The next morning it was about seven AM when Jane awoke to the aroma of fried eggs and bacon drifting under her nose. She sat up in bed and gently shook Maura. "Hey Maur, you awake?" Maura groaned as she buried her head underneath her pillow.
"I am now Jane. I'm on call and managed to not get called out at an ungodly hour and you wake me up at…" Maura sits up and glances at the clock beside their bed. "Seven AM."
"Sorry Maur, but I smell bacon."
If looks could have killed, at that moment Jane would have been dead. "Jane, tell me you did not wake me up at seven AM to tell me you smell bacon."
"Seven AM is not early Maur."
"It is on a Sunday!"
"OK. If I remember right though you told Emily to take today off. So, unless our littles are going to tend to themselves, we have to get up anyway. Right?"
That was apparently the wrong answer as Maura picked up her pillow again, this time nailing Jane over the head with it.
"Umph! What was that for?"
"Jane, sometimes you can be so romantic and then there are times like this when you are clueless. Why do WE have to get up? Last I checked you are perfectly capable of caring for our children."
"OK. OK. You win."
"Nope. You already woke me up. It's too late now. You can handle next Sunday. I'm sure Emily would be glad to take it off again."
"Fine."
All of a sudden Jane grinned wide. "I'll cash in on…"
Before she could finish Maura held up her finger.
"Uh uh. You aren't pulling Callie away from Stef and Lena's time to babysit. Besides, that was MY deal with Callie so I get to pick the nights."
She was only giving Jane a hard time. She was every bit as capable of caring for their children as Maura and she did plenty, though she never let Jane get them dressed, not even if she pre approved the outfits. She had learned that lesson the hard way when the twins kindergarten teacher had called and told her not only were they wearing mismatching pajamas, they were inside out.
"What? They wanted to dress themselves! It's important for them to start learning their independence now that they are in school," Jane had defended. So no, Jane was not allowed to dress the littles. It would fall to Maura, Emily, Jess, Cailin, Blaire, and Callie in that order. Anyone but Jane.
Maura was smiling at the memory when all of a sudden Jane began to tickle her and she started to laugh uncontrollably. "J-jane! Stop it!" Maura managed to get out between hysterical laughter and gasps for air.
"Clueless Maur! You said I was clueless."
"OK! OK! I'm sorry. Just stop." By this time Maura was sure she was on the verge of peeing her pants from laughing so hard.
"OK. I'll stop. Answer a question though."
"What?" Maura asked as she managed to get control of her laughter.
"If Emily is off, who is down there cooking? That's why I woke you up. Because I was curious. I know Jess and Cailin aren't up this early and we know it's not Blaire because the fire alarm hasn't gone off."
"You were curious or your stomach was?" Maura asks matter of factly, causing Jane to go into another round of tickling her.
Just as Maura was about ready to beg for mercy a second time, they were interrupted by the piercing sound of the fire alarm. That just served for them to both fall into another round of hysterical laughter.
"Blaire!" They both said in unison.
"Go check on her love. I'm going to jump in the shower."
Jane nodded and kissed Maura on the cheek before making her way out of their bedroom and towards the stairs. Blaire ran to the top of the stairs, blocking her path.
"Go back to your room ma. I have a surprise."
"Does it involve burning our house down by chance?" Jane asks with a chuckle. "If so, we pass."
"Come on ma. You know that fire alarm is ultra sensitive."
"Only when you're cooking!"
Blaire shook her head as she playfully pushed Jane.
"Go!"
Thirty minutes later, with still no sighting of Blaire, Jane called her cell phone.
"You can't keep us hostage in here forever B. The littles will be up soon."
"Yeah. I know. Jess is going to take care of them this morning. Don't worry about it. I'll be right up,"Blaire says before hanging up.
"So Blaire is working on some surprise,which I'm pretty sure is breakfast for us, and Jess is taking the littles for the day. What do you think their end game is? What did they do this time?" Jane asks with a grin as she puts her cell down and looks over at her wife who has just stepped out of the bathroom, towel drying her hair.
Maura couldn't help but laugh. "Why do you always think they are up to something? Maybe they just wanted to do something nice."
"Ha! Have you met our kids Maur?" Jane remarks as she throws the covers off and heads towards her wife. She wraps her arms around the blonde and kisses her sweetly.
"I mean think about it, when's the last time either of them helped with their little sisters?"
"Actually," Maura says seriously. "They helped quite a bit while you were gone." Maura didn't mean for her words to hurt Jane's feelings but could quickly see that it had. She wanted to take them back immediately but Jane quickly shook it off before asking her next question.
"Okay, I'll give you that but when was the last time Blaire cooked breakfast?" Jane watched the look on Maura's face and added. "Don't you dare tell me she cooked while I was away also."
Maura laughed. "I wouldn't call watery oatmeal cooking but she did try." Jane scrunched up her nose.
"Okay, well if that's what's on the menu I think that will be a hard pass for me," Jane says, cracking a grin.
Maura pinches Jane's side. "That's not nice Jane!"
"Hey, I'm only speaking the truth, don't get me wrong. I love Blaire, I do, but boy I sure hope Lonnie can cook because if not he may just starve."
Jane's comment got her another pinch to the side. "Ow, geez Maur. That's the same spot. You're gonna leave bruises," Jane remarks pointing her finger at the blonde.
Maura could only laugh as she stepped out of their embrace and lightly pushed Jane towards the bathroom. "Go shower."
"Fine." Jane grumbled as she stepped into the bathroom, shutting the door behind her. Maura sighed happily. She had missed the sound of Jane's laughter and their playful banter. For the first time in a month Maura actually looked forward to the day, even with the uncertainty of everything going on. With Jane beside her, she could get through anything.
Maura quickly got dressed in yoga pants and a tee shirt and pulled her hair up into a loose ponytail. She knew she would need to change if called in but for now she just wanted to be comfortable. Besides, she was really hoping she could get through this day with her family uninterrupted.
Jane emerged from the bathroom a short while later in nothing but a towel. Maura's eyes were glued to her wife. It had been a month that she had seen the brunette this way and she found it hard to pull her eyes away. She let them drift from Jane's bare shoulders to her long tan legs and back up again, blushing slightly when she realized she had been caught staring.
Jane grinned at the look on Maura's face and did a little shimmy. "Like what you see there Maur? You might want to close your mouth though, you're starting to drool."
Maura snapped her mouth closed and narrowed her eyes at her wife. "Very funny Jane." She remarked before throwing a pillow at the brunette causing her to lose her towel while trying to block the pillow.
Their bedroom door cracked open and Jane quickly scurried to pick up her towel and wrap herself.
"Moms, are you decent?" Jess called from the door.
"Just a minute Jess," Jane says as she disappears into their walk-in closet.
Maura chuckled as she watched her wife disappear. "You can come in now Jess." She calls out as she props herself against the headboard.
Jess and Blaire step into the room each carrying a bed tray. "Where's ma?" Blaire asks as she places the tray on the bed.
"I'm in here! Ow!" Jane yells from the closet. Blaire and Jess both laugh and look at Maura a bit confused.
"She was just coming out of the shower when you two came up," Maura says, trying to lift the lid on the tray table Jess was still holding. Both girls nod in understanding.
Jane steps out of the closet rubbing her head, grumbling to herself. She looks up at her daughters and wife. "What?" She asks as she flops onto her side of the bed.
Blaire snorts in laughter. "Isn't it a little late to come out the closest ma?" Blaire's remark gets a hearty laugh from Jess.
"Ha ha, very funny Blaire. Has your cooking skills improved any?" Blaire narrowed her eyes at her ma and Jess broke into laughter again.
"Jane!" Maura said, giving her arm a slap.
"Ow, woman! That hurts!" Jane says, rubbing her arm.
"Well be nice, our daughter made us breakfast. It's the thought that counts, at least she made an effort," Maura says sternly.
"You're right, I'm sorry B, thank you for making us breakfast."
"Actually," Blaire says, handing Jane the tray table she had set down. "I accidentally burned dang near everything. That's what took so long." Jane was taking the lid off her breakfast before hearing Blaire's comment and she put the lid back down.
"I love you B, but I won't eat burnt food no matter how much love or effort you put into it," Jane remarks.
"Thanks for the vote of confidence ma, but Jess helped me remake your breakfast. Ma, you have two fried eggs, toast, bacon and a side of fruit. Mom, you have two boiled eggs, a bagel, and fresh fruit."
Both Jane and Maura uncovered their plates and Jane's stomach rumbled. She quickly shoved a piece of bacon into her mouth and moaned. "So good, thank you both but I have one question."
Jane swallowed her mouthful before speaking again. "I can understand burning toast or even fried eggs but how does one burn boiled eggs?"
Jess chuckles. "She didn't actually burn the eggs, she burned the water the eggs were supposed to go in."
Jane just about choked on her coffee. "What? How?" She says in between coughs.
Jess shrugged. "She was trying to do too many things at once, so I gave her a hand. She just needed a little help so all the credit should go to B," Jess says, bumping shoulders with her sister who was blushing.
"Jess, you are stretching the truth. It is an impossibility for water to burn. Water is already fully oxidized. It cannot take on more oxygen, therefore it is a scientific impossibility for it to burn," Maura points out as she takes a bite of her own food.
Jess laughs. "Busted by the science police. OK, she boiled the water to the point it completely evaporated and scorched the pan. Is that better? That's what set the alarm off."
This time it was Maura's turn to laugh before she smiled at Blaire. "Everyone is only joking Blaire. Your ma and I appreciate you making breakfast for us. It is very good."
Jane nods in agreement before she takes another bite of bacon and glances over at the alarm clock. "Um Blaire, don't you have practice at 8?"
Blaire's eyes went wide as she looked at her watch. "Crap! I'm late! I gotta go!" Blaire quickly gives Maura a hug and kiss on the cheek before running around the bed to do the same to Jane.
"Love you moms! Enjoy your breakfast!" Blaire says as she makes a beeline for the door.
Jane couldn't pass up the opportunity to mess with her daughter a bit. "Wait B, I wanted to ask you something before you go."
"Ma, now? Can't it wait? All the girls are there waiting outside for me," Blaire says as she stands in her parents doorway.
Jane shook her head no and then waited a minute like she was thinking. "Dang it, I forgot what I wanted to say. Guess it wasn't important. Anyways, go on B." Blaire was out the door and almost to the stairs when Jane called after her.
"Wait B! I remember now, come back!" Jane yelled. The brunette had to mask her smirk as Blaire came back into the room with a huff.
"What is it ma? I really need to get going."
Jane grinned at her daughter. "I just wanted to say I love you and I hope you have a great day."
Blaire groaned and then smiled. "Maaa! Seriously!" Jane broke into laughter.
"What?! I couldn't help it, I guess next time you will leave on time. Now go before those poor girls freeze." Jane remarks, shoving another bacon slice into her mouth.
"You are so wrong for that ma. I'll get you back one of these days but that's a conversation for another time. For now, I really need to leave." Blaire stood in place for a minute longer before Maura spoke.
"Go Blaire! Quickly before she has time to swallow!" Maura says with a laugh as she looks over at her wife who is quickly trying to chew her food. Blaire doesn't waste another second as she high tails it out of her parents room, down the stairs, and out the front door.
Jess was silently laughing as she watched this whole situation unfold. After regaining her composure she spoke. "Okay moms, you two enjoy your breakfast. I'm going to go wake the littles and get them dressed and take them to the park. You two don't worry about anything. Mom, I know you're on call but enjoy your time with ma." Jess smiled at her parents before walking towards the door.
She stopped abruptly and turned back around. "Love you moms," she says with a smile.
"We love you too Jess." Both women said in unison. With that Jess left the room, shutting the door behind her.
Maura smiled at her wife. "I think I know what this was all about."
Jane nods. "Yeah. Me too. After tonight there will be no more breakfast in bed and free babysitting so we might as well enjoy it," Jane says with a laugh before turning serious.
"Maur, I'm sorry. I'm sorry I put you and our kids through this. If I had it all to do over again I would handle things differently."
"You don't need to apologize anymore Jane. It's over and done with. It's not like we can change what happened so we just move forward. Besides, if the roles were reversed I can't say I wouldn't have reacted the same way. At first, I thought it was just a lab mistake but when I did some digging and found out it wasn't, I started trying to piece together in my head how this possibly could have happened.
There's a possibility I was drunk that night and did something stupid but I don't think so Jane. I love you with everything I have and I don't believe for a minute I would do that even if I was drunk."
As Maura began to cry Jane moved her breakfast onto the bedside table before getting up and grabbing Maura's and doing the same on her side of the bed.
She then climbed back into bed and pulled her wife to her and wrapped her arms around her.Maura took the invitation, nestling her head into Jane's chest as she began to cry harder.
"Hey, don't cry. No matter what happened Maur, I'm here. I'm not going anywhere. I said for better or for worse and I meant it. We will get through this."
The two were quiet for a few minutes, before Maura quietly spoke.
"Why?"
That question took Jane aback as she gently pulled herself away and pushed herself up in the bed.
"What do you mean why?"
"Why are you here? Don't you get it Jane? No matter what, no matter how this turns out, I am to blame. If I wouldn't have been drink…"
Jane held up her hand, physically placing a finger in front of Maura's mouth stopping her from continuing.
"No. Not another word. I will not let you speak such nonsense. No matter what happened to get us here, it was not consensual because an intoxicated person is not able to give consent. Drugs or no drugs.This is not your fault and don't you dare even think it is."
That only served to make Maura cry harder. After a moment, she struggled to try to speak. "I, I, I'm just afraid you're g-g-gonna l-l-leave again w-w-when everything comes out because I, I shouldn't have been drinking so much. How the hell did this happen Jane? I obviously got careless. That's how it happened. I don't even know how you can stand to look at me."
Jane sat up a bit more and turned to face her wife. She cupped Maura's face with both hands but Maura didn't look at her. She kept her eyes closed as her tears continued to fall. She didn't want to see the look on Jane's face.
"Maur, baby please look at me." Jane begged. Maura shook her head no.
Jane took a deep breath. Her wife was hurting, scared, and angry. When she realized Maura wasn't going to look at her she decided to try something else.
"If you won't look at Maur, then just listen. You asked me how I can look at you. The smart-ass in me wants to say with my two eyes but as your wife I look at you the same way I always have Maur. You are still the same woman I married five years ago."
Maura scoffed at Jane's statement. "I'm not Jane."
"Yes Maur, you are. You are still this smart, loving and drop dead gorgeous woman. You take my breath away everytime I look at you even when you're wearing yoga pants and a tee shirt and you think you look a mess." Jane watched as Maura cracked a small smile. She took this as a good sign and pressed on.
"You are an amazing mother to all of our kids and an incredible wife. Without you Maur, our kids would go out the house everyday in mismatched clothes, hell I probably would too for that matter."
The brunette softly stroked her wife's face. "I love you Maura and I'm not," Jane paused. "Please look at me baby, please."
Maura took a deep breath before opening her eyes to see big brown orbs so full of love and admiration looking back at her. Jane gave herself a moment before speaking again.
"I hope you believe the words I'm saying Maur because I mean every one. I'm not leaving again baby, ever. That night was a mistake I should have never left, and I know it's because I left that you are blaming yourself and I'm not going to let you do that Maur. None of this is your fault. You weren't careless. I've been married to you for five years and never in all this time have I ever known you to be careless. Honestly, Maur, I don't care how Maddy came to be." Jane held up her hand when it looked as if Maura was going to protest.
"Let me finish, what I'm trying to say is it doesn't matter how Maddy was brought into this world. She is our daughter, yours and mine. I love that little girl, all of our girls, and boy," Jane remarked with a chuckle before continuing.
"What I do care about though is finding the scum that hurt you and giving him what he deserves. I want nothing more than to put my gun in his mouth and pull the trigger. I hate that he has you feeling like this. Hell, I hate myself for not being there that night to protect you. If I had just let Korsak and Riley handle things I would have been there."
This time it was Maura's turn to cup her wife's face. She watched as Jane's eyes filled with anger and regret as she clenched and unclenched her jaw.
"Don't do that Jane, please don't do this to yourself." Maura said, clearing her throat. Jane closed her eyes and let her own tears fall.
"I should have been there Maur, I should have protected you, but no. I let work come first. I let work take priority over going to an event with you, a-and you got hurt and the worst part is I had no idea. I'm a detective. I should have known. What detective that's worth their badge can't see that the woman they love has been hurt."
It was at this moment Maura realized Jane was hurting just as much as she was. Maura moved herself to straddle Jane's lap. She wanted to be as close to her wife as possible.
She pulled the brunette into her and held her tightly. Jane wrapped her arms around the blonde's waist and held her just as tight. They held one another as they both let their tears fall and the feelings that they had both been holding back came pouring out.
Jane didn't know how long they were in this position until her legs began to tingle. She gently shifted causing Maura to loosen her grip.
After adjusting she brushed blonde hair away from the face that had been buried in her neck. "I love you Maura. Whatever comes, whatever happens, you're not alone and you have nothing to be sorry for or be scared of because I'm going to be right by your side. We will get through this baby, I promise."
Jane gently kissed her wife's lips that still tasted of salt before resting their foreheads together.
Maura cleared her throat for what felt like the thousandth time today and squeaked out her words. "Together?" She asked, looking deeply into her wife's eyes.
Jane cracked a smile and replied. "Well I was going to say with wine and cheese." Jane's comment brought out loud laughter from her wife that shook them both. Maura playfully slapped her wife's chest.
"Janne! I'm serious," she said with a small smile and a laugh.
Jane chuckled and pulled her wife in for another hug. "Of course together my love, always together until the end."
Maura rested her head back on Jane's chest as the brunette softly stroked up and down her back. "Jane?" She said softly.
"Yeah babe?"
Maura chewed her lip in anticipation before asking. "If I asked you to do something for me, would you do it no matter how ridiculous it sounds?"
Jane chuckled. "Nothing you could ask would be ridiculous one, and two, I would do anything for you Maur. What do you need love?"
Maura kept her head on Jane's chest, embarrassment already setting in before she even asked what she wanted. When Maura didn't say anything Jane spoke.
"Maur? Whatever it is you can ask." Maura took a deep breath and let her question come out in a rush. "Would you um, lay down with me, naked?" Maura felt as Jane's skin became hot and a soft laugh escaped, she quickly added. "I don't mean that as I want to have sex with you."
"You don't want to sex with me?" Jane said in mock offense.
"I mean I do, I really do, but I want, no need, to feel your skin against me." Maura said bashfully. Jane lifted her wife's face and smiled.
"Whatever you need, Maur, I'm here for it." Jane gently moved her wife off her lap before standing. She pulled off her clothes quickly and climbed back in bed. Maura stood to do the same but Jane was sitting in front of her before she could even remove her shirt.
"Let me," Jane said softly as dark brown locked with hazel green. Maura's chest flushed as she nodded.
Jane took her time, starting with the yoga pants. She gently tugged them down along with Maura's panties and let her hands run the length of smooth, tone legs before reaching under the fitted tee shirt.
She loved how Maura's body responded to her touch. As she let her hands drift over a flat stomach she smiled as she felt her wife's muscles react. She pulled the tee shirt up and over Maura's head before sitting back a bit to let her eyes wander over this amazingly gorgeous woman.
"God, you're gorgeous," Jane said softly before meeting Maura's eyes again. She really wasn't trying to make this sexaul but she couldn't help the effect Maura had on her.
Jane moved back to her side of the bed pulling Maura with her. She laid on her back and Maura snuggled into her side. They both shivered at the skin to skin contact before sighing in content.
Maura let her hand absent-mindedly draw circles on Jane's abdomen, enjoying the way the brunette's muscles twitched.
Jane looked over Maura's shoulder at the clock. "It's a little after 10, how about we enjoy a short nap and then go shopping. Before you say anything," Jane said with a smirk. "I want us to spend the day together and doing things we both enjoy before meeting Olivia. We have the whole day without kids and hopefully without you being called in and that doesn't happen often. I just thought this would make you feel a little better. I know how you like to shop when you have things weighing on your mind."
When Maura didn't immediately respond Jane quickly redacted her statement. "I'm sorry, it's a silly idea. We can stay here in bed until lunch. That's fine with me too."
Maura lifted her head with tears in her eyes and smiled. She leaned up and kissed Jane passionately. They broke apart for air and Maura spoke. "You are amazing, you know that? I know how much you hate to go shopping but you're willing to do that just for me."
Jane smiled and shrugged a bit. "I told you Maur, I'll do anything for you." Jane paused for a moment. "But if you tell ma that I went shopping willingly I'll deny it," she said with a laugh before it was silenced by another kiss.
The kisses became heated and hands roamed at their own will. They spent the next hour and a half making love. It wasn't make up sex as some would call it but rather two women who loved one another more than anyone ever thought to love another person, finding their way back to each other.
A bit later the women were showered and dressed for the second time that day. They weren't meeting Oliva until 2 so the women had plenty of time to stop for coffee at their favorite cafe and hit a few of Maura's favorite shops.
Maura had to admit she was feeling slightly better. She enjoyed walking hand in hand with her wife down the busy sidewalks and the way Jane would sneak a quick kiss to her cheek here and there, or how she would catch the brunette just smiling at her as she browsed through different items.
This was something they hadn't done in so long. They needed this, she thought to herself. Although they loved their kids very much they never spent much time with just the two of them doing the things they enjoyed, both separately and together.
As they walked back towards their car, Maura moved in closer to her wife's side and clung a little tighter to her arm. "Thank you for this Jane. It was wonderful," the blonde said with a smile as she looked up at her wife.
Jane stopped and popped the trunk to put their bags away before pulling Maura into her arms. "You don't have to thank me Maur.I wanted to do this with you, wanted to spend this time with you. I've missed you like crazy while I was gone. I promise to make more time for just the two of us. To do more things like this together. I realized today while we were out that in the hustle and bustle of our family life and work we've lost sight of the things we love to do. Some things have been replaced by better things like our kids' school plays and sports games but we've lost us a little and I want us to find that again."
Jane brushed blonde hairs away from her wife's eyes as the cold December wind blew. Maura smiled affectionately before standing on her tiptoes to kiss her wife.
"I love you Jane, and I couldn't agree more. I know the lunch we are about to have and things that will follow are going to be beyond hard, but with you by my side I know we can make it through it all." Jane smiled before giving her wife another quick kiss.
"Let's get in the car and warm up before you turn into a Maura sickle." Jane remarked with a laugh as she opened the car door.
They shared one more kiss in the warmth of the car before pulling away and heading to pick up some chinese food for their lunch with Olivia. While Jane ran into the restaurant to pick up their food, Maura pulled out her phone and called Jess. She answered on the second ring.
"Hello," Jess says before turning her attention away from the phone and over to her little sisters.
"Maddy, stop running in the…" Before Jess could finish her sentence Maura heard a crash and bang, the clear sound of something breaking.
"Ohhh. You're in troubleeeeee," Maura heard Abby say in the background.
"Jess, is everything OK? I thought you took them to the park." As Maura asked she was pulling up Jess's GPS location from her phone.
"Wait, you're at home?" Maura asks as she returns her phone to her ear.
Jess sighed. "Yes mom, we're at home."
"What just broke?"
"It was just a picture frame."
Before Jess could say anything further she heard another loud crash. This time coming from upstairs. "Damn it," she muttered under her breath as she took off to see what her sisters had gotten into now. Cailin had gone to help Hope at the clinic. What Jess would do for her to be home, or Emily, or Blaire. Anyone other than her. How had she got roped into this?"
"Hey! Beds are not for jumping on. Get down from there!" Jess said, her voice clearly showing her frustration as she found the littles in her bedroom.
Maura heard three little giggles in the background. "Trampoline!" Both twins and Amelia said in unison as they continued to jump.
"Jess, put them in time out."
"Wait. What? Why me? Can't you do that?"
Maura couldn't hide her snicker. "Because you are in charge Jess. I'm not home. If you wait for me we may not have a house left from the sound of things."
"Fine. Come on girls. You're going to time out."
While Abby and Maddy both listened and followed Jess out of the room, Amelia continued to jump, placing her hands stubbornly over her ears as her sister tried to call her. Jess got Abby and Maddy deposited into time out before returning back for Amelia.
"Come on Amelia. I said stop jumping on the bed. You're going to get hurt."
Amelia giggled. "No! I'm having fun!"
"Mommy said you need to go to time out."
"Uh uh. Mommy's not home and you're not my mommy, my ma, or mama. You can't tell me what to do."
Jess was about to reach the end of her patience rope. The littles never acted like this. The one day she takes them and they lose their minds. Of course, that was partially her fault. The sound of Maura's voice took her from her thoughts.
"Jess, put me on speaker phone."
"OK," Jess said as she did what she was asked before holding the phone out towards Amelia.
"Mommy is on the phone for you."
Thinking her sister was pulling her leg, Amelia laughed. Maura had heard more than enough.
"Amelia Rayne Rizzoli-Isles, your sister told you to go to time out. Now go."
The little blonde's eyes grew wide as she stopped jumping, plopping down onto the bed.
"I said move it Amelia," Maura said. She didn't even have to see her child to know she had hesitated. It turns out that the I have eyes in the back of my head wivestail was true.
Amelia didn't say a word as she hightailed it out of Jess's room and down the hall to the littles room to stand in time out. Maura verified with Jess she had done so, before turning her attention to Jess.
"How much sugar did you give them Jess?"
"W,w,what? I didn't give them anything mom."
"Jess, you're what? Almost twenty four years old? Have you not learned yet that lying to ma and I doesn't do you any favors?"
"OK, fine. An ice cream truck went through the park and I got them some ice cream."
"Maddy is grounded from desserts or sweets right now Jess. You know that."
"Yeah, I know but she was crying and I couldn't give it to the other kids and not her. That's not fair."
"It is fair. Maddy is dealing with the consequences of her actions. We didn't make her choices. She did. If she does without ice cream a time or two that's how she learns."
Jess sighed. "You're right mom. I'm sorry."
"We'll be home soon. Just try not to let them destroy the house before we get there and for the love of God don't give them anymore sugar." Maura says her goodbye's to Jess just before Jane climbs back in.
"Everything OK?" She asks as she passes the bags of food over to Maura.
"Other than the fact our kids are running through our house like bulls in a china shop, yes, everything's fine."
"She gave them sugar huh?" Jane asks with a grin.
"Yes, I'm afraid she did," Maura says with a laugh as she shakes her head.
When Jane and Maura walked in, Jess met them at the door taking one of the bags of food.
"You know Jess, I was thinking just one ice cream would not make them bounce off the walls like that. What else did you give them?" Maura looks at her daughter expectantly, waiting for an answer.
"OK, OK. I got them donuts from the donut shop for breakfast with chocolate milk."
Maura gasped. "Jessica Lynn!"
Jane shook her head. "Have you not learned from my mistakes Jess? I gave Amelia chocolate milk when your mom was pregnant with the twins and I thought I was never going to come out of the dog house. It winds Amelia up like a tiny little road runner."
"Sorry mom." Jane could tell her poor daughter had one hell of a day and was just straight up defeated by her and Maur's little pint sized sugar monsters.
"Hey," Jane says as she pokes Jess in the side playfully. "Live and learn, kid. They're still alive and the house is still standing. You're mom and I really appreciated having the morning to ourselves."
Jess smiled. "Thanks ma. I'm glad I could give you both a break."
"Why don't you go upstairs and spring them and then do me a favor. Keep them upstairs and keep them occupied for a while. Your mom and I have a lunch meeting with Olivia Benson and we let Emily take this morning off. I would say feed them lunch but your morning of junk food probably means they won't eat."
Jess had been looking down at her phone and when that name was mentioned her head immediately shot up completely ignoring the junk food comment.
"Why are you and mom meeting with her?"
Jane hesitated. "I'll explain tonight over dinner. I promise."
Jess nodded before heading towards the stairs. "Hey, send Amelia down here please. Oh and I expect you and Blaire to be ready for dinner by 8 so please let your sister know," Maura called behind her.
A few minutes later, the little blonde came down, slowly approaching Maura.
Maura motioned her forward.
"Did I hear you say no when your sister told you to go to time out?"
Amelia swayed from side to side as she answered. "Yes ma'am."
It was clear to Maura that the sugar the little girl consumed was still coursing through her small body. "Thank you for being honest Amelia but you do understand that because you did not listen to the adult in charge you are in trouble. Right?"
Still swaying, Amelia answered a little more hesitantly this time. "Y-yes ma'am. Am I going to get a spanking?" She asked wide eyed.
"No, sweetie you are not going to get a spanking but," Maura said, holding up her hand to stop Amelia from getting too excited. "You will go one week without dessert just like your sister."
Amelia began to pout but Maura stood her ground. "No, no little miss, that will be the consequences to your actions. Maybe next time you will listen to the adult in charge. Now, go upstairs and play with your sisters."
Maura gives her a pat on her butt to get her moving before turning to face her wife who was standing in the doorway to the kitchen with a smirk.
"What are you over here smiling about?" Maura asks as she wraps her arms around the brunette's neck. Jane leans down and kisses her wife's lips.
"I love watching you with our kids, I've missed that."
"Mmm, are you sure that's all? Or are you just happy that you didn't have to be the bearer of bad news for once?" Maura asked with a raised eyebrow.
Jane kisses her wife again before answering. "Maybe a little of both." She remarked with a laugh.
Maura playfully slapped Jane's chest, pulling away only to be pulled back.
"I'm kidding, baby," Jane said in between laughs. "If I could be the bad guy all the time I would just so you wouldn't have to be." Maura smirks and kisses her wife again.
"I appreciate that love, but in the meantime how about you just help me get lunch set up. Olivia should be here any minute."
"I can do that," Jane remarked, following her wife into the kitchen. A few moments later the doorbell rang and Maura went to answer.She greeted Olivia before showing her to the kitchen.
"Our oldest daughter is upstairs with our little ones. I offered our nanny the day off today before I texted you to ask about lunch. She is already going to graciously take them for us tonight so we can have dinner with our oldest two girls so I didn't want to disturb her for lunch as well."
"Yeah. You're an Indian giver Maur," Jane says with a grin. She laughs when she notes the look of pure confusion on Maura's face. "It means you give a gift, for example Emily's day off, then you take it back."
Maura nods. "That does seem to be a common occurrence when it comes to Emily. This household definitely could not function without her. Anyway, as I was saying, our littles are normally very well behaved but unfortunately their older sister has them hyped up on sugar so please forgive any interruptions that may happen. Our daughter will try to keep them occupied."
Olivia shook her head. "Hey, no worries. I have a boy of my own so I get it. How is Jess anyway? I hated to see BPD lose her. She was a good cop."
"Yeah, I did too but she is really enjoying her work at the Boys and Girls Club." Jane said.
The three were silent for a moment before Maura broke the void.
"So, do you like Chinese food? I sure hope so because it would seem Jane ordered half the restaurant."
"Hey, when it comes to Chinese food I happen to think variety is the name of the game," Jane says with a chuckle.
"Oh, I do too," Olivia says as she takes a seat at the table. Jane spent a moment getting all the containers opened up and the three of them focused on getting their food. While they were eating, conversation fell to each other's kids and BPD related topics. Finally, when they were done Jane cleared her throat before speaking.
"So, I guess the only way to jump into this is just to jump in. What do you have?"
"Well, not a whole lot but I questioned some of the people that were in attendance at the fundraiser Maura spoke to me about and I definitely have a couple of people acting suspicious. It's not a whole lot yet but it's a launching board."
"Acting suspicious, like, how?" Jane asks as she reaches over and grasps her wife's hand who she could see nervously bouncing her leg. It was obvious Maura wanted to be anywhere but here right now having this conversation.
"There are two of them refusing to submit a DNA sample. It could be nothing. Some people just like to make our lives difficult and be as uncooperative as possible. To me though, if a cop came questioning me about something like that, normal people would run to submit DNA to make sure their name is in the clear."
"Look, if you gave me their names I could…"
Jane didn't get any further before Olivia interrupted her.
"You know that's not going to happen Jane . First off, not only would my captain have my ass, so would your wife. She has made it quite clear not to give you any details of the investigation other than a general idea of where we stand."
Jane looked from Olivia over to Maura. "Seriously Maur?"
"Yes Jane. I told you, let Detective Benson do her job. The only thing you would accomplish sticking your hands in this is getting you both fired, and that's on the minor end of the scale of possibility."
Jane huffed. "Fine but I feel like I should be doing something. How do I find out someone has hurt my wife and just sit idly by? You're both crazy. God, who knows how many other women he's done this to."
This time it was Maura's turn to squeeze Jane's hand in a silent bid of reassurance.
"I promise you both I will find him and he will answer for what he did. You just have to trust me. This isn't going to happen overnight."
"Has anyone checked around for other cases that share similarities to Maura's? Maybe someone who came forward but fell through the cracks? I mean I hate to say that but we all know it happens," Jane said
"I have a few other detectives looking into that. Look, I can't promise that something will turn up but if he has done this in the past we will find him. I won't stop until I do and that is a promise I can make," She says with determination.
Jane nods and looks over at her wife. Maura went to speak but was silenced as Abby came running into the kitchen with a horrified look.
"Mommy, mommy come fast. Jess needs your help. Amelia threw up. It's everywhere," she says, panting from her run downstairs.
Jane went to stand but Maura patted her hand. "Stay, visit with Olivia. I'll handle this." Pushing her chair back from the table. Jane realized this was probably Maura's way of taking a breather from the topic at hand.
"Abby, why don't you sit on the couch while I go look in on Amelia," Maura says, brushing dark brown hair from the child's face. Abby nodded and headed for the living room and Maura turned her attention back to Oliva.
"Detective Benson, if you could excuse me for a moment."
"Yeah absolutely, take your time," Oliva says with a smile. As soon as Jane knew Maura was upstairs she turned to Olivia.
"Oliva, please you gotta let me do something, anything. I can't just sit here and do nothing while the person who hurt my wife is out there."
Oliva sighed. "Jane..."
"No, Olivia, if this was your spouse would you be able to sit back and not do anything? Please." Jane begged.
Olivia bit the inside of her mouth. "This better not come back to bite me," she thought to herself before acknowledging the desperate brunette.
"Alright, I'll let you help but so help me God Jane if you breathe a word of this to your wife it's both our asses. Got it?" Jane nodded gratefully.
"I won't say a word." She promised and Oliva nodded.
"Okay, well I should head out soon. Once I'm back at the station I'll send you a list of names I need backgrounds on. This will help me focus more on finding any other cases similar to Maura's."
Both women stood and began to clear away the dishes and left over food.
Jane walked Oliva to the door and thanked her again.
"You're welcome Rizzoli, but remember what I said." Oliva replied sternly but with a smile.Jane nodded.
"I'll remember," she said, sticking out her hand to shake the detective's. After Oliva walked away Jane shut the door and sighed but was startled by Maura's voice.
"You'll remember what Jane?" The Blonde asked.
"Crap!" Jane thought before answering. "Oh, um I was supposed to remember to tell you goodbye for Olivia and thank you for lunch." Maura smiled and Jane breathed in relief that she bought it.
"I'll have to text her later and thank her for coming by. Thank you for cleaning up," Maura said, as she wrapped her arms around her wife's waist and rested her head on the brunette's chest.
"You're welcome baby, how's Amelia?" Jane asked, rubbing her wife's back.
"She's better now, between all the sugar and jumping on the bed it finally caught up to her little body." Jane grinned.
"I bet good money Jess won't ever make that mistake again."
"I'm sure she won't since she's cleaning it out of the carpet as we speak," Maura says, causing herself and Jane to laugh.
"I've already given Amelia a bath, luckily she managed to get more of it on the floor than herself, but I've already filled Emily in. She and Riley will be over around 7:30."
Jane hummed, raised her hand, and looked at her watch. "It's only a little after 3, what do you suppose we do with all this extra time?"
Maura looked up at her wife who wore a wicked grin and laughed. "Must your mind always go to the ally?" She said seriously. Jane laughed heartily and kissed her wife's cheek.
"It's gutter Maur, and I can't help where my mind wanders to when I look at you." Maura giggled and gave the brunette a quick kiss. "Thank you for ,what I can only assume, was a compliment. As enticing as that sounds, it will have to wait until later. Right now let's spend the rest of our time with the girls and then we can get ready for dinner and maybe, just maybe if you behave yourself tonight you may just get lucky."
Maura smiled wide and laughed as she walked away and heard Jane groan loudly.
"You will be the death of me Maura Isles." Jane remarks as she follows behind her wife.
"That's Rizzoli-Isles to you, and I'm sure I will be no such thing Jane." Both women settled in the living room with their girls and enjoyed a few board games and much needed laughter before leaving the three littles in Emily and Riley's care to get ready for their dinner with their older daughters.