After spending two weeks in the hospital Olivia was more than reading to go home, but the doctors told her one more week and then she could go home. She tried to convince them that she was ready to go home, but Alex wouldn't hear of her going home until the doctors had given her the all clear. Remembering her promise not to fuss about staying in the hospital, Olivia complied and agreed to one more week in the hospital. Alex did what she could to make Olivia's stay at the very least tolerable. She only left the hospital to go back to her apartment for more clothes or to the office for file, aside from that she spent her days and nights with Olivia. Nurses tried once to explain to her that she couldn't stay there all night as visiting hours ended at 8. With a smile on her face she asked the nurse whose name was on that wing of the hospital, the nurse said 'Alexander Cabot'. Without saying a word Alex pulled out her driver's license, "Alexander Cabot was my father, if you don't believe me check my birth certificate I was born in this hospital. Now considering my name is literally on this building I think I'll visit my girlfriend whenever I damn well please and I'll stay here all day and all night if I so choose." After that the staff on that floor grew accustom to the presence of Alex Cabot and no one bothered to uphold strict visiting hours with her.
Alex had to take a break from Olivia and go into court as she had one case that needed her attention and could not be handled by her stand in. When she returned to the hospital she found Liz walking out of Olivia's room and closing the door softly behind her.
"How is she doing?"
"She is sleeping and if you're as smart as I know you are you will let her stay that way. No climbing in bed with her or anything like that."
"Ah come on Liz, you don't let me have any fun. Did they change her bandages?"
"Yes they came in about half an hour ago, changed them, gave her some pain meds and then she was out. I just swung by after court to check on her, but I have to get back to the office sooner or those interns will just waste time trying to access my personnel file to see how old I am."
"Play nice Liz, thank you for stopping by and I'll call you later to check on the Johnston case." With that Alex walked into Olivia's room; Liz watched from the hall as Alex ignored her request and climbed into bed next to the detective. Olivia didn't seem to mind, she unconsciously wrapped her arms around Alex and went back to sleep. Liz stood there in the hallway genuinely touched by what she saw in front of her, but soon the double door at the end of the hallway opened and Liz couldn't believe who came walking down the hallway. Liz quickly shut the blinds that covered the window to Olivia's room and started walking toward the new arrival mumbling, "what the hell" under her breath. Finally she and the woman that had just walked through the doors were toe to toe, "Charlotte, not to sound rude, but what the hell are you doing here?"
"Elizabeth, language, didn't your parents teach you better than that. I was called and told Alexandra was here."
"Who called and told you that?"
"Some nurse who was checking Alexandra's birth records, something about Alexandra using her father's name to help her friend through some horrible ordeal."
Liz cringed when she heard Charlotte refer to Olivia as Alex's "friend", "Charlotte, none of what you just said explains why you're here."
"Alexandra hasn't returned my phone calls in almost a month and so I decided to come down here myself and put an end to this foolishness." As she ended her sentence, Charlotte Cabot reached for the door handle, but was quickly stopped.
"Charlotte, you listen to me and you listen real good. The woman lying in that hospital bed saved your daughter's life; she pushed Alex out of the way and took two bullets for her, she almost died and it's a miracle she is able to tell the tale. She is not Alexandra's 'friend' and if you call her that one more time I will make you regret it. Face facts Charlotte, that woman in there just gave you a second chance with your daughter, don't fuck it up." Liz stepped out of the way and just before Charlotte entered the room Liz stopped her one last time, "she loves her Charlotte, I've never seen anyone make her this happy before and if you do anything to ruin that happiness, anything, I will spend the rest of my life making yours as miserable as humanly possible."
Charlotte didn't say anything; she entered the room and stood in the doorway try not to draw attention to herself. As she neared the bed Alex started to stir and without looking at who had entered the room she leaned over and kissed Olivia and as she sat up and rubbed her eyes and she let out a small gasp as she realized who had entered the room, "Mother."
"Alexandra."
"What are you doing here?"
"You didn't think that you could use your father's name and not have me find out about it."
"Mother please let's talk about this outside, I don't want to wake up Olivia."
"Too late Alex, I'm already awake."
"Baby I'm sorry we woke you up, we were just about to go outside."
"Who is we?"
Alex took a deep breath, "Liv this is my mother, Charlotte Cabot, mother this is my girlfriend Olivia Benson."
"It's very nice to meet you Ms. Benson, I understand thanks are in order as you saved my daughter's life. I hope you are recovering nicely."
"I'll be fine Mrs. Cabot, thank you for your concern."
"Mother, what are you really doing here?"
"Alexandra we should handle this outside and let Ms. Benson rest."
"Detective, mother, she is a detective and whatever you have to say to me you can say in front of her."
"Fine Alexandra, have it your way. I want you to stop this foolishness; this isn't how your life is supposed to be. Look at where you are you almost got shot, that has to mean something."
"Mother how dare you. I almost got shot because the security wasn't tight enough at the court house, it had nothing to do with me being a lesbian."
"Stop saying that Alexandra."
"No, damn it mother listen to me, I know it isn't what you wanted for me, but it is the truth, I'm gay. It's not foolishness and it isn't going to go away if we don't talk about it, it's as much a part of me as my blue eyes. Now if you can't except that then that is your problem, not mine, but know this mother; if you don't at least try to understand you will no longer be welcome in my life, our life."
"I'm sorry Alexandra, but I just can't, this isn't right."
"You've made your decision and I have made mine mother, get out of this room and please don't bother calling, ever again."
"Alexandra…"
"Goodbye mother." Charlotte was at the door when Olivia finally spoke up.
"Alex, give me a minute with your mother."
"No way I'm leaving you alone with her."
"Just give me 5 minutes, ok."
"Five minutes." Alex stepped out of the room and joined Liz in the hallway.
"Detective Benson I…"
"No Mrs. Cabot, I think I've heard you talk long enough. Now it my turn to speak and you will listen to me. First of all, if you ever speak to your daughter like that again in my presence, you will have more problems than you know what to do with. I understand that this is confusing for you; Alex is a part of a world that you know nothing about and that scares you and it's probably the first time in your life that you haven't been able to fix a problem with money. You can't buy your daughter a new sexuality Mrs. Cabot. I understand that as a parent you want the very best for your child, you never want to see them hurt or in pain, or see them suffer any unnecessary hardships. You want to protect them and give them the best of everything this world has to offer, I completely understand that. What I don't understand is how anyone could turn their back on child as wonderful as Alex. She is kind and beautiful, smart, funny, stubborn and she is one of the strongest women I know. Now Mrs. Cabot I will not lie to you being gay in this society is not easy, it takes a strong person to live this life, but your daughter is not living it alone, she has me and she will always have me."
"Mrs. Cabot I've loved Alex from the moment I saw her, she made me stutter and she made me nervous and ultimately she made fall in love with her. I've never felt like this about anyone else in my entire life Mrs. Cabot; my heart skips a beat when I hear her key in the door, when she laughs it's so beautiful it brings a tear to my eye, when she cries all I want to do is hold her and drive all her demons away and when she smiles my heart melts. Now I can't promise you she will never get hurt, but I can promise you, I will never be the cause of that pain. I love her Mrs. Cabot, with everything I am, I love her. I would give everything that I ever thought meant anything to me just to make sure she is safe and happy. I was and still am willing to die for her because if I lost her my life would mean precious little. Mrs. Cabot, when I look into her eyes I see the rest of my life; I'm going to marry her one day, we are going to have a beautiful life together and it is up to you whether or not you are going to be a part of it. Now that being said, if you ever, ever treat her that badly again, you better pray I'm still recovering from this surgery. She is still your daughter and she is my girlfriend and you will treat her with the respect due her, understand me. You don't have to approve of how she lives her life, but if you don't try to understand it, you are going to lose her and I know that you don't want that. When you're ready to give your relationship with your daughter another try, you know where to find her. And until that day comes Mrs. Cabot I would appreciate it if you left us alone, now please leave."
Charlotte couldn't move, she was floored, no one had ever stood up to her like that or spoken so eloquently while doing it. Eventually she walked out of the room and the hospital all together.
As her mother was leaving both Alex and Liz walked into Olivia's room, "Babe, are you ok?"
"I'm fine, your mother and I had some things we needed to discuss in private."
"Liv I'm so sorry about her, I don't need her in my life, all I will ever need is you ok."
"Don't be sorry and just give her some time to digest what I told her. People can change Alex, even people like your mom."
"Whatever you say babe. I'm going to go get something to eat, ok, I'll be back in 20."
As soon as Alex was gone Liz spoke up, "that was some speech Olivia."
"You heard that?"
"The whole floor heard that, you started to yell when you were trying to make a point. I'll give you this much, you are braver then most, going toe to toe with Charlotte like that."
"Do you think Alex heard?"
"She was on the phone with her sister telling her what their mother was up to she only heard the tail end of it."
"So she heard that whole I'm gonna marry her thing."
"Yep. Don't look so embarrassed Olivia, she lit up like a Christmas tree when she heard you say that."
"She did?"
"She did." Liz walked over to Olivia patted her hand and on her way out the door she turned and said, "welcome to the family my dear. I hope you have a high alcohol tolerance, it's the only way to get through family functions."
Olivia couldn't help but laugh even though it hurt her side when she did. Alex returned and they resumed their previous positions and soon Alex had fallen back asleep. As she fell asleep herself Olivia couldn't help but think that she could get used to being a part of this new family.