So I'm beginning to realize that I can't please everyone with this story and the way I decide to do things, but that's okay. I'm still enjoying writing and I truly appreciate everyone who has taken the time to read.
So I hope you all will enjoy this chapter! Thanks so much to everyone who has been reviewing! You all always brighten my day!
Happy Reading! -J
Chapter 23- Make it up to You
Maura was too good to her. That was the first thought Jane had as she had been accepted back into her home with Maura; the blonde was simply too good, too kind, too forgiving. Jane felt extremely guilty, and thought that perhaps Maura was letting her off too easy, but Maura had explained that the only way they were going to solve their problems was together; which meant that Jane needed to come home.
Though Maura was hurt by what Jane had done, and worried about her daughter's feelings, she also loved Jane and knew that Jane loved her too; something she was not willing to give up on so easily. So while Maura had welcomed Jane home with open arms, she also reminded the brunette that they had things to work on; that she would not be willing to forgive Jane for something like this ever again.
For her part Jane swore to never walk out on Maura and Amelia again; vowed to stick around when things got tough, and make sure she was open with Maura about her feelings. The Detective knew she still had to get her head on straight in regards to what happened with Hoyt, but she also came to realize that the best way for her to do that was with Maura by her side; a fact, which had thrilled Amelia when she had woken up the next morning to find Jane back home.
A week after Jane had returned saw things returning to normal both at home and at work, and though Jane was making efforts to do better, she still felt like she had some serious making up to do when it came to her relationship with Maura.
"Alright Mia you gonna help me make your Ma a nice dinner tonight?" Jane asked on a rare night where she was able to make it home before Maura, who was staying late to finish an autopsy. "I think she'd really like a nice lasagna. You think that sounds good?"
"That sounds great!" Amelia replied enthusiastically, climbing up onto one for the kitchen stools. "I will help, but how come we gotta make Mommy a special dinner? Is it her birthday?"
"No it's not her birthday," Jane shook her head as she began pulling out whatever she would need to make lasagna. "I just thought your Mommy deserved a nice dinner since she's so good to us. Don't you agree?"
"Mommy is the best!" Amelia nodded seriously. "She packs the best lunches for school and she gets me lots of books."
"Yeah she's pretty awesome huh?" Jane smiled, giving the little blonde a wink. "And you know what? She's really good to me too! She helps me at work all the time and she always lets me watch sports even though she doesn't like them," she said, a smile on her face as Amelia listened carefully. "And you know what else? Your Mom always knows how to make me feel better when I'm sad or scared."
"Me too," Amelia agreed. "And she gives the best hugs and snuggles!"
"I couldn't agree more," Jane laughed, moving around the island in order to give the little blonde a kiss on the head, wrapping her arm around her shoulders. "Now come on, we've only got a couple hours before she gets home. Let's make the best dinner your Mom has ever had."
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By the time she arrived home Maura was exhausted. Having spent the last few hours on her feet trying to find a cause of death for a person who seemed to have simply died for no apparent reason at all, the Medical Examiner was too tired to notice that the lights were dimmed as she walked in the house; half asleep as she passed the candles flickering in the entryway. It wasn't until the honey blonde placed her bag down on the floor that she finally looked up towards the dining room to find Jane and Amelia standing with smiles on their faces; Jane dressed in a simple black dress while Amelia wore a purple dress she had gotten in New York.
"What…Why…What…" Maura stuttered, her surprise making her tongue-tied as she took in the dining room table, which had dinner laid out, a centerpiece of candles lit up in the middle. "What's all this?"
"It's your special dinner Mommy!" Amelia was the one to reply, running over to Maura who immediately bent down in order to pick her up. "Do you think I look pretty?"
"You look beautiful Baby. You both do," Maura replied, looking up at Jane who was watching the two blondes with a smile on her face. "But why exactly do I get a special dinner?"
"Because you're you," Jane said, moving closer and greeting her girlfriend with a kiss. "And you deserve it."
"Yeah Mommy you deserve it!" Amelia parroted. "You're the best Mommy ever and me and Janie think you give the bestest hugs ever!"
"Oh do I?" Maura tried not to laugh, giving Jane a wink as she placed a kiss on Amelia's cheek. "Well I must say that you both give wonderful hugs as well," she smiled. "It smells amazing in here. What are we having?" She then asked, following Jane towards the dining room, Amelia still on her hip.
"We made lasagna and there's garlic bread and salad," Jane replied, pulling out a chair for Maura to sit down, holding out her arms to Amelia who allowed the brunette to lift her out of her mother's arms in order to place her in her own chair. "Amelia did most of the cooking," she smiled pouring Maura a glass of wine.
"Oh did she?" Maura grinned as Amelia giggled from her seat, allowing Jane to pour her a glass of milk. "I feel very underdressed with the two of you right now. Maybe I should just run upstairs and…"
"Don't be ridiculous," Jane waved her off as she made her way around the table to take her own seat. "You look beautiful. Just sit back and enjoy dinner," she said while serving Maura a piece of lasagna before passing the salad over to the blonde. "How was the rest of your day?"
"Oh well it was fine," Maura replied, her smile never leaving her face, still slightly speechless by her girlfriend's very sweet gesture. "Slightly exhausting but fine I suppose…it's definitely better now," she grinned. "This all looks great and it's very nice. Thank you."
"It was our pleasure," Jane winked. "Now come on let's all dig in before it gets cold."
"Yeah dig in Mommy! You're gonna love it!" Amelia added happily, taking a bite of her piece of garlic bread. "And after dinner Janie said we can all read a story together!"
"Well then I better get eating," Maura chuckled, running her hand over her daughter's head. "Because that sounds absolutely wonderful."
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Dinner was a happy affair, and by the time the meal was over, Maura no longer felt the least bit tired; a new sense of energy brought on by the happiness that now overwhelmed her. Jane had volunteered to do all the cleanup as soon as they finished eating, sending Maura to the family room with Amelia and a glass of wine, giving the two blondes the opportunity to enjoy some time together; something, which Maura greatly appreciated since she hated the days when she got home late.
Amelia had also been happy to spend some time with her Mother, sharing a long and enthusiastic story about her day at school until Jane eventually joined them. Since Amelia was excited to have story time with her Mother and Jane, Maura suggested bath time early, the trio eventually gathering together in Amelia's bedroom where they all cuddled up together in the little blonde's bed.
"I think that's the last chapter for tonight sweetheart," Maura said later that night, closing up their latest chapter book, noticing Amelia struggling to keep her eyes open. "We can read some more tomorrow night."
"But I don't wanna go to sleep," Amelia whined between a yawn. "I want you to stay," she said, wrapping her arms around her Mother's middle, tucking her head under her arm. "Stay just a little longer."
"I think we can do that," Maura laughed lightly, knowing it wouldn't be long before Amelia succumbed to sleep, putting her arm around the five-year-old's shoulders, smiling as Jane snuggled up closer on Amelia's other side. "We'll just stay here with you for a little bit."
"Janie did we do a good job today?" Amelia asked, barely able to keep her eyes open, lulled by her Mother's fingers in her hair.
"I think we did a very good job," Jane smiled, running her thumb over the little girl's cheek. "Thanks for all your help kiddo. You're the best."
"We made you happy Mommy?" Amelia yawned, her head falling to Maura's chest.
"You made me very happy Baby," Maura replied, feeling Amelia's body getting heavier as she began to fall into sleep. "You and Jane make me happy every day," she said, meeting the brunette's eyes. "I'm incredibly lucky."
"Love…" Amelia mumbled before her light snores filled the room.
Both grinning, Jane and Maura moved silently in order to lay the little blonde down, tucking her in and giving her kisses before making their way out of the room, Jane immediately finding herself pinned against the hallway wall, Maura's lips on hers. Having not been intimate since before the incident with Hoyt, Jane was instantly lost in the kiss, her hands weaving themselves into Maura's hair, a moan escaping from the back of her throat.
Both women were breathless when Maura finally pulled away, the blonde gripping Jane's shirt tightly with both her hands.
"Wha…what was…what was that for?" Jane asked, trying to catch her breath.
"For tonight," Maura smiled, giving Jane a quick peck, resting their foreheads together. "And because I've missed you."
"Well I'm right here," Jane grinned, both still breathing heavily. "I'm here and I've missed you too."
"Well then," Maura grabbed Jane's hand. "I think we better do something about that," she grinned as she pulled the brunette towards their bedroom.
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"No don't…don't you…don't touch her…don't you touch her….No…No…No Maur…Maura!"
"Jane! Jane! Wake up! Jane!" Maura shook the still sleeping brunette, wanting to get her girlfriend out of the nightmare she was clearly having. "Jane honey wake up! It's just a dream Jane, wake up!"
"Maura!" Jane shot up, nearly knocking Maura over as her eyes searched the room in panic, her breathing hard.
"I'm right here. It's okay. I'm right here," Maura was quick to assure her, carefully placing her hands on the brunette's shoulders, not wanting to startle her, but needing to offer some sort of comfort. "It was just a dream Jane. I'm right here."
"You're…Hoyt…you…" Jane struggled to calm herself down, tears beginning to make their way down her face.
"No," Maura shook her head, placing her hands on Jane's cheeks, forcing the brunette to look her in the eyes. "No Hoyt is gone. It was just a dream baby. It was just a nightmare," she said, wrapping her arms around her girlfriend, feeling her heart break as Jane practically clung to her; tears hitting her bare shoulder. "It's okay Jane. It's okay. It's over. Hoyt can't hurt us now."
"But he already hurt us. He hurt us and then I made it worse," Jane continued to cry, her face hidden in Maura's hair. "I hurt you and I hurt Mia all because of Hoyt. All because I let that man get in my head and scare me. I'm sorry Maur. I'm so sorry."
"I know you are Jane," Maura replied, kissing the side of the brunette's head. "I know you're sorry love. I know."
"But you don't forgive me," Jane shook her head sadly, still not looking up. "You're angry with me and you don't trust me. I can tell. I can see it."
"Jane look at me," Maura replied, forcing the brunette to look up. "I'm not angry with you, and it's not that I don't trust you. I love you. I love you so much," she said, running her fingers through brown curls. "I understand why you ran Jane. I know you and I understand you, so I know why you left and I am working on truly forgiving you but you have to understand. I have Amelia to think about," she explained. "She was heartbroken Jane. She was completely devastated when you left and I…I don't know what I would do if you left for good. I don't know how I would explain it to her and that worries me."
"I'm so sorry," Jane hung her head in shame, hating that she had hurt her two favourite people so much.
"I know," Maura nodded. "Really I do. I just need to know that you're not going to do this every time things get hard. I was willing to work things out this time, but I won't do it again Jane," she said, her tone serious, needing the brunette to understand. "I can't do it again. It's not fair to Amelia."
"It won't happen again Maur," Jane was quick to assure her, sounding slightly panicked. "I promise Maura. I promise! It won't happen again. I won't run away. I love you and Mia so much. I promise you I won't do it again. I…"
"Okay," Maura interrupted, running her hand up and down her girlfriend's arm, trying to calm her down. "I believe you Jane. I believe you," she said, slightly caught off guard when the brunette threw her arms around her, pulling her into a bone-crushing hug. "Oh…"
"I want to take you on a date," Jane said, kissing the blonde's shoulder. "A real, proper date," she looked up, tucking a stray hair behind Maura's ear. "Can I do that? Can I take you on a date?"
"Yes," Maura nodded with a smile. "Of course."
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"Hey Bug I wanna talk to you," Jane entered Amelia's bedroom early the next morning, coming in just as the five-year-old finished getting dressed for school.
"Okay," Amelia nodded, jumping up to sit on her bed. "What you wanna talk about Janie? Are we gonna do something special for Mommy again?"
"No…well maybe, but not today," Jane smiled, taking a seat next to the little blonde, taking a deep breath as she prepared herself for what she wanted to say. "I just wanted to tell you that I'm sorry that I went away for a little while…that I left you and your Mommy."
"When you went to Frankie's?" Amelia asked.
"Yes," Jane nodded. "I know that it made you sad that I left, and I never meant to hurt you. I love you so much and I hate that I made you sad," she said. "So I'm so so sorry and I hope that you'll be able to forgive me."
Watching as Amelia furrowed her eyebrows in thought, Jane could hear her heart beating against her chest, waiting as the little girl considered this for a moment. "How come you left Janie?" She eventually asked.
"Well…" Jane bit her lip. "I got scared," she admitted, Amelia's eyes widening in surprise.
"You got scared?"
"I did," Jane nodded, running her hand over the blonde's head. "Something bad happened and it really scared me. I was worried about you and your Mom so I left because I thought that it would be better for you both, but I was wrong. I was so wrong Bug and I'm sorry that I hurt you," she continued. "I know that this is all probably hard for you to understand, but I hope you know how much I love you."
"I love you too Janie," Amelia replied, wrapping her arms around Jane's middle. "I'm glad your home. I'm not sad anymore," she said squeezing the brunette tightly. "And you don't have to be scared Janie. Me and Mommy are here for you."
"Thanks Bug," Jane smiled, kissing the top of Amelia's head, feeling nothing but love for the incredibly intelligent little blonde. "You're the best."
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"You know this was not what I expected when you asked to take me on a date," Maura said the following Saturday night, sitting at a rather intimate table across from Jane at her favourite French restaurant. "I don't even understand how you got a table here so last minute. It's nearly impossible! Even I can't get in without using my Mother's name."
"I called in a favour," Jane shrugged like it was no big deal, hiding her grin behind her wine glass as she took a sip.
"You called in a fav….how could you possibly call in a favour like that?" Maura asked in disbelief. "This is the busiest place in the city and this is one of the best tables in the place. I don't understand it."
"And I'm not about to explain it," Jane grinned, giving the blonde a wink. "I've got some surprises up my sleeve Maura Isles and I'm not about to reveal my secrets so easily."
"You are impossible," Maura huffed, though she couldn't hold back a smile as she took a sip of her wine. "This has been absolutely wonderful. I don't know how we managed to get out of work so early today, but I'm so grateful. This night has been perfect."
"I couldn't agree more, although the night isn't over yet," Jane replied, reaching out and taking Maura's hand in hers.
"You mean there's more after this?" Maura asked sounding surprised. "Don't we need to get back to relieve your Mother? I don't want to make her watch Amelia all night, she's had her all day."
"Don't worry Frost was taking over for Ma," Jane told her. "He promised Mia they could have dinner tonight and watch whatever movies she wants. I don't think he's ever had a better Saturday night date," she grinned. "He'll be fine till we get back."
"Oh Amelia is probably in her glory," Maura chuckled, using her thumb to rub the back of Jane's hand. "She loves Barry. Though I'm not sure he knows what he's gotten himself into tonight. Any movies she wants? He'll be stuck watching Princesses all night."
"I know," Jane laughed, looking way too happy. "I wish I could see him watching those movies. And you know how Mia likes to sing along and dance. She's gonna make him dance too. It'll be great," she continued to laugh picturing her friend watching Disney movies all night long.
"Well it will likely be the last time he volunteers to babysit, I guess we better take advantage of it then," Maura smiled, raising her wine glass to the waiter, asking for another. "You know Amelia told me about your conversation the other morning. It was very sweet of you to apologize to her."
"Well I have to earn back both of your trust," Jane shrugged. "I wanna make sure you both know that I'm not going anywhere ever again. Not unless you want me to of course."
"Which will never happen," Maura shook her head, squeezing Jane's hand. "I'm not planning on letting you go Jane Rizzoli. I love you too much for that," she said, bringing Jane's hand up to her mouth and giving it a kiss. "So what is the plan for the rest of the night then?"
"Well…." Jane paused, grinning from ear to ear. "Because I'd really love to spend the rest of the night with you in my arms I thought that we'd go dancing."
"Like at a club?"
"Yeah…I mean I haven't gone out dancing in forever. I thought it might be fun," Jane replied. "Unless you don't want to. We can totally do something else if you hate the idea. I just thought…"
"Dancing sounds perfect," Maura interrupted with a laugh. "I don't think I could think of anything better."