A/N: Okay, so I just figured out how to respond to the reviews. I know...dur! I have to say thanks again for all the kind words. You people are really blowing me away. I hope you are still enjoying the story. I've got a few chapters more written ahead of this one.

Oh, I don't own anything except the four new tires on my car. Merry Christmas to me. Ouch.

Chapter Three

On the ride to Jane's parents' home, Jane tried to give Maura the Cliff's Notes version on her family and what to expect at the party. She knew that the more prepared Maura felt, the more comfortable she would be. "Okay, so my cousin Alfonso, stay completely away from him. I don't know, there's something funky going on with his breath, it's just gross. AND he's weird but we gotta invite him. For the most part, the rest of my cousins are cool; we all get along great. Oh! Hey, I mentioned Lazio. Do NOT go near him without me or Frankie by your side. Last year with Karla Talucci; disaster. All hands and groping... just ewwww." When they were only a few miles out from the house, she handed over the flask to Maura who took a sip, coughing on the burn. "Jane, I don't know how you can possibly expect me to remember all of this without being able to associate a face with the information." Jane looked at her unbelieving. "Really Maura? I know you've got this all filed away in that big brain of yours. Aunt Camilla?" Giving a sideways glance before returning her eyes to the road, "Yes, your father's sister. We don't mention her AT ALL because 'she ran off to California with a fruits and nuts guy and they live in one of those hippy communes.'" The serious look on Jane's face made Maura laugh.

Pulling onto the Rizzoli's street, Maura was taken aback and admittedly, a little alarmed at the number of cars lining each side. Sensing her discomfort, Jane reached over and placed a hand on her shoulder. "Hey, don't worry. They save me a place in the driveway. Just pull into my spot." Maura did as told and put the car in park and shut the engine off. Feeling her anxiety, Jane swiped a knuckle down the doctor's cheek. "It's just my family… plus a few more nutty guests. It will be okay, I promise. Just a meal with my family, right? Well. Okay. Not exactly a Norman Rockwell portrait. More like a big crazy ass Italian Picasso but it'll be fine. Fun I hope?" Smiling her best smile, she was relieved to see Maura return it in full. "Let's get this show on the road. If anything, I can assure you it will be memorable."

Walking up the sidewalk, Jane couldn't resist, "Alfonso?"

"Avoid him; terrible halitosis."

Quirking an eyebrow, "Maria?"

"Unwed, late teens and pregnant, Aunt Elizabeth's daughter. Your mother disapproves and is trying to find her a suitable husband."

Stopping on the stoop, Jane smiled that smile and winked at Maura. "Ready?" Reaching for the door knob, it was jerked inward. "Jane Rizzoli! Where have you been!" Angela Rizzoli took in the sight of her daughter with a garment bag slung over her shoulder next to Maura Isles and found her manners. "Oh, Maura honey, come on in." The two women crossed the threshold as Angela took Maura's coat noticing her wet slacks and blouse. "Maura, sweetie, you are soaked to the bone! What did you do Janie?" At this, Jane smacked her forehead and groaned, looking knowingly at Maura. Told you so! "God, Ma…" Before she could finish, Frankie appeared and hijacked the conversation. "Damn, Janie, what took you so long, huh? Where's the vino? We're already runnin' low, down to a couple of cases." A quick jab to her side brought a hiss of pain to Jane's lips and she flinched involuntarily. Frankie's guilt was immediate. "Shit, Jane. I'm sorry. That's not where you were… shot. I-I'm sorry. I didn't think."

His words about the shooting dropped an immediate blanket on the foursome. Jane wasn't about to let "that day" ruin their holiday. "No, no, jerk off. Maura and I did a really intense…um, kundalini abs workout and I'm feelin' the pain." Grabbing the keys from Maura's hand, she tossed them over. "Make yourself useful brat and fetch the wine and gifts from the trunk." Frankie's eyes lit up as he jangled the keys and waggled his eyebrows. "The Benz? Really? Mind if I take it for a spin?" Smacking him on the back of the head was answer enough. "We gotta change. I expect Maura's car to be exactly where we left it." As an important afterthought, "Oh and hey, the four Silver Oak Cabs aren't for public consumption, not with this crowd. Hide them where we usually hide things." Exchanging a look with Frankie, she grabbed Maura's hand and led her upstairs to change with Angela yelling from behind, "Hurry it up Janie. I need your help in the kitchen! And what's with all the secrets? What do you mean 'where you hide stuff' huh?"

Reaching her childhood bedroom, she pulled Maura in and locked the door. "God help me that woman will be the death of me one of these days! UGH!GAH! Did you see how she just assumed that I'm to blame for you being wet? I mean REALLY?" Throwing the garment bag down on her twin bed, she tugged at her hair and groaned. Maura shook her head at her friend's theatrics and crossed to stand next to her, placing a hand on Jane's arm to get her attention. Chewing her bottom lip again, her eyebrows furrowed, "Are you really okay?" Her eyes fixed on Jane's side. "From what I saw, he hit you exactly where…well…where, okay. Where I tazed you."

Smiling slightly at her friend, Jane shook her head. "No. It just took me by surprise that's all. It only hurt for a second. Really Maur, you should know by now that I'm a lot tougher than a little stun gun burn. Come on, we better get changed before Ma knocks down the door looking for us." At that, Maura's smile brightened. She unzipped the bag and handed Jane a deep crimson, cashmere sweater with exquisite black accent stitching around the V-neck collar and cuffs. "This will go perfectly with the pin stripe in your slacks." Looking down and squinting, Jane really hadn't noticed there was a pin stripe when she dressed earlier. Taking the offering, she decided against argument and instead, settled on teasing. "And what will the lovely Dr. Isles be wearing tonight? I just can't wait to see!" She clapped her hands and batted her eyelashes in mock anticipation.

Narrowing her eyes at Jane's sarcasm, Maura dug into the garment bag to produce a sleeveless ruby red dress, clean lines with a belt at the waist. She didn't want to admit to Jane that she actually carried more than three changes of clothes with her; not to mention shoes and accessories. Hesitantly, she held the dress up for Jane's approval, "Will this be appropriate for the evening? Too much? Not enough?" Jane just smiled pulling the sweater carefully over her head and smoothing it down her waist. "No, that is exactly perfect for tonight. Although, I should probably let you know up front that I can't be held responsible for any of my cousins or uncles with you in that dress. Hell, not even my Gramps." Maura just laughed in return. Taking in the sight of Jane in that beautiful sweater with her dark hair and complexion, she couldn't understand why Jane always brushed aside her own beauty. Truth be told, Maura could make a list of Jane's features that were beautiful, and not all were physical.

Both fully dressed and ready to join the crowd downstairs, Jane turned before unlocking the door. Placing a serious hand on Maura's shoulder, she looked her straight in the eyes with mock intensity. "Okay. We are about to go deep into bat shit crazy Rizzoli territory." Taking a swig from the flask she handed it to Maura. "Don't leave me, I won't leave you," she smirked. Taking her own drink, Maura winced and sputtered from the heat. "I get it. Leave no man behind." Off of Jane's bark of laughter, she smiled saucily. "What? I CAN make a joke you know. I've been paying close attention to your interactions with Frost and Frankie. You know that…" She was silenced by Jane's fingers to her lips again. "It's really best Maur if you don't explain the joke. Kind of defeats the purpose." Smiling she opened the door and ushered the doctor out.

TBC

Thanks for reading!