A/N: Sorry for the wait. Here is the rest of Christmas. Next up, the end of the holiday season, New Year's Eve.

Jane finished her beer as the small talk and chatter continued in the living room. Family members came and went, taking each other's places in chairs, on couches, and at the bar. At a couple points Jane had tried to sneak off and watch the game with the guys, but Maura's grip on her hand wouldn't let her stand from the couch.

"You're doing fantastic," Jane leaned in and whispered into Maura's ear. The doctor turned to Jane and nodded hesitantly.

"You really think it's going well?" Maura asked.

"Oh yeah," Jane nodded. "The last time someone got introduced to the family Uncle Tony scared the poor so much he nearly pissed his pants. Oh and Frankie and Nick accidentally hit him when he walked right through the snowball fight." Jane smiled as she remembered nailing Danielle's ex in the head with a snowball.

"According to your criteria of not being intimidated or attacked with projectiles by your family, I have successfully been accepted by your family." Maura cocked her head to the side as she smirked at Jane. The detective was about to say something that would have earned her a glare from Maura. But just as she opened her mouth, Tommy burst into the room followed by the men who'd been hiding away in the family room.

"Jane we're about to start the game, you coming?" Tommy asked as he pulled on his coat.

"Of course," Jane sprung up from the couch, only looking down to Maura as the doctor pulled on her arm. Maura didn't have to speak for Jane to know that she wasn't going anywhere quite yet. "You go on ahead Tommy, don't let them start without me," Jane said to Tommy before staring down at Maura.

"What game is he talking about?" Maura tilted her head to the side quizzically.

"Come on," Jane rolled her eyes as she pulled Maura off the couch. Jane led them down the narrow hallway to the small office room which held a mountain of coats. Jane cursed under her breath as she began sorting through the pile of black coats for her own black coat.

"Jane," Maura crossed her arms over her chest.

"Sorry," Jane abandoned her search for her coat, momentarily, and took Maura's hands in her own. "Every year we play football in the back yard, its Bonatelli's verses the rest of us."

"Can I play?"

"No," Jane returned to the search for her coat.

"Why not, I've watched games with you before. I know who the quarterback, running back, and left tackle are."

"You're wearing heels Maura," Jane sighed. Maura looked down at her feet observing the bright blue stilettos she'd picked out that morning. She then looked at Jane's feet, big black snow boots.

"I concede your point," Maura nodded just as Jane pulled her coat out of the pile victoriously.

"Ah ha," Jane smiled as she pulled her coat on. Jane slipped her arms through the sleeves then leaned forward to place a soft kiss on Maura's lips. "Thank you." Jane pulled back and picked up the soft white coat from the top of the pile and handed it to Maura. "Usually everyone ends up watching from the patio. If we head out now you can snag one of the chairs at the table." Jane smiled at Maura, the doctor shook her head slightly as she accepted her coat from Jane.

"Lets go," Maura slipped her coat on and Jane grabbed her hand, beaming. Jane swiftly led her through the house out the back door and out onto the patio. Maura sat down in a plastic chair at a plastic table, Jane hesitated for just a moment before nearly jumping from the porch into the yard to join her brothers and cousins in the huddle. Maura looked on, watching as a number of young boys sprinted from the house out into the yard to join the game. Three generations, ranging in age from seven to forty seven, were playing in this game and yet Maura couldn't help notice that Jane was the only girl. At the sound of plastic scraping against concrete, Maura turned to her right to see an older gentlemen take a seat at the plastic table opposite her.

"You're the doctor right, with Janey?" The man sat up straighter in his chair and pushed his glasses up the bridge of his nose. Maura nodded before extending her hand towards him.

"Yes, Dr. Maura Isles," she was a bit taken a back when he took her hand so firmly. "You're Anthony, Angela's older brother."

"Please, call me Uncle Tony," The man nodded as he shook Maura's hand. For a split second Maura was lost for words. It wasn't until he released her hand that she realized her hand was just hovering over the table. Maura retracted her hand and cleared her throat, looking away from Tony as the game kicked off.

"Is the game like this every year, Jane and-"

"The boys?" Tony finished her sentence and let out a short laugh. "Yeah, always has been. Jane has been in this game since she was eight. Sissy, Angela never liked it. She tried to make Janey stay inside with girls, my daughter and the other cousins. But Janey always fought her way out by the second quarter." Tony paused, his breath visible in the cold dry air. "She's only ever missed this game twice in twenty seven years."

"She's incredible," Maura nodded, as she watched Jane pick up one of her little cousins and spin him around to stop him from catching the ball. Maura didn't have to be told which two Christmas football games Jane hadn't been able to play in, she already knew.

"You're not so bad yourself," Tony smirked, he lifted the cap off his head to run his stiff wrinkled hands through his salt and pepper hair. He placed the cap back on his head and only then met Maura's eyes. "Janey's never brought somebody to meet the family. Lots of boyfriends and girlfriends have come and gone for all of them, but never Janey. We all knew you had to be something special for her to bring you here."

"And the fact that I'm a woman?" Maura took a breath and held it, awaiting his response.

"I don't think any of us were too surprised. Janey's always been this way, one of the boys. So long as Janey's happy, we're happy to have you here. And if anyone says anything different, their backside is going to have a meeting with my cane," Tony lightly shook the cane that he held in his right hand. Maura only nodded silently, while she did not quite understand Tony's brutal humor she did comprehend the support he was offering her and Jane.

As the game continued, a small crowd gathered on the porch. They cheered for each play, no matter which way it went. Even though this was supposed to be touch football, between the ice and the competitive nature of the players, tackles became a frequent play ender. Every time the crowd, the family would hold their breath until every stood up, and then they would cheer. Maura found herself swept up into the spirit of the game, jumping out of her seat when Frankie scored a touchdown, and again when Jane caught a pass from across the yard. Maura nearly jumped from her seat again when Angela's voice rang through the air.

"Halftime hot chocolate!" The simple statement brought the game to an immediate halt, followed by a stampede of players onto the porch. Angela stood strong and unflinching as the assorted Bonatellli's and co. rushed towards her, clearing the small Styrofoam cups from the tray within seconds. Jane was in no hurry to fight her family for hot chocolate, and instead went to Maura's side.

"How are you enjoying the game?" Jane asked Maura, her face absolutely beaming despite her bright red nose and cheeks.

"You look like you're freezing," Maura stood from the plastic chair and put her wooly mitten covered hands on either side of Jane's face. Jane tried to shrug away from Maura's hands, but the doctor was relentless. Jane eventually gave in and wrapped her arms around Maura's waist as she moved to stand behind the shorter woman.

"How you doing Uncle Tony?" Jane asked the old man smiling. Tony smirked, his wife Rose now standing by his side.

"Freezing my ass off out here while you nutcases kill each other out there," Tony laughed as his wife lightly slapped his should for his language. "But your girlfriend is keeping us entertained." Maura looked confused for a moment before Jane and Tony laughed again. Small talk had barely begun before Jane was called back onto the field. Jane placed a quick kiss on Maura's temple before charging down the concrete steps. It wasn't until Jane had joined the huddle that Maura sat down in her chair. She rubbed her hands together as she shivered, missing the heat that Jane's presence had provided her. Out of the corner of her eye Maura could see Tony put his hand over his mouth, and Rose copied his motion as they both tried to suppress a snicker.

"Did I miss a joke?" Maura asked them. Tony shook his head.

"I think you have a fan club," Tony looked just over Maura's shoulder and gestured behind her with his cane. Maura turned in her chair to see Lia standing behind her. Lia was now bundled up in a large puffy coat, gloves, boots, and a hat pulled over her head. She stood with a small tray of hot chocolate in her hands and was trying very hard not to spill it. Alongside Lia were a handful of her cousins, all girls with dark locks spilling out from under their warm hats.

"Hi," Lia smiled up at Maura. "Hot chocolate?"

"Thank you," Maura nodded to Lia as she took a cup from the tray.

"You're pretty," One of the little girls said to Maura.

"Oh, well thank you." Maura smiled and tried not to blush from this sudden attention. "What's your name?"

"I'm Adrianna," the girl said proudly.

"I'm Gabriella,"

"I'm Emilie,"

"And I'm Bianca," each of the girls introduced themselves to Maura as they stared at her, completely mesmerized. There was a moment of silence, as Maura sipped at the hot chocolate, and the girls watched her. Then, just as suddenly as they had appeared behind her, the rapid fire round of questions began.

"Are you really a doctor?"

"How old are you?"

"What's your favorite color?"

"Are you our cousin?"

"Are you a model?"

"What's your favorite animal?"

"Are you married?"

"Do you have any kids?"

Maura found herself completely overwhelmed with in a matter of seconds. She now understood what Jane had been talking about when she complained about her aunts on Thanksgiving. It appeared that these girls were mimicking their mother's behavior, and it was truly unnerving for the doctor.

"Girls," Jane's cousin Beth silenced the girls with a single word. "Stop annoying Maura."

"But mommy," Lia and Bianca whined in unison.

"It's not a problem," Maura looked from Beth to the girls. "And to answer your questions, yes, thirty-six, royal blue, no, no, the African Spurred Tortoise, no and no."

"Your favorite animals a turtle?" Emilie grimaced.

"Tortoise," Maura corrected. The conversation continued, pulling Maura's attention away from the game. While the girls never seemed to run out of questions, they seemed more fascinated with Maura's stories than by the answers themselves. Maura was sure she had never spoken to a more captivated audience before. She told them about going to school in France, the history and culture, about ballet and fencing, and there was not a single critique or criticism. She was beginning to doubt their relation to Jane when Aunt Sophie announced that dinner was ready, bringing the game to an end, and igniting an argument between the girls.

"I want to sit next to Maura."

"No I want to sit next to Maura."

Maura stood from her chair and attempted to move around the girls when she heard a familiar laugh behind her.

"I'm going to sit next to Maura," Jane smiled as she ascended to porch steps and took Maura's hand in hers. "And that's that."

A/N: Review please and I will work hard to get up the next chapter by New Years Eve.