*Hi to all, I hope this finds you well. I look forward to continuing to bring you more to this story and will do my best to post once a month… as much as I can. Thank you all so much for continuing to read, review, and support my writing. I truly enjoy doing this and having someone to share it with. Please take care and I will see you on the flip side. Happy New Year! :)

BLT

Chapter 23

Jane stood in the front yard looking up at the night sky contemplating how quickly the past few weeks had gone by. Her tux was a little too tight for her liking, constricting her throat slightly… or perhaps it was the from the heat of the bourbon she was currently sipping on. Taking a deep breath, she thought back to their Christmas together and how much fun they'd had opening presents, playing in the snow, and eating a feast fit for Rizzoli-Isles clan which had pretty much doubled over the past few years. They had gone to Angela's little cottage behind the house and celebrated with much fanfare. At first, it had only been her, Maura, and the kids but as the day progressed… Frankie had arrived laden with gifts and his own soon-to-be family, followed by Tommy, Davi, and Liam. With Constance off in Paris with Bree, it had truly been a Rizzoli family Christmas. But now she was standing out in front of their house surrounded by cars from visitors near and far to bring in the new year with a wedding. Not just any wedding though. It was Frankie's wedding and she couldn't help but wonder where the time had gone. When had they all gotten so grown that they now had their own families to contend with? She had a feeling of melancholy brought on by all the changes going on around her. Good changes, mind you… unless you counted the fact that Valley and Li were growing way too fast for her liking. But good changes were on the horizon for them all and she felt the prick of anticipation flicker in the pit of her stomach at what the future was sure to offer.

"Hey… mind a little company?" Tommy asked, startling Jane from her contemplation.

"Um, sure…" she leaned against Maura's car and nodded to the empty spot next to her.

"You seem deep in thought. I didn't want to bother you."

"Nah, just thinking about how fast the holidays have gone by. It seems like just yesterday Li was learning to walk. Now he pretty much runs everywhere." Jane took a deep breath and let it out, watching the white vapor that came out in a puff rise up and over her head.

"Yeah… seems like just yesterday it was you, me, and Frankie running around, fighting over our Christmas presents." Tommy sighed as he leaned against the car next to Jane.

"And now Frankie is getting married…"

"Yep…" he said, shoving his hands into the pockets of his pants.

Jane glanced over at him and suddenly realized how much alike they were. He dropped his shoulders just like she did when he was thinking with his hands in his pockets and his head bent in contemplative silence. A warmth washed over her at the love she felt for her younger brother and the urge to clear the air suddenly overwhelmed her. Clearing her throat, she shifted nervously from one foot to the other before taking a sip of her drink for a little liquid courage.

"Hey, um… I know it wasn't always easy growing up… with Frankie and I being so close and all. We didn't mean to leave you out of things, it's just… well… you were so much younger and all."

Tilting his head to look at her, Tommy offered a sly smile in response. "I know… I was a bit of a brat back in those days but it was probably because I did feel a little left out. It was like you and Frankie were the only members of this cool club I couldn't be a part of…" he shrugged his shoulders as he looked down at his feet.

"We were just dumb kids back then." Jane tried to reason.

"Really? It kinda carried over into adulthood… don't ya think?" He didn't elaborate until Jane gave him a questioning look and then he took a deep breath, letting it out slowly as if he needed the extra time to find the right words. "When I got arrested and then sentenced… you didn't come… you wouldn't even be a character witness for me."

Shaking her head sadly, Jane wasn't sure what she could say to make amends with her little brother at the moment but she knew she needed to try. "Yeah, I'm sorry. It was pretty shitty of me to let you go down like that…"

"Ya think?" Tommy interrupted her with a quick retort.

"But…" she held up a hand in her defense. "You were an addict and we both know things would have gotten worse and you would have ended up in jail for a lot longer for something far worse than a hit and run."

For a moment, silence descended on them as they both thought about what could have happened if Tommy hadn't gotten the help he needed at the time he needed it. It was a slightly uncomfortable quiet that made Jane feel uneasy because truth be told, she hadn't been there for him when he needed her most.

"Look, we both made some mistakes and can't go back and change them but…" she took a deep breath before letting it out in a whoosh as if someone had punched her in the stomach. "I can promise you that from this day forward I will always have your back… even if I don't agree with you… I'll never let you down again."

"You mean that?" He glanced over at her with a sheepish grin.

"Shit…" she muttered at the look on his face. Perhaps she had spoken too soon. "What aren't you telling me?"

Pulling his hands from his pockets, he crossed his arms as a subtle form of defense as he looked everywhere but at Jane. He wasn't sure if this was the time or place to confide his secret, but he had already intimated there was something big he was hiding and Jane surely wouldn't let him go without an explanation.

"Come on, man… you can't leave me hangin' like this. Spill it… we'll take it one step at a time… I'll help you, however, I can." Jane tried to sound supportive because the last thing wanted was for Tommy to bolt, leaving her high and dry with no understanding as to why.

"You know that girl I've dated for the past few months?" He asked, his eyes dropping down to his shoes again.

"Yeah… well… maybe?" The word came out on a long drawl and like a question, because Jane wasn't sure what was coming next but she had a feeling it would be life-changing… for Tommy at least.

"Um… well… she's kinda pregnant… and well…" he paused as he took a deep breath. "It's mine…"

"Oh… how can you be 'kinda' pregnant?" Jane blinked a few times in surprise at his confession.

"Okay, not 'kinda', she is pregnant and we're gonna keep it, and well… I think maybe I wanna marry her."

"You don't haveta if you don't want to, ya know. You can still be a part of the kid's life even if you aren't married." Jane offered an alternative. She wasn't sure what to think because Tommy could hardly keep a job longer than a few weeks let alone a girlfriend and now he was talking about getting married.

"I know that." He huffed impatiently. "I love her, Jane. She's the first person I can actually see having a future with and before you ask… no it isn't just because of the baby."

"Okay…" she held up a hand in understanding. "I just want you to know there are alternatives… getting married is a lifetime commitment, that's all. I just want you to make sure you aren't rushing into anything because you feel like you have to."

"I won't. In fact, she isn't ready to get married right away, anyways. We've talked about it and decided it would be best to see how things go after the baby is born… like how we are together and stuff. I know how it looks now, kinda like all roses and rainbows but once a kid comes along… well… a lot can change in a relationship." He tried to shrug nonchalantly. "I bet you think I'm pretty stupid for getting myself into this situation…"

Reaching out to put her hand on his shoulder, Jane slowly shook her head. "No, I was thinking that you are a good person and that no matter what happens, you'll be a great dad. Um… what's her name?"

"Rylan…" he chuckled at the fact that he hadn't even introduced his family to the woman he was about to share a child with.

"Why haven't you brought her around?"

"I don't know." He said truthfully. It wasn't that he didn't want to introduce his family to her, it was probably because he just wanted to keep her to himself for a while. It was still all new but he really liked her and the direction they were going together.

"Okay, I get it… the Rizzoli clan can be a bit intimidating sometimes…" Jane let out a chuckle.

"Right?" Tommy laughed as well. "So, um… you're okay with all this? And I'm not just talking about my situation."

"I don't have much of a choice, do I?" Jane knew exactly what Tommy was talking about or 'who' in this instance. "Frankie wanted him here, what can I say?" She tried to shrug off her unease but found it difficult. Since the moment Frank Sr. had arrived, she hadn't been able to shake the gnawing that had started in the pit of her stomach making her feel sick, but the bourbon helped… it always did in these circumstances.

"I guess not… I'm not too happy to have him here either. We were never really that close, anyway… but I'm glad he's here for Frankie." He looked away from her penetrating gaze, afraid his comment was somehow an admission of guilt.

"Hey, look at me…" Jane said with an air of authority in her voice. "He is still our Pop, no matter what happened in the past and I respect him for that… not much else but I've made my peace with it. I don't have to bring him into my family fold but Frankie wants him around so I won't stand in the way of that. And as far as you and your little situation are concerned… I told you that I'd have your back no matter what and I mean it. Whatever happens… I've got you." She said when he finally looked her way. "But I think maybe we should keep this between us until after Frankie has had a little time to enjoy the limelight of his wedding."

"Yeah, okay." Tommy smiled, agreeing with Jane. He didn't want to take away from his brother's special day, especially with this kind of news when he knew that Frankie and Steph had been trying to have a baby for a few months.

"Besides, Ma is gonna go nuts when she finds out she's got more grandkids on the way. Especially with Maura…" Jane caught herself before she could say it, but it was too late.

"You and Maura are gonna have another kid?" Tommy's eyes lit up in excitement. "You mean our kids might be born around the same time?"

"Okay, yeah… we're gonna try for another but we haven't taken that leap yet. We have our first appointment next month so… perhaps a few months apart…"

"That's so cool." He said excitedly.

"Keep this between us, will ya? We're not ready to tell everyone yet."

"Sure thing."

"And whether or not things work out with this girl… between all of us… we've got so much stuff for you to start with if you end up being a single dad… or even if you don't." Jane said as she thought about all the kids in the family and all of the stuff they had accumulated over the years that could help Tommy along.

A surge of emotion washed over Tommy at Jane's acceptance and it prompted him to grab her in a hug. At first, it was awkward but then Jane wrapped her arms around him tightly making him feel as if he could take on the world as long as she was at his side. "Thanks, Janie…" he whispered into her ear as tears slide down his cheeks.

When Jane felt the wetness against her neck from Tommy's tears, she couldn't stop her own from falling. "Come on, man… we've got a wedding to deal with and we can't go back there blubbering like two idiots…"

"I know…" Tommy pulled away and wiped at his eyes with the back of his hand. "But I just want you to know that it means the world to me to know that you support me… it's all I've ever wanted…" his voice hitched at the emotion he was feeling.

Placing her hands on either side of his face, she leaned her forehead against his and let out a heavy sigh. "I'm here for you, little brother… now let's go stand up next to Frankie and celebrate his day in style…" She said, before wrapping her arm around his shoulder and leading him to the backyard where the ceremony would be starting soon.

Yes, things were changing quickly in the Rizzoli-Isles clan and change was good… it had to be, because Jane wasn't about to accept anything less than a happy ending for her or her brothers and even her father's presence couldn't bring a damper on her on this very special day.

YYY

Maura watched as Jane made her way around to the backyard again after having disappeared. She had seen her leave with a tumbler of bourbon in her hand and knew that it was Frank Sr.'s presence that forced Jane to take some time away from the impending festivities. Although Jane had been cordial, it was obvious she wasn't comfortable with his being there in the home they now shared with their family. And she understood because she felt the same way. To allow this man to come back into their lives was a difficult thing to ask of both of them but it was the only way to move forward and she was all about moving forward. It didn't, however, mean he was welcome to come around anytime he wanted. His visits would be relegated to a few short visits a year and if you asked her… he was lucky to have that.

As her thoughts moved past Frank Sr. and on to Jane again, she noticed that Jane wasn't alone upon her return from the front yard. Tommy was with her and there was a relaxed smile on her face and the sight caused Maura to let out a sigh of relief. It was good to see the two of them getting closer and it was obvious that some of the things that tried Jane's patience when it came to her younger brother had been resolved… at least for the time being.

"Hey, everything alright?" Maura asked as Jane slid up alongside her and wrapped an arm around her waist.

"Couldn't be better…" Jane grinned and winked knowingly at Tommy. It didn't go unnoticed by Maura who gave her a questioning raise of the eyebrow, prompting Jane to bend closer so she could whisper in Maura's ear. "I'll fill you in on everything later… and don't worry… it's all okay."

Maura gave Jane a sideways glance to see if there was anything in Jane's demeanor that would indicate she wasn't being truthful. Jane's smile was all the proof she needed that everything was, indeed, alright. "Okay… but I'll hold you to that. I can tell you've got something juicy to share and I want to know what it is."

"Oh, don't you worry about that…" Tommy laughed as he gave Jane a gentle shove. "You can tell Maura since I know about the whole…" he patted his stomach, causing Maura to give him a look of confusion. "And it's kinda related to that, anyway…" his voice trailed off as he thought about it.

"What's he talking about?" Maura turned her attention to Jane.

"I'll explain everything later, I promise..." Jane said with a sigh as Frankie caught her attention. "I think it might be showtime." She nodded towards a slightly frantic Frankie who was being closely followed by Frost who was rolling his eyes to let Jane know nothing was wrong, not really.

"Where have you been?" Frankie waved around frantically as he approached them.

"Just catching my breath…" Jane tried to explain and got a quick wink from Frost who noticed the empty glass she was still holding.

"Oh, okay…" Frankie immediately calmed down when he realized he was being a little over the top. "I thought that maybe…" he looked away, causing her to frown.

"What? You thought that maybe… what?" Jane pressed because she already knew what he was thinking.

"Um… well… I thought maybe with Pop here… you decided to bolt." Frankie shrugged his shoulders.

"You've gotta be shitting me right now, Frankie." Jane huffed and even though she could feel Maura's admonishment on the tip of her tongue she pressed on. "Do you really think I'd let him ruin your day?"

"Sorry, but I know you don't want him here."

"Here or there is of no consequence to me. I told you I'd play nice and I am." Jane let out an exasperated sigh and drew instant comfort when she felt Maura touch her arm.

"Frankie, you know we both have issues with your father but it will never cause a problem between you and him, especially today." Maura offered her two cents to the mix.

"Yeah, man… I told you they were fine." Frost couldn't help but roll his eyes again at Frankie's panic.

"Well, we're far from fine… but…" Jane held up her hand to stop Frankie from interjecting. "We're okay…" her mouth set into a grim line as she tried her best not to show her apprehension.

"I get it." Frankie held his hands up in surrender. "Thanks for being so cool about everything… and Ma too. She's been pretty gracious, all things considered."

"Yeah, she has… hasn't she?" Jane glanced over at her mother with newfound respect. Since the moment Frank Sr. had arrived, Angela had been cordial and more accommodating than was necessary but she supposed it was called for, given the circumstances.

Glancing down at his watch, Frankie took a deep breath before letting it out slowly. "Fifteen minutes…" his breath got caught in his chest this time when he took in a breath, causing him to cough.

"No worries, little brother… you've got this." Jane gave his shoulder a hardy pat of encouragement.

"I know, I'm just nervous I guess. I just want to do right by Steph and Noah…" He glanced over at the little boy in question who was chasing Valley around the several rows of chairs leading up to their small, makeshift altar.

"You're a good man, Frankie. She's lucky to have you… and you're gonna make a great dad…" Jane smiled when Noah and Valley whizzed past them. "Hell, you already are a great dad."

"You think?"

"Of course, and when it finally happens for you guys… well… it's gonna be even better the second time around." Jane couldn't stop herself from offering Maura a knowing smile.

Frankie looked down at his feet and his cheeks turned a light shade of pink at Jane's words. "Um… well, it might be sooner than later…" he stammered over what he was trying to say causing Jane, Maura, and Frost to look at him in surprise.

When Jane realized what he was trying to say, her eyes widened and she let out a deep belly laugh that startled them all. "You've got to be kidding me. Really?"

Shaking his head in the affirmative, Frankie grinned like a Cheshire cat caught with a canary. "Yeah, we just found out yesterday."

Grabbing him a hug, Jane pulled him close and rested her chin on his shoulder. "This is the best news ever. I'm so happy for you."

"Thanks…" Frankie said as Frost and Maura joined in the congratulations. When Jane finally let him go, he glanced over his shoulder to see that everyone was starting to take their places. "I guess we'd better get ready." He smiled at them. "And, well… if you don't mind, I think it's best we leave this news between us for a while… ya know…" his voice trailed off.

"Of course…" Jane nodded her understanding. "What's one more Rizzoli secret in the vault…" she laughed and shrugged, drawing a strange look from Frankie and Frost.

"Um, okay…" Frankie drew out that last word as he furrowed his brow in confusion.

"Go on, I'll meet ya at the alter…" Jane gave him a gentle push. "And you…" she pointed to Frost. "Make sure he gets there safe and sound… do not pass go… and all that shit…"

"You're not drunk already, are you? And if you are, curse you for not including me." Frost leaned close to Jane and whispered.

"Nah, a little punch drunk maybe… but you've got plenty of time to catch up."

"I'll see you up there…" Frankie pointed to the altar before turning around, reluctantly leaving Jane and Maura.

"She's fine, she'll be right behind us." Jane could hear Frost say to Frankie who seemed a little unsure but eventually followed.

"What's going on?" Maura asked, her eyebrow raised in question and hand on her hip in that way that let Jane know they weren't going anywhere until she elaborated.

"Look, I can't explain everything right now but trust me… I promise, it'll be worth the wait..." Jane smirked knowingly. She didn't want to make Maura wait but she didn't have much of a choice at the moment because they were just minutes away from starting.

Maura was quiet as she sized Jane up, trying to decide if she should press the issue or not, and then with a huff, she relented. "Okay, but it better be good."

"You have no idea…" Jane chuckled. With the news that two and possibly three Rizzoli grandchildren could be on the way very soon under her cap, Jane felt on top of the world. Her mother was going to be over the moon when she found out and she felt a little giddy at the anticipation of telling her but then Frank Sr. caught her eye and all of those elated feelings began to sink slightly. This would give him more reason to be around and it was something she would have to come to terms with, eventually. But it was also something she could think about later.

YYY

It all seemed to happen so fast and yet in slow motion for Jane when the time came. One minute she was standing next to Frankie waiting for things to begin and the next Frankie was kissing his new wife and it was all over. She couldn't help but feel slightly light-headed at how quickly the night had progressed. But it stands to reason because she could barely remember the events leading up to the moment she and Maura had said their I do's. That whirlwind moment had been something she waited so long for and she thought for sure it would be embedded in her memory forever but it had been all the moments leading up to and the moments after that had counted. Those were the things she held on to each and every day they woke to something new and wonderful to share. And she supposed it would be the same for Frankie. By the goofy grin and glossy-eyed look on his face, she figured most of tonight would be a blur for him but that wasn't always a bad thing.

There were still two hours left before midnight and the beginning of the new year and she was already wiped out and ready for bed. It hadn't been too difficult to get ready since Maura had hired some party planner who had taken care of everything down to the smallest detail. It had been their wedding present to the newlyweds. Of course, Frankie had insisted they help pay and Jane felt it was important to let him even though Maura was reluctant at first. After explaining how important it was for Frankie to feel as if he had helped, Maura had relented but that wasn't her only battle… oh no, the big one had been with Valley and it had all but taken the wind out of Jane's sails early that day as they got ready.

Jane should have known that Valley would want to look like she did and when Noah showed up in a tux that matched Jane's, all hell broke loose. It wasn't that Valley was adverse to wearing dresses… in fact, she had her moments of delicate femininity… not often, but still, she was pretty open to anything as long as she was the one doing the choosing. But not today. No. When Maura pulled out the flower girl dress, she liked it at first but then she saw what Jane was wearing and the grumbling began almost immediately. After agreeing that they should have asked Valley what she wanted to wear, they had come to a moment of peace but then Noah showed up.

It had been quite a while since Valley had thrown a full-blown tantrum. Unfortunately, today would break that streak. It didn't help that she was over-tired and over-stimulated from everything that had disrupted their home over the past few days in preparation for Frankie's big day. Jane's patience had certainly been tested a few times over the past twenty-four hours so she could understand Valley's frustration that had nothing to do with the dress. The dress was just the breaking point. And after trying to reason with a temperamental six-year-old, Jane had almost given up… that is until her mother had stepped in.

Angela had expressed understanding but also explained to Valley that even though she wanted to look like her Mama, her dress matched her Mommy's and surely she didn't want to hurt her Mommy's feelings by not wearing it. The somewhat convoluted reasoning worked on Valley, much to Jane and Maura's relief along with the promise that she could wear a bow tie with her dress. Things had gone pretty smooth after that. Of course, over-excited kids did bring a new dynamic to the party but with the help of everyone, they somehow corralled the small group and kept the evening moving as needed.

And move it did, Jane could attest to that as she glanced over at Maura who was teary-eyed at the show of love and affection Frankie and Steph were showing as they walked down the aisle, hand in hand, beaming with happiness. Everyone looked happy at the moment, with no indication that anyone had been under any strain leading up to that moment Frankie and Steph said 'I do'. Nostalgia washed over her at that moment and she felt a wave of contentment as she looked around at their friends and family that were there to celebrate. Even the sight of her father couldn't dampen the good feelings filling the room.

After a moment of hesitation, Jane decided she should at least speak to Frank Sr. As she approached him, she could feel the collective gasp as everyone held their breaths to see what she was going to do and then an almost audible whoosh of relief when she reached out with her hand for him to shake.

"Sorry old man, it's the best I can offer right now." She said when he gave her a quizzical expression.

"Oh, okay… I understand…" he stammered as he took her hand, giving it a few strong pumps and then a gentle squeeze. "I know it's gonna take some time, but thanks for letting me be here today."

"It's what Frankie wanted so I would never stand in the way of that… you are, after all, his father." She reached up to scratch her nose in the nervous way that only Maura could recognize and Maura did as she watched Jane with a mixture of pride and concern.

"I'm your father, too…" Frank's voice trailed off slightly when she gave him a sharp look saying she didn't need to be reminded but then he cleared his throat and continued with what he was going to say. "I wish I could have been there for you when you married Maura."

Jane furrowed her brow and tilted her head as she regarded him with a confused expression. "Really?"

Clearing his throat again, Frank looked down at his feet as a blush filled with shame and embarrassment tinged his cheeks. "Yes… really." He said and looked back up into dark brown eyes that matched his own. "I am truly sorry for what I did and I hope that with time… you… um… you both can come to forgive me."

"We'll see…" Jane said with a cavalier tone. There was no way she was going to let him know just how much he had hurt her. "I promise that I won't keep you away from the kids. They should know their PaPa Rizzoli… you are their only grandfather since Maura's dad is no longer with us."

"Well, thanks… and for what it's worth… I am sorry for everything…"

"Yeah, you've said that." Jane shrugged her shoulders.

For a moment, an uncomfortable silence settled over them before Frank cleared his throat again and glanced towards Angela. "Your mother looks good. I'm sorry to hear that her friend is going to have to leave and go back to his own country. I guess that means she'll be single again…"

At first, Jane wasn't sure how to take her father's last comment but then she noticed that wistful glance and then anger began to burn in her stomach like hot acid. "Don't even think about, old man. She's finally moved on and learned her self-worth. I won't have you coming along and taking away everything she's worked for, for the past few years."

Frank blinked a few times before he realized what Jane was saying and then up a hand in reassurance. "Oh, no… that's not what I meant." He glanced over at Korsak and then back over at Angela. "Her heart always did belong to someone else long before she married me… besides, I'm dating someone."

Jane had noticed her father glance at Korsak and then back at her mother on that last comment but decided it was best to file it away for further investigation when she had time to think about it. "Who's the lucky lady?" She asked out of courtesy because she didn't really care.

"Um, just someone I met in Florida." He said without much detail. "Perhaps you can meet her one day."

"Yeah, perhaps…" Jane's sarcasm was evident in the tone of her voice. "But let's get past today first…"

"Of course…" Frank said, clearing his throat nervously. He knew it wasn't going to be easy to get Jane to come back around to accepting him into the family again, especially after what he had done to them all. But he was willing to try and willing to wait… they were, after all, family.

Catching Maura's eye, Jane gave her father a curt nod before bringing their little reunion to an end. "Well, I gotta go help Maura with the kids. Noah is spending the night so Frankie and Steph can have the night to themselves. Maura set them up with a suite at the Ritz, so…" she shoved her hands into her pockets and leaned back on her heels. She wasn't sure if she should shake his hand again or hug him. She didn't want to do either but felt as she needed to do something.

"You and Maura have done a wonderful job helping Frankie out… he's lucky to have you… both." Frank offered a crooked grin, one that was way too similar to her and Frankie's. One that made her slightly uncomfortable. "I look forward to the next time we get together." He held out his hand for Jane to take and when she did, he pulled her in for an awkward hug.

To play nice, Jane didn't shrug him away as she wanted. Instead, she let him wrap an arm around her shoulder and give her a quick pat to the back before letting go. She knew it had taken some courage for him to do what he did and she couldn't begrudge him the small victory. The feeling of all eyes on them prompted her to wrap an arm around him as well but she quickly let go and nervously cleared her throat. "Frankie can let me know when you make plans next." She said, her voice trembling slightly. Her anger was strong, but he was still her father.

"If it's alright, I'd like to say goodbye to the kids before I leave."

"Yeah, sure… I don't suspect they'll be in bed before midnight with all the stuff going on. Li might not make it so I'll make sure you get to see him." Jane let out a heavy sigh. "Um, okay… I'll see ya around then." She said as she turned and finally left him alone to seek out the comfort of the one person who could soothe whatever ailed her and at the moment… it was a broken heart.

YYY

"Tommy and his girlfriend are having a baby?" Maura blinked in surprise. "I didn't even know he had a girlfriend."

"Yeah, neither did I." Jane laughed as she snuggled closer to Maura on the couch.

"So that was the big news you were waiting to tell me…" Maura mused as the string of scenarios flitting about in the back of her mind dissolved. "Wow… that's really something."

"Yeah, I suppose it is. With Tommy and Frankie… and hopefully us… there's gonna be a Rizzoli baby wave to contend with. Ma's gonna ecstatic." Jane let out a heavy sigh. She was completely wiped out and wasn't sure she would be able to go to sleep yet as they snuggled close on the couch after having finally shut the door on the wedding crowd that seemed to want to party into the wee hours of the morning. It was already after two in the morning and Valley and Noah were finally asleep. Li was with Angela and had gone down way before the midnight hour, even with the party carrying on right outside the window where he was sleeping.

"What's wrong? You don't sound very happy."

"Oh, nothing… I'm just tired I guess. And, well…" Jane paused because she didn't want to bring her negative thoughts to the surface."

"Well?" Maura placed her hand on Jane's chest so she could push herself up and hover high enough that she could look Jane in the eyes.

"He's just so young… and inexperienced… and well, kinda a screw-up. I hope this doesn't blow up in his face." Jane finally said what had been bothering her.

"All you can do is your best to support him, no matter what..." Maura said without hesitation.

"Easy for you to say. You've never had to bail him out of jail in the middle of the night."

"Tommy's been working hard at making his amends. He served his time and he's been sober for four years now. Have some faith." Maura furrowed her brow when Jane looked away from her as if she couldn't bring herself to agree. "Hey, he's come a long way since he's been home. Don't set him up to fail before he even starts."

Letting out a long-held breath, Jane finally nodded in understanding. "You're right. I need to trust that he's matured enough to handle his own life. And well… I guess all I can do is be there if the shit hits the fan."

"Language…" Maura gave Jane's shoulder a gentle swat before settling back down in the comfortable position she had been in before. "You handled things with your father well, I must say."

"I don't know what everyone was afraid of. It's not like I was going to be a total bitch to him…" she let out a little cough before continuing. "Even though he does deserve it."

"Well, for what it's worth… I'm proud of you for taking the high road. It's best for everyone… including the kids if we learn to just get along. But that doesn't mean we have to invite him to every family event we have though…" Maura's voice trailed off as she thought about her own complicated feelings regarding Frank Sr.

"Ya know, he said something a little odd to me about my Ma..." Jane started to say but then paused. After a moment of hesitation, she decided that she wasn't jumping to conclusions and finished what she started to say under Maura's curious eye. "He said that her heart belonged to someone else before him and then he glanced over at Korsak. What do you think that means?"

"Vince?" Maura's voice rose an octave in surprise.

"Yes… Vince…" Jane let out an exasperated sigh.

"Well, for one… I don't have any idea what that means. Maybe you misconstrued an innocent glance at Vince. And second, you're being a grumpy pants." Maura's lip poked out in a pout.

Glancing down to see that Maura looked slightly wounded by her curt response, Jane realized that maybe Maura was right. "I suppose so, but there was just something in the way he said what he said and looked towards Vince that seemed unusual. I can't quite put my finger on it, though." She said as she began to run her fingers through Maura's hair drawing a contented sigh in response. "And I'm sorry for being a grumpy pants. Perhaps I need to get out of them so I can stop being so grumpy."

"Perhaps that can be arranged…" Maura yawned and then snuggled against Jane's shoulder as if she had no intention of moving.

"I think maybe we need to head upstairs now before I haveta carry you." Jane gave Maura's arm a gentle pinch.

"Ummm… would that be so bad?"

"No, but I am pretty tired and I'm not sure I have the strength to carry myself up the stairs, let alone you as well... Jane said as she sat up, dislodging Maura from her comfortable spot.

"Okay, okay…" Maura grumbled as she followed Jane's lead. "Oh, I told Frankie and Steph that we'd keep Noah until dinner so they could spend some time alone. I hope you don't mind."

"Of course not."

"And don't forget we're going over to your mother's for dinner tomorrow." Maura yawned again, lifting her arms over her head.

"I just hope the kids let us sleep in for a bit." Jane yawned as well and then wiped at her tired eyes. "I talked to Carly and she invited us over for dinner in the next few weeks so the kids could play and stuff. I told her you'd text her later to set it up if that's okay."

"Yeah, I'll handle it. It would be nice to see them since it's been a while." Maura said as she followed Jane towards the stairs but then Jane suddenly stopped and turned around causing them to bump into each other. "What is it?" She asked with concern as she looked up into Jane's tired eyes.

"Have I told you lately that I love you?" Jane asked, reaching up to run her fingers through Maura's honey-blonde hair.

Swallowing the lump that had formed in her throat, Maura shook her head. "Not yet… it is a new year after all…"

"Well, I do, ya know… I love you very much." Jane said with a soft smile as she bend down to place a soft kiss on Maura's lips. "You are my everything. And what you did for Frankie and Steph… to make their day special… well… it means a great deal to me… to all of us."

"You know that I would do anything for family and I'm always glad to help in any way I can..." Maura said when Jane ended their kiss. "But I think that maybe I'm not as tired as I thought I was, so if you're up for it… you can show me how much you appreciate it." Pushing up on her toes so she could reach Jane's lips, she let out a soft sigh before pressing her mouth to Jane's in a kiss that held a bit more heat than the one before.

Jane wrapped her arms around Maura's waist before tipping her back in her arms so she could carry her up the stairs. "I knew you'd find a way to get me to carry you up the stairs." She wiggled her eyebrows playfully.

"I can be a bit persuasive…" Maura laughed as she settled in Jane's arms.

"That's an understatement." Jane sighed as she nuzzled against Maura's neck before kissing her again and then carrying her up the stairs.

"God, do I hope the kids sleep in…" Maura said.

"You and me both…" Jane laughed as she slipped past their bedroom door before shutting it.

When she was back on her feet again, Maura wrapped her arms around Jane's waist before resting her head against broad shoulders. "I love you, my sweet Jane… you are my everything too."

Jane took a deep breath before letting it out in a contented sigh. Resting her chin on top of Maura's head, her heart swelled with all the love she was feeling at the moment. Things were changing around them as life passed them by, but one thing was certain… the love she felt for the woman she now held in her arms would never falter. In fact, it grew stronger every day filling her with a happiness few people got to experience. They were lucky and she couldn't wait to see what was going to happen next… especially with the prospect of three Rizzoli grandkids on the horizon. Yep… change was in the air… but it was a good thing.