I own no one but my own people

October 14th, En Route to Lila and Max's house, 3:52 PM, Albany NY

"No back talking, no slouching, no cursing, no gambling, no talking about Sarah Palin's impeachment, no-"

"Mom, relax, I've met them before," Lily reminded her from the back seat as they pulled up to a toll booth.

"Honey, I wasn't talking to you," Alex said as she eyed Olivia wearily as her wife handed the man the correct change. "But no biting, no kicking, no hitting, no gambling, no-."

"Alex, will you relax?" said Olivia exasperated as she pulled away from a tiny booth. "It won't be the first time I met them you know."

"It will be the first time you ever went up to their house though. I just want everything to go smoothly."

"When have things NOT gone smoothly involving me and your parents?"

Alex looked at her as if she had grown three heads. Olivia cleared her throat loudly. "You know… within the last year I mean. And you have to admit we have come a long way since we first met and they thought I was some poor, single, straight, Republican detective."

"What do you mean?" Lily asked as she put the book she had been reading the entire trip down on the seat beside her. "Why would she think that about you?"

Alex scoffed loudly and turned back to face her. "It would take over a year to tell you all of the drama involved with these two. They absolutely hated each other when they first met."

"And whose fault was that?" Olivia commented casually as she took the first turn. "Who lied about to them about every single thing about me? Who sided with her mother on everything she said and let her treat me like garbage? Who slapped me after I almost outed her because she was too afraid to tell her mother she was a lesbian? Who-."

"Why don't we save that story for another day?" said Alex with a weak chuckle as she turned away from Lily's wide eyes. "Take this next right and it'll be the first house on the left."

A smug smile graced Olivia's face as she followed Alex's instructions. She made the necessary turn and both Lily and Olivia gasped at the house that Alex instructed them to pull into.

"It's huge!" Lily exclaimed as her eyes raked over the mansion. "And I thought our house was big!"

Olivia was having a similar reaction. "I knew your parents were loaded but damn!"

Alex chuckled as she too let her eyes settle on the large house she had grown up in. It had four stories and was easiest the biggest house on the street. Marble white pillars held up the elongated porch while the rest of the house was made of faded red brick but still looked well cared for.

Large white windows, some with white curtains pulled over them to prevent others from looking into the confines of the home, was placed every few feet on the first three stories. The slanted roof was made up of dark red shingles with not a single one missing or out of place.

"You actually grew up here, mom?" Lila asked in awe as Olivia turned off the car.

Alex nodded as she unbuckled her seatbelt. "Yup. Eighteen years spent at this exact same house."

"So freaking lucky," muttered Lily. "Why can't we live someplace like this?

"Lily, we live in a two story brownstone in Manhattan. It's not like we live in a shack or some tiny studio apartment."

"But they have a pool. We have to pay 80 dollars a summer for our passes to the public pool."

Alex rolled her eyes but kept any other spoken thoughts about their living situation to herself.

Olivia chuckled as she got out of the car. She threw the keys into her purse and walked over to Lily who was getting her back pack out from the back seat.

"You know, Lily. If your mom wins the election then maybe we can move someplace with our own pool."

Lily twisted around and Olivia held back a groan when she saw her eyes widen. "Are you serious? We're getting a pool?"

"Why do you always jump to conclusions?" Alex asked as she went to the trunk and got out some of the bags. "She said 'if' I win then 'maybe' we'll get one."

A slight blush broke out on Lily's face as she looked down at the ground. "Sorry," she muttered.

Alex ignored her apology as she did Olivia's tiny glare towards her.

"You ready?" asked Alex with a hint of fright.

"Christ, Alex, I'm expecting a giant flaming head with an old man behind a green curtain when we get in there the way you're acting. They've been over to our house a lot of times. Why would this be any different?"

Alex simply looked at her for a moment. "It's different because we're on her territory now. We're behind enemy lines."

"Forgive me I didn't realize we were at war."

Alex rolled her eyes at Olivia's statement before they walked down the long gravel pathway.

"Remember to be respectful, Lily," Alex muttered softly as they reached the porch. "No back talk."

"But mama said that-."

"You should be very respectful to all times no matter what leaves your grandmother's mouth. Thank you for remembering, Lily," interrupted Olivia with a forced chuckle that Alex saw right through.

Alex glared at Olivia for a moment before she turned back to the door and rang the door bell.

"Here we go," breathed Alex as the door was opened by James.

He smiled at the blonde and Alex couldn't help but grin back. "Mrs. Cabot! How nice to see you again!"

"James, please none of that Mrs. Cabot stuff. Call me Alex," Alex corrected with a smile as she threw open her arms and hugged the older man around the neck who quickly hugged her as well.

"I can't believe how long it's been," James said as they released the embrace. "Your parents always go to visit you and you never come up here. Why is that?"

"We're both busy with work. Olivia's on call seven days a week, Lily's got school, I'm Senior DA for Manhattan… it's just easier if they come down to visit us."

James nodded in understanding. "Of course, Alex, I completely understand. Won't you please come in?"

With a much bigger smile on her face then she had on previously; the tiny family walked into the large house. James closed the door behind them and turned to Olivia with a grin.

"And you must be the famous Olivia Benson I've heard so much about."

Olivia cocked a brow in confusion before James cleared his throat and looked at her with the same look. "Although I will say, Mrs. Benson, I have no idea what Mrs. Cabot was talking about. Those clothes seem perfectly acceptable for a detective much less a homeless woman on crack."

"A wardrobe joke… I've got to admit I haven't heard one of those in a while," Olivia said with a tiny nod and a small chuckle. "But please call me Olivia."

"Of course. And this must be Lillian."

"Lily," she corrected with a tiny smile.

"You know, Lily, I must say I've seen pictures of you and you are looking more and more like your mother every day."

"Now if you could only specify which one we would be all set," came a voice from the doorway behind them.

They all turned and saw Lila and Max standing there with smiles on both of their faces.

"Grandma!" Lily shouted joyfully as she ran up to Lila and hugged her tightly.

Lila took a small step to gain her footing before she hugged her back.

Lila forced a smile on her face but all of them could see that it was forced. They also saw a sliver of confusion as well. "Oh it's so good to see you… darling."

Alex and Max's eyes met for a moment before they turned back to the two.

After another moment Lily pulled away from Lila and turned to Max who forced a smile on his face. "Hey, Lily, how you doing?"

"… Good," Lily said with an air of falsehood as she hugged him tightly. "I missed you."

"I missed you too, Lily," he said as he hugged her back.

It lasted for only moments as well and she pulled out of his hold and it was only then that they noticed the bruise on her face.

"Lily, what happened? How did you get that bruise?" asked Max.

Lily looked down at the ground and cleared her throat. "I fell," she muttered softly, the soft flame of excitement and joy that came from seeing her grandparents extinguished.

"It looks like you fell onto someone's shoe," Lila said as she turned Lily's face towards her before examining it more closely. "Lillian, what happened?"

Max let out a tiny breath of air as he heard Lila remember his granddaughter's name. Lila had never called her 'darling' in any time that they had ever met her. It had and always will be 'Lillian', despite the protests from both Olivia and Lily.

Olivia clapped her hands loudly to save her daughter any more embarrassment as she walked over to the three of them.

"Lila, how are you?" Olivia asked as she gave the older woman a swift one armed hug.

"As well as can be expected. Yourself?" Lila asked as she gave Olivia the smallest embrace she could manage.

"I'm doing good. Still working, unfortunately," she said with a small chuckle.

"What do you mean 'unfortunately'?" Lila asked. "Are you unhappy with your job?"

"No, I love my job," replied Olivia.

"Then why is it unfortunate you're still working?"

"I… it was just a joke, Lila."

"I don't see how unemployment could be a joking matter especially when this country is in the recession it's in. I'm sure that there are hundreds of people who would love to get the money of a veteran detective who wouldn't find your work 'unfortunate'."

"No no. I um, I just meant that there's still crime going on so I still have to work… it was a joke… 'Cause if there were no more crime I'd be out of a job… so it- it's unfortunate I have to work… because there's still crime…"

Olivia's voice trailed off and she turned to Max who shook his head and let out a small chuckle. "Oh, Olivia, I missed you."

Olivia turned his attention to Max and gave him a small smile. She gave him the same affectionate hug that she gave Lila before she took a step back.

"So how's everything been going with you two?" Alex asked as she came up and gave both affectionate hugs.

"Just fine," Max replied. He turned towards the bags that Alex had brought in and motioned to James. "Me and James can take the stuff up to the rooms if you guys wanna follow us. Then around seven we're going out for dinner."

"Oh, Max, don't. That's what he gets paid for," said Lila with a scoff. "Good heavens, the way you act people would mistake you for the help. It's such vile, disgusting, degrading work I don't know WHO in their right minds would volunteer for that type of labor. Oh, Olivia, James is getting a bit on in age, would you mind helping him with the bags?"

Olivia looked at her for a moment before she forced a smile that looked more like a grimace on her lips. "Sure… why not?"

Lily gaped at Olivia in astonishment. Alex cleared her throat and went over as well. "I'll grab some too. There's not a lot there anyway and we could get it done in one trip. Lily, come help."

Lila went over and grasped Alex by the shoulders. "Oh, Alee, they're fine. I'm sure they can handle it themselves."

The room was quickly brought into a stunned silence. Olivia and Lily both looked at Lila like she had a third head. Alex and Max simply looked heartbroken.

After a moment Alex turned to Max. She couldn't even attempt to fake a smile. "Dad, can I see you outside for a bit?"

Max nodded wordlessly. Alex looked back at Olivia and Lily who both had a look of confusion carved on their faces. "Can you guys help James with the bags and James will you show them around?"

Olivia nodded. "Sure… come on, Lily, grab your stuff."

Lily gave Lila a final look of puzzlement before she went over to the pile of bags and grabbed her own duffel bag and back pack.

Alex walked out of the living room and through the kitchen. Max followed wordlessly as Alex led him to the back patio; shutting the door behind him.

"Why didn't you tell me she got this bad?" Alex demanded in a hushed tone. "You said she wasn't that far gone!"

"She's not!" replied Max. "It's not… it's not that bad, Alex! You're making a big deal out of nothing!"

"Forgetting your granddaughters and daughters name is nothing? On the phone you make it sound like she was just beginning to forget where she put her car keys!"

Alex sighed and shook her head. "Dad, you need to seriously think about putting her in a home or hiring somebody to help her."

"No! I'm not going to do that to her! Your mother is perfectly fine!"

"And what about Uncle Charles? Did him forgetting to turn off the stove and ended up killing his granddaughter in a fire 'perfectly fine'? What if she does that with Lily, Olivia, and me here? Hell what if she does it with just you and James?"

"Lila wouldn't do that!"

"Not intentionally!" Alex shouted louder then she had intended. "But, Dad, she's sick! She needs to get help!"

"She doesn't… she doesn't have Alzheimer's!" Max protested. Alex was astounded to see tears appear in his eyes. "She's just… older and forgets things. It's perfectly normal!"

"It's normal for her to forget where she forgot her keys or what she ate for breakfast; not her daughter and granddaughters name! Her family has a documented history of Alzheimer's! I'd be surprised if she didn't have it."

"Well it skipped her then!"

Alex looked at him in utter confusion. "Why are you so against saying she's sick? "

"Because if she has it, it means you and Lily could have it when you're older!"

Alex's face softened as Max hastily wiped his eyes. "I don't ever want to think of you forgetting your daughter or Olivia or us or your memories. And I don't want that for Lily either."

Alex felt her own tears collect in her eyes as she listened to Max's explanation of why he was so against labeling Lila with the disease. It meant that she and Lily could suffer the same fate in their old age.

She ran a hand through her hair as she wiped her tears away. "I'm sorry. I didn't realize you felt that way. I just… she's sick, Dad. You know it, I know it, and pretty soon Olivia and Lily will know it too."

"I just… I can't stand knowing that there's a chance you and Lily could end up forgetting everything or admit that your mother is losing her memories as well."

Alex nodded. "Yeah there's a chance me and Lily could have Alzheimer's. So what? It's not going to affect ether of us for a while and you won't be around to see it if it does. You can pass on thinking that we're both perfectly fine, coherent and with our memories firmly intact.

Plus the records at the donor's office said that Lily's father for all intents and purposes had zero family history of Alzheimer's so there's a chance she could not get it. Plus if it happens it happens, if it doesn't great. If it does then me and my family will deal with it."

Max took a deep breath and nodded. "You're right… to an extent. But I'm just… I'm not ready to tell her she needs help. Lila's a very independent woman, Alex. I know what I should do… but I can't bring myself to do it. Plus she could get better. If she really worked at it then she could get some of her memories back."

Alex sighed heavily at his words. She shook her head in disappointment. "Fine… I mean you do what you want think is right. I don't want to spend my entire time here arguing."

"Alex, please try to understand-."

"I'm done, dad," she interrupted. "You think you can take care of her by yourself then by all means do so. I'm not gonna argue or try to stop you."

With a slight scowl on her face she opened the door and walked back into the house leaving her father standing there alone with tears in his eyes.


"So this is where you'll be staying, Lily," James informed Olivia and Lily as he turned on the light switch besides the door.

It was a cozy warm inviting room with light blue walls and several calm and serene paintings on the wall. A full sized bed with a comforter to match the color of the walls stood against the wall along with a wooden bedside table while a dark red wooden dresser and a door that led to a large walk in closet stood at the opposite end. There was a full length antique mirror on one wall with a vanity one side and a desk that had a small white working lamp on the other.

"Oh this is definitely cool," Olivia said as they walked into room noticing Lily was looking very skeptical as she looked around the room. "Look at that, Lily; you have you own desk to do homework, a place to plug in your radio, a nice big closet that's probably bigger than the one you have in Manhattan…"

"And your own bathroom," James added as he motioned to the other door in the room.

"You always said you wanted your own bathroom," Olivia with much too enthusiasm. "I have a feeling you're gonna love it here."

"I'm sure," Lily answered with a fake smile. Olivia could see the sadness shine in her eyes. "This is gonna be great."

Olivia bit her lip before turning to James. "You mind taking the other bags to mine and Alex's room?"

James eyes widened. "You mean you two are planning on sleeping in the same room?"

"We've been married for fifteen years… I'd say that us sleeping in the same bed would have been a 'give me'."

"Oh I'm sorry. Mrs. Cabot instructed me that you two would be in separate quarters but no matter. It makes things easier for me to clean anyhow."

Olivia withheld a scowl and an eye roll as she nodded. "Thanks, James. I'll meet you in there in a minute."

"Of course, Olivia."

With a small sweeping bow James left the two alone in the room.

"Lily, what's the matter?" Olivia asked the moment the door had shut. "Ten minutes ago you were over the moon excited to be staying here and now you look like you wanna cry."

Lily shrugged and cast her eyes to the floor.

"A shrug is not the answer I'm looking for, Lily. Please talk to me," Olivia pleaded.

"I don't know," Lily muttered softly. "It's just… I wanna go home. I thought it would be fun but now all I wanna do is go home."

Olivia sighed and walked over to her and bent down in front of her so she was eye to eye with her. "Lily, we need this. Not just me and your mom, but all of us. We don't talk anymore, you don't talk to me or mom or anyone for that matter, she hardly sees you… We just really need to be together right now. I know it's pretty crappy timing with the election but if spending a few weeks away from the hotel and away from her staff does it for her mom then okay, if taking you out of that shit hole of a school then fine, if I have to take a month off from work then whatever. But I'm not gonna let this family fall apart and I'll do whatever it takes to keep us together."

Lily wiped at the tears that had begun to fall and she sniffed softly. "Alright; and I'm sorry."

"You should be," Olivia said in mock anger. "You get your own freaking bathroom and I just had to convince the butler to let me and your mom sleep in the same room. ONG, you're like sooo lucky!"

"It's OMG," Lily said with a miniscule smile.

Olivia quickly pointed to it. "Ah ha! I just solved one of my biggest cases!"

"What?"

"I found your smile! I knew I'd find it eventually! A few more days of missing it and I would have had to call in the K9 unit! And trust me you wouldn't want those dogs sniffing around your face. The owners don't brush their teeth all that often."

She let out a tiny Laugh and Olivia stood up and threw her hands in the air in fake astonishment. "Holy moly I found your laugh too! I knew they should have promoted me to captain instead of Munch! I'm on a role today!"

Lily rolled her eyes and Olivia was ecstatic to see her smile grow even more. "So how about you start putting your stuff away, and then start getting ready for dinner and I'll go look for your grandmother's personality and hope I have the same luck."

Lily let out another laugh and Olivia was practically beaming down at her.

"I love you so much, Lily," Olivia said as she pushed a piece of hair away from Lily's face.

"I love you too, Mama."

Olivia swelled up with pride at the words as she grinned at Lily before she left the room; shutting the door behind her.


Alex stormed up the steps trying to calm herself down before she ran into another member of her family.

She couldn't imagine going through what Max was feeling at the moment but it annoyed her beyond belief that he wasn't going to get Lila the help she needed because he didn't want to admit that she was sick.

Alex took a heavy breath as she turned to go into the bathroom to splash some cold water on her face in an attempt to calm down. The door bell rang and Alex narrowed her eyes in confusion. She listened as she heard someone; she presumed it was Max, walk across the floor and opened the door.

"Hello, sir. I'm told that Alex Cabot is staying here?"

"Chris?" Alex muttered softly as she ran towards the voice. Sure enough when she looked down the stairs and there was her campaign manager standing at the door with a stack of folders in his arms.

She raced down the steps and he beamed when he saw her. "Hey, Alex. What's going on?"

"Trying to get settled in," she replied as she and Max ignored one another's eyes. "What are you doing here? I thought I would have had at least an hour before you showed up."

Chris shrugged and Alex couldn't help but grin sheepishly at the crooked smile on his face. "What can I say; I couldn't stand being away from the future NY state senator."

Alex laughed at his words before she motioned to the living room. "Do you wanna come in?"

Chris nodded and Max stepped out of the way so that Chris could enter the house. He glared at him behind his back as he shut the door behind him.

"So what was so important it couldn't wait until tomorrow?"

Chris held up the stack of files. "Paperwork that needs to be submitted by Wednesday. Thought I'd be nice and drop it off instead of make you come to the office or the hotel."

Alex smiled at him as he handed off the files. "Thanks, Chris. That was really sweet."

Chris beamed at the compliment she had paid him. "If you want I could stay late and help you with it," he said with a careless shrug. "Wine, dinner, how you're going to utilize the state's budget..."

"My, how romantic; you really know how to charm a girl," Alex said with a smirk and an eye roll.

Chris shrugged and a sly smirk appeared on his lips. "What can I say, I try."

The two smiled at one another and Alex felt a strange feeling flow within her. Her heart suddenly began beating a little faster than it had been moments before…

Max cleared his throat loudly and both Chris and Alex turned towards him. "Alex, don't you think you should go help your wife and daughter with the bags?"

A hot blush broke out and Alex nodded, her heart slowly retuning back to normal. She returned her gaze to Chris and gave him a tiny half smile. "I promise I'll get this done. I'll drop it off the office tomorrow."

"Sure thing."

The two smiled at one another once more before they heard shoes clicking on the floor.

"Alex, you won't believe what Lila tried to do to us. She actually-."

Her words were cut short when she saw who was standing in the living room in such close proximity to Alex.

She glowered at him as she walked over and wrapped her arm around Alex's waist and pulled her close to her. "What are you doing here?"

Chris shrugged. "Nothing. Just dropping off some paperwork for Alex to sign."

"And did you?"

"Yeah."

"Great, you can go then."

Chris narrowed his eyes at her but Olivia didn't back down. Alex turned to Olivia and swallowed hard. "Come on, Liv, he's just being nice."

"Yeah, Liv, I'm just being nice," Chris said with a smirk knowing how much it annoyed her when he used her nickname. But he also knew she wouldn't bother to correct him in front of Alex.

Olivia felt a growl grow deep in her throat but restrained herself from releasing it. "Well thanks for being nice to her, but we've got to get settled in so not to be rude but would you mind leaving?"

Chris looked positively hurt and while Alex fell for the heartbroken look Olivia saw right past it. "Oh… okay, sure. Um... yeah just get that stuff to me tomorrow, Alex."

"Chris-," Alex began but Olivia interrupted her.

"She'll be sure to do that. In fact I'll drive it there myself."

Alex bit her lip in what could have been embarrassment as Chris gave her a half hearted smile. "Sure. I'll see you later, Alex."

With a tiny bow, Chris turned on his heels and left the house; shutting the door behind him.

"Why were you so rude?" Alex demanded as she turned to face Olivia who had a look of triumph on her face. "He was just dropping off some paperwork."

"Remember when I finally learned you were a lesbian?"

"Yes," Alex answered. "You were trying to hook me up with Fin and I finally told you after a few months I was gay."

"Well did you notice that before I knew you were into women I could have cared less about getting my paper work for court done on time, but after I learned you were a lesbian I'd get it done early and I would 'be nice' and drop off my DD5's at your house late at night so that you wouldn't have to drop by the station to get it?"

"Yeah… What about it?"

Olivia scoffed in disbelief. "Alex I wasn't trying to be nice. I was hoping you would invite me in for wine so that we could get drunk together and end up having sex, no offense, Max," she added hastily once she remembered that Alex's father was in the room as well.

"None taken. After all, how many times does a father get to hear how his daughter's marriage started off because her wife only wanted to get her drunk so they could sleep together?"

"Well it wasn't only because of that. I wanted to date her more than anything but that's not the point. The point is you ate it up and had no idea that I wasn't just 'being nice' and had other things on my mind."

Alex rolled her eyes at Olivia's admission. "Did you honestly think you were that coy, Olivia? I knew exactly what you were thinking when you showed up at my house late at night."

Olivia scoffed and crossed her arms in front of her chest. "You didn't know what I was doing, you're lying."

"Did you really think I went to bed alone wearing a slutty teddy with my hair and makeup done more then what it was at work? Did you really think I was that innocent and sweet that I didn't know what you were doing? I mean come on… I had candles and music going before you even got there."

Olivia parted her mouth in confusion and shook her head "You… you knew I was just trying to get you into bed?"

Alex nodded and couldn't help but laugh at Olivia's shocked expression. "Yeah. Why do you think almost every night you came over I had a brand new bottle of wine? I never wanted us to run out. Olivia, I wanted to be 'taken advantage of' by the strong beautiful detective who would let the poor sweet, innocent ADA cry on her shoulder about the hard cases over a bottle of wine. "

"Okay, I think I'm going to go upstairs and look at your baby pictures now when you actually WERE sweet and innocent," Max muttered as he cleared his throat, clearly uncomfortable with the way the conversation had turned.

With a miniscule smile towards the two of them he left the room muttering softly to himself.

Olivia frowned at Alex's admission and Alex smirked at her. "Anyway, what was the point of the story? You know besides to unwillingly crush your own ego?"

"My point," Olivia continued as she nodded towards the files. "Is that Chris is trying to do the same thing to you with him bringing over your paperwork."

Alex rolled her eyes once more. "Chris wouldn't do that. Me and him are just friends."

"Trust me, Alex. He doesn't see you that way. He wants' more than friendship."

"No he doesn't."

"Yes he does."

"You don't even know him all that well, Liv," Alex argued. She was beginning to get angry at Olivia's accusations. "Chris knows the stress and pressure I'm under and he's helping me out and making this whole thing easier for me. He knows I'm happily married to you and that I would never do anything to hurt you."

Olivia frowned at her words. While it may have been true Alex spent more time with him, he allowed himself to be who he truly was around Olivia. Alex didn't see the way he looked at her photos or heard the way he spoke about her. He wanted her, badly.

But what scared Olivia the most is that she had a feeling deep down within her that maybe, just maybe… Alex had feelings for him as well.

Alex faced her and draped her arms around her neck and kissed her softly on the lips. Olivia kept her hands at her side and simply stared at her. "I love YOU, Olivia; no one else. Even if Chris does have feelings for me, which he doesn't by the way, I don't feel that way about him. The only person I feel that way about is you… and that Oscar winning actress who was on that sex crimes show back in the day. Maria, Marissa; whatever her name is…"

Olivia rolled her eyes and couldn't help but chuckle as she wrapped her arms around her waist and brought her closer. "I don't think you have much of a chance with the actress but I think you got a little shot at me."

"Just a little shot?" Alex muttered as Olivia's lips found her own.

"Okay a big shot, my mistake."

The two kissed one another once more before they heard footsteps descending down the stairs.

They broke apart the kiss but continued to hold onto one another. James came around the corner and raised a brow at the sight in front of him. "Don't stop on my account. Please continue."

"Very funny," Alex said with a smirk. "What's up, James?"

"I was just letting you know that the bags have been brought up to the room."

"Thank you."

"I'm also off to the store to get Lily what she referred to as strawberry 'pop tarts' for breakfast."

"Did she ask you to go get them?" Alex asked with a hint of embarrassment. "James, you don't have to make a special trip just for her. She can eat whatever you normally serve for breakfast."

"I was actually going shopping anyway because we're low on groceries and I asked her what she wanted first," James corrected Alex. "I was just about to ask you the same thing. Since you're going to be staying here a while I figured you'd want some of your favorites to eat."

"We're fine," Olivia told him and Alex couldn't help but notice that Olivia's hold on her lessoned. "And thank you for picking those up for Lily. How much do you need for the groceries?"

"Don't worry about money, Olivia."

"I don't want you spending all of your money on food though. Come on, give me a number."

"Actually it's Lila who pays for the groceries."

"In that case I wouldn't mind a couple of bottles of Dom Pérignon."

James chuckled at Olivia's words. "If only, Olivia. If only…"

Olivia and James smiled at one another briefly before he turned and walked towards the door. "I should probably be back before you leave for dinner."

"Are you coming with us?" Olivia asked as he opened the door.

"Mom thinks it's tacky to have the help eat with the employer," Alex explained quietly.

Olivia rolled her eyes towards the heavens before she turned back to James. "Well since we're guests and outrank Lila I'm declaring that rule idiotic. Tonight and every other night we're here you're eating with us."

James practically beamed at Olivia before he turned to Alex who had tried making that same argument several times before she had met Olivia and while she was younger but had never made any progress. She knew that Lila wouldn't be able to change Lila's mind anymore then she had tried.

"I can see why you choose her, Alex. She's a magnificent catch."

With a tiny nod towards both of them James left; shutting the door behind him.

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