Chapter Text
Detective Jane Rizzoli paced back and forth in her apartment, a determined glint in her eyes. Today was the day she would propose to the love of her life, Dr. Maura Isles, and she wanted it to be unforgettable.
Jane had planned and analyzed this more than any other thing in her personal life. She wanted this to no only be romantic but to express just how much she and Maura fit together, their lives perfectly entwined and balanced at the same time. Her first few ideas did not make the cut but a month into planning she devised the winning idea. She would propose at the zoo with the help of her old friend Bass.
It took Jane awhile to warm up to Bass and vice versa but now she would rely on him to help deliver the most important question of her life. Sure Jane had feelings for some of her past romantic partners but none ever came close to what she felt with Maura, to what Maura made her feel inside with just a simple look. If she was honest with herself she knew as soon as they decided to pursue a relationship it would end up here in this moment, with Jane cradling a very small velvet box on on knee but it still took some time for her to develop the courage to take this step.
The first step to making her proposal come to life was to reach out to the zoo keepers caring for Bass. She was very familiar as she had met them on numerous trips with Maura to visit Bass with the family an TJ over the last few years. Thomas Kindly was Bass's head zookeeper in charge of the entire Isles Foundation Reptile Exhibit. Bass was one of many new reptiles Maura's sizable donation allowed the zoo to promote education and conservation.
You want to propose to Maura at the zoo?" Thomas exclaimed, his voice tinged with excitement. "I love it! Count me and Bass in."
With Thomas on board, Jane's nerves began to ease. She knew she couldn't pull off this surprise alone, but with Bass's help, she was confident everything would go off without a hitch. The only other person who was aware of her plan was Frankie, who was sworn to secrecy or else per Jane. Her mother, Tommy, TJ, and Korsak were all kept in the dark. She couldn't risk any information leaks before the special day.
That special day had now arrived. Saturday was a perfect day for family time with Jane and Maura not being on call. Jane decided to bring up the zoo visit casually Friday night during movie night, knowing that Maura was free all day Saturday. The plan was commencing now.
"Maura," Jane called, her voice tinged with uncertainty.
Dr. Maura Isles emerged from the kitchen, a curious expression on her face. "Yes, Jane? Is everything alright?"
Jane took a deep breath, summoning the calmness she knew she needed. "I think we should visit the zoo tomorrow, we haven't seen Bass in awhile. It would be great to take Ma and TJ, maybe Frankie, Nina and Tommy may be able to join also."
Maura's eyes widened, thinking of what better way to spend a Saturday in Spring than with her family. Her family something that she couldn't help but cause her heart to warm. "Of course, Jane, that sounds wonderful. Should we reach out to everyone now?"
With a nod from Jane, "I'll call Ma now, how about you text Tommy and see if he and TJ are free."
After a few minutes on their phones, the plans were made. Everyone would meet at the zoo the next morning to spend a lovely spring day at the zoo. Shortly after the plans were set Jane suggested they head to bed early, knowing it would be near impossible for her to get any rest but attempting just the same.
As they lay in bed that night with Jane snuggled around Maura discussing all the different animal exhibits they would visit with Maura spouting facts for each of the animals, Jane couldn't help but realize this was a feeling she wanted for a lifetime. Step one complete Jane thought to herself as she heard Maura's breathing indicate she had fallen asleep.
The next morning came with Jane trying to keep herself together in order to not cause Maura to sense something was happening. After their morning coffee they headed to the car to meet the rest of the family.
Just as they reached the car, Jane used the cover of forgetting her wallet as a chance to run back inside and grab the velvet box that would burn a hole in her jacket for the rest of the day.
"Maura, I forgot my wallet. I am just going to run back in real quick. Here" as she tossed the keys to Maura "go ahead and start the car. I'll be right back."
"Jane I am pretty sure you would forget your head sometimes if it wasn't connected." Maura quipped back as she slid into the passenger seat and turning the key in the ignition.
Jane grabbed the small velvet box hidden inside a sock in her sock drawer. She opened it to take one last peek before the rest of her plan unfolded.
Snapping the box shut, Jane hustled back to the car and jumped in the driver's seat. As they sped away towards the zoo, Jane's nerves combined with pure excitement began to churn in her stomach.
The sun shone brightly as Jane and Maura strolled hand in hand towards the zoo, their laughter mingling with the sounds of chirping birds and roaring lions. Unbeknownst to Maura, today held a special surprise—one that would change their lives forever.
"Are you ready for an adventure, TJ?" Maura asked, her voice tinged with excitement.
TJ nodded eagerly, his eyes wide with wonder. "Yes, Aunt Maura! I want to see all the animals!"
Jane chuckled, her heart swelling with love for her family. "Then let's get started, shall we?"
Jane and TJ had figured out the plan for seeing everything at the zoo. They started in the African Exhibit, continued to the Bird Conservatory and then onto the Jungle Wing. At each stop Maura would spout off numerous facts regarding each animal and their natural habitat. While standing in line to feed the giraffes, Jane would never tire of hearing Maura googlemouth the entire world around her and would make Jane the happiest person on the planet if she agreed to spend the rest of her life with her.
Jane's nerves came and went through out the day, she tried to stay immersed in the moment with her family. Running off some energy with TJ and Frankie after lunch at the playground. All that was left of the zoo was the sea lion exhibit in which they were going to catch the afternoon sea lion show and then the grand finale at the Isles Foundation Reptile Exhibit.
Frankie had clued Nina and Tommy in a little as the day went on but Angela was still completely in the dark. Unfortunately, Jane knew this was the only way to keep the secret.
As they approached the reptile exhibit, Jane's heart raced with anticipation. This was it—the moment to pop the question she had planned for months.
Just as they were entering the exhibit, Thomas, Bass's zookeeper emerged and greeted the Jane and Maura who held back to talk to him while the rest of the family continued into the exhibit. He asked if Maura would like to take part in a special feeding today. They had a special shipment of Bass's favorite strawberries and since it had been awhile since their last visit he knew Bass would appreciate the familiar face.
Maura was overwhelmed and looked at Jane who immediately responded 'Sure we would love to participate." Maura stated "Let me just run my purse to Angela to hang on to and I will be right back."
Jane took the moment to hand over the very small velvet box to Thomas who would make sure Bass would make a grand entrance carrying the item.
Maura rejoined them shortly and Thomas ushered them into the feeding room where another keeper was preparing the snacks for Bass and his other tortoise friends in the exhibit. Jane and Maura began to help in preparing the snacks as Thomas slipped into the animal holding area.
After finishing prep, Jane and Maura were brought into the main exhibit area where another zookeeper named Ashely was talking to the crowd about all the different tortoises housed at the zoo. As they approached Ashley introduced them to the crowd.
"Everyone please give a warm Boston Zoo welcome to our special guests today, Jane and Maura, who are going to help us feed these amazing creatures their afternoon snacks."
As the crowd clapped and you could hear Tommy whistling, Maura's grin grew reaching both her ears. Jane couldn't see anything else other than Maura in that moment. Jane's grin grew wider watching Maura.
"Bass and some other friends will join us out here shortly but I think we would all love to hear a story of Bass when he was smaller, Maura, would you be willing to share?"
Maura looked back nervously at Jane but was only greeted with warm chocolate eyes conveying only love and support. With a quick squeeze of Maura's hand, Jane placed her other hand in the small of her back pushing her slightly forward closer to Ashley talking to the crowd.
Jane's nerves were on high alert now. Her palms began to sweat a bit as she anticipated the next steps. This was the last piece of the plan she had moved Maura right to the area of the exhibit Thomas had suggested in order to give the best layout for the proposal.
As Maura was telling a story of Bass getting into the grocery bags and eating all of the strawberries when she accidentally left the bags in the floor one day, Bass began to enter the exhibit followed by Thomas. Bass was wearing a small special harness that allowed the velvet box to sit open on top of his shell revealing the gorgeous engagement ring sparkling in the sun.
"Thank you Maura and now look who has graced us with his presence" Ashley stated leading Maura to look over as Bass walking up into the middle of the exhibit approaching Maura and the strawberries she was holding to feed him.
Ashley stepped back so that Jane was directly behind Maura getting down on one knee as Maura turned to see Bass. With every beat of her heart, Jane knew that this was where she was meant to be—in this moment, with Maura by her side.
Maura's face became puzzled trying to figure out what was on top of Bass's shell especially as the sunlight kept refracting off of the object making it slightly difficult to see at first.
Maura turned back towards Jane.
"Jane?" Maura asked, her voice filled with wonder.
Jane took a knee, her eyes never leaving Maura's. "Maura Isles, from the moment I met you, my life changed in ways I never thought possible. You've shown me love, compassion, and unwavering support, even in the darkest of times. You've made me a better person, a better detective, a better everything. And for that, I will be forever grateful."
Maura's gaze softened, her heart swelling with emotion at Jane's heartfelt words. "Jane, you mean everything to me. You've been my rock, my anchor, my guiding light. I can't imagine my life without you."
Jane took Maura's hand in hers, her fingers trembling slightly with nervousness. "Maura, will you do me the honor of becoming my wife? Will you stand by my side, through the good times and the bad, for as long as we both shall live?"
Tears welled up in Maura's eyes as she gazed into Jane's soulful brown eyes, seeing the depth of love and sincerity reflected there. With a trembling voice, she spoke from the depths of her heart.
"Yes, Jane," Maura whispered, her voice barely above a whisper. "Yes, a thousand times yes."
With tears of joy streaming down her cheeks, Maura threw her arms around Jane, their embrace a testament to the love they shared.
And as they kissed amidst the cheers of their family and onlookers and the sound of Bass munching on strawberries, Jane knew that their love was as wild and beautiful as the world around them, a love that would endure for all time.
As Jane and Maura emerged from behind the exhibit back onto the public area, hand in hand and hearts soaring with joy, they were greeted by the excited cheers and applause of their family.
TJ was the first to reach them. "Aunt Janie! Aunt Maura! Are you getting married?"
Jane scooped TJ into her arms, her heart overflowing with love. "Yes, sweetheart! Aunt Maura said yes!"
TJ squealed with joy, wrapping his tiny arms around both of his aunts in a tight hug. "I'm so happy for you!"
As the rest of their family gathered around, the air buzzed with excitement and happiness. Jane's mother, Angela, wiped away tears of joy as she hugged Jane and Maura tightly.
"I've been waiting for this day for so long," she said, her voice thick with emotion. "You two are perfect for each other."
Jane smiled knowing that statement to be completely true but then was snapped out of it when Angela smacked her on the head.
"Ma, what was that for? I thought we just made you the happiest mother ever? Jane said rubbing her head exaggerating how much the knock from Angela actually hurt.
"You know you could have told me, here I was left in the dark. I could have helped you plan." Angela stated.
"No offense Ma, but this was something I needed to do on my own." Trying not to hurt Angela's feelings "Also I thought it kind of brought some excitement for you too, watching the moment unfold as Maura did."
Angela satisfied with the answer grabbed Jane in for a tight hug again. "At last my daughter is finally getting married. Who knew it would take this long" Angela said lovingly.
"Geez Ma, enough with the hugs already" Jane whined.
Tommy, walked up next, grinning from ear to ear as he embraced his sister and future sister-in-law. "I couldn't be prouder of you both. You make a beautiful couple."
Jane's brother, Frankie, clapped Jane on the back, a proud smile on his face. "Looks like I'll finally have a sister-in-law. Congratulations, Jane." Nina greeted them too with smiles and congratulations.
As the rest of the family moved towards the last exhibit before the gift shop, the elephants, Jane and Maura hung back taking a few minutes for themselves.
Maura kept staring at her ring holding it up to the sun while watching it reflect off all the edges.
Suddenly Maura tensed up as a text message came through. Jane froze thinking something was wrong. "Maura, what's wrong?" Jane asked carefully
With tears in her eyes Maura turned towards Jane. "Jane, that was my mother, wishing us Congratulations." Jane waited patiently for what int his statement caused the reaction she was seeing in her fiancé. "She said it couldn't have been a better proposal. Apparently she got to view it in real time as it happened. You thought of everything." With a kiss on her lips, a wave of relief washed over Jane.
As they broke their embrace, Jane began "Well I didn't want her to miss out. My entire family was getting to witness the best moment of my life so far and I couldn't keep it from your family. Yesterday, Frankie reached out with a mysterious message requesting she be available this afternoon for a FaceTime call."
"Apparently according to Frankie your mother turned into quite the detective questioning him. He says he didn't break but it doesn't really matter. She got to witness everything with the help of Nina and technology." Jane said as she pulled Maura in for a quick kiss.
"Now we also have a video to show our kids of how I proposed to you" Jane said.
"Our kids" Maura questioned.
"Well let's not jump ahead of ourselves now" Jane stated as she hurriedly grabbed Maura's hand leading her towards the rest of the family visiting the elephants.