A/N: I know people have "issues" with the initial opening plot of this story, saying "SVU wouldn't handle this." Yeah, yeah... I know, but I got a plot bunny and I ran I ran with it. As writers, isn't that what we do? Write out plot bunnies? I just went with an interesting opening, that's all. So what if it's a bit AU? AO is AU, CO... all the relationship non-canons that we want to see characters in are, essentially, AU. End rant.

Those who read this story, enjoy.

Golden Bad Girl

by: Liv-x-Case-Benson

Ch. 3: Words of Encouragement

The blonde watched Olivia sleep for a while before falling asleep herself, waking at the sound of the brunette's alarm with a groan.

Olivia groaned, turning off the alarm. "Hi."

"Good morning," she replied with a soft smile.

"Morning."

The blonde's lips curled into a wider smile and she appeared distracted. "Is Noah babbling to himself?"

She smiled. "He does that. So cute," she said, getting up and throwing on some clothes.

Alex sat up, pulling Olivia over to kiss her. "How about taking him out for breakfast? Like a family."

"Perfect. I mean, he likes to look around. Doesn't get too fussy. Where shall we go?"

"How about the diner a couple of blocks over? Then we're not too far to bring him back before work."

Olivia nodded, getting up and going into the nursery. "Hey mister," she said, picking him up, kissing him. "Good morning. Want to go out for breakfast with us?" she asked, taking him over to change him.

Noah's eyes shone back up at her as they did every morning and he smiled.

Alex dressed slowly, giving them much needed time together.

Olivia smiled, kissing his feet as she picked him an outfit.

Alex appeared in the doorway ten minutes later. "Ready to go?"

Olivia nodded.

"Don't you look handsome today?" Alex smiled, kissing his cheek.

Noah smiled, cuddling Olivia.

Alex grabbed Noah's bag, leading them out. When they arrived at the diner, she quickly pulled a highchair to table before sitting opposite Olivia. "He's looking better today."

The brunette smiled, sitting Noah in the highchair. "He does. He's not nearly as hot today."

Alex took Noah's juice from his bag, handing it to him. "There you go baby boy."

He took it from Alex, drinking quietly.

"It's going to be so hard," Olivia said.

The blonde took Olivia's hand across the table. "I know. But you need to make sure you concentrate on the operation and don't let us cause you to lose focus. Noah will be ok, I promise."

"What about you?"

"I'll be fine, Liv. Noah will keep me busy after work."

"You have the babysitter's number, right?"

"And the doctor, all of your detectives, Barba, Nick's mother..." she smiled warmly. "We're going to be fine."

Olivia sighed. "I'm sorry."

"Nothing to be sorry for, honey. You're just being a mother."

She nodded, looking through the menu.

As they ate a short while later, Alex looked to Olivia. "Why is Noah staring at you?"

Olivia smiled, tearing a piece of toast in pieces and placing it in front of him.

Noah ate it slowly, then pointed at Olivia.

The brunette smiled, giving him another slice torn up.

Noah frowned and Alex lifted him from his chair, placing Noah in her lap. He pointed at Olivia again for a moment, looking as though he was concentrating hard. "Ma!" he finally managed.

Olivia beamed. "Yes, that's right!" she said, taking him from Alex and cuddling him close.

"Well done, Noah," Alex grinned across at them.

Olivia smiled again, setting his food in a pile in front of him as she continued to eat.

"That was amazing," Alex smiled. "I'm so glad I was there to see it."

"So am I."

As breakfast came to an end, Alex walked them back, kissing Olivia deeply. "I'll be here as soon as I finish court at three. Can you let the sitter know?"

Olivia nodded.

"I love you."

"I love you too."

Alex waved goodbye to Noah before leaving for work. The blonde couldn't deny she was nervous about the prospect of having Noah all night on her own. He wasn't any trouble, but without Olivia there, she was unsure how he'd react.

Olivia returned home with Noah ten minutes later, waiting for the babysitter as she snuggled him close.

Noah stayed close to Olivia, playing with a stand of her hair. "Ma!"

Olivia smiled, kissing his head. "Hopefully, I won't be gone too long."

Just as the sitter arrived, Noah had become comfortable on Olivia, his head buried against her shoulder.

Olivia stood, opening the door. "Hi."

"Hey," she smiled, stepping inside, "So, we'll see you around six?"

Olivia sighed. "Hopefully. If I'm not here, Alex will be here around three."

"Ok. I thought we might pop to the park around lunchtime if that's ok?"

"Yes, it's fine. You'll need to contact Alex for emergencies for a while. I have...an assignment that could take a few days."

"No problem. Say bye to Mama, Noah."

Olivia sighed, kissing him gently. "I'll be back as soon as I can," she said, slinging a bag over her shoulder as she left.

An hour later, the team entered Olivia's office. "My contact at narcotics says we should move on this quickly," Fin supplied.

The brunette nodded. "I expected as much. Alex has arranged a private clinic for me after. I hope this doesn't take long," he said, stowing her cell in her top drawer and taking her extra burner from the charger. She sighed again. "Guys, listen, I don't know how long I'll be gone. I hope to be back by the end of the week. In the meantime, you two have the reins. I hate leaving it that way, which is why I may have Fin make regular runs to an unknown spot to check. I mean, you guys are good, but two detectives on these cases?"

Nick glanced at Amanda before stepping forward. "We'll be fine, Olivia. This is more important."

"Fine? I doubt that, but, hey, prove me wrong."

"We look forward to it," he smiled, hugging the brunette. "Stay safe and good luck."

She smiled. "Thank you."

"Liv, we should go," Fin said softly.

She sighed. "Yeah, just let me change," she said, running into the bathroom, changing into a t-shirt and old jeans and walking back out, then going back into her office. "One last thing, I'd hate to leave the beautiful blonde hanging," she said as she made a quick call to Alex's office.

The blonde picked up her phone quickly, having just made it back to her desk from court. "Cabot."

"Alex..." she said, leaving it hanging.

"Liv..." the attorney replied softly, "already?"

She sighed. "...Yes. I'll be back in a few days. Promise."

"I know. Just be careful, ok?" Alex replied, pausing momentarily, "I need you."

"I know you do. Promise. If it takes longer or anything, you'll be called. Now I really have to go," she said, hanging up. She knew it would be much harder if she'd told Alex what was on the tip of her tongue. "Where are we off to?" she asked, pulling her jacket on.

"To meet a guy from narcotics for a quick briefing on some of the people we might meet, and to double check our stories."

Olivia nodded. "After everything is done, you'll need to call Alex for the details to where she put me. I might not be able to. Are you okay with doing both? I know it's not smart to have them manage alone, no offense. If I thought someone could cover, I would probably call them, just because of how many we get."

"Everything will be fine. Stop worrying."

"I know. It's just hard," she said, walking out with him. "Well, here goes nothing..."

"Good luck out there."

"Thanks."

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