I do not own Rizzoli and Isles or its characters.

It was Monday. Jane hated Mondays. She hated the gruff, angry men as they returned to work at the precinct. She hated having to chug down an extra two cups of coffee. Most of all, she hated leaving her family. Quiet weekends with Maura and Sophia were her saving grace from a week of anxiety. As she opened the door to her home, Jane felt relieved that this Monday was finally drawing to a close. The first floor was abandoned, and she spotted evidence of a grilled cheese dinner (Sophia's favorite) and a Disney movie marathon. Hearing giggles above her, she followed the noise and climbed the stairs, heading for the bathroom.

What she found there was nothing short of a miracle.

Sophia, in all her three-year-old glory, was cooperatively allowing Maura to bathe her, something that was a fight every night in the Rizzoli household. Her head titled back and eyes shut tightly, Maura poured water over her long, honey-blond hair. Jane was often baffled at how closely their daughter resembled her wife.

"Keep them closed, Sophia, you don't want shampoo in your eyes," Maura ordered.

"I know, mommy."

Jane chuckled. "Was the grilled cheese the wage for obedience tonight?"

Maura jumped, turning her head to Jane.

"MAMA!" Sophia yelled as the water rushed down her back. Squirming in her mother's grasp, she attempted to escape the tub to greet Jane.

"Oh, no you don't, missy!" She scolded. "Really, Jane, was it necessary to scare me like that?"

Jane grinned, bending over to kiss Maura. "Hey, I gotta keep things fresh, you know?"

Maura sighed, frustrated. "Yes, Sophia agreed to comply during bath time if we had grilled cheese for dinner. I don't think she counted on this interruption, however."

"I'm sorry I'm so late. I had more paper work than I thought." She had called Maura earlier in the evening to warn her that she wouldn't be home for dinner, but hadn't anticipated missing most of her family's nightly bath adventure.

"It's alright, just don't make a habit of it. Heaven forbid I should have to go through this alone every night."

Sophia, blithely unaware of her mother's slight, was happily playing with the plastic boat her Uncle Tommy had given her for her last birthday.

"Oh, come on, it's not that bad. Look, a little bribery goes a long way with this kid!" Jane laughed again.

Maura rolled her eyes. "Alright, Sophia, torture time is over! Stand up so we can get you dried off."

Jane grabbed a towel, handing it to Maura.

"What'd you get up to today, sunshine?" Jane asked her daughter as her wife ran the towel through Sophia's hair.

"Nonna and I made cookies!"

Angela had quit her job at the cafè after Maura's maternity leave, offering to babysit Sophia full time. Jane and Maura were both grateful that while they were gone, their daughter was being raised by another family member.

"Cookies and grilled cheese all in one day, huh? Sounds like you made out, kid!"

More or less dry, Sophia made her way to her bedroom wrapped in the towel. Her mothers followed, passing through the hallway covered with family and baby pictures.

"Oh yeah!" the little girl replied excitedly. "And then we watched movies. Beauty and the Beast, mama, your favorite!"

Maura laughed as she pulled out Sophia's pajamas. Their daughter unquestionably brought out the child in Jane, whether it was movies or toys or tag in the back yard. This, to Maura, was just one of the countless blessings parenthood had given them.

"Your mama just likes that movie because the Beast teaches her how to act tough."

Sophia's eyes widened, turning to Jane. "Is that where you learned to be scary, mama? So that you can scare the bad guys away?"

Both Jane and Maura laughed at their daughter's innocence.

"You know it, baby. Plus, that Beast is a real charmer. How else could I have gotten your mommy to marry me?" They all laughed, Jane planting a light kiss on Maura's lips.

After she was dressed, Sophia clambered into bed excitedly.

"Can we read the story about the crayon, mommy?"

Jane pulled Harold and the Purple Crayon off the book shelf, its pages wearing from use. It was definitely one of Sophia's favorites.

As she watched Maura read by the soft glow of the bedside lamp, Jane couldn't help but feel blessed.

Maybe Mondays weren't so bad after all.

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