AN: Hey guys! Thanks so much for all of your reviews! I hope you all are enjoying the story so far! I just want to clarify a few things. First, there are large gaps of time between chapters because I'm using these chapters to establish patterns and tell small stories that will come into play later. Also, I understand these chapters are a bit short. I promise they will get longer, eventually. Lastly, this story follows Jane in her life. It's not in her point of view, but you won't see any characters interacting unless Jane is there. Sorry if that wasn't clear from the beginning. But don't worry, you will get to hear about Maura's past later on. I've got it all planned out, so don't worry! Alright, that's all for now! Enjoy!

Chapter Three

"But Ma!" Jane whined. "You said when I turned ten I could tryout for the softball team!"

"Honey, wouldn't you rather do dance classes or something else, like all the other little girls in your grade." Angela tried to persuade her.

"Blech! Dance is stupid! I want to do softball!"

"You already are on the soccer team and you go swimming at the rec club every weekend. And you are constantly playing basketball with Frankie, and you know Tommy is just waiting until you say he's old enough to play. Don't you think that's enough?"

"You lied! You said I could when I was ten, and I'm ten! You're a liar!" Jane screamed at her mother.

"Jane Clementine Rizzoli, lower your voice this instant!"

"Ma! You're being unfair! Why can't I do softball?"

"Maybe you should try acting like a girl for once!" Angela shouted, frustrated.

Jane's eyes glassed over and she blinked rapidly trying not to cry. "Well, I'm sorry I'm such a disappointment to you." she barely managed to choke out before running upstairs and slamming her door. She flung herself onto her bed and sobbed into her pillow.

"Janie?" her five year old brother, Tommy, asked, pushing open her door.

"Go away." she mumbled into her pillow.

"Frankie!" Tommy called, and the older boy came running into the room.

"Janie, are you ok?" Frankie asked, sitting down on her bed. "Tommy, go back to our room."

"But, Frankie-"

"Now." Frankie watched as his little brother slowly closed the door. "Hey, Janie, what's wrong?"

Jane sat up in her bed, wiping the tears from her eyes. "Nothing." she mumbled, clutching her pillow in her arms.

"Is it Ma?" Frankie asked, knowing all to well what the answer would be.

Jane nodded and dropped her head on her pillow.

"It's gonna be okay, Jane." he said, soothingly, placing his hand on her shoulder.

Jane shirked away from his touch.

Frankie sighed. "I'm going to go get Ma. You need to talk to her." He got up to go, but Jane quickly reached out and grabbed his arm.

"Please. Don't." Jane whispered. Her eyes were red from crying and her nose was running.

"Here." he said, handing her a tissue off of her desk.

She took the tissue and blew her nose. She grabbed Frankie and pulled him in for a hug. She held him tightly for several minutes until a knock on the door made them both jump.

"Jane?" her mother's voice came from the other side of the door. Angela opened the door and Frankie stood up, placing himself between Jane and their mother.

"Frankie, don't." Jane pleaded. "Go to your room."

Frankie walked out of the room and closed the door.

"What do you want?" Jane asked, trying not to cry again.

"Jane. I didn't mean it. I'm sorry."

"Too late." Jane mumbled.

"Jane, I may have been wrong, but I am your mother and you will show me some respect."

"You lied and then insulted me and you want me to show YOU some respect?" Jane asked, incredulously. "Softball is literally a girl's sport. How does that mean I'm not a girl?"

"Jane-"

"I'm not finished!" Jane shouted, getting angry again. "Just because I'm not the girliest doesn't mean I'm not a girl! Why don't you get a new daughter that likes shopping and dresses and dance classes?! You'd obviously love them more than me! Me?! I'm just a huge disappointment! I fail you and Pop as a daughter and Frankie and Tommy as an older sister! So I'll just go! Clearly none of you want me!" Jane was crying now. Her face was red from shouting and the tears were pouring from her eyes.

"Jane, come here." Angela said calmly, sitting on Jane's bed. "We all love you and want you. Your father and I are so proud of you. Frankie and Tommy adore you. I'm so sorry. You could never be a disappointment to me. I love you so much."

Jane grabbed a tissue and wiped her eyes.

"How about this, Jane?" Angela started. "You can tryout for the softball team, if you take ballet classes."

"But how will I have time? Softball is Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from three to six pm. And then there are games on Saturdays. Plus, I still want to go swimming at least every other weekend. And play basketball with Frankie."

"Ballet is only an hour, starting at four, every Tuesday."

"Fine. If it means I can do softball, I'll do it."

"And Jane?"

"Yeah, Ma?"

"You will never disappoint me. No matter what."