She had only been back in Boston for a few days but it felt like she never left. She had to admit she really did love Boston in the fall…the winter maybe not as much. Even though she was not living at home she still took a job as her ma's bakery and got a gig at The Dirty Robber being a bar tender. She was sure her ma would be thrilled to know the most useful thing she took from college thus far was learning how to make every drink under the sun. Jane knew that Maura wouldn't mind if she stayed on the boat indefinitely but Jane needed to get her own place and give Frankie a place to stay that wasn't so hostile.

"Cup of coffee to go please," Maura smiled leaning against the bakery counter.

"Morning Maur," Jane smiled before turning to get her coffee.

Jane was kind of glad Maura and Frankie met at the bakery every morning before school. Over the past few days Maura had been stopping by the boat and they would talk for a few minutes. It was nice having a friend around that didn't look at her different…she was just Jane. Back at school everyone looked at her differently…while she might go back to college at some point she certain would never step foot back on the UConn campus. It was also good to see her brother too so she could gauge how things were going at home.

"Nervous about your first day of school," Jane asked setting the coffee down on the counter?

"No, I am excited," Maura said with a bright smile.

Just then Frankie walked in still looking half asleep and plopped on a chair.

"I can't say the same thing for everyone though," Maura laughed.

"He never was a morning person…I think he will do much better in college when he can schedule classes later in the day."

"Speaking of which make sure he finishes his college applications. They really should be in by the end of September," Maura explained imploring the services of Jane to help her get her best friend in gear to finish these applications.

"I am guessing yours are already done?"

"Oh mine were submitted in May as I have applied for early decision in most places."

"Naturally…where do you want to go?"

"Well, I have applied most of the Ivy League schools…Harvard, Princeton, Yale, Penn….and a couple schools that have excellent pre-med programs like UNC, Johns Hopkins, Standford."

"Yeah but where do you WANT to go?"

"Harvard," Maura whispered.

"I promise I won't tell," Jane said knowing that telling anyone made it real and added a layer of pressure on her. "They would be foolish not to take you…now get this cup of coffee in Frankie and get off to school….colleges don't like people being tardy," Jane smirked.

Maura picked up both cups of coffee and turned back to her friend who looked like he had fallen asleep in his chair. She gave the chair a swift kick causing Frankie to jump out of his chair and look around quickly like he was under attack.

"Jumpy much," Maura teased handing the regular coffee to Frankie.

"Sorry…didn't sleep much last night."

"The yelling again?"

"Yeah, I can't wait until pop gets out of there. He has been such an ass recently. I swear the closer he gets to leaving the more an ass he becomes."

"You know you're always welcome to come over."

"I know but it was late…I thought I could just deal with it."

Jane overheard the conversation and knew she needed to get her brother out of that house. It wasn't healthy for him to be in that environment. She had only been working for a week but money from the bar was really helping out. People really loved her there and she could easily make a few hundred in tips over the weekends. She had been eyeing this rental house on the harbor that was in rough shape hence the really low rent but nothing a little TLC couldn't cure. After this weekend she was going to contact the landlord and make an offer.

She waved at Frankie and Maura as they headed off to school. She remembered a time when her life was simple…when all she had to worry about was what period study hall was and who shared the same lunch. She hoped Maura and Frankie really appreciated the simplicity high school brought.

"Quit day dreaming the morning rush isn't over yet," Angela said snapping her daughter out of her fog.

Jane shook her head and got back to work. She really needed to make sure she stayed on top of things as she had to duck out early today for a meeting. After the lunch rush passed through Jane tossed her towel on the counter.

"I will be back around 3 ma," Jane said grabbing her keys.

"Where are you going?"

"I have a meeting about that internship I was telling you about. It shouldn't take too long."

"All right baby I will see you later."

Jane parked downtown and made the short walk to the front of the police station. She looked up at the building and tried to get her nerve to go inside. The building didn't look overly intimidating as it blended into the rest of the city skyline but Jane knew it was different. The four walls contained cops, detectives and criminals….it also contained a case file with her name on it.

"Hi I am here to meet with Vince Korsak," Jane told the cop at the reception desk.

"All right just have a seat right over there and I will call him down."

"Thank you."

Jane took a seat in a row of plastic chairs. As if she wasn't on edge enough these chairs certainly didn't help her settle at all.

"Sorry, usually we place perps there before they get booked….don't want them getting comfortable," Vince said appearing next to her.

"Oh yeah understandable," Jane said standing.

"Let's go upstairs and talk."

Frankie was thrilled to break free from the first day of school. He still couldn't believe he had homework on the first day. What happened to easing back into things?

"Why do you look like someone just kicked your puppy," Frost asking punching Frankie in the shoulder.

"Mine as well have…I have homework….who does that?"

"Oh man who do they think they are….teachers," Frost said sarcastically.

Frankie turned and gave him a glare.

"Suck it up buttercup…summer is over."

"And why are you all sunshine and rainbows?"

"Because I don't have homework," Frost smirked.

Frankie grumbled as they walked into the bakery.

"Hi baby how was your first day of school," Angela asked?

"Just another day."

"Yeah, another day with homework," Frost ribbed.

Frankie rolled his eyes.

"Where is Janie?"

"She should be back here soon. Where is Maura?"

"She stayed after to meet with the guidance counselor she should be here soon."

"Have you met with your guidance counselor yet? You have everything in line to graduate timely and you have your college applications in?"

"Oh man not you too….I am going to graduate no problem and I am working on the applications."

"Don't wait too long young man."

Angela walked back to make the boys some food as the boys continued their banter. Outside Maura was just pulling up to the Bakery and was about to head in when someone or rather someone caught her eye.

"Jane," Maura questioned seeing her sitting on a bench.

"Oh hey," Jane said trying to perk up some.

"Is everything ok?"

"Yeah, umm how was school? I think the boys are inside already."

"School was good I am glad to get back into a routine. Why aren't you inside with everyone?"

"I am just coming back from a meeting and I thought I would let Ma have a little time with Frankie…and I am sure Frankie is thrilled about that," Jane smirked.

"Oh I am sure."

"I had a question…does the boat TVs get ESPN? The game is on tonight and the Sox have a chance to clinch a playoff spot."

"Oh yes they have full packages. You should come to my house tonight though and watch the game with Frankie and Frost."

"Definitely," Jane said now excited about her evening. "Now let's get inside and save Frankie."

Maura smiled at Jane and followed her into the bakery. She too was excited for tonight's activities. She wasn't a huge baseball fan…at least not like the Rizzoli's….but with the addition of Jane the night seemed to get a little brighter. She enjoyed hanging out with her friends and Jane was a friend but sometimes Maura still found it hard to believe she was in the same room with Jane Rizzoli let along being considered her friend.

Jane arrived that night with a large pizza and six pack of beer.

"How did you even get this you're not 21 yet," Frankie said grabbing a bottle.

"First off," Jane said grabbing the bottle back, "your only allowed 1 that goes for you too Frost," she added handing the bottle back to Frankie. "And I am 21 according to the proper documents so shut it."

Frankie and Frost grabbed and bottle and pizza and headed to the living room quickly before Jane could change her mind.

"Ohh and I got this for you…I know it's not fancy or anything but I didn't picture you as a beer girl," Jane said pulling out a travel side wine bottle.

"Oh um thank you but you didn't have too…I really don't drink," Maura stuttered slightly.

"It's ok you don't have to drink it but I think you will like it. It's just us tonight kick back and relax….I promise not to tell if you do."

Maura thought about it for a minute and grabbed a wine glass pouring herself a drink.

"I knew this was a little dare devil in ya," Jane winked grabbing her bottle and a plate of pizza.

Maura tried to control the heat that was quickly rising to her cheeks until after Jane was out of the kitchen. She took a sip of the deep red liquid trying to settle her nerves.

"Hmm that is good," Maura said to herself pouring a little more into the glass.

She grabbed a slice of pizza and joined her friends in the living room to watch the game. It filled her heart to be surrounded by her friends who were having such a good time. She loved how Jane would yell at the TV like it would actually have an effect on the game and how Jane would explain certain plays to her when it was clear she didn't really understand what was going on. With each day they spent together Maura's heart was falling more and more for Jane however her head kept tell her they were just friends. She wondered how long it would be before her heart told her head to shut up.