Wow…this chapter just didn't want to end. I am sorry about the delay, but I hope the length of this one makes up for it. As always, thanks for reading, reviewing, following, etc…I hope you continue to enjoy…more on the way.
Chapter 20- Little Conversations
"I'm not ready for you to leave yet." Maura sighed against Jane's neck as she loosely wrapped her arms around Jane's waist. She could smell the light fragrance of floral soap bringing back images of their time together in the early morning hours. Her face grew warm with a blush as thoughts of what they had done in the shower came back to her in a rush.
Resting her cheek against the top of Maura's head, Jane took comfort in the closeness that they shared as they stood in the foyer saying goodbye. The feeling of Maura snuggling against her neck as they held each other was something she wasn't ready to give up just yet. A smile tugged at her lips when she felt the warmth of Maura's cheeks burn against her bare skin.
"Hmmmm, thinking about this morning are you?" Jane ran her fingers through Maura's hair, pushing it away from her face so she could look down at the flushed cheeks she knew she would find. Her body shook with silent laughter when she felt Maura nod against her without looking up. "Well…I really liked that swirl thing you did with your…Hey" Jane yelped as Maura interrupted her with a gentle pinch to her side.
"If you don't stop that, you won't be leaving anytime soon." Maura squeezed Jane tighter. She lightly rubbed the tip of her nose against the hollow of Jane's throat as she breathed in deeply the scent of soap and something uniquely Jane.
The light contact caused Jane's body to tremble in anticipation of what Maura would do next, but she knew they didn't have time for anything more.
"Yeah…? Well if I don't get home soon, Frankie is gonna call again and this time it will be tell me that a very angry Angela Rizzoli is heading our way." Jane said as she tried to will herself to let go of Maura's body. "You're still coming for dinner right?" When Maura didn't answer, Jane persisted by gently pushing Maura away so she could look at her. All she got was a noncommittal shrug of the shoulders as she tried to read the hazel-green eyes that looked back at her with uncertainty. "Come on Maur…please…" She pleaded as she reached up to stroke Maura's warm cheek in support.
"I'm not sure I feel comfortable being around your parents…" Maura attempted to explain her hesitancy.
"Look…my Ma knows how we feel about each other. She came to me while you were away…" Jane paused as she thought about what to say. "She said she accepted it. That means she accepts how important you are to me." She stated softly as she watched Maura carefully trying to gage what she was really feeling.
"What about your dad?" Maura's voice shook slightly with her insecurity.
Jane thought back to the night before, the look on her father's face when she told him to let her go was one she wouldn't soon forget. "I think he has an idea…but I'm not sure how he feels." She spoke softly then smiled reassuringly.
"I don't want to be the source of strife in your family Jane." Maura leaned her head against Jane's shoulder, seeking the comfort she knew she would find there. She allowed her fingers to graze along the silky, cool material of Jane's dress as they trailed across and down broad shoulders. With the lightest of touches, she skimmed an exposed collar bone drawing a contented sigh from Jane.
"I won't hide you away from my family like Carly hid Ryan. You both mean too much to me. We will get through whatever comes our way together. Got it?" Jane sighed into the warmth that surrounded her as Maura again wrapped her arms tighter around Jane's waist.
"Yes…" Maura's voice was soft, the words barely reaching Jane.
"Is that 'yes' you've got it or 'yes' you'll come to dinner tonight?" Jane inquired as her hands began to leisurely rub up and down Maura's back.
"Yes to both." Maura mumbled, her voice beginning to fail her as Jane's hands moved over and then under her t-shirt, leaving a trail of heat everywhere her fingers touched.
"Good, now that we have that settled…I better get going. I've got to get Gio his bike back before he comes looking for it." Jane said as she reluctantly pulled her hands away from the warm skin under Maura's shirt.
"You rode that motorcycle over here last night?" Stepping back in surprise, Maura regarded Jane with a puzzled expression.
"Yeah…there was no way I could get the car out with all the other cars blocking it in. Gio let me borrow his bike so I could find you." Jane answered with a sheepish grin.
"You mean you rode that bike over here with no shoes or jacket, wearing a dress?" Maura's eyes widened at the prospect of Jane flying across town on a two-wheeled death machine with no shoe's or jacket.
"Um no…I left them on your front porch." Jane shrugged her shoulders as if Maura should know she wouldn't do something stupid like come over barefooted. When Maura just looked at her with a bewildered expression, Jane threw her hands up in exasperation. "I found it difficult to climb up to your window with the boots and jacket on so I threw them on the porch."
Maura nodded her understanding as she followed Jane towards the front door. With a sad sigh, she watched as Jane opened the door to retrieve her boots and jacket. As Jane bent down to slip a foot into a boot, her hair fell down over her shoulders and in her face. Maura bit back a groan as Jane nonchalantly pushed her hair out of her face, running her fingers through the silky strands that were beginning to show a slight curl. Watching as Jane tucked a few stray pieces of hair behind her ear, Maura couldn't stop her mind from wandering to the feeling of that luxuriously soft hair running the length of her body. It had been a wonderful morning of discovery as they both learned more about themselves and each other. The sudden urge to feel Jane moving over and under her almost overwhelmed Maura as images from the night before came to the forefront of her mind.
When Jane looked up, she caught a glimpse of desire in Maura's eyes causing a shiver to move up and down her spine. With some hesitation, she turned her attention back to the task of slipping her other foot into her boot. As she concentrated on making sure she didn't topple over, Jane contemplated what had put that look in Maura's eyes. After fastening her boots in place, she stood upright and slid her arms into her dad's oversized jacket. Pulling the zipper up, Jane finally looked back at Maura before stepping closer, a crooked grin on her face.
"You know you can't look at me like that and then just expect me to leave." Jane bit her bottom lip in an attempt to stop herself from touching Maura. A tingling sensation moved through her hands and up her arms as she thought about the soft, warm skin that was just beyond the light cotton t-shirt Maura was wearing.
"Watch it Rizzoli…if you're not careful I might just drag you back to my bed and take my chances with your mother." Maura tried to hide the grin that threatened to crack her attempt at being serious.
"Okay, okay…" Jane conceded as she held up her hands in defeat. "But can I at least give you a kiss goodbye?"
"I'd be devastated if you didn't." Maura poked her bottom lip out in a pout.
"Oh, that's just too much…Maura Isles with a full on pout. You are trying to kill me…" Jane slipped her arms around Maura's waist, pulling their bodies together. "If you're not careful my dear, you might just poke that bottom lip out around the wrong person…" Leaning down, Jane pressed her mouth against Maura's before using her teeth to gently tug at Maura's bottom lip.
"Hmm…" Maura sighed when Jane pulled away. She brought her fingers up to touch her lip as it continued to tingle from the sensation of Jane's gentle ministrations. "You'd better get out of here while you still can…" She said as she tried to push Jane away but found resistance in the strong arms that held her tight.
Again Jane ducked her head so she could kiss Maura one more time, this time tender and slow. For a brief moment all time stood still and they were the only people in existence as everything Jane couldn't say with words poured out in the soft, gentle kisses they shared. With a heavy sigh filled with longing and regret at having to leave, Jane closed her eyes, pulled back, and rested her forehead lightly against Maura's.
"'Kay…see ya tonight." Jane said suddenly pulling away. She knew if she didn't leave, she would never leave. With a quick wave of her hand, she grinned before giving that devastatingly sexy wink that caused Maura's knees to go weak.
"Damn, it's going to be a long night at the Rizzoli's…" Maura sighed as she slipped in the front door, only closing it when she heard the unmistakable sound of a motorcycle speeding away.
It only took a few minutes for Maura to find herself back in her bed surrounded by images of her and Jane. The feeling of Jane's lips kissing, her hands caressing, and the sound of her own voice calling out Jane's name over and over again lingered in her memory as she sank into the comfort of her covers. When her eye's fluttered shut with fatigue, Maura decided a nap would be a good idea. As she slowly drifted off to sleep, Maura's last thoughts were of Jane leaning over her body allowing long, silky hair to cascade over her like satin.
Gilberto and Son's garage was closed for New Year's Day, so Jane parked Giovanni's bike out in front of the double bay doors that were shut and locked. She slipped the keys into the tailpipe like he had asked her to when she had borrowed his bike before. With one last look to ensure she was happy with the way she had left things, she turned to head up the street towards her house.
The five inches of snow that lined the sidewalks gleamed bright white in the late morning overcast light from above. There was enough of a chill in the air to keep the snow that had melted frozen in a light sheet of ice. With measured steps, Jane plodded along as her mind wandered on about her and Maura. Waking up with her arms and legs wrapped around the smaller body that had been pressed against hers all night was without question one of the happiest moments of her life. Her mind hummed with images of how they had spent the early morning hours getting to know each other's bodies better before sharing a shower together.
A gust of cold wind swirled around her causing her eyes to water slightly and her overheated face to sting. She slipped her hands into the pockets of the jacket she was wearing, needing to do something to distract herself from the desire to run back to Giovanni's motorcycle and ride it back to Maura's. It wasn't just the vivid thoughts that had her wanting to go back, but the comfort of holding and sharing herself with Maura that had her sighing. Letting out a heavy breath, she watched the white puff of air leave her mouth, rise above her head, and finally disappear into the sky above. For some reason it fascinated her to watch the way her breath rose above her head before dissolving. It was as if she could actually see the longing she felt for Maura as the air twisted and twirled around itself. It had only been half an hour and already Jane was missing the feel and taste of Maura as she reluctantly made her way home.
As she passed the few people that were milling about outside their houses, Jane noticed that some gave her strange looks as she continued on down the road towards her house. Some people she knew, some she didn't, but she was mostly irritated by the puzzled expressions of mostly everyone she encountered. Looking down to hide a sullen expression, the glint of a buckle from her boot caught her attention. With a burst of laughter, she realized what she must look like with her black motorcycle boots, black cocktail dress, and black leather jacket that all but swallowed her. She was sure she was a sight to behold.
Angela almost had a heart attack when Jane burst through the front door and took the stairs two at a time to her room. The sound of her boots thundered throughout the house causing Frank to jump up from his chair.
"What the hell was that?" He called out as he looked over his shoulder at his wife who was standing next to the dining room table, carefully laying out the placemats for their family dinner.
"I think maybe it was Jane." Angela crossed her arms as she tried to decide what to do. She wasn't sure if she should follow Jane up the stairs or wait for her to come back down to talk.
"You're gonna talk to her right?" Frank nervously slipped his hands into his pockets and looked at his feet. "I don't think I'm ready…"
"Well, you'd better get ready. Maura is coming for dinner…" The look that Angela gave Frank had him reconsidering the invitation he had been extended to watch the football game at his brother's. Her expression softened though when she saw the panic in his eyes. "It'll be okay…nothing has changed Frank. Jane is still Jane and Maura is still Maura…"
"I'm trying here Angela." He rolled his eyes and shrugged his shoulders. "But it's hard, ya know. No matter what you say, things have changed."
"Yes, things have changed, but the people we love haven't." Reaching her arms out, Angela offered her husband a hug. With a thoughtful smile, he closed the distance between them and allowed her to comfort him. "I'll go up and talk to her now." She said giving him a gentle squeeze before releasing him.
"You're a braver soul than I am my dear…" He said with a crooked grin as he went back to watching his football game.
"Yeah, brave or crazy…" She sighed as she headed towards to stairs.
As Jane pulled her dress over her head, she kicked off her boots causing them to sail across the room before landing in a heap in the corner by her closet. Wading up the dress, she tossed it towards her empty hamper giving a fist pump when it dropped down into the confines of the basket. She rummaged through the pile of clothes at the foot of her bed, finding her 501's and a t-shirt after digging to the bottom. It didn't take Jane long to slip one leg and then the other into her jeans as she hopped from one foot to the other. She pulled her t-shirt over her head before tucking it in, stopping only when she noticed what a mess her room was.
"Damn…" Jane mumbled as she began gathering the clothes that littered her floor before tossing them into the hamper by the door.
"Wow…what's the occasion?" Angela asked as she stood in the open doorway watching Jane move around the room like a whirlwind.
"What?" Jane stopped to look at her mother, an assortment of wadded up clothing dangling from her arms. It was her third pass over her room leaving her floor clear for the first time in weeks. She shrugged her shoulders as she dropped her last load, a puzzled look on her face.
"Got a minute? We need to talk…" Angela had a serious expression on her face as she stepped into Jane's room and shut the door.
A sudden surge of panic washed over Jane as she watched her mother make her way over to her bed to sit. She had the sudden urge to bolt from the room, but stopped when she saw that she was being regarded with a stern look.
"Nope…you're not going anywhere. We are going to do this now, so you may as well have a seat and get comfortable." Angela's tone was determined, giving Jane no room for argument.
With a nod of her head, Jane conceded and took a seat next to her mother on the bed. At first she couldn't bring herself to look at the hazel eyes that watched her with some semblance of sadness. Looking down at her feet, Jane could feel her heart start to race as her mother continued to silently study her.
Angela could sense Jane's nervous energy as she watched her silently contemplating. She was nervous as well, but she knew they needed to have this conversation. Reaching out to push a strand of Jane's hair away from her face, Angela gently tucked it behind Jane's ear so she could see her.
"So, um…there are going to be a few rules that you're going to have to follow from now on." Angela started.
"R-u-l-e-s…?" The word rolled out slowly as Jane finally looked at her mother.
"Yes, rules." Angela sighed. "First, your door will remain open at all times when Maura is here…" She held up her hand to stop Jane before she could protest. "Really Jane, the rules are the same no matter who you date…this shouldn't come as a surprise." She paused to see if Jane would argue and when Jane didn't, she continued. "Second, there will be no sleepovers…"
"Come on Ma…can't I stay over at Maura's if I promise to sleep in the guestroom?" Jane pleaded.
Angela was quiet as she thought about Jane's request. The idea that they would eventually become intimate if they hadn't already had her feeling uncertain, but she knew it would be nearly impossible to keep them apart. It was a concession she knew she would have to make and even though she trusted Jane to make the right decisions, she also knew what it was like to be a young and in love.
"Okay…as long as you sleep in the guestroom…" Angela said intentionally leaving out the obvious. She knew exactly where Jane's thinking was headed, but she also knew that if she pushed too hard, it would only drive Jane away. Angela knew better than anyone that Jane had a stubborn streak a mile wide.
"Thanks…" Jane mumbled around the grin she was trying to hide. Telling her mother that she would sleep in the guestroom wasn't a lie, she just left out the fact that Maura would too. She thought that she had outsmarted her mother, but one look from those flashing hazel eyes had Jane thinking again. "Um what else…"
"Well, as before, you will continue to have curfew…midnight, I guess that doesn't change." Angela mused out loud as she continued to ponder her expectations. She had seen the slight grin Jane tried to hide knowing that Jane thought she hadn't caught on to her little ploy. "Look Jane, I know…um…that you're not…um…" Angela struggled to speak, drawing Jane's attention and a curious look. "I know…you're not a…virgin…." The word was out of her mouth before she could rethink what she was going to say.
"Oh my G-O-D Ma…really?" Jane threw her hands up to cover her face. "I so don't want to be having this conversation with you right now."
"Well too bad…we're gonna have it. I can't say that I am at all comfortable with knowing that things will get physical between you and Maura…" Angela hesitated for a second. "That is if they haven't already..." As Jane continued to hide behind her hands, Angela could see Jane's red face through the fingers that were trying to hide a full on blush. It was a touchy subject for both of them, but for Angela it was important for Jane to know she would always have someone to talk to. It was all the confirmation Angela needed and with a quick nod of acknowledgement, she let out a heavy resigned breath.
"How could you know that Ma?" Jane asked, her hands still covering her face.
"A mother knows these things…" The attempted explanation had Jane moving her hands away to look up at her mother, a look of shock on her face. Angela tried to hide the hurt she was feeling that Jane had not come to her to discuss what had happened between her and Casey, in the past and recently, but she wasn't going to let that happen again even if she didn't fully comprehend the depth of Jane's relationship with Maura.
"You really aren't gonna try to tell me it is some kinda mom thing, are you?" Jane griped as she set her elbow on her knee before resting her chin in the palm of her hand.
"Yes…it's a mom thing…I know you were with Casey…and now…you're with Maura." Angela tried to explain.
"You know about Casey…are you kidding me?" Jane rolled her eyes as she tried to think of something else she could say to get her mother to stop. "Why didn't you say anything then?" Her curiosity took over as she turned away from her mother again to find something more interesting to look at on the floor.
"Casey left and you didn't seem to care. I guess I just didn't think it meant that much to you. But I can see your heart is in it with Maura. I just want you to understand that you have to be responsible…having a…um…sexual…relationship…"
"Please Ma…stop…" Jane interrupted with an exasperated sigh. "Let me guess, you're gonna tell me to always use protection…" The lame attempt at humor did not go over well and Jane could see it in her mother's eyes when she looked back at her.
"I know you're going to be eighteen in a few months but in a lot of ways, you're still a kid Jane. I would have preferred that you'd waited until you were older and maybe a little more mature before taking this next step, but there's not use crying over spilt milk at this point. I just want to make sure you understand that it's a big reasonability to have a…mature…relationship. I hope you're ready for that…cuz it isn't just about the sex…"
"Alright Ma, I get it…you don't want me having sex under your roof…" Jane huffed irritably.
"If that's all you got out of this conversation, then I know you're not ready for this…" Angela crossed her arms and looked down at her daughter.
Jane was quiet for a moment as she thought about what her mother had said. The ire she was feeling quickly faded as she realized her mother was just trying to connect with and understand her. She knew she was being immature about the whole thing, but she couldn't help it. Talking to her mother about her sex life was not a conversation she envisioned having at all.
"Okay Ma…I get it, I really do. I understand that things have changed between me and Maura, but it's alright…I'm ready for this…" She paused when she saw her mother give her a skeptical look. "Really…she means the world to me…I love her Ma." Jane could feel her cheeks growing warm again with the blush that rose to her face at the admission.
Angela studied Jane long and hard, trying to decide if she believed what Jane was telling her. It wasn't until Jane said the last four words that Angela saw a light grow within the depths of those dark brown eyes that she realized the truth, Jane was indeed in love. "Hey…I know how it is with teenagers and raging hormones…" Angela smiled in an attempt to lighten the mood. "I had a few boyfriends before your father ya know…" She gave Jane a knowing wink that caused Jane to groan.
"Ma….are we done here?" Jane had a sudden urge to crawl under her covers and pull them over her head.
"Yes…for now…but we still need to talk about a few things…" There was an uncertainty in Angela's voice that had Jane suddenly feeling nervous.
"Pop?" Jane asked almost afraid to know the answer.
"He's trying Jane, really he is. It will take some time, but I think he'll come around." Angela said as she stood up to leave. She reached out and gave Jane's shoulder a gentle squeeze to reassure her.
Jane just nodded, not sure if she could believe what her mother had said.
"Frankie invited Cindy to dinner. Is Maura still coming over?" The question came from the door and Jane wondered when her mother had gotten up to leave.
"Um…yeah…" Jane couldn't help but grin when she looked over at her mother. Angela just smiled as she closed the door behind her, allowing Jane a few moments of privacy before the house was filled with lovesick teenagers.
Slipping her V-neck sweater over a white t-shirt, Maura glanced at herself in her full length mirror. She was also wearing a pair of faded jeans, the material soft and well worn. Her casual attire was something she had been expanding on since she had met Jane. As she admired herself for a moment longer, she smiled at her reflection knowing that Jane was sure to like the laid back look she was going for. The thought of the fitted suit she had worn the night before brought a smile to her lips as she remembered the look in Jane's eyes when she saw her wearing it. The look of pure desire was one she would not forget any time soon as she shoved the memory of Casey to the far recesses of her mind. Without a doubt, Maura knew that Jane loved to see her dressed up but there was just something about the easy going style she had recently adopted that had Jane smiling as well.
Reaching across her bed, she grabbed the black, leather jacket and pulled it on. The short jacket came to just about the top of her jeans and fit her like a glove. It was one of her many purchases from her trip to Paris and if she admitted it, it was sort of a guilty indulgence. The thought of wearing it while her arms were wrapped securely around Jane as she rode on the back of Giovanni's motorcycle had all but convinced her she needed it. Taking one last look around the room, she remembered the envelop that sat on her dresser. It was a Christmas present for Jane and Maura couldn't wait to give it to her. They had forgotten to exchange gifts earlier, otherwise being occupied with other things, but she grabbed it as she headed towards the door. She had no intention of forgetting it tonight. With one final glance around the room, her eyes fell on her bed and she couldn't stop the smile from spreading across her face as she anticipated the next time she and Jane could be alone together.
"I got it…I got it…" Jane shouted as she barreled down the stairs towards the front door and what she hoped waited for her on the other side. Throwing the door open, she was greeted by a surprised but adorable Maura. Jane stood in the doorway, taking in Maura's casual jeans, green V-neck sweater, and fitted black leather jacket.
"You like?" Maura raised a questioning eyebrow at the look on Jane's face.
"Come on…" Jane growled as she grabbed Maura's hand and pulled her towards the stairs, barely giving Maura enough time to pull her jacket off and hang it on the coat rack. "Going to my room…" Jane shouted over a stunned Maura as she dragged her up the stairs at an alarming speed.
"Jane, keep your door open…" Angela shouted back from the kitchen.
"I know Ma, I know…" Jane stomped her feet in protest with each step she took.
Frank jumped up from his chair again, not sure what had just happened. He thought he saw a blur that was his daughter, dragging something or someone behind her up the stairs.
"What the hell is going on around here?" He all but shouted to no one. "Can't a man watch football in peace in his own home?"
"I'm guessing Maura's here…" Angela slipped into the living room to see what Frank was shouting about.
"Your guess is as good as mine. All I saw was a blur going up the stairs…" He dropped back down into his chair. "Um…do you think you should…?" His eyes held an unspoken question.
"I give them about ten minutes alone before Frankie crashes their party…" Angela said with a smirk.
Frank looked up at the ceiling then over at his wife. He rolled his eyes at the smirk on her face conceding that maybe she knew more than he did, but ten minutes alone was ten minutes too long in his book.
"Jane…what are you doing?" Maura was out of breath from trying to keep up with Jane and her longer legs.
"This…" Jane said as she pushed Maura into her room far enough for them to have some semblance of privacy. She wrapped her arms around Maura's waist, pulling the smaller body against hers. Looking down into surprised eyes, Jane leaned close to the mouth she had fantasized about all day. "I missed you…" The words were whispered against slightly parted lips. After a quick glance towards her open door to make sure they were really alone, Jane took Maura's mouth in a deep, passion filled kiss that left them both breathless.
"I missed you too…" Maura reluctantly pulled away to look into Jane's eyes. The soft brown she had come to love so much was now a dark, rich coffee color that flashed with something dangerous.
"I'd say we have about one minute…" Jane said as she again pulled Maura's mouth to her own. This time she allowed her tongue to slip past waiting lips to find the velvety softness she had been craving. It was almost too much when she felt Maura gently begin a slow grind against her, pushing them both to their limits.
"Jane…? Is your door open?" Angela's voice was like a bucket filled with ice cold water putting out the flames that were threatening to bring Maura and Jane down like a plane on fire.
"Yessss…." Jane growled through gritted teeth. Reluctantly she moved away from Maura, a crooked smile on her face. "So, um…wanna listen to some music?"
With a questioning quirk of an eyebrow, Maura watched Jane move over towards her record collection and turn table. There was now an element of shyness to Jane's movements that hadn't been there before.
"What just happened?" Maura moved to sit down on the floor next to Jane's bed, stretching her legs out as she leaned back to get comfortable.
Jane ducked her head as she started to go through a pile of records, picking out several and handing them to Maura for inspection. "Um…nothing, just…my Ma laid down some ground rules this morning when I got home."
"Oh, parental rules…can't say I have much experience with that." Maura turned over a particularly interesting album before looking up to see Jane watching her intently.
"Yeah, well…" Jane sighed as she ran her fingers through her hair. "I guess this is kinda new to all of us…"
"Hmmm…I suppose you're right." Maura regarded Jane's eyes that were now a lighter shade of brown with golden flecks.
"It's not like the rules would be any different if you were…" Jane hesitated.
"If I was Casey you mean?" Maura finished before Jane could. Jane just nodded as she looked away breaking the gaze they had been holding. Reaching out, Maura placed two fingers under Jane's chin to pull her back so they could look at each other again. "It's okay Jane…I'm here, not him." With a sheepish grin Maura leaned over to place the softest of kisses against Jane's lips, but quickly pulled away before anything else could happen. "Now…if you don't mind, I think I would like to hear this song." She said pointing to the first song on the back of the album in her hand.
A smile filled Jane's face as she slipped the vinyl record from its jacket before placing it on the turntable. She looked over her shoulder to see Maura leisurely lying back against her bed, one leg stretched out and the other bent at the knee.
When the first notes of music filled the room, Jane moved over to sit between Maura's legs. She stretched her long legs out in front of her and leaned back against Maura's chest. Tilting her head back so she could look up at a now upside down Maura, she was greeted with a smile. She smiled back before settling herself comfortably against Maura's body casually draping her arm over Maura's bent leg.
"You picked a good one." Jane sighed into the comfort of the body pressed against hers from behind. When Maura's hand slipped over Jane's shoulder to rest on her chest, Jane reached over with her other hand, lacing their fingers together as the lyrics washed over her.
"Hey where did we go,
Days when the rains come
Down in the hollow,
Playin' a new game,
Laughing and a running hey, hey
Skipping and a jumping
In the misty morning fog with
Our hearts a thumpin' and you
My brown eyed girl,
You're my brown eyed girl"
Maura looked down at her and Jane's interlaced fingers, giving a gentle squeeze to let Jane know she was content. Gathering a handful of Jane's dark hair in her other hand, she pushed it away from Jane's neck so she would have a place to lay her chin. She closed her eyes as she pressed her cheek against Jane's before lightly skimming across the warm skin she found there to press her lips against Jane's ear.
"I like this song." Maura whispered in Jane's ear. "It makes me think of you…"
"Whatever happened
To Tuesday and so slow
Going down the old mine
With a transistor radio
Standing in the sunlight laughing,
Hiding behind a rainbows wall,
Slipping and sliding
All along the waterfall, with you
My brown eyed girl,
You're my brown eyed girl"
The warm breath that spoke softly into Jane's ear had her shivering. The threat of a fire started to smolder under her skin when she felt Maura's tongue flick out and lave at her earlobe.
"It's um…Van…Morrison…" Jane started to say as her senses began to short circuit under Maura's bold moves. As she felt herself melting into the softness of Maura's body, the song began to fade into the background. The only thing that existed was the warmth of Maura's mouth and the sensations that followed.
The fingers that were laced with her own began to squeeze tighter as Maura placed light kisses from Jane's ear to the crook of her neck. She knew she was playing a dangerous game but she couldn't help it. The need to feel Jane shiver under her almost overwhelmed Maura when she lightly nipped at the tender skin of an exposed shoulder causing Jane's breath to hitch. Everything else faded away as Maura continued her slow exploration.
"Jesus Maur….what're you doin' to me…?" Jane moaned softly as she tilted her head to the side uncovering more skin to Maura's wandering mouth. Her arm tightened around Maura's knee as she tried to find an anchor to keep herself from floating away on a cloud of desire. In the background, the song continued to play, pulling Jane from her haze. As she listened, she realized that Maura was softly singing the words to her.
"Do you remember when we used to sing, Sha la la la la la la la la la la te da, Just like that, Sha la la la la la la la la la la te da la te da…" Maura's lips moved with the melody over soft skin drawing a gasp from Jane.
"You know this song…?" Jane half turned to look into Maura's eyes which twinkled with a playful glint. Maura nodded as she leaned forward to capture Jane's lips in a soft, yet insistent kiss. Everything disappeared again when Jane felt Maura's mouth move over hers, seeking, exploring, and wanting everything at once. The only thing Jane was aware of was the sound of her own breathing which quickened with each stroke of Maura's tongue against her own. So caught up in the feel and taste of Maura, Jane didn't hear Frankie knock against the doorframe to get their attention.
"Hey…Jane….Maura…" Frankie cleared his throat nervously to try to get Jane's attention. He was startled to see his sister and Maura lip locked in what could only be described as a passionate kiss. Although he knew that Jane and Maura were more than just friends, he wasn't prepared to see this show of affection from his usually stoic sister. The sight before him caused him to blush furiously.
When the sound of Frankie's voice finally broke through Jane's haze, she all but jumped out of Maura's arms. It was a reflex she knew she needed to get under control, the need to put distance between her and Maura anytime they were around someone else. She relaxed when she felt Maura holding her in place and imploring her to stay where she was with a soft expression.
"Um, yeah…hey Frankie…" Jane sat up from her reclined position against Maura, but didn't move away. "What's up?"
"Nothin', just wanted to see how things were goin'" He stood in the doorway, nervously shifting from one foot to the other.
"Com'on in…" Jane patted at spot on the
bed behind her and Maura. "We were just listening to some music." She gave Maura's hand one last squeeze before letting go.
"'Kay…" Frankie stepped into her room and looked around, surprised to see it was clean. "Wow…I can see the floor."
"Hey…" Jane grabbed a pillow and tossed it at him.
Frankie caught it before he dropped down on her bed, hanging over the edge by Jane and Maura to look at them. "I'm sorry; I didn't mean to crash your party…" He grinned at them causing Jane to blush and Maura to laugh. "But I am really glad to see that everything is okay between you two."
"Um, yeah…we're good." Jane settled back against Maura.
Rolling over so he could look up at the ceiling, Frankie propped his head up on the pillow he was still holding. "You know Carly and Ryan were really worried. They wanted to go over to Maura's last night to make sure you were okay, but I…um convinced them to wait." He turned his head so he could look at Jane. He was happy to see that she was comfortable enough to be herself around Maura in his presence.
Jane rolled her eyes as her thoughts drifted to the night before. She could feel Maura's body shake in silent laughter causing her to laugh as well. "Thanks…for that…"
"I did tell them you would call sometime today though…" He said as he reached over behind him, grabbing one of Jane's albums. "Listening to Ma's old records? You have heard of these little things called CD's haven't you?"
"Yeah, but don't tell Ma I like them. I'll never hear the end of it if you do…and I like the way records sound better than CD's…" Jane pulled away from Maura to take the record off of the turntable. Hitting the off switch, she leaned back again allowing Maura to wrap an arm around her waist. She could feel Frankie shift around to so he could see them. When she saw the silly grin on his face, she felt her cheeks grow warm with another blush.
"You look good in pink…" Maura bent her head down to whisper in Jane's ear.
"I hate pink…" Jane groaned causing both Maura and Frankie to shake with laughter.
"What's so funny?" Angela asked from the door. Three pairs of eyes turned to look at her, unsure of what to do or say in response.
Maura could feel Jane stiffen and pull away both physically and emotionally when her mother stepped into the room.
"Nothin' Ma…just talking about how much I hate pink…" Jane sat up, giving Maura an apologetic smile over her shoulder.
"Okay…um, Maura honey…would you mind helping me in the kitchen for a minute?" Angela turned to Maura.
"Yes, of course." Maura answered without thought. As she started to get up, she stopped when Jane grabbed her hand and mouthed 'I'm sorry…' With a small smile, Maura brought the back of Jane's hand to her lips and placed the lightest of kisses against her knuckles. A wink and a nod later, she followed Angela out the door.
"Damn, Ma's gonna rake her over the coals…I just know it." Jane leaned back against the bed where Maura had been.
"Yeah…she gave me the 'rules' talk about having Cindy over…" Frankie groaned as he hung his head over the bed next to Jane's again. "But it looks like you and Maura worked things out though." He didn't look at her this time; instead he turned his attention to the album he was holding in his hands. Running his fingers over the bright colors on the front, he let out a long slow breath. "I'm glad."
For a long quiet moment, Jane just looked across her room at her dresser without moving or speaking. Finally, when Frankie thought she wasn't going to say anything, Jane cleared her throat and spoke. "It doesn't bother you?" She gave him a sideways look.
"Nah…why would it?" He rolled his head to side to see her better. "I mean, you like each other…and she makes you happy."
"You know this doesn't change anything…I'm still the same…" She started to say.
"Hey, I know that." He leaned closer to her so their heads were now touching. "You're more yourself with Maura than with anyone else you've ever been with. I hated seeing you with Casey…you always got so weird…acted like he wanted you to act."
"It never really did feel right with Casey…" Jane started to say then hesitated. "It's like being me wasn't enough for him." She shrugged her shoulders.
"Yeah…" Frankie sighed. "But Maura is good for you…"
"She is isn't she…?" Jane grinned over at him.
"Would you mind cutting up the stuff for the salad Maura dear?" Angela asked as she stepped next to stove. She didn't look at Maura at first, giving her full attention to the sauce pan on the burner. It wasn't that she didn't know what to say, she just wasn't exactly sure how to begin. Maura had an air about her, a poise that Angela wasn't used to dealing with, especially from someone as young as Maura.
"Of course Mrs. Rizzoli…" Maura said as she stepped up next to the cutting board and the array of vegetables that lay scattered around the counter. She had figured that Angela wanted to speak to her about the things that had transpired over the last twenty-four hours and she didn't blame her.
"Look Maura, I'm just going to be straight forward with you here…" Angela turned around and nervously wiped her hands on a nearby dishtowel. "I can't say that I understand what's happening between you and Jane, but I accept…that you have feelings for each other."
Without looking up from what she was doing, Maura gave a small nod. She had realized that her recruitment to help with dinner was indeed just a thinly veiled ploy for Angela to get her alone.
"I just want you to know that you will always be welcomed here, into our home…into our lives, I only ask that you abide by some of the rules I laid out to Jane." Angela watched Maura cut with such a precision that it almost had her mesmerized. She had never seen such perfectly equal sized pieces before.
"I think that is a reasonable request." Maura stopped cutting and looked over her shoulder at Angela. "This isn't some sort of phase though…what we feel for each other…it's very real." Turning to look straight into Angela's eyes, Maura could see a resolute understanding.
"I know dear…I just worry that you girls are in such a hurry to grow up sometimes." Angela took a step towards Maura and reached out to cup a cheek in the palm of her hand. A small smile tugged at Angela's lips as she regarded the very serious expression looking back at her. "Why do I have the feeling you came out of the womb more grown up than some of the forty year olds I know?" She watched as a light blush colored Maura's cheeks, drawing a slight shrug of shoulders as an answer.
"I suppose I have always been a very serious person…" Maura's voice held a slight apology.
"I can see it now…" Angela reached out to pull Maura into a hug. It was as if everything clicked into place. Standing there holding Maura close to her, she realized that she had essentially gained another daughter. "You balance each other."
Maura allowed Angela to hug her, her body relaxing slightly under the warmth and comfort that was offered. She was thankful that Angela was accepting of the situation because she didn't want to have to let go of the relationship they had built.
"But I must warm you Maura…" Angela pulled back to look at Maura, a playful twinkle in her eyes. "When you date one Rizzoli…you get us all…" She said opening her arms wide to indicated a large group.
"Yeah, I kinda figured that out…" Maura gave Angela a shy smile.
"Someone's at the door…" Frank's voice boomed from the living room.
Maura watched with amusement as Angela moved around the small kitchen mumbling under her breath. Words like 'lazy' and 'ass' had Maura laughing as she turned to continue chopping up the vegetables for the salad.
"I'll finish that Maura, if you wouldn't mind going upstairs and sending Frankie down. I think that's probably Cindy at the door." Angela bustled past Maura towards the front door but stopped suddenly. Turning around quickly, she looked into Maura's confused eyes. "She's given you her heart you know; promise me you'll take care of it." Angela grabbed Maura's hands and pleaded.
"I promise…" Maura gently squeezed the warm hand's that now held hers tightly. Her breath hitched on the last word, knowing how important a declaration it was.
Feeling the gentle squeeze and seeing the firm resolve in Maura's eyes, Angela knew that there was nothing but truth in the words spoken. Her only thought as she turned towards the front door was that she hoped that Jane could make the same promise.
"So, um…what's the deal with Susan Rogers? You used to hang around each other a lot in middle school didn't you?" Frankie reached over to Jane's bedside table to grab the baseball that sat precariously close to the edge.
"Yeah, haven't really seen much of her since we started hanging around different groups of people when we started high school. She's into band…I'm into sports." Jane settled back against her bed, watching Frankie as he lightly tossed her baseball up in the air. "Why do you ask?"
"She's kinda been harassing Maura I think…" He sighed as he continued to toss the ball up in the air and catch it.
"What? What do you mean harassing?" She turned around so she could see him better. When he didn't stop tossing the ball or answer her question, she reached out and plucked the ball midair to get his attention.
"I don't know…I just saw her talking to Maura a few months back…it seemed to upset her and then Cindy saw them talking at the party last month…said Susan was giving her the score…or something like that." He shrugged his shoulders and then snatched the ball back from her.
Jane watched as he continued to toss the ball, her mind going over the possibilities of what he had told her. Although noting had ever happened between her and Susan, she had always felt an undercurrent of something she couldn't quiet identify. Her brows furrowed as she thought harder, trying to understand why Susan would be harassing Maura. Then the answer came to her like some kind of bulb lighting up over her head, Susan was jealous. She knew that this was something she was going to have to deal with, but she wasn't sure how to approach it.
The look of concentration on his sister's face had Frankie curious, but if he thought about it, he already knew why Susan was acting the way she was. He knew jealousy when he saw it. As he watched Jane mulling over her own thoughts, he thought he heard a knock on the front door, but decided there was one more thing he needed to talk to Jane about.
"Hey, you gonna try out for the baseball team?" He asked as he tossed the ball higher in the air.
"Um…" Jane turned her attention back to her brother and away from her thoughts of Susan. "I don't know…it really takes up a lot of time…with practice and stuff."
"I hope you do, we don't stand much of chance if you don't. You're the best shortstop out there Jane…" Frankie sighed.
"And I'm sure you're devastatingly sexy in the uniform…" Maura interrupted from the door.
"Ouch…hey…" Jane cried out as she rubbed her head where the baseball hit her when Frankie had taken his eyes of it to look at Maura. She reached back and gave him a shove causing him to fall off her bed with a loud thump.
"Yeah, well that's not what I was thinking…but whatever works for you…" He mumbled as he pushed himself up from the floor.
"Cindy's here, your mother asked me to send you down." Maura smiled at his flustered expression.
"'Kay…" He started to walk past Maura, but stopped next to her to say something. "Keep it in your pants why dontcha…" he whispered playfully as he left her standing in the doorway laughing.
"What was that all about?" Jane asked as she continued to rub the spot on the top of her head where the ball had hit her.
"Nothing…" Maura moved to sit next to Jane on the floor. "Here, let me see…" She reached out to touch the spot Jane had been rubbing. "There doesn't seem to be a lump…" Her eyes followed Jane's as she tried to gauge how badly she had been hurt.
"I think I'll live Dr. Isles…but maybe I should come by for a visit later…I think I may be in need of your doctoring skills to make me feel better…" A wink followed by a smug smile had Maura falling back in a fit of laughter which was quickly quieted by the weight of Jane's body covering hers. "What's so funny Dr. Isles?" Jane quirked an eyebrow as she pushed herself up to hover over Maura.
"I don't think your mother is going to be willing to let you come over tonight. She knows my mother is still out of town." Maura sighed as she reached up to run her fingers through Jane's hair before tucking a few strands behind an ear so she could see her better.
"Shit…" Jane groaned as she bent down to rest her forehead against Maura's causing her hair to fall down to curtain both of their faces. "This is gonna be harder than I thought…"
With slightly shaky hands, Maura's fingers began to trace the outline of Jane's lips, her thumb lightly skimming across a bottom lip. The feeling of warm, wetness caught Maura off guard as Jane pulled Maura's thumb into her mouth, gently sucking and grazing it with the tip of her tongue. A small gasp escaped her lips when Jane let go and bent to kiss the tip of her nose before moving her mouth to drift just above where she wanted it. Smoldering eyes pinned Maura down with a rush of desire as Jane moved her mouth over Maura's at an agonizingly slow pace.
With a feather light touch, Jane brushed her lips across the softness of Maura's as she whispered. "The things you make me want…" A warm breath caressed Maura's face as Jane moved her mouth over the soft skin of her cheek and then back over slightly parted lips. "It overwhelms me…"
Maura attempted to speak but her words were swallowed by aggressive lips rendering her silent. The delicious contact all but took her breath away as she struggled to control the intense feelings that threatened to take over. Jane pulled back just enough for their eyes to lock in an unyielding gaze before brushing Maura's lips again in the softest of kisses that lingered over several uninterrupted moments.
With a heavy sigh, Jane rolled off of Maura and onto her back. As they lay side by side, looking up at the ceiling, Jane reached over and took Maura's hand in hers. "I can't stop thinking about what we did this morning…" She said as she brought Maura's hand up to her lips, placing a kiss on the back of her hand. "It's going to be a long night…" the words came out in a frustrated huff.
"That it is…" Maura's sigh held the same level of frustration as Jane's. She pulled Jane's hand over towards her, doing the same by placing a small kiss on the back of Jane's hand.
"Dinner's ready…" Frankie called from the stairway.
"You think they'd notice if we snuck out the back door?" Maura sat up, running her fingers through her hair to push it away from her face. When Jane didn't follow, she looked down to see Jane gazing at her with a crooked grin.
"I've been wondering the same thing myself…" The words were barely out of her mouth before she grabbed Maura and pulled her down on top of her. Pushing back the honey-blonde hair, she gently tucked it behind Maura's ear. Lightly, Jane traced Maura's soft lips with her index finger causing a shiver to run through both of their bodies.
"Janie!" Frankie shouted again, this time his voice a little closer.
The intensity of the moment was interrupted, but in an attempt to savor their tender connection, Jane leaned up to place another soft kiss on the lips that hovered above hers.
"Guess that answer's that question." Maura mumbled against the lips that were gently pressed against hers. She let out a yelp when Jane shifted their bodies so they could both sit up.
"We should probably get down there before they come up here looking for us." Jane gave an apologetic smile as she stood up, pulling Maura with her and into a hug. It was a tender embrace as Jane wrapped her arms around Maura to hold her closer. Resting her chin on top of Maura's head, Jane gently rocked back and forth. The feeling of Maura snuggling against her neck and warm breath against her skin had Jane sighing contently at the exquisite contact.
Placing her ear against Jane's chest, Maura took comfort in the slow, steady beat of Jane's heart. For the first time in her life, Maura felt like she was at home. In the circle of Jane's arms, wrapped in the love she never knew she needed, Maura let out a long slow breath. "I wish we could stay like this forever…" she ruminated quietly.
"Yeah, me too…but one thing about being in the Rizzoli house is that privacy is all but nonexistent…" Jane started to say but was interrupted as if on cue by a rather reluctant Frankie who was now standing in her doorway with a sheepish grin on his face.
"Um…" He cleared his throat loudly to make sure he had their attention. "Dinner…"
Maura could feel the slight stiffening of Jane's body, but this time Jane didn't try to pull away. A gentle squeeze was followed by a soft kiss to the top of Maura's head before Jane let go and turned to look at her brother. "I think we're gonna haveta put a bell around your neck…"
"Hey…I gave you plenty of warning. It's not my fault you're otherwise…occupied." Frankie shrugged his shoulders indifferently.
"Yeah, yeah…" Jane grabbed Maura's hand in one of hers and pushed Frankie from her room with the other. She stopped when she felt a slight resistance from Maura. "What is it?"
"Um…I'm…" Maura had an anxious look on her face as she stood looking at both Jane and Frankie.
Seeing the look of fear on Maura's face had Jane moving quickly to stand in front of her with Frankie moving to stand behind Jane, both with concerned looks on their faces.
"What's wrong sweetheart?" Jane reached for Maura's other hand so she was now holding both hands. She could all but see Frankie roll his eyes at the term of endearment she had used, causing her to give him a not so gentle poke to his side with her elbow.
"Hey, what was that for?" He grumbled bending at the waist slightly, grabbing the affected side as he tried to catch his breath.
"Shut up Frankie…" Jane growled over her shoulder. She instantly felt regret for having poked him so hard when she saw his flustered face, but her mind quickly turned back to Maura. When she looked back at Maura, she was greeted with a small smile, but the same anxious eyes.
"You two are something…" Maura chuckled at the antics she was witnessing. "But to answer your question…I'm a little nervous about seeing your father…" She wasn't sure why she was suddenly feeling apprehensive.
"Yeah well…" Jane struggled to speak as she pushed a stray piece of hair that had fallen into her face. "I haven't seen him since last night…"
Frankie looked between an anxious Maura and a nervous Jane, trying to decide how much to tell them about what had happened when Jane left the night before. When the silence started to become uncomfortable he decided he needed to say something.
"Hey Jane, I can't tell you what Pop thinks of all of this…" He waved his hands between Jane and Maura. "But he wasn't mad or anything…he and Ma talked for a while and then he had a long conversation with Casey as he escorted him out the door." Even though Frankie knew what that long conversation had been about, he wasn't ready to tell Jane what had happened. He had never seen his father as angry as he had when he told him what Casey had done to Jane. He also wasn't naïve enough to think that everyone was going to be as accepting of Jane and Maura's new relationship, his father included. "I think having Carly here last night…ya know with Ryan…it kinda helped Pop see things differently. It's not like they waved a flag around announcing they were together or anything like that, but it was obvious in a very subtle way or at least it was to me. I don't think anyone noticed really, except family maybe. And anyway, I'm glad Carly brought Ryan…she's so cool…she loves sports…and she's sooo cute…"
"Whoaw, down boy…" Jane held up her hands to indicate he should stop talking. She couldn't stop herself from laughing at the slight blush that colored his face when he realized what he had said.
"Yeah, well anyway…what I meant was I don't think you need to worry about Pop." Frankie looked down at his feet which had suddenly seemed more interesting than either of the grins on Jane or Maura's faces.
"Come on, before Ma sends a search party looking for us." Jane said pulling Maura behind her as they followed Frankie out the door. When she felt Maura's grip tighten, she knew that they were both still a little nervous but as long as they had each other, they would get through whatever was thrown their way.
"Where's Tommy, or did I already ask that?" Frank sat back in his chair looking at everyone gathered around the table. His dark eyes moved over Frankie, Cindy, and Angela before stopping at Maura. His gaze lingered for just a moment longer before his eyes moved to Jane then back to his plate.
"He's spending the night at Josh's house again…" Angela said as she handed the salad bowl to Maura who was sitting to her left. She had noticed Frank's hesitancy when he looked at Maura and then Jane.
"Does he even live here anymore…I don't think I've seen him since last week." Frank grumbled as he took a piece of bread before passing it Frankie.
"I think he has a crush on Josh's sister, Amy…" Frankie started to say, but stopped to take a bite of his bread as he passed the basket to Cindy.
"Oh, you mean that cute little blonde…but she's a few years older than he is, isn't she?" Angela looked over at Frankie for confirmation.
"What is it with you guys and blondes…"Frank mumbled around a bite of salad not really expecting anyone to answer.
Jane had felt the tension the minute they had all taken their seats at the table. As casually as she could without drawing attention from anyone, she reached under the table with her right hand to take Maura's left hand. Gently she brushed her thumb back and forth across the palm of Maura's hand in soothing strokes. Jane could almost feel Maura's anxiety melt under her touch and it brought a small smile to her face, one that hadn't gone unnoticed by her mother.
It hadn't been an obvious gesture on Jane's part, but Angela had seen Maura visibly relax when Jane's hand disappeared under the table. She had also seen the scowl that appeared on Frank's face when he saw the same thing.
"So Cindy…how was your Christmas?" Angela asked in an attempt to lighten the mood in the room.
"It was good. Thank you for asking." Cindy all but shrank back in her chair at the oppressive weight that hung in the air around everyone. She relaxed when she felt Frankie's hand touch her lightly on the leg to comfort her. "Um…when are baseball tryouts?" She asked causing that heavy oppression to instantly lift when Frank's face lit up at the change in subject.
"We should go to the batting cages to get some practice in, don't you think?" Frank looked expectantly at Frankie who was nodding vigorously and then at Jane. When Jane didn't answer, he furrowed his brow and studied her impassive face. "What?" He ventured to ask.
"I'm not sure I wanna play…it takes up an awful lot of my time…" Jane cleared her throat nervously as she spoke, her eyes firmly stuck on her plate. She could feel Maura gently squeeze her hand under the table in question. When she looked up, she found two sets of hazel eyes looking at her with surprise as she shifted uncomfortably under their intense gaze.
"You're not going to play?" Angela asked, unable to hide the surprise from her tone. She looked from Jane to Maura then back to Jane as if she had somehow missed something important.
"Figures…" Frank huffed as his eyes went from his now sullen daughter to Maura.
Seeing the unspoken accusation in Frank's eyes was almost enough to crumble Maura's resolve. The feeling of Jane's hand in hers brought her thoughts back around to Jane. They had spoken briefly about whether or not she should play, but no decisions had been made, at least she didn't think so. In her heart, Maura knew it was as important to Jane as it was to her dad. As her mind began to work out a solution, the look of concentration must have caught Angela's attention. She could feel her hand shaking slightly as she pondered what she could say to bring a reasonable solution. It was only when Maura felt Angela place a hand lightly over her own to stop the tremors that had begun to move up her arm that she felt some semblance of calm take over her.
"Jane's a senior this year Frank, maybe she would like to do other things." Angela sighed as she realized what Jane was thinking.
"What's more important than…baseball…" He all but whispered the last word.
Baseball was always the one thing that Jane and her dad had in common, but she really did want to spend more time with Maura. She knew that with practice and games, there would be little time left over for her and Maura.
"Well…" Maura started to speak, drawing everyone's attention. "I was hoping to see you play…I hear you're very good…"
"Yeah, that's an understatement…" Frankie grinned at Maura.
"Well…I didn't say I wasn't going to tryout…I just haven't decided yet." Jane tried not to grin back at Frankie's compliment.
Frank watched as Jane's sullen mood changed suddenly to a cross between embarrassment and humility at both Maura's and Frankie's words. He quietly studied the two young women and their interaction as the conversation continued on around him. Seeing the subtle way that Maura had prompted Jane to change her mind had him thinking that maybe having Maura around wasn't such a bad thing after all. Jane had always been a volatile teenager with her emotions so close to the surface. The only thing they had in common was their love of sports and he feared if they didn't have that, he'd lose her altogether.
It was the light he saw in Jane's eyes that caught his attention as he watched Maura lean close to whisper something in Jane's ear and the smile that followed had him smiling as well. As he continued to watch he realized that Angela had been right all along. Looking across the table at his wife, he saw her smiling back at him. He inclined his head towards Jane and Maura and shrugged his shoulders as if to ask if things were going to be okay. Angela's smile grew wider as she nodded her head at his unasked question.
The silent conversation between Frank and Angela went unnoticed by the four teenagers as they continued to carry on about this and that. The tension that had preluded their evening evaporated into thin air as they continued to eat and talk amongst themselves. It didn't take long for the meal to disappear off of everyone's plates and the conversation to slow down around them.
"Well, since you both have guests tonight…I only think it fair that you both do the dishes." Angela said as she pushed herself away from the table.
"Aw Ma…" Frankie and Jane said in unison.
"No your mother is right…Cindy…and um Maura can join us in the living room while you two finish cleaning up in here." Frank said giving his children a stern look before softening his expression at Cindy and Maura.
Pain shot through Jane's fingers and up her arm as Maura squeezed tight at the thought of being alone with the Rizzoli patriarch. She winced slightly as she wiggled her hand in Maura's to get her to loosen her grip.
Frank noticed the sudden apprehensive look on Maura's face and he immediately felt bad knowing that he was the cause. In an attempt to make her feel more at ease he offered an alternative idea. "Of course if our two guests would rather help you in the clean-up, you could finish faster and get back to whatever it is you do for fun." Both Frankie and Jane burst out laughing causing Frank to turn red at the implications of what he had said sank in.
"Alright, enough of that…" Angela said as she pointed towards the kitchen. "Get to cleaning." She grabbed a very embarrassed Frank by the hand and led him from the room.
"That didn't come out the way I wanted…" Jane heard her father mumble as he and her mother slipped out of the dining room leaving them alone.
"If only they knew…" Jane leaned over to whisper in Maura's ear causing Maura's face to turn bright red.
"Hey…" Jane jumped in her seat when Maura elbowed her in the side.
"Ha! Hurts don't it!" Frankie pointed at Jane. "So you guys wanna help us clean-up?" He smiled over at Cindy then at Maura. They both nodded their heads in agreement at Frankie's question. "Kay…you guys clear and Jane and I will wash."
"Ew…I hate washing. I always get dish pan hands…" Jane grumbled as she pushed herself away from the table, still holding onto Maura's hand. Lifting Maura's hand up to her mouth, she placed a kiss on the back of it without thinking. When she realized what she had done, both she and Maura looked over at Cindy to see her watching with wide eyes.
"Um…come on Cindy, how 'bout we do the washing…." Frankie pulled Cindy from her chair and pushed her towards the kitchen. He looked over his shoulder with something between discomfort and surprise.
"Are you okay with people knowing?" Maura's voice was quiet as she looked at Jane, then their joined hands.
"I guess I'm not sure." Jane shrugged her shoulders as she regarded Maura who was looking at her with concern. "Are you?"
"Yes…I am." Maura responded softly as she watched Jane carefully for her reaction.
"Then I'll have to be okay with it…" Jane mused as she grabbed a handful of dishes giving Maura a reassuring smile. "I suppose we should start with Cindy…"
"Um…so…Jane and Maura?" Cindy asked as she handed Frankie a dish to wash. He didn't look at her, but concentrated on dunking the dish in the warm, soapy water. "I guess I could see it with Jane, but Maura…that's a surprise."
"If you have a problem with this…then I don't think we should date anymore." Frankie said his voice tight with tension as he continued to look at the dish water.
Cindy tilted her head so she could see Frankie's face since he refused to look up at her. She quietly studied the stern expression as they stood surrounded by an uncomfortable silence.
"I didn't say I had a problem with it Frankie. In fact, I'm okay with it, not because you expect me to be, but because I just am." Cindy put her hand on his causing him to look up at her. "This isn't an easy life to live, I know that. Sometimes there are no fairy tale endings."
"Why do you say that?" His voice was soft as he questioned her comment.
"Well…" She hesitated as she moved her fingers through the warm dish water feeling the soapy suds tickle her knuckles. "My brother is gay…" When her eyes met his, she was confronted with compassion and understanding. "He came out his first year in college and it devastated my family. My parents threw him out…to this day they won't have anything to do with him. So you see... happy endings aren't for everyone."
"Hey…" Frankie grabbed Cindy and pulled her into a hug. As he kissed her forehead, he realized how quickly he had snapped to judgment. "I'm sorry, I didn't know." He said as he rocked her back and forth in an attempt to soothe her.
"How could you?" She sniffed back a few tears. "I'm just glad that you seem willing to support Jane. Do your parents feel the same way?" He nodded as he placed his chin on top of her head. "Jane is very lucky to have you guys. I wish I was strong enough to stand up to my parents…I haven't seen my brother for three years. I really miss him."
"Do you know where he is?" Frankie asked as he continued to gently rock them back and forth.
"Actually I do. We've kept in touch by phone and letters, but my parents don't know. He moved to San Francisco…it's one of the reason's I want to go to school out there." She sighed into the comfort that surrounded her, glad to finally be able to share this with someone.
"Yeah…" He said as he pulled back to look down at her. "I'm glad you still talk to him. I couldn't imagine not having Jane in my life; I mean…she's my big sister." He pulled her back into a hug as they stood holding each other in the comfortable quiet.
Neither Frankie nor Cindy heard or saw Jane as she snuck into the kitchen. It wasn't until the last pile of dirty dishes hit the water with a splash that they were aware of her presence. They both jumped as the water sloshed out over the edges of the sink onto the floor at their feet.
"Ha…gotcha!" Jane grinned as Frankie spun around to glare at his sister.
"Who needs a bell now?" He had an irritated look on his face as he gave her light push. "Real mature…"
"Hey…watch it…" Jane grabbed his wet, soapy hand. "No touchy."
"What're ya gonna do…stop me?" He reached into the sink to get his hands extra wet and soapy before reaching out to wipe them on Jane's t-shirt.
"Don't make me…" Jane took a defensive stance as she eyed him sternly.
When Maura walked into the kitchen carrying the last few things from the table with her, the first thing she noticed was the defensive stance that Jane was in as she and Frankie stared each other down. Her eyes went from Jane to Frankie and then to Cindy who looked a little frightened by what she was witnessing. Giving Cindy a reassuring smile and wink, Maura stepped back away from the siblings to stand next to her.
"Are we okay?" Maura whispered to Cindy, never taking her eyes off of Jane and Frankie as they started to circle each other, measuring up each other's weaknesses.
"Um…them or us?" Cindy also couldn't take her eyes off of what she was seeing.
"Well, let's start with us…" Maura question as small smile played across her lips when she saw the smug look on Jane's face.
"Yes…we're okay… and I um…understand that discretion is important in these matters." Cindy gave Maura an earnest look.
"Okay…thank you for that." Maura gave Cindy's shoulder a little bum with her own. She could see there was more going on behind the light blue eyes, but knew this was not the time or place to delve into whatever it was. "Now…how about them?" The question was punctuated as Maura tilted her chin in the direction of Jane and Frankie.
"Now that I'm not sure about…" Cindy shrugged as she turned her attention back to the scene that was unfolding before them.
Jane took her eyes off of Frankie for the briefest of seconds when she saw Maura and Cindy talking. It was enough time for Frankie to grab a cup, dip it into the water, and then throw the water at Jane.
"You are sooo gonna pay for that you little creep!" Jane growled as she grabbed him in a head lock.
As he struggled against a strength he couldn't match, Frankie found himself being dragged closer to the sink filled with dirty dish water. He started to thrash against Jane when he realized that her intention was to dunk his head in the sink.
"Not so funny anymore is it?" Jane hissed as she pulled him with her to stand in front of the sink.
"Come on…stop…don't…." The words came out in breathless spurts as he continued to fight.
Maura watched Jane drag Frankie with little to no effort on her part causing that little flutter in her stomach as Jane's muscles flexed under her t-shirt. She was essentially mesmerized by Jane's strength, knowing what it felt like to be held tight in her arms, but with a tenderness that could bring tears to her eyes. As she continued to watch, a gentle poke in her side had her turning her attention back to Cindy who had a horrified look on her face.
"Um…are you going to stop them?" Cindy's voice held an urgent plea.
All hell broke loose when Frankie got enough leverage against the counter to push him and Jane back hard enough to topple them over on to the floor. Frankie moved fast as he tried to maneuver around Jane to get the upper hand, but Jane was faster as her arm wrapped around his neck in another tight choke hold. As she squeezed tighter still, Frankie's face started to turn red as he grabbed at her arm to get her to let go.
"Ja..nn.i..ie…." He struggled to catch his breath as he fought harder.
"Tap out…" She squeezed again causing him to cough.
"Jane…please…you're going to hurt him." Cindy cried out loudly.
"Nah…it takes more than a little lack of oxygen to stop Frankie here." Jane grinned as she thumped him lightly on the head.
"Really Jane…I think he's had enough." Maura looked at Jane with a deliberate expression.
The look on Maura's face had Jane rethinking the strength of her hold on Frankie. She quirked a dark eyebrow at Maura, as if to ask if she was serious and only let go when she got a nod as an answer.
"Okay…okay…" Jane said as she threw her arms in the air to indicate she had given up.
"You're such a jerk…" Frankie gasped as he rubbed his neck and throat.
"Knuckle head…" Jane quipped as she stood up. She reached down to offer him a hand which he accepted only after glaring at her for a second. "See, perfectly alright." Frankie tried to duck his head away from Jane's fingers as she ruffled his hair affectionately. When he elbowed her in the stomach, hard enough to draw a gasp from her, Jane reached out to grab him again. It was the quiet plea from Maura that had them both stopping.
"Please…can we just finish up in here without any more of that…" Maura pointed at Jane and Frankie indicating she was talking about their rough-housing.
"Aw come on Maur…we're just playing around…aren't we Frankie" Jane wrapped her arm around Frankie's shoulder in a playful gesture.
"I'd like to get done in here so I can give you your Christmas present…" Maura explained as she stepped up to the counter to start drying the dishes that were stacked there.
"Yeah…listen to your girlfriend…" Frankie whispered as he wiggled away from Jane's hold.
Jane had a strange look on her face as she watched Cindy wash and then hand Maura a dish at a time to dry. Frankie stepped up next to Maura, taking the dry dishes and putting them away. As she stood there watching all three of them working together, she couldn't help but wonder what Maura had gotten her.
"You'll never guess what it is Jane…but the sooner we finish in here the sooner you'll get it…" Maura said as she looked over her shoulder to see Jane's expression as she tried to puzzle through what Maura had gotten her for Christmas. "But I should tell you, it's kind of for everyone." The frown that appeared on Jane's face had Maura shaking with laughter.
"'Kay…" Jane mumbled as she took a towel from the counter to help Maura dry the dishes. She had hoped that Maura's Christmas present was something they would need to be alone to open. The frown she couldn't hide quickly turned to a smile when she heard Maura's laughter at the look on her face.
"I promise you won't be disappointed." Maura had a playful twinkle in her eyes as she watched Jane move faster to help them finish.
Frankie and Cindy smiled over at other as they watched the interaction between Jane and Maura. It was clear to both of them that Maura had something up her sleeve that was sure to please everyone and Frankie couldn't wait to see what it was.
"Um…here…" Maura carefully placed an envelope in the palms of Jane's open hands.
Jane looked at Maura with a mixture of curiosity and confusion as they stood in the living room surround by the Rizzoli's and Cindy.
"Go on, open it." Maura encouraged Jane to open the envelope with a smile.
"Alright…" Jane slipped her finger under the sealed tab before pulling a single piece of paper from its enclosure. She carefully unfolded the paper with shaky fingers as her eyes took in the Red Sox logo at the top. "Holy shit…" The words were out of her mouth before she could stop them.
"Jane…" Both Maura and Angela admonished at the same time.
Wide eyes peered over the paper at Maura as Jane realized what she was holding in her hands. Her mouth hung open in surprise; no other words would come as she continued to read.
"Well…?" Frank and Frankie asked at the same time.
"A suite…" Jane struggled to speak, her excitement almost uncontainable. "At Fenway Park…opening day…" Her breath had all but escaped her as she tried to catch what was left of it.
"What?" Frank, Angela, and Frankie looked from Jane to Maura, stunned expressions on each face.
"It's for up to twenty-five people, with food and drinks, and everything. My father is going to try to make it home to go with us…" Maura started to say but was cut off by four Rizzoli's descending upon her, covering her with arms in a group hug. When the love fest finally came to an end, everyone pulled back and Maura was greeted by four very large grins, but there was just one that stood out to her. Two deep set dimples, brown eyes bright with excitement, and chiseled features framed by long, dark hair with just a hint of unruly curls was the only thing that Maura saw. It wasn't until she found herself surrounded within the circle of two strong arms that she felt exhilaration pour from Jane into her.
Jane was all but shaking from the excitement as she continued to hold Maura tight in her arms. Maura's gift went beyond anything she had ever expected and the fact that it included her family had tears forming in her eyes. Jane realized that even though Maura wasn't close with her own family, she had a deep understanding of how important it was to Jane. With clarity she had never experienced before, she knew without a shadow of doubt that Maura was the beginning to her forever.