Disclaimers: I own no part of Rizzoli & Isles.

A/N: Bball will keep me from posting tomorrow, but I should have the next chapter up Friday. Enjoy!

Ch 16

"C'mon, Maura. The car is here." I've got everything packed; I mean we've only been here three nights for cripes sake. One bag…that's all that was needed. We weren't even wearing clothes most of the time we were here. How can she not be ready?

"Jane, I know you're thinking about all the reasons why I should already be prepared to leave. Just stop it. It is your fault I'm behind." Ok…maybe she's right. If I had stayed out of her Jacuzzi bath this morning when we finally got out of bed, she might be ready to go. But where would the fun in that be? I mean I KNOW where the fun in the Jacuzzi was….hehehe.

"Fine…I'm sorry to rush you. Do you need my help?"

"You may carry my bags, if you like." I pick up her bags along with my own and head toward the door. When Maura hesitates touching the bed as she passes, I turn to her. "This is a special place. I would like to come back here on occasion."

"Sure sweetheart. It's practically in town. This would be a great overnight away from everything. I bet we could find a babysitter whenever we wanted." I walk to her and put the bags down so I can hold her face as I kiss her deeply. "The place is wonderful but the magic is us…we'll come back because we want to not because we have to be here to make things special."

"Absolutely…I love you. I would like you to take me home to our son, please."

"Yes, Doc."

"We are home!"

"In here girls! Mommy and Mama are home! Jackson…they're home."

We walk into the living room to find Angela holding Jackson on her lap talking to him. I virtually run across the room to retrieve him. "Hi my precious! Oh, I missed you." I begin to shower his face with kisses.

"How's it feel?" Jane asks Angela somewhere behind me.

"What?"

"Having people ignore you to get to him?" she snickers at her mother. "You do it to me every time! It's like I'm not even around…I mean how do you think he gets from place to place? Does he walk or drive? No…obviously I had to take him, but do you even acknowledge me? Nope…only your grandson."

"Shut up Jane…" Angela acts as if she will pout and be offended by her daughter's comments but, "c'mere ya' smart ass…give me a hug!" Mother and daughter embrace and laugh. It's the Rizzoli way.

"Angela, how are you? Was Jackson good? Did he eat and sleep well?"

Angela turns to me as she releases Jane. "Oh, Maura! My grandson is the most amazing child. He was an angel. Things were perfect. You could have stayed away two weeks, and I would have loved every minute with that child."

"Ok…let's go, babe." Jane just can't help herself. Baiting Angela is one of her favorite pastimes.

"Jane…" I make sure to use my scolding tone.

"Sorry, sweetie….Now, can I have my turn with Jack? Please?" I reluctantly pass him over to her. "Hey, little dude! How's my big boy?! Man you've grown…Gronkowski better watch out! You're gonna' be after his job in no time. Aren't ya'? Patriots here you come." Jackson seems to perk up just at the sound of Jane's voice. It melts my heart.

We unpack our bags and spend the rest of the afternoon playing with Jackson. When he naps, Maura and I steal away to our bedroom. I did manage to convince her that we are still on our honeymoon, so I got a little bit of 'attention' from her while we were in there. At dinner time, Ma came back to eat with us. We told her about the lovely hotel and about the G-rated activities of our weekend.

"You know, I'm open-minded girls. You can talk to me about personal things, ya' know….I mean what did you or what do you…"

"Ma! Stop! I swear to God if you are about to ask about our honeymoon sex, I'm gonna flip!"

"Jane! I most certainly was not going to ask about such an intimate marital thing! What you girls…DO…in the bedroom is your business. I don't have to know or understand how it all works! I mean I really do not understand how it works…but Geez! I was just going to ask about your plans for Jackson. The legal stuff, the nanny, all of the things ya' got to get taken care of now that the wedding is behind you." She started to fan herself a bit, "really, Jane? I just pray I don't walk in on you two one day. I don't want to see any of my kids in the 'throws of passion'."

I do feel a little bad for jumping to conclusions, but I still think that is where Ma was going. She covers well and thinks on her feet…but I think she was gonna ask. "Sorry, Ma. I shouldn't have jumped to conclusions. And trust me…I do NOT want you to walk in on us either Ok? We'll try to keep the door locked when we should, but I ask that you knock and holler when you come in. How does that sound? Fair?"

"Perfectly fair." We were able to discuss plans for Jackson's continued care with Patty, some of the next legal steps, our concerns about Lydia, and chatted about the wedding. It was a really nice evening.

"I think I'm going to give Jackson his bath and get him ready for bed." Maura stood from her chair with Jack in her arms.

"Ok, babe. I'll clean up down here." Maur stopped by my chair and leaned in to kiss me.

"Thank you. I love you."

"I love you," I kissed her again before she could leave. When I turned back to Ma, she was grinning like an idiot. I forced my own smile into a quick frown…trying to go bad-ass on her.

"Oh no you don't, Jane! You are happy…don't you dare try to play that off with me!"

"Fine…I'm happy. I'm really happy, Ma." I give her what she wants…this time. I give her a real smile that I feel all the way to my toes.

"Aw, Janey! That is all I ever wanted for you. For you and for Maura." Her face glows as she looks at me. I hate to spoil that but I have to ask while we're alone.

"Ma. Have you talked to Tommy?"

"Hey, Ma! How's the 'mother-of-the-bride'? Hey! Can they call you that at one of those ceremonies?"

"Tommy. You're drunk. How'd you get in here?"

"Aw, I'm just buzzed on that great champagne and beer they had at the wedding. Well and a little bit from the open bar. And maybe a little from Maura's selection here. But, I'm not drunk…yet. Cheers."

Angela felt exhausted, physically and emotionally. "Tommy, why? This is a great night for the family…"

"Great night? Really, Ma? Maybe for you…maybe Uncle Frankie is happy…and damn. We all know how fucking happy Jane is right now! But not me! This is a shitty night for me."
"This can be a fresh start for you, baby. I'll support you.."

"Ma! I'm not gonna have a fresh start…I've had 15 already. I'm going to have to embrace my screw-up nature, I guess. Frankie is a good man, a good cop. You rebounded after Dad left. Dad got away scot free from the family…and then there's Janey. Shit doesn't stick to her, does it…ever… Pretty, funny, everyone's favorite! Hero cop of Boston! She had guys falling over themselves to get at her. She had hot-shot FBI man after her and a war hero…and she ends up with a girl! My girl! You all knew I wanted a shot with Maura! Was it a joke to everybody? Ha, ha, poor Tommy thinks he's got a shot at the hot, rich doctor! Jane probably laughed her ass off!"

"Tommy how can you think like this? Your sister wouldn't do that."

"Really, Ma? She thinks she can do anything and walk away whistling! She just rolls on… Shit…at least a psycho serial killer left a lasting impression on her!"

*SMACK* Angela slapped Tommy as hard as she could muster across his face. They stood looking at each other stunned for a moment before Angela began to quietly address her youngest child. "Thomas, I have made excuses for you…I've begged forgiveness for you…I've cried over you…but through it all I was proud of you because I knew at your core you were a good boy. Right now, I don't know who you are. I am ashamed of this Tommy I see in front of me. Your sister escaped with her life more than once putting others before herself. Her hands and her soul were scarred because of a madman, but she keeps going. She has finally found a piece of happiness and here you are trying to break that apart for her. I think you need to go and come back when you find yourself again. Because son, you are lost."

"Ya' know, Ma. I think you are right…I'm lost. And I'm outta here. Tell Frankie I'll call him and tell Jane…well tell her I'll see her around…"

I heard the end of Angela's relayed story as I silently slipped into the kitchen to get Jackson's bottle ready. I am simply aghast at Tommy's behavior.

"Ma…I don't know what to say. I'm so sorry he reacted this way…I never expected it."
"Jane, no! Don't you apologize for Tommy. He is a grown man, and he has to start living like it. I am sorry to you and to Maura for any trouble he caused you."

"There was no trouble, Ma." Jane seemed to sit back and think for a moment before she began again. "Ya' know, Ma, I would do anything for Tommy. He's my baby brother…I love him. Did you know I used to slip into his room when I was little?"

"No…why?"

"I just wanted to be there for him. He was special…God, that smile he has! I wanted to give him anything, everything. If I could just get him to smile, whatever I had to do was worth it. Even now…when Jackson first got here. I thought, 'man, if this baby is his, it will help Tommy focus.' I thought it would be good. Then the more time went by and I got the think about it. I worried that maybe that wouldn't be good. I started to pray that the baby was Frank's."

"Why, Jane? Why would you do that?"
"Tommy has a good heart, Ma. He would have taken Jackson and done whatever to try to be a good dad, I know that. He wouldn't have had the chance to figure out what it is he's really good at and likes. He is still trying to find his way. He would have had to jump into fatherhood alone and not had someone to love to share the responsibility with. No one to support him…I know we all would have but it isn't the same. I want him to find who the real Tom Rizzoli is…I want him to have the chance to do that. He absolutely would have stepped up and tried with Jackson, but I don't think that would have been the best thing for him or for Jackson. I still see the little boy that stole my heart with a smile…I want him to be happy. I wish he could be happy with himself."

Angela slid next to Jane and hugged her. After a few moments, I went into the living room. "Mama. Nonna. Jackson is sorry to interrupt, but he is getting hungry and really wants you." I sit next to Jane and hand the baby to her.

"Hey, little dude! How is my baby?" She begins to kiss her face and snuggle him. "Did you miss me, Jack? Did 'ya?" I love seeing her light up from the inside when she looks at Jackson. I can't help but lean into her and steal a kiss from her cheek.

"Let's eat and watch some ESPN, buddy. I didn't see any sports while I was gone, can you believe it? Ordinarily, that would be my definition of a totally miserable trip…but this time…well, it was ok." Jane cuts her eyes to mine giving me a smirk. I poke at her ribs while Angela laughs a bit. We settled in for a brief TV time before Jackson is ready for bed and Angela heads home.

What we didn't know…what we weren't aware of was the person standing in the shadows of our home had taken in all our conversations…and a vital decision had been made tonight. A decision that would affect each of our lives.

TBC...