Maura is one of my favourite television characters ever. Maybe my actual favourite. I have never intended to make her seem weak. I think Maura is someone who is at times emotional (because of her family life, Hope, Doyle, Ian, etc.) but I think those emotions make her strong. I hope that I have been able to do her justice in this chapter.
Thanks so much to everyone who has been reading! –J
I will not be able to watch the finale until tomorrow, but I hope anyone who is watching enjoys it! It is a sad day in the Rizzoli and Isles fandom, but I know it will live on here in our little fanfiction community!
Chapter 26- Ours
"Vanessa," Maura couldn't believe what she was seeing, feeling as if her blood had turned to ice as her panic turned to anger.
"What are you doing here?" Jane asked at the same time, her voice betraying her own anger, unable to believe that this woman would show her face in Maura's house after the talk they had; that she would dare date her brother.
"Wait you guys know each other?" Tommy asked, looking from Jane and Maura to Vanessa, obviously confused. "How do you…"
"No!" Maura cut Tommy off with her shout, pointing a finger towards Vanessa, startling the rest of the room in the process. "No! You don't get to…I told you…No!" She repeated, lifting a rather scared looking Amelia into her arms.
"Mommy?" Amelia whispered, putting a hand on her Mother's cheek, receiving a small smile from the older blonde, who did her best to calm herself down for her daughter. "You mad Mommy?"
Kissing Amelia's forehead, Maura took a deep breath, refusing to have this conversation in front of the little girl. "Angela can you please take Amelia upstairs?" She asked calmly, looking to the eldest Rizzoli, who seemed to understand that she shouldn't argue. "Go with Angela sweetheart," she handed Amelia off, waiting until footsteps were heard on the stairs before she turned her attention back to Vanessa. "How dare you. How dare you come here after I told you to stay away from her. You had no right."
"What the hell is going on?" Tommy cut in, still having no idea what was happening.
"Listen T why don't you take the little guy outside," Jane gestured towards Vanessa's young son, thinking it probably wasn't a good idea for him to be there either. "I'll explain everything later okay? Please Tommy?"
Looking like he wanted to argue, Tommy watched his sister's face for a few moments before finally sighing. "Hey Deacon buddy let's go play outside for a while okay? Come on," he said, grateful that the little boy simply followed him.
"What the hell do you think you're doing here Vanessa?" Maura once again asked the red head, sounding downright irritated.
"Maura please try to be rational," Vanessa rolled her eyes, irritating the Medical Examiner even more. "Tommy invited me to meet his Mother. I had no idea that…"
"Don't lie to me," Maura interrupted. "Don't you dare try to tell me you didn't know who Tommy was. You know Jane's last name. I know you're not that stupid," she practically snarled, surprising Jane, who had a rather proud look on her face. "Did you know that Jane and I wouldn't be here or was that just pure luck? I mean what exactly was your plan if we did show up? I can't even believe you. You have so much nerve."
"Honestly Maura don't you think you're overreacting just a little?" Vanessa sighed. "Tommy's a good guy. I…"
"You used him," Jane was the one to interrupt this time, unable to contain her own anger over the whole situation. "You used my brother. He talks about Amelia all the time. You used him to get to her."
"I didn't," Vanessa shook her head, though the blush covering her cheeks said otherwise. "Okay maybe I did a little," she confessed under Jane's glare. "But I didn't know who Tommy was when I met him. I just thought he was cute. I didn't realize that he was related to you until we went out. It just seemed like an added bonus," she shrugged, Jane hardly able to resist the urge to slap the smug look off her face. "Look I didn't tell Amelia who I was or anything okay? I don't know what the big deal is. I just wanted a chance to meet her. I wanted to meet our…"
"No!" Maura slammed her hand down on the table, making Vanessa jump. "She's not our anything. She is my daughter. Mine," she pointed to her own chest. "You had nothing to do with that little girl up there. Absolutely nothing. I gave birth to her on my own, I raised her on my own. She is mine," she continued, her eyes boring into the red head's, refusing to look away; refusing to back down. "She's my daughter. And I told you to stay away. You had absolutely no right."
"Maura…" Vanessa tried to speak, only to once again get cut off by the still angry blonde.
"You need to go," Maura shook her head. "Leave my home right now, and don't you dare come back. You stay away from my daughter," she said, making sure her ex was listening to her. "Now. Go."
Opening her mouth before obviously thinking better of it and closing it again, Vanessa pushed her chair back, standing up and gathering her things before silently making her way to the door, not even bothering to look back before leaving.
Turning towards Maura, Jane watched as the blonde attempted to calm her breathing, taking long, deep breaths, her hands braced on the table in front of her.
"Maur," Jane took a step closer, reaching out and placing her hand over her girlfriend's. "Are you okay?" She asked carefully, having never seen the blonde so angry.
"I…I think so," Maura nodded slowly. "I will be at least."
"You…that was…" Jane tried to find the right words, moving her hand to the ME's back. "That was amazing Maur. You did so good."
"I need to talk to Amelia," Maura finally looked up, all her anger gone, replaced by an obvious sadness. "I need to explain what just happened. I have to…I have to tell her."
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Jane was impressed by how confident Maura seemed on their way upstairs to Amelia's bedroom. The honey-blonde still looked rather sad, and yet as they approached the door, she held her shoulders strong, pausing only to take a deep breath before letting herself into the room.
"Mommy!" Amelia exclaimed as soon as the door was open, jumping from her spot on the bed and running towards her Mother. "Mommy what happened? You mad Mommy?"
"Not anymore Sweetheart," Maura shook her head, surprised by the fact that most of her anger had dissipated as soon as Vanessa had left. "I'm sorry if I worried you downstairs. I was quite upset. I didn't mean to scare you."
"You mad because of Nessa Mommy?" Amelia asked innocently, not noticing the slight flinch that her mother gave at the sound of the nickname.
"Actually yes honey, Vanessa is the reason I was upset," Maura nodded, taking Amelia's hand and leading her over to the bed, wanting to sit down for the story she was about to tell.
"Ma maybe you and I should…" Jane began to say, still standing near the door, wanting to give Maura and Amelia some privacy.
"No Jane please stay," Maura interrupted, wanting the brunette there with her. "I think it would be best if Angela heard this as well. I'd rather she understood what just happened. Although I would appreciate if you let me get through the whole thing before you ask any questions Angela," she said, receiving a nod of understanding from the elder Rizzoli who took a seat on the chair in the corner.
Wanting to offer as much support as she could, Jane moved to sit as close as possible on Maura's other side, smiling when the blonde simply moved to grab her hand.
"I actually know Vanessa," Maura began after taking a deep breath. "I met her about 8 years ago and we were friends for quite some time before we decided to date."
"Like you and Janie?" Amelia asked, looking curious in the way that most kids were.
"Yes like me and Janie," Maura nodded, feeling the brunette squeezing her hand in support. "Vanessa and I were quite happy and we planned to be together forever," she explained, glancing at Angela, hoping she understood what she meant. "At the time I really loved Vanessa and I wanted to start a family with her, so we decided to have a baby."
"Me?" Amelia asked, smiling.
"Yes you," Maura smiled, tucking the little blonde's hair behind her ear. "I wanted to have a baby more than anything and I was thrilled when I got pregnant with you. I couldn't wait to be a Mother, but Vanessa realized that she wasn't ready for that anymore," she continued, hoping that she was doing the right thing by telling her daughter all of this. "Vanessa left when I was pregnant with you, and I was extremely hurt because of it, which is why I got angry when she came here today. I asked her to stay away and so I was surprised to see her here."
Watching as Amelia seemed to take this all in, Maura worried as the little girl furrowed her brow, obviously thinking hard. "Nessa didn't like me?" She eventually asked, looking slightly confused.
"What? No! No honey that's not it at all," Maura released Jane's hand in order to place both her hands on her daughter's shoulders. "Vanessa didn't even know you sweetheart, she just wasn't ready for the responsibility that came with having a baby. It had nothing to do with you Baby. You were the best baby and you are the best daughter that anyone could ever ask for," she assured her, running her fingers through the little girl's hair. "Do you understand why I was so upset when I saw her here?"
"I think so," Amelia nodded slowly. "I'm sorry that that happened to you Mommy. I'm sorry she made you sad."
"Thank you sweetheart," Maura smiled, leaning forward and placing a kiss on her daughter's forehead; her heart warmed by the caring nature of her little girl. "And I hope you know that even though Vanessa hurt me all that time ago, I'm still grateful for her. Would you like to know why?" She asked, waiting for the five year old to nod. "Because she helped me to see that I wanted to have you and you are the best thing that ever happened to me."
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"I didn't know Janie," Tommy blurted out as soon as Jane opened up the front door, early the next morning. "I swear to God Janie I didn't have a clue. If I had known I never would have…."
"Tommy relax," Jane interrupted, holding a hand up. "I know okay? I know you didn't know. It's okay."
"She told me everything last night," Tommy said as Jane let him into the house. "If I had known who she was. If I knew what she did I never would have brought her here."
"I know T," Jane nodded, leading her youngest brother into the kitchen, grabbing a mug and pouring him some coffee. "The whole thing was a mess, but it's not your fault. It's alright."
"I can't believe she'd use me to get to Mia like that," Tommy shook his head in frustration, plopping down onto one of the island stools. "I broke up with her as soon as she told me everything."
"I'm sorry," Maura sighed as she entered the kitchen without either of the Rizzoli's hearing. "I'm so sorry Tommy. I feel like this is all my fault," she said, a sad look on her face.
"Don't be ridiculous," Tommy replied, pulling out the stool beside him for Maura to sit down. "You have nothing to be sorry for. This was all Vanessa," he shook his head. "There's no way I'm gonna sit back while someone messes with Mia like that. I would never."
Smiling, Maura couldn't help the tears that were now stinging her eyes, completely touched by the youngest Rizzoli's reaction. "Amelia is incredibly lucky to have an uncle like you," she said, not missing the look of surprise on Tommy's face.
"Un-uncle? Really?" Tommy repeated, his surprise also evident in his voice.
"Well that's what you are aren't you? Maybe not officially, but you and Frankie have both taken on that roll in Amelia's life," Maura replied. "Plus Amelia absolutely adores you."
"Well I'm pretty fond of her myself," Tommy grinned before falling serious again. "Thanks Maura. That means a lot to me. And I hope you know I'm really sorry you had to go through all that yesterday because of me."
"It's okay Tommy," Maura shook her head, reaching out and putting a hand over his. "This is far from being your fault, and even though I hate that Vanessa came near Amelia, in a way I'm sort of glad that it happened."
"You are?" Jane raised an eyebrow from the other side of the island, slightly confused. "What do you mean? I thought you were upset."
"Oh I am," Maura nodded. "I didn't want Vanessa anywhere near Amelia, and I never wanted to have to explain all of that to Amelia while she was still so young. But I also think that it has finally given me the closure that I've always needed with her," she shrugged. "I feel different. I'm not really sure if that makes sense but I think I needed to be able to get everything off my chest with her. It felt rather good to tell her off like that."
"And you looked good doing it," Jane laughed, giving the blonde a wink. "I have to admit I was a little surprised to hear you talk like that. It was pretty impressive."
"Why thank you," Maura grinned proudly before glancing at the clock, suddenly realizing the time. "Oh goodness look at the time! We're going to be late! Amelia!" She shouted, willing to bet the little girl was still playing in her room. "Time to go Sweetie let's go! Come say hello to Uncle Tommy before we go!"
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When Jane got a call from the guard at the front desk later that afternoon telling her she had a visitor she didn't know what to expect. Not anticipating a visitor, the Detective made her way down the elevator curiously; her curiosity only turning to anger when she spotted the red head waiting outside the café.
"You've got an awful lot of nerve showing up here," Jane practically growled as she approached Maura's ex. "I'm pretty certain Maura told you to stay away. Somehow I think she meant work too. What do you want?"
"Your brother broke up with me," Vanessa stated, pretending to be interested in something hanging on the bulletin board, only turning towards Jane when the brunette let out a snort.
"What did you expect? You thought he'd stick around after the shit you pulled?" Jane asked sounding incredulous. "My brother's not stupid Vanessa. He knows you used him. He's not just gonna sit back and let that happen, especially considering what you did with Mia."
"I told you both yesterday I didn't know who Tommy was when I met him," Vanessa shook her head. "It wasn't until we had went out that I realized that you were…Look I realize that I made a mistake yesterday but I just…" she paused, searching for the right words. "I wanted to meet her," she eventually shrugged. "Can you really blame me for that?"
"You gave your rights to that little girl up a long time ago," Jane replied, her voice angry. "The second you walked away from them you lost your chance to know her. You don't get to come back now," she shook her head. "Maura has worked incredibly hard to create the life she has for her daughter and yesterday you forced her to explain something she never wanted to explain to a five year old girl. You had no right to come to her house like that. You wanted to date my brother? Fine. Then you should have been honest with him in the first place, but you weren't. Now you've messed things up with him and Maura, and honestly I'm not really sure what you thought you were going to accomplish coming here to see me. What do you want huh? You think I was gonna talk to my brother? Convince him to take you back?" She asked, surprised when Vanessa simply shrugged in reply, looking like that was exactly what she had expected.
"Look I know you don't like me but…"
"Damn right," Jane interrupted before she could continue. "I warned you to stay away but you didn't listen and now you've ruined things for yourself and you'll have to live with that," she shook her head. "You know I have no idea what Maura ever saw in you," she scoffed. "Now I have to go," she said, turning on her heel and getting in the elevator, never looking back.
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"I can't believe she actually came to see you," Maura said as she and Jane got into bed that night, having heard the story about Vanessa from her girlfriend on their way home. "I mean really what did she expect from you? I swear she was a lot more intelligent than that when I was with her."
"I guess she was desperate or something," Jane replied, leaning back against the headboard and turning towards the blonde. "Maybe she's just lost her mind? I mean I'm pretty sure if I wasn't with you anymore I'd lose my mind," she grinned, making Maura laugh. "Who really knows what she expected. We may never really find out."
"Unless she shows up again," Maura sighed, pinching the bridge of her nose. "I'm worried she's just going to keep doing this…keep showing up in my life."
"You know what I don't think she's going to show up again," Jane shook her head, reaching out and rubbing the blonde's shoulder. "I mean she sounded kind of defeated today. Maybe she's finally realizing that she lost her chance with you and Mia…and I guess Tommy now too."
Watching Maura's reaction Jane thought about Vanessa and all the regrets the red head probably had. Vanessa had given Maura up, something she could never imagine doing herself.
"I went to see Vanessa," Jane eventually said, waiting for hazel eyes to meet hers before continuing. "After the last time," she clarified. "I got her address from Frost and I went to talk to her…to warn her really."
"Warn her?" Maura raised an eyebrow.
"To stay away from you and Mia," Jane admitted, looking a little embarrassed. "I know I didn't really have any right or anything, but you were just so upset after seeing her and I hated seeing you like that. I was worried about you and I worried about Mia and I just…"
Maura's lips on hers cut off the rest of Jane's words, the blonde placing a hand behind her head in order to pull her closer. "You are amazing," Maura smiled when she eventually pulled away. "Thank you, for doing that. For loving me and Amelia the way that you do."
"You two mean the world to me," Jane replied, leaning her forehead against her girlfriend's, placing a kiss on the tip of the blonde's nose.
"You mean the world to us too," Maura smiled, pulling back so she could look into deep, brown eyes. "You know I was wrong about one thing yesterday," she said, Jane quirking an eyebrow in question. "I told Vanessa that Amelia was my daughter and only mine, but that's not really true. She's not just my daughter anymore. Not really," she said, tucking brown curls behind her girlfriend's ears. "She's ours."