Hey, y'all. So this just popped into my head, and I figured I might as well throw it up here for y'all to critique. It's probably going to end up being a short little multi-chapter fic. Not too long. And, of course, completely ridiculous, bringing us to some Christmas Rizzles. Let me know what y'all think and if you want me to finish it out.

For those of you reading "Headaches," an update is on its way. (If you aren't reading "Headaches," allow me to point you in its general direction. Hint hint.)

Thanks for all the support folks. I hope you're having a great holiday season. Love.

Disclaimer: I do not own Rizzoli & Isles. Not for profit, etc., etc.

"Auntie Jay, Auntie Jay!"

The tall woman drops her bags and kneels down just in time to sweep the curly haired banshee running at her full force into a huge hug. "Hey there, munchkin," she smiles, grinning in delight as she swoops the little form into the air and then back down to earth, delighted squeals greeting her the entire way. "Miss me?"

Once both pink booted little feet are planted firmly back on solid ground, the brunette is able to pull back and get a good look at the figure holding onto her. "Well, I'll be," she declares in a mock southern drawl. "This can't be the same niece I saw last time. Annie was just a little squirt. You musta grown two feet since I've been here last!"

The little girl mock pouts. "8 whole inches," she says.

"Oh, it's her alright. Growing like a weed."

At the voice, the woman stands to her full height, coming face to face with a man who could almost pass as her twin. "Hey, brother," she says fondly and pulls him into a tight hug. "Missed you," she can't help whispering in his ear before he lets her go.

"We missed you, too," he responds. And it's then that she notices the quiet boy standing behind his father.

"Well, hey there, TJ. Long time no see!"

When he doesn't respond, his father swats at his shoulder. "Say hello to your aunt," he orders.

"Hey Aunt Jay," the boy grumbles, his long hair covering his eyes.

"Teenagers," Tommy grumbles and Jane rolls her eyes in understanding.

"Aunt Jay," the little girl is back to pulling on her aunt's arm to get her attention. "Wait until you see what nona and I made for you!"

"These your bags?" Tommy indicates the forgotten articles, and Jane gives him a nod, letting her enthusiastic niece lead the way out of the bustling airport and towards the car, chatting a mile a minute the entire way.

When they step outside, she takes a minute to appreciate the way the cold automatically begins biting at her clothes. Virginia is chilly, but it hasn't snowed there yet, and this is a welcome change. She takes a deep breath, the sound of taxi's honking and people shouting to one another, the smell of gasoline in the winter air, invading her senses. There are wreaths hung up every few feet along the outside of the airport terminal, and the tinkling of a Salvation Army Collection Box greets her. It's Christmas time, and she is home.

The entire ride back to Nona's house, no one can get a word in edgewise around Annie's rambling. She tells her aunt all about what she asked for from Santa, the food she and Nona have been busy cooking all day, her plan for catching the big man in the act of delivering her presents this year. Tommy shoots his older sister an apologetic grin, but she waves it away, focusing on her niece. Her excitement almost matching that of the six year old's. She used to love Christmas just as much when she was a kid.

They pull up to a small, but cozy looking house and Jane peers out of the window. "It's nice," she comments, and her brother agrees.

"It's kind of a lot of space for her, I think. But the kids are there every day after school until Lydia and I get off work. And she likes having her own place. It was time." The mention of what exactly it was time for goes unspoken. But Jane can feel her there behind the words nevertheless, and she gives a little sigh. She was hoping to avoid mention of that particular subject during her visit.

"Ma's so excited to see you," Tommy explains, grabbing her bag from the trunk and waving her helping hands away. "It's all she and Annie have been able to talk about."

Jane nods, taking a deep breath and squaring her shoulders before heading up the iced walkway towards the front door. It's been more than a year since she's seen her mother, three since she was actually in Boston. Angela Rizzoli had come down for a visit, and by the time the week was up, Jane had been ready to tear her own hair out. But it feels good to be coming home. To be spending the holidays with her family, crazy as they might be. It feels good.

When they enter through the front door, Jane can't help but be overcome by old memories. This isn't the house she and her brothers grew up in, but it still smells the same. Like vanilla and cinnamon. It has the same 'lived-in' feel, like there's a whole heap of stories written behind it's softened old frame. Tommy drops her bag off at the base of the stairs and gestures along the hallway. The two follow the trail of snow stuff left behind by the little girl as she ran through on her way to her grandmother. They hear her high pitched giggling before they see her.

Rounding the corner, Jane almost can't stand how right it all looks. The living room off to the side, lights from the tree glowing through the doorway, and her mother standing in a messy kitchen, looking a bit frazzled, but positively glowing with the holiday season. She sees the shine of unshed tears as Angela approaches, arms outstretched, and Jane doesn't even think about ducking as those strong arms pull her into a hug.

"Hi, baby," her mother's voice is soft and warm.

"Hiya, ma," Jane's husky voice responds happily.

"I missed you so much!"

After several moments have gone by, the taller woman has had enough, "Ma, you're squishing me," she begs.

Angela gives one last squeeze and then pulls away, looking her daughter up and down with a critical eye. "You're too skinny!" she finally declares, and Jane's eyes roll automatically, a habit carried over from her teenage years.

"I'm fine, ma," she responds good-naturedly.

Her mother swats her arm gently with the towel she's holding. "You will be after you let me fatten you up over the next few days. No arguing," she orders, a finger pointed in her daughter's direction.

"I wouldn't dream of it," Jane holds up her hands in mock surrender.

Her mother takes a step forward and cups Jane's cheek in her hand. The brunette can't help but lean in to the motherly touch. It's been too long since her ma has had the opportunity to dote on her. "Merry Christmas, Janie. I'm so happy to have you home."

"Me too, Ma," Jane answers softly.

And then the oven's timer goes off and Annie is back at her aunt's side, begging to give her the grand tour, and Angela is fussing over TJ, while her grandson simply shrugs her off, a habit picked up from watching his father and uncle do the same thing with their mother's overbearingness. Tommy finally hauls his son outside on the pretense of shoveling the driveway and Jane lets herself be dragged off by the little munchkin to see the house.

The tour takes Jane upstairs, where she drops her bag at the foot of one of the twin beds in the guest room, which is where, Annie declares proudly, she sleeps when she spends the night at Grandma's house. They look at all the toys Annie has accumulated there, and then head back downstairs. Jane runs her fingers down the pictures lining the stairwell as they descend. There are baby pictures of Jane, Frankie, and Tommy, and then family photos from when the kids were growing up, somewhat yellowed now. The wall seems to tell the story of their entire childhoods.

Annie and TJ are on there, too, their little faces glowing in the frames, smiling cheekily back at the camera. Jane is shocked by how much they resemble her youngest brother and she feels her heart swell with pride at how beautiful his children are. At what a wonderful father he is turning out to be.

Her gaze lands on one photograph from more than ten years ago now, back when Jane was still in Boston. The entire family is gathered around the Christmas tree, the star bent over under the ceiling because Tommy and Frankie had insisted on getting the biggest one they could find. For TJ, they'd said, although the toddler hadn't really understood. Her Ma is there, Frankie, Tommy and Lydia and TJ in their own little family unit, and Frost and Korsak as well or course. The two detectives as much a part of the Rizzoli clan by that point as Jane or her siblings. And Jane, the only one not looking at the camera. Instead, she's looking at the person standing next to her, a silly smile on her face, her arm wrapped around the other woman's small waist. That was before, before everything. Before Jane got the call from the FBI, before she took the job down in Virginia and it all went to Hell.

No. She isn't going to dwell on it. That's the past. She's moved on. Jesus, it's been a decade. She doesn't care anymore. She doesn't. She swore to herself that she wouldn't think about it while she was in town. She promised herself. It's done.

The sound of Annie calling her name from the living room draws Agent Rizzoli back to herself, shaking her out of her reverie. She lets her finger drop from where it was resting on the blonde woman's form behind the glass and heads downstairs, smile fixed firmly in place. Determined not to let old memories ruin this holiday.

Several hours later, darkness has descended on Boston. The lights strung up on houses all along the block have slowly winked on, bathing the street in multi-colored Christmas warmth. Jane stamps her boots off on the front porch, trailing behind her niece and nephew. All of their cheeks are red and glowing from the cold and her hands are frozen inside their mitteny cover. She trades a fist bump with her youngest brother. The two have just successfully trounced the younger Rizzoli's in the annual Christmas Eve snowball fight. Sure, maybe it wasn't precisely fair, but sure as hell was a good time.

"Hang up your coats!" Angela's shrill voice resounds throughout the house as her children and grandchildren come clumping inside, banging snow off onto the rug.

Jane can't help her deep belly laugh when she sees both of her brother's children roll their eyes in unison. Some things would never change.

Once free of their snow gear, the four tramp into the kitchen, settling themselves at the kitchen table while Lydia plops cups of hot cocoa down in front of them.

"Thanks, babe," Tommy smiles at her wife in appreciation.

"Thanks, mom," his children echo.

"Thank you, Lydia," Jane agrees, sighing in appreciation when her hands come into contact with the warm cup. Her hands still tend to cramp up in the cold, a legacy left to her by a crazy psychostalker homicidal lunatic many years ago. She pushes the memory out of her head, and gives herself a chocolatey mustache, which gets a giggle out of her niece.

"Frankie and the others should be here any minute," Angela announces, swatting away her grandsons hand when he tries to steal a deviled egg. "They're going to be so happy to see you, Janie!" Jane returns her mother's ear to ear grin.

"Do you need any help, Ma?"

"I think Lydia and I have got it," the matriarch surveys the pots and pans cooking in front of her. "Don't we dear?" Lydia nods in return.

Jane is happy to see Lydia getting involved, helping her mother out in the kitchen. At first, with the whole TJ situation, it was a toss up as to how it would all play out. But Tommy and Lydia managed to reconnect over the whole thing and they got married when TJ was two. Jane didn't necessarily like her sister in law, but Lydia did her best. And she was a good mom. Tommy had landed a steady job working for a painting company, and he was the boss now. She couldn't help but be proud of how her little brother had managed to turn his entire life around for his family. He'd done good, and continued to do so.

He quirked a dark eyebrow at her over his hot chocolate and she realized that she'd missed a question from her mother.

"What, ma? Sorry."

"I asked," her mother heaved a sigh, "why you didn't bring anybody with you."

Jane groaned. "Ma, c'mon. I've only been back for five hours. Give it a rest."

"You aren't getting any younger, Jane. I, for one, would appreciate some more grandchildren. And Frankie doesn't look like he's settling down anytime soon."

"Well, Frost and Sarah are getting married in the spring, Ma. Ask them for grandkids."

"She already has," Tommy said out of the corner of his mouth, ducking out of his mother's reach when she tried to hit with over the head with a wooden spoon.

"You'd just have such cute little kids, Janie. Is it a crime for a woman to want to see her children happily married."

"Jesus, Ma," Jane ran a hand exasperatedly through her thick curls.

"And it's not like there's been anyone since M-"

"Ma." She cuts her mother off there, her tone suddenly turning icy and cold. "No."

Her mother half looks as though she might argue, but the doorbell rings and Jane stands in relief.

"I'll get it!" Annie scrambles out of her chair, racing her aunt down the hall and pulling open the front door in excitement. "Uncle Frankie!" she launches her small body into his waiting arms.

"There's my favorite niece!"

"I'm your only niece, Unk," she sasses back.

"Oh, that's right!"

Jane comes up behind the two of them, smile on her face.

"And is that my favorite sister?" He plays.

"I'm your only sister," she jokes in response. He sets the little munchkin down and pulls her in for a hug of her own. She squeezes back tightly.

"You look good, brother."

"Well, you look like shit," he responds, wincing slightly when she punches him on the shoulder. "Ow. Jesus."

"Just because I'm old doesn't mean I can't still beat your ass," she growls.

But he shakes his head happily, "It's good to see you, Janie. Merry Christmas."

"Oooooh, presents!" the two are brought out of their quiet moment by the squealing of a happy six year old.

"Those are for after supper," her uncle orders, grabbing her around the middle and hoisting her into the air. "And not for little girls that peak!"

Jane grabs the bag of wrapped gifts and follows her brother back inside.

"Frankie!" her mother calls when her middle child enters the kitchen. "Where's Frost?"

"He went home to pick Sarah up," Frankie exclaimed. "We just finished a case, and he wanted to change first. Korsak should be right behind me though."

Angela looks pleased at the news. "Good. Because dinner is almost ready." She shot her son a look, "And...?"

Frankie chanced a glance at Jane, but she was putting the presents under the tree. "After dinner."

Angela nodded and then turned back to the stove as Jane reentered the kitchen.

The Agent headed for the fridge, "Beer, brother?"

"Please."

The two cracked them open simultaneously and gave exaggerated sighs as the cold beverage slid down their throats.

"So, how's homicide going?" Jane questioned, following Frankie into the living room and flopping her lanky form down on the couch next to Tommy, who is engaged in a quiet chess match with TJ.

Frankie shrugged. "It's good. I think Korsak is looking at retirement this year, which means Frost'll get promoted and I'll be getting a new partner."

Jane clapped him on the back. "It's about time that old fart handed in his badge. And you'll be great with a newbie, Frankie."

Her brother nodded. "I'm worried Korsak's gonna do something crazy once he's got too much free time on his hands. He's been talking about buying a farm and opening a shelter or some shit like that."

Jane laughed in response. "Him and his strays. He never changes."

Frankie grimaced. "He gave me a cat last month that he picked up in some gutter. I am not a cat person. But I don't know how to get rid of the damn thing."

"Well, that's how it was with Jo," Jane said fondly. "Just wait. It'll grow on you."

"So, how's the Bureau?" he asked.

"Same old, same old, I suppose," Jane answered. "It's exciting, ya know. But it's good to be back."

"It's been awhile."

"It has," she agreed, and the two clinked bottles gently. "It's good to be back though," she all but whispered, looking at the glowing tree, bedecked with a mess of ornaments, mostly handmade by herself, her brothers, and now Tommy's kids.

They sat down to eat an hour later, after welcoming Korsak, loaded down with gifts. "You look more and more like Santa himself, old man," Jane had joked on greeting her long ago partner, and he'd chuckled. Frost and his fiancé, Sarah showed up right before the food was ready. Jane given Sarah a quick hug, having met her several times when Frost brought her down to Virginia for visits. She was sweet. Kind. Funny. Perfect for Frost really. Together, Jane had to admit they made a cute couple. She and Frost fist bumped before wrapping one another in a giant hug. "Missed you, partner," she whispered and he'd nodded back. And that was that.

They were eating in the living room because there wasn't enough room in the kitchen. Kids were on the floor, Korsak in the armchair, Angela, when her children finally got her to sit, on the couch with Sarah and Lydia, Tommy next to the munchkins, Frost leaning back against Sarah's legs, and Jane and Frankie next to the tree. The food was delicious and there was plenty to go around. Second helpings were had and thirds. And no one remembered to save room for dessert. But then again, there always seemed to be room for Angela's homemade pumpkin and apple pies. Laughter was loud and frequent over the meal, while the family dredged up old stories and ragged good naturedly on one another constantly. The heat of many happy bodies made the room warm and cozy, while snow fell lazily outside the large picture window which looked out on the back yard.

Jane settled back against the wall with a contented sigh, patting her full stomach in appreciation. She let her gaze wander over her family, laughing to herself at her mother's exaggerated antics, her face a bit redder than usual, probably due to the eggnog clutched in her hand. Frankie had been spiking it since they were teenagers. The other adults all had wine or beer (except for Tommy, who, Jane was proud to see, was sporting a glass of the kids' sparkling grape juice which Korsak had brought over). Korsak, Frost, Tommy, and TJ were engaged in a debate which seemed to be centered on the Red Sox's winning season the year before. Frankie was tugging on one of Annie's braids jokingly and tickling her. Jane caught snatches of her mother's conversation with Lydia and Sarah. They were discussing wedding plans. Her mother looked absolutely ecstatic at the thought of another wedding in the family. Jane hoped Sarah knew what she was getting herself into, letting Angela Rizzoli get involved. They may not have been blood related, but Angela was just as much a mother to Frost as his own mother was.

It was perfect. A perfect Christmas Eve. She thought back to the past few Christmases she'd spent in Virginia. She'd worked late each year, and then gone home to her empty apartment, thrown back a few beers, and plopped down on her couch in her pajamas to watch It's a Wonderful Life by herself. She'd cried every time when good ole George Bailey finally returned home to his family. The sound of Auld Lang Syne sending her into a fit of tears. And then she'd press rewind and watch it again. Again and again until she fell asleep. It was pathetic.

But not this year. No. This year she'd taken the time off her boss offered and, although leery about it, headed up North, home to her family. Looking around at the familiar faces, warm and glowing in the light of the tree, Jane couldn't stand to think of those past years. She was here now, surrounded by her family. By the people she loved. And she was happy, so damn happy she felt that she would burst at any moment. Not normally one for such sappy sentiment, Jane scoffed at herself, but didn't try to contain the grin that she knew was residing her face.

"Janie? You alright?"

At Frankie's quiet question, she realized that a tear had made it's way down her cheek. Embarrassed, she wiped it away quickly, pleased that no one else seemed to have noticed. "Happy tears, Brother," she explained, giving his arm a squeeze. Thankfully, he understood, because he gave her a knowing look in return and turned back to their niece.

After they'd all eaten as much food as they could possibly hold without exploding, pie and all, and after drinks had been topped off, Jane found herself in the kitchen with her mother, drying the plates as Angela handed them to her, freshly sponged.

"That was good, Ma. Thanks," Tommy said, handing his mother his plate and kissing her cheek.

"You're welcome, Tommy," she positively glowed at the compliment. "Jane and I'll just finish these up and then we can do presents, alright?"

"Great, I'll tell the kids."

Jane watched her brother leave the room, and then glanced over at her mother. "He's doing good," she observed.

Angela agreed. "He's a good father to those kids," she couldn't hide the pride in her voice.

"You raised him right, Ma."

Angela gave her daughter a searching look. "You're all good kids, Janie. Tommy's got his own little family and his painting job. Vince said that Frankie has got some of the best instincts around over at the precinct. I worry about him everyday of course. You, too," she hip checked her daughter gently. "Don't think I don't just because you're all grown up now. But he's good at his job."

Jane nodded.

"And I'm proud of you, too, Janie."

Jane didn't stop rubbing the plate she was drying, but her mother's words caused a lump to form in her throat. "Thanks, ma."

Angela's strong hands covered her own rough ones. "I mean it, Janie. I might worry about you, and complain when you don't call me often enough. But I'm proud of what you're doing."

Jane couldn't trust herself to speak.

"I just want you to be happy, baby."

"I am happy, Ma." It wasn't a lie, but it wasn't exactly the truth either. Her job was rewarding. She did good work, felt like she was making a difference, helping people. But she was constantly lonely. She hadn't found any close friends like she'd had at Boston PD. No Frosts, no Korsaks. Certainly no Mau-. Anyway. And so she threw herself into her work headfirst, trying to drown out that feeling of loneliness that seemed to be her constant companion. Usually it worked, too. But, the holidays were always hard.

She was happy now though. Today. Being home. Surrounded by her friends and family. Eating her mother's home cooking. She could feel the tension leaving her body in waves. Could feel herself relaxing into the routine of it all. And so, it wasn't a lie. In that moment, all afternoon really, she had been happy. Almost blissfully happy. Almost.

"I'm happy, Ma," she said again, and Angela smiled at her.

"Good."

Just then the doorbell rang. "We'll get it!" Frankie and Annie shouted together, taking off for the front door.

"I thought everyone was here?" Jane mentally clicked through the list of anyone who might be invited to Rizzoli family Christmas.

Her mother wasn't meeting her gaze.

"Who else is coming?"

"Janie," there was something in her mother's tone. "Please don't be upset."

"Ma?"

"Please," her mother half-begged, half-ordered. "She had nowhere else to go..."

But she could no longer hear her mother as the new guest stepped into the kitchen, smoothing her tight black dress down anxiously, and meeting Jane's gaze with a timid smile. "Hello, Jane."

Jane opened her mouth but no sound came out. She cleared her throat and tried again. "Maur-Maura. I-What? I-"

Jane tore her eyes away from beautifu-no, ravish-no, figure before her and stared at her mother, sparks practically flying from her dark brown eyes. "What is she doing here?"