The two straightened their appearance and headed up the path to the house. As they walked, there was air about them. Subtle grins still lingered on lips and their shoulders brushed ever so often. Half way up the path, Jane smiled and linked her pinky with Maura's. The blonde smiled and bumped into the brunette. They shared another glance.

SWW...BOOM!

In the clearing, their hands parted and Jane shoved hers into her pockets. They continued up the backyard and to the patio.

"Jane!" Bruno hollered, running across the patio and jumping at her. Jane extended her arm to catch the flying boy and spun them around.

"Maura!" Carla shouted close behind. She grabbed Maura's hands and pulled the woman across the patio space.

"Look what Alberto got us!"

The man, who knelt over a box, stood and turned to the women.

"Janie!" His eyes shimmered with glee as he opened his arms.

"Al!"

Jane and the taller man embraced in a tight hug.

"'Oh my God,'" he spoke in Italian, "'look at you!'" He placed his hands on her cheeks and kissed her foreheads. He released her and turned to Maura.

"You must be Maura, I've heard so much about you!"

"Oh," Maura blushed and extended her hand. Alberto slapped it away and enveloped her in a hug.

The show of affection startled Maura, reminding her that this was her family and that she belonged. With eyes wide, slightly overwhelmed and a little emotional, a jubilant smile graced her features. Jane beamed with joy.

"I'm glad to meet you," Maura said as he finally released her.

A small hand tugged on the blonde's arm. She looked down to meet the large doe eyes of the young girl.

"C'mon Maura," Carla pulled the two to the box of fireworks.

The rest of the adults sat at the tables, various glasses of refreshments sat not to far out of reach. Burgers sizzled on the grill as Tony attended to the food.

Bruno grabbed two punks and handed them to the women.

"Here you go," he said. "Papà!" he shouted, "light them."

"How do we ask for things?" Tony reminded in a stern tone.

"Could I light the punks, please?"

"I will light them, but thank you for asking," Tony responded. He turned to Jane. "Promised them they could light off a few things before dinner."

Maura scrutinized the brown stick in her hand.

"This is an odd looking sparkler," she commented.

Jane looked at the blonde, dumbfounded. "What?"

"What does it do?" Maura asked earnestly.

"Oh," Jane chuckled and reached out to the punk in Maura's hand.

"It's a punk, Maura." Jane took the lighter from Tony, "It's a slow burning match."

"You mean like tinder?" the blonde asked.

The long cylinder of the lighter produced a click then a flame. She touched it to the brown sticks then clicked it off. The glowing flame lingered until Jane blew it out while the red embers remained.

"Exactly like tinder," Jane said.

Maura watched the ember dance on the tip of the stick, dancing how Jane's eyes had moments ago.

The brunette walked over to the box of fireworks and grabbed a blue orb with a wick. She came back to Maura.

"Now that your punk is lit, you place the ember to the wick." Jane lit the orb in her hand, the wick hissing to life. "See."

"JANE!" Maura screamed.

"What?" she asked nonchalantly as the small ball still hissed angrily in her hand. She looked down before tossing it over her shoulder. Maura flinched at the impending explosion.

When none came, she opened her eyes, meeting the mirth drizzled chocolate. Blue smoke billowed from the ground behind the taller woman. Maura scoffed and gave Jane a shove.

"Don't do that," she chastised.

Jane laughed and gestured in an innocent manner, "What?"

"Cool!" Blue eyes widened in amazement, "I wanna do that!" The small hand reaching for the fireworks broke their gaze.

"What? No!" Jane reprimanded. "No, no, no, no." She crouched to Bruno's level. "What Auntie Jane just did is a big no-no."

"Then why did you do it?"

"I, uh..." she looked at Maura, to tease her. She couldn't say that. She became serious, "I was showing Maura what not to do. You don't play with fire or light things in you hand. Okay?"

"Fine," the boy pouted. Jane ruffled his hair and stood.

Maura raised an eyebrow. "This coming from the woman, who moments ago, lit a fire-"

"Habhaab shhh," Jane hushed her. Maura's eyes now sparkled with mirth.

"I told you later," Jane whispered.

"I'm fine with anytime between now and then," Maura retorted in an equally hushed tone.

Tony opened the grill lid and announced "Food's ready, mangiamo!"

Maura nudge her, "Dinner and a show?"

Jane raised her eyebrows in a flashy manner.


The two took bites between assisting the younglings with their fireworks out on the launch pad in the yard.

Maura, after proper tutorials, lit smoke bombs and small fountains with Carla as Jane and Bruno lit multi-strands of blackcats.


The sun fell lower then dipped below the horizon. The majority of the children's fireworks were extinguished with only larger ones remaining. When the last warm, rays of the sun disappeared, night took guard in the sky. The echoes and reverberations of booms and crackles could be heard-some felt- in the distance. Over the tree lines and along the lake sporadic explosions of color perforated the gradient sapphire sky.

Maura and Carla retired back to the patio for safe viewing. The small girl sat in Maura's lap and used the doctor's hands to cover her ears.

Jane, Tony, Alberto, and Bruno got to work on fountains and larger night fireworks. Bruno happily ran about the backyard trying to capture the nighttime parachutes Tony lit.

Maura watched in awe at the beauty, before she turned her family. Stacy turned to her and smiled.

"Mamma!" came an eager call of excitement. In the darkness, Stacy felt her son before she saw him.

"Mmff, hey now, are you being careful?"

"I asked Auntie Jane and Papà if I could help them with the mortars, they said I had to ask you."

"Well," Stacy drew out, "I don't know," she flinched at the thought.

"Please?" The young lad earnestly insisted.

"If you promise," Stacy's voice grew serious, "that you follow everything they tell you to do. And," she continued before he could flee from her lap. "You may not run around or hover over the mortars. Is that understood?"

"Yeah," Bruno said distracted.

"Bruno."

"Yes, Mamma," he said in a calm voice. The boy jumped down and returned to the night. They watched as the four silhouettes and glowing embers float deeper into the yard.

Jane crouched next to Tony as they tided the strands of shells together. Bruno stayed back with Alberto, watching.

"Ready?" Jane asked Tony. He nodded. "Lighting," she informed.

The first wick came to life in a fury; the green hissed as sparks ate away to the explosives. As the next few ignited, Tony and Jane jogged to Alberto and Bruno. The hissing in the mortars echoed before the tremendous 'thoom' sent the shell skyward.

THOOM. THOOM. THOOM.

The small objects spun over themselves in the air.

With a BOOM, the powdered chemicals exploded in an expansion of shimmering brilliance of red, blue, white, and blue.

"Whoa," Bruno said hypnotized.

Their small show continued for a few more minutes before ending with a rapid, load and ignite cycle of 16 consecutive shells. As the last BOOM reverberated, applause and whistles from the patio, as well as from around the lake, erupted. Carla jumped from Maura's lap, clapping and dancing excitedly. The applause continued well until the four reached the patio.

"My, my, those were magnificent!" Suzie exclaimed.

"I see you got some new ones," Jack remarked.

Alberto shrugged, "Couldn't really pass them up," he grabbed water from the table. "They were a bitch to get through customs though," he said under his breath.

Jane reached for a beer, extending over Maura. The blonde closed her eyes and inhaled; the brunette smelled of sulfur, smoke, and sweat. She opened her eyes and raked them over the detective's body.

"Did you enjoy the show, Maura?" Jane asked, her smug tone betraying her cool expression.

Maura grinned, raising her eyebrows. "Quite impressive."

Half of the group began standing and stretching.

"Well, showers and then bed. Full day tomorrow," Stacy said to the children.

Jane, Maura, Alberto, and Suzie, remained.

"Mighty fine shooting," Alberto complimented the lanky brunette.

"I learned from the best," she toasted him.

"So, Maura," Alberto began, "the Doctor. What kind of action do you see on the job?

Maura allowed the thought of Jane to float past before answering his question.

"Anything and everything really. The soap mummy was rather intriguing."

Jane watched, captivated, as the blonde engaged in conversation. Her eyes focused on Maura.

Suzie chuckled at Alberto's joke and brought her glass to her lips. As she did, Maura threw her head back in laughter, putting the young detective directly in her line of sight. She watched as the Italian gazed intently at her friend before eyes shifted and met her inquiry. The small smirk on Jane's lips faded.

It wasn't the first time Jane had been caught staring at the blonde.

Jane swallowed and hoped her neutral expression would fool Suzie. As the laughter died down, the older woman stood from her chair.

"I don't know about you three, but I'm turning in. We do have a late night tomorrow." She clapped her hands together.

The rest stood as well, picking up the discarded glasses and bottles on the tables.

Once inside, they hugged each other goodnight.

Jane caught Maura's gaze, their eyes darken.

"Auntie Jane," she looked down to the mass clinging to her leg.

"Can we have a bedtime story?"

She looked back up at Maura with apologetic eyes. Maura answered her with an understanding glance, the communication not lost on Suzie.

With a sigh, Jane agreed.

"We have three books," Bruno said.

"One book," Jane countered.

"Five books." He gave her a stern stare.

"One and you can help me tuck in Maura."

His stare didn't waver.


The bedroom door opened under the doctor's hand. Relaxed waves of gold, freshly brushed teeth, and flannel pj's greeted the, arguably, three children.

"We're here to tuck you in," Bruno stated. "Time for bed." He threw back Maura's covers.

Jane couldn't contain the puffs of air that escaped her nose as she held back her laughter.

Maura slipped under the covers. Carla and Bruno pulled them over her and threw themselves on top. The 'clap' of the book sounded in Jane's direction.

"She's going to read to us," Carla said, nuzzling up under Maura's side.

Jane came to sit on the bed and opened the book.

The children listened as the words fell from the detective's lips while Maura played with their hair. Jane watched as tired eyes fought to remain open as the story progressed. She stole glances at the blonde as she fond over the two in her arms. And when the last page was turned, a small smile crept over Jane's face, watching as Bruno continued to fight the impractical battle with the sandman.

"Give Maura a kiss goodnight," Jane said to the boy. He leaned up and kissed her cheek as Jane made her way to the slumbering girl.

"You too," Bruno whispered to Jane.

Leaning over, Jane planted a kiss to Maura's forehead then looked her in the eyes.

"Goodnight."

"Goodnight, Jane."

With Carla in her arms, Jane and Bruno shuffled down the hall to their room, where Tony and Stacy waited to tuck them into their beds. She turned, saying 'goodnight' to all, closed the door behind her, and made her way back Maura's room.

As the door creaked shut, Maura looked up from her journal and immediately found Jane in her space. Their lips met, quickly engaging in a slow, passionate kiss, which continued for a few moments before Maura pulled away.

"You smell like war," she commented before finding the oh-so-kissable lips of the brunette.

"You taste like mint and paradise," Jane added before another slow kiss.

"I'll give you," Maura said between a kiss," 30 minutes to shower."

Kiss.

"I only need five," Jane mumbled against Maura's lips.

"20 minutes."

"Just come with me now," she tired to persuade, straddling the blonde.

"In my pj's, Detective?"

"Yes."

Kiss.

Maura pulled back. "15 minutes or we wait until tomorrow." Jane tried to steal another kiss but the doctor pulled away playfully teasingly and tittered seductively. Jane growled and slipped off the bed and out the door.