"It's really nice of you to offer me a bed for the weekend." Winters stated from the backseat of Adam's car as soon as the group pulled into Jane and Maura's driveway.

Jane sat on the right side and turned a little. "Liz trusted you the whole time she worked with you, I guess that we'll be safe."

Winters smiled broadly but glanced at the back of Liz' head. "I never thought that you'd be driving a family car, Liz."

Liz exhaled heavily and looked into the rearview mirror. "It's not my choice of car."

Adam turned in the passenger's seat. "It's an Audi."

"A Audi that was a gift of us." Jane added and Adam and Liz rolled their eyes.

"Which I used to turn down until my dear mother-in-law more or less forced it on me."

"You … still could turn it down," Liz said skeptically and frowned.

"No, because my old car was gone and this one was standing in my driveway, with a card of Jane which said Don't even think about, your car is already on t wrecking yard, probably already scrapped. Live with it! Love, Jane."

The younger Rizzoli turned to the brunette and frowned deeply. "Seriously, Ma?"

Jane shrugged and Maura smirked. "What? It was true! I couldn't hold Mom back and before I knew it, his car was already token away and that … well … scrapped. That's why I wrote the card. I knew that Adam loved his old Jeep."

"Because it was working just fine," Adam stated with a high-pitched voice.

"For you." Maura finally said and everyone looked at her. "But you also had to think about your baby son."

"That's why I bought a new booster seat. I didn't needed a new car."

Winters started to chuckle and shook amused her head. "I always thought that Liz was overexaggerating when she told me about you guys, but I have to say you are just like in her stories."

Maura looked surprised at Jane and the brunette frowned deeply, saying, "Thanks, I think."

Liz felt the eyes on Adam but avoided his eyes. "You were my only friend back in San Diego, Eddie."

"You could have mention that you have a kid, Rizzoli."

There was a long silence before Liz took a deep breath. "I was getting there."

Winters quirked an eyebrow and frowned a little and once again silence settled over the group.

Jane leaned forward the moment a person stepped from behind a tree and narrowed her eyes. Adam was highly alarmed already and wanted to get out of the car, asking what the hell this person was doing or even thinking. "You've got to be kidding me," the older Italian hissed through clenched teeth and unbuckled her seatbelt and was out of the car before her daughter could ask who this person was. And Maura gasped horrified.

Liz furled her brows and turned in her seat to face the former ME. "Mom, who's that man?"

Maura still wasn't able to tear her eyes away from the stranger and Jane who stepped dangerously close to the man. "His name is Timothy Rubino." She whispered more to herself and the color drained from her face.

Adam looked into the rearview mirror and frowned a little. "And who is Timothy Rubino?"

Finally, Maura's eyes found his and she swallowed hard. "He's Elizabeth's begetter."

"Oh, boy." Winters whispered the moment Liz' eyes grew huge.

"What did you just say," the younger woman asked a little too loud and Adam winced, making a face. "I thought that you and Ma … that … I don't have a father."

Maura blinked a couple of times and a deep frown crawled up on her forehead. She was silent for a moment before she finally looked at her daughter. "Of course, you have, Elizabeth. Not literally because he was a sperm donor but you do have a … father, somehow."

Liz raised her brows and Adam cleared his throat, asking. "What does this guy want? I mean, it's a little late to get in touch with Liz, isn't it?" He could see the confusion in Liz eyes and looked at the older woman. "And how the … how did he find out who you guys are and where you're living. And when did he figure out that you are Liz' mothers?"

Maura carefully watched Jane and leaned back into her seat. "Tim contacted us four years ago and told us that he has followed Liz' career ever since media mentioned her name and showed her face. Of course, we had been skeptical and asked who he is and what he wants. Tim told us that he probably is her begetter and that he wants nothing but to get to know our daughter because it appeared that she is the only one who made something of herself."

"And you just bought it off him," Liz asked skeptically and furrowed her brows.

Maura glanced long at him and it seemed like she was suppressing an annoyed huff. "Of course not, Elizabeth. You should know us better. Back then, I ran a sort of paternity test, with him and Zane."

"As far as I know I am Zane's father." Adam stated and prepared himself for a punch of his wife which didn't come.

"I am very well aware of that fact, Adam." Maura replied and glared at him, this time he winced for real. "But Zane's DNA also contains Liz' DNA and she has the same like me and her … father. And it turned out that Tim was telling the truth, he's her begetter."

"What about me?" Liz asked with a high-pitched voice and pointed at herself.

"What about you?"

"What if I don't want to meet this man? I mean, I am thirty-five now which means that he had thirty-five years to get in touch with you and me. I don't need a father now. I never needed one, I have you and Ma."

Maura reached out and placed her hand on her daughter's shoulder like she was trying to tell Liz that she still had them. "It's your decision, Liz. He wants to get to know you, but he has to except it if you don't want to know who he is?"

Liz nodded and watched her mother getting out of the car, and Winters did the same. She took a deep breath and frowned deeply.

Adam, on the other hand, kept sitting on the driver's seat and looked long at the brunette. "Have you never been curious, never wanted to know who your biological father is?"

Liz licked her lips and looked at him, shrugging. "Of course as a kid, I wanted to know who my begetter was, but I already knew then that I would never have a real father, which was perfectly okay, I had my mothers, and that was totally cool."

"Because Jane took over the male part?"
"Don't tell her."

He snorted amused and smiled when he saw her smile. "I won't." He took a moment and dared to place his hand on her thigh. "You've been through a lot those last years, are you sure you're ready for this?"

She clenched her jaw and licked her lips once more, wiggling her brows. "I am absolutely not, but it's not like I have a lot of choices."

"I can start the engine and drive home without him knowing who you are or even talking to you."

"I know." The brunette replied and leaned over the center console, looking down to his lips. "Come here." She whispered and kissed him once, twice.

"I'm here whenever you need me. If you want him to take a long hike off a short pier, I'll make him." He whispered against her lips and saw her smile again.

"I know." Liz replied and took her distance again. She felt the eyes of her mothers and the man named Timothy Rubino and frowned slightly, and she felt that he was craving to talk to her. Am I willed to face another change in my life I haven't asked for? She thought to herself and didn't move an inch. She started to worry her bottom lip and stared out of the windshield, not looking at anyone particular. This man doesn't have the right to get to know me and I am beyond sure that Adam and Ma would make him walk the second I ask them to. What am I supposed to tell him? What the hell is he expecting that I call him? Dad? That will never happen! I had my very own version of a father, and she did a damn good job. Okay, I can do that. I can get out of the car and introduce myself before I go and hide in Ma's house for the rest of the night. Would she mind if Adam and I'd stay overnight, too? Probably. This is a private house, not a hotel. I can do this.

"You okay," Adam asked and pulled her out of her train of thought.

She blinked a couple of times and forced herself to smile, opening the passenger's door. "Yeah," she breathed. "Yeah, I'm okay. Come on, let's get this done."

"I'm right behind you, Liz." He said and followed her closely the moment she got out of the car. "You don't have to worry."

And I am no child no more, she thought and clenched her jaw when they got closer to her mothers and the man. He was a little older than her mothers. He had an olive complexion, curly graying dark brown hair cut short, and dark brown eyes. He was very tall, quite muscular, and was wearing jeans and a black button-up shirt. She took another deep breath and wondered why she suddenly felt nervous. She never felt the need to have a real father, she was having her parents, who did quite a good job, and she had her uncles who had filled the empty space of male influence pretty good. At some point she started to see Frankie more like the father she never had, and Tommy like her brother. Not to mention her cousins Sam and TJ. She stopped abruptly and turned to her husband. "Why am I feeling nervous?" She whispered and frowned.

Adam's eyebrows shot up and he was looking for a good answer. "Perhaps because someone is stepping into your life and probably wants to get to know you. I feel like Maura had have an affair and got pregnant and now you have to face the man she cheated with on Jane."

"Really?"

"I'm kinda nervous, too."

Liz rolled her eyes and swallowed hard the moment she got into the others hearing range, turning to him. "Seriously? You feel like mom cheated?"

He narrowed his eyes and knew immediately that she was stalling for time. "Liz, I can tell him to leave. You don't have to do this."

Liz frowned and placed her hands on his chest like she used to in the past, taking a deep breath. "I have to do this, for Timothy's sake."

He stood still even though his wife started to walk again and furrowed his brows. "Okay."

Jane's face was grim when Liz reached her and she clenched her jaw. "Liz, stay back!" She commanded sharply and the man turned to the younger woman.

Liz swallowed hard because he actually could have been taken for Jane's twin brother, but then she smiled and stuck her hand out. "Hi, I'm Liz Rizzoli."

He stared at her blankly. "Timothy Rubino."

Liz kept her friendly and yet distant smile. "Nice to meet you. You already picked up with my mothers Dr. Maura Isles and Lieutenant Jane Rizzoli."

Rubino cleared his throat and looked at the older women. "Um, yes. Yes, we already met. Several times to be exact."

She straightened up and shoved her into the pockets of her pants, stepping back. "How can I help you, Mr. Rubino?"

Jane looked at Maura from the corner of her eyes and her lips turned up slightly.

He blinked a couple of times and frowned a bit. "I … uh … I am not here because I want to have something, Elizabeth."

"Detective Rizzoli. Only my family and friends call me by my first name." Liz replied and her tone was sharp. Jane had to fight with herself so she wouldn't start to laugh.

Maura smiled a little and took her wife's hand in her own.

Rubino frowned deeply and shifted from one foot to the other, glancing at Adam who stood closely behind Liz. "Is that your boyfriend. I … I didn't mean to but I saw you both -"

"He's my husband," Liz cut him off sharply and took a deep breath.

Adam shook the other man's hand. "Adam Laverty."

Rubin smiled tight at him. "You're married?"

"I don't think that this is any of your business." Jane stepped in and her face was dark, that dark that the older man took a step back.

Liz placed a hand on her mother's arm and nodded slowly. "Yes, I am." She said calmly and Jane set her jaw. It seemed like she was expecting that Liz would invite the stranger inside the house, and it seemed like Tim was expecting that too because he was glancing every now and then to the house.

He was shaking dramatically and smiled nervously. "It's kinda cold."

"You don't say." The older Italian growled low and the man swallowed hard.

Maura stepped closer to her wife and frowned a little. "Jane, let's get inside."

Jane was freezing as well but she didn't move. "I'm good."

"Jane!" The blonde said warningly and the brunette turned with another deep growl, Winters hot on their heels.

Jane nearly threw her coat on the couch and stated louder, "He has no right to be here!"

Maura glanced apologetically at Winters and sighed heavily, taking Jane's coat off the couch. "I know."

"He is nothing to her, he is not her father. He had more than thirty years to get in touch with Liz but never did that. It'd be easier if he'd have been interested in her for more than just ten minutes. I mean, what does he want? They have nothing in common but DNA."

Maura stepped closer to her wife and looked worriedly at Jane. "Liz can handle him, Jane, she's a grown woman. She can handle Timothy and she is the one to decide if she wants him to be a part of her life from now on. We have no say in it, as much as it hurts right now."

"I'm not so sure that she can handle such a change right now." Jane grumbled and furrowed her brows. "The last time something big in her life changed made her run away."

"That was because she thought that if she'd stay, someone would harm or even kill her family." Winters threw in and the other two women turned to her. Winters swallowed nervously and smiled shyly. "I'm sorry, I know I should stay out of this right now, but I got the chance to get to know Liz very well, I dare to say that she's one of my best friends. And even though she became more aware of the people in her life, I know that she's very passionate about those she cares about and she would never jeopardize their lives in the blink of an eye, she'd rather die before something would happen to you, Dr. Isles or even Detective Laverty. I doubt that this has changed in a couple of months, Lieutenant."

Jane stared at the young woman and knew that Maura was right, and that Winters was right, and she hated it. It was seen in her face.

Maura smiled because Winters words made the brunette shut up and nodded in the direction of the stairs. "I'll show you the guest room and when you are settled, you can come into the living room and join us for a nightcap."

Winters frowned deeply and shook her head. "I can stay on the couch for the night."

Maura took the younger woman at the elbow and led her towards the stairs. "Nonsense, you are not sleeping on the couch when we have a free guest room. And I will tolerate no dissent."

Winters blinked a couple of times with a little frown. "Yes, Ma'am."

Jane walked into the kitchen and huffed, opening the fridge and getting a beer out of it. "Ma'am!"

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Liz rinsed her mouth and straightened up immediately, frowning at her reflection the moment Adam stepped up behind her. She tilted her head a little because he was looking at them as well but kept his hands to himself. "I really missed this," she said with a sigh.

"Brushing your teeth," he asked but kept a straight face.

She resisted the urge to thrust her elbow in the pit of his stomach and rolled her eyes. "Yes, I missed it to brush my teeth for the last five years, Adam. Those are actually my dentures." She smiled when he just shrugged. "You have no idea how many times I looked into the mirror back in San Diego and hopped that you'd step up behind me any moment, telling me that everything would be alright, and in the same moment I knew that it wouldn't happen and I felt empty. I wasn't just alone, I was hollow. I had some people I trusted but it was never like in Boston. I told myself that San Diego was my home now, but it never felt like it because you weren't there, Zane wasn't there, my mothers weren't there. I mean, before I left Boston we had been a lot already, but with you I felt safe from day one. You weren't pushing me for things I didn't want to do, you didn't start to plan a family even though we've been together for just some months. You didn't ask me to move in with you after some weeks. The moment I met you, I knew that you are extraordinary and I could imagine to grow old with you." She furled her brows the second he raised his. "Not the night we met for the first time."

"Thank you," he laughed and stepped a little closer. "For calling me extraordinary. So are you, Liz." He paused and ran his hands over her shoulders, keeping her eyes. "Sure, I was disappointed the moment I realized that you left in the middle of the night, I was angry, I was furious and at some point, I … hoped that you are dead so I could find some closure, and the next second I hated myself for that thought. I told myself to move on, to get over you but I couldn't because I -" He trailed of and kissed her shoulder. "I told you more than once that you are the love of my life, Elizabeth. And that won't change, no matter what you are doing. Maybe I am a little bit like Hanley, I am crazy about you." He saw the fear in her eyes and frowned. "If I have to, I'd kill for you, not because of you. I even would die for you." He pulled her against his front and sighed. "What are you doing because of Tim? Are you keep in touch with him?"

Liz leaned her head back against his shoulder and closed her eyes. "I don't know. I don't even know what he wants from me now, or why he suddenly felt the need to get I touch with me. I became wary about strangers, Adam. When mom wouldn't have said that she ran a paternity test, I'd even doubt that he was telling the truth. But mom -"

"I know." He cut her off and she nodded. "I'm surprised that Maura was able to keep that for herself."

She opened her eyes slowly. "She's barely capable of lying, but she's very good at keeping secrets."

Adam smiled a little. "Very true. So, you're not telling Tim that technically he's a grandfather?"

"He's nothing." She replied and frowned deeply. "Neither is he my father nor Zane's grandfather, he's a stranger. I have two wonderful mothers and I turned out quite well. I might did not have a father, but I had Frankie and Tommy, and they were all I needed. Tim had more than thirty years to get to know me, but never cared until today. Now I don't need him either. I never needed him."

"You never wanted to have a … real dad?"

"Maybe in kindergarten and elementary school when there was a family day. That was because the other kids came there with their mothers and fathers and I just had Ma and Mom. And you know yourself, kids can be mean … jabba." She laughed out loud the moment he pinched her side.

"I should have never told you about my issue in my young age." He laughed but then he turned serious again and took a deep breath. "Yeah, kids can say really nasty things. Is that why you turned out to be -"

She waited when he trailed off and narrowed her eyes. "Straight?"

Adam blushed a little. "Look, I know we never really talked about that and I don't care if you … I … it's just -"

"That you don't want to appear narrow-minded but still wonder how it's possible that the daughter of a lesbian couple can turn out straight?"

"It sounds terrible the way you say it. I always thought I'm open-minded"

Liz laughed and turned to face him directly. "You are, and you are not the first person who's wondering that, but I always liked boys and later men. My parents are indeed lesbians but they never tried to turn me into one, too. They told me that I have to figure out for myself what I like that they are going to accept it. Sometimes I really thought that it'd be easier for them that I'd be a lesbian, too, but they indeed accepted me the way I am, in all ways. I knew, and still know, that they love me the way I am. And I don't think they would like it any other way since they know you and since the day their grandson is born."

Adam smiled at her and nodded slowly. "We did good, didn't we?"

Liz pursed her lips and frowned with a smile.

He was fast and kissed her before she could answer. "Don't you dare to say no just because he got the pighead of you."

She nodded proudly. "He's pretty great, yeah. You did good, Adam."

He wished that he could correct her and say that they did it together, raising their son the way he was, and he knew that he made plenty of mistakes and that Maura and Jane helped him more than once, and that he was grateful for their support, beyond grateful. But he also knew that he'd lie if he'd say that Liz was a great help in the last five years. He took a deep breath and nodded. "Thank you."

Liz licked her lips and took his hand in her own. "Let's get some sleep."