A/N: I must thank my beta Mrj726 for once again working so hard on this insanely long chapter, you're the best MJ thanks for putting up with all my crazy and believing in me. I'd like to thank my readers, you guys make the long nights and the manic tears worth while. This one is SUPER long and a whole lot happens. It ends with a cliff hanger you might not like but don't worry, we aren't getting back into any deep dark stuff so try not to get angry with me. I hope you all enjoy this chapter...it was sooo much fun to write even though it drove me crazy. And with all that being said...here we go.

James

"Are you ready buddy?" I asked Tommy Rizzoli who was sitting next to me in the back of the limo.

He looked up at me seeming nervous but hopeful and nodding his little head. He'd been quietly fidgeting the entire ride. He clutched an old paper bag against him tightly. In that bag was everything he owned in the world. He had three shirts, two pair of pants, two pair of shorts, a comb, and a tooth brush that needed replacing badly. That little black comb would not be able to groom his dark, curly hair. There was toothpaste with very little paste left, two dingy pairs of socks with holes and the shoes on his feet. The shirt he was wearing was stained everywhere and far too big for him, hanging off his shoulders loosely. I suspected the shoes on his feet were too small because he walked awkwardly, and he winced if he went too fast. His baggy pants were far too big, being held up by a cracked, worn out old belt that was way too big, and as such the ends were tied instead of buckled. His hair hadn't been cut or washed properly in ages, and his fingernails were far too long. He did not look like he was properly bathed in quite a while. He had been 'living' with the foster family from hell by the looks of it. But when he smiled at me, he looked so much like Jane and little Angela. Even though he was a little jumpy and anxious, I could see eagerness in his eyes. They twinkled like Jane's eyes did when she was happy or being playful. He had a mischievous grin just like Angela, and his hair hung in loose, dark curls all over the place just like the rest of the Rizzoli clan. I leaned over and mussed his hair. He bent his head down and giggled sweetly. His face was gentle; his manners were careful and almost feminine. He was so small for his 6 years; I wondered how well he'd been eating his whole life. Earlier we stopped at a McDonald's. When we walked inside his eyes went wide but he seemed frightened. He held my hand tightly with both his little hands, and wouldn't let go. I held his hands snugly and smiled down at him encouragingly. When I asked him what he wanted, he looked at me like he didn't understand what I was saying. I finally settled on buying him a happy meal and we sat down to eat. Tommy just stared at his food.

"Aren't you hungry, Tommy?" I asked him.

Tommy looked curiously at my own sons tearing into their cheeseburgers and fries.

"Is this all for me?" He asked me softly.

"Of course Tommy, it's all yours," I told him. He was adorable but I was becomingly increasingly worried about the little guy. What kid doesn't rip into a Happy Meal?

Yes, I was growing more and more concerned with the state of the child. He was very, very thin, awkward and nervous all the time. I thought of Jane, Maura and the noisy chaos their household fell into in a instant sometimes. The insanity of their house was usually funny and good-natured, but an anxious child might have a hard time getting used to it. On the other hand, I was neither a psychologist nor a pediatrician. I figured I'd leave it to Maura and Jane to get the boy settled in. I just prayed this visit didn't prove too much for Tommy or Jane.

I hadn't seen or spoken to Jane except one time since Maura whisked her away from the hospital in Boston in the middle of the night. Maura wouldn't even let me talk to her on the phone. To my knowledge, Maura wouldn't let anyone talk to Jane. Maura had an iron veil around Jane and did not allow anyone around Jane that wasn't immediate family and a female. Maura assured me Jane was healing each time we spoke over the last couple of weeks. Maura herself seemed less sad and more life was in her voice. I took comfort that Maura seemed to sound better. The entire first week after Maura took Jane back to New York she sounded almost lifeless. Anytime we spoke it was as though I was speaking to nothing more than a shadow. When I asked after Jane she would avoid my questions, and sometimes she would even get angry and hang up on me. I was so worried about them both, I rarely slept. The image of Jane on the floor in that night club haunted my mind when I closed my eyes at night.

When I found Jane on the floor in that dirty place beaten and broken...I felt crushed. Just thinking about it made me want to punch something. I was never absent the painful memory of that night. Every time I closed my eyes I saw her face covered in blood. Every time I drew a breath it felt like my chest would cave in under the weight of my guilt. I'd fought so hard...so hard to get to her. But I felt I failed both Jane and Maura, and the guilt still ate at me.

I sighed when I thought of Jane. I just wanted to see her face and see for myself she was ok. But Maura adamantly demanded I stay in Boston and get custody of Tommy. Tommy's foster family put up more of a fight than I thought they would. My guess was they hated losing cheap labor. But the name Rizzoli was now well known in Boston. Jane was a hero just as the detectives predicted. No matter how hard those foster assholes fought, they could not deny Tommy's DNA. He was a Rizzoli and he belonged with his family. When the judge handed down his orders yesterday I'd leapt for joy. I hoped maybe if I could just get Tommy to Jane, maybe she would forgive me for failing her. When I called Maura yesterday morning and told her the judge approved the visit this weekend Maura actually dropped the phone. When she finally came back on the line she was agitated and hysterical, babbling and stuttering so much she could barely form a sentence. That's when Jane's voice picked up on the line.

"Hello?" I heard Jane's voice.

My heart skipped a beat in my chest. I was so stunned and happy to hear her voice after a month, I nearly dropped my coffee.

"Jane!" I exclaimed.

"James!" She said excitedly. "What's going on bud?"

My heart was racing a mile a minute. I wanted to ask her so many things. I wanted to beg her forgiveness for not saving her. I wanted to reach through the phone and wrap her in my arms and tell her how happy I was to talk to her. I'd been depressed for so long that she would never be the same Jane again after...

But when I heard her voice she sounded cheerful, even glad to hear from me, and I felt myself goofily grinning like an idiot.

"I'm good Jane, how are you?" I asked her, careful to curb my elation at the sound of her voice.

I didn't want to sound overtly inquisitive by the question and lead her to believe I was bringing up what happened at the club. I knew Maura would kill me if I did. But I just had to know if she was ok.

"I'm great James. Maura bought a house for us and it's ENORMOUS! It's an equestrian estate. It's got horses, ducks, a pond and all kinds of stuff. We rode horses most of the day yesterday. Oh, Angela's finally walking pretty good and she talks sometimes...mostly bad words...but still she's talking again. That's all that matters. It's so pretty and quiet here James. You should come out here and hang out with me sometime, I need somebody to do stuff with outside." Jane started whispering in the phone.

She was talking a mile a minute and she sounded so cheerful. I couldn't stop smiling. I couldn't believe how good she sounded.

"Maura can't swim James, I had to save her ass from drowning in the pond. She almost knocked me out with a pole when we were setting up tents the other day, AND she wacked me with the bat so hard I thought she broke my leg when I tried to teach her to play baseball." Jane giggled and I laughed. "At least she can ride horses though, she taught me how. You gotta come out here. Bring your boys and Molly."

So Maura bought a house. She said she was looking, but I didn't think she'd move so fast. Maura took her promise to take care of her family to heart. The excitement in Jane's voice reflected how hard Maura worked over the past month to bring happiness into their lives as a couple again. She sounded so good. All my fears that Jane was never going to recover slowly faded away.

"Actually, I'll be seeing you really soon that's why I'm calling. I've made some magic happen with the courts and they're granting you and Maura a visit with Tommy in New York. I'm bringing him to you tomorrow for a few days." I said.

There was silence on the line. I thought Jane had hung up for a minute.

"Hello, Jane?" I said curiously.

"Are you serious James? Tommy's coming here tomorrow? Oh my God... Oh my GOD!" Jane exclaimed.

I heard the phone drop again and Jane's shouts of delight.

"Maura...Maura he's coming...TOMORROW...he's coming, my nephew, your son...our son...he's coming!" Jane was shouting.

"I know baby...I know. We have so much to do. We have to go to the city and buy all the things he needs. I need to call Albert to decorate a room for him. I need to call the dean of the prep school, I need to find out what he likes to eat, I need to call Addison for a referral to a good pediatrician, I need to buy him books, and toys, and clothes and..."

Maura started to sound like she was panicking.

"Maura calm down angel," I heard Jane say concernedly. "Stop breathing like that... sit down...sit down baby Jesus Christ! Why do you always get like this honey? GOOD GRIEF. I need you to calm down; you're freaking me out! He's only going to be here a few days this time. We've still got time to figure all that out...baby calm down. Gosh you're all sweaty here, drink this water baby."

I rolled my eyes and smirked. It sounded like things were indeed back to normal in the Rizzoli-Isles household. I could see Maura panicking in my head and Jane looking at her like she was scared she was going to pass out.

"Hello...hello?" I said into the line.

Finally Jane picked up again.

"James...Maura's being all crazy. I gotta get her to calm down and maybe give her something before she breaks out in hives and shit. You know how she gets. What time are you guys gonna be here? Is Tommy ok? Is he healthy and stuff?" Jane asked curiously.

"Tommy is ok," was all I told her about him. I didn't want her to worry; she had enough to deal with since it seemed Maura was spinning in circles.

"We'll be there tomorrow around three in the afternoon," I said.

"Awesome... Yaaay! James you're the best. I'll see you tomorrow at three," Jane said breathlessly.

"Oh my God. That's only thirty hours from now...Oh my God!" I heard Maura panicking in the background again.

Jane sighed.

"James I gotta go,"she said.

"Of course, see ya tomorrow," I said and hung up.

Last night I slept the whole night through for the first time since that horrible club incident and it felt like heaven. When I dreamed last night, they weren't nightmares. I dreamed of my family in the sunlight playing. I dreamed of happy thoughts from all walks of life. I even dreamed of Jane and Maura and little Angela. They were laughing and smiling. It was a welcome relief to the terrible nights I'd been plagued with the past month. When I picked Tommy up from the foster farm this morning all he had was his one bag and a very nervous smile on his face. His foster parents were less than friendly with me and basically ignored Tommy. They didn't even say goodbye to him or anything. The foster father sneered at him menacingly and the mother just turned up her nose at him. Tommy looked terrified of them and I felt him shaking next to me. I hustled Tommy away from that place as quickly as I could. I didn't know how much of that encounter to tell Jane or Maura. I wasn't even sure exactly what was going on with those foster givers and Tommy wouldn't talk about it. Whatever was happening it wasn't something I could tell Jane or Maura over the phone. Maura wouldn't want me upsetting Jane and Maura had also become extremely protective of her family. I knew how she felt. I understood what it was to be a father, bread winner, and have your whole family's safety and security fall to you. Even so I didn't want to work Maura up into storm of anger unnecessarily. Maybe Tommy was just a nervous kid and those foster people were just angry they were losing free labor out of him.

I looked over at Tommy sitting next to me in the limo again. He was clutching his little Batman action figure. The little toy was old and worn looking. It was missing one of its feet and half an arm but Tommy held on to it for dear life. I think it was his only toy. It was heartbreaking seeing him cling to the thing, and it hurt me to think of what his life was like to this point. But I knew his life was about to change once he was with Maura and Jane permanently. He may have been treated as just another mouth to feed and an extra pair of hands to work on that damn foster farm in the past but that bullshit was over as far as I was concerned. Tommy may not know what love felt like, or true happiness, or a real family but he would know now. I knew he was about to step into a world he never even dreamed possible. He was a little prince, at least that's the way I knew Jane and Maura would see him and treat him. I knew this was the last time I'd ever see him in old, frumpy clothes, too small shoes, and uncut hair.

"Is my aunt nice?" Tommy asked me in his soft voice.

"Yeah buddy, she's very nice. You'll like her and her girlfriend Maura." I said patting Tommy's leg.

Tommy looked up at me inquisitively.

"My aunt has a girlfriend?"

Tommy looked a little confused. I chuckled.

"Yes Tommy your aunt has a wonderful, kind and loving girlfriend. She's a very lovely lady just like your aunt. They are both looking forward to meeting you and they're going to take very good care of you." I said.

"What if they don't like me?" Tommy looked really scared. "Nobody likes me. No one ever likes me James."

He hung his head and I could see tears running down his little cheeks. My heart broke. I wrapped my arm around him and pulled his body into mine. I cringed when I felt just how frail and thin he really was.

"Let me tell you something Tommy and this is a promise. I don't make promises lightly. I know for a fact that your Aunt Jane and your Aunt Maura love you more than you'll ever know already and they're only going to love you more and more every day for the rest of your life. They can't wait to meet you. I bet they're staring at the clock right now counting down the seconds until you're in their arms. When you get to your new house you'll see for yourself just how lucky you are. Today is the first day of the rest of your life and it's about to change forever. Also Tommy I just want you to know that from the first day I met you I really liked you. I think you're a pretty cool kid and your Aunts will think so too. I am happy that you will finally get to be with your family." I said hugging him as I spoke.

Tommy looked up at me with his big brown eyes so much like Jane's and I could tell he really wanted to believe me. I brushed his tears from his face and kissed the top of his head.

"You don't have to be afraid anymore Tommy, trust me." I said.

The limo turned onto the driveway of Jane and Maura's house. I was stunned by the house and grounds. Striking was the only way to describe the estate. Tommy's eyes went as wide as saucers and he plastered his face and hands against the window.

"WOW!" He exclaimed.

"Yeah wow," I said to myself.

The grounds of the house were absolutely stunning. I couldn't believe Maura actually bought this place. I can't imagine all the zeros that came on the price tag for this estate. I knew Maura wrote the check though with a smile on her face because it was for her family. When we pulled up to the house my jaw dropped. The place looked like a castle with towering columns, three stories, and the beautiful grey stone architecture.

"Holy shit," I said before I remembered Maura's six year old son was sitting next to me.

"Holy shit." Tommy repeated still staring at the house with his nose pressed up against the window.

"James, is this where my aunts live?" He asked looking back at me curiously.

"Yeah buddy, this will be your new home," I smiled at him. "Oh and Tommy, you might not want to say shit around your aunts," I added as an afterthought.

He grinned at me mischievously. I saw even more of Jane in his face right at that moment.

"They really want me to live here?"

"Yeah man...I told ya. It's your lucky day." I said opening the limo door and grabbing his bag for him.

My wife Molly and my children pulled up behind us in her rental car. I could see she was staring at the house in wonder too. I turned and waved to her then I took Tommy's hand leading him up the pathway to the front door. Before I even had a chance to knock, the door was flung wide open and Jane was in my arms. She hugged me so hard I almost lost my breath. I dropped Tommy's bag trying to keep my balance.

"JAMES!" Jane squealed.

I hugged her back tightly. I lifted her from her feet and twirled her around in a circle before I put her down and held her out so I could look at her. I felt myself smile from ear to ear.

"Jane you look great!" I exclaimed.

Jane's face was beaming. Her scars and bruises were almost all gone. She only had a small brace on her arm. She was wearing knee length plaid shorts, a black tank top, cute sneakers, and she looked happy with her glowing smile. I felt tears in my eyes. I was so happy to see her, and grateful she looked like the old Jane. She looked better than the old Jane actually. She was practically bouncing on her toes in excitement.

"Hey, don't cry James," Jane said suddenly.

I didn't realize I was even crying. I couldn't stop crying even if I tried. I didn't have very many friends. I really only had my family, a few colleagues and Maura, my only real client. But in the short time I'd known Jane, I considered her to be a great friend. When I saw what happened to her...it was one of the worst feelings I'd ever had. But in this moment I was so relieved to see her doing so well after being scared she'd be broken forever. The tears just wouldn't stop coming. Jane's face went slack and worried. She looked sad all of a sudden. She wiped the tears from my eyes with her fingers and pulled me into a hug again. I cried softly into her hair.

"I'm so sorry I couldn't get to you Jane," I whispered in her ear.

I felt her body tense for a moment. Then I felt her hand pat my back gently.

"I know you tried James. Maura told me how hard you tried. I don't blame you James. You need to know that I'm ok now. You're my good friend James. Please don't cry...don't cry James...it's ok now...don't cry," Jane said softly.

I closed my eyes as I held her. My heart was bursting with so many emotions it was hard to identify just one. Her smile was so good to see it overshadowed what few lingering injuries she had. When she said she didn't blame me I was overcome. No matter what she said, I would always blame myself but hearing her say she didn't blame me…somehow...it made me feel better. I heard the clicking of heels and opened my eyes. Maura appeared in the doorway next to Jane holding Angela. Maura smiled at me as she rubbed her hand over Angela's back. Jane pulled out of the hug and punched me in the shoulder.

"Now stop whimpering you big crybaby and introduce me to this little guy," Jane said laughingly as she winked at me.

I looked back at Tommy. He was standing five steps behind me on the porch clutching his bag to his chest and holding his little action figure tightly in his hand. His eyes were wide and nervous. He was looking between me, Maura, and Jane curiously. Jane's face lit up when she saw him. Her own eyes were shining with tears now. I smiled at Maura and she gave me a slightly nervous smile of her own. I could tell she was doing her best to hold it together, but I knew how anxious she must have been. I could see it in her eyes. I could only imagine what she'd been putting herself through the last day trying to make everything perfect for Tommy. I knew she was praying in that moment that her son would love his new home, and feel welcome and comfortable enough to get to know his family. I'd never seen Maura look more blissful holding her daughter as she stood next to her girlfriend with her arm protectively around Jane's waist offering encouragement and love. I knew in that moment all Maura wanted was her family to be safe, happy and to see that all her efforts to provide for them were more than enough. Maura almost glowed from the inside out. When she looked at Tommy I saw her breath catch in her chest. Her smile was sweet and loving as she studied him. Tears were streaming from Jane's eyes.

"Hey buddy, come meet your Aunt Jane and Aunt Maura." I encouraged him.

Tommy took two timid steps forward and looked self-consciously up at Jane.

"Are you my Aunt Jane?" He asked softly.

"Yeah buddy I am." Jane said behind the tears in her eyes.

She kneeled down so she was eye level with the little boy.

"You look so much like your father." Jane whispered.

Tommy just shuffled awkwardly. He held the action figure against his chest; his eyes were uncertain and afraid. Jane was not put off by his apprehension though. She smiled at him with the same sparkle in her eyes as I saw in my wife's eyes when she smiled at our children.

"Is that you're friend there? He looks pretty awesome. You like Batman huh?" Jane asked Tommy pointing to his action figure.

Tommy nodded slightly. He seemed to be distracted from his nervousness a little now that the conversation was about his favorite super hero. His brown eyes seemed calmer and excited at the same time. His face split into a Rizzoli grin and he looked so much like Jane and Angela in that moment.

"One day I'm gonna fly like Batman," Tommy said excitedly. "I'm gonna fly away and nobody can hurt me cause I'll be big, strong and brave and people will like me," He said.

Tommy started running all around the porch with his arms out making airplane noises and saying fly, fly fly. Everyone watched him play. I saw Jane wipe a tear from her eye. She watched Tommy like there was nothing else in the world she cared to see except his sweet innocence.

"Fwy Maddy...Fwy!" Angela squealed and squirmed in Maura's arms wanting to be let down.

We all looked at Angela and laughed. She was holding out her arms like Tommy mimicking his movements and squealing with laughter. Angela had Oreo cookies in both of her hands and chocolate on her grinning face. She was absolutely adorable.

"You want to fly too baby girl?" Maura said putting Angela down on the porch.

Angela took off after her cousin. When she caught up to Tommy she just stopped, shoved a cookie in her mouth and kicked Tommy in the shin three times, hard.

"Fwy... fwy!" Angela laughed.

Tommy looked devastated that Angela had kicked him. His face fell and there were tears in his eyes that he tried to wipe away before anyone could see but they were coming too fast for him to stop them. He looked down. But we all saw. Jane started to reach for Angela but Maura got to her first. Maura's face was no nonsense. She held Angela firmly by her shoulders in front of Tommy.

"Angela NO. We do NOT kick. That's very bad Angela. NO kicking." Maura pointed to Angela's feet making sure that Angela looked down." This is your brother and you will be nice to him." Maura swatted the back of Angela's hand several times and repeated 'no kicking' again.

Angela wiggled around and tried to get away but she didn't cry. She scrunched up her face in a pout and threw her other cookie on the porch in a huff. Angela screamed and wailed in a tantrum flailing her little arms around. She reminded me of my younger son when he was her age.

"No Maddy...NO Maddy," Angela said pulling away from Maura and running back in the house before anyone could grab her.

Maura just sighed and shook her head. She got up and walked back inside to find her daughter. Tommy looked terrified. He took two steps back from everyone his eyes bright and frightened.

"She kicked me. She hates me." Tommy was crying softly and shaking. He was moving around on the porch not sure what to do.

"Oh honey," Jane said approaching Tommy again.

"Angela's just a baby Tommy. She doesn't think before she acts. You'll see. She'll get to know you and you guys will be friends but don't think that she doesn't like you. You're her big brother. Unfortunately, Angela thinks kicking and cursing is funny but we're working on it. If she hurts you again I need you to tell me baby and Maura and I will handle it. But Tommy I like you and I love you very much." Jane smiled at Tommy, but the boy just hung his head.

"Nobody ever likes me," He said softly.

Jane looked like she wanted to cry. She reached behind her back and pulled out something tucked in the back of her shorts I hadn't noticed before. She handed it to her nephew with a hopeful smile on her face. Tommy took the comic book and his jaw dropped.

"I got this for you this morning. It's Batman just like you like." Jane smiled at her nephew.

Tommy's eyes could not have been wider. He thumbed through the pages and gasped at every drawing. He looked absolutely thrilled. Jane reached up and ran her fingers through his hair to brush it from his eyes. Her hand was unsteady I noticed as she touched him.

"Is this really for me?" He asked Jane disbelievingly.

"Yeah buddy, it's just for you. I have a whole collection of Batman comics that used to belong to your father. They're all yours now Tommy. Your father would have wanted you to have them," Jane sighed.

Her eyes lowered for a moment and for a split second she looked incredibly sad. But before she had time to dwell on thoughts of her brother, Tommy ran into her arms. Jane was shocked at first. Then I saw her smile. She wrapped him up in her embrace. She stood and held him tightly rocking him in her arms. Maura appeared in the door way again and looked at me curiously when she saw Jane holding her son. I just smiled. Maura looked over at Jane and Tommy and I heard her unsteady sigh of relief and the sob that caught in her throat.

"Thank you Aunt Janie, this is the best present I ever got! Will you read it to me?" Tommy asked as he hugged his aunt.

"Of course baby. I'll do anything for you." Jane whispered as tears started running down her face again.

Jane's voice was so choked up and unsteady it broke my heart. Tears streamed down her face as she hugged her son against her as tightly as she could. I felt tears in my own eyes again. I looked over at Maura and her eyes were so red, I knew it wouldn't be long before she too was overwhelmed with emotion. Tommy wrapped his arms around Jane's neck. I couldn't see his face; his head was buried in Jane's hair. But for the first time since I met him I saw his body relax. Jane kissed his shaggy head over and over. She closed her eyes and rocked him side to side. I could see so many emotions on her face. Her tears dotted the little boys baggy shirt but she made no attempts to wipe them away. He was the last surviving memory of a family she had lost long ago. He was the face of so many of her dreams that had been shattered. He was all the love she had in her heart for her brothers and her mother. She cradled the back of his head and her hand was shaking. I knew she was remembering her brothers. I knew she could see their faces when she looked at him. I knew she was thinking of her mother. She was remembering how much she missed them but as she held her nephew...her son...her world was being reborn. In her eyes the boy was a second chance, the last tie to a world she knew no more. Pieces of her heart that had been shattered and lost like dust in the wind were found again. She kissed him again like he was precious to her, he was precious to her. He was her son...and she would never let him go.

Molly approached the porch with my daughter in her arms and my sons trailing behind. She stopped short when she saw the scene playing out in front of her. I caught her eye and smiled at her. She smiled back at me sweetly. I loved my wife and my children more than anything in the world and I knew as I looked at Maura she felt everything in her heart for Jane, Tommy and Angela as I did for my family. The smile Maura gave me was one of pride, the pride of a father or mother for her family. She whispered something in Jane's ear and Jane turned around and walked inside never letting go of her son. I followed them inside with Molly and our sons. I felt like I had managed something truly meaningful and I felt just a little bit less awful about myself.

...

"Oh Dios Mio, such a handsome boy," Consuela said slipping Tommy a piece of chocolate.

Tommy looked at the Reese's Peanut Butter cup like it was gold.

"Is this all for me?" He asked Consuela with those big excited brown eyes of his.

Consuela chuckled.

"Yes of course it all yours. I make you something good. What you like to eat?" Consuela said.

Tommy gobbled down the chocolate in three seconds flat. We all looked at him curiously as he made the candy disappear like magic in an instant.

"Good heavens child." Consuela exclaimed. "When last time you eat something?"

Tommy looked around.

"Who are you?" Tommy asked.

Maura was leaning against the back of the couch with Jane in her arms. Maura couldn't stop smiling and Jane couldn't stop staring at her nephew misty eyed and beaming like all her dreams had come true. My boys were off somewhere outside with that evil horrible testicle biting rat dog and Molly was sitting next to me in a very large leather love seat. Maura had put my daughter down for a nap in Angela's playpen and all the focus in the house was on little Tommy.

"I da cook and da nanny. You call me Miss Connie. I feed you and make you big and strong. You stick like Auntie Jane. Anything you want to eat you ask Miss Connie and I cook for you." Consuela said swelling with pride.

Tommy looked confused when Consuela told him he could have anything he wanted to eat. I could see Maura studying him closely. I could tell his state of dress and his thin body was not lost on her. Jane didn't seem to notice, and if she did she was doing a great job of hiding it behind her smile that wouldn't leave her face and all the love in her eyes for the boy.

"If you need anything else Tommy tell your Aunt Jane or me and we'll get it for you sweetheart," Maura smiled at Tommy sweetly.

Tommy looked at her in awe.

"Wow. You're really really pretty aunt Maura," Tommy said.

Maura looked like she would cry. Her chin quivered and she blushed profusely. Jane looked back at her and kissed her deeply. Their eyes closed when their lips met. Their kiss lingered and they were whispering to each other. Two tears fell from one of Maura's eyes. I felt my face flush and turned my head. I was pretty sure whatever moment they were having and whatever they were saying to one another was some beautiful thing meant only for the other. They looked so in love it was almost sickening.

"Thank you Tommy," Maura said as she released Jane from her arms.

Maura picked up her son and tickled him mercilessly.

"You're very handsome yourself," Maura laughed as she played with Tommy.

Tommy fell into a fit of laughs and giggles. His hair flew everywhere, his skinny legs and arms flailed around as Maura held him and tickled his little body.

"You like that little guy?" Maura teased him.

"Aunt Maura...A-A-Aunt M-M-Maura it tickles...it tickles," Tommy squealed.

Jane looked like she was in a dream as she watched Maura and Tommy play. I heard her sigh softly to herself from time to time. Her eyes looked distant and hazy. She swallowed many times to hold in whatever emotions she was feeling. Finally Maura threw her son over her shoulder and ran up the stairs with him. Tommy giggled the entire way. Jane pulled me to my feet when they left and hugged me again.

"Thank you so much James. You have no idea how much this means to me. I love him so much...God I love him." Jane said in a voice shaky with emotion.

I patted her back and smiled over her shoulder.

"I know you do kiddo. I know you do. Now go, go be with your family. Molly and I have a long drive back to the city and it's getting late."

Jane pulled out of my arms and looked at me. She had a frown on her face.

"Nonsense. You'll stay here tonight. There's more than enough room and I know you've been driving all day. We'll have dinner, pop some champagne and celebrate. We all deserve a little celebrating don't you think?" Jane said.

I smiled at Jane. She was growing into her role as Maura's right hand better than I ever thought she would. I never saw Jane as becoming the gracious hostess, but it fit her well.

"What do you think baby?" I asked Molly.

"We don't want to impose," Molly said meekly.

"Oh don't be silly. It's no imposition. You and James have been through a lot on my family's behalf, it's the very least we can do. Let's make a party of it." Jane smiled at Molly.

Molly smiled back.

"It has been a long day, the boys are tired of being in the car and Juliet is sleeping. Perhaps we should stay the night." Molly said.

"Excellent," Jane said cheerily. "Consuela pour them drinks and make them comfortable. I'll be back," Jane said disappearing up the stairs.

I had indeed done a good thing today.

...

Maura

I set Tommy down on his feet in his room. He gasped and jumped when he saw it. His big beautiful eyes so much like Jane and Angela's went wide in wonder. He spun in circles trying to look at everything at once. His jaw hung open as he gazed at the walls and the bed shaped like the Batmobile. He stared at his bookshelves full of books, his drawers full of clothes, and his chests full of brand new toys. I smiled widely as I watched him take it all in. He looked amazed, he reminded me of Jane the first night I met her as we walked through the gardens on the roof of my hotel. His expression was the same as hers had been. I studied him closely. He was so small and almost frail looking. His clothes were way too big for him, his shoes seemed too small. I could even hear his belly rumbling from time to time. He needed a check-up. His long curly hair was shaggy and hung in his eyes. Compared to James' boys, who were just slightly younger than him, he was tiny. His movements were slow and careful. His voice was high and soft. His gestures were gentle, his words were sweet, and he was beautiful to me. He was my son, my son, and I loved him.

"Do you like your room, Tommy?" I asked him after a while.

He turned to me with his big bright eyes.

"Where's all the other boys sleeping?" He asked me softly.

I smiled at him.

"You're the only boy honey. Your baby cousin Angela has her own room. But this one is yours, just yours sweetie." I said.

Tommy's eyes got even bigger, like pretty brown saucers. He was so precious as he stood there holding his little beat up action figure.

"All of it?" He asked me like he couldn't quite comprehend what I was saying was true.

"Yes baby boy. The whole room and everything in it is yours. How about I give you a bath and you can change before dinner? You can try on some of your new clothes." I asked him as I ruffled his shaggy hair.

He giggled and took my hand. He held my fingers in his little hands and smiled at me.

"I brought my own clothes, Aunt Maura." He said in his high soft voice.

"Well that's good but let's see if we can't find you something special to wear." I said sweeping him into my arms and sitting him on his bed.

I rummaged through his drawers and pulled out a Batman t-shirt. His eyes lit up when I held it up for him to see.

"WOW," He said excitedly.

I smiled at him. I pulled out a pair of shorts, batman underpants and little Batman sneakers; all things Jane had picked out for him. Tommy was practically giddy with excitement.

"I can wear all those? They look new." He said.

"They are honey. They're just for you." I said handing him the shirt.

"I've never had new stuff before. They even smell good," He said holding the shirt up to his face and sniffing deeply.

He lay back on the bed and let the shirt cover his face. He stretched out his arms and I heard him sigh. I lay next to him on his bed and propped my head on my hand as I watched him. I patted his tummy and he giggled.

"Your Aunt Jane and I have a lot of new things for you honey. We want you to be happy here," I said.

Tommy pulled the shirt off his face and looked at me.

"I like it here already Aunt Maura," He said in his little sweet voice.

He was so cute I kissed his cheeks and tickled his tummy. He squirmed and giggled and kicked his feet. I fell in love with him even more. I stood and showed him his new shoes. Tommy looked at the shoes and his face split in a grin I'd seen on Jane and Angela's face a hundred times before. He started tearing at his shoe laces trying to get them off his feet. In his excitement he fell off the bed and landed with a thud on the floor. He yelped in pain when he landed on his back.

"Oh sweetheart. Be careful." I said reaching to pull him up but he was on his feet in an instant like the fall hadn't even fazed him.

"I'm ok...I'm fine...I can do it," He said hopping around on one foot trying to pull off his too small shoe.

I didn't know whether to help him or just let him figure it out. His tongue was sticking out the side of his mouth and his face was scrunched up in concentration. He seemed determined to get the shoe off his foot and once again I was reminded of Jane and Angela's stubborn ways. I decided to just sit on the floor and watch him. He hopped all around the room on one foot and finally fell to the ground in front of me when the first shoe finally came off. He giggled up at me and his little toes wiggled in socks so dingy and full of holes they were nearly black. I wanted to cry when I saw his socks and how small his shoes were compared to his feet. I hated to think that my son had been mistreated and ill taken care of his entire life. I felt an anger rise in me. How could anyone not have the decency to at least dress him in clean clothes and the right size shoes. In spite of this, he was still a sweet, happy little boy. He deserved better than the rags he wore and the fact that he was so thin worried me. But Tommy didn't seem to have a care in the world in that moment. He just giggled and rolled around on his Batman rug. I smiled and pulled him into my arms.

"Come here son; let me help you take the other shoe off." I said sitting him in my lap and trying to unlace the other shoe.

I felt just how thin he was when he was in my arms. Tears came to my eyes but I forced them back. I kissed the top of his head and heard his belly growl again.

"Baby are you hungry?" I asked him.

"No," He said in that little voice of his.

But as I looked down at him I knew he was lying. I didn't let him see how much it hurt me that he felt like he had to tell me he wasn't hungry when I knew full well he was. I had no idea why he felt the need to lie, but I knew very soon I'd be on the phone with DCS in Boston to get to the bottom of whatever was going on in that foster farm where he 'lived'. But for the moment I was just happy to have him in my arms.

"Well I'm going to feed you anyway little man as soon as you're all washed and dressed. Let's get this shoe off your foot." I said struggling to get the shoe off.

The shoe was so small compared to his foot if just wouldn't come off. I tugged and tugged and it wouldn't budge. Tommy just squealed and giggled and kicked his other foot as he squirmed in my lap. He was even more fidgety than Angela and bigger which made it a battle against the shoe and him. But the more I struggled the more Tommy laughed and squirmed.

"You're a wiggly little monster," I cooed at him.

Tommy just laughed harder as I fought with the shoe. I was determined to get it off but Franklin Thomas ran in the room and as always the little devil just made everything worse.

"PUPPY!" Tommy said excitedly trying to squirm his way out of my arms but there was no need since Franklin Thomas was already licking him all over the face and mouth.

"Franklin Thomas stop," I growled at the dog but he seemed to be in love with Tommy and Tommy was in love with him.

FT jumped in his lap and licked the boy's face so much I thought he would drown in puppy slobber.

"Go on FT," I said trying to push the dog away but Tommy wrapped him in his arms and hung on to him petting his fur and giggling every time he licked his face.

I just sighed and continued on trying to get the shoe off Tommy's foot. It was hopeless with both Tommy and FT squirming around in my lap. FT, ever the helpful advocate, jumped out of my lap and grabbed a hold of Tommy's shoe and tugged at it violently. This only excited Tommy more. Tommy flailed his arms and kicked his feet and bounced in my lap but FT never let go and Tommy couldn't stop laughing. I was trying to yell at the dog but I kept getting mouthfuls of Tommy's wild hair. I tried to kick at FT with my foot but that only made him stop long enough to rip off my heel and chew a hole in it before turning back to Tommy's impossibly tight shoe. I cursed at the dog, furious with him then cursed again when I realized I shouldn't have cursed at all with my child in my arms. I wanted to strangle FT but I certainly couldn't do that in front of my son. FT was tearing at the shoe like crazy. The dog's ears were back, and he growled every time Tommy kicked his feet. FT tossed his head from side to side pulling at the shoe so hard he was literally dragging Tommy out of my lap.

"Franklin Thomas stop right now...stop...STOP!" I demanded trying to swat at the dog and pull my son back into my lap but FT wasn't so tiny anymore and my son couldn't stop laughing and flailing around.

I grabbed Tommy's other shoe and started swatting FT's butt with it but he just started moving side to side dodging my swats and never letting go of Tommy's foot.

"Franklin Thomas, you're going to get it dog, let go...LET GO!" I said angrily trying to get at the dog but it was no use.

By my trying to keep a hold of Tommy I was only managing to tickle him and he was laughing so hard he had the hiccups. Jane ran into the room and saw what was going on. Her eyes went wide at first, until her face broke out into a big grin.

"Having problems baby," Jane teased me.

She arched her eye brow as she looked at me. I could tell she was more than a little amused at this little tussle. I was so exhausted from the whole thing I was sweating and I felt my hair sticking to my face. But Jane just kept on grinning.

"Anytime you want to lend a hand Jane…" I growled at her.

Jane just cocked her head.

"I kinda wanna see how this is all going to play out," She said crossing her arms and leaning against the chest of drawers.

"Honey," I gave Jane my best warning voice and warning face.

Jane just rolled her eyes and grabbed FT but he still wouldn't let go even as Jane lifted him into the air. Half of Tommy's little body left the floor with FT's grip on his shoe. Tommy was beside himself with giggles. I couldn't have been more irritated with the damn dog. I swatted at FT again with the shoe but I lost my grip and the shoe went flying and hit Jane on the nose. Jane fell backward with FT in her arms. The only reason Tommy fell back into me was because FT finally got the shoe off his foot. Jane landed flat on her back and FT scampered away with the shoe in his mouth.

"Owww OWWWW my nose Maura...GOD! You're always smacking me and beatin me up and stuff! OUUUCH!" Jane wailed.

She was rolling around on the floor with her hands over her face wailing and crying.

"Oh honey, you're ok." I sighed.

I lifted my son to his feet and crawled over to Jane but Tommy was on top of her before I could get there. He took a great running leap into her arms. Jane made a gasping sound on impact.

"Aunt JANE, have you seen my room! Look how big it is and it's all Batman and it's all mine, Aunt Maura said so...she said it was all mine!" Tommy exclaimed.

Jane's face was all red from the breath that had been knocked out of her body. Her nose looked a bit like a tomato but she giggled at her son anyway. She lifted Tommy up and held him above her.

"I've seen it little guy... it's awesome right?" Jane tried to speak but her voice was hoarse from the impact of Tommy's little body.

"It's great Aunt Jane. I'm flying, I'm flying," Tommy said holding out his arms to the sides as Jane held him above her and he kicked his little feet giggling and laughing.

Jane started to laugh and made airplane noises with Tommy as she wiggled him around but in his excitement Tommy accidently kicked Jane in the gut so hard she dropped him and he landed on top of her again. Jane coughed and started gasping for air.

"Oh-my-GOD!" Jane cried.

Her face was so red it was almost purple.

"Oh sweetie," I said grabbing Tommy off of her.

"Aunt Jane are you ok? You look funny." Tommy asked curiously.

"I'm fine buddy...I'm fine..." Jane heaved and choked.

She was clutching her stomach and rolled into the fetal position on the floor.

"Everything's fine," She whimpered in a high pitched squeaky voice.

Tommy looked frightened. He looked up at me with wide worried eyes. He looked like he wanted to cry.

"It's ok sweetheart," I said kissing his head and gathering his clothes for him.

I led him into the bathroom and closed the door so he couldn't see Jane's manic tantrum.

"Don't worry about me in here...I'm not in any pain!" I heard Jane wailing from the other room.

I rolled my eyes and tried not to laugh at her.

"Is Aunt Jane gonna be ok Aunt Maura?" Tommy asked me, his eyes were wrinkled with concern and he was fidgeting awkwardly. "She don't like me no more."

My heart broke as I looked at Tommy. He seemed genuinely upset and worried. I kneeled down and wrapped him in a hug again.

"Don't worry sweetheart, she's fine. I tell you what. I am going to get you a bath and then help you get dressed." I told him gently.

Tommy still looked worried. I took his face in my hand and kissed his cheeks.

"It's ok little guy. I promise. Your Aunt Jane is going to be fine and she still loves you and always will. She told me how excited she was to read you your Batman comic tonight." I said.

Tommy grinned at me.

"YAAAY Batman," Tommy said running around the bathroom with his arms out like he was flying.

I smiled at him. He had such a playful spirit, my girlfriend's eyes and her grin. Seeing him so happy and carefree made me fall in love with him deeper and deeper. The way Jane looked at him was like nothing I'd ever seen from her. Jane was, for the first time since I met her, truly happy and I knew it was Tommy that made her whole again. I grabbed Tommy and hugged him tightly. He wrapped his arms around my neck and my heart melted.

"Let's get you that bath, get you dressed and we can have dinner together. And then you can go swimming with James' boys. Would you like that?" I asked him.

Tommy's face lit up with excitement again.

"We're gonna go to a pool? A real pool?" He asked practically trembling with glee.

I smiled at him and messed his hair.

"No honey we don't have to go anywhere. There's a pool in the backyard you just haven't seen it yet."

Tommy's face went slack.

"You have your own pool? WOOOW!" His eyes were full of wonder.

"No sweetheart, WE have our own pool. It belongs to the family and you're family, you're my son and Jane's son and this is your home."

"A pool? That's so cooooool!" Tommy said excitedly.

I just smiled and kissed his forehead.

"Come on let's get you cleaned up," I said turning on the water to run a bath for him.

I reached out to help Tommy pull off his shirt but he jumped and back away quickly.

"I can do it Aunt Maura. I can do it," Tommy insisted.

His eyes were wide and he became very anxious for some reason. I was worried by how insistent he was about bathing himself but I didn't want to upset him. I just wanted him to feel comfortable and get settled. Maybe it was expecting too much for Tommy to let me undress him and bathe him. We had just met after all. Perhaps he was just shy. I smiled at him anyway. I didn't want him to be uncomfortable with me, but I knew it would take time for him to build trust with me. I would not push him, he was such a precious boy.

"Ok honey. You be a big boy and get clean. When you're finished we'll eat and play ok?" I said kissing the top of his head. "If you need anything, I'll be just outside the door. Ok sweetie?" I said standing to leave. Tommy nodded.

I could still here Jane rolling around on the floor in Tommy's bedroom exclaiming over how neglected she felt and how hurt she was. I stifled a chuckle.

"Aunt Maura," Tommy called to me before I left the bathroom.

I turned around to look at him. He was grinning widely and I couldn't stop my heart from melting and my smile from covering my face. He really was such a pretty boy.

"This is the best house ever!" He said.

I leaned my head against the door frame and sighed happily.

"I'm glad you like it here sweetheart. I bought it with you in mind my little prince. Now go on...get clean. I'll see you when you're finished."

I said and closed the door behind me.

...

Jane and I played with our children all the rest of the day. We swam for hours after our early dinner. The meal was a chaotic ridiculous thing. Between James' boys, my son who couldn't seem to sit still, and Angela who'd suddenly developed a propensity to say curse words, it took an hour and a half just to get through dinner. Tommy apparently had a thing for cheeseburgers just like Jane and ate two of them like he hadn't eaten in years. Consuela kept shoveling fries on his plate and insisting that he eat. Every time I tried to tell her to give him vegetables, she just glared at me and so did Jane. I eventually gave up on that battle. I would sit Jane and Consuela down and deal with it later. I had a strong suspicion Tommy was malnourished. His skin was paler than it should have been and he had dark circles under his eyes. I didn't mention it to Jane however. I wouldn't ruin her happy reunion with her brother's son...our son. I did set up an appointment with a pediatrician at Addison's practice on Monday morning. I couldn't ignore my suspicions that something was off with Tommy. I was determined to find out what was going on with my son. In the meantime, I tried not to let my worries consume me. At least he was eating. He was just so small it was almost ridiculous.

After lunch I tried to make the boys sit down and watch a movie while their food digested. But James' boys were out of the house in less than five minutes finding some mischief. I thought Tommy would join them, but he seemed very timid around James' boys for some reason. Tommy preferred to make his mischief indoors. He loved his clothes and ran around the house in his new shoes excitedly. He ran up to me over and over pointing out different things he loved about them. He would hug me and kiss my cheek and I would tear up every time. He wouldn't even take off his new clothes to swim. He just jumped in the pool in his shorts and t shirt and swam like a fish with Jane for hours. Jane played in the deep end with the boys and James while Molly and I waded in the shallow end with our daughters talking and laughing with each other. I watched my son and noticed he really only played with Jane or James. Not the other boys. I found it a little odd that Tommy seemed to avoid the boys, especially since they seemed to be trying so hard to include him in their games. James' boys were extremely rambunctious and played roughly like most boys do. But Tommy just wanted to hang all over Jane especially when one of James' boys were near him. I watched him closely growing more and more curious about my observations but Molly was a chatty thing and Angela constantly distracted me.

Molly seemed much better mentally since the last time I'd seen her. She stated over and over how good Jane looked and how happy she was for the both of us. I would look over at Jane in her little black bikini and smile. She was so sexy it was almost painful to look at her.

"It's been really hard for James this last month or so. He barely slept, hardly ate, and sometimes he'd have these terrible nightmares. He'd wake up screaming and scare the children and it terrified me. He'd never say what the dreams were about, but I think they were about Jane and what happened at the club..." Molly said.

Her face expressed worry. Then her voice trailed off and she looked away from me.

"I'm sorry I didn't mean to bring up the club and the...you know...what happened there." Molly said timidly.

I sighed. I didn't want to talk about what happened at the club. This day was more beautiful than any day I'd ever seen. The sun was shining brightly, my son was in my home and he was handsome, beautiful, and full of giggles and goofy grins. Janie was so happy, happier than I'd ever seen her. She couldn't take her eyes off Tommy. I could see all the love she had for him every time she looked at him. When she would look back at me, her face was beaming and her smile was bright and she would mouth 'I love you' to me and my heart soared. Sometimes she would swim over to me, wrap me in her arms and kiss me. I would forget for a moment there were children in the pool and all I wanted was to take Jane upstairs, dim the lights and...

But I had to be a lady and a good Maddy for the moment. Violet had encouraged us earlier today to try and work our way back to a sexual relationship but I was still careful, and still worried about Jane. I loved her so much, God I loved her and God she was fine to look at in that little black bikini, but I would not push her. Molly reminding me of all the misery from the past month just made me want to fight that much harder to make sure my love and my children never had to go through anything like that ever again.

"Jane has come a long way, Molly. I worried for her for so long, God I almost fell apart under the pressure of seeing her through this. It was the worst thing that ever happened to me but far more horrible for Jane. I thought...there were times when I didn't think I'd make it Molly. I would look at her or hear her crying and all her bruises and the stitches..." I closed my eyes as I cradled Angela against my body in the pool.

"I've never prayed so hard in my life. But look at her now Molly, she's so happy and she's laughing and she has her nephew…our son. I love Jane and I'll spend the rest of my life making sure she's safe and my babies are safe." I said looking down at Angela and kissing her little cheek.

Angela squealed happily and smacked at the water.

"Sim Maddy...SIM." Angela giggled kicking her little feet in the water.

"Yes baby you're a good swimmer. Better than your Maddy," I grinned at my daughter.

"Jane looks great Maura, she really does. You have such a beautiful family and such a pretty home. I know James is happy to see you guys like this. I haven't seen him smile in a month." Molly smiled. "He really cares about you Maura. I know you're his boss, but he cares about you and Jane. He slept the night through last night for the first time since...it all happened. I know it's because he got to talk to Jane. She was all he talked about the rest of the day and how good she sounded and how excited he was to bring Tommy up here to you guys. I think he's actually going to be better now that he's seen you two are happy and ok."

I studied Molly as she spoke. Molly and I had never been particularly close, but it was nice having another woman to talk to about things. I smiled at her as I thought of the words I wanted to say.

"I'm going to ask Jane to marry me. James and I are close and I wondered will you be a bridesmaid?" I asked her timidly. "That is if Jane says yes."

Molly looked shocked at first, and then her face settled into a huge grin. I even thought I saw tears in her eyes.

"Oh my goodness, of course I will and of course she'll say yes. Look at the way she looks at you. She loves you so much Maura. I'm so happy for you guys oh my gosh," Molly said wrapping me in a hug.

"You don't think it's too soon to ask her after everything that happened?" I asked.

"No... No oh my gosh no. There couldn't be a more perfect time for her to know this is forever with you guys. That's all she wants with you Maura, she wants forever and it's so sweet and OH my GOSH we have to have an engagement party and a bachelorette party and do you want a big wedding or a small one and are you wearing a dress...you should totally wear a dress. Oh we get to go shopping...yaaay!" Molly said clapping her hands excitedly.

"Shhhh, Molly keep it down," I hissed at her.

Jane was swimming over to us with Tommy riding on her back smiling and yelling excitedly.

"Faster Aunt Jane...I'm flying." Tommy giggled.

Jane swam right up to me and rolled over in the water grabbing Tommy and launching him backward through the air to land with a splash in the water. Tommy squealed and giggled and laughed and swam back to us flashing his handsome little grin.

"Whatcha guys so excited about," Jane asked looking between Molly and me quizzically.

"We were just talking about...ummm...throwing a party, weren't we Molly." I said eyeing James' wife.

Molly was never the brightest light bulb and she was extremely young but I prayed she could at least keep a secret. But Molly was practically losing herself in glee and threw her arms around Jane's neck.

"Oh I'm so happy for you guys...it's all just so sweet."

Jane looked at me curiously over Molly's shoulder.

"What she means is she's happy we're getting custody of Tommy and have a house and that you're doing so well," I said grabbing Molly's hand and giving it a very tight squeeze.

Molly just giggled and carried her daughter out of the pool looking over her shoulder and grinning at us constantly.

"What's with her?" Jane asked.

"Don't worry about her, you just look at me." I said kissing Jane's lips lightly.

Jane's grin turned devilish in an instant. Her eyes ran over my body in my red bikini and she bit her lip.

"Baby you must be from Tennessee cause you're the only ten I see." She said pulling me into her body.

I felt her grab my ass beneath the water and I squealed.

"That's the lamest shit that's ever come out of your mouth baby." I chuckled, Jane blushed.

"You are the only ten I see, Angel." She whispered in my ear.

Her grin was cheesy but I kissed her anyway. And the kiss made me weak. In between us I heard this little baby voice say "shit Maddy shit." Jane started laughing. I rolled my eyes.

Of all the words Angela heard in a day, why did she have to pick the curse words to repeat all the time? But as I looked at my daughter's mother's goofy lopsided grin, I knew where she got her pension for mischief and all things wicked.

All the rest of the evening Molly kept smiling and winking at me to the point where Jane was looking at me funny. I wanted to throw a pillow at Molly's face and smother her with it. She kept pulling me into corners and demanding to know when I was going to ask Jane to marry me, what colors I wanted for the bridesmaid's dresses, if I had plans for a honeymoon already, and on and on and on until I wanted to stuff something in her mouth and shake her silly. I didn't have time to deal with all Molly's questions; I hadn't thought that far anyway. By the end of the evening, between James' son's shenanigans and my little boy who was proving to be exceedingly inquisitive we were all tired. Tommy liked to play games of 'jump off the highest surface' and 'hide in weird places and see how much you can stress everyone out trying to find you'. At this point he was proving himself to be a larger, smarter Angela and between the two of them I was ready to fall into a coma and sleep forever. Even Angela, who seemed to be greatly amused by her cousin, was exhausted. FT settled down on the couch and fell asleep without having to be threatened with violence. James and his family were bedding down in their own wing of the house. I lay on the couch with my little daughter sleeping in my arms. I just fed her a small bottle of warm milk so she would calm down enough to fall asleep. I rarely ever allowed anyone to give her bottles through the day anymore because Angela was quickly growing into toddlerhood. But I allowed her a bottle every morning and every night because it calmed her to sleep and she often woke up fussy until she had a bottle. Also I enjoyed the bond I felt with her at night as I fed her a bottle and watched her tired eyes close. Jane snuggled up next to me with Tommy in her arms. Jane had read Tommy three Batman comics already and Tommy's eyes were just now starting to close. Jane ran her fingers through his hair and kissed the top of his head. She looked so peaceful with him in her arms. She would smile down at him as she studied his face. More than once I saw tears in her eyes as she looked at him. His head rested against her chest, his fingers tangled with her own, and as I watched them my heart swelled with love and pride. As silly and ridiculous as Jane could be sometimes she was a wonderful mother.

I smiled down at my daughter and kissed her cheeks.

"We should put them to bed honey," I whispered to Jane.

Jane looked at me sadly. She held Tommy closer to her body. I don't even know if she realized she did that but I could tell she didn't want to let him go. She looked down at his sleeping face and I saw tears in her eyes again. She smiled at him lovingly and brushed his cheeks. When one of her tears fell on his face I knew how happy she was. I wrapped my arm around Jane's neck and pulled her to me to kiss her cheek but she turned her head and her lips found mine. She kissed me deeply. I smiled against her lips. Jane blushed and looked back down at our son.

"Five more minutes baby please. I just want to hold him." She said softly.

I sighed but I could deny her nothing. I ran my fingers through her hair and nodded my head. Jane closed her eyes and her breath hitched when I kissed her neck. When she looked at me again her eyes were sparkling like diamonds. She leaned her forehead against mine. I could tell there were so many things she wanted to say. There were so many things she was feeling. I lay her head on my shoulder.

"What are you thinking about Janie?" I asked.

It was a moment before Jane spoke. I could see her jaw work and her throat swallow many times as she looked down at our sleeping son. She kissed his head again.

"My brother never got to hold his son." Jane started before the tears came to her eyes again.

Her voice was soft. Her eyes were distant. But when she looked at Tommy all I saw was love on her face.

"He never got to hold his son. My mother never got to meet him; she wanted grand children so badly. I loved my brother so much, both of them. I loved my Ma too and I miss them." Tears streamed from Jane's eyes. She touched Tommy's face with trembling fingers.

"I know I'll never get them back, I know they're gone. But when I look at him and Angela, Maura I can see all of them. He has Tommy's eyes and Frankie's smile. His voice is soft like my mother's. His face is sweet like Frankie's. Angela looks just like my Ma. Even though she's gone and my brothers are gone, when I look at our children, it's almost like they're still here with me. When I look at Tommy's face, it's almost like I feel whole inside again. It's like my brother left him here for me. He's the best gift Tommy ever gave me. Even though my family is gone because of what he got himself into, he left me his son and it's my job to take care of him. This little guy is all I got left of them, he needs me, and he really needs you, Maddy," Jane smiled at me through her tears.

Her eyes were dazzling and beautiful. Her smile was easy and sincere despite her tears. I smiled back at her and kissed her eye lids.

"Maddy's not going anywhere baby." I whispered to her.

Jane's grin was beaming.

"You're the best Maddy ever," She giggled. "Tommy couldn't stop talking about his room, or his shoes, or his bed, all day long. You nailed it baby, even though you were a nightmare all day yesterday."

Jane rolled her eyes at me. I just grinned.

"I had to make sure my son had everything he needed." I said nipping at Jane's lips.

Jane just smiled at me.

"You're the best thing that ever happened to me," Jane said with tear streaked eyes.

"Likewise my love. Likewise." I whispered against her lips.

Jane's face flushed when she kissed me. She bit her lip and curled her hair around her finger. There was mischief in her eyes.

"What is it honey?" I asked.

Jane giggled nervously.

"Ummm, Violet said we should...that we could try and...You know...do it. You wanna go upstairs?" Jane said blushing even harder.

I took a deep breath. I felt incredibly nervous all of a sudden. I hadn't had time to really think through what Violet said to us during therapy earlier. The day had been so busy between my children and James' family. I thought I'd have a few days at least before Jane brought it up, but apparently I was wrong. I looked at Jane in her Red Sox pajamas with her flushing face. She was so pretty and I could smell her hair as it brushed against my face. I did not speak for a while. I just looked at her. Jane ran her fingers around the neck line of my negligee and kissed my neck. I shuddered.

"Are you...ready for that baby?" I asked uncertainly.

She looked at me with those sweet eyes of hers. She nodded her head. She looked like a blushing bride. I smiled and kissed her burning cheeks. I felt her shiver next to me.

"Let's put these little rascals to bed."

We went upstairs and changed Angela and put her down in her crib. Just as we got her settled, FT came running in and jumped in the crib. Angela rolled over and put her arm around him like he was a stuffed animal. Jane and I just looked at each other and shook our heads.

We walked down the hall to Tommy's room to ready him for bed. Jane laid him down on the bed as I took out the new pair of Batman pajamas we got for him. As I shut the drawer, Tommy popped right off the bed.

"It's time for bed son. Let's get you undressed so you can put your pajamas on and you can go back to sleep honey." I said softly. I moved to take off his shirt but Tommy jumped and backed away from me.

"I can do it by myself Aunt Jane and Aunt Maura." He reached for his paper bag and took out a filthy looking t-shirt and tried to head for his bathroom.

"No sweetheart. We got you pajamas. See?" I held them out so he could see them.

"What are pajamas Aunt Maura?" Tommy asked sleepily.

"They're comfortable clothes for sleeping darling. Let us help you put them on son." I said gently.

But Tommy just reached his little hand out for the pajamas. Poor little thing was so sleepy. But he took them into the bathroom and closed the door behind him. Jane and I waited for him outside his bathroom. I was thinking many worrying things, like why my son didn't know what pajamas were for starters. Jane sat on the bed twiddling her thumbs. She was oddly quiet.

"Does he seem...strange to you?" She asked me finally.

I looked at her face and she lowered her eyes. I didn't know exactly what she was thinking, but I could tell she was bothered. Worse I could see how much it pained her to have called her son 'strange'. Even so I knew she still loved him, even though he was a little...odd. I knew Jane would love him no matter what always and forever. I didn't really know what to say to her. I didn't want to worry or upset her. Besides the word 'strange' was such a vague and open ended description of a human being. I had my own worries about my son, but until it was proven that he was in fact malnourished or mistreated I would not spread my worries onto Jane.

"Jane, Tommy is a beautiful boy. He's funny, cheerful, inquisitive, and sweet natured. Best of all he's your son, he's my son and whatever happens he will always be our son." I smiled at Jane, leaned down and kissed her face.

Despite my worries over Tommy I had spoken the truth of him and my words seemed to comfort Jane. She sighed, took my hand and kissed my fingers. I sat next to her on Tommy's bed to wait for him to come out of his bathroom, but he seemed to be taking a long time. I grew more and more anxious as to what could take him so long. Jane eventually got up and knocked on the bathroom door. When he didn't answer she went in to check on him. He had changed into his pajamas and fallen asleep on the floor. Jane just smiled down at him. He was clutching the comic book he gave her against his chest. She scooped him up in her arms and put him in his bed. I sang him my favorite lullaby. The first song I ever sang to Angela. I kissed his forehead when the song was over and looked up at Jane. I'd never seen her look at me with so much love in her eyes.

...

"Does that feel good baby?" I whispered up at Jane.

Her eyes were closed as she straddled me in the reading chair in our bedroom. Her hips rocked slowly into mine in answer to my question. Her hands held the back of my head gently. Her breath was unsteady. Her head rolled and her dark curls fell down her back like an ocean of shining onyx waves.

"I need you to kiss me," Jane said.

Jane's eyes pierced me. She traced my lips with her finger. The touch made me shudder. I ran my hands up her back and pulled her shoulders forward. Her lips smiled down at me. She nipped at my neck, kissed my jaw, and teased my lips with the tip of her tongue. I exhaled a deep breath that caught in my throat as I tried to stifle a moan. Jane pulled me close and kissed me deeply. Her kiss was timid at first, like the first flight of a bird whose wing had been broken. I was careful. I was gentle. I was afraid. I could not bear to hurt her, or push her, or have her push me away. I let her lead and I followed. I was so afraid of being overwhelmed by my hunger for her. I touched her with little more than my fingertips. But I wanted her all the same. This was her maiden flight after weeks and weeks of captivity but I wanted her, to glide with her, to know that she was with me always wherever life saw fit to take us.

Jane pulled out of the kiss slowly. She bit her lip as she looked down at me. Her grin was playful, but her eyes were low and heavy. She touched my breasts and I gasped as I looked up at her.

"I missed you baby," Jane whispered to me. "I missed this."

I smiled up at her. The heat between our two bodies was alive like the pulses of vibrant electricity. I felt every pore of my skin open and every cell of my body cried in unison for the touch of the one in my arms. But still I was afraid.

"I missed this too Janie. I missed you too. But I'm...I'm scared honey. I don't want to hurt you." I whispered softly.

Jane's eyes looked at me like I had done something to hurt her. But just as quickly as it came Jane's face evened out and her smile returned. She brushed my hair behind my ears and kissed me again. This time the kiss was pure heat. This time the kiss was passionate. This time the kiss left me breathless and yearning. My fingers touched her face, her body moved with mine as the hunger took us both. She tasted like heaven. When Jane pulled out of the kiss this time both our eyes remained closed for long moments. Our lips brushed against each other's as my mind raced with anticipation and then calmed into quiet recesses of space. I was not so afraid anymore.

"I know you won't hurt me Angel." Jane whispered.

Her eyes were still closed. She touched her lips and I saw how unsteady her hands were.

"Open your eyes and look at me," I said softly.

The black veil of her hair shimmered, shined and tickled my shoulders. Jane looked directly at me, into me. I felt pulled toward her as if we both were magnetic. I kissed her lips again, just the softest touch. Jane sighed when my lips found hers.

"You would never hurt me. I know you wouldn't...I know you wouldn't. That is why I love you so much. That is why I want you so much. I am yours," Jane said.

She took my hand and slid my fingers down her body and between her legs. I gasped when I felt how wet she was. Her eyes never left mine. The glow of her skin, her hair, her spirit moved me. My yearning for her was beyond me, beyond thought, beyond everything. I wanted her. I longed to be inside of her again. I wanted to bring her to ecstasy as I had so many times before. I wrapped my hand around her waist and moved my fingers toward her entrance. I looked up at her, deep into her eyes.

"Are you sure baby girl?" I whispered.

Jane closed her eyes and nodded. I took another deep breath.

"Open your eyes sweet heart and look at me," I said softly. "I want you to know it's me."

Jane opened her eyes and smiled at me. She wrapped her arms around me and kissed me.

"I'm ready baby," Jane assured me.

I entered her gently and slowly. But her reaction was not what I expected; it was not what I dreamed. Jane cried out, her eyes closed shut, and her face seemed full of pain. I pulled my fingers out of her immediately. I knew what her cries of pleasure sounded like, I knew what her cries of pain sounded like. I hated to think that I may have caused her pain. I loved this woman. Jane's eyes remained tightly closed. She still held the back of my head. Her breathing became very rapid and I could see confusion all over her face. I was so worried and upset. I felt a tear run down my cheek. Damn. I pulled my hands off Jane's body completely. I wanted to collapse into tears. I knew I shouldn't have agreed to this. I hoped that I had not caused her pain when every waking moment of my life these past weeks was spent battling to make sure she never hurt again.

"I'm so sorry baby I didn't mean to hurt you." I could not speak above a whisper.

Jane opened her eyes and whatever she saw in my face made her expression go from pain to sadness. She tried to kiss me but I pulled away. I was so afraid again. I turned my head from her and felt the tears burning my eyes that wanted so desperately to fall in a cascade of pain, anger, and loss. But Jane, ever sweet and ever kind, took my face in her hands and held me still. Her eyes called to mine and mine called to hers. She brushed her thumb over my cheek and smiled as brightly as she could.

"It's not you honey," She whispered to me. "It's not you I just...it hurts when you...it hurts inside...when you put your fingers inside of me it feels like when that guy..." Jane's face crumpled up in pain.

I was so disgusted I wanted to throw her off me. I hated hearing her speak of that man worse now than I ever had. Bile rose in my throat. I could not and would to be compared to him on any level. Janie was my baby, my princess, my love. I felt myself growing angrier as I thought of the man that had done this to her. As hard as I fought, as hard as I battled, as hard as I tried, that man's evil still crept his way into Jane's mind and into our bedroom where I worshipped her, where I loved her, where I thought of nothing else but her. I clenched my teeth. I formed my hands into fists. I could not stand to look upon her face.

"You are never, ever to compare me to that man again Janie. I am not that man, I am not a man of any kind and I would never hurt you. I can't believe you would say that to me," I said. I turned my head from her. I would not touch her. I felt my whole body get tense.

I felt Jane wrap her arms around my neck and pull me into her body. I felt her lips at my ear.

"It's not you angel. It's just weird when something is inside of me. It always hurts a little inside of me. Violet says it's natural and I can move past it with time. But everything hurts, even tampons. But you don't hurt me and you are so good to me. I'm so sorry I...I...I'm sorry I hurt your feelings. I should have never tried to explain it that way. It doesn't mean I don't love you and it doesn't mean I don't want you. You don't have to touch me inside to please me baby. Trust me sweetheart." She whispered softly.

I knew Jane's lingering pain had to be in her mind because Addison had done all of Jane's follow-up appointments and gave her a clean bill of health physically. Her examinations showed no scar tissue or anything else that would cause Jane pain. Still I was angry. Knowing Jane's pain was in her head only made it worse. I just wanted her to be ok. I wanted to please her as I used to when our bedroom was sacred and she thought only of me.

Jane brushed my hot flushed cheeks with her gentle tender hands. Her every breath was a thing I worshiped. Jane brought my face to look into her eyes. She let me look at her for long moments. She leaned forward ever so slowly. I could not turn away even if I tried. Her lips touched mine. My eyes closed. My soul lifted. There was nothing around me but space and Jane in my arms. We held each other for long moments before we spoke.

I nuzzled my face in her hair and inhaled.

"I can't hurt you baby. I can't let that happen." I sighed.

Jane looked at me. She wore a mischievous expression. She pecked my lips with hers.

"You won't hurt me honey. Let me show you," Jane said to me.

I watched her run her own fingers up her thighs and... her eyes closed tightly, a shiver ran down her spine, her breath hitched, and the softest highest sounds escaped her mouth. I felt the fires in me blazing. I ran my hands over her and let out a moan of my own. I could see the muscles in Jane's neck tighten, I could see her face expressing all the pleasure she felt in that moment. She gasped again as her fingers worked between her legs. Her eyes lids fluttered. Her body rocked slowly atop mine. She kissed my lips. They were sloppy kisses, little more than pecks in between the sighs, shudders, and cries that escaped her mouth. I could feel her pleasure in my body. Her every breath and whisper of my name engulfed me in love and madness. The exquisiteness of her was like nothing I could ever imagine in my wildest dreams. She was rising above me to a place holy and sacred. I saw all other thoughts faded away from her. As I looked up at her face, studied the rise and fall of her chest, and heard the calls of her desires, I knew all that was on her mind was us. I covered her in kisses. My hands ravaged her body. But I did not move my fingers inside of her again. I understood now. She was in control, her needs and wants were all that mattered, I would do anything to please her.

"You're such a pretty girl baby. You're so gorgeous and so sweet to me princess." I whispered in her ear.

Jane bit her lip again and grabbed the back of the chair for balance. She kissed me as best she could as waves of pleasure engulfed her body. She was magnificent. I kissed every part of her I could. I tasted the salty sweat of her skin. Her moans grew louder and more wanting.

"I love you Maura, I love you baby," She sighed as she straddled my lap working her fingers between her legs.

I smiled and pulled her fingers from between her legs. I held her hand in my own as I gazed up at her.

"You know I love you too princess. You know you're my baby girl don't you?" I said looking up at her.

I felt the fire in my eyes. Jane's own eyes caught fire as she gazed down at me. Her breath was heavy.

"Show me I'm your baby girl. Show me how much you love me." She said leaning in and whispering in my ear in a voice so low and raspy I exploded with hunger and flaming desire.

I brought her hand to my face and slipped her fingers inside of my mouth. I savored her juices. I remembered again how much I loved her flavor. I remembered the nights where I sent her soaring with my tongue between her legs. I closed my eyes as her sticky juice on my fingers in my mouth covered my tongue like the sweetest honey. She still tasted the same as the last time I had her this way. She had lost nothing of her potency. If anything the smell of her was sweeter and the taste of her was liquid gold on my tongue.

"You like the way I taste angel?" Jane cooed in my ear.

She giggled and I giggled with her. Jane's smile was precious. I pulled her fingers from my mouth and kissed her lips.

"You know I taste good baby," Jane teased me with a devilish grin.

Even her eyes crinkled with laughter. I smiled up at her as she ran her fingers through my hair.

"Yes you do taste good baby girl. You taste like you're mine." I said kissing her fingers again.

The golden locket around her neck that my mother gave her glittered along with the beads of sweat shining on her dark olive skin. She smelled good, like vanilla. She knew it was my favorite scent. I slid my hands up her stomach. The silk of her negligee was warm in my fingers and I felt her muscles quiver under my touch. She was wearing the first negligee I ever gave her, the one she wore the first time we made love. I remembered the first time I lay with her like it was yesterday. It had been the greatest experience of my life; to give myself to someone I loved so completely. But in this moment as I gazed up at her she wasn't just my girlfriend anymore. She was my forever. I ran my hands up her legs and held her hips. Jane lifted her negligee around her waist and squirmed on top of me. She looked down at me with the devil in her eyes. She cupped my breasts in her hands and ran her thumbs over my nipples.

"I am yours honey. I've always been yours." She sighed against my lips.

"Janie," I whispered breathlessly.

Her smile was triumphant. She dragged her tongue around my lips before she kissed me. Her hair cascaded over my face and shoulders. Jane pulled my negligee over my head and inhaled deeply as she threw it over her shoulder. She leaned back and just looked at me. Her eyes traveled over my body slowly. Her hands felt everything her eyes took in. I let her take her time. I leaned back in the chair and closed my eyes. Her hands were soft and gentle. I felt her hips in my hands squirming in anticipation.

"You're so fucking sexy Angel." Jane whispered in a raspy voice laced with yearning.

I smiled and looked up at her. My eye lids were low as I watched her take in my body. Her eyes made my thighs moisten even further. Her skin glowed in the light of the flames in the fire place. I leaned up and kissed her just under her chin. I left a trail of kisses down her body and took her breast in my mouth. Jane's breath hitched and her body wiggled and squirmed. She grabbed my shoulders and her legs squirmed on either side of me. I smiled as I kissed her nipple while I flicked the other one with my thumb. I felt her nails run down my back. The heat between my legs sent waves of burning fire all throughout my body. My center twitched. Jane's tongue was in my ear. Her breath was rapid and heavy. Her chest heaved as I fondled her breasts. I felt her pulse as I kissed her neck. She whimpered as I slid my hands up her inner thighs so close to the part of her that belonged only to me. I stopped my hands just before they touched her there. I pulled my head back to look at her. She let me look into her, further than I ever had before. She saw the question in my eyes without me even having to voice it. There were no walls between us anymore.

"I'm ok baby. I am yours," She whispered to me.

Her eyes were so sincere and her smile was so sweet. As I looked into her I felt so much pain, anger, and fear fall away from me. The burden of tremendous responsibility released me. It felt like for the first time in a long time my heart was free and my soul was weightless and I did not have to be strong in that moment. Outside of my bedroom, I was the king of my castle and the master of my empire. But in Jane's arms I didn't have to be anything more than her lover and that I could do without even thinking of it. She was my princess, and this was my sanctuary. I had not felt so close to her since the last time we truly made love.

I cradled her face in my hands. She closed her eyes and covered my hands with hers. Tears streamed down my face as I looked at her. There had never been a more magnificent woman. Even after all she'd been through. Even having seen all her tears, her scars, her pain, and her darkness...she was gorgeous to me. I wrapped her in my arms and hugged her tightly. I felt her heart beat against mine and there was no God known or unknown that I did not thank for blessing me with Jane. For 35 years I had wandered the earth absent hope, passion, love, or even the knowledge that I could be loved. Jane brought a storm and a fire of life and love the likes of which I had never known into my life. Where there was once emptiness I was whole, I knew no more lonely nights. Even in the deepest of the gloom she and I had shared, I'd rather crawl through the darkness with Jane than be cursed with a life without her.

Jane pulled my head back and her eyes widened when she saw my tears. Her face showed so many emotions. She kissed my forehead and rocked me in her arms. Tears streamed from her own eyes as she looked at me so lovingly. She wrapped her arms around my neck and kissed my lips. I opened my mouth and we found each other's tongues. I wrapped my hands around her waist and lifted her into my arms. She wrapped her legs around me. Her hair fell in my face as I carried her to our bed. She kissed me as I lay her down and pulled her negligee over her head. She pulled me on top of her. Her legs spread for me and held me against her body. She whispered sweet things between our kisses. I ran my hand down the outside of her thigh.

"Maura, baby I want you," Jane gasped with heavy breath.

I kissed her deeply as my fingers found the place between her legs that I loved so much. My entire body shuddered when I felt how wet she was. I let my fingers run over her swollen clit. Jane arched her back, her eyes shut tightly, her mouth was opened but there was not a sound to be heard. I looked down into her face. I could see her muscles tense beneath her skin.

"Open your eyes baby girl and breathe for me," I said to her.

Her cheeks were flushed. Her body was shaking. She bit her lip hard to keep from screaming in her passion. She looked so vulnerable then. She looked so innocent even though she lay beneath me, open for me.

"Are you sure baby girl?" I whispered against her lips.

Jane cradled my face in her hands and smiled at me. She ran her fingers through my hair that fell all around her; she closed her eyes and breathed deeply. When she opened her eyes she kissed me softly. She cupped my breasts in her hands and wrapped her legs around my waist. She took my hand between her legs and pushed my fingers against her clit. I felt the heat between her legs on my moist fingers and her clit throbbed and pulsed. She rolled her hips and pushed her sex against my fingers. I gasped. Her back arched slightly and her eyes closed tightly as she began to rock herself into me. I kept my hand still and let her slide herself over my fingers. She whimpered and sighed. She moaned and cried with a shaking raspy voice. My body moved with hers but I did not push and I did not force. Her body was slick beneath mine. Our breasts touched and moved in motion together. I felt her strong thighs making my body keep rhythm with hers. She whispered my name over and over against my hungry lips. The bed springs creaked beneath us. Her juices covered my fingers. The fire between my legs built with each passing moment. My center was so alive with lust and desire for release it was painful. Shivers ran down my spine as Jane moved beneath me and her voice filled my head like beautiful music. I let my fingers move in slow circles over her clit as she rocked into my body with hers.

"It's me baby girl," I whispered to her softly. "It's me princess...I got you sweetheart."

"I'm yours baby...I'm yours baby." She cried out to me.

Jane held me tightly in her arms. Our lips were so close together. I looked deeply into her eyes as I rocked my body with hers. Her voice rose higher. Her muscles trembled and convulsed. I kept saying her name as she whispered mine. Her clit was so swollen against my fingers I could feel her pulse between her legs with every sway of her hips. She wrapped her fingers in my hair and pulled hard. I cried out at her aggression.

"You like that princess?" I cooed down at her.

Jane looked up at me with pleading eyes; her body never broke time or rhythm against my working hand between her legs.

"More," She whispered. "More. More... more!"

Jane whimpered louder and louder. My own thighs were as wet as hers. I knew I was close to the hilt of my need, as close as Jane was to hers. Just the sound of her voice moaning in my ear made me crazy. I positioned my hips between her legs in order to put my body's weight behind my fingers. I pushed myself against her clit harder and circled my fingers faster as Jane rocked her hips into me.

"Maura?" Jane gasped.

She said my name as a question. Her voice was searching, raspy, and shaking. I could feel a flow of her cum pour over my fingers. I was intoxicated by her body, her voice, and the heat inside her that I loved so much.

"It's me princess," I whispered to her again. "It's me baby. It's just me. Open your eyes and look at me sweet heart."

Jane looked at me and said my name again, but this time there was power and certainty in her voice. I felt her hands run all over my body. She held my hips, ran her hands over my ass and spread her legs wider for me. I shuddered. Her long gorgeous legs around me made the fire in my core grow beyond my control. My own insides quivered and rolled and fluttered. I felt currents of electricity up and down my legs. I rocked into her faster and faster; my breath grew heavier and heavier each time I pushed into her and Jane cried my name. My hair fell in Jane's face and all I could see was her. The expression on her face was one of deepest love and wild bliss. When she came, her whole body tightened up. As she came she screamed my name, pulled me against her body as the waves of her orgasm consumed her and made every muscle shake. I ran my hands over her soft slick skin. I felt tears in my eyes as Jane rolled me over and topped me. Her face was flushed and damp, her red cheeks shown in beautiful dimples on her face. I ran my hands in her hair and pulled her into a kiss. Our eyes closed and the world fell away. I felt Jane spread my legs beneath her and I wept. I was so ecstatic. Jane just looked at me sweetly. Her eyes were deeper and darker than I ever remembered seeing them.

"Please let me have you baby," Jane whispered to me.

I sighed and closed my eyes. I relaxed my body beneath hers. Jane kissed every inch of me. I wrapped my fingers in her soft curls and breathed deeply as she kissed my breasts. I felt beautiful in that moment. I gasped when Jane took my nipple in her mouth. She was gentle with me, as gentle as I had been with her. There was no need to rush or force. I felt the want of true delight flow through me. I felt Jane's kisses travel over my stomach and down my thighs. I cried her name. When she took my sex with her mouth I almost came right then. She sucked and kissed every part of my sex. I thought I was losing my mind. My back arched high and to the side. She held me down. Jane's tongue had become a force of well-adapted skill. She had lost no knowledge of my body. I grabbed at the sheets as the heat in my body moved through me and right between my legs. She flicked her tongue over me faster and faster. I moved my hips in slow circles around her tongue. Jane hummed and purred making her lips vibrate against my clit as her tongue worked. I bit my lip and grabbed her hair as my voice rose into the heavens. I did not want to wake anyone but Lord. I could not help it. Jane's head moved with my body. I felt tears on my cheeks. I pinched my nipples and my body erupted with the force of a volcano when my pleasure came. My body arched so violently I rose to a sitting position. My legs shook on either side of Jane's face as her tongue worked through wave after wave after wave of my orgasm. Jane tilted me to the side and flattened her tongue on my clit licking me like an ice cream cone about to melt over the side. I screamed her name so loudly it could have been heard for miles and miles. I could barely breathe. My chest was heaving. I was covered in sheens of sweat and I was still cumming and jerking. I pulled Jane's head from between my legs gently. I looked down and noticed the sheets were soaking wet. My heart exploded with love for her as she looked up at me smiling sweetly. Her lips and chin glistened with my cum. I leaned down and took her mouth with mine. I dragged my tongue across her chin and licked her clean. Then I kissed her deeply and let her taste me all over again. Jane was breathing hard when I pulled her into bed with me. We did not speak. We just lay in each other's embrace. Our feet played together under the sheets, our legs were entangled, and our smiles were only for each other. We kissed long and hard into the night. Every time I felt her lips on my body I flooded with longing again and my mind was absent all other thoughts but how much I loved her.

"Was that...ok for you princess?" I asked softly.

Jane blushed.

"Would you like a performance review?" She teased me, grinning goofily against my lips.

I rolled my eyes and swatted her butt playfully. Jane wiggled her eyebrows.

"Janie I'm serious baby, did I...please you? Did I hurt you? Are you ok? I need to know." I asked taking her hands in mine.

Jane just smiled.

"You were amazing baby...amazing. I came so hard I could see stars. You always please me baby in everything you do. And no...I'm not hurt. I loved making love with you. You're so patient and understanding. You're so gentle. I love you angel." She whispered to me.

As I looked into her eyes I saw how sincere she was. I blushed and she kissed my cheeks. We made love again and again each time our pleasure rose higher until we were no longer a part of this world. I fell asleep on top of her. Both our bodies were tangled in the sheets and tangled in each other. I kissed her one last time before sleep came for me and when I closed my eyes I could see her in white with my ring on her finger. I dreamed of her that way with my son and my daughter laughing in our arms. They were the best dreams I've ever had. I dreamed and dreamed until I heard a soft knock on the bedroom door. Both Jane and I woke up immediately. Our heads whipped toward the door. Jane's eyes were wide and I knew mine were too.

"Aunt Janie? Aunt Maura?" Tommy's soft voice sounded on the other side of the door. He sounded upset.

Jane pushed me off of her so fast I almost fell out of the bed.

"Baby hold on we're coming," Jane and I said at the same time. Jane sounded as frantic as me.

Jane grabbed her robe from the hook on the bathroom door. I found my negligee on the floor and pulled it over my naked body. My heart was racing with worry and concern over my son. His little voice sounded scared and broken like he was crying. Jane and I exchanged worried looks before Jane opened the door to find Tommy standing there wrapped in his Batman blanket. His eyes were red and weepy. His hair was tousled and his face was tear-streaked. His eyes were swollen, he had been crying for a while.

"What's wrong buddy?" Jane asked kneeling down and reaching for her son but he backed up quickly.

He was trembling from head to toe. His eyes never left the floor. His little shoulders were hunched as he cried softly. Worry and confusion consumed me. I ran past Jane and pulled my son up into my arms.

"Sweetheart, please tell Maddy what's the matter son." I said gently.

But it didn't take me long to realize what was going on. His blanket was wet. A familiar smell filled my nose.

"Sweetheart...did you...did you have an accident?" I whispered in his ear.

Tommy's face scrunched up in fear and humiliation. He buried his face in my neck and cried hard in my hair. He wrapped his arms around my neck and I held his little body tightly. I turned to Jane and she looked so scared. I rubbed my weeping son's back to calm him down.

"It's ok baby boy. Jane and I will take care of it Tommy. It's ok. You don't have to cry. We'll get you all cleaned up and get you some new sheets and a new blanket and it'll be like it never happened." I cooed in his ear.

I felt every one of his bones as I held him against me. He was so small and so thin. I wanted to cry but I kept it together. I walked down the hall with Jane close on my heels. I set Tommy down in his bathroom and pulled off his blanket. Jane was already stripping his bed. I tried to pull off Tommy's pajama top but he backed away from me like he did Jane.

"No...I can do it." He cried harder.

"Baby I have to help you get cleaned up ok? Son I promise you can trust me. I won't hurt you darling boy." I pleaded with him in my softest voice.

I reached for him again but Tommy backed all the way into the corner of the bathroom and sat there curled up into himself. He cried into his tiny hands. I could see his whole body shaking. I felt my heart break.

"Please son, let me help you," I said.

My voice cracked as I spoke. Tommy looked so scared and ashamed. I just wanted to hold him. I didn't care that he had an accident. I wasn't angry or upset. I was concerned for my son more than anything. His reaction was so...painful to watch.

"I'm sorry Aunt Maura...I didn't m-m-mean too. Please don't hurt me. Don't make me go in the bad place. I'm...I'm...I'm s-s-sorry." Tommy cried and cried.

His voice was high and desperate. He wiped at his eyes furiously but more tears came.

"Baby, I'm not going to hurt you sweetie. You're my son...my son. Why would I hurt you baby? I love you and Aunt Janie loves you." I said.

I was confused why he would even think such a thing. My worry and fear compounded in my heart. This level of anxiety had to come from somewhere. Something had happened to my boy, something...I shuddered. Jane ran past me and sat with Tommy on the floor. I could see her trying to force down her tears as she watched him cry. She reached for him with an unsteady hand and brushed his too long hair from his face.

"Buddy, Maura and I aren't going to hurt you. There's no such thing as a bad place here. You're safe here. If you let us clean you up you can lie down again and I'll read you more Batman comics. Does that sound good?" Jane asked him.

Her voice was soft and maternal. She touched him gently. Tommy looked up at her with his pretty but very sad eyes.

"You're not mad at me?" He asked in his little voice.

"No son...we're not mad at you. We just want to help you." Jane said wiping Tommy's tears with her fingers.

Tommy seemed hesitant.

"Please let us help. Don't you wanna be all clean and put on some fresh clothes?" Jane asked him with the warmest smile I'd ever seen on her face.

Tommy looked over at me and I smiled at him too. I opened out my arms for him.

"Come here son," I called to him.

Tommy got up slowly and padded over to me in his bare feet. I kissed his cheeks and smiled at Jane over his shoulder. I pulled Tommy's shirt over his head. Jane covered her mouth before she cried out in dismay. I was so shocked I was motionless. Speech and thought escaped my mind. I felt nothing but shock all the way to the tips of my fingers. This was the first time I'd ever seen Tommy without a shirt on. I understood why he wouldn't take his shirt off even to swim and why he insisted on dressing and bathing himself. I also covered my mouth with my hand to stifle my cries. Tommy never looked up at me. He kept his eyes down and wrapped his stick thin arms around his body. He was covered in bruises. His back was purple and black. I could count all his ribs through his skin he was just that small. I wanted to cry. I wanted to rage and scream. My heart was so broken staring at my son this way I felt like my soul had taken a running leap off a cliff and I was falling and falling. My sweet Tommy, Jane's only nephew had been hurt so badly by someone it was appalling to look upon what had been done to him. I looked over at Jane and she looked shattered. Her hands were shaking, her eyes were wide, but she did not break down. I could see her chest heaving for breath and she set her jaw to keep from crying. But I saw the shock and pain in her eyes. I think seeing the injuries were bringing up some PTSD problems for her. I gritted my teeth. I was so angry I wanted to strangle the life out of his foster 'parents' or whomever was responsible for the state of him. But he was my son and I would not let him see me fall apart in a rage. I feared it would only scare him more and he was such a sweet soft spoken gentle boy. He was beautiful to me. I wrapped him in my arms and lay his head on my shoulder. I kissed his cheeks and rocked him in my arms.

"Baby boy, Maddy's going to take care of you. No one will ever...ever hurt you again." I whispered to him.

My jaw was clenched so tightly my whole face hurt. Jane came over and put her arms around Tommy and me and held us both against her as she cried softly into his shaggy hair. She knew how angry I was because I am sure it was showing all over my face. I knew how hurt and scared she was because it was showing all over her face. But as we looked into each other's eyes, we knew we both had to be strong. We would see our son through this together. I was Jane's strength, she was mine, and we would both be strong for our boy.

"Tommy, tell us what happened to you sweetheart. Who hurt you?" Jane said her voice cracking so badly I could barely hear her.