It's that time of year again, so here's a little Christmas story for you...

Christmas Eve

As she sat on her couch in her sparsely decorated apartment, still in her pyjamas and dressing gown, a cold, glum and dishevelled looking Jane was trying to think if she'd ever had a worse Christmas.

There was the time that her Pop had gone AWOL and her Ma was so angry with him that when he eventually came home she threw the turkey and assorted seasonal vegetables in the garbage - and then threw him out as well.

That was a bad Christmas.

Or the time that Carla Talucci walked out on her husband the day before Christmas Eve and took refuge with the Rizzoli family, and Jane had to sleep in her brothers' room well into the New Year.

That was a pretty awful Christmas.

But this? Spending her first Christmas entirely alone - save for Jo, her loyal little dog - yes, this rated as the all time worst Christmas...ever.

It was bad enough that her entire family was spending the holiday with each other, but that by a cruel twist of fate, they were spending it without her.

Jeez, even Korsak was busy, he'd already said he was going to help out at the local animal shelter for Gods sake...

'No one thinks about all the puppies and kittens that people think make great Christmas presents...until they pull down the tree or poop on the carpet..."

Jane was tempted to ask if he meant the puppies or the people, but Korsak was lost to another 'cute animal' website and she left him to it.

And the one person she really missed, the one soul who Jane wished more than anything was here right now - Maura - well, even she was inadvertently making someone else's holiday all the brighter.

God how she missed her.

Jane sighed for about the umpteenth time as she flicked through the radio channels trying to find something to listen to that wasn't about Christmas, and being with loved ones...and depressing.

She'd never been more envious of another family until now.

~0~

December 14th.

"Maur, you're still ok with all of us invading your house again this Christmas right?" she asked, for about the third time this week.

Maura lifted her head out of the cadavers' chest cavity and placed the bullet she'd retrieved from deep inside it into the dish that Jane was holding.

"Yes Jane, and I wish you'd stop checking with me...you know it's become my family tradition as well. You've all become my family, and it wouldn't feel right to spend it anywhere else now...the bullet's a .22 by the way...and I'm seeing Jack earlier in the week for dinner with him and Allie. He knows I'm not going to miss Christmas with you and the family" she said as went back in and continued to examine the entry point of the bullet.

"Good!" Jane grinned at Maura as she felt the excitement coming from her best friend, but also because it meant that Jane took priority over Maura's new boyfriend, and that almost made her heart sing.

"The turkey's ordered, I'm almost done with my gift shopping...all we need is some snow and it'll be perfect!" Jane added with an excitement in her voice that made Maura's heart melt just a little.

Those words would come back to haunt Jane. You know, you really should be careful what you wish for.

December 23rd.

"My flight lands at midday tomorrow afternoon, and I've told Angela I'll help her with the food when I get back...that leaves the evening free to decorate the tree...and then Santa Claus will have somewhere to leave all his gifts..." she said playfully to Jane.

The beaming detective was driving Maura to Logan for her short flight to New York to have a pre-Christmas meal with Jack and his daughter, a day later than originally planned due to their work schedules.

Even as an adult, there was something so magical about Christmas that made Jane feel like a kid again, especially as it meant spending the holiday with her best friend.

Maura somehow made the prospect of a Rizzoli family gathering not just bearable, but intensely appealing, and she knew that Maura adored all the Rizzoli's, as much as they did her.

The Medical Examiner finally felt at home, surrounded by the warmth and love of a family who didn't judge her, or have any expectations, or make her feel like she should be on her best behaviour - she could just relax and enjoy herself, and let her hair down.

Having endured many a Christmas either alone, or overseas with parents who didn't seem to be excited about Christmas at all, a Rizzoli celebration seemed to encapsulate everything that made Christmas so special...belonging to a family, closeness, and that wonderful anticipation of seeing everyone excitedly opening their gifts.

As her own adoptive 'family' was spending the festive season in Geneva again, she was excited about spending the holiday with the 'nutballs' who seemed to have adopted her.

Jane pulled into the drop off area at the front of the airport and dashed round to open Maura's door and then grab her overnight case.

"I'll be back for you when your plane lands and we'll head straight to Beacon Hill...now, do you have your tickets?" she asked, sounding very serious suddenly.

Maura nodded.

"Yes, I have my tickets."

"Good. Do you have your gifts for Jack and Allie?"

Maura nodded again.

"Yes Jane, I have the gifts...will you stop fretting? I have everything I need" she said and slung her purse over her shoulder, and picked up her case.

'Maybe not everything' Jane thought whimsically to herself.

She frowned, and hopped on the spot. "It's getting cold, do you have a warm jacket just in case? They said it was gonna get colder tonight in New York..."

"Yes Jane, I have a warm jacket! And if it's that cold I can use one of Allie's...or Jacks..." Maura replied, secretly delighting in Jane's 'fretting'.

Jane frowned again, but this time because something about the idea of Jack giving her a jacket to keep warm seemed to sting a little.

"Okay, okay, I'll stop fussing...I just...I just care that's all." she said quietly, folding her arms in an attempt to stop shivering.

Maura felt her heart warm up at Jane's words and she put down her case and gave Jane a long, heartfelt hug.

"Hmmm, did someone forget to bring a warm jacket Detective?" she asked sarcastically, and then let out a laugh.

And maybe that was what did it. Maybe that adorable, relaxed, and oh so natural little laugh was what propelled her - it was a reflex action after all - but Jane suddenly found herself easing out of Maura's arms...

"I love you, have a great time with Jack...and come back safe..." she said, and then instinctively planted a way longer than necessary kiss on Maura's lips.

Not a peck on the cheek as friends would normally do, and not just a simple, girly one either. This was a 'didn't really think about it', full on, 'three seconds on the lips, a lifetime between the hips' kind of kiss...and they both felt it.

Jane cleared her throat, and wished the ground would open up - now. Or that time would rewind...anything to not be here in this moment.

They both had the same thought... 'Where the hell did that come from?!'

"Well...um...bye Maura...see you tomorrow..." she mumbled as she got back in the car, a little nonplussed, and started the engine.

Maura was so taken aback that all she could think of saying, through Jane's open window, was that she'd get back safe-ly...and with that Jane smiled awkwardly, waved vaguely and drove off.

As Maura stood, and Jane drove, both of them could still feel the lingering effect of the kiss, as they both put their fingers to their lips.

~0~

Meanwhile, on the other side of Boston, Angela, Frankie, Tommy, Lydia and TJ were 'enjoying' the annual pre - Christmas gathering at Carla's house, with her family.

Jane would usually tag along if she wasn't working, so she'd struggled to hide her relief at not having to go this time - she'd managed to invent a pressing last minute work commitment. Every year Carla would ask her about her love life, and if there were any potential suitors. And every year Jane would tell her the same story - that she was 'too busy being a Detective to think about settling down with anyone just yet'.

What she omitted to say was that no one had ever come remotely close to holding a candle to Maura - but Jane would never give voice to that little nugget, and certainly not at family dinner with Carla.

And this year - thankfully for Jane, but not so much for him - Carla had someone else to get her teeth into - Sean Cavanaugh. Carla was almost beside herself at the prospect of finding out as much as possible about the man who had 'replaced' Frank Senior.

It was to his credit that Sean was putting up with the third degree from Carla, but he'd decided that Angela owed him big time for this. Especially as Tommy still seemed to hold a grudge against him...the things people did for love.

And to make it worse for Sean, they were all going to be staying the night at Carla's - Angela decided that for once it'd be nice to be able to spend some 'quality' time with the Talucci's without having to drive all the way back into the city late at night.

And so it was that the Rizzoli/Talucci families settled down to something that had more to do with dodging awkward questions and bickering banter than an enjoyable festive evening...and one that would turn out to be interminably long.

~0~

As Maura jetted off, still with the lingering taste of Jane on her lips, it was with an uneasy heart.

Jane and that kiss had thrown her completely.

She was flying to New York to spend the evening with Jack, her boyfriend, someone she was very fond of, someone who could, possibly be 'the one'. Someone who seemed to 'get' her weirdness - well, some of it anyway - and still be interested enough to invite her out to have dinner with him and his daughter.

So why did she feel that when she got to New York she'd forget why on earth she was there and get on the next flight home...to Jane.

Because Jane did feel like home, and the Rizzoli's felt like family. And whatever provoked Jane to kiss her like that, it really was a great kiss. Short, but great, she could still feel it, and when she thought about it - which she now couldn't stop doing - it made her tingle in places that don't usually tingle after such a short, but oh so meaningful kiss.

And it was such an un Jane - like thing to do, which actually spoke volumes and solidified a few thoughts of her own about how Jane acted around her, and how she felt when Jane was around.

Happy, content...a little giddy sometimes...and home.

Jane felt like home, it was as simple and as complicated as that.

And now she was half way to New York to have dinner with Jack, and spend the night with him, and all she could think about was Jane, and that kiss...and how she missed her the second the car pulled away.

~0~

Jane spent the journey back talking to herself, and calling herself all the names under the sun, the politest of which was 'dumbass'.

'Why did you do that? Why? Of all the Medical Examiners in all the world, why would you kiss Maura like that? Why?'

But she knew why.

She'd wanted to do that for so long now that when the moment came it felt like the most natural thing in the world. Tell her you love her and kiss her goodbye...but just on the cheek.

'Not on the lips you idiot! Jesus Rizzoli what were you thinking? As much as you've wanted to do that, longed to do that, you don't just do it!

You don't just plant a kiss like that on your best friend and then not expect her to think you've flipped...she's gonna think...well I dread to think what she's going to think...'

Talking to herself like that went on all the way to The Robber, where Jane had arranged to meet Korsak after his shift finished.

She left the car in the BPD garage and walked the short distance to the bar, all the while muttering to herself, with the occasional head slap thrown in...people walking past may have been forgiven in thinking that this woman was a bauble short of a tree.

By the time Korsak arrived at the bar Jane was well away, and on her third beer, on an empty stomach. Murray, the barman had tried to get Jane to eat some nuts or chips or maybe even some kale or something, but Jane just sat at the bar, her head hanging so low her hair was skirting the glass.

Korsak sat himself down next to Jane and the next thing he knew she was pouring her heart out to him. In the interest of privacy, he walked her over to a booth, which Jane kept calling hers and Maura's.

'So much for a quiet Christmas beer', he mused as he pondered Jane's predicament.

"Did she flinch at all when you kissed her?"

"Nope...just looked kinda...shocked I guess"

"Hmmm. Did she look upset...or angry?"

"Nope...just looked kinda...shocked I guess" she slurred slightly, but this time with a dreamy tone.

"...and cute...she looked very cute...her nose kinda... crinkled.."

Korsak tried, and failed to suppress a smile. "Crinkled huh?"

He couldn't help but think how cute 'smitten Jane' looked now that she was less mortified, and more...fortified - she was well into her fourth beer.

"So she didn't recoil in horror...or slap your face or anything?"

Jane's face told him she was reliving the moment.

"No...but she did correct my grammar...along with leafy green vegetables I need to use more adverbs apparently..."

Korsak smiled - he had no idea what that meant, but the warm and fuzzy look on Jane's face told him it wasn't a bad thing.

"You know what Jane?" She shook her head and focused really hard on Korsak.

"You're lucky to have someone like Maura...someone who obviously loves you...in spite of your ...impulsiveness. And I wouldn't be surprised if that kiss put an end to all her wondering and speculating...she feels the same way I'm certain...I've seen the way you are together...there's more to you two than just a friendship, you two are soulmates..."

Jane went very quiet, and looked lost in thought at Korsak's words. He was right, Maura did feel like her soulmate - they connected and understood each other in a way she'd never had with anyone else, and didn't think she would again.

Nor, if she was honest, did she want to.

"Are you going to call her when she lets you know she's arrived in New York?" Korsak interrupted her thinking deliberately - 'melancholy Jane' wasn't a prospect he relished.

Jane didn't know what to do. If she called it might be awkward, for both of them, but if she didn't would it seem weird to just leave something like that hanging over them until she picked her up tomorrow?

She wondered what Maura would do, what Maura was thinking. Was Korsak right, and Maura did feel the same way? Her heart missed a beat for a second as she thought about it.

Or had she just blown the best relationship she'd ever known on one stupid, spur of the moment kiss?

As it turned out, fate - fickle thing that she can be - would give her the answer.

~0~

Christmas Eve

When Jane woke up the next morning, it was with a heavy head, and Jo's very cold, wet nose attached to her cheek. She remembered that later today she'd be going to pick Maura up from the airport, and as she slowly came to, the memory of the previous days events began to return.

She remembered Korsak bringing her back to her apartment, and offering to stay, but she declined. After checking on Jo she headed straight to bed and was dead to the world within five minutes, in fact she slept through until almost nine - it was the most sleep she'd had in weeks.

She felt a little disorientated, and had to check her clock again as it seemed so dark for nine...and so cold.

As she thought about kissing Maura, or rather, as she thought about how kissing Maura may have backfired so badly, she groaned, and pulled her pillow over her face with an anguished and frustrated "Aaarrrggghhh!"

After a few minutes, her headache - and her empty stomach - were enough to force her from her bed to look for some food...and some Advil.

She made her way out of the bedroom, putting on her dressing gown and slippers as she went, and shivered - man it was cold - and she headed towards the kitchen, where it was still so dark...and she lazily pulled back the curtains.

"What the hell?" she exclaimed as she blinked away the sleep and the muzziness and stood looking at possibly ten inches of snow right in front of her...it was so far up the window ledge that it was blocking almost all the light.

Gingerly sliding the window up and scooting the snow away, she could see a white covered Boston ahead of her. There must have been at least three feet, maybe more and it was still coming down heavily.

"Hmmm...okay..."

She dried her hand on her dressing gown, and had to blink away the glare as she looked out at the snow - it really did look beautiful - it was coming down so hard, and there were so few cars on the road that it almost looked like a sea of white.

"Wow...we're gonna have a white Christmas after all..." she muttered to a sleeping Jo, making her way to the sink to fill the kettle to make some coffee. "I've got to get to the airport...better set off soon I think."

She absently flicked the light switch, and then the kettle.

Nothing happened.

Flicking the light switch a few times more (the way people do when it's obvious it's not going to magically work but for some reason they keep trying anyway) she finally had to admit there was no power. She checked the fuse box in the hallway...still no joy.

"Well now I know why it's so freakin' cold...damn it...I wonder how long it's been off...and how long 'til it comes back again?"

She found some Advil and swallowed them with what was now ice cold tap water, which only served to make her shiver a bit more.

Jo suddenly appeared from the bedroom and trotted straight to the front door - apparently she needed to go out to do her business.

"Oh c'mon Jo!" Jane said at the prospect of having to go downstairs to let Jo out.

"Really? You need to go out now?" she whined, as Jo began to get impatient...her claws tap dancing on the hardwood floor was the canine equivalent of crossing her legs.

Every dog must have its day...and a pee it seemed.

Meanwhile,in New York, on Fifth Avenue (where else?) Maura was having breakfast in her hotel...alone.

Having spent almost the entire flight thinking about Jane, and that kiss, and all it could mean, and all it could possibly lead to - or not - and barely giving a second thought to Jack, well, by the time she met him at LaGuardia it really was all she could do to remember why she was there.

She made the effort to appear pleased to be with him, especially as he'd gone to the trouble of organising a visit to the Guggenheim, and a horse and trap ride around Central Park, with Allie excitedly pointing out notable features.

But as they were trotting around, all she could think was how much Jane would enjoy this, and how much more she'd enjoy this if it were she and Jane snuggling under the blanket.

When Maura spotted The Rizzoli Building, she was almost apoplectic - the towering skyscraper seemed to be as statuesque as Jane herself was, standing so tall and proud.

It was safe to say that her mind really wasn't on the job, and as they sat in the restaurant - having left Allie in the capable hands of Jacks parents for the night - it was obvious to Jack that Maura was distracted.

He could tell her heart really wasn't in this trip - she seemed to have pulled back from him somehow since he'd asked if she'd join him, like she had something, or perhaps someone else, occupying her thoughts.

When he'd suggested the trip to New York she'd seemed a little...hesitant? Yes, that was it, hesitant, as if she had somewhere else she felt she should be.

Unless he was just over thinking this, it was all beginning to add up now...

~0~

Jane was hopping from one foot to the other outside her apartment waiting for Jo to do her business, still in her dressing gown and slippers.

When she'd opened the door to her building, struggling a little to push back a wall of snow, it was like time itself had frozen - cars were abandoned on the road - though where the road ended and the sidewalk began it was hard to tell, the snow was so deep.

All the surrounding homes were in darkness, save for a few flickering candles - it was almost like a scene from A Christmas Carol - it seemed the entire streets' power was out, and Jane was wondering how she was going to get to her car at BPD.

As Jo finally found a spot that she could crouch on without her belly sinking into the snow, a police officer who Jane recognised, walked carefully towards her.

"Detective Rizzoli...you look freezing..."

Jane rolled her eyes at him and nodded towards Jo, who'd left a tell - tale trail of yellow.

"The price of pet ownership...I never did get her trained to use the toilet...this snow is something isn't it? I didn't know they forecast it..." she said, still hopping. Officer Schmidt shook his head.

"No, they didn't...it was supposed to be further north but it started coming down around four this morning and hasn't stopped since...all the roads in and out are blocked, the airport's shut to all flights, in and out...the snowploughs have been doing their best, but if anything it's coming down harder now. It brought down a bunch of power lines, no idea when the power will be back on I'm afraid...I hope you don't have plans for Christmas, looks like nobody's going anywhere anytime soon..."

Jane's face - and heart - sank at his words...with no flights in, Maura was going to be stuck in New York for Christmas...with Jack.

It was like someone aimed a snowball straight at her heart.

To be continued...