Headcanon: Maura secretly loves Finding Nemo (having watched it countless times with TJ). One night a tipsy Maura sidles up to Jane, who's talking to Angela in the kitchen, squishes her cheeks and says: I shall call her squishy and she shall be mine.

Origin: Unsure - anyone know?

A/N: DAMN SON, this turned out hella longer than I thought. Serious fluff-fest, you will need to book an appointment with your dentist afterwards. Guess I needed something cheerful what with the angst in Saving Me. Hope you enjoy!

"Thank you so much for doing this, Maura," Angela beamed, folding the blonde woman into her arms.

"Oh, it's not a problem, Angela!" Maura smiled right back. "I love spending time with T.J."

"You're a saint. And you know you're like my daughter too, right?"

Maura could feel the familiar swell of emotion at the words of the Rizzoli matriarch. It never ceased to move her whenever any of the Rizzoli clan reaffirmed her inclusion into the family. She responded with a small squeeze and a nod before stepping back and picking T.J. up from where he sat in the pram.

"Hello, T.J. We're going to have lots of fun, aren't we?"

Angela beamed at them before checking her watch. "Oh gosh, look at the time. I better get going, I don't want to be late! Thank you, Maura. I don't know what we'd do without you." Angela kissed T.J. on the cheek. "Be good for Auntie Maura, alright baby? I'll see you both soon."

Maura stood in the doorway, holding T.J., who waved goodbye to his grandmother as she got into her car. The blonde raised a hand as well, both of them watching until the car disappeared around the corner of the street. After that, Maura turned to the little toddler in her arms. "So what should we do, hmmm? You're going to stay with me for the next few hours, cause everyone else is busy!"

"Auntie Moora!"

This made Maura laugh, as she carried him inside, taking them to the living room. "Do you want to spend some time with Auntie Maura?"

T.J. clapped and nodded. Then he seemed to think for a moment. "Auntie Janie?"

"Oh no, sweetie, Auntie Janie isn't here. She's busy catching bad guys."

T.J. seemed dejected after hearing this, and Maura couldn't help sharing in his momentary gloom. Even though she saw Jane every single day, she still felt her absence like a physical weight. Maura would never admit it, but she hated it when one of them worked while the other had the day off. Shrugging it off, she thought quickly for a way to cheer T.J. up.

"Why don't we watch a movie?"

T.J. face instantly brightened up and he nodded again.

"Alright, what would you like to watch?"

"Findin Neemoo!"

"Finding Neemoo?" Maura frowned, trying to think of all the children's movies she'd looked up and downloaded onto her TV set. Then her eyes widened in understanding. "Oh you want to watch 'Finding Nemo'. Alright." Maura put T.J. down onto the couch, where he became fixated on a tasselled cushion. Chuckling, Maura turned the TV on and searched through her downloads to find the appropriate movie.

When the image of the clown fish popped up, T.J. instantly let out an excited shout. "Neemoo!"

Maura laughed, coming back to settle down on the couch. T.J's little hands reached out, making small grabbing motions at Maura, which made her smile as she pulled the precocious toddler into her lap. "I've never watched 'Finding Nemo' before, she admitted to T.J., though he didn't seem to be listening, enraptured by the colours on the television screen.

Maura simply smiled, snuggling the child in her arms and watching the movie too.

A little over an hour later, T.J. was fast asleep in Maura's arms, while Maura watched the final scenes of 'Finding Nemo'. There were perhaps more than a few things wrong with the movie factually, but Maura was beginning to understand how that wasn't the important thing. After having listened to Jane's whinging about just appreciating the movie without analysing everything, it was finally starting to rub off on her.

"Hmmm, I quite liked that movie," Maura whispered, smiling down at the sleeping baby. "And I should move you to bed."

But the moment she tried to get off the couch, T.J. squirmed.

"Maybe we can sit here for a while then."

And so they did.

It was maybe another hour or two before Maura woke up again, T.J. still asleep in her arms. It took her a moment to realise what had happened, and that she had dozed off after the movie. Then she realised that they weren't alone.

Looking up, she saw Jane perched on the arm of the armchair across from her and T.J. She was wearing a soft smile, her eyes warm and loving. Maura instantly felt herself beginning to smile, the kind that only Jane could bring out. And, not for the first time, Maura wondered what it would be like if they were like they were right this very moment, but with their child in Maura's arms. What it would be like to have a family with Jane Rizzoli. Which was getting way too far ahead of herself, but Maura couldn't help it. She knew that Jane would be an exceptional mother – her interactions with T.J. was more than enough proof – and she was confident that she would make an exceptional lover too. If only she was open to that.

"Hey there, sleepyhead."

"Jane," Maura couldn't keep the affectionate tone out of her voice, had stopped trying. "What are you doing here?"

"What, I can't come and say hi to my two favourite people in the world?"

"Awww, Jane." Maura felt herself blushing a little. Luckily, T.J. started to stir, capturing both women's attentions.

"Awww, there's my favourite nephew," Jane quickly came over and sat down next to Maura.

Sleepy eyes blinked awake, and T.J. brightened immediately at the sight of another familiar face. "Auntie Janie!"

"Yeah, your Auntie Janie is right here. Come and give her a hug!" Jane picked up the giggling toddler, bouncing him up and down a little.

Maura watched on lovingly as Jane snuggled T.J's cheek. Then she glanced at the time. "Oh, it's five! T.J. should eat something, he must be hungry!"

"Auntie Moora!"

Jane's chuckle followed Maura to the kitchen, and when she looked over her should, the brunette was trailing behind her, T.J. laughing in her arms. Reaching the fridge, Maura quickly began to look through it for the baby food she kept stocked in there. She smiled wryly; where once the fridge had held nothing but organic produce and the occasional bottle of wine, it now spilled over with bottles of beer, sneaky sweets and treats that Jane had snuck in, boxes of leftovers that Angela had insisted Maura take, and had its own special compartment for baby food for when T.J. was over. The doctor knew that if she were to look through her cupboards and the pantry, a similar takeover could be observed. It was wonderful.

Jane had parked T.J. in a little high seat that Maura had specifically ordered for him, because the Rizzolis spent so much time at her house anyway. She was now standing beside Maura, peering into the fridge.

"Oh look, organic apple puree." The detective reached in and picked up a little jar of baby food. "Doesn't that sound good," she winked at Maura, and then went over to the stove, preparing to warm it.

"Jane, he should have something a little more substantial than just apple puree," Maura chided lightly. She had to try and keep the smile off her face when Jane pulled a face.

"Ewww, like that pureed spinach and peas thing?"

"It's full of nutrients and vitamins important for health and growth!"

"It's gross!" Jane pulled a face at T.J., making the baby laugh.

"Jane! You should be setting a good example for T.J! And if it bothers you that much, I have chicken and sweetcorn mash."

Jane seemed to think about it for a moment. Then she looked over at T.J. conspiratorially. "I tried. You're on your own now." Then she turned back and gestured for the jar Maura was holding. "At least it's better than that green mush last time."

"Your aversion to green things will never cease to amaze me."

"Green things are for herbivores. I'm a ferocious meat eater," Jane pretended to be what Maura thought might have been a dinosaur. She stomped towards T.J, growling as she went, much to both the doctor and the baby's amusement. "And being a Rizzoli so is he."

Maura just rolled her eyes. "Either way, you're going to eat the salad I give you tonight."

Jane childishly stuck her tongue out in response, making Maura slap her lightly. "Bad example!"

Ten minutes later, Maura and Jane were taking it in turns to feed the little Rizzoli, Jane insisting that she make every mouthful some kind of vehicle or other.

"Houston, we have a problem! We've lost control of the ship! The force of the black hole is too strong! Abort mission!" She sailed the spoonful into T.J's giggling mouth while Maura dabbed away the bit that had dribbled over his chin.

When Angela came in, she found the three of them in all their merriment, and an empty bowl with two spoons in it in front of T.J. She chuckled. "Well aren't you three having fun?"

"Angela! We didn't hear you come in!" Maura said, still laughing at the face Jane had pulled moments earlier.

"I didn't see a light on, so I thought you might've been asleep. I used the key, if that's alright."

"Of course it is," Maura said easily.

"Oh, and how's my grandbaby doing?" Angela gushed, swooping in and kissing T.J. on the cheek.

"Gramma!"

"Did you have fun with Auntie Maura today?"

The happy baby just nodded and clapped.

"Was he good, Maura?"

"Oh yes, we had a wonderful time! We watched a movie, and then fell asleep. When Jane got home we got his dinner ready."

Angela beamed. "You're the best daughter a mother could ask for."

"Hey, what am I to you then?" Jane spoke up, but she was grinning and looking at Maura warmly.

"You're the best daughter a mother could ask for most of the time."

The brunette rolled her eyes, but she never stopped smiling.

"I love all of you so much!" Angela pulled both women in for a tight hug, while T.J. looked on, gurgling happily.

"We love you too, Ma."

Maura felt her insides swelling with emotion again. Her family.

It had become a bit of a routine now, whenever Maura had to babysit T.J. Sometimes it varied a little, and Maura would read to T.J, or take him to the park when Jane was with her. But when it was just the two of them, they usually sat down on the sofa and watched a movie.

Maura could now say that she'd seen a large number of Disney movies now. But there was something special about 'Finding Nemo' and every so often, they'd always return to it, reminding themselves that 'fish are friends, not food,' and other hilarious lines from the old favourite.

It had been a particularly trying day of work for Maura. It always was when a child appeared on her table.

A fourteen year old girl shot and stabbed by a mentally unstable father. It had been a quick case to solve, but there was little satisfaction in it when a child lay still and lifeless under a sheet in the morgue.

Jane had taken her straight home afterwards, the car ride remaining largely silent as each was lost in her own thoughts and their own quiet grief over a girl neither of them knew. When they arrived, Jane had held onto Maura, guiding her in then following her to the kitchen. Still wordless, Maura reached for a wine glass, glancing at Jane in question. The brunette shook her head, opening the fridge to take out a beer and a half-full bottle of wine. Silently, she pulled the cork out and red liquid splashed into Maura's glass. The popping sound told Maura that Jane had cracked open her own bottle of beer. And they both stood there, quietly sipping their respective drinks and looking at each other.

It was Jane who had guided them out of the kitchen and into the living room, taking a second beer and the rest of the wine with her. Sitting next to each other on the couch, she turned the TV on to some documentary channel. Incidentally, there was some special on sea creatures at the moment, and they watched as a sea turtle swam past the camera.

"Look, Bass's cousin!"

Amazingly, it made Maura smile. "Actually, the sea turtles are part of the superfamily Chelonioidea, while the Geochelone sulcata is part of the family Testudinidae. They only fit within the same suborder of Cryptodira, which hardly puts them within the relationship of 'cousins'."

"Talking Google," Jane teased.

"I was simply pointing out that your allusion to Bass's familial connections was incorrect."

Jane rolled her eyes in response, taking another draw from her beer. But Maura could see the corners of her mouth tilting up in a small grin, and she felt some of the stress slide off her own shoulders. Settling more comfortably into the sofa beside Jane, she turned to the television with renewed interest.

Jane yawned. Three empty bottles of beer sat on the coffee table, along with a now empty bottle of wine. Feeling sufficiently buzzed, she glanced over at her best friend, who had finally dozed off somewhere between the jellyfish and the starfish. Maura looked adorable, curled up on the couch like that. Her wine glass was perched on the corner of the table, empty as well. The case had effected Maura more than she had let on. Half a bottle of wine was testament to that fact.

With another yawn, Jane stood up and stretched. Padding across to the guest room, Jane pulled the blanket off the bed and came back to gently lay it across Maura, tucking the corners in. Smiling down at the sleeping blonde, she brushed a honey-coloured tress back and planted a kiss on her forehead. Then she scooped up the empty bottles and the glass, dumping them into recycling in the kitchen.

When she finished washing Maura's glass, she rubbed her face, feeling her own exhaustion catch up with her. Until a soft tapping sound on the backdoor caught her attention. Sighing, Jane went to open it, revealing her mother bearing a tray of what looked like lasagna. Holding a finger to her lips to tell her mother to keep quiet, the older woman nodded in understanding, and tiptoed inside.

After placing the tray on the kitchen island, Angela turned to Jane, silently asking about Maura. In response, she pointed towards the living room, which was enough for her mother to understand that she was asleep. The Rizzoli matriarch simply nodded, before going to the cupboards and carefully taking out two plates. Jane watched in some amusement as she began to cut the lasagna and put a generous amount on each of the plates.

"Ma, what are you doing?" Jane whispered.

"What do you think I'm doing?" Angela whispered back. "I'm making sure you two have enough to eat."

"Maura's asleep, Ma."

"I know, I'm just setting hers aside so we can keep it warm. And you're not asleep, so you can eat it now. It's fresh!"

Jane shook her head in exasperation, but deep down she was grateful for her mother. Even after all these years, she was still looking out for them, and she had taken Maura under her wing without a second thought. So she pulled a stool up to the counter and sat down, digging into the plate of warm, homemade pasta.

"Thanks, Ma."

"Oh Janie, you're welcome." Angela picked up Maura's plate and covered it with foil, before putting it into a warmer so it wouldn't get cold. "There's plenty if you want seconds."

Jane nodded in response, too busy shoving another spoon of deliciousness into her mouth.

"How's Maura?"

Jane swallowed her next bite. "She's okay. Just a tough case."

"Oh you two," Angela shook her head in distress, though keeping her voice low. "I don't know how you do it."

The detective shrugged, trying to let her mother stop worrying, even if it was fruitless. She decided to change the subject. "Anything interesting happen today, Ma?"

They quietly conversed for a while, Angela helping Jane to some more lasagna. It was the sound of footsteps that made them look up to see Maura standing in the doorway, still looking tired but with a smile on her face. The blanket was still wrapped around her, and Jane thought Maura looked adorably gorgeous with her hair tousled like that.

"Maura! We didn't wake you did we?" Angela asked as she retrieved the heaping dish of pasta for the blonde.

"Hello Angela. No, I woke up from my own devices." The doctor turned to Jane, and a huge, slightly goofy grin spread across her face. "Jane."

"Hey, Maur," Jane stood up, instantly aware that Maura was a little tipsy. But she couldn't stop her own wide grin from spreading across her face. "Here, sit down."

Maura made her way over, but didn't immediately sit. And then, much to everyone's surprise, she sidled right up to Jane, like a standing snuggle, and lifted a finger to poke her cheek. Giggling, Maura proceeded to use her fingers to squish of Jane's cheeks, while nuzzling the other.

"I shall call her Squishy, and she shall be mine."

Angela watched the scene unfold, and almost laughed at the look on her daughter's face. It was a mixture of surprise, confusion and maybe a little bit of fear. And happiness. There was happiness in there too, even though it was mostly swallowed up by her other emotions. Well, maybe this will be the wakeup call they need, Angela thought to herself wryly. When Jane looked at her, her eyes begging for help, Angela let the smile she'd been trying to hide come out. She only shook her head, enjoying her daughter's plight. For once, she wasn't going to meddle.

"Figure it out for yourself, Janie."

And with that, she was out the door, waving goodbye to the two women over her shoulder.

"Um… Maur? Maura?"

"Hmmm?" The doctor sighed happily against Jane, pushing even closer.

Even as she asked the next question, Jane felt her arms wrapping around the blonde, and her heart did a somersault when Maura pressed herself completely into Jane, burrowing her face in Jane's neck.

"Maura, how drunk are you?"

"Mmmm," Maura took her head out from the comfortable spot she'd found in the junction between Jane's neck and shoulder. She frowned. "I could say accurately that I am sufficiently tipsy, but I have reached the drunk stage yet. Given that I did drink half a bottle of red wine without eating beforehand, I can say that I am rather more affected by the wine than under usual circumstances."

"How do you still sound so smart even with half a bottle of wine inside you?"

Maura just giggled, returning to the comfortable spot she'd found that she never wanted to leave. Jane smiled too, then frowned.

"Maura… have you been watching 'Finding Nemo'?"

"Mhmm," Maura hummed into Jane's neck.

"You're watching Pixar movies now?"

Maura nodded. "T.J. likes them."

"Oh," Jane now understood. The image of Maura sitting on the couch with T.J. in her arms, like that first time she'd caught the two of them, watching Disney movies made Jane grin. Then another image came to mind, the same thing, but with their child in her arms, and Jane sitting right next to them, all watching a Disney movie together. There was no doubt in her mind that Maura would be an amazing mother. The doctor's own fears that she would be cold and distant like Constance was completely negligible. Jane couldn't imagine anyone else who would make a better parent than Maura. She wondered what Maura would say if she knew what was going on in Jane's head.

After a while, Jane decided it was time to get Maura to bed. She was drunk, no matter what she said, and it would be best for her to sleep it off. Why else would she be acting like this, like she might love Jane in a way she'd been dreaming of for so long?

"Maur?" she whispered. "Maura?"

"Mmmm?"

"I think it's time I got you to bed. C'mon." She tried to move, but Maura didn't let her. Finally, the blonde looked up, pouting.

"But I like it here. With you."

Jane's heart was beating a hundred times a minute, as she looked into beautiful hazel eyes. "See, this is how I know you're drunk," she tried to say teasingly, but her voice cracked a little in the end.

Maura just shook her head. "I'm not drunk."

"Yeah, you are. I mean, look at us," Jane used a hand to gesture between them. "We don't do this. This isn't us."

To her surprise, Maura seemed upset by this. Then: "But I want it to."

"What?" Jane shook her head. Maura obviously wasn't thinking straight with the alcohol in her bloodstream. She chuckled at her own pun, but it hid a deeper pain. "C'mon Maura, that's the alcohol talking. Let's get you up to bed and you can sleep it off."

"Jane Clementine Rizzoli!" Maura's voice made Jane jump in shock. She certainly didn't sound drunk. "I am quite aware of my level of alcohol tolerance and how much is required to make me drunk. I have had enough to leave me feeling 'buzzed' as you call it, but not so much that I am not fully aware of what it is I am doing, or have done." Maura tilted her head as she surveyed Jane. In a softer tone, she continued, "They don't call it 'liquid courage' for nothing. I know… I may have overstepped some boundaries, Jane. And if you would rather we returned to our previous state of platonic friendship, then I will happily do so if it means I don't lose you. But I can't… I can't let you disregard my feelings under the belief that they aren't real."

Jane looked at Maura, still wrapped up in the blankets from earlier. Hair gloriously dishevelled. Most of the make-up gone. But eyes clear and bright. Beautiful. Every word Maura had just spoken sounded like it had come out of one of Jane's many dreams. But this couldn't be true, this couldn't be happening, not really. "Maura…"

Maura let out a soft sigh, and lifted her hand to Jane's cheek again. But this time, she gently cupped it, and Jane couldn't help leaning into the soft touch, craving it. Like a drug she'd denied herself for so long, and now that she'd had a taste, she'd never be able to let it go. But Maura had ruined her for anyone else anyway. No one could compare to the glorious woman standing in front of her right now.

"You don't believe me."

Jane let her eyes drop. She didn't believe Maura.

"I was right."

This made the detective look up again. She had no idea what that was supposed to mean. Maura smiled a little, the faint outline of a dimple popping up.

"I had a little theory. I made a hypothesis and decided to try and test it, to see if I was right." Maura looked thoughtful. "This wasn't how I planned it, but I suppose it worked out."

"What was your hypothesis?" Jane had a feeling she already knew, but she asked anyway, because now, more than ever, she needed complete, unarguable confirmation of what she had been dreaming of for years.

"I hypothesised that there was a mutual attraction between us."

"And…" Jane cleared her throat. "And how do you know you're right?"

Maura looked up at her. "Well I can safely confirm that I am very attracted to you, Jane. It only remained to be seen whether you might harbour any feelings toward me. I wasn't sure until about ten minutes ago, when I felt your elevated heart rate, and saw your orbicularis oculi contract, your pupils dilate, and the movement of your orbicularis oris, zygomaticus major and levator anguli oris."

Jane simply looked at her in stunned silence.

"You forget that I studied the physiology of the human face and the psychology behind it."

"No I didn't. But it still amazes me every time you do that."

Maura laughed. "Well, the more obvious reads included the fact that you didn't push me away, as is natural to your character when you have received unwanted affections. And by the look in your eyes."

"What look?"

"The one you have right now."

"Now?"

Maura nodded, moving closer. "Right now." She stopped, leaving a few inches between them. She didn't move any closer, and she didn't pull away. And Jane knew what she was waiting for. She was waiting for Jane.

So she leaned in, closing the gap between them, breaking the invisible barrier there. Or maybe there had never been a barrier at all, but neither of them had been brave enough to see. The moment they connected though, Jane wondered why she had never done this earlier. Because Maura was soft, and warm, and familiar, and wonderful. She was sweet, and loving, and attentive. It was just a kiss, but it felt like more. Like a secret, like a promise. And Jane let her hands trail up and down Maura's back, touching and feeling the curve of her back, the silkiness of those golden locks, the heat of their embrace. Somewhere in the back of her mind that wasn't being overloaded by those sensations, Jane realised Maura's own arms had come up to wrap around her neck, pulling her closer. A hand in her hair, tugging it lightly, lovingly, wrapping it around her fingers.

A thunderstorm could be happening outside, but Jane wouldn't have noticed it in the cocoon of their embrace. Everything outside of the perfect bubble surrounding them seemed completely irrelevant at the moment.

It couldn't have been more than a minute or two. But time seemed strangely elastic, too fast and not long enough. When their lips finally slipped away from each other, Jane stared into sparkling hazel eyes.

"Can I call you Squishy?" Maura whispered.

Jane laughed. "Okay." Pause. "But only you, alright?"

Maura smiled, burying her face in that perfect spot between Jane's neck and shoulder again. "Alright."

Silence.

"Will you be mine?"

"Always."