* I own nothing of Rizzoli and Isles I just have the privilege of playing with the characters for a while.

Jane woke up early and couldn't go back to sleep. She thought about her and Maura's day of shopping but mostly the conversation at lunch. She would close her eyes and Maura's voice would start "Within you Jane I see a beautiful smart woman who can be a protector, friend, competitor, daughter, sister, and several other things. All those characteristics are contained in one outward doll we call Jane."

She finally threw the covers off herself and got up in search of her laptop after getting frustrated. "Where does one find Russian Matryoshka dolls anyway?" She thought to herself then started a search on line for them in Boston. She actually found a Russian doll boutique in the back bay area. She wrote the address down and went to start a pot of coffee. "It was going to be a long day if she was starting the black liquid gold at 6am," she thought. After the first cup she started thinking of her plans with Maura for that evening and remembered she needed to text her to dress warmly today or bring warm casual clothes. She laughed at herself thinking, "Is there such a thing as casual in Maura Isles closet."

XXXXX

Jane made it into BPD and decided to stop in and see her mother. "Good morning Jane." Came a familiar voice to her left. It was the voice that had kept her awake half the morning belonging to Maura Isles.

"Morning Maur..."

"Did you get some rest?"

Jane looked at her puzzled like the woman knew her voice had been a direct line to keeping her eye lids wide open since 5am that morning.

"Jane?"

"Hum..."

"Did you sleep well after our day of shopping yesterday?" Maura asked again.

"Oh...yeah like a baby." She said smiling trying to play her previous look off.

"Well I see that sleep hasn't helped you from being distracted." Maura said with a half smile but still with a concerned tone in her voice.

"I was just wondering where ma was." She said again trying to deflect, "I see you got my text about wearing something warm. That sweater really looks nice on you."

"Thank you Jane." Maura beamed at the complement, "So where are we going tonight?"

"Nice try there Dr. Isles but it is a surprise that you will have to wait for." Jane said smiling and finally feeling like she was back in her groove.

"Janie...Maura..."

"Hi ma... have you seen Frankie?"

"Yeah he was in here this morning. It seems he is on traffic detail this week from 5pm till 5am."

"Who did he tick off?" Jane asked cringing at her mother's words.

"He doesn't know but he has it until next Monday."

"Tell him to hang in there and to dress warmly it's suppose to start snowing this weekend."

"He knows." She said laughing as the ladies left to go up stairs. They didn't see Frost and Korsak giggling in the corner over the last part of their conversation. "We better stop laughing or we are going to get coal in our stocking for Christmas Frost." Korsak said as they both busted up laughing again.

XXXXX

Maura had worked on the end of year statistics all day. She had wondered what Jane had planned that she was being so secretive about and why had the woman left for lunch without even checking with her. That was highly unusual since they ate lunch together most days. But in a way she was glad to have the private time to finish up her own surprise for Jane without any questions from the inquisitive woman.

She was typing up her final summery of the crime labs productivity through out the year when Jane appeared at her door with a bright smile. "Hey you."

"Jane...hello."

"Are you ready to grab something to eat from the Robber?"

"It's like deja vu."

"How's that?" Jane asked not following Maura's train of thought.

"Last week we ate at the Dirty Robber then we went to the City Light Up. That was just magical." Maura said as she got a far away look remembering the magical night.

"Oh..." Jane said smiling, "Well tonight I hope will rank right up there with that one." She said loving the child like wonder that flashed on her friends face.

Maura noticed that Jane had a gym bag with her. "What's that for?" She asked pointing to the bag.

"So many questions there Dr. Isles. You are just going to have to be patient because Santa doesn't reveal his secrets." She said smirking.

Maura loved when Jane was in her element. It gave her the feeling that tonight was going to be special because Jane had her "I'm in charge" swagger on.

XXXXX

After the ladies had dinner with Maura eating most of Jane's fries and her whining about it and threating to make her get her own they left for the night's surprise. The night had a bite of wind making it feel colder than it was out. While walking Maura noticed that they were again walking to where ever it was they were going. This time she had no clue where they were going so she just slipped her arm through Jane's trusting her best friend for another amazing evening. They walked through Boston Common around Frog Pond.

"Look Jane everyone is ice skating." Maura said smiling with a twinkle in her eyes.

"I know and we are going to as well." She said with a bright smile patting the gym bag over her shoulder.

Maura tightened her grip on Jane's arm and pulled her to a complete stop. "Hey ease up on the death grip there Maur." She said shaking her arm free of the grip, "What's up?"

"I have only tried it once as a child and it wasn't pretty Jane." Maura said in a small panic.

"It's all good. You didn't have me to teach you back then." Jane said pulling the woman into a hug. "I promise it will be alright and fun."

She looked up into warm brown eyes and took a deep breath, "Well I have always loved the movie The Bishops Wife." She said as she gained her courage. Jane looked at her confused having no clue to what the movie was about let alone why it applied to their skating tonight but she just smiled because it seemed to give Maura courage to do it.

They found a spot to put on the skates that Jane had in the gym bag which Maura had questioned earlier. Jane put her skates on first so she could help Maura with hers. She let the woman start but knew that she would have to re-lace them again. Beginners always tied them to tight are not tight enough. She smiled as Maura tried to watch her to learn how to do it correctly. Jane stood up and Maura started to do the same until Jane put a hand on her shoulder, "Whoa there a moment... I need to re-lace your skates. "

"Why?" Maura asked puzzled because they looked exactly like Jane's.

"You have them too tight." She said bending down on one knee retying the skates as she looked up every few moments into pure green eyes that were focused on her. She was amazed that she didn't want the moment to end. All her life she was either pushing to do something or bored because there wasn't anything to do. But here in this moment tying Maura's skates she wanted it to last as long as it could. She wasn't in a hurry to get out on the ice for once in her life she was happy right where she was. She stood and held out her hand to help the woman up on her skates. "Don't look doowwnnn."

"JANE!" Was yelled as Maura fell taking her friend with her. Jane started laughing. "It's not funny." Maura said in a pout.

Jane looked at her pout and smiled, "Maur you are going to fall tonight just have fun with it." The woman just looked at her with a glare then busted out laughing seeing that Jane was sprawled out on the ice on her butt with her.

"Okay...first rule." Jane started, "No looking down. Second...no leaning backwards on your skates. Hold your arms forward to help you balance yourself." She waited to see if the woman understood what she was saying, "You ready to try it again?" Maura smiled and shook her head yes. They skating slowly together until Maura got use to the skates. Soon she got over confident and took off away from Jane not realizing she didn't know how to stop. "JANE...I CAN"T STOP!"

"Bend your knees, weight forward and turn your toes inward." Jane said hoping her verbal commands were going to be enough but realized she had to take out in a full blown skate after the runaway doctor. She was heading straight for an unsuspecting couple like a bowling ball on a mission for a seven ten split pick up. Jane caught up to the woman just in time to save the couple. "Come on killer let's just skate together." She said as she remained behind Maura with her arms around her waist. Maura smiled and placed her hands over Jane's and enjoyed the warmth.

"I had it there for a few moments." Maura said excitedly.

"Yes you did...and if you never had to stop you could have won an Olympic gold medal." She said laughing.

"Jane..." Maura said patting Jane's hand in a mock insulted jester.

They were quiet for several turns around the pond enjoying the lights, people, and the presence of each other. It was getting close to time for the park to close. During the weekdays it closed at 9pm but the ladies didn't care they skated right up until the employees threatening to call the police if they didn't leave which only made the them laugh. Jane followed Maura over and helped her take her skates off before taking her own off.

"This has been a wonderful night Jane. Thank you for teaching me how to ice skate." Maura said reaching out and cupping her friend's cheek. Jane looked into green eyes and for a fleeting moment saw desire staring back at her taking her breath and speech away. "Are you okay Jane?"

"I'm wonderful Maura." She said smiling pushing the pure unadulterated fear down to her toes so she wouldn't show it to Maura. "Let's go and get some hot cocoa and warm banana bread that I know is waiting for us at your house." She said smiling and changing the subject.

"How do you know this?" Maura asked as she slipped her arm through Jane's as they walked to BPD to get their cars.

"Ma just texted me that the cocoa was on the stove and the bread would be out of the oven by the time we get there." Jane smiled, "I love when the elves have perfect timing."

"Jane... Angela isn't an elf."

"No but she can act like a troll sometimes trust me." She said as they both laughed getting into their cars and heading towards hot cocoa and banana bread.

Thanks for reading... more to come. This is a savory story and I will not rush it but never forget I have rated it M for a reason. So when the mood hits do not be surprise. :)