Author's Note: Hi there - I'm new to this forum - and this pairing - though I have written for other pairings in the past. I've had this Christmas story in my head for some time now; I guess I just figured it was now or never. I do not have a Beta, so please excuse any spelling/grammatical erors. Reviews are most definitely welcome :) Thank you for reading.

Disclaimer: I do not own Rizzoli and Isles...If I did, they'd be a lot more that LLBFF's

CHAPTER 1

"Maura, the house is absolutely beautiful." Angela Rizzoli tipped her glass of wine toward the ME before taking a healthy swallow.

Maura smiled at the elder Rizzoli, wiping her flour caked hands on her apron and surveying her living room. Although the holiday décor was a bit brash compared to her own reserved taste, she couldn't deny that her home had never felt more festive. The ME had known that this Christmas was going to be hard for Angela. This was the first Christmas without Frank. The divorce had left the family in shambles, with Frank all but removing himself from the family dynamic. Maura, although not typically in tune with the emotional state of the living, had learned quickly to read the untold signals of the Rizzoli clan.

Ever since Thanksgiving, Angela's mood had significantly deteriorated – to the point where Maura took it upon herself to ask the woman for her help in regards to holiday preparation – a desperate turn to lift Angela's spirits. The minute Maura casually offered the invitation over dinner one lazy Sunday afternoon, Jane shot up from the couch, shaking her head violently, trying to warn her best friend that she hadn't a clue what she was in for. It was too late. Angela warmed to the idea immediately, her tired eyes crinkled at the edge with the excitement of having Maura's landscape to decorate as she saw fit. And decorate, she did.

The results were…eclectic. There wasn't an ounce of the living space – kitchen included, that didn't have some sort of Christmas ornament or decoration boldly displayed. The large tree in the living room was adorned with multicolored lights with Maura's tame silver and gold ornaments nestled in between gaudy bulbs and years of hand-made Rizzoli ornaments.

After placing the last batch of chocolate filled croissants in the oven and divesting herself of her apron, Maura made her way over to the tree, looking intently at a child's handprint painted in red and decorated with green and silver glitter in a haphazard pattern. It was hard to believe Jane's hands were once that small.

"Janie made that in kindergarten. That little shit brought it home before it was completely dry and got glitter all over my new couch."

"Angela!" Maura stifled a laugh at the use of vulgarity.

"Language, I know. I might have had a bit too much to drink. I'll have to slow down before Janie gets here otherwise I'm in for an earful." Angela winked and took another sip, "Speaking of Janie, why isn't she here yet?"

"She had some paperwork to take care of. When I left the station this afternoon she said she was going to finish up what was on her desk and then head home to shower and change."

"Change into what, a t-shirt and jeans?! I swear Maura; you have to find a way to get my daughter in something a little fancier."

Maura shook her head, "I've tried, Angela. Jane will always be Jane. Now, if you'll excuse me, I better shower and get ready for this evening. Barry and Vince should be here within the hour."

Angela watched as Maura hurried upstairs. That woman had been a saint to her and her family. Saving Frankie and taking care of Jane after that horrible shooting had only been the tip of the iceberg. After her marriage collapsed, Maura gave her a place to stay – a place to have Sunday dinners and a house full of laughter. She knew that Maura enjoyed the presence of her family, Jane's presence in particular. Angela took a sip of her wine and cradled the tiny handprint ornament in her hand. My god had the years flown by. Jane grew into the woman Angela had always imagined she would be – strong, fiercely independent, and stubborn as a bull. But she could also be as daft and as clueless as her father. Maura's presence in Jane's life had made such an amazing difference after the horror Charles Hoyt had inflicted on her daughter. Jane was calmer now. Happy. She saw the way her daughter looked at Maura, and the way Maura often returned the gaze with equal -if thinly veiled -adoration.

"I've been patient enough," Angela spoke aloud into the quiet of the room. The matriarch downed the last of her wine and headed toward the kitchen to tidy up. Jane and Maura would get their Christmas wish, whether they asked for it or not.

Jane Rizzoli sat on the corner of her bed, staring at the dress that hung on the closet door. She chewed at her thumb absentmindedly. Freshly showered, she had made quick work of drying herself off, and then took care to apply what little make-up she wore, blowing out her hair before pulling it back in a tight bun. All that was left now was the dress. The beautiful black dress the sales woman at Neiman Marcus had talked her into purchasing. She spent more on that goddamn dress and the shoes to go with it than she had on her entire wardrobe last year.

But it was Christmas and she wanted to look nice.

She wanted to look nice for Maura.

Jane stood abruptly and dropped her towel, slipping on a black lace pair of boy briefs, the only bit of comfort she allowed herself. Though the dress was form fitting, it was lose enough for undergarments to go undetected. She hated dresses. With a passion. But Maura loved them, and after all the trouble Maura had gone through this year to give her family a home – literally and figuratively, she felt the least she could do was come to Maura's holiday party dressed appropriately. Jane knew her mother and Maura would expect her in nothing more than long sleeve tee, jeans, and sneakers. Truth be told, that was exactly what she had intended to wear.

All it took to change her mind was a brief shopping trip with the ME.

They had driven in to Natick to pick up a pair of shoes Maura had special ordered and as they walked through the overpriced department store Maura had glanced at the dress, commenting that the lines suited Jane's figure. Jane huffed in her usual non-committed manner, but took note of the dress and its location. She made the trek back the next day. And the saleswomen fell over themselves with complements. So much so that Jane half believed them. What she couldn't believe was the resulting price tag.

She took the garment off of the hanger and slipped it over her shoulders, glancing at herself in the lengthwise mirror affixed to her bedroom door. After adding the shoes, which were a lot more comfortable than she had imagined, she gave herself a cursory glance before reaching for her jacket. Not bad, she thought as she smoothed the material over her hips. The guys were gonna have a field day – especially Tommy and Frankie. But Maura…well, Maura's reaction would make it worth while. Jane sighed and started to gnaw at her thumb again, not quite able to meet her own gaze in the mirror.

Maura was on her mind a lot lately, so much so that she couldn't quite remember what her life was like before the Dolce & Gabana clad Medical Examiner walked into it.

If the brunette was honest, she'd have readily admitted that she was taken with Maura at their first introduction. As odd and as brilliant as the woman had seemed during their initial introduction, Jane had been captivated by the ME's adorable quirkiness. There was an unparalleled beauty & regality in the way Maura carried herself. Jane was continuously disarmed by the by the thoughtful gaze from the hazel eyed beauty; and as of late, that same thoughtful gaze had begun to also ignite a fluttering, unfamiliar feeling in Jane's gut. Maura would undoubtedly know the medical term for the butterflies that readily appeared any time they touched or smiled at one another. Jane sighed. It was getting harder to ignore her feelings where Maura was concerned.

"Whataya think, Jo? Hmmm? Am I crazy or what?"

The dog barked twice in response and ran excited circles around the brunette's long legs.

"You're right. I am crazy. One – I am not her type – she said so herself. Two – I have nothing to give her. She has more money than God. And Three…" Jane sighed. Why the hell was she doing this? She was going to make herself sick. "And three…I can't afford to loose her – ever. It's simply not an option."

Shaking her head, Jane ruffled the dog's fur, "Come on, buddy. It's off to Maura's." Loading the bags of presents under her arms, Jane headed out into the street, unsure of what the night would bring.