Ask Me
Disclaimer: I do not own Rizzoli and Isles, including the book and the TNT show; Jane Rizzoli belongs to Tess Gerritsen and Angie Harmon, and Maura Isles belongs to Tess Gerritsen and Sasha Alexander. The plot for this story is my own, but that is all I could or would stake claim to. Leave feedback if you wish; these girls are delectable, and my muse would appreciate your affirmation!
Synopsis: "It's just that I didn't ask for much. I don't think I really knew how." In the face of Maura's childhood, can Jane teach herself to give what the doctor can't ask for? Post-ep for 1 x 08, with lines from 1 x 06. Mostly fluff with a little bit of sugar on the side. Rated T for language use only.
"So, when Angela asked you if I would be attending mass in December, what exactly did that mean?" Maura attempted to keep her voice free of inflection, but Jane pulled her in closer to her side regardless.
"That's Ma's way of asking me if I'm doing this right."
After three hours on the couch with bagels and mimosas, watching the Red Sox shut the Phillies out in a 3-0 win, Jane had suggested they head to her parents' house early for Sunday dinner. Understanding that Jane perhaps wanted time for her parents to react to their relationship, Maura hurried to change into a more appropriate outfit, though Jane protested that Maura's jeans and Red Sox jersey would give her courage at dinner. The warm chocolate of Jane's eyes as they raked over her body as she attempted to convince Maura not to change had quickened the blonde's pulse, but years of decorum and propriety won out and she'd slipped into a simple wool dress, three-quarter sleeve sweater, and knee-high boots.
"Doing this right?" Maura looked questioningly up at Jane, her left arm wrapped around the brunette's waist as they walked towards the local bakery. The taller woman nodded.
"Obviously, our being together wasn't as much of a surprise to my parents as I'd figured it would be." Maura grinned. Understatement of the year. When they'd entered the low ranch which had come to feel more like home to Maura than her parents' homes ever had, Jane holding tightly to her hand, Angela had taken one look at them, thrown her hands up in the air in exasperation, and shouted, "Frank! Jane figured it out! You owe me breakfast." Her exclamation was met with a muffled curse from the living room, and a hollered, "Took her long enough. Tell her she owes you breakfast." Jane had blushed intensely, and Maura had giggled, reaching up to brush a kiss on her girlfriend's inflamed cheek.
"I would estimate that much of the precinct will have a similar reaction," Maura responded, making Jane chuckle.
"True. I always think I'm adorable and mysterious, but really I'm just a walking stereotype." Jane turned her head and pressed a kiss to the side of Maura's head, squeezing her shoulders affectionately.
"Stereotypes are often misleading, Jane. I would disagree that you fit any particular societal expectations perfectly. I would, however, agree that you are currently avoiding my question."
"Touché." Jane grinned, then directed them into the cinnamon heat of the bakery. "Remember when I told you that my mother loves you?"
"Mmhmm," Maura responded, scanning the menu for their latte choices. Jane and she stepped up to the counter and ordered coffees and cannoli, then settled into a small booth.
"Well, I wasn't just saying that because you're awesome. I'm serious. My mother thinks you're the best thing since Carla Talucci's daughter dropped out of college the same month I graduated from the Academy. She adores you." The grin which lit Maura's face at her words made Jane's heart break once more. How a woman as amazing as her girlfriend had experienced all of the abandonment and rejection as she had still made Jane's gut twist in pain, and she instinctively reached for Maura's hand across the table.
"Your mother is wonderful, Jane, regardless of how much you hate when she nags you." Jane laughed.
"Just wait until she starts asking us about whether we prefer cloth diapers over Huggies. Then we can talk again." Maura blushed and ducked her head.
"Okay, okay. I will refrain from reprimanding you about teasing your mother." The barista called Jane's name and the lanky woman unfolded herself from the booth to retrieve their food.
"Ma asked me if you're coming to Christmas Eve mass because she wants to make sure I don't hurt you." Maura had taken a sip of her latte, but now she set the cup on the table.
"Why would she think that?" The consternation on the blonde's face made Jane smile, although she understood her girlfriend's confusion.
"Well, look at my dating track record, Maur. I haven't been in a serious relationship since I joined the force. My mother loves you and even though I'm her kid, she still wants to make sure I'm not gonna freeze and run out on you."
"I would say that would be a highly unlikely scenario." Biting off some cannoli, Maura looked thoughtful for a moment. "Your mother does not fully comprehend the meaning of your chosen profession. She often assumes that you willingly choose a case over time with your family without examining the repercussions of your choices for other families. The same is likely true for her opinions of your past relationships." Jane grinned.
"And this is why you're amazing. Can you explain that to her?" Maura shook her head, but reached up and tucked an errant strand of brown hair behind Jane's ear, brushing her fingertips over a high cheekbone.
"So, am I attending Christmas Eve mass?"
"Yes, Maura, I would love it if you would come with me. It's… It's special. You don't have to come, at all, and we're probably gonna have to keep the P.D.A. to a minimum, but I would love to have you there."
"Then I would love to be there. Thank you for inviting me." Jane's smile in response to Maura's easy acceptance was full bodied and the blonde woman savored it as she would an excellent wine. Jane Rizzoli had many smiles, and although the medical examiner estimated it would take many years of study to identify each one, she recognized a few almost immediately. This particular smile spoke volumes in affection and gratitude, and Maura blinked quickly to avoid tears which might embarrass Jane.
"Did you bring the coupons?" Jane asked gently, unsure of whether she should save the question for home.
"Actually, I did," Maura responded, looking significantly more sure of herself than she had the evening prior. "I spent a large portion of my morning tidying my home and I believe that I have come up with something that fits the magnitude of your gift." Jane arched an eyebrow at her girlfriend.
"I have no idea what you mean by that but okay, let's hear it." Maura opened her clutch and retrieved the two folded pieces of paper. Jane pulled them to her side of the table and opened the first one.
"Happy Birthday, Maura! I hope you like Disney movies?" Jane's voice curled up into a question as she reached Maura's neat hand writing. "You want Disney movies?"
"Yes," the blonde responded, wrapping her hands around her latte. "At first, I felt… I believe I felt anxious about this gift because you have given me too much already. I didn't want—no, I don't want material things from you. It would feel wrong. Out of place." Maura shook her head, feeling frustrated about her inability to articulate what she was thinking.
"I don't understand," Jane commented quietly. "I want to give you things. I mean, I get that Jimmy Choos and the latest fashions are a bit out of my league, but I'd like to think I can give you the things that make you happy, Maur."
"That's what I mean!" Maura sighed heavily. "Could we maybe walk back to your mother's the long way? I am having difficulty expressing myself." Jane nodded and rose to put their cups in the garbage before holding the door open out of instinct. When both women were back out on the sidewalk, Maura slipped her hand into Jane's. "Is this okay," she asked timidly.
"More than okay," Jane smiled in response, leaning in for a short kiss. After a few seconds, Maura tried to explain her thought process once more.
"All my life I have been taught to accept the material over the visceral. When I was seven, my parents sat me down and told me that I had been adopted. They explained that they loved me because they chose me for their daughter, and I should never feel insecure in their family because I had a trust fund and my own room, and they had even bought me the tortoise I asked for."
"Maura, I'm sorry," Jane started, but Maura shook her head, looking up at Jane.
"No, I'm not rehashing my past, Jane, I'm just trying to explain. What you did for me yesterday—teaching me how to skate and showing me places that are a part of your family's traditions—I will never forget that. This has been the best birthday of my life because you gave me something more than a physical gift. That's why it felt wrong to ask you for something two-dimensional. Something fake, like shoes or the opera, or whatever else might have been enough if someone less important to me were the giver."
"I think I get it," Jane said slowly, knowing that they were nearing her childhood home and automatically slowing their pace. "When I was trying to decide what to get you for your birthday, it crossed my mind to buy that coat you feel in love with when we had the body at DSW a week ago."
"How did you know about that?" she asked wonderingly, making Jane chuckle.
"I know you pretty well, babe. I can tell when you get that glazed look in your eye over fashion." Maura blushed again and looked back down at the ground.
"You see, and then you go and say something like that and I think—no, I know. I know that you mean more to me than coats and shoes and tickets to the opera."
"You really want to drag me to the opera, don't you?" Jane joked as they paused on the sidewalk outside the low ranch Jane had once called home. Maura laughed and nudged Jane with her shoulder.
"Of course, that's the whole point of this conversation," she responded dryly.
"And sarcasm!" Jane pulled them to a stop and Maura turned to face Jane, her hands settling on the taller woman's forearms.
"I have been practicing." Maura smiled sweetly up at Jane, her dimples out in full force.
"So, what's with the Disney movies, then?"
"Well, I've never seen any of them." Jane's jaw dropped, then snapped up.
"I feel like that shouldn't have surprised me as much as it did," she responded. Maura shrugged.
"That's what I want for my birthday. Take me to a store so we can buy all of the Disney movies you think I should see, and then we can watch some tomorrow. And, maybe, during the week, too?" Maura's voice was unsure, but she kept her gaze locked with Jane, knowing instinctively that the brunette would understand how important her request was and react seriously as well.
"Okay, babe. We'll head out to F.Y.E. as soon as we leave here. They should have several, and the others we can rent until they re-release them." Maura grinned again and bounced on the balls of her feet, reaching up to plant a kiss on Jane's chilled lips.
"You're wonderful," the blonde sighed, burying her face in Jane's scarf, feeling unnecessarily happy. She felt more than she heard as Jane chuckled, then pressed a kiss to the crown of her head.
"You, too."
A/N What do we think? One more chapter? I am loving this story, but I have another short piece in the works, mentally, so I can't wait to see this one close and get to that one. What do you think of Maura's request? I can only imagine all the possibilities for their movie watching experience…