Thank you for all the reviews and kind words. Apologies for the long delays on updating the story but work has been a little crazy lately! Don't give up on the story just yet - plenty is to come!

Chapter 16

"Are you nervous about telling Frankie?" The doctor asked, running her hand up and down the taller woman's back.

"A little I guess. I mean I kinda see from the point of view that he was the only Rizzoli at BPD now, he wasn't being automatically cast as Jane Rizzoli's brother anymore. But, he isn't that guy anymore. He's a competent detective, so any annoyance he has from this is an insecurity he has himself, it's not my fault."

Maura tilted her head "Well I totally agree but you might have to be prepared to be a bit more sensitive than that."

Jane's head span round "What do you mean?! I've just said nice things, i'm not sugar coating it anymore than that! He's a grown man for christ sake. I'm not apologising for finally having the life I want...and need. I'm so happy about this situation, mainly because I get the girl...but in all seriousness, this job helps me get and keep the girl - who I love very much. He doesn't get to spoil that by being a baby. So a long response to your suggestion, but the short answer is no, I wont pander to a 35 year old man."

Maura pulled Jane by the t-shirt and capture her lips in a hungry and passionate kiss. She stepped back staring at the slightly shocked brown orbs "That, Jane Rizzoli, is one of the reasons I love you so much...so so much." The honey blonde leaned back in and the Italian obliged, tongues clashing tongues, hands desperately manoeuvring to tear off items of clothing. Without breaking the kiss, the former detective directed them over to the sofa where she gently laid Maura down. Looking down at the topless and eager Medical Examiner Jane began trailing kisses from her neck, through the centre of the honey blonde's voluptuous, porcelain breasts, past her naval until she reached the pantie line. Maura tilted her head back and groaned in satisfaction, running her fingers through Jane's hair, which was at hip level, and parting her legs with want. The Italian looked up at the sight before her and smiled before commencing the removal of the panties to finish what she had started.

Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

It was coming up to 7pm and the ladies were pretty much fully prepped for the bbq. Jane had taken control of the meat and fired up the gas in preparation for their guests arrival. First through the door was of course Angela.

"Ah my girls! How are you both? Ph Maura, you look lovely as always. Why can't you make this effort Jane? What is your insistence on pants and a t-shirt. Honestly."

"Gees ma! Hello to you too! I'm comfortable what's wrong with that?"

Maura smiled "Oh and Angela honestly, I haven't made an effort, I just haven't worn this for a while and wanted to try it out."

Jane shot a stare over in Maura's direction "Oh way to go Maur, make this better by stating that in fact you haven't even tried...you just naturally look that good."

A warm blush came to Maura's cheeks "I didn't mean it like that Jane." The tall, raven haired beauty approached with a smirk "I know babe, I'm teasing you. Besides, how lucky am I that my girlfriend looks this hot when she doesn't even try eh? I'll tell you. Very lucky."

She leaned down towards Maura's ear and whispered "and I must say you look very...very...hot."

The Dr blushed again but this time with a smile, composing herself just as Frankie and Nina strolled through the door. The both greeted the women with a kiss, Frankie approached his sister with a 6 pack of beer, who naturally obliged and cracked the lids on two, handing one back to her younger sibling.

"Hey Frankie, what do ya say you give me a hand with the meat grilling outside?"

"Sure sis, I mean, grilling meat - you almost certainly need male supervision for that." His face cracked into a smile and the back of Jane's hand quickly swotted across his bicep "oooouch, ok ok, you know I was joking! Lets get some meat cooking."

The pair of siblings exited through the back door to the patio leaving Angela, Nina and Maura in the kitchen. Angela was the first to break the silence "So girls, weddings." Nina looked and Maura and rolled her eyes, the matriarch carried on talking "I saw that Nina. Anyway, you need to start getting serious, your wedding is less than 6 months away, there's so much to do!"

Nina laughed "Angela, there is nothing to do. It's a small affair ok, we've been through this. The venue is booked, the dress and suit are purchased, the flowers are ordered and the cake is on order. I don't see the point of inviting anymore stress than that. It's what we want. Small, intimate, hassle free and fun."

Maura reached across the kitchen island and put her hand on Nina's "That sounds fabulous Nina, and i agree, why make more hassle for yourselves when the whole day is suppose to be for you two to enjoy."

Now it was Angela's turn to roll her eyes at Maura "Oh Maura, Jane has got to you already hasn't she. Filling your head with her ideas of what an event should be. You of all people I thought would understand with your galas and events you attend."

The honey blonde looked slightly confused and a bit offended "Understand what Angela?"

"Understand that a big wedding can be fun, formal events don't have to be stuffy affairs."

Maura responded immediately "But you would like to think that the wedding was for the happy couples benefit. That they had the people there that they care about most and want to share their moment with. I personally think weddings should be as intimate as people want them to be. Since being welcomed into your family I have come to realise it's very much a case of quality over quantity."

"Oh" Angela looked stumped "well when you put it like that, it makes sense I suppose. Ok Nina, I accept your approach."

Nina burst out laughing, "That's great Angela, but just so you're aware, as important as your opinions are, we were going ahead with or without your acceptance of our approach...to our own wedding."

To break the silence Maura pulled a bottle of sauvignon blanc from the chiller "Anyone for wine?"

Nina responded straight away "YES! A large one!" Angela swotted her arm straight away, all three woman stood and laughed.

Nina took a sip of her wine, "So Maura, you and Jane have practically been in a relationship for what? 6 or 7 years? Whats in your plans?"

The honey blonde nearly choked on her wine "No we have not! We have been in a relationship for 6 or 7 weeks more like!"

"Oh come on honey! Regardless of when you acted on it, you guys have been in love for years. You must have thought about what happens next."

Maura's frequency of blushing this evening had reached new heights "Well, yes, I have been in love with Jane for a long time, but since there was never an official us I guess it was hard to imagine anything than just being with her. We haven't discussed anything further than just being in a committed relationship right now. That doesn't mean I wont be thinking about it from now on I suppose. But don't tell Jane that thought has entered my head, you know how she gets."

As the sentence was finished the former detective walked through the door, "Don't tell Jane what? and how do I get?"

Maura stood perfectly still, as if that would stop the situation from happening. Angela looked between the two women thinking of something to say so that the conversation could blow over - she failed. It was down to Nina to save the day "Oh you know Jane, Maura's thoughts about Kent, that he's not weird and doesn't have a crush on her."

Maura looked at Nina and silently mouthed the word 'what', Nina shrugged. All attention was back on Jane. "What? Kent has a crush on you? That makes sense actually...hmmmm. I'm assuming the latter part of your statement of 'how Jane gets' is referring to my jealous streak? You got me there so i'll give you that one. Anyways, just needed some plates - you ladies carry on with your girl talk - there's meat to be cooked!

Maura exhaled with relief "thank you Nina, you saved me from hives!"

"You are welcome hun, and yes...I know exactly how she gets, much like her brother I expect!"

Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Frankie too a sip of his beer "So, sis, whats happening?"

"What do you mean?" Jane enquired.

"Well you know, you're staying in town now, I know you've been to BPD to see McBride because someone told me. So what I mean is, whats happening?"

"What do you know?"

"Jane stop being so paranoid will you, i'm purely asking what are the plans? It's not a big question, it's a normal question. And to answer yours, I don't know anything hence why I'm asking."

Jane sigh slightly "You're right, i'm being weird aren't I. Ok, so yeah, I came to see McBride and it went really well so i'll be started back at BPD next Monday."

Frankie smiled "That's great news sis! See I knew we'd end up partners eventually! This is gona be great!"

"See Frankie, here's the thing. We aren't going to be partners. I'm coming in a Sergeant."

Frankie put his bottle down "You're what?"

"McBride needs support at a higher level and I have the credentials to do that job, so he's offered it to me and i've accepted."

Frankie laughed "You cannot be serious. Would it hurt you that much to be on the same level as me for one second? It's like whatever I do, you have to better it to prove you're the better Rizzoli. We get Jane, you are a better cop, everyone knows it - including me."

Jane ran her fingers through her raven hair and tried to stay calm "Frankie, can you stop for one second and consider that maybe, just maybe i'm taking this job for reasons that don't include my ego? Maura needs me to take this job, Ma needs me to take this job...I need to take this job. You think ideally I want to be at BPD and sit behind a desk for the majority of my day? I'm doing it because i've had my time. I was a great detective yes, but part of that was because I put myself in situations where I didn't have to think of the worst consequence. Now I do. I have Maura to think about, who I should have been thinking about the 100 times before when i've put myself in harms way. This job has to do with the fact I can keep doing something i'm good at and can add value too whilst knowing that i'm not causing the woman I love, and my family, anxiety over whether i'm coming home at night. So before you say anything else offensive, consider all of that."

Frankie reached his arm out and put his hand on Jane's shoulder "I'm a jerk. Seems my ego is the problem here, not yours. You're a good person Jane, i'm proud of you."

The female Rizzoli pulled her brother in for a hug "Thanks little bro...but just so we're clear, we both know I AM the better Rizzoli..."

Jane burst out laughing and ran from her brothers grip whilst Frankie picked up the garden hose and began spraying water at her as payback. The back door swung open just as Jane had braved approaching Frankie to fight for control of the hose, both absolutely soaked they looked up to see their mother standing in front of them with her arms folded.

"Did I raise you two in a barn?! Grow up will you, you're going to ruin the steaks!"

The two siblings ignored the matriarchs plea and continued to fight each other for the hose, Frankie fell backwards to the floor still holding the hose, meaning that the direction of the water spray immediately changed...the water hit Angela square in the face. Jane ran over to the tap and turned it off, but couldn't contain her hysterical laughter. Frankie soon joined in and eventually, Angela started to laugh too. Maura and Nina soon joined the Rizzoli's in the garden to see what all the fuss was about.

Nina looked over at Maura "What have we got ourselves into..."