Chapter 1

Olivia heard a soft knock on her door, she set her book down on the coffee table in front of her and walked around her kitchen counter. She unlocked her door with a frown but her eyebrows lifted quickly. There, young Maureen stood with tears pouring down her face.

"Maureen? What's going on?" Olivia asked stepping out into the hallway to meet the girl. Maureen shook her head, grabbing it with her hands.

"Come here," Olivia got Maureen to step into her apartment. She was going to try to get Maureen to sit on her couch, but before she could say anything Maureen slid her arms around Olivia's waist.

Olivia took a deep breath. She rubbed Maureen's back gently, letting Maureen hang onto her as hard and long as she needed.

Olivia smiled, setting down a mug of hot chocolate on the table in front of Maureen. Maureen had slipped off her shoes, cuddling in one of Olivia's warmest blankets.

"Feeling a little better?" Olivia asked softly. Maureen nodded.

"You want to tell me what's going on now?" Olivia asked again, hoping Maureen would share.

"I can't live in that house any more. I can't stand it."

Olivia frowned, "What's going on at home?"

"My parents are always fighting. They don't even consider Maureen and the twins. I don't mind the fighting, I'm used to it. But my brother and sisters- they can't take it any more."

Olivia nodded, taking in a deep breath.

"We want to live with you," Maureen admitted. Olivia's eyebrows raised.

"I think you know that that wouldn't work, Maureen."

"Olivia, I'll be seventeen in February. I'll take them away. I don't care. You don't know how bad it is."

Olivia looked down at her folded hands. Maureen was right, she had no idea. She understood alcoholism, but not the fighting parents.

"Do you hear what they fight about?" Olivia asked.

"The same old stuff. Dad's home late. Mom is ungrateful. Dad is having an affair, mom is having an affair…"

"And you hear all of it?"

"They usually start fighting right in front of us, Maureen helps me get the twins out of the room. Sometimes we'll even leave the house and neither of our parents will know."

"We're they fighting when you decided to come here?"

Maureen nodded slowly, "yeah." The phone suddenly rang. Olivia jumped then picked up her cell from the table.

Olivia: Benson

Stabler: Olivia! I can't find Maureen any where, have you heard from her!

Olivia: She's right here with me

Stabler: oh thank god. I'll be right over to get her.

Olivia: oh Elliot, I think it'd be better if she spent the night here

Stabler: no, that's alright, she's better off at home

Olivia: Elliot, you know I respect your wishes as a parent, but I have to insist

Stabler: you don't mind?

Olivia: Not at all.

Stabler: I'll come by early tomorrow morning and pick her up.

Olivia: don't worry, I'll drop her off.

Stabler:…Olivia?

Olivia: yeah?

Stabler: I appreciate it.

"You wanna know the truth?" Maureen smiled, finishing up her drink.

"Nothing but," Olivia smiled back.

"Me and Kathleen made up this whole story about our dad."

"Yeah? What kind of story?" Olivia thought she'd keep Maureen talking, she finally noticed a sparkle in her eye and a smile on her lips.

"We, uh, we made up a story about you and him, actually."

"About me and your father?"

"Yeah. It was pretty silly. We started it when my mom accused him of sleeping with you on this case she thought he made up. We just filled in the blanks. And when ever they fight we continue the story."

"Let me guess, all of us are living together already," Olivia smiled. Maureen's smile evaporated.

"No. Me and Kathleen don't write ourselves in. Not like that. See it's like you and dad are married, with a home in the woods. A pretty creak in the backyard, with horses and pigs," Maureen smiled in a daze, "and I'm the first born of course. Then Kathleen. And we all go to local baseball games where there really isn't any losing team. And it's everything dad says he wants, and what we think he wants, and everything we want. Everything we wish we had."

Olivia watched the girl, she was surprised, but the same daze fell over her, just as it had with Maureen.

"What about your mom?" Olivia asked.

"All of us love mom. But she doesn't have someone, that we know of. I mean lots of times I've agreed with mom. She gets angry at how dad looks at you when you're not paying attention. He stares at you. Like he's in a daze," Maureen smiled again, then let it fall once more, "he doesn't look at mom the way he looks at you.

He never has."

TBC