You all have been way too kind to me! Thank you so much for reading this! I cannot even express how much it means to me that you all are enjoying this!
Hope you like this chapter! –J
P.S For those of you wishing Jane had talked more about her hands and the stuff with Hoyt, fear not! It will come up again…soon!
Chapter 3- Acting Like a Kid
"Where's Mommy?" Amelia asked one Thursday night, sitting across Maura's dining room table from Jane; a big bowl of Macaroni and Cheese in front of her, something, which the four-year-old promised not to tell her mother.
"She's at a meeting with your teacher," Jane replied, taking a mouthful of her own macaroni.
It had been a few weeks since Maura and Amelia had met Jane and quite a bit had changed in the short amount of time. Maura invited Angela to live in her guesthouse after the older Rizzoli fell into some financial trouble. And even though Maura had insisted that Angela did not need to continue looking after Amelia, no nanny had been hired and the Medical Examiner seemed to accept the fact that the Rizzolis were going to help her out whether she wanted them to or not.
So when Maura realized that she had a parent-teacher conference on a night when Angela already had plans, she easily accepted Jane's offer to babysit, promising she would do her best to get home as quickly as she could; which Jane had simply shrugged off. If she was being honest with herself Jane was excited to spend the night with Amelia, whom she had formed quite a strong bond with.
"Am I in trouble?" Amelia asked innocently, her big, hazel eyes filled with fear as she dropped her fork on the table. "I was a good girl at school!"
"Of course you were!" Jane quickly intervened, not wanting the little blonde to get upset. "Don't worry kiddo you're not in trouble I promise," she assured her. "Teachers just like to meet the parents of their students after a couple weeks of school so that they can talk to them about how their kids are doing. Your Mom is just talking to your teacher about what you're learning that's all. Don't worry."
Assured by Jane's smile, Amelia nodded her head, picking her fork back up before shoveling a heaping of macaroni into her mouth with a grin. "Can…we…play…after," she asked, her mouth still full.
"Hey no talking with your mouth full," Jane laughed, shaking her head at the mischievous look on the blonde's face. "And we can play for a bit after your bath, but bed time's same as always. What would you like to play?"
"Can we play with my dolls?" Amelia asked looking excited, Jane smiling at the sight of the young Isles actually acting her age rather than her usual mature self.
"Sure we can do that," Jane nodded, Amelia's eyes immediately lighting up in excitement. "But you have to finish your dinner and have a bath first," she reminded Amelia who nodded as she began scooping her dinner into her mouth. "Hey slow down," Jane laughed. "You're going to hurt yourself like that. We've still got some time."
And though they still did have plenty of time, Amelia ate in silence, not wanting to waste time talking, eating quickly before helping Jane clear the table and load the dishwasher so she could take her bath. Having spent very little time with kids since she was one herself, Jane wasn't sure what to expect when she had volunteered to babysit; slightly worried that she would get some resistance from the younger Isles. Amelia wasn't like most children though as she was completely agreeable, allowing Jane to help her with her bath before the pair eventually retreated to Amelia's room to play with her dolls.
Having preferred sports as a child, Jane had never played with dolls, so she started out feeling rather awkward as Amelia handed her a brown-haired doll that she insisted looked just like Jane. Amelia, who loved her dolls, immediately fell into her regular routine, giggling and chatting through her doll as Jane watched her with an amused expression on her face. Realizing she didn't need to worry about feeling silly with a four-year-old, Jane eventually let her guard down and joined in, finding herself actually enjoying herself.
"Well little girl I think it's about time we get ready for bed," Jane eventually announced, looking at the clock and realizing she had lost track of time.
"Awww," Amelia pouted, her shoulders slumping in disappointment.
"Sorry kiddo, but if your Mom comes home and you're still up I'm going to be in big trouble," Jane told her, running her hand over the blonde's hair. "You don't want me to get in trouble do you?"
"Hmmm…" Amelia hummed, tapping her chin as she thought about this, eventually grinning, as Jane watched on looking offended. "I guess not," she giggled. "Will you read me a story?"
"Sure, but you have to go brush your teeth first," Jane replied, laughing as Amelia jumped up and ran towards her bathroom. "And I get to choose the book," she then called, running downstairs to grab the book she had brought with her from her bag before returning to Amelia's room where the little girl now waited in her bed, tucked in with the covers up to her chin. "Well don't you look cozy," Jane chuckled, taking a seat on the edge of Amelia's bed.
"What are we gonna read?" Amelia asked, trying to get a peak at the cover of the book Jane brought in. "Is that a monkey?"
"It sure is," Jane nodded with a smile, moving the book so Amelia could see it properly. "Now I know you and your Mom usually read about real animals and what not, but I thought we'd try something a little different. Is that okay?" She asked, Amelia nodding enthusiastically. "Great," she smiled. "This is curious George, he's a monkey who's always getting himself into trouble because he's always curious. He likes to know things, so he'll do a lot of sneaking around when he's not supposed to. Kind of like you when I first met you. Do you think you might like to hear more about him?"
"I like monkeys," Amelia nodded happily, leaning against Jane's side as Jane opened up to the first page.
"This is George," Jane began reading the first page. "George was a good little monkey, at least he tried to be, but he was curious…"
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When she got home that night Maura felt exhausted. Dragging her feet through the front door, the honey-blonde dropped her purse on the table in the entryway, resisting the urge to simply lie down in the family room as she headed for the stairs, hearing Jane's voice coming from what she suspected was Amelia's room.
Stopping outside her daughter's room, Maura listened to Jane reading for a few moments, eventually figuring out that the Detective was reading the story she had told her and Amelia about when they first met. Peaking her head into the room, Maura found that Amelia was fast asleep, Jane reading on as the little blonde leaned against her.
"You're reading to my daughter about a fictitious monkey?" Maura called softly, an amused expression on her face as Jane jumped clearly startled; chuckling softly as she checked to make sure Amelia was still asleep.
"How long have you been standing there?" Jane asked quietly, not wanting to wake the blonde.
"Long enough," Maura smirked, moving into the room in order to kiss her daughter goodnight; Jane seeing her intention as she ran her hand over Amelia's hair before carefully moving off the bed. "Did everything go alright? Amelia behaved herself?"
"She was an angel, as always," Jane smiled, watching as Maura leaned down to kiss Amelia, making sure the covers were all the way up to the four-year-old's chin before turning her attention back to her. "I honestly think the kid is more mature than I am," she smiled, Maura simply quirking an eyebrow in agreement. "How'd it go with the teach?"
"Good…and not so good," Maura sighed. "I guess it depends how you look at it."
"Well that sounds intriguing," Jane smirked, not missing the stressed look on Maura's face. "You wanna talk about it?"
Nodding Maura led Jane out of Amelia's room, leading the brunette down the stairs and into the kitchen where she immediately opened up the fridge, pulling out a beer for Jane before moving to pour herself a glass of wine. "Oh this is one of those conversations," Jane joked, taking a seat on one of the kitchen stools as she accepted her beer. "Okay start talking. What happened, because somehow I can't imagine it being that bad? I mean I've met Amelia, that kid is the most well behaved child in history."
"Of course she is," Maura agreed. "But that's not the problem," she sighed again, taking a sip of her wine before leaning against the kitchen island. "Mrs. Ricci said Amelia is very bright. She catches on to new concepts easily, she's doing well with all her lessons, though Mrs. Ricci is worried that she is getting a little bored," she explained. "Amelia's apparently moving through things a lot quicker than the other kids. They can give her extra work for now, to keep challenging her, but she does think we may have to consider having Amelia skip a grade next year if things continue this way."
"Well that's great!" Jane exclaimed. "Isn't it?"
"Of course it is," Maura was quick to reply. "It's fantastic, and I think Amelia would do great with more challenging work; I mean she really loves to learn."
"Okay so then what's the problem?" Jane asked her eyebrow furrowed in confusion. "Because I don't get it."
"Mrs. Ricci is also concerned about Amelia's struggles with socializing with the other kids," Maura explained, her body seeming to slump in disappointment. "Apparently Amelia has no problem participating in class, but when it comes to play time or any type of group work she tends to isolate herself. It has been a few weeks now and I thought that Amelia would have made friends by now, but apparently that's not the case. It's my fault. I never sent her to daycare or anything when she was younger; I always left her with our neighbour in San Francisco when I had to work. I should have socialized her more…I…"
"Aww come on Maur, don't do that," Jane said, reaching out and putting her hand on top of Maura's. "You love your kid. You've taken care of her and you've taught her so much. You're an amazing mother! Don't beat yourself up," she said, giving Maura's hand a squeeze. "Amelia's a great kid. So she's a little shy; lots of kids are. She'll make friends eventually. You just have to give her some time."
"I'm just worried she doesn't know how to relate to kids her own age," Maura said, looking worried. "I mean the girl her teacher described doesn't sound like my daughter. Sure she's quiet when she first meets someone but she always opens up! Look how she is with you," she pointed out. "She should be like that with her classmates."
"She will be," Jane assured her.
"But what do I do to help?" Maura asked, feeling helpless. "I have to do something."
"Well," Jane bit her lip, thinking. "Maybe you just need to let her be a kid. Encourage her to act her age for a change."
"I don't understand what you mean," Maura shook her head in confusion.
"I mean that you have a four-year-old going on like 30 Maur," Jane said, unable to hold back her smile. "I'm not saying it's a bad thing," she said, seeing the blonde wanting to argue. "I'm just saying that Mia doesn't seem to just act like she's four; not often at least."
"Well what do I do?"
"You know what, I think I can help," Jane grinned. "Sunday afternoon. You, me and Amelia."
"Doing what?" Maura asked, raising her eyebrow, unsure what the Detective was up to.
"You'll see," Jane smiled. "You'll just have to trust me."
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"Who's ready for a Jane Rizzoli Sunday?" Jane called as she let herself in Maura's house, dressed in jeans and sneakers, wearing a black jacket over a Red Sox shirt.
"I am! I am!" Amelia yelled, running down the stairs and heading straight for Jane who immediately lifted her up and into her arms.
"I don't understand why you won't tell me where we're going," Maura huffed as she followed Amelia at a much slower pace, a pout on her face as she pulled on a yellow jacket.
"I told you it's a surprise," Jane smirked as she placed Amelia back down on the floor so the little blonde could put on her shoes. "What fun would it be if I told you?"
"I don't like surprises," Maura replied, pulling on her own sneakers. "All you'll give me is 'dress comfortably', which is extremely vague might I add and doesn't give me any indication as to where we're headed."
"That's the point," Jane laughed, holding out her hand for Amelia to take. "You're dressed perfectly though by the way. You'll be much more comfortable in that then in one of those dresses you wear."
"I'm comfortable in my dresses," Maura argued, following Jane and Amelia out the front door, turning to lock it before heading towards Jane's car. "It's these jeans I'm uncomfortable in. I don't know how anyone could enjoy wearing them, and these shoes should not be worn outside of a gym."
"Well you'll be happy you wore them today," Jane smiled, helping Amelia into the back of the car, making sure she was buckled into the booster seat she had borrowed from her mother before turning her attention back to Maura, who was still standing in front of the car, her hands on her hips. "Are you planning to get into the car anytime soon Maur? Because I really think this day would be more enjoyable in daylight, you know when it's warmer."
Though it was October, it had been an unseasonably warm week, much to Jane's delight as she planned on spending most of the day outdoors, hoping that both Amelia and Maura would enjoy what she wanted to do.
"You're absolutely impossible," Maura sighed, getting into the car and putting on her seatbelt before crossing her arms over her chest.
"Aw come on Maur, no pouting," Jane said, trying not to laugh. "You'll find out where we're going soon enough, and I promise you won't hate it."
"Yeah come on Mommy no pouting!" Amelia chimed in from the backseat. "It's gonna be fun!"
"Listen to the kid," Jane smirked, watching out of the corner of her eye as Maura finally let herself relax, uncrossing her arms and settling back into her seat. "So Mia have you ever played baseball before?" She then asked, looking into the rearview mirror to find the little blonde considering her question carefully.
"No," Amelia shook her head. "I don't think so…Mommy have I?"
"No I can't say that you have," Maura replied. "I actually don't think we've ever even seen a baseball game."
"Well now that's just tragic," Jane scoffed. "Baseball is my favourite sport," she told both the Isles. "I played every summer growing up and I watched every Red Sox game that I could with my family. We're big fans," she told them. "Baseball's a lot of fun and it's probably my favourite thing to do, so I thought that I would share that with you guys," she continued as she pulled her car into the parking lot for a park that Maura often passed on the way to work. "I've also packed a picnic for later and we can even go play on the playground after. How does that sound? You want to learn how to play baseball?"
"Yeah!" Amelia replied enthusiastically, a big smile on her face. "Mommy too?"
"I don't know," Jane said, holding back a smirk. "What do you think Maur? You ready to play some baseball?"
Looking from Jane to Amelia, both of whom seemed to be begging her with their eyes, Maura knew she was fighting a losing battle, sighing as she felt herself giving in. "Well I suppose," she eventually replied, smiling as Amelia squealed in delight. "But there will be absolutely no teasing Jane Rizzoli! I do not play sports!"
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"Okay you ready Maur? This is the last one," Jane called out later that day, standing a ways away from Maura, holding a baseball in her hand, preparing to pitch to Maura who was standing with her bat at the ready.
"That's what you said last time," Maura called back, trying to remember everything Jane had taught her about hitting, feeling like perhaps it was hopeless.
When they arrived at the park Jane spent nearly two hours throwing around a baseball with Amelia and Maura, teaching both blondes the proper ways to wear their gloves and how to throw the ball. When Amelia and Jane eventually began to get hungry, Maura suggested they break for lunch; all sitting together under a tree to enjoy the picnic that Jane had packed for them. Having enjoyed playing baseball with Jane, Amelia practically begged to play some more after they finished eating; thrilled when Jane taught her how to hit the ball with a bat.
"I promise this time will be the last time," Jane laughed. "I just want you to get a hit. Just remember what I told you."
"You can do it Mommy!" Amelia yelled from where she stood not too far behind Jane, jumping up and down. "Member just keep your eye on the ball!"
"Thanks Sweetheart," Maura called back, attempting a smile despite her frustration. "Can we just get this over with now?" Her attention focused on Jane, who was watching her with an amused expression on her face.
"Alright here we go," Jane nodded, preparing to throw Maura a simple underhand pitch, practically holding her breath as the ball left her hand, watching as it sailed towards Maura; the honey blonde swinging at just the right moment as the bat made contact with the ball, sending it flying over Jane's head. "You did it!" Jane shouted, throwing her arms in the air in celebration.
"Oh my goodness! I did it!" Maura's mouth hung open, obviously just as surprised.
"Yay Mommy!" Amelia squealed in delight, throwing her glove up into the air before running towards her mother, throwing her arms around her waist. "You did it! You did it! Good job Mommy!"
"Thanks baby," Maura laughed, picking Amelia up and spinning her around, rather pleased with her daughter's pride in her hit. "Are you satisfied now?" She asked as Jane joined them, raising her eyebrow. "I hit the ball."
"Yes you did," Jane smirked. "Quite well I might add. Good job. I think we taught her well didn't we Mia?"
"We did!" Amelia nodded enthusiastically, running her fingers through her mother's hair. "You hit it real far Mommy."
"I did pretty well," Maura smiled. "But I think you definitely did better. Now what do you think, you ready to do something else for a while?"
"Can we play on the swings Janie? Please?" Amelia practically begged, using her best puppy-dog pout on Jane, who wouldn't be able to say no if she tried.
"We sure can kiddo," Jane replied, grinning ear to ear. "In fact I'll race you there."
Wiggling out of Maura's arms so she could return to the ground, Amelia immediately took off running in the direction of the swings, Jane following close behind as Maura simply laughed; picking up Amelia's baseball glove before heading after the pair. When she finally reached the swings Amelia was being pushed by Jane; the little blonde laughing happily as she kept calling out for Jane to push her higher and higher.
"This was a good idea," Maura said, standing beside Jane and watching her daughter with a smile on her face. "Amelia's having a great time. It's nice to see her so…." She began, searching for the right word.
"Childlike?" Jane finished for her with a smirk. "It's nice to see her acting like a four-year-old don't you think? Laughing and yelling and just having a good time; this is how it should be. She's so serious all the time, she should just be having fun being a kid."
"I know," Maura agreed, knowing her daughter's seriousness likely stemmed from her own personality and the fact that the pair spent all their time together. "I'm really glad I let you talk me into this. You're right it's definitely good for her, so thank you."
"Anytime," Jane smiled. "I mean I'm having a great time too so I'm serious when I say anytime," she said, her and Maura laughing as she looked around, noticing quite a few kids running around the playground; her eyes eventually falling on a little brunette who looked about Amelia's age.
Grabbing Amelia's swing in order to stop her from swinging, Jane moved around to stand in front of Amelia, the little blonde looking up at her in confusion. "Hey Mia, you see that girl over there?" She asked, gesturing to the little girl with her head; Amelia nodding in reply. "Why don't you go ask her to play?"
"I don't know her," Amelia replied, furrowing her eyebrows.
"I know, but look she's all-alone," Jane said, watching as Amelia watched the little girl with careful consideration. "I bet she'd really like someone to play with. It'll be fun. Me and your Mom will wait right over there," she said, pointing towards a bench not far from the playground. "What do you think?"
Amelia considered this for a few moments longer, biting her lip in thought as Jane and Maura waited her out, both hoping the little girl would say yes, but not wanting to push her too hard.
"Well…okay," Amelia eventually replied, jumping off the swing, heading in the direction of the little girl, before turning back towards her mother and Jane. "You'll be right there?" She asked, pointing towards the bench.
"We'll be right there," Maura nodded, giving her daughter and encouraging smile. "Go ahead," she nodded.
Satisfied, Amelia headed towards the girl, looking rather nervous as she eventually approached, Maura and Jane watching as Amelia said something and the other girl nodded in reply, before both girls ran off towards the jungle gym.
"She did it," Maura practically whispered as she finally released the breath she had been holding in. "Oh my gosh she did it."
"That she did," Jane grinned proudly, putting a hand on Maura back in order to lead her towards the bench so they could sit down. "And look at that they're getting along wonderfully," she gestured towards the pair of little girls who were playing on the slide; the brunette talking animatedly while Amelia grinned happily. "I knew she could do it. You know we should make this a regular thing."
"Well it's going to get cold soon," Maura replied, still watching Amelia. "Winter isn't exactly an ideal time for the park."
"Well then we'll have to do other things," Jane said. "Movies, the gym, the library…whatever," she shrugged, like spending all her free weekends with Maura and Amelia would be the new norm. "If Amelia makes some friends at school then we can bring them along too."
"Oh she looks so happy," Maura gasped, not really seeming to have heard any of what Jane said as she continued to watch Amelia. "Oh thank you Jane," she said, turning towards her friend, her eyes filled with happy tears. "Today has been absolutely perfect. Thank you so much."
"You're welcome Maur," Jane smiled, reaching out and taking Maura's hand, giving it a firm, supportive squeeze. "It was my pleasure."