Hi everyone. As I always say, I own none of these lovely characters, but I do love to borrow them and play!

Maura slowly rises toward consciousness. Her hand brushes her faces, trying to wipe away the tickle she feels. The tickle comes again and yet again. Maura opens one eye to see Jane smiling down at her, tickling her with her own hair.

"Good morning, beautiful!"

"Mmmph" Maura is usually a morning person, but they had an active night last night. A few more minutes of sleep seemed warranted.

"Don't you want to see if Santa came?"

Maura lifts her head and fully opens her eyes to focus on Jane's excited face. "Jane, we both know that Santa is a mythical creature. We put gifts out last night for all our family and friends coming to visit today."

Jane could not be dissuaded. Her caramel colored eyes sparkled with mischief. "Are we sure that we put out ALL the gifts last night?"

Maura opened her mouth to speak, but closed it. It was true, when Jane was letting Jo Friday out, Maura had snuck Jane's gift under the tree.

Jane is up on her hands and knees bouncing on the bed, curly hair falling in waves around her face. "C'mon. Let's go downstairs."

Maura is unable to resist a smile. This is what it will be like to have children, especially little Rizzolis. She slides her silk robe on and follows Jane downstairs.

"Tea or coffee?"

Jane is starting a fire. She raises an eyebrow in an incredulous arc at the question. "Are you serious? My family is coming over. Full strength coffee!"

Maura sees the wisdom in Jane's suggestion and chooses the beans she wants to press. Once the coffee is done, she brings two steaming mugs into the living room. Jane has a cheery fire burning and the lights of the Christmas tree on. Maura sits on the couch beside Jane.

"This is nice to enjoy the peace of the morning. I can understand now why we set up everything last night."

"Well, that's part of the reason. Would you like your gift now?"

Maura looks surprised. Traditionally, they exchange their gifts when everyone else has gone home. "If you would like to, yes, we can exchange now."

Jane jumps off the couch, a bundle of nerves and excitement. Please, oh please, let her like the gift! Jane grabs a box from the back of the tree and hands it to Maura. Maura gently begins to lift the tape off when she hears a discreet throat clearing from Jane. She lifts her head and sees the familiar raised eyebrow and head tilt. Maura smiles and nods. She proceeds to rip the wrapping paper with carefree abandon. Jane laughs. "That's my girl, you're learning!"

Maura opens the box; folds back the tissue paper and sees a beautiful navy blue bikini with a golden design threaded through it. She holds up the top. "Oh, Jane, this is beautiful!"

Jane looks a little sheepish. "I really don't know if that is a gift for you or me. I'm really going to enjoy seeing it on you!" Jane wriggles her eyebrows in a suggestive manner and Maura laughs. "Keep looking. That's not the only gift in the box."

Maura moves more tissue paper out of the way and discovers an envelope. She unseals the envelope and unfolds the paper. It's a travel itinerary! Maura feels a wave of excitement that Jane had planned a trip for them. "Jane, what is this?" She continues to read the papers.

Jane's leg is bouncing up and down in her nervous excitement. "Well, we've been under so much pressure lately, and it's been cold and cloudy and I just thought we really needed to get away and I wasn't sure where to go, so I researched the islands and I hope you like the one I picked because they all looked nice and ..."

"Jane! You are rambling!"

"We're going to St. Lucia. We can go diving, horseback riding, hiking. or just relax on the beach."

"That sounds wonderful. Thank you, my darling." Maura leans over to kiss Jane.

"We leave tomorrow and come back on Monday."

"Tomorrow? Monday?" Maura feels a wave of panic wash over herself. She starts looking at the itinerary for times. Oh, nol No no no no no. We leave on Monday to go to Paris. Here it is. We arrive back in Boston on Monday, December 29, at 1:30. If we go through customs, we could be back home at 3:00, grab our other luggage and be back at the airport by 5:00 and fly out at 7:00. Maybe we can even take a fast shower.

Jane is watching Maura's face. She thinks that Maura is disappointed in the brevity of their stay. "I wasn't sure if you would enjoy it, so I only booked for a long weekend." Jane's voice trails off. She begins to fiddle with the drawstring of her pajama pants. Maura looks up to see Jane's dejected posture. She reaches over to hug Jane.

"Jane, sweetheart. I love the gift. I can't wait to wear the bathing suit for you."

Jane looks over suspiciously, watching for hives. "You didn't seem too happy."

Maura walks over to the side of the tree and finds the gift bag she had hidden yesterday. "Merry Christmas, Jane. Start with the small box please."

Jane lifts the tissue paper from the bag and peers in. She sees a small wrapped box and her heart goes to her throat. Is this what I think it is? She's not down on her knee. I thought I was supposed to be the one to propose. Shit. I've been waiting for the perfect time and blew it. Jane unwraps the box and slowly opens it. Nestled inside is a beautiful emerald in a white gold design. Jane is breathless.

"Maura, this is beautiful. I don't know what to say!"

"Do you really like it Jane?"

"Yes, of course! Please help me put it on." Jane turns and presents her back to Maura to close the clasp.

"There's another gift."

Jane looks into the bag and pulls out the other box. She cheerfully rips the paper off the box. Jane opens the box to reveal a tri-folded paper. She opens to read it:

Travel Itinerary for Maura Isles and Jane Rizzoli. BOS to CDG 12/29/14 to 01/02/15. Jane's eyes open wide in panic when she sees the departure date. She points to the paper.

"But. Wait. What? When? Can we?"

"I think we can do it." Maura puts both itineraries on the coffee table. She points to the arrival from St. Lucia and their departure to Paris.

"IF we land on time, it should give us time to stop home, take a quick shower, exchange suitcases and get back to the airport within the suggested parameters of an international flight. Of course, our luggage has to be packed and ready to go."

Jane wrinkles her forehead. "Damn, I think I have to do laundry!"

Maura laughs. Knowing how busy the holiday weekend was going to be, she had already sent any dry cleaning out, including some for Jane and picked it up. "I don't think you have to worry about doing laundry today, Jane, you have plenty of clothes."

"I might run out of underwear!"

"I would love to buy you some French lingerie." Now it's Maura's turn to wriggle her eyebrows suggestively in imitation of Jane's earlier motion. Jane blushes.

Jane looks at the clock. "No one should be here for at least two hours, but Ma will be here first to help us. Let's go upstairs and start to get organized."

While the ladies go upstairs, Jane convinces Maura she only needs a carry on for their trip to the island. "Maura, this is warm weather, casual attire. If we don't check a bag, it's that much faster to get out of the airport."

"But what about footwear, Jane? I don't know what dinners will be like?"

"You will wear one pair on your feet and pack one. That is all you need."

"But..."

"Casual. Carry on. Period."

Maura likes a bossy Jane taking charge. "Ok."

The women set up their carry on luggage in the bedroom and the bags they were going to check in for Paris in the spare room.

"Are you sure we each need to check a bag?" Jane is very dubious. She hates packing.

"May I suggest, yes? If we each check a bag, and in each bag we both pack clothes, if one bag is lost, we both have some clothes versus one of us losing everything."

Jane opens her mouth and then shuts it. "Damn, intelligent AND practical. No wonder I love you so much."

Maura laughs. "Oh, I thought it was for my body."

"Well, now that you mention it, you do have a lovely rack." Jane makes cupping motions from the opposite side of the bed. The next hour is spent packing the carryon luggage for tomorrow and putting clothes in piles on the bed for final packing after everyone left this evening. Jane even agrees that sandals for the beach are different than sandals you wear to dinner, so 3 pairs of shoes are allowed.

Jane and Maura stand in the doorway. Jane looks down at Maura. "Well, what do you think? Will we be able to sleep sometime tonight or spend all night packing?"

Coming from a family that always took trips, Maura isn't has fazed as Jane. She tries to lighten Jane's worry. "Jane, if we don't sleep tonight, it won't because we are still packing." She waits for Jane's reaction and it doesn't take long for Jane to laugh. "We are almost done now. We look at it again with fresh eyes tonight, make any adjustment that are needed and put everything in the suitcases."

"Simple as that?"

"Simple as that."

Jane nods. "Ok, then. Let's get ready for the festivities! And, Maura?"

"Yes, Jane?"

Jane pulls Maura into her arms. "Merry Christmas, Maura."

Maura leans up to kiss Jane. "Merry Christmas, Jane."

Whew! Long time coming, but here is Christmas! Hi all, thank you for your patience! Thank you for your reviews, they means so much to me.

Hugs to everyone.

My love to Belgium.