"Why are we out here in the ass end of suburbia to see a Santa?"

Maura glanced behind them with an apologetic smile. "Firstly, it's Burlington, less than fifteen miles from Boston, and we're here because this Santa is-" She glanced around at all the kids waiting in line and lowered her voice. "-the best." She tickled TJ's foot. "And TJ deserves the best."

Jane shook her head, "I don't know how you talked me into this Maur-"

Maura smiled, "It was your mother's idea actually."

Jane shifted TJ in her arms and stared at Maura, "Really?" Maura nodded. "I don't get it. You'd think she'd want Tommy and Lydia to do this, not us." She shook her head.

"Did your parents take you to see Santa?"

Jane nodded as the line slowly moved forward. "They did."

When Jane didn't elaborate Maura probed further, "Did you ask him for anything?"

"Sometimes- I think a bike one year- new baseball glove, bb gun. The Santa almost always gave me a look and wondered out loud if I'd prefer a dollie or a toy horse." Jane rolled her eyes, "You?"

Maura shook her head quickly, "No. I never did. Christmas tide was a much less- whimsical time for me than the rest of the world I think."

Jane shifted TJ to one arm and put her other one around Maura, "Bet he'd let you tell him what you want this year."

"He…" Maura put her arm around Jane's waist with a smile, "No, no- it's all right. I never needed for anything when I was a child. Today is about TJ. So, let's get his parents some pictures of him with Santa."

Jane frowned, "Hey, never needing, that's fine and good, but, sometimes what we want is important too."

Maura cleared her throat and looked away, "Sometimes we can't have what we want."

That only caused Jane's frown to deepen, "Maura?"

Maura looked forward again, "It's TJ's turn."

They went up to Santa and his helpers. TJ seemed to love the big man in red, the little guy smiling the whole time. They got a picture with Santa and then spur of the moment, another one with all three of them. soon after that TJ decided that he was done with all the Santa hulla ballo though, and was hungry.

The three of them went to the food court and soon they were all eating lunch.

"All your shopping done?"

Jane shook her head, "Are you kiddin'? I still have four days. Nah, I'll probably be out on Tuesday. You?" Jane held up a hand, "No, wait. You were done by turkey day?"

Maura paused, "Not entirely. Everyone except- you. I find you very hard to buy presents for at the moment."

Jane made a pfftt noise, "Nah, get me a World Series ball cap and I'm good."

Maura frowned, "Don't you already have two. Not to mention a Bruins stanley glass one, as well as a Celtics and three Patriots ones?"

Jane put a hand over her mouth, trying to stifle the laughter. "Sorry. I'm sorry. I don't know where to start. I do have two Red Sox World Series winners caps. One for '04 and one for '07. This one would be for '13. Ah, and it's Lord Stanley's- ah- Cup. Anyway, if not a hat, then a Flyin' Hawaiian or Pedey shirt would work too."

"I- I only understood about half of that."

Jane didn't get a chance to respond as she nearly jumped as Tommy and Lydia appeared out of nowhere. "Sis- where's the pictures?"

Maura cleared her throat and stood, "I'll take our trash-" She escaped the table.

Tommy glanced that way, "She okay Janie?"

Jane frowned as she watched her friend walk towards the trash bins. "I don't know. So, are you taking him home?"

"Yeah, a little shopping then home. Thanks though, got the pictures?"

"Ah, yeah." Jane was still watching Maura with a furrow to her brow. She shook her head and focused on her brother. "Yeah, here-" She pushed the envelope across the table. "You good to go?"

Tommy watched as Jane watched Maura. "Yeah. I am. Go talk to her already."

Jane looked back to Tommy, "What?"

Tommy shook his head and stood, "Never mind. I'll see you at Maura's on Christmas Morning? Bright and early?"

"Yep. See ya Tommy."

As Lydia and Tommy left Maura came back to the table. "Maura- you didn't have to leave. I mean. We're having Christmas morning at your house-"

Maura shook her head, "I took the time to compose myself. Caring for TJ has caused my biological clock to make itself felt more than I could adequately control."

Jane reached across the table and put her hand over Maura's. "Hey- they'd get that too. Hell, my mother'd be glad somebody's worried about having kids."

"Jane- why do you insist that I'm family."

Jane frowned, "I'm not sure I understand."

"You call me Aunt Maura when you talk to TJ and you just-"

Jane moved from the chair across from Maura to one next to her. "What's up with you Maura? This isn't like you at all."

"I'm sorry."

Jane pulled the chair closer and took Maura's other hand in her own, "No. No, that's not what I mean. Just, please. Tell me what's wrong. You can tell me anything."

Maura shook her head for a moment, "I don't… I lied. I do have a present for you. Of a sort." She took an envelope from her bag and handed it to Jane. "Please, don't open it until you get home."

Jane sat back in her chair, the envelope between her hands. "I don't understand. Are you sick?"

Maura shook her head and stood, "No. Very healthy. Do you need a ride home?"

"Ah.." Jane stared at the front of the envelope with her name in Maura's strong script on it. "No. I'll take the T. Hey-" Maura turned, "Did you at least have fun today?"

Maura smiled, "I did. A lot of fun. I always do when out with you."