AN: Okay, so this is not 19 years later like I said, but 8. I'm a dirty liar. That's still coming.

Eight Years Later

Jane was sitting in her office when the receptionist called to inform her she had a visitor. Quickly signing off on the assessment report she was working on, Jane stood from her desk and made her way to the entrance to the building. She hadn't been expecting anyone, and as far as she knew Maura and the kids were at home. Maura retired as Chief Medical Examiner after the adopted their second child, Annabeth, two years after they adopted Jake. They adopted a third a year later, a boy they named Miles though Jane just called him Isles, and took their name off the registry. They had made the decision together, deciding that they both wanted a parent at home full time with two kids and the decision was a simple one. Though she maintained her license and contract with the state so she could consult on cases when needed.

Walking into the reception area Jane pulled up short when she instantly recognized the young lady. Jake's birth mother. She looked exactly the same, yet different somehow, older and more mature. The years had been kind to her. It looked as if she was doing well, had got off the streets and done something with herself. Jane was happy for her. All of their children knew that they were adopted, Maura had insisted on it from her own experience as an adopted child. Though, and Jane would never say this out loud even to Maura, she was a hell of a better parent than hers had been. But, and Jane had said this out loud even if only to Maura, they were making great strides as grandparents.

"Mrs. Rizzoli." The young woman before her said, a slight twinge of fear in her voice.

"Hello," and then faltered, she still didn't know the woman's name. The adoption agency had called and said that one of their children's mothers had been in contact, and wanted to know more. Another of Maura's instances from her own experience, she wouldn't hide the truth of her children's parentage from them. They would take it slow and introduce them only if the children seemed able to handle it, but they would introduce them and allow the women to at least see their children if they wanted.

Maura knew what it was like to wonder, and to always be missing a piece of herself, and knew the heartache that lack of knowledge created in a young child, she would not allow her own to go through it.

"Megan. Megan Grier." The young woman held out her hand, which Jane shook. "I still haven't changed my mind, cop."

Jane chuckled, remembering the hard look the young woman had gave her at the hospital. "What can I do for you?"

"Can we go somewhere, to talk?" She asked, gripping the bag she carried tightly and Jane could tell she was nervous. And probably scared.

"Sure, do you drink coffee?" Jane offered, and when Megan nodded Jane told the receptionist that she was stepping away from the office and that she would inform her when she was back. The receptionist nodded, and Jane led Megan to the small cafeteria on campus.

They had journeyed in silence and got their coffees in silence and sat in silence for several more minutes, both of them gathering courage.

"I want to thank you."

"What can I do for you?"

The fact that they had spoken at the same time broke the tension that was in the air, as they both laughed.

"You first," Jane said.

"I wanted to thank you, for taking care of my, I mean your son." Jane's heart melted a bit at Megan's statement. This was another of Maura's instance. Their children had three mothers. If their birth mothers wanted, the children had three. Maura had three mothers and they were all different. Constance, Hope, and Angela were all mothers in their own unique and important way, and had valuable insights for every situation. If one didn't know the answer, another would. They had used that influence as a team on any of the 12 grandchildren they shared.

It took a village, as they say.

"It hasn't always been a pleasure, but it will always be our privilege." And Jake was. If not Rizzoli by birth, he was by nurture. Louder than Jane had been at his age, and a better protector for his siblings than any brother Jane had ever seen. He was a gift, and she would always be thankful for this woman's gift.

"What's he like?"

"Jake?"

"You named him Jake?"

"Yeah, Jacob Arthur Rizzoli. Jake after me, Arthur after Maura's, my wife's, adoptive father."

"Your wife was adopted?"

Jane just nodded.

"Huh." She paused, and Jane waited. "What's Jake like?"

Jane pulled out her phone and scrolled to a picture that imperfectly captured her son's personality. She would have to show a hundred pictures to get the message across, but she settled on one. Jake was sitting in a hospital chair, this was taken last year when Cailin and Mark had their second child, and Jake had wanted to hold the little baby. He'd followed his mom's, Maura, instructions to the letter. Sat straight against her chest, his arms steady and sure as he held the tiny infant.

"Is this another of yours?"

"No, nephew, Jake's cousin. He was the first to get to hold him."

Megan only smiled and passed Jane's phone back, quickly scrolling to a more recent photo of the five of them, she showed Megan, "This is us, the five of us."

Megan's fingers hovered over Jake's face. He was smiling and hugging both his brother and sister.

"He's a great kid. Smart, so smart, like Maura. Actually after I left your room at the hospital," at this Jane looked to see if Megan showed any hesitation but she just smiled and nodded, a message to continue, "Maura was telling him about the solar system. He wanted to be an astronaut when he was six, and that's all we talked about for a year. He can spot off so many facts about space that even I can't keep up."

"What does he want to be now?"

"A plumber," Jane laughed and was glad that Megan did too.

"Uncle Tommy takes him on calls sometimes, he just wants to learn." Jane smiled, he was a knowledge sponge, just like Maura. Except he was loud about it.

"And he's great with his siblings. When we got Annabeth, she's six, he just stared at her for a long time. Then he asked where babies came from and Maura, well let's just say that the lesson he got then was better than the one I had."

Jane smiled, thinking of her blonde, blue-eyed son.

"He does well in school, enjoys spending time with his cousins and his grandparents, especially his grandpa. Jake calls him 'Jake' because once he learned that he was named after him, Jake decided that's what would happen. Though all the other kids call him 'Doctor Grandpa,' to differentiate between my step-dad Ron who is just 'pops' and my nieces and nephews other grandfather's."

Jane swallowed thickly, "Sorry, I'm rambling."

"It's a good ramble."

"Thanks."

They sat in silence for a few minutes. It seemed that Megan was building courage for something, and Jane could guess what, but she also knew that Megan needed to say it.

Finally, "Can I see him? Not as his mom, or his mother or anything, I don't even need to meet him, I just want to see him."

Jane smiled, "Are you busy on Saturday at 3?"

~~~hello out there, we're on the air~~~

While their children were in the dining room doing their homework or having quiet reading time, Jane and Maura were in the kitchen making dinner for them. At first Maura had tried to ensure that the children had the same refined palates that she had as a child, but Jane and the rest of the Rizzoli clan had their way. There was still only one box of sugary cereal in the house, but it was Jane's and she was not allowed to share with the children. Every other meal was nutritious but fun. Even this, where they were having spaghetti and meatballs for dinner, there was salad as well as zucchini in the meatballs. Jane would eat them happily. Or at least pretend to. She was a mother now, but that hadn't changed her diet as much as Maura would have liked.

"So, you want to tell me why you've been so quiet this evening?" Maura asked. Jane hadn't burst through the door with her normal exuberance, and had looked a bit troubled. Not enough that the children noticed anything wrong, she still engaged with them and made them smile and laugh, but Maura knew something was up.

Jane moved closer to Maura and wrapped one of her arms around her waist, tipping her chin closer to Maura's ear. Even now, 11 years into marriage, 1 of engagement, and 7 years of friendship, Jane's touched still sent thrills of electricity through her. While often times they had trouble communicating verbally, the physical connection Maura felt for Jane had never waned. She doubted if it ever would.

"Jake's birth mom came to see me today." Jane whispered, sparing a glance towards the dining room where all three children had their heads down and were still diligently working quietly.

"Oh." Once the thirty days passed, Maura was no longer worried about losing her son, but there was still apprehension. "What for?"

"She wanted to see him." Jane had moved away and went to stir the sauce for the meal.

"What did you say?"

"I'm going to bring her to his game on Saturday, I asked Frankie and Nina if we could take Scotty and Three to the game, they love watching, and Ma and Ron will be there. So you guys will take Anna-B and Isles and the twins, and I'll be on the other side of the rink with Megan."

Maura only had to look at Jane, before she continued, "That's her name."

Maura focused on the pot of pasta in front of her while Jane went to dining room and said, "Okay Champs, Jakey and Anna-B books and papers back in your school bags and wash up, help Isles put his book away and be back in five, kapeesch?"

A chorus of "yes, momma"s resounded, and Maura could watch as Jake easily helped Miles from his seat, and carefully place a bookmark in the spot he had left. He was so tall and strong. She had worried about his size for a while, but she had simply made sure that he had a lot of food and he was healthy. The pediatrician wasn't worried, said that he would probably top out at 195 centimeters, but that was still a long ways away.

"She understands our rules, and we'll talk to Jakey on Sunday, she just wants to see him Maur'."

Maura could understand. Had spoke with both Hope and her parents about this. Had even flew out to California where Paddy was still in prison to ask what regrets he had about how they had handled the situation with Maura. Mostly she would ignore his advice, but his sentiments that he regretted having to leave her despite the danger she would have been in was the only thing in life he still hadn't let go, still weighed on her.

She didn't know what the situation with Jake's birth mom was, or any of her three children really, and while they were probably not as dangerous as Paddy and Hope's had been Maura knew they all had regrets. If Jake's birth mom, Megan, had reached out Maura knew she felt something for him. She would not deny her that.

Jane had obviously mistaken her silence for something other than what it was, "We can reschedule if you're uncomfortable sweetie."

"No. No, she should see him. But I would like to meet her first."

"Of course, I'll tell her on Saturday at the game."

In no time at all Jane and Maura had set the table and were bringing the food out, all three of the children already seated at the table and talking animatedly among themselves.

~~~sunday, monday, happy days~~~

Jane had arrived at the rink early with Jakey to help him get suited up. At eight years old he was beginning to become fiercely independent, and could basically dress himself for games, but he still couldn't quite tie his skates as tight as he liked them. Jane was still the only mom in the dressing room, all the other boys' father's fulfilling the same role for their sons as she did with hers. They had been with the same club since Jake started playing hockey at five, so all of the boys were comfortable with Jane being in the locker room. She often wondered if her hasty departure after games or practice when the boys were getting undressed swayed Jakey's decision to dress and undress himself save for the skates, and worried that he'd need help, and she wouldn't be there. However, one of the dads had told her that if ever Jake needed help he would assist, and while she made Frankie run a background check on the guy, she was thankful. He hadn't made a production of telling her, but did it on the sidelines, she was also thankful for that. He was also the dad that fought for her to be included in the father/son activities for the club. He was a good guy.

She should probably learn his name.

Kneeling on the ground in front of Jakey, she was tightening the laces on his skate, the blade protected and resting against her leg. "So I'm not gonna be sitting with Mom or the rest of them today, remember, I'll be on the other side of the rink?"

"Yeah momma, I remember." He said, watching her work. He was always watching. He could learn anything by watching and trying. It was kind of scary how observant he was, how much like Maura he was.

"Good, how's that feel?"

He stood, balancing himself on her shoulder as he stomped the tied skate twice.

"Good." He sat back down while she taped the laces down, and started on his other skate. "Why aren't you sitting with mommy?"

"Cause I'm meeting a friend Jakey," she didn't know how to explain the situation without explaining the situation. She never wanted to lie to her children, especially about this. That was another of Maura's insistences. "How's this?"

He stood again, once again balancing himself on her shoulders, stomping his foot again.

He just nodded, and sat back so she could tape that skate. "All set little man."

He smiled, and leaned in and kissed her cheek "Thanks momma." She always melted a little when he did that. Maura was doing something right with this kid, her miniature in so many ways, that Jane thanked her lucky stars for him. And for Maura.

"Play good my son." He grinned that cheeky Rizzoli grin at her and grabbed his gloves and sticks and waited for the coach to tell them it was game time as she left the locker room.

She went and checked the stands, and went quickly to say hello to the rest of her family before she was due to meet Megan outside.

"Hey gang." She was greeted by smiles and "mommas" and "Janies" and a fist bump from each Three and Scotty.

After that she made her way outside to wait for Megan, nervousness flooding her entire body. She hadn't been sure she'd ever seen the young woman after she'd left the hospital room more than eight years ago, but she was glad that she was showing interest. They had talk about what she had been up to, and why she wanted to see Jake now. She was dating a man, a nice man who loved her and wanted to marry her, but she hadn't yet told him about the son she had given up. She had said that she wanted to build that relationship on honesty, seeing how dishonesty had ruined so many others, and she wanted to tell the new man about her son.

"Mrs. Rizzoli, hey!" Jane turned and saw Megan walking towards her, a hand raised in welcome and a handsome man behind her looking slightly confused as to why they were at a children's hockey game.

"Hey Megan, please, call me Jane." She shook Megan's hand, and offered her hand to the man, "Hi, Jane Rizzoli."

"Hey, I'm Max, Megan's boyfriend." While he may have looked confused, the way he said her name oozed love and happiness, while Megan simply looked worried. She still hadn't told him.

"Let's go inside," Jane said, gesturing to the door.

"Wait, Jane. I have to tell Max." Jane just nodded and took a step back to give them space. But knowing that Megan probably waited until now so she could have some support if Max reacted badly.

"Max, when I was 18 I gave birth to a son, and Jane and her wife Maura adopted him. We are at one of his hockey games." Megan just nodded, mostly to herself and Jane offered her a small smile.

"Oh! Well that explains the children's hockey game then! This isn't what we normally do on Saturday's!" To his credit, and both Jane and Megan's relief, Max seemed to take the news well, in fact he looked relieved that Megan wasn't sending a signal that he was missing.

"What, this isn't your ideal date afternoon?" Jane asked, glad that she could joke even though she was feeling nervous.

"Well, I mean, a Bruin's game would be ideal, but hockey is hockey."

"Not when they're eight!"

All three of them laughed, and Jane led the way into the building. She directed them to the opposite side of the arena from her family, the kids already on the ice for warm-ups. Scanning quickly, she spotted Jakey, number 67, and gave a loud whistle, their prearranged signal so he'd know where she was watching him from. He turned and gave her his gap-toothed Rizzoli grin and a small wave before going back to his warm-up.

"That's him, number 67."

Megan was enthralled, but it was Max that spoke; "Megan said you and your wife adopted him, where is she?"

Jane pointed to the opposite side of the quickly filling arena, and pointed them out. All of the children waved at her and the twins stuck their tongues out at her, which she returned, after which Maura shook her head and her Ma shook her finger at her.

"I thought you only had three kids Jane?" Megan asked, turning to look at Jane.

"We do. But we're also watching my brother's kids, the little black boys, Scotty and Three. That's my Ma and step-dad holding our other son Miles, the little girl is ours Annabeth, and my wife Maura at the end by the twins."

"Did you say his name was 'Three'?" Max asked, a grin on his face.

"Oh, yeah. That was actually Jakey. Three's name is actually Francesco, after my dad and our dad, but everyone was calling him Frankie. When Jakey was confused and asked why they named him that Maura tried to explain the naming custom, but all Jakey got from that was he was the third Frankie, and started calling him Three. So we all do it."

"Jake did that?" Megan asked quietly.

"Yeah, like calling his grandpa Jake. Weird that a kid calls the grandpa he was named after his own name, but not his cousin." Jane laughed. She'd asked him about it once a little while ago. Jake knew that other Jake's name was actually Arthur, but that his grandpa had explained that he liked the connection to his namesake, plus having three Frankie's in one family was weird. Jane just shrugged her shoulders and mumbled 'eight year olds.'

The game was underway, and partway through the first period when Jake was sprung on a breakaway and streaked down the ice, Jane watched as her whole family, even Megan and Max stood and were yelling for him to score. The goalie fumbled the puck, but was able to cover it and get a whistle.

"Good try Jakey!" Jane yelled as he skated back to the bench for a shift change.

"Is he good?" Megan asked as they all took their seats again, and she and Max turned to Jane.

"Yeah, he's quite good. He's playing with the ten-year olds right now. He's a bit smaller than them, but he's catching up and he's fast. He could spend a bit more time practicing on his stick handling and his shot if he wants to get serious about the game, but he enjoys it." Jane secretly harboured a dream that she would get to attend a Bruins game with a Rizzoli sweater, but she hadn't told anybody but Maura that dream. Her eldest son was still young and figuring out what he liked, if it wasn't hockey it wasn't hockey, she wouldn't push him to do anything he didn't like.

He was still serious about being a plumber right now, so she'd help with that, and if he wanted to be a hockey player she would help him with that.

"Is he a Bruins fan?" Max asked, quiet seriously.

"He's from Boston, Max. Anything else would be blasphemous." She and Max shared a laugh, while Megan looked confused. It was the same look Maura had when she asked the same question and received the same answer.

The game was about to break for intermission, "I have to go check Jake's skates, I'll be right back."

They both nodded and fell into conversation with each other as Jane made her way to the locker room. Jake was eating an orange slice and laughing with his friends. He gave her a wave and a thumbs up, indicating that his skates were good. She checked on her family before making her way back to Megan and Max.

They seemed to be having a serious discussion, and while she tried not to eavesdrop she heard the tail end of their conversation as she walked back.

"So do you want more kids?" Max asked, he was holding Megan's hands and was speaking softly. Jane could see the look of love an adoration in his eyes.

"I don't have kids now, honey. Jake is Jane and Maura's son. I would like to be a part of his life, but I lost the ability to ask for that when I signed him away. But I would like to have kids with you someday, yes."

Jane made her presence know as Max kissed Megan and wrapped her in a tight hug. "Hey guys, how's it going?"

They didn't break apart quickly, and Jane smiled, enjoying how much these strangers seemed to love each other. They both nodded, and turned to watch the game that was starting back into the second period.

When Max left to get them all drinks Jane turned and looked at Megan, "You did a good thing giving him away Megan, for me and Maura, we can't thank you enough. He's a gift we are thankful for everyday."

Jane was surprised that the tears in her eyes matched the ones in Megan's.

Megan reached for one of her hands and Jane let her take it. "Thank you for making him your son. I was in a bad place then, but I'm doing better now. You're a good mom. One day I hope to be a good mom too."

"You were a good mom to Jake, Megan. Don't ever doubt that."

Megan simply nodded and wiped her tears.

"You can see him again Megan, and if Jake is open to it, you can meet him. Maura was adopted, and she knows what it's like to not know. Jake knows he's adopted, so we'll do what he's comfortable with."

"Really, I can meet him?" She sounded so hopeful.

Max had returned with the drinks as Jake was sprung on another breakaway, this time he found the back of the net and the three of them went crazy yelling. Jake looked to her and waved his stick, then waved it at the other side of the arena.

When the settled again, Jane turned back to Megan, "Maura wants to meet you first, and if you want to include Max she'll want to meet him too."

"Okay!" Megan didn't even stop to ask Max what he thought.

"What about Max?" He asked, his coffee halfway to his mouth.

"If you want to meet Jake you have to meet Maura first."

"You want me to meet him?"

"Yeah, I'm gonna marry you stupid," Jane laughed, spitting a bit of her coffee out, "If Jake wants to meet me, that is. You come with me."

Max just smiled like an idiot and kissed Megan again.

"We're gonna talk to Jake tomorrow, and I'll let you know what he decides. If he says yes, we'll arrange a place for you guys to meet Maura, if he says something else, well we'll figure it out, okay?"

Megan threw her arms around Jane, crying loudly and wetly now. Max looked on sheepishly and patted her back. She disentangled herself from Jane just as Jake made a slick pass to an open teammate who scored, and they all cheered wildly again.

Time was winding down, and Jane said her goodbyes, with another hug from Megan who said, "Go see your wife and son, cop," with a wink. Max took her hand and led them from the arena, and Jane went to untie her son's skates.