"Goddammit Martinez, can't you drive any faster?" Jane tapped her fingers on the console impatiently. "I can't be late, Maura will kill me."
"I'm working on it Rizzoli, rush hour traffic's a bitch. You didn't forget the flowers, did you?"
Jane shook her head. "They're in the back." She pulled down the mirror on the visor and checked out her makeup. Pretty good for makeup applied in the car – she mused.
Tonight was Maura's graduation from her residency, and Jane was cutting it close. She and Martinez had been working all day trying to close a case they had been working for the past few weeks, and time had slipped away from them. Luckily, Jane had brought her dress to work just in case, and had hastily gotten dressed in the BPD locker room when she realized she was going to be late. Martinez had felt bad about making her late, and had offered to drive her to the hotel where the reception was being held.
After a few tense minutes and about six red lights in a row, finally, the Fairmont Copley Plaza was in sight and Jane breathed a sigh of relief. She was only going to be a couple minutes late. Martinez pulled the cruiser up to the curb and put it in park. Jane yanked open the door and stepped out, smoothing her dress out as she stood on the curb. Martinez pulled out the flowers and the card from the back seat and handed them to Jane.
"Good work today Rizzoli. You look good. Now get in there before you get in hot water with your girl."
"Thanks for the lift Martinez. I owe you big time." Jane slugged him lightly on his bicep. "I'll see you in a couple weeks."
Jane had planned a surprise trip for Maura to celebrate her graduation and their anniversary, which was in three days. The past several months had been a whirlwind with Maura finishing her residency and Jane's promotion to Narcotics, as well as completing the process for them to be foster parents, so Jane was wholeheartedly looking forward to some time off with her wife. She had managed to keep the plans from Maura, who just knew that they were both on vacation for the next two weeks.
"Have a nice vacation Rizzoli. You deserve it." He grinned and gave her a wave before slipping back into the cruiser and pulling away.
Jane entered the hotel lobby and followed signs to the hotel ballroom. She opened the door and slipped in quietly, trying to avoid causing a disturbance. Some old guy was droning on about the history of the program and Jane glanced around the room trying to locate Maura. Her eyes finally locked on a certain blonde sitting ramrod straight at a table, listening intently to the speaker, and Jane made her way toward her.
Maura startled as she felt fingers trail along her shoulders, but smiled as her wife bent to kiss her cheek before sitting down next to her.
"I'm sorry I'm late. What did I miss?" Jane whispered quietly.
Maura turned to respond, but stopped when she saw the bouquet of flowers Jane was holding out to her.
"For you." Jane grinned. "You look stunning Maura."
Maura accepted the flowers and kissed Jane in thanks. As she pulled back she smiled appreciatively at the dress Jane was wearing, a dark blue number that perfectly complemented her tanned skin and her long legs. Honestly, she had half expected Jane to show up in her black slacks and dress shirt, which she had been wearing to work with increased frequency.
"So do you Jane. You clean up pretty nicely Mrs. Rizzoli." Maura whispered seductively into Jane's ear. "Thanks for coming. I was worried you weren't going to make it."
"I wouldn't have missed this for the world Maur. I'm pretty damn proud of you…Dr. Maura Isles-Rizzoli." Jane smiled affectionately and linked their hands together on the table. Both women returned their focus to the gentleman who was still speaking.
A few minutes later, Jane was watching with pride as her wife walked across the small stage to accept her certificate. Her face was starting to hurt from smiling so much as Maura returned to their table with an equally big smile on her face. Jane immediately pulled her in for a hug, kissing the top of her head as she did. "Congratulations Maur. God…I couldn't be more proud right now."
They settled back into their seats as Maura's other colleagues got their certificates. When they had finished, another faculty advisor took his place in front of the microphone. Jane braced herself for another long-winded speech as the man cleared his throat and began to speak.
"I would first like to offer my congratulations to all of the graduates. I can personally attest to the long hours and hard work they have put in over the past three years. They have accomplished a lot, and you should be immensely proud of each and every one of them. I am here tonight to present the Edwards Award for Academic Excellence, an award that we present each year to one of the third year residents. This prestigious award has been around for many years, and represents the highest level of commitment and academic achievement in the field of pathology. Many of our recipients have gone on to do great things, and I am sure that this year's winner will go on to achieve only the highest success. Ladies and gentlemen, I am pleased to announce that this year's Edwards Award for Academic Excellence has been awarded to Dr. Maura Isles-Rizzoli."
Maura stiffened as the room erupted in thunderous applause. She willed her mouth not to drop open in shock, but turned to look at Jane who was beaming proudly and clapping enthusiastically. Maura stood and paused to compose herself, smoothing her dress for a few seconds, before walking back up onto the stage. The applause died down and the faculty advisor spoke again.
"From day one, Dr. Isles-Rizzoli has been a standout resident, handling complex cases and situations with ease. Her commitment to excellence in everything she does was evident throughout her three years in our program, and her thirst for knowledge seems to be insatiable. She has recently accepted a job offer as Assistant Medical Examiner for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, and we know she will be nothing short of exceptional as she starts her career there. Congratulations Dr. Isles-Rizzoli."
There was more applause as Maura was presented with her award, and she could feel her cheeks grow warm under the gaze of the large audience. She posed for several pictures as she held the award, then was released to another round of applause. The emcee stood up at the microphone once again as Maura walked back to her beaming wife.
"That concludes the formal events for tonight. Complementary appetizers and beverages will be brought out shortly. Please feel free to mingle and enjoy the remainder of the evening."
Maura noticed tears gleaming in Jane's eyes as she returned to their table, placing the small glass award down next to her flowers. Jane took a couple steps toward her and pulled her in for another embrace.
"My wife is a freaking genius." Jane chuckled. "Seriously Maura, I am so proud. I feel like my heart is gonna burst." She kissed Maura's cheek. "Wait…shit, is that possible?"
Maura laughed. "I wasn't expecting that award." She admitted. "I think I was experiencing heart arrhythmias when they called my name." Jane released her as several of her colleagues came over to offer their congratulations. Maura thanked them and introduced each of them to Jane, who shook their hands politely. When several of the faculty approached, Jane greeted them and then excused herself to get drinks for her and Maura.
As she waited at the bar, Jane's eyes were drawn repeatedly back to her wife. Her stunningly attractive, insanely smart, irresistibly sexy, wife. Jane watched Maura interact with her colleagues and wondered how she had gotten so lucky. If it wasn't for a random encounter is Las Vegas, she wouldn't be standing here three years later, marveling over her Maura. The bartender slid their drinks across to Jane, who tipped him generously and made her way back towards Maura, thankful that the group of advisors seemed to be taking their leave.
"For you, Dr. Isles-Rizzoli…" Jane offered a glass of white wine to Maura, who accepted it with a smile. She held up her glass of beer. "To the future. To our future." They clinked glasses and each took a sip. They sat down at their table again as they nursed their drinks.
"It feels weird." Maura remarked.
"What does?"
"Being finished with my residency. I've spent so much time in school, then med school, internships, and of course my residency…it's a strange feeling now that it's all over." Maura swirled her wine gently, studying the liquid intently. "It's strange to think that it takes so many years of training for a chosen profession."
Jane took another swig of her beer. "Yeah, and I used to gripe about how my two years in the academy felt like forever." She laughed and looked up at her contemplative wife. "I can't believe it's been three years already."
"Me either Jane."
"Oh! I almost forgot. I got you a card." Jane slid the card in front of Maura. "Open it."
Maura set down her wine glass and opened the small envelope. Inside was a card, which Maura opened and began to read Jane's note.
Maura,
Congratulations! I can't believe three years has come and gone, and you are finished with your residency. Mostly, I can't believe that I didn't drive you crazy over the past three years, and you were able to complete your program without killing me :)
As you celebrate your graduation, we are also preparing to celebrate our anniversary (just in case you forgot). Three years! Can you believe it? I know I joke around too much for my own good, but in all honestly, these three years have been the best three years of my life. If they are any indicator of things to come, you and I are in for a pretty damn good rest of our life.
So Congratulations and Happy Anniversary! I'm so proud and I love you to the moon and back.
-Jane
PS-How do you feel about Florida?
When she finished, Maura closed the card and looked up with shimmering hazel eyes. She reached out and grasped Jane's hand pulling it to her lips and giving it a kiss. "I love you Jane."
Jane grinned and rubbed her thumb across Maura's knuckles. "I love you too. So… how do you feel about it?"
"Well, like I said, it feels strangely final to be finished with my education…" She stopped as Jane rolled her eyes.
"No Maura…how do you feel about Florida?" Jane clarified.
"Oh right. Well, I've never been there, but its diverse ecosystem, long spans of shoreline, and copious amounts of tourist attractions certainly make it a popular travel destination. Why do you ask?"
Jane rolled her eyes again. "Thanks TripAdvisor. I guess I should have expected a response like that." She picked up her glass of beer and drained the rest of its contents. "I asked because that's where we are going for our vacation. We leave tomorrow. I thought it would be a fun way to celebrate your graduation and our anniversary."
Maura looked excited for a few seconds, but excitement quickly turned to confusion. "But…you said you didn't want to go anywhere when I asked about it a month ago."
Jane silenced her with a kiss. "That was called diversionary tactics Maur."
"Oh. Right." The expression on Maura's face made Jane laugh, which in turn made Maura laugh.
"You are something else Maura Isles-Rizzoli…you know that?" Jane's dark eyes shimmered with mirth. "And I am madly in love with you. Now, what do you say you finish your wine and get outta here? We have some packing to do."
Maura gulped down the last of her wine and took Jane's outstretched hand. They gathered up her flowers and her award and made a beeline for the exit. They stepped outside into the early summer evening air and hailed a cab.
As they entered their house, Jane started to turn on the lights only to be stopped by an arm wrapping around her waist and the other arm grasping her wrist lightly, preventing her from flicking on the lights. She felt Maura's lips on her shoulder blade.
"Don't bother." Maura whispered. "What time does our flight leave tomorrow?" Her lips continued across the exposed skin on Jane's back as she waited for a response.
"1:45pm." Jane replied breathlessly, as Maura's fingers began to work the zipper of her dress. "Why?" Jane almost gasped as Maura's hands slid her dress down, and her lips and tongue began to tease the skin behind Jane's left ear.
"Because"-Maura reluctantly stepped away from Jane, her hands going to the zipper of her own dress- "I find myself not wanting to pack right now, and I wanted to make sure I would have time in the morning." Her eyes sparkled mischievously as she slid the zipper down tantalizingly slow, before allowing her dress to pool on the wood floor next to the couch. She stood there and let Jane take in the sight of her in her favorite pair of lace underwear, before beckoning Jane with her index finger and a coy smile. "I suddenly find myself wanting to do…something else."
Jane grabbed her nearly naked wife by the hand and pulled her toward the stairs. They somehow managed to make it up the stairs in total darkness while also stripping off their remaining items of clothing. They flopped down onto the bed and immediately their lips crashed against each other hungrily. Hands began to slide across heated skin, and Jane suddenly pulled away from a particularly bruising kiss.
"I think you mean do someone else, Maur." She grinned, before being pulled back down by her insistent wife.