Finally we come to the end of this journey. There is an epilogue. :) I'll have to say that it was probably harder to write than it is to read. I stopped so many times just because the tears were not behaving and my heart was breaking. I lived this story as it was written. It's almost as if this is someone's story that they wanted me to write. I hope it was worth the read to you. I really feel like someone absconded with my brain to tell their own story. I've heard that it happens. Muses.

Do get a tissue!

I don't own or partake in any of the characters of Rizzoli & Isles. I am not making any money from this. I'm working on making it into a screenplay just for fun.

The first dance song is by Chris Gaines better known as Garth Brooks. Lost in You is one of my favorite love songs. Go to youtube and have a listen. And although I am not in love or in a relationship, I still dream.

Thank you for coming on this ride with me. Kandis

The Stone

7

A larger group than had normally visited in the past, walked up to the grave-site in the spacious cemetery. They came as a family including children and a few grandchildren. The stone stood silently as always with the name of the woman still clear in the granite. Unlike people who came to visit, the face of the stone never changed. The memories about the woman come and go, but the dash in between the numbers never changed just like the life that the dash represented.

The life of Maura Dorthea Isles never changed after her death. The lives of the people she knew, loved and left behind had been changed because of her. Every life that visited her stone now had been touched in some way because she had lived. The ripples of her grace flowed across the lake of their lives and ran deeply into their hearts. Because of her, there were children. Because of her there were grandchildren. Because of her there was laughter, love and beauty. Her legacy wasn't the one anyone who knew her expected. They had expected discoveries and breakthroughs in science and medicine. They expected cures and pathways to new treatments. Instead there were breakthroughs of dirty diapers, weddings, games and graduations. Her legacy lived on in all of the lives she had touched and the ones that had been created because of her.

Jane's hair was streaked with brilliant silver from the years and yet it flowed wildly the same now as it had throughout the many days of her life. The lines on her face showed all of the joy and pain her days had gifted her with. Most of her days had been filled with love and laughter, but there were the signs of pain hidden behind her eyes. Hidden; except to those who knew her well. She had never gotten over losing Maura. It had been forty five years and she still felt the softness of her kisses if only in her mind. Christine was her beautiful love, the mother of their children, but they both accepted that the shorter woman was not the "love of her life" if there was such a thing. Jane also knew that she was not Chris's either. The understanding of who they were to each other never marred their love or devotion to their marriage or each other. There was no doubt that they had found deep love with one another and comfort within each other's arms. They had loved their children with the depth of the love that their partners had hoped for. They had loved each other passionately. They had shared many joy filled days and nights. They had honored their missing partners by sharing with each other what their partners could not.

Jane's heart was so full of love and yet there was a tinge of sadness. Today was their anniversary again and it was likely to be the last that she would spend with her love here at her headstone. MJ and her family were moving to Florida and they were going to go with them.

MJ had gotten a job as a research supervisor at the Florida Cancer Specialists & Research Institute. She was a brilliant doctor and an unparalleled researcher. Her mind worked in ways that most scientists couldn't fathom. The people who know her best are positive that it was from all of the books that she had read, which had been written by her namesake.

Jane walked to the stone alone and slowly sat beside it. "Hey, Maura. Me again. Don't make me cry, okay? Happy Anniversary, my love. Look at me will you? I'm OLD, Maura. How did I get old? You know what, Maur. I have missed you in some way every single day of all of these years. Ya know though, I have been loved so well. It couldn't have been any better…..unless it had been with you. That sounds so ungrateful and I'm not. I'm not! There is no one who could have loved me more for longer and put up with all of my bullshit than Chris. But, in the deepest part of my heart, there has always been you."

Jane slipped a delicate ring onto her love's finger. "I, Jane Clementine Rizzoli, take you Maura Dorthea Isles, to be my lawfully wedded wife. I promise today and from this day forward that I will be by your side, in sickness, health, in poverty or wealth. I give to you now all that I am and all that I have. From now until forever I promise you that no one on this earth will love you more than I. You are a gift to me and I promise that I will support you in life and that I will never leave your side. This vow I make. When this life for us is over, I swear that I will be with you on the other side."

The officiant turned to the other woman. "Maura?"

There were tears evident in hazel eyes as she looked up at her 'almost' wife. She turned to the woman standing as witness and received the ring from her. She slid the white gold band onto Jane's ring finger as she spoke with a soft voice filled with emotion. "I, Maura Dorthea Isles, take you, Jane Clementine Rizzoli, to be MY lawfully wedded wife. In this moment and from here on, I give to you my life and all that I am. I will love you and support you through all of life's trials and joys. I will follow you through sickness and health. I will stand with you during darkness and light. I will be there through wealth or lack. My heart belongs to only you from this moment on and I am bound to only you through our love. From now forward, only death can part us and then only for a season. I love you, my Jane. Never forget, my heart belongs to only you."

"Do you Jane, take Maura to be your wife?

"Oh, you know I do."

Do you Maura, take Jane to be your wife?

"I most certainly do."

Vince grinned at both of the women. "By the powers vested in me by the Universal Church and with permission of your mothers, I now pronounce you married for life. Dearly Beloved, may I present to you Maura and Jane Rizzoli-Isles. You two kiss it out if you don't mind."

Jane leaned into her beautiful wife. "God, how I do love you, my wife." She captured the softest lips she had ever felt. The kiss was sweet and passionate and the group on the beach cheered them on.

Maura smiled when they finally parted; she placed a soft hand on Jane's cheek. "I love you right back!"

The women turned and looked at the group of friends and family who had joined them on this day. Frankie had served as Jane's best man. Maura had chosen Susie to stand with her. 'Happy' began to play over the speakers and the entire group formed a dance line led by the two women. They danced from the beach, through the hotel and into the ballroom where the party would soon commence with abandon.

Dinner was perfectly suited to the occasion and location. Giant shrimp and pineapple with many sides from local vendors restaurants. Frankie gave a heartfelt toast and Susie shed a few tears as she spoke. Everyone laughed and felt the joy of the occasion. This was a celebration of the deepest love they had ever seen. Many of them wished for the kind of love the women shared.

The DJ's deep voice sounded over the P.A."And now it's time for the first dance. Maura? Jane? If you would."

The two women slid gently onto the dance floor hand in hand. The song was one none of the others had ever heard. It wasn't popular and was done by an artist who was highly criticized for even releasing the album of tunes. Jane found the song by chance and it became their song. The music began and Jane gathered Maura into her arms and they began to sway in time. During the length of the song, no one dared to interrupt them by cutting in. There was some kind of magic in this moment that no one wanted to tarnish.

There's no more waiting, Holding out for love

You are my Godsend that I have been forever dreaming of

My angel from above

Heaven knows

I'm head over heels and it shows

I've played every field I suppose

But there's something about you

When you're around

Baby I have found

I get lost in you

What is this feeling I've never known before

That I should touch you swearing to surrender ever more

That's what I came here for

Heaven knows

I'm head over heels and it shows

I've played every field I suppose

But there's something about you when you're around

Baby I have found I get lost in a wonderful daze

Lost in your wonderful ways

Heaven knows

When you're around

Baby I have found

I get lost

Heaven knows

I'm head over heels and it shows

I've played every field I suppose

But there's something about you

When you're around

Baby I have found

I get lost in you.

The music ended, but the women stayed where they were. Jane looked deeply into her wife's eyes. "Maura Rizzoli - Isles, I will love you forever. I will dance with you through all of time. You are the best thing that ever happened to me."

"Oh, Jane." Maura could barely speak for the emotions welling up in her heart. "I love you so much it almost hurts. If I go first, I'll be waiting for you. I'll save you that dance."

Jane was kneeling by the stone, tears still sitting on her cheeks as she was saying her final goodbyes to name on the stone. "Maura, I take you with me as I go today. I never want to leave you, but life goes on. I've never wanted to be away from you when I left you the first time on the day we laid your ashes here. This time will be the last time." Tears came in earnest now. "Shit! I hate this so much. Okay, I need to go. The kids are waiting for me. I love you more than you will ever know. More than I can even hold onto sometimes. I love you, my Maura. I love you."

Jane stood to her feet. As she stood she heard and felt something in her head give way. The headache started with a pop and a sharp pain. She fell back to her knees.

MJ saw her mother slip to the ground. "MOM!" She got to her side just as her mother crumpled.

"Jane?" There was a pause. "Jane."

Jane heard a distant sound in the recesses of her mind. Someone was talking to her. She must have passed out. She was used to it, it seemed. When she was younger she had been in so many hospitals from injury. Self inflicted and otherwise. Now that she was older her daughter would wake her from naps in much the same way. That voice. She knew that voice. It sounded like MJ only it was softer with a special lilt. She wanted to wake up. She felt like she was caught in a long dark tunnel. She struggled against it. She wanted out of this darkness. The voice called to her again.

"Jane, love. It's time."

Jane opened her eyes and looked up. There was a brightness shining in her eyes much like hospital lights, but there was someone in the light this time. "Maura?"

"Stand up, Jane."

Jane struggled for a moment as if she didn't know quite how to stand. She feared she must have suffered a stroke.

"Come on, sweetheart. I know it's difficult, but like everything else you've ever done, you got this."

There was love in the voice and a small amount of teasing. Jane put her arms down and pushed herself to stand. She was very confused. She looked down to see an old woman lying at her feet. The woman was surrounded by people; her family. "Who is...? Wait! Why am I down there? What's going on?" She looked at her hands. They looked young again. She looked at her clothes. Jeans, t-shirt tennis shoes. *What is happening?* She turned her head to see a bright smile shining in her direction. It was the smile she had been missing for so many years and yet it seemed like yesterday that they were sharing a kiss. She reached out a tentative hand, afraid that the apparition would disappear. "Maura. Is that you? No. This is.. Is this a dream? I am dreaming. I had a stroke and now I'm in a dream state. Not that I mind at all. I'm young again. And…..you're here."

"No, my love. This isn't a dream. It's very real. It's time for you to move on. It's time for us to move on." Maura was standing and yet floating. She was surrounded by light that seemed to be emanating from her very being. She watched Jane frown slightly.

"But my kids….I..they…." She could still see her distressed daughter. "She's hurting, Maur. And Chris…." Jane turned back to the woman she had loved for an eternity.

The soft voice spoke to her again. "They will be okay."

Jane saw Chris move to her and hold her now still body. She was crying. "Chris. I can't leave her here alone. She..she's so sad."

Another voice spoke to her. "Jane, it's okay. I'll be here for her when it's her time."

She looked around for the disembodied voice and saw an ethereal being off to her left. "You're Jo."

"Yes. All is well Jane. Just as it should be. And I believe you owe this soul a dance." She motioned to Maura and then faded away leaving just the two of them.

"I've been waiting for you, love."

Jane finally smiled as she realized that she wasn't in pain any longer and her heart was filled again with the love of the soul that completed hers. "And I believe this dance is mine."

Jane wrapped Maura up in her arms and placed a long awaited kiss on her lips. And just like that, two souls destined for an eternity of love faded into the mist.

The Beginning

-I know. II know what you're thinking…. But this is what I see when souls move on. There is something that makes us who we are. I believe that the love we have moves on after we're done here. Whether we were a body of soul energy or just a bunch of strings in the field no one knows. I like to think that we will recognize the ones we loved and shared our lives with. Thanks again for staying with me. If you hated it, I'm sorry that it wasn't your cuppa. If you did, then I'm glad that we could share this time.

To the soul who needed this story to be told, it's been told and I hope that you can be at peace now. Thanks for sharing with me the diary of your life.

Thanks again! KG

PS There is an epilogue. Don't miss it. ;)