Engagement announcements sent. At least that was one thing off the ever-growing list of things to do for their wedding. Maura had known planning even a simple wedding wouldn't be easy. There was just so many things to decided and do, and then there was the added wrinkle of her and Jane being so different. She wouldn't go as far as saying Jane would be happy taking an hour off and going to city hall, she knew Jane wanted more then that, but she also knew that Jane didn't want some grand spectacle. Maura didn't want big and flashy either, she wanted something simple and beautiful, something that reflected Jane and herself. Of course that meant finding a lot of middle ground because she and Jane simply had different tastes and different ideas of simple. Sitting at her desk on a Saturday afternoon while Jane was taking a required training class, Maura was looking over venues on her laptop while My Fair Wedding played on the television across the room.
Maura was making notes on the possible venues to talk to Jane about when there was a knock on the door. Getting up she turned off the television and then walked over to the door, her thoughts still turning over the idea she had about finding a church for the ceremony. She wasn't very religious herself but she knew that the Rizzolis were and that it would mean a lot to Angela if she and Jane were married in a church, even if it wasn't a catholic church. Pulling open the door Maura was more then a little surprised to find her mother standing there. "Mom?"
"Hello my darling." Constance said with a bright smile.
It was hard for Maura to see her mother using a cane but she understood that even though her hip fracture was healed it was still weak and a little fragile, so she needed the cane for support and to keep as much weight and pressure of her hip as possible. When Constance wrapped her arms around Maura in a hug Maura couldn't help but smile. "This is a wonderful surprise." Maura said as she returned the hug. "How are you feeling?"
"My daughter is getting married to the person she's madly in love with and who loves her just as much in return." Constance said brightly. "I'm feeling fabulous."
Maura couldn't help but beam proudly as she and her mother moved towards the sofa. "I'm so happy to hear that, but you know that isn't what I meant."
"I'm doing well Maura." Constance reassured her little girl. She knew that Maura worried, that she hadn't stopped worrying about her since the accident. "I'm much better darling. There's still some stiffness in my hip but I've been doing very well with my physically therapy. So you can stop worrying about me. You have more important things to worry about now. Tell me about what you and Jane have planned so far and what I can do to help."
The first thing Maura did was show her mother the ring Jane had given her. She told her about Jane's grandparents, and how much she wanted to give something to Jane, something with just as much meaning, but Jane wasn't much for wearing jewelry, and that on the job she'd only be allowed to wear a wedding band anyway. Constance thought about that for bit and decided that she might be able to help Maura out. As Maura continued to explain things Constance finally said, "Let me call Daniel. You and Jane can still choose everything you want but he'll put it all together. Trust me sweetheart it'll be much easier with a planner."
Maura thought about it for a moment. This would be a lot easier with a wedding planner. "I'll talk to Jane about it." She answered. "But you're right it would be easier and Daniel does throw the most amazing parties."
Around four thirty Angela walked in so she could start making dinner and was thrilled to see Constance. Maura used her phone to record their mothers talking about the wedding and sent it to Jane with the message 'Mom wants to hire her party planner or we could just let them do it' Moments later Jane's reply came back, 'get the planner I'm not dealing with weeks of them clucking like hens!'
"What's so funny Maura?" Constance asked when her daughter suddenly started to giggle.
"Just something Jane said." Maura said as she put her phone away and joined Angela in the kitchen to help make dinner. "We can go ahead and hire Daniel."
Having Constance there, getting to spend time with her and having her involved in something so special meant the world to Maura. She would be forever grateful to Jane for giving Constance the push she needed to fix things between them. It meant a lot to Constance too so she sent an email to her husband and then to her jeweler in London. In a couple of days Maura would have that something special to give to Jane.
A couple of days later Maura was sitting at a table with Jane in one of their favorite harbor side restaurants to meet with the wedding planner. She could tell that Jane was a little uncomfortable with this, Jane wasn't the party planner kind of girl, so Maura did her best to reassure Jane that they would still be planning things, Daniel would just be doing the actual work. "This isn't going to be like one of those shows on cable, Jane."
"It better not." Jane replied. "I'd hate to have to shoot your mother's friend."
Maura refrained from saying Daniel wasn't so much a friend as he was freelance employee. She didn't want to make Jane feel any more awkward. The whole point of this lunch was to be relaxed, to be themselves so Daniel could get to know them, which would help him help them. When he arrived things were a little stressed at first but then he and Jane found a common interest in, surprisingly enough, fire arms. By the end of the afternoon Daniel had a pretty good idea what Maura and Jane were like and was eager to help them plan their perfect day.
Of course there were still disagreements and little fights about this and that but the biggest issue was the guest list. Deep down Jane knew Maura meant well, that she was trying to help, maybe even trying to repay her for helping things along with her own parents, but Jane wasn't ready to let this go so easily.
Walking onto the scene of their latest murder case Jane could see that Maura was already there and sighed. They'd barely said two words to each other since Jane blew up at Maura last night. They'd slept in their bed, but as far apart as they could get, and they were both so tensed up neither got a good night sleep, which added to their fowl moods. When Jane got up this morning Maura was already out of the house. Jane sighed again and then shook it off as she stepped up to the body, Korsak, Frost and her fiancée. She gave the boys a nod and addressed Maura with a crisp, "Doctor Isles."
"Detective Rizzoli." Maura replied without looking up from her examination of the body. If Jane was going to be pissy about this then so was she.
Korsak looked between the two and shook his head. "Are you two fighting?"
"Yes." Maura said.
"No." Jane said at the same time.
The two women looked up at each other and glared. The tension between them made Korsak and Frost both a little uncomfortable and Jane sighed. "She sent an engagement announcement to my Pop and she won't take him off the guest list."
"He's your father Jane." Maura said once again looking up from the body. "If he decides not to come that's his choice. At least we extended the olive branch."
Jane huffed, crossing her arms over her chest. "If he comes, which he won't, he'll end up bringing his pregnant bimbo."
"Jane." Maura scolded. "That child will be your half sibling."
Jane's body shuddered and shimmied like she was shaking off something nasty. "That's just so wrong." She said with another shudder. "It's just to freaking weird to think I'm going to have a sibling who's going to be a little older but still roughly around the age our kids will be. That's just all kinds of messed up." Three sets of eyes, two smirks, and a very surprised but radiant smile greeted Jane when she opened her eyes and looked at Korsak, Frost and Maura. "What? What did I say?"
The three shared a look before Korsak said, "Nothing Jane."
"Seriously what did I say?" Jane asked. The look on Maura's face had gone from angry to adoringly sweet in a spilt second and Jane wanted to know what she'd said that seemed to suddenly make everything ok between them.
Before anyone could answer her Frankie called out that he'd found shell casings while another uniform called out that he'd found a blood trail. Jane gave them all one last look before she and Frost went to look at the area where Frankie was, and Korsak went to look at the blood trail with Maura. The case kept them busy but not to busy that Maura couldn't pause a moment to think about what Jane had said, which caused a small smile to appear, which got her a few odd looks because she was in the middle of an autopsy.
When Maura got home that evening her mother was waiting on her. "How was your day darling?" Constance asked as she poured them each a glass of wine after Maura came back after taking a shower.
"Long." Maura said with a soft sigh as she accepted the glass. She told her mother what she could about the new case while they settled in on the sofa. Then she told her mother about the fight she had with Jane.
"She's still hurting, Maura." Constance said gently. "And not asking him to the wedding is her way of punishing him. Just give her a little time to sooth out her ruffled feathers." After they talked a little more, when she saw that Maura was much more relaxed then she was when she came home, Constance pulled out the package that arrived that morning. "Do you remember when I arrived and you said you wanted to give Jane something that meant as much to you as the ring she gave you meant to her?"
Maura nodded.
Constance smiled as she opened the box to show Maura a very simple circular pendant with a single modest but still stunning diamond. "I had Niles use gold from your grandfather's wedding band and the diamond is from mine."
"Oh Mom, it's beautiful, it's perfect." Maura said with a soft gasp.
"I'm so glad you approve." Constance said with a loving smile. Then she reached out and held her daughter's face in her hands. "Oh darling. I'm just so delighted to see you so happy. I want the most wonderful things for you and Jane."
Maura's smiled was radiant as she leaned into her mother's touch. "Thank you, Mom."
Later that night after their mothers had retreated to the guesthouse Maura and Jane were sitting quietly on the sofa, their fight over Frank Sr. still lingering between them. While Jane watched the Red Sox game her gaze shifted between the t.v and Maura, who was reading over a medical journal, though neither were really paying attention to their activities. Finally Jane picked up the remote and muted the t.v before turning to look at Maura. "I'm sorry I was an ass. I guess this whole rotten mess with my Pop is bothering me for then I thought and I took it out on you."
"I forgive you, Jane." Maura said as she set her book aside. "I'm sorry if I crossed a line by sending him the announcement. I'll take his name off the guest list if you really want me too, but honestly sweetheart, I don't think you want me too."
"I guess I don't." Jane said after thinking about it for a moment. "I can't really be angry with you for meddling." She added with a shrug. "Getting married means we share everything, even the parts of our lives that are kinda of crappy, and it means we get to meddle. I am your business after all, and you're mine, and I know you were only trying to help. Besides, I can't really fault you when I pretty much threatened your mother about hurting you when I first met her." Jane snorted. "That was a hell of a first impression to make on my future mother in law."
Maura smiled a small and hopeful smile. "Are we done fighting now, Jane?"
Jane chuckled as she nodded her head. "Yes Maura, we're done fighting now."
"Good!" Maura said as she jumped to her feet to get the jewelry box from her desk drawer. "I have something for you."
"You bought me a present because we were fighting?" Jane asked, looking a little confused.
Maura shook her head as she retook her seat on the sofa. "I didn't buy it. My mother had this made after I told her I wish I had something to give you that would hold the same meaning as my ring."
"Maura." Jane said gently as she took the blonde's free hand. "I told you that you didn't have to give me a ring in return. I wouldn't be able to wear anything more then a wedding band anyway."
"I know." Maura said. "I explained that to Mom and she came up with a compromise." Maura opened the box to reveal the circle of gold and the nestled diamond. It looked as if someone had flatted an engagement ring, which is exactly what Constance wanted it to appear as, a ring Jane could still wear only not on her finger. "The gold loop use to be my grandfather's wedding band. Mom had it melted down and reshaped. The diamond is from Mom's first engagement ring, Dad gave her a new wedding set for their fortieth anniversary. When I was a little girl I remember sitting with my Mom and twisting the ring around her finger. I thought it was so pretty." There was a very sweet smile on Maura's face and it made Jane's heart skip. "The chain looks delicate so it won't stand out but it's very strong, it won't be easy to break, and it's small, not clunky, so you can wear it under your shirts."
There were tears in Jane's dark eyes that made them glimmer. "I love it, Maura." She said softly as she wrapped her hands around Maura's, which were trembling every so slightly. "It's absolutely perfect." She leaned in and kissed Maura, a deep loving kiss that said more then words ever could. When she pulled away she said, "Put it on for me?"
Hazel eyes bright with tears and the light from Maura's mile blinked at the slight burn from the salty secretion as Maura gave a little nod and then removed the necklace from it's box. With Jane holding up her hair Maura put the chain around her neck and fastened the clasp, which had a security link, making it harder to loose.
Once it was on Jane reached up and gently caressed the pendant between her fingers. Then she reached out and pulled Maura close, pressing her lips to those of her lover's, expressing what she felt this way more clearly then she ever could in words alone. Maura was the one good with words, Jane was all about physical expression, and despite the difference the two communicated almost perfectly.
It wasn't a big surprise when Jane got the email from her Pop saying he didn't want any part of this and reminding her that this was all wrong. It hurt; it hurt like hell. When she was a little girl and still had thoughts about her wedding she'd always seen it with her Pop walking her down the aisle, but now that wasn't going to be happening. So, yeah, it hurt, but it didn't hurt so much that it effected just how happy she was. It didn't take the silly sappy smile off her face or change the way her heart fluttered every time she saw Maura. Her Pop's problems were his own and he could work them out or not, there was nothing she could do, so she didn't fixate on it. She had better things to do like planning her wedding and deciding where to go on her honeymoon.
"Italy." Maura said suddenly without looking up from the stomach she was dissecting.
"Excuse me what?" Jane said, looking a little thrown by Maura's sudden shift in topics. Two minutes ago she'd been detailing what the poor guy on the table had for his last meal and now she was spitting out random names of countries?
Maura looked up and explained, "For our honeymoon. We should take a tour of Italy. I've always wanted too and I know you have too."
Jane smirked at that. "Really? What part?"
"All of it." Maura replied with the brightest grin.
Two cars pulled into the parking lot of an old catholic church that had been closed by the former Archbishop of Boston. Jane and Maura got out of one and their mothers out of the other. A tall man with blonde hair and very pale blue eyes walked over to them with a smile. "Ahh my brides and their mums are here, good, good, right on time ladies." Daniel said with a bright smile, his voice heavily accented by his Scottish-ness. "Come on then lets have a look inside."
Angela was smiling from ear to ear. "Oh Janie it's Scared Heart."
"Several years ago the Boston Dioceses closed several churches, selling off quite a few in order to pay out law suit settlements." Maura explained as they walked up the steps to the small yet beautiful old church.
Daniel nodded. "This one is now a Unitarian Universalist congregation."
Maura quickly stepped back in because she was the explainer of all things and wouldn't be shown up by their wedding planner. "Unitarian Universalism is a liberal religion that focuses on individual theology. There are roots in Christianity but the church does not stick to the rigid dogma of most organized churches, and they also encompass and welcome theology from other religions, both monotheist and polytheist beliefs."
"Basically they're totally cool with same-sex marriage and the minster is a former priest who like many of his congregation were forced out of the church due to their unwillingness to modernize." Daniel added as they stepped into the church. "Given Jane's religious background and Maura's wishes to honors those, this place it simply perfect."
It was a beautiful old church with brilliant stain glass windows, dark stained pews, high ceilings, and the original hand crafted alter piece. The holy water basin was still by the door, the art was still there, and the confessionals still in place, very little had been changed when its new worshipers moved in. "It's beautiful." Angela said with a soft sigh and bright smile.
Constance nodded. "It's lovely."
"Brides?" Daniel said; the single word asking whither Jane and Maura liked the place.
"It's great." Jane admitted. "But will you be comfortable getting married here Maura? I mean you're not religious or anything."
Constance raised an eyebrow. "Maura may not be practicing anymore but she is Protestant."
Maura looked a little sheepish. "I really am a WASP."
"No one here will hold that against you Doctor Isles." An older gentleman with brown, slightly graying hair said with a warm smile as he approached.
"Jane, Maura, Mums, this is Father George Reiner." Daniel introduced. "Father, these are my brides. Detective Jane Rizzoli and Doctor Maura Isles and their mothers, Angela and Constance."
Father George smiled and welcomed everyone before showing them around. He talked to them, got to know them a bit, and after Jane and Maura agreed that this is where they wanted their wedding, he said he'd like to meet with them a few more times before the wedding. They agreed, and booked the date. Jane and Maura were feeling pretty giddy now that they had a place and a date. It would be up to Daniel to find a reception venue to book for the same date but they knew he could do it. Of course Maura's meticulous research, like it had with finding the perfect church, would help greatly.
Standing outside in the parking lot Daniel handed Jane and Maura each a small packet.
"What's this?" Jane asked as she opened it up and looked inside.
"Train tickets, hotel reservations, and a card with the name and address of the wedding bouquet I'll be meeting you at in New York." Daniel said with a charming smile.
"Oh." Angela cooed as she raised her hand to her chest dreamily. "I've always wanted to take the train to New York."
Jane gave Maura a look but Maura was smiling and chatting to her mother with such a happy look on her beautiful face that Jane didn't have the heart to bitch about a four-hour train ride and unexpected weekend trip to New York City. Between Maura and her mother there was no way Jane was going to dampen this whole bridal trip for them even if she would be giving up a free weekend.
The four hour train ride gave the four time to work on planning the honeymoon, a full on tour of Italy, that Jane was a little uncomfortable with simply because Constance insisted on paying for it all. Angela and Jane were contributing to the wedding and reception, but the Isles were more then willing to shell out huge amounts of money on everything and it was just a little unsettling for Jane. Having a best friend with money was one thing; Jane had to get use to the fact that she was marrying into money now.
"Jane." Maura said softly while their mothers were off to restroom. "Are you alright with all of this?"
"I'm adjusting." Jane said honestly and then leaned over and kissed Maura's cheek. "I'll be fine, Maur. Don't worry ok?"
"I can ask Mom to wheel it in." Maura offered.
Jane chuckled. "Rein it in, Maura, but that's ok, you don't have too. How can I say no when she's making a dream come true? I've always wanted to see Italy."
Maura gave her love a warm and loving smile. "It'll be wonderful."
"Yes it will." Jane agreed. "Even the part were Ma joins us on our Honeymoon in Rome."
The blonde chuckled. "Just for a few days. She wants to visit the Vatican."
"You need to stop being so lovey with my Ma." Jane teased. "It's annoying and makes it harder for me to be snippy."
When they arrived in New York they checked into the W Times Square hotel. Constance and Angela got their own rooms, which simply floored Angela. She was in awe of the modern yet warm feel of the room the overlooked Times Square and was taking way to many pictures to show her friends back home. Jane and Maura got one of the small suites with a voyeur shower that Jane couldn't wait for Maura to use. After having dinner together in the hotel restaurant the mothers went up to their rooms while Jane and Maura ventured out to explore a little and have some time alone.
The next day Maura and Constance found themselves at RK Bridal while Jane and Angela went out to explore the city. Three gowns in and Maura put one on that when she looked at herself in the mirrors it brought tears to her eyes. When Constance saw this she simply said, "That's the one my darling. You're stunning."
After picking out Constance's dress and going through fittings the two headed off for lunch and an afternoon at the spa while Jane and Angela took their turn at RK. Of course finding a dress for Jane was harder then it had been with Maura. Maura loved clothes, she loved fashion, and she loved getting all dolled up to look stunning and fabulous. Jane still wanted to know why everyone kept telling her no, really loudly, when she asked if she could just wear her formal uniform. "It's your wedding Janie not a funeral!" Angela had said more then once.
Jane tried on five dresses before they decided to take a break and work on finding one for Angela. Daniel kept the color choices for Angela close to what Constance picked out but the style was more suited to Angela.
Jane smiled as she looked at her mother. Stepping up behind her Jane have her a hug as she rested her chin on Angela's shoulder. "You're beautiful Ma."
"Thank you Janie." Angela rasped softly.
That evening Jane and Angela were late getting to dinner with Maura and Constance because it had taken forever for Jane to pick a dress. The one she finally picked, when she put it on, it made her gasped. It was simple, beautiful, and just made Jane shine. With their dressed picked out they took their turn at the spa so Daniel's prep team could work out hair and make-up. After all that Jane was a little grumpy when they finally made it to dinner, but quickly cheered up when Maura said she'd gotten them tickets to the Yankee/Red Sox game the next day.
The train ride back let them finish off honeymoon plans so that was taken care of. With a much shorter list then Maura had given him to start with, Daniel took them to check out some reception venues. Everything was coming together, except Jane wouldn't get to walk down the aisle with her father. Maura had offered to forego that part, she said they could just go alone or with their mothers, but Jane didn't want to deprive Maura of walking with her dad. She and Constance had been able to do so much together already, that was going to be her moment with her father. That's when Frankie stepped in. He was the oldest son and he would be honored to walk his sister down the aisle.
Everything was coming together and Maura and Jane were both ecstatic about the whole thing, but they were also feeling a little overwhelmed so the weekend before the wedding they fled from Boston, spending three days alone and cut off from the outside world in Martha's Vineyard. Their lives were about to change for the better. The risks they'd each taken were about to pay off.