A/N: All characters except those created by me are the property of Dick Wolf and NBC
1. All errors are my own
2. Not sure how often I'll update but this story has been rattling around in my head for a while.
Olivia took in a deep breath and slowly released it. She reached over and pushed a stray curl from her daughter's forehead. She was grateful that she had finally fallen asleep. The last few days have been harrowing to say the least. If someone had told her that a child of hers would be a special victim, she would have thought you were out of your mind, but she's had two. If someone had told her that 15 years ago, she would be separated with 4 kids she would have thought you were on drugs. Hell, even she didn't think she would ever be married to anything other than the job, let alone have kids.
But here she was, with her wife and 4 kids. Even though it was early, they were all in the master bedroom. This is the first time she's laid in their bed in over a year (except for a couple of times that they came together in a heated moment and never to stay). Everyone is exhausted after getting back from the hospital. She looks around the room at her family and silently gives thanks that everyone is safe.
Her eyes settle on her wife, who is staring intently at their daughter and holding her close to her chest. Her and Melinda had been working their way back together before the kidnapping went down. Thinking ahead to the future, they need to make sure that they don't allow this to derail the progress that they've made or that this pushes them back together before they are ready.
She ran her hand through her hair as she looked down at their two little ones and sighed. Their 8 year-old daughter, Avery is back home safe and sound, after being kidnapped and held for two days. She knows that they need to make sure they get her all the help she's going to need to get through what happened. She is thankful that she wasn't harmed. She is curled in close to Melinda and sleeping deeply.
Their little guy, 6 year-old James doesn't quite understand what happened to his sister. He just knows that everyone has been scared and upset. James' head is resting in the crook of Olivia's neck and sucking his thumb. A habit they have repeatedly tried to break over the years. At least now it's only at night when he's extremely tired. They'll let it slide tonight.
She chanced a look over at their two big kids. Calvin at 16 years-old, in the accent chair by the closet. His hair hanging low over his left eye. Nathan at age 20, his hulking frame barely fitting on the chaise lounge by the window. She could tell that they had been terrified by this ordeal with their little sister/cousin. Because even though they were both still upset with her about the separation, they provided comfort and allowed her to comfort them. They've eased up a some since she and Melinda started working their way back together.
She looked back towards Melinda to see her wife looking at her. She grasped her hand and squeezed gently trying to convey the comfort they both needed. Melinda smiled faintly acknowledging the gesture. Melinda returned a reassuring squeeze and mouthed, "One day at a time." With that Olivia closed her eyes and thought about the last 15 years of her life.