It had been an emotional day for Rosa, but when she stepped into her apartment, she was looking forward to some much-needed comfort. As she entered, the first thing she noticed was the scent of something lavender—Maddy was taking a bath. Rosa smiled softly, her mind still buzzing with the events from earlier when she’d come out to her parents. They hadn’t taken it well, and she’d spent the better part of the day processing it all.
Rosa set down her bag and made her way to the bathroom, sitting gently on the edge of the tub where Maddy was soaking, her head resting on the rim as she stared at the ceiling.
“Hey, you okay?” Rosa said softly, breaking the silence.
Maddy looked up at her, offering a tired smile. “Yeah, just twisted my knee a little while chasing down a perp, but I’ll survive.”
Rosa took a moment to just sit beside Maddy, her hand gently resting on the edge of the tub. “So, I came out to my parents today,” she finally admitted, her voice quiet.
Maddy’s eyes softened as she listened, completely attentive. “How did it go?”
Rosa gave a small, bitter laugh. “Not as great as I hoped. My mom barely spoke. My dad said it was okay because I could “still marry a guy”. It felt like I was telling them I was a different person, not just… me.” She looked down at the floor for a moment before shaking it off. “Anyway, let’s just say it didn’t go as planned.”
“Well, screw them. You’re you, and that’s all that matters,” Maddy said, her tone firm, trying to offer some comfort.
Rosa smiled at that, appreciating Maddy’s unwavering support. “I know,” she said softly. “But it still stings a bit.”
“Look, we can have a relaxing night. Just you, me, some takeout… forget about everything else for a bit. I’ll be out of here in a minute,” she said, already reaching for her phone to order dinner. Rosa gave a nod, watching Maddy with an affectionate smile, but before she could say anything more, the doorbell rang, interrupting their conversation. Rosa gave a small groan, standing up , moving to the door and peeking through the peephole. Her eyebrows furrowed in confusion as she saw the whole squad standing outside, holding board games, snacks, and drinks. “What the hell?” Rosa muttered under her breath before opening the door.
“Surprise!” Jake said enthusiastically, pushing past her with a box of chips. “Game night! You didn’t think we’d forget, did you?”
Rosa blinked, still not quite processing what was happening. “Jake, what are you—” The squad started flooding into her tiny apartment, clearly not noticing anything amiss. Amy and Gina were excitedly setting up the board games on the living room table, while Jake and Boyle argued about what snacks to open first. But Rosa was still standing in the doorway, staring after them, confused.
“Game night?” Rosa muttered to herself, still trying to wrap her head around the surprise.
Just then, the sound of Maddy’s voice rang out from down the hall. “Babe, what do you want for dinner?”
Rosa froze, her eyes widening as she slowly turned around to see Maddy walking out of her room, wrapped in one of Rosa’s oversized T-shirts and her pajama shorts. Maddy‘s eyes were glued to her phone, totally unaware of the awkward situation unfolding in front of her. The room went silent. The squad froze, their eyes flickering between Rosa and Maddy. Maddy looked up to see all of them staring at her, a soft blush creeping onto her cheeks as she quickly realized the moment she had just stepped into. The squad continued to stare, and Jake couldn’t help but grin.
“Wait, what? ‘Babe’?”
“Uh…” Maddy started, her voice faltering. “I mean, um, hey, everybody!” She awkwardly laughed, trying to pass it off as a joke. “It’s just a funny nickname, right, Rosa?”
Rosa, on the other hand, raised an eyebrow, trying to hide her own embarrassment. Maddy quickly added, “Wait, I—”
Before she could get another word out, she cleared her throat. “Can we just, uh, talk for a sec?” she asked Rosa, who was still standing in the doorway. Without another word, they slipped back into Rosa’s room, the door closing behind them.
Once inside, Maddy quickly turned to her. “What’s going on? What are they doing here?” she asked, still feeling like her whole world had just shifted into a very awkward space.
Rosa rubbed her temples. “Jake planned this whole surprise game night for me,” she said.
Maddy winced, suddenly remembering. “Oh God. I completely forgot. I was trying to make things easy and—”
Rosa stopped her, placing both hands on Maddy’s shoulders. “It’s fine, Maddy. We knew this was going to happen sooner or later. I mean, it kind of already happened with Captain Holt, right?” She smiled faintly.
Maddy let out a nervous laugh. “Yeah, and I’m 90% sure Jake already knew.”
Rosa’s eyes softened. “It’s fine, really. Let’s just tell them, okay? I think it’ll be good for us, for both of us.”
Maddy hesitated, biting her lip. “But I don’t want to rush it, you know? I want us to do it right. I’m just… worried about you.”
Rosa smiled and reached up to gently touch Maddy’s cheek. “Maddy, we’re already here. It’s happening. No pressure. Just… let’s tell them.”
Maddy took a deep breath and nodded, leaning forward to kiss Rosa’s forehead. “Alright. Let’s do it.”
Rosa grinned, standing up straight and holding Maddy’s hand as they walked back out into the living room. She stood in front of the group, her voice steady. “Alright, everyone,” she said with a smirk. “Maddy and I have something to tell you.”
There was a brief silence before Jake yelled out, “YES! You lost, Boyle!” turning to the detective, who had clearly been betting on them getting together.
Boyle’s eyes widened. “Wait, how’d you know?”
“Of course I knew,” Jake replied, victorious. “I’m Jake Peralta.”
Rosa rolled her eyes, trying to hide her amusement. “Anyway, we’re together. Now, you have one minute to ask questions before I lose my patience.”
The questions came pouring in immediately—How long have you been together? How did it happen? Who confessed first? Did you always have a thing for each other? Maddy couldn’t help but smile at Rosa, the nerves and embarrassment from earlier melting away as she realized this was just the beginning of something real. The squad continued to ask more questions, and the night continued with laughter and good-natured teasing. For the first time in a long while, everything felt right.
-
Later that evening, the noise of the game night began to die down. Laughter and the sound of playful bickering filled the air as Maddy wandered into the kitchen, still processing everything that had just unfolded. She opened the fridge, pulling out some leftover pizza to plate for Rosa, who was slightly tipsy from a few too many glasses of wine. It had been a night full of surprises, but it was all worth it. As Maddy turned around to head back into the living room, she almost bumped into Captain Holt, who had quietly entered the kitchen in search of a glass of water.
“Oh, Captain, sorry!” Maddy quickly apologized, stepping out of the way to let him get what he needed.
Holt nodded, the quiet authority he always carried in his demeanor still present. “No problem, Montgomery,” he replied, opening the cupboard for a glass.
Maddy watched for a moment before speaking up. “Hey, Captain,” she said casually. Holt looked at her curiously, waiting for her to continue.
“Rosa told me what you said to her when you first arrived—about being proud of her.” Maddy smiled softly, a hint of emotion in her voice. “What you said really meant a lot to her. It made her feel better.”
Captain Holt paused for a moment, his gaze steady. “I’m glad to hear that. Rosa has always been someone I admire. She’s incredibly strong, and she deserves to feel proud of herself, just as you do.”
Maddy’s smile grew. “I don’t think she says it enough, but I know she looks up to you more than anyone else.”
Holt gave her a rare, sincere smile. “I’m proud of both of you,” he said quietly. “The journey you’re both on might be long, and it may have its difficulties, but know that I’m here for you—every step of the way.”
For a moment, Maddy was taken aback by the warmth in his voice. It was a side of Captain Holt that not many saw. She felt a lump form in her throat, so she just nodded and said, “Thank you, Captain.”
Without another word, Holt reached out and gave Maddy a brief but genuine hug. It was unexpected, but comforting. Maddy returned the hug, grateful for his words. Pulling away, Captain Holt turned to the plate in Maddy’s hands, now interested in the contents. “What are you doing, Detective?” he asked, glancing at the pizza in her hands.
“Getting some food for Rosa,” Maddy said, softly smiling. “She’s had a bit too much wine and needs to eat something. Probably won’t admit it, but I know she does.” They both looked over into the living room, where Rosa was now fighting with Jake over who had won Cluedo. Maddy could hear them bickering from the kitchen, but the sound brought a warmth to her chest. Despite everything that had happened today, everything was fine.
“I’m pretty sure she’s forgotten about our Pilates class tomorrow morning,” Maddy said with a laugh, watching Rosa try to convince Jake she had actually won. Holt watched the scene for a beat, a small smile tugging at his lips.
“I’m glad she’s found someone who’s willing to take care of her,” he said quietly. “You two are good for each other.”
Maddy nodded, her heart swelling with pride. “Thanks, Captain,” she said again, her voice soft with gratitude. “You’ve really helped me and Rosa. I don’t know what we’d do without you.” She smiled, a little embarrassed, before she headed out of the kitchen with the pizza. As Maddy left, Captain Holt stayed in the kitchen for a moment longer, watching the scene unfold in the living room. He couldn’t help but smile to himself, feeling a sense of quiet pride.
-
Meanwhile, in the living room, Maddy sat down beside Rosa on the couch, offering her a slice of pizza. Rosa blinked at the plate in confusion before grinning. “Pizza? Is it from that place we like?”
“Yep,” Maddy replied, smiling softly. “I figured you could use something to eat.”
Rosa took the slice and nibbled on it, her eyes twinkling mischievously. “I totally forgot about Pilates,” she admitted, laughing a little at herself. “But it’s okay. We can totally skip it tomorrow, right?”
Maddy rolled her eyes with a grin. “Fine, only cause you’re cute.” She leaned in and kissed Rosa’s cheek, resting her head against her shoulder. Rosa laughed, taking another bite of her pizza.
“I’m just so glad you’re here. After everything today… it’s nice to just relax. I don’t know what I’d do without you.”
Maddy smiled, wrapping her arm around Rosa, holding her close. “I’m proud of you, you know that? Coming out to your parents, to the squad… it’s not easy, but you did it. You’re incredible, Rosa.”
Rosa’s smile softened, her gaze meeting Maddy’s. “I couldn’t have done it without you, Maddy.” They sat there for a moment, just enjoying each other’s company, watching as Charles and Gina began to fight over what game to play next. After everything they’d been through, Maddy and Rosa knew that whatever the future held, they’d face it together. The love they had for each other was undeniable, and nothing could change that.
-
When the last of the squad left for the night, leaving them in the quiet of Rosa’s apartment, Maddy and Rosa snuggled up in bed, their arms wrapped around each other, the world outside no longer seeming so heavy. “I’m so proud of you,” Maddy whispered, pressing a kiss to Rosa’s forehead.
Rosa smiled sleepily, her face content. “I’m proud of us,” she murmured back. And in that moment, surrounded by warmth and the love they shared, Maddy and Rosa knew that no matter how hard the journey got, they would always have each other.