TRIGGER WARNING!! This Chapter does mention rape. My apologies for not putting this warning up before posting the chapter. We as the writers of this story want you all to know that this is not a subject we take lightly.
Jane came through the door and was greeted by Amelia who ran straight for Jane. "Em said you're home!" She said excitedly as she lifted her hands up for Jane to pick her up. Jane however had an armful of luggage. She promptly dropped it in the middle of the floor before picking up her little girl.
Amelia kissed Jane on the cheek over and over. "No more work!" Jane smiled. "Never ever?" Amelia nodded.
"OK. I must tell you though, if I'm not working and there is no money,then there are no more American Girl dolls for Amelia."
Amelia cocked her head to the side as she seemed to think that over.
"OK. Maybe some work."
Jane laughed as she kissed Amelia on the head one more time before placing her on the ground and she ran upstairs. She looked up to see Emily standing nearby, smiling ear to ear at the scene that had just unfolded.
"Where's Maur?"
"Last I checked she locked herself in her office to decompress. She has all this stuff going on with Callie and she had barely been here five minutes when Maddy bit a plug out of Abby."
Jane sighed. "Madison Michelle, get down here, " Jane called out before turning her attention back to Emily.
"What office? I thought that was Jess and Cailin's room now."
"The remodel is done Jane. It's been done for a couple weeks."
"Oh, " was all Jane said before she looked towards the stairs and saw Maura making her way down.
"There you are."
Maura embraced her wife and gave her a kiss on the cheek. "Thank God you're home Jane."
Jane slightly laughed. "I'll handle Maddy. Why don't you rest. You have been taking it all on the last month after all. Stef and Lena should be here soon to get Callie. I invited them to dinner. If it's OK with you I'd like to let them weigh in on the situation with Cal. She is with them a lot and I don't see what it would hurt to include them. You know, a nice gesture."
Maura laughed. "Jane, you know you and Lena will never see eye to eye on discipline."
"Yeah well, we always get final say in the event Lena is unreasonable."
"Oh yeah, and what about when you're unreasonable?" Maura asks with an arch of her eyebrows.
"What? Me? Never."
"Really Jane?" Maura says with a nudge to Jane's side as she shakes her head.
"Yeah. Yeah. I apologized to Callie and I'll apologize again.One mess up out of five plus years of parenting isn't too shabby."
"OK.Now you really have jokes. Do I need to remind you of the time you took off with the wrong baby stroller at the mall?"
"Hey, what were the chances of someone else being right there with the same double stroller? Let it go," Jane says with a smirk.
"That lady could have been a little more grateful I returned her babies safe and sound. You too as far as that goes. You were mad at me for a week."
The two ladies shared in some much needed laughter before Jane turned serious again.
"I guess I'll go up and talk to Maddy. She didn't exactly come flying down the stairs. Biting, what's next? Pinching and pulling hair? That's your kid Maur," Jane says jokingly as she heads for the stairs. She glanced behind her and smiled so Maura could know she was just joking.
"Well, maybe biologically but she's got your temperament. I do believe I remember Angela saying you used to bite Frankie."
Jane scoffed. "I did not. Don't believe everything you hear."
"You're lying Jane. I can tell because that's your lying face."
"Didn't happen," Jane repeats as she grins and makes her way up the stairs.
As Jane disappeared Maura stood there bewildered. Sure, she was happy her wife was home but it was making her slightly uncomfortable that she was ignoring the big elephant in the room, even joking about Maddy being her biological daughter. Not once had Jane asked the big question. How? Why? When? OK, maybe a few big questions.
Upstairs, for a few moments Jane just stood at the door and peeked in on her three little girls. Whatever altercation had happened earlier was obviously long since over as they played together without conflict.
As she looked at Maddy she couldn't help but smile. No matter how she came to be, she was beautiful just like her mother. Jane would love her, no matter what.
She might be biologically Maura's, but she was still her little girl and nothing in this world would change that. This little girl didn't ask for anything that was unfolding now.
Jane took a deep breath, before stepping into the room.
"Maddy, did you not hear me calling you?"
Maddy shakes her head from side to side. "No ma'am."
"Also, I'm pretty sure you should be in the corner, no? Didn't mommy put you in time out?" Jane wasn't sure since she wasn't there, but the chances of Maura allowing their daughter to continue to play and go about her fun after biting her sister was on the didn't happen scale.
Maddy shook her head no again.
"Mommy just said go to my room."
"Amelia, go downstairs please and let me talk to your sisters." As Amelia left Jane looked towards Abby.
"Where did Maddy bite you?" Abby held out her left arm and pointed to an ugly purple bruise that was forming, fresh with teeth marks.
"Thank you Abbs. You may go downstairs as well please. I need to talk to your sister." As she left Jane turned her attention back to Maddy. When she did, it took everything in her to not bust out laughing and call Maura upstairs. There Maddy was, scratching away at her arms. "Oh Maddy," Jane thought, "you're going to have a rough time in your teenage years."
Jane took a closer look at Maddy's arm and her suspicions were confirmed. She could see the distinct feature of tiny hives going up and down her arms.
"Madison, do you want to try to answer my question again? Did mommy ask you to stand in the corner? Remember, if you lie to me, that is going to have extra consequences."
Maddy nodded reluctantly.
"So you bit your sister, which you know is against the rules, then you didn't listen to mommy either?" Maddy looked down at the floor and nodded.
"Do you want to tell me why you bit your sister?" Jane asked, watching Maddy shift nervously before shaking her head no.
Jane blew out a puff of air. "Alright Maddy, well you know the rules. You know it's not okay to hurt your siblings in any way. So, you will have one week without dessert for not listening to mommy and I'm going to give you a spanking for biting your sister." Jane watched Maddy's lip started to tremble and her eyes filled with tears.
Jane hated to see any of her kids cry. She always had to fight everything in her to not just give in when the tears would start. Despite her kids seeing her as strict, she was actually a softie behind the tough exterior.
"Maddy, look at me sweetheart," she says as she lifts Maddy's face to meet her eyes.
"I know you don't like that idea but I bet Abby didn't like you biting her either. I'm going to ask you one more time.Why did you bite your sister?"
Maddy's bottom lip poked out even more as she sniffled and wiped her face frantically still not saying anything. Jane decided if she wasn't going to get it out of one five your old she would try the other because surely Abby had an idea of why her sister bit her.
Standing, Jane walked over to the door and opened it before calling out for Abby. "Abby, can you come up here please." She didn't have to wait long for the little brunette to appear in front of her, Maura following behind. Jane motioned Maura in before closing the door behind them.
"Now, do you want to tell me why your sister bit you?" Just like her sister minutes before, Abby frantically shook her head no, her little brown eyes wide as could be. Then, just like her sister, her lower lip trembled as she started to cry.
"Hmmm. That is not a good sign," Jane thought. "Abbs, were you being mean to your sister?"
Still nothing.
"OK. Here's the deal I'll give you. If you both come clean and tell me what's going on neither of you will get a spanking. That's only if you tell me what is going on. If you don't, I'm going to spank both of you because it's obvious something went on neither of you want mommy and me to know about."
Abby and Maddy looked at each other, both waiting for the other to speak.
Finally, Abby did.
"I told her you're not her mama and she got mad."
Jane looked at Maura, both of them displaying a look of shock. Jane was afraid to ask her next question because she had a feeling she knew the answer.
"Abby, why would you say something like that?"
"Because you said you're not Maddy's mama."
There it was. She had been so careless that day throwing her words of anger, her five year old daughters had gotten caught in the crossfire.
Jane knelt down so she was on the same level as the twins. "Babies, sometimes when mommies are upset they may say things they don't really mean. You are both my little girls and I love you both very much. You are also mommy's little girls. OK? So no more saying that because it's not true. You are both my babies and you will never ever ever be able to change that. "
Both girls nodded as Jane kissed them both on the head.
"Maddy, no dessert for a week because you did not listen to mommy still stands. When mommy tells you to do something you do it. I'm not going to spank you for biting this time but no more biting no matter what your reason is. If someone hurts your feelings or makes you mad you tell mommy, me, or Emily, but you may not bite. If you do that again I will spank you next time. No second chances. Capeesh?"
Maddy nods. "Yes mama." She says as she wipes away the remnants of her tears.
"Good, why don't you both go downstairs and play while mommy and I talk with Stef and Lena."
Jane was sure the couple was probably downstairs by now not to mention, she knew Callie was probably pacing the floor away in her room. Before heading down Jane looked over at her wife and couldn't help the small laugh that escaped.
Maura looked on, confused. "What's so funny? I fail to see the humor in one of our children hurting another." Jane waved her hand as she regained her composure.
"It's not funny that Maddy bit Abby, What's funny, well more ironic, is that it seems Maddy has your inability to lie," Jane remarked with a grin.
Maura looked at Jane questioningly and Jane explained. "When Maddy lied to me about what you told her to do, I noticed she began to scratch her arms. I took a closer look and low and behold she was breaking out in hives. Not as severe as yours but I can only guess that it will get worse as she gets older."
"Oh my, her teenage years will not be good for her." Maura remarked, bringing her hand to her cheek, a little shocked.
Jane laughed and placed her arm around her wife's shoulder as they walked out of the bedroom. "That's exactly what I said, but hey! On the plus side at least we will always know when she's lying. Speaking of which, you may want to grab the benadryl."
Maura sighed and stepped away from her wife and into their bedroom, returning a short moment later with the medication. "I don't have any of the liquid.Maddy hates taking pills, she gags every time." Maura comments as she makes her way to the stairs.
"Wrap it in cheese," Jane remarked seriously.
"She's not a dog Jane!" Maura scoffed.
Jane held up her hands in surrender. "Hey, I never said she was, all I'm saying is it worked for Tommy and Frankie when they were little."
"Your mother did not disguise medication in cheese Jane." Jane couldn't help but laugh.
"Alright, alright you got me. Ma didn't put our meds in cheese but she did have a few tricks that worked for Tommy. Maybe you should ask her what would work."
"I may just do that but don't be upset if she asks about more grandkids. Remember, it was your idea for me to ask her for help." It was Maura's turn to break into laughter at the mortified look on her wife's face.
Maura didn't give Jane a chance to say anything further as she quickly made her way downstairs.
To the blonde's surprise Maddy took the benadryl without a fight before running off to play with her sisters. Afterwards, Maura stepped out on the back porch and gathered herself. The more the day went on, the more alarmed she was becoming at Jane's behavior.
Sure, she doesn't deal. She avoids. However, them avoiding the subject and Jane joking and making light of it was unnerving.
Maura was really confused on where she stood with the brunette. She let out a heavy sigh before making her way back inside and to the dining room to join Stef, Lena, and Jane.
They chatted for thirty minutes or so and came to a resolution surprisingly fast, one which they all agreed upon despite Maura's previous predictions. Then Stef and Lena waited downstairs while Jane and Maura made their way up to talk to Callie.
The teen immediately looked up when her parents walked in. No one said a word until Jane shut the door behind them. Then Callie spoke in a rush.
"Look moms. I know what I did was stupid and I know what you are going to do so here," she says as she passes a belt to Jane. Waiting had been a punishment in itself. She just wanted to get it over with.
The brunette looked at her wife and shrugged. "Well, if she insists."Maura quickly took the belt away from Jane.
"Jane, stop it! Callie, we're not going to spank you."
Callie's face scrunched in confusion. While she had hoped maybe, just maybe, her ma would change her mind, she hadn't held her breath. Jane had never backed down. If she said you were getting a spanking, no amount of begging or pleading would change your fate.
Maura motioned to the bed. "Callie, take a seat please. We need to talk."
Callie did as she was told, Maura took a seat next to their daughter and Jane grabbed a chair from the desk. Jane cleared her throat and began to speak.
"Alright, so before we deal out what your punishment is going to be I need to apologize to you again for mine and mom's behavior. Well, mostly mine. I'm sorry I embarrassed you like I did, it wasn't my proudest moment. So, because of that, I'm not going to spank you with a belt like I told you I would.
However, just to be clear, I'm giving you a pass because I was out of line this afternoon. That does not mean cheering that fight on like you did was in any way acceptable."
Maura watched as Callie's eyes went wide as looked from her ma to her.
"Oh yeah Callie I know about all the things you failed to tell me in the car. So does Stef and Lena. Did you really think I wouldn't find out the whole truth? Speaking of that, why don't you tell me what it was you said to your sisters. Ma told me but I want to hear it from your mouth."
"I said Jess was an addict and Blaire was no angel but it's true mom! I don't ever get in trouble! Blaire stayed in trouble all the time. Who are they to be harping on me?"
Maura was a bit stunned, she knew Callie would fess up but didn't think she would let it fly out so freely. As she went to speak Jane held up her hand for her to wait as she had something to say.
"Now Cal, you know you left out one more detail in all of that. If you are going to tell the truth, tell the whole truth." Jane and Maura both looked at the teen and waited for her answer.
Callie groaned, she knew she wasn't getting out of this mess that she created unless she put it all out there. "I called Blaire a bitch. I know it was a low blow but I was mad and well she kind of was being a..."
"We can still use that belt if you let that word or any other foul words like it come from your mouth again," Jane interrupted before nodding at Maura to continue.
Maura rubbed at her forehead while addressing their daughter. "Okay, one I don't want to hear another word like that leave your mouth again. Two, Callie, how many times have we told all of you that words spoken in anger can not be taken back? Hmmm?"
Callie shifted uncomfortably and stared down at the floor. "Callie, don't look down at the floor, you won't find the answers there. Now look at your mom and answer her question." Jane remarked, not giving Callie any room to argue.
Callie lifted her gaze and met her mom's eyes. Maura asked again. "How many times have we told you girls that?"
Callie shrugged her shoulders before finally answering with a low voice. "I don't know, a lot."
"That's right, we have said it time and time again. How would you feel if Blaire or even Jess threw at you all the things that you aren't proud of that's happened in your life? It wouldn't make you feel very good would it?"
"No ma'am."
"Let's get one thing straight, Callie, at the Boys and Girls Club Blaire is not just your sister. She is your coach and you will treat her with the respect that title earns. Do you understand me?"
Callie nodded. "Yes ma'am."
Satisfied with that Maura continued. "When we are done here I want you to apologize to both of your sisters and I want you to mean every word of it," Maura says sternly.
"Yes ma'am." Callie answered again. She felt like a broken record on repeat but it was all she was willing to say to keep herself from digging a deeper hole.
"Jane, would you like to weigh in on the weed situation?" Maura asked, looking over at her wife.
Jane nodded. "I guess my biggest question is why. You just all of a sudden get this urge to try weed? I'm not buying it Callie. You're a good kid and none of your friends do that kind of stuff."
When Callie didn't respond, Jane continued.
"Let's say by some stretch you did , you would have never shown up to practice reeking of it, knowing both your sisters are very familiar with that smell. They also both know how to tell when someone is high don't they?"
Callie didn't say a word, her eyes once again locked in on the floor.
"You did it on purpose, Callie. Then you got caught on purpose. You knew mom was working and you knew they'd call me. Did I miss anything?"
Callie shook her head no as her tears began to fall. Jane pulled her daughter into her arms.
"Callie, I'm sorry I left and I'm sorry I didn't call. You shouldn't have had to go to that extreme to get my attention. That'll never happen again, I promise."
Jane held on to her daughter for a few moments before pulling away a bit to wipe away at her tears.
"Mom, Stef, me, and Lena figured it out. That's why we have decided the punishment Blaire is giving you at the Boys and Girls Club is sufficient enough for the weed. As for the disrespect and acting a fool like you did," Jane said as she poked her daughter in the side playfully.
"That spanking you got covered those two things. Plus your sister didn't let you off too lightly either did she?"
Callie shook her head. "No ma'am."
"If anything like that ever happens again, I will bust your behind with a belt like you should have gotten this time. So, it will serve you to remember that. That kind of behavior is not acceptable and you know it..What I did today though, I won't ever do that again. I promise."
Callie smiled as she reached out and hugged Jane hard, as if she never wanted to let go. "I missed you ma."
"I missed you too kiddo ," Jane says as she kisses the teen on the head.
"So, that's it?" Callie asks as she steps out of the embrace and eyes both her parents suspiciously, not quite believing she would get off that easily.
"Well, not quite. There is one more thing," Maura says.
Callie groaned. "But ma said..."
"I'm aware of what ma said but you and I need to address the fact that you lied to me today. This is between you and me young lady."
"Hey, I didn't lie," Callie says defensively.
"Watch that tone Callie," Jane said in warning.
"A lie by omission is still a lie Callie Grace." Maura replied.
"Sorry mom, you're right a lie is still a lie no matter how it's told." Callie knew arguing wasn't going to do her any favors.
Maura nodded in agreement.
"Now that we are on the same page here is your punishment. Twice a week for a month you will babysit your little sisters. You will not get paid a dime for this and we get to choose which two days and those designated days will be mine and ma's date nights."
Callie immediately groaned. "Why do I have to watch them? Emily is the nanny."
Jane rolled her eyes. She was about to use a line that her ma had constantly repeated to her and her brothers over the years. "Because we said so, that's why. Emily is going to take off those nights as well. She could use the break from you kids. She loves you all like her own which leaves me to believe you all drive her insane just like you do to me and mom."
Callie groaned again and flopped back on her bed. "So I have to babysit without pay for a month?"
"That's right Cal, " Maura said as she stood and straightened her clothes.
Callie sat up and huffed. "This sucks!" She said loudly, causing Jane to laugh.
"That means we are doing it right. Now, let's get downstairs and have dinner. Everyone is waiting."
Callie nodded and made her way from the bedroom. Jane looked around the room as if seeing it for the first time. "Hey Maur, where's Blaire's bed?"
Maura laughed and wrapped her arm around her wife's waist as they made their way downstairs. "Blaire has moved into one of the added rooms down the hall."
Jane nodded in understanding. "Oh, okay, guess it makes sense for her to not share a room with her little sister anymore." She remarked with a smile.
"Jess and Cailin are also in a room down the hall. I also put a bed in Jude's room for Adam for the nights we are on call. That way Em doesn't have to choose between leaving him at the guest house alone or waking him."
Jane shook her head from side to side. "Damn, I was only gone a month. I must say though, I didn't miss those annoying contractors waking me up at the ass crack of dawn."
"Jane!" Maura shook her head as she poked her wife in the stomach.
Jane laughed. "Come on Maur. Let's go enjoy dinner with our family before they start claiming they're starving," she says with a grin.
As soon as Jane and Maura stepped into the kitchen, as if on cue, Blaire groaned. "About time moms. Can we eat now? We're starving here," she says with a grin. The littles were quick to pick up on the joke as well. Sitting at the table in their designated seats Abby, Maddy and Amelia slump over on one another.
"Yeah mamas, we're starving," Amelia says before she and the twins begin to giggle.
Stef covers her mouth to stop her laugh from escaping. "Well I guess we should get them fed before they whittle away," Lena says grinning.
Jane looks over at her wife with a raised eyebrow as if to say "told you so." Maura pinches Jane's side before everyone begins to move around the kitchen to fill their plates.
Dinner was delicious as usual. Conversations were light and laughs were shared over the littles reenactment of a story they read in school the day before.
As dessert was brought out Maddy was upset as expected. Seeing their sister not able to have dessert Abby and Amelia decided they would opt out of having theirs as well and asked if it was okay to watch a movie with Maddy instead. Maura and Jane agreed and the little girls happily grabbed their sister by the hand and disappeared into the living room.
Maura chuckled as she cut the pie and began to plate it. "Well that's a first." Jane had to laugh as well.
"I'll say, I've never known any Rizzoli's to turn down dessert." Jane's remark made everyone else in the room laugh. The conversation turned to sports as it usually did with a house full of sports fanatics and athletes. The subject ranged from professional sports to college before landing on high school.
Of course at this point the conversation turned to Callie. "So Callie, are you thinking of continuing playing basketball when you get into college?" Lena asked, taking a sip of her tea.
Callie shrugged and pushed her dessert around her plate. "I don't know. I guess if I'm good enough to be scouted then I guess I would like to continue playing at college level."
Maura, Jane and Blaire scoffed at Callie's comment. "Callie, you are beyond good enough for college scouts. Any college would be lucky to have you play for their team. Don't be so hard on yourself," Maura says, causing Callie to look up and smile.
"Thanks mom."
"You're welcome sweetie,"
"Besides," Jane cuts in. "I've seen you play Cal. Those college scouts would have to be blind not to see how good you are but don't let that be your drive behind wanting to be and play your best. If I was a betting woman, I would bet my year's salary that you could get on a team anywhere in the country without a scout. Just remember, school comes first though." Jane remarked as reached across the table and gave Callie's hand a gentle tap.
Stef stretched and looked at her watch. "Oh, it's getting a bit late, we should probably get Callie and Jude home. Callie has practice at 8 AM," she says as she stands and carries her and Lena's cups over to the sink.
Callie's eyes shoot up as she looks at her mom's and then Blaire. "Wait, I have practice in the morning? I'm benched for the next two weeks."
Blaire chuckles from the other side of the table. "Yeah Cal, you still have practice in the morning. Even though we have you sitting out our games for two weeks doesn't mean you aren't still a part of the team. So on that note, I'll be seeing you at 8 AM," Blaire says with a grin as she excused herself from the table.
Callie groaned and dropped her head to the table with a thud barely missing her plate.
"Why the long face Callie? You love basketball and going to practice." When Callie didn't answer Lena looked over at Jane and Maura for an explanation.
Before they could say anything Blaire offered an explanation as she turned back behind her.
"The girls get to run suicides at the beginning and end of practice in the morning for cheering on the fight today. Callie thought she was getting out of it."
"Oh," Lena said with a knowing nod.
"It's like I've always told you kids Cal, actions have consequences."
"I know ma!" Callie said with a little more attitude than Jane or Maura liked. They were just about to call it out when Lena beat them to it.
"Callie, do not talk to your ma like that."
Callie sighed. "Sorry ma. It's been a long day. I just want to go to bed and forget about today.."
Lena nodded. "We really should get going," she says as she glances towards Stef who nods in agreement.
Callie stared at Jane for a moment. "You'll be here when I come home. Right?"
Jane nodded as she pulled Callie into a hug. "You have my word kiddo. I promise."
Satisfied with that Callie nodded.
"I'll see you at 8 AM, Callie. It's gonna be fun." Blaire still stood in the entryway of the kitchen wearing a smirk on her face. "Who's the biatch now?"
"Blaire, stop antagonizing your little sister. Geez, every time I think you are starting to act like an adult you tap into your sixteen year old persona again. Knock it off and go to bed or I'll make you spend an entire day with Aunt Kate running drills that make suicides look like the bunny slope."
Blaire dropped her jaw for a moment before wisely turning and heading upstairs. Jane shook her head. Her ma had told her she would pay for her raising someday and she was right.
After seeing out Stef and Lena, and saying goodbye to Callie and Jude, Jane sent Emily home early and she and Maura got the little ones to bed. They then made quick work of clearing away the dinner dishes and cleaning up the kitchen.
Jane made her nightly pass around the house, checking the doors and alarm before heading upstairs. Stepping into her and Maura's bedroom, Jane felt a pang of guilt. She had left her family, her wife for a month. She wasn't sure if Maura would want her to sleep in their bed together so to save herself from the hurt she decided to sleep on the couch.
She made her way to the dresser and pulled out her pajamas and headed for the downstairs bathroom. After getting ready for bed. Jane walked over to the hallway closet and pulled down a blanket and pillow.
Sitting down on the couch she sighed heavily and played over everything that had happened over the last month. Lost in her thoughts she hadn't heard Maura coming down the stairs until the blonde called her name.
"What are you doing Jane?"
Jane quickly looked up at the sound of Maura's voice. There was no mistaking that face. She was mad.
"Maur..."
Before Jane could say anything further Maura held up her hand.
"Let me address the elephant in the room Jane. I didn't cheat on you. I would never cheat on you. I love you. So you decide what your next move is because I can't keep doing this. I don't know what you want from me. I'm telling you the truth damn it! I've done nothing to deserve all of this."
Maura paused to wipe at the tears that had begun to heavily fall before continuing.
"I met with Olivia Benson last week."
Jane dropped her mouth open. That wasn't something she had even considered.
"Wait, Maur, did someone hurt you? Who the fuck was it?"
Jane jumped up off the couch, both fists clenched. "Who was it Maura? You don't need Detective Benson. I'll take care of the son of a bitch myself!"
Maura shook her head. "No Jane. You won't and please lower your voice. This is the first night the littles have gone to bed without a fuss. Our kids had a hard enough time with you being gone for a month. How do you think they would handle twenty to life? You're going to keep your hands off and let Detective Benson do her job."
Jane took a deep breath and tried to calm herself. Maura was right. "Still Maura, who was it?"
Maura sighed.
"I don't know Jane. Whoever, whatever happened, I don't remember anything. It's the only explanation though. All the contacts I have in the medical field, it is not unfeasible that someone drugged me.
There's one particular night we are looking at that I think may be in question. It was a couple days before our IVF. I remember attending a fundraising event mom hosted. You were working a case that night and wasn't able to attend.
I barely remember that night. I woke up in my mom's office at the clinic and couldn't remember how I got there. I attributed it to drinking too much. You know I don't hold my liquor well."
She rushed on before Jane could reply. "Jane, even drunk I would be faithful to you. I know this in my heart of hearts. I love you."
When Jane didn't reply Maura looked up into her eyes, taking her hands into her own.
"Jane, please say you believe me. I don't know what this road is going to hold but I need you on my side. I swear on our children's lives, I would never be unfaithful to you. You know I can't lie Jane. I need you right now, love. Please."
Jane looked down into frightened hazel green eyes. She pulled one of her hands free from her wife's grip and gently stroked the blonde's face. "I'm here baby, I believe you." She said softly, her eyes never leaving her wife's.
"I love you Maur, I can't say enough how sorry I am." Jane took a seat back on the couch and pulled Maura to sit next to her. Once they were sitting and comfortable Jane spoke again. "I should have given you the chance to explain or the benefit of the doubt. I know you can't lie, but that night I panicked and then once I left and days went by I couldn't bring myself to come home. I felt ashamed of how I left and the way I was treating you and our kids. That's why I came down here to sleep. When I stepped into our bedroom I felt the guilt of what I've done and I felt like I didn't deserve to share our bed with you."
Maura nodded, now it made sense. Jane wasn't sleeping on the couch because she was mad at her. She was doing it because she was mad at herself. Maura gave her wife's hand a gentle squeeze.
Jane looked down at their joined hands and Maura's wedding ring. She gave herself a few moments before speaking. Her voice still came out raspy as she fought back tears.
"When we got married I promised you I would always be there, that you would never have to face anything alone ever again. I broke that promise when I left and I am so sorry Maur. Much like you I don't know what's going to happen down the road but I'm here for it. Until the end, for as long as you will have me."
Jane looked up to meet her wife's eyes and Maura smiled. "I will have you for always my sweet Jane. I love you." Jane smiled softly before pulling Maura into her lap and holding her tightly.
They stayed in this embrace, not caring how much time had passed. They just enjoyed the feeling of having the other in their arms again. After a bit Jane finally asked.
"So where do we go from here?" She asked softly as Maura rested her head on her chest.
"Well, tomorrow you and I will have lunch with Olivia. She will fill you in on the details of everything we have discussed. I want you to know, I don't want any secrets between us." Maura could feel Jane swallow hard before she felt her nod in understanding.
"I was thinking also, tomorrow night we could have dinner with Jess and Blaire to explain what's happening." When Jane didn't respond Maura lifted her head to look at her wife. Jane looked at her with a look of concern.
"Are you sure that's a good idea?" Jane asked, Maura nodded.
"I do Jane, they are both adults now. They are old enough to understand and I think it would help to settle all the doubts and concerns they may have."
Jane bit the inside of her mouth as she thought it over. "Okay," she finally said, meeting Maura's gaze. "We'll tell them but one condition." Jane said with a hint of a smirk.
"Mmmm, and what's that?" Maura replied with a raised eyebrow.
"Emily gets to take the littles to McDonalds," Jane said with a straight face before she laughed at the look of horror on her wife's face.
"Jane, you know that fast food has little to no nutritional value. The additives alone are enough to make children their size very hyper." The blonde remarked matter of factly.
Jane just smiled and kissed her wife. "I love when you go all Google mouth but that's my one condition and besides they have never been. It'll be a nice treat for them. C'mon Maur, don't they deserve something special?" Jane gave Maura her best puppy dog pout, knowing the blonde couldn't resist.
Maura groaned before smiling. "Fine, you win this one but I don't want to hear any fuss when I order something healthy with your dinner."
"My dinner? Why my dinner?"
Maura laughed. "Well since you are insisting they eat something unhealthy for dinner I have to make sure at least one person in our family besides myself eats something healthy. That," she says, kissing her wife, "is my one condition for letting them eat fast food."
Jane laughed a deep gutted laugh. "Well played Maura Rizzoli-Isles. Well played," Jane said with a smirk before kissing her wife again. Maura giggled into their kiss before pulling away.
"How about you put these blankets and pillows away and join me in our bed where you belong?" Maura didn't have to ask twice. Jane gently deposited Maura back on the couch and quickly grabbed the still folded blankets and pillow and put them back in the hall closet.
Maura waited at the bottom of the stairs for Jane as the brunette made one last check of the doors before shutting off the lights. Maura held her hand out and Jane gently took it and allowed herself to be led back upstairs to their bedroom.
Jane held no expectations for Maura's invitation. She was just glad to be home, in her own bed with her wife in her arms and their children safe and sound all under one roof. For the first night in a month Jane slept peacefully with Maura's arm and legs spread across her and her head on her chest. This was home, this was where she was always meant to stay.