Olivia walked up Eliot's driveway, tripping over snow. Unusual October weather, she thought, I wonder what it's like in California-

BAMB! Olivia was staring into white powder. She shuddered and looked up: Dickie was laughing, his glove laced with the powder from the snowball he had just sent propelling towards Olivia's head.

"Hey, come on! That wasn't funny-" Another snowball went whizzing past her ear. She wasn't sure but she thought that she had just seen Kathleen's head ducking behind a snow bank.

"Okay, I'm not joking guys, where's your father-"

"I'm right here!" Olivia looked around to see Eliot behind another snow bank, ducking. "Come over here quick!" Olivia ran over as snowballs began propelling themselves through the air towards her face.

"What the hell!" she yelled as she ran behind the bank and ducked. "What's going on?" she asked, her face a few inches from Eliot as he peeked over the top.

"I threw a snowball at Lizzie and now this!" He looked to his left and his right. "Speaking of that, I haven't seen the enemy in a while…"

"A snowball fight? Then why are they aiming at me?"

"You're my partner," he said, smiling. "We do everything together; they must think that you're fair game." He saw Lizzie duck out from behind cover to grab some snow. "Quick, she has artillery!"

SVUSVUSVUSVUSVU

Fifty snowballs, three soaked children, and two sopping wet detectives later Olivia and Eliot sat in the inside of living room, trying to get dry in front of the fireplace. They sat in long sleeved shirts and wet pants with blankets all around them, courtesy of Kathy.

"You two all right in there?" said Kathy, bringing some tea with baby Eliot straddled on her hip.

"Honey, you wrapped us in so many blankets I think that we're trapped!"

"You're both soaked! At least this way you won't be tracking mud through my house."

"Ah, the ulterior motive…" said Olivia, taking a sip. "Thanks Kathy."

Olivia and Kathy had not only been getting along since last fall when little Eliot was born: they had become friends. Before then, Olivia knew that Kathy had resented her for spending time with Eliot. She never would have imagined that they would be here, drinking tea and chatting like it was ordinary for a cop's wife and partner to be buddies. She smiled, happy for the change, and pulled out a file from amidst the blanket frenzy.

"Here's a final briefing on the Mary Smith case. Casey called to tell us that the date for us to testify has been changed to tomorrow. I hope it doesn't interfere with any plans…"

"No," said Eliot, "I can go tomorrow, but I have to tell Alex that I can't babysit-"

"It's okay honey, I'll do it." Kathy sat down and placed Eliot on her lap.

"Thanks," said Olivia, "I think they'll understand considering that means they'll have to be there that day too." She folded her hands and smiled; every time she thought of her namesake she grinned. "It amazes me how fast that kid has grown. She's about two months now."

"When baby Liv had her first laugh three weeks in, Alex nearly thought she was screaming!" The room erupted in laughter. "Yep," said Eliot, "that kid is ahead of things."

"She seems to like little Eliot too," said Kathy as the door rang. "I'll go get that," she said as she sat Eliot down on the seat. He was playing with the fringe of the seat cushion as a scream reached the ears of the two detectives.

"Kathy!" Eliot yelled as he and Olivia ran to the front door to find Kathy covered in snow. "Dickie! What did you do to your mother? Come here now, this isn't funny!"

"Eliot," said Kathy, "I think I'll live. Let him off the hook on this one." Eliot helped her up and noticed a letter in her hands. "Is that mine?"

"Yeah, it's addressed to you." Kathy handed him the letter. "Look's tough, might want to use a knife to open it."

Eliot headed to the kitchen and opened it up. His brow furrowed as he read the letter that would change his happy little world forever:

Mr. Stabler,

The child is my son. He is not yours.