Chapter Text
Jane and Maura returned home from their honeymoon. When they got to the front door. Jane unlocked it and then picked Maura up and carried her over the threshold. Maura was giggling and she said, “Jane, you don’t have to carry me into the house.”
“Hush babe, it’s tradition that the bride gets carried over the threshold.” Jane told her.
“Well, you’re a bride also. Do you want me to carry you over the threshold?”
“No babe, I just want to make sure you have all those key traditional moments. By providing them to you I am getting them also. At least that is my feeling on it. So no, you don’t need to carry me into the house, okay?” Jane asked as she put Maura down on the couch.
Jane stepped outside to get their luggage from the car. When she came back in Maura was in the kitchen putting some snacks together for them. “Love, I thought we could spend some quality time together in the hot tub. What do you think?”
“That sounds like an awesome plan to me, we are still on our honeymoon until we go back to work tomorrow morning at 8 AM. So, let’s get back to honeymooning!” Jane put the suitcases down and grabbed her wife and the snacks and headed out to the hot tub. She didn’t have to be told twice. Once they were in the hot tub she reached over to her phone and played “Truly Madly Deeply” by Savage Garden then “Just the Way You Are” by Bruno Mars. When the song ended Maura kissed Jane and said, “Thank you, ‘you are my dream, my wish, my fantasy, my hope, my love and my everything and you are amazing just the way you are’ too. I love you so much.” Jane turned off the music and just enjoyed soaking in the water and making out with her wife.
“I would have had something keyed up to play as we walked out to the hot tub but I wasn’t prepared. I thought you would want to unpack.” Jane said as she continued to kiss Maura. Jane added, “you know music speaks to me. I am going to try and find a song a day that expresses how I feel about you and how much I love and appreciate you.” Maura said, “That is a pretty awesome goal love. I can’t wait to hear what songs you play for me.”
Once they were all prune-like from being in the water so long they got out of the hot tub and went upstairs to spend the rest of their honeymoon, doing what honeymooners do. Jane had “Drive” by Melissa Ferrick cued up and played it once they were in bed together. Maura loved the beat of the song and listened carefully to the words. She thought it was appropriate that they were in bed when Jane shared it with her, although she did want to listen to the words instead of letting Jane express herself. After the song was over Jane turned off the music and thought ‘I need to be more careful about where and when I introduce new music to Maura.’ At least Maura let her continue kissing her while she listened to the song, so the mood wasn’t totally lost. After a few hours of love-making they managed to fall asleep and were exhausted when the alarm went off.
A couple minutes before 8 the next morning they walked in the precinct hand-in-hand. In the parking lot when they got out of the car, Jane keyed up her iPod and played, “Walking On Sunshine” by Katrina and The Waves. She was dancing and spinning around as they walked away from the car. She held Maura’s hand as much as should could. Maura wasn’t sure what got into her wife. Several officers looked at her like she was crazy. Jane didn’t care, she was having fun. Maura just smiled and walked with Jane. The song ended before they reached the building. Jane had the biggest smile on her face. Maura couldn’t help but smile. She loved her wife even if she was acting crazy first thing in the morning.
Their marriage was somewhat secret prior to the ceremony in Santorini, now it wasn’t. Now at work, they will be using their new professional names and they would be able to hold hands when they walked together. They parted ways at the elevator with a quick kiss.
Right before they left for Santorini Jane was promoted to Sergeant. During the brief ceremony Maura pinned Jane’s new Sergeant Badge onto her uniform. Jane was so excited to have Maura pin her new badge on her. Angela took so many pictures, she was so proud of her daughter. After the ceremony the whole gang went to the Dirty Robber to celebrate. Days later they left to go to Santorini for their wedding.
As Maura approached the morgue doors she heard, “Welcome back Dr. Rizzoli-Isles! I am so happy that you are back. I’ve missed you.” Susie said as Maura entered the morgue for the first time since returning from her honeymoon. Susie walked in right behind her. Maura’s name change took place right before she left to go to Santorini. She had a few more steps to take care of then Jane did to get her name changed. Maura had many professional organizations that she belonged to. She and Jane had talked for quite some time before they agreed to change their names. There were pros and cons on both sides. Jane said it was totally Maura’s decision and she would respect and follow Maura’s decision. She realized that it was a huge deal for Maura to change her name.
They were both in their 30s and had become attached to their last names. They loved each other and both agreed that the hyphenated name, Rizzoli-Isles, allowed them both to keep their last name plus take the other’s last name. Maura felt that having Isles still in her last name would help with people still recognizing her. Jane was very happy to add Isles to her last name. she had a new respect for her in-laws and having their name made her happy. Maura always wanted to have Rizzoli as her last name, since she starting dating Jane. The Rizzoli’s were her family ever since Jane first introduced her to them. They accepted her right from the start.
Maura ran her hand across the new wall plaque that was on the outside of her door. It read Dr. Maura Rizzoli-Isles, Chief Medical Examiner. She liked the way that read and looked. She was very happy to have her new name. She always knew she was attracted to Jane. She never imagined she would be married to her.
When Jane walked into the bullpen. Frost said, “Hey Jane, welcome back, how was the honeymoon? The doc did return to work today, right?”
“Ya, Frost, the honeymoon was great and yes Maura is downstairs. I am sure she is reviewing all the files already. You know how she is when she has been away, she has to make sure everything was done correctly while she was gone. Are we on a case right now?”
“No, we are catching up on paperwork and working cold cases. We are next in line for a case now that you are back.” Frost stated.
Korsak walked in and said, “Hey kid, welcome back?”
“Thanks, old man. You want me to grab a cold case?”
“You’re the Sergeant, remember? You can decide what you need to do, but your paperwork is all caught up. We missed you and the doc. Although I enjoyed working with Frost again.” Korsak said.
“Sure, you missed me! I know you just missed the doc. Cuz you had to deal with a temp ME. Maur, has us spoiled. My wife is a terrific ME. She’s the best.” Jane said with great pride.
“No, we missed you, Jane. Yes, we hated working with a different ME but we missed working with you. Your skills in leading the investigations and your sense of humor. We have a new detective starting tomorrow. He will be working with you and Frost and yes, the doc is the best. She is the best ME we have ever had.” Korsak added.
“Oh man, I forgot about the new detective starting tomorrow. I’m going to review his jacket and brush up on him.” Jane said as she walked over to her desk.
Jane’s office phone rang and she said, “Rizzoli.”
“Oh, are you ditching me already?” Maura asked.
“What? No! Why would you say that?” Jane asked.
“Because we changed our last names to Rizzoli-Isles, and you only said Rizzoli.” Maura said matter-of-factly.
“Oh man, I am so use to saying Rizzoli, I didn’t mean anything babe, I just have to get used to saying Rizzoli-Isles.” Jane said in a hushed worried tone.
“I know love, I am just giving you a hard time. I was calling to let you know that I would like to have lunch with my beautiful wife today. Do you think you can manage that?” Maura asked with a smile in her voice.
“I would love to Maur, is noon okay with you?” Jane asked. You could tell the smile had returned to her face.
“Yes, that would be great Sergeant Rizzoli-Isles. I’ll meet you upstairs at noon.”
“Sounds great Maur, I will practice saying Rizzoli-Isles, I promise.” Jane promised as they hung up.
“Oh, is the wife giving you grief for how you answered the phone?” Frost questioned.
“Shuddup, Frost.” Jane said with a raised eyebrow and a scowl.
“Never, Jane. You know you love when I tease you.” Frost said as he laughed at Jane.
“I do not! I just have to get use to saying Rizzoli-Isles instead of Rizzoli when I answer the phone.”
Precisely at noon, Maura made her appearance in the bullpen. The guys were happy to see her and offered her congratulations. Jane and Maura left for lunch a few minutes later.
The next day at 8 AM Lt. Cavanaugh brought a new detective in to introduce him to Jane and Frost. The new detective was Matthew Miller. He was being transferred from Narcotics. Jane had heard of him but had never worked with him. Korsak had worked with him on a few cases that had connections to Narcotics. Miller had been undercover for the last two years. He was 40, married and had two boys, 8 and 5 years old.
Korsak and Lt. Cavanaugh had carefully narrowed down the list of candidates to fill the void in Homicide. Jane was hoping that Miller wouldn’t have a problem working with a woman. Korsak didn’t think he would or he wouldn’t have let him join Jane’s team. Jane was a little apprehensive but she was willing to give the guy a try.
They caught a case just after 10 AM and spent the rest of the day tracking down leads and discussing strategies of how to solve the case. They worked until almost 9 PM that night. Jane had checked in with Maura at 5 and told her that she would be working late. They solved the case and Jane was so happy to be going home. She got home about 9:30 PM. When she walked in the door she said, “Honey, I’m home.” Maura had dinner waiting for her and she ate while Maura sat with her and enjoyed a cup of tea.
The next few months were pretty routine. A few early morning call outs and a few late nights but they adjusted. Jane and Maura set up a date night where they would get all dressed up and go out on the town. They tried to do date night once a week but cases got in the way sometimes. Jane was still trying to keep up with her song a day for Maura. Maura just never knew when Jane was going to hit play on her iPod. One thing she knew for sure though was that Jane would never hit play when they were going to make love as she didn’t want Maura distracted.
They kept up their monthly Skype meetings with Arianna and the kids. It was Arianna’s turn to visit Boston so they gave Jane and Maura the dates that she would be in town with the kids. Next year Jane and Maura would go to Italy. They figured they would do a yearly rotation.
Maura had requested that she be the one to plan their one-year anniversary date. First, they had to decide which anniversary date they were going to use. After a brief discussion they figured they would celebrate both anniversaries and that Jane would plan the Boston anniversary and Maura would plan the Santorini anniversary. They would count the anniversary date as their date night for that week. They were both pleased with their decision. Both marriage dates had meaning to them and this way each of them also got to plan an anniversary date.
Jane wanted to do something special for their anniversary. She just had to think about what would be special for both of them. Her first thought was to go to a Red Sox game and arrange to be able to go to home plate before the game and to propose to Maura all over again at home plate and then have a small suite with a special dinner before the game. Then they could watch the game. She knew that would be special for her but would it be good enough for Maura and worthy enough of a first anniversary celebration. She would have to think some more.
Meanwhile Maura was thinking how nice it would be to go to a fancy restaurant and have dinner and then maybe go for a walk along the Charles River. If the weather would cooperate. The end of March could be cold. She would work up several possibilities and then make her decision. She also thought it would be nice to see what Jane came up with first. These anniversary dates would be months apart so Maura could always change her plans once she found out what Jane had planned.
When it came time for their first anniversary Jane had asked Maura to take half a day off. Jane packed a picnic basket and grabbed a bottle of one of Maura’s favorite wines and escorted Maura to their bench in the park. This spot was special because this was where she had asked Maura to marry her. Once they were seated at their bench she told Maura, “When I tell you ‘I Love You’ I don’t say it out of habit or to make conversation. I say it to remind you that you are the best thing that ever happened to me,” and presented her with a framed canvas print of the saying. Jane thought ‘first anniversary presents traditionally were paper so the framed canvas print fit the tradition.’ They agreed to give small gifts, no big romantic gestures.
She then read Maura a romantic poem:
YOU ARE
The one I love with all my might.
The one I’m thinking every night.
The one that helps me make things right.
The one I dream of when I sleep at night.
The one I think of when I hug my pillow tight.
The one I’m not giving up without putting up a fight.
They had a nice picnic lunch and talked for quite some time then went back to their house and dressed to go out to dinner. Jane had secured a secluded portion of one of their favorite restaurants and proposed to Maura as she wished she could have originally done.
She had already ordered their meal and after they finished eating Jane played “Marry Me” by Jason Derulo and got down on one knee with Maura’s engagement ring back in the velvet box. Maura smiled and said, “Yes, absolutely. I would marry you every day of our lives.” She put the ring back on Maura’s left ring finger and after a very passionate kiss they danced to the next song on the iPod “I Can Love You Like That” by John Michael Montgomery followed by “It’s Your Love” by Tim McGraw. The waiter brought out their dessert and they enjoyed it. They danced to a few more songs and then went home. Jane and Maura were very happy with their evening and continued celebrating into the wee hours of the morning.
Thanksgiving and Christmas were special times in the Rizzoli family and this year Arianna and the kids came while the kids were out of school. They didn’t want to wait until summer vacation. Because Jane and Maura had gotten married at the courthouse technically this was their second Thanksgiving and Christmas as a married couple. This however was their first Christmas with Arianna, Nicky and Giana.
Maura was excited. She was anxious to see the kid’s reaction to their gifts on Christmas morning. Maura didn’t have traditional Christmas childhood memories. She knew about Santa Claus but Santa never came to her house when she was a child. Her parents always had parties and they weren’t kid friendly. Jane had made last Christmas so special for Maura. They went ice skating and drank hot chocolate afterwards. They kissed under the mistletoe. They left Christmas cookies and milk out for Santa. Jane took Maura to have her picture taken with Santa. They decorated their own tree. Maura’s parents always had someone dress the Christmas tree for them. Jane had all of her childhood handmade decorations to be placed on the tree. Maura thought they were the cutest things she had ever seen. They left some of the decorations off the tree this year so the kids could help them finish decorating the tree.
Maura knew now she had to do something that would be so Jane-like for their March anniversary date. She took Jane to Fort Myers, Florida, more specifically, Fenway South, for the weekend to attend spring training for the Boston Red Sox. Jane had never been to Fenway South so she was so excited. Maura had arranged for them to be able to go out onto the field before the players came out. They stood at home plate holding hands as they did at Fenway until Maura bent down on one-knee and asked Jane to marry her. She had never really got to propose to Jane so even though they had been married for just over a year now she figured Jane proposed twice and they had gotten married twice she needed to propose again. She had merely asked Jane quickly to ‘marry me’ so now she would propose. Jane of course said, “yes.” How could she refuse Maura.
Jane chuckled, “Maura are you repeating what I did by proposing a second time?”
“No, Jane, I am not. You never proposed to me at home plate at Fenway. We simply held hands and kissed. I thought you might propose at the plate, but the family walked up.”
“I had actually thought about it, but then felt that you deserved more than a home plate proposal. Then my mom and aunt wanted to interfere so you got the bench proposal. But I made up for it with our restaurant proposal, didn’t I?”
“Yes love, you did. I loved both of your proposals and both of our weddings. I love you, and I plan on loving you for the rest of our lives.”
“I love you also and plan on showing you how much I love you for the rest of my life.”
“Oh, that sounds like a great plan Sergeant. I can live with that.”
“Good, because you are stuck with me. It’s been a great ride so far. I know we may have ups and downs in the future, but as long as we communicate, I think we can weather anything that comes our way.”
“I agree.” Maura said as she smiled at Jane.
They enjoyed the game and then went to the hotel where Maura gave Jane an autographed framed copy of the 2004 Red Sox Boston Globe front page reprint from their Historical World Series run in 2004. Jane loved it, not as much as she loved her thoughtful loving wife though. It had been a perfect first year of marriage.