Veterans Day
A/N: This is a stand-alone story. Jane and Maura are married. TJ is three years old and Tommy owns his own plumbing business.
"Maur, what time is Tommy dropping off TJ this morning?" Jane asked her wife as she got out of the shower.
"He's not, we have to go pick him up. Tommy thought it would be nice for TJ to sleep in as long as possible. He didn't want him to be cranky with us this afternoon. I told him we would take TJ out to breakfast before the parade. That is why we need to get going. I want to have enough time to eat breakfast before the parade." Maura said as she put on her dress that she had picked out to wear.
"Well, that is thoughtful of my little brother. I guess there is hope for him after all." Jane stated as she finished getting dressed and walked into the bedroom to find that Maura was finishing getting dressed as well. She was sitting on the bed putting on her heels. She was already dressed in a beautiful dark blue dress that she had not remembered seeing before. "Is that a new dress Maur?"
"Yes, love and there has always been hope for Tommy. He is doing an excellent job of raising TJ and working. It is tough for him being a single parent. I'm just happy he lets us spend so much time with TJ." Maura said as she smiled at Jane for noticing her new dark blue dress.
"Maur, of course he lets us spend time with TJ, it is called free babysitting." Jane laughed as she leaned down and gave Maura a passionate kiss on the lips and caused Maura to fall back on the bed. Jane landed on top of Maura and didn't break the kiss.
"Jane, we have to go we don't have time to fool around. We have to be at Tommy's in fifteen minutes and it takes about twelve minutes to get there. We need to leave." Maura said as she tried to push Jane off of her. After several attempts Jane finally moved and rose up off of the bed.
"You are such a party pooper sometimes." Jane said as she pouted and extended a hand down and helped Maura up off of the bed.
"Jane, I am not a party pooper as you said, just merely being responsible. Tommy has a job that he needs to get to and if we our late then he is late and that doesn't reflect well on the image he is trying to reflect in his plumbing business." Maura said as she wiped the lipstick off of Jane's lips. The color didn't really match what Jane was wearing and Jane didn't really wear lipstick. She normally just applied a Cherry flavored Chapstick.
"I know, I know. Sorry I just love making out with my beautiful wife." Jane stated as she smiled at Maura. They had this conversation many times and Jane always tried to derail their attempts to leave the house in a timely fashion. Maura didn't mind. She normally tried to add in extra time knowing her wife would try to derail their attempts to leave the house. She loved that about Jane but today they needed to get a move on it, Tommy was relying on them to be on time.
"Well, we can make out after the Veterans Day Parade, okay?" Maura stated as she pushed Jane towards the door after she applied some Cheery flavored Chapstick to Jane's lips. Jane loved when Maura applied the Chapstick for her.
"Okay, it's a date." Jane said as she patted Maura on the butt and grabbed her hand and escorted her out of the bedroom.
"Plus, we need to get our seats on the parade route. If we wait too long all the good spots will be taken already and we will not be able to be in the front row. You know I like to sit in the front row and watch the parade, so does TJ. He had so much fun last year. The diner has our table all ready for us and Mabel said she will take our chairs out soon and put them in the front row right outside the diner."
"Well, if Mabel is setting our chairs out for us what is our rush to get to the diner?"
"Jane, you know that people move chairs if people aren't sitting in them so we need to make sure our chairs stay where Mabel placed them. Mabel has to work she can't watch our chairs for us. We need to pick up TJ and get to the diner." Maura said.
"Okay, you are pretty bossy this morning." Jane said as they hopped in the car.
"Jane, you say that every time I tell you something you don't want to hear."
"I know, but you still love me." Jane exclaimed.
"I do very much. I do wonder why sometimes though." Maura said as she laughed as Jane pulled out of the driveway.
"Hey, I am wonderful and that is why you love me. Do you want me to spout off all the reasons you should love me? I can and I will if you ask." Jane said as she looked over and pouted before she put the car in drive and pulled away from the house.
"No love. I know how wonderful you are. I wouldn't be married to you if I didn't think you were wonderful." She reached over and placed her hand on Jane's thigh. Twelve minutes later they pulled up to Tommy's apartment building and went upstairs to get TJ. Tommy had TJ all dressed and ready for the parade. TJ had spotted a red, white and blue button up shirt a few weeks ago while he was shopping with Tommy. Tommy had bought it for him to wear today. So, he had on that shirt with his blue jeans and a pair of cowboy boots and a belt with a big buckle on it. TJ was in a cowboy phase. Tommy was just happy they had found the button up shirt so at least he would be dressed appropriately for the day.
When Maura saw him, she thought he looked adorable. She said, "You look so handsome in your patriotic cowboy outfit." TJ even had a cowboy hat to wear to finish off his look.
"Tank you, Aunt Mora." TJ said in response as Maura gave him a big hug. Jane gave him a hug after Maura released him from their embrace. She then hugged Tommy who had gone back into the bedroom to grab his wallet and truck keys.
Jane slapped him on the arm in greeting. Tommy said, "Ow sis, that hurt."
"Oh, don't be such a wuss, you know that didn't hurt. I can hit you harder if you want to feel pain." Jane moved her arm in an attempt to strike him again and he blocked her and she pulled him into a hug.
"Thank you, guys for watching him today. I was planning on having today off but my customer called yesterday and really needs this plumbing issue taken care of today. They are paying me extra because it is the weekend so the money will be nice." Tommy exclaimed as he handed Maura a bag of TJ's belongings. He learned a long time ago to always provide extra clothing and some toys for TJ whenever he was going to be out away from the house.
"Tommy we will watch TJ anytime you need us to you know that. We love him." Maura said as she took TJ's hand so they could leave the apartment after he had kissed his dad good bye.
"Ya, bro anytime. The wife loves watching the little guy." Jane said as she smirked at Maura. Jane loved watching TJ also. The three of them went downstairs and got in the car. Jane drove them to the diner. She had to park a few blocks away because of the parade barricades. They walked hand-in-hand to the diner. When they opened the door TJ ran to Mabel. She gave him a big kiss on the cheek and told him, "You look like such a handsome patriotic cowboy today. I have your usual table all ready for you." Mabel told him as she said hi to Jane and Maura.
"Tanks Maybell." TJ said as he climbed into the booth that they always sat in when they came to the diner. "Can I have pancakes?" TJ asked Mabel.
"Of course, darling. How about you two, do you know what you want or do you need to see the menu?" Mabel asked as she always did and got the usual answer.
"We'll take our usual Mabel, thanks, you know we don't need menus." Jane said teasing Mabel as she has been doing for a few years now. They come to the diner at least once a month sometimes more and Mabel always waits on them no matter whose section of the diner they sit in.
"Jane why don't you go out and check on our chairs." Maura said once Mabel had walked away. Maura was sitting with TJ. TJ preferred to have Maura help him with his breakfast. She cut up his food just the way he liked it.
"Sure babe. Do you want me to put the crime scene tape up?" Jane laughed at the expression Maura gave her. "Just kidding, although I do have a roll or two in the cruiser that I could go get."
"Jane, I don't think you will need it. Just make sure our chairs are where Mabel placed them, please. Make sure our signs are on them so people know that they are our chairs."
"Of course, dear." Jane said as she walked out of the diner to check on their chairs. They were right where Mabel said they would be and their signs were on them. Jane walked back in the diner and Mabel was bringing their order out. Jane had a big stack of pancakes with whipped cream and a side of bacon. Maura had an omelet made with only the whites of the eggs and fresh fruit. TJ had a small stack of pancakes with fresh fruit. They ate their breakfast and by eleven o'clock they were out at their chairs. The parade would start at noon and it would be about twelve thirty before the parade would arrive at their location. TJ wanted to walk a little bit so Jane took him for a walk for about twenty minutes and then they went and sat back down.
At almost twelve thirty the parade approached them. TJ was so excited he was jumping up and down. He loved parades. Jane was excited to see the Boston Police Department's bagpipe band, the Gaelic Column of Pipes and Drums which led the parade. They had won multiple awards and Jane enjoyed seeing them at events outside of police officer funerals. The Jr. ROTC cadets from one of the local high schools followed them. Everybody stood and saluted as the American Flag passed them. Once it passed some of the people sat down others stayed standing.
A fairly new organization called OUTVETS walked by dressed in khaki pants and dark blue jackets and dark blue ball caps. They were a group of LGBTQ vets, active-duty members and their families. Jane and Maura were happy to see the LGBTQ community represented. They remembered when military members were discharged and sometimes criminally punished for openly being who they were. Times have changed and the military modified and adjusted to keep up with the changing times. As with anything some people had to suffer so others could be free to be who they were so it was great to see this new organization represented in the Veterans Day Parade.
It was over an hour and a half before the tail end of the parade passed them. TJ was getting tired. He had stood and clapped for all of the organizations that had marched by. There were multiple military organizations, all branches were represented. TJ enjoyed the parade but he was ready to go back to Jane and Maura's and take a nap. Jane was holding TJ and he fell asleep in her arms. Maura just loved to see Jane with TJ. She knew Jane would be such a great mother someday. She wanted to talk to Jane and see if they could start a family soon. She wanted to give birth to a baby but she wanted it to be Jane's baby. She wanted a miniature version of Jane.
Jane stood up and Maura gathered up the chairs and took them back inside the diner. They would pick them up from Mabel later. She knew she couldn't carry all three chairs and their stuff to the car while Jane carried TJ. Jane walked in and said goodbye to Mabel and thanked her for setting up the chairs for them. She gave TJ a kiss on the forehead and said her goodbyes to Jane and Maura.
Jane readjusted TJ on her body as they started their walk to the cruiser. "Jane are you sure you are okay carrying him? I can wait with him while you get the cruiser." Maura offered as she watched Jane carry TJ.
"I'm fine Maur. Really, he is not that heavy and the car isn't that far from us. Now, if the car was farther from where we are I would take you up on the offer." Jane smiled as she reached down and grabbed Maura's hand so she could hold it while they walked. Maura had TJ's bag over her shoulder and she walked closer to Jane. Jane wrapped her arm around Maura as they walked. That just solidified Maura's decision that she wanted a baby with Jane.
A few minutes later they were strapping TJ into his car seat and heading for home. TJ slept the whole way and Jane carried him into the house and put him on the couch. Maura covered him up with a throw blanket and she and Jane sat on the other end of the couch. There was barely enough room but they didn't mind. Maura was practically in Jane's lap so Jane just moved Maura into her lap and started kissing her. Maura laid her head into the crook of Jane's neck and they fell asleep that way.
TJ woke up a little while later and climbed onto Maura's lap and curled up. He brought his blanket with him. Jane looked down a few minutes later and just wrapped TJ up into her arms as well. About half an hour later Maura started to stir. She felt a weight on her and noticed that TJ had curled up in her lap and Jane had her arms possessively around both of them. Jane was forever the protector, even in her sleep. She just closed her eyes and went back to sleep. A little while later Angela came in and saw the sleeping mass on the couch and had to get a picture. She loved seeing Jane and Maura all motherly with TJ. She couldn't wait for them to have children of their own. She often wondered how long they were going to wait, neither one of them was getting any younger.
TJ woke up, and in the process woke up Jane and Maura. All three smelled something cooking. Angela had taken this opportunity to do something nice for her girls and decided to fix them dinner. Tommy had called and told his mother that the job was taking longer than he had planned and asked if she could pick up TJ from Jane and Maura. After seeing them all taking a nap Angela decided she would take care of dinner for them and let them rest. They worked hard and they needed to catch a nap whenever they could.
"Nonna, we had such fun at the parade." TJ said as he climbed off of Maura's lap and ran to his grandmother. "Angela caught the running torpedo and gave him a big hug and kiss.
"I'm glad you had fun. Did you wear your aunts out? Are they still taking a nap?" Angela asked TJ as she put him down so she could tend to her cooking.
"No, I woke them up when I climbed off of Aunt Mora's lap." TJ said so proud of himself.
"Ya, ma he did, so we are awake. I'm comfortable though so I am not moving." Jane said as he kissed Maura and tighten her hug.
"Hmmm," Maura said as she opened her eyes to look at her wife. "What is that delicious smell?"
"Ma, is here and cooking so we don't need to move so you are staying right here." Jane said and tighten her hold on Maura.
"Okay, I don't want to move right now. I'm comfortable. I guess I dozed off. I was tired all of a sudden." Maura said as she closed her eyes and snuggled back into Jane.
Angela put dinner in the oven and set the timer and then went out to talk to Jane and Maura. "So, TJ started telling me about how much fun he had at the parade. So, how was it?" Angela asked wanting to hear all about the parade from her girls. TJ started telling her all about the people marching and their uniforms and how he really like the bag pipes that started the parade. He was so full of life and animated as he talked. Maura just looked at Jane imagining that Jane was probably like that when she was younger. Jane glanced at Maura glancing at her and just smiled. She knew what Maura was thinking. Maura had mentioned many times how she imagined that Jane was a lot like TJ when she was younger. Jane had confirmed it by telling her that she in fact did act a great deal like that when she was younger.
"It was great ma. We had a great time. Everything TJ said is true." Jane said as she kissed the top of Maura's head. Neither one of the them was moving anytime soon.
Angela started telling stories of various members of Jane's family that had served in the military. She had a few distant cousins on her father's side of the family that were presently serving. Jane had met them when she was younger but hadn't seen them since then. None of her close family was presently serving. Angelo, Arianna's husband and childhood friend of Jane's had been in the Army but had died in a conflict a few years ago before she met Maura.
After dinner they turned on the six o'clock news to watch the recap of the parade. TJ wanted to see if he would be on the TV again this year. He was so excited when he saw himself on the TV last year. Maura was recording the news show just in case TJ was shown again. Sure enough, towards the end of the broadcast TJ was captured on the newscast. He was so excited. They captured him when he was jumping up and down and then Jane had grabbed him and put him up on her shoulders. Jane and Maura were seen also on the broadcast. TJ was so happy to see himself on TV. They would show it to Tommy later. Angela had called him and told him to come over after he cleaned up. He said he had just finished and would go home and take a quick shower and change and then come over to Jane and Maura's house to have dinner and pick up TJ.
When Tommy arrived, TJ told him all about his day with Jane and Maura and how he enjoyed the parade. He told him why they had a parade today and about how they have family that are veterans. After a few minutes Tommy was able to say hi to Angela, Jane and Maura. They all laughed at how excited TJ was. Jane and Maura were happy that TJ understood why they had a parade today. For a three-year old he was pretty sharp. Jane and Maur just wanted to make sure he knew why they celebrated today so when TJ told Tommy about Veterans Day, they knew he understood. After they watched the recap of the newscast so TJ could show his dad that he was on TV again Tommy took TJ home and Angela went home. She knew that Jane and Maura were tired and she would see them tomorrow at the Rizzoli Family dinner.