Usual disclaimers.

A/N: My kids have dominated the last few days with their activities, so I apologize for the great delay in completing and posting this chapter. We have a few more chapters in the story, and I plan to follow it up with either a sequel or a series of one-shots. It is just too much fun working with these ladies!

Ch 17

Work is work. I love my job and feel fulfilled by it, but since becoming a mother I find myself longing to be with my son more. I think about him during the day wondering what he is doing. Silly, I know. He is only four months old and his days consist of basic cycles of food, sleep, and 'wake' time with 'play'. If I feel this way now, whatever will I do when Jackson begins to crawl and walk and talk? I find solace in knowing that he is safe and happy. Solace in the fact that my job is important and helps to make the world better for my son and my future children.

Future children. The thought of having more children with my beautiful wife warms my very soul. Despite knowing the biological facts of procreation, I so wish I could carry Jane's child. To have a child blended from each of us would be my fondest dream. Her dark lustrous hair and dimple with perhaps my eyes. Her laugh and passion with my love of learning. But truly…it does not matter. Our child will be a miracle regardless of whose egg and what donor sperm is used. We will love him or her with all that we have and will nurture our child into laughter, passion, and all of the other wonderful things that make us who we are.

"Sweetheart? Are you ok? You look, I don't know…dreamy and weepy all at the same time." Jane was standing in the doorway to my office. I'm not sure how long she's been there, but I am so glad to see her.

"I'm fine, baby. I was just daydreaming a bit, I suppose. I began thinking of how much I miss Jackson…then I started thinking about other babies. My mind took off with me for a few minutes." I begin to walk toward her as I speak. I reach her open arms and ask, "What do I owe the honor of your presence, Detective Rizzoli-Isles?"

"Well, I told Korsak I wanted to check on the lab results for the Wilson case, but I really just missed my wife." Jane took my mouth like it belonged to her…and it most certainly does.

We established a pretty good workday routine in the first couple of weeks of our marriage. Maura would usually wake me up for a little morning 'exercise' before Jackson would bellow, we'd drive to work separately so one of us (usually Maura) would be home at a reasonable hour, and we would have dinner together after Jackson took his last bottle. Between coming home and Jackson's dinner, I got to play with him. He was more aware of things around him every day. He seemed to understand more, too. I am convinced he is a genius. He may not have any DNA of Maura's, but he is going to be her child for sure. I can see it now…stylish little clothes, perfect hair, reading everything he can get his hands on, and proper…YEAH, right! He is a Rizzoli! He will be some weird hybrid kid that can kick the other kids' asses in the class and on the court. Yep…that's gonna by my boy.

Tonight, Jackson has his bath, bottle, and bedtime right on schedule. It is 8 o'clock, and Maura and I are alone. Dinner allows us to relax and visit about the day we've had. I've got a few suspects on our latest case, and she has found a few items that will help me narrow the pool tomorrow. A few months ago, I would have still been in the bullpen pushing to close the case right now. But that was before. I'm learning quickly that Jackson and Maura are my priorities. I will never shirk my job because it matters to me, but I don't have to push as hard as I did before. I don't want to push that hard now. I want to be home with my family. Sometimes, I won't have that option, but when I do, I'm going to take it.

Dishes are done, my ass is on the couch, and my feet are on the coffee table. I have a beer in one hand and the remote in the other. It would be perfect if…. "Maur, where are you? I'm lonely!"

"Jane, I'm right here," she said slipping around the sofa to sit beside me. "Don't wake the baby. I have plans for you that do not include my precious boy tonight."

"Really…would you care to enlighten me?"
"Oh, I'd care to do a lot to you. We could start with enlightenment, if you prefer," Maura starts with light kisses on my face before moving down to my neck. She slides my ponytail out and weaves her hands into my hair. When she pulls back for a moment moving her position up, she speaks against my mouth, "I am going to strip you completely bare here on our couch then I am going to taste you and make you come with my mouth." She kisses me hard, plunging her tongue into my mouth. "Then I'm going to walk you into our bedroom and have you sit on the bed and watch me undress." Another passionate kiss coincides with a firm grasping of my right breast. "When I'm done, I want you to take me hard. Take me however you want, Jane, but do it hard."

I couldn't catch my breath as Maura started to do exactly what she had described to me. I have only enough air in my lungs to let out one long, "Fuuuuuuck…"

After a glorious night with Jane, I strolled happily into my office. Happily and a little bit sore. Jane had given me exactly what I wanted, exactly the way I wanted it. The smile on my face is not coming off today. At the conclusion of that thought, my phone rang.

"Dr. Rizzoli-Isles."

"Maura, dear, it's Uncle Steven."

"Oh my goodness, good morning. How are you today?"
"I am well, and you?"

"I am wonderful, Uncle…truly, I couldn't be happier. To what do I owe this pleasant surprise today?"

"Maura, I just received a phone call from the judge over your custody case. I'm responsible for setting the family court dockets this quarter, and she has requested a hearing for Jackson tomorrow."
"Tomorrow? Why? We have not reached the six month waiting period that was set previously."

"Honestly, Maura? I'm not sure. I didn't feel it was appropriate to pry given our personal relationship. But I must tell you that in cases such as this it often means the Family Services staff has requested the meeting. Is there any chance there could be a change in the biological parents' status?"

"You mean Frank or Lydia coming forward? No, I can't imagine that being the case."

"I hate to ask this, but is there anything that could have given the Family Services officers pause with either you or Jane?"

"What! No, nothing. Jane is a decorated officer, dedicated to her work…"

"Maura, I know that, but stop and think. Is there anything that could have raised a flag with your custody case? Jane's history? The Rizzoli family history? Anything?"

"I can't think of anything, Uncle. There must be some other reason for this request." I begin to shake a bit. What if this is about me? About Paddy Doyle? Or the danger of Jane's work? Have they begun to doubt our ability as potential parents to Jackson?

"Maura, I don't want you to panic unnecessarily, but I do want you to understand that this is a rather unusual request when a timeline had been set. Not unheard of but unusual."

"When? When are we to meet with the Judge?"

"Tomorrow, Maura. You and Jane need to be here tomorrow at 9 a.m."

"I don't understand. What happened?"

"Jane, I don't know. I've told you exactly what Uncle Steven told me." I continue to hold Maura as she quietly cries. I am dumbfounded. Absolutely dumbfounded…and scared shitless.

"M, it is ok. Everything is going to be ok. I promise you." My job is to be strong for Maura. And damnit, I am good at my job.

"You can't know that, Jane. What if this is about Paddy? What if I am going to block our adoption?" Maura sits back from me clutching onto my arms. "If you don't get Jackson, it will be my fault. You will have to do it…you can do it without me."

"M, stop it! If I don't get Jackson?! What the hell! We, Maura…WE. You are my wife; he is our son…period. This is going to be alright. Paddy Doyle will not keep us from adopting Jackson." I force her back into my arms, and I kiss her head. "You have to calm down, sweetheart. We don't know what this meeting is about, but we cannot panic. M, look at me," I almost beg her as I pull back and touch her face. "Sweetheart, I married you because I love you. I will love you forever. Jackson is our son, and that will be legal soon…whatever this is…we will deal with it together. You'll see…this is fine…it's going to be fine."

I don't think Maura really believed me…she wanted to but she didn't. She waded through work until lunch and then took the rest of the day off. I'm sure she went home, dismissed the nanny, and held Jackson all afternoon. I didn't have that luxury. I kissed her before I left, and made her look at me when I told her I loved her. The rest of my day was a blur, but I am good enough to lock things away temporarily while I work. Ok, so maybe Frost had to lead on our afternoon interrogation, but I stood in the corner playing bad cop pretty damn convincingly. Since my badass wanted to come out, I let it. Guy rolled in half an hour. Case closed…now if this fucking custody hearing could be handled as easily.

I woke up after less than an hour of fitful sleep to find Jane gone from the bed. I fell asleep while she held me close and touched me in the loving way she has. She makes me feel so safe and so loved. Putting on my robe, I go to find her in the one place I'm sure she is. In the soft light of Jackson's room, I see her standing over his crib silently. I wrap my arms around her waist from behind, "I can't sleep without you tonight. Not any night really, but especially tonight. I need you beside me."

"Sorry…I just couldn't sleep…I wanted to see him for a minute."

"You promised me this was going to be ok, and Jane Rizzoli doesn't break her promises to me."

"Rizzoli-Isles," she says almost unconsciously as she pulls me around to hold me to her. "I'm not breaking this one either. I just needed to think. I don't like walking into that courthouse blind, M. I wish I knew what caused this sudden meeting."

"I know. I am so scared…I know I shouldn't be, but this is too important for me not to be concerned."

"That's it…we are his parents forever, and I am done with this stupid-ass fretting," she put me aside for a moment while she leaned over to kiss Jack's head. "C'mon, wife. I need to love you for a while, and then we are going to sleep. We have an appointment to keep tomorrow."

"Love me just for a while? That is setting a fairly low bar, isn't it?" I give her as much of a sexy grin as I can right now. I want to tease her and let her know I think things are ok, too. Whether I truly believe that or not. One thing is true, however…I love Jane, and I need her to love me tonight and make me forget for a while. Tomorrow will be here soon…

TBC...