I do not own Rizzoli and Isles. I can only claim my hopes for these characters and any gramatical mistakes.
Cghco ch 12
It was nearly 2pm and the party was scheduled to begin at 4pm, giving Maura and Jane 2 hours to get ready.
"Shower, hair, make-up, clothes. I'm so glad I laid out our outfits this morning." Maura congratulated herself.
"So, how bout that shower?" Jane asked hopefully.
"Jane..." Maura admonished.
"What?" Jane pouted. "We can save on tim..."
"Don't you dare try to use that reasoning, when you know full well that anytime we shower together it always takes longer than the previously shared session." Maura argued.
Jane could only smirk at the memories playing back in her mind.
"Jane, please...my hormones are in a flux right now. Could you, for the next six hours, just not be so damn cute and sexy?!" Maura pleaded.
Jane literally bit her tongue to keep from talking and smirking. She could see the struggle in Maura's eyes, resolve waning.
"You got it. Turning off the charm...now." Jane finished with a snap of her fingers and headed for the shower in the hall, leaving Maura full reign of the master.
Within twenty minutes, Jane was able to shower and calm the wild mane with hair product. Maura had made some progress as well, having showered and blow-dried her hair.
The idea running through both women's heads that they would be adding a whole other person to the mix, brought worry and excitement.
Another twenty minutes and the couple was freshly made up and clothed.
Hand in hand, Jane and Maura descended the stairs in search of the force known as Angela.
At the landing, Jane shared a calming kiss with Maura and gave a quick pep talk to the baby.
"Now, little one, there are going to be lots of people around today. That means, lots of noise and belly rubbing. But, they all mean well so try and be good for momma in there." Jane finished her speech with a kiss to the protuberance.
Maura looked on with great love and pride.
"I thought you were turning that off?" Maura chastised.
"Can I help it if my oozing charm can't always be in check?" Jane challenged with a sparkling wink of the eye.
Maura simply rolled her eyes. A habit she had begun to pick up from her partner.
"T-minus one hour until showtime." Angela announce to the couple.
"What can we do, Angela?" Maura inquired.
"You, my dear, can have a seat and just relax. Jane, you can start bringing out the food and turning on the chafing dishes."
"Yes ma'am." Jane complied with a salute.
A ding sounded throughout the house as Jane lowered her hand.
"Let the wild rumpus begin..." Jane muttered.
"Hey, I know that quote." Maura shot at Jane. "We should read that one to our baby."
"Oh, definitely!" Jane concurred.
Angela made it to the front door in record time. Not that anyone was keeping track.
"T.J.! Tommy, Lydia... what a surprise! What brings you so early?" Angela questioned as she took TJ into her arms.
"We thought we'd come early in case you needed help. Especially after what you all did for me with T.J." Lydia answered.
"Well that is very kind of you. I'm sure there is something we can find for you to do." Angela replied.
Angela ushered the young family inside and they said their hellos to Jane and Maura. She had taken to literally and figuratively scratching her head when inspiration struck.
"I know!" Angela attacked the air with an index finger and walked over to a box filled with notepads, pens, favors and many more baby shower themed items.
"If you could start organizing the games, that would be so helful, Lydia. Thank you very much!" Angela supplied.
"Is there any particular order you want them to be played?" Lydia replied.
"So long as the clothes pins get distributed to everyone that walks in, the rest of the games can go in any order you want." Angela qualified.
"What are the rules for the clothes pin game?" Lydia replied.
"The point of the game is to have the most pins by the end of the party. Every person gets one pin each and are able to take another's pin if you catch them saying the word 'baby.'" Angela explained.
"Okay. I think I can handle that." Lydia took her leave and headed toward the box filled with party games. The note pads and pens she knew were for the word games, and the string was for the estimated size of Maura's pregnant belly however, Lydia kept coming up with blanks for what to do with the diapers and assorted fun-sized chocolate bars.
"Angela, I'm not sure I know what these are for. These chocolates were sitting in the diapers but, I don't know what the point is." Lydia asked of her son's grandmother.
Suddenly, all eyes shifted when a fit of laughter could be heard from the soon-to-be mommas.
"Would you like to field this one Dr. Isles?" Jane asked Maura once she was subdued enough to supply an answer for Lydia.
The doctor responded with, "you see, Lydia, Jane and I both encountered the same question at a baby shower we recently attended. The chocolate bars are melted into the diapers representing a baby's excrement. The game players are to guess the names of the chocolate bars in each diaper based on the indivdual's examination."
Lydia looked to Tommy with a slightly lost look.
Tommy decided to clarify for Lydia. "So, the chocolate is supposed to be poop and we need to decide whether the chocolate is a Snickers or Milky Way and so on?"
"Precisely!" Maura said praisingly.
With that, everyone continued on with their activities and waited for the rest of the guests to start rollling in.
Approximately two hours into the scheduled start time and the party was in full swing. Congratulations strewn about, belly pats, clothes pins taken and taken again, and tons of food and drink consumed.
All in all, the shower was a success.
The winners of the individual games were awarded their gifts and the future mommies opened theirs.
Maura and Jane had requested for gifts to be limited to clothing of varying sizes or donations in the name of Baby Isles-Rizzoli to be sent to various shelters where such items could be of use.
Slowly, but surely, Jane and Maura gave their thanks to each and every guest for showing up and celebrating their soon-to-come addition.
Neither woman could believe just how many people turned out for their baby shower. Family from Jane's mother and father's side, Maura's adoptive and biological mother as well as her half sister Kailyn, co-workers from the station, and many associates Maura had regular contact with throughout the medical field made for a very large turnout. These women were truly blessed.
Just as the party started with Tommy, Lydia, and T.J., they also ended the shower's festivities being the last to leave.
"Wasn't it so nice of Tommy and Lydia to help out as much as they did, honey?" Angela asked of her eldest child.
"Yes, Ma. It was very nice. They've really come a long way." Jane answered.
Jane rid herself of the terry cloth tea towel she had been using to wipe down the last soiled surface, washed her hands, and made her way to the couch where Maura was resting.
Jane wrapped an arm around Maura's waist and gently kissed her right temple. She spread attention down to Maura's stomach and their baby.
"I can't believe we'll be meeting this little miracle before too long." Jane incredulously stated.
"I know what you mean. Even though I know the exact gestational calendar timeline, I find myself anxious about when we'll finally get to become a complete family." Maura shared her thoughts.
With her mother long gone, Jane broke the stare she'd been sharing with her love to get ready for bed.
Late into the night, Jane had woken up to find her doctor out of bed and pacing.
"Maur, what's wrong? Come back to bed." Jane enquired.
"Something is wrong. I feel this pressure but, my water hasn't broken nor have I experienced any contractions. I don't know what this feeling is." Maura responded, slowly showing signs of distress.
Jane was immediately up and by Maura's side, rubbing the woman's back, and whispering soothing words of assurance that everything would be okay.
"We'll call the doctor and see what she thinks would be the best course of action." Jane shared her plan of action.
"Okay." Maura agreed with a sigh of relief.