Memory Lane has Potholes

Alex looked at the detective across from her. Slowly, she ran a hand through her hair and leaned forward, her forearms resting on the edge of the photo album. She had to catch herself from laughing at Olivia's intense look.

"I…just got angry," Alex stated, knowing full well that Olivia wouldn't accept that as an explanation.

"Didn't look like you 'just got angry'," Olivia retorted.

"Ok so I got really angry. He was being a smart ass and…I almost hit him," Alex admitted, smiling a little at the thought.

"Alex, have you lost your mind?" Liv exclaimed.

"No. And I didn't hit him. Elliot intercepted before I could," Alex responded, sounding very disappointed in the fact.

"I get that you're really emotional right now with everything that's going on but you didn't have to threaten him. You know his attorney is going to use that his advantage," Olivia stated.

"Oh, I know he will. He told me as much. But all I care about is getting my son back," Alex murmured, her fingers tracing the edge of the album.

"You haven't talked to him yet, have you?" Olivia asked after a brief silence.

"No…I want to I just freeze up," Alex answered. She knew she'd have to talk to him eventually. Perhaps if she told the rest of the story she'd be able to face him. She slowly opened the album and turned to the first page. It was filled with pictures of her in the last weeks of her pregnancy.

"Mind if I tell you a story?" she asked of Olivia. The cop nodded and the ADA turned the album so both of them could see the contents.

"Geez Alex. How old were you?" Olivia asked, noting how young her friend looked.

"I was twenty one," Alex answered. She smiled to herself. She remembered how much she'd prayed to get through finals before she had him. Olivia let out a low whistle, chuckling slightly as well.

"So what happened?" Liv asked.

"Well…Kyle and I were dating since sophomore year. Things got serious during our senior year…and well…I got pregnant," Alex began, flipping a few pages in the album.

"You two look happy," Liv commented.

"We were. My parents were a little pissed off that I got pregnant but I was determined to have the baby," she continued. Her gaze fell on a picture of she and Kyle curled up on the couch, his hand on her large abdomen.

"Well…finals were hell. It was two weeks before my due date and was completely freaking out. I managed to get through them before I had Matthew but life sort of started to spiral out of control for Kyle," she murmured, a single rear slithering down her cheek. Olivia opened her mouth to say something but closed it again. Alex wasn't finished and figured the ADA needed to explain further.

"Around finals time he got involved with some guys he shouldn't have," she stated vaguely. Did she really want to tell Liv that the father of her child was busted on possession with intent to sell charges?

"What kind of trouble?" Liv pressed.

"Drugs. He never did any but he got roped into selling them. The cops busted him about two days before I had Matthew and they refused to let him be there for the birth," Alex explained.

"I'm so sorry," Olivia breathed, placing a concerned hand on one of Alex's.

"It's not your fault. He knows he made a huge mistake and he's doing his time for it. He doesn't complain. He's up for parole in a couple years," she answered. Alex allowed a hand to run over her eyes.

"Do you still see him?"

"Yeah. I go visit every few months when I get the chance. He's up at Sing-Sing," she replied and flipped through a larger portion of the album. She stopped at what appeared to be a birthday party.

"Matthew's third birthday party. He was so excited that day," she sighed, smiling at the joyous look on her son's face.

"So how did you afford law school?" Liv questioned. It was the next logical progression in Alex's trip down memory lane.

"I had a bunch of student loans. After my parents found out that Kyle was in prison for drug charges, they stopped supporting me. They told me I shouldn't have anything to do with him and to just forget him. Of course I couldn't do that," Alex explained.

"You still cared about him," Liv filled in the semi-obvious blank. Alex nodded in confirmation.

"It's why I still visit him. We don't have hard feelings," the blond expounded.

"Anyways, I had an aunt who took pity on my single mother situation and paid the rest of my law school bills. She also did daycare for Matthew. I don't think I could have gotten through without her. I never really thought I'd have to experience being a single mom, you know. But it's as hard as everyone says it is," Alex mused.

"I'm sure you did a great job," Olivia assured her.

"Not like it did much good. I couldn't keep my son from getting kidnapped," she spat in self deprecation. Olivia didn't say anything. Instead she got up and walked around the corner. She spotted Matthew sitting at her desk, his hand in a bag of Doritos.

"Hey, Matthew," she greeted. He looked up at her and it suddenly struck her that he had Alex's intense blue stare.

"Hi," he responded.

"Can you come with me? I want you to meet someone," Olivia asked. Matthew nodded and stood up. Olivia led him back to the table and pulled another chair up. Matthew sat down, gazing at Alex. Her eyes were focused on the photo album. Her index finger raced the contours of her son's image; the last image in the album.

"Alex," Olivia called softly, making the ADA look up. It was then that she spotted Matthew.

"H-hi," she greeted nervously. She couldn't believe he was this close to her. She tentatively reached a hand out and placed it atop his.

"This is…" Olivia began to introduce but Matthew cut her off.

"My mom," he stated, a small smile creeping onto his lips. Alex felt her heart skip a beat. She couldn't contain herself. As quickly as she could, she pulled him into a fierce hug.

"You remember," she breathed, stroking his dirty blond hair.

"There's something you need to see," Matthew addressed Olivia.

"Yeah? What's that?"

"Something in…my dad's office," he answered. A light when in Olivia's eyes.

"Ok. Why don't you and Detective Tutuola and I go and look," Olivia suggested.

"Can Mom come too?" he asked, turning his gaze upwards to examine her features.

"Sure," Alex promised and stood up.

"Fin," Olivia called, getting the detective's attention.

"Let's go. We have a lead," she explained and the foursome headed out of the building, leaving Munch and Elliot staring after them.