A nod to Tess Gerritsen and TNT: Thank you for creating these lovely characters that we love to play with at times.

Angela comes bustling into the kitchen with a bag in her arms. "Are my girls ready for today?"

Maura smiles at Angela's enthusiasm. "The oven is clean, the mixer is out. We have our cookie sheets ready…"

Jane pipes in, "My hair is tied back, my hands are washed…"

"Good good. Here you go, I don't want your clothes to get dirty." She hands them each an apron. "Did you get cookie boxes?"

"Right here, Ma."

"Angela, thank you for helping us with our baking."

"I couldn't let you ladies give store-bought cookie trays as gifts to your friends. Maura, you have a beautiful kitchen and this will be fun and a learning experience for the two of you." Angela pulls out a well-loved cookbook from her bag, it's pages folded at all the most favorite recipes. Notecards were sticking out at other pages.

"Let's see, we need a variety. How about some butter cookies, sugar cookies, rainbow sprinkle Italian cookies….."

"Ma, can we make some peanut butter blossoms?"

"Did you get peanut butter and Hershey kisses?"

"Yup."

"Then we can make them."

The next few hours are a baking dance in the kitchen. Angela tries to keeps a tight rein on the activities. She takes one break and when she comes back into the kitchen, she sees a flour fight happening. "Girls!" She takes a dishtowel and whips each girl on the rump.

Maura looks chastized. "Sorry, Angela."

"Hrumph. I'm sure Janie started it."

Jane is insulted. "Why do you always assume it's my fault?"

Angela raises the Rizzoli eyebrow. "Well, did Maura start it?"

"Well, she kissed me and she had flour on her nose that got on my face so I may have flicked a little flour on her to pay her back."

"Really, Jane?"

Jane grins and flicks flour at Angela. Angela takes the spatula and chases Jane around the kitchen to Maura's amusement.

"One last cookie to make girls; the cannoli cookie. You can find the recipe any place, but my grandmother made a few changes that have been passed down mother to daughter. Today, I will pass the secret to you."

Jane is shocked. "Really, Ma. I finally get to know the full recipe?"

"Yes, you and Maura both. And when it's time, you will give it to your daughters."

The cookies are divided up and placed in containers to be delivered to friends and coworkers. The ladies stand back and look at the festive containers with satisfaction.

Jane nibbles on a sugar cookie. "Please tell me that one of those containers is staying with us, right?"

"Two actually, one for you to snack on and one for our Christmas guests."\

"I know my Janie, I think I'll take that one home with me so she doesn't eat it also."

Jane nods in agreement as she finishes the sugar cookie. Her mother knows her well.

Hi all! Having fun? I hope to publish one more chapter!