Apologies for my Hiatus from this story but it didn't feel right writing it in the spring and summer. No I've had my first open fire of autumn and I've got time to write. Since the last chapter I've also traveled to the US and spent two weeks in Boston and Massachusetts which has given me lots of ideas for different Rizzles adventures. Hope you enjoy and as ever all mistakes are my own.

Dickey slipped on a pair of skinny jeans and a knit jumper, flicking a small amount of product through his hair as he made his way out of his room and down for breakfast. The smell of bacon and pancakes wafted up the stairs, the constant chatter from the kitchen putting a smile on his face. As he entered the bright room he could see Richard, Jane and James all sat like children on the high stools tucking into bacon sandwiches. Maura was just taking her own seat next to Jane with a steaming cup of coffee and a plate of blueberry pancakes. Angela appeared to be in her element cooking for everyone and sipping on her own coffee as she worked. Dickey recognised Jane's younger brother Frankie who was currently wrapping what looked to be a wooden train on the floor.

"Good morning all" Dickey chirped as he entered to a chorus of greetings. He waked over to coffee machine kissing James as he passed. "Can I help at all Angela?"

"Oh sweetie… thank you for the offer but we're all under control. What would you like to eat?"

Angela and Dickey bantered softly in the kitchen as the short man subtly washed some dishes and made a fresh pot of coffee.

Jane's fork ventured over to Maura's plate a made away with a large piece of pancake. Jane quickly ate the stolen treat and grinned at the pouting doctor. Jane smiled in return and lifted her fork now loaded with bacon offing it to Maura. The honey blonde leant forward and captured the morsel, her eyes locked with Jane's throughout.

"OK everybody. It's all hands on deck this morning before the rest of the family arrive. I've made a list so…"

"Ma… surely we can just relax? The house looks amazing. You have been cooking for days and it's only family!" Jane said as she took another large mouthful of bacon.

"Jane. If we all do a chore we will be able to have plenty of time to get ready for the party. What are the jobs Angela?" Maura asked as the brunette sat next to her loudly huffed.

"Well… we've got the gifts to wrap for the children's games…"

James raised his hand like a small child. "I will happily do that Angela."

"Perfect. And there is the trundle beds to get from the garage and place in the guest house…"

"No worries Ma. Dickey will you help?" Frankie said from the floor.

"Of course" came the from behind a demitasse cup of espresso.

"There are logs to split so we have plenty for the next couple of days…"

"Jane will" Maura said immediately

"But Maura why do I get the job out in the cold?"

"Jane… you will be fine. When you have finished you can come help me finish writing cards to your family by the fire so you can warm up!"

Jane sighed again "Fine."

"Maura and Constance will you help me in the kitchen?"

Richard looked around. "Should I just read the paper? I may even check my eyelids for holes."

"Yes dear. Read your paper and have your nap. We will retrieve you if we need assistance" Constance said as she started to don an apron and stand next to Angela like an eager recruit.

The merry army set about their jobs as well as casually completing other chores at Angela's request.

Maura stood at the kitchen window washing the same mixing bowl that she had been washing for the past few minutes.

"Poor Jane out in this weather" Constance said as she walked past Maura and spied Jane through the window chopping wood.

"Ummm" came Maura's reply. She was hypnotised by the vision of Jane and the way her muscular skeletal system work seamlessly as she swung the axe over and split the wood, the logs fly off in opposite directions off the block. She would have gone out and reprimanded Jane for being outside without a thicker jacket or a hat but the vision had her entranced. She could see Jane's hot breath mixing with the crisp air and the more she chopped the more she could imagine the small droplets of sweat running down Jane's sculptured body.

"Why do you not simply have the logs delivered ready split Maura? Do you still use that family that used to supply your grandparents? What was their name now…"

"The Shukers. Yes mother. I could get it ready split." Said in a spacy tone as she continued to stare out of the window and run the wet sponge around the clean bowl once again.

Angela joined the two at the window. "I think it's quite cathartic. Jane needs a stress relief every now and then."

"Ummmm."

Jane stomped in through the door kicking her boots off haphazardly as she made her way with a large basket of logs to the lounge. Maura had already lit a fire and Jane was thankful for the heat radiating from the grate.

"Jane? Thank you for doing that. You look sweaty… and ummmm."

"Maura!" Jane said through the side of her mouth as her paranoid eyes drifted to the door. Richard was asleep in the armchair and here was his daughter looking on the detective like she was a piece of meat.

Maura looked at her sleeping father and then followed Jane's stare to the door before landing back on the Italian beauty. Maura stood on tip toes as she reach to kiss Jane softly. "Go grab a shower then you can help me with these cards."

Jane towel dried her hair, dressed in jeans and a white fitted tee and made her way back to Maura. She found the doctor sat on the floor in front of the fire using the ottoman as a table which she had covered in cards, pens and a leather bond address book.

"Hay" Jane said as she sat on the floor next to Maura pulling her reading glasses out of their pouch and placing them on.

"Hello to you."

The two women got themselves organised as Maura opened the first greetings card that showed an illustration of Fenway Park in the snow with Santa's sleigh flying past in the moonlight.

"Ok, who's first?" Maura asked as she slyly tried to look at Jane as the stunning women looked through the card designs.

"Well… There are my aunt and uncle, Francesca and Aldo. We can Aunty Francesca 'Nono' because she used to worry so much when we were kids that she always told us 'no' when we wanted to do things. She is a very sweet lady but her and ma get a bit competitive. Nono is embarrassed that Pa walked out on us. She always idolised him as a brother. Aldo married in. He is, well, he is alright when you get to know him."

"Are you not writing you own card Jane?" Maura asked once she had finished carefully writing the card in front of her.

"No… you may as well put me on yours. Save on cards!"

"Jane. Are you not worried how that might look?"

"No… they've never had a card from me before. It will be a bonus if I'm on one at all."

"ok… With best wishes Maura and Jane."

"Perfect… but next time put Jane and Maura. Sounds better" Jane grinned.

"Next" Maura said as she handed Jane the card to place in an envelope.

"NoNo and Aldo have three children who are all coming. First is Paolo. He is one of my favourite cousins. Just a really nice guy. He runs a travel company. He divorced from his wife Jayne a year ago. He will be bringing his five year old Mario."

Maura wrote the card and passed it again to Jane.

Richard stirred slightly but didn't open his eyes. He listened intently at the goings on in the house and especially at the soft conversation of his daughter and Jane.

"Next is Paolo's brother Giuseppe. He is a teacher. He is married to Camille who is also a Hair dresser. Giuseppe is Nono's favourite. Millie, Frank and Evie are their children who are all around three to six years old I think. They are a nice Family". Jane said as licked the seal on the envelope and neatly ran her finger across the crease.

"Ok… next"

"My cousin Marie. She will be bringing her douche of a fiancé Martin. Maybe best just to avoid these two!"

"Jane! I'm sure they are as lovely as they rest of your family"

"Ummm… or not. Ok… who else… Elena and her daughter Clare. Clare is training to be a nurse. Elena's husband died years ago."

Maura wrote her neat scribble into the final card and handed it to Jane. "I hope they all like me Jane. I've only met your immediate family and you know I'm not very good socially with new people… I'm either to formal and appear cold or my conversation is seen as inappropriate."

"All you have to do is be your usual beautiful genius self and if they don't get it or don't like it… well that's their loss. You are everything to me Maura. You mean more than all of them combined. You are my family and so much more. They are just lucky they get to meet you."

Maura lent forward and softly kissed Jane. "Thank you." Jane smiled back at the beautiful doctor.

"Plus, appropriate conversation is not something our family have ever gone in for so you should be sound!"

Maura slapped Jane's arm playfully. "Come on, you can come upstairs and help me get ready… I still haven't decided what where."

Jane rolled her eyes but couldn't wipe the smile off the face. Maura stood and pulled Jane up by her hand before leading the seemingly reluctant detective through the house and up to the master suite.

"all I'm sayin' Tommy is when you drive like that it ain't surprisin' TJ throws up" said Lydia as she bustled through the door with Tommy and TJ following both looking sheepish.

"Just go and borrow a top from Maura that one in the wash… It ain't a big deal" Tommy suggested that he walked over to Angela and gave a kiss on the cheek in greeting.

Lydia took a deep breath fighting back the emotion that she could feel building. It was such a silly thing to be upset over a little throw up on her blouse but she was still trying to make a good impression on the Rizzoli clan, still not truly feeling like she fit in with any of them.

Angela looked at Lydia and smiled warmly "TJ come here and give your nonna a big hug while mummy goes to find aunty Maura… Just go on up sweetly she won't mind I think she's in her room changing as we speak."

Jane stood flossing teeth idly as she listened to the ranting Doctor complain about not having anything suitable to wear. Jane rolled her eyes before peeking out across the bedroom where the blonde was vehemently rooting through the walk-in wardrobe.

"We could sneak out, go book room at the Intercontinental and enjoy our own naked party! You wouldn't need to worry about your outfit then" Jane grinned as she made her suggestion, knowing that the honey blonde would never go for such a thing but hoping it might save the remaining wardrobe for evacuation.

Maura hummed as she slowly sashayed across the bedroom in nothing but a pair of cream French knickers. "Wouldn't that be dreamy detective" she says she made her way into the ensuite, her arms sliding around tall Italians waste before ghosting up over Jane's toned stomach muscles. Their eyes locked in the mirror before Jane twisted her neck to capture more is inviting lips and a deep kiss.

Lydia stood catatonic in the doorway having lost the words to announce her arrival and bearing witness to the entire exchange. Backing away from the door she made her way to the washroom where she could remove the worst from her shirt without having to interrupt the two women. She would ask for a shirt later.