Disclaimer: I do not own Rizzoli and Isles.

I had no beta (throughout the entire story), all mistakes are my own. Previously named nnatsayi123, changed to CollinsJ.

AN: This was fun, and a lot of work. Thank you guys so so so much for the inspiration. This journey is finally, and sadly over.

June 2013

Winter had just arrived when the Rizzoli-Isles clan landed in New Zealand. Jane and Maura could hardly believe six years had lapsed since they had last been, it felt like just about a year ago. The two women were celebrating their fifth wedding anniversary, and what better place to spend it than the place that had laid solid foundation to their future. And to make it even more special, the pair had brought along two special gifts – Alanna and Leon. Since the two were born, there had essentially been no time for travel. And Maura didn't see the point of taking them anywhere if they wouldn't enjoy, let alone remember, the experience. But now, they had concluded the trip was worthwhile – Alanna and Leon would be turning five in October- and what better place to take them than their cottage in New Zealand. Their vacation was scheduled for two weeks, and all four of them could be hard pressed to remember a time they had shared so much fun together.

On their first night there, after the kids had gone to sleep, Jane and Maura sat in front of their fire place reminiscing about the day their children took their first breaths.

''Maura! Can you please calm down? You're not helping me here''.

Maura kept pacing up and down, unresponsive to whatever Jane was saying. The two had just changed into appropriate attire for the delivery. Amy had said she would love for them to both be with her in the room for support - Jane and Maura had not objected. Amy felt terribly about having let them down. A little after the wedding she had found out she had a distant aunt who worked on a farm in Boston. Driven by sheer need to see at least someone remotely resembling family she had begged Jane and Maura to let her stay there till she was a month from delivery. They obviously loathed the idea, but Maura especially, knew what it was like to crave family. So while Maura and Jane, mostly Maura, were driving themselves crazy, Amy was being prepped for child birth.

''Ok, we have to go Maura. Honey, look at me''. One would have thought Maura was the one actually pushing the babies out. She was sweaty, shaky, and out of breath. But she managed to look at Jane. ''we have to be strong and put together for Amy, and our little babies ok. If you go in there like that she's going to freak out. Everything is going to be fine''. She kissed Maura's temple for reassurance. It seemed to help and the two walked into the delivery room.

Amy had requested that they name the boy Leon. It was her late father's name, whom she had been so close to. Jane and Maura had no qualms with that, they had told her she could name them both actually. But Amy only had a name for the boy, and gave the new parents the honour of naming the little girl. Days upon days had been spent trying to come up with an appropriate name. Maura, ever so diligent, had researched and read on baby names thoroughly. Leon was a name of Greek origin meaning lion, relating to strength. It made sense, since Amy was originally Greek to begin with. So that left her torn between finding a Greek name to match the other, or an Italian one from Jane's origin, or even an Irish one relating to her heritage. It was all so confusing and difficult on Maura, who by the way took it very seriously. Jane had said she wanted to second name Leon as Frankie, after her brother because he was so special to her. And because she couldn't quite put it to words most times, she figured this would make him understand fully how much she loved him. And Maura was also largely fond of the Rizzoli bother. So sadly the girl remained unnamed, while the boy already had two names.

When Maura had become too stressed and too preoccupied over the whole name calling thing, Jane had put an end to it and said they would find a name when she was born – period. Jane had used her tone and the face that says 'it's final. This discussion is over', Maura couldn't argue with that.

So now in the delivery room, they where both sides of Amy urging and encouraging her to push. The first one was almost coming but the poor girl was worn out. With great effort and support, she pushed the little boy out first. Seconds later, the girl popped out. To everyone's horror, the second one's feet and tiny hands were a blue/purple colour. Maura felt her legs giving in and Jane had to hurry to grab hold of her.

Several tests were done hastily as Maura cried her lungs out hoping to a God she didn't quite believe in that her baby girl would be alright. Leon is what held them both together while they waited. When the doctors returned with their baby they were told she had 'blue baby syndrome' from high level of nitrates exposed to the mother. The conclusion was that it was from the water at the farm Amy had been living prior to the delivery. Luckily it wasn't life threatening and when the baby came Jane was the first to hold her in her arms. ''she's beautiful'', was the first thing she said.

When she gently handed the baby over to Maura, the blonde whispered ''Alanna Helen''

''Hmmm'', Jane asked.

''Her name. Alanna Helen Rizzoli-Isles''

''Am I going to get an explanation?'', she tried to joke her way through the very emotional moment.

''Alanna means beautiful, which is just what you called her. And Helen B. Taussing was a paediatric cardiologist involved in the discovery of 'blue baby syndrome''', Maura's eyes never left the little baby in her arms.

''It's perfect'', Jane placed a kiss on Maura's lips, then on her baby's forehead.

The next morning when they woke up, the family sat around the breakfast table and made a rough draft itinerary for their time in New Zealand.

Alanna looked just like Amy. She was slim and tall with long dark hair. A little like Jane maybe, except her facial features weren't nearly as sharp as Jane's. The little girl couldn't for the life of her shut up- she spoke relentlessly. Intelligence didn't come so naturally to her, so Maura took every opportunity to impart as much knowledge as she could. She seemed to lean towards the arts though. She loved drawing and colouring and reading stories (not so much for the knowledge though – just for the fun of it). Jane and Maura didn't force her to become what she wasn't. Maura knew first hand that intelligence was nothing if you didn't have a 'life'. Alanna did like dressing up though. Many a times they had caught her applying Maura's lipstick and she run off, only to return and do it again. Alanna was also an attention seeker, always wanting to be heard and commended. She entertained the whole household single handedly. Often she would stand in front of everyone and sing or play out parts she had seen on TV or read in a book. In general, she was a free and happy spirit.

Leon was almost the opposite. Tall as well, but bending towards chubbiness. He was quiet and shy, and rather smart. He liked to play sport with Jane all the time, and more often than not was much clingier to her. He was the typical five year old boy though – batman, cars, and all that stuff. She adored that his mom was in law enforcement and cried to go into work with her as much as he could.

So the majority of their trip was spend doing almost the same things Jane and Maura had done on their first trip. They showed their kids around and the two just loved it. It swelled the hearts of Jane and Maura every time they looked at their children. They couldn't believe all they had gotten through just to be at that point. Jane often joked that if she had the time and capabilities she could write a book about of their life story.

On the actual day of their anniversary, three days before their return, Jane and Maura sat and did a recap of their wedding day (almost like they did just about every year). It seemed each year came with a new revelation about the day. On their first year Jane had told Maura about the chat she had with her father. She had been quiet about it for a full year because…..well, she wasn't sure. And the second year Maura had told Jane that she had dressed herself for the wedding, and done her own hair and makeup. Jane couldn't believe it at first until Maura had said, ''I know exactly how you like my hair and makeup and no one would have done it justice other than me''. That was true – it was not professional but was perfect in Jane's eyes. On the third anniversary Jane had come out about being secretly happy that the wedding ended up being an intimate small gathering as opposed to the originally planned extravagant event. And just last year Maura had told Jane that on the morning of the wedding her friends had asked her what sex with Jane was like. ''are you fucking kidding me?'' Jane exploded. ''Jane, you'll wake the children, and will you watch you language. Also no, I'm not 'kidding''', she calmly responded. ''They know about our sex life. And you didn't think to mention it all these years?''. ''well….you never asked me Jane. And I would hardly say they know about our sex life. I didn't go into detail''. ''I bet you would if they'd asked'', Jane snorted. ''They did, but then they stopped me when I started explaining''. Jane had hung her head and wondered how she was to face them ever again. She was only thankful they had had the decency to stop Maura; she didn't even want to know which particular explicit detail Maura had been going into when they put the breaks on her.

And this year, Maura was revealing something Jane didn't quite appreciate. ''That Thanksgiving I said was the best day of my life, I was wrong. Our wedding day was. Oh maybe not wrong as such, because it was accurate at that time'', she corrected.

''Maur, what did I say….''

''I know, I know. I just can't help it. It really was. And even though the day Leon and Alanna were born was magical, our wedding day takes the trophy''

''I guess I can never dissuade you can I?''

''No''

''But just so you know, it makes me feel like I'm doing a crappy job if after five years I can't out-do that day''

''Jane…''

''I'm kidding Maur. It was special, and that's that.''

''I am only going to have one wedding day Jane. You see the birth our children, we can experience that again if we have other children. Yes it won't be the same event, but the feeling will be about the same. And we have holidays to celebrate every year – valentines, thanksgiving, birthdays, you name it. And that can all be repeated, not identical, but it can happen again. But the day I became a Mrs, the day I became Mrs Maura Rizzoli-Isles, that happens once. The day I walked down the aisle to my life partner cannot be repeated – because I only have ONE life partner, and therefore will only ever have one wedding. So I know you want me to love and cherish every day or celebration we have together, I do, but nothing compares to the day you made me the happiest woman on earth. Nothing can compete with that''. Jane couldn't respond and pulled Maura into a deep kiss hoping that expressing herself physically would put the point across – it did.

Later, they both sighed wistfully as they remembered the evening family get-together at their house after the wedding was over. It was just the Rizzoli's and Isles' hanging about and saying their goodbyes before Jane and Maura went for their honeymoon.

''I wanted to give this to you'', Frankie said nervously handing Maura a sealed envelope.

''What is this Frankie? Not another gift I hope''. They had already been given all their wedding presents.

''Sort of is'', he shrugged.

Maura carefully opened it to reveal the letter she had received from Jane telling her how much she was loved. ''Frankie…'', Maura could hardly breathe.

''I walked out with it that day. And I figured what better time to give it back than now''

Maura wept as she pulled Frankie to a painful embrace. ''Thank you so much'', she repeated like a mantra. ''this is the best wedding present ever Frankie, thank you'', she went on.

Maura and Frankie were on the porch where Frankie had followed Maura who was removing a few remaining wine glasses. It was the first time the newly wed had been on her own so he took the opportunity. Jane saw them as she walked out to help her wife. ''Did I miss something?'', she asked curiously.

''Oh Jane look'', Maura hurried out of Frankie's arms and into Jane's.

''Honey, if you let me go I might be able to see what's got you weak to the knees'', she spoke sarcastically – she never could help herself.

''Sorry'', Maura pulled out and handed Jane the letter.

''OH my God'', Jane breathed. It was rumpled a bit and had tear stains on it that smudged a few letters, but it was basically intact.

''Frankie gave me'', she squealed, sounding like a little child.

''You had this all along?'', Jane said pulling him into a hug.

''Held onto it. Makes for a perfect gift right?'', he joked. Mostly to diffuse the emotions.

''Thanks lil' bro. I love you you know''

''I know Jane. I'm happy for you guys'', he pulled them both into a hug.

''Your mother did a lot for us you know'', Jane proceeded. They were still seated in the bright night, talking about their wedding.

''She did. The house, and then the honeymoon. I would never have expected that from her.

The wedding night after everyone had said their goodbyes, Constance and Angela drove the married couple to the airport. Jane and Maura were flying to Scottsdale, Arizona for their five day honeymoon. Constance had got them the package as a wedding gift.

It was 6am the next day when they walked into the hotel. The place almost made them both fall to their knees in shock. Maura had travelled around the world but never she seen anything quite so magnificent. It was the epitome of 'breath-taking'.

Despite the scenery, it didn't take long for Jane to undress Maura. That morning she took all the time in the world to make love to Maura. She worshipped her body inch by inch, freckle by freckly, till the woman came multiple times. Maura returned the favour with vigour. She couldn't quite get past how turned on she was each time Jane called her her wife. That in itself was erotic enough, Jane didn't have to do or say anything else.

As the sun rose and Jane attempted unpacking, Maura read the letter over and over again. It truly was the best gift ever. She pulled out a wrapped present for Jane too.

''Oh boy. More gifts again'', Jane whined.

''I want you to have it'', Maura spoke through emotions she knew were about to spill over.

Jane sat by the edge of the bed and slowly unwraped it. Before her were 2 identical notebooks labelled JANE. ''What this?'', she asked sceptically.

''I'm giving you this because I want you to know that even when i thought you were gone, you still held my heart. I never let go of you, I don't think I ever would have. I told you what I did in your absence and maybe gave you a little insight on how I felt as well, but this is the depths of it all. That's where I poured every last emotion in me''

Jane held them reverently and caressed the lettering lovingly. ''Thank you for giving it to me''. That's all she could manage in that moment. When she saw Maura was about to start crying, she let out a joke. ''I guess this will give me something to read while you go over that letter for the thousandth time''. Maura laughed, and that's all Jane needed to hear to make her day.

That night when Maura had fallen asleep, Jane went to sit on the balcony and started reading the first book. It was the hardest thing Jane had ever done. She only got past the first entry where Maura talked about settling into NZ. She spent a good half hour crying over Maura's pain and hating that she couldn't do anything about it. She packed the books away and decided to have a nice time and read them when they got back home – it was hardly the time for such an emotional journal.

Their time in New Zealand with the kids ended better than well. And when they got home Jane looked at her family and wondered what she ever done right to deserve such a life. She had a wonderful job- one she had always dreamed of. She was blessed with two beautiful and healthy children, and the best thing ever to happen to her – her wife. Maura looked at her family in awe. She had kids she never imaged she'd have, a lovely job she never even thought of. And the best part, her wife – the best thing in the entire world. She didn't know who to thank, and what she'd even say if she found such a being. Life for Alanna Helen Rizzoli-Isles was happy. Life for Leon Frankie Rizzoli-Isles was comfortable. Life for Jane Clementine Rizzoli-Isles was awesome. Life for Maura Dorothea Rizzoli-Isles was perfect. Happy, comfortable, awesome, and perfect, those were their respective definitions of life as they knew it.

AN: I don't think there is a point of making a sequel to this anymore. So I decided against it. however, if you do feel like there is something more to be said, let me know. I am open to all suggestions, I just don't wanna bore people. If no one is interested in a sequel, we will move on to the next story then – much much different from this. Not so sad either. Oooh, and I just got another idea as well, so now I have two stories in waiting. Starting to draft the first one already, but there's this thing with school and work – wont they just leave me alone….lol. Anywho….thanks loads again. this stuff is really hard, and I have a new found respect for writers – seriously. And all those that took the time to read and review and PM me, thank you SO much...