Chapter 9

"Fuck...Fuck...Shit...Shit...FUCK!" Jane let out that last colorful explicit as she opened the back door to the guest house and was greeted by her nephew, T.J. and Tommy.

"Auntie Jane!" T.J. shouted as he bolted towards his favorite aunt.

"Hey, yo, sis...that foul mouth's gotta go! Tommy warned.

"Hey buddy...sorry squirt, sorry Tommy. I thougt you guys were coming this afternoon?" Jane proceeded to take off her boots, gloves, coat and hat, then immediately went to hug and kiss her nephew.

"I missed you sooo much!" Jane squealed as she peppered T.J. with kisses.

"Me too!" T.J. shouted.

Lydia appeared and said her hello.

"Yeah...well we came earlier because of all this snow. It's frick'en crazy out there!" Tommy answered as he animatedly waved his hands about, in the Italian fashion.

With a smirk and a huff after what had transpired at Maura's, Jane's remark was all but snarky.

"CRAZY INDEED, lil' bro...so crazy!"

This whole family reunion took place in the kitchen, then Angela and Ron came into view.

"Oh...Janie, good you're back. So is Maura alright?"

"Yeah she's fine ma."

"Aunt Maura's home? I wanna see her, I wanna say hi to her! Can we dad? Can we? Nonna? I wanna see her...yup, yup!"

"Calm down, T.J. I'm sure she's busy." Tommy said while trying to subdued his son.

"But...dad..." T.J. whined.

"T.J. maybe we'll check on Auntie Maura a little later." Angela tried to placate her grandson.

"Hey, what about me? Feeling a little left out here...I don't see you in like...what...forever, and..." Jane playfully told T.J. and he went in for another hug with his favorite aunt.

"Come on I got you something." Jane whispered in her nephew's ear. Taking Jane's hand and leading her out from the kitchen, he said, "Let's go get it!"

As Jane passed her mother, Angela stopped her with a hand on her shoulder and asked, "So...Maura...she's good? Alright?"

"Jesus...ma! Yes! What the hell?!" Jane shouted at Angela, who was then startled.

Tommy interjected, "Janie don't give him any candy, it's only eleven, too early for that stuff!"

"What, is he a gremlin?!" Jane joked.

"I'm a gremlin...Auntie Jane." T.J. repeated.

Jane started to tickle him all the while taunting him that he was a little gremlin and saying "mogwai" over and over.

The last 20 to 30 minutes from Maura's house seemed to fade away for Jane, as she gave T.J. his present to open. It was a tent. A two person tent. With all the blanket/pillow tents the Rizzoli's made as children, Jane figured this was a mansion for T.J. Plus if father and son wanted to go fishing or camping, they'd be prepared for that bonding experience. Jane couldn't picture Lydia the outdoors type, but hey, who knew? Now a days Jane was finding it tough to read people. Perhaps because of the teaching job. She should have never quit the BPD.

Jane took a quick shower and the tent building commenced.

T.J. was excited about his gift and they set it up in Angela's small living room.

"This is soooo cool Jane! Thank you." Tommy said with just as much excitement and gratitude as his son, and immediately he and T.J. went inside to check it out.

"Wow...Auntie Jane...so big...I can stand up in it. See how tall...look..."

"Yeah, buddy. You look big in there!" Jane wore a prideful childlike smile.

Ron joined the guys as they were checking out the tent. Angela and Lydia were in the kitchen whipping up lunch. Jane sat on the couch, happy watching T.J. enjoying his gift, but silently she was miles away in deep thought.

Angela spotted this.

"Jane...Jane, come help us." Angela yelled.

With an exasperated sigh, Jane pushed herself up from the couch ready for the 20 questions to begin.

Although, Jane decided to turn the tables. Taking an apron from her mother, Jane started with question number one, before her mother could begin.

"So, what time is Frankie and Nina coming?"

"3:00pm if not sooner. They should be ok in Frankie's truck."

"What's this we're making for lunch?"

"Chicken parm, Lydia...honey, could you prep the garlic bread?"

"Sure," Lydia replied unaware of the battle that was about to brew.

"Then, what's for dinner?"

"We're all making our own pizzas. I bought all the ingredients ahead of time. You kids thought I was crazy about the snowstorm...but see...a mother always knows!"

Once again, a smirk and a huff from Jane at the word crazy.

"Yeah, ma...a lot of crazy things happening!"

And with that, Jane regrated losing the upper hand and the momentum of the conversation shifted to Angela's benefit. Like a well-played and highly skilled tennis match, the ball was in Angela's court.

Jane silently cursed herself, "Shit!"

"Crazy? Crazy things...care to elaborate?"

"No...ma...not really."

"Well, you didn't get home until this morning...so I assume you and Maura talked?"

"You told me to check on her...so that's what I did."

"Yeah, but you spent the night."

"It was late. The power went out. I started a fire for her. We fell asleep."

"You started a fire?" Angela raised her eyebrows and the implication of something naughty was planted.

"YES. MA. POWER WAS OUT! NO HEAT. You know this. You went through the same thing!"

"Yes, baby...but I had Ron to keep me warm."

"OH GOD...I did not NEED to hear THAT!"

"Well...you didn't...you were at Maura's."

"MA...just STOP! Lydia, how do you put up with her?"

Lydia was in her own world, until she heard her name.

"Oh...your mother...she's a saint."

"Great, she's brainwashed too! Saint Angela...I think not!"

"Come on Jane! Lighten up it's the holidays! The New Year is almost here!" Angela tried to reason with her child.

"I cannot wait to say goodbye to this one! Can we cook in peace?"

"Janie, I'm only asking about your best friend. So, she's, ok?"

Jane ripped off the apron and tossed it on the table dramatically.

"For fuck's sake ma! Maura's fucken alright! Enough already!" Jane stormed off to any other room that wasn't occupied, in this case, the bathroom, leaving everyone shocked and stunned by her outburst.

Jane put the lid down on the toilet and sat on it, then locked the door. Her hands covered her face, then ran up through her hair, as she let out a deep breath. What the hell, Jane get it together, she thought to herself.

Then a soft knock was at the door.

"I can't be alone for five minutes!" Jane muffled through the door.

The soft knock came again, this time followed by someone twisting the doorknob, then a sweet innocent voice.

"Auntie Jane. Don't be mad. I like the tent. You wanna hide in it? There's room. Dad and Papa Ron got out. Just you and me."

With that Jane opened the door and hugged her nephew so tight. Tears came from her eyes and she let out a sniffle.

"You sad, Auntie Jane? Don't be. It's the holidaz. I'll show you my tent. I put books in it."

Jane got up and followed T.J. in the tent. Everyone left them alone and proceeded with lunch.

At that moment Jane was thankful and felt nothing more than love for her nephew and hero. For someone who does most of the saving, it was a relief to be saved by her five-year-old nephew.

Nothing crazy about that.

A/N: This was a fun chapter to write with the interaction of the family. I hope you enjoy. As adults we tend to forget the wisdom that little ones can sometimes bestow. I've written two more chapters but seem to have hit a snag as to what direction to take. Searching for my muse to return. I will finish this. Please review, as I read them all for fuel of encouragement! Thank you so much for the deep dive into Rizzles! You rock! Stay safe and read on!