„Rizzoli, to my office! " Cavanaugh's voice thundered through the squad room and made Jane rub her temple. Her eyes mischievously glanced at the pile of files she had to work through before finally getting away for a few days to celebrate Christmas in Boston with her family. Maura had texted earlier that she was already at home, starting the preparation for their journey, and Jane wanted nothing more than get over with the paperwork to join her and the kids.

"Close the door!" he ordered once she had made her way into his office, grunting slightly and slumping down into the chair which was there for guests. The brunette watched him smirk while his fingertips were pulled together in front of his chest.

"Sergeant Lucas is going to retire soon." He opened the conversation, shooting her an excited look. There was something stirring in Janes mind, but she couldn't grab it. Therefore, she waited for Cavanaugh to continue.

"Jane, we've known each other for a long time." He leant towards her, now resting his arms on his desk. "I want you to apply for the job. You already passed the sergeant test with flying flags, you have the best rate in the department and we both know that you are more than qualified for the job. What do you say?"

The brunette felt her jaw drop. Her mind and heart were racing. Never would she have expected to get such an opportunity so soon. She glanced into his eyes which showed excitement but also worry. He wanted her to take the job, and if she was honest, she was more than ready to do so. This meant that she would be less on the streets and more at the desk. It was safer than being a detective. And save was what she wanted after having a family now.

Still unable to speak Jane nodded slowly. A wide smile split across her bosses face. "Its just a formality you know. I already prepared your application and talked to my bosses. The only thing standing between you and the job is your signature."

She watched him pull some papers out of the first drawer of his desk, sliding them over to her together with a pen. "Why me." she asked in disbelieve rolling the pen between her index finger and her thumb.

"Because you are best qualified. Simple as that." He shrugged, leaning back in his chair. "You earned this, Rizzoli. But if you have any doubts you can have some time to think it over."

I should talk about it with Maur, Jane thought. But on the other hand, she was sure that her wife would welcome the benefits which came along with the job. She gave a deep sigh, reading through the application. By the time she had reached the part where she had to sign, she was sure that this was the best thing to do and put her name into the blank spot designated for her signature.

Cavanaugh took the papers back and carefully put them back into the drawer, locking the whole thing. "Sergeant Lucas has lots of holidays and sick days. Which means that you can have his job by the end of January. We will make an announcement to your colleagues then." He smiled. "I'm happy you took this decision."

Jane still felt overwhelmed when she pulled into the driveway of their house two hours later. Sergeant! She thought and smiled as she remained in the car after she had cut the engine, unable to move. What a year this had been, she thought. Meeting Maura at the airport, the dark times when she had come home after Christmas, their fight which brought them together the way it was meant to be, the wedding, the holiday, the adoption of the kids, the renovation of the house and now a promotion.

She glanced at the hands which were resting in her lap, taking a deep sigh. She couldn't really see the scars Hoyt had left on them because of the dark, but she could feel them. It hit her, that she hadn't touched or rubbed them in a long time and smiled. Hoyt hadn't won, she thought and life had moved on.

A knock to her car window made her snap back to reality. "Jane, are you okay?" Maura asked through the glass, her cardigan pulled tight around her body. The brunette smiled at her, climbing out of the vehicle, feeling some snowflakes dancing around her head. Life was good, she thought as she pulled her wife into a bone-crushing hug.

"What is it?" Maura asked, still worried. "Why don't you come inside?"

Jane pulled away from the hug, to look at the blonde. Her hand moved to put a strand of blonde hair which had fallen out of the ponytail behind Maura's ears.

"Nothing. I just thought how beautiful you are and how wonderful life is." Jane mumbled.

"Are you drunk?" Maura asked cautiously, studying the brunette.

"No, I'm not drunk. Cavanaugh called me into his office today and offered me the job as a sergeant." Jane explained and chuckled when she saw how Maura was as surprised as she had been. One could literally see the wheels turning in the blondes' mind.

"But that's great! You will spend less time on the street then." Her wife said with a huge smile before furrowing her eyebrows. "On the other hand, maybe not so great for you as you hate desk duty."

Jane was sure, that she would never forget this moment when they were standing in the falling snow, and the greatness of Maura to accept that Jane would decline the offer because she hated desk duty. The feeling to be understood and loved no matter what warmed her heart.

"It will be fine. I already signed the papers. I hate paperwork, but you know what I hate even more?"

Maura bit her lips, tilting her head in no. "Getting killed on the streets, not seeing Julia or Sophie grow up, not being able to see you anymore, not being able to make you smile anymore when you are sad and many more things like that. I love you, Maur."

She could still see a frown on Maura's face and worried hazel eyes. "I want this too Jane. But I don't want you to be mad at me one day for the things you have given up. I don't want you to think that I wouldn't understand or put pressure on you."

"I know, Maur. But you don't have to worry. I thought this through. And believe me, its fine. There was a time when work was the most important thing to me. But this has changed over the last year." Her arms reached out to pull Maura closer again, leaving a soft kiss onto the forehead of the blonde. "I love you." She whispered again.

Pure love appeared in Maura's hazel eyes as she said: "I love you too, Jane."

"Come on, babe. It's too cold to stay outside." Jane softly said and laced up fingers with her wife as they walked the small path towards the house. Julia and Sophie were already waiting behind the door and Jane crouched to tickle them. "Are you okay, ma?" Julia asked embracing her mother after Jane was through with her attack.

"Yeah, honey. Im okay. Its all fine. Don't worry."

"Why is mum crying then?" her daughter said with wide eyes.

"You know, sometimes people cry when they are happy. And mum is happy, because I got a better job now, and she has to worry less about me."

She watched how her daughter mulled over her words, before she started to grin. "I can't cry over that, but I'm happy too." The girl finally said smarty and gave her another hug.

R&I

"I'm sorry." Jane whispered later after they had made love.

"What for?" Maura silently asked, propping up onto her elbow to study her wife. Jane sighed.

"I knew that you were worried about me and my job. But I never realized what a burden it must have been to you over all these years."

"It was part of your job, and the job was a big part of you. I knew that this was part of the package which you would bring into the relationship. I always tried to not think about all the horrible things that could happen to you. But when you came home tonight and told me, I allowed myself to realize how happy your decision makes me. I hope though that you don't think that I'm selfish."

"You know what I have been thinking about when I was sitting in the car?" Jane whispered, enjoying the soft caresses Maura's hand left on her cheek. "I thought about the last 12 months. About how we started at the airport, how we fought, how we found each other. And most of all I thought that I never want to lose this."

"You mean that you are willing to be googlemouthed till the rest of your life?" Maura teased.

"Oh, yeah. And I'm looking forward to enjoy the rest of the package that comes with you too for every single day until my hair is grey. And I hope that by then we will sit happily on our deck, drinking beer and wine and be happy."

"Hmm I like that picture." Maura smiled and rested her head back on Janes shoulders, listening to the steady heartbeat which always managed to calm her down.