Thank you so much for all the reviews, many of you have left me humbled by your kind and encouraging words. I am also grateful for the many favorites and follows as you all continue to enjoy this little story…so, on with the show…
Chapter 13-When You Smile
"Jane? I wasn't expecting you." Maura said as she opened the door to find Jane leaning against the railing of the front porch with a roguish grin.
"Hey beautiful, I gotta surprise for you." Jane pushed past the door, following Maura into the entry hall. "But you're gonna haveta change out of that skirt and into a pair of jeans." She said giving Maura an appreciative once over.
Without fail, Maura was always dressed as if she were heading down a Paris runway; even her casual wear put Jane's best clothes to shame. Jane couldn't help the small smile that tugged at her lips as she admired Maura's outfit as well as the body that filled it. The green, suede skirt and cream colored ribbed turtle neck had Jane aching to feel and memorize each and every one of Maura's soft curves.
Hearing the term of endearment from Jane brought a blush to Maura's cheeks. There was just something about the way that Jane had said 'beautiful' that caused warmth to spread throughout Maura's body. She raised an eyebrow at Jane in question. Maura was curious about the surprise, but she was also taken aback to see that Jane hadn't shied away from apprising her openly. Deciding she should return the favor, Maura's eyes swept over the tall, dark, and handsome young woman until they came to rest on Jane's sexy smile.
The faded blue jeans that Jane was wearing hung low on her slender hips. It was one of Maura's favorite looks. 'Probably 501's…' Maura thought as she studied the well-worn denim. A grey t-shirt, a black leather jacket with a band collar, and a pair of black boots rounded out her ensemble. Jane looked rugged and windswept, but it was the leather jacket that caught Maura's attention. Reaching out, Maura pushed Jane's long hair over her shoulder so she could run her fingers over the soft leather near Jane's neck.
"Hmmm…soft…is it lamb skin?" Maura asked as she continued to run her fingers across Jane's broad shoulders.
Giving Maura a nod, Jane grabbed the wandering hand. "Is anyone home?" Her eyes darkened even more than usual as she held Maura's hand in her own.
"No…my mother is at a faculty mee…" Maura began, but was interrupted when Jane pulled her roughly against her. Maura sighed as strong arms wrapped around her waist, holding her in a tight embrace.
"Then I can do this…" Jane bent her head down to kiss Maura softly on the cheek before slowly moving her lips to hover over Maura's. "Now go change…" She whispered against slightly parted lips that were anxiously waiting for more. Pulling back, Jane looked into dazed hazel-green eyes. Suddenly Jane had the sensation that she was drowning, but for some reason it didn't bother her. She would gladly allow herself to drown in the deep pools of light brown and whirlpools of green that threatened to pull her under. It made her feel euphoric seeing the effect she was having on Maura. "Surprise…remember…?"
As Jane's words slowly registered in Maura's mind, all she could do was blink a few times. Her body refused to move from the nearness of Jane. Feeling she had been denied something wonderful, Maura leaned in, attempting to capture Jane's lips in a kiss.
Grabbing Maura by the shoulders to hold her at arm's length, Jane grinned down at her. With a twist, Jane turned Maura around so she was facing the stairs with Jane now standing behind her. "There will be plenty of time for that later…but we're burnin' day light darlin'" Jane said as she gave Maura a gentle shove towards the staircase.
"Okay…" Maura said over her shoulder as she started up the stairs leaving Jane at the bottom to watch. "I'll hold you to that…"
"Oh, and don't forget a jacket. It's kinda cold outside." Jane's eyes followed Maura as she disappeared at the top of the staircase. Slipping her hands into the pockets of her jacket, she fidgeted nervously as she stood alone in the foyer. It had taken every ounce of her self-control not to kiss or touch Maura, but Jane knew it would only sidetrack them from what she had planned for the afternoon. "Aw hell…one kiss won't hurt…" She muttered aloud to no one in particular as she took the stairs two at a time.
Maura slipped out of her skirt and then she shimmied into her jeans. It was the same pair of jeans she had gone out and bought that first week she had started hanging out with Jane. She had never owned a pair of jeans in her life before, but now she had three pairs. As she dug through her closet looking for a top to wear, her thoughts went back to Jane. She thought of Jane's soft lips lightly grazing the skin on her cheek, before they came to hover over her own in a teasing way. 'Jane is finally opening up to me, albeit slowly, but I'm going to have to slow down to match her pace…if she doesn't kill me first, but oh what a way to go.' The thought had Maura smiling as she pulled a sweater over her head. She didn't see Jane standing in the door way watching her intently.
"What's with the goofy grin?" Jane cleared her throat as she spoke from the open doorway.
Maura looked at Jane without saying anything. She wasn't sure what she was grinning about or even how she could articulate it to Jane if she could. Jane had an innocent look on her face as she shifted her weight from one foot to the other.
"How long have you been standing there?" Maura asked nonchalantly as she grabbed her jacket off of her bed.
"Long enough…" Jane could feel the blush rise to her cheeks as she tried to hold Maura's gaze, but then averted her eyes. She felt slightly uncomfortable at having been caught watching, but she couldn't have stopped if she had wanted to. There was a confidence in Maura as she moved around her room that had mesmerized Jane. But it wasn't until Jane caught a glimpse of creamy white skin as Maura rummaged through her closet wearing only jeans and a bra that made Jane feel week at the knees. It also made her feel somewhat like a peeping tom. "The door was open…" She again cleared her throat nervously as she leaned against the door frame. It was her intent to look as casual as possible even thought she was trembling inside.
"An open door is an open invitation…" Maura said with a cocky grin as she slipped her arms into her jacket. She knew that she and Jane had crossed into new territory and it was her intention to try to keep up with the teasing innuendo that seemed to make up Jane's bravado. Maura knew that even when Jane was off her game, it was sarcasm that kept her balanced.
"Well," Maura said as she approached Jane, stopping in front of her. "I hope you liked what you saw because there's more where that came from..." She ran her index finger down Jane's cheek to the dimple in her chin where she stopped. Jane's eyes widened as Maura leaned close and touched her lips with a ghost of a kiss, before leaving Jane standing in the doorway with a surprised look on her face. 'Two can play at this game.' Maura thought as she headed down the stairs without looking back to see if Jane was following.
Jane stood in the doorway, unable to move as she watched Maura walk past her and down the stairs. She was in complete awe. No one had ever made her feel like this before. She felt slightly dizzy at the close contact and shook her head as if it might help. She took a deep breath as she followed Maura down the stairs trying to keep her mind focused.
Maura knew exactly what she was doing and how it affected Jane. She took pride in the fact that she seemed to be the only one who could render Jane speechless. She casually looked over her shoulder at Jane giving her a flirtatious smile when she saw that Jane was right behind her.
Jane's knees all but buckled when Maura flashed an enticing smile her direction. That smile had Jane almost forgetting what she had planned for the afternoon. As she worked to regain her balance, she realized that she was utterly defenseless against Maura's charm and she wouldn't have it any other way.
"You want me to get on that!?" Panic flooded Maura's voice as her eyes grew wide with surprise.
"What?" Jane had a sly grin on her face. She had expected nothing less than this reaction from Maura.
"It's, it's a motorcycle Jane!" Maura tilted her head slightly in the direction of the black and red motorcycle that Jane was climbing on.
"Actually it's a 1970 Honda 350 Scrambler. I helped Giovanni rebuild the twin carburetors last summer. I told him I wanted to take you for a ride, so he let me borrow it."
"I didn't know you knew anything about motorcycles…is there anything you don't do?" Maura crossed her arms as she eyed the machine that Jane was now straddling. It was quite a sight, seeing Jane sitting astride the powerful machine. 'Damn…she looks sexy…' Maura couldn't stop the thought from invading her mind as she watched Jane settle back on the black leather seat.
"Yeah…I don't cook, but other than that…I have many skills." Jane winked as she patted the seat behind her. "What's wrong Maur? Don't you trust me?" She looked at Maura with those big brown eyes, wordlessly pleading with her to climb on. "Here, put this on." She grabbed the helmet off of the handle bars and held it out for Maura to take. Maura stepped forward taking the helmet but she wasn't quite sure what Jane expected her to do with it.
"It's not that I don't trust you…it's just that approximately three-fourths of motorcycle accidents involved collision with another vehicle, which is most usually a passenger automobile." Maura started to ramble as she usually did when she was nervous. Jane took the helmet from her and wordlessly placed it on her head. Maura gave no resistance as Jane pushed her hair behind her shoulders, adjusting the helmet until it sat comfortably on Maura's head. "Not to mention the fact that you've never told me you know how to operate this…this thing." Maura continued to talk as Jane fastened the chin strap. "You do know how to operate this…don't you?" She asked as she allowed Jane to fuss over her.
"Yes Maura, I wouldn't have made it here if I didn't know how to…" Jane paused as she smiled sheepishly at a very agitated, but very cute Maura. "Operate this machine as you so eloquently put it."
"I suppose that makes sense." Maura visibly relaxed. Reaching up, she realized she was now wearing the helmet she had been holding in her hands earlier. She ran her fingers over the smooth, fiberglass surface. "Does this helmet have a DOT label on it? And what about you, don't you need a helmet too?"
Jane reached behind her, unhooking the other helmet from its spot and then held it up for Maura to see. Turning the helmet around so Maura could see the DOT label on the back, Jane tried not to smirk. "Now you didn't think I'd give you a helmet that wasn't approved by the Department of Transportation…" She smiled at Maura who still hadn't made any move to get on the motorcycle. "Come on Maur…I thought you said I made you feel reckless." Jane grinned at her as she slipped her helmet over her head, snapping her chin strap into place.
Maura watched Jane lift the kick stand as she tried to decide what to do. Jane jumped up and then pushed down on the kick start causing the motorcycle to roar to life with a rumble. The loud engine startled Maura causing her to jump back slightly. Jane gave her a reassuring smile as she reached out for Maura to take her hand. Taking a tentative step forward, Maura took Jane's hand in hers. The warmth set her at ease and she tried to smile back. Jane tilted her head toward the seat behind her to indicate that she should sit. Maura surrendered to her fear and gingerly climbed onto the back of the motorcycle behind Jane.
Jane revved the engine, eliciting a frightened cry from Maura as she quickly wrapped her arms around Jane's waist, burying her face in the long dark hair that fell down Jane's leather clad back. Jane gave Maura's hands a reassuring pat before popping the bike in gear.
"Hang on Maur." Jane shouted as they took off down the street. Jane could feel Maura trembling against her back as she held on tightly around Jane's waist. It wasn't as if she enjoyed scaring Maura. She just kind of liked being the hero, the one that Maura reached for when she was afraid. Jane tried to suppress her smile as she felt Maura press even closer as the trembling subsided. It felt good having Maura's arms around her and she was going to enjoy every moment of it.
Feeling Maura pressed against her was part of Jane's goal when she decided to borrow Giovanni's bike, but the thrill of sharing something new was even better than she expected. Her heart was racing as she opened the throttle and sped down the road towards the park. She could feel Maura's arms squeeze tighter as she pulled into a parking space and put the kick stand down. She turned off the ignition and sat up straighter as she pulled her helmet off. Maura was still holding her around the waist, her face still buried in Jane's dark hair.
"Maura…we've stopped." Jane gave Maura's arm a gentle squeeze. Maura's grip loosened, but she didn't let go. "Did you have your eyes closed the whole time?" Jane tried not to laugh as she looked over her shoulder. She could see that Maura's eyes were closed tight, her face scrunched up as is if she had just eaten something sour.
Maura didn't say anything at first as she took a few deep breaths. She opened her eyes and tried to glare at Jane, but when she saw Jane smiling at her, she couldn't help smiling back. She nodded as Jane climbed off the bike and helped her take the helmet off.
"Why would you scare me like that Jane?" Maura sighed.
"I wasn't trying to scare you. Maybe I just wanted to feel your arms around me." Jane tried not to blush as she hung the helmet on the handle bars next to her own.
"Well, I can think of several ways you could have accomplished that without scaring me to death. One way would have been to just ask me." Maura gingerly climbed off of the bike; not at all sure her wobbly legs would hold her up. "And I suppose we have to ride this death trap back home…" She patted the seat in an attempt to steady herself.
"You wanna drive back?" Jane waggled her eyebrows and then laughed when Maura gave her a light push.
"Don't tempt me Rizzoli." Maura had her hands on her hips as she tried to scowl at Jane.
"That is precisely what I intend on doing…" Jane said as she closed the distance between them. "But first, I think we should talk…you know…about things."
Maura resisted the urge to pull Jane into her. She could hear the seriousness behind Jane's last statement. She tilted her head as she tried to read Jane's expression. "Okay, about…?"
"About this..." Jane said, waving her hand between the two of them. "About us..."
"I'm listening." Maura leaned against the motorcycle and crossed her arms.
"Come on Maur…don't go all defensive on me. I just want to clear the air. I really need to tell you how I feel."
"This, coming from the person who runs away every time things get too real." Maura was preparing herself for disappointment as fear gripped her heart.
Jane leaned closer, allowing her hands to rest on either side of Maura. "This is real…" she tilted her head as she kissed Maura softly on the lips. "And I am not running away." She kissed her again, this time letting her lips linger a little longer. "I just think we need to talk about it, get some things straight." Jane pulled back to looked at Maura. "Look, words don't come easy to me, especially when it deals with feelings. I want…" she closed her eyes in an effort to sort out what she was trying to say. "I need to tell you what's happening here…" Jane pointed to her head. "And most importantly, here…" she said taking Maura's hand, placing it over her heart. "Will you let me do that?"
Jane's proximity made Maura speechless as she just nodded and leaned forward to try to capture Jane's lips for another kiss. Jane held up a finger, placing it on Maura's lips to stop her.
"Talk first…" Jane leaned back to put some distance between them before she too gave into desire.
Maura tried not to look hurt as she leaned back against the motorcycle. She looked Jane in the eyes, seeing nothing but warmth and she suddenly didn't feel so afraid.
"This is all so new to me…" Jane nervously ran her fingers through her hair.
Maura reached up to her mouth and began anxiously tugging on her bottom lip with her finger and thumb.
"Don't look so worried Maur." Jane gave her a soft smile. "I want nothing more than to explore this new relationship we have discovered. I've never felt this way about anyone before."
"How do you feel?" Maura whispered still afraid Jane was going to run.
"How do I feel? I'll tell you…being near you, feeling you…the taste of your lips…" Jane paused as she looked into Maura's eyes. "It leaves me breathless Maura. Sometimes I feel like I'm gonna die from the lack of oxygen, but when you smile..." Jane looked down, causing her hair to fall in front of her face. She took a deep breath before continuing. "I am so happy whenever I'm near you. I can't stop thinking about you, I even dream about you. But, I'm mostly afraid…" Jane looked down at Maura who had a sad look on her face.
"What are you afraid of Jane?" Maura whispered as she pushed a strand of dark hair behind of Jane's ear so she could continue to look into Jane's eyes.
"I'm scared of the power you have over me Maur... I've never wanted to be with someone as much I want to be with you. I don't know if I can control it anymore… I don't think I want to. I want to touch you, to kiss you, to feel all of you. But I'm afraid…afraid of what people will think…what my parents will think. When I talked to Carly, she told me she didn't think it would go over well with the Rizzoli's, especially our Pops. I'm not prepared to face that yet." Jane sighed as she reached out to run her fingers through Maura's hair before gently cradling Maura's face in her hands. "But…I can't lose you either." Jane took another deep breath before pausing. "I don't want to rush into anything yet. I did that with Casey and it was a mistake. I don't think I'm ready for…" Jane began to fidget as she pulled her hands away from Maura. She nervously shoved her hands in the pockets of her jeans as her words began to fail her.
Maura reached out and put her hands on Jane's arms. She gave them a gentle squeeze and tried to smile. She knew how difficult it was for Jane to express herself. She also knew that she would do anything that Jane asked her to do. If that meant they had to keep their relationship a secret then that is what they would do.
"It's okay Jane. We don't have to rush into anything. We don't have to tell anyone either." Maura tried to blink back the tears that were threatening to fall.
"Maur…why are you crying?" Jane was suddenly afraid.
"I was afraid you were going to tell me this was all a mistake." The tears started to slowly trickle down her cheeks. Jane reached up and wiped them away with her thumb.
"You have no idea how incredibly cute you are, do you?" Jane let the palm of her hand rest against Maura's cheek. "I don't ever want to be responsible for making you cry."
"I'm not upset Jane, I'm just…very relieved." Maura tilted her head into Jane's touch.
"I just had to tell you how I felt Maura. I'm scared, I won't lie. But I want nothing more than to spend every minute I can with you." Jane said as she let her thumb gently touch the small cut under Maura's eye. "And I'm so sorry about this…"
"Jane…we've already been through this. It wasn't your fault. Please…stop blaming yourself." Maura tried to smile.
"Regardless…it should have been me." Jane continued to softly stroke Maura's cheek.
"Then I wouldn't have a cool scar like yours…" Maura tried to joke.
"Are you really gonna have a scar?" The fear crept back into Jane's voice as she studied the cut carefully.
"No Jane…it was my feeble attempt at humor…but I think I failed miserably." Maura shrugged her shoulders.
"Nah…I'm just being over sensitive." Jane said with a crooked grin. "I'm not used to talking about my feeling and stuff. Guess it's got me feeling a little…emotional."
"We'll figure this out together Jane. I know you need time to adjust…I can wait…until you're ready for more." Maura felt her cheeks grow warm with the blush that was slowly traveling across her face at the thought of what more meant.
Jane leaned forward and lightly placed her lips against Maura's. She inhaled the light fragrance of Maura's scent, trying to commit it to memory. If she had to put a name on it, she would say it reminded her of sunshine. It was soft, bright, and made her feel warm all over. With a heavy sigh, she slowly but reluctantly pulled away.
Feeling a sudden surge of frustration, Maura put her hands on Jane's hips and pulled until their bodies were touching. She pressed herself close to Jane as she let her tongue graze Jane's lower lip. Jane let out a groan and tried to pull away, but Maura held her closer.
"Maura…" Jane tried to say in-between breathless kisses. "This…isn't…what I meant…when I…said…we…needed to…take… things…slow."
"Hmmm…" Maua sighed and loosened her hold on Jane, but didn't stop kissing her. She didn't know how she was going to stop herself from wanting more, but she knew she had to. Jane was willing to try, but it had to be on her terms and Maura had to accept that.
Jane hesitantly pulled away from Maura's lips. She smiled at her as she took her hand, lacing their fingers together.
"Let's go for a walk." Jane pulled Maura away from the motorcycle. "I just want to hold your hand for a little while." She brought their joined hands to her mouth, kissing the back of Maura's hand.
Maura gave her a gentle squeeze as a shiver ran up her arm. "Have I told you how much I love your hands?" She asked with a small smile gracing her lips.
Jane nodded as she pulled Maura along a paved path. She remembered their morning together on the boat when they had kissed for the first time. "Yeah…I think you might have mentioned it." Jane blushed slightly at the memory.
"They are so strong, yet so soft. I find it to be quiet a contradiction Jane." Maura mused out loud as they continued to walk.
Jane stopped, giving Maura a sideways glance as she arched an eyebrow.
"What I mean is that your hands are very strong and capable, especially the way you hold a football. But when you hold my hand or touch my face, they are so soft and gentle…" Maura paused as she felt the soft caress of Jane's thumb as it grazed the back of her hand. "I guess what I am trying to say is that I feel lucky…I'm glad I get to feel your softer side."
"Yeah..?" Jane tried not to smirk. Instead she smiled that devastating smile, her dimples on full display, and then she winked at Maura.
Maura's eyes grew wide as she looked up at Jane. "You have no idea what that does to me do you?" Maura let go of Jane's hand and grabbed the front of her jacket. Jane tried to step back, not sure what Maura was talking about or what she was going to do.
"When you wink at me like that." Maura said exasperated. "Every time you do that…I just want to do this…" Maura pulled Jane down into a heated kiss, pressing their lips together. Jane accepted the ferocity of the kiss and let her fingers run through Maura's hair. When Maura pulled away, she bit her bottom lip and smiled shyly at Jane. "But don't stop doing it."
"I'll try to remember that." Jane said as she tried to catch her breath. "If you promise not to stop doing this…" She reached up to touch the lip that Maura was still biting. "It drives me crazy when you do that…" Jane all but growled.
Maura nodded as a small smile spread across her face. "So…um…tell me what you and Carly talked about." She said taking Jane's hand back in her own as they continued to walk.
"Well…we talked about her trip to Paris. She told me about our Great Aunt Sophie and…" Jane hesitated. "And her girlfriend Charlotte…" Jane looked up at the late afternoon sky, noticing the clouds that were rolling in. She was thankful that the park was all but deserted because as much as she worried about her parent's reaction, she was still very much afraid of what other people thought of her.
"Really…?" Maura looked up too, but she was thinking that the sky was the same color blue as Carly's eyes.
"Yeah, apparently that is where Carly came to terms with her own…struggles…I guess." Jane sighed as she remembered how much trouble her cousin had gotten into before she was sent to Paris. "Carly was quite the hellion when she a teenager. It's the reason my Aunt and Uncle sent her to live with our Great Aunt Sophie."
"Funny, she doesn't strike me as the type to cause trouble." Maura stopped when they approached a bench. "How about we have a seat…"
"She got arrested when she was sixteen for stealing a car…I think that was the final straw." Jane sounded sad as she sat next to Maura on the bench. "She told me that she got into the wrong crowd…fell in love with the wrong girl…had the wrong idea about who she was…" She paused as she tried to think of what to say.
"So now…" Maura looked at Jane with sorrow in her eyes. "No one knows about your Aunt Sophie or Carly…or…" She hesitated briefly before continuing. "Or you and me…"
Jane nodded sullenly. She looked around at the tree's that had already changed color, leaves barely hanging on to branches for dear life, afraid to let go. 'I know how they feel' She thought to herself. 'Barely hanging on…afraid to fall…but I've got Maura to catch me.'
"Why the pensive look?" Maura inquired.
"I don't think anyone has ever accused me of being pensive before…" Jane smiled as she reached out to rest her arms on the back of the bench.
It was the move that Maura was waiting for. She leaned in, snuggling close to Jane's side as Jane draped her arm over Maura's shoulder.
"You're evading my question." Maura leaned her head against Jane's shoulder.
"No…no I'm not…I was just admiring the tree's in all of their autumn glory." Jane rested her cheek against the top of Maura's head. She pulled Maura closer to her, enjoying the feeling of holding her.
"You know I talked to Carly at the baseball game…when you went to go get me that awful nitrate filled piece of meat." Maura sighed sinking deeper into Jane's arms when she felt Jane tighten her hold.
"Hmmm…I had a feeling you did. What did you talk about?" The wind was picking up around them, pushing some of the fallen leaves past their feet.
"She told me to give you time…that once you wanted something, you wouldn't give it up until it was yours." Maura pulled away slightly to look up at Jane. "She told me you wanted me…" An uncertain smile crossed her lips.
"Yeah…? Well I suppose she knows me pretty well, we are related…" Jane sighed when she felt Maura lay her head back down. "And she was right…I do want you Maura…it just took my dumbass a while to figure it out." Jane chuckled.
"Language Jane…" Maura couldn't stop herself from laughing as well.
"Sorry…" Jane kissed the top of Maura's head. "I didn't mean to insult your delicate sensibilities….Hey…" Jane yelped in surprise when she felt Maura gently pinch her side in retaliation. "What was that for?"
"For being a smart aleck…" Maura teased.
"I can't help that, I come by it naturally." Jane tried to defend herself. "Besides, it's one of my most endearing traits…"
"One of many…" Maura sighed contently.
The wind started to lightly blow around them causing the leaves on the ground to continue to swirl past them as they sat quietly contemplating.
"Carly wants us to come over for dinner sometime…" Jane said, breaking the silence.
"I'd like that." Maura shivered slightly as another gust of wind blew past them, this time stronger than the last.
"You cold…?" Jane looked down at Maura, her words laced with concern.
"A little…I think there's a front moving in." Maura looked up at the clouds moving across the sky.
"Yeah…looks like rain." Jane moved her arm from around Maura. "I guess we'd better head back before it starts."
"I suppose that would be the smart thing to do…but then I'll have to say goodbye to you and I don't want to." Maura pouted as another strong gust of wind whipped her hair around.
"Well, how 'bout I give you a going away present…" Jane took Maura's chin in her hand, inclining her face until Maura was looking at her. Slowly, Jane leaned down to capture lips that were willing and waiting for her touch.
As the wind picked up again it caused Jane's long dark hair to brush against Maura's cheek. She couldn't suppress the giggle that burst from her when the long silky strands tickled her face.
"Not the reaction I was looking for…" Jane frowned as she pulled back to see what Maura found so funny.
"Your hair was tickling my cheek." Maura said as she tried to tuck the loose strands behind Jane's ear. "How about we try that again?" She said as she attempted to kiss Jane back, but she stopped when she felt Jane stiffen and pull away. That's when she heard the voices carry across the park to her and with a heavy heart she realized they were no longer alone. "Later…" Maura sighed as she took Jane's hand giving it a reassuring squeeze.
Jane tried to smile at Maura, but she was paralyzed with an unfamiliar fear. She had seen the people walking their direction before Maura had. She was afraid they would see her and Maura sitting too close or worse, maybe they had seen them kiss. As the couple passed by, they gave a friendly nod of acknowledgement as they continued on their way with no indication they had seen anything other than two people enjoying a fall afternoon at the park.
"Let's get outta here…" Jane jumped up, suddenly needing to feel Maura's arms around her, comforting her.
It wasn't until they were back on the motorcycle that Jane felt relief wash over her as Maura held her tight. Maura's touch was the only thing that seemed to soothe Jane's troubled soul, especially when she was unsure of herself. She knew they had a long road ahead of them, but she was glad it was Maura taking the journey with her. A small smile curved her lips as she accelerated the motorcycle. She hoped it would cause Maura to squeeze her tighter and to her delight, it did.
When they pulled up in front of Maura's house, Jane saw a tall, lanky, middle aged man standing out on the front porch. His arms were crossed and he had an amused look on his face as he watched Maura scramble off of the motorcycle. Maura waited patiently for Jane to help her remove her helmet before she took off up the stairs into the arms of the man Jane could only assume was Maura's father.
Jane didn't take her helmet off at first. She just sat on the motorcycle, poised to take off at a moment's notice if need be. She wasn't sure how Maura's father was going to feel about his daughter's latest adventure.
"Jane, come here." Maura was waving eagerly at her. "Come up here and meet my father." There was an excitement in Maura's voice that Jane didn't recognize.
Pulling off the helmet, Jane set it on the back of the bike and as nonchalantly as she could, climbed down off the seat. She wasn't sure if Maura's father was going to be mad, so she didn't look at him right away as she climbed the steps. Her eyes met Maura's with worry and uncertainty, but Maura just smiled back at her.
"So, you must be Jane Rizzoli." Maura's father reached out to shake her hand. He was surprised by the strength of her grip, but then he remembered that she was a football player. She was exactly as his wife had described her, the complete opposite of Maura.
Jane hesitantly took his hand as she looked up at him. She was met with a warm hand shake and a genuine smile. "Yes, sir..." She said, trying to relax.
"Please, call me Bill." He put his arm around Maura and pulled her into another hug. "I've missed you so much." Looking at Maura, he could see that she had changed. There was something bright in her eyes, an almost playful twinkle that he had never seen before in his normally reserved daughter.
"Mother said you weren't coming home until tomorrow." Maura wrapped her arms around him in a slightly awkward hug.
"Well, I was able to catch an earlier flight. Much to the chagrin of your mother though. I don't think she is quite ready for me to be home yet." He frowned slightly at that last statement. Constance was a woman on a schedule and heaven help the person who disrupted that schedule.
"You know how she is…" Maura hesitated. "She has a plan for everything."
Jane leaned against the railing, watching the father and daughter as they interacted with each other. It wasn't quite like how things were with her and her dad. For one thing, they seem slightly uncomfortable around each other, or maybe it was just Maura who seemed that way.
"Will you be joining us for dinner Jane?" Bill asked, his grey eyes twinkling with friendly openness. He hoped that Jane would say yes. It was his best chance to get to know this young woman.
"Oh my, I don't think Mother can handle this much change in her planning." Maura looked worried. She knew that her father was already walking a thin line by coming home early, even though she was happy that he had.
"The way I figure it Maura, I've already thrown off her day. Adding one more, 'hiccup' to it won't matter much." He gave Jane a knowing smile. He now had a playful twinkle in his eyes.
Jane couldn't help but grin back. She had a feeling she was going to like this man.
"Sure, I'll stay." Jane said as she pushed off of the rail, following them through the front door.
"I can't say that I approve of you taking my daughter out for a ride on a motorcycle." Maura's mother leaned back in her chair, crossing her arms.
"Come on Constance, they wore helmets." Maura's father took a sip of his wine, giving Jane a small nod. "I have a feeling that Jane here is quite capable, and wouldn't let anything happen to Maura." He had sensed a very protective streak in Jane and hoped he was right.
Jane smiled as she felt Maura slip her hand into hers under the table.
"I still don't approve of it." Constance huffed, eyeing Jane with suspicion. She wasn't sure she was ready to trust Jane, especially when every time she turned around, they were disregarding common sense.
"We just went to the park." Maura offered. "It really isn't Jane's fault mother. I asked her to help me get out of my comfort zone. She was just trying to show me new things." Maura gave Jane's hand a gentle squeeze. She was struggling to understand why her mother was so upset, she never seemed to worry about what Maura was doing before.
"Riding motorcycles and playing football are not merely out of your comfort zone Maura, they are dangerous." Constance sounded exasperated.
"I told you I wouldn't do anything that would get her hurt Dr. Isles." Jane's temper was evident in her defiant tone.
Both Maura's mother and father looked at Jane. Maura's mother looked uncomfortable and slightly taken aback by Jane's statement, but Maura's father had a sheepish grin.
"Then how do you explain that?" Constance pointed at Maura's cheek where a small cut marred the otherwise smooth skin.
"Um…" Jane looked at Maura for help; she wasn't sure what to say. She could feel herself slipping down lower in her chair.
"I've already explained what happed mother. It wasn't Jane's fault." Maura's voice was tense. She had already hashed this out with her mother and wasn't willing to do it again in front of Jane.
"Well, I expect you will never set foot in there again." Constance said as she gave Maura a sideways glance. She wasn't sure she liked Maura's tone of voice.
"I assure you, we will not be going back…" Maura sighed slightly irritated.
"Yeah, Paddy made that clear…" Jane mused aloud.
Constance stiffened as she slowly turned her head to look at Jane. "Paddy...?" Her dark blue eyes were wide with disbelief. Her mouth opened and closed a few times as if she wanted to say something, but nothing was coming out.
"Um, Paddy Doyle…" Jane all but mumbled. She wasn't sure what to make of the look she was getting from Constance. It looked like anger or maybe something else, Jane wasn't sure. What she was sure of was that the older woman was suddenly getting very pale.
"You are forbidden from ever going there again…" Constance hissed through clenched teeth, surprising everyone at the table.
"Excuse me…?" Maura barely squeaked out as she looked at her mother. She was both surprised and concerned by her mother's reaction.
"Now Constance…you know we have never forbidden Maura from doing anything before. She has always used good judgment…" Bill said trying to defuse the situation. He wasn't sure what was going on with his wife, but he didn't like it at all. "She's told you that she'll never go back and I believe her when she says she won't." He looked at Maura who was vigorously shaking her head in the affirmative. Leveling his gaze at Constance, he willed her to agree until they could discuss this alone.
Jane wasn't sure what to make of the sudden change in Constance. It was as if hearing Paddy Doyle's name had triggered something inside of her, something that wasn't good. Knowing the rumors about him being in Irish Mob, Jane had cause to believe that this was what Constance was afraid of. Having her daughter come into contact with such a man obviously had sent a tremor of fear through the older woman and Jane didn't blame her. She shouldn't have taken Maura there and she never would again.
Closing her eyes and taking a few calming breaths, Constance nodded at her husband. When she opened her eyes again, she was met with three pairs of concerned eyes. She knew she needed to regain her cool composure so she tried to relax her tense body, but it wasn't easy. Just hearing that name had sent a shiver up her spine. Constance had hoped that she would never have to hear that name again, but after seventeen years it still caused her skin to crawl.
"Of course…I'm sorry Maura." Constance tried to soften her expression as she looked at the worried face of her daughter. It nearly broke her heart to have Maura look at her with such innocence in her eyes. She couldn't help but harden the look on her face as she gazed at Jane trying to pin her uncomfortably to her chair but when she was met with the same innocent worry, her countenance cracked. "I don't mean to imply that you would lead Maura in to trouble on purpose, but I expect better judgment from you in the future." 'Especially if you want a future with my daughter…' Constance thought to herself as she looked at the dark, haired girl who was now slightly slumped in her chair under the weight of a heavy stare.
"Well, now that we have that settled…" Bill clapped his hands together to get everyone's attention. "You played football Maura?" He beamed at his daughter, hoping beyond hope that they could move on from the previous discussion.
"You bet she did and she was great." Jane beamed back, glad for the change in subject.
Maura looked from her mother to her father, not quite sure what to do or say. She had seen something change in her mother the instant Paddy Doyle had been mentioned. It was something she had never seen before. Biting down on her bottom lip, she wondered what had upset her mother so much.
Noticing that Maura was biting down on her bottom lip, Jane squeezed their joined hands to get her attention. The mostly cool demeanor that Constance projected faltered when Paddy's name had been mentioned and although Jane did not know her well, she knew enough to realize it was out of character and that had Maura worried.
"I would have loved to have seen that." Bill smiled broadly.
Jane gave Maura a sideways glance, and then looked at Bill as an idea came to her. "Well, I was going to ask Maura if she wanted to come to our family football game on Thanksgiving next week. You should come too Dr. Isles."
"Really…? I think that sounds like a superb idea." Bill winked at a surprised Maura. "What time?"
"Wait a minute," Constance set her fork down and gawked at her husband. "We are having the Fairfield's over for Thanksgiving dinner. I don't think it's such a good idea for you to go gallivanting about playing a dangerous sport like football. Besides, I need you here to help." She looked at Maura.
"Constance, I don't think a few hours away will cause you too much duress. You will have plenty of help from the caterers. I would really like to spend some time with Maura." He nodded in Maura's direction. "Besides, I just have to see what she's learned about football from Jane here."
"Great." Jane smiled victoriously over at Constance and then at Maura. "Game starts around eleven. Wear something comfortable and warm." She squeezed Maura's hand again under the table.
"Well, I suppose a couple of hours wouldn't hurt." Constance conceded as she took a sip of her wine. She sat back and quietly studied Jane for a moment. 'Oh my, is this Jane Rizzoli going to be a force to be reckoned with…' She thought to herself as her eyes traveled from Maura to her husband who was smiling mischievously at her. With a sigh, Constance realized that Jane had already won over half of her family. Only time would tell if she too would eventually succumb to Jane's charms as well, but Constance wasn't quite ready to concede yet.