An unspoken truce settled upon the adults as they accompanied TJ to the zoo, after all few things could broker peace faster than a child's delight. Maura and Jane kept a polite distance from Angela but held their silence. Angela, feeling she would be dramatically outnumbered, decided to stick with TJ. It was exhausting, of course, to keep up with her grandson but it kept her from dwelling on her children's current allegiances. Tommy had as good as said he was on Jane and Maura's side. Angela knew without needing to ask that Frankie would be on Jane's side. Even if he thought his sister was dead wrong, he would still choose her side. He worshipped his older sister, a fact Angela both adored and loathed. Nina would take Frankie's side and by extension Jane's.

Angela found herself noticing things throughout the day, small things. Like how Maura and Jane's hands brushed one another at every available opportunity. Or how they smiled at one another with absolute adoration. Angela used to think their near constant proximity had been some combination of their friendship and Jane's own hypervigilance. Now? Angela wasn't so certain. No matter where they went, the other inevitably followed. Jane showed Maura a level of care and consideration that Angela could only define as tenderness. Jane was tender with Maura. Jane was not a tender human. She was big hearted but she had armor a mile thick. Jane certainly seemed to fit with Maura. Angela wasn't so certain the same was true of Maura. Afterall, if her baby, her eldest and only girl, was going to devote her life to someone, Angela wanted to make sure that person, male or female, was just as devoted to her Janie. It wasa problem. A problem that Angela was running out of time to solve.


Jane, with the help of her brothers, had steered the group through the zoo so that they ended their day at the newly minted 'Isles Reptile Conservatory.' Maura had insisted that Bass would have the best home money could buy, even if that meant her money. In the end, Maura had donated enough to build a whole new exhibit which housed several varieties of reptiles. Maura had been at her best today, spouting off facts and biology about every creature they saw. It made Jane smile and go all goofy inside. Who knew being in a relationship with Maura would make all of Jane's favorite parts of Maura that much more intoxicating? Maura had been surprisingly patient about not seeing Bass or the new exhibit but as the day wore on and with each passing exhibit, Jane could see her sadness growing. After all, seeing Bass was the whole point of today's visit. She hid it well, of course, enthusiastically tagging along with TJ to whatever animal he wanted to see next. But in the quiet moments, when everyone else was awing at the animals, Jane saw her eyes dart towards the conservatory. Saw they lingered on the map. Jane was tempted to give in but she had spent weeks planning her surprise.

Around the time for Bass's feeding, Jane directed the group to the conservatory. Outside she pulled Maura to the side, gesturing for the family to go in. 'Can I talk to you for a minute Maura?' Jane asked.

Maura's eyes made one last longing glance at the doors to the conservatory before she turned to give Jane her attention, 'what is it Jane?'

'Do you trust me Maura?' Jane asked with a smile. She knew the answer, of course.

'Of course I do Jane,' Maura replied dutifully, 'why?'

'Come on!' Jane grabbed Maura's hands and lead her to a back door marked for employees only.

'Jane?' Maura queried, 'I don't think we're meant to be back here.' Jane shot her a smile in reply. A zoo keeper was waiting at the end of the hallway.

'Dr. Isle's?' The keeper asked as they approached.

'Yes, I'm Dr. Isles,' Maura replied, her eyes darting between Jane and the keeper, as though she could find the answer written somewhere between them.

'My name is Zoe Burns and I'm Bass's primary keeper.'

'Oh!' Maura said lighting up, 'it's wonderful to meet you!'

'You as well,' Zoe offered Maura a handshake before turning to Jane, 'and you must be Jane Rizzoli.'

'That's me,' Jane said flashing a smile.

'What did you do?' Maura asked, a pleased smile playing across her features. Jane just gave her signature mischevious smirk.

'Jane thought it might be nice for you to have some time with Bass,' Zoe began, 'so she contacted me about setting up a special feeding. Just through here.' Zoe gestured them through a second door, which lead to a staging area with supplies, a hose, and a small bucket of food. Zoe offered gloves to Maura and Jane and then handed them both a bucket of food.

Zoe lead them through yet another door and out in to the tortoise habitat. 'Hello everybody!' Zoe said in to a mic, smiling at the crowd.

'Look it's Auntie Jane and Auntie Maura!' TJ's shout could be heard from above the chorus of hellos.

'Today we are joined by two very special friends of Bass's. Before Bass came to live with the zoo, Dr. Isles was his caretaker. She's joined us today for this very special feeding.' Zoe spoke to the crowd. 'Does any body know what a tortoise likes to eat?' Zoe launched in to her educator mode, asking the crowds questions and seeking answers. TJ's small voice was often heard piping in. He knew all about tortoises. Jane held back and let Maura feed Bass.

Jane honestly couldn't tell if Bass cared at all about the hands feeding him. He moved at the same slow, steady pace. He couldn't wag a tail and as far as Jane knew, he didn't make any excitement sounds. He did frequently bump his nose against Maura's hand, who would in turn give the tortoise some pets. Jane would have to ask later. Maura, however, was clearly delighted. She murmurred softly to her friend, her eyes starry and her smile serene.

Zoe, having finished her dialogue, signaled a keeper off to the side. 'Today is a very special day. Today, Dr. Isles and Ms. Rizzoli are here to introduce our newest tortoise. It is our hope that Bass and his new friend will help us with our breeding and conservation efforts around the world.' The second keeper opened a cage and let out a second smaller tortoise. The crowd oohed and awed.

Maura, kneeling beside Bass, watched the smaller tortoise with what Jane could only describe as an air of protective fierceness. She wandered out slowly, searching out the food that Jane held in her bucket. Jane knelt beside her and murmurred 'what's wrong?'

Maura shook her head and replied softly, 'I didn't know they were bringing in another tortoise.' She looked anxiously between the two. 'What if Bass doesn't like them?'

Jane smiled, 'I'm sure they did their homework Maura and I doubt they did first introductions in public.'

'You're right,' Maura replied with a sigh. The smaller tortoise had finally reached them and was accepting a treat from a half-hearted Maura.

'Do you want to know her name?' Jane asked. Maura nodded but did not reply. 'Say hello to Susie, Dr. Isles.' Jane said it softly, tenderly,

In the background Jane could hear Zoe introducing the new tortoise and the chorus of hellos that followed. Jane bumped Maura's side gently. 'This okay?'

Maura nodded, laying her head softly on Jane's shoulder. 'It's perfect Jane,' Maura replied softly, 'I can't believe you did all of this for me.' She offered the tortoise a second treat, whispering an affectionate, 'hello Susie,' as she did so.

'I'd do anything for you,' Jane answered easily.

Zoe continued talking in the background, discussing the differences between male and female tortoises and their reproductive habits. Jane wasn't really listening though, she was watching Maura. Jane knew she had done well today. Had managed to surprise and delight Maura. It had been a good day.


Maura stole the last few pieces out of Jane's bucket to feed to Susie. Bass had lost interest several minutes ago and had settled in to a position under the heat lamp, his head following Maura's movements. It was good to see him and it was better to know he had missed her. It was even better to see him affectionately head butt Zoe when she walked by, asking for pets in his own tortoise way. She was glad he liked his keeper. Susie was beautiful as far as tortoises go. She was a bit younger than Bass, a bit more active. Maura hoped they would have a long and happy life together.

It had been a wonderful surprise. Maura found herself sneaking peaks at Jane. Maura felt seen, loved, taken care of. Maura felt immersed in Jane's affection, completely bowled over by it, in the very best way. Jane who had thoughtfully planned every step of this surprise, Jane who hadn't stopped watching Maura, who smiled every time Maura stole a glance her way. It made Maura's heart race, to know that Jane was watching her. It made her face grow hot to know that Jane was enjoying Maura being happy, purely out of love for Maura. It made Maura's head spin. Something inside of Maura had changed. Something had opened inside her chest, like a bud blooming, its petals unfurling bit by beautiful bit. Maura didn't know how to describe it. All she really knew was that she had walked in to that tortoise exhibit loving Jane Rizzoli and she walked out of it in love with Jane Rizzoli.

And what, Maura asked herself, am I going to do now?