I stand with Nina's family and share some memories with them. Well, they share memories from her childhood and I those I have of her since she's in Boston. We're not sharing stories because of a sad occasion, we're sharing them because we all are officially one family. Yes, you heard me right, right now I am finally attending the wedding of my brother and Nina, almost a year after Taylor O'Keefe has been found guilty and got locked away for the greater good.
I hold a glass of champagne in my hand and caught my fiancée staring at me every now and then. Not because I am able to really smile again since O'Keefe has been sentenced to life without the possibility of parole but because she probably expected me to be dressed in one of my expensive suits or even in my uniform like some of Nina's and Frankie's friends do, like Korsak. I think that she's staring at me because I decided to wear a dress, black, plain and simple, nothing special but it surprised everyone that I decided on this clothing. Sometimes even I have to show that I am a woman after all, and it's not like that I have to be ashamed of that but it doesn't mean that I can get used to wearing dresses because it already feels like I'm suffocating. I spot Skye standing with Korsak and excuse myself for a moment. Skye has been wonderful ever since she came back into our lives and Maura and I hardly can imagine her being gone for more than a week again, that's we invited her to my mother's Sunday family dinner which she unsuccessfully declined in the beginning but my mother is not a person who's accepting a no when it comes to people she cares about, and Ma cares about Skye because she got to know the girl shortly after we caught the murder of her brother. I know that Skye likes being around my mother and that she has been a great help to Maura when she had one of her bad days, that's why Maura started to work closely with the young woman when it came to cases that involved fires.
Even I rather turn to that smart … woman when it comes to that instead of a blockhead who tells me to back off even though they know that I can trust my gut. Somehow, Skye reminds me of me, can't tell why. I look at Korsak and he tells us that he needs to get a new beer. I take a look at the crowd and take a deep breath. "I really would love to meet the guy that you are dating," I say out of the blue and turn my attention to Skye as soon as I hear a chuckle. I scrutinize her and smirk. "I get it."
She sips her water and takes a deep breath. "You don't judge me?"
I frown and empty my glass. "Who am I to judge you, Skye? I've engaged with a woman myself, I don't turn my back on you because you are gay, too."
She's eyeing me for a second and then she's smiling broadly.
I give her a sideways hug and pat her shoulder before I spot Maura and head straight towards her.
I study her in detail and can say that she's feeling very comfortable right now. She's always been the one who likes to go to weddings. I only go because there are free drinks, or that's what I pretend. The truth is that I am always happy when one of my friends or colleagues tie the knot but I pretend that I am bored because I have to keep up my reputation. I stand close to her and wrap my arm around her middle while she's sipping her champagne. "You okay?"
She looks at me and smiles broadly, the way I haven't seen her smiling for a long time. "I am. You?"
I take a look around and take in all the happy faces and the chattering that normally would bother me after a while but somehow tonight it's different because I know that all of us are here because of a very happy occasion, the wedding of my brother and Nina. I nod slowly and look at the lovebirds, smiling. "I attended my brother's wedding with the most beautiful woman in the world. I couldn't be better."
Maura's smiling once again and kisses my cheek.
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Right after the wedding of Frankie and Nina, Maura and I head back home and had a nightcap before we head up to the bedroom. It was a long day and both of us are beyond exhausted. Neither of us had talked much on our way home, it seemed like either of us had been lost in our thoughts. Actually, it's unusual that we both keep our mouth shut after such an event and not to recap the whole day. And it's unusual for Maura that she doesn't make any comment about the wedding and what she liked or disliked, what we perhaps do differently on our very own wedding that is still coming up. I snort at that thought and am grateful that Maura's in the en-suite bathroom, doing her nightly routine, otherwise she'd probably ask me why I was snorting and I really don't want to answer that question right now because thinking of our own wedding right after Frankie's seems a little selfish.
I wonder if it's true that you're feeling different as soon as you slip the wedding ring onto the person's finger you've promised to spend the rest of your life with, that's why I took my little, newlywed brother to the side as soon as he had a little time and asked Frankie if he'd really different already. Of course, he shrugged my question off and said that he didn't get a chance to even realize that he's a married man by now and that I shall ask him once again when we'd see again.
He's such an idiot sometimes because the next time we'll see each other is in four weeks when they're coming back from their honeymoon. Nina and Frankie had applied for a two weeks leave but we all agreed that four weeks wouldn't be enough for a once in a lifetime trip, so I transferred one week of my vacation days to Frankie and Korsak did the same with Nina. It was a kind of wedding gift we were giving to them. Don't worry, it wasn't all we were giving the happy couple, even Maura thought in a fraction of a second that it would be all from us and told us that we should be ashamed of ourselves for our lack of originality until I calmed her down and told her that Korsak and I thought that only two weeks could never be enough for a honeymoon and that we've been thinking of something else to add to the vacation days, that's how she came up with the idea to co-finance a trip through Italy. Korsak, Ma and I had been skeptical about in the first place because a four weeks trip would rip a big hole in our wallets but then we got roped into it because Korsak and I actually are trite.
Ma was the one who told Nina not to worry about the honeymoon and I'm sure that she nearly gave our surprise away.
However, Frankie's and Nina's face had been priceless when we presented them our gifts and Frankie nearly squeezed all of us to death right after he had seen what we got them. I think that's something he got from our mother.
The sound of Maura coming out of the bathroom pulls me from my train of thought and my eyes are finding hers. I swear to God, even after she's turn eighty she'll be able to take my breath away.
She's tilting her head to the side and smiles at me. "What?"
A frown is finding its way onto my forehead because that's not exactly the reaction I was expecting but chuckle, throwing the sheets on her side of the bed back. "Do I need a reason to admire you?"
She smiles broadly at me and shrugs her silky dressing gown off, placing it neatly on a chair and then getting into bed. "No, but there's always a reason why you're looking at me like that."
I turn on my left side and study her face without touching her. "I just -" I stop and tug a strand of hair behind her ear. "I just can't tell you how much I love you, Maura, and how grateful I am to have you in my life, especially after all we've been through."
Maura's closing her eyes and leans into my touch as soon as I cup her cheek. "I'm happy that I still have you, too, Jane. After all, we've been through."
I wait until she opens her eyes again and sigh. "You should know that you won't get rid that easily. And both of us acted childishly."
"But we got through anyway."
I nod my approval and smile broadly. "But we got through it and we are here today, witnessing Nina marrying my brother which is flurrying."
Maura furls her brows and she asks, "Why?"
I'm blinking a couple of times and answer in a hushed voice, "Because she got married to my brother. Perhaps we should let her mental state check."
She chuckles and gives me a peck. "Nina doesn't have any mental issues just because she loves your brother, Jane."
"You sure?"
"Yes," she scoffs.
I groan and skid closer to her. "The wedding was nice, though."
She's taking a deep breath and nods. "It was beautiful although I was concerned that Frankie would pass out when the priest asked him if he wants to take Nina as his wife."
"That was fun," I chuckle, remembering that my brother needed some seconds too long until he answered that he does. It seemed like he had to reconsider his answer before that. Everyone has been holding their breath and released it in unison the moment Frankie gave his positive answer.
Maura's rolling her eyes but smiles, knowing that I'll pull his chain for that for the rest of his life. "Don't be mean, Jane."
I can't hold back my laughter. "It was funny, Maura, wasn't it? I mean, even my mother was about to faint when Frankie was hesitating. Two for one price." I wince the moment she slaps my shoulder lightly and then I say all of a sudden, "You know, we should run off and get married in Las Vegas." I don't know where this is coming from but my words let her smile die down immediately. I frown and shrug. "I mean, Ma got the wedding in a church. That's what she was dreaming about. She wouldn't mind us being a little spontaneous."
"Oh, and if she would, Jane," she replies and frowns too. "I would."
I scrutinize her face for a moment and start to grin. "You're secretly planning our wedding, aren't you?"
She rolls her eyes and turns on her back. "I just don't want to get married by a cheap Elvis copy and I don't want to get married without our family and friends."
"You are secretly planning our wedding. "I laugh and her blush is giving Maura away. "Hey, it's not a bad thing to plan such a life-changing event or even to look into bridal catalogs -" I pause and frown before I continue. "As long as you don't go crazy about it!"
She turns her head and takes a deep breath. "I just ... I didn't want you to think that I am crazy because I actually started to fantasize about our wedding the moment you proposed to me. I mean, neither of us knows if it actually will take place after all we've been through."
I furl my brows and prop myself up on my elbow. "Are you planning to break up with me again?"
"You were the one who broke up the last time."
"Yeah, but do you wanna call it quits now?"
She looks long at me and shakes her head. "No. No, I don't want to, Jane. Are you?"
"Absolutely not," I reply without hesitation and she's releasing her breath. I look long at her and notice that she looks tired. Not only because it has been a long day today but also because the last months and years had been debilitating for all of us and it seems like that all of it has dropped off with O'Keefe been found guilty. I heave a sigh and don't even try to hide it before I caress her cheek with my thumb. "We can talk about that tomorrow," I say and she nods, holding my gaze. "Let's get some rest."
"Yes," Maura's whispering and kisses me gently before she turns her back to me.
I don't hesitate and wrap my arm around her middle, pulling her closer against me and kissing the crook of her neck. "I love you."
Maura turns her head a little so I know that she's smiling. "I love you too."
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Hey, guys. Sorry for my long absence once again, but as you know life sometimes can get in the way.
Anyway, this story is coming to an end, a little Epilogue will follow and this time I hope that it won't take that long, I also hope that I can post it during this week.
I hope you'll enjoy this chapter and I'd love to hear what you're thinking of it.
Enjoy,
T73.
