Disclaimers: R & I doesn't in any way belong to me...

CH 7

"Yes, mother. I am very happy, and I apologize for having to explain all of this to you over the phone, but I did not want to wait." I listened to my mother respond and encourage me. "Thank you for understanding, Mother. We…well, I finally know what I want for myself as a woman not just as a doctor for my career; I don't want to wait to get started. We will finalize plans with the attorneys and I will visit with Uncle Steven about everything…..no, Mother, I'm sure I don't want you to 'make sure' he handles our case in family court. It is enough to speak with him and gain from his knowledge of the process….yes, Mother, we will be fine. I will plan to see you in the next week to prepare for the wedding….ok….Mother….I love you." And with that more often used sentiment, I ended our conversation. I have spent more time with my mother either on the phone or in person since Jane intervened with her on my behalf at their first meeting, and since Jackson was born, we have been especially in contact. Mother came to Boston a few weeks after Jackson arrived to meet him and fell in love. While she was surprised at the entire chain of events in my life over the past three months, she was not particularly surprised to learn of my engagement to Jane. It is becoming ever more apparent to me that many, many people believed Jane and I were in a dating relationship for some time now.

"Hey, Maur. You ready to go shopping?" Jane entered my office with a smile that didn't quite reflect in her eyes. Since our announcement last night, Angela had been conspicuously absent, even calling in sick to work at the café today. I trust what she said as she departed last night about loving us, but I can tell her response and subsequent silence is weighing on Jane.

"Jane, we don't have to do this now, if you would rather wait."

"What? No. I want to get rings today…I'm sorry if I'm a bit distracted," she leaned in to kiss me, "but I want to do this with you. Don't doubt that."

"I don't doubt you, Jane, I simply don't want to push you. It has already been a big day for us." Upon our arrival at the station this morning, Jane and I requested a meeting with Lieutenant Cavanaugh, Korsak, Frost, and Riley.

"Thanks for letting us have this little…meeting, Lieu. I'll cut straight to it…Jackson's paternity tests came back. He is Frank Rizzoli's son; my brother. I have all the paperwork ready to file from Frank which rescinds his parental rights to Jackson….as you know, we have been looking for Lydia the entire time we have had Jackson, and we will continue to do so, but with my fath…well, with Frank's paperwork, I am very optimistic that I will be able to adopt Jackson quickly even without Lydia's written consent. The note she left at Maura's should seal the deal."

"Wow, Jane, if this is what you want, then I'm happy for you," Frost spoke up first.

"Yeah, Janey…I never thought you'd take the leap into parenthood, but I knew you would be great at it. I'm really proud of you," Korsak added.

"Rizzoli, what does this mean for your work. Single parenthood is tough. I'll work with you as best I can, but I am honestly a little concerned I'm going to lose a top detective," Cavanaugh said what the others were thinking.

"Well, Lieu, that sorta leads me into the next thing I need to tell you…I would appreciate it if you would all keep the information I've given you today quiet. I am not going to hide anything that I've told you, but I want my personal life to be mine. Period." A round of "sure" and "you bet" came from around the room. "thank you all, for always being there for me….I can't tell you how much it means to me…that it's always meant to me even if I couldn't tell ya before….I want you all to be the first to know that I'm getting married," I say it with a huge smile on my face and love the shocked reactions from my partners and peers.

"What?!"

"Who?!"

"What the hell?!"

"Settle down, Korsak! You've been married, like what six times! I don't even get one shot?" After a chuckle and a pause, I jump into the last of what I need to say, "I will only be doing this once though…I am completely in love with my fiancé…" I reach over and take Maura's hand. She has been quietly sitting beside me the entire time, but I could feel her support and encouragement. "Maura and I are getting married as soon as possible, probably in a couple of weeks. We will be adopting Jackson…we are a family, and I am happier than I ever thought I could be."

As I prepared dinner later that evening, Jane played with Jackson while explaining in detail to him why the Yankees "suck". I cannot help the small chuckle that escapes me…then it becomes a laugh followed by a complete breakdown of laughter at my kitchen counter. Jane comes into the room with a curious look, a smirk, and a happy baby on her hip. "Maur, everything alright in here, sweetie?

"Oh my yes, Jane! I just heard you talking to the baby and then I looked down at my ring and thought about the wedding…and I was quite suddenly struck by what was happening and how strange our lives are…can you believe it?"

Jane took my left hand into her own so that our new engagement rings were side-by-side. She proceeded to draw them to her mouth and kiss my fingers tenderly. "So that was positive laughter…not 'I must be crazy' laughter, right?" Her smirk told me she knew the answer and was just teasing me. I leaned in to kiss Jackson and then moved onto give Jane a passionate kiss,

"…definitely positive."

"I'll meet with the lawyer tomorrow while you go visit with the Judge." I held Maura as we lay in bed discussing the things that needed to happen over the next couple of days.

"I told Uncle Steven that I would be in his office by 8:30. Barring anything happening at work, we should be able to get everything we need set in motion within the next 24-48 hours….Jane, when do you want to get married? I mean specifically…we've really only spoken in general terms and timeframes."

"I was thinking two weeks…we could have the ceremony on that Friday night…and maybe spend the weekend together…ya know, for a honeymoon?" I blushed a little as I said it. Even in the dark, I knew Maura could tell.

"I think that sounds perfect, Jane…Jane, I…I'd like to wait to make love until we are married…does that sound alright? I want that to be so special for us, truly a beginning for us and our lives together."

"Maur, I think I can wait that long. There is something very romantic about making love for the first time to you after you are my wife," I lean in to kiss her to show her how much I love and want her. After a few minutes of heated kisses, I pull back. "M, much more of that and your romantic notions and my good intentions might not last. It's been…well, a long time for me…and I do want you. More every day."

"Then, let's just relax here together…my mother will arrive in Boston next week, and I promise the wedding will be simple, the paperwork will be taken care of, and we will be on that honeymoon very soon….I love you." A few more kisses, and sleep takes over.

TBC...

A/N: this one was short and to the point, but it sets up a pivotal ch 8, which I might go ahead and post tonight...it is sitting and waiting.