A/N: Here's the epilogue! Sorry for any mistakes, I really wanted to get this posted :)
It had been a long and amazing six months. Long because of the trial and amazing because of her new girlfriend. The relationship had moved quickly, Jane moving in with Maura after only a month. It helped that the two had been practically living together for years. Maura had even donated half of her wardrobe in order to give Jane space. She didn't need it all but Maura wanted to make sure Jane knew that this was her home to. She drew the line on giving up any of her shoes though. She loved Jane more than anything but nobody made her give up her shoes.
Jo Friday and Bass had become inseparable, much to Jane's confusion, as she still couldn't seem to bond with the hard moving lump. Jane had even grown accustomed to her mother constantly walking in at any time of the day or night. Of course it was now usually preceded by a knock after Angela had caught an eye-full the first few times.
Dean was in jail and having a very hard time as Jane had heard. Doyle was in jail as well but Maura had become a frequent visitor. Jane worried about her girlfriend's safety but she was also so proud that Maura had been able to put everything aside and develop a relationship with her birth father.
It was almost time for the entire family to arrive for Sunday night dinner. Maura and Angela were cooking in the kitchen while Jane was getting ready in the bedroom. In all honesty she was actually sitting on the bed rolling the ring around and around in her finger. She'd brought it a month earlier and had just been waiting for the right moment. She knew from the first date that Maura was her forever. Honestly she'd known well before then but that's all she'd admit to at the moment. She tried to come up with a plan, romantic restaurant, dinner at home, opera... but nothing seemed good enough for Maura. Maura deserved the word, she deserved everything. Jane sighed and slipped the ring back into her pocket. She had a few more things to do before she could actually 'pop the question' and this was the perfect time. With a deep breath she pulled out her phone and dialled what was quickly becoming a familiar number.
"Massachusetts Correctional Institution," a male voice answers.
"Detective Jane Rizzoli, Victor 825," she identified herself. "I need to speak to inmate 1423, Patrick Doyle."
"Please wait," the voice replied.
Jane impatiently plucked at the bed cover for the 15 minutes she spent waiting. Soon a gruff and familiar voice came on the line.
"Maura?" Paddy asked.
"It's Jane."
"Is Maura OK?"
Jane smiled. She was glad that there was at least one other person in the world who would do anything for one Maura Isles. "She's fine."
"Good."
Silence came across the line.
"Then why did you call Jane?"
Jane took another deep breath. "I have a question to ask you."
"I may not answer."
"I know."
"Go ahead."
Jane fingered the ring in her pocket. "You love your daughter, I know that. You want what's best for her... I'm best for her."
There was silence again. "What's the question Jane?"
"I'm not really asking permission, because I know it's her decision."
"Then what are you asking detective?"
"I want to marry your daughter because no one will ever love her more or better than I can and will. I... Do you..." Jane cleared her throat. This had seemed like such a good idea but now it seemed stupid. "You have protected her for her entire life. When I ask her to marry me I'm not just asking her to spend her life with me, I'm giving her MY protection for the rest of her life."
"Are you asking if I trust you with Maura?"
Jane was silent.
"You are the only person I trust with my daughter detective. You deserve her. I know you didn't ask for it... but you have my permission."
Jane bites her lip, forcing the tears back. Doyle was a criminal. He was a killer. But he loved his daughter, she was his world, and he had just told Jane that she deserved her.
Doyle seemed to understand that Jane couldn't say anything more. "Good luck detective."
There was a click and the connection was cut off.
Jane had already spoken to Constance and Richard Isles and Hope Martin. She'd even spoken to Angela. But for some reason it was the assurance from Doyle that gave her the confidence she needed.
"Jane! Dinner!" Angela's voice broke her from her thoughts.
"Coming!" she yelled back as she stood, quickly washing her face in the kitchen before heading downstairs.
She headed straight to Maura, as if her body was magnetised to the doctor's. She wrapped her arms around the smaller woman from behind and placed a kiss to the back of her neck.
"Are you OK?" Maura asked, twisting her head to try and look at Jane's face.
"Now I am," Jane mumbled into Maura's neck. "I love you."
"I love you too."
"That's beautiful," Angela basically sobbed as she watched the scene in front of her.
"Ma!" Jane sighed as she pulled away from Maura, grabbing the plates and moving to the table.
"Don't 'Ma' me Janie! You are FINALLY in a relationship with someone you love that loves you, I'm allowed to be happy."
"Yes Ma."
"And I'm allowed to expect grandbabies."
"Gah!" Jane threw up her hands in exasperation.
Maura just chuckled lightly, finishing the salad she'd been working on and moving it to the table just as Frankie and Tommy crashed through the door, soon followed by Korsak, Cavanaugh and Frost.
"Maura how many times have I told you to lock that door!" Jane frowned.
Maura just shrugged. "You'll protect me."
Jane straightened. It had been stated like a fact. Maura truly felt safe and protected in Jane's presence. Something took over as Jane closed the distance between herself and Maura. She felt like she was in a trance.
"Jane?" Maura sounded worried.
"Marry me?" the words just slipped out of Jane's mouth.
"What?" Maura's eyes widened, she was shocked.
Angela, Frankie, Tommy, Frost, Cavanaugh and Korsak were all dead silent as they watched.
Whoops, Jane thought, too late to take it back now. "I love you. I am so damn in love with you. Your brains and your beauty, how adorable you are when you're confused by something, how you point your finger just before you spurt out one of your endless facts, how strong but vulnerable you are... I feel like I have known you my entire life, I feel like I have loved you since before I even met you... it's like you were made for me and I was made for you. Every minute apart, I miss you so bad-"
"Badly," Maura said before slapping a hand over her mouth.
Jane laughed. "Badly. I love when you interrupt and correct me. I love teasing you. I want to marry you Maura because I don't want to spend anymore time not being able to say that you are my wife. I want to start our lives together. So... will you marry me Maura?"
Maura nodded her head jerkily up and down and began hopping up and down in her heels as tears poured down her face.
"Yes?" Jane laughed.
"Yes!"
Maura threw her arms around Jane and littered kisses all over the Italian's face. Jane just let her body completely fall into Maura's. Cheers soon broke them apart.
"Oh crap," Jane frowned, quickly pulling the ring out of her pocket and holding it up to Maura. "I forgot this." Jane pushed it onto Maura's finger, smiling at the perfect fit and looping their fingers together. Her smile dropped when she looked up at Maura's face though. "What's wrong?"
"You brought me a ring?" Maura asked.
"Umm... yeah? Proposals mean rings don't they?" Jane was confused.
"You planned this?"
"Oh!" Jane understood immediately and shrugged. "Well I've wanted to ask you for a while but I never found the right time... and I guess before a big family dinner with everyone watching isn't the most romantic thing but when you said I'd protect you I just knew." Jane shot Maura a slightly embarrassed smile.
"It was perfect."
Jane pulled Maura in for one more kiss before their family broke them apart to shower them with congratulations. Life was perfect.
End epilogue.
Alright. So my next story is an AU kinda crossover thing. I don't want to give too much away but it's based on the Reality Show Survivor. Relationships in that show have got to be based on an extreme kind of trust and loyalty and I think that's perfect for Maura and Jane. Hope to see you guys later!