Jane and her children entered the house with the expected amount of noise that three boys, one dog and a very happy ten month old baby would make.

"That was so cool," she heard her eldest son say excitedly as he pulled off his jacket.

"Emma almost flew!" Nicolas said grinning at the memory.

"Excuse me?" she said turning to look at her family.

One mom, three boys and one dog turned towards the voice with their faces exhibiting the expression of someone who had been caught doing something they obviously knew was wrong. Cassie moved behind Jane and did her best to be invisible. Emma laughed delighted to see her mother unaware that this wasn't a laughing matter. And the boys looked up at Jane unsure of what to do.

"Dude, what happens at the park stays at the park," Jane said under her breath.

"Hi, honey," she said sweetly moving slowly towards her frowning wife keeping Emma between them. She handed the child to Maura who rapidly kissed her under her chin causing her to giggle even more before resting her head on her shoulder. Jane kissed Maura's cheek then acknowledged the woman sitting on the couch.

"Hello," she said extending her hand, "I'm Jane. You must be Tory."

"Yes. Good to meet you."

"I'm sorry I thought you'd be done," Jane apologized.

"Oh, we are for now. I was just enjoying talking with your wife. She is an exceptional woman," Tory said her appreciation for Maura evident.

"Yes I think so too," Jane replied as she reached behind her and motioned the boys up the stairs.

"This isn't over," Maura warned as she watched her children trying to sneak by her.

Jane sat down rolling her eyes at the threat. While Emma grabbed at her mother's nose, Maura tried to removed her jacket

"She's a beautiful baby," Tory stated.

"She takes after her mother," Jane responded.

"Yes," Tory acknowledged. Jane chuckled. One Tory Williams was a bit smitten with the subject of her magazine's cover story.

"How did it go?" Jane asked the reporter.

"Good," Tory answered. "We are going to go to the transition center, clinic and the university tomorrow and I need to speak with a few other people then I think we'll be good on the research. My magazine is pleased that Maura agreed to do this."

"Couldn't have gotten a better person," Jane replied.

"Do you mind answering a few questions since you're here?" Tory asked.

Jane looked at Maura who seemed hesitant about the request.

"Only if she agrees," Jane replied.

Tory looked at Maura and could see her apprehension.

"I've talked with a lot of people, Maura," Tory explained, "but it would complete the story to hear from Jane. Just a few questions. If you don't like them, she doesn't answer."

"You're selling this hard," Jane observed.

She chuckled, "I guess. I just want this to be a great story. Your wife is pretty fantastic. The world should know that." Jane looked to her wife again who nodded.

"Okay. Shoot," Jane said. Tory clicked the button on her phone.

"I have heard how brilliant, Maura is. How selfless. Kind, considerate, and honest. No one seemed to have an unkind word to say."

"Well would you? She does know how to dispose of a body," Jane responded seriously catching Tory off guard.

"Oh," she replied unsure of how to answer that.

"Please don't quote my wife," Maura requested glaring at Jane who gave her that 'but you love me' smile.

"I was hoping for something that I could actually put in print."

"Are you looking for dirt on my wife?" Jane asked with an edge in her voice that put a fear in Tory that helped her realize that Maura wasn't the only one who could dispose of a body.

"No. Not at all," she stammered. "I believe all those things to be true after having spent this time with her. She has been open and nothing but accommodating."

"But?"

"No buts I know you can provide what she is like 24/7 – the whole picture not just situation specific."

"And your readers want to know this?" Jane questioned.

"I believe so. Your wife fascinates a lot of people. They are curious about her and want to know everything they can. There are many people who have told me that to know her is to hear from you. Basically if you have one, you need the other. You're a package – Rizzoli and Isles."

Jane considered this. "That's not true. While it's nice for them to say, Maura doesn't need me. She chooses me and for that I'm thankful. But she doesn't need me. She would possibly be more accomplished than she is if she didn't know me.

"She chose to leave her world of privilege to work alongside Boston's best before she knew me. That was unselfish. That was Maura. It had nothing to do with me. She works because she believes she can make a difference. She gives because she believes in being generous. She fights to right inequalities because she believes in equality. Again none of that has anything to do with me.

"You will not find a more elegant, kind, protective, humble, honest person than Maura Isles," Jane said taking Maura's hand in hers.

"Jane," Maura said her name so sweetly and leaned over to kiss her as Emma added her own slobbery kiss to the mix.

"I love you," she mouthed. Jane smiled. She would take that every day.

"She is a confident, deliberate leader," she continued. "She is not frivolous with her time or action. People listen to and follow her because they understand she walks the walk she talks. They respect that. They respect her.

"She is brilliant and uses it for good which is more than I can say for our oldest son. He's brilliant too just like his mother but the family has already voted him most likely to spend his educational career in the principal's office."

"Jane," Maura chastised. She chuckled.

"I'm sure you have been kind but someone has said that Maura is clinical, cold, and overthinks. That was true when I first met her. I could see why people thought that but I never did. You needed to get to know her to understand. I always thought there was something special about her. I was right.

"But if you really want to know what she's truly like watch her for just a few minutes with her children or any children. Not just ours. She is wonderful. The best. She exhibits all of those fine qualities you heard about and she does it all while looking as beautiful and sexy as she does right now."

"Do you miss working with her?" Tory asked clearly affected by the passion of Jane's words.

"No."

"No?" Tory questioned surprised at how quickly she answered.

"No," she repeated. "Dr. Isles was the best medical examiner this state has ever known and probably will ever know. She catapulted us to levels of success that we'd never seen before. But with all that, what she is doing now makes her even happier. That makes me happy. I come home every night to this woman who is fulfilled and content. I go to bed every night with this woman who is happy and thriving. I wake up with her and in between together we get to be parents to four pretty awesome little beings."

"You love her," Tory observed.

"Yes. I do. She has always made me a better version of myself. She accepts me for me and has stopped trying to overtly change me."

"Jane! I don't try to covertly change you."

"She doesn't think I realize that I eat more vegetables than cookies, kale chips than potato chips and drink more water than wine now." They all laughed.

"Do you agree with what she says?" Tory asked Maura curious.

"My wife is all too kind and extremely partial," she replied humbly. Tory looked back to Jane.

"What can I say?" she asked shrugging. "She pays me quite well to say nice things about her." Maura laughed.

"I'll collect what I'm owed tonight," Jane teased winking.

The boys bounced back into the room.

"Hi," they said skipping over to the couch to be near their mom. Each one climbing up, kissing then hugging her. Tory watched as she took a moment with each of them. Looking directly at them. Smiling. Listening. Genuinely engaged. And in those few short moments she made them the center of her world and Tory knew they could feel their importance to her. Jane was correct. To observe her with her children was to see the heart of who she is.

The boys looked at Tory. "Gents, this is Ms. Williams," Jane explained. Aiden climbed down to shake her hand.

"Nice to meet you," he said politely.

"You too," she replied impressed. Jane smiled. Her boys especially this one knew how to turn on the charm.

"I'm Aiden. These are my brothers Evan and Nicolas. "

"I'm oldest," Nicolas offered. Jane shook her head. He told everyone that he was the oldest. While that was extremely important to him, it didn't seem to matter to Evan who never responded to this fact.

"Of the twins," Aiden corrected.

"That's nice," Tory responded smiling.

"What are you doing with Mommy?" Evan questioned with his little brow furrowed. Tory noted that he unlike his brothers hadn't smiled at her and continued to regard her suspiciously. She could guess which one of his mothers he took after in that regard.

"I was interviewing your mother for the inaugural edition of our magazine." Both he and Nicolas looked at Aiden.

"She's writing a story about mommy." The boys nodded.

"They don't know the word interviewing," Aiden explained. "I just learned it myself today."

"Oh I'm sorry," Tory apologized to Nic and Evan.

"You have to use words they know or explain it to them," Aiden suggested.

"I will remember that. Thank you."

Aiden turned to his mom. "What's inag, inaug—"

"Inaugural," Maura said helping him. He nodded.

"It means introductory, first," she replied.

"So I'm the inau- inaugural kid?" he asked struggling a bit with the word.

"Yes," Maura answered with a smile. "You are our firstborn."

"Cool," he said leaning on Jane who wondered what was going on in that head of his and how he was going to use this to his advantage.

"Is it a good story?" Nic asked climbing off the couch and on to Tory's lap.

"Yes," she answered surprised to have a child sitting on her. "A very good story."

"Is mommy the hero?" Nic questioned.

"I believe so."

"Good," he replied. "In mama's stories, mommy is always the hero."

"Is that so?" she asked. He nodded.

"They're both heroes," Aiden added.

"You have to say she's the best mommy," Evan said his voice clearly making it a demand.

"Evan," Jane cautioned hearing the change in his tone.

"Of course, I will," Tory replied amused.

"I can read," he said as a threat. "If I don't know the words Aiden will tell me so I'll know."

"I promise I will says she's the best mommy. Cross my heart," she said making a cross on the right side of her chest.

"That's not where your heart is," Aiden said frowning and rolling his eyes as he looked at Maura.

"Okay," she replied flustered.

"Pinkie promise," Nic demanded. She nodded then grabbed his pinkie.

"What can we do for you?" Jane asked her sons deciding it was time to save Tory.

"We want Emma," Evan responded.

"Yep," the other two replied as Nic jumped out of Tory's lap.

"Come on Emma," Aiden said reaching for his sister who reached towards him. Aiden grabbed her by the waist and the twins grabbed a leg and off they went with Cassie following.

"She is getting too big for them to carry," Maura said worrying.

"Don't they need help?" Tory asked afraid the baby wouldn't make it to their destination without getting hurt.

"Nah," Jane said. "Worse thing that can happen is they drop her on her head again. That's how she got that dent on the top. Maybe you didn't see it."

"Excuse me," Tory said disturbed.

"My wife is joking," Maura replied shaking her head at Jane. "She has a unique brand of humor."

"Which you love," Jane teased.

"Are you sure I love it?" Maura asked.

"You wound me, woman."

"Are they always like that?" Tory inquired although she really wanted to know if they all were like this – Maura and Jane. Jane and the children. Maura and the children. All of them together.

"Like what? Charming? Inquisitive? Threatening?"

"All the above actually," Tory responded. "But I'll settle for do that always want her with them."

"Mostly," Maura answered. "For now anyway. They are getting older so that's bound to change."

"It's sweet," the reporter observed.

"They are good boys."

"They have their moments," Jane piped in.

"They aren't the only ones who need a timeout sometimes, Lieutenant Rizzoli."

"Geez, Maura. You just dimed me out."

Tory laughed. "My I use your facilities?"

"Of course," Maura answered.

Maura showed Tory to the bathroom. She returned to find Jane leaning against the kitchen island drinking a beer. She walked over to her and leaned in. Jane put the beer down then wrapped her arms around her hugging her tightly before sliding her hands down to rest on her firm backside.

"You cleaned up nicely. You look beautiful as usual," Jane said. When she left home this morning with the children, Maura was not wearing this sexy navy number which hugged the curves Jane loved so much.

"Thank you." Jane kissed her.

"And you look sexy as usual," Maura said appreciating Jane in her tight jeans and t-shirt.

"You didn't tell me a little PYT has been interviewing you."

"PYT?"

"Pretty young thing," Jane explained.

"Seriously Jane."

"Tory isn't blind, Maura. She sees how beautiful and wonderful you are too."

"Tory is not interested in me," Maura protested.

"Yes, she is. Question is: are you interested in her?" Jane teased. "That would make you a very attractive cougar if you were."

"She is too young," Maura replied.

"So it's the age?" Jane questioned smirking.

"I am interested in you," she responded.

"Are you saying I am age appropriate?" Jane asked feigning offense.

"No. I am saying you are my heart, my soul and my body appropriate."

"I really do love you, Dr. Isles."

"Good and I haven't forgotten about my baby almost flying." Jane chuckled. Of course she hadn't.

Jane released Maura when she heard footsteps approaching.

"I should be going," Tory announced. "Thank you for your time. I will meet you tomorrow at the transition center."

"Still at nine?"

"Yes."

"Thank you, Tory," Maura responded.

"You're welcome."

"Moms!" The boys came rushing in half carrying, half dragging Emma.

"Boys!" Jane replied.

"We aren't yelling," Maura said to her wife and children.

"Yeah we are," Nicolas assured her. Tory laughed.

"We taught Emma a trick," Aiden announced.

He popped Emma's pacifier out and gave it to Cassie who he motioned to go a few feet away before he stood Emma up with Nic and Evan standing on either side like bumpers.

"We need to throw that away," Maura whispered.

"I'm sure this isn't the first time Cassie has had that pacifier in her mouth," Jane whispered back causing Maura to cringe.

"Go to Cassie Emma," Aiden encouraged.

"Go to Cassie," he said again. Emma looked up at her big brother smiling then looked at her pacifier in Cassie's mouth and put one foot in front of the other. Maura covered her mouth, her eyes widen.

"Jane, she's walking," she said softly tears filling her eyes. Jane wrapped her arm around Maura and smiled.

Emma made it to Cassie who licked her as her reward causing her to giggle and fall over. Evan caught her before she could hit her head. The boys high fived each other because this was the furthest she had walked. Emma clapped before stuffing her pacifier in her mouth. Cassie barked. Maura cried. Jane wiped Maura's face. Tory who had the presence of mind to pull out her phone and record it, sent it to Maura when she got in her car.

"I can't believe she is walking," Maura said as she snuggled into Jane. After Tory left, Emma continued to perform her trick and the boys continued to take credit for this feat and show their pride at their baby sister's accomplishment.

There was pizza to commemorate the day, a little longer splashing in the bath for Emma and an extra story to complete the celebration for the boys. The children were tucked in then Maura and Jane engaged in their own adult celebration.

"She is growing up too fast," Maura stated.

"Sweetie, she only took a few steps," Jane said. "She is still your baby. She just probably got tired of them dragging her around all the time and decided to try something new."

Maura traced figures on Jane's chest before resting her hand comfortably on her breast and caressing it gently. "You were wrong today, Jane."

"I'm never wrong, Maur," she replied pulling her wife closer to her if that were even possible.

"There is a first time for everything, Lieutenant." Jane chuckled.

"Okay what was I wrong about?" she asked.

"If I have to accept your view of me then you have to accept that the same things can be said about you. And while I choose you and you choose me, I do need you, Jane.

"I am living my best life and I need you because without you it would not be my best. I can't imagine this life I have now without you. I don't want to ever know what that feels like. You are an exceptional woman and I adore you. You are kind, loving and supportive. I didn't know what love was before you and it only got better when we had children. All that you give to me, affords me the opportunity to be all that I am. You help me see that there are no limits.

"I use to think there was something wrong with me until you. You tried where others didn't want to make the effort because I was too hard, too different. But you have accepted me as I am since I have known you. You're my best friend. How many people get to say they married their best friend? Who just happens to be their soulmate? I do. You have challenged me, frustrated me, loved me more than I could have ever imagined anyone could or would."

Maura gazed at Jane, soaking in those soulful chocolate eyes that reflected so much love. "You make me laugh. You make me happy. You help me find peace. And I know this for sure," she said with such conviction. "I love you. I love you with every part of my being and I intend to do that until it is no longer possible."

"I love you too," Jane replied her emotions beginning to get the best of her.

"And darling, the other thing I know for sure is that I wouldn't change one minute of my life with you. Not one single minute."

Jane swallowed hard. They both understood how blessed they were. When they finally stood still long enough all those years ago and were quiet and listened to what their hearts were saying, they were faced with the truth that they had found the one in each other.

The one who had been so elusive because they had been looking in the wrong place. The one who knocked them off their feet and took their breath away. The one who they wanted to share their life with not simply as friends but as lovers without condition. The one who they realized had been standing in front of them all the time. It wasn't perfection. They both knew that didn't exist but this union, this family they built was as close as anyone could possibly get.

They had faced failures and experienced successes. Both would have to admit, there were more successes than failures and for that they were thankful. There had been loss but as long as they were together the pain had always been bearable because they had each other. There had been much joy that was only enhanced for the very same reason. Maura loved Jane, Jane loved Maura and they loved their children. That was as simple and as beautiful as it got.

Jane kissed Maura's temple. "I wouldn't change it either, sweetie and the best is yet to come."

The End


Hello everyone. This story is complete. For a first timer, it was a nice experience and you all were fantastic. Thank you for taking this journey with me. It was fun and hopefully enjoyable for you. You sticking with me for this long was greatly appreciated. Stay safe and stay healthy.