Disclaimer: Rizzoli & Isles don't belong to me. I simply borrowed them from the television show (not the books) to play with them a little. No copyright infringement intended.

Jane stuck her head around the corner to the Division Café and spotted her favorite medical examiner receiving a tall latte from Stanley. Jane's mother was nowhere in sight which was good, still, Jane hesitated. Would Maura like it? What if she didn't? She couldn't just go back and say: pin it back on! She could but it wouldn't do her any good, not even if she pulled her weapon on them... it might satisfy her to shoot the person who talked her into this but her hair would stay as it was: short.

Truth be told she herself kind of liked it, her head felt lighter and it wasn't as if it was very short, just chin-length. Was it too short? Jane tried to catch her reflection to assure herself but it was too late anyhow.

"Time to face the music, Rizzoli," she braced herself, then winced when she heard one of her colleagues call to her:

"Hey, Rizzoli, nice 'do'," he snickered.

"Yeah, thanks, Parker. Be sure to get one yourself, if you hair ever grows back," she threw back and he pulled a face. "No hair but a big mouth...," Jane mumbled and turned around back to Maura who had heard the exchange, of course, and had turned to greet her favorite homicide detective. She smiled.

"Hello, Jane," she greeted her friend and her smile grew even wider. It seemed she had some things to say to the detective but waited until Jane stood next to her at her table.

"Hey, Maur. What do you think?" Jane asked hesitantly.

"You look adorable," Maura answered and touched the short ends of Janes formerly long formerly unruly hair. It had been straightened and she knew that Jane wouldn't make such a fuss over it every morning. It looked good this way but the blonde could hardly wait to see it in its short unruly glory soon.

"Adorable?" Jane pulled a face, she didn't want to look adorable but it was better than horrible.

"And very sexy." This earned Maura a rakish grin.

"Thank you very much. I hope my date thinks so, too." Jane let her dimples show and Maura laughed.

"I bet your date will be deli..."

"Jane! Oh my god, what...?" It was Angela Rizzoli. She came over, the shock obviously showing on her face. Her little girl had cut her beautiful locks.

"Mom, it's just a hair cut, okay?" Jane rolled her eyes.

"But... your hair..." Angela made her sad mother's face and touched the short strands of her daughters hair.

"It will grow back, mom." Jane's voice turned whiney and she knew it but she couldn't bear seeing that sad face her mother made. Was there a daughter in the world who could?

"I think it looks gorgeous," Maura informed Angela. Her hand wandered back to Jane's hair, ruffling it slightly.

"Okay, enough with the touching," Jane said though she wasn't really annoyed. She was still smiling, especially after what Maura had just said.

"You're her friend, you have to say that," Angela informed Maura who opened her mouth to disagree when Jane asked:

"Did you just say it because you're... my friend?" Her dark eyes looked hurt but she wanted to give Maura the benefit of the doubt.

"Of course not. I said it because it's true. You look stunning, and very professional, and I may add feminine," the last one she threw in for Angela's benefit. She knew that the woman was always concerned about Jane's rather masculine demeanor. She saw Jane roll her eyes again but Angela turned to her.

"Do you really think so, Maura?"

"Absolutely. The shorter 'do' accentuates her high cheek bones, that's a very classical feminine look. If I had cheek bones like that I would wear my hair just like Jane does now," Maura exclaimed with conviction. Angela looked back at her daughter and her face brightened.

"I think you're right. It's just unfamiliar but it does look good. I hope your date will like it, Jane, although I am not to know if he does, of course, as you won't introduce him to me," a little pout appeared on Angela's face that had just been smiling at Jane for a second. It was strange that her mother could smile at Tommy a whole evening just because he was present but everything Jane did she took as a personal affront.

"It's our first date, mom. Introducing the parents would be a little tactless, don't you think?"

"Pshaw, with the way you date I may never get to know him," Angela answered her daughter whose eyes went round. Maura suppressed a grin.

"What is that supposed to mean, 'the way I date'? I just want to make sure the person is right for me before I introduce them to you and the boys."

"And me," Maura threw in as she saw herself as one of the Rizzoli-family but it only earned her a confused look from Jane.

"I am just saying, a mother likes to have a say when it comes to the man her daughter may be marrying." This comment earned her big-eyed stares from both the detective and the medical examiner.

"Marrying, mom, nobody has said anything about marrying... yet," Jane's look darted to Maura but she saw the same look of incredulity and awkwardness thrown back at her.

"It's just a date," Maura agreed.

"Alright, alright, but please make sure to introduce him to me before the nuptials, that's all I'm asking," Angela threw her hands in the air in defeat and returned to her work.

"Nuptials... one might think my mother is in a hurry to marry me off," Jane mumbled, blushing.

"And not every relationship, of course, culminates in a wedding. I know couples who are quite happily living together without a marriage certificate."

"Really?" Jane asked Maura. "I mean, you don't want to get married?" She sounded disappointed.

"I'm not saying that I don't want to but... I mean, not after a first date."

"Right. It's the first... I mean, it's MY first date." They nodded. "I have to go to upstairs, paper work."

"Yeah, me too, I mean, downstairs, paperwork." They looked a little unsure at each other. Maura tried a smile and her dimples showed. Jane's look melted and her chocolate brown eyes showed her affection.

"I'll see you later then." They walked to the elevators together and finally seperated to get to their respective work stations.

Later that day

Barry Frost left the elevator and walked into the Division Café where Angela just closed shop for the day. When she saw him, she smiled.

"I am sorry, Barry, but I am closed for the day."

"That's okay, I just wanted to see if you were still here. Jane left half an hour ago." He said and helped his partner's mother carry the stools to one side of the enclosed space of the precinct's hall that was the cafe.

"I know and she practically glowed," Angela giggled and the young African American laughed.

"I can't believe they actually think we're so blind," he shook his head in disbelieve.

"I know. But then it took Jane long enough to ask Maura out. If she knew we already all knew they would end up together, she just would have stayed miserable out of spite."

"That's so Jane." Angela sighed.

"It's a little exhausting to pretend, though. I hope they won't make a big secret out of it after this date." Angela rolled her eyes and Barry grinned.

"I can't wait to see their faces when they announce that they are dating and everybody's like: duh!" They laughed together.

"I don't know, I thought that maybe I will play surprised... I think that maybe I will get a couple of perks out of being a progressive and understanding mother." Barry contemplated that.

"That might be a good idea. Considering that I'm her partner and she hasn't even told me that she is going out with Dr. Isles... she deserves to suffer a little." He grinned. Angela nodded.

"All set?" Barry asked.

"Yeah, that's all for today. The next shift of madness begins Monday morning." Barry presented Angela with his arm and she took it, blushing slightly but laughing all the same.

"Thank you, detective Frost." Barry accompanied Angela to her car where they parted ways, Barry saying:

"I hope they have fun tonight, though." he smiled and so did Angela as she slipped into her car.

"Well, I know that I won't be waiting up for Maura."