Chapter Text
Maura thanked Angela politely and stepped back to the oven, leaving Jane alone with her mother.
Jane eyed Angela warily, not sure what she'd come out with.
"Why did you wait so long to tell me?" Angela asked, and Jane shrugged.
"It's only been a few weeks... Maybe a month?" Jane said, looking down at her feet.
"A month?" Angela asked, astounded, quickly quieting herself. "Only a month?" She asked, looking genuinely surprised.
"We wanted to make sure that we were going to be ok with dating before telling anyone," Jane mumbled, shrugging again, picking at a thread on her shirt. "Just in case... Well, it still might not work out." Jane shot a look across to Maura in the kitchen, her hair curling magnificently over her shoulders, a sweet smile on her face as she looked over at Jane. "I don't know how to keep a woman like her happy," Jane said quietly. "She extends inwards infinitely, and I'm all surface."
"Janie. Does she make you happy?" Jane looked away from Maura, focused on her task in the kitchen, over to her mother.
"Ecstatic," Jane said without a trace of irony. She went over to help Maura, some of the tension dissipated.
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Frankie helped Jane clear up the dishes, letting her stack the dishwasher since he knew Maura was particular.
"So, girlfriend, huh?" He asked Jane, looking over to Maura.
"Yeah, what about it?" Jane asked, hackles up, ready for her brother to tease her.
"Hey, not for nothing, but if someone looked at me the way she looked at you back when you did that marathon together, we'd be married with three kids by now," Frankie said, handing Jane plates. "When you called about the dress... Was that really the first time you went out? It's the only time I've known you to be nervous about a date."
"Yeah, well, Frankie, maybe you haven't had your life torn up by being attracted to someone you ..." Jane looked over at Maura, and her harsh tone softened. "Someone you didn't think you deserved."
"Is it the gay thing? You know I don't care about that."
"No, I know you don't. Thanks for that. But it's more... You know when you used to dream you were in a fountain of ice-cream, scooping it into your mouth with your hands?"
"Too good to be true, huh?" Frankie asked softly. "Well, it looks like it's true to me, Janie. The things that woman does for you, for our family. Anyone says anything to you - either of you - anyone gives you any trouble down at the station, you let me know." He flexed a bicep and Jane laughed, closing the dishwasher.
"You're a good brother, Frankie," Jane said. "Now scoot," she shooed him away as Maura came into the kitchen, ready for dessert, carrying Constance with her.
"It's lovely to catch up with you all - and wonderful to meet Hope finally, if not in person. Now darling, would you leave me with Jane for a minute?" Maura handed the tablet over, and Jane walked toward the alcove, grabbing Jo's lead to take her out.
"It's been a busy evening," Constance said. "You look well."
"Yeah, so do you," Jane said, smiling a little shyly. "We weren't... Keeping it from you or anyone. It was just new."
"That's a shame, I thought you were dating when I met you, and Maura never corrected me."
"Huh."
"And Angela also seemed under the impression - oh dear, this is all coming out wrong. I must say I've always appreciated your role in her life, that she's had you to take care of her."
"You're not worried I'll be a bad influence?" Jane asked, her mouth twisting.
"Oh, that ship has sailed, darling. I know her father. I just wanted to say I'm glad it's you. You've always understood her, and she's an incredibly complex, brilliant woman."
"Yeah, she is, huh?" Jane smiled, following Jo back into the house. "You don't mind that I'm not a man?"
"I assume that's what she likes about you, Jane. And society is much kinder than it used to be, and I know you have a conceal carry. I'm not worried." Jane smirked. Constance sure was a trip. "Now, I know she might be too old for this, but do you think Cailin would mind if I sent her a Christmas present this year?"
"Hope might think you're trying to collect the full set," Jane joked. "They don't have much family. She's a good kid, I don't think she'd mind, but you can ask her yourself," Jane said, handing the tablet over to Cailin.