Till Death Do Us Part
Part 20
Rizzoli and Isles are the property of TNT and Tess Gerritson. I am just borrowing them for a little fun. I hope you enjoy the ride. I am going to concentrate on Jane and Maura in this chapter. I hope you enjoy. As always, please review.
Jane couldn't believe her eyes when Maura and she rode into the grotto. It had been literally transformed into a fantasy world of every bride. The sun was setting streaking the sky in reds, oranges, and purples overhead even as the first stars started to appear like sparkling diamonds. Candles hung from all the mesquite trees and lit the ground around the grotto. Small lanterns made of rice paper floated across the water with candles creating a romantic ambiance. The BBQ pits that had been quiet when Jane and Maura were here last time now flared with cooking meat as cooks moved and rotated the feast to come. The smell of roasting meats wafted past Jane causing her stomach to growl. Nearby several kegs of beer, coolers of wine, and other beverages were being served from a make shift bar. A band was warming up on the dance floor that had been installed to allow for others to dance. Several people frolicked in the grotto's waters. Jane and Maura couldn't believe it. Both women looked at each other smiling like two children who had found a new toy.
"Wow, Rebecca really went over the top." Jane said as she released Maura's hand on the nearby horse. Jane spotted Frankie playing horse shoes with several cowboys. Maura's father and mother were strolling along the grotto's shoreline hand in hand. Angela was near the BBQ pits chatting with Maria and several other cooks. Tommy was dancing on the edge of the dance floor with one of the relatives of the Rizzoli's that had come down.
"It seems like everyone is having a nice time so far." Maura said as she turned to look at Jane. "I think it's time for us to have some fun. Shall we join them?" Jane smiled back and nodded. Jane dismounted from her horse moving to Maura's horse and catching her as she dismounted. Rebecca and Edward also dismounted from their horses, though Rebecca moved a lot slower than the others.
"Are you sure you are okay?" Edward whispered to Rebecca. Rebecca nodded, even though pain ran throughout her body from the jarring slow ride out to the grotto on the horse. Edward and Rebecca had fought before coming out about the ride and whether Rebecca was up to the ride. In the end Rebecca had won because Edward had given in to her.
"Yeah, just tired Edward. We knew this would be a problem. Please trust me." Rebecca kissed Edward. "I'm okay." Edward gently hugged Rebecca.
"I'm just worried that now my dream is true that it will be taken away from me." Edward said softly. Rebecca looked up into her loves eyes seeing the joy mixed with fear. It was then she made a decision she had been holding back on for so long. She let Wendy's shadow go and allowed Edward to take its place. Rebecca leaned against Edward feeling those strong arms wrap around her and for the first time in a long time she felt safe and whole.
"No way, I'm here to stay. You're going to have to pry me off with a crowbar Edward. Your mine and I'm yours. Don't you ever forget that?" Rebecca said with a fire that had been absent for quite a while. Rebecca got the joy of watching the fear leave Edwards's eyes to be replaced with a flame that burned equal to her own. "Come on, let's have some fun." The couples joined their friends and family. Jane and Maura moved to where the altar for the ceremony had been set up. Family and friends moved over to the area too. The enactment of the ceremony went well. Tommy and Frankie stood by Jane.
"She is so beautiful Jane. You are one lucky girl." Frankie said as he ribbed her with his hand.
"Yes, I am. Thank god she wanted me after all the hell I have put her through." Jane said softly as she watched Maura approach.
"I should have grabbed her when I had the chance," Tommy said. Maura's eyes caught Jane's lighting up brightly.
"She was never yours to grab Tommy." Frankie growled back to his brother.
"Calm down, I'm just ribbing Jane." Tommy snickered. Jane never heard a word as she only had eyes for the beautiful woman approaching her. Maura's father walked her down the aisle.
"She is quite the catch honey." Maura's father said. Maura blushed and just nodded. Constance caught her daughter's eyes for a moment and whispered I love you to her. Maura nodded, turning her head back to where Jane and the boys stood.
Father Thomas from an ecumenical church presided over the ceremony. Edward and Rebecca stood nearby also. Jake and Vince stood near Edward. Rebecca would be given away by Angela Rizzoli. Everyone was in a wonderful mood.
"You know Constance I really never thought this day would come. I never thought I would see Jane getting married. Tommy and Frankie, but never Jane." Angela spoke joyfully to Constance. "I am so happy your daughter came into my Janie's life. If she hadn't Jane would have had a sad end I believe."
"No, it's Jane I owe Angela. She not only opened up the possibility of Maura having a relationship with William and me, but she is slowly drawing out the complete women Maura is and filling in the empty places inside her." Constance turned away from the sight of the young couple in front of her. "Thank you for all the calls and encouragement after we first met. You words helped me make some realizations about myself. Thank you for having Jane." Constance leaned over and hugged the Italian woman. William joined them.
"Can I join you?" he asked. The two women nodded and together they all watched the ceremony.
Jane and Maura were having a great time and laughing by the end due to some flubbed words. Everyone moved off to have dinner afterwards. Maria and the cooks had outdone themselves. There were plates of lemon marinated chicken, carne asada, sopa de milpa, fresh vegetables, beans, rice, and mounds of tortillas. There were the normal sides of pickles, sliced onion, and jalapenos as well as a table of sweets both Mexican and Italian. Music floated through the air as the new family ate together binding their spirits.
"This dance is mine. Come on Maura, one last time as a single lady with the better brother." Tommy spoke as he grabbed Maura's hand pulling her away from the table and dancing with her on the dance floor.
"No, let him have fun. It's been a long time since I've seen him this happy." Jane said pushing Frankie back into his seat from where he had risen to go after his brother. The dance floor began to fill and soon Maura was being swung into Vince's arms. Song after song Maura danced with family and friends before noticing Jane just standing off to the side watching her as she attempted to catch her breath. Jane looked up at Maura and waved toward the band. Then Jane walked up to Maura as the band began to play. The dance floor cleared as the first strains of the music played. Maura soon recognized the song, I Won't Give Up On Us by Jason Miraz. It was a few minutes before Maura realized that Jane was singing to her while dancing her around the dance floor.
"When I look into your eyes
It's like watching the night sky
Or a beautiful sunrise
There's so much they hold
And just like them old stars
I see that you've come so far
To be right where you are
How old is your soul?
I won't give up on us
Even if the skies get rough
I'm giving you all my love
I'm still looking up."
As Jane and Maura danced past Vince and Frost the two men smiled.
"You were right old man. She finally set her fears aside for Maura." Frost said as he watched his partner dance Maura around the floor. Everyone was entranced by them.
"Jane's not a coward. You just have to give her time. She is the strongest woman I have ever met." Vince said, his eyes sparkling against the fire light.
"No, I think I know one who is just as strong." Frost chuckled back as he watched Maura spin around in Jane's hands.
"And when you're needing your space
To do some navigating
I'll be here patiently waiting
To see what you find
'Cause even the stars they burn
Some even fall to the earth
We've got a lot to learn
God knows we're worth it
No, I won't give up"
Maura couldn't believe the gift she was being given. Tears rolled down her face in joy. Jake and Edward smiled and laughed as they went past. Rebecca reclined nearby watching the happy couple dance. A piece of her worry drifted away as she watched two souls become one again. She leaned back and drifted into a gentle haze enjoying the band's music, Jane's clear voice, and the gentle evening wind. She felt a hand on her face that she recognized as Edwards.
"Rest darling, I'll be spinning you around soon enough." Edward whispered. Rebecca's eyes fluttered open as she kissed the man she truly loved.
"I don't wanna be someone who walks away so easily
I'm here to stay and make the difference that I can make
Our differences they do a lot to teach us how to use
The tools and gifts we got yeah, we got a lot at stake
And in the end, you're still my friend at least we did intend
For us to work we didn't break, we didn't burn
We had to learn how to bend without the world caving in
I had to learn what I've got, and what I'm not
And who I am
I won't give up on us
Even if the skies get rough
I'm giving you all my love
I'm still looking up
Still looking up."
"You know she always was the romantic. She used to make special meals for me, or leave a flower on the kitchen counter when she was young." Angela whispered to Maria as they watched Jane twirl Maura around.
"Children can sometimes surprise us when we least expect it." Maria said as she watched the two women surrender utterly to each other. She would bet they didn't even know there were others around them so involved with each other they were.
"That's my Janie. Always surprising us when we least expect it." Angela's eyes thankfully and joyfully followed them around the room even as she sent a prayer skyward to whoever had been watching over the couple all these years.
"I won't give up on us (no I'm not giving up)
God knows I'm tough enough (I am tough, I am loved)
We've got a lot to learn (we're alive, we are loved)
God knows we're worth it (and we're worth it)
I won't give up on us
Even if the skies get rough
I'm giving you all my love
I'm still looking up"
When the song came to an end Jane pulled Maura into a long, slow burning kiss. The couple soon broke apart as the band began to play and the dance floor filled once again. The soft strains of the party continued long into the morning hours. The happy couples, family, and friends did not want to let this moment go.