Chapter 47: Maura and Harper

A/N: The next chapter, which was originally going to be part of this chapter (as one really long chapter), is one of my favorite chapters. 😊

Two important clarifications:

(1) Only Sophie has two legal parents. Maura is not Emma and Finn's mother LEGALLY. In Massachusetts second parents have to have lived with the kids for six months before they can adopt. There are some exceptions for extreme circumstances. While there is no information available about what happens to kids in Sophie's situation (if they even exist), it seems reasonable that it would fall in the 'extreme circumstances' category. Jane is Emma, Finn, and Harper's only parent in the eyes of the law. Maura will have to adopt all three of them.

(2) I think there is some confusion on names for the OCs. Sophie's bio father was Tom Raymond; Maura's name it witsec was Maura Montgomery, so Sophie was born as Sophie Jane Montgomery. Harper's bio father's name was Jake (I haven't given him a last name yet, and I doubt I will). Current legal names are Jane Rizzoli, Maura Isles, Emma Rizzoli, Finley Rizzoli, Harper Rizzoli, and Sophie Rizzoli.

Maura: August 9th, Present Day

Maura never thought she would enjoy spending so much time with the same people. For so long, she had needed 'alone time' in order to keep from becoming overwhelmed, but now, she wanted to spend every minute she possibly could with her family – with Jane and the girls. And since they were basically spending all of their time together, this was a good thing.

The only time she had by herself was on Wednesday afternoons when Jane went to therapy and the kids had nap time and/or quiet reading time. At first – to her surprise – she had hated this time. However, since she had decided to use this time to read through the emails that Jane had sent her over the years, she had started to look forward to this time (even though she still preferred when she could be with Jane and/or the kids).

Tomorrow was Harper's 4th birthday, and Maura was ridiculously excited to celebrate the little girl. Harper was easily the happiest, bubbliest member of their family, and she made everyone laugh even on the hardest days. Maura also knew that Harper was a huge part of the reason that Sophie had adjusted so well so quickly.

Maura hadn't even realized that she was missing a piece of her heart until Harper smiled up at her that first day. Maura had been utterly terrified when she rang Jane's doorbell on that fateful Saturday morning, but a part of her had calmed when Harper's bright green eyes had locked on hers. And that was only the beginning.

Harper had (unknowingly) spent the last two months building bridge after bridge in their family – both immediate and extended. She never failed to offer Maura, Jane, her sisters, or any of her family members a smile; she welcomed Sophie into the family immediately, making sure she was included and introducing her to everyone; and she wrapped her older sisters in love whenever she saw that they were hurting or sad.

And she did all of that at only three years old.

So, this afternoon, Maura wanted to spend her time reading about Harper. She searched Harper's name in the unread emails and decided to start at the beginning – they day after Harper was born.

Maura let out a choked sob as soon as she read the first line:

Meet Harper Maura Rizzoli! Born August 10th at 11:23am weighing 7 pounds, 1 ounce, and 21 inches long.

How had she known Harper for two months and never known her middle name? Maura felt guilty about not knowing her own daughter's middle name, but she was overwhelmed by how much it meant to her that Harper was named after her.

She wiped away the tears on her cheeks as she scrolled down to look at the pictures Jane had included. There was one that Maura suspected was the very first picture of Harper. The newborn was screaming at the top of her lungs still covered in afterbirth lying on Jane's chest. Even in the picture, Maura could see how instantly in love Jane was with the infant, but she could also see the complete exhaustion written all over her body. The next one showed Jane holding Harper, now clean and swaddled. There were a few more of Harper before Maura got to what instantly became one of her new favorite pictures. Jane was holding Harper while toddler versions of Emma and Finn sat next to her. All three of them were looking lovingly at the baby. One of the girls had a huge smile on her face. She was holding a stuffed elephant out to show her baby sister. The other had a stuffed lion tucked under her arm as she leaned forward, halfway towards the baby, clearly intending to give her a kiss. Maura had seen both of these toys in Harper's bed, but she hadn't realized that they had been given to her by Emma and Finn.

Maura continued scrolling through emails about Harper. Jane shared all of her milestones: her first word – 'Emma' much to Finn's annoyance according to the email; although Maura had to admit that Emma was a much easier name for a one-year-old to say – her first steps, the first time she was admitted to the hospital (that one only increased Maura's tears despite the fact that she knew Harper was sleeping safely upstairs), her first day of preschool, her first t-ball game, and so on.

Maura hadn't even realized how much time had passed when Jane flopped onto the couch next to her. Maura's hand flew to her heart in surprise. "You scared me," she gasped. "I didn't even hear you enter."

Jane chuckled until she saw the wetness on Maura's cheeks. "Are you okay?" she asked quickly.

Maura put down the iPad and wrapped her arms around Jane, letting herself fall half on top of the other woman. "Harper's middle name…" she whispered against Jane's shoulder.

"What?" Jane asked in surprise.

Maura pulled back slightly but not far enough to break their embrace. "Harper's middle name is Maura," Maura said quietly.

"Yeah…wait, did you not know that?" Jane asked.

Maura shook her head. With a small laugh, she added, "I don't know how it took me two months to learn her middle name, but no, I didn't know. I…I don't know what to say…but it means so much to me."

"I didn't realize you didn't know, but I also don't understand why you're so surprised, especially since you gave Sophie my name as her middle name," Jane said, her fingers drawing idle patterns on Maura's back as they talked.

"Except you said that you couldn't give Emma or Finn my name as their middle name, so I just thought…I guess, I didn't think that would have changed…" Maura said quietly.

"Oh, well, yeah, I mean…" Jane laughed as she tripped over her words. "I guess that was a little different. First of all, it didn't seem write to give it to one of the twins and not the other, but even more than that, I guess I was just in a different place by the time Harper was born."

Maura gave Jane a soft kiss. "I love you," she whispered against Jane's lips. "And I love Harper. I love that we share a name, but most of all, I just love her because she's an amazing little girl. I can't believe how much I love all four of our kids. I always knew I was missing part of myself without Emma and Finn, but I never knew that I was also missing another part of myself. I know it's not rational, or logical, or realistic in anyway, but somehow, I know that I missed Harper even before I knew she existed.

Instead of saying anything, Jane smiled and pulled Maura into another kiss.

Maura: August 10th, Present Day

"I'M FOURRRRRRRRRRRRRRR!" Maura was jolted awaked by Harper's excited scream coming down the hall. Before she could respond, Harper through the bedroom door open so hard that it banged against the wall.

"Harper," Jane scolded half-heartedly. "Careful." Maura was entirely sure that Harper hadn't heard a word that Jane had said. Not only was Jane mumbling in her half-asleep state, but Harper was too excited to notice her mama's reprimand.

Harper unsuccessfully tried to climb up on the bed, so Maura leaned over and lifted her up. She hugged the little girl, who was nearly vibrating with her excitement, close to her chest. "Happy birthday, sweetie," she whispered into Harper's hair.

"T'ank you, mommy," Harper said as she sat back, pulling away from Maura's embrace just slightly so that she could make eye contact. "I'm four!" she added with a huge smile, holding up four fingers to show Maura.

"I know," Maura said excitedly. "You're such a big girl!"

"Happy birthday, note," Jane said with a smile now that she was sitting up and mostly awake. She held out her hands, and Harper instantly climbed into her lap, allowing Jane to give her a hug.

"Where are your sisters?" Maura asked. She was surprised that the other three but especially Sophie hadn't followed Harper into the room.

"Sleeping," Harper said, causing Jane to chuckle.

"Somehow I think you may have woken them up," Jane teased Harper as she tickled her, drawing shrieks of laughter from the little girl.

Maura glanced at Jane but didn't say anything else when Jane didn't seem concerned that the other girls weren't here. "What do you want mommy to make you for breakfast?" Maura asked Harper instead.

Harper's eyes lit up even more (if that was even possible). "Will you make Fwench toast?" she asked quietly.

"Sure!" Maura responded with a laugh at the way Harper had asked the question.

"Mama will never make me Fwench toast," Harper added matter-of-factly.

"Hey, that's not true," Jane said indignantly causing Maura to laugh. When Harper gave Jane a look – a classic Jane Rizzoli look in Maura's opinion – Jane relented. "Okay, fine, I don't make it very often because for some reason, I always mess it up. It takes me forever to make enough edible pieces of French toast for four people let alone more."

"Seriously?" Maura asked, her voice teasing.

"I don't know why!" Jane said louder than she had intended to, making all three of them laugh.

"Well, I will make you French toast," Maura said to Harper. "Why don't you go get your sisters?" Maura suggested, helping Harper climb back off the bed.

"'Kay," Harper said as she turned to run out of the room (who needs to walk when you can run everywhere).

"Make sure you use the bathroom if you haven't already!" Maura called after her.

She received another "'kay" in response as Harper left the room.

Jane dropped back on her pillow. Maura turned to look at her and asked, "Don't you think it's weird that Sophie, Emma, and Finn didn't come in here with her?"

"Not really," Jane replied. "Well, maybe Sophie…I don't know. I guess, we'll see in a minute."

Maura nodded as she climbed out of bed, quickly brushing her teeth and freshening up before she went downstairs to make Harper's promised birthday breakfast.

By the time she got downstairs, all four girls were in the family room. Maura gave each of them a kiss but otherwise left them alone while she started breakfast. She listened to them talking, but everything seemed relatively normal. As always, Harper was doing most of the talking, excitedly telling her sisters everything she hoped to get for her birthday.

Jane joined Maura in the kitchen just as Maura was finishing breakfast. Since it was Harper's birthday, Jane quickly set the table instead of making the kids do it.

"Breakfast is ready," Maura called as she carried the last plate to the table. She was nearly knocked over as four hungry girls ran to the table. She and Jane helped dole out the French toast and bacon. Once everyone's plates were full, Maura asked, "Should we sing 'happy birthday' to Harper before we eat?"

Emma and Finn both nodded, but the table fell silent when Sophie yelled, "No!"

Five pairs of eyes turned to look at the three-year-old in surprise.

"I don't want to!" Sophie huffed loudly, crossing her arms in front of her. "I don't want Harper to be four!"

Maura's heart broke at the look on Harper's face at Sophie's words. The cowardly part of Maura wanted to disappear right then and there. Had she really raised a kid who couldn't celebrate her sister's birthday? A kid who couldn't handle not being the center of attention? Yes, Sophie had been raised as an only child for most of her life, and she had received all of Maura's attention before they moved to Boston. However, Maura had thought that Sophie had adjusted well to having sisters.

"Sophie," Maura started slowly, but she didn't get very far.

"No! I don't wanna!" Sophie screamed at Maura before jumping from her seat at the table. Maura closed her eyes in embarrassment as Sophie ran upstairs.

No one said a word until they heard the bedroom door slam at which point Maura finally forced herself to look at Jane. But they didn't have time to share more than a look of mutual confusion when Harper suddenly pushed her plate away. "I don't want it to be my birfday anymore," she said, her voice thick with tears.

Harper looked around as she climbed out of her own chair, clearly trying to figure out where to run to since Sophie was in their bedroom. After a few seconds hesitation, she turned and opened the back doorwall.

Maura watched in shocked silence for a few seconds as Harper sprinted across the backyard towards the koi pond. Maura picked up on the fact that Harper had probably picked this up from Jane, knowing that her mama often went to the pond when she was upset.

Maura and Jane stood up at the same time, but the truth was, Maura didn't know which daughter to talk to first. They hadn't really dealt with a major fight between Sophie and Harper yet. Part of her felt an obligation to go talk to Sophie and to make her see how much she had hurt her sister, but the other part of her wanted to go comfort Harper. The indecision held her frozen in place. For years, she was used to putting Sophie and only Sophie first, but that was probably what had led to this. Now, she had to consider what was best for all of her daughters, and right now, she didn't know what that was.

Jane seemed to notice Maura's indecision. "Why don't you go talk to Harper while I talk to Sophie?" Jane suggested quietly, whispering in Maura's ear. Maura nodded numbly and turned towards the back doorwall.

"Mama?!" Finn said suddenly.

"You guys go ahead and eat," Jane told Emma and Finn. "We'll be right back."

"Okay," Finn and Emma said in unison.

Maura walked across the backyard slowly, and just like she expected, she found Harper sitting on the bench in front of the koi pond. The little girl had her legs pulled up to her chest with her arms wrapped around them. She was clearly crying hard, but her face was buried in her lap. If she hadn't been so distracted by Harper's distress, Maura would have been afraid that the four-year-old would roll off the bench; that was how tightly she had rolled herself into a ball.

Maura reached down and picked Harper up before she sat down on the bench and placed Harper in her lap. Since Harper still hadn't unfurled herself from her ball, Maura wrapped her arms around the little girl completely, holding her as tightly as she could.

"I'm sorry, sweetie," Maura whispered into her hair. "I'm sorry Sophie was mean to you. She was wrong though. Everyone else is really excited to celebrate your birthday, to celebrate you because you're the best Harper Maura Rizzoli in the whole wide world. I love you so much, sweetie, and I know that Sophie does too." Maura continued to whisper comforting words to Harper as the little girl settled down, telling her how much she loved her and how much her family loved her.

Harper finally released her grip on herself and allowed her body to fall against Maura's. She buried her face in Maura's chest, whining through her tears, "I don't want Sophie to be mad at me. I don' want it to be my birfday if Sophie's mad at me."

Maura shifted so that she could pull Harper tighter against her, and Harper responded by wrapping her arms around Maura. "Oh, sweetie, you didn't do anything wrong. You didn't do anything to make Sophie mad. I think maybe she's a little jealous, but she still loves you. And you deserve to celebrate your birthday. Today's your special day, and mama and I aren't going to let Sophie ruin that okay?"

"But Sophie's sad," Harper mumbled.

"She'll be okay," Maura assured Harper as she kissed the top of the little girl's head. "Why don't we go finish your birthday breakfast? Then, maybe you can open one of your presents. How does that sound?"

Harper nodded against Maura's chest, but she didn't say anything. Maura still felt bad for Harper, but she didn't know what else to say at this point. They would have to talk to Harper and Sophie together once both of them had settled down, but for now, all Maura could do was offer breakfast.

Maura stood up and carried Harper into the house. Jane and Sophie were still missing from the table, and Emma and Finn were nearly done with their own breakfasts. Maura deposited Harper in her chair before taking the little girl's plate to the kitchen to warm up her breakfast. While Maura waited for the breakfast to reheat, she listened to Emma and Finn try to comfort their little sister.

"You okay, Harpie?" Emma asked.

"Don' call me Harpie," Harper said, a hint of annoyance in her voice, but Maura could tell by the smirk on Emma's face that Emma had been purposely trying to draw a reaction from her little sister.

"Why not?" Emma teased. "You're our little Harpie." Emma poked her sister, finally coaxing a smile from the little girl. Maura wondered if the girls knew what a harpy was.

She didn't have to wonder long when Finn added, "Yeah, mighty as the wind." Maura smiled to herself. This wasn't exactly right, but the girls seemed to have some idea of what a harpy was in mythology, albeit a much more positive version than the violent, destructive half-woman, half-beast that represented stormy winds which was often portrayed in literature.

By the time Maura carried Harper's plate back to the table, Emma and Finn had the four-year-old laughing openly. She still wasn't fully back to herself, though, as she ate much more quietly than she usually did. Harper was always the loudest in the room – always the happiest – and that should have only been amplified on her birthday. Instead, a sadness was evident in her every word and her every movement. It broke Maura's heart.

A/N: I absolutely love French toast, and despite the fact that it's supposed to be incredibly easy to make, I always mess it up. I have no idea why; it's like the only thing I can't seem to cook.

I promise to post part 2 tomorrow! Sorry, not sorry!

Also, for those of you who think I don't like Harper, you could not be more wrong. All four of these little girls feel real to me, and I love them!