coach called out. Jane looked up to see Becs waving her over to the rail. She sat the boys on the bench.
"I'll be right back," she said.
"Mama, should you take a picture of where we are?" Aiden asked smirking quite aware that this was Maura's suggestion the one time Jane had recently misplaced them.
Jane cringed at the word – misplaced. Maura had thrown that word around like this was an every day occurrence, but Jane thought it was too strong a word to describe what happened. She was tired and she simply forgot where they were sitting. Which happened to be on a bench with TJ in the controlled environment of the hockey rink surrounded by everyone who knew they were Jane's boys and nephew. She had come out of the bathroom and turned right instead of left then panicked for a brief second. When she explained it to her wife, Maura had become upset and suggested she take a picture next time she felt the need to misplace her children. The boys had overheard this.
"You wouldn't want to forget," he continued with that Rizzoli smirk still intact.
"No, Aiden," she responded knowing he was mocking her. "I don't need to take a picture." She watched her sons fist bump one another as she walked over to the railing. She couldn't be mad. She was pretty sure they got that from her.
"Hey Becs."
"Hear you are back on the ice next week, Jane."
"Yeah. Think Maura is getting tired of me not expending all my extra energy and having to deal with me."
"It will be good to have you back."
"Looking forward to it."
"I wanted to talk to you about Evan."
"Something wrong?" Jane asked immediately concerned.
"No, no," she said raising her hands. "You've got a great kid there, Rizzoli. They all are but Bill and I think Evan should be moved up a level."
"Really?"
"Yes, he out skates everyone in his division. We don't think it's challenging for him and not fun for the other kids he scores against."
"He hasn't complained," Jane countered.
"I doubt he would. Nic is here and he skates with you where he can go faster than he can with his team. You let him practice with you and I've seen you. You aren't taking it easy on him. You challenge him and he has fun so he has the best of both worlds but I don't think he is challenged here and I'm not sure he's having fun."
Jane had known Rebecca Watkins nee' Hollis since junior high. They had played together and won a high school hockey championship. Becs and her husband Bill had been coaching youth hockey since their children started playing decades ago. Jane trusted what she was saying.
"I'll talk with Maura." Becs nodded.
"See you next week Rizzoli."
"This affects all of the boys," Maura responded after Jane shared what Becs had said.
"I know," Jane agreed.
"How do you feel about it?" Maura asked.
Jane shrugged. "I don't want him pushed so hard and so fast he doesn't want to skate anymore. He loves hockey."
"He loves skating but his love of hockey is because of you. He enjoys spending that time with you, Jane."
"What do you think?" Jane asked.
"I am not a fan of this because I don't want him hurt. Hockey. Older boys. This isn't like soccer but if he does need to be challenged then I am a fan of that. He needs to evolve and grow but only if he wants to do it." Maura knew there would be times when they would push their children to try new things but this in her mind wasn't one of those times.
"So we need to talk with all of them?" Jane suggested.
"Family meeting," Maura replied.
"Family meeting," Jane repeated.
"Hi moms," Aiden said leading his brothers and Cassie into the living room where Maura was still on the couch nursing Emma and Jane was gently rubbing her feet.
"Hi boys," Jane replied which was her customary greeting to 'hi moms'. Aiden smiled. "Have a seat gents."
"And Cassie," Nic added.
"And Cassie," Jane replied.
"Is this about Evan playing hockey on my team?" Aiden asked as he sat down. Jane looked at Maura who shrugged and shook her head.
"Why yes it is. How did you know that?" Jane questioned.
"TJ told us," her eldest son replied.
"How did TJ know?" Maura asked.
"I told him that Evan practiced with us and he said that they were probably thinking of moving him up because he skates so good like Mama."
"He skates so well," Maura corrected.
"Well," Aiden repeated trying to commit the correction to memory.
"TJ is just a wealth of information. What do you think about that?" Jane asked Evan who shrugged.
"He doesn't want to because he thinks he will miss Nic but he will if he can skate with me," Aiden answered.
"Nicolas, what do you think about skating on a team by yourself?" Maura asked.
"Nic said he wants to dance with Abigail and since TJ said it was good for me to play with Aiden, Nic thinks I should do it," Evan replied.
"Okay well what about you Aiden?" Jane asked. "Evan would be on your team."
"Aiden didn't think he would like Evan on his team 'cause he's his little brother but TJ says it isn't fair to Evan. It's not his fault he skates so go…well and is good at, well at hockey?" Nic answered confused on the whole good, well thing.
"Good," Maura answered pleased he was trying which was more than Jane would do half the time.
"Good at hockey," Nic said smiling.
Jane smiled. They had just had another conversation with their children where none of them actually spoke for themselves.
"Ev," Jane said looking directly at her son, "Mommy and I need to know from you if you want to try to play at a higher level. You don't have to do it. If you are happy where you are then Mommy and I support you." He nodded.
"Is that a yes?" Jane asked. He nodded again.
"Only if he can be on Aiden's team," Nic piped in. "He doesn't want to if he has to be by hisself. He wouldn't be happy then."
"By himself," Maura corrected in her mind.
"Is that true, Evan?" Maura asked. Her son nodded,
"Aiden, this will be a change for you too. Are you okay with it?"
"Yes, Mama. Hockey is Evan's thing he loves."
Jane and Maura were proud of their boys. They were typical kids who fought over toys, fought to go to bed, and had major meltdowns. There were many timeouts in the Rizzoli-Isles household (some were actually for Jane) so Maura and Jane knew their children were not perfect but it was times like this one when they put each other first that their mothers knew that they were growing into good people.
"Dance?" Maura asked Nic circling back to that statement.
"He liked it when he went with Abigail," Aiden answered.
"Do you want to dance really, bud?" Jane questioned.
"Yes," he said quietly.
"Sweetie, you went with Abigail months ago. Why didn't you say you wanted to dance?"
"Boys don't dance," he responded.
"Who said that?" Jane questioned.
"Kids at school," Evan replied.
"Boys do dance," Maura replied upset that anyone would make her son feel that this was something he couldn't do. She was revving up to rattle off a list of male names none of which Nic would have knowledge of before Jane squeezed her foot to cut her off.
"Mommy is right Nic. You can dance if you want. Boys and girls both dance."
"He dances well," his older brother interjected. Maura smiled. "Abby has been teaching him things. Evan too."
"What about you?" Jane asked curious as to why he was not being taught things by Abigail.
"She kicked me out of class," he answered smiling apparently proud.
"Why?" Maura asked. He shrugged.
"Try again, A," Jane stated.
"He wouldn't pay attention," Evan explained.
"And Abigail said 'I ain't got no time for that'," Nic offered.
Jane shook her head. Her guess – Aiden got kicked out on purpose.
"Nicolas, Mama and I will look into Abigail's dance class to see if and when we can get you in," Maura stated causing a big smile to cover his face.
"You'll have to finish hockey first though if there is a conflict. You made a commitment to your team. You good with that?" Jane asked. He nodded still smiling.
"Nic is in Abigail's dance class which is on a different day than hockey which I believe will actually make him better on the ice. And Abigail is on Nic's hockey team much to Nina's delight so he isn't by himself. Evan is on Aiden's team and scored his first goal this past weekend."
"Your hands are full," he said.
"No complaints though. I wouldn't trade it. Everyone is healthy and happy. I know it's early but we've lucked out so far with everyone getting along. The boys love their sister."
"Hopefully it stays that way." Jane chuckled.
"It won't. We know that."
"How are you?"
"I'm good," she said smiling.
"There is a lot going on," he stated.
"Yeah but it's great. I feel good, strong. My family's doing well. The job is going well."
"Anxiety?"
"I still worry."
"That's normal." She sighed.
"I still have some nights where I do a walk through for my own peace of mind but it's not paralyzing me. I walk. I go back to bed. Snuggle with my wife."
"We'll never be worry free, Jane."
"I know. I'm not trying to be because I know that isn't possible. I know with who I am and all that I have it is part of life. But I'm not in it alone. I know I am biased but I have the best wife and the best kids and the best family. My Ma still drives me crazy but I'll even keep her." Kaplan smiled. His decision was the right one.
"I don't need to see you anymore Jane. Not weekly anyway."
"Really?" she asked surprised not expecting her release to come today.
"Really. You have done everything asked of you to get to this point. I feel you are ready so unless you don't agree, we are done with the weekly sessions." It was Jane's turn to smile.
"Thank you."
"No thanks required, Jane. You did this."
"I appreciate your patience. I know I can be difficult," she said looking down at her hands.
Kaplan chuckled. That was an understatement. Standing he gave Jane a hug, which he knew she would hate but he did it anyway. "See you around Sergeant Rizzoli."
Maura was sitting on the couch in a sweater and yoga pants sipping tea while reading one of those medical journals. Jane shook her head. She never understood how reading a medical journal was relaxing. What was wrong with quality reading material like People, TV Guide, the National Enquirer? Jane hung up her coat and plopped down on a cushion next to her wife frowning.
"Where is your mother?" Jane asked seeing no signs of Constance Isles.
"I sent her home, Jane."
"Maura," she whined.
"I am doing fine, sweetie. I promise you." Jane looked at Maura. She knew she was fine. She knew that she was being overly protective but that was who she was especially with her wife. Jane gently laid her head in Maura's lap. Maura leaned over and kissed her.
"Hi, Maura," Jane said smiling happy to be home and right here.
"Hi, Jane."
"How's Emma?"
"She is still sleeping."
"Shouldn't you be?"
"I was for a bit."
Jane heard the jingle of Cassie's dog tags. She looked over her head to see the dog take in the room then walk over to Maura, sit as close to her as she could without joining Jane in her lap, wait for her to rub her head then head back upstairs.
"This must be hard for her," Jane observed. It wasn't often Maura was in a different location than Emma which made Cassie's job a lot easier.
Maura chuckled. "This is her second walk through since mother left. Same routine. She comes down, looks at me, and sits against me. I pet her then she goes back to Emma. I wish she would relax. She isn't as playful as before the baby or my incident. I want her to play, Jane. Be a dog."
The sincerity in Maura's voice was touching. Jane chuckled. This wasn't a discussion she ever thought she would have.
"I believe she feels responsible," Jane offered.
"I know and I appreciate that. But she should play more."
"I'll take her to the park later if the weather gets better."
"Thank you. She really is an amazing dog. She saved my life."
"She saved our life," Jane corrected. Maura nodded.
"Yes she did," Maura replied looking down at her wife.
"Why the big smile?" Maura asked after seeing Jane's goofy grin.
"I love you." Maura squinted at Jane and bit her lip. Yes Jane loved her but there was something else in those beautiful brown eyes.
"Spill it Rizzoli."
"Kaplan released me," she said proudly.
"Oh Jane, that is fantastic," Maura replied. "How do you feel about it?"
"Good. Ready," she replied.
"Of course you are. I am so proud of you," Maura said leaning down for another kiss.
"Couldn't have done it without you, Dr. Isles."
"Wouldn't have let you do it any other way."
"Thank you," Jane said simply.
"There is no need for thank you. You are my heart, Jane. I would do anything, go anywhere for you. You know that." Jane nodded. She did know that.
"Would you go to my installation and pin my lieutenant's badge on me?" Maura's eyes widen.
"You were promoted?" she asked barely containing her happiness.
Jane nodded, "Cavanaugh called me on the way home."
"Lieutenant Rizzoli, I would be honored to pin your badge on you."
