Loving Jane Rizzoli was a constant lesson in yearning, Maura decides. Maura had loved Ian Faulkner. She had loved Jack Armstrong. Being with Ian and Jack had been tolerable, bordering on pleasant. She enjoyed their company. She did not yearn for them. Even when they left Maura behind, Maura had been sad but she had felt no inclination to follow. Or even to pursue the relationship over time and space. Maura had thought, perhaps, she was incapable of that kind of emotional connection. Perhaps she truly was the ice queen.
And along came Jane. Sweet wonderful Jane who had challenged every belief Maura ever held about herself. Sweet wonderful Jane whose friendship she could not live without. For whom Maura would move across states and nations to be with. Sweet wonderful Jane who Maura had always wanted to build a life with, even when that life had been strictly more platonic in nature. Sweet wonderful Jane who could set Maura's skin aglow without the barest hint of a touch. Sweet wonderful Jane whose kisses stole Maura's breath away and left Maura needing more to simply go on. Yes, Jane was a constant lesson in yearning and that was before the desire to have children with Jane was so deeply embedded in Maura's heart it echoed in every heart beat.
Seeing Jane and Berry lay on their future child's floor day after day stirred a need so primal in Maura that it physically hurt. Every passing afternoon, the need grows. The feeling of it so large and heavy that Maura fears it would devour her whole. Maura yearned to see their home filled with little bodies of little people who would look up at their Ma with the same adoration that Maura often found echoed on her own face. It was deep and intimate all encompassing, this yearning to be a mother with Jane. By March, Maura is beginning to lose hope that yearning will ever be filled. She knows it hasn't been that long, a matter of weeks really. She knows bureaucracy takes time. And still Maura is afraid. Afraid that their child would never come. That the room they had so lovingly prepared in anticipation would never be occupied. That Jane's strong arms will never hold their child, love written all over her face. Jane, teasingly, calls her lovesick one night at dinner. Maura doesn't know how she could be lovesick over humans she had never met but as she can't come up with a more accurate terminology, she accepts it. She's lovesick for the children she's never met but she's yearned for for months.
Which is why when Maura gets her first call from Nia in almost six weeks the first word out of her mouth is not her usual 'Isles' phone greeting. She does away with all pretence and instead answers with a 'yes, we will take them!'
Nia's laugh is bright and clear, 'are you sure Doctor Isles? You haven't even heard the case file.'
Maura feels a blush rise in her cheeks. She is certain. The only thing she is more certain of is Jane but Jane had a good decade or so to cement her place in Maura's heart. 'Obviously,' Maura tries to contain herself, 'I want to know everything there is to know but it will not change my answer. We are ready to bring our child home, whoever they are, whatever they have gone through.'
The silence that stretches between them could not possibly have lasted more than a few seconds but it feels an eternity. Nia's words were all that were separating Maura from her heart's desire. It was excruciating. 'Her name is Makayla.' Maura can't help the gasp she releases. If Nia notices it, though, she does not acknowledge it. 'She's 14 months old but she's not hitting her milestones. That was part of why I wanted her with you Doctor Isles. You'll be able to help her catch up.'
'Any of her milestones?' Maura asks nose wrinkling in concern, 'or particular milestones?'
'Social emotional ones mostly, though she is not independently standing either,' Nia replies steadily.
Maura's mind is already forming a plan, her heart thumping at the knowledge that she and Jane would be able to see their daughter's first steps and hear her first words. 'What of her family?'
'That we've been able to find, it is just her mother. She struggles with alcoholism and hasn't been able to hold down a job. Makayla was removed from the car she and her mother were living in. She is slightly malnourished and does not have much in the way of things. Do you have a car seat or will you need an agency provided seat?'
'We have car seats,' Maura replies immediately, 'what is happening with her mother?'
'At the moment, we're attempting to get her into rehab. If she's successful and can demonstrate that she can hold down a job and remain sober, there's a very good chance that she will be able to get Makayla back.'
Maura gulped. It was always a possibility with fostering. One of the harder dynamics, in Maura's opinion. 'Yes,' Maura whispers, 'I understand. We would still love to take her.'
'Good,' Nia says, Maura can hear her smiling through the phone, 'I have her with me now. What time can I drop her off?'
Maura does the mental math for how long she would need to find someone to cover the rest of her shift and drive home. 'Can you be by in an hour? I will let Jane know but she is in classes for the next few hours.'
'We'll be there,' Nia says cheerily, 'and Doctor Isles?'
'Yes?' Maura asks anxiously.
'She's adorable. You're going to love her.' Nia says, 'see you soon.'
The social worker has hung up before Maura can admit that she already does. 'Makayla,' Maura whispers softly to herself. 'I am coming, sweet girl,' Maura adds. The next few minutes are a whirlwind of action. She leaves Jane a message, finds Alyson and let's her know what was going on. Alyson promises to shift her patients as needed and to reschedule who she could. Then Maura is off, headed home to meet her daughter for the very first time.
Maura beats Nia there with enough time to let the dogs out. She's just wrangled Boston in to coming back inside when Maura hears the front door open. 'Maur?' Jane's voice rings out, 'is she here yet?'
Maura meets Jane halfway, 'Jane? What are you doing here? Don't you have classes?'
Jane grins, pulling Maura in by her waist and planting a happy kiss on her lips, 'and miss our kid coming home? You've gotta be joking! Is she here yet?'
Maura shakes her head, 'no. Her name is Makayla. She's 14 months but she is not walking yet. Jane,' Maura tugs in a mixture of excitement and need at Jane's jacket blazer, 'Jane we get to help her learn how to walk and talk. We get to see her first steps.'
Jane beams at Maura, 'that's amazing. Makayla. I'm going to call her Mak.'
Maura grins, 'of course you are. Do I want to know which baseball reference you are making in particular?'
Jane's dimples deepen as her eyes twinkle with mischief. 'How do you know I'm making a baseball reference?'
'The same way I know you call Boston, Sox when I'm not around,' Maura says teasingly.
Jane blushes, 'Connie Mack, the longest serving manager in American Baseball History with nine pennants which rank second in the hall of fame. He was born in Brookfield.'
Maura laughs lightly, 'you are fortunate our first child is not old enough to tell you she does not want to be named after a famous baseball player.'
'Why you gotta wound me so, Maur?' Jane asks in exaggeration, a hand coming up to cover her heart.
Maura can't help herself. She presses up on to tip toes to kiss Jane's cheek and murmurs, 'Mak is going to love you just as much as I do.'
Jane blushes, 'you think? I hope so.' They stand together in their hallway, eyes turned forward towards the door. Maura greets the yearning beast inside of herself like an old friend. Then their doorbell rings and Maura hears Jane gasp. Maura drinks in her own breath. Their first in their new role as mothers.
The Beginning
Author's Note
Well friends and fam, this is it! The final chapter in Partners! I am so intensely proud of this fic and all that it has become. More than that I am so grateful to all of you who have read, commented and provided me feedback, support and encouragement!
There is officially a sequel to this on Archive of Our Own named Counterparts. It is not yet finished but if you wish to ride along, feel free to find me there. Or when I have the energy I will begin posting it on FF.
Thank you all again, so much, for coming with me on this crazy Rizzles adventure that was just supposed to be them getting dogs and turned in to... this. You guys make writing so delightful and interactive and I love it! So thank you, thank you, thank you!
All my love,
Lil_leels
