Apparently, Irish folk music is my muse. I've an hour long commute to school every day and so I listen to a lot of music in that time. In case you're wondering, I have a Pandora station created from the music of The High Kings that I listen too. Anyway, on with the story.
Disclaimer: I do not own Rizzoli and Isles. Those rights belong to TNT, Tess Gerrtisen, and Janet Tamaro and probably more people. Likewise, I do not own the song Kitty, the Rose of Kilrea or anything performed by The Irish Rovers.
Kitty, the Rose of Kilrea
"Oh, come on, Maur' do I have to?" Jane whined even as she pulled on her jacket. "I'm Italian, asking me to walk up in there is like asking me to start a turf war."
"Tsk, Jane, you know how I feel about the use of hyperbole. But yes, you have to go. It's my opportunity to learn about my heritage." Maura responded as she pulled a sensible pair of flats out of her closet.
"You just found out you're Irish!"
"Precisely, why I want to do this. You don't have to go with me if you don't want to. It'll make it less awkward when I leave with a strapping Irishman." Maura smiled to herself knowing that, if nothing else, the Italian in Jane wouldn't allow her best friend to go home with an Irishman.
"Ugh, fine. But I won't like it. And so help me God if someone makes me drink O'Douls…"
Jane sat back and watched as Maura laughed and danced in time to the fast paced music. "How could I have begrudged her this?" Jane thought and as the M.E. continued to learn the traditional dance of the Irish. Being dragged to an Irish heritage festival was not Jane's idea of a good time, but watching Maura enjoy herself made up for it. Like everything she did, Maura had taken to the fast stepping dance easily. Jane took another sip of her beer and watched as Maura gracefully moved in the quadrille like dance, sweat had plastered the fringes of her hair to her face but she laughed as her partner whispered something to her. Jane was in awe of the grace with which Maura moved, yoga toned legs flashed as Maura danced. The pink light behind her flashed on the reddish highlights in her head, making the small woman's hair flame. It reminded Jane of a stained glass window she saw once, the light behind Maura lit her up with an almost holy light. The song finally ended and Maura continued the dance a bit as she made her way over to Jane.
"Oh, Jane! The dances are so exhilarating! And such a workout! I may have to start doing this instead of Zumba…" Maura tittered on about the dances giving the history of the dances and explaining the difference between social dances and performance dances. Jane just smiled as she passed a bottled water over to Maura. "Jane! They're going to do a céilí next and thought they normally don't call céilí they will this time for newcomers! Please dance with me!"
Jane tried to count how many exclamation points had to have been in those last few sentences. With a raised eyebrow Jane replied, "Really? An Italian doing an Irish jig? My ancestors will die from mortification."
"Jane, your ancestors are dead, they can't die again. But I understand if you don't want to. I guess it's time to go home anyway, it is awfully late." With a crestfallen look, Maura began to gather her stuff to go home. Jane couldn't take it. She hated to see Maura upset; she hated it more when it was her fault. She grabbed hold of Maura's wrist as she turned away. Looking down at the smaller woman, Jane rubbed her thumb along the inside of Maura's wrist, "Fine, one dance Maura. But we never speak of this okay?"
Jane led Maura out to the dance floor as the first flute notes began the song. The caller announced this particular song would be for groups of two, so Jane stood opposite of Maura. Jane tried and failed not to notice how Maura's chest rose and fell from her previous exertions. Promenade forward, promenade back. I've never felt the pain of love 'til cupid came one day/ Now every thought I've had is on Kitty of Kilrea! It was time for the spin in the dance and so Jane stepped closer her arm wrapping around Maura's waist, Maura's right arm on Jane's left and Maura's left hand cupping Jane's face. Jane stared down at Maura as they spun, watching her eyes twinkle. For the first time, Jane noticed a light within Maura's eyes; one she was certain she never saw except when Maura was looking at her. I love the rose of Kilrea, and one of these days I'll dance her away/ She's stolen my heart, and never I'll part with Kitty the rose of Kilrea.
Jane stumbled a bit, all too happy to blame her inexperience and the alcohol, as the words of the song penetrated her thoughts. The pink light glinted off Maura's hair again as the two went through the motions of the dance again. Jane's grip tightened imperceptibly on Maura's waist as they went through another turn. She concentrated hard on the words of the song and her dance partner as her muscles relaxed into the now repetitive motion of the dance. Her hair is long and golden and her eyes are emerald green/ She's well put together from head to toe she's every young man's dream/ All of the boys are chasing her and it's time I made me play/ When I get bold I will propose to Kitty the rose of Kilrea.
Throughout most of the dance Jane had not taken her eyes off of Maura. Every part of the song made her think of Maura and what it is she truly felt. Jane had battled the stereotype of the butch cop for so long that she had thought that if it were true she'd have a good old fashioned come apart. She always thought it would be like the five stages of grief: denial, anger, bargaining, depression and then acceptance. But watching Maura smile and laugh up at her Jane felt nothing but peace and a quiet happiness. Whatever this is she felt for the other woman she knew that it was right. She would say damn to the consequences.
With one last spin, the song was over and Jane and Maura wearily stepped off the dance floor and made their way back to their table. "Well, that wasn't hard." Jane wheezed out as she grabbed for a water bottle.
"I suppose I should start calling you the Lord of the Dance, now." Maura giggled out behind the lip of her own water bottle.
"As long as we can go home now, you can call me whatever you want to, Kitty." And with a hand on the small of her back, Jane guided Maura out.