"I do not own rizzoli and isles. all mistakes are my own.

Ch. 17

"I never gave it much thought but, I think I'd like for Sophia Rose to get baptized." Jane spoke with an air of want and fear that Maura would oppose her choice.

Maura looked at Jane with her head turned to the side and posted a contemplative stare.

Jane's face fell a tad at the look.

When Maura noticed the slight action she made quick work to right the moment.

"Jane, I don't want you to think that I'm opposed to the idea. I'm just wondering if Cailin has a legitimate alternative to the religious side of this parenting coin." Maura offered up.

Jane felt appeased at Maura's consoling words.

"Well, when I was urged by you and and Dr. Gomez to meet and check on our little girl for the first time, my first thought was to thank God for this blessing. Of course, my thought immediately after that was of you, how much you mean to me, and how grateful I am to you for loving me enough to have done what you have."

"I've always appreciated your faith-based qualities. I think the stories told in The Bible are quite beneficial in teaching good morals and life lessons." Maura offered up.

Jane had to roll her eyes slightly at the doctor's reasoning.

"Yes, those are some good draws for religious studies however, it's a bit more than that. It's pretty similar to my gut thing. I don't really know what it runs off of or how it functions, I just know. I may not be as devout as the church would like but, until it's proven otherwise, I will believe there is some sort of greater institution that has brought us here." Jane spouted, in the hopes that she had been making even the tiniest bit of sense.

"Thank you for sharing your view. Now, since we've opened the discussion to godparents, do you have any candidates in mind?" Maura asked.

This was where Jane deflated a bit for, she had not gotten as far as picking people to offer that opportunity.

"Not really. I mean, maybe Frankie?" Jane offered up at the last second.

Maura gave a pensive expression. "He does have the same religious background as you. Of course, he shared the same upbringing, being your brother and all. He actually would be an ideal choice for a godparent." Maura conceded.

To this reaction, Jane found herself flummoxed. She expected her spur-of-the-moment suggestion to have been met with much more reticence or, at the very least, a long pro/con list. Maura was prone to making such lists for things as simple as a coffee maker. But, the person that would be involved with caring for their child was signed off on with very little hesitation.

"So, you agree, then?" Jane asked cautiously. Not even sure this was her permanent choice.

"Of course we'll make a list of the sencondary and even tertiary caregivers in case of emergency. For instance, in the case of our collective demise, if we're running late picking Sophia Rose up from school..." Maura continued on with her list. Jane could only smile and listen, grateful that her fastidious partner was back to true form.

Jane was overcome with adoration and arousal, being secretly excited by Maura's ability to get lost in their future planning, that she cut her off mid-sentence with a long kiss.

After what felt like an eternity, the couple came up for some much needed air and Jane apoligized for interrupting Maura.

"You never need to apoligize for kissing me." Was Maura's sultry response. Eyes dark with exhillaration and lust.

Jane smirked and moved on to Maura's neck and worked up to her right ear. Maura let out a slight moan. It had been a few days since they shared in a heavy make out session. She had feared pregnancy and giving birth would lessen their sexual desires. She was glad to have been proven wrong. Jane reinforced this idea with her next words.

"You are so sexy, Maur. God, how did end up with such a beauty?" Jane husked.

"Look who's talking, detective?" Maura countered. She had just lost her hand in Jane's locks when a tap sounded on her hospital room door.

With a slight whimper, Maura adjusted her position on the mechanical bed and instructed the unknown guests to enter.

Both Jane and Maura were pleasantly surprised to see Senior Criminalist Susie Chang and her friend Jess enter the room.

-"Susie!"
-"Chang!"

The new parents enthused in sync.

"Jess!" Jane added with the same spark. The two had hit it off at the spa morning that preceded the baby shower. They bonded over sports and art, of all things. Jess had shared she worked with different media such as photography, fashion design, and even some architecture. Maura had shared in a bit of their conversation involving art as well.

Maura and Jane took in the sight of the two women and then shared a suspicious look with each other.

"I hope you don't mind me intruding on your family moment. But, I've been working with Susie on a birth-day gift and I wanted to see your faces." Jess explained with a hopeful expression.

-"Not at all."
-"No way!"

Jane and Maura answered together, once again. Maybe they could work on some sort of hybrid vetriloquism routine.

"Thank you." Jess spoke, seemingly appeased.

"You guys really didn't have to get us anything. The mobile you made was so cool and creative and just perfect." Jane followed up.

"Well, like I explained before, when inspiration strikes, you've gotta capitalize." Jess tried to swipe away the objection.

"I can empathize. Just before you joined us, Jane and I were engaged in a rather heated session of osculation." Maura shared.

Jane looked to Maura with a sideways glance, assumed she was referring to the make-out because the only thing they were involved in, was kissing, just before Susie and Jess walked in.

Drawing a blank herself, Jess looked to Susie for some clarification. With Jane and Maura distracted with each other, Susie motioned with her lips and mouth exactly what the ME had meant.

A round of laughter ensued and once all were calm, conversation quickly turned to the primary reason for the visit. Sophia Rose.

"So, can we meet her?" Susie asked, barely able to contain her excitement.

Jane hopped off the bed and walked over to the basinette. She rolled it close to the bed so that their friends could get a look before she took her out.

"Whoa...is that really her hair?" Jess exclaimed.

"Yes, just like Jane's." Maura proudly stated.

Jane place her baby in the crook of Chang's arm. Susie quickly secured her remaining arm on top of Sophia Rose and passed the back of her index finger over her powdery-soft cheek. She took in the tiny figure with awe.

"I've learned and seen so much under your tutelage this..." Susie looks down at the baby girl. "By far, is the greatest experience, thus far."

The Senior Criminalist reduced the couple to a puddle of tears and silence. Jess sidled up to Susie, looking on in equal amounts of wonderment for both Sophia Rose and Susie.

"I come from a large family. There are babies born at least once a year yet, I never lose the sense of grandeur of this moment. The preciousness, care, and hope I feel for them never wanes." Jess spoke and finished by speaking of Susie's experience with children. "She's an only child and the oldest of three cousins in the area, none of which have children, either."

"I never knew that about you, Chang. It must be like an alien life form in your arms." Jane chuckled. Maura admonsihed her with a light slap to her arm.

"You should give her a whiff. That smell is like nothing else." Jane added.

Susie feared Jane made the suggestion in jest only. After seeing everyone's expectant faces and Jess's nod of approval, she complied and was graced with a scent unmatched in her lifelong catalogue of observations.

"I don't think I can describe that scent. It's fresh, not quite sweet, or floral really...I'm at a loss." Susie admitted, dissatisfied.

The pain of not knowing however, was lost when Sophia yawned and her lips made the 'o' shaped.

"Aww!" Jess cooed at the sight.

"Would you like to hold her, now?" Chang offered.

"You sure you're ready to give her up? Once I get a hold of her, I'm not letting go until we leave." Jess warned.

"I'm sure." Susie assured while batting her eyes.

"Okay, then." Jess said with a wink.

The flirtation not missed by the seasoned detective and ME.

"Besides, I want give Jane and Maura our gift." Susie added with a sly grin.

"You'd think your sneakiness would bother me but, nothing will get to me while I'm holding this precious darling." Jess informed.

Chang shot her a smug face and grabbed the gift bag she brought with her and handed it to the couple.

Jane did the honors and both women's eyes lit up. inside were a minaturized labcoat, with Rizzoli-Isles embroidered on the left hand side just above the pocket and a diaper bag designed in the shape of a detective's badge also, with the same embroidering.

"Where did you find these? They're incredible!" The doctor inquired.

"Actually, we made them." Susie supplied with a shrug. Suggesting it wasn't a big deal.

"When inspirations strikes." Jess reiterated. "And I wanted to offer to take baby's first photo and family picture. We can do themes and everything. If you don't mind, that is. I'm sure with the connections you have..."

Jess was cut off by Maura and Jane, while Jane let Maura field the response.

"We would be more than honored to have you take our baby's first photographs." Maura promised and Jane agreed.

"Great! just give me a couple of dates that work best for you ladies and I'll make sure to schedule time in the studio." Jess said.

"Awesome! we're on maternity leave together for the next six weeks. whattaya think, Maur?" Jane asked.

Jess's face was plastered with indecision, torn between wanting to nail down the date and not wanting to let go of the baby held comfortably in her arms.

"Oh, give her to me. You can have her back. I promise." Susie teased the woman.

Jess shot her an exasperated yet, appreciative look.

Jess reached into her purse, grabbed her phone, pulled up her calendar app and swiped to the date offered. With a grateful sigh, she informed all that the majority of the day, save for a morning meeting with an art dealer, was completely open.

Jane and Maura offered to meet up for lunch before the photo shoot.

Jess agreed and Susie, as promised, returned Sophia Rose to her. Then, all four women conversed for the remaining allotted visitor's time.

"Looks like we just extended our candidate pool." Jane remarked.

"Do you really think they've started a romantic relationship?" Maura questioned.

"If not, they ought to be. They're great together." Jane stated.

"Looks like we're spoiled for choice." Maura responded. Jane agreed and kissed Maura softly on the lips.