The day Maura came home was a busy one at the Rizzoli-Isles household. Sophie was hanging up a welcome home sign with Amanda while Jane and Julia prepared a three-course dinner in the kitchen. Will was sitting on the rug and watching Sophie and Amanda, giving comments, and laughing along. He was a happy kid and enjoyed the festive mood of the family.

Jane always had an eye on the two who were using a ladder to hang up the sign. She had noticed a change in Amanda and wondered where it came from. The girl was suddenly far more open and talkative. Moreover, she made jokes here and there and participated actively in family discussions. Amanda had even called her Ma the previous day.

It was definitely a change for the good. Jane had honestly been running out of ideas how to make the girl more cheerful and less of a shadow. The change had also resulted in Amanda asking Sophie for various activities Julia hated. Running was one of them. To Janes surprise both had been gone for a training when she had come home from her visit at the hospital.

Speaking of which: she checked her watch and noticed that they were running out of time. She would have to leave in one hour and the decoration was only half up so far, and only one course was finished. She rolled her eyes and shoved a piece of Croutons into her mouth, already feeling the protest of her daughter who had made them to go with the tomato soup.

Jane gave her an apologetic smile and the girl chuckled. The older Julia got; the more Jane recognized herself in her daughter. Julia had shown a lot that she too felt the need to take care of everything and everybody.

Amanda padded into the kitchen to look at what they were doing. "We are done. Next we will take care of the balloons." She informed them and Jane noticed how the girls hand touched the small of Julia's back. Her daughter turned with a smile to kiss Amanda and Jane wasn't sure if she could handle such things yet, so she turned away discreetly. She began to understand all the eww shouts from their kids when she and Maura kissed.

"Hey, could you please pass me the peppermill?" Jane asked and thanked Amanda before she walked back into the entrance hall to help Sophie with the balloons. She was curious now. Amanda and Julia had been together for almost a year and they slept in the same room. Had IT already happened? Was it okay to ask Julia who was following Amanda's lean figure with her eyes and a wicked smile?

Jane shook her head at her antics and continued seasoning the minute steaks. Since reading that leaving them breathe for at least one hour improves the taste she swore to it. Putting the dish with the seasoned meat aside she finally gathered some courage.

"You like Amanda?" she tried a soft approach to the topic, earning a glare that said seriously ma from Julia. Quickly clearing her throat and blushing slightly she moved on with her investigation. "How is it going? I mean you have been together for one year…" Yes, great! She scolded herself. Maybe it would have been better if she had said nothing at all.

"I mean if you have any questions about any specific topic…" Now she really felt stupid. They had already explained sex to the girls. Julia glanced at her in surprise. "Are you asking me what I think that you are asking?" she chuckled and pointed with the knife towards Jane as she had just been cutting the vegetables.

"Depends on what you think I'm asking." Jane said evasively. "I think that you are asking if Amanda and I have already slept with each other." Julia bluntly said with a grin. Jane blushed. "I was just asking if you have any further questions regarding any topic." Both glanced at each other and suddenly burst out in laughter.

"No. but we plan to sleep with each other soon. When mom is home and fine…" Julia almost whispered, and Jane grinned. "Nervous?" she asked, finding it easier to talk about it after their laughter.

"No, yes… well… yes. Shouldn't I?" Julia was insecure and Jane rolled her eyes. "Just do what feels good. Take your time. It doesn't have to happen the first time you try if you know what I mean. You can also take baby steps. The main thing is that you both feel comfortable while discovering this new territory."

"How was it between mom and you? Did either of you ever have sex with another woman before?" it was Julia's turn to be curious. Jane sighed and pondered the question.

"Well, I had had girlfriends before mom. So yes, I had had sex with women before. I don't really know about Maura though. I always assumed that she was experienced too. Our first time was still awkward. I mean we had been friends for so long. At the same time, it seemed to be so natural. Despite being awkward it was actually good." Jane pulled out of her memories and gave Julia a faint smile.

"It gets better the more you practice in any way. And the longer you are together the more you trust each other, the better it becomes." The brunette tried to pass on some wisdom while they were at it.

"Would you be okay if we….?" Julia's voice trailed off. Jane looked at her. She was probably old enough. And if it hadn't been for Amanda, she would have said no. But Amanda was a good girl. And reasonable. Jane didn't worry.

"Yes." She mumbled. "But maybe you could be … uhm… you know… loud is okay if we don't hear you." Jane rambled and Julia chuckled. "Oh, believe me, I have no intention to … you know… when you are around."

"Oh good." Jane said in relief, hearing the alarm of her phone announce that it was time to bring Maura home. She washed her hands and dried them into the dishtowel, getting ready to go when Julia called after her. She quickly returned into the kitchen, seeing a gentle smile on Julias face. "Thanks for the talk ma." Her daughter said and Jane grinned. "You're welcome. Anytime baby." And then she passed two giggling teenagers in the hallway to finally get her wife back.

R&I

Maura was more than happy to see the whole family lining up as a welcome committee under a huge sign which read: welcome home mom! She saw the trouble they had gone through to decorate the house and took her time to greet each and every one of them. Jane who had carried in the heavy suitcase lined up at the far end and waited patiently despite already stealing plenty of kisses on their way home.

They had laughed a lot and held hands. They had sung along the radio and talked. It felt like cancer had never existed. Well maybe it had because now they seemed to cherish what they had in each other even more. Everything seemed to be more intense, beginning with their touches over their kisses to their eye love making.

When Maura arrived in front of Jane she giggled. Without saying a word, she bend forwards and kissed Jane who had to break the kiss when getting the usual teenager reactions. She winked at Julia who wore a wide smile. The talk from earlier had made their bond stronger and Jane hugged her quickly under Maura's puzzled look. She would explain later.

Angela, Frankie and the rest of the gang had decided to give the family some alone time to settle back in. They would come for a celebration a few days later.

R&I

It was also a few days later, on the next Saturday, when Julia padded into the kitchen with a crooked grin. Jane somehow knew that it had finally happened and smiled at her girl before taking a gulp from her cup.

"Where's Amanda?" she asked and got the reply that the other half of the couple was still asleep. "Are you okay?" Jane gingerly questioned. When Julia replied that she needed more practice Jane laughed gently and pulled her into her arms. She left a kiss to her daughters' forehead who huffed playfully.

"Why are people so keen on doing this?" she asked just when Maura rounded the corner. Jane smirked. "Doing what?" Maura asked and rubbed over her head where small hairs began to appear. Jane glanced at Julia who shook her head.

Jane preferred not to reply because she didn't want to lie to Maura, nor did she want to give up Julias secret. Julia would tell her if she was ready. "Having sex!" Sophie mumbled joining them in the kitchen, walking straight to the coffee machine.

Julia blushed, Maura almost dropped her mug and Jane tried to hold back some laughter.

"What? You think you are the only ones? I heard you last night. All of you!" Sophie emphasized while pouring herself a cup of coffee. Now everybody suddenly got busy with preparing breakfast to hide some blushes. Sophie was the only one who stood in the midst of the raising chaos with a satisfied grin. "I joked. But I guess I hit a spot there." She stated in a very cool manner and giggled. "You should all see your faces." She giggled.

"You're grounded young lady." Maura, who found her speech first, said.

"But mooooom!" Sophie wined and the doc began to chuckle.

"Just joking." Maura said and winked. "but don't pull this on us again."

Sophie nodded and then asked if her boyfriend Todd could come by this day to watch the game with Jane and her. Both parents agreed. Jane was curious about this Todd person anyways. Hopefully, he was as good as Amanda.