A's Note: I don't own Rizzoli and Isles I just play with them for fun. This is a squeal to the story Taking A Risk, it could stand alone, but why break up the pair?
A lot can happen in a year. Murder cases were solved, countless Sunday dinners had, and some pretty big changes were made. In the past year Angela took over the café full time from Stanly who finally had a breakdown that Jane insisted had nothing to do with her constant picking on him over his OCD. Angela was also seeing Vince Korsak a lot more which Jane was struggling with. She liked that her Ma was happy, that having her own personal life kept her out of Jane's, but it was still very strange and a little uncomfortable for Jane to see her mother with someone other than her father, even if her father was still being an ass. Her father was still living in Florida with his bimbo. She felt bad because the new baby hadn't worked out for them, there'd been a miscarriage, but Jane's empathy was dulled when Frank showed up out of the blue to ask Angela for an annulment so he could marry his girlfriend in the church. When Angela refused to dishonor her children in the eyes of the church her Pop actually used her marriage to Maura, saying that Angela had already dishonored her by allowing her to make a mockery of marriage and encouraging her sinful life style. Angela's response was to tell Frank he had no right to judge Jane and Maura while he was screwing his beach blanket bimbo.
It was almost as good as seeing Angela tell a monsignor in Rome, "With all do respect your grace. Keep your option to yourself. My girls love and respect each other, they make each other happy, and that's all that matters to me."
The incident with her Pop had cut Jane pretty deep but having her wife there, having Maura listen as she ranted, and hug her when she needed it wither she wanted it or not, and hearing the beautiful blonde say she loved her, helped Jane get through those awful few weeks.
After they'd returned from their honeymoon in Italy they settled into Maura's house, which was now their home. Jane had pretty much been living with Maura long before they were married, and she'd always felt welcome, but now she felt like it was truly their home. She gave her old apartment to Tommy and moved all of her stuff into Maura's. That was an interesting few weeks, trying to merge their styles and their belongings, but they managed with very little blood shed. And that wasn't just a figure of speech. Tommy had cut his hand up after dropping the tank her little tortoise Maura had given her years go, was in when he'd been surprised by her and Maura arguing over the life sized goats over the back door. Watson was fine, Tommy needed six stitches and for a week Maura was worse than their Ma when it came to babying him because she felt so guilty over him getting hurt.
Being married had made them closer; both of them feeling more secure, each of them finally feeling at peace with their lives. Being married made them stronger together and apart. After all the nasty shit they saw of the human world in their work, going home to each other and their own little world made all the difference in keeping them both sane and hopeful. It was hard to give in to the crap life throws at you when you go to bed and wake up next to the person you love with all your heart and soul. It also helped when you had someone secure to fight with, someone you knew would still be there after all the bad is said and done, and the sting of the words have faded. There was one fight in particular, their first real married couple fight, where things got really heated. Things were said about pizza parlors and reality television shows and Jane spent several nights on the couch. They made up of course and Maura became even more of a Rizzoli when she told Angela to butt out when Angela told them they needed to apologize. Then of course there'd been the make up sex, and oh how good that had been. It left Jane wanting to pick fights more often it was so good.
In the past year her brothers had made some headway in their lives as well. Frankie was working with them more in homicide, gaining the experience he needed to make detective. Tommy had just finished his first full year of a two-year program to become a credentialed veterinary technician and had met a really sweet girl who was attending the nursing program at his school.
As far as Maura's side of the family went, Constance and Edward were bigger parts of their daughter's life and Maura couldn't be happier in her relationship with them. Patrick Doyle was completely off the grid. The general consensus was that he was in Ireland living the good retired life. Maura's biological mother Hope Todd maintained contact with Maura; they shared emails, sent cards to each other, but as acquaintances not as anything that could be considered family-like.
Everything had been going well for Jane, Maura and their family and both women felt as if the year had just flown by. Maura was smiling softly as she made her way out of her office. Today was their first wedding anniversary and she couldn't wait to give Jane her gifts, but first they had to sit through dinner with the family. Angela was making dinner for them at Maura's, all their favorites, so there would be lots of leftovers for her and Jane during the week. When she reached her new gray Prius Maura was more then a little surprised to find her wife waiting for her.
"Jane." Maura said as she stepped closer to the tall brunette, a warm smile gracing her lips as she said, "I thought we were meeting at home."
"We're not going home." Jane said with a smirk as she pushed herself off the car.
Maura titled her head to the side in that to adorable way she had as Jane took her things and put them in the trunk of the car. "We're not?"
"Nope." Jane said with a shake of her head that sent her curls bouncing. "It's our first anniversary, Maura. I love Ma and the boys I do, but I don't want to spend my first wedding anniversary with them and Tommy's girlfriend. I want to sit across the table from you and look into your eyes, not look across the table at Frankie as he pouts because he's still single."
"So if we're not going home where are we going?" Maura asked with a smile that said she liked where this was going.
Jane just smirked as she said, "Get in the car Maura."
Maura did as her wife said and got into the passenger seat of the Prius and fastened her seatbelt. Jane drove them about two and half hours west of Boston to a little B&B in Lenox. Maura raised a questioning brow when Jane pulled a suitcase from the trunk of the car but didn't say anything out loud. When they walked up to the front desk and checked in under Rizzoli-Isles and the young woman smiled at Jane before saying, "Everything is ready, Detective." Maura could no longer bite her tongue. "What are you up to Jane?"
Jane shrugged and said, "Nothing." She smiled at her wife, taking her hand, and led her back outside, down the front porch steps and onto a path that led behind the larger house. Nestled in back was a small cottage style guesthouse that Jane used the key given her at the front desk to open. She smiled as she looked around and smiled even more when she heard Maura gasp.
"Oh Jane it's lovely!" Maura said as she took it all in. There was a subtle elegance to the place that fit perfectly with Maura's style and tastes. She would have no problem feeling comfortable here.
"You should get changed." Jane said as she carried the suitcase into the bedroom and tossed it onto the luggage stand to open. She tossed a pair of Maura's designer jeans and a pretty blue designer top on the bed before pulling out a pair of Maura's boots.
Maura was impressed. "Jane, did you pick that out on your own? That's a really cute outfit."
The fact that Maura sounded like she was talking to a child who'd just matched her socks made Jane roll her eyes. "Get dressed Maura."
After they were both changed Jane took Maura's hand again and led her along another path. They walked in comfortable silence, Maura almost cuddled into Jane's side as they walked, until they reached the end of the path. Laid out before them were a set of stables and several horse paddocks. The noise Maura made at the sight before them caused Jane to look over at her wife with a worried expressed. She'd never heard Maura make that noise before. "Are you ok?"
"Horses Jane!" Maura said excitedly as she started dragging Jane towards a stable. "I love horses! I haven't ridden is so long! Are we going riding Jane?"
Jane couldn't help but laugh at her wife's giddiness. "Yeap, we are."
Maura stopped suddenly so she could turn and look at Jane. "You hate horses, Jane."
"You hate football but you sat through three games last season." Jane said with a shrug. "Two of them in the snow and cold wet rain."
"Because you enjoy American football." Maura said sweetly.
Jane rolled her eyes. Her European raised wife refused to simply call it football; it was American football, while soccer was proper football. God that woman could be so damn cute at times it gave Jane a toothache. "Well, you enjoy horseback riding so." Jane gave another shrug and then pulled Maura close to her side as they finished walking to the stables where two horses were waiting.
Since Jane had no experience they gave her a nice calm mare with a standard western saddle and a little instruction while Maura put an English saddle on a beautiful gray gelding that she took to instantly. Once Jane was comfortable on her horse she and Maura set out on one of the trails. "This isn't so bad." Jane said, though her voice betrayed how uneasy she still was.
Maura on the other hand was relaxed and enjoying herself beyond words. "I use to spend my weekends riding." She said softly. "My boarding school was close to a riding school and we had complete access since a lot of us boarded horses there. I had a beautiful black Friesian named Snow."
Jane raised an eyebrow at that. "You had a black horse named Snow?"
Maura giggled. "Snow White's hair was describe as being the blackest of blacks, and that's what Snow's coat and mane were, seriously black. Of course that was a later adaption. In the original Grimm manuscripts Snow was fair haired since she was meant to be German and based off a German noble with blonde hair." There was a heartbeat of a pause before Maura continued as if the Grimm brothers hadn't sidetracked her. "This was one of the few athletic endeavors I actually enjoyed back then. I even continued with it when I went off to college."
"You liked tennis." Jane said. Maura was completive though she would never admit it. When the two played tennis together Maura was always more aggressive than Jane was.
"Yes." Maura agreed. "But there are other people involved in tennis. Equestrianism is a solitary sport. I wasn't very social as a pre-adolescent. I didn't really get into the whole team aspect until I was in college."
Jane didn't want to harbor on the anti-social part of Maura's past because it broke her heart to think of little Maura alone with no friends to hang out with so she asked, "Where you any good?"
Maura's smile was radiant. "I have several ribbons and trophies from my competitions. They're in the attic I can show them to you some time."
"I'd like that." Jane said with a loving smile. "We should put them out with my field hockey and softball trophies."
By the time they returned to their little cottage Jane knew more about equestrianism and horseback riding then she'd ever need to know, but the light in Maura's hazel eyes made it worth the long explanation of why their saddles were so different. Actually listening when Maura was rambling paid off because she'd been on a ramble when she'd mentioned how much she missed horseback riding, which led to Jane's brilliant flash of inspiration for Maura's anniversary present, or at least part of it. When they came out of the bedroom after taking showers and changing clothes they found a beautiful table for two waiting for them on the back patio complete with flowers, candles, and wine. Jane looked pleased with herself. Maura looked shell-shocked. Jane certainly had her fair share of sweet moments, but to be this all out romantic was a rare treat indeed.
After dinner Jane gave Maura a charm for the bracelet she'd gotten on their wedding day. When Maura gave Jane her gift she was almost more excited then she had been about seeing the horses. She went into a detailed explanation of celebrating anniversaries and how each passing year has a gift, with the first being that of paper. "So," Maura said with a smirk. "I thought those would be fitting since they are printed on paper."
Jane's eyes were bugging out. "Tickets to the MLB All-Star game!"
"I thought you might enjoy that event." Maura said smugly. "Even if it is in New York. Though it is at the Mets stadium and not the Yankees so that may be more comforting to you."
"Maura!" Jane said in a way that made Maura giggle.
"I had another gift for you." Maura said a short time later while they sat in front of a fire drinking wine and sharing the small anniversary part of their wedding cake, which Jane had remembered to bring.
"Yeah?" Jane asked with an excited look.
Maura nodded. "But unless you found it in the back of the closest under the pile of scrubs I hid it under you'll have to wait until we get home."
"What is it?" Jane asked. There was something, a twinkle in Maura's eye that made her ask. Something that said Maura wanted her to ask.
Maura leaned closer and whispered in Jane's ear, "Do you remember that pretty little lace up bustier we saw in Victoria's Secret?" The audible gulp let Maura know Jane remembered. "That, in a very pretty shade of green."
Jane swallowed hard against a soft moan. "To match your eyes."
"Mmmhmm." Maura hummed as she placed a kiss on Jane's neck right at the pulse point.
The warm vibration against that sensitive spot on her neck shorted out Jane's ability to think. Thankfully there was still some primal part of Jane's brain that knew what to do next. Lifting her hands she gently raised Maura's face to her own so she could kiss her. A slow, deep, feeling it in your very soul kiss that made the blonde moan and melt into Jane as if she were unable to do anything but return the kiss. When the kiss finally broke Jane stood, took Maura's hand, and led her into the bedroom.
Several hours later after both women were to tired and sated to do much more then lay in each other's arms, Jane felt Maura take her hand, the one at the end of the arm Jane had over Maura, holding Maura's body close to her own, and raise it to her lips. It was something Maura did every night before falling asleep and it had taken Jane some time to get use to it. Maura pressed a gentle and loving kiss to the scar on Jane's hand and then tucked that hand close to her heart. Every night wither she knew she was doing it or not, Maura renewed her vow to Jane, I accept you for who you are, every flaw and imperfection included. It was the simplest thing in the world but it meant everything to Jane.
The next morning they had brunch since they'd missed breakfast and then went for another ride. Jane agreed that horseback riding wasn't so bad which of course Maura took as a sign to find them a place closer to Boston so they could continue the hobby. Jane grumbled a little but she knew that now that she'd refreshed Maura's love of riding she couldn't expect the blonde to give it up again, plus Maura needed a diversion that didn't include weird ass yoga people or her Ma.
It was late evening when they finally pulled into their driveway. As Jane got their things from the car Maura unlatched the courtyard gate and held it open. The soft yellow glow of lights on in the guesthouse made her gasp. "Oh Jane! We missed dinner last night. Your mother…"
"Knew I was taking you out of town." Jane reassured with a soft chuckle. "The only one who didn't know was you."
Maura couldn't help but smile sweetly at her wife. "It really was a wonderful surprise Jane."
"Well dissevered too." Jane said with a smirk. "You managed to survive a full year married to me."
The blonde wrapped herself around her wife and kissed her softly before saying, "The first of many, many, full years."
Jane nodded her agreement before returning Maura's kiss with one of her own. When they broke apart the taller woman whispered, "Isn't there another gift waiting for me in this house?"
Maura giggled softly as she stepped back from Jane. She took Jane's hands in her own and then began to pull her back towards their bedroom. They were just about to make it when the backdoor opened and loud yipping filled the house before Angela called out, "Girls is that you?" Followed by. "If it's not I have a frying pan and I'm not afraid to use it!"
Jane groaned as Jo Friday danced around their feet. "Tell me again why we let her live so damn close?"
"Jane." Maura scolded, paused, and then said. "Maybe we should buy her a condo." A heartbeat of a pause to see if Angela was still in the house, she was. "On the other side of town."
"You're sounding more and more like a Rizzoli every day, Maur." Jane laughed before taking her wife's hand and leading her back out into the living room where Angela was standing at the ready to defend home and hearth with her good egg skillet. "Ma, want are you going to do? Make the burglar fried eggs and bacon and wait for him to have a heart attack?"
"I knew it was you girls." Angela huffed and then added. "I just wasn't sure is all."
Jane rolled her eyes.
"So how was your little get away?" Angela asked with a bright smile.
"It was wonderful." Maura said as she took out her phone to show Angela pictures. "Jane took me riding."
And off they went, her mother and her wife, clucking like hens over pictures of Jane on a horse leaving the tall dark haired woman to drown images of sexy lingerie in bottles of micro-brew and left over tortellini. As Jane stood there eating out of the Tupperware, dropping pieces of beef to Jo, she couldn't help but smile. It had been a full and happy year, and she couldn't wait to see what going to happen next.