Author's note: The final chapter. That has taken longer than the whole rest of it to write. I kept reading apologetic author's notes about best of intentions but work getting out of control, and sick animals and children and other events and now I am getting to wondering if writing fanfiction is a high risk activity that somehow makes your life spiral out of control

Jane put her hand in the small of Maura's back reassuringly as they walked up the steps to Angela's front door. "Ready?" she asked

"Really Jane. I am not sure quite what to expect, but I am sure your family can't be that awful given how warm you and Frankie are?"

"No one said we aren't warm Maura, I just, well, just think warm like out of control climate change. Brace yourself". And with that Jane knocked, opened the door and called

"Hi Ma"

"Jane, how great to see you" Angela began as she embraced Jane in a hug. Then "and this must be Maura" and she grabbed her and hugged her too. Maura looked slightly taken aback but quickly regained her composure.

"It is lovely to meet you Mrs Rizzoli. I have heard a lot about you"

"Please, call me Angela. Now come on through". She ushered Maura through her small house which was filled with delicious smells. "I'm sorry. I have a very small place since my husband left, but it is mine, and family and food are more important than having a fancy place, I'm sure you will agree". Maura smiled warmly. She was introduced to Jane's other brother Tommy, his wife Lydia, and son TJ. Frankie greeted her warmly.

Maura did her very best to field the questions from the family about where she had grown up, and what her parents did. Things seemed to be going fine until Angela asked her about her job. Frankie quickly lept in to the conversation, surprising Maura by answering on her behalf

"she's a professional Ma, well matched to Jane. Now are you guys off to the game next week?"

Jane replied "we've not had a chance to discuss it yet, but I'd love to go, with the recent pitching record, I would love to see him in action"

Maura sat watching, unable to work out why the conversation had suddenly veered on to sports. But decided it was a nice change from being the centre of attention. Angela though was not so relaxed about the change of topic

"what are you all hiding from me? What does Maura do for a job?"

Maura replied "nothing embarrassing at all Mrs Rizzoli, I work as an attorney, and I am financially stable", presuming that might be Angela's concern. But instead she saw Angela peer unhappily from her to Jane and back again "An attorney? Jane! You brought home an attorney? You know how I feel about attorneys"

Jane tried to answer confidently "Yes Ma, but look, Maura's different"

"So Maura, did they do anything in that law school of yours on common decency and ethics?"

"Yes Mrs Rizzoli, I did several papers with a particular focus on ethics, and some on community and equity, and I also am interested in the philosophy of justice and"

"Was that at the same time you took the papers on how to make a fortune from clients who can't afford it, and how to help sleazeball ex-husbands leave their wives penniless?"

Maura looked completely bewildered as to how the warm environment had suddenly turned in to this angry scene.

Jane opened her mouth, looking furious, before Frankie quickly intervened "Ma, I have a date this week and I need you to look at a stain on a shirt I brought over, can we go look at it in the laundry, NOW?" whilst smoothly shepherding his Mother out of the room.

Maura looked downcast as Jane stroked her back. "Did I say something wrong Jane?"

Jane looked devastated "I'm sorry Maura. I should have warned you in advance. I just kind of hoped it wouldn't come up and I didn't want to worry you by telling you my Mother dislikes attorneys. Intensely. Family have had some bad experiences in the past. She usually is fairly open minded – or likes to think of herself as open minded. But has some unusual prejudices. So the fact you're a woman is fine. The fact you're an attorney, not so much. But she'll come round"

Maura looked up to see Tommy and Lydia smiling sympathetically. "you know, I'm not one of those lawyers. I do understand why she might not like my profession, although it is unfair, as most people in my class genuinely started with strong ideals for justice"

Tommy smiled back "We figured Maura. Jane is such a kind heart I'd be surprised if she brought a corporate shark home to meet Ma. Let's try a different topic though whilst we wait for Frankie to bring Ma back. Maura, which of your Mother's dishes are your favourite reminders of childhood? I love Ma's gnocchi. But you can't go past her lasagne either. Or her meatballs"

"or her Cannoli" Jane joined in laughing.

At this point Frankie shepherded a slightly subdued looking Angela in to the room. "listen Ma, back to the topic of your food. Let's get this meal going and show Maura some real Rizzoli hospitality"

Angela tried to muster a bright smile "forgive me Maura, I misplaced my manners. But let's get you started on an antipasto platter and a glass of wine and get to know you better. Frankie gently explained to me you work as a public defender and the excellent job you did for an innocent young man. Hopefully you can convince me over time that there are lovely lawyers"

"that's a big task to expect of one person Ma" Jane quipped, and whilst the atmosphere in the room wasn't entirely comfortable, at least some of the tension broke.

Maura managed to adroitly ask some questions about the extended Rizzoli family, which lead to some amusing anecdotes about various cousins, and things the three Rizzoli siblings had done in their youth. She found herself laughing along, though felt a touch wistful, realising her very different upbringing meant there were no similar warm and funny stories about her childhood.

"what about you Maura?" smiled Tommy "what are some of the evils you got up to, before becoming a part of the law?"

"I, uh, I don't think I did anything really" replied Maura slightly surprised.

"don't worry Maura, we won't tell" Tommy laughed back "after all look at Frankie here – I think half the nuns thought he would end up on the other side of the cell bars"

"it isn't I worry about my professional reputation Tommy, it's just that those sort of things didn't cross my mind as a child. I was always left a lot to myself and became very self-contained. I guess I did once cause the Governess to call my parents when they were away, which I was upset about, but I hadn't meant to hit her car with a mud pie – I just wanted to make one after I read about them in books – and then I wanted to throw it, as I really didn't see how you could throw it far, but the books seemed to suggest…."

"wow, you had like a governess when you were growing up?" Tommy asked, looking awestruck

Angela bristled visibly "just a Ma not good enough for you Tommy? You know I always did my best by you kids. And I cooked too. And cleaned. Maura's family probably had a separate cook and cleaner and…."

"well yes Mrs Rizzoli we did, but" Maura began, but was interrupted by an upset Angela

"Well I expect my place and my Jane aren't good enough for you then. What is this exactly? Seeing how the blue collared rather than the blue blooded live? A bit of a field trip to the southside?"

"I'm sorry Mrs Rizzoli, I seem to have made an awful impression on you" said a dejected looking Maura, as Frankie smoothly took over, seeing out the corner of his eye a quietly enraged Jane who appeared about to stand and leave "now Ma remember what we talked about – we're here to get to know Maura, regardless of what she does for a job, and how she was brought up, and get to see what it is Jane likes about her so much"

"sheesh Ma" added Jane "and you ask why I never bring people home?"

Angela looked at Jane long enough to realise if she didn't manage to sort things with Jane and Maura in a few moments, Jane looked a high risk of storming out "I'm sorry girls. I think I was just a bit anxious. You do so seldom bring people home Jane, and it made me think she must be special to you"

Jane blushed "look it is early days Ma, but no I wouldn't waste your time if I didn't think she was special"

Maura beamed at Jane and smiled at Angela "I just wish my parents took such an interest in me as you take in your children Mrs Rizzoli. I would love to have them ask about dates and prospects and….well I just hope when I parent, I can pick up a few skills from you"

Maura looked around, feeling reasonably pleased with her carefully crafted answer. She hoped she had judged sincerity well, without going too far in to flattery – it was sometimes so hard to tell how people would take things. Especially given how this lunch was going so far. She felt panicked as she saw Jane look horrified at her comments, then saw Frankie, Tommy and Lydia smiling at each other knowingly, and then she looked on to Angela who looked near overjoyed and asked

"so you would like children Maura?"

"I think so Mrs Rizzoli, but only if I am in a place to give them more attention and care than my parents had spare for me"

"Maura, you really MUST call me Angela. Now tell me, what about Janie here? Do you think she is good mothering material?"

Maura answered with little thought "seeing how much she loves her family, I can't see how she couldn't be"

"Oh this is so wonderful, Janie, I didn't realise you two were thinking about Grandbabies, already! TJ needs some cousins and so, which one of you..."

"MAAAA" Jane growled. "Topic closed. I haven't got close to discussing that with Maura yet. When I do, you probably won't be the first to know, because then everyone will know when you put it over local radio."

"Oh Jane, lighten up" Angela laughed. But she turned to Maura beaming "so pleased to have you in the family dear, and any Mothering advice you could ever want, I'd be honoured to have you ask."

….

As Jane drove home, she apologised

"I'm so sorry Maura. But I did suggest we wait before I subject you to the family"

"I thought it went all right Jane?"

"All right? What bit was all right? The bit where my Mother let loose her anti-attorney prejudices? Or the bit where her anti-rich people prejudices came out? Or maybe the sudden reversal of her opinion, when she started to see you as a mobile uterus for a grand-baby?" Jane grumbled as she pulled the car in to Maura's driveway.

Maura smiled softly "the bit where I saw how fiercely she loves and protects you Jane. The bit where I saw where you get it from. The bit where I fell for you just a little bit more"

"You what?" Jane gruffly replied. "You meet my Mother and you fall for me a little bit more, rather than see her as the ghost of your Christmas future"

"Oh Jane, go easy on your Mum. And yes, I hope you are my Christmas future. But not in ghost form. I prefer you in bodily form so I can..." and she leaned over the centre console and kissed Jane passionately.