"I won't." Maura held Jane's gaze, strong and unwavering, promising forever, and Jane felt her pulse quicken. She swallowed and with her free hand reached around the the back of Maura's neck and pulled her in for a needy kiss. Her other hand slipped, increasing pressure between Maura's legs and the goddess gasped again, parting their lips.

Maura sat back and with a coy smile, drew Jane's wet fingers to her mouth, kissing them sweetly, then dragging them down the middle of her chest, as if drawing a treasure map. But before Jane could seek her fortune, Maura moved, collapsing into the pillow on her side of the bed, one arm behind her head. "I very much enjoyed that."

Jane rolled onto her side to face Maura. "Me too." Her knuckles traced Maura's side, along her ribs, in at her waist, out at her hip.

"You're coming too, Jane?"

"Yeah, just about," she sighed.

"Yes! The old gang is back together!"

Jane's chin slipped off her palm, jolting her out of her daydream. "What?"

"You're bringing the Doc, right? You guys haven't been out to the Dirty Robber with us in forever," Frost grinned.

"Oh," Jane tried to make a quick recovery. "You know I can't drink beer. It's too tempting to go there and watch the rest of you."

"Nope," Frost pointed at Korsak. "You heard it, right? She said she'd come out with us tonight."

Korsak shook his head solemnly. "No take-backs, Jane."

Jane pushed her chair out and grunted. "Alright, one drink. That's it." She looked at the clock, pretending to care what time it was, and said, "I gotta check on Maura."

All week she'd had trouble focusing on work. Every time she had a spare minute, her mind wandered back to her vision of Maura, bare-chested, head thrown back in ecstasy. She'd never seen anything like it and she longed to see it again. It wasn't like the few men she'd gone to bed with; they grimaced as if in pain, not sexy at all. When Maura came she was beautiful, relaxed and pure, natural and euphoric. Jane was so awed at the memory, she practically tripped over her own feet walking to the elevator.

Maura, meanwhile, was acting like nothing had happened at all. After spending that evening looking and behaving like a human ray of sunshine, she was back to normal, warm at home and professional at work. For a few days Jane walked on eggshells, worrying that she'd say something or do something to make that first time with Maura her last, but even an accidental sarcastic remark about the lack of animal protein in their dinner one night was greeted with a wry smile. Jane was grateful, and starting to believe it really would be ok, and even that it might happen again.

Not that it was perfect. Jane expected to be a mediocre lover at best, and it wasn't like she'd done much for Maura that night; she could hardly move under the weight of an eight-month-old fetus. She wanted to try again, not just to repeat the act, but to improve upon it. She wanted to pay closer attention to the sounds Maura made and what Jane could do to elicit them. Which movements made her eyelids flutter, and which made her gasp. She wanted to learn Maura inside out, to know exactly how to please her. Now that she knew she could.

Jane closed her eyes, leaned her head back against the elevator wall, and waited for a lurch to announce her arrival to the morgue.

At some point in the last few months, Jane's strut had morphed into more of a waddle, and the loud clomping of her boots was exchanged for squeaky sneakers with Dr. Scholl's inserts for added comfort. Even without these symbols of strength, her knock on Maura's office door was still met with admiring eyes and a bright smile.

"Hey, Maur." She'd already finished her autopsy and changed out of her scrubs. ""Do you have a cause of death for this morning's vic yet?"

"Exsanguination." The loose fabric of her dress fell forward as she bent to scribble something.

"Good, ok, I'll let the guys know." Jane made no move to leave.

"I sent that information up over an hour ago. I don't expect it was a surprise, given the multiple stab wounds and the approximately three liters of blood we observed at the scene."

"Blood, Doctor?" Jane strolled teasingly toward Maura's desk. "Don't you mean 'a reddish brown stain'?"

"No, Detective," she smiled and crossed her arms as she examined Jane's posture. "I was confident in calling it blood, as the victim was lying directly in it, and stains on his clothing demonstrated how it flowed out of him from the stab wounds. Subsequent lab tests confirmed my conclusion."

"What about the murder weapon?" Jane challenged, her chin jutting out.

Maura came out from behind her desk. "Something sharp. Ten to twelve centimeters from tip to hilt, with a single serrated edge."

Jane took another step forward into Maura's space, backing her up against the desk. "Like a steak knife." She was standing close enough that Maura's head had to tilt back to maintain eye contact.

"That's one possibility, yes." Maura was almost whispering. In the silence that followed her words, her gaze dropped to Jane's lips, while she unconsciously licked her own.

"Great, I'll tell them." Jane stayed where she was, trying to decide whether to reach out and touch the fabric at Maura's hip. It was only inches away, and Jane imagined the way it would bunch when she dragged her thumb up Maura's thigh.

When Maura's gaze returned to Jane's smiling eyes, she coolly added, "That was also in my report, of which Detective Frost confirmed receipt an hour ago. Do you have any other unnecessary questions or would you like to tell me why you're really here?" The corner of Maura's mouth turned up, as if she could read Jane's mind from four floors away.

Jane knew she was caught, but she wasn't about to admit it. "I, uh." She ran her fingers through her hair and looked away, racking her brain for a reason that didn't involve a visceral need for Maura's skin. "Frost tricked me into agreeing that we'd go to the Robber tonight."

Maura gave a throaty laugh. "He tricked you?"

"Yeah. It's kind of your fault, actually." Jane felt her fingers alight on Maura's hip without her even making the conscious decision to touch.

Maura blinked happily at the sensation and she swayed forward noticeably. "My fault? How so? I don't believe I was even there."

"No, not exactly." Jane licked her lips and smiled. "Well, it's not important. Just one drink after work, ok?" Jane's hand moved and she could feel the difference in the way the fabric moved over skin compared to lace. She glanced once more at Maura's lips, then smiled and turned to leave. "And maybe get some dinner, if you want." Jane lingered in the doorway, waiting for Maura to agree.

"You're allowed to kiss me at work, you know."

Jane grinned. "Is that a yes?"

"Yes."

"Good. Then I'll kiss you later." She winked and exited, leaving Maura shocked and jilted. But before Maura could close her gaping mouth, Jane returned and stole her kiss. "Mmm. Now is good, too."

Footsteps stopped abruptly in the open doorway, and Maura broke off the kiss to look around Jane at who was there. "Susie, come in. Do you have something for me?"

"Excuse me, Dr. Isles, I didn't mean to interrupt." Jane tried to cover her laugh. That girl has impeccable timing. "CSI came back with fingerprints on the knife. They match those found at the scene."

"Thank you, Susie." After dismissing the criminologist, Maura opened the file, browsed it, and then handed it to Jane. "Detective Rizzoli," Maura started smugly, "it looks like your steak knife hypothesis was correct. Perhaps you'd be good enough to deliver the fingerprints to Detective Frost? That is why you came down here, isn't it?"

Jane grabbed the folder and rolled her eyes. "Of course it is, Dr. Isles." One more kiss and she left again, this time for real.

As Maura turned off the Prius engine, Jane yawned, then squeezed her eyes shut and opened them wide, trying to summon the energy for a social night at the Robber. "Maybe I should stop working. I'm exhausted, and all I did today was daydream."

Maura looked sideways at Jane, no doubt hypothesizing about the subject of her daydreams. Instead of guessing, she asked, "Won't you be bored if you stay home all day?"

Jane wagged her eyebrows at Maura. "Not if you're there with me. I could help you wash your hair."

Maura gave an understanding smirk, then pulled the keys from the ignition. "That sounds lovely. Maybe you could let me wash your hair one of these days."

Jane's smile faltered before she agreed, "Yeah, one of these days." She turned away and opened the car door to get out.

Maura was about to comment further when she met Jane on the sidewalk, but Jane changed the subject. "I'll talk to Cavanaugh about it tomorrow. The guys can handle our cases without me. They'll have to, eventually." She took Maura's arm and started walking toward the pub.

Maura strolled with her, agreeing, "I've already begun delegating more cases to the assistant medical examiners. I should let them take more responsibility while I'm relatively available, so they won't need me as much during our family leave." She caught Jane's eye as Jane stopped to pull the door open. "Plus we'll have more time together, regardless of what we choose to do with it."

Jane caught her hand before she could enter the building, holding her back. "Thank you," she whispered, and kissed her on the cheek.

Once inside, Jane felt the excitement of a social evening overtake her. She was no longer accustomed to the noise and general raucousness of the pub, and she was noticing for the first time that the air inside was cloudy. It was no wonder Maura had hesitated the first time Jane brought her there. But that was years ago, and there was no hesitation now. Maura strode in confidently, spotting their group, and grinned affably as Korsak stood and offered his place on one side of the booth. Surveying the room, Jane wasn't the only one who observed her entrance. More than one pair of eyes was ogling Maura from the bar and Jane felt a strong surge of both protection and pride. It wasn't an unfamiliar feeling, but it was the first time she was able to explain it: That's my Maura.

Jane made her way to the booth and slid in next to Maura, just barely clearing the space between the back of the bench and the table. As her right arm wrapped around Maura's shoulders, she surveyed the room again to see most of Maura's devotees turn away, dejected. Her chin lifted as she smirked.

Two pairs of eyes weren't so easily deterred, however, and Jane recognized the men from the precinct. They were the same assholes who were unusually interested in the 'practical joke' Jane had found on her desk that one morning. She remembered how stupid it was and how stupid she felt letting it get to her enough that she had gone home early. She narrowed her eyes until they noticed her death stare and looked away.

"You done pissin', or should we get Maura a raincoat?" Frost interrupted her thoughts for the second time that day.

"Huh?"

Frankie, sitting next to him, chuckled. "Yeah, Janie, what's next? Hers and hers tattoos?"

Jane looked at Maura for an explanation. "You were growling, darling." Maura patted her thigh. "It's alright," she winked. "I think it's sexy."

Korsak, though, who had pulled a chair up to the end of the table, was looking over his shoulder at the targets of Jane's evil eye, and nodded meaningfully at Frost. Then, as if that little exchange hadn't happened, he changed the subject. "So, the old gang is back together!"

"Hey, the first round is on me." Frost stood and took their orders, then went to the bar while the others chatted.

Frankie and Maura quickly fell deep into conversation about an autopsy he'd observed. "So you can tell what he ate just by looking inside his stomach?" He leaned forward across the table like she was about to tell him some juicy gossip.

Maura's eyes were bright as she discussed her favorite part of the autopsy. "In part, yes. The stomach contents are extremely telling for some foods, but often mastication and digestive enzymes have rendered the contents unrecognizable and chemical analysis must be applied."

Jane began to tune out the shop talk and noticed Frost talking to the practical jokers while he waited for the drinks to be assembled on a tray. Frost pointed over at their table, then at the door. The two men followed his gestures with their eyes. They didn't look happy about whatever he was saying.

Growing concerned, Jane lifted her chin in Frost's direction. "Korsak, you know what that's about?"

He looked behind him to see Frost watching the men down the last of their beers, then leave. He explained, "You're not the only detective in the department, Jane."

Jane was not a hugger, but when she understood the implication, she felt a surge of fraternal love for her partner.

Soon Frost returned with the tray of drinks, all smiles. "Pinot grigio for the Doc, chocolate milkshake for my partner, and three Blue Moons."

Jane caught his eye as he sat. "Frost, man. Thank you." She nodded her head to emphasize that she meant thanks for more than just the drinks.

Frost brushed it off. "It's just a milkshake, Rizzoli. You can get the next round." But he nodded back in tacit understanding.

After the brief silence of first sips, Frankie pulled a gift bag out from under the table. "So, uh, we all got you guys some stuff. For the baby, y'know." He slid the bag across the table.

"Aww, you didn't have to do that!" Jane insisted while Maura pulled out the card. "This was Ma's idea, wasn't it? 'Fess up, she bought it and put your names on the card, right?"

"Now, now," Korsak assured, "It was her idea, but the three of us picked out the gift."

"And the card," Frost added.

There were two cartoon elephants on the front of the card, one pink and one blue. Maura read it aloud. "An elephant's pregnancy lasts nearly 22 months, and at birth the baby is about three feet tall and 200 pounds." Maura looked up at the guys. "That's true, it's the longest gestation period of all the mammals. Sharks, however," she held up her fun fact finger, "have even longer periods of gestation. The frilled shark's pregnancy lasts three and a half years. And there's a salamander in the Alps who—"

Jane cleared her throat. "Maura. Just read the rest of the card."

"Oh. Of course." As she flipped open the card, she mumbled quickly under her breath, "Two to three years, depending on altitude." She huffed a sigh, then read the inside loud and clear, "Thank God you aren't an elephant."

"Thank God," Jane echoed and laughed, even though she'd heard the joke before, and when Maura originally told it, it was a lot cuter.

Maura reached again into the bag and pulled out a handful of onesies, one for each Boston team: the Red Sox, the Patriots, the Celtics, and the Bruins.

"Aww, yeah!" Jane held each one up in turn. "These are perfect! Thanks, guys!"

Frankie was acting all shy, his eyes on his coaster. "Yeah, we just thought, ya know, we could pitch in sometimes." He looked up and shrugged his shoulders. "Do the dad stuff."

Maura paused in her refolding of each onesie. "Dad stuff?"

"Yeah," Frankie explained. "'Cause she doesn't have a dad. If you want us to do anything, like…"

Jane drummed her fingers on the table, trying not to be annoyed at her brother and partners. "Like what? What kind of 'dad stuff' are we talking about?"

Frost stepped in, trying to help. "Whatever, you know? Teach her to ride a bike or coach her softball team."

Jane crossed her arms. "You don't think I—we—can handle that? You want to teach her to shave her legs, too?"

"Jane," She felt Maura's hand on her bicep. "They're only offering to help. I'm sure there will be something…"

Jane took a deep breath to calm herself down, then slapped her hands down on the table. "Yeah, I'll tell you what you can do."

"Now, wait a minute, Janie!"

"No, seriously, Frankie, here's what you can do. Be. Men. If she grows up and decides she wants to date guys, I want her to know what a good guy looks and acts like. If she could see what happened not ten minutes ago, how all the guys at the bar looked at Maura like she was a piece of meat, she might think that's all there is to life, being pretty."

Jane's hands waved uncontrollably and she almost knocked over Frost's beer. "You guys are all she has for male role models, so you two had better start respecting women, and not just fighting over who's going to date them and talking about how good they look in a tight pair of pants." Jane's voice grew louder and she slammed her fist down on the table for emphasis, rattling the bottles and glasses. "I want my daughter to know she deserves better than that, and that there are good guys out there who will treat her right."

Both Frankie and Frost had leaned back and pulled their chins in. Frankie's lips were pressed tightly together, as if he knew anything he said would only mean more trouble from his sister.

"And you," she turned to Korsak, "I hope you'll keep them in line while I'm on leave."

Korsak's mouth hung open and his eyes were wide as he nodded, "Ok."

There was silence and Jane looked around the table for a response. Frost and Frankie were still stunned. Maura had a kind of Mona Lisa half-smile going on. There was silence for a moment, then Maura said, "I need to use the restroom. Would you join me?"

"Uh-oh, what did I say?" Jane started to protest as she slid out of the booth.

Maura took her hand and said sternly, "Jane." Jane followed, rolling her eyes.

The restroom was empty and as soon as the door closed Maura pulled Jane toward her. "That was extremely titillating, Jane."

"What?"

"I love it when you talk feminist." Maura slid her hands up Jane's shoulders and pulled her head forward for a demonstrative kiss.

Frost sipped his beer and tried to come up with conversation while the women were indisposed. "What do you think she's gonna be like, their kid?"

Frankie smiled, trying to conjure up an image. Based on the scene they'd just witnessed, he concluded, "Bossy."

Frost laughed out loud at that, but agreed. "She's gonna have the two of them wrapped around her little finger. Even Jane, she's still a hard ass to us, but the way she's been softening lately…. You can tell, she'd do anything for them."

Frankie smiled sideways. He'd noticed the changes in Jane. She wasn't exactly softer, but definitely more relaxed. Usually. And happier. Maura was good for her. "Do you think it's right what they're doing?" At Frost's look of admonishment, he clarified, "I mean with the baby. Do you think she'll be ok without a dad?"

"Hey, lots of kids don't have dads," Korsak pointed out, "and lots more have pretty bad ones. I think she's lucky to have two parents who love her, plus everyone else chipping in when we can." Korsak draped one arm over the back of his chair. "She's right, though. You two especially have to be careful about the way you act around the ladies." He took a sip of his beer.

"The ladies?" Frost mimicked with a smile.

Korsak set down his bottle. "Laugh at me all you want, whippersnapper, but I convinced three women to marry me, and it wasn't by showing off my muscles or staring at their butts. Ladies are ladies and they like to be treated that way."

Frost almost spit out his beer. "Three women who divorced you!"

"Because I took them for granted. I worked too much and didn't show them how important they were to me." Korsak nodded solemnly. "I didn't learn my lesson until too late. I wish I had been there for them, and for Josh, when he needed me."

At the change in mood, Frankie started picking at the label on his beer.

Frost reached his hand out and swatted Korsak's arm in empathy. "Hey, you do important work. We all do. And," Frost took a swig then added, "hell, sometimes we even learn from you, old man." He flashed a smile, hoping Korsak took the label as affectionately as it was meant.

"Yeah, let's see you admit that in the I. R. L. office," Korsak grinned.

They all had a good chuckle as Frost held his hand up to stop Frankie from correcting Korsak's phrasing. After a moment of silent contemplation, Frost nodded, "That kid's gonna be just fine, with or without the dad stuff. Maybe we take her to a ball game once in a while, or play tea party or whatever. Maybe we stay late some nights so Jane can go home to tuck her in. And yeah, I guess we could do better at being the good guys."

Frankie nodded. He could do all those things. "They'll be great moms." He raised his bottle for a toast. "And we will be great uncles."