So I will not make any excuses for this late chapter.

I realized rereading my last chapter, that I have no idea where I'm going with this story, and I really screwed up the beginning so much that even I'm confused. I, when I finally finish this story, will rewrite the whole thing and hopefully will iron out the confusion. So sorry.

Disclaimer: My birthday is in a few days, and unless the rights to SVU magically appear in a box for me, I don't own anything... :(

"No, you don't."

"El, come on, it's just standing for what? Ten minutes?"

"No, you did enough standing when you insisted on making the pancakes. I will wash the dishes. No arguing," El said sternly, swiftly picking up the plates and heading over to the sink before Olivia had the chance to open her mouth. After realizing her defeat, she proceeded to gently help Michael down from the makeshift high chair that El had made earlier from old newspapers and couch pillows.

Once his little feet touched the floor, the toddler took off towards Olivia's room, where she had put Amelia and Michael's small bag of clothes that Munch and Fin had so graciously packed when they had stopped by the kids' apartment. Amelia slowly followed her brother, every so often glancing back to see that Olivia was okay while walking the short distance to her bedroom.

After dragging his bag across the floor out of the corner, Michael stood above it, looking at Olivia, silently asking if he could pick out his clothes. Liv nodded, and sat down on the bed to make more room on the floor so that Amelia too could pick out clothes from her slightly larger bag.

"Livia! Livia! Can I wear dis?" Michael asked, holding out blue jeans and a red Thomas the Tank Engine shirt.

"Of course," Liv replied, her heart melting a little that Michael wanted her approval for something so little as to what he will wear today.

Michael rushed off to the ensuite, closing the door right in his sister's face, giggling at the face he got from Amelia. Amelia sat down on the bed next to Olivia, placing her pile of clothes on her lap.

The two sat in silence until Amelia whispered softly, "when will this all be over? Don't get me wrong, Olivia, I love it here, and I am very grateful that you are so willing to take care of Michael and me, I just keep thinking how much trouble we are causing. You shouldn't have gotten hurt because of us, and I am really sorry. My mom died because of my father. You guys got hurt because you were trying to save me. I want this all to be over so no one else will get hurt because of me."

Olivia said nothing, instead took the now crying girl into her arms. The bathroom door opened at this point, and out came Michael with his shirt on backwards. He saw the hug between the two and crawled onto Liv's lap so that he wouldn't be left out. The three sat in the tight embrace until the teen's cries turned to sniffles.

"This is my job. I know you didn't ask for this and that's not something either of us can control. But this is my job, I do this for a living, I signed up with the possibility of getting hurt. None of this is your fault. And you and Michael are not a burden to me. I, in these few days of knowing you both, love you two dearly and would do anything to protect you. I will be will you guys till the end. I promise."

"Olivia," Elliot almost whispered. Just by his tone, Olivia knew he had heard what she had said; he was going to warn her about not getting too attached. Amelia looked up at Elliot who was standing in the doorway of Olivia's room and quickly grabbed her brother to go play in the living room.

Elliot sat on the bed, taking Amelia's now vacant spot.

"Liv..." he started.

"I know what you are going to say, El. I can't get attached to these kids. The state will take them soon. I know, El. But look at them. They are scared and tired and alone and I just want to help them. They are good kids, and if we let the state take over they will probably separated and Amelia would probably go into some group home. After all she went through she doesn't deserve that."

"Liv..."

"Yes, El, I know. The rules are that they should have been turned over to the state a while ago. But I can't. These kids are the closest that I will ever get to having children of my own. The state won't let a single mother like me with a job like mine to adopt any kids and I know you think that's total BS because I would be a great mother but they won't let me. I want to cherish every moment I have with these kids because it might well be the last time I have kids staying under my care."

This time all Elliot did was give Olivia a look and she knew she had said everything that he was going to, and that she was right about the state and what would happen to them and that she could get in big trouble for delaying their papers. Olivia's heart sank, knowing the inevitable will come sooner than she hoped. It was her turn to collapse into Elliot's arms, hysterically crying. Elliot soothed her, just like she was doing to Amelia only minutes before.

Amelia stood in the living room, hearing the whole conversation between her and Elliot.

Olivia wanted to adopt them. She loves them. She is breaking rules to spend more time with them before they are separated. She could ruin her career by breaking the rules. Her job that is her life, Amelia thought. She wanted to help them. Children that would only be a burden to her. I have got to talk to Fin about this.

She sat on the floor with her brother and watched as he played with his llama stuffed animal that Munch got him after Olivia was admitted into the hospital. It had the same texture as a real llama, but instead of being white this one was blue with red ears. It also had a blanket on its back that said NYPD on it, and ever since Munch gave it to Michael, he has refused to let it go out of his sight.

Amelia thought of everything that Olivia had said; what she wanted, her thoughts and fear. She then thought of herself and Michael, how safe and happy they were with Olivia. She wanted to stay, she knew that Michael would too. But then she thought of her mother. Everything she did to make sure that Michael would stay near his father and all the pain she went through to keep them in the apartment that was Amelia's father's studio at one point. Amelia thought of everything that she had, a home, friends, a good mother, a brother, a good life. If Olivia even could adopt them, Amelia would have to leave that all behind, go to a new school, try to make new friends, have her guardian always in danger the risk of her getting hurt, or worse killed. Michael would have to relocate and he might miss that drunk father of his, and Amelia didn't know how well he would like adjusting to being on this side of the city. But she knew that Olivia would try hard to keep them, Amelia already knowing how stubborn she is.

She knew she wanted to. She knew Olivia did too. But she knew that everything that Olivia said about it not being able to happen was also true. So Amelia knew that she would have to ask Fin and Munch to help her.

"Michaelllllll! Come back here! Don't run off like that!" Olivia yelled as Michael ran off in front of them towards the playground.

"Olivia, I see my friends from school over there. Can I go over?" Amelia asked to Liv's right. Liv, quickly glanced over at the bunch of teenagers sitting on the benches talking and laughing loudly. "Sure, just don't go far, and have fun."

"Thanks, Liv!" Amelia yelled as she started jogging towards the bench.

"Michael! Please come back over here!"

"Yes, Livia?" he asked in his cute little kid voice, that almost made Olivia forget completely why she wanted to yell at him.

"Just please don't run off like that again. I want to make sure that I know where you are at all times."

"Ok, Livia. I pwomise I won't anymore. Can I go play now over dere?" he asked pointing to the slides.

"Be careful."

"Thank you!" he said as he speed walked over to the other children.

Olivia found an empty bench that was placed so that she could see both Amelia and Michael without getting up. Elliot was already concerned when he was called back to the precinct and she was going to bring them to the park by herself. He made her promise to sit there and watch or only do a little bit, like pushing Michael on the swings. She had brought a book with her, and she would glance up at the end of each page to make sure that she saw where both of the kids were. She only got to page 15 when her cell phone rang.

"Benson," she answered in her usual business tone.

"Liv, we got an issue."

"El, what is it? Are you ok?"

"Yeah, I'm fine. It's about Jason Coldman."

"Amelia's uncle?"

"Yeah him. He escaped from the holding cell this afternoon."