A House Divided

Epilogue

Disclaimer: I Wish I Owned Something Here. But I Do Not.

Jane looked at herself in the mirror before she turned off the light in the bathroom. Her black hair was pulled up into a tight ponytail and she reached up and tugged at it, pulling it tighter, making sure that all of the stray hair was secured. She turned her head from left to right and surveyed her hair and face. She smiled at herself.

The last time she recalled doing this same thing, on this day, three years ago, was very similar. But today, the occasion was totally different.

Three years ago, Jane was hoping that a baseball game could bring Maura, the absolute pinnacle of her life, closer to understanding who she was, as a person. Outside of the precinct. Outside of the morgue. Outside of, even the Dirty Robber. She wanted Maura to know one of her passions. Her passion for the Boston Red Sox.

Now, it seemed silly. Jane still loved the Red Sox with all her heart. But to place such importance on one game, now, seemed folly.

Jane was the only person who knew one thing about that fateful night. The night that Maura caught that damned baseball. Jane was going to ask Maura to marry her. The game and the baseball had only complicated things for Jane. But, in the end, it had all worked itself out.

Jane looked down at her hands, which were gripping the sink now. The scars were still there. But no one seemed to notice them anymore, including Jane herself. Only on cold rainy nights did she even feel the slightest discomfort. And on those nights, when she felt the pain of her scars trying to infiltrate her newfound happiness, she would remember that on a cold rainy night, she had asked Maura to be her wife.

And Maura had accepted.

And that had changed Jane's entire world. All for the better. Screw the Red Sox.

R&I-R&I

"Jane!" Maura shouted. "Are you going to come down here and help me? Everyone's going to arrive soon!"

Jane snickered at Maura's insecurity when it came to her family. Still. "Babe! I'm coming!"

Jane turned from the mirror and left the bathroom, entering the master bedroom. She surveyed it quickly, knowing that there was a possibility that her mother, Angela, might find a reason to make her way up into this room. She hoped it passed muster. But at the same time, she didn't care that much. Her mother loved Maura. So, Angela knew that anything that happened in this room, if there was a remote chance that it would result in her own grandchildren, was off limits. Jane laughed at that thought before leaving the bedroom and thumping her way down the stairs towards Maura's voice.

Jane made her way into the kitchen, where Maura stood. Jo was sitting at attention at Maura's feet, hoping for a treat.

"How can I help, baby?" Jane said, running forward to help Maura. Jane had very little experience when it came to domestic responsibilities. Maura had, thus far, shielded her from those everyday grinds. Not because Jane didn't ask or want to be a part of this aspect of their lives, but Maura knew that Jane, being a respected detective in the Boston Police Department took her job very seriously. And it was never going to be a requirement that a detective, in said department, could make a spinach dip.

Not that Jane never wanted to learn how to make a spinach dip. Maura just never gave her the opportunity.

Maura pulled the dip out of the oven, placing it on top of the stove.

Jane watched her doctor stand over it, and fuss. Jane smiled to herself and slid up behind Maura, encircling her slim waist with her arms, leaning over and placing a slight kiss on the blonde's neck. Maura leaned her head into Jane's.

"This is not helping." Maura laughed, leaning back into Jane's body, her hands still inside oven mitts.

"I told you not to make such a big deal." Jane whispered into Maura's ear. "It's only my family and Frost and Korsak. You make this big fuss every year and then they expect you to do this every time we see them." Jane finished, kissing the doctor's earlobe.

Maura shivered at the light touch of the tall brunette's lips on her ear. Jane felt this and smiled wider, loving the fact that her touch could still elicit such a response, even after all these years together.

Maura pushed her butt out into Jane's middle. "Now stop that! I need to finish this before everyone arrives. I can't concentrate if you keep kissing my ear. You know what that does to me."

Jane pulled Maura closer. "Tell me." She growled, her hands moving up to the doctor's breasts. She cupped them, squeezing softly.

"Jane!" Maura admonished. "You know you shouldn't start something you can't possibly finish before everyone gets here!" But Jane could hear the change in Maura's voice. She knew that her doctor was becoming aroused.

Maura took off the mitts and turned around, her hands going into Jane's hair. She leaned up and kissed Jane passionately, her tongue finding Jane's.

Jane returned the kiss hungrily, the pressure of time, or lack thereof, adding to the excitement.

The doorbell rang unexpectedly, interrupting the two lovers.

"Damn." Jane whispered breathlessly into Maura's mouth before she broke the embrace, smoothing out her shirt, checking her hair once more. It had been pulled out of the ponytail somewhat in the heavy makeout session, so she pulled it out completely and tried to redo it as she made her way to the front door.

She was flushed as she opened the door, stepping back to allow whoever was ringing to enter. It was Korsak and Frost.

"Hey, Janie!" Korsak bellowed, "Where's Maura?" he asked as he made his way into the house. He was carrying a twelve pack of beer and he held it out to Jane. "Where do I put this?"

Jane stepped back into the foyer, still trying to get her hair to cooperate. "God, Korsak." Jane said mocking irritation. "How're you doing? You sure are full of questions today."

Korsak leaned in close to Jane and whispered, "Looks like we interrupted something, eh?" Pointing up to Jane's hair and flushed face. "You two still acting like horny teenagers?"

Frost entered the house behind Korsak, holding a bottle of wine, smiling at Jane.

"Don't listen to him, Jane. He's just jealous. He knows that you two are still in love and he doesn't know how that feels. When he was married, all three times, by now, the love was gone and he was trying to figure out how to get out of them." Frost ribbed Korsak.

Korsak rolled his eyes. "Whatever, Frost."

Jane and Frost shared a laugh as she closed the door and led them into the kitchen.

"Maura!" Korsak practically yelled as he entered the kitchen first, followed closely by Frost. "How are you?"

Maura smiled widely, and leaned up to give Korsak a peck on the cheek. "I'm fine, Vince. Glad you could make it way out here to the suburbs."

Jane and Maura had bought a home two years prior and had settled in a little enclave just north of Boston proper. It was a small commute to the office for both Jane and Maura, but most days they took the ride together, so it was time well spent with one another.

"Aw, it's not that far." Korsak blushed, holding up the beer. "Where should I put these?"

"I cleared out a spot in the fridge for them." She said, walking over and opening the refrigerator door. "Anywhere is fine." She turned to Frost as he entered the kitchen. "Barry, good to see you. What's this?" she motioned to the wine that Frost held up to Maura.

"Hey, Maura. I brought you wine. I know these Neanderthals only drink beer, but I thought you would like something a little more refined." He finished, smiling widely.

Jane entered behind Frost. "Suck up." She laughed. "It won't get you any special favors, you know."

Maura made her way past Korsak, leaning up and giving Frost a peck as well. She spoke directly to Frost. "Yes, it will, Barry. You are now my favorite." She laughed and stuck her tongue out at Jane.

"Careful. You might need that later." Jane said, slyly.

"Jane!" Maura said, blushing furiously. "Please!"

"Yeah, Jane. Please!" Korsak said, shaking his head in mock disgust. "I told you we interrupted something." He said to Frost.

Jane laughed and clapped Korsak on the back. "Yeah, you've got lousy timing." She walked over behind Maura and put her arms around the shorter one's waist, nuzzling her ear.

Frost handed Maura the wine and dropped his eyes, giving respect to his partner's partner. "It might need to breathe." He said, indicating the wine.

"Thank you, Barry." Maura said, sincerely. She took the wine and set it on the marble topped island that stood in the center of the expansive kitchen.

Just then, the doorbell rang again.

"Ready?" Jane whispered to Maura, kissing her cheek, lovingly.

"Always." Maura replied, opening the drawer where the wine key was kept.

"I'll get it." Jane said, walking out of the kitchen towards the front door again.

Korsak busied himself transferring the beer from its carton into the refrigerator. Frost took the wine key from Maura's hand and began opening the wine.

They all stopped what they were doing as they heard Jane's mother. "Janie, baby! How are you? Where's Maura? I've got something for her."

They all smiled at one another, waiting for the hurricane that was Angela Rizzoli to enter the kitchen.

"Ma!" Jane said. "Calm down! She's in the kitchen with the guys."

"The boys are here already? They drive too fast." Angela said, rounding the corner into the kitchen. "Hey, boys!"

"Hey, Mrs. Rizzoli." Korsak and Frost said in unison.

"Maura!" Angela said, holding open her arms, waiting for Maura to embrace her. "You look fantastic!" She turned to Frank, Sr. who was following Angela close behind. "Doesn't she look fantastic, Frank?"

Frank nodded his head. "She looks fantastic." He addressed Maura directly as she hugged Jane's mother. "You do look great, baby." He leaned in and kissed Maura's forehead.

'Thank you, Frank." Maura said closing her eyes as Jane's father kissed her. She always felt so privileged when Jane's parents treated her as a member of the family.

Jane walked in behind her father. "Where's Frankie? I thought he was riding up with you?"

Frank turned and pulled Jane into his arms, squeezing her tightly. She squeezed back.

"Hi ya, baby." He said and kissed the top of Jane's head. "He was running late so he told us to come ahead. He'll be here soon."

Angela released Maura and put her purse on the island, digging into it. "Maura, I've got something for you."

Maura stood next to Angela, catching Jane's eye over the matriarch's head. Jane smiled and winked.

"Here. I got it at the drugstore the other day." She said, handing Maura the box.

Maura took the box and nodded. "A pregnancy test. Thanks, Angela. I'll add it to the three that you've already given us."

"Jesus, Ma!" Jane said, exasperated. "You haven't been here five minutes! Already with the grandchildren!"

"What?" Angela said, holding her hands up to Jane. "It's a new test, that's all. I wanted to make sure that when the time came, you were prepared."

"Ma! You'll be the first to know when the time comes. Now could you give it a rest!" Jane went to Maura and took the test, opening a cupboard and stashing it away. "We are here to watch a baseball game on TV. Not discuss our future plans to add to our family."

Frank went to Angela and took her by the shoulders, leading her out of the kitchen. "C'mon, Angie. Let's leave the girls alone with the grandkids thing tonight, okay? We're gonna watch the Sox whip the Yankees butts tonight." He turned to Maura, "Sorry, Maura. I know you love them bums. But, no way are they winning tonight!"

Maura held up her hands to Frank. "It's okay, Frank. We'll see how the game plays out."

The Rizzoli parents left the kitchen, where Korsak and Frost stood looking at Jane and Maura, wondering what to say.

Jane and Maura started laughing, breaking the tension. Korsak and Frost joined them.

"Jesus, Janie." Korsak snorted. "She's never gonna let up, you know?"

"God, don't I know it." Jane laughed, shaking her head. "Let's get this dip into the living room, huh, babe? Before my mother comes back."

"Sounds good to me." Maura replied, carefully placing the spinach dip on a platter. "Could you grab that French bread out of the pantry, sweetie?"

Frost chimed in. "What can we do?"

"Just grab what you are drinking and follow us." Maura said, "You know where the glasses are."

"Yeah, we'll follow you." Korsak said grabbing a beer from the fridge as Frost found the wine glasses, taking several along with the freshly opened bottle of wine.

They all made their way into the living room, or Jane's room, as Maura called it. It was basically the room where Jane spent all her time watching her various sporting events. It was comfortably furnished, large couches and low lighting, plenty of places to put a drink down. The room was dominated by Jane's pride and joy. An extremely large flat screen TV, hung on the wall at the far end of the room. In a small corner, on a shelf made especially for it, sat Maura's baseball in its glass case, a small spotlight shining down on it. Maura thought it was too obtrusive, but Jane insisted that it be displayed in that manner.

"It's my lucky ball." Jane would say. "Even though you caught it, it helped me catch you." Maura couldn't argue that point.

The pre game highlights were already on, the volume muted. Everyone staked out their seats and sat, making themselves comfortable. This game had become a tradition, since the first time Jane, Maura and the boys took the M.E. to her first game three years before. Every year since, when the Sox played the Yankees for the first time in the season, they all gathered to celebrate, adding Angela and Frank, Sr. to the mix after the wedding.

Maura set the dip on the coffee table, Jane following with the bread. "Every one can dig in whenever you want." Maura said, smiling.

Jane sat on the couch heavily, pulling Maura down into her lap. The brunette kissed her doctor's lips softly.

"Jane." Maura whispered, embarrassed at the display of open affection in front of Jane's parents. Jane held Maura's gaze.

"They don't care." She whispered back to Maura. "I bet my mother is watching us with a huge grin on her face. Look and see."

Maura and Jane both turned simultaneously and glanced at Angela. Sure enough, she was looking at the two of them, lovingly, a big smile on her face.

"Told you." Jane said triumphantly. "Anything that might contribute to her getting her grandkids, she's okay with. We could make love right here on this sofa, right now, and she would sit there with a smile on her face."

"Jane! That's obscene!" Maura said, slapping Jane's arm playfully. "And it's also impossible for you to impregnate me, regardless."

"You know it's true!" Jane responded, tickling Maura's ribs.

Just as Maura was about to retaliate, the doorbell rang again. "I'll get it!" Angela volunteered. She addressed Jane and Maura directly. "You two don't get up."

Jane and Maura laughed together.

"It's Frankie!" Angela yelled from the foyer.

"Ma!" Frankie yelled back as he made his way into the living room. "Who else would it be?" He addressed the group. "Hey, everyone."

"Hey Frankie!" Everyone yelled back, their eyes never leaving the television.

Frankie was about to speak when Jane interrupted. "Beer's in the fridge."

"Right. Thanks." He said, turning to walk into the kitchen. He stopped abruptly and addressed Jane. "Where's your flag? It's not up."

"Shit!" Jane said, pushing Maura up off of her lap, gently. "I forgot."

"Language." Everyone in the room said in unison. Jane rolled her eyes as Maura laughed behind her hands.

Jane made her way into the garage and found a box, placed in the same spot since the couple moved into the house two years ago. She tucked the long box under her arm and walked back through the house and out the front door. She laid the box down on the porch swing that lazily swung back and forth in the cool spring air.

Jane had insisted that they hang the swing there. She'd always wanted one and Maura could not say no to her detective. They'd actually spent many Sunday mornings and cool nights out on the swing, watching the neighborhood. People would stroll by, walking their dogs or exercising and raise their hands in greeting to Jane and Maura as they passed. Jane and Maura always waved back, smiling and calling the person's name. It had become a place of deep relaxation for both of them from their hectic and dangerous work lives.

Jane walked across the porch and stood on the top step of the entrance way onto the porch. Blowing lazily in the breeze was Maura's "Welcome" flag. It had tulips on it, Maura's favorite flower. Jane carefully took it out of its holder and rolled it up, placing it next to the box on the swing. She opened the box and unrolled the flag that she put up every year on this day, marking the celebration that was taking place inside the house.

She replaced the old flag with the new one and stood back, watching the wind take this flag as well. She smiled and picked up Maura's flag and the box, walking back into the house.

The flag had been specially made for this occasion by Korsak, Frost and Frankie when the closing on the house had been announced. On one half of the flag was the Boston Red Sox logo, complete with the two red socks. On the other half was the New York Yankee logo, complete with that top hat covered in stars and stripes. Written in bold black letters across the bottom were the words, "A House Divided".

Well, that's it! Thanks to all who took the time to read my first story and more thanks to those who reviewed as well. I have to thank one person for giving me the courage to write this story in the first place. I can't say her name, she's very shy, but she knows who she is! Thank you. It's your kind words of encouragement and support that made this whole journey possible. Mahalo.