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B.

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Disclaimer: I do not own anything from R&I, just the plot and OCs.

Megan's POV

I was already lying in bed wide awake at 7 am, even though the day before was full of emotions and activities. It didn't start in the best of ways but ended really nicely. Jane's mom's snacks were really good and Jane's barbecue was amazing. Maura made an excellent green salad and roasted potatoes that were incredibly good.

I started to think again about letting Maura and Jane in, it sounded like a good idea at first but now, as always, I was having doubts about my own judgment. Breathing deeply I stood from the bed and went to the bathroom. When I came out I realized that I was really thirsty. I was unsure if going down was a good idea, I felt uncomfortable going down without any of the members of the family being there and it felt even more uncomfortable opening their fridge without asking. Sound stupid in my head but that was what I was feeling and even though I wanted to shake that thought out of my head, I couldn't.

I slowly and carefully open the door of the room, trying to make the minimum noise possible. I went down the stairs at a low pace avoiding any unnecessary squeaky noise from the wooden stairs. I finally reached the kitchen and stood in front of the kitchen island, trying to remember where the glasses were, after opening a few drawers I found them and opened the fridge looking for the water jug; I rapidly poured some water on the glass and returned the jug to the fridge closing it right after. I drank the glass and felt instantly better. I washed the glass and I was ready to walk upstairs and lay down for a while more. While I was walking to the stairs I passed through the playroom, I remembered then that inside that room was a piano. I debated myself for a few minutes and in the end, the desire to play those keys won and I entered in the room.

I carefully walked towards the instrument and sat on the stool. I caressed the material of the fall board. I opened it and played a note without any hesitation. It felt so good, that I forgot momentarily of all my worries. I started to play a song, the first one that came to my mind, Even though I was mistaken many of the notes and I couldn't really play like I used to, it was magical, it brought tears to my eyes that I rapidly wiped away. I stopped and just looked intently at the marble white and black amber keys of the piano. Seconds passed and my fingers started to move through the keys again.

Maura's POV

I started to stir at the sound of Jane's soft snores and a nostalgic, yet beautiful melody. Jane was fast asleep beside me. I looked at the ceiling for a few minutes trying to figure out where that music might be coming from. It sounded like a piano, and the hands playing it were skilled. After thinking for a while I realized that the only one that could be playing the music was Megan.

I stood from the bed and put my robe on; I went to the bathroom before going down. I carefully climbed down the stairs. I walked towards the playroom and got inside silently trying not to startle her, letting her keep playing. She was straightly sat on the stool completely immersed in the melody she was playing. I leaned into the doorframe, enjoying immensely the music.

She finished I didn't really know if I should leave and give her some privacy or go in and be with her. I thought about what Jane and I talked about the day before, she needed some reassurance and love.

I got inside the room "That was beautiful, Sweetie" I said

She jumped a little on the stool, startled, not knowing she was being watched and heard "Oh my God, did I wake you up" she said, some fear in her voice was heard "I'm sorry".

I shook my head "No, you didn't, Jane's snoring woke me up a while ago, and then I heard the music and came down" I said. I got even closer and sat on the stool beside her; I noticed she stiffened a little at the proximity between us.

"If I remember well, you said you weren't in your best shape, but what I heard was amazing," I said to her.

I noticed that her fair skin blushed at my comment; her gaze fixated on the keys "I'm sorry for… I… playing it without asking" She apologized.

"Hey, don't apologise, this is your house too, there is no need to ask to play the piano or do things around the house," I said smiling "I wouldn't approve of a wild party or burning down the house but… You got it" I said nervously laughing.

She was smiling at my rumbling "I appreciate it. Don't worry, I'm not really into parties… And I don't think I would burn down the house," she said laughing.

I laughed while I rubbed her back and we remained silent for a few seconds "So, what were you playing early?" I asked, trying to break the silence in the room.

She looked up and scratched her nose "It's a… A contemporary piece" she said looking once again down, not explaining further. She looked up again and smiled.

I sensed that this was my cue to leave "Well, darling, I'll be in the kitchen preparing some breakfast. Usually, the kids and Jane sleep in on Sundays. If you need anything, I'll be in the kitchen" I said heartfeltly and stood from the stool.

"You can stay," she said suddenly, I turned and looked at her smiling "If-if you want, of course," she said nervously.

I turned to the stool and sat beside her again "I'd love to" I said and she smiled. "What are you going to play?" I ask her.

She thought about it for a second, she placed her right hand on the keys and played a chord and then she placed the other one, playing a sequence of chords materializing a beautiful melody. I stood there in awe, just enjoying this moment immensely. I was just happy to have this young, sweet girl in my house, by my side.

She finished the song and her eyes remained looking at the piano, her face looked nostalgic and it was obvious that the song brought many memories to her mind "That was beautiful" I said and kissed her temple "Thank you" I finished.

She looked up "Thanks" she just said.

I breathed "Why don't we go to the kitchen, enjoy a cup of tea and make some breakfast?" I asked her. She nodded and we both stood from the stool walking to the kitchen.

We entered the kitchen and I immediately grabbed a pot to make some oatmeal with chia seeds and fruits. Megan leaned against the kitchen counter and watched me doing the whole process of putting the oatmeal to cook "Darling, can you heat water for the two of us, please" I asked her. She silently obeyed and found the mugs but she was standing trying to think where the kettle was "Bottom cabinet, on the left" I said.

"Thanks," she said almost in a whisper she grabbed the kettle and filled it with water, then she put it on the stove and I turned the flame on. I smiled and she returned it sweetly.

"Megan, I'm making oatmeal but if you want anything else, feel free to take whatever you want, ok?" I said, not sure if she liked oatmeal or if she felt like eating that.

"Oatmeal is fine, but thank you," she said again. We keep preparing things in a comfortable silence. I was brewing the tea, while she chopped some fruit for our breakfast.

We started to eat in silence, and after a while, I sensed she was starting to feel uncomfortable. I noticed she had already finished her tea so I asked her "Megan, do you want more tea?"

She raised her gaze and looked at me "No, I'm fine, thanks" she said.

I noticed she hesitated before she spoke "Come on, If you want, go and take some more, Love" I encouraged her to take some more. She smiled and stood from the chair, pouring some more tea on her mug.

"So, how come you like tea? I haven't known many young people who like tea" I asked, breaking the silence between us.

She thought for a while before she spoke "My...my mom used to drink it all the time and I just started to drink it too when I was like 7 years old. Acquired taste, I guess" she answered.

I smiled and we both finished our breakfast, I was reading the newspaper and she was using her phone, both content with being on each other's side. Once again she stood and washed the dishes we used to prepare the breakfast. I started to wonder how this girl was so mature.

After a while, the kitchen was filled with all of us. The kids were eating their cereal and Jane was drinking her coffee. Megan went upstairs to get change.

"So, what do we have planned for today, honey?" Jane asked me.

"Actually there's nothing planned, your mom is out of town today and so is Frankie" I answered.

Jane thought for a while and then smirked, a sign that she had an idea "Why don't we do a pool and picnic day in the backyard, the five of us? The sun is shining and is warm outside. A Rizzoli-Isles Sunday?" Jane smiled

I smiled widely "That's a great idea, baby," I said approaching her and kissing her lips. "We should inform the kids"

"Yeah, we should," she said excitedly. Jane walked to the breakfast bar "Ok, troopers, when you finish your breakfasts go upstairs and put on your swimsuits, we're using the pool for the first time this year!" Jane exclaimed, clasping her hands.

Both kids squealed happily and finished their breakfast in a rush. I walk them upstairs, to help Lily with her swimsuit and to let Megan know our plan for the day. I knocked on her door and waited until she told me to come in.

"Hi, darling," I said, stepping into the room which was perfectly in order.

"What's up" she casually said. She was sitting on her bed, with a book on her lap and her phone by her side.

"Jane thought of a picnic and pool day, so we'll be in the backyard for when you're ready. If you want of course," I said to her.

"OK, I'll be down in ten" she said, starting to stand up from the bed.

"Oh! Sweetie, take your time, there's no need to rush. Come down whenever you want" I assured her. She nodded vehemently and I left the room.

I went downstairs and Jane was taking the loungers and the pool apparel from the shed, where it was stored until today.

"Hey, Baby... Umm, you look amazing in your summer outfit" she said when she saw me going out to her. I smiled and rapidly got closer to her and kissed her deeply. It's been a while since we did something in private.

"I can say the same, baby," I said and patted her smirking

"Ok, the kids are about to come down, but we'll figure this out later," she said mischievously at me. I just laughed at her determined words.

We finished putting everything in order and I went to the kitchen to make some lemonade, not much after we heard Lily and Lucas coming down, storming into the backyard, wanting to be at the the pool all day.

"Stop there, you two" I heard Jane say "You need sunscreen first "she finished and guided them to stay put while she applied the sunscreen on both kids, of course, the whole process was accompanied by both pouting and getting fuzzy, wanting to go the water.

While I was preparing the lemonade and some other things Megan came into kitchen, dressed in a light beach dress and her hair braided beautifully.

"Hey, Love!" I smiled at her "You look, really beautiful" I said smiling.

The girl blushed "Thanks" she ashamedly said. She hesitated for a few seconds "Do you need help with anything?" she asked me.

"Thank you, you've been really helpful. I'll just finish this Pineapple Juice for the popsicles and I'll be out." I said "Go and have fun" I exclaimed.

She smiled and nervously asked "Mmm… Maura, may I play the piano for a while? I'll be outside in shortly," she said, almost afraid.

"Of course, Love. You don't have to ask us that, you're free to do it whenever you want. I'll call you when lunch is ready" I smiled and looked into her sparkling, hopeful, olive-green eyes. She smiled brightly and left the room but turned around before she got out "Thanks" she said and left.

I fished in the kitchen and went outside with Jane and the kids. Lily and Lucas were happily splashing water and having a great time while Jane was on one of the loungers, enjoying the sun and keeping an eye on both kids.

I kissed her cheek "Having a good time, Baby?" I said, handing her a glass of cold lemonade smiling.

"Yeah, an awesome time," she said taking the glass off of my hand and kissing my lips "Thank you, baby," she said and looked around looking for something "Where's Megan, is she still upstairs? Is she ok?" Jane ask

I shook my head "No, she asked me if she could play the piano for some time before coming out" I Explained.

"Oh! Ok, that's nice" she simply said

"She woke up early this morning, and started to play, when I went down she was playing this beautiful song" I trailed off, immersed in the memory "I think it was a meaningful song for her, her eyes were shimmering.

"Yesterday was an emotional day for her, she might need some time for herself" she said.

"You are so thoughtful, you know?" I smiled lovingly at her and she smiled equally back at me "I love you, Jane" I said.

"I love you too, Baby," she said kissing my lips chastely. After our kiss broke, we both stood from the chairs and went to the water with the kids.

Megan's POV

I was playing random melodies, not noticing what I was doing, I was so immersed in the music that I didn't realise that I had been inside this room for over one hour, I thought that they might be wondering why I was inside and not out there with them. The truth was I felt overwhelmed and I just needed to breathe on my own for a while. No sweetie no love, no touches or kisses. Just me and myself.

I started to wonder where this whole range of feelings came from, and why I was feeling like this. It took me a while of silence but in the end, I could find one of the many reasons. They were the reason for these feelings. Guilt, that was it was, I was feeling guilty because, even though, I didn't even realize I was starting to care about them. The guilt came from my mind, I felt a betrayal for caring about them and opening my heart to others who were not my family. I knew that my parents and sister wouldn't care but somehow, deep inside me, the feeling was latent.

I stood from the stool and went to the backyard with my head a bit more light and clear. Maura was getting out of the pool; she had a towel wrapped around her. "Hey! sweetie" she said. Maura finished drying herself and got dressed "I'll pick something from the kitchen and we can have lunch. Please, dry and be ready," she said to Jane and the kids

The kids and Jane got out of the pool and began to dry themselves while waiting for Maura to return with the food. I zoned out on my thought until Jane sat beside me "How are you, sweetheart?" she asked.

'Where all of these pet names came from' I thought before answering Jane's question "I'm fine, thanks" I said and looked at her "You?" I asked, out of politeness.

She looked at her surroundings "Can't complain" she laughed and I did too. She was so casual and easygoing that was almost weird for a homicide detective.

I noticed that she was about to ask something else but Maura came to the yard and announced lunch.

"Come on" she patted my knee and stood up fast from the lounger 'I think, I'll have to get used to touches' I thought. We all gathered around a table and Maura served us some healthy snacks and watermelon juice. We all ate. Lunch was filled with laughter. When we finished Jane stood and took the dishes and cutlery from the table to wash them inside.

I gathered some cups and was about to take them inside but Jane stopped me "I'll take this to the kitchen, you stay here, don't worry" she said, winked an eye and left with the cups.

"Hey, Meg, come here" Maura called me "We need another person to play volleyball" she said.

I smiled and went to the grass "Ok, Megan, you and Lily are a team and Lucas and I are the other, ok" Maura said and we all nodded and started to play.

After a while playing and being up for 3 points, Lily started to get all of her hair in the face. She looked at me and told me to go down to her level. "Can you braid my hair like yours"? She asked me sweetly "Sure I said. I noticed that Lucas was at the table drinking water so I knelt and started to braid Lily's hair. I briefly looked up and Maura was looking lovingly at us so I smiled and finished the braid just in time to start the game again.

"Just one point and we are the champions" Lily squealed happily. I smiled and nodded determinedly.

A few rounds passed and Maura and Lucas managed to be just one point down, so Lily and I made a strategy, she'll put it easy for her and I'll do the finish. We did it as planned and Maura couldn't catch it before it touched the floor, making us the winners. Lily ran gaving me a high-five and hugged me, I was caught off guard and it surprised me but I rapidly hugged the girl back. I could see Jane and Maura with wide smiles from the corner of my eye.

Afterwards, we all went to the pool and played a few more games until both kids were too tired to even walk. I was really tired too so I help cleaning everything up and put everything in its place after we had dinner.

I was about to climb upstairs but before doing so, I turned around and walked again to the kitchen, I spotted both women on the table talking

"Hey! I'm going to have a shower and then I think I'll head directly to bed so, Goodnight" I said.

"That's fine, sweetheart. Today was exhausting, you should rest" Jane said smiling.

"Yes, you did a lot today, go to rest, love," she said as she stood up and hugged me. "Goodnight," she said

I smiled and hugged her as well, this was the first time I reciprocated a hug to any of them. I was about to head out of the kitchen when I turned "Thank you" I said.

"There's nothing to thank us for, Love. Have a good night" Jane said. Once again I smiled and left the room, heading to mine.

Jane's POV

"You should have seen how sweet she was to Lily this afternoon," Maura told me with a huge smile on her face.

"Yeah, I noticed she's sweet, Lily doesn't really take on people so easily so I think she likes her. Well, she was clinging to her all the time inside the pool" I reckoned smiling.

"And they all played, I mean I wanted this to work so much, and is started to work as I imagined," Excitedly Maura said.

"It is, baby. I think is just a matter of time for them to feel like siblings" I said, my eyes starting to shimmer with emotion.

"I hope that happens soon. I can't wait" she said hugging me tightly.

After a while of cuddling with one another we decided to go to bed and rest, in a few hours another stressful and eventful week would start and we needed to rest, to face it the best way possible.

Please leave your comments and reviews, they mean a great deal!

B.