It seemed like years before December came. Maura came over every Sunday night for dinner and even stayed here for Thanksgiving since her parents were in Italy. She even took me shopping! She really fit into the family. Maura missed Jane though. She missed talking to her and just having the company of someone else in her house. Both women wrote to one another at least once maybe twice a week. It made time go a little faster. But one day, I got a phone call from Jane. She told me Maura loved Christmas and although she'd never admit to anyone but Jane, Jane told me that Maura hasn't experienced a "real" family Christmas. Maura has usually been home alone or went to Europe. Never actually had a "Family Christmas" So she told me she wanted to surprise her with the best Christmas ever.
Christmas Eve,1995 Rizzoli Family Household
Maura was helping the boys decorate the christmas tree. She even took part in wrapping Tommy up in tinsel. She was having the best time.
"Maura! Maura!" Angela screamed from the top of the stairs.
Maura stopped. "Yes Angela?" she hollered back.
"Come up here!" Angela hollered.
Maura put the ornaments down and walked up the stairs and into a spare bedroom which she's imagining was Jane's.
"What do you need?" Maura said looking at the pile of tacky christmas sweaters.
Angela looked up from what she was doing. "Maura you always look so put together." she said smiling. Maura stood there not knowing where this was going.
"Anyways." Angela started. "Everyone in my opinion needs a tacky christmas sweater. And I know for a fact you don't have any tacky things so try these on. They were Janes."
Maura gulped. She hated tacky sweaters. But she knew it'd make Angela happy so she tried them on.
Maura came out with a black sweater with a giant green christmas tree and two kittens playing with a red ball of yarn. This one was by far her favorite.
"Oh Maura!" Angela gasped. "You look adorable!" she said smiling.
Maura blushed. "Really?"
Angela nodded. "Oh darling you look absolutely adorable." she said smiling. She looked at Maura. The sweater dropped below her waist and went perfectly with the dark grey fuzzy leggings she was wearing. She looked like a model.
"Just one more thing to complete the outfit." Angela said picking up an elf hat.
"Oh Angela I don't think-" But Angela already put it on Maura's head.
Maura looked in the mirror and laughed. She loved it. She just wished Jane was here to celebrate christmas with her.
"I have an idea!" Angela said to the family. "Maura come down here!" she screamed.
"Ma got to Maura" Frankie whispered to Tommy. Tommy agreed.
Maura walked down the stairs. Tommy and Frankie stood jaw-dropped at how adorable Maura looked in one of Jane's tacky sweaters and the elf hat was even cuter.
"You look like Santa's little helper." Frankie said putting one arm around Maura.
"Shut up." Maura said playfully punching Frankie in the side.
"So what did you need ma?" Tommy said.
"Well as soon as we finish decorating the tree, we're all going to get into tacky sweaters and take a picture so Maura can send one to Jane." she said.
Maura smiled. "I really like that idea Angela." she said. She's never taken a goofy photo before.
Angela smiled. "I thought you would." she said. "Now come on lets finish decorating the tree." she said smiling. Maura agreed and the two helped the boys finish the tree.
For the next hour, The Rizzoli's and Maura listened to christmas music, threw tinsel at each other and decorated the tree. Even Buddy got in on the christmas family fun.
"It looks great." Tommy said. "But it's missing something."
"The star." Angela said picking the beautiful golden star up.
"That is beautiful." Maura said smiling.
"Would you like to put it on the top of the tree?" Angela asked Maura.
Maura's eyes glistened with happiness. "I would but I'm afraid I cannot reach the top." she said.
"No problem." Frankie and Tommy said in unision.
Maura looked confused. "What-" she couldn't finish the sentence before Tommy and Frankie picked her up.
"Put me down!" Maura exclaimed.
Angela couldn't stop laughing and Frank Sr. took a picture of the extreme chaos. The photo was perfect. Maura was trying to be serious but was laughing in Tommy and Frankie's arms. Both boys were laughing. The picture was just... perfect.
"Ok. Can you sit on my shoulders?" Frankie said to a squirming Maura.
"Can I trust you won't drop me?" She said in all seriousness.
Frankie nodded. "You have my word." he said.
Maura nodded then got onto Frankie's shoulders. Angela handed her the star and she put it on the very top. It shined bright.
"This is just... Beautiful." Angela said smiling. Maura nodded agreeing with Angela.
"Tommy go behind me." Frankie said.
Tommy knew what Frankie was gonna do. So he got behind Frankie.
"Maura fall back." Frankie said.
Maura smacked his head. "Are you crazy?!" She exclaimed.
"Okay one Ow!" Frankie said rubbing his head. "And two Tommy is behind you so he'll catch you."
Maura looked at Tommy. "You drop me and I promise you'll regret it." she threatened.
Tommy gulped and nodded "I won't." he said. "Fall."
Angela gasped as Maura fell back into Tommy's arms. "Ok no more manhandling Maura." she said. "She's too delicate."
Maura giggled at that comment.
"Alright!" Angela said. "Everyone go and get changed into their sweaters." All the Rizzoli's moaned then went upstairs to change.
Maura and Buddy sat by the tree when the phone rang.
"Maura can you answer that?!" Angela hollered.
"Yes!" Maura hollered back.
Maura picked up the phone. "Hello?" she said
"Hey ma-MAURA?!" The voice on the other line said.
"Jane!" Maura said excited now. It was so good to hear her voice again
"What-What are you doing at my parents house?" Jane asked. It was so good to hear Maura's voice again.
"Your mother called me and told me to come over and get in the spirit of christmas so I came over and we've had the best time!" Maura said gleaming.
"That's so awesome Maur. I'm so glad you're having a great start to the holiday. What all have you done today?" Jane wanted to hear all about Maura's day. Mainly because Maura sounded so ecstatic.
"Well your brothers and I decorated the tree until it became a tinsel fight and then it became 'lets wrap Tommy up in tinsel' and then your mother made me try on this tacky christmas sweater and I actually love it more than my sweater I usually wear on christmas and I'm also wearing this little elf hat. Then we all finished decorating the tree together and your brothers decided to pick me up because your mom wanted me to put the star on the top of the tree. And I got on to Frankie's shoulders and put it on the tree. Now we're getting ready to take a tacky sweater picture!" Maura said happily "Jane I've had so much with your family. They've really made me feel like a family Jane." she said smiling
Jane smiled. She was so happy Maura was happy. "It sounds like you've had a Rizzoli-Family filled pre christmas day!" Jane said to Maura.
Maura smiled. Then she sighed. Jane knew something was up.
"Maura c'mon talk to me. What's up?"
"I love your family but I miss you. You're my best friend. I just want you home." Maura said trying to hold back emotions.
Maura was completely oblivious to the fact that Angela had come down and was listening in on the conversation. She knew even though the two have only known each other for a very short time, they had feelings for one another. She smiled knowing Maura made Jane happy.
"Well you know I'll be home soon. I promise just another week. You got this Maur. I believe in you."
Maura smiled "There's that beautiful smile I knew you had." Jane said through the phone.
"How did you know I smiled?" Maura asked.
"Sometimes you just know." Jane said softly.
There was a long pause for a minute. Before Jane spoke again "Hey Maur. I need to talk to ma." Jane said not wanting to get off the phone with Maura, but needed to talk to her mother.
"Ok. I'll see you soon Jane." Maura said.
"It will be soon. I love you." Jane said.
"I love you too Jane." Maura said back.
Maura saw Angela and handed her the phone. "Hey hon." Angela said into the phone.
"You got everything?" Jane asked.
"I do." Angela responded. "When are you coming in?"
"I'm not sure." Jane responded. "The snow is making it difficult for me to leave." She said.
"Alright." Angela said. "I cannot wait to see Maura's face when she see's her 'present'." Angela said giggling.
Jane laughed. "Me either ma. I even have a tacky christmas sweater on just for you and Maura."
"She's gonna be so happy to see you." Angela said.
"I know she is ma." Jane said smiling. "Hey my cab arrived. So I'll see you at the house."
"Alright. Be safe babe." Angela said.
"I will ma. Love you." Jane said.
"Love you too." Angela said. Then hung up. "Everyone ready?" Angela said going into the den.
The boys and Maura nodded. "I'm quite excited." Maura said smiling.
"You won't be." Frankie said. "Ma is such a control freak when it comes to putting us into an order."
Maura gulped. "Well that shouldn't be a problem then." She said. "Alright everyone up."
The boys got up.
"Now Frankie stand here." Maura pointed. Frankie stood in front of the Christmas tree.
"Not like that!" She exclaimed. "Stand sideways."
Frankie rolled his eyes but did it anyways.
"Now Tommy stand in front of Frankie." Maura said.
Tommy did as told then Maura looked at Frank Sr. "Now you stand a step back from Frankie. That way Angela can be in between you and and Frankie." Maura said. Frank Sr. did exactly that.
"Alright everyone let me get you all into positi-" Angela stopped. "Woah." she said. "This looks amazing!" She looked at her husband, and her two children. "Who did this?" she asked.
"Maura." they all three responded in unison.
Angela stood there in amazement. "How?" she asked. "I usually have to fight them."
"It's quite easy." Maura stated. "Frankie didn't listen and I corrected in a rather stern way and the other two didn't want to get yelled at so they listened and followed directions." Maura said.
Angela nodded.
"Now you go in between your husband and Frankie." Maura said.
Angela did just that.
"Looks perfect!" Maura said clapping her hands together.
"Any room for me?" A familiar voice from behind said.
Maura turned around. "Jane!" she said running towards her best friend.
"Maura!" Jane said spinning Maura around as she hugged her.
"I missed you so much." Maura said tearing up a little.
"I missed you too." Jane said not letting go of Maura.
Without either of them knowing, Frank grabbed the polaroid and snapped a picture of the two hugging.
He showed the photo to Angela. "That's perfect." she said smiling at the black and white photo.
The two women came back into the den. "Now Jane." Maura said. "Stand in front of Tommy. He's still taller than you." She said.
Jane did as told. "What are you a photographer?" she smirked.
Maura giggled. It was so good to have Jane home again.
"Alright is everyone ready?" Maura said getting the camera ready.
"What about you?" Angela asked.
"Im.. I'm not apart of the family." Maura said.
"Um yes you are!" Jane said. "Get in the picture. Pop's camera has a timer." Jane said.
"Alright." she said standing in front of Jane.
"Now this picture is perfect." Jane whispered into Maura's ear.
Maura looked at Jane and smiled.
"Ok now is everyone ready?" Frank Sr. asked.
Everyone nodded. Frank set the timer then ran to his spot. He put one arm on his wife's shoulder, then smiled.
The timer went off and they all smiled. The picture was absolutely perfect.
For the next few hours, they all sat around the fire, drank hot chocolate and listened to Jane's story. Before they all knew it, it was 11:30.
"You two realize you're not going home in this weather right?" Angela said.
Maura and Jane nodded. They were both far too exhausted to leave anyways.
Angela brought down two pillows and a gigantic sleeping bag. "I figured neither one of you were going to move so I figured I'd bring you guys a huge blanket and two pillows." Angela said.
Maura and Jane nodded. "Thanks Ma." Jane said.
Angela smiled "Welcome babe." she said. "Night girls love you." She said.
"Love you too." They said in unison.
Jane set up the sleeping bag and the pillows and watched Maura struggle to stay awake.
Jane smiled. "Alright. It's set up." She said to Maura.
Maura moaned.
Jane laughed. "Come here sleepyhead." Jane said grabbing Maura's hand and pulling her down onto the ground.
Maura toppled on top of Jane. Both girls started laughing hysterically.
Maura rolled off of Jane. "What just happened?" She said still laughing.
"I don't even know!" Jane said through laughs.
Both girls laughed a little longer than started to fall asleep.
Maura turned towards Jane facing her as she yawned.
Jane smiled. Maura's yawn was so adorable.
"Best.. Christmas.. Ever..." Maura said as she faded away slowly.
Jane kissed the top of her head. "I know. Merry Christmas Maura Isles. I'll see you in the morning." she said smiling.
Maura closed her eyes and smiled. Then drifted into a deep sleep.
Jane watched her until she fell asleep. This truly was the best christmas ever.
That christmas was so memorable. The whole idea was Jane's. She wanted to surprise Maura by coming home for christmas. My job was just to keep Maura busy. Maura loved it. All of it. And when Jane surprised her at the door. She was glowing. That was the night I knew Maura loved Jane. Her look told us everything. It was the best christmas ever.
I'm so sorry I haven't updated in forever! Between school and 15 million rehearsals life has been super crazy! But I have been trying to update on Fridays and weekends! I've also been really sick lately. But I haven't forgotten this story!
And thank you for all the awesome reviews! You guys rock! oxo