So last week was difficult. Not only was I working like crazy but I had a rather difficult week emotionally and just could not bring myself to write. When I did finally start this chapter I just really needed it to be happy so I will warn you now that this is an extremely fluffy chapter. I promise I've got most interesting stuff to come, I just really needed something light!
I hope you all will enjoy!
Thanks so much for reading! -J
Chapter 27- Honorary Rizzolis
Sundays. They had easily become Amelia's favourite day of the week. When her Mother and Jane would have the day off, and their phones remained silent, the little blonde would delight in the joy and family that Sundays brought because Sundays were not just ordinary days in the Rizzoli/Isles household anymore; they had become Rizzoli Sundays.
Rizzoli Sundays were a tradition that Angela had begun when her kids had moved out; something she originally had to beg and plead with her children to attend, until they eventually grew to look forward to the family time each week. When Angela had moved into Maura's Rizzoli Sunday had taken a brief pause, but as soon as Jane had told Maura about the tradition the blonde had insisted that they start back up, immediately volunteering the main house.
Since they often worked on the weekends, and were usually on call when they weren't, family dinners weren't always possible, but each week without fail Angela would cook a meal, ready to serve it to whoever would show up. The entire family's presence was rare lately, but when it happened it thrilled not only Angela, but also Amelia, who had grown to love each and every member of the Rizzoli family, as well as the extended members, that often included both Korsak and Frost.
"Mommy, why you up here?" Amelia called, marching into the master bedroom one Sunday afternoon in May, searching for her Mother. "It's Rizzoli Sunday Mommy! You gotta come downstairs! Rizzolis will be here soon!"
"Oh they will, will they?" Maura raised an eyebrow, chuckling at the sight of her daughter standing with her hand on her hip, looking very much like Jane at the moment. "Well I was just doing some cleaning darling. I will be down shortly. Why don't you go play with Janie for a while?"
"But I wanna play with you Mommy," Amelia sighed in exasperation. "I wanna play with you and Janie. Please Mommy? Please? It's Rizzoli Sunday, Angela says that means family time," she begged, looking up at her Mother with wide, hazel eyes that she knew the older blonde couldn't resist. "
"Oh all right," Maura huffed, unable to deny the little blonde who immediately broke out into a wide grin. "Let's go then," she held out her hand for her daughter, smiling as she allowed the five year old to lead her down the stairs and towards the family room where Jane was sitting on the couch.
"Ahh good job Mia, I knew you'd get her," Jane grinned as she looked up to find the two Isles' headed towards her, holding up her hand for a high five from the little blonde. "Told you puppy dog eyes work every time," she winked, laughing as she noticed the shocked look on Maura's face.
"Oh so you put her up to this did you?" Maura raised an eyebrow, trying to look stern but failing to hide the amusement from her voice. "Any why, might I ask, did I need to come down here right away?"
"Because," Jane reached out, grabbing the blonde by the waist and pulling her down onto the couch beside her, placing a kiss on her cheek. "It's Sunday. Rizzoli Sunday actually and as an honorary Rizzoli your presence is required," she said, smiling as Amelia scrambled up onto Maura's lap, trying her best to get in between the two women.
"Janie am I and on…honor Rizzoli too?" Amelia asked excitedly looking up at the brunette, sitting on Maura's lap but draping her legs over Jane.
"You bet you are kiddo," Jane grinned, tickling the little girl's stomach. "And as my number one honorary Rizzoli," she winked at Maura. "You get to choose the games for this afternoon. Anything you want."
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Amelia had decided on hide and go seek, followed by Candy Land and by the time that Frankie, Tommy, Frost and Korsak had shown up a dance party had ensued; Maura so wrapped up in her daughter's joy that she didn't even have time to feel self conscious. The house was full of people and laughter, the kind of atmosphere that Maura used to avoid, but now basked in.
"Mommy where are you going?" Amelia called when Maura had attempted to sneak away, needing to take a break. "We're dancing Mommy! Don't go!"
"Oh honey Mommy needs a break," Maura replied, her breathing slightly heavier than normal, having been dancing for more than 30 straight minutes. "Let me get a drink okay? I'll come back soon."
"But…" Amelia began to argue, interrupted when Tommy scooped her up, throwing her up over his shoulder, eliciting a very excited squeal.
"Come on kid I'll dance with you," Tommy said, placing the little blonde on his hip and dancing her around the room in his own sort of waltz, making the five year old giggle.
"He's so good with her," Maura smiled, taking a seat beside Korsak at the kitchen island where he was talking to Angela who was working on dinner. "I think the only person Amelia enjoys more than Tommy is Jane."
"Tommy has definitely found his partner in crime in Amelia," Angela nodded, handing Maura a glass of wine. "He adores her. He's such a natural with kids. He'll make a great father."
"Ma I can hear you!" Tommy called from the family room. "Take it easy on the grandchildren talk alright? I don't even have a girlfriend. Why don't you bug Frankie?"
"Hey keep me out of this," Frankie shouted from where he sat on the couch with Frost, trying to watch the TV around Tommy and Amelia who were still dancing. "Janie's the oldest anyways. She's the one you should be bugging Ma."
"Hey I brought her Mia," Jane pointed out, walking up behind Maura and putting her arms around her, placing a kiss on the blonde's cheek. "She's basically a grandkid at this point."
"Yes but I'm not sure you get credit for that one," Korsak was the one to reply. "I mean technically Maura brought Amelia into the world. Not you."
"Yeah but I'm dating Maura so technically I brought Mia to the family," Jane argued, sticking out her tongue childishly before, burying her face in Maura's hair, kissing her neck and not caring that her Mother and Korsak were watching.
"Yes well thank God for Maura," Angela rolled her eyes at her children. "I mean not only did she bring me a grandchild but she also tamed you," she said looking at Jane. "Plus she's a doctor! She's definitely my favourite child."
"Thank you Angela," Maura smiled, touched by the fact that the older woman considered her to be family.
"Um excuse me, what do you mean she tamed me?" Jane quickly turned towards her Mother as if she just realized what she had said. "I wasn't some wild animal Ma! I did not need to be tamed."
"Well I don't know about that," Frost said as he came over to get a beer out of the refrigerator. "I mean I don't know if tamed is the right word, but Maura has kind of calmed you down…okay maybe not calmed you down but…well…you are different."
"I am not!" Jane was quick to argue, ignoring Maura who was chuckling beside her, the blonde slipping her arm around her waist. "I'm the same as I've always been."
"No way," Frost laughed, shaking his head. "You're way neater than you used to be, you're never late anymore and you hardly ever swear."
"Which is a big accomplishment considering you curse like a sailor," Korsak added.
"See,' Angela pointed to her daughter. "She tamed you."
"Whatever," Jane rolled her eyes, crossing her arms over her chest, obviously pouting.
"Aw don't worry Jane," Maura laughed, placing a kiss on the brunette's cheek. "There's nothing wrong with change. You changed me too," she smiled, turning Jane's head so they were looking each other in the eyes. "You changed me for the better. Definitely for the better."
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"Angela that was fantastic," Maura said later that night, sitting back in her chair at the dinner table, her stomach full of copious amounts of the Italian woman's cooking. "You've really outdone yourself."
"Maura's right Ma, that was great," Jane agreed, hand on her stomach. "I'm stuffed."
"Me too," Amelia nodded from where she sat beside Jane, mirroring the brunette's pose. "So stuffed," she repeated, sounding so much like Jane that the entire table burst into laughter, Maura's mouth falling open in surprise.
"Oh..oh my. Wow she has definitely been spending too much time with you Janie," Angela said between laughter. "She sounded just like you right then," she could barely contain her laughter. " I'm glad you liked it Mia. I told you when we met I'd have you eating like an Italian. I never realized you'd be sounding like one too."
"Janie said I'm a Rizzoli too. An honour one. Right Janie?" Amelia sounded proud, a big smile on her face.
"You got that right kiddo," Jane grinned, ruffling the little girl's blonde hair. "Especially when you sound like that," she laughed, winking at Maura over Amelia's head.
"Just as long as she doesn't start cursing like you," Maura replied, trying to look stern.
"Janie you curse?" Amelia gasped turning towards the brunette. "Mommy says we should never use bad words. You'll get in big trouble. You gonna have a time-out Janie?"
"You know what when I use bad words I do get a time-out," Jane nodded, trying to keep her face serious, not wanting to encourage the five year old to start bad habits. "Your Mommy's right. But don't worry I've gotten much better. I don't use bad words anymore. Your Mommy helped me with that," she said with a slight grin.
"Yeah cause she tamed you," Frankie snorted, dodging the piece of bread that Jane threw towards his head. "Hey!"
"Don't you two start," Angela stood from her seat, pointing to her two older children before beginning to grab plates off the table.
"Oh Angela let me help you with that," Maura immediately stood in order to help.
"Yeah Ma let me help," Frankie also stood, grabbing the plates in front of him as well as Frost's and Tommy's.
"Suck up," Jane coughed into her hand, sticking her tongue out at her brother when he sent a glare her way, her arms automatically circling around Amelia's waist as the little blonde climbed up on to her lap. "Hey there little one," she placed a kiss on top of Amelia's head. "What are you up to Bug?"
"Can we go watch Doc?" Amelia asked, leaning her head against the brunette's chest. "With Tommy, Frostie and Korsak?"
"Oh well sure I'm sure the guys would love to watch Doc McStuffins," Jane held back a laugh, looking up at the almost horrified looks on all three of the men's faces. "Right guys?"
"Oh uh well…yeah!" Frost forced himself to sound enthusiastic. "Yeah we'd love to!"
Smiling, Amelia wrapped her arms around Jane's neck, waiting for the Detective to lift her up and carry her towards the family room. Maura, who was watching the interaction from where she stood at the kitchen sink couldn't help but smile as Jane led the three men towards the family room; all caving to her daughter's wishes without complaint.
"She's got us all whipped huh," Frankie broke Maura from her thoughts, nodding towards the group. "I mean I'm pretty sure I would do anything the kid asked me to do," he laughed. "We all would. You've got quite the little girl Maura."
"She is rather convincing," Maura smiled, turning towards her girlfriend's brother. "I'm afraid she uses it to her advantage too. She's just so taken with the whole family."
"Well the feeling is mutual," Frankie told her, a small smile. "We all love you and Mia," he said, surprising the blonde, whose eyes immediately burned with tears that she fought to hold back, touched by the fact that Jane's entire family had taken her and Amelia in as their own. "You're the best thing that ever happened to Janie. Do us a favour and don't let her go alright? Cuz I don't know what we'd all do without you."
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"Janie?"
"Shhh," Jane kissed Amelia's head, carrying the five year old up the stairs towards her bedroom. "It's okay Sweetie. I'm just gonna bring you to bed," she whispered, rubbing her hand up the little girl's back. "Just sleep baby."
Careful not to rouse the little one, Jane brought Amelia straight to her room, grateful that Maura had been able to convince her to change into pajamas earlier in the night, placing her in her bed and tucking the covers up to her chin. "Night my Sweet girl," Jane kissed Amelia's forehead. "I love you."
"Love Janie…" Amelia replied sleepily, her eyes still closed. "Love…Rizzolis."
"They love you too," Jane whispered, chuckling as she turned on the nightlight before leaving the room, a smile on her face as she met Maura in the hallway.
"Is she still asleep?" Maura asked, having come up from where she was cleaning up the family room, their guests having left more than 20 minutes ago.
"She's in and out," Jane nodded, leaning up against the wall as she waited for Maura to kiss her daughter goodnight, still smiling when the blonde returned.
"What are you so happy about?" Maura laughed as Jane immediately pulled her into her arms, placing kisses all over her face. "Jane!" She continued to giggle, moving them so they wouldn't wake Amelia standing outside her room. "What has gotten into you?"
"I'm just happy," Jane replied, kissing the blonde's cheek before leaning back and tucking hair behind her ear. "You make me so happy; you and Mia. Days like today make me happy. I'm just…I'm really…"
"Happy?" Maura finished for her, a smile on her face. "I got that," she chuckled giving the brunette a rather chaste kiss, leading them towards the master bedroom. "I'm feeling a bit of that myself actually. Your family has…well they've really embraced Amelia and me. I know I've been here for a while now and we've been doing these dinners for quite some time but tonight…" she led Jane towards the bed, sitting them both down. "I must admit I was slightly overwhelmed by just how much your family has become my family. Your Mother and your brothers…Frost and Korsak even; they've all become family. I've never really had that before. It's a bit of a strange feeling for me."
"Well you better get used to it," Jane smiled, giving Maura a kiss. "Because they love you; all of them. And trust me when I say they aren't going anywhere."
"Good because I'm not sure I would know how to survive without any of you anymore," Maura replied, pulling Jane so they were both lying down, tucking herself against her girlfriend's side. "I wish…" she began, cutting herself off, remaining silent as she began to play with the hem of Jane's shirt.
"You wish….what?" Jane pressed, feeling the emotions in her girlfriend's words, placing a kiss against her temple. "Tell me."
"I wish that I grew up with a family like yours," Maura sighed, closing her eyes against the emotions she was feeling as she felt Jane press another kiss against her head. "I wish that my own parents treated me the way your Mother does. I mean it just…it doesn't make any sense. I've known your Mother for less than a year and yet she has been here for me more than my parents have been…" she paused, feeling guilty about talking poorly about her parents. "Your entire family has a better relationship with Amelia than my parents do. They're her grandparents. They should want to have some sort of relationship with her. They should want to know her."
"They should want to know both of you," Jane replied, understanding that the blonde was making it about Amelia even though she was hurting for herself as well. "They should want to be in your life Maur. It's not fair. It's okay to be upset about it; it's okay to be angry."
"I'm not angry," Maura shook her head. "Not really. It just makes me sad," she shrugged. "I'm just afraid that they're going to miss out on Amelia's whole life the way that they missed out on mine. I don't want that for them or for Amelia."
"So then do something about it," Jane said, using the arm she had wrapped around the blonde to sit them both up, turning so they were facing each other. "Look from what I've seen of your Mother she isn't going to make any changes on her own. You need to push her Maur. Call her. Ask her to visit."
"She's in Rome," Maura began to argue, looking defeated.
"So call her anyways," Jane said brushing blonde waves out of her girlfriend's face. "The only thing you can do is try Maur and you never know," she smiled. "Maybe she'll surprise you.