Sorry for the long wait between updates. Just so you know, this may be the only update this week. I have a lot of exams and stuff going on this week, so I won't be able to update as much as I usually do. The earliest I may be able to post the next update will likely be Sunday. Thanks for your patience in advance, and I hope you like this chapter.

"Hold still Jack!" Jane grunted. "Let me get your shirt on and then you can be free." She grabbed the little Red Sox t-shirt from the bed and slipped it on over Jack's head. Jane gave him a little tickle and a goofy smile when his face reemerged, and he squirmed and gave her a grin in response.

"Jane? What's taking you so long? We are going to be late!" Maura's voice called up the stairs.

"We'll be down in a minute!" Jane called over her shoulder. She sat down on the edge of his bed and patted the space next to her. As he climbed up next to her, she smoothed down his rumpled hair, which had gotten mussed when she put his shirt on. "You ready for your first day of school little man?" Jane leaned forward and bent her head slightly to look him in the eye.

After three weeks of exhaustive research on Maura's part and visiting numerous daycares and preschools, Jane and Maura had finally decided on a suitable preschool for Jack. Luckily, the school year was just starting, so Jack wouldn't even be behind the other students. A few days ago, they had toured the school, even meeting with the principal to make sure that she was aware of Jack's issues, especially since he still wasn't speaking. Everyone had seemed so understanding, and Jane and Maura had left feeling a little more at peace about their decision to put him in full-time school. They just hoped there wouldn't be any issues once they left him there by himself.

Jack played with the hem of his shirt, not wanting to look Jane in the eye. A tiny frown appeared on his forehead.

"Hey…buddy." Jane slipped an arm around his shoulders. "It's okay to be nervous." She pressed a kiss to the top of his head. "You're gonna have a great day though. I just know it. You saw the school and met Miss Megan, so there's nothing to worry about. And if there is, they will call Maura or I and we will come right away. Okay?"

There was a moment of hesitation before Jack gave a slight nod and a shy smile. Jane pulled him in for a brief hug and then stood in front of his bed. Bending her knees slightly she turned to look over her shoulder. "Now hop on. We better head down for breakfast before Maura eats it all."

Jane couldn't help but chuckle at the panicked look in Jack's eyes as he quickly hopped onto her back and wrapped his arms around her neck. They headed downstairs and into the kitchen where she deposited Jack on his seat at the table. Jane walked into the kitchen and gave Maura a kiss on the cheek.

"Sorry. He was wiggly and it took forever to get him dressed, and then we had a little pep-talk about school." Jane picked up the plate with a steaming pile of scrambled eggs.

Maura smiled sympathetically. "He seemed a little nervous when I gave him his bath last night." She grabbed two mugs of coffee from the counter and looked at Jane worriedly. "I just hope we didn't rush this. This won't be too much for him, right?"

Jane gave a small sigh. "I hope not. He's been through a lot, but I think he is ready. Just think of how far he has come even since I have been home. He only wet the bed once and he is giving us hugs and kisses left and right these days. I think he's ready for this Maur."

Maura chewed her lip for a couple seconds before nodding in agreement. "You're right. He's ready. I think I'm nervous for him." She admitted.

Jane smiled and stooped to give Maura a kiss on the lips. "I am too." She nodded her head toward the dining room. "Come on. Let's get the bottomless pit fed and off to school. God forbid a child of Maura Isles-Rizzoli is late for his first day of school…" Jane trailed off as she headed into the dining room with the plate of eggs.

Maura didn't follow her immediately, but waited in the kitchen for the feelings of apprehension to pass. Once she was feeling a little more sure about things, she took a deep breath and followed her wife's footsteps into the dining room to enjoy breakfast with her wife and Jack.

"Don't forget his backpack Maur!" Jane leaned over the console from her position in the drivers seat and called out the passenger window. Maura and Jack paused mid-stride and turned back toward the car. Maura gave her a grateful smile before opening the door and grabbing Jack's Batman backpack. Jane watched the pair turn back and head into the school, Jack holding Maura's hand the whole time. Jane couldn't help but grin at the sight of Jack wearing his backpack. The thing was so big it hung down near the back of the little boy's knees.

While she waited for Maura to reappear, she slipped on her sunglasses and drummed on the steering wheel distractedly. Jane had originally planned on bringing Jack into the school with Maura, but decided against it as they pulled up in front of the school. Although she and Jack had been growing closer with each passing day, he was still obviously more comfortable with Maura, so Jane figured that it would be easier for him if Maura brought him in. And as she had seen his wide and panicked eyes in the rearview mirror as they entered the school parking lot, she knew she had made the right decision.

Jane was just texting Martinez to let him know she would be in shortly when Maura reappeared in the door of the school. As Maura opened the door and got into the car, Jane couldn't help but notice as Maura exhaled in relief. Jane put the car in gear and looked over at Maura.

"Everything go okay?" Jane asked.

Maura reached over and linked their hands and rested them on the console between them. "Yes. He was a little clingy at first, but once he saw their collection of toys in his classroom he let go of my hand and went to investigate. I slipped out when he was distracted."

Jane gave Maura's hand a reassuring squeeze as they pulled out of the preschool's parking lot. "He'll be fine Maur."

Maura nodded. "I just never realized how hard it would be to drop a child off for their first day of school." She bit her lip. "I mean, I have always heard colleagues or coworkers taking about how difficult it was, but I never anticipated it would be so hard." She gave a laugh when she realized there were tears forming in her eyes. "I mean, we've only had him for a month Jane. How am I this attached already?" Maura brushed the tears from her eyes carefully, trying to avoid smudging her mascara.

Jane pulled their joined hands up so she could kiss the back of Maura's hand. "It's okay Maura. That little boy has stolen my heart too." She said quietly.

They rode the rest of the way to headquarters in silence, their hands remaining joined over the console. But neither woman had the courage to voice their true desires about Jack: making him a permanent member of their family.

Jane was just getting her third cup of coffee of the day from the café in the lobby when she felt a tap on her shoulder. She finished stirring and turned around, coming face-to-face with a middle-aged man.

"You're Rizzoli, right? Jane Rizzoli?" The man asked.

Jane studied him for a minute, taking in his slightly outdated style of suit, the paunch around his middle, and they hair greying at his temples. "Uh…yeah. Do I know you?" She replied.

"Oh sorry!" He extended his hand. "It's Korsak. Detective Vince Korsak…Homicide Division."

Jane reached out and shook the offered hand, trying not to grimace as her hand made contact with his clammy palm. "Nice to meet you Detective Korsak." She took a sip of her coffee as he looked at her expectantly.

"I didn't mean to bother you." He started. "I just wanted to introduce myself. Martinez has been taking you up for the past few months so I wanted to meet you. If you ever find yourself contemplating a career in homicide, I'd be more than happy to have you." He jammed his hands into his pocket. "I've heard the chatter around here and a lot of people are saying you're gonna be the youngest officer ever to make detective."

Jane looked down at the floor, not sure of how to respond. "Yeah…well, people say a lot of things." She replied, suddenly remembering his name from the homicides attached to the drug ring case. "Hey, you worked with my wife a couple months back, didn't you?"

"Oh yeah! I did. Dr. Isles-Rizzoli, right? I heard that you two were married. Man, she is something else, huh?" He suddenly turned pink and tried to backtrack. "Oh…I mean...she's really good at her, uh…job." He tugged at the collar of his shirt. "Most of us are hoping she replaces Dr. Benton real soon. That guy is a pain in my ass."

Jane laughed. "Yeah he is." Her phone buzzing in the holster on her belt interrupted their conversation. Jane pulled it off and glanced at the ID, noting it was Maura. "Sorry, I gotta take this. It was nice to meet you Detective Korsak."

"Nice meeting you too Rizzoli. I'm serious, you ever wanna join homicide, you talk to me, okay?"

Jane nodded and gave a small wave as she exited the café and put the phone to her ear. "Hey Maur. I was just talking about you."

"Jane, I just got a call from Jack's school. Something happened and I need to pick him up. Can you bring me the car keys?" Maura's voice sounded on edge.

"I actually just got a cup of coffee in the café. If you want to meet me in the lobby I can just pass them off to you." Jane replied. "Is everything okay? Is Jack okay?"

"I don't know Jane. I'll be up in a minute."

A couple minutes later, Maura stepped off the elevator and looked around the lobby for Jane.

"Maura, over here!" Jane called out, raising her hand so that Maura could find her. The blonde walked briskly toward her, a distinct look of worry present in her furrowed brow. "Do you want me to come with you?" Jane asked as she held out the keys.

Maura shook her head as she took the offered keys. "No. I think it will be better if one of us goes. I'll call you as soon as I know what is going on." She gave Jane a quick peck on the lips and moved her purse higher up on her shoulder before hurrying out the door, leaving Jane rooted in the lobby and wondering what was going on with Jack.

Maura had to restrain herself from running into the school. She walked as quickly as she could down the walkway and pulled open the main door. Stepping into the school office, she walked up to the secretary. "I got a call about Jack Larson. I'm his…I'm his guardian." She said breathlessly.

The secretary nodded. "Principal Jones said to have you go straight to his classroom. They tried to coax him out to go to the nurse's office, but he wouldn't budge."

Maura's heart started to beat faster. "Thank you." She called over her shoulder at the secretary. She rounded the corner to the wing where Jack's classroom was located and made a beeline towards it. As soon as she entered, she could hear Jack's distinct wailing, the sounds breaking her heart as Jack's teacher waved her over to the far corner of the room. Just as Maura was about to cross the room to find out exactly what was going on, she heard several choked out words coming from the little boy between sobs.

"I…want…my…Maura."

The effect those four choked out words had on Maura was devastating, and she dropped her purse and all but sprinted across the room to get to Jack. Without even getting an explanation from Jack's teacher, Maura crouched down and pulled the sobbing boy into her arms, pulling him as close as she could and sitting down on the carpeted floor. She pulled him onto her lap and cradled him close, kissing his tearstained cheeks and rubbing his back. Her heart beat faster as he continued to call out for her.

"Maura…I need…my…Maura. My…Maura." He sobbed uncontrollably.

"Jack…I'm here. It's okay honey." She whispered. She had to fight back her own tears as his hands immediately clutched her blouse and he nuzzled his face into her chest as great sobs continued to wrack his body. "Jack…honey, I'm here now. You need to calm down. Come on, take a breath." She soothed, continuing to rub gentle circles on his back. As she looked up to glance around the room, she was thankful to see the principal ushering the other students out of the classroom. Maura turned her attention back to the crying boy in her arms, lowering her face so her cheek was resting against the top of his head. He continued to sob in her arms, and Maura ignored the numbness that was starting to creep into her legs and the mucus that now stained the front of her silk blouse. Her only focus was Jack.

It took quite some time, but he eventually settled down. Maura shifted him on her lap so she could get a better look at him, wanting to make sure he wasn't hurt in any way. She smoothed back his hair and tilted his face gently so she could look directly at him. "What happened honey?" She asked gently.

Maura had come to expect silence from the boy, so she was shocked when he took in a shuddering breath and opened his mouth to speak, his hazel eyes still swimming with tears as he looked up at her.

"Joey locked me in the closet." His voice was quiet, and a little bit hoarse. Maura wasn't sure if the hoarseness was a result of his crying or the weeks of disuse. Either way, now wasn't the time to dwell on it. "And…and I thought I was with…them…and you were gone."

Maura kissed his forehead, suddenly remembering reading his case file in Maureen's office before she picked him up. His previous foster parents had abused him in several different ways, but Maura remembered reading one line where it said that they often locked him in the basement for several hours at a time. Something about being locked in that closet by his classmate must have triggered a flashback.

"I'm sorry you were scared Jack." Maura snuggled him close, tucking him against her chest where he fit so perfectly. She couldn't help but smile when she felt his fingers near her wrist, playing with her watchband as he continued to calm down. "Jane and I will make sure that won't happen again."

When she was confident he had calmed all the way, she moved him off her lap and stood. Without thinking, she bent and picked Jack up, holding him against her hip as she went to talk to his teacher to get the whole story.

"I'm sorry for all this, Dr. Isles-Rizzoli." The young woman said. "I had just stepped out to take another student to the bathroom when it happened."

"It's alright Megan." Maura responded. "I'm just glad you called me so quickly."

The young woman looked at the boy resting contentedly against Maura's shoulder. "He kept asking for you. He kept asking for 'his Maura'. You said he had been nonverbal so far, so I was surprised when he started to ask for you. It was the first thing I heard him say."

Maura's heart fluttered at Megan's words, suddenly in disbelief that not only had Jack spoken today, but his first words were to ask for her. Jack wound a strand of her hair around his small finger and gave a contented sigh. Maura hoisted him up a little higher on her hip.

"Thank you again Megan. We will try again tomorrow, I guess." Maura picked up her purse from where she had dropped it and straightened up, no difficult task with a four-year-old in your arms.

Megan nodded. "Bye Dr. Isles-Rizzoli. Bye Jack." She waved as they made their way out into the hallway.

Maura kissed the dark head against her shoulder one more time as they walked down the hall toward the exit.

"Maura…are you my mama now?" Jack's quiet question startled her. Hearing him speaking was certainly going to take some getting used to.

Maura paused, her free hand on the door, about to push it open. "I would like to be." She replied. "Jane and I would like to be your mommies." She amended, not sure if she should have said anything about it before talking to Jane. She held her breath slightly as she waited for the little boy's response.

When Jack didn't immediately respond, Maura pushed the heavy door open and the made their way into the early-September sunshine. She tried not to think too much about his lack of response as she made her way to the car and started to buckle him into his booster seat. Just as she finished buckling the last strap, she heard his little voice again.

"Maura…mommy. Mama. Mommy." It was almost like he was testing the names out. She looked up from the buckles to see him looking at her intently. Without warning, his hand came up and touched her cheek, resting there for a few seconds. He smiled tentatively as his eyes locked on hers.

"Mommy." He said decisively.