Chapter 13

"Alright, ma...calm down! This isn't anything new, at least not for you. You know how I feel about Maura, and well..." Jane stammered on while Angela waived her hands about in that Italian way of rationalizing.

"I know Janie, but Maura...all that planning and organizing and money and commitment...just...just..." once again everyone in the room was silent, trying to figure out what Angela was actually trying to say.

Frankie had enough as well as Tommy, both stood up for Jane and went over to support her with a hug. Jane welcomed the hugs but then looked at Maura, who was still shellshocked with the delivery of her own turn of events. Realizing this, Jane motioned for Maura to get up from the couch by offering her her hands.

"Hey you...c'mere," boom there was that Rizzoli smile and softness in Jane's face that reassured Maura, "let's do this."

Maura stood holding Jane's hands in her own, "Angela, I've always had feelings for Jane and I was foolish to keep them at bay or even trying to will them away. I know that through my duration with Jack that I never forgot about Jane and perhaps I should have fought harder with keeping our friendship intact, but I've come to discover that it works both ways...neither one of us is to blame, the important fact is that we are here and I ...well...I..."

Jane squeezed Maura's hand so tight that she lost her train of thought while gazing into Jane's coffee brown eyes. Jane trapped in Maura's hazel green eyes blurred out, "I love you. I love you Maura Isles, nothing will ever change that."

"I love you too Jane. You've always had my heart."

Tommy yelled out, "Ok, there we go...can we eat now?"

Nina and Frankie shared a smile. Korsak and Kiki kissed each other feeling the love from Jane and Maura's declaration. Lydia started plating the dinner, while TJ ran around.

Ron took Angela aside into the kitchen.

"What's the problem?" Ron asked Angela, sensing that she still had something more to say.

"Nothing...I guess...I just feel all that time, wasted, when they were right under their noses, working side by side consistently...in each other's lives."

"But, now they're here, Angela. The important part is they are here, within this moment, together. Sure, they had a few major curve balls, but they made it. You did know all along, right? I mean, how can you not see it?"

"I did, but when Jack started dating Maura, then the engagement...Ron, Janie was heartbroken, so busted, my baby was hurting...why did that have to happen?"

"Aww honey, so they could get to now, so they could get to this. I know it's complicated but aren't you happy for them?"

"Yes...yes I am, I'm just sour that it took so long and I could have or should have done something sooner to push them..."

"NO...no...no, Angela! No interfering! It's their lives. Now let's go eat. You ok? You know I love you," Ron then kissed Angela, giving her a quick peck on the lips.

"You're right...I love you too, honey."

Everyone sat down around the table and began to eat.

Maura went to the bathroom to wash up and calm her nerves, as she was still rattled with all that had happened. Jane, of course went to check on her. Jane lightly knocked on the door.

"Hey, you alright," Jane said through the door.

She heard the faucet turn off and Maura gingerly opened the barrier.

"I'm fine. You?"

Jane walked forward causing Maura to walk backwards back into the bathroom, then closed the door, not locking it.

"I am floating on air and so in love with you," Jane leaned forward and kissed Maura's lips. Maura slid her arms around Jane's neck to deepen the kiss and draw Jane closer. Jane's hands immediately went to Maura's ass, squeezing it, while their kiss grew deeper and their tongues tangoed. They stopped a hair's breath away from each other, leaving one more quick peck, Maura lunged past Jane, while smacking her on her ass saying, "Let's eat!"

"That's twice now, Dr. Isles!" Jane yelled as she felt the sting.

The family decided to tone it down tonight after dinner, just enjoying each other's company, while a movie played in the background. It was The Fast and the Furious, number 6, I believe, which caught the attention of the Rizzoli men, TJ and Nina, who liked all the gadgets and of course The Rock (Nina & Angela).

Jane would steal a glance when Michelle Rodriguez came into view. Maura got wise to this and just smiled back at Jane.

Angela was enjoying wine and conversation with Ron, Korsak and Kiki at the table, when Jane decided to approach her mother.

"Ma, you gotta a sec?"

Excusing herself from the table, Angela and Jane went into the kitchen.

"What's up, baby?"

"You ok with me and Maura?"

"That's a silly question...you know I am."

"What's with that reaction then as if I did something wrong?"

"Oh honey, you didn't. I just feel as though you girls wasted so much time to get to this point and then Jack...but you know forget that, like Ron said, you girls are finally here."

"Ron said that? Wow what a good guy, ma."

"Yeah...well, I know...we Rizzoli women fall hard for doctors."

At that, they both shared a smile and Jane added, "Yeah...it's those white coats and big brains."

"I guess it has an effect on us, but know Jane, I'm happy for you both. You know I love Maura, she's always been family. I'm just glad she realizes it too. At first, I was being protective, like a mother because Maura accepted Jack's proposal and for that whole year, I believed she was going to go through with it, because with you being in Virginia...well it made things easier for their love to blossom and yet you...you were so unhappy. I had to see that Janie and I kept outta it. I just wished I would have nudged or done something sooner...cause I could see Maura changing these past two months, too. You both need each other."

"I'm glad you see it that way. Yeah, it took a year to get here but...well, you know ma."

"I know baby...just live your life and be happy, that's all I've ever wanted for my babies, oh and grandbabies!"

They embraced in a long mother/daughter hug and Angela kissed the side of Jane's head.

"I love you Janie."

"I love you too, oh and ma...I'm moving back. Getting my old job back too, just need to find a place to stay."

Angela swept up Jane in another mama bear hug.

"Oh, Jane thank God! You'll be home! We'll figure it out, a place for you. I'm so happy!"

"Ok ma, just wanna keep it down. I want to surprise everyone tomorrow, could you just keep a lid on it...please?!"

"Oh, I know before Maura? Before your brothers?"

"Yes, just Korsak, now you, so button up!"

Angela peppered her daughter with more kisses and finally let her go. Just as Angela stepped through the threshold, Jane asked, "Are we ok, ma?"

"Always baby," Angela replied with a smile and carried on.

It was approaching 10pm, Korsak and Kiki left with Ron and Angela to retire in her guest, leaving TJ who was zonked out in his tent that they brought over, while the rest of the gang found comfort on either Maura's couch, chairs or floor cuddled up with blankets and pillows watching The Twilight Zone marathon, they play every New Year's. Yep, tomorrow was New Year's eve.

All the couples snuggled close to their significant others. The black and white hue from the T.V. casting shadows on the walls and illuminating their faces, as they sat mesmerized by the timeless classic.

They just finished the episode; "Living Doll," but the Rizzoli's dubbed it "Talking Tina," ."where the doll takes revenge on a man who wants to destroy it.

"Thank God, you didn't have any dolls like that, Janie!" Tommy remarked, while Frankie got more popcorn for the group and added to his brother's thought in a hushed tone, "Cause she took our G.I. Joes. But we usually had enough to go around."

"I betcha Maura had dolls like that, probably never outta the box like poor old Stinky Pete from Toy Story," Tommy threw out.

"Tommy stop, leave Maura outta this," Jane shot her younger brother a death glare.

Maura put a hand on Jane's arm, "No, I've got this. Yes, I had several dolls of that nature and most were out of their boxes, so I could change their outfits. I may have a few still upstairs...just waiting to be released."

Silence fell over the room as everyone looked at each other.

Nina was the first to respond, "Ooooh good one Maura...ya'll better keep one eye open while sleeping tonight for talking Tina!"

Jane pulled Maura closer as she had her arm around her girlfriend and whispered in her ear, "Yeah, good one Maur."

Frankie through popcorn at Jane and Maura in the Rizzoli manner of taunting.

"Awe Frankie...you're making a mess!"

"Janie keep it down, ya gonna wake up TJ," Tommy complained.

"It's ok, this is fun. I'm not going to 'bust out' the mini vac." Maura remarked.

"Oh, no Maura...you're not? Are you sure you're ok?" Jane put her hand to Maura's forehead taking her temperature.

Maura flicked Jane's hand away.

"Stop, I'm fine...eat your popcorn," Maura teased.

Lydia was snoring away, she fell asleep in Tommy's lap, the couple chose the floor with pillows and blankets, giving the couch to Frankie and Nina, while Jane and Maura took the loveseat.

"Damn bro she's loud. How do ya sleep?" Jane asked while taking a sip of her Sprite.

"I know, you get used to it. You get used to a lotta things when you're married, right Frankie?"

"Hey, don't drag me into this, I sleep fine."

"Good answer darling," Nina patted her husband on his thigh.

Jane looked over at Maura and whispered, "I can't wait to sleep with you, in our bed...just us."

Maura leaned in, "I hope...just us and not Michelle Rodriguez."

"Oh, stop playing," Jane said with a twinkle in her eye.

The two started to giggle when Tommy announced the next episode: Eye of the Beholder.

"Hey, Maura this one's got doctors in it with a twist...you'll like it."

"Thanks Tommy, I don't think I've seen this one."

"Cuddle up hun...you're in for a shocker!" Jane teased.

Much of the evening commenced the same.

A/N: Hope you all are still with me. The gap in updating due to this crazy world, but loving life! Be well, stay safe, read, write and create...it's never too late! Review my darlings!