I've been so overwhelmed by the amazing reviews that have been left on this story. It makes me feel good to write something that so many people enjoy. I know there are still a few who don't like where the story is heading, but I also know I can't please everyone. I appreciate everyone who has taken time to share their thoughts. They mean a lot to me. I feel like this story is an important one to me, and it's great to know others are reading it too.

Here is a bit more, since I had a little time to write today. I hope you like it. I'd love to read your thoughts if you want to leave them. Thanks :)

"You have visitors," the nurse peeked into Olivia's room. She was lying in bed, reading a book and looked up with surprise.

"Really?" she asked with an exhuasted yawn. "Who is it?" She looked down at the sweats she was wearing and she didn't feel like she was in any way presentable for visitors, but she didn't have the energy to change.

"Come see," the nurse smiled. "There's an absolutely adorable little boy out there asking for his mommy."

"Noah's here?" Olivia stood up quickly. Fin had told her he wouldn't be able to bring Noah back for a while, so she hadn't been expecting to see him anytime soon. She smiled for what felt like the first time in ages, and rushed off toward the visiting area without taking time to change or get cleaned up.

She stood still, taking a deep breath the moment she saw Rafael was the one who had brought Noah to see her. She didn't want to see him, and she was worried he was there with more threats or bad news. She moved slowly toward the table where Rafael sat with Noah in his lap and she slid into the chair next to him. "Hi, baby…" she smiled at her son and he reached for her. She took him quickly and sat him in her own lap, kissing him and holding him tight. "I've missed you so much. Are you being a good boy?"

"Mama…come home…" Noah pleaded and she wanted to cry.

"I'll be home as soon as I can," she tried to hold in her tears. "I promise…I miss you so much sweetheart."

"Play…" Noah pointed to some toys in the corner and Olivia reluctantly let him down so he could go to them. He picked up a truck, "Play Mama…" he asked and she couldn't help but smile.

She got up and walked over to him, slowly lowering herself to the floor so she could play with him. He rolled the truck to her and she rolled it back and they were content to play for as long as possible.

"Liv…" she looked up to see Rafael looking down at her, "Are you even going to acknowledge my presence?"

"You've said enough to me," she sputtered, turning her attention back to her son, but Rafael sat down on the floor and put Noah in his lap so she had no choice but to look at him. "I'm grateful you brought Noah to see me," she admitted. "But you and I…we don't have to talk…"

"Yeah, we do," he argued. "Elliot came to see me."

"He what?" her voice trembled. "He had no right…"

"He's worried about you," he said seriously. "And so am I. I'm sorry for the way this all happened, Liv…I really am…but I want the best for you and the baby…I want you to get better…"

"You want my daughter," she said sadly.

"She's my daughter too," he reminded her. "And I thought we were in this together…but you weren't being honest with me about how bad things were for you…and you let the drinking control you without ever coming to me and asking for help…"

"You couldn't help me," she said softly.

"But I wanted to…" he admitted. "I still do. That's why I made you come here. I know how much you miss Noah…miss work…I know you want to come home…damn, I want you to come home...I miss you," he sighed. "But I have to know that you're in the right mindset to be home…to do what's best for Noah and Serena…"

"Don't you mean Catalina?" she asked. "Your mom was pretty adamant…"

"My mom doesn't get a say in this," he said, giving her slight smile. "You want to call her Serena…then that's her name. You lost your mom, and if you want to honor her with the baby's name, I'm okay with that."

Olivia watched as Noah wandered off to play with some blocks and then she looked seriously at Rafael, "I hated my mom…and I loved her. It's really hard to have both of those feelings at once…to admit that I never felt connected to her the way I should have. But I feel connected to her now…I understand her better…I used to think she didn't love me, because my father raped her…but I know now, that she did, she just didn't know how to heal her own heart from all the hurt…and the drinking probably helped her for a while, until it turned her into someone she didn't even recognize anymore…" She couldn't hold in her tears anymore and before long she was sobbing. Noah noticed, running over and wrapping his arms around her neck.

Mama…" he kissed her on the cheek. "Don't cry…"

"Mommy's okay," she wiped her tears and tried to stop crying for her son's sake. "It's okay, baby…go play with the toys."

"Liv, you are not your mother," Rafael insisted. "You recognized the signs…you knew you had a problem…"

"I drank," she cried. "I drank even though I'm carrying this innocent little girl. I don't blame you for not forgiving me."

"You don't need my forgiveness. You have to forgive yourself," he said honestly. "And then commit to rehab and get better…because the kids need you," he reached out and brushed the tears from her cheeks. "I need you…I don't know how to be a dad…and you're gonna have to teach me how to change diapers, and burp the baby, and how to dress her without hurting her or something."

Olivia laughed a little, "Dressing a baby is no easy feat…"

"Elliot said you promised to try…to go to the groups and listen to the counselors," he said. "You can do this, Liv. You are the strongest woman I know. You've overcome so much. You're not gonna let this beat you."

She nodded, "I want to come home…so I'm going to commit to doing what I need to do."

"I believe you," he said gently, standing to his feet. "I'm gonna have to get going. Noah needs dinner and a bath." He grabbed the little boy's hand and watched as Olivia struggled to stand up, the pregnancy making her movements awkward and labored. "Here…" he extended his hand and pulled her up, then let it rest softly on her stomach. "Maybe there should be no more play-time on the floor for you…" he laughed.

"Yeah," she sighed, and the baby chose that exact moment to kick with all her might. Olivia's eyes widened, "Did you feel that?" she asked, and the look on Rafael's face let her know he did.

"Whoa…" he sputtered. "Has she done that before? I couldn't feel her last week…"

Olivia shook her head, "No…that was the first time," the baby kicked again and they both laughed, "I guess she's glad her daddy came to visit."

"I'm glad too," he nodded, lifting Noah up to give her a good-bye kiss. "I'll try to bring him back soon…work is crazy right now, but it won't be long…"

"Rafael…" she said with a quiver. "Thank you…for taking care of him. I don't really have anyone else…and you didn't have to do it…"

"Of course I had to," he said seriously. "He's Baby Serena's big brother…" he sighed. "So, he's practically my son…and I love him…"

"Thanks…" she whispered, as she watched them walk out the door. Then she went to her room and cried mixed up, emotional tears.

A few hours later the knock at her door woke her from a deep sleep and she sat up, in time to motion Elliot into her room. "Hey…" he said, sitting a Tupperware container on her desk. "Did I wake you up? I'm sorry…"

"It's okay," she rubbed the sleep from her eyes. "I guess it just felt like a really long day…therapy and everything. It all wore me out."

"The nurse told me you went today. I'm proud of you…you're going to get better and be home before you know it." He assured her, noticing her eyes were red and swollen. "Were you crying?" he asked, with worry. "Are you okay?"

She nodded, "Rafael came to see me. He said you went to visit him today."

"Oh," Elliot ran his hand across the back of his neck nervously. "Liv…I just wanted to help…if he upset you…"

"No," she shook her head. "He brought Noah and we had a good talk. I'm glad he came…but El, you can't go behind my back and talk to him…this is my life, and my problem…"

"And I'm your partner," he reminded her. "I have to protect you. I don't want you hurt."

"You haven't been my partner for a long time, El," she said sadly. "You know that."

"In my heart…I'll always be," he said honestly. "Don't ever forget that."

She nodded, looking at the Tupperware and giving a mischievous grin, "What'd you bring me?" she asked. "Serena is starving…"

"Serena?" he asked. "So the little princess has a name?"

She nodded, "Yeah…we decided tonight. I want to name her after my mom."

"It's a beautiful choice," he agreed, handing her the food container and she opened it with gusto.

"Lasagna…it looks delicious. Thanks," she smiled, grabbing the fork he'd included and taking a big bite.

"Don't you want to heat that up?" he asked. "I told them at the nurse's station that I was bringing you food and they said you can use their microwave."

"No," she shook her head, taking another bite. "Serena likes it cold."

"Of course she does," he stood up, leaning forward and kissing her gently on the forehead. "You finish eating and then get some rest. I have to go make rounds…I'll come by later for the dishes."

Olivia nodded, "Okay…thanks…" and as he walked away she realized in her heart, he was still her partner too.

tbc