The call with Angela didn't go smoothly. There was a lot of lecturing along with Jane saying 'yes ma I know' every few minutes. Maura held her hand and watched with concern as her best friend seemed to get more and more uncomfortable the longer she stood on the phone with her mother. Then she put on a small smile and turned to look at the blonde.
"Yes Ma, Maura is still going to come." Maura blushed and tucked her chin. Honey blonde strands falling to cover her face from Jane's adoring stare. Then she nudged her shoulder causing Maura to look back up. She looked at Jane quizzically then realized she was giving her the phone.
"Good morning Angela" Maura said softly trying to stifle a laugh from Jane's embarrassed expression. Maura nodded her head a few times, with the occasional hum in agreement. "Yes, no I have yet to meet him officially. Just a brief encounter a month ago." Maura rubbed her chest, glad that Angela didn't ask any more prying questions.
"Why yes, I was thinking of bringing over these profiteroles from this fabulous French bakery that's near my home." Maura stood up and opened her fridge, pulling out overnight oats she always had prepared for Jane. She placed the mason jar gently in front of the brunette while agreeing with something Angela had said.
"Angela I can assure you will love these pastries even though they aren't italian." Maura rolled her eyes and Jane snickered and graciously accepted the spoon the blonde held out for her. Jane's chest wasn't tight any more which means her appetite was back. She smiled lightly when she realized that Maura must've come to the same conclusion.
The pair had said their goodbyes and Maura ended the call. "Thank you Maur," Jane said softly. Maura shook her head "Oh Jane it's no problem at all. Overnight oats are quite simple to make and I enjoy making them for you." She grabbed the now empty plates filled with crumbs from the croissants to place them into the sink.
"No not that, I mean yeah that. Thank you for the oats but what I'm trying to say is thank you for being my best friend." Maura turned around and touched her heart. Jane stood up and engulfed her shorter friend into a tight hug. "Thank you for being mine Jane"
'Hers' that is what Jane was to Maura. Jane belonged to Maura. Maura belonged to Jane. Not in the way I own this person as my property type of way. But as in they were always meant to be in each other's lives. Their fast growing friendship and adoration was proof they gravitate to each other with such ease. There was no work, no awkward ways. Just love and acceptance from the very start. They helped each other be better.
Though now Maura would have to share Jane. It was entirely unfair. She had only found her Jane only a few months ago. She needed more time to have the brunette all to herself. Being an only child came with its challenges; sharing was most definitely something Maura never needed to encounter. Jane was hers, why did she now have to share it with a man she didn't even know. A man that left Jane. Who hurt Jane. That does not deserve Jane.
"Maura! Hello my gorgeous girl!" Angela welcomed loudly when she swung open the door. It startled Maura out of her train of thought and she blinked a few times to recenter herself. The blonde had drifted off while she was waiting to be let into the Rizzoli home to begin the preparations for Sunday dinner. She ushered Maura in. Angela was speaking a mile a minute explaining how she started cooking late due to the oven not being able to turn on and complained about how Frank must've broken it because why would he touch in the first place if the only reason he comes into the kitchen is to eat not cook.
They entered the kitchen where Nina was chopping some onions. "Hello Doctor" she greeted kindly causing Angela to abruptly stop talking and to turn back to Maura. She looked behind her and Maura turned around. When she confirmed nothing was there she looked back at the older italian quizzically.
"Where's Janie?" Angela asked expectantly. She has grown so used to the pair entering her home together she was not expecting for her eldest not to be following Maura's tail as she usually did on Sundays. Sleepy and hangry, it wasn't until Maura would quickly prepare Jane a quick snack, the brunette usually walked like a zombie until then.
"Jane did not ride in with me today. She went back home last night." Maura shifted from foot to foot. Suddenly the room was feeling a lot smaller. "Oh, well okay" Angela said softly. Maura just nodded and placed the pastry box into the refrigerator. Nina watched her closely.
"I'm excited to try those french pastries Doc" Maura turned and smiled softly at Nina. Angela must've mentioned something to her earlier. "Why yes, they're my favorite."
Maura grabbed her designated apron that hung next to all of Angela's and tied her hair up. She began to make the pasta sauce that Angela had just finished teaching her the Rizzoli recipe a few dinner's back.
"You know, it took Angela almost over a year for her to finally teach me that recipe. Even now she still prefers to cook it herself." Nina said over her shoulder. Maura only hummed in response. Not knowing what to say, she knew there was a bias that Angela held in the household. Frankie and Tommy always fought for the title of favorite from their mother while Jane never bothered. Though because Angela never may admit to it Jane was her favorite, her right hand man.
Maura would assume it was because of this she has become Angela's favorite by default. But she knew that wasn't true, Angela never spoke kindly of Jane's ex's. Though technically her and Jane never dated, only shared a very passionate kiss in front of her family all those months ago. They're only friends, very good friends. Best friends.
"Earth to Doc are you there?" Maura blinked and stopped stirring the sauce. She looked up to see a tall lanky Tommy. Who's hair was still wet from coming out of the shower.
"I'm sorry Thomas, what was it that you said?" Tommy smiled and rolled his eyes. "Oh c'mon Doc y'know you don't have to call me that" Maura smiled softly, she did know that Tommy did not like to go by Thomas. But she still did, to tease him the way Jane teased him. But in a gentle way, as Maura always is with the Rizzoli's.
"Nah but anyway, I was asking if you knew anything about this Casey dude. With you being her best friend and all I figured maybe you'd know. I was uh kinda away when Janie first brought him around." Tommy rubbed his neck, the same nervous tick Jane had. He must've picked it up from her, Maura observed.
"No, I only briefly met Casey. I do not know anything about him" Maura said curtly before turning her focus back to the sauce pot. She did not want to talk about him. Did not want to think about him. Did not even want to see him.
Nina turned and raised an eyebrow at Tommy who just shrugged and walked around with his tail between his legs. It was an innocent question but there was a lot of feeling behind Maura's response.
Time had passed, Sunday dinner was officially ready. Everyone else was in attendance besides Jane. The Rizzoli's gathered in the cozy living room all snacking on meats and cheese, drinking beer and wine. Though Maura was with them, she wasn't participating in the usual banter that happened between the family. Instead she fiddled with a loose thread she found at the end of her maroon pencil skirt. She never fidgeted, she was never allowed. Though now not being under her strict mother's gaze she didn't hesitate to calm her nerves but played with what she was able to grasp first.
Nina had noticed the subtle change in Maura. Though she was used to the doctor being more on the quiet side, she knew this was different. Maura's smile did not reach her eyes as it normally did when Tommy would jump up and celebrate another won game of poker. Maura wasn't diving into an interesting fact she made a connection to whatever Angela would say when referring to her strong italian culture. She did not even stand up to greet Frank Sr like she usually would when he would come home later than expected from work on Sundays. She stood there at the edge of the couch lost in thought.
The doorbell rang initiating Frankie and Tommy to jump up to open the door. Everyone knew who it was. Angela quickly followed suit, taking off her apron she always forgot to remove when she finished cooking and hanging it up. Frank Sr rolled his eyes and got up slowly and made his way to the kitchen to retrieve himself another beer. Nina rose slowly, eyeing the honey blonde who just stared at the floor.
"Hey Doc? Uh why don't we go get our seats at the dinner table. We gotta make sure you get your designated spot." Nina put out her hand for Maura to hold on to. Maura looked up slowly and nodded. She accepted Nina's help and they walked together, arms linked to the table. Maura sat on the left side of the head of the table, while Nina sat on her right. Normally that was Jane's spot, but she was almost relieved that Nina replaced her spot. She was unsure of how much she can handle being in close proximity to her best friend tonight.
When Frank Sr came back from the kitchen he placed a glass of white wine generously filled in front of Maura. Then sat directly across from her. Giving away the head of the table to Angela as always. Maura looked up at the older italian man, she noticed his tired features and years of wisdom around his eyes. He sighed and picked up his beer, Maura followed suit with her glass and they cheered. The glasses clinked and Frank released a deep sigh before chugging half the bottle. Maura mirrored him and gulped half of her wine. Nina raised her eyebrows, knowing Maura has yet to eat and this was officially her third glass of wine.
The rest of the clan came in, Angela instructing her sons to come to the kitchen to help bring the food over to the table. Maura could hear Jane walking straight to her, though she didn't need to turn around. She had the brunettes walk memorized, she favored her left side due to a right knee injury she got when she was a teenager playing basketball. Maura knew she was the only one that knew this, she was the only one that truly knew Jane Rizzoli not any one else.
"Hey Maur" the honey blonde blinked herself out of her train of thought. There was her Jane leaning over her left side going in to kiss her cheek as a gesture of hello. Jane was always so gentle with her, Maura smiled and grabbed the side of Jane's face kissing mostly the air due to Jane's lips being fully on her cheek already.
"Hello" was all Maura was able to get out. It was the first word she said in almost an hour, she hadn't realized that she was beginning to feel tipsy. She cleared her throat some and smiled up at Jane's relaxed face. Maura's vision became shiny with the warm lighting. She noticed the brunette was wearing a lot more makeup than she was used to.
"You're wearing makeup" Maura stated, she neither complimented nor discouraged. It was a simple observation. Jane chuckled and nodded. Then she stood right back up, Maura immediately missed the intimacy they shared quickly.
"You all remember Casey right?" Maura stilled and looked at Frank Sr who was obviously disdained by Jane's date. She took another sip of her wine but made no effort to even pretend that she wanted to acknowledge Casey's presence.
Nina broke the silence "Yes, I do, hello" she stood up and Maura saw she raised her hand to shake him. Before she felt like it was her turn to finally turn around and greet him. Angela and the boys came in, all placing all different sorts of platters across the table. The matriarch sat at head and she glanced at her husband who only grunted. Tommy sat next to his father and Frankie quickly sat next to his brother. Leaving only a seat next to Nina opened the head opposite of Angela. Jane sat at the head with Casey taking up the empty seat.
Maura looked up and realized the family had made a barrier around her. She couldn't even see Casey. She was happy about this. Though it wasn't obvious to Casey due to him not knowing the dynamics of Sunday dinner he didn't realize the Rizzoli children were not in their normal seating arrangement. But Jane did know and she immediately kicked Frankie when she sat down, when Frankie looked at her pretending to be confused she only huffed in response.
Angela led their prayer and welcomed Casey to his first Rizzoli dinner. They began to serve, Maura did not have to lift not one finger. Nina took her plate and passed it between the brothers that sat across from her and they all served her small servings from each platter. She had finished her glass of wine once her plate was placed back in front of her. Everyone fell into easy conversation aside from Frank and Maura. They ate in silence and occasionally made eye contact when they would hear Casey's voice. Frank would roll his eyes and Maura would chuckle. At some point her glass was refilled but she hadn't noticed when or who had done it.
Dinner was coming to an end and Maura had just finished her fifth glass of wine, she was definitely past the tipsy stage and she was not planning on stopping her drinking. She had stood up from her seat after Angela ordered her sons to come help bring all of the dirty dishes back into the kitchen and only stumbled once when she made her way to the bathroom.
Though before she was able to fully close the door it was pushed open. Maura yelped in surprise and stumbled backwards a bit. Jane had caught her arm right in time before Maura had tripped into the bathtub.
"Jane what are you-?" Jane shushed her and locked the door behind her. Maura looked at her confused. But she stood quiet. She wobbled from foot to foot. She really did have to pee.
"Maur are you okay? You haven't said one word to me all night. Also why did everyone rearrange their seating arrangements. We always sit together." Jane asked quickly in a hushed tone.
Maura got dizzy by the abruptness of the whole situation. She blinked a few times and shook her head. Her mouth was so dry from all of the wine she's been drinking this evening.
"Jane, I reallyyyyy have to pee right now. Pleashe jush turn 'round." Maura's words slurred and slushed around. She couldn't speak properly and at this point she didn't care. Jane's eyes went wide but obeyed the request. The doctor went upon her business and once she was finally done. She stood back up getting support from the sink''s counter so she wouldn't stumble again and washed her hands.
Jane turned back around and looked at her expectantly. "Jane, I don't wish to argue with you." She shook her head and went to open the door. But the brunette had other plans and stepped in her way. Maura huffed and stomped her foot. Jane smiled at Maura's action. All of Maura's etiquette training would go right out the window when she drank enough.
"Maur please just talk to me, everyone else is making an effort why can't you?" Jane asked, Maura looked at her appalled and pointed her finger at her. "Don't you dare say that. I'm possibly making all of the effort I can. You are the one that hasn't." She yelled, not meaning to but she had no control of her voice.
"What do you even mean?" Jane asked and threw her hands in the air.
"I came here early as always. I brought dessert," she poked Jane's shoulder. "I helped cook" another poke. "I helped set the table and I did all of this because it's what you exposed me to when you first brought me over." she jabbed her finger into her shoulder causing the brunette to move away.
"Why is it that you just get to waltz in with Casey at the very last minute, it seemed as if you were avoiding me! I did not realize that things wouldn't change once you started to bring HIM around" Maura yelled, she was getting hot with anger. She started to stumble over her words, getting overwhelmed with all of her emotions that had been boiling inside of her since the start of an evening.
"Maur I-" Jane was speechless
"I love you Jane and you know that I do. If you really loved me then you would make more of an effort. If I'm going to accept that we aren't going to be able to be in a romantic relationship then you must accept that as well. You can't just string me along or leave me stranded because you are confused. I have feelings for you and you know this. Now if you'll excuse me I must leave." Maura did not wait for Jane to move to the side before she swung open the door. She practically ran to her where her jacket hung and stepped outside. Nina saw and started to follow Maura as well. She knew something like this would happen and she watched as Maura stumbled along the pathway.
"MAURA YOU CAN'T DRIVE." Is what the brunette yelled as she tried to catch up. Nina had already grabbed the doctor's wrist. The Rizzoli brothers inside heard the commotion and ran out. Maura knew she was in no state to be behind the wheel but she was so upset, she wasn't thinking clearly.
Maura pulled away from Nina wanting to get away from Jane. But Nina pulled her again.
"Doc let me drive you home. Just give me your keys. I'll drive you home." Nina reassured her. Maura looked back at the Rizzoli's then back at Nina.
"Take me home please Nina." Maura sighed then dug into her coat pocket for her keys. Nina audibly let out a large breath of relief and quickly took her keys from Maura. She then linked arms with her and supported her to the passenger side of Maura's prius.
Maura closed her eyes and silently wept. If Nina noticed she didn't make any sign that she did and she pulled out of the parking spot and drove away.
