Chapter Eighty-Six

J&M

Another week drifted by before Jane was able to fulfil her desire to be outside. Her pride had relented to allow Barry to carry her there, but not enough for anyone but Maura and Vince to witness. Following Maura into the ornate gardens, Barry lowered Jane onto her remaining leg beside a wrought iron chair. Swallowing, Jane thanked him gruffly then allowed him to guide her onto it.

The sun shone brightly, watering her eyes, and she turned her face up to it and sighed with pleasure. Besides Maura, it was one of the few good things she had felt since her capture all those months before. Its fiery blaze burnt her pale, washed out countenance, yet warmth seeped into her bones. Neither Barry nor Vince spoke, each content to watch Jane bask in the heat of the day and ruminate on their own thoughts. Through unspoken agreement, they knew their Captain needed to speak when and if she needed. It came as no surprise when instead, she slipped into a restful sleep. The pair left her alone with Maura, who was grateful for their understanding.

When Jane roused, several hours had passed, and it took her a few moments to remember where she was.

"Maura?" she murmured.

"I'm right here my darling, I'm right here."

Maura had not left her side, satisfied to watch her brave pirate, and bask in her presence. Their gentle lovemaking a week prior, although taxing, had done wonders for Jane. Through tender reunion with Maura, she had succumbed to a peaceful, healing rest. Their seamless merging and her lover's reassuring touch been the salve Jane so desperately needed to set her on the path to undeniable healing. Life for them had begun again that beautiful day, hearts beating together as one once more.

"I love ye Maura," she whispered fiercely.

Maura closed her eyes, yet tears squeezed past her lids. Hearing Jane's declaration was most precious to her heart, she would never tire of hearing it.

"I love you too darling, oh so much," she sobbed.

"Do nay cry me love, do nay cry," Jane rasped, "god, come're, everythin' be okay."

Maura did readily, fusing herself to Jane, still mindful of her pain.

"Oh, I know, I know...I am crying tears of joy darling. I want...I want us to go home."

"Home?" Jane rasped, "me sweet, we de nay be havin' a homeport no more...we nee..."

"Captain," Vince gruffed, "please be forgivin' me interruption, but we do have a homeport. It be past time we spoke."

Both Jane and Maura turned towards Vince and Barry, confusion shrouding their eyes.

"What be ye tryin' t' say Vince?" Jane gruffed.

"Yes, come and sit down you two," Maura smiled weakly while swiping her tears with the back of a hand.

Vince and Barry took chairs next to Jane, while Maura remained on Jane's lap.

"Barry be finding us..." Vince trailed off as he stared openly behind Jane's head. Barry too, held his gaze past them.

Maura looked over Jane's shoulder and smiled lovingly. Trudy and the girls stood at the beginning of the path that wound its way through the lush, overgrown gardens. Trudy fumbled with her gnarled hands and the girls remained cautiously behind her, but Maura knew that behind the uncertainty, there was curiosity.

Maura sat on the fierce Captain Jane Rizzoli's lap and consulted with her feared men yet all three guarded her with their lives. She was their equal and none of them knew yet how to comprehend this yet.

"Trudy, Emily, Dafney, Melany. Please do not be frightened. Come and sit with us. Please."

Trudy tiled her chin slightly, sucked in a deep breath, squeezed Emily's hand, and moved them forward as a unit. The pirates had been in Maura's townhouse nigh on a month, but they had kept their distance. When Barry and Vince were not on watch or out in disguise searching for information, they remained secluded in Maura's guest cottage. Rarely did they see one another or interact. Now, to be faced with all three pirates together, they had the good sense to be wary.

As they neared further to Captain Rizzoli's solid frame all four of them gasped reflexively as even without one leg she stood to her full, imposing height. Bracing one splinted hand on the back of her chair she turned to face them. Up close, she was impossibly handsome for a female. Her dark, loose mane shone like ebony in the sun. She had been severely wounded, but she was steady, imposing, and Trudy dared to think gallant. Maura stood flush against her; an arm wrapped securely around her lean waste. She stared up at Jane with nothing but pure adoration.

Glancing briefly at Trudy and the girls before looking back to Jane, Maura spoke.

"Trudy, girls, I'd like you all to meet someone very special to me. A proper introduction. I know you are weary, but you have nothing to fear. This is my lover and best friend Captain Jane Rizzoli."

Jane was humbled beyond words that without hesitancy her lover had introduced her to her family. They looked terrified no matter how much they tried to hide it for Maura, and Jane knew it was warranted, yet respect immediately stirred for the four women. For they were willing to try, for Maura's sake. And if Maura trusted them, then she would too.

"Hello," said spoke in her deep baritone, and Maura watched in mild amusement as their eyes grew wider.

"I do nay be knowin' any o' ye. But I want t' thank ye fer takin' care o' Maura, takin' care o' me, this past time. I be knowin' who I am. I be knowin' what I have done. Ye have every right t' refuse me help, let th' authorities be knowin' whar I be. I be knowin' Maura be th' reason ye do nay. I want t' thankye. Fer havin' me, Vince, and Barry in yer presence."

Simply too overwhelmed to speak, Maura introduced them formally to Vince and Barry before asking them to sit and join them. If Vince and Barry thought her choice unwise, they remained quiet. This was Maura's house to do as she pleased. They felt like intruders of sorts, and it was not their place to object.

With her heart lighter than it had been in months for having so many people she cared about beside her, Maura's heart still bled for her father. Sensing her lover's melancholy, Jane put an arm over her slight shoulders and held her as close as her splint would allow. Old family and new grew quiet. Jane sensed all eyes on her, waiting for her to speak. Even in healing, she excluded authority and security.

"What be this homeport ye speak o' Vince?"

"Barry and I sent scouts t' find a new Isle Captain. We all be knowin' Hermes were bein' compromised."

He looked pointedly at Jane, then Maura, "We all be knowin' what and who has been lost," he rasped gruffy, causing Jane to jerk and look away in pain. Maura tightened her hold on her lover.

"We be knowin' nothin' can replace Hermes. Th' lives lost, th' damage done. But we can rebuild, we can go on. Once ye be settled and healed, we be knowin' ye will want t' avenge yer brother's. We will stand at yer side proudly, Captain. Ye have our word."

Jane was quiet long moments before glancing at Barry, "Anna, the wee sprouts?" she almost whispered.

Tears fell from his thick lashes, "they be fine Captain, they be fine."

Jane let out a raspy breath she didn't know she was holding and looked down at Maura. Her eyes shone with unshed tears.

"I am so glad they're okay Barry. I'm terribly sorry I did not ask after them sooner…"

"Aye," Jane rasped.

"Do nay be sorry, these tides have be hard on everaone."

Maura looked to Trudy and the girls; their faces showed little comprehension about what was being spoken.

"Trudy, Anna and the wee sprouts, as Jane so lovingly calls them are Barrys wife and kids."

Trudy's grey eyebrows shot to her hairline, and she dared to stare at the attractive man called Barry.

"You have a wife and kids?" she squeaked.

Barry looked upon all four of them with open kindness and it perplexed them.

"Aye, I do," he supplied simply.

Jane cleared her throat, "Vince, Barry I do nay be knowin' how t' repay ye fer what ye have done fer me. Fer Maura. I owe ye both me life," Jane gruffed, "But there will nay be any revenge. I be havin' had many a month t' think about it. I do nay deserve pardon. Fer me many crimes, I should be havin' the noose. But I want nay more bloodshed, nay more loss. Frankie and Tommy be gone, and nothin' will brin' them back. I hav' suffered too much loss; we all been havin' suffered too much loss. I will nay put ye all whom I love in danger naymore. I...I be wantin' peace. Nay more piracy. Nay more kidnapping. I renounce me former life in front ta everyon' ere."

A couple of salty tears trickled down her gaunt cheeks stunning Trudy, and the girls.

"Maura…me love…I want ta grow old with ye in peace. That is all I be wantin.' Nothin' els' be matterin' ta me nay more. All I need be right ere on me lap. I be havin' a new chance at an honest life; I canna say nay t' it," she rasped passionately before kissing Maura's forehead.

Maura cupped Jane's face and kissed her cheeks gently. Tears streamed down her own, for she could not think of anything she wanted more than to be at peace with Jane, loving her with everything she was for the rest of their lives.

"Jane my darling, I love you. I am forever yours," Maura whispered.

"We have all lost too much, and I cannot bear the thought of being separated from you again. My heart cannot bear you to be at war with Captain Casey or Garrett. You are right, we will never be at peace if you are constantly hunting one another. You are all I want, all I need. My heart beats only for you."

Carefully, so as not to hurt Jane, Maura turned in the circle of her arms to face Trudy and the girls.

"Trudy, you know I will follow Jane wherever she goes. She is my home. But I love you all so much."

As Trudy began to cry, Maura got up and went to them.

"Oh no, no no please, none of you cry. Come with us."

"Wha…what?" Trudy stuttered between sniffles, "my dear child, I love you, you are like my daughter. I am honored to serve you, no matter where that may be."

"We all are honored to serve you," Emily supplied quietly.

"No, come with us. No longer as my maids. But as my friends. You will all have good lives, and I will make sure you never want for anything. Jane darling…is this, okay?"

"Maura, they be yer kin. This Isle be yer new home, our new homeport. Ye be neve' havin' ta ask me love."

Gingerly Maura eased herself back onto Jane's lap. Gazing softly into her hooded chocolate eyes she whispered, "then let's go home my fierce pirate."

THE END