A/N: Here we go...and I do not own R & I.

CH 18

"No." I pull a little more firmly against the arms surrounding me only to be met by another, "No."

"Jane. I need to get up. I want to have a few minutes before Jackson awakes."

"Well, I want to hold my wife for a few minutes before my son starts squawkin'. So there…I win." She continues her hold on me but begins to stroke my bare back and side with the hand she has most free. "I definitely win. I love your skin…love touching it. How did I go all the years I did without touching it?"

I turn to kiss her chest gently. "I am not certain how I went years without knowing your touch, but I do know that I wouldn't last a day without it now." I roll to place myself on top of her. I pull free enough to raise myself over my wife's equally naked body. The look in her eye tells me all of the emotions she is feeling, and desire is not the predominate one this morning. "I'm scared, too. But I'm better than yesterday. We will fight whatever this is, whatever we are faced with…if it's Frank or Paddy or our jobs or whatever, we'll fight it and win. It's what we have done with every obstacle that has ever been put before us."

Jane's eyes are glazed with unshed tears, which of course she would deny. "God. M, I love you. Thank you for loving me and my crazy family." She reaches up to kiss me deeply with more love than passion. "We are going to be ok…if I have to, I'll fight dirty…bein' a Rizzoli and all." And then I get what I wanted…a smirk.

"Lieu? Can I have a minute?"

"Sure, Rizzoli…take a seat. What have ya' got?"

"I've still got some paperwork to finish up after yesterday, but I need to take a personal day. I'm sorry to ask so soon after the wedding and all."

"I'm sure you have plenty of time booked so that's fine, but can I ask why the late notice? I don't like being short a detective."

"Sir, Maura and I have been called to Family Court this morning."

"I thought you had a coupla months before they wanted to see ya'."

"Yes, sir, that was the arrangement." My hand raked through my hair as I let out a deep sigh. "We don't know what's going on. It could be bad…sir, did the Family Services staff come here and interview folks about me?"

"You know they did, Rizzoli. They looked all through your personnel files and questioned a lot of folks…including other officers." With that he stood and came around his desk to sit on the edge right in front of me. "Jane. Your record is exemplary. The details of your rise and success as both an officer and detective are out there for everyone to consider. Have you had some rough situations? Hell yeah. Have you done some seriously dumb ass things? Oh, hell yeah. Have you done anything to make folks doubt your ability to be a good parent? Hell no. I don't know what is going on but nothing negative came outta BPD. Take whatever time you need."

"Thanks, Lieu. I really appreciate it."

"And Jane, when all of this is over I expect your ass here day and night…ya' got it? None of this continued pansy-ass honeymoon and baby shopping shit…right?" His words held no bite nor truth when you looked at the huge grin on his face.

"Yes, sir. No more pansy-ass shit…got it."

Since we weren't asked to bring him, we decided to leave Jackson with Angela. Jane and I drove to the courthouse together and walked in hand-in-hand. When we entered Judge Reilly's chambers, she was not unfriendly but appeared sedate. Our attorney greeted us with a small smile and continued discussing something with the State's representative. Jane squeezed my hand forcing me to turn toward her. She smiled and mouthed I love you. She always knows what I need.

"Ladies and gentlemen, please let's everyone have a seat and move this hearing along." Judge Reilly addressed the room motioning toward her chairs. "Let me first say to you Dr. and Detective Rizzoli-Isles, congratulations. I believe you have married since we last met together."

"Yes, your honor. Thank you for remembering." I respond.

"Thanks," Jane smiles her response as she brings my hand to her lips for a kiss.

"Was this done in an attempt to further your custody case?" the Judge seemed to turn from inviting and friendly to confrontational in an instant.

"What?" Jane jumped to speak while I simply sat quiet and stunned.

"The State has questioned your motives, and I am simply cutting to one of the core issues to be addressed here today. Doctor, would you like to respond?"

After taking a deep breath, I try to answer clearly and completely. "No. I would have supported Jane as her best friend in a bid to adopt Jackson had I not been in love with her. She was my best friend for years, and I would have done anything to assist her. Anything except lie. That is an impossibility for me." I release Jane's hand and slide to the edge of my chair to more closely engage the Judge. "Judge Reilly. When a beautiful baby boy was left on my doorstep like something out of a work of fiction, I fell in love. That baby became a part of my soul stealing my heart in an instant. I would have then and I would today give my life for my son…and he is my son.

"With his arrival, Jackson Michael opened my eyes to so much. The greatest revelation brought about by my son was that I was deeply in love with Jane. I have never found acceptance for being myself…for being a doctor? Yes. For being a woman? Yes. For all things professional and external? Yes. But for the Maura on the inside…the quirky, slightly off, compulsive, occasionally socially inept Maura? Never. Before Jane. I tried to keep her as a friend while seeing men, but we were unmistakably bound to one another. I would not, did not allow myself to consider anything beyond friendship. But my son pulled from both of us the love that was always there. Jane and I are unbreakable. I chose to grasp a chance at a future beyond my dreams. A future that included a son and a wife…a love to envelop my life and make me better. I chose to grab a future of happiness…I hope my answer satisfies the State of Massachusetts.

"And, Judge Reilly? If it does not? Then they can kiss my ass."

Did my wife just tell a Judge and the State to 'kiss her ass'? Holy shit! If I didn't love her with everything I had before…well, she had me now! Maybe I better say something.

"Judge. While I completely agree with my wife and know that I couldn't possibly say things better than she did, would you like me to give you my perspective?"

"No! No, I think Dr. Rizzoli-Isles has answered every question I had…has the State been satisfied?"

"Yes, ma'am. I believe we have." The State's attorney replied. "Now, I believe we need you to consider the second and perhaps most pressing matter, your Honor."

"Very well. Doctor. Detective. We have had a petition by one of young Jackson's biological parents."

"What! Did Frank try to take back his rights? He's a liar!"

"Detective! Sit down and calm down." I sat down, but I could feel my blood pressure skyrocket with each second. What the hell! "Ladies, the boy's mother has come forward."

"How? I can't believe you found her? Where has she been all this time?" I jump up again.

"Detective…sit…down."

"Yes, your Honor. I apologize."

"The State was aided in the search for the mother by an external source. The person found…Lydia, I believe her name is…and brought her forward to meet with the State's representatives. Parker, would you pick up the information from here for the Detective and Dr. Rizzoli-Isles?"

"Yes, ma'am," the young attorney replied. "Lydia met in the local State's attorney's office nearest her new place of residence and answered questions related to her abandonment of her son. She communicated her love for her son, but her initial confusion at becoming a mother. She is very remorseful for having left the baby as she did."

My world started spinning…God, she was 'initially confused'…really! Shit…now she's not! 'Remorseful'! Does she want Jackson back?

"However, she is waiving her parental rights and gives full consent to the adoption of her son to Jane and Maura Rizzoli-Isles."

After all the paperwork was complete, the numbness I was feeling began to lift. This was over. Jackson was legally and forever our son. Ours. Completely and without question. Jane put her arm around me as we accepted congratulations from every person in the room.

"You know, Doctor, I think perhaps you missed your calling by choosing to go into medicine." Judge Reilly addressed me directly.

"I'm sorry, Judge. I don't understand."

"The way you argued your case…I think law might have been your true calling."

"Oh!" I begin to laugh. "Somehow, I don't think so, but I am honored by your confidence in me."

"Yikes…glad she didn't! I wouldn't have fallen for a damn lawyer…uh…no offense to the four lawyers in the room…" Jane had to throw her best little smile and dimple to back off of that foot-in-mouth response. She tried to deflect it a little more by asking, "One question…how did you find Lydia after all this time and after we failed with all the resources we had put into it?"

"Your brother, Detective. Tommy Rizzoli found her and brought her to us."

TBC...