Disclaimer: I don't own anything.

A/N: Sorry about the long wait, after I got back it took a while until I had time to write. Hope you all enjoy this. As always, all the mistakes are mine own. :)

Jane's night was a troubled one. She couldn't shut her brain off long enough to go to sleep. Her mind kept going over what Maura just told her. With another sigh into the night, she turned to look at the clock and seeing it was just after 5 AM, she gave up sleep. Jane gently removed her arm from under Maura's head, careful not to wake her and tiptoed around the room to find her clothes. Every few moments the sound of shuffling sheets filled the room and she would look over to find Maura, still in her sleep, trying to find, but not succeeding, a comfortable position.

Right before leaving their bedroom, Jane placed a kiss on Maura's head, moved her pillow closer to Maura's body, and smiled when, even in her unconscious state, Maura automatically reached over, grabbed it and finally found her position to sleep. When she saw Maura had relaxed in her sleep, she moved to check how James was sleeping and having heard his light snore, she left and started out her day.

Maura found Jane a couple hours later, deep in thought, standing on the sand looking over at the ocean. She moved to hug Jane from behind, noticing how Jane tensed for a moment before relaxing when her arms circled her waist. She kissed her wife's strong shoulder blade and rested her cheek on Jane's back.

"I missed you when I woke up." She said, trying to bring Jane out of her head.

Maura felt hands caress her own before Jane's arms moved to bring her to her side.

"Sorry Maur. I couldn't sleep so decided to go running earlier than usual." Jane said bringing Maura closer, squeezing her wife almost painfully but she knew Maura wouldn't complain.

Maura, knowing that Jane was still processing James's confession from last night, settled her head on Jane's chest, looking over at the ocean, giving Jane a chance to collect her thoughts.

After some time, Jane broke the silence "I think we should take him out of the house today. Maybe go for a drive downtown. Clear his mind a bit. What do you think?"

Maura turned into Jane's arms, looking at her "I think it's a good idea. A day out could even cheer him up."

Jane smiled and said, innocently: "Great! Can you think of anything we need to buy?"

Maura smiled wide, her eyes bright "Of Course! I am in need of new shoes and you could use new button downs. There's a new mall in town I would like to visit. We'll go there." She said with a firm nod.

When realization entered Jane's mind, she let out a groan and started shaking her head in negative "No, Maur. I was thinking more along the lines of doing the grocery. Not shopping." She said trying, but knowing it was very unlikely, to get out of a shopping trip.

"Well honey, too late now. I already started thinking about the different shoes I'll be looking for and all the other things we might need. You should have been more specific about what you wanted and said you wanted to go out for supplies." Maura replied matter-of-factly, and started her walk back to the house.

Jane stood there looking at her retreating wife, mentally replaying what happened in her mind. Filled that for later, Rizzoli. Use the words grocery shopping.

After a calm breakfast, the Rizzoli-Isles family got settled in the car and made their way downtown. Jane pulled up into the mall's parking lot and started looking for a parking space. James was abnormally quiet but Jane and Maura decided it was best to let him be and, later tonight, if he continued to stay like that they would talk to him together.

After parking, the three of them entered the mall hand in hand, James in the middle, and Jane asked: "Where do you want to go first, Maur?"

"I think we should walk around first so I can see the stores that are in here, and if something catches my eyes, we'll spot." Jane didn't dare to question that decision, letting Maura lead the way.

30 minutes later Jane found herself sitting on a sofa next to Maura, surrounded with shoes boxes. Maura sensed her wife's patience was reaching its limit, took pity and said: "Honey, I still have some other shoes I would like to try before choosing the ones I'll buy. Why won't you go look around and see what else is out there?"

Jane immediately recognized that was Maura's way to give her the clear to leave, stood up, pecked Maura's lips and said with a smile: "Whatever you say, honey."

Jane turned to look at James, assumed he had heard their conversation and said: "What do you want to do, Jamie?"

"What are my choices, Mama?"

Maura interrupted saying: "You can stay here and help me find a new pair of shoes." She ended with a bright smile.

He shrugged his shoulder and said: "Okay."

Jane made a face, kneeled in front of him and said, her tone clearly indicating a joke: "Oh no, what is happening to him? Maura, aliens kidnapped our son. He probably doesn't have any idea who we are." She finished extracting a smile from James and an amused face from Maura.

Jane pulled James forward, pretending to be listening to something he was saying:" What's that, huh? He really wants to go walk around and have ice cream with me."

James giggled and said:"Yes!"

Jane released a relived breath looked at Maura and said: "He's back. Thank god! We should go."

Both Maura and James were amused by Jane's theatrical ways and after see-you-later kisses, Jane and James left.

Mother and son walked hand in hand through the mall in a relentless search for the ice-cream parlor.

They found the much desired store in an open part of the mall, and after purchasing their favorites, they took a seat on a bench facing the water fountain placed in the middle of the mall's square.

Jane watched how James ate his ice-cream in silence "How's the ice-cream James?" She asked, trying to begin a conversation.

"It's good, Mama." He said, nodding.

They fell in silence again until a few moments later when James broke it.

"Mama?"

"Yeah?" Jane turned to look at him.

"I'm sorry I was scared yesterday." He said, focusing his attention on his shoes instead of looking at Jane.

Jane was torn between being crushed he thought he had to apologize, and happy he was talking to her about it. She just hoped she could comfort him.

"Hey, hey. James, there's no need to apologize. It's alright. It's okay to be scared." She said in a comforting matter, while moving closer to him and trying to get his attention.

He refused to look at her but said: "No it's not. You're never scared. You're brave." His tone indicating he was fight not to cry.

"What? Is that what you think? That I'm never scared?" Jane said, deciding to be completely honest with her son. "James, I'm scared all the time." That got her reaction. James turned to look at her, his eyes searching her face to see if she was being truthful. After what it seemed a lifetime of silence, he finally spoke up.

"You are?" He asked, looking at her with trusting eyes.

"Yes, honey. A lot. And it's okay to be scared." Jane said, trying to show him everyone is scared.

"But you're so brave all the time." James said, having trouble believing what Jane was saying.

"James, you can only be brave when you're scared. Being brave means not letting your fear get the best of you. Everyone is afraid of something. You just have to fight not to let it control you." Jane said, happy to see he seemed to be accepting what she was saying.

James stayed quiet for a moment gathering his thoughts: "But what if I can't, Mama?"

"Well, in those moments you look for support until you get to a point where you realize what is holding you back. Never confuse strength with stubbornness. Talking about it helps. It really helps. You can always talk to me or mom. No matter what it is. We'll always listen and love you. We're always here for you." Jane took her time in replying, making sure he was listening and hoping be getting through him.

He nodded but still asked: "Okay. Do you talk to someone?"

"Of course. I talk to your mom. That's one of the ways I show her how much I love her; I let her in and tell her things I would never say to anyone else. She always listens and helps me."

"Mommy always makes things better." He nodded. One of the things Jane was most proud of was the fact that she and Maura found a way to complement each other when parenting. What James didn't feel comfortable talking to one of them, he knew he could talk to the other.

"She does, doesn't she? Isn't she the best mom ever?" Jane said, smiling at how much James adored Maura.

"Uhumm." He nodded eagerly but stopped for a moment "But you're too, Mama. "

Jane chuckled, putting her arms around her son. "Thanks Jamie. You are the best son ever."

James thinks for a moment but continues: "Mama, if mommy isn't available when you want to talk. You can talk to me too." Jane looked at him, thinking that maybe it would be got to show him that being strong doesn't mean to stand or deal with things alone.

"Thank you, James. I'll do that." He smiled brightly.

"But what about you? Do you want to tell me why you're afraid of the ocean? You love swimming in the pool." Jane asked knowing he would tell her everything now.

"But the ocean is so big. And…and it has animals that are scary and can eat you….like sharks and whales." He looked at her and in his eyes there was a mix of fear and embarrassment.

"Yes, it is. And you should never forget that. If you're swimming alone, you have to be careful but, until you're older and get used to how to swim and how to behave in the ocean, you'll always have someone with you. We would never put you in a dangerous situation. You just have to listen to us." Jane said, hoping to be saying all the right things.

He nodded, showing he was paying attention but didn't speak.

"And as for the animals, well, they usually live far far away from the beach."

"But what if they come when I'm swimming?" He looked at her with terrified eyes.

Jane thought for a moment, trying to find an easy and understandable way to approach his question: "Do you remember that time we went to the zoo? And we saw lions and bears?"

He nodded, so she continued, "And do you also remember we couldn't enter their space? We had to look from the outside? Do you remember what Mom told you when you asked why?"

He nodded and stood up straight, proud that he remembered: "She said it was because they're animals, acting only on instinct, they don't think like us. And if we went inside they would see us as intruders or confuse us as food and attack."

"Exactly! It's kinda like that with animals that like on the ocean. They attack because they confuse humans with turtles and other animals they like to eat, or because they believe they're in danger, so they defend themselves." Jane finished, giving him a moment to understand what she said.

"But what do I do? They won't be in cages like in the zoo." He said, panicking a little.

"Take a breath, James." And when he calmed down, she continued "If, and it's a big IF, they get near enough, you will do this: First you must always stay calm, if you get agitated they will too; and second: you get out of the water, as fast as you can. But son, I want you to know, it's very unlikely you'll ever encounter a shark. And it's going to be a long while before you're allowed to be alone anywhere in the beach, okay?" Jane replied happy he seemed to understand everything.

"Okay. Thank you, Mama. You were right, talking helped." James said after some time.

Jane smiled, hugging him more into her side: "Anytime, James. Do you want to talk about anything else?"

He thought for a moment but shook his head "No. I think I'm okay."

After that, they both got back to their half melted ice-cream.

"Mama? " James said with his ice-cream on his face.

"Hmm?" Jane replied, at the same time cleaning both their faces.

"Maybe we can try again later…just maybe" James said with a cautious look on his face.

"Sure, James. But if you decide not to do it, it's okay too." Jane said, trying to be supportive but hoping the next try would be a successful one.

"I think we let your mom shop enough. What do you think? Want to go find her and go home?" Jane asked getting up.

"Okay." James said, taking her hand.

"I just hope there's room for both of us in the car after it's loaded with all the shoes your Mom bought" Jane joked, hoping to lighten his mood.

James giggled and, as they went in search of Maura, rambled on about what they could do if that happened.

Thank you all for reading! All the reviews, alerts, favorites, and quiet readers are appreciated!