DISCLAIMER: I do not own Rizzoli & Isles nor any of the characters from the show. I am writing this purely for entertainment, not profit. Rizzoli and Isles are property of Tess Gerritsen and TNT.
Please find the full disclaimers in the beginning of Chapter 1.
Chapter 21
"Can we… Can we stop by the cemetery?" Jane asked, quietly.
They had a wonderful Sunday lunch with Nina, Frankie and TJ, and it had been relaxed and comfortable, as it used to be in the old times.
They had just left, after Nina and Frankie volunteered to supervise the movers to pack Maura's things so Maura didn't need to stay in Boston to wait for it.
Maura was not sure if going to the cemetery was a good idea. Jane had been doing well these past weeks, but Maura would never forget that less than four weeks ago, that same Jane had been seriously contemplating suicide. But after a glance at Jane's eyes, Maura knew the ask was more rhetorical than anything. Jane wanted to go.
Maura squeezed Jane's hand, reassuringly, and nodded.
When they made a stop, Jane was about to ask why, but she realized they were in front of a flower shop. She nodded grateful at Maura and left the car just to quickly pick her mother's favorite flowers. Then they headed to the cemetery.
They walked hand in hand to Angela's grave. Jane moved ahead, finding a spot to place the vase with the flowers, before she kneeled down, leaning back to sit on the balls of her heels.
Maura shuddered, because the last time she had seen Jane here, during the burial, Jane had almost died. She kneeled by Jane's side, and copied Jane's position.
"Hi Ma…" Jane whispered, her deep voice so low Maura could barely hear her, but Maura could hear the tears in Jane's voice.
Jane moved her arm, so her hand found Maura's, that had been resting on her thigh, and intertwined their fingers.
"I… Thank you for not letting me do what I was planning to do… I… I was really lost…" Jane swallowed hard before continuing. "And I miss you so very much…" she admitted in a breath.
Maura squeezed her hand tightly. She knew Jane didn't need to come to the cemetery for that hypothetical conversation. But Maura also knew how symbolical this was for Jane.
Jane sniffed, but then regained a hold of herself to continue.
"And I have some news to share with you… we do, actually…" Jane squeezed Maura's hand at this point. "Maura and I, well, we… we are together now, Ma. We are girlfriends…" And Maura could hear the tiny smile creeping on Jane's voice. It warmed Maura's heart to think that just talking about them being together made Jane a little bit happier.
"I have no idea if you would approve of it or not…" Jane sobered a bit. "I know your religious upbringing might frown upon your oldest daughter being head over heels in love with another woman. But I prefer to believe you would approve. If nothing else, because this other woman is Maura, that I know you loved like your daughter too… I… I think you would like to see us happy, Ma… And I am happy with her… We… we are even moving to live together… In DC…"
Maura leaned her head on Jane's shoulder. If she closed her eyes, she could imagine the scene of Jane really trying to tell this to Angela. Maura might be mistaken, but she agreed with Jane, Angela's stronger religion were her children, and she likely would have already interrupted Jane to smooch her and Maura. Maura missed Angela too.
"She does make me very happy, Angela…" Maura found herself whispering.
Jane looked at her lovingly, and passed an arm around Maura's shoulders, bringing her closer to Jane's side.
"And Ma… You must be very proud somewhere… Frankie and Nina… they are doing a fantastic job raising TJ until… Until Tommy can resume the role of his father…" Maura felt in her body how the mention of Tommy struck a chord in Jane, like having TJ in her lap had done earlier.
"I didn't want them… Pop and Tommy… to be in jail, Ma." Jane sighed.
"But I know you were a firm believer in fairness and justice, Angela…" Maura added, trying to remind Jane of why they were there. "They almost killed Jane…" and Maura shuddered again at the thought.
"Speaking of justice, Ma… You would be so, so very proud of Maura. She got a little measure of justice for you and for Ron. The person who robbed you from us… They are paying for what they did. It… it won't bring you back… but it might prevent other tragedies like ours…"
Jane kept silent for a moment, and then nodded her head slightly.
A fat drop of rain hit Jane. And then another. There seemed to be a passing cloud, but it brought a smile to Jane's lips, as she groaned to stand and take Maura to stand with her.
"You used to say that rain was a blessing, Ma… I hope this is your way of letting us know we have yours… I love you, Ma…" Jane ended, her voice broken, as Maura hugged her tightly, and Jane responded by enveloping the smaller woman in the embrace of her long arms.
As the rain changed from a few fat drops to a steady calm drizzle, they walked still hugging to the car.
"What is next?" Jane asked, as she buckled up on the passenger seat, Maura on the driver's seat.
"We separate the clothes we are taking on the car with me… And we get ready for the long drive to DC tomorrow."
They were driving in that Martin Luther King's holiday to already take Maura's car to DC.
"I like the sound of it…" Jane admitted with a sincere satisfied smile on her face.
"It will be a new beginning for us…"
"Are you sure you won't regret leaving Boston?" Jane asked, suddenly unsure.
"Enough of regrets, Jane. You've been living under the shadow of regrets for months now. Wherever you are, I will go. Wherever I am, you will go. Always. Together."
(The End)
