A/N: Hello all. Wow i'm so sorry. My life has been pretty crazy. I went out of town and when I came back, I almost immediately had to move into my new place which was not fun and I just started Uni again. And then on top of all of that a close friend of mine passed away. I've had a really rough couple of months and I really appreciate all of your patience and your concerned PM's. I read your reviews and I feel better. I hope you guys are still with me and are still enjoying this story. I should give you a heads up that there will be about five more chapters which will include an epilogue. Anyway please let me know if guys are still with me. You're reviews and PM's are always welcomed. Anyway...no more waiting. Hope you enjoy.

How could this happen? Pacing back and forth in her living room, Maura wondered just when her feet would dig a hole to China. Not that that was even at all possible. Why do people believe gravity operates that way? She sighed glancing at her wrist watch again. It had been forty-five minutes since her sweet boy had disappeared after seeing his mother kissing another woman. A woman that he knew and very much admired.

When she ran up to his room to discuss what he had seen she immediately knew what had happened. His dresser drawers were haphazardly thrown open and his backpack was missing from his closet that was gapped open. She tried not to panic, but couldn't fend off the horrid thoughts that raced in her mind. It is so dark out. Where is he going? Someone could hurt him. What if he gets lost? Forty-Five minutes of her ten year old wondering the streets of Boston. Forty-five minutes since Jane had grabbed Alice and then sped off in search of the boy.

Jane had held her so tightly as she sobbed into her chest. Maura had sunk deeper into the fabric of the shirt as the brunette whispered over and over promises that she no doubt would keep. That she would bring her son home. The architect had once told the other woman that she not only trusted her with her own life, but also with her children's lives. That was really being tested right now…forty-five minutes.

Suddenly, her thoughts were being interrupted by an aggressive banging on the door. Thinking that her girlfriend had finally made good on her word, she rushed to the door swinging it open. Her words of concern died on her tongue. Of course there was a brunette at the entrance; however, it wasn't the one she wanted to see.

"What the hell, Maura?" he angrily pushed his way past her marching into the foyer as if this was still his residence. Pulling out of her disappointment the blonde closed the door scoffing at the disgruntled man.

"Excuse me? Ian, what are you doing here?"

"What am I doing here? You let my son go missing!"

"Okay, first of all," she said placing her hands on her hips bracing herself for a fight, "I did not let Jacob go missing. And second of all if you think being here is going to help the situation, then you're wrong."

His face twisted into confusion and Maura could barely contain her eye roll. "What are you talking about?"

"Ian, you are truly one of the most irresponsible people I have ever met in my life." She lifted her hand to refuse his argument. "I called you to let you know that he was probably coming to your apartment…so your solution was to leave your apartment….does that make any sense at all?" He looked at her dumb founded for a second, then sneered turning toward the kitchen.

Taking a seat on a stool he hastily changed the subject away from what he would secretly agree was a dumb decision on his part. "Why did he even run away in the first place? Did you take away his Xbox or candy or something?"

"Do you honestly believe our children are that immature and shallow?"

He rolled his eyes and began messaging his temples. "Just answer the question." He groaned. "I mean it obviously has something to do with your date." When she looked at him speechless he smirked and continued. "Oh, come on Maura. You don't wear that dress to the grocery store. Did you try to find someone to replace me and he found out?"

Maura's mouth dropped open at his audacity. He had no right to speculate about her personally life. Out of the sixteen years that they were married, that was the one thing he never did. Cared about her. So why did he think he had the right to do so now? "I don't think that's any of your business."

"Well, that's where you're wrong, Maura. If it upsets my children, then it is mybusiness."

The woman pursed her lips and turned to the living room leaning her back against the counter. "I went out tonight-"

"With who?"

She only cut her eyes at him and slowly looked back forward. "And when we were saying goodnight, Jacob came down stairs and caught us…"

He raised his eye brow at the way she let the sentence trail off. "Caught you…" She sighed and ducked her eyes. Ian chuckled and stood from his stool. "You say I'm irresponsible? What about you getting caught kissing by a ten year old. I mean at least when I did it I was covert about it."

The architect could barely believe her ears. Was he really defending himself right now? What the hell had she seen in him in college? "Are you kidding me?" He didn't understand the manic laugh that fell from her lips so he simply ignored her and headed for the door. "Where are you going?"

"To find my son! I mean what are you doing? Just sitting around hoping he'll come back?"

"You're right. I should do what you did and leave one of the places he is almost certain to return to." She sardonically accused. "And for your information, Jane is already out looking for him."

Finally he whipped back around, hand slipping from the door knob. "Jane? You're assistant Jane? Why would she be looking for Jacob?"

"Well considering she was here when he popped up at the door I…"

Maura's mouth instantly snapped shut. Shit. The woman wasn't one for cursing, but realizing what she had just implied, it seemed fitting. She watched as the confusion on Ian's crooked face slowly turned into clarity. He stepped away from the door with his mouth poised to talk. Opening and shutting it several times before words came tumbling out of it, dripping with astonishment.

"You went on a date with your assistant?"

"Where is he?"

Alice's voice trembled for the first time since they left Beacon Hill. She was sitting on her bed with the door closed before she felt her heart drop into her stomach when the frantic voice of her mother shouting up the stairs filtered through her ears. Small footsteps running past her bedroom was what completely rooted her to her spot. The iPad that had distracted her all evening had slipped from her suddenly sweaty hands. Next thing she knew Jane was running up the stairs and calmly telling her to put her shoes on and they were off into the night to search for her brother.

Jane glanced at the clock on the dashboard of her car and sighed. She promised herself that at the one hour mark she would call up her old connections at BPD. They told her to holler anytime she needed anything. Surely Frost and Korsak would want to help her. Especially after everything that went down that night.

"Jane." The brunette looked around the empty street before turning to the teenager sitting in the passenger seat. "What happened again?"

Groaning, Jane bit the inside of her cheek. "I've told you what happened. He came down after someone was supposed to make sure he was in bed and caught your mother and me kissing. He ran off and your mother went after him only to find that he wasn't there and…" She gestured around her, "Here we are."

Alice hadn't even notice her brother sneak past her bedroom to go down stairs. She was too focused on her neglected social media sites and now all she felt was guilt. Over her brother running away and over ruining her mother's date. Maybe I'm not as grown up as I thought.

"I'm sorry, this is my fault. I was distracted when I was supposed to be watch him." She said bowing her head and biting her thumb nail in a habitually nervous way.

"Hey. It's not your fault. Everything happens for a reason." Jane craned her neck down an ally way to check for a head of brown hair. Nothing.

Ali's eyebrows shot up at the older woman's logic. She had been sitting on something for a few days now and it was time to ask about it. Trying to keep the curiosity out her voice she asked, "You really believe that?"

"Yup." Distractedly looking down at her watch she missed Ali's smirk. Seven more minutes and I make the call.

"Interesting you should say that." Jane shot an incredulous glance over to the girl but didn't say anything. "Hypothetically speaking, if one were to be rescued from a bad situation…a bad guy per say…and the next week or so said bad guy got into trouble with the cops…you would still say that everything happens for a reason?"

The brunette's eyebrows furrowed as she listened. What the hell is she talking about? Instead of questioning her she slowly nodded her head. "Uh…yeah…sure."

Suddenly the girl huffed in her seat throwing up her hands in frustration. She looked out the window, squinting her eyes at a grey coat that could be Jacob's…but wasn't. "I know it was you, Jane."

"What was me?" She questioned taking another glance at her watch. Five more minutes.

"I heard that Blake got busted the other day for giving alcohol to underage students."

"Hm. That so?"

Jane smirked at that. About time that asshole got some pay back. She'd planned on doing something about him herself, but after hearing her boss on the phone one morning discussing one Blake Winston, she decided that it was taken care of and that the woman was highly capable of giving someone a piece of her mind. However, Jane still thought she should have done more to him at the time of the dispute. Something to let him know that no one messes with Alice. Or Maura. Or Jacob…Jacob. Looking at her watch again she tensed her jaw. Three minutes.

"Did you do that?"

Jane shook her head and tightened her grip on the wheel leering further into the darkness. It was hard enough to see at night, but trying to find a ten year old kid who didn't want to be found was even more challenging. She shook her head trying to rid herself of the oncoming stress headache.

"Ah, well…You know me. I would have just crunched him in the nuts again, Sunshine." Alice could only laugh because she knew it was the truth.

"Well if you didn't then…" A thought crossed the teenagers mind and a smile graced her lips. Of course. Bringing her hand up to her mouth she shook her head and whispered, "Mom."

Not even hearing Alice's revelation, Jane slammed her hand hard against the steering wheel. Alice startled and looked over as the woman seemed to be having an internal debate with herself.

"Jane?" She gripped the steering wheel tightly and bit the inside of her cheek. Finally after several silent moments, Jane stepped on the gas and riffled through her pocket for her cell phone. Grabbing the 'oh shit' bar Alice hung on as the car accelerated. She was hell bent on telling Jane to slow down but then, something caught her eye.

"I told your mother that I would find her son."

"Jane."

"…And I can't even do it."

"Wait. Stop."

"What kind of girlfriend am I. Scratch that, what kind of assistant am I if I can't even-"

"Jane!"

The brunette woman slammed on breaks when Alice grabbed her arm and shrieked her name. Before Jane could say anything she took in the shaken demeanor and pointing finger of the girl next to her. Following her gaze she saw a dark figure sitting on a bench in the park across the street. "Mom used to always take us to this park."

They looked at each other and without a word they both bolted out of the car, Jane barely remembering to put the car in park, and ran toward the person.

Jane slowly rounded the boy and hesitantly squatted down to his level. She sighed relief when she could confirm that it was Jacob. "Hey, bud." When the boy didn't say anything only continued to stare at his feet Jane placed her hand on his leg. He immediately withdrew from her scooting to the other side of the bench and shooting daggers with his eyes. There was no mistaking his stance with her as his hazel eyes burned green even as they were swallowed up by the darkness of the night.

The woman gulped thickly and licked her suddenly dry lips. She looked up to Alice who stood with her hands encircling herself. The girl seemed to understand and quickly took Jane's spot in front of her brother. "Do you remember that time when we thought we lost you at the zoo? And Mom and I were running around crazy looking for you."

Jacob looked up for just a second at the seemingly randomness of the question before looking away. "Yeah." He mumbled.

"Mom was so close to calling the cops. But finally we found you…and where were you?"

The boy tried hard to hide his smirk, but gradually let his indifferent demeanor slip away when his sister tickled his side. "At the monkey exhibit." He gasped out, laughing as she continued.

"At the monkey exhibit," she repeated giving him one final poke to his side. The mood shifted as the smiles faded. "You remember how scared mom was when we finally found you?"

Jacob's guilt ridden face broke Jane's heart as she stood back and watched the sibling interaction. He nodded his head. "She was crying."

"And that's when you were lost. Imagine how she feels knowing you ran away on your own. " The boy bit his lip and looked down, fiddling with the end of his jacket. "Why did you run away, Jake?"

"I just…" He suddenly stopped and looked up to Jane. The woman had been looking on in quiet interest. She could see the hesitancy in his eyes and she could tell that he didn't want to talk around her.

Alice stood and held out her hand. "Let's get you home okay. I bet mom is really worried." With his eyes still transfixed on the brunette's, he took his sisters hand and followed her to the car. Jane followed behind with her hand held to her forehead.

What was she going to do? The kid looked at her like she was a criminal that needed arresting. It hadn't taken much for her to gain his trust, but now she felt like she had just ripped it all away. He was always the one Isles that she could always count on to be happy to see her. But now he barely even wanted to get in the car, because it was her carand not his sisters. The pained expression on the Italian's face prompted Ali to pat her shoulder sympathetically before getting into the car. God how am I supposed to fix this?

"Wow, Maura." He smirked and walked further into the house. Maura could kick herself. How could she let that slip? "Once again let me reiterate…not the irresponsible one here. I mean you're not even gay."

Maura really wished people would stop saying that. First Jane. Then Colin. And now Ian.

"Have you ever thought Ian," She placed one finger on her chin and looked at him, "That perhaps the reason our marriage went so horribly wrong was because I am gay and you just weren't…" she looked him up and down, "sufficient enough."

His face twisted in offense. Her goal wasn't to rile him up…well maybe it was. She wanted to make sure he knew that just because she had a new development in her life didn't mean that she needed his opinion or permission.

"Yeah, because some chick can love you better than I can."

"Oh," She said completely calm, "You have no idea." Lifting on eye brow she watched him go to defend his pride. Probably to say something completely crude and insensitive. Something that proved his manhood. Before a single explicative could slip from his mouth the door slowly creaked open. Subconsciously she knew that her feet were carrying her but she didn't realize where until she had moved swiftly across the foyer and had engulfed her son in her arms.

She held him tightly, pressing him into the crook of her neck. "Jacob Louis! Don't you ever do that to me again. Do you have any idea how worried I was?" Leaning back, she fussed over him, turning him around and around until she was satisfied that there was no bodily harm done to him.

"Mom." He groaned as his mother laid kisses all over his face. She saw his hazel eyes brighten as he suddenly pulled out of her grip sprinting to the kitchen. "Dad!" He leaped into his father's arms and held tightly to his neck.

Maura slowly stood and turned to watch the interaction. She was about to go over when she felt a warm hand on her back. Without looking behind her, she leaned back and let her head fall back onto Jane's shoulder. Maura's entire body melted into the warm body against her. The blonde hummed in relief as she felt the hand move from the small of her back to her waist. Settling her.

"Thank you." She whispered still looking at her son speak animatedly with his father.

The brunette kissed her temple before simply responding, "Anything." And she knew her lover would be true to her word.

"Hey mom!" Being pulled from their moment, Jane and Maura, with Alice in tow, walked to the kitchen. She placed her hand on her son's shoulders and brought him in for another hug.

"You scared me." Her trembling chin rested on the top of his head and he genuinely hugged her. The boy really did feel bad about running away, but he had to get to his dad. He had to reassure himself of the plan to get his family back together. And what he saw was not what should be happening.

"I know…sorry." She pulled him tighter, but relented when he struggled out of her embrace. She smiled lightly taking his face in her hands as he stammered on excitedly. "Mom, you and dad are getting back together right? So we can be a family again." The architect let her mouth drop open. She could feel her ears begin to burn as she briefly looked at Ian whose face she could not quite read.

"Oh, sweetheart…That's…no. I'm so sorry. I thought you understood that your father and I aren't getting back together."

Maura felt her heart clench at the resulting pout on the boy's face. His eyes immediately filled with tears and he hurried toward the stairs. The blonde sprang into action, determined not to let him run away again. When Alice stood in front of her she nearly collided into the teenager.

"Alice-"

"Let me mom. He'll talk to me."

When Maura went to object, Jane who had been silent, walked over to her placing her hand on the smaller woman's shoulder. "She's right, Maura. He wouldn't talk to me earlier, either. Let her." The blonde sighed in defeat and nodded, watching her daughter ascend the stairs.

She turned around to face her girlfriend and suddenly felt the urge to defend herself. "When I told them about the divorce, I honestly did believe he understood what was happening… that there was no way Ian and I were ever getting back together."

"Maybe it's not such a bad idea." Both women spun around to see Ian leaning against the wall beside them.

Exasperated by the entire situation, Maura crossed her arms and peered at him. "What?"

"I'm just saying, Jacob seems to think it's a good idea."

Maura scoffed and shook her head. "Well I don't. Ian, there is a reason why we a got divorce. A really good reason."

"I know." He said softly walking up to her. He reached down to take one of her hands between both of his and looked her in the eyes. "And I'm sorry. Truly…I miss you, Maura."

Maura could practically feel Jane vibrating behind her. She was just about to snatch her hand out of her ex-husbands grasp, when she felt her lover gently grab her wrist and tug it slowly out of the man's hands. He looked up to Jane who had her eyes set on him and was slightly pulling the smaller woman away from him. He smirked and rolled his eyes.

"Don't touch her," Jane growled.

There was an intense silence that followed as Jane peered at him, her hand gripping Maura's tighter. "Or what? I'm not the one hurting her…you are."

Jane looked down to her tight grip on the woman's wrist and quickly loosened it, but didn't dare let go. She looked up at him when he just laughed and took a step away. "What?" She sneered at him through clenched teeth.

"That's not what I meant." He gestured down to their hands. "If anyone's gonna get Maura hurt it's not me. It's you…you and Charles Hoyt."

Maura felt her girlfriends death grip slack completely. Turning to the younger woman, her face was as white as a ghost. She stood rigid and her chest rose and fell in uneven huffs. When Maura placed her hand on her shoulder the woman still didn't move a muscle.

"Jane, what is it?"

Shaking her head, the brunette swallowed loudly, quickly masking her face. Now with the fire in her eyes back with a vengeance, she wrapped one of her arms protectively around Maura's waist and pulled her into her side. "Nothing. Don't worry about it."

"I think it's a little bit more than nothing," Ian said coldly.

"Shut up." Jane said calmly. Too calm. Maura felt like she was watching a tennis match as her eyes darted from Ian to her girlfriend. She finally settled on the woman who was pulling her so tightly that her dress had ridden up a little at the end; bunched in Jane's hot palm.

"Sweetheart-"

Ian snorted. "Sweetheart? So you're just going to stay here with this dyke and put our family in danger?"

Oh, no. If she hadn't know the brunette so deeply…so intimately…she would have missed the way her breath hitched and the immediate retracting of her muscles before she made a move. But she did know Jane. And in a split second Maura moved in front of the charging brunette. She placed her hands sternly on Jane's chest and held her back. Honestly, it was a little frightening to Maura. The dark look of rage in Jane's eyes. Maura softly rubbed on her arms commanding her attention. When livid eyes looked down at her she spoke softly.

"Please. Let me handle this okay." The woman shook her head looking back up. "Jay, Please." Without hesitation, Jane jerked out of her grasp and turned swiftly away. One hand on her hip the other running through her hair, the brunette walked a few feet away, breathing deeply.

Maura looked back at Ian. "You don't know what you're talking about. How dare-…you know what? It's time for you to leave." She said pointing at the door. Thinking he would see that she was not playing around and leave, she was surprised when instead of leaving, the man stepped closer.

"Oh, so she didn't tell you what happened to her last girlfriend? Remember that serial killer on the news a couple years back?" Jane revved up again but he doesn't seem to care. He just kept talking as Maura presses harder on Jane's chest to keep her back. "Jane was his last victim. I looked it up because she seemed familiar. Turns out her last girlfriend ended up in the hospital. Did she tell you that?! The woman almost died because of her."

Maura was utterly confused. She had known about the case. But what did that have to do with Jane. She let Ian's words filter through her mind and she looked up to her girlfriend who was still shooting daggers at her ex. Why hadn't Jane told her? Suddenly she felt her heartbreak…Amanda…everything suddenly made sense.

"You better watch your fucking mouth." Jane gritted out pointing at him. Staring him down with piercing eyes.

She's was almost shouting and Maura pleadingly rubbed on her chest and pulled on her neck to force eye contact. Fierce is a word to describe Jane Rizzoli in protective mode. Tender is another used in her everyday demeanor. Insatiable is how Maura describe her lover inside the confines of the bedroom. But right now she couldn't think of anything to define the brunette right now. Her entire body shook under Maura's hands. Her entire face was tensed and her eyes seemed to be aflame.

Needing to speak privately with the woman, Maura said, "I think what we all need right now is some family time." And of course Ian smiled smugly and Jane took it the wrong way looking back at her with hurt clearly painted on her face.

"Right." She ground out. Her voice harsh under the stress of her fury. I should've known…" She sounds angry but mostly wounded.

"Actually," she said placing her hand on Jane's shoulder before she could get away, "I meant you, Ian. Could you excuse us? Jake's fine. I'm sure you'd rather sleep in your own bed tonight." He looks completely shocked and Maura nearly laughs. Did he honestly think she would choose him?

"Fine, but don't come crying to me when the shit hits the fan." Without another word he walked away slamming the door behind him.

The quake of the slam left them in an uncomfortable silence. Maura finally turned to look at her girlfriend who had her head pointing toward the ground. She could tell that the woman was having difficulty coming down from her adrenaline rush. A few straggly dark curls swayed slightly as she worked to even her breathing. Maura noticed something about the woman that she only asked about once, but decided not to ignore anymore. Jane rubbed her hands together frantically as her eyes darted from one scarred hand to the other.

As if approaching a wild animal, Maura took her hands cautiously into her own. The blonde could only smile at the childlike innocence of the woman watching her as she pulled her hands apart and placed soft kisses to each palm. The older woman could tell that Jane wanted to say something but instead of allowing her to, she merely shook her head and led the woman to the couch.

Jane couldn't believe the utter mess of things that was just created. How dare Ian go and look up her past. Let alone reveal it to Maura. Then again he shouldn't have had to. She clenched her eyes shut in guilt as she listen to Maura steadily clanking around in the kitchen. I should have told her. Self-hate nearly consumed her as she leaned forward with her head in her hands and her elbows resting on her knees. Her eyes screwed tighter, fighting back tears, as she thought of all the moments she could have told her girlfriend about her past. It's not like Maura hadn't shared enough with her already to be uneasy about her own demons. No…I should have told her.

The brunette knew she couldn't hold the secret in any longer. Not after what Ian said. Not after what Maura heard. Not after she looked up to see the woman handing her a glass of water and sitting as close to her as she could.

Jane mumbled a quick thanks before taking a large gulp of the liquid. She hated reliving this shit. She tried so hard to get over it. To forget Amanda. To forget…him. But it was a part of her life and so was Maura. She needed to get this out.

"I'm sorry. I shouldn't have lost it like that."

"Jane." The brunette went to apologize again but was stopped dead in her tracks by three little words tumbling from beautiful lips. "I love you."

Brunette curls bounced as Jane snapped her head up. Maura laughed lightly and picked aimlessly at the end of her girlfriend's jacket. She bit her lip glancing away from brown eyes. Maura had been wanting to say that for a while now and she couldn't help but smile. "It's true. I think I've known for a while now. I love you and I trust you with my life…my children…but it's time for you to start trusting me."

Jane understood what the woman was saying. She swallowed thickly sitting back against the couch with one hand over her eyes. Willing the tears away, she released a heavy breath and began. "Amanda and I met at BPD."