A/N: This is how I imagine Jane and Maura's interactions with Constance in 2x06 would be if they were dating.
Once again I do not own Rizzoli and Isles. But I really wish I did.
...
Maura was stressed. Her mother was coming to visit. Everything needed to be perfect. She wanted to impress her mother. She wanted Jane to impress her mother. She wanted her mother to like Jane. They were finally going to tell Constance that they're dating.
Maura and Angela were making croissants at the island while Jane sat at the counter sipping a beer. Jane watched as her girlfriend became more and more stressed at the idea of Constance visiting.
"You know, we could buy a tube of those crescent things and serve them to you in 20 minutes," Jane said, trying to ease some of Maura's stress.
"Everything has to be perfect," Maura replied.
"Come on, Maur, you're gonna give yourself an ulcer," Jane said.
"Ulcers are cause by H. Pylori, a bacteria," Maura responded.
"Or critical mothers," Jane mumbled.
"I'm not critical," Angela said, obviously having taken offense. "Am I?"
"She's never been to my house before," Maura admitted.
Jane looked astonished. "Never? What do you do when she visits Boston?"
"We usually just go to one of my parents' homes in Europe," Maura answered.
Jane and Angela exchanged a look.
"Those tulips are wilting already," Maura fretted.
"Maura, it's gonna be fine. She's gonna love it here. She's gonna love how much effort you put into making her comfortable." Jane tried to console her girlfriend.
"Yeah, the house looks lovely and the guest house is all ready for her," Angela added.
"Wait a minute," Jane started, "If her mom is in the guesthouse, where are you staying?" Jane questioned.
"At your place," Angela answered.
"I'm staying here." Jane told Maura.
"I figured," Maura smiled.
"Which works out well because I can keep you calm," Jane stood and walked over to Maura who was rearranging some flowers on the sofa table. Jane pressed a kiss to the crown of Maura's head.
...
Jane and Maura had caught a case earlier that morning. They were on their way back to the precinct after interviewing a witness when Maura's phone rang. She sounded flustered and Jane could tell something was wrong.
"What, UPS lose your shoes?" Jane joked, trying to lighten the mood.
"No, it's my mother. She's a day early." Maura was truly beginning to panic. "She caught a ride on a friend's jet."
Jane looked at Maura and grabbed both her hands. "Look at me. It's going to be okay. Breathe. In... and out."
Maura's breathing was erratic. "What do I do? We're in the middle of case."
"We will figure it out. But first I need you to breathe. I'm right here. I'm not going anywhere."
"I don't have dinner. Pigs trotters take two days to marinate."
"Okay. Okay, let's go. I might have a solution." Jane grabbed Maura's hand and guided her into the Division One café where they found Angela behind the counter.
"Ma, is Stanley around?"
"No, he took a personal day."
"Good. Can you cook a three course dinner here?"
"Eleven" Maura corrected.
"Eleven?!" Jane was shocked.
"Hors d'oeuvres, potage, poisson, entre-"
"-sandwiches, peanut butter and fluff, or take-out."
"What about relevé, sorbet, roti, legume –"
"Maura, do you want the help or not? Because right now, this is the best I got."
"Chef Renault. Chef Renault from Maison De La Mer- he will help. You just tell him that it's for me." Maura said as she handed Angela her credit card. Angela reluctantly took it, still a little confused about what was going on.
"Okay, see. I fixed it. You'll have dinner. It'll be great." Jane smiled at Maura.
Maura looked at Jane, slightly unimpressed, but grateful that her girlfriend would go to such lengths to help her.
"Okay." Maura acquiesced. She placed her hand on Jane's arm and squeezed in thanks before heading back down to her office.
Jane turned to Angela. "Thank you, Ma. Her mother showed up early and she is freaking out."
"I can see that. I'll do my best to get what she wants." Angela promised.
"Thank you, thank you. I owe you!" Jane said, as she rushed out of the café.
...
That evening Maura was preparing for her mother's arrival. She was in the dining room checking glasses for water spots while Angela finished preparing the food. Take-out. This was one miracle Angela could not pull off.
"My mother is famous for her dinner parties," Maura said.
"The apple doesn't fall far from the tree." Angela responded.
"Oh, no. I couldn't possibly live up to her. I mean, she'll spot take out in a second."
"Stop worrying. You're the perfect daughter." Angela said.
The door opened and Jane walked in, hurrying right over to Maura.
"And you're late," Angela admonished.
"Oh, I'm not perfect darn." Jane said. "Hey" Jane gave Maura a chaste kiss before pulling Maura into her for a reassuring hug. "Everything looks great." Jane said, keeping one hand in the warm embrace of Maura's.
"Here, Ma, cannoli." Jane handed her mother a greasy box.
"We already have dessert. Besides, cannoli aren't sophisticated," Angela said.
"Neither are we. I got them for you," Jane said.
"You got them for me?" Jane nodded in response. "You are the perfect daughter." Angela pulled Jane in for a hug.
Just then the doorbell rang. Maura took a deep breath in and Jane squeezed her hand in response.
"You ready?" Jane asked.
Maura only nodded her reply.
"Don't worry. You look beautiful. And I'll be here the whole time."
Maura took one last deep breath, let go of Jane's hand, and moved to the entry way. She looked back at Jane and Angela, who had moved to the kitchen. They were both trying their best to look presentable. Maura smiled. She knew everything would be fine as long as the Rizzolis were here for her.
Maura opened the front door to find Constance waiting on the other side.
...
Dinner was going very well. Maura had worked up the courage to tell her mother about her relationship after dinner. Jane was making a good impression, as was Angela. Maura was proud to have two strong, confident women in her life.
They were all sitting at the dining table, having a nice after dinner conversation.
"Did I tell you that your father is going to join me in Zagreb, for the German expressionist festival?" Constance asked Maura.
"That's so great that you found time in your busy schedule to come to Boston and visit your daughter." Jane jumped in.
"Oh, I'm actually here for an installation opening," Constance replied. Jane could feel Maura's disappointment in not being the reason her mother was here.
Jane reached under the table and gave Maura's thigh a reassuring squeeze.
"Oh. What are you installing?" Angela asked.
"Sorry?" Constance was confused.
"Remember when I told you about my mother's modern art installation?" Maura said. Then, changing the subject, she said, "Let's have dessert. I made poire belle helene- your favorite." Maura stood to retrieve dessert from the kitchen.
"Try the cannoli. They're my ma's favorite," Jane held out the container of cannoli to Constance as Maura walked back over to the table with a tray of her dessert.
"Je m'excuse, mais je suis trés fatiguée." Constance said.
"She says she's sorry." Maura translated.
"She's tired. Yes, I know." Jane said, not impressed with how this had turned out.
"I didn't know you spoke French." Maura said, confused.
"I read body language," Jane was getting frustrated.
"It was lovely to meet you both," Constance said as she stood from the table.
"Um, I thought you were staying. I wanted to talk with you about something important," Maura said.
"Darling, didn't I mention that the gallery organized for me to stay at the Ritz? And I already checked in."
"Of course." Maura was defeated.
"But I will see you tomorrow evening for the welcoming dinner, and you'll be my date."
"Sounds lovely."
"Bonsoir." Constance said as she leaned in for a kiss on each cheek.
"Bonsoir." Maura said dejectedly.
As soon as the door closed, Jane got up and walked over to Maura.
"You okay?" Jane asked.
"Yes."
"Hives." Jane reminded.
"I'm fine, Jane."
"No, you're not. No one would be after that. I'm not. It took everything in me not to jump across the table and slap some sense into her."
"Well, I'm glad you didn't do that." Maura smiled.
"Maura, you know it's not you, right?" Jane placed her hands on Maura's arms.
"Of course. My mother is just hard to get to know."
"Well, I promise that I will get to know her." Jane said as she pulled Maura in for a hug. "And when I do we will have a real conversation about how amazing her daughter is and how she should never take you for granted."
Maura pulled back from the hug and looked Jane in the eyes. "I love you, Jane."
"I love you, too," Jane responded.
...
Two nights later, Constance's art installation was opening. Maura was excited to go and see her mother especially after Constance had cancelled their dinner plans the night before. Jane was less thrilled to go. She could see how much Constance's actions were hurting Maura. Maura tried to hide it, but Jane was sure Maura cried herself to sleep the night before.
Jane and Maura walked into the building dressed to the nines. Maura in a gold jacket and skirt and Jane in a simple, tasteful black dress. They were stopped at the entrance by the bouncer.
"She couldn't even be bothered to put you on the list?" Jane was furious.
"She was busy. She said she'd try," Maura said.
Jane flashed her badge and the bouncer let them in.
"How are you not more upset about this?" Jane asked.
"She's very busy." Maura said, trying to excuse her mother's actions.
"A mother should never be too busy for her daughter."
"Hello darling" Constance said as she approached the girls. "I'm glad you made it." She greeted Maura with two kisses on each cheek.
"Sorry, we had to crash. Your daughter wasn't on the list." Jane stated.
"Mother, it's exquisite." Maura changed the subject. She knew Jane meant well, but she'd be lying if she said she wasn't uncomfortable with Jane's behavior.
"It's so nice to see you again, Jane," Constance said.
"You too." Jane turned to Maura. "Maur, would you mind getting us a drink? I'd like to get to know your mother better"
Maura gave Jane a look – one that said 'be nice'. Jane had no plans of being nice. Not to someone who treated her girlfriend this way.
"Nice of you to come." Constance said after Maura had walked off to get drinks.
"I love your hanging water bottles. They make me feel very guilty and I'll never buy water again." Jane said sarcastically.
"I can see why Maura likes you. You're direct. It's refreshing." Constance admitted.
"I'm protective. I love her."
"I sense that there's something you'd like to say to me."
"Yeah there is. I don't like seeing Maura hurt."
"You think I hurt her?" Constance honestly asked.
"Cancelling dinner, "forgetting" to put her name on the list of your installation, not finding time to talk with her? Yeah, that hurts her. You know she was so excited for you to come. She wanted to share something very important with you and all you've done is blow her off."
"She's the chief medical examiner. She has her own life."
"Yeah, a life she wanted to share with you. But you haven't made the time to get to know what's actually going on in her life."
"She must know how proud I am of her, how much I love her."
"Not really the signals you're sending."
"I was – I was never any good at it. Being a mother."
"Well now is the time to make up for it. Make time for her. Listen to her. Be happy for her."
"You do love her, don't you?"
"Yeah, I do." Jane smiled.
"So sorry to interrupt, but our patrons are waiting for your speech." Constance's assistant interrupted.
"Would you excuse me?" Constance said.
Maura walked back over with drinks as her mother was leaving.
"What happened?" she asked.
"I told her the truth. Not about us. But about you. How much she's hurt you." Jane took one of the drinks out of Maura's hand.
"Oh, Jane you didn't." Maura said.
"What you expected me to just watch my girlfriend's mom treat her like crap? No way. I love you too much to watch anyone – especially your mother – treat you like that."
"That's actually very sweet." Maura looked at Jane. A sparkle in her eyes. "Thank you. I love you."
...
Jane and Maura were at the Dirty Robber, celebrating successfully closing another case. They were sitting in their usual booth, facing the door. Jane had her arm around Maura's shoulder and was snacking on peanuts. Maura was surprised when she looked up to see her mother walking into the bar.
"My mother's here. I thought she was in Paris." Maura looked at Jane in disbelief.
"She forgot to say goodbye." Jane replied.
"May I join you?" Constance asked once she reached their table.
Maura stood and greeted her mother. "What a lovely surprise."
"I couldn't go without seeing you one more time."
"Well, please have a seat." Maura said, as she sat back down next to Jane.
"Jane had mentioned that there was something important you wanted to tell me."
Jane and Maura looked at each other. Maura's eyes were wide; she was a little scared to tell her mother about them if she was being honest with herself. But Jane seemed sure. So Maura looked back at her mother.
"Yes. There is." Maura grabbed Jane's arm and placed it back over her shoulders. "Jane and I are dating."
"Oh that's wonderful!" Constance exclaimed.
Maura looked shocked and Jane snickered.
"I had my suspicions after Jane spoke with me at my exhibit. The way she was talking about you, I knew you had to be more than friends."
"I'm so glad you know. I feel like a weight has been lifted."
"Well, tell me everything. How did you meet? How did you start going out?"
Jane smiled as Maura began telling her mother all about their relationship. She was so glad she could fix this for Maura. Jane knew all she wanted to do for the rest of her life was make Maura happy.
