AN: Credit henceforth goes to my cousin who has taken over the story. She had to go through an intensive crash study of Rizzoli and Isles (I made her watch all my favourite episodes from season 1 – 4). And then she obviously had to read through the whole story, and through your reviews, and then she finally started writing. She's trying to 'write like me' as she says….hahahaha. She doesn't have a fanfic account but rest assured, all your reviews and PM will be read and responded to by her (she now has ownership of my account till this story is through). My only input is this authors note, and the reviews I will be leaving for her….lol. If she makes some continuity mistakes please don't hesitate to point them out to her….

Oh, there also probably won't be anymore sex scenes, she can't write those apparently. Hope my cousin doesn't disappoint you guys…her name is Edith, please be kind, everything is new for her.


Maura's assistant had literally just started at BPD but Maura had no choice besides to leave her in charge immediately. She seemed well qualified and capable so Maura wasn't really worried. She had 'family issues' to attend to. So as Jane left to go to work that morning, Maura headed over to Angela's to take Joyleen, she had a ton of legal issues to sort out, and the sooner it was done, the better.

''….and then TJ vomited all over me. It was disgusting, but funny'', Joyleen gleefully told Maura stories about her night with Angela.

''That happened to me once before. Sadly, I was dressed to go to work and had to change all over again'', Joyleen burst out laughing. Maura smiled at her, happily and sadly at the same time. She wasn't sure how the girl was going to take the news that Margo had left. And then there was the whole lawyer and court thing they were going to go through for a short period. Maura also feared the question of why Jane had her own apartment. That morning Jane had told Maura to tell Joyleen to ask her instead. Maura couldn't lie, and she didn't want the girl to feel like she was being thrust into an unstable environment when she'd been sure Jane and Maura lived together all this time.

To her relief, the question never came. Joyleen was so wrapped up in giving minute to minute accounts of the past night. The two had now pulled into Maura's lawyers parking lot.

''What are we doing here?'', the girl queried as she took in her surroundings.

''We are going to see my lawyer. I have to sign some paper work and then we have to go to see a judge and another lawyer''

''Why?'', she wondered.

Maura thought for a little while, but figured she must have had this conversation with Joyleen before even coming here. ''I'm sorry honey, I should have spoken to you about this before driving here''

''It's okay'', the girl shrugged.

''We need to collect your paperwork and then tomorrow we go to apply for your new birth certificate''

Joyleen seemed to be thinking about this for a while, before asking her question. ''Does that mean my name has to change?''. She sounded emotionless and Maura wasn't sure what to conclude from it.

''Not necessarily. I will never do anything you are not happy to do, okay?''

''Okay'', she nodded.

''So…uhhh…do you…you know'', the normally articulate doctor was struggling with her words now. She didn't know how to ask the question, or if she even should. Joyleen was patient, and waited for Maura to pull herself together and finally she did. ''Do you want to change your name?''

The simple question didn't have quite so simple an answer. So Joyleen responded with her own question. ''Change it to what?''

''Not your first name, I meant your uhhh…your surname''

''Oh. You mean to make me Joyleen Yolanda Isles?''

''Yes'', Maura whispered quietly.

''I guess it only makes sense'', after a beat she added, ''What about Rizzoli?''

Aha!

That was Maura's biggest fear. She wanted her child to be a Rizzoli too, but she needed permission from the owners of that surname. She hadn't asked Jane yet, or Angela for that matter. But she also didn't want Joyleen to feel like she had to ask to be considered illegible for that category. She wanted Joyleen to just feel like she belonged. Maura herself felt like a Rizzoli. It wasn't written anywhere, but she knew she belonged with them. And she wanted the same for Joyleen.

''Yes, that too'', Maura said simply.

''Joyleen Yolanda Isles-Rizzoli'', the girl tested it on her tongue. Maura couldn't help but smile, it sounded beautiful. ''Doctor Maura Isles-Rizzoli '', Maura thought.

The two went through a few technicalities and policies and procedures with the lawyer before having to head over to the judge. It was really quite simple in their case. Maura had complete and full rights over Joyleen so she could make whatever decisions she liked regarding the girl – and Joyleen wasn't complaining. In order for her to take the Rizzoli name though, Jane had to sign some paper work. And it would be at least six months before Jane could officially adopt Joyleen too. So far, Jane could get Parental Responsibility to the child until another title could be granted. That also needed Jane's signature. So with all the paperwork in hand, Joyleen and Maura decided to head over to BPD to surprise Jane with lunch.

Stepping out of her comfort zone, Maura stopped with Joyleen at a pizza place and made a double order of large pizza and wings to-go. The greasy food was accompanied by two one litre ginger ales and Maura had no doubt Jane and Joyleen would finish their potions – with her help of course, though little.

...

They entered the bullpen quietly and stood by the door watching Jane. She had her back to them flailing her arms wildly over a cold case that was frustrating her. When the brunette noticed Frost looking over her shoulder she immediately turned. There she saw her beautiful Joyleen and a radiant Maura, it was a sight for sore eyes for sure - her family.

''Jane'', Joyleen ran up to her. The detective hoisted her lightly off the ground in a bone crushing hug.

''Hey kid, missed you''. She took the boxes of pizza in her hand that looked like they were about to hit the ground.

''Thanks'', smiled the girl. ''we thought we'd surprise you for lunch. And you promised to show me where you work'', smirked Joyleen.

''And that I will do''. Maura walked over and placed the drinks and boxes of wings on Janes desk. ''Hey beautiful'', Jane whispered.

''Hi'', Maura smile into the small kiss. ''We brought lunch, Detective Frost, Korsak'', she acknowledged the two men in the room.

''Hey Doc'', they said in unison.

''This is for you'', the ball of energy began unpacking everything. She placed on Frost's desk half of whole of their order, ''Both''

''Like he'd let me have all this on my own'', Frost joked with Korsak.

''Thank you'', the young detective smiled at the girl.

''You're welcome'', came the very proud reply.

''You want to go to see my office?'', Maura asked Joyleen. She frowned a little, and Maura knew exactly why. ''we will come back here after lunch''

''Oh good'', breathed the girl in relief.

The threesome made their way over to the morgue. Maura had texted her assistant to let her know she would be using the office during lunch and to also tell her to make the place as child friendly as possible.

''Noooo…'', Jane pulled Joyleens arm as soon as they walked into the morgue. The girl looked excited and was about to freely explore. ''We can't look around in here okay, but I promise to show you around the rest of the building''

''Is this where they keep the dead people?'', Maura and Jane didn't miss the hint of sadness in her voice. They knew her thoughts probably must have wondered over to her late grandmother.

''Yes. But what about we have some lunch huh. You brought me my favourite kid'', Jane attempted lightening up the mood. It worked like a charm. They sat in Maura's office and all enjoyed their lunch. And just as Maura had suspected, they cleaned up every last crumb – her rascals, she thought.

''So you got all these from Africa?'', the girl asked in wonderment. She was going through just about everything in Maura's office. Not a stone had been left unturned, as they say.

''Of all the things to bring from Africa'', Jane piped in, receiving a light shove from her girlfriend. ''Ow''

After their meal, Maura caught up with the little bit of work she had missed that morning while Jane showed Joyleen around. The detective felt proud to show her little girl around the place, and Joyleen couldn't have been happier. They bumped into Frankie at some point, and Angela too in the café, and eventually their tour was over.

''This is for you'', Maura handed Jane a file while Joyleen goofed off with Frost and Korsak.

''What's this?'', the curious detective was already opening it up.

''No'', Maura placed her hand to halt Jane's progress. ''Take a look at it while we're gone, and bring it home to me after work''

''But-''

''Whatever you decide is okay with me Jane. Nothing will change my love for you''

Jane just smiled and offered a her quick kiss. As terrible as it was, she suddenly was eager for Maura and Joyleen to be on their way so she could see what Maura had left her with. She wasn't disappointed. Because minutes later Maura and Joy were on their way out.

''Be right back'', Jane said as she walked away from her desk. She had a feeling she was going to need a bit of privacy for whatever decision she had to make.

A minute later she was walking into the break room where she took a seat in the far corner. Thankfully the room was empty – people had just finished lunch. Opening the file, Jane's mouth hung open. She quickly scanned the papers before her. There was a form she had to fill in and sign that apparently gave her responsibility of Joyleen – after Maura of course. And then there was a form regarding a new birth certificate for Joyleen. She had to sign agreeing that she was willing to give the girl her name as well – Rizzoli.

Its not that she had to think about it, its just that she was too overwhelmed to steady her hands enough to sign the papers. She also wanted to text Maura, but doubted she would be able to type the keys, so she resorted to gathering everything and going over to the café to see her mother.

''Hey Jan- are you okay'', her mothers expression changed from happy to concerned in .7777 of a second.

Jane just thrust the file into her mothers hands. Angela made quick work of finding out what had made her tough daughter so teary at work. And it wasn't long until she was squealing and rushing around the counter to hug her daughter.

''Oh Jane this is wonderful''

''It is isn't it'', Jane wasn't even embarrassed that she was hugging her loud mother at work for once.

''So you are going to officially be a mother, and she's going to be a Rizzoli'', the woman gushed.

''Yeah'', was all Jane could manage through the emotions.

''Why haven't you sighed in?'', the woman worried. Afraid that maybe her daughter wasn't for the idea.

''I didn't have a pen for one. And my hands just weren't steady enough'', she said sheepishly.

''Oh come here baby'', Angela hugged her again.


When Jane got home that night, she was greeted by an emotionally spent Maura. ''Hi'', the blonde said as she finished clearing the dishes. She and Joyleen had just finished sharing their meal because Jane ended up being late.

''You okay?'', warning bells began ringing in her head immediately.

''Sort of I suppose'', she shrugged, completing her last wipe-down.

''You look exhausted honey'', Jane walked over to her girlfriend and held her at arms length for closer inspection.

''I spoke to Joyleen about Margo when we got home''

''And…'', Jane prompted when the blonde had been quiet for longer than was considered a normal pause.

''She took it well, and seemed to understand. Then she said she wanted to ring her to find out if she got to Japan alright''

''And…'', Jane asked again.

Then Maura started to cry all of a sudden. ''She didn't pick up Jane''

The detective took her in her arms for a strong embrace, ''It's okay Maur. We'll try her again''

''We tried already, five times. And just after dinner she tried once again and when….when Margo didn't answer she said she was going to bed. It was only eight Jane. And…and you know Joyleen doesn't like to sleep early…''

''Maura, calm down'', Jane tried to console her.

''No Jane'', Maura pulled herself slightly lose from Jane. ''She's upset. And she isn't talking to me about it. What if she doesn't want to stay here anymore. Oh Jane, what should I do?''

''Just-''

Maura cut her off, ''I just let her go upstairs. I didn't want to hover and….I just let her be. Was that a good idea?'', she looked pleading at Jane with red-rimmed eyes.

''Maybe. It's nice to have some space sometimes. Since its been a little while maybe you can go to talk to her now'', Jane suggested.

''What will I say? Do come with me please Jane''

''Sure''. The detective sometimes forgot how insecure Maura could feel about things un-science related. And since motherhood had just landed into her life recently, the doctor was bound to have her moments where she felt inadequate and lost. Jane understood this, because she was just like that too. That's why they were perfect together, they balanced each other out. They were the other's stepping stone in times of trouble.

...

The knock on Joyleen's door was soft as the two adults stood with bated breath.

''Come in''. Joyleen was lying on her bed doing something on her iPad.

''Hey kid'', Jane greeted her.

''Hi'', she smiled simply at the two women.

''Can we join you?'', Jane asked hopefully.

''Sure'', she moved to the middle to allow Jane and Maura to fit on either side of the bed. Following Jane's cue, Maura lied down on her stomach as well (albeit feeling slightly uncomfortable – more so about the situation than about their positions).

Sensing a talk was coming, Joyleen closed the cover of her iPad and waited. ''You know people are very different, and understanding and accepting that uniqueness is one of the best things we can ever do for ourselves'', Jane began. Maura's eyes grew wide. She hadn't been expecting that. ''I'm sorry that Margo left, we both are'', she looked to Maura for confirmation and the blonde nodded. ''All three of us can't really be your parents and live together. You understand that right?''

''Yeah''

''So your mom had to leave, because she trusts that you'll be safe and happy with us here. Its not because she doesn't care or that she doesn't love you. its only because she wants what's best for you''

The girl nodded again.

''Her not picking up doesn't mean anything okay. There could be several reasons why she hasn't gotten back to you yet. And I'm not saying that you shouldn't be upset or sad, I'm just saying that you shouldn't think the worst and that me and Maura are here for you. For anything you may want. Talk to us okay, about anything. We won't push you sweetie, but we're here'', Jane placed a small kiss to the side of the girl's head.

''I'm sorry. I was just worried'', Joyleen confessed, looking at Maura.

''Sweetheart, you don't ever have to apologize for that okay. This is your home, and you have the right to express yourself okay'', Maura looked at her with tears in her eyes, hoping the girl understood.

And she did. ''Thanks mum'', she said. And Maura felt all her internal organs shut down. This was the first time she'd ever been called mum. And the feeling was one she would never be able to describe for years to come. She was now a mother.

''It's alright baby''. The three of them collided into an awkward three-person hug, each person feeling much more happier than they had ever been. They eventually burst out into laughter over their strange positions and goofed off together until falling asleep – all in Joyleen's bed.


AN: Thank you all for understanding that I couldn't finish this. But I have my ways of making it up to you...