A/N: I know this is marked as complete, but it continued to nag at me and I had to add more. There will be one chapter after this one. Let me know what you think. I hope you enjoy!


Alex nervously shifted from one foot to the other as she stood just outside Olivia's apartment. She'd been elated the night before when Olivia asked if they could try again, if they could be a family. Now, even though she wanted nothing more than to be with the brunette again, she would readily admit she was nervous. Now a child was involved. Although she'd hoped that someday they would have a child together, she knew the dynamic would be different as she was coming into an established family. Her biggest fear being Noah wouldn't like her. With one last steadying breath she knocked on the door.

"Hey!" Olivia smiled as she opened the door. Although she was genuinely happy to see Alex, her smile was also one of relief. She knew Alex was sincere the night before in saying she wanted another chance for them, but part of her had been afraid Alex would change her mind.

"Hey."

"Come on in." Olivia opened the door further, welcoming her in.

Alex looked around the living area of the apartment, memories of the time they'd shared here flooding her mind. She pushed them down for now, deciding there would be time for that later. Now, she was focused on building new memories. "These are for you." she held out a bouquet of flowers.

"I feel like I should be the one getting you flowers, not the other way around." Her tone slightly sad and apologetic.

"Nonsense." Alex placed a hand on Olivia's arm "We're here now, that's all that matters."

Olivia smiled then leaned in, placing a kiss to Alex's cheek "I'm glad we're here now."

Alex took a moment to look around the room; a toy box in the corner with a few toys scattered around the floor, and pictures of Noah on almost every available surface.

"Sorry it's such a mess." Olivia was slightly embarrassed. She'd tried to straighten up as best she could but Noah didn't always allow that. "I asked Noah to put his toys away, which he did, but then just before you arrived he decided to drag them out again."

"Don't worry about it, Liv. I'd always hoped to see toys scattered around this living room." the words slipping out before she realized it. "Sorry."

"It's alright, Alex. Truthfully, it's what I always wanted too…it's just not the route I thought we'd take. And that's-"

Alex cut her off "Olivia, how about we stop the apologies?" seeing the brunette about to speak she smiled and placed her finger to Olivia's lips "I know you think what we went through was all your fault, but it's not. I share responsibility in it too. And I know you want to argue with me right now because I know you better than you know yourself." At that Olivia grinned "But we're not going to discuss it, place blame, etc. Should we take time to talk about it all? Maybe, but right now all I care about is being here with you. I just want to be in this moment and enjoy it." she grinned when Olivia placed a kiss to the finger that was still on her lips "And most importantly, I want to meet Noah."

"Okay." Olivia leaned in for a gentle kiss.

"Where is the little guy?"

"He was playing in his room." Olivia turned to call him but turned back "Um, I should probably tell you…Noah is very shy. With the start he had in life, being bounced from foster home to foster home not to mention foster care centers, he's a little wary of strangers. I'm not saying you have to treat him differently, but I don't want you to worry if he doesn't take to you immediately."

"Okay."

"Noah?" Olivia called down the hall "Come in here, sweetheart."

Alex couldn't help but smile as Noah ran into the room and crashed into his mother's legs. When he saw their visitor he slid behind Olivia, keeping his arms wrapped around her left leg and cautiously peering around his mother. Alex gave him a small wave, causing Noah to look up at the brunette.

Olivia crouched down, wrapping her arm around Noah as the boy cuddled closer to her "Noah, I want you to meet someone."

Alex crouched down to his level.

"Noah, this is Alex. Alex this is Noah."

"Hi Noah."

Noah looked at Alex for a moment then back to Olivia. After another wave from Alex he held his hand up and gave her a small wave in return.

"This is Mommy's special friend Alex."

A flicker of something crossed Noah's features. He broke from Olivia's embrace and ran to his room.

"I didn't upset him, did I?" Alex asked nervously.

"No." Olivia was puzzled "I'm not sure what he's up to."

As Noah ran back into the room Olivia's eyes widened in realization when she saw what was in his hands. "Ayex." He whispered to the brunette as he held the teddy bear he slept with every night.

Alex's hand covered her mouth as she tried to hold back the tears. Noah was holding the very teddy bear she'd sent the day his adoption was finalized. She flashed back to the night before when Olivia told her he'd slept with the toy ever since.

"Yes, sweetheart, yes." Olivia said with tears in her eyes "Alex gave you teddy. What do you say?"

Noah leaned closer to his mother as he whispered "Tank you."

"Oh you're welcome, Noah."

"Sorry I'm not completely ready yet." Olivia said as she stood and urged Noah to go play. "All I have to do is finish packing his bag and we're good to go."

"Take your time." Alex joined Olivia in the kitchen, her attention going between watching Noah play and the brunette gather a few snacks for the boy. Her heart melted as she looked at a few drawings hanging on the refrigerator.

"So, what are our exact plans for this picnic?" Olivia asked as she finished.

"Well, I thought we could just grab something from a deli and head to the park." She then seemed unsure of herself "But now I'm realizing that may not work for Noah. I'm sorry, I should've asked first. Do you want to pack something from here?"

"It's okay. He's not a terribly picky eater, he just doesn't eat a lot. I can find him something at a deli." Olivia chuckled and placed a hand on Alex's arm when she could still see the uncertainty in her eyes "Don't worry Alex, kids aren't quite as high maintenance as some people think they are."

After eating lunch Alex and Olivia were seated on a bench watching Noah play in the sandbox. "He's precious, Olivia."

"He is, isn't he?" Olivia smiled brightly "Although, I'm a little biased."

"So, how does this work?" Alex asked after a moment of silence.

"How does what work?" Olivia turned to face the blonde, a confused look on her face.

"Us." Alex gestured between the two of them then Noah "I've never been in a relationship with someone who has a kid before."

Olivia grinned at the blonde's nervousness. If she were being honest she'd worried about it a bit herself the night before, but her love for Alex and her desire for them to be a family won out. "Honestly, I don't know. We just take it one day at a time."

"I know he is your main priority."

"You're a priority too." Olivia answered sincerely while taking Alex's hand.

"I know, but I also know he's your child and your main concern in life. I don't have blinders on going into this Olivia, my eyes are wide open. I also know that being in his life he will be a main priority for me as well."

Olivia smiled and teared up a bit at how committed Alex already was. "I think I just fell in love with you a little more."

Alex chuckled and leaned in for a gentle kiss "I'm serious. When you asked me last night if we could try again, if we could be a family, it was the greatest thing I'd heard in a long time…aside from you telling me you still loved me. But I want you to know I am one hundred percent committed you and Noah, to us as a family."

As if on cue, before Olivia could respond, Noah was standing in front of them. "Mama." He leaned over on her leg, staring at Alex as he did so.

"I think someone's getting tired."

As they gathered their things Alex reached her hand out to Noah, he looked at her hand then back to her face for a moment before leaning into Olivia, offering Alex a small smile as he did so. She'd tried little things with him since they left the apartment but so far he hadn't responded too much.

Less than two blocks from the park Noah was sound asleep in his stroller. Olivia and Alex walked in companionable silence, the simple joy of being able to walk together through the city not lost on them. As they held hands, Olivia didn't miss Alex's eyes drifting toward the stroller occasionally. "You want to?" she nodded toward the stroller.

"What?"

Olivia let go and nodded again. Alex looked stunned for a moment then stepped over and took the stroller with her free hand. The blonde was surprised when she was suddenly overcome with emotion. She hadn't expected it and was definitely unprepared for it.

"Alex?" Olivia asked when she saw Alex taking a few deep breaths and blinking back tears "Are you okay?"

Alex nodded. She took a steadying breath and turned to smile at Olivia, tears reflecting in her eyes "I'm great."

Back in the apartment Alex settled on the couch while Olivia put Noah in his bed. After Olivia settled in opposite Alex she took time to watch the blonde. She could see the happiness on Alex's face, the same happiness she saw on her own in the bathroom mirror. "Earlier, I take it you enjoyed pushing the stroller?"

Alex laughed and tilted her head as she blushed a bit "I did." she stretched her arm across the back of the couch and took Olivia's hand "I always wanted us to be a family, and no matter how new this is…not you and I but the three of us, it just feels so right."

"It does," Olivia squeezed her hand "It really does."

"So how do you want to go about this?" Alex sat her cup of tea on the table. Seeing Olivia's raised eyebrow she elaborated. "Going forward. Do we want to keep it under wraps for a while, or do we want to go ahead and tell people?"

"I think," Olivia slid closer to Alex "Keeping it quiet for just a bit would be okay. I mean I am beyond thrilled we are doing this again, but maybe just taking some time for us as well as us and Noah would probably be good for us all." She now slid close enough that their faces were inches apart "Besides, it'll give us some time to get…reacquainted." She pressed their lips together, melting into it as she felt Alex settle further down into the couch and pull her along with her.

"Mama!"

Both ladies jumped as Noah rounded the couch and stopped in front of them. Alex blushed profusely at being caught making out with his mother although she wasn't quite sure why, it wasn't as if he understood they were making out. Olivia dropped her head on Alex's shoulder and groaned before pulling back. "Ugh…the joys of motherhood." She began laughing at the look on Alex's face. "Don't worry, he doesn't have a clue." She turned a cartoon on then stood and motioned Alex to follow. "He usually has a snack after a nap, typically some fruit."

"O-okay." Alex nodded. She suddenly felt like she should be taking notes.

Olivia took pity on the younger woman and held her hands. "Don't worry, I'm not trying to freak you out or overwhelm you. It's just-I want us to be a family and you're okay with that."

Alex nodded enthusiastically.

"Well," Olivia grinned "Just trying to help you get used to the routine."

Alex stayed the rest of the evening; Noah had warmed up a bit, but he was still a little cautious of her. After dinner Alex cleaned up while Olivia gave Noah his bath.

"Ready for bed?" Alex grinned as Noah came into the kitchen after his bath.

"Go pick out a book." Olivia said. Both grinning as Noah ran to the bookshelf.

Alex sat on the couch, Olivia next to her with enough room for Noah between them. Olivia was doing her best to include Alex in their routine so Noah would become more comfortable with her.

Noah ran back in carrying a book and his teddy. He climbed up between the pair, sitting slightly closer to Olivia than Alex but not glued to her like he had been earlier in the day. Olivia picked up the book but Noah placed his hand on hers. "Ayex." He handed to book to the blonde.

Alex's eyes went wide with surprise.

"You want Alex to read to you?" Olivia asked while trying not to cry.

"Yes." he said quietly.

Alex looked from Noah to Olivia. Seeing tears in Olivia's eyes brought some to her own. "Goodnight Moon, huh?" Alex looked at the book.

"It's his current favorite."

By the time she was finished Noah had drifted off to sleep, his arms wrapped around his teddy. "I'll be back in just a minute." Olivia picked the boy up and carried him to his room.

When Olivia returned she was surprised to see Alex preparing to leave. "You're not leaving, are you?" she placed her hands on Alex's waist and kissed her lightly "I was thinking since Noah is asleep we could pick up where we left off earlier." She nodded to the couch.

Alex smiled "I'd love to continue what we were doing earlier, but maybe we should take it a little slow." Seeing the look on Olivia's face she continued "Trust me Liv, I'm in this for good so we don't have to rush." She leaned in for a gentle kiss "We've got the rest of our lives." She pulled Olivia close "I'm not going anywhere."

Olivia teared up "I'm not going anywhere either. And I like the sound of that, the rest of our lives."

"It's true, Liv. This is it; you, me, Noah…this is the rest of our lives."

"Would you be able to get together tomorrow? Maybe lunch?"

Alex nodded "As far as I know my schedule is pretty clear. Unless something comes up."

"Same here, but I think I can manage it."

"My office?" Alex grinned.

"Sure." Olivia gave her a shy smile "And maybe you could join Noah and me for dinner tomorrow evening?"

"I'd love to." Alex leaned in for another kiss, their bodies pressed close as they held one another. "I love you."

"I love you too."