Jane stepped into the street in front of the dirty robber to pick up Deans parents call. She had almost expected to be excluded from the funeral and the family after her texts and calls had gone unanswered. Therefore, she was utterly surprised when her phone had buzzed in the middle of a conversation about the case that had brought her and Maura together.
"Do you want me to come with you?" Maura had asked after seeing the caller ID, but Jane had simply shaken her head and slipped out of the booth.
"Rizzoli." She answered the call and waited. Mrs. Dean cleared her throat before greeting her: "Hello Jane. I'm sorry for only calling now but you understand that the last days have been very difficult for us."
Jane swallowed hard. No reproach whatsoever for letting her drive Gabriel in his drunken state or for ruining his life. "I'm so sorry for your loss Amelia." She stated honestly and added that she understood how hard it must be for her and her husband.
The elder woman sobbed a bit before speaking up again. "We organized his funeral for next Monday. He will be cremated at Murphy's funeral home this Saturday. Of course, you are welcome to come. You and Marcella it is. Have you told her yet?"
"I was about to do so tomorrow." Jane silently said and bit her lips.
"I understand that you have a new companion." Mrs. Dean started slowly and made Jane wonder where this was heading. "I know that things between you haven't been great. I learned a lot about your side of this relationship, and I know that Gabriel was a difficult man. I have to apologize for judging you wrong for all these years and wanted you to know that I see what you did to keep this marriage going. At first, I thought that you destroyed it, but I see things different now. I would like you to come so that I can apologize to you in person Jane. And I want you to know that its okay to bring your new partner for support. I heard that she's a great mother to Marcella as well."
The speech was long and made Jane almost cry. She hadn't expected for Mrs. Dean to understand and wondered who had given her all of this information. "I will think about bringing Maura." She stated after clearing her throat.
Was it really that easy she wondered? Could it be that easy that they forgave her and wanted to make good weather? Was there a sinister background of some sort? Maybe they wanted custody for Marcella. But Jane knew her former mother-in-law. She knew that Amelia sounded totally honest in this call.
They discussed the dates and times again and Jane offered to take a part of the costs of the funeral, but Mrs. Dean refused. After hanging up Jane sighed and leaned against the wall of the dirty robber to process what had just happened.
Despite denying Maura's assistance earlier she was glad when she felt the docs hand coming to her left shoulder. She looked up from the pavement into worried hazel eyes and gave a crooked smile before telling her girlfriend about the talk.
Maura looked as surprised as Jane felt. "Do you want me to come to the funeral with you?" the doc asked silently, and Jane shrugged. Truth was that she didn't know. In her mind, Dean and she were a totally different story. As long as she knew Maura, she had tried to keep her out of it because she felt that it wasn't fair towards the blonde. And it didn't feel right to mix the story she had with Dean up with the story which she had with Maura.
The doc nodded some understanding. "We take it step by step. I'm going to support each and every decision you take Jane. And its fine if you feel the need to go to funeral alone."
Jane pushed herself of the wall in an impulse and wrapped her arms around the blonde. "Thank you." She whispered and felt Maura pulling her tighter and rubbing her back.
When they pulled away Jane studied Maura's face. The doc was calm, smiling gently and her eyes were warm. "Maur?" she began in a soft tone.
"Yes Jane?"
The blonde almost shrieked when Jane suddenly went down to one knee. "What are you doing?" Maura asked all flustered. Jane chuckled and cleared her throat to propose to the doc.
She hadn't prepared for it, she didn't even have a ring. But when looking into these hazel eyes she just knew that Maura was her person and that she wanted to spend the rest of her life with the doc. She didn't see the curious glances from inside the dirty robber, the grinning faces from their friends. She only saw Maura's sparkling eyes and happy face when she asked THE question of all questions.
Her proposal was simple, and she only said a few words – the most important ones though – because she knew that words would never be enough to describe how safe Maura made her feel. Or how happy. The doc made her feel complete and at home.
When Maura said yes, her face was brimming in joy. No clouds and no doubts. Just a simple Yes Jane which made the detective the happiest person in the world. When Jane stood, Maura wrapped her arms around her slim waist and they kissed. Their lips moved gently against each other and when they broke the kiss, they rested their foreheads against each other and smiled.
Their moment was interrupted by their friends and family appearing on the street and cheering. Korsak who had always been a fatherly figure to her patted her shoulders and looked mighty proud. Frost and Frankie presented them a bottle of Champagne and some glasses. Everybody hugged them and felt happy for them which made Jane tear up a bit.
Her eyes met the docs wo was equally touched and both shyly grinned at each other.
R&I
They were laughing, kissing and holding hands when walking into their homes. Maura had begun to plan their wedding on the drive home in the UBER and all Jane could think about was how cute she was. The cheeks of the doc were red in excitement and Jane felt overwhelmed by how good it felt to be with Maura.
The sound a throat being cleared somehow drew their attention towards the living room, where Angela was sitting and watching TV. "Hey girls. How was your evening?" she asked and watched them.
"It was great!" Jane stated and padded into the room. Angela grinned softly. "You are doing it right. You should enjoy your life. It can be over so quickly." Her words confirmed Janes earlier suspicion that Gabriel's death had somehow shattered her mother.
She silently sat down next to her and saw how Maura sat down to the other side. Both grabbed one of Angela's hands. "Ma." Jane said with a gentle smile, searching for her mother's eyes. Honestly, she didn't quite know what to say so she made a pause.
Thankfully, Maura chimed in and helped her out. "Angela, bad things happen. Things that are not supposed to happen. But Gabriel was utterly drunk when he left this place. Its very likely that the accident wouldn't have occurred if he hadn't been drunk."
Angela sniffed and gave her a doubtful look. Jane grabbed for the tissue box on the coffee table and offered one to her mother. "Don't you agree?"
Angela did agree, seeing where Maura was going. "I know that Jane is a very careful person. And she's never going to do anything to put her life in danger." Maura stated and Angela sobbed.
"And what about you? You are like my second daughter." The matriarch pushed out between two sobs. Maura's eyes turned wet. "Neither am I Angela. I have a family now. I have kids. I would never ever do anything that could take that away from me. Jane proposed to me tonight."
Angela sniffed some more and suddenly realized what Maura had just said. There was a sudden shift in the matriarch from fear to excitement. "She did?" her eyes wandered to Jane who nodded with a grin. "Yeah. Couldn't let this woman go right?" she chuckled.
"Oh my god!" Angela exclaimed and threw her arms around Janes shoulders. "I am so happy for you."
"and of course for you!" the matriarch exclaimed when turning to Maura's side. Jane giggled. "But you haven't got her a ring!" Angela's tone was almost accusingly. "Nope. It was more a spontaneous thing. But I will get her the most beautiful engagement ring I can find." Jane winked at Maura.
"Nonsense!" Angela exclaimed and Jane furrowed her eyebrows.
"Excuse me?" she asked and licked her lips.
"Remember nonnas engagement ring? I kept it for the day you would get engaged." Angela explained.
"Yes, and I got engaged with Dean. Where was the ring then?"
"In a safe place. I don't know it didn't feel right to give it to you back then. And now…" she paused and gave a meaningful glace at Maura. "Now it feels right."
