The remainder of Constance's visit went by smoothly. Jane, Maura, and Jack had spent the entire weekend with Constance, visiting a lot of the popular tourist sites in the city, but also just hanging out at the park down the street or at the house. Everyone had enjoyed their time together, and Maura had appreciated the time with her mother as they worked towards their newly repaired relationship.

Before they knew it, it was time for Constance to return to Paris, and Maura and Jane found themselves at the security checkpoint at Logan Airport, waving goodbye to Constance who was on the other side and headed toward her gate. With one last wave, Jane ushered her misty-eyed wife back through the lobby and toward the parking garage. As they waited for the elevator to take them to the pedestrian bridge across to the garage, Jane wrapped her arm around her sniffling wife's shoulders.

"Hey…you okay?"

Maura nodded and wiped her eyes. "I'm just sad to see her go. It was so nice having her here."

The elevator dinged and the metal door slid open. Jane and Maura entered and Jane pulled Maura close as the door shut.

"It was nice having her here." Jane said. "I'm glad to know that she is invested in your life."

"Me too." Maura wiped her eyes again as they exited the elevator. She reached down to take Jane's hand as they started across the pedestrian bridge that connected the main terminal with the parking garage. "She's already planning another trip for around the time when the baby is due."

Jane squeezed her hand. "That's great Maur. I'm sure it will be nice to have your mom around for that."

"Mhmm. I think it will." Maura smiled at the thought as they continued to walk. Both women were quiet for the rest of the short journey to their car, and the silence continued as they exited the parking garage and navigated toward the airport exit to head home. Maura was caught up in thinking about how nice it was to have her mother around for the past several days, and stared out the window at the city, which was all lit up as darkness descended over it.

Jane chewed her lip as she changed lanes and turned off the Mass Pike. She had been thinking about the detective's exam for the past few days, and now seemed like as good a time as any to ask Maura what she thought about it. While the car was stopped at a light, she turned to look at Maura.

"Hey Maur…I wanted to talk to you about something."

Maura turned her head away from the window and looked at Jane. "What is it?"

The light turned green and Jane pressed down on the accelerator. "I'm thinking about taking the detective's exam." She stole a quick glance at her wife, not wanting to take her eyes off the rode, but wanting to gauge Maura's reaction. In the quick glance, she was able to see Maura frown slightly before returning her focus to the road. "Martinez thinks I'm ready."

Maura looked back out her window at the city lights, twisting her wedding ring around distractedly as she tried to sort out her feelings on the subject. Around the time that Jane had last gotten a promotion, she had gotten attacked and stabbed in the leg. And that promotion had also led to Jane having to go undercover for a month, which had been hard for both of them. Maura looked over and studied her wife, who was chewing her lip nervously as her eyes fixed on the road ahead. Maura's gaze slid lower, focusing on the scar on Jane's thigh that peeked out of the end of Jane's running shorts. The sight of it brought back memories of Jane in the hospital, and Maura squeezed her eyes shut tightly to ward off the image of Jane bleeding profusely and lying on a stretcher.

The truth was, Jane's job came with risks. And Maura knew full well the risks that had come with her marrying a police officer. But now that there was a child…children, in a few months…in the picture, Maura found herself worrying about Jane more often than not. But, Maura had to remind herself, Jane had really only been seriously injured once in the four years they had been married, which was a fairly good statistic if you thought about it. Although, being a detective would also bring more contact with possibly volatile suspects, whether that be in interrogation rooms or tracking them down on the city streets.

"Hey…Maur…you with me? Say something." Jane reached out and rested her hand on top of Maura's on the console between them. "I didn't mean to freak you out. I'm just trying to wrap my mind around what this means for our family."

Maura turned to look at Jane again. Even after four years, Maura couldn't deny her attraction toward the brunette in the driver's seat. Jane had turned out to be the perfect partner, dedicated and faithful, and unquestioningly devoted to Maura, as well as their son. Maura studied Jane's profile, the sharp and angular lines of her nose and jaw, the faint wrinkles in her forehead as she worried about Maura's reaction. Those intense dark brown eyes that were fixed ahead on the road, but currently displayed Jane's uncertainty over the situation. Maura knew that becoming a detective was Jane's dream, the reason why she had gone to the police academy in the first place. But as she looked down at her rapidly expanding waistline, she couldn't help but wonder if now was a good time for Jane to be thinking of her career.

"Sorry…you just caught me by surprise is all." Maura said quietly. "Do you think you are ready for it?" What she really meant to say was: do you think WE are ready for it?

Jane eased on the brake as they stopped at another traffic light. She turned slightly to look at Maura. "I don't know. I mean…I want to be a detective, but we have a lot going on right now." Maura could see the smile in her eyes as Jane's gaze fixed on Maura's stomach. "I don't know if it's the right time for it." The light changed and the car lurched into motion once again.

Maura smiled, loving the fact that Jane was thinking about the same things she was. She had no doubt that Jane would be a fantastic detective. All the traits and characteristics that made her such a wonderful wife and mother were ones that would serve her well as a detective.

Jane spoke again, bringing Maura's focus back to the present. "I feel like we always come back to this conversation."

"What do you mean?" Maura frowned slightly.

"It's just…whenever we try and make a big decision about anything, it seems like it's never the right time."

Jane slowed the car as she turned into the driveway. Once the car was in the garage, Jane put it into park, but neither woman made a move to get out. Instead, Jane unbuckled her seat belt and shifted so she could face Maura.

"I mean…I love you and I love our family, but I love my job too, you know?" Jane reached up to run a hand through her hair. "I don't want to miss out on this opportunity." She exhaled slowly and looked up at Maura, who was still frowning, the lines marring Maura's usually smooth forehead. "Hey…talk to me. What's wrong?"

Maura hesitated, unsure of how to voice her concerns but still remain supportive of Jane's career. "I just worry sometimes, Jane. Your job is dangerous, but we are going to have two children to think about soon. It's not just about me anymore. And believe me, I will be the proudest woman alive when you make detective, but the thought of you getting hurt terrifies me."

"Oh Maur…" Jane whispered, reaching out and pulling Maura in for a hug, which was a little awkward given the console between them and Maura's baby bump. She sighed deeply, resting her forehead against Maura's shoulder and grasping the back of Maura's shirt tightly. She could feel Maura holding on to her just as tightly. "I can't get you out of my mind when I'm at work. Every time I get into a sketchy situation, all I can see is you and Jack. The thought of doing something stupid and leaving you guys behind…that's what drives me to do what I do. Every bad guy we bring in…that's one less bad guy out there that could possibly prevent me from coming home to you."

Jane could feel Maura crying against her chest. She pulled back to look at her wife, gently brushing the tears from Maura's cheeks. "Shit…I didn't mean to make you upset. I just wanted to let you know I was thinking about it. We don't have to decide anything tonight." She watched Maura let out a shaky breath as a few more tears streamed down her cheeks. Jane sighed and pulled her back in for another hug, rubbing Maura's back softly this time. "Maura, I can't promise you I won't ever get hurt, but I can promise you to do everything in my power to always come home to you and Jack." She reached a hand between them to rest on the side of Maura's stomach briefly. "And baby girl…of course." Her hand returned Maura's back, resuming its gentle and calming motion.

Maura could feel Jane's lips curling into a smile against her temple. She leaned into Jane's embrace, allowing the gentle motion of Jane's hands on her back to soothe her until she calmed. Eventually, Maura pulled away, brushing the last of the tears from her cheeks and looking up at Jane. "Baby girl needs a name." She smiled shyly at Jane, who returned the grin.

"She does." Jane leaned across the console and kissed Maura. "But for now, I think it's time to head inside and get my beautiful wife to bed." Jane opened her door and got out, crossing to Maura's side to help her out. "We've had a busy few days, and I'm tired. And if I'm tired, I know you've gotta be tired. I mean…you're growing a tiny human in there."

Maura took Jane's offered hand and slipped down from the passenger seat. As they headed into the house, Maura realized just how tired she was, letting out a few large yawns in succession. Maura was slipping off her shoes when she felt a couple kicks from the baby. She smiled and brought her hand up to gently rub her stomach where she had felt the kicks. "Little One seems to be protesting the fact that she is still nameless after almost twenty-three weeks."

Jane chuckled as they entered their living room to find Angela and Jack fast asleep on the couch. "I'll tell you what…you head upstairs and get ready for bed, and I'll take care of these two and meet you up there. We can take a look at the baby name book for a little bit before bed."

Maura nodded her assent, and with another yawn and a kiss to Jane's cheek, followed instructions and headed up to their bedroom. Jane watched her leave, and then headed over to the couch to wake up her mother without waking up her sleeping son.

Jane entered the Homicide Unit, clutching a coffee in each hand. After a few more discussions about her future career, Maura and she had decided that Jane would shadow a few detectives from different departments at BPD to get a feel for things, before she decided to take the exam. Jane had sensed that Maura was still a little tense about her desire to become a detective, but in the end, they had agreed that things were only going to get more chaotic once the baby was born and that Jane should take any opportunity she had, while they had the chance. Today was her day to shadow Detective Korsak in the Homicide Unit, and Jane had brought him a coffee to thank him for being willing to do so.

"Hey, Rizzoli, over here!" Vince Korsak was waving to her from a cluttered desk across the room. Jane raised her chin in recognition and headed over to where he was seated.

"Hey Detective Korsak. Thanks again for letting me tag along today. I brought you a coffee." She placed the coffee on his desk, cringing a little at his kitten screensaver.

"It's my pleasure, Jane." Korsak replied jovially. "It's not every day we have a whiz-kid like you following us. I just hope we can convince you that Homicide is where you belong." He reached for the coffee, and pulling a couple packets of sugar out of his desk drawer, added sugar and started stirring. "Please…take a load off." He gestured at an empty chair beside his desk.

"Thanks." Jane murmured, glancing around the room. There were several detectives around, each seemingly engrossed in their work for the time being. There was a large board at one end of the room, however it was empty, indicating that for the time being, the unit wasn't working any big cases. Jane continued her investigation of the room, her eyes peering through the glass doors at the opposite wall that led to BRIC. From her vantage point, Jane could make out several computers and screens and other tools that allowed the department to keep an eye on the city.

Korsak's phone rang startling Jane a bit.

"Korsak." Korsak grunted into the phone. Jane watched as Korsak listened to whoever was on the other end, hoping that they had gotten information about a possible case. A few seconds later, he was thanking the other person, and he replaced the phone in the cradle. "Looks like we got a case. Body found in an alley in the Back Bay. You in?"

Jane nodded, standing and adjusting her gun holster. "Hell yeah."

Korsak grinned. "I like your enthusiasm. Come on whiz-kid…let's see how you handle a day in homicide." He tossed her a set of keys. "You're driving."

Jane grinned back as Korsak slipped on his sport coat. "Cool."

It was nearly 11pm when Maura could hear the door closing downstairs, signaling that Jane was finally home. Jane had been on her mind the whole day, and when Jane had called to tell her that she was going to be late because they were bringing a suspect in for questioning, Maura had been a little disappointed. But the excitement in Jane's voice had brought a smile to her face, so she couldn't really be mad at her for too long. Maura shut her book and waited for Jane to make her way to their bedroom.

Jane appeared a few minutes later, her shirt untucked and unbuttoned. She paused in the doorway, somewhat surprised that Maura was still awake. "You didn't have to wait up for me." Jane shrugged the dress shirt off, balling it up and tossing it in the laundry. "You should be asleep."

Maura placed her book on the nightstand. "I wanted to hear about your day." She looked up just as Jane was peeling off her tank top. The sight of Jane's bare abdomen was tantalizing, but Maura tore her gaze away from the distracting sight. "How did it go?"

Jane pulled a t-shirt over her head and started to unbuckle her belt. "It was cool." She unbuttoned her pants and let them fall to the floor. "We caught a case so Korsak let me help out with everything." After slipping on a pair of running shorts, Jane pulled back the covers and joined Maura in bed. "He actually let me help. Like…he wanted my opinion on things. It was pretty cool. I wasn't sure what to expect, but I liked how different it was from the drug unit. It was like putting together pieces of a puzzle, and I liked it." Jane turned over on her side and propped herself up on an elbow. "To be honest…I am second-guessing whether or not I want to be a detective in the drug unit now. I really liked the challenge of the homicide unit."

Maura rolled to her side and scooted closer to Jane. She leaned in to kiss Jane, before resting her head on the pillow. "I'm glad you had a good day…even if you were late." She smiled, letting Jane know she wasn't actually upset about it. "Did you solve the case at least?"

Jane shook her head. "No…the suspect we interrogated had an airtight alibi, so I think they are back to square one. I'll have to ask Korsak to keep me updated on how it turns out." Jane turned over to reach for the baby name book on her nightstand. "So I know it's late, but do you have enough energy to look at baby names for a few?" She held up the book at looked at Maura expectantly.

Maura smiled and nodded, her hands coming up to rub her stomach out of habit. "Of course." Maura was now thirty weeks along, so they were certainly feeling the pressure to come up with a name. And Angela had been bugging them non-stop about it, so the sooner they could come up with a name, the happier everyone would be. "Jack came up with a few names that I thought you would appreciate."

"Oh?" Jane looked over at Maura, whose eyes were shining as she tried to hold back her laughter. "I can tell just by looking at you that they were amazing."

"His first suggestion was Booger." Maura could barely get it out without erupting into giggles. "And then he came up with SpongeBob, Captain America, and my personal favorite…Stinky."

The bed was now shaking as they laughed over Jack's baby name suggestions. Jane had to brush tears from her eyes when they finally settled down and cracked open the baby name book. "Man…that kid is a piece of work. He's gonna be hysterical with her when she comes."

Maura settled back into the pillows. "He certainly is."

"Alright…let's get down to business." Jane thumbed through a few pages, scanning the lists of names for ones that jumped out at her. They had been throwing around several names lately, but couldn't agree on a perfect name for their little girl. "Alexa?"

Maura shook her head. "I went to boarding school with a girl named Alexa, and she was extremely stuck up."

"Okay then…" Jane turned the page, reading off a few names that sounded decent. "Abigail…Amelia….Audrey…"

"I like Audrey." Maura said. "It's cute. Audrey Rizzoli…"

Jane dog-eared the page in the book. "Me too. Let's keep that one in the running." She continued to flip through the book as Maura let out a big yawn. "God…there's too many names in this friggin' book."

"How about Tessa?"

Jane paused, trying the name out in her head a few times. A smile spread across her face and she turned to look down at her half-asleep wife. "I like it. Where'd it come from?"

Maura shrugged. "After picking Jack up from school we stopped by the store to pick up some things. I heard a mom calling her little girl Tessa, and I couldn't help but think how cute of a name it was."

Jane shut the book. "I think we might have a name, Maur." She shut the book and rolled back onto her side facing Maura. "Tessa Rizzoli."

Hearing Jane say the name out loud brought a big smile to Maura's face. "What about a middle name?"

Jane yawned and motioned for Maura to roll onto her side so she could spoon her. "I'm just happy we figured out her first name for now. I'm too tired to think about middle names. That's gonna have to wait until tomorrow."

Maura chuckled and rolled onto her side, wiggling a bit until she was settled flush against Jane's front. She sighed in contentment as Jane flipped the light off and an arm wrapped around her stomach, cradling it gently. After a few minutes, Jane smoothed her hand across Maura's stomach.

"Night Tessa. I love you." Jane's breath was hot against Maura's neck. Maura smiled as Jane's lips pressed against the nape of her neck. "I love you too."