Author's note: thank you very much for all your reviews

September

Chapter six: The Game of Life

"Another child?" Jane growled. "This gotta be a joke! A freaking joke! I already have three." She reluctantly grabbed a token and nonetheless inserted it in her now full little car. "None of them will go to college, I tell you."

Maura giggled and patted her back to comfort her. As much as she enjoyed seeing Jane's exhuberant reactions, she didn't want to deal with anger once they were back home.

It was supposed to be a sweet evening and she wanted it to stay that way.

"It is just a game, Jane. Besides, there is nothing wrong with having a nice little family."

Snort. Maura's comforting words didn't find any echo in Jane. She hated losing and it was exactly what was happening right now. Losing to a game supposed to symbolize her life, besides. Tough.

"Easy for you to say that. You're a surgeon who makes zillions and peacefully drives alone in her Aston Martin!"

Maura looked down at the board. Fair point. But it wasn't her fault if Jane had got a minimum wage job and four children to raise. And a divorce to face. She made a face. It wasn't her wife's lucky day.

"Did you know the game was called "Fate" in French?" Frost waved his cell phone and pointed the Wikipedia page. "Maybe that's your fate, Jane. You're made to have four kids. Be ready, Dr. Isles!"

Frost burst out laughing and avoided just on time the peanuts Jane had thrown at him. They hadn't shared a board game evening at The Dirty Robber for a long while. Korsak had chosen the game – enthusiastic – but very soon it had turned into a nightmare for Jane's competitive spirit. She had way too many debts.

And way too many kids, Rizzoli.

"Speaking of your descendants, how is Margot doing?" Korsak grabbed his beer and smiled at his colleague.

The question made Jane roll her eyes. Just as planned, everyone was making fun of them and their ridiculous little lie. She didn't know if she would last a year without punching anyone in the face. Why did she have to be the number one source of entertainment at the BPD?

"We helped her move on the campus last Saturday. Her classes start on Wednesday. She seems to be happy. We will have dinner with her on Thursday." Maura exchanged a knowing look with Jane as her cheeks slightly turned red. "The last two months have been quite intense at home so it is nice... You know, to find back the quietness we are used to."

That was one way to put it. They loved Margot to pieces but had surely celebrated the return of their couple to a complete freedom at home. They didn't have children – a few guests only, a few times a year – and Angela rarely showed up unannounced now that they were married.

Margot's leaving meant that they could share moments of intimacy outside of their bedroom again. And they both appreciated it.

"And how is the son-in-law?" Korsak exchanged a look with Frost.

One, two, three... Both men started giggling like school girls. Their reaction led Jane to wonder what they would do once it was over.

She had hoped that the frenzy of the beginning would fade away but it had been a month now and her colleagues still found it hilarious. The only conclusion she could come to was that they would never get tired of it. Sadly.

"He was off to Vermont last week so we didn't get to see him again after the barbecue at our place. But..." Barely containing the impatience rising in her voice, Jane straightened up and grabbed one of The Game of Life token to roll it under her fingers. "I'm quite eager to see him again."

Her sudden change of behavior didn't pass unnoticed. If Maura looked blasé, Frost and Korsak found a renewal of interest in a conversation that had seemed uneventful so far.

"I know this smirk, Jane. What are you hiding from us?" Korsak squinted his eyes and shook his head.

Maura put down her glass of wine before loudly sighing. Jane had let her know about her plans but she wasn't certain herself that it was such a good idea. It called for troubles when they already had a lot thanks to Margot's incongruous lie.

"My wife over here is on a personal vendetta. She has decided to backfire and make of Margot's life a nightmare... A à la Rizzoli nightmare."

"Which means...?"

Jane kissed Maura's temple in a gesture she hoped comforting and grinned at her colleagues. Apart from Maura, nobody knew yet about her plan. She needed a minimum of discretion to succeed.

"C'mon, you know my mother. Rizzoli mothers have it in their genes. They are born to push your buttons and piss you off like there's no tomorrow. I'm no exception here. Or better said, I won't be."

"And how do you plan on doing that?"

Jane dropped the token on the table and motioned The Game of Life board at Maura as it was her turn to play.

"Well..." Jane stretched her arms, highy satisfied of the attention she was getting. People seemed to have assumed that she had accepted the lie without complaining but now that she did have a plan – a real one – they looked at her with an amused spark in the eyes and she was finally seen as it should be: a smart woman who didn't let others tell her what to do and when. "Isn't revenge a dish best served cold?" She bent over the table and smiled. "Here's my plan..."

...

She knew that Jane wouldn't ask her to be an active part of this childish vendetta because she had pleaded her wife to leave her out of it but – now she thought about it – Maura felt jealous. A bit.

Perhaps she could also enjoy fooling Margot. In her own way.

She walked to the bed – ready to go to sleep – and slid under the blanket next to her wife. Jane did not move an inch. She was intensely focused on a magazine; her fists clutched to it as if it were a matter of life and death.

"What are you reading?" Casual tone. Perfect. Maura rolled on her side and cuddled against Jane. She cast a glance at the publication. "I thought that you didn't like these magazines. And when did you buy Cosmopolitan?"

Jane wrinkled her nose but didn't bother to look at Maura. She mumbled a vague reply instead.

"I didn't buy it, I stole it."

"What?" Maura leaned up on her elbow and stared with perplexity at Jane. They had come back from The Dirty Robber an hour and a half ago – had shared a last drink in the living-room – and then had decided to go to bed. A very classic plan that didn't include the theft of any magazine. It came out of the blue. "Where did you get it?" Silence. "Jane!"

Before the urging tone, Jane put down the magazine and rolled her eyes. She looked at Maura.

"I found it at The Dirty Robber. It's just... A borrowing. I had to take it when I read the cover. It has to be a sign. Look at this." She closed the magazine and showed Maura the headlines.

The scientist moaned of despair.

"Test: what kind of mother is your mother? Oh... Jane!" No anger whatsoever in her voice, though. Big fail. Maura bit her lower lip then shook her head. "You are getting obsessed." Pause. "So... What kind of results did you get?"

Jane's lips curled up in a smirk. She knew that it wouldn't take more than ten seconds to get Maura interested in the so-called psychological test in spite of her reluctance before her plan. That was how Maura worked. She knew it.

"If I had to answer the questions with honesty, I'd be the cool mom." Or at least she hoped so."But I'm going to make one big exception for my Frenchie." She sat up and settled the pillows in her back. "I'm divided. Which one is the best according to you: the hysterical freak mom or the bear mom?" Jane looked up and squinted her eyes, staring straight in front of her.

"You have lost your mind!" End of cuddles. Maura turned her back at her wife and closed her eyes to sleep. She counted until five in her head, pouted. "The bear mom." Pause. "Let me be the oversharing one."

The comment took Jane by surprise. She remained still for long seconds before finally turning her head towards Maura. She had huddled against herself, her blond curls falling on her shoulders in a perfect way.

Only Maura can look perfect at any moment. Only Maura, Rizzoli. Your wife's perfect. So, so perfect.

Grinning like a fool before the implicit statement that her wife had just made, Jane put the magazine on her bedside table and turned the lights off. She bent over Maura and planted a warm kiss right at the corner of her lips.

She passed her arms around her frame and held her tightly.

"You know I love you, right?"

"Stupid question, Jane. Now let me sleep. I am tired."

Jane lightly laughed and planted another kiss, this time on the crook of Maura's neck. She then lay down and closed her eyes herself, succumbing to an immense satisfaction.

If her plan had seemed rather exciting until now, the perspective of having Maura joining it made it all suddenly better.

A lot better.

And exciting.