Jane opened the door for the pups, letting them bound from the car to sniff and mark the yard of their Boston home. Maura had gathered the mail and was unlocking the front door. Jane grabbed their suit cases and followed Maura inside.

Jane dropped her bags by the door and whistled for the dogs to join them. Boston came at a run, excited to explore. Berry followed but with her tail tucked. When she reached Jane, Berry sat on her haunches and whined. A look around told Jane that not much had changed. The house was quiet, clean. Every inch of it was beautifully decorated. For years, this house had been Jane's safe place. Not even Alice Sands her super obssessed would be assassin had ruined it completely. Berry whined again and Jane bent down to scratch her ears, 'it's okay girl.'

Jane had to agree. Something was off, wrong. The hair on the back of Jane's neck stood up. 'Was the alarm on?' Jane asked trying to be calm.

'Mmmhmmm,' Maura replied flipping through her mail.

'And the door was locked?' Jane asked tugging softly at Berry's ear as she evaluated the room.

'Yes, Jane, the door was locked,' Maura looked up now. 'What is it?'

Jane shook her head, 'dunno. When was Ma here last?'

Maura set her mail down and took a glance around. There were fresh flowers on her island and her dishwasher light was on, telling her that Angela had in all likelihood stocked the fridge with delicious dishes. 'This morning perhaps?' Maura offered, pointing at the flowers. Jane nodded, still petting Berry. 'Boston would have let us know if there was some one in here Jane.' Boston's tail wagged as she sniffed around Maura's couch.

'Probably,' Jane replied. 'I'm going to look around anyways.'

Maura nodded, silencing a sigh. Maura didn't like the sudden hypervigilance she saw in Jane but she let the dark haired woman go. Hopefully she would relax after she checked things out. Maura watched Jane walk up the stairs, both dogs hot on her heels. After a few minutes, Jane returned, her expression puzzled. 'Did you find anything?'

Jane shook her head, 'no. I just can't help but feel like something is wrong though.'

Maura walked around the island to meet Jane. She held open her arms and was pleasantly surprised when the other woman embraced her. Maura rubbed Jane's back with soft slow circles. Jane nuzzled in to Maura's neck and took a deep breath. They stayed that way for a few moments before Jane pulled back with a slight blush.

'I think I figured it out,' Jane spoke shyly.

'Really?' Maura asked skeptical, 'what is it?'

'The house smells wrong.'

Maura laughed, 'what do you mean? Like your mother has been spraying the wrong febreeze?'

Jane shook her head, 'no. It just doesn't smell like you.'

'Oh,' Maura replied softly. 'That makes sense. Our olfactory sense is a powerful trigger for memories. It would make sense that you would notice the difference in the house without my particular pheromones and perfume here. You would be particularly attuned to my scent as we've spent so much time together lately.'

Jane wrinkled her nose, 'you make me sound like a dog.'

Maura giggled, 'well I'm sure the girls wouldn't mind that, though they probably can still detect the lingering traces of both of our scents as well as a hundred other scents we cannot even begin to fathom.'

'Well, yeah Maur,' Jane smirked, 'they have bigger noses!'

'The size of the nose actually doesn't directly correlate-' Jane put a finger on Maura's lips to silence her.

'Don't say size doesn't matter Maur, I won't be able to take anything else you say seriously.'

Maura's whole body tingled from that point of contact. Her cheeks grew warm and her heart began to beat loudly. When Jane pulled her hand away, Maura felt cold to the touch. It was fascinating and baffling response. 'I could roll around on all the furniture, try to spread my scent, if you like,' Maura heard herself say faintly, as though she was far away.

Jane laughed at that, 'would you? Thanks ever so much.'

Maura laughed, 'no but I could give you another hug.' Later, when Maura's whole body wasn't humming, she would have to question why she had the sudden urge to be as close as possible to Jane. But for the moment, she just did what felt natural and leaned in to another hug with Jane.


Angela burst through the kitchen door in to Maura's home as soon as she got off work. She didn't even take the time to drop off her purse or change her alcohol and grease stained clothes. 'Girls?' Angela called.

The first answer came in the form of two barking dogs and the pounding thunder of feet on the storm. Berry and Boston were gorgeous but Angela only had eyes for her eldest child as she came bounding down the stairs two at a time. 'Boston, Berry hush!' Jane said, side stepping the dogs and wrapping her mother in a much over do hug!

Angela squeezed back. Jane rarely initiated physical affection with her but Angela would squeeze every ounce out of it she could get. When Jane pulled away, Angela gave her eldest a once over. She was still long and thin, though Angela could see she was less tense. Her hair was as wild ever. But Jane's eyes, her warm brown eyes, were free from dark circles and darker shadows. It did Angela's heart good to see her eldest. Angela smiled warmly at her daughter and then smacked her upper arm. 'Jane Clementine Rizzoli, you do not tell your mother, who birthed you and raised you, over a voicemail that you are coming to visit tomorrow!' Jane flinched away from her mother's swatting fingers.

Maura chuckled behind Jane. 'I told her to call you earlier Angela!' Maura stepped forward and pulled Angela in to a hug.

'My girls!' Angela said with a happy smile as she squeezed Maura back, 'home at last!'

'Sorry Ma,' Jane said, looking appropriately guilty.

'Well, you should be!' Angela replied with a chuckle.

'I know you just got off work Angela,' Maura began, 'but we were hoping you would join us for dinner out, my treat.'

'Of course!' Angela replied happily, 'just let me change! I can't wait to hear about Virginia, and these two beautiful girls,' Angela pet the dogs heads for emphasis, 'and the FBI, and about your book Maura. And Jane you can tell me how things are going with Agent Davies. Just give me twenty minutes!' Angela hurried from the house, eager to get ready.

Jane gave Maura a look that said 'I told you so!'

Maura gave her a wry smile in return that somehow conveyed, 'I know but it will be okay.' Dinner was going to be interesting.