The next morning when Jane awoke she could see with a quick glance out the window it was well past her usual wake up of six AM. She rolled over to check the time on the alarm clock, ten AM.
"Shit! Shit! Shit!" She rolled out of bed blankets and all, landing on the floor with a loud thud. "Damn it. Maura. MAURA!" She called out louder. When she didn't get a reply she hoisted herself up off the floor and started to hurriedly get dressed. A shower would have to wait. There was no time. Why would Maura go to work without me, she thought to herself.
"Good morning. I thought you were going to sleep the entire day away," she heard Maura say who had just walked into the doorway of the bedroom. She walked over and handed Jane a cup of coffee.
"Maura, why didn't you wake me up? We have to go. We have to…"
"No. We don't," Maura said, interrupting Jane mid sentence.
"We are going to take the day off. "You," Maura said, poking Jane lightly on the chest, "need a break."
"There's two deranged psychopaths on the loose and you think we should take a break," Jane said sarcastically. "Sure, someone else can die because I need to rest."
"Look, if anything comes up we can go in but as it stands right now you have nothing solid to go on. I told you yesterday, running yourself to the point of exhaustion is not going to do anyone any favors."
"Fine," Jane replied before taking a sip of her coffee and resuming getting dressed.
"We'll take the girls to the shooting range this morning."
Jane was in the process of putting her socks on and stopped when Maura made the suggestion.
"What did you say?"
"I said we'll take the girls to the shooting range."
"The shooting range isn't exactly somewhere to take a five year old. Who are you and what did you do with Maura?"
Maura laughed. "It's not like I want you to teach her to shoot Jane but Hannah has never really been exposed to guns other than when she sees the guns holstered on a cops side. If you're going to live here I…."
"Did you just ask me to move in with you?" Jane interjects.
Maura blushed. "If, if you don't like the idea…"
"Are you kidding? I LOVE the idea!" Jane jumped up to pull Maura into her arms and Maura quickly caught her to keep her from falling when she tripped over her half put on sock.
"So that's a yes?" Maura asked with a grin.
"Yes, yes, yes, yes, yes," Jane said, sealing each yes with a kiss.
"As I was saying, Hannah has never really had a lot of exposure to guns. I want you to have a talk with her. Teach her it's not a toy and whatever else a five year old should know. I, I don't know. I'm leaving that to you Jane. I trust you to handle that."
Jane nodded. "Maur, the only thing Alex knew at five was it's not a toy, it can hurt people, and not to touch it. I taught her if she goes into a room and sees an unsecured gun to immediately leave the room and find an adult. With Hannah, I'll start locking it up again of course but you never know when a situation may arise outside the home. It's important to have that basic understanding with young kids. Then when she's older, if you want me to, I'll teach her to shoot."
Maura grimaced at the mere suggestion. She wasn't a horribly overprotective mother but in her line of work, she saw first hand the damage guns could cause.
"You have a good seven years or so to get used to the idea," Jane said with a grin. "I know you don't like it but remember Maura, a restraining order is just a piece of paper. You want to know she can protect herself should the need ever arise. My Alex can hold her own."
"She's twelve Jane."
"A twelve year old that can damn near outshoot me."
Maura laughed. "Now you're exaggerating. Finish getting ready. I'll go make sure the girls are ready to go."
An hour later they were pulling up to the gun range after stopping for brunch, as Jane called it, at a local cafe. The nanny Emily tagged along so she could keep Hannah occupied while Jane worked with Alex and Maura could go with them.
"We'll be right over there," Jane said, pointing to their lanes. "You can sit with Hannah here behind the window and let her watch."
"I wanna go with you Jay!" Hannah whined.
"I'm sorry baby but you can't. You're too little. But I tell you what, when we are done here, we will take you to the park to play on the swing. Does that sound like a fair trade?"
Hannah nodded. "Will you push me high?"
"Of course."
"So ma, you wanna go head to head?" Alex asked with a huge grin.
Jane laughed. "Sure kid but don't get your feelings hurt when I kick your butt."
" What's the two big rules to remember?" Jane asked as she, Alex, and Maura walked towards their firing lanes. Jane knew Alex knew her stuff but she was simply demonstrating for Maura that she did.
"Always keep the gun pointed in a safe direction and keep your finger off the trigger until you are ready to shoot."
"Good girl." Jane pulled her personal gun from her side where it was holstered and passed it to her daughter, before pulling out her police issue revolver that was holstered to her other side. Both guns were unloaded upon entering the range and wouldn't be loaded again until entering the firing lane and the attendant declared the range "hot" meaning there was a loaded gun in the area.
Watching all this, Maura had to admit she was quite content with the safety measures that were in place. That still didn't mean she was happy to see that gun in Alex's twelve year old hands but she knew this was just one of many compromises she and Jane would have to make as they began the co-parenting journey.
Jane set her target before helping Alex set hers. "Alright bug, remember what I told you. After you've shot all your rounds, release the chip and clear the chamber before setting the safety. Take your time and don't forget to breathe. We will do a practice round to get you familiar with the gun again. Alright?"
Alex nodded. "I'll be right here if you need help. I'll do my target after you. Oh and don't forget these," Jane says, handing Alex a pair of ear plugs.
Maura noticed Jane didn't have any. "Shouldn't you wear ear plugs as well Jane?"
Jane smirked, "Maur I don't ever wear them. It messes up my concentration."
Maura stared her girlfriend down until she relented.
"Fine Maur, if it'll make you happy." Jane remarks, fishing the pair of earplugs from her pocket. She smiled at Maura. "Happy?"
"Very." Maura mouthed with a smirk.
Jane tapped Alex on the shoulder. "Whenever you're ready," she said, stepping back to give the teen some room. The attendant was standing nearby, watching before yelling "hot" and sounding the buzzer.
Jane and Maura watched as Alex went through the notions of loading the gun. She took a deep breath and lined up her shot. Three shots sounded, one hitting the very edge of the target and two missing all together.
Jane waited until Alex fired the remaining rounds before stepping forward. The teen was clearly disappointed with her performance as Jane hit the button to bring the target in.
"Well, it's not the neatest cluster but this person would definitely be dead." Jane remarked, sticking her finger through one of the holes to prove her point.
Alex laughed. "Ma."
Jane set another target up. "Here, let me help you bug." Jane picks up the gun and puts in the second clip and places it in Alex's hands.
"Everything you did was perfect, except your breathing. Always remember, line up your shot, take a deep breath in and slowly release it as you pull the trigger."
Jane stood next to her daughter and watched her closely, only making a few minor adjustments to Alex's grip as she emptied the second magazine.
As the target came forward Jane smiled. "Well would you look at that. A few minor changes and you got him right in the center on almost every shot. Good job kiddo," she said proudly. "Now, how about our head to head? You think you can beat me?"
Alex grinned and raised her eyebrow in true Rizzoli fashion. "You're going down ma."
Jane laughed as she handed the used target to Maura and set Alex a new one. She helped Alex reload her clip before setting her own target and taking her place in her firing lane.
"You ready?" She asked looking over at Alex who nodded. Again the buzzer sounded and two sets of shots rang out loudly against the cinder block walls.
Maura watched in amazement. For the first time since she and Jane began dating did she realize just how much Alex looked like her mom.
Sure Alex was a little shorter than Jane but her lean frame, her long brown hair, her one dimple that was more prominent than the other, and even the way she distorted her face when she didn't like something, was all Jane Rizzoli. It was like Maura was looking at a mini Jane.
When the last casing clattered to the floor, Jane brought the targets back in.
Maura stepped forward to take a better look. "Well Jane, I'm no expert but I would say Alex beat you."
"What? No. All my shots are dead center."
Maura chuckled."All but two love," she said as she pointed out the two shots that didn't quite make it to the center."
Jane huffed as she took another look at her target. "I told you these earplugs mess with my concentration."
This time Alex laughed out loud. "Oh C'mon ma, don't be a sore loser."
"Me? A sore, are you hearing this Maur? I potty trained her and she's outshooting me and insulting me at the same time. Unbelievable." Jane remarked as she winked at Maura.
As Jane collected the guns and clips Maura took a moment to talk to Alex. "Although I'm not completely comfortable with you shooting, you did amazing Alex. I'm impressed. I guess your ma wasn't kidding when she said you could nearly outshoot her. You just did actually,"Maura said with a chuckle.
Alex's face lit up with a huge smile at Maura's compliment. "Thanks Maura but you know what the best thing about this was?"
Maura shook her head no.
"It was getting to share it with you and spending time with you both. Plus, it never gets old beating ma at her own game from time to time."
Maura smiled big but before she could say anything Jane turned Alex's attention back to her.
"OK. That's it. You're grounded," Jane joked. "Come on kiddo. Let's get out of here. We still have to take Hannah to the and I can work some on self defense there. By the way, how would you feel about moving in with Maura?"
Alex stopped and turned to her mother. "Really?"
"Is that a good really or a bad really?" Maura asked nervously.
Alex shrugged. "I don't know. I mean, it's just been me and ma. I'm not sure how I feel about that." Alex tried her best to keep a straight face but soon gave way to laughter. It was a good thing because much longer her ma would have killed her if Maura started crying.
"I think that's great. Does this mean you are finally going to tell everyone? No more secrets?" Alex had been the only single soul to know the extent of her mother's relationship with Maura other than Maura's nanny Emily. Well, and Hannah but she wasn't old enough to understand. Alex had done a great job of keeping it quiet.
"No. Not just yet bug. We're going to keep it quiet for just a little while longer." Jane didn't go into details. She had never gone into the sick and twisted ways of Charles Hoyt. Alex was much too young for that. Even what she knew was too much for someone of her young age.
"Oh, OK. Won't people ask questions though if we move in with Maura?"
"It's not going to be that long. We're going to let everyone know soon."
Jane was glad Alex let it go and didn't ask any further questions. They went and met up with Emily and Hannah and they all piled into the car to make their way to the park.
When they arrived, Jane played with Hannah for a while, pushing her on the swings, spinning her on the merry go round (which made Maura crazy), helping her cross the monkey bars (that also made Maura crazy), and finally, the slide.
"Kids today are lucky," Emily commented as she watched Hannah slide down the slide repeatedly. "Remember those big metal slides? The ones that would burn the heck out of you on the way down but we'd turn around and do it again anyway?"
"You know it," Jane said as she chuckled. She noticed Maura didn't join in on the , Maura had far from your typical childhood. While Jane and Emily were sliding down the huge metal slide at the park, Maura was probably reading about quantum physics in the encyclopedia. Suddenly, Jane had an idea.
"What do you think Hannah Banana? Should mommy take a turn on the slide?"
"Yes!" Hannah exclaimed at the same time Maura was quick to reply "NO, from her spot at the picnic table where she and Alex had been watching Jane and Emily play with Hannah.
"C'mon on Maur. Just once, pleaseee." Jane playfully begged.
"Yeah, mommy please." Hannah butted in with a big goofy smile. When Maura didn't give in, Jane started chanting her name.
"Maura, Maura, Maura." Before long Emily and Alex both joined in.
"I'm wearing heels Jane," Maura said in protest but it was really an excuse.
Jane sees right through it. Knowing she, Alex and Emily alone wouldn't be able to convince the blonde, Jane decides to use Maura's achilles heel. She slightly nudged Hannah to take part as well. The little girl thought about it for a moment then began her own chant with a giggle.
"Mommy, mommy, mommy." Maura cracks a smile before standing up.
"Okay, okay, you win, but only once and for the record you don't play fair Jane Rizzoli. How dare you use my child against me." Maura remarked with a laugh.
"Hey! All is fair in love and war Maur. Now, come on," Jane said as she waved her girlfriend over. Hannah took off back to the slide.
"Look mommy, you do it like this," Hannah said, excited that her mom was going to join in on her fun.
Jane laughed lightly and then looked down at Maura's feet. "Are you sure you're able to climb up there with those on Maur?"
"I walk up steps every day at the station. I think I'm more than capable of climbing the steps to the slide." Maura remarked with a smirk.
"Alright, well you and Emily have fun chasing around that little ball of energy and Alex and I are going to work on her self defense." Jane kissed Maura on the cheek before calling out to Alex.
They did a few rounds of sparring before Jane let Alex show her what she remembered from the last time they practiced. She taught Alex a few more moves she had learned over the years and before Jane knew it, it had turned into a competition of who could take down the other person first. Needless to say it ended with Jane pinning Alex down with one hand while tickling her with the other.
After a bit of Alex begging for her ma to stop Jane finally did relent. They sat in the grass for a moment both trying to catch their breath. The squeals and laughter coming from Hannah and Maura pulled at Jane's attention.
She smiled as she watched Maura chase Hannah around the slide before swooping her up.
"How does she do that?" Alex asked, not pulling her eyes from Maura.
"Do what?" Jane asked, a little confused.
"That," Alex remarked, pointing at Maura who again was running after Hannah. "How does she do that? I trip over my own flip flops."
Jane snorted with laughter as she stood up. "You are definitely my kid." She remarked, offering a hand to her daughter. "But in all fairness, I'm not sure how she does it either. It's like a superpower or something."
"Well I know who I'm going to take lessons from." Alex remarked with a laugh.
"Yeah, says the kid who just admitted she trips over her own flip flops." Jane laughed when Alex shoved her playfully as they walked towards Maura and Emily who were now making their way over to the table where they had left their belongings. A pouting Hannah was following close behind.
"Are we about ready to go?" Jane asked as she took a sip of the water Maura handed her.
"I'm not," Hannah said with a huff as she crossed her little arms over her chest.
"Aw, Hannah Banana, don't be upset. The park will always be here and we can always come back on another day." Jane smiled when Hannah's eyes lit up.
"Really?! Can we come back tomorrow?" Hannah asked with a huge smile.
Maura looked at Jane as if to say this is all you. Jane kneeled down to be eye to eye with the five year old.
"Let's make a deal. If by this weekend you haven't given Em or mommy any trouble then we can see about making another trip. How does that sound?"
Hannah thought it over for a moment before smiling. "Deal," she said as she stuck her hand out her Jane to shake. Everyone laughed as Jane shook her hand.
"She's definitely been around you Jane," Maura said with a smile. Jane just shrugged and chuckled.
As they made their way towards the car Jane noticed Maura limping.
"You should really start wearing more comfortable shoes, Maur."
Maura scoffed. "These are comfortable."
Jane rolled her eyes and smiled at her girlfriend. "Oh really? Is that why you're limping?" Maura's silence said it all. "Here, lean on me and take those torture devices off."
"I can't do that, you have no idea what is in the grass, much less the parking lot," Maura remarked as her face distorted in disgust.
"Geez woman, I'm not going to make you walk. Just take them off and I'll carry you on my back to the car."
"You can not carry me that far Jane. I'll walk," Maura said as she pointed towards the car. Alex, Emily and Hannah were already there waiting.
Jane sighed. "Alright, well suit yourself Maur," she said as she took a step away. Maura took two steps and winced each time.
"For the love of God, just let me carry you babe."
Maura, realizing how badly her feet actually hurt , gave in. She slipped off her heels and handed them to Jane before the brunette bent down to let her on her back.
She wrapped her legs around Jane's waist and her arms around her neck and squealed when Jane stood up straight. Her grip tightened a little when they started moving.
"Relax Maur, I'm not going to drop you and before you say anything, no you're not heavy," Jane said with a laugh as she continued to walk.
"I've worn heels for twelve hours straight before. I don't know why they are hurting this badly now."
Jane again shrugged. "I'm not sure baby but when we get home I'll run a hot bath where you can relax, and then tonight before bed I'll rub your feet." Jane knew Maura wasn't accustomed to playing with Hannah like she had done today and she was sure that attributed to her sore feet but she was smart enough not to say that out loud. Not if she didn't want to sleep on the couch.
Maura smiled. She had never had someone do the things Jane was willing to do. "Thank you love, that's really sweet." Maura paused for a moment and then stated. "Wait, this isn't your way of telling me you have a foot fetish is it?"
Jane laughed. "You did not just ask me that!"
"Well is it?" Maura replied with a chuckle.
"What? No! We've been together for six months. I think you would know by now if I did."
Maura broke into laughter. "Well people hide things."
"Maura! I will put you down right here and make you walk," Jane said as she came to an abrupt stop.
Maura clung tighter and laughed. "Please don't, I'll stop."
At the car, Jane bent down on the passenger side and let Maura climb off. Emily had Hannah settled in her car seat by the time Jane climbed into the driver's seat.
On the ride home everyone was talking amongst themselves. As Maura glanced over her left shoulder at Hannah happily kicking her feet, she noticed her doing something that made her heart drop.
Hannah had her right and left hand pressed together in a gun gesture.
"Bang, Bang," Hannah said quietly.
"Hannah! Stop that right now." Maura yelled, causing Jane to pull her eyes from the road and the five year old to jump.
"What's she doing Maur?" Jane asked, glancing quickly at her girlfriend before returning her eyes to the road.
"I knew taking her to the gun range was a bad idea Jane," Maura said a bit angrily.
" It wasn't my idea to take her to the gun range Maura. It was yours. What's she doing? I can't really see her babe."
"She's making gun gestures with her hands and pretending to shoot. This is exactly WHY I didn't want her introduced to guns." Jane reached over and squeezed Maura's hand.
"Relax Maur, I'll handle it," Jane said before speaking to Hannah through the rearview mirror. "Hannah sweetie. It's not okay to make gun gestures with your hands. Guns are not toys."
"I was only copying you and Alex Jay," Hannah said in her defense. She didn't really grasp what she had done wrong.
Maura gave Jane a look that said see. Jane sighed. The truth was, what kid out there hadn't played a game of cops and robbers growing up? But she knew Maura wouldn't see it that way so it would be easier to just forbid it all together then to skate that fine line. Besides, Hannah DID need to understand that guns were not toys or a laughing matter.
"Hannah, when we get home you and I are going to have a little talk okay?"
Hannah just nodded her response.
When they made it through the front door of Maura's home the blonde's phone began to ring.
"Not even home for five seconds." Jane remarked with a chuckle as she watched Maura take her heels off by the door. Hannah and Alex, still full of energy, went whizzing past.
"Not so fast Hannah!" Jane said loudly, causing Hannah to stop in her tracks.
"I'll just take this into the office."
"Okay babe, take your time. I'm just gonna go pull out something for dinner and talk to Hannah. Homemade tacos okay?"
Maura smiled and kissed Jane's cheek. "Tacos sound great. Hello? I mean this is Dr. Isles," she said as she answered her phone and headed towards her office.
"C'mon on monkey, you and I gotta have a talk," Jane said, placing her hand on the little girl's head, steering Hannah towards the kitchen.
"OK if I start dinner?" Emily asked, almost awkwardly. Or if you want me to do something else…."
"Of course Em. Go ahead. I'll be right in to help." Jane was going to have to get used to having a nanny around. That was a luxury she was never afforded.
Jane pulled her gun out of the holster and unloaded the clip before going over to the kitchen table and sitting down across from Hannah who had already taken a seat.
"Hannah, I want you to understand this is not a toy. It can hurt you real bad. Shooting a gun, it's not funny or games OK? It's serious."
"It was only pretend," Hannah said with a pout as her lip began to trimble.
"Of course sweetie. I know that but I don't want you to do that. We are going to have a new rule. No pretend gun games. In this house, guns are serious. Now that you know the rule, if you do it again you're gonna lose a privilege or some other consequence, OK?"
"That's STUPID!" Jane heard from the kitchen doorway where Alex had walked in on her conversation with Hannah.
"Excuse me?"
"Why does Maura have such a problem? It's your job. It's what you do."
"Alex, that's not it."
"Jane! I know you are not sitting there with that gun two feet from my daughter." Maura yelled as she emerged from her office.
"Maura, it's not loaded. " Jane was going to say more but was interrupted.
"Shut up! Just shut up!" Alex spat out, glaring Maura's direction.
"Alexandra Elizabeth Rizzoli!" Jane was floored. She had never seen Alex display that level of disrespect. Atleast, not since she was about five. She knew better.
"Give me your phone. It's mine for two weeks. You know better than that mess."
"Oh. So I defend you and you're going to take her side. Lovely."
"Alex," Jane said, an air of warning in her voice.
"Fine. Take the stupid phone. I don't care."
"That's enough! I don't know what your problem is but you need to cool it." Jane didn't have to say anything further. She just gave a look. A look Alex was familiar with that required no words.
"Sorry ma," Alex said as she reached into her back pocket and pulled her phone out and passed it to Jane, not daring to push her luck any further.
"We'll talk after dinner. Go to your room." Alex was about halfway to the stairs when Jane called out behind her. "Wait. Apologize to Maura first."
"Sorry Maura," Alex mumbled, her head down cast.
"She's not down there Alex. She's over here. Last shot."
Alex nodded as she looked up, making damn sure to make eye contact with Maura before speaking loudly and clearly. "I'm sorry Maura."
"Thank you. Now go," Jane said firmly. "We'll call you when dinner is ready."
When Alex was gone, Jane turned her attention to Maura. "You said you were going to trust me with this. Are you or are you not?"
"You…"
"It's a yes or no question Maura."
"Don't speak to me like that Jane. I am not your child."
"Babe, I'm sorry but you have got to trust me with this. I'm a trained police officer. Do you really think I'm going to lead her the wrong way?"
Maura glanced between Jane and Hannah several times before finally responding.
"Go ahead. I'm sorry for the interruption. I'll go help Emily."
"Hey, wait. Who was on the phone?"
Maura hesitated for a moment. "Agent Dean."
"What'd he want?"
"We can talk about it after dinner."
"Maura…."
"No Jane. It can wait. We are going to have dinner with our family." Jane took a step back signaling surrender when Maura used the same tone with her she herself had used on Alex a few minutes earlier.
"OK, OK."
After Maura disappeared into the kitchen Jane turned her attention back to Hannah.
"As I was saying Hannah, this can hurt you really bad. It's not something you ever want to play with. If anything ever happened to our Hannah Banana mommy and I would be so sad."
"Then why do you have it? Do you hurt people Jay?"
Damn. Of course she would have questions. This was Maura's kid. Jane thought for a moment, making sure to come up with a kid friendly answer.
"Sometimes, there are bad people out there that like to use these to hurt people," Jane said, holding up the gun. So, they give good people, like me, a gun so we are on equal ground. That way I can stop bad people from hurting good people. Do you understand?"
Jane wanted to shout thank God when Hannah nodded but refrained.
"Now, I have one more rule for you. I want you to put on your listening ears. Are you listening?" Jane asked, as she gave Hannah's ears a gentle tug, causing her to giggle.
"I'm listening."
"If you ever see one of these anywhere in our house or anyone else's house, I want you to go farrrrrrrr away from it and tell a grown up immediately. Do you understand?"
Hannah nodded.
"Alright, I'm going to give you a test."
Jane made her way to the living room and placed her gun in the middle of the coffee table.
"Uh oh! There's a gun laying on the coffee table. What are you gonna do? Show me."
"Tell you or mommy!"
"Show me," Jane repeated.
Hannah looked confused for a moment before it dawned on her what Jane wanted.
She made her way to the kitchen as fast as her little legs would take her. "Mommy! Mommy! There's a gun in the living room."
Maura looked confused for a moment until she connected eyes with Jane who was telepathically saying go with it. It only took another second for Maura to get what Jane was teaching Hannah. She knelt down so she was eye level with the little girl.
"Very good honey. Thank you for telling a grown up. Jay will go put it somewhere safe."
Maura gave Jane a slight smile and mouthed "thank you," over the little girl's shoulder.
"Very good Hannah." Jane walked over and gave the little girl a high five.
"Always remember to get a grown up. If you touch it there will be consequences."
After Hannah ran off to play, Maura turned to Jane. "Should I go talk to Alex?"
"I was going to talk to her after dinner but if you want to go talk to her now that's fine. Do you want me to go with you?"
Maura shook her head from side to side. "No. I think this is a conversation she and I need to have one on one. She was clearly upset with me. I'm sorry Jane. This is all new to me though and I'm trying to adjust but guns make me uncomfortable. It's not that I don't trust you. I don't trust that," Maura said, pointing to the gun on the coffee table. "All the victims I see everyday I…."
Jane silenced Maura with a kiss as she wrapped her arms around her in comfort. "Guns aren't all bad, Maur. That gun has kept me alive more times than I can count and it is there to keep our family safe as well."
Maura smiled slightly. "I know. I'm going to go talk to Alex."
Maura went upstairs and knocked on the door to her old guest room that had now turned into Alex's room. "Alex, can I come in?"
"No. Go away. I have nothing to say to you."
Jane had come upstairs to lock her guns away in the safe just in time to hear this exchange.
"Alexandra Elizabeth Rizzoli, you open this door right now!" Inside the room, Alex's eyes widened at her ma's voice, not realizing she was there. She scrambled up and opened the door.
Jane knew Maura wasn't going to like what she was about to do but she also knew Alex was pushing her limits and she had to draw a line. Once Alex opened the door Jane wasted no time applying a steady round of swats to Alex's backside.
"That is enough with the disrespect. Am I clear or do I need to continue?"
"Jane, it's fine," Maura said softly. To Jane's surprise that was all the protest she gave.
"No Maur, it's not fine. Alex, what in the world has gotten into you?"
Alex sniffles as she looks down at the floor and shrugs.
"Alex, that was not a rhetorical question, " Jane said, standing firmly in the doorway.
Alex looked up at her ma, "I, I don't know Ma. I, I'm sorry."
"Don't apologize to me, apologize to the person who you were being extremely rude and disrespectful to."
Alex looked over at Maura. "I'm sorry Maura."
"For?" Jane interjected.
"For being rude and disrespectful."
"It's okay Alex, this is a lot of change for all of us," Maura said. Alex nodded as she looked from Maura to her ma.
"Is that what this is all about Alex? You don't like all the changes that are happening?" Jane asked, finally fitting the pieces together.
Alex fiddled with the edge of her shirt as she spoke. "It's not that I don't like the changes. I know that when two people are in a relationship that they eventually move in together, but…." Alex paused as she tried to figure out the right words to say.
"But what bug?" Jane said, stepping closer to her daughter.
"I don't mean any disrespect when I say this but I don't want Maura to change you ma," Alex said, as her eyes filled with tears again.
Jane stepped up and hugged Alex against her chest. "Alex, Maura isn't trying to change me."
"Nor would I want to," Maura said as she too stepped closer to the tween.
"Bug, come sit down. Maura you too," Jane said, moving over to the bed. When everyone was seated Jane spoke again. "Alex, what made you think Maura is trying to change me?"
"Because of earlier, with the guns. You're a cop ma, cops carry guns and it's just," Alex paused and let out a frustrated sigh. "I don't know."
Jane chuckled and brushed Alex's hair from her face. "Alex, just because I'm willing to put my guns in a safer place, and have some stricter rules doesn't mean Maura is changing me. Relationships are a lot of give and take bug. You'll understand when you're older, much, much older and start dating," Jane said with a laugh.
"You were raised around guns. Hannah hasn't been so things have to be done a little differently for Hannah's safety. That's all."
"Alex," Maura said, placing her hand on the tweens shoulder. "I understand your concerns. When my mother remarried I remember feeling some similar to what you are."
"Really?" Alex asked surprised. Maura nodded with a warm smile.
"Really. It had only been my mom and I for a while, just like you and your ma. So naturally I was afraid of what would change but I realized that changes happen. They had to happen so my mother and step fathers relationship could grow. Sweetie, I love you and your mom very much and would never change who she is because who she is is the reason I fell in love with her to begin with."
Jane smiled over at Maura before turning her attention back to Alex. "See bug, some things will change but it will be for the best. When you are feeling worried about something, anything, you come to me or Maura. We will always be here to listen and if it's something we can fix we will. Okay?"
Alex nodded before hugging her ma.
"Now, no more of these outbursts, okay? I don't like getting to the point of having to spank you," Jane said as she kissed Alex's head. "If something is bothering you, talk to me instead of acting out like that. You will always be allowed your feelings Alex but disrespect is and always will be unacceptable."
Alex nodded. "I'm sorry ma. I'm sorry Maura."
Maura smiled. "It's okay, just remember I'm always here to talk. Can I have a hug now?"
Alex laughed as she let go of her ma and hugged Maura. "Can I suggest one change though?" Alex asked as she sat up.
"Sure sweetie," Maura said as she let Alex go.
"Can you change what ma eats? She's really starting to put on a little weight." Alex remarked as she poked Jane in the stomach.
"Wha, heyy!"
"She's not wrong Jane, you could eat a bit healthier." Maura remarked with a snort of laughter when Jane narrowed her eyes at her.
"Oh ha ha, you're both sooo funny. I'll have you know I eat plenty of the healthy crap you try passing off as food Maur." Jane remarked as she made her way to the door. "I guess since everything is so unhealthy you two don't want tacos."
Maura and Alex both gasped causing Jane to laugh. "Bug, get washed up for dinner. It'll be ready soon. Maur, you might wanna go give Em a hand because it sounds like Hannah and Joe Friday are causing mayhem. I'll put these away," Jane says, tapping the guns on each side of her hips. "I'll see you at the dinner table, oh and Alex?"
"Ma'am?" Alex said, looking at her ma.
"I love you bug but your phone is still mine for two weeks. Got it?"
"Yes ma'am." Alex replied before heading into the bathroom. Maura stood from the bed and walked towards Jane. Before she could say anything Emily could be heard yelling at the dog to drop something.
Jane and Maura both laughed before Maura headed downstairs to give the nanny a hand.
After dinner Emily headed upstairs to get Hannah cleaned up from her taco fiasco. Everyone got a good laugh at the look of shock on her face and the gasp that followed when she bit the bottom and everything fell into her lap. Jane had to show the five year old the proper way to eat a taco and assure Maura that the taco sauce would in fact come out and not leave a stain.
"Well that was an eventful dinner," Jane said with a chuckle as she set down the stack of dirty plates.
"It was, I forgot how fun simple dinners can be," Maura said as she handed Jane a wet plate to dry.
Jane's phone rang out from the kitchen island. The ring tone was signaling her ma was calling…again. "God ma, give it a rest," Jane said as she silenced her phone.
Maura laughed. "What's my ringtone?"
Jane picked up her phone and scrolled to Maura's. She played with a smirk as Maura nodded.
"Nice and upbeat." Maura remarked, making Jane chuckle before returning to helping Maura clean up.
"You should really talk to your mom love."
Jane shrugged as she was handed another plate. "Nah, she's mad at me. I won't come home and sleep in my pink canopy bed."
"Mmmm, I always wanted a pink canopy."
Jane huffed, "I wanted a horse," she said with a laugh. "Please tell me you didn't always want to dissect dead people."
"Okay, I won't." Maura remarked as she and Jane laughed.
"So, um. You never did tell me what that phone call was about," Jane said, drying off the last plate and putting it away.
Maura sighed and leaned against the counter. "I have to go to the forensics lab at Quantico tomorrow."
Jane stopped in her movements and looked at her girlfriend. "In the middle of this? With Hoyt on the loose?"
"It's actually connected to this." Maura replied, pouring herself a glass of wine.
"Right. Yeah. Here we go again," Jane remarked, agitated. "Why are you in the need to know loop and…he's trying to kill me Maura!" Jane was growing tired of the secrecy going on around her. After all, she was the only one with a mark on her forehead.
"Jane," Maura said softly. "Please understand that this case is a lot bigger and far more complicated than we thought. I want to tell you baby, I do."
"Great! Well fill me in." Jane retorted bitterly.
Maura sighed heavily and finished off her wine. "I've been ordered not to. It's a matter of national security Jane."
"Are you kidding me?" Jane remarked before grabbing her phone.
"Jane, what are you doing? It's late," Maura said as Jane slipped on her shoes.
"I'm tired of being the only one not knowing what's happening in this case with my life hanging in the balance." Jane remarked before giving Maura a quick kiss and heading out the door. Maura followed behind quickly, tugging at Jane's shirt to stop her.
"Jane, it's late. You go out there chasing leads, you only put a bigger target on your back. At least here, you're protected." Maura glanced over at the two unmarked squad cars that were parked on the street. Jane had at least talked Frost and Frankie into getting some sleep themselves the last couple of nights.
"Fine. But in the morning I'm going to see Agent Dean," Jane said matter of factly.
"That's fine love. Just please, come to bed."
Jane nodded and they walked back inside hand in hand.