This chapter is a bit fluffy - sorry! But the tough conversations are come.

Thank you for all the reviews and kind comments. I hope you enjoy!

12

Frankie and Nina arrived around 7.30pm and the Rizzoli clan were seated for dinner by 8.15pm. Dinner was served family style with the lasagne, garlic bread and salad through the middle of the table for everyone to help themselves. Jane waited for others to go first then served herself a very modest portion and it didn't go unnoticed.

"Janie, that's the smallest portion of food i've ever seen you plate up in both your childhood and adult life. You ok sis?" Frankie looked at his sister with slight concern.

Jane looked up and smiled gingerly, "Oh yeah, yeah of course, you know, jet lag and all that, it's been a long day so my appetite has died off a bit thats all." That wasn't all. The last thing she wanted to do was eat right now. She wanted to talk about the elephant in the room and broach the topic of her and Maura, as at the moment, her stomach was in knots with anxiety preparing for everybody's reactions. Even though Maura alluded to people maybe knowing that there was something between them, it was still a big deal, not only to tell her family that she was in love, but she was in love with a woman.

Maura looked over and saw Jane staring down at a tiny plate of food. With concern in her eyes she tried to get Jane's attention. "Jane, could you help me with opening some more wine in the kitchen please?"

Jane's head shot up "oh, yeh, yeh, sure. I can do that."

The two women walked towards the kitchen island, safe in the fact that conversation was carrying on loudly behind them so they wouldn't be overheard. Maura placed an innocent hand on Jane's forearm.

"Jane, you need to relax. Nothing is different ok, it's a normal Rizzoli family dinner. We were in love with each other the last time we sat down for a family dinner, that hasn't changed. The only thing that's changed right now in this situation is that we each know we love each other. Now I don't want to hide that, but it's a big shift, so if we need more time to find the right moment to share this with people then so be it. I don't want you to feel pressured into anything, especially by me."

"That's not it Maur. I mean it is kinda it, but I don't feel pressured and certainly not by you. It's just when do you interrupt the conversation to blurt out 'oh hey, by the way, Paris confirmed i'm gay...with my best friend...oh and she's gay now too."

"Jane please. Stop. That isn't what we are trying to say. I thought we wanted to tell everyone that we are in love. I don't believe in labels. I am in love with a person. You. I really don't care that you are female. So if that is how you are looking at it right now then I would actually appreciate it if you didn't mention anything tonight because clearly we are looking at this completely differently. Anyway, come on, wine shouldn't take this long to open." The doctor grabbed the bottle of red from Jane's hand and walked back to the table to top up the empty glasses.

Jane stood contemplating what she'd just said. What an idiot. How insensitive did she want to be? The last person she wanted to upset with her insecurities was Maura, yet she'd done just that. At that thought something in her just switched. Now was the time to say something. She was proud to have Maura for god sake. Proud to have the women who all men admire as she walks by, even her two brothers, so why wasn't she acting like it? She walked back over to the table but didn't sit down.

"Hey, guys, can I just grab your attention for a minute. I know we have so much to catch up on but there's something specific about our trip that I wanted to talk about." Jane looked over at Maura who gave her a pensive look, clearly worried with how Jane was going to described their new found relationship.

Jane continued "I think all of you at this table are more than aware of how close Maura and I are, how we are each others 'person', how we are each others support pillar through happiness and upset, how we drive each other crazy like an old married couple. Well. Erm. I realised all of that a while ago and I realised that what I actually felt was loved by someone. And I was in love. I just didn't know whether I should risk admitting that to the person who made me feel that way in case that person ran."

The detective looked over at Angela who was now sat mouth wide open staring at her, and for once, waiting for her daughter to finish. Jane then shifted her attention to a glassy eyed Maura. "So, what i'm trying to say is, the thought of leaving here for DC and leaving that person behind made me realise I needed to take that risk. Erm, ok, I think you all know this is extremely hard for me to say, but I am in love with Maura and luckily she is in love with me. So I guess that was a long way of saying the main story out of Paris is that I took that risk and Maura and I are together and i'm now staying in Boston."

The room was silent, Maura walked around the table to stand with Jane and took her hand in solidarity. Nina spoke first "Well, I for one think this is amazing news! You two are so in tune with each other and to be honest, if you didn't end up with each other you were ending up alone because no man was going to get between you two."

Frankie stood up and walked towards his sister "Jane, i've seen you do alot of brave things, but I know how hard it is for you to talk about your feelings. I'm proud of you and i'm so happy for you guys. This is great news." He kissed both women on the cheek and went back to his seat. All eyes were now on Angela. She had been completely silent.

"Ma? I'm sorry that I've caught you off guard with this but I wanted to be honest and quite frankly I...sorry, we, we shouldn't have to hide this from anyone. We are the same people we've always been we're..." She was cut off by her mother.

"You've done enough talking don't you think Janie? Now you know i'm a woman of god, and I can't say Catholicism is the most accepting of these situations but my faith doesn't define me. God believes in love and this is love. I've watched you two for years ignoring your feelings and to be honest, I saw this trip as the last chance of you two actually getting your head's out of your ass and recognising what is in front of you. I am ecstatic that you have finally admitted what this is. Oh I love you girls so much!" She jumped up from her chair and pulled them both into a bear hug "Oh my babies are finally together! And I get that doctor in the family I've always wanted!"

"Ok ok Ma, we need some air in our lungs!"

"Sorry baby, i'm just so happy!"

The doctor walked over to the wine chiller and pulled out a bottle of champagne "Not to be too presumptuous but as everyone seems to be happy about this, should we celebrate?"

Nina walked over and grabbed the bottle out of the honey blonde's hand "Hell yeah we're celebrating! Even if it's just to celebrate that Angela can pre-plan another wedding!"

"Whoa whoa whoa, no wedding talk right now please! This was enough for me to build up to, let alone breaking the news of an engagement."

All glasses were topped up around the table and Angela stood to make the toast. "To two of the most deserving, loving, beautiful women I adore. We all love you so much and we all wish you all the happiness in the world. To love."

"To love" Jane leaned over and kissed Maura with a smile. "That felt good."

The doctor smiled "it really did, didn't it."

After the announcement and the celebratory drinks, dinner appeared to be over. But just as Frankie went to pick up the lasagne dish Jane picked up the serving utensils and smacked his hand, "hey, now the nauseous feeling of impending sickness through romantic public announcement has passed me by, I need to eat a Jane Rizzoli sized portion of lasagne. So if you know me, and I think you do little bro, you'll leave that dish right where it is - you got me?"

Frankie laughed "I got sis. You eat all the lasagne you need. You deserve it. Be happy." He leant down and kiss her on the top of her head.

"Oh Frankie, I need to talk to you about how I potentially get my old job back. But not tonight. I need to enjoy not being wrapped up in work for a couple days...come to think of it, I also need to quit the job I haven't started. I'd better do that. Seems like an important thing to do!"

"Yeah that does seem important. And yes, lets talk. Would love to have a brother sister partnership going on. We'd work well together."

"We sure would, i'll be in touch about that."

Angela walked over to her offspring and wrapped her arm around Jane's shoulder. "Janie, I may be proud of you for finally snapping up Maura, but did I raise you in a barn? Put the lasagne on your plate will you, don't eat out of the dish!" She then smacked Jane around the back of the head and she walked away.

The detective rolled her eyes only to see Maura looking over with her eye brows raised and a judgemental look on her face "Gees, judgement from Ma and Maura, i'm going to start calling you M&M!"

"Jane, you can hardly be surprised i'd side with your mother on this point. But for tonight, you can eat from the dish." The doctor winked at her love and Jane looked over at her mother with a smug grin on her face, holding her fork up victoriously "Maura's house, Maura's rules Ma! You lose!" The matriarch laughed and sipped her wine.

There was nothing but love and happiness in that house tonight. Maura looked around the room at each guest and was so thankful for everything Jane Rizzoli had given her; love, friendship and a family. This was what total happiness felt like and she never wanted it to end.

Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Maura made her way out of the bathroom and sat on the edge of the bed, fully aware that Jane was staring at her. Turning her head her eyes connected with the deep brown orbs "Thank you Jane."

"For what? Pretty sure you were pissed at me at one point tonight - and rightly so I might add! I was talking like a jerk, sorry. That will happen in the future from time to time I can promise you that - again sorry - in advance this time."

The doctor tilted her head and smiled "Yes, I was 'pissed' Jane but I didn't believe you genuinely looked at our situation as you described it to me in the kitchen. You lash out and get overly defensive sometimes when you feel threatened, so I kind of expected it at some point. But you were brave and the words you used in the end were perfect, that's why I love you." She leaned over and kissed her Italian beauty softly and with meaning.

Jane stroked a hair back behind Maura's ear "You know Maur, it wouldn't have mattered to me if Ma wasn't ok with this. Well actually let me rephrase that, it would have mattered but it wouldn't have changed anything."

"I know and I knew you're mother would be ok, even if it took time. She loves you Jane, she just wants you to be happy."

"And I just want you to be happy. So I guess it's good that we're both happy. Oh, I mentioned to Frankie about maybe going back to BPD. I know we need to talk about that but I figured there's no harm in getting some wheels in motion, I mean, at the end of the day I need a job."

Maura rolled over and rested her head on Jane's shoulder "Ok well that's good, but let's not talk about that right now. It's been a long day. A great day - but a long day. We have tomorrow to talk, lets sleep."

"That sounds like a genius plan. Goodnight baby." Jane kissed the honey blonde hair on the top of the doctors head and hit the lights. "I love you Dr Isles."