Epilogue
So, just in case you're wondering how our girls ended up, here's a snapshot of a few years later...
It's Rizzoli Family Dinner Night, and Jane and Maura are arriving a little late because they… well let's just say they lost track of time. Maura has a bottle of expensive Pinot Noir in her hands, and Jane a six pack of Blue Moon. They enter without knocking, the smell of warm Italian food greeting them with the boisterous noise of family and friends.
"Hey!," the guys call out to them in unison, gathered in the living room to watch the game.
"So nice of you to join us," Frost says with a grin.
"Yeah, did you get lost on the way here from Beacon Hill or something?" Frankie jokes.
"Is that jealousy I hear, Frankie?" Jane counters playfully. "You get yourself a rich wife and you can buy a house in Beacon Hill too. We can be neighbors!"
"Too bad Maura doesn't have a sister," Tommy adds with a wink.
Maura smiles and takes the beer from Jane, allowing her to take one out of the pack. "I'll put these up and see if Angela needs help in the kitchen."
"Thanks babe," Jane kisses her cheek and sits down next to Korsak. "What's the score?"
Maura strolls into the kitchen, where Angela is busy putting the finishing touches on another lovely meal.
"Maura, darling!" Angela greets her warmly, giving her a quick hug and a kiss. "I thought I heard you girls come in. What took you so long?"
Maura blushes. "Oh, we uh, well, you know, we-"
Angela laughs. "Two years of marriage and you girls are still just like teenagers!"
"Two years tomorrow," Maura says proudly.
"Which reminds me, I have something for you both!" She grins at Maura before yelling toward the living room. "JANE! Bring me that box under the coffee table!"
A few seconds later, Jane enters with the box in her hands and four curious gentlemen in tow. "What is it, Ma?"
"It's your anniversary present!" Angela answers excitedly. "For you and Maura. Open it!"
"Ma, you didn't have to- aw!" Inside the box is a large hand-made scrapbook. Jane pulls it out and sets in on the island as Maura settles in next to her to take a look. Together, with friends and family all around, they thumb through the pages.
"Look," Jane says, pointing at the first photo. "That's right before our first dinner together here in Boston. That was a weird day, huh?" She elbows Maura lightly.
"That was quite a day," Maura agrees. "You dumped me for the second time and then told me you loved me, all before dinner."
"Yeah, well, I was pretty stupid back then," Jane says.
"And self-destructive," Maura reminds her.
"And self-destructive, yes!"
They laugh and turn the page.
"Aw," Maura coos, "That's the day we moved into our house together!"
"It's our home, Maura," Jane mock-scolds her.
Maura looks at her wife and smiles even wider. "Yes, it is."
"You guys are gross," Tommy jokes from somewhere behind them.
"Shut up, Tommy," Jane says. "Jealousy doesn't look good on you either."
They turn another page to see red and white roses filling the stadium at Fenway Park, the two radiant brides kissing over home plate.
"Our wedding," Jane whispers. "It was perfect. You were perfect," she says to Maura.
"I think that was my happiest day," Maura tells her, earning a gentle kiss.
The next page is filled with pictures they took on their honeymoon, the largest one making everyone laugh at the look on Jane's face as she stared down into a volcano.
After that, it's a collection of candid photos of their life together. Maura smiling proudly at Jane on the day she received her promotion. Jane holding Maura's hand as she cut the ribbon on her own production company, Rizzles Pictures. Jane points to the photo and looks at her wife. "I'm still really proud of you for that."
"I love that I can still give people a voice," Maura says.
"Do you miss acting?" Korsak asks her.
She shakes her head. "Not really."
"She still gets offers, you know," Jane tells him.
"Maybe I'll accept one, if the right one comes along," Maura adds. "But I'm really happy with producing and directing right now. I get to make the kind of movies that really matter, you know? It's so fulfilling."
They turn another page, and it's blank.
"Oh, I left some room at the end," Angela says, "so you can keep adding to it. Especially when you two finally decide to give me some grandchildren!"
Jane rolls her eyes. "Ma!"
"We're still actively discussing that topic, Angela," Maura tells her sweetly.
"I think you'll both make great mothers," Korsak states. The others nod and voice their agreement.
Jane and Maura give their thanks, and they all sit down to a delicious meal, full of conversation and laughter. Looking around the table, they both know how incredibly lucky they are to be surrounded by all these amazing people and the love they share. It's scary, they've realized, having everything. Because they have everything to lose. But it's also worth it. Getting to wake up everyday next to the love of your life. Having her there to support you in every moment of fear, and to celebrate every moment of joy. Getting to make her smile, and laugh everyday. Facing challenges together and sharing hope for their future. They're a family. And it's everything they've ever hoped for, and more.
FINIS.
*R&I*R&I*R&I*R&I*R&I*R&I*R&I*R&I*R&I*
For my dear readers, a few notes that you may or may not find interesting:
*The antagonist character is named Charlie, because there always seems to be a 'Charles' trying to keep Rizzles apart! (PS- did you know the name simply means "man" or "manly"? I almost feel like the writers are just screaming PEEN!)
*I initially tried to incorporate JTam's name into Wylie's somehow, because of her apparent affinity for obnoxious beards, but in the end it just seemed too distracting (and a little disrespectful). Also, I unexpectedly liked his character the more I wrote... and I realized he's totally a closet gay!
*Dave's character, also one I like a lot, is loosely based on one of my old roommates. And I named a London makeup artist after my late sister, Kelly.
*I started writing this story with little idea as to where it was headed, and kind of let the characters run with it. By the middle, I got very stuck (thanks, life) and had to try some new writing techniques. I always knew that I was going to have to pull our girls apart somehow, so they could find their way back to each other, but it took longer than it should have because they really didn't want to break up!
*I felt that they each needed to find themselves a little bit before they were truly ready for each other. They had to find out what was really important to them. Jane had to realize that being a detective and being near her family were vital to her happiness, and she had to stop running from her past. Maura had to stop holding so tightly to career, which had become a crutch for her, and realize that it actually wasn't the best or most important thing in her life. She needed to truly be herself to be happy. I think they both succeeded, and their relationship ended up stronger because of it.
*Fear is also kind of a big element in this story. I have sort of a fixation with fear, because I think it tends to be our biggest enemy in life. Both women had to recognize and face their fears in order to earn their love.
*So I stole the wedding idea from my own already-published fic. It's just how I always imagine these two tying the knot. (I'm not at all sorry.)
*During the almost-year I spent writing (and/or stressing over) this story, I got laid off from my job, totaled my car, lost a family member to death, lost a good friend to life, started a new relationship that I would have NEVER seen coming, got partially laid off from the new job (living in a seasonal working area sucks big time), and got evicted, basically becoming homeless just in time for the holidays... So it's been an interesting time! (And if you were wondering why it took me over six months to update, well there's your answer.) Don't worry about me though, I'm a pretty good couch-surfer ;)
*I learned SO MUCH random stuff doing research for this story! I read first-person accounts by former Hollywood bodyguards (written under pseudonyms, of course); I read articles written from both viewpoints about whether or not coming out as gay is actually harmful to actor's career; I learned about highly-publicized Hollywood relationships being faked by studios to increase public interest in their film (Dirty, dirty tricks, those Hollywooders play! Almost as bad as politicians!); I read about weapons laws in Europe as opposed to the US; I took virtual tours of fancy European hotel suites and used Google Maps to walk around foreign cities I've never been to; I learned about breathing techniques for reducing anxiety; I found out about a real hiking trail in LA that I vow to take when I move back to California; the list goes on and on! (I also learned how to write sober- how about that!)
*This was my first multi-chapter fic, and it will be my last for awhile. I have some really exciting original projects that I have largely been putting off in order to finish this for you all (okay, and for me too!), and I'm finally ready to dive head first into these more personal works. Working on this fic has helped stretch my creative writing and thinking skills, so I owe a lot of gratitude to you for keeping me going! If anyone is ever interested in any of my personal, original work, things that are all still a work-in-progress, feel free to PM me! I'd like to get a group of trusted readers and writers with whom I can bounce around ideas and share work as it evolves. Y'all have been such an amazing source of encouragement, and I honestly would not have finished this thing without you!
From the bottom of my heart, THANK YOU!