A/N: Before I get into the next chapter, I need to personally thank each and every one of you that read this story, and who went and voted for me in the Rizzles Fan Awards. The winners were announced earlier today, and this story won for best plot, and was runner up for best angst/drama. I was also the winner for best author. I cannot thank you all enough for how much faith you've put in me and these stories. You make me incredibly happy. The fact that you're here and reading this is enough to make my heart soar. The fact that you liked it (and me! The Socially Awkward Penguin!) enough to vote for me, has made me feel like I've "taken a substance". I may write stories, but I haven't got the words to describe just how happy, and just how amazed I am, all thanks to you.

THANK YOU

From the very bottom of my heart, thank you so much. Lots of other stories and authors also won in various categories, and you should visit rizzlesfanawards.wordpress.com to see the winners. I can't thank you all enough, but I can keep trying. Thank you. Let's also not forget that this story would not be an award winner without the talent and patience of my ninja-beta, CharlietheCAG. Thank you, Charlie.

And now, onto the chapter. Jane's going home for the weekend! :)

Maura's Mercedes was parked right out front. We only had to walk about thirty feet to her car, but by the time I got in and closed the door, I was shivering.

"It's so cold!" I whimpered.

"It's no colder than normal. You're just much thinner than you normally are and you haven't been outside for any length of time in several months." She turned the heat up as high as it would go as I settled into the seat.

"You brought the Benz to pick me up?" I asked as I looked around me, unused to being in Maura's very high-end car.

"Your mother uses the Prius most of the time now. She had to give back the Cano Espresso car when she stopped working in the cafe," Maura said matter-of-factly.

"I didn't realize... jeez, Maura, you've essentially been supporting both of us, haven't you? Ma and I? This entire time?" I was shocked. Shocked and embarrassed and very upset at the thought.

Maura squeezed my arm. "I've been helping her where I can," she said gently. "She's getting unemployment and now that you're back in Boston she's been looking for a new job. I'm not sure she wants anyone to know it yet, but Stanley is looking to retire, and she's looking to get a small business loan to buy out the District One Café."

"Wow! Ma would really go far with that cafe." That would be perfect for my mother.

"I know. I told her I would co-sign on the loan for her if she needed it."

"Maura," I admonished.

"What?" she asked innocently.

"You can't keep doing that!"

"It's my money, Jane. And I happen to think that it would be a very good investment." Maura sounded almost angry that I'd tell her how to spend her money. I tried to reign my pride in a bit.

"Depending on when my settlement comes in from the NYPD, maybe I could lend that to Ma and she wouldn't need to apply for a loan."

"That's sweet of you, Jane. But that's your nest egg. You need that to get back up on your feet." I saw Maura cringe slightly at the phrase, but I ignored it.

"Well, maybe I should invest in something. Just in case I can't requalify for duty," I suggested.

"That's not a decision you need to make right now. You're doing well with your therapy, Jane. Now is not the time to worry about that." Once again I was being put off about my future by the people who loved me. Didn't they get it? Chances were, I wasn't going to be able to go back to work. Why didn't they see me making alternate plans as being prudent instead of me simply being unsure of myself?

"Maura, I can barely make it across the parallel bars and back without assistance. I have a horrible limp. Running seems to be out of the question. I am at a disadvantage when it comes to qualifying for the physical to get back into the BPD. I don't think it's a bad idea to explore a safety net for myself."

Maura looked over at me quickly as she drove.

"You worry me, sometimes," she murmured.

"What do you mean?"

"I mean that it sounds to me like you've already given up before you've even tried. You already assume you won't qualify for duty. Pre-accident Jane wouldn't let anything stand in her way of requalifying."

"Maura, we talked about this. I'm not the same person I was before this accident," I warned her.

"Well, if there's anything at all that you fight to get back, get back that part of yourself. Jane Rizzoli doesn't take no for an answer."

"Maura, I'm just trying to be realistic. I don't want to set myself up for crushing disappointment." I was suddenly on the verge of tears, though I wasn't sure of exactly why. I couldn't tell if it was because it was very possible that I wouldn't work as a detective again, or because Maura seemed to believe in me so much. Too much, it felt like.

Maura glanced at me again, then took my left hand in her right hand. "I have faith in you, Jane. You should have faith in you too. You are Boston's best homicide detective. Nothing, and I mean nothing, can stop you if you put your mind to it."

I wasn't convinced, but I squeezed her hand. "I can't wait to get home."

"You're changing the subject, but that's fine. This is supposed to be a happy, fun weekend. I also love that you're referring to my house as home. I can't wait until we make it our house."

I smiled at her and squeezed her hand again. "You really are amazing, Maura."

We rode the rest of the way to Beacon Hill in silence. I kept my eyes trained out the window, soaking up sights I hadn't seen in almost a year. Part of me was thrilled to be going back there, and part of me was terrified. I desperately hoped that it would still feel like the comfy, safe, happy place it had been before William's arrival.

We pulled up in Maura's driveway a few minutes later and the front door instantly flew open.

"Did I mention your mother is quite excited about your arrival?" Maura asked with a laugh.

Ma bounded down the front steps, flinging my car door open before Maura could even get out and come around to get me.

"Welcome home, Janie!" Ma bellowed, bouncing up and down.

"Hi Ma," I said as I set the crutches outside of the car and started to ease my way out. By that point Maura had come around the car and gave me hand up. Ma gasped at the sight of the crutches, and I grinned at her.

We walked to the front steps and suddenly I was confronted with an obstacle I hadn't encountered yet during my rehabilitation: stairs. And these would not be the only ones. Maura's bedroom was on the second floor.

I hesitated when I got to the first step, and Maura wrapped an arm around me. "Angela, would you please get the door? I'll help Jane up the stairs."

Maura turned and looked at me. "You okay?" she asked quietly.

"Yeah, I think so. I didn't even think of the stairs."

"I'm here, I'll help you," Maura said kindly.

"I hate that I need help."

"You won't for long." She smiled at me encouragingly. "Step up with your left foot, as your right hip is likely weaker than your left. Use the crutches for support if you need them."

I did as Maura instructed and made it up the first step easily. I did the same for the next two steps and suddenly I was back in Maura's house. It really felt as if I had never left it.

Ma had walked in a few steps ahead of us and had her back to us, so while Maura still had her arm wrapped around my back, I gave her a quick peck on her cheek. She blushed furiously, and I grinned.

"Welcome home, Jane," she whispered into my ear.

Along one side of the kitchen island, there was a hand-painted banner that read "Welcome Home Jane".

"You did that for me?" I pointed to the banner and Ma grinned happily.

"Yes I did," Ma said proudly. "Do you like it?"

"It's adorable! I love it! Thank you."

Maura helped me over to the couch and I sat down, looking around. The interior of Maura's house hadn't really changed. The throw pillows and the throw blanket on the back of the couch were different, but the couch was the same and just as comfy as it ever was.

"Did you get a new stove?" I asked, looking over into the kitchen.

"A few months ago. The last one broke and it wasn't worth repairing," Maura said with a shrug.

"It's nice. It matches your kitchen nicely."

"It cooks well too," Ma added.

"We'll give that a try tomorrow, won't we?" I asked Maura.

"Yes, if you'd like. I thought we could make dinner together tomorrow."

"And Sunday I'm having everyone over to celebrate Frankie becoming a detective," Ma said brightly.

"That's great Ma, that's going to be a lot of fun. I just have to be back at the rehab by ten o'clock."

"I know. We'll make sure we get you back in time," Ma assured me.

"I'm probably not going to want to go," I admitted.

"Well you need to. You need to get better and get your gold badge back too!" Ma admonished.

"Yes, Ma," I said, scowling.

"Jane, I thought we'd make soup and sandwiches for lunch. I put a change of clothes upstairs for you and the tub in my bathroom is set up for you if you'd like to take a bath. I know you usually take one after physical therapy, right?"

"Yes, sure. That would be great."

"Angela, I'm going to help Jane upstairs and then I'll come back down to help with lunch."

"Okay, Maura." It had been a long time since I'd seen Ma that happy. She was one big smile, and my heart rested a little easier, seeing her at home, calm and relaxed. The last several months hadn't been easy on her either, I realized.

Maura and I slowly made our way upstairs.

"I could bathe in the guest bathroom," I said cautiously.

"The tub is bigger in my bathroom and I thought it would be easier for you to get in and out of it. Also, the tub in my bathroom has jets in it, which are good for your muscles. But if you prefer the guest bath, that's fine with me," Maura said neutrally.

"If you've got your bathroom all set up, I'll use that one. Thanks."

Maura walked with me into the bathroom. "All the toiletries you need are either next to the tub or here on the counter. I got you a new toothbrush-" she pointed to the one in the package on the counter, "and I thought you might enjoy a little bubble bath, so I picked up a one I thought you might like. It's lavender scented."

"That was really sweet of you, Maura. Thanks."

"Wait here, I'll bring your clothes in for you."

Maura came back a few minutes later with a change of clothes. "For Sunday, I took the liberty of picking you up a pair of jeans. I thought you might enjoy that more while the company is here. But for now I have a pair of BPD sweats and a BPD t-shirt I thought you might like."

"Thanks," I said again.

"Do you want me to help you into the tub? Or can you do that on your own? I don't want to be pushy, but I don't want you to hurt yourself either," Maura said with a sheepish grin.

"Why don't you wait outside, and if I need help getting in, I'll call you?"

"Okay," Maura said, and started walking toward the door.

"Maura?" I asked quickly, before she got too far.

"Yes?"

"I love you," I said with a smile. "It's good to be here."

Instantly she was back next to me, running a hand over my cheek. I leaned into her touch and kissed her sweetly.

"I love you too, Jane."

"I can't wait to have some private time with you," I said quietly, between kisses. "I don't know if I can, you know, yet. But I can't wait to hold you. And kiss you like this again and again."

"I think you're healed enough for coitus, Jane. And since they saved your ovaries, your sex drive should still be pretty healthy. Your body is still producing hormones," Maura said matter-of-factly.

"Ew, coitus? Sex drive? Really?" I grimaced.

Maura continued, unperturbed by my interruption. "That being said, I don't think this is the weekend for that. Not if we're taking it slowly."

"I agree. But I still want to hold you, and kiss you."

"I plan to do that too."

"Good," I said, kissing her lightly once more. "Now let me bathe. I smell like rehab."

Maura laughed. "Call me if you need anything, and take your time. Lunch won't be ready for a little while yet, and I know you're aching from all that hard work you did today."

"Thanks."

Maura walked out and I started filling the tub and undressing. I was able to get in without a problem. "Maur?" I yelled out.

"Yes, Jane?" I could hear Maura's desire to come back into the bathroom and join me, hidden in her otherwise cheerful response.

"I'm in."

"Okay. I'll come up later to see if you need help getting out. Be careful!"

"I will," I promised.

I rested my head against the back of the tub and flicked on the jets, watching the bath bubbles foam up around me. It felt really good to be home.

After a little while I started washing up, using Maura's shampoo to wash the inch and a half of hair on top of my head. I missed my curls, but I was thankful that most of my scars on my scalp were now covered. All I had to do was wait for my hair to grow now. It was going to take awhile for it to gather any length, but I was glad the scars were covered up at this point.

Maura had left a brand new razor and shaving cream next to the tub, so I carefully shaved my legs. It was hard to take care of my bikini area sitting in the tub, but I managed to clean that up a bit too.

I washed up and then soaked for a bit longer. The water was starting to cool, so I turned off the jets and pulled the plug. I stepped out of the tub onto the small rug and was just pulling the towel around myself when the bathroom door swung open.

"Wait, I'll help-" Maura stopped short, staring at me. "You were supposed to call me when you needed to get out!" she admonished.

Horrified, I wrapped the towel around myself. "I got out just fine. Please Maura, I look horrible. Stop looking at me."

Maura realized I was embarrassed and her expression softened, but she didn't look away from me. Instead, she closed the door to the bathroom and locked it. She walked toward me softly, and lifted my chin up so I was looking her in the eyes.

"We talked about this, Jane. I think you're beautiful. You've got nothing to hide."

She kissed me softly, and while she had me distracted, she loosened the towel and let it fall around my ankles. I gasped as it happened, but she grasped my wrists and kept me from pulling the towel back up. Slowly, reverently, she let go of one of my wrists and dragged her hand down my torso and legs, over each of my scars.

"These," she said quietly, "are what make you who you are. They are a part of you," she said as she ran her fingers over each scar, old and new. "I love you, Jane. That means I love all of you. You are beautiful." She bent over to run her fingers over the scars on my shins, and picked up the towel as she stood back up.

She tried to hand the towel to me, but I didn't take it. Instead, I wrapped my arms around her waist when she stood upright again, and I kissed her. We stood there for a long moment, the kiss gradually deepening. Maura wrapped her arms around my neck and pulled me tighter to her, running her tongue along my bottom lip. I parted my lips and granted her access, the sound of our lips coming together softly and the tiny, quiet sighs we let out providing the only noise in the bathroom.

After a moment, Maura pulled away slightly, leaning her forehead against mine. "Your mother is going to wonder what's going on," she whispered, before I pulled her back against me for one more kiss.

"Let her wonder. You're amazing," I whispered against her lips.

"So are you. And don't forget it. Now, please sit down and get dressed-" she took my crutches and guided me toward the bedroom. "-and I'll be waiting at the top of the stairs to help you back down."

I dressed quickly and went to join Maura, then we painstakingly made our way back down the stairs to the first floor. Going up was difficult, going back down was terrifying. I was so afraid of losing my balance, but Maura kept her arm around me the entire time. As we reached the landing, Maura whispered, "By the way, you smell delicious."

I shivered in delight. It was definitely good to be home.

We sat down to lunch at the kitchen island, where I discovered that getting into the higher chairs was somewhat more difficult than I anticipated it being.

"Why don't we take this into the dining room?" Maura asked helpfully, watching me struggle.

"No, it's okay. They keep telling me it can be anywhere from two weeks to a month before I'm released to outpatient therapy. If that's the case, I need to be able to do this stuff when I come home."

"Janie, if there's a chance you can come home in two weeks, we need to start looking for an apartment for you!" Ma admonished loudly. "Why didn't you tell me this sooner? How am I going to find you an accessible apartment in two weeks?"

I looked over at Maura and she gave me a small nod. Now was the time.

"Ma, I don't need an apartment. When I'm released to outpatient therapy, I'm coming here. To Maura's."

"Maura, that's very kind of you, but Janie and I both can't impose on you. Janie," she looked at me pointedly. "Maura's already done enough, honey. Don't you think?"

I cleared my throat and looked at Maura once more, just to be sure. She gave me an encouraging smile, and squeezed my hand under the lip of the kitchen island.

"Ma, listen. Maura and I, we've been doing a lot of talking. We've worked out a lot of what happened between us. Stuff that I'm not even sure you knew about. And we both came to the conclusion that I should come here when I come home."

I felt Maura squeeze my hand again. I knew there was more to say, that I wasn't done and that this wasn't the coming out we'd planned for, but I stopped because I was busy trying to gauge my mother's reaction.

"I don't understand, Jane," Ma sounded genuinely confused.

I took a deep breath. "Ma, I didn't go to New York because they offered me more money. New York came up at the time when I needed it most, because I had to get away. I couldn't watch Maura marry William."

"Why not? She was so happy." Ma looked angry at the memory.

"I know, and that's why I left. I didn't want to ruin her happiness, because Maura's happiness is all that ever mattered to me. I loved her, Ma. I was in love with her. I-" I looked over at Maura, watching the tears fall silently down her cheeks. I squeezed her hand again, before I brought our linked hands into view on the kitchen island. "Ma, I love Maura. I have for years. Long before she ever met William. I was always just too afraid to tell her. I was too afraid of being rejected by her. It turned out, she felt exactly the same way. We decided that we're going to be together. Neither of us wants to lose to the other again. So when I come home, whether it's in two weeks, or a month from now, I'm coming home to Maura."

Ma looked at our linked hands and Maura's silent tears, and was uncharacteristically quiet.

"You always said you weren't gay," Ma said quietly. "You dated men. Even when you were friends with Maura."

"Maura's the only woman I ever felt this way about. I dated men because I was trying to find someone to be happy with, Ma. I figured I couldn't have Maura, so I should look for someone else. Someone that would make you happy to see me with. The problem with that is when your heart already belongs to someone, there's no one else you can be happy with."

"It's true," Maura interjected quietly. "It's the reason William broke off our engagement."

"You said he got cold feet!" Ma accused Maura angrily. "You never said Janie broke up your marriage!"

"Wait, Ma, I had no idea that they had broken things off. I left for New York and didn't have any contact with Maura at all. It probably is my fault that they broke up, but that was never my intention. I left Boston to give Maura the marriage she wanted and to give myself the space I needed to get over her. I swear to god, Ma!"

"Angela, Jane didn't break up my engagement. You assumed William got cold feet and I just let you continue to think that. Jane told me the truth at the very last second, and then left. She had no way of knowing what was going to happen. And William and I had argued before Jane left. He already knew that I didn't love him the same way I loved Jane. I didn't even realize that he could tell. I don't think I even realized it myself. Marrying William would have been a terrible mistake, and it was fortunate that he broke things off with me. It's taken me the better part of a year to understand that, but it was for the best, Angela."

Ma stood up, looking accusingly between the two of us. "You're not doing this to thank her? Like some kind of an... arrangement?" Ma pointed at me.

"WHAT?" I bellowed, disgusted at the thought. "Ma, I just told you that I'm in love, that I finally got to be with the person I've wanted more than anyone else in my life, and now you think this is some kind of an arrangement to pay Maura back for all she's done? Where do you come up with these things?!"

"It's just that-"

I cut her off. "Ma, you need to understand this right now. First of all, Maura does everything she does for all of us because she loves us. We are as much her family as her own family is. She has never done anything with the expectation of repayment. You of all people should know and understand that. Secondly, and maybe more importantly, you need to change your outlook on this situation, fast. This is it. This is forever. I'm going to marry Maura one day, and I want you there to give me away. I love her. This isn't going away. It's not changing. It's not going to fizzle out at some point. I've loved Maura for years, and I love that I can tell her that now, and know that she's felt the same way all this time."

I stopped and looked at Maura for a moment. She was looking at me with wide eyes but with a giant smile. I took that as a good sign and kept going.

"Maura and I still have a lot to work out, and we're taking things slowly. It's been a long time since we've really had a chance to be best friends, and we're working on that first. We're both sure of this though, and we're not going to let anyone's antiquated ideas or religious ideology stop us. Do you understand that?" I hated threatening my mother, because that wasn't my intention, but she had to understand that this was going to be how things were from that point forward.

"I didn't- that's not, I mean, the church, but that's not what I was worried about." Ma's words tumbled out of her mouth. "I guess I'm just shocked by this, and I'm sorry. You two spent so much time denying to everyone that there was ever anything between you, and I believed you. So now you're saying there always was and I feel like I have to go back and rewrite all of my memories."

"Ma, we had feelings for each other, but we never acted on them until after my accident. Well, I did, the day I left, but that shouldn't count. I didn't go about it the right way. All you need to do is keep going about life the same way you did before all of this. In essence, everything has changed, but everything is still exactly the same. You're still going to live in Maura's guesthouse. Maura's still going to be the wonderful person you already loved like a daughter. It's just that at some point in the future, if she'll have me, I'm going to make that official."

"Janie." Ma looked like she was going to cry.

"Ma, can't you just be happy for me? For both of us? We've been torturing ourselves for years. We can finally be happy. Can't you be happy too?" I begged.

"I'm just so shocked. I'm sorry, that's all it is. I'm just shocked." Ma had her napkin in her hands and was wringing it without realizing it.

"Well, that says a lot," I said, grinning at Maura.

Maura and Ma both looked at me with questions written all over their faces.

"Ma's shocked I finally found the right person. I think she had herself convinced I'd never do that," I stage whispered to Maura, and finally, Ma and Maura both laughed.

"Girls, I'm sorry. I should have reacted better. This is just a lot to take in, and I'm trying to process it."

"There's nothing to be sorry about, Angela. You're just looking out for your daughter," Maura said kindly.

"No, it was still wrong. I can't believe I even asked what I did. I owe you an apology, Maura. I'm sorry for even thinking what I did, let alone voicing it. I'm sorry. You've been so good to all of us, and that should have told me that you'll always take care of Jane. I'm sorry," Ma said contritely.

Maura leaned in to give Ma a tight hug, and I smiled, but decided to have some fun.

"Oh, sure! She's always been your favorite! You apologize to her! You still haven't even congratulated me. I mean, I've just come out of the closet to you, and told you I've found the person I want to spend the rest of my life with and..."

And all of a sudden I had both Ma and Maura hugging me, and I realized there was a time when I would have squirmed my way out of this situation, complaining at the top of my lungs, but instead, I just reveled in it. I'd finally come home.

A/N: Pssst... thank you again. ;)