Epilogue

"Jane should be next," Maura whispered to Angela, hastily tucking her program into her purse and pulling out her camera.

"Jane Clementine Rizzoli," the man on stage read into the microphone, and the woman Maura loved strode across the stage in her cap and gown to receive her diploma case.

"That's your mama," Maura said to her stomach. She knew it was silly, but she couldn't stop herself. She snapped picture after picture of Jane, her heart swelling with pride. Jane shook hands with the college president, then turned to where she knew her family was sitting and blew Maura a kiss before leaving the stage. Maura thought her heart would explode. Jane might be 20 years older than most of the other graduates, but she was by far the most beautiful, and she was all Maura's.

When the ceremony was over, Angela helped Maura from her chair and supported her as they made their way through the crowds and outside to where the graduates were congregating. Maura couldn't help feeling a little sentimental, remembering her own graduation in this same spot and how her parents had both come to see her. She hadn't imagined that she would come back two decades later to see her wife graduate, and it had taken some work to convince Jane to even go through with the ceremony. "I'm too old," she had insisted, but Maura wasn't having it. Jane had worked hard for this, and she deserved all the pomp and circumstance any other graduate would get.

When she spotted her wife, she began waddling enthusiastically in her direction. Grinning, Jane quickly closed the gap between them so her pregnant wife wouldn't have to walk any further than necessary.

"Jane, I'm so proud of you!" Maura cried, throwing her arms around the brunette, who leaned down to kiss her. The height difference was particularly noticeable today, since Jane was wearing heels and Maura wasn't.

"How are they doing?" Jane asked, putting her hands on Maura's burgeoning stomach.

"He slept through it, but she's been kicking a lot," Maura told her. She moved Jane's hand to the spot where she could feel their daughter's feet tapping and watched Jane's face light up as she felt it too.

"She's so strong already," Jane said proudly. "I can't wait to teach them both how to play basketball. And softball. And football. And hockey."

"And I'll teach them fencing," said Maura.

"Well yeah, obviously they have to learn fencing! That sport can save a life. We might not be here today if it hadn't been for your mad fencing skills."

Maura grinned. "Now that I've found you, next I need to find a ladies' room."

"I'm not surprised," Jane said with a smile. "Come on, you can use the one in Wohler's Hall."

"After this, we're going out to eat!" said Angela.

"Yes, food sounds good!" Maura agreed.

Jane chuckled. "I'm sure it does. Food always sounds good to you now that you're eating for three."

"Don't give her a hard time, Janie," admonished Angela. "Carrying one baby is hard enough; she has to carry two, and it's her first pregnancy!"

"I'm not giving her a hard time! I'm proud of my wife and babies," said Jane, putting a protective arm around Maura as they walked.

Maura gratefully leaned against Jane as they made their way to the nearest bathroom. She was just entering her third trimester, and already she felt enormous and exhausted. She was happy, though. She couldn't wait to embark on the next big adventure with Jane: motherhood.

Maura had reserved a nice table at a fancy restaurant for their celebration dinner, and she was famished by the time they all met up there. Jane pulled a chair out for her, and when the waiter brought bread to their table, she put the biggest piece on Maura's plate. Maura quickly buttered it up and devoured it. Whatever Angela said, Jane was taking excellent care of her and the babies, and Maura loved her for it. Well, for that and about a million other things.

Jane cleared her throat when she noticed that everyone was finishing up the main course. The Rizzoli family, plus a few friends, turned their attention to the guest of honor.

"I just wanted to say a few words of thanks," she announced, looking a bit self-conscious. "A couple years ago, I wasn't sure where my life was heading. All I knew was that I was pushing forty, and my life hadn't changed that much since I was thirty. I didn't have a lot to brag about. I was single and childless. I had no real home to call my own. I was hung up on a woman I believed would never love me back, and I was about to leave a job I loved and move away from family and friends, from my home, just so I could feel like my life was going somewhere." She put an arm around Maura and hugged her close. "And now look at me. I'm a married police sergeant with a college degree, and I'm about to be a mother – of two. I can't even believe how much my life has changed in the past two years. I'm finally achieving dreams I didn't even think were possible. The big turning point was when I decided to go to Paris with Maura, but it's thanks to the love and support of all of you that I was able to come back to BPD, make sergeant, plan a perfect wedding with the girl of my dreams, and get through two years of college to get my degree. It's because of all of your support that I have a hope of making lieutenant in the near future, and that I'm not completely scared out of my wits about having twins in the next few months." Everyone chuckled. "I guess my point is, you should never be afraid of going after your dreams, whatever they are. And also, Maura's the greatest."

She gave Maura a kiss, and everyone raised their glasses of champagne and sparkling cider in agreement.

"We're all very proud of you," beamed Angela.

"And we love you so much. You've come such a long way," said Maura, leaning over to kiss her wife's cheek.

"Being with you makes me feel like I can do anything," Jane told her. "And I would do anything for you, for the three of you."

"Anything?"

"You name it."

Maura smiled. "Can we order dessert?"

Jane laughed. "Yes," she said. "We can order dessert."

As Maura looked around the table, she remembered the horrible feeling she'd had two years ago that her beloved Jane was slipping away from her. Now, she sat surrounded by Rizzolis, because they were her family as well as Jane's. She had the wedding rings Jane gave her on a chain around her neck (they'd go back on her finger after her pregnancy swelling was gone), and the babies she and Jane had decided to have together were growing inside of her. Jane was at her side, where she belonged, wearing the rings Maura had given her. She knew she wouldn't have to worry about her slipping away ever again.

Thank you everyone for reading! I hope you enjoyed it! If you did, please check out my other Rizzles stories, and also my published books (links in my profile)! Thank you again! I really enjoyed sharing my fantasy eighth season with you!