Full disclaimers in Chapter 1

ALERT: If you have not watched the show yet, there might be spoilers.

DISCLAIMER: I do not own Rizzoli & Isles nor any of the characters from the show. I am writing this purely for entertainment, not profit. Rizzoli and Isles are property of Tess Gerritsen and TNT.

I am not a native English speaker, and I don't have a beta. So all mistakes are 100% mine.

Enough of disclaimers and warnings – read at your own risk. Reviews are always welcome!

Season 3 – Episode 9 – "Home Town Glory"

"What are you doing here?" Jane was surprised seeing Frankie in Maura's house.

"She wants me to help her move, Jane."

"What?"

"I'm gonna go move in with my cousin, Theresa." Angela stated, hurt in her voice.

"Angela, please don't." Maura pleaded, hurt in her eyes.

"I knew about Lydia, too, ma." Frankie confessed.

"I know. You and Jane always shared everything, and I... I understand that you were all trying to protect me, but..."

"Ma, I'm so sorry." Jane plead.

"But can you understand that I can't have my children think I'm pitiful." Angela tried to explain.

"Ma, dad is the one who's pitiful. You didn't do anything wrong. We did. Dad did. Okay? We... we all admire you. Don't you understand that?" Jane was trying to convey her feelings to her mother.

"Admire me? For what? I... I lost my marriage, I lost my house. I live in your best friend's guest house. I-I work in a café." Angela enumerated, ashamed of herself, hiding her crying face in her elbow.

"I admire you because you picked yourself up when you could have just laid on the floor. No, I admire you for the person that you've always been. You're optimistic and warm and loving and strong. Ma, you're still strong. Okay, you're an example to all of us."

"Hey. Hey, hey. She's right. Okay?" Frankie joined in.

"Hmm?"

"I always wanted a mother like you." Maura blurted, so unlikely her, offering Angela the box of tissues.

"Oh, Maura." That touched Angela's heart. "You're great kids, you know that?" Angela looked around the three of them, love in her eyes.

"Oh, ma. Because of you, ma... because of you."

"I never really liked Theresa. She doesn't clean her bathrooms."

They all laughed at Angela's remark.

"I love you so much. All right." Angela brought them all to a tight messy hug.

"Okay. Okay, the group hugging... I can't do it. Oh, my God. Is that my gun?"

"Sorry." Maura blurted, she had bumped into Jane's gun in the group hug.

Frankie moved back to the guest house with Angela to put back the few things she had started putting away.

Jane sat heavily in the bench by Maura's kitchen.

"More than ever I need some artery clogging food, and to get ass drunk." She sighed, heavily. The crisis had been averted, but it had been a close call.

"I think there might still be some chocolate-covered bacon from Lydia's baby shower…" Maura volunteered.

"No… Did Ma get those? Bacon chocolate! They are my favorite!"

"I can't possibly imagine what chocolate-covered bacon tastes like, but here you go… What is the correct pairing for it? Wine? Beer?"

"Beer, of course, Maura. Here, try some." Jane offered a piece of the bacon chocolate to Maura.

Maura made a face. "I am not sure if I should…"

"Live a little." Jane insisted.

Maura picked a piece between delicate fingers and put it in her mouth. Her expression immediately transformed into one of pleasurable bliss.

"Hmmm… This is… delicious…"

"Have I ever presented you to any food that didn't taste good? They might not be healthy, but all the food I introduced you to is top notch delicious." Jane said, licking her fingers.

"That I have to concede. Not healthy. Very very delicious."

"I am sorry for mocking you today."

Maura knotted her eyebrows. Jane mocked her almost every day.

"That is fine, you do that regularly, I don't mind."

"You should. It was enough to make Korsak and Frost uncomfortable, first at the motel, then at the bullpen. I am glad you called me out on it. I was frustrated. I didn't mean to offend you in any way. Although I do have to admit it kind of makes me feel better to mock you, because you do take it in stride. The face you make when you realize I am mocking you is priceless – and very very cute by the way."

"I know, Jane." Maura sighed, chuckling. "By the way, I also know from a trusted source that you were the inspiration for the Channel Street Boys 'Pure Boston Beauty'?"

"Did Ma tell you that?"

"When I stopped by the café before the Lydiagate. Hmmm… How does it go? Ah… 'The most beautiful girl in the world, yeah, she's right here from southie, yeah, yeah, she is pure Boston beauty ooh-ooh, a little bit tough…'"

"My mother thinks Shanon had a crush on me… You should not believe all she says."

"Well, in this case, the song does sound like a very fair description of you, from the beauty to the toughness…"

"Thanks…" Jane teased. "I guess…" And more serious again. "And Maura, thank you for backing us up with my mom."

"You don't need to thank me. You know I can only speak the truth."

"It means a lot to her when you say that you always wanted to have a mother like her."

"Why? She already has three great children that completely adore her."

"Yes. But when Miss Perfect says that she also always wanted a mother like her, that takes a whole different meaning."

"Jane!"

"What? It is true. Imagine. A well accomplished Doctor, with all types of diplomas and degrees, practically Boston royalty. And that person says that she always wanted to have a mother like her. It means the world to her."

"You give me too much credit, Jane. She was the one to tell me first that she thought of me as a daughter. You know I think of your family as my family for a very long time, but I never said that to anyone but you. But your mother… That day after you shot Paddy Doyle, when you made her decide between staying with me or going with you, she told me before she left with you, that I was like her daughter, too." Maura said, her voice breaking.

"Well, yes, we know you are part of Ma's litter for a long time now." Jane smiled fondly at Maura.

"She adores you, and Frankie, and Tommy. And I think she is still really trying to find herself, Jane. For third five years the institution of marriage defined her life and how she was supposed to feel and behave. It was basically her entire adult life. Learning how to be an individual person at her age now, it is hard. It is like starting from scratch when the entire world assume you are already a pro at being an individual."

"And it does not likely help this entire mess with my father, and Tommy, and Lydia. Really, can't they keep it in their pants? It is unbelievable. Just unbelievable."

"I feel really sorry for Lydia. Her mother… Does not seem like a stable person. I know you were hurt and pissed, but did you take a good look at that woman? A cursory glance gave me the impression she is an alcoholic. And Lydia is not exactly endowed on the brain department. I am not surprised why she immediately bonded with your mother and would prefer your mother of hers. Everyone would love to have a mother like Angela. Even Frank told Lydia Angela was a great mother."

"And if this is Tommy's baby, Ma will want to have that kid into her life."

"Even if it is Frank Sr's baby. It will be a half-brother or half-sister to you. And as much as you and Frankie and Tommy might not like the situation, you know none of you will ever be able to leave someone who is half related to you to be raised in an unstable home. It is nothing like any of you to do that."

"Yes. But one problem at a time. Today's battle was won. Ma does not hate me any longer, and she is not moving out of your guest house. Next we will need to find out a way to test who is the baby's father. But first, I will have to slowly strangle Tommy."

"Who will in turn strangle me because I told his secret."

"Technically, Lydia told us the secret. You are not in trouble, Miss Perfect."

"Phew."