Author Note – I got this weird idea when I watched an episode of Friends. It somehow transferred to SVU. Anyway I hope you enjoy…let me know if you want me to continue.

Disclaimer – I don't own Law and Order: Special Victims Unit or any of its' characters.

References

"When you hold your baby in your arms the first time, and you think of all the things you can say and do to influence him, it's a tremendous responsibility. What you do with him can influence not only him, but everyone he meets and not for a day or a month or a year but for time and eternity." - Rose Kennedy

Noah squealed happily as Judge Linden tickled him. One hand patted her cheek gently; the other was planted in his mouth while he bounced on his feet as he stood on her lap. Olivia watched the scene with a smile on her face, wishing she could be as relaxed as her son at that moment.

Her hand was holding down her knee to stop it from bouncing nervously. The judge had called her out of the blue yesterday and asked her to bring Noah in for an unscheduled meeting. She hadn't given her any details as to what prompted the request and Olivia had been pacing the apartment late into the night trying to figure out if she had done anything wrong.

All of the meetings with the social worker had been fine. She was quite positive considering Olivia's long hours. Olivia thought everything was on schedule for her to adopt Noah…until the phone call that came the day before. Requesting she brought Noah to see Linden. Olivia accepted the 'invitation', wanting nothing to affect her status as Noah's foster mother.

"He's really something. You're doing a fabulous job with him," Linden said looking over Noah's shoulder at Olivia. "There's no reason to be so nervous Olivia."

"It's just when you called yesterday…"

Linden nodded understandingly, holding up a hand to stop her. "You've done nothing wrong. I wanted to meet with you both because I've read the social worker's glowing reports and I wanted to see it for myself."

She shifted Noah so that he was sitting in her lap, facing Olivia, as she picked up his teddy bear from her desk to keep him occupied while she spoke to Olivia. Noah drooled around his hand as he smiled at Olivia, and Linden seemed unfazed by it as she bounced him lightly. Once Noah was fully engaged with the stuffed toy, Linden reached for a stack of papers.

"Noah has been with you for four months now, and I see he's finding his feet."

Olivia smiled when Noah looked up at the judge upon hearing his name. "He's still crawling at the moment, but he's starting to pull himself up on the furniture and he can walk a few steps by holding on. But whenever I hold hands he'll just stand there."

"He'll get there soon," Linden reassured her. "All of my children and grandchildren did. Be ready when does, because everything will have to go up high."

"The apartment has been baby proofed, and thankfully all on one level."

Noah chose that moment to let out a squeal and hold his hands out to Olivia. "Ma," he said wriggling uncomfortably.

Linden smiled and stood with Noah in her arms to hand him over. Olivia accepted him, pressing a kiss to his cheek to calm him when she felt the heat of his skin. She balanced him on her knee and reached into her bag for the chilled soother.

"He's been teething," Linden said knowingly.

"Yeah, his gums have been irritating him at night," Olivia replied, offering Noah the pacifier who started sucking eagerly for relief.

Linden watched the moment with tender expression. "You're doing a wonderfully, which is why I asked you to meet with me. I know I put you on the spot in the court room when I asked you to take Noah, and I understand how nerve wracking it can. I know you had some doubts when you first took on this responsibility."

Olivia frowned when Linden sorted through the papers she had picked up, wondering what the judge was looking for.

"Yesterday these were delivered to me, all sealed in envelopes, by a Special Investigator from the courthouse," she flashed the papers at Olivia. "Now I never asked him to do this, he did this of his own accord. But he wanted me to know how much support you have in taking care of Noah."

Special Investigator. Munch.

Olivia opened her mouth but no words came out as she tried to fathom what the judge was telling her. He had been the only she had talked to about having kids. Recently anyway. She missed him around the squad room, even his conspiracy theories.

Fin, Nick and Amanda had all been supportive of her decision to adopt Noah, but she didn't tell them before agreeing to the judge's offer. Nick and Fin had even put together the nursery furniture for her and baby proofed the apartment.

Linden waved the stack of papers at her again. "These are references from several people, acquaintances of yours. They were a compelling reading."

Olivia had to look away, suddenly unsure what people would, could, have said about her to compel Linden to call a meeting with her.

"Olivia," she called softly to get her attention. "A lot of people are happy for you, and think I made the right decision when it comes to you and Noah. I don't do this, I shouldn't do this, but I thought you should know how much backing you have."

Olivia accepted the papers with a dumbfounded expression on her face. She eyed the stack of papers warily, slightly embarrassed by the sheer amount of letters there. No one had ever done anything like this for her before. Her eyes began to water from the sweet gesture that Munch had done for her. She blinked and managed to keep them at bay.

Noah patted her cheek to get her attention and she gave him a squeeze to reassure him. Looking up she saw Linden smiling kindly at her.

"Now I'm sorry to cut this visit short but I'm due in court," Linden said, standing from her chair and walking out from behind the desk. She bent over to stroke Noah's cheek. "He really is a credit to you. Don't be afraid to call, if have any questions. I'll see you both soon."

Olivia stood with Noah and shouldered the diaper bag, tucking the letters safely inside. "Thank you for this."

Linden laid a hand on her wrist. "Those letters reinforced the opinion I already had; I hope they do the same for you."

….

Hours later Olivia sat on the sofa. She spent the rest of the day with Noah, making up for the long hours she spent at work. She managed to ignore the magnetic draw of the letters from where they were in the diaper bag all afternoon.

Noah was finally asleep and she tidied away the toys they had been playing with before his bath. She relaxed back into the cushions and dragged the bag towards her, unable to quell her curiosity any more. Opening it, she ran a finger over them in trepidation. Biting her lip she curled her hand around them and took them out. Flicking through them she only registered the authors of them at first.

Fin. Nick. Amanda. Munch. Cragen.

Olivia stopped when she read the name on the next one. Her heart seemed to stop as she re-read the name and the signature she would recognize anywhere.

Elliot.