The late summer day was beautiful, the sky a deep blue and people were in a festive mood. Barry Frost scanned the laughing and smiling crowd looking for Frankie. It was almost time. Frost was glad Jane and Maura had decided to kick their wedding festivities off with the cocktail hour. It gave everyone a chance to settle in, relax, visit, and drink.
He was little nervous, not for his friends but for himself and trying to stay on Jane's mother's good side. He noticed Dennis the wedding planner, with his arm tucked into Angela's, on the side lawn talking to Maura's parents. They all seemed to be laughing as they sipped their cocktails so he sighed in relief. He caught Frankie's eye and with a nod they met on the porch of the bed and breakfast Jane and Maura had chosen for their wedding.
"Did you pick them up?" Frankie asked.
"Of course." He patted his suit coat pocket.
"OK, lets go find them and make 'em cry." Frankie grinned evilly.
Replenishing their drinks and getting a couple for the girls, they climb the stairs to his sister and Maura's room and knock loudly on the door.
"Hey! Stop making out in there and let us in. We have something for you." Frankie says loudly, Frost chuckling by his side.
"Go away!" They hear Jane yell playfully.
Maura opens the door a crack with a comical look on her face, "What do you want, gentlemen?" She says sweetly.
Frost steps up, "Come on, Maur, let us in, we have a gift for each of you, it's important." He gives his best puppy dog eyes.
She opens the door wider smiling, "What can we do for you?"
Both men are speechless, Maura's strapless gown is amazing and to say the doctor looked gorgeous would be an understatement. Jane comes up behind her girlfriend and eyes the guys with their mouth's wide open.
"Hey, keep your eyes up here." She says pointing at Maura's face, laughing. They mutely close their mouths and turn their eyes to Jane.
"Holy, shit Janie, you look…" Frankie stumbles over his words, elbowing Frost.
Jane raises her eyebrows at her brother, "Frankiee…"
Frankie eyes his sister's shorter dress, the cream color contrasting with her summer tan and her hair pulled up halfway, mostly tamed trailing down her back. Frankie couldn't help the emotion filling up his chest, causing quick tears to surface in his eyes.
He tries again, whispering, "Geez, Janie, it's just that you look wonderful, beautiful." He leans in and wraps her in a tight hug.
They pull apart from each other, surreptitiously wiping their eyes as Maura and Frost smile at each other.
Maura takes Jane's hand in hers, "So did you at least bring us up something to drink?"
The tension broken, the guys laugh and bring their arms from behind them and hand a glass of wine over to Maura and a bottle of beer to Jane.
"So what do you two clowns want?" Jane says smiling at her brother and her friend after taking a long drink of her beer, smiling at Maura who is sipping her wine giddily.
Frost clears his throat and sets his beer down on the table by the door as Frankie sets his on the window ledge.
"Oh, no, Jane this looks serious." Maura says chuckling lightly.
"So we know both of you value rituals and traditions and even though you have chosen to forgo some of the wedding rituals we know others are very important to you. Some are important to us. Since you don't have traditional bridesmaids, you have us, we had to step up to the plate." Frost pauses and looks over at Frankie.
"Tradition says that you have something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue. So, with a little help from Ma and your mother Maura, we have a gift for both of you."
Frost pulls two small boxes from his coat pocket and hands one to each woman. At this point Maura's eyes are threatening to overflow at the thoughtfulness of her friends and Jane isn't too far behind, they look at each other before opening the boxes gingerly.
They pull out matching necklaces, small white gold hearts with a single blue sapphire at the top. Maura has lost her battle with her tears at this point while Jane's chin is trembling.
"The sapphires are from a ring handed down from our great grandmother, something old and blue." Frankie says quietly.
"The hearts were made from the wedding rings of your mother's grandparents, Maura. We had them melted down and reformed. Sort of new and borrowed at the same time." Frost finishes. "Can we help you put them on?"
At this point everyone's eyes are moist, the men put the necklaces on and hugs are exchanged all around.
Maura finds her words first, "These are amazing, thank you so much."
Jane wipes her eyes, sniffles, "Yeah, who would have thought you guys would have it in you? You make great bridesmaids."
Frankie and Frost step back and give each other high fives as Maura and Jane collect themselves.
Maura and Jane eye them suspiciously, "What was that for?" Maura sputters.
"Our goal was to get you both to cry, and we totally rocked it." Frankie hooted.
Jane smacked them both on the shoulders, "I cannot believe you guys."
Frankie clears his throat, gets himself together. "But seriously, Jane, you both look amazing, we are so glad we get to be a part of this. I am honored to be your best man, so thank you." He nods at Jane, smiling.
"Aww, Frankie, you know I love you, right?" She grins at him and folds him in a fierce hug.
As soon as she steps back, Maura steps right up to Frankie, "I love you too. I never had a brother before, I am glad I get to have you." She wraps her arms around his neck and kisses his cheek.
When Frankie steps back he has tears running silently down his face, unable to keep his emotions in check. "Aww, you guys, I can't believe you made me cry." He wipes his eyes and nose with the back of his hands.
"Maura, Jane, it is also my pleasure to be your best man, as well, to be accepted into your family unit. Thank you." Frost says, stepping forward and hugging both women ferociously, his own eyes damp around the edges.
"OK, lets let these ladies finish their preparations and head downstairs, make sure Angela hasn't caused any trouble."
Less than an hour later…Frank Rizzoli, Sr. straightens his tie one last time before nodding in satisfaction. He looked good, the blue tie and the grey suit fit him well. He turns to the left and sees his daughter and Maura fussing over each other near the front door of the old bed and breakfast. He can't help the smile on his face as he watches them. They tuck curls, fix necklaces, smooth straps, run hands up and down arms. It is like they can't help but touch each other.
Frank, Sr. is so proud of his daughter, for figuring it out, for taking a chance. And Maura, what a lovely young lady she is, he is grateful to be gaining another daughter today. He clears his throat as he approaches the young women.
"How are we doing, girls?" He asks gruffly, putting his arms around both women.
They both turn with huge smiles on their faces. Maura nods as Jane answers for them. "We're good, Pop. How are you doing? Wow. You look good Pop, really handsome." Jane says running her fingers along his lapels, laying them flat. "Is it almost time?"
Frank turns to Maura, "It is an honor to not only walk my daughter down the aisle but you also. Welcome officially to the family." Franks leans in and leaves a short kiss on her cheek.
Jane can see the tears on the verge in her eyes and can't help the ones suddenly close to the surface in her own. She quickly wipes her eyes with the backs of her hands and reaches out and wipes Maura's eyes with the pads of her thumbs. 'What is the deal today with the tears.' She thinks to herself.
"OK, OK, enough with the love fest, let's get this show on the road. How do we look, Pops? Pretty good, huh?" Jane turns and twirls the cream-colored dress swirling around her long legs.
Frank chuckles and shares a look with Maura, "Yes, Janie, you look lovely, almost as lovely as Dr. Isles here." Frank takes in Maura's longer, strapless beaded gown.
Just as Jane is about to retort when Dennis their spiky, blonde haired wedding planner sticks his head in the door of the bed and breakfast, a warm smile on his face. "Ready to go, troops?"
Maura winds her hand through Frank's arm and nods at Jane with a huge smile on her face. "Let's go, Jane, I'm ready to be Mrs. Rizzoli-Isles, no backing out now."
Frank grins at Jane and offers his other arm. "We'll be right along Dennis." Over the past few months, Frank had become quite fond of the quirky wedding planner. He had been invaluable when dealing with Angela Rizzoli and for that they all were eternally grateful.
The three of them step onto the wide sweeping porch of the bed and breakfast Jane and Maura had chosen for their wedding. The crowd looking at them elicits different reactions from each person. Maura can't help but grin wider, Frank straightens his tie once more, and Jane desperately hopes she doesn't fall down in the damn high heels Maura picked out for her.