A/N: So because I kept getting really kind reviews I thought I'd be kind back and post this as soon as I could. Thank you guys so much for the nice words!! It encourages me and helps to assure me that my writing doesn't blow lol. I've pretty much ended the story now (not with this chapter.. I mean I finished this story on my computer lol) so you should be getting pretty regular updates from now on. Take care guys and thanks for reading!!! :)

The next morning, Olivia woke to find that somehow during the night they had changed positions. Alex was curled into her shoulder and her right hand was cupping the crook of Olivia's neck. The brunette smiled down at the small body in her arms. She moved a few choice strands out of Alex's face and couldn't help the swell of love that ran through her as she looked at this woman. All she wanted to do was wrap her arms around her and squeeze her as tight as she could. She knew she couldn't so instead she settled for wrapping her arms around her waist and admiring her striking features. God she was so beautiful. Olivia had trouble concentrating when Alex was talking because she was so busy just staring at her.

She looked up when she saw movement coming from the doorway. Emma was leaning against the doorframe and eyeing her carefully. Olivia smiled up at her and placed a finger on her lips, telling the girl not to make any noise. She carefully pulled herself from Alex's grasp and made her way out of the room. She closed the door behind her and led the girl to the living room.

"Hi honey. Are you okay?"

"Yes."

"Did you sleep well?"

"Yes thank you."

The girl's stomach growled and Olivia laughed.

"I guess that's why you woke up eh?"

The girl nodded.

"I'm hungry."

"What would you like for breakfast?"

The girl shrugged.

"Should we make your mom breakfast?"

The girl looked at her hesitantly.

"Why?"

"Because I think your mom would like it if we made her breakfast."

The girl still didn't look convinced.

"What's wrong honey?"

"What happened last night?"

"What do you mean?"

"Did you hurt my mom?"

"No, of course not. What makes you think that?"

"Because you're saying sorry." The girl must have seen the confusion on Olivia's face because she continued. "This breakfast, it's to say sorry isn't it?"

"Oh honey no. This breakfast is not to say sorry. I just think it is a good idea."

"Why?"

"Because people like it when you do nice things for them. I think this would be something nice for your mom."

The girl seemed like she was having a hard time understanding the concept.

"Did your dad only do nice things for your mom when he hurt her?"

The girl nodded slowly.

"Sometimes he would do nice things. He would do nice things when he hurt her really bad. Or he ignored her the next day but he acted mean. He looked mean. That's how I could tell."

Olivia rubbed the girl's shoulder and gave her a small smile.

"Well, let's change that. Let's do something nice for your mom because she deserves it, okay? Because she's a great mom."

The girl smiled widely.

"Okay."

She followed Olivia in the kitchen and they immediately began cooking. Olivia was just in the middle of finishing up the eggs when she heard Emma call out "mom." She turned and found the blonde wrapped in her bathrobe, hugging her daughter. She said good morning to the girl before turning to Olivia. She approached her and smiled.

"You look good in my robe."

She smiled. "Thanks."

"Wow, you guys went all out."

"Yeah."

"Look mom! I made the faces on the pancakes today and I buttered the toast."

Alex broke into a grin at the sheer proud expression on her daughter's face.

"Wow honey. These are really nice smiley faces."

"Thanks!" she smiled up at her.

"Olivia said this is a thank you breakfast and not a sorry breakfast. Thank you for being such a good mom."

Emma squeezed her leg tight. Alex felt the emotions well up inside at her daughter's sincerity and forced them back down inside of her. She was really getting entirely too emotional lately.

"Thank you honey. I'm happy to be your mom. It's my favourite job."

The girl grinned at her.

"Good. I'm going to go and get dressed now so we can eat."

She hopped off the chair and Alex chuckled. After her daughter left the room, she made her way to Olivia and slipped her arms around her waist.

"Hi."

Olivia rested a hand on the ones around her middle and squeezed them gently.

"Hi. Did you sleep well?"

"Mmm, yes. I missed you this morning though." She said, placing a kiss on Olivia's shoulder.

"Your daughter was hungry so we decided to make you breakfast."

She turned off the burner and moved the eggs onto another element. She turned to face the blonde and pulled her into her arms.

"That was nice of you."

"Nice enough to merit a kiss?"

"Definitely."

Alex tilted her head slightly and captured the brunette's lips. Olivia moaned in her mouth and tightened her grip on her waist. Alex slipped her tongue inside her mouth and immediately sought out Olivia's. When they met, they began dancing furiously against one another. Alex could feel her lungs begin to constrict but she didn't care, this felt too damn good.

"Are you two almost done kissing? I'm hungry."

Alex jerked away and stared in horror as her daughter smiled up at her.

"Hi mom."

"Emma, jeez. You scared me."

"Sorry. Can we eat now?"

Olivia chuckled.

"My kind of girl."

She reached over and grabbed a plate from the cupboard.

"What did you want m'dear?"

"Everything!"

"Everything what?" Alex interjected.

"Everything please!"

Olivia gave a short laugh and piled a little of everything into the girl's plate. She handed her the plate and then handed Alex one before grabbing one for herself. They piled food onto their plates and quickly began tearing into their breakfast.

After they ate, they made their way into the living room. Olivia put on a movie and took out a puzzle for Emma to do so she could have some alone time to talk with Alex.

"So what are you doing today?"

"I have to meet with Chris today."

"The lawyer you're working with right?"

"Yeah."

"What do you have to do?"

"Well, he still has to go over some statements with me and we need to discuss what happened with Emma. He's going to add that into the case." She got quiet for a second. "You know, as much as it helps us it's just not worth it. If only I had-"

"Don't. Don't Alex. Don't beat yourself up over this, okay? What's done is done. Emma is a strong girl and she's extremely resilient. She will get through this and so will you."

Alex shook her head.

"I should have left sooner. I shouldn't have waited so long. If I had left earlier, that never would have happened."

Olivia pulled her into her arms. She didn't know exactly what had happened, only that Emma had gotten between the crossfire and Jeff had hit her. And from what she understood it hadn't even been accidental.

She stroked Alex's cheek and placed a soft kiss on her temple.

"Don't worry baby. She's okay."

Alex sighed and wrapped her arms around Olivia's middle.

"I hope so. I just feel so damn guilty."

"You're bringing her to talk to someone aren't you?"

"Yes. I already did."

"What did they say?"

"That she was scared and didn't want to go back to her father's house. Not that that's anything new. She never wanted to go back there."

"Well, now she doesn't have to. It only happened once and she's most likely going to forget it. She's scared of him but she has nothing to worry about because that son of a bitch is going to jail for a very long time."

"I hope so."

"He will. I wouldn't let him get anywhere near you two anyway."

She reinforced her statement by squeezing Alex's shoulder.

"I know. I love that about you. How protective you are."

Olivia placed a soft kiss on her lips and Alex smiled warmly at her.

"What time are you meeting Chris at?"

"At two."

Olivia looked up at the clock. It was now noon.

"You should start getting ready."

"I know."

"What are you doing with Emma?"

"I was going to bring her with me."

"And she's going to do what? Stare at the four walls?"

"Well what else am I supposed to do?" she asked defensively.

"Hey, I just meant that she'll be bored there. Why don't you leave her with me?"

Alex turned to her.

"Well no. I'm not going to make you watch her."

"You're not making me do anything. I volunteered."

"Are you sure?"

"Of course I am. We'll have a good time."

"Okay. Thank you."

"Anytime."

Alex turned to Emma.

"Honey? I'm going to see Chris today. You remember my lawyer?" the girl nodded. "Well I have to go see him today. I'll be gone a few hours but I'll be coming back. I'm going to leave you with Olivia if that's alright. Or would you rather come to the office? It's not going to be fun I'm warning you."

"You can stay here with me if you want kiddo. I don't mind the company."

Emma seemed to consider it.

"I think I'll stay here with Olivia."

"Okay. I'm going to start getting ready now."

The girl nodded and turned back to her puzzle. Olivia moved from the couch and onto the floor. Emma smiled at her and pushed the box of puzzle pieces closer to her.

"This puzzle has a lot of pieces. I hope you know what you're getting into."

Olivia laughed and the girl grinned at her.

"Ah Emma you're too cute."

The girl giggled.

"I know." She replied, fishing through the box for another piece.

Alex re-entered the room about an hour later, showered, dressed, and ready for her meeting.

"Alright my girl, I'll see you in a few hours."

The girl got up and raced to her mom. She jumped in her arms and gave her a tight hug. Alex hugged her back and gave her a quick kiss before putting her down. She then grabbed her jacket and keys and turned to Olivia.

"I'll call you when I'm on my way home- I mean, back here, in case you guys went out."

Olivia got up and made her way to the wall unit and pulled open a cupboard. She grabbed her spare set of keys and handed them to Alex.

"Here. Now you don't have to depend on us."

"Oh no it's okay."

"Alex, just take the damn keys."

Olivia reached out and turned the blonde's hand palm up. She dropped the keys in her hand and closed her fingers over them.

"What time are you thinking of coming home?"

"I don't know. Around six probably. Is that okay?"

"That's fine. Take as much time as you need. You don't need to run it by me. If you're going to be late, call and let me know okay? So that I don't sit here panicking and wondering if you're okay."

Alex chuckled because she knew that's exactly what would happen.

"Okay. I'll see you later then."

As she turned, Emma piped up.

"No kiss for Olivia?"

Olivia grinned. Man I love that kid.

Alex stopped and turned to Olivia and chuckled when she saw the shit-eating grin on her face. It wasn't that the blonde didn't want to kiss her, hell she desperately wanted to kiss her goodbye, she just didn't know how her daughter would handle it if she did. Although she did seem okay this morning. And the fact that her daughter had suggested it just now told her she was fine with it. Good.

Alex reached out and cupped the back of Olivia's neck. She brought her lips to her own and kissed her soundly. Before Olivia could really react, Alex pulled away.

"See you tonight."

With that, she left leaving Olivia to stare off after her.