The sudden warmth and weight of familiar long fingers on her thigh halted her leg's anxious bouncing. She looked over and there it was; that precious thing that could calm her nerves in a typhoon – Jane's smile. The one that said 'Everything will be alright' and 'I'm here' and 'Your leg-bouncing is driving me nuts' all at once. Maura covered Jane's hand with her own.

Since Jane picked them up that morning, each time she needed some reassurance concerning this court hearing, all she had to do is look beside her and she was centered again. She was starting to get very used to knowing she had someone this wonderfully present in her life, and it both warmed her heart and gave her the strength that she needed.

It was a fortnight ago that she kissed Jane in front of all of their colleagues and superiors, and since then she knew her life would forever be changed for the better… the best, in fact. Thanking Mr. Fairfield for everything he'd done for her, she'd politely turned the promotion down and later handed in her two weeks' notice, but somehow the world still felt conquerable. She and Jane used their last days at the firm seeking their own office space for their future architectural love-child and already narrowed it down to a place at the heart of downtown Boston. They would be signing the lease in a few days' time although Jane did express her concern that perhaps her partner was going too fast. But Maura knew exactly what she wanted.

Maura wanted to get to know her children again; find out what they liked and what they hated, their secrets and goals and wishes. Hell, even a crash course on the current slang from her 'all-knowing' daughter sounded appealing if it meant spending more time with the girl. She'd even been paying attention to Jane's sports banter to ensure she could level with her son. It's all worth it to see him smile or laugh with, or sometimes at her.

But just as important, Maura wanted to get to know Maura again. Losing her sense of self amongst the debris of a failed marriage and a full-time career was never how she pictured her life happening. She loved her job, yes, but it was never meant to be her top priority and if she ever wanted to be a great mother to her kids again, she had to be great to herself; Jane's words. It was time for her to relearn herself. And she was ready.

She wanted a new lease on life. A fresh start with her kids and now also with the woman sitting next to her. A start so fresh that at that present moment, both she and the woman she loved found themselves jobless. This limbo state worried the tall raven-haired woman far more than it did Maura, though, for the simple fact of that pesky thing called rent and the like. Despite having enough in her rainy day fund put aside to live on until their business was in business, the younger woman voiced this concern one night while pacing back and forth in her apartment's living room in nothing but a tank top and boxers.

Now, it could very well have been the glass, or three, of wine she'd indulged in or perhaps the distracting sight before her which prompted it, but then Maura found herself smack-dab in the middle of an outburst. "Move in with us," she blurted out.

For a moment, just as Jane abruptly stopped moving, Maura felt panic mix with her embarrassment. What was she thinking; that is not something you just blurt out with no preamble… but the way Jane looked at her in that moment, an eyebrow lifted with a corner of her lips, said that maybe propriety was a smidge overrated.

Maura smiled back a shy sort of smile as she approached her and cleared her throat. It wasn't like she didn't mean what she said, so she repeated it. "Move in with us," she'd said, voice softer but surer than ever with their eyes locked. "I mean, it's just formalities at this point anyway. We've already been practically living together."

It wasn't an immediate yes, not at all. Being the stubbornly independent woman that she has been since her BPD days, Jane's pride had a few words to say about the lack of curb appeal of leaning on someone else for something as major as money. The brunette was quite reluctant indeed. And so, keeping Jane's pride in mind, Maura reminded her that they were in a partnership meaning that she could help out around the house as much as she could with her savings and that she had faith that their new business would be up and running in no time, thus they would be fine. And when skepticism still shadowed her lover's face, Maura sweetened the deal with a dimpled smile, sparkling hazel eyes and a languid kiss.

Jane finally gave in and moved in with the Isles clan soon after. They all settled in seamlessly with an 'about time' from Jacob and a TED-esque talk on 'PDA Ground Rules' from Alice. It all felt so natural that the change was barely noticeable for the family. Yes, they were a family.

A family which Maura hoped to keep together depending on the judge's verdict. They'd been sitting there for, fifteen… twenty minutes now, as the woman examined each of the case-related documents before her with the diligence of a medical examiner. At least this one seemed to actually care about the wellbeing of her children, unlike the first one.

Maura suddenly felt the hairs on the back of her neck stand on end in that unnerving way that tells you when someone is watching you. And there past her lawyer sat her ex-husband, eyes flicking from her to Jane. She couldn't quite make out the emotion playing on his face. He didn't seem angry or smugly overconfident as he'd been known to be lately.

Feeling a gentle squeeze to her knee, she looked over to see dark brown eyes gazing at her. Soothing her. Asking her. Placing her hand on Jane's, she gave a smile and a nod to assure the woman that she was okay. Jane smiled back promising her that everything would be alright. That she was aware that this whole terrible ordeal would be over soon and no matter what happened she would be there for her – no matter what.

The judge cleared her throat, bringing everyone's attention back to the front. "So… I've gone through everything and I think I'm ready to proceed." Straightening all of the files into a neat stack on her lecture, she peered at them over the bridge of her glasses. "Now before I give my verdict, would anyone like to say anything?"

Holding her breath, Maura glanced over to Ian and sighed in relief when he shook his head. She too was about to reply in the negative when the brunette beside her stood.

"I would, your honor," said Jane.

An eyebrow lifted. "And who might you be?"

Letting go of Maura's hand, she clasped them behind herself, back straight and shoulders squared with confidence. "My name is Jane Rizzoli. I'm Ms. Isles' partner." She adressed the judge not once stuttering.

The judge quickly looked down, and after flipping a few pages, nodded her head. "Ah, yes. Domestic partner."

"Yes, Ma'am."

The judge seemed to consider her for a moment before gesturing with her hand. "Go ahead."

"Thank you." Jane took a breath. "I'd like to start by saying that Maura Isles is an amazing person. She's the smartest, strongest, and most compassionate woman that I will ever know. Now if you can take that image and compare it to what kind of mother she is… it's completely unfathomable. I've been around long enough to see the way she cares for her children. Everything she does is for them. She's gentle and kind when she needs to be but not afraid to be tough when it's called for. But most importantly, she just loves them. Unconditionally. I mean, it's hard not to, they're great kids. And they love her back and respect her for doing what a mother does, and I dare say… being their Dad too at times. And honestly, Your Honor, Maura needs Alice and Jacob just as much as they need her."

Jane paused for a second, reigning herself in. She could go on for hours about Maura and Alice and Jacob and because none of this speech was premeditated she had to stop herself rambling. Silent support was what she was supposed to provide, but she was sick and tired of seeing no one stand up for the woman she loves. So who better to do it than herself. "Thank you, Your Honor."

"Thank you, Ms. Rizzoli."

The brunette nodded before slowly taking her seat. She wasn't sure what she expected to see when she glanced over to her partner, especially since she hadn't warned her that she would be making a statement. Biting the bullet she looked over and sighed. The woman was looking down at her lap quickly ushering a few stray tears away. Settling herself with a shaky breath she looked up to Jane and smiled weakly. Placing her hand on her cheek she opened and closed her mouth several times.

Seeing the gleam in Maura's eyes and subtle flush in her cheeks she felt her own chin twitch a little. Turing her head to the side, she placed an understanding kiss to her palm. "You're welcome," she whispered only for Maura.

Clearing her throat once again the judge looked at them curiously before placing her glasses on the lecture and clasping her hands together. "So without further ado…the verdict."

Alice watched from the other side of the waiting room. She'd been staring at that door for the better part of an hour now. Waiting. Jacob sat beside her, quietly. It was almost hard to remember what silence sounded like without her brother yapping her ear off. But she could tell that he completely understood why he was in the courthouse and what was happening on the other side of the door. He had implemented quiet time of his own freewill.

"Alice?"

She sighed and rolled her eyes. So much for quiet time. "What?"

"They're not done yet?"

"No."

"But I'm hungry."

"Well, if you were paying attention in the car instead playing that stupid game with Jane, you would've heard mom say that we would maybe go to The Robber for lunch… maybe." The teenager didn't miss the way her mother stressed the word maybe and she really hoped it didn't end up a maybe not.

"Sweet! We're going to the Robber." He ignored Ali's groan. "Anyway, I need Jane's help to beat this level. And it smells weird in here. And this chair is starting to make my butt go numb. And-"

"Really, dude? Can you stop whining for, like, five seconds? Mom said she would be out as soon as the judge tells them."

"…Alice?"

"What?"

Shifting to look up at her, he asked, "Do you want to live with Dad?"

The girl sucked in a surprised gasp and looked down to her brother. She'd asked herself this question the moment her parents announced their separation. About six months ago her answer would have been an immediate reply. Yes. And even now after learning the truth – the ugly hidden truth about her parents' marriage and subsequent divorce – Alice still had an immediate answer.

"I don't."

The boy didn't move or speak for a long moment. Then, "I don't think I do either."

"You don't have to say that just because I did, Jake. It's okay if you feel that way. If you want to live with him."

"It's not you, it's dad. Maybe if things were different… like it used to be. I don't know." He settled against his sister's side and rolled his shoulders.

"Yeah," she sighed.

"Al?" She wrapped her arm around his shoulders. "Do you think the judge will say we have to live with him?"

Now that was something that Alice was not sure of. So she did what she always did with her little brother. Placing her chin on top of his head, she answered honestly. "I don't know, Jake."

They sat wrapped in each other's embrace. Jacob piped up suddenly, and as an afterthought said, "I like my room at the house better than at Dad's apartment."

Alice laughed airily as she pushed her brother away. So enraptured in their playful shoving that they didn't even notice the doors of the court room swing open.

The clicking of their mother's heels caught their attention and they both looked up, their smiles quickly waning. Jane and Maura both walked up to the children stopping in front of them.

"So…" said Alice. The expressions on both of the women's faces were completely unreadable. They were all frozen in silence until Jane's hand came up to Maura's back giving her a small pat. Finally looking down to both of her children, Maura gave a sad smile.

"First of all, I just want you to know that both your father and I love you two very much. And no matter what-"

"Come on. Just tell us already." They all looked shocked at Jacob who simply blushed and shrugged.

"Mom, it's okay. Whatever it is…just tell us."

Maura crouched down to place a hand on each of the sibling's cheeks. Biting her lip she let a solitary tear go down her cheek. A small sob puffed from her lips when she went to speak and not a second later she was engulfed in a hug by Alice and Jacob. They clung tightly to each other as their mother's tears continued to run. Sitting back a little Alice wiped her own solitary tear away.

"I guess we have to pack when we get home then," Alice assumed.

Maura felt Jane crouch beside her placing her hand on her back. "No," she replied. Her voice deep from disuse. The Isles kids turned toward her before turning back to their mother who was swiping her face dry.

"Then, when do we have to leave to stay with Dad?" Jacob asked his face completely red with the resistance to cry.

Maura looked up into two pair of saddened hazel eyes. Placing her hands on their knees, she finally let a smile grace her lips. "Every other weekend."

Alice's eyes latched onto her mother's and when she saw the truth in her eyes, she lurched forward into the woman's arms nearly knocking her off her feet.

Jacob on his part simply stood to his feet confused but hesitantly elated at his sister's reaction. "But…But what does that mean?"

Jane looked from the two Isles women and back to Jacob. Inching a little closer she took both of his hands in hers. "It means you get to stay with your Mom, bud. You're staying home."

His bright innocent smile stretched across his face right before he threw himself in Jane's arms. She chuckled loudly as she stood to her knees clutching him tighter. Laughing at how ridiculous they must seem to other's walking by, all huddled together on the floor, they all stood.

"So is this something that you want? I mean I probably should have asked you both what you wanted. I guess I just assumed…"

She trailed off as the smile on her daughter's face grew more and more incredulous. "I think that I can speak for both of us when I say this. Jacob and I love both you and daddy. Always will. But mom, we choose you."

"Yeah." Jacob added wrapping his arm around the brunette's waist. "Both of you." He said looking up into Jane's eyes. She squeezed his shoulder and quickly looked up to her girlfriend who mirrored the tears in her eyes.

Jane smiled around at her family as she took a step back and toward the door. "Well then," she grinned. "Let's go home."

Outside they all shuffled down the stairs wrapped around each other when Jacob questioned, "This means we are going to the Robber, right?"

Instead of laughing like everyone else, Maura went to admonish her son for being impatient when she felt a hand grip her wrist and halt her from descending the last few steps.

"You're really doing this to me?"

Quickly snatching her arm away, Maura turned to face Ian. His hair was a little windblown and he was clearly upset. Maura didn't care though; she still stood her ground. "No, you did this to yourself."

"You really think I'm just going to let you walk away from this without a fight?" He stepped down to the same step she occupied pointing his finger in her face. Jane cursed under her breath. After her last altercation with Ian, she had agreed to let Maura handle her ex-husband. But she just couldn't. Seeing him this close to either of the Isles' just made her skin crawl and she couldn't just stand by.

"Hey," Moving away from the children she stepped up to Ian, forcing him back to the previous step. "You're going about this all wrong. You wanna talk like adults, fine. But if you want to fight about this then you step up to me. Not Maura and not the kids.'

He smirked squinting his eyes at her. "And what, you're their new Daddy? Think you can be a better man than me?"

Maura flinched at the way he practically spat the word man at Jane. But Jane did not. She stood taller.

"Listen," she said gesturing in annoyance, "You can insult me all you want, but you will not disrespect my family."

Ian looked into fierce dark eyes and was stunned by what he saw. Her eyes were fire. Protectiveness behind the heat and love fanning the flames. He looked past her to find his children staring at him, clutching each of their mother's hands. They all stood waiting for what his next move would be and finally after what seemed like forever he closed his eyes and let his head drop.

"Alice, will you take your brother to the car, please?" Maura asked as more of statement than a question. Without a word, the teenager took her mother's keys and her brother's hand and slowly led him to the car.

Maura looked back to her girlfriend who was standing stock still as if waiting for an ambush. She carefully approached her, pulling lightly on the sleeve of the woman's jacket and gestured for the younger woman to follow her a few feet away.

"Can you wait for me in the car, please?" she cautiously rubbed up and down the brunette's arm trying to coax her gentle giant back. Jane's eyes snapped to Maura's and the anger gave way to guilt.

"You're upset with me."

The older woman smiled and licked her lips. Shaking her head, Maura leaned up to take Jane's bottom lip between her own, biting it gently. The taller woman couldn't help pulling her girlfriend a little tighter, reveling in the surprise show of affection. She slid her tongue into the younger woman's mouth, slowly flicking it, then leaned back with her eyes closed.

A smile appeared on her mouth as she opened her eyes and searched her lover's relieved ones. "Not at all." She placed a soft kiss to Jane's dimple and brushed the end of her nose with her own. "I love you."

"I love you, too." She squeezed the architect's waist one last time before looking over her shoulder. "I'll be right over there," she said to Maura, but looking at Ian who simply snapped his gaping mouth closed.

Maura was distractedly watching her girlfriend walk away when she heard a small voice from behind her. Turning back around, she raised her eyebrows indicating that she didn't hear what he said.

"You love her?" Both the tone and his face showed complete awe at this information. As if this was the first time he even considered it.

"Yes. I do."

Bringing his hands up in surrender Ian swallowed thickly. "Maura…I'm sorry." She braced herself as the flood gates opened and the man started to sob. "I'm s-so sorry for everything I did. For cheating on you…and treating y-you the way I did. I'm so sorry Maura."

The blonde stood still and took his pleading into consideration. She refused to feel guilty or bad for him. And even more so, she refused to feel bad for not feeling bad. Clearing her throat to get his attention, she looked him square in the eyes.

"I forgive you."

The wind around them dried some of his tears as he wiped away the others. He took quick broken breaths. "You…you do?" he asked in disbelief.

"Ian, I forgave you a long time ago. How could I let someone else into my heart if I had you there wreaking havoc? So I forgave you and I moved on. You will always be the father of my children and for that, and only that, I am grateful. Because they are the most precious human beings in this world…I'm just sorry that it took you so long to realize what you had. But someone else has…" She turned her shoulder a little to look at her family standing outside of the car.

Jane and Jacob stood across from Alice with confusion on their faces. The girl was slowly moving her hands in different positions before gesturing for the two brunettes to replicate her motions. They tried what Maura could only guess was meant to say sister in sign language. She smiled as she saw Jane whisper something in her son's ear. They both high fived before leaping into action and chasing a shrieking Alice around the car.

"You're going to let someone else raise my kids?" Sighing Maura turned around. Gone was the bitter, scheming smirk. No longer was he angry and manipulatively trying to think of a way to get back at her. "I can't lose my children." His tone suggested regret. "Please, Maura." His eyebrows meant guilt.

The blonde walked a little closer and quietly said, "Give it some time. After a while I will see if they want you to be in their life more. If they do then fine. You're their father, but if they don't…Ian I will not force my children to endure you as I did for sixteen years."

He released a relieved grunt and Maura could tell that he'd just stopped himself from hugging her. Taking another step towards him she cleared her throat to make sure that he hears her precisely. "They're your children, Ian. But let me tell you one thing. I am no longer your wife. I have moved on. Are we clear?"

With his face contorted into desperation he shook his head. "But I still love you."

"No. You had me once and you didn't care. Jane does. You had your chances to love me and you didn't…but Jane does. You didn't even touch me for five years and Jane does" she looked back at Jane before staring Ian straight in the eye. With a smirk she whispers, "God, does she." Ian turned red from the suggestive words and stuffed his hands in his pockets. "I'm not yours anymore. I'm Jane's. She loves me, Ian…And I think you know I love her. I want her. And not because she loves me. But because she is the most amazing, patient, compassionate person I have ever met in my life…

"So thank you. The journey was hell, but I now have three amazing people in my life…and I'm not letting go. Do you understand?"

Contemplating her for a moment Ian swallowed hard and nodded his head. "Yes. I do."

She placed her hand on his arm and gave it a squeeze. "Goodbye, Ian."

Giving her a weak smile he whispered, "Goodbye, Maura."

Without a backwards glance she walked away toward her family.

"Jane, where are we going?"

"Yeah, I thought we were going to the Dirty Robber for lunch."

The woman looked into the rearview mirror at Alice before shyly glancing over to her girlfriend. Raising her eyebrows she waited for the woman's approval before addressing both of the children's eyes in the back taking in the unfamiliar scenery around them.

"Well, if it's okay with you two…I have some people I want you to meet."

They continued to drive with no doubt insistent questions from both Alice and Jacob. Are we still going to eat? Are we there yet? Who is it? Will there be food? Will we like them? Is there food? Jane continued to groan and deny them their answers while Maura laughed the entire way.

Jane smiled pulling up to the two-story home with the basketball hoop hanging over the garage. "Now," Jane said turning in her seat to face them, "if they make you feel smothered or uncomfortable at all just tell-"

"Jay," Maura said softly leaning over to place a kiss on her girlfriend's cheek. "Everything will be fine. Come on." They all hesitantly got out of the car and walked up the side walk. They were half way up the driveway when suddenly the front door flew open. Angela Rizzoli almost broke out into a full sprint when she was stopped by her daughter dashing to stand in front the children and Maura.

Pointing a finger she growled, "Stop…right…there."

The smile on Angela's face only widened as she took in the children.

Walking slowly over to stand between Alice and Jacob, the tall brunette watched as Maura went over to her mother to greet her. "Ma…" Jane cautiously placed both hands on either child's shoulder, "This is Alice and Jacob. Maura's children."

There was a second of deep silence as the pressure and blush rose in Angela's face. Then as sudden as the quiet started, it was replaced by a loud screech and the sound of bones crushing as she gathered both siblings into her arms squeezing them and covering them in kisses.

Smiling as brightly as the sun, Maura walked over to join Jane just as Frankie and Tommy did the same. "Sorry, Janie." Said the eldest out of breath. "She said that the food was ready, which is a lie by the way, and made us set the table."

"Yeah, sorry. She tricked me." Tommy shrugged his shoulders like his sister was known to do.

Turning to Maura the brunette smirked and kissed her quickly on the lips. "Really?" She yelled laughing all the way over to them. "You fell for that?" She slapped Frankie in the arm who threw his hands up in surrender. Tommy on the other hand took a swing and commenced a shoving match between the three Rizzoli siblings.

"Can we carry this little party inside?" Maura said to no one in particular. She watched Jane shoving her brothers back and forth and Angela hold on tight to her son while speaking adamantly with Alice in Italian. She watched this chaos that is her new family and she realized. She couldn't ask for anything more.

A/N: Finally posted the last chapter...minus the epilogue. Hope you enjoyed it and let me know what you think! Also, be looking for the final part next week:)