Four weeks later
"How is she?" Rosie asked as she entered the apartment.
"She's asleep," Alex kept her voice low. "Very bad night," she looked anguished.
"It's okay, Alex," Rosie said gently. "I know it's awful, but it won't last for ever."
For the past three weeks, Olivia had been suffering horribly from morning sickness. Some days, it seemed, she was okay, most of the time at least, but on others the nausea was relentless. She was determined still to work, but three times recently Elliot had sent her home. Yesterday she had come home in the middle of the afternoon and, when Alex returned early that evening, she found her lover huddled in the bathroom, miserably clutching the toilet bowl. Alex managed to get her into bed, but it seemed that sleep offered no respite, and the constant nausea kept propelling her back to the bathroom.
"At least it's Saturday today," Rosie said, "she won't feel she has to push herself."
"And I can be here," Alex said.
Olivia had banned Alex from taking any time off work to care for her. "It's only morning sickness, Alex," Olivia had said. "It's unpleasant, sure, but I'm not actually sick. And I'm not having you miss any more work for me. That would just make me feel worse."
Rosie set a bag on the kitchen counter. "Melinda used to make me peppermint tea in the night, that always helped."
"I've been giving her ginger tea," Alex volunteered. "But she says that doesn't work."
"Ginger doesn't work for everyone," Rosie told her. "It can even make it worse in some cases. Has she seen her OBGYN?"
"Yeah," Alex replied. "I made her go on Tuesday. She was not happy with me. But everyone says that excessive vomiting should be checked out."
"And did the doctor have any advice?" Rosie asked.
"She checked her over, said everything's okay. She said the biggest risk is dehydration at this point, so Liv's taking hydration salts whenever she feels up to it. She's also eating whenever she can, just small amounts. Her doctor says she's underweight, but not dangerously so. She wants to see her every week for the next little while. Olivia's pissed at me," she said miserably.
"No I'm not," Olivia's voice came from the doorway to the bedroom. "I'm just being cranky. You were right, Alex," she smiled at the blonde attorney. "You usually are! Hey, Rosie," Olivia approached her and kissed her on the cheek. "How are you?"
"I'm great, Olivia," Rosie replied. "I'm more worried about you. You're having a lousy time, right?"
Olivia smiled wearily. "Yeah," she replied honestly. "Please tell me this doesn't last for ever."
Rosie smiled back. "It doesn't," she said. "It just feels like it's going to while it's happening to you."
"It's worth it in the end though," Olivia tried to be positive. "How are the girls?"
"They're wonderful," Rosie said dreamily. "They're with Melinda this morning, she's taking them to their grandma's for a couple of hours. She wanted me to have some time to myself."
"And you're spending that time here?" Olivia quirked an eyebrow at her.
"I just wanted to drop in, see how you're doing."
"Rosie brought some mint tea," Alex told Olivia.
"It was real helpful to me," Rosie said. "If I had it bad, Melinda would bring me the tea, and that really helped to settle me. We also worked out that cold food is better, on bad days. And soda, not diet soda, was good too; the sugar helped. And you just need to sleep as much as you can, Liv. If you have a bad night, you have to take time off work to make up for it. Lack of sleep makes a huge difference."
"Okay," Olivia said resignedly, "you're right, I know. That's what Alex has been telling me. I should have listened to you, honey," she took Alex's hand.
"How do you feel now?" Alex asked.
"Okay," Olivia sounded dubious.
"You want to try some peppermint tea, maybe some yoghurt too? That should be okay, do you think Rosie?"
Rosie nodded. "You need to eat whenever you think you can," she said. "And it will stop. Eventually. They even say it's a good sign, though that's easy for them to say. It means the pregnancy's really taking hold."
"Oh it's definitely taking hold," Olivia turned a ghastly shade of green. "Would you excuse me? I just..." she darted toward the bathroom.
"2.30pm?" Alex was on the phone when Olivia emerged shakily five minutes later. "We'll be there. Thank you."
Rosie took Olivia's arm and led her toward the couch. She settled her there, wrapping a warm blanket around her shoulders. "The tea's there," she nodded to the table. "Whenever you can manage it."
Olivia nodded miserably. "Thank you," her voice shook.
Alex sat next to her on the couch. "We've got another appointment with the doctor," she said softly. "I know you hate going, but you can't cope with this for much longer."
"Is that who was on the phone?" Olivia asked.
"Yes," Alex replied, fearful that Olivia was going to ream her out for interfering.
"Thank you," Olivia replied. She smiled wanly at Alex's stunned expression. "I've been a bear," she said. "I'm sorry. I know you're right." With a shaking hand she reached out for the tea; Rosie stepped forward and passed it to her.
"Try and sleep," Rosie advised. "And call me, if I can do anything."
"Thank you," Alex said.
"You'll let us know what the OBGYN says?" Rosie asked.
"Of course," Alex replied.
Rosie let herself out of the apartment.
"Bed?" Alex suggested.
Olivia shook her head.
"We'll stay here," Alex said. She went into the bedroom, emerging a moment later with the warm quilt and a pillow. She sat back next to Olivia, and put the pillow on her lap and wrapped the quilt round her exhausted lover. She pulled her gently on to her lap, and held her tight.
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"What did the OBGYN say?" Rosie asked when Alex phoned her.
"She's given her some anti-nausea tablets, and they seem to be working. She's sleeping again," Alex sounded relieved. "And she slept all this morning too."
"It shouldn't be for too much longer," Rosie reassured her. "It just feels like hell while it's ongoing."
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Six weeks later
"What are you looking at?" Olivia gave Elliot an icy stare.
"I'm just looking," Elliot grinned.
"At what?" she demanded, testily.
"Evidence," he replied. "So far, you're not looking too pregnant. I'm just wondering if this whole thing has been a ruse. An excuse for time off work."
Olivia scowled at him. "Just because I seem finally to have to have come to the end of the morning sickness. Or morning, noon and night sickness, as I like to call it, does not mean you can start making jokes."
"No morning sickness jokes?" Elliot asked.
"No," she said, firmly.
"Oh well," he grinned. "I'll just have to wait a few weeks, and then I'll start up with the fat jokes."
Olivia swatted him around the head. "How you're still married after four kids, I'll never know," she said, darkly. "How did Kathy put up with your 'pregnancy humor'?"
"She didn't," he said. "I only tried it once with her."
"Well don't think I'm going to be any more tolerant," Olivia threatened.
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"Good day?" Olivia asked as Alex came through the door that evening.
"Pretty good," Alex said. "Though I've missed you. And," she grinned, cupping a full breast very tenderly, "I've missed these."
Olivia grinned too. Her breasts had, at long last, stopped being as acutely painful as they had been. They were still very tender and sensitive, but Alex knew that, and she knew how to handle them carefully so that she maximized Olivia's pleasure while minimizing any pain. Just in the last two weeks, Olivia's libido had returned with a vengeance, and she and Alex took any and every opportunity to exploit it. "Well I've missed you too, Alexandra," she said. "See," she gestured to the table in the kitchen, "I even cooked for you."
Alex looked over, and saw the table, which was laid with a white linen cloth. It had two candles on it, as well as their best cutlery. The dinner smelt delicious, and Alex's mouth watered.
"It'll be ready in a half hour," Olivia took Alex's coat and hung it up.
"Hmm," Alex said, "I wonder if we can think of anything to do in that time?" She was already unbutton Olivia's shirt. "Hey," she looked up at Olivia. "New bra?" she fingered the lacy material, unable to keep a wide smile off her face.
"Had to," Olivia told her, trying not to gasp as Alex kissed between her breasts, nipping and suckling as she went.
"Gone up a size?" Alex smiled.
"Two," Olivia breathed.
"That's my girl," Alex said, her breath hitching as she lowered the straps and reached out to release the clasp at the back. She caught Olivia's breasts as they spilled out from the fabric, and held them tenderly. "Oh Olivia," very softly she kneaded the silky skin. "You're... oh God, you're... you're flawless."
"Hardly flawless," Olivia's breath quickened.
"You are to me," Alex kissed her, savoring the softness of her lips. She slipped her tongue into Olivia's mouth, as ever thrilled by the familiar sensation of Olivia's sweet mouth.
She felt Olivia's hands roaming over her own torso, and pulled her toward the bedroom.
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"This is fantastic," Alex said as she ate. "You're a great cook Liv."
"Not as good as you," Olivia demurred.
"I couldn't do better than this," Alex told her. "This is amazing."
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A week later
"Wow," Alex was still breathless as she lay in her panting girlfriend's arms. "Any time you want to wake me like that, that's fine by me."
Olivia grinned. "It's the hormones," she gasped, "I'm sorry. I just … I want you all the time."
"Don't be sorry," Alex said. "If this goes on for ever, I'll be quite happy."
Olivia pulled a face. "I'm guessing we'll be taking a break when the baby's born."
"One step at a time," Alex turned in her arms and kissed her. "I'll just enjoy this while it lasts. Once that baby's here," she ran her hand over Olivia's belly, "you may never want sex again!"
"I can't imagine that ever happening," Olivia told her. "Not while these are on display anyway," she smiled as she caressed a pert breast.
"We should shower," Alex said, reluctantly.
"It's still early," Olivia pouted.
"I know, honey," Alex said. "But we promised Melinda and Rosie we'd meet them at the mall at 8.30am, they're buying a new couch, remember?"
Olivia nodded. "I don't know why they need us there," she said.
"Because they always fight over soft furnishings," Alex laughed. "We're there to keep the peace or, if it gets too bad, to take the girls to the park while they slug it out!"
"Well I can think of something I'd rather be doing," Olivia kissed Alex tenderly, almost distracting the blonde attorney from her plans.
"Nice try, detective," Alex said when they finally broke apart. "Now come on," she threw the quilt back and took Olivia's hand, leading her toward the bathroom. "We'll shower together, will that make up for it?"
Olivia nodded eagerly. She loved showering with Alex. Their shower stall was just a little too small for the two of them, and Alex was so tender and loving, especially now, that joint showers nearly always ended up in a make-out session. So she was disappointed when Alex, while as gentle as always, made sure they were both out of the shower and wrapped in warm towels within five minutes. "I know," Alex said, "we'll make up for it later. Here," she pushed Olivia so that she was seated on the bed, "you take your time, I'm going to head out and pick up some warm rolls from the bakery."
"It's only 7am," Olivia said, while Alex dressed hastily in jeans and a white shirt that clung perfectly to her slender frame, "nothing'll be open."
"The bakery opens at 5.30am, Liv," Alex said.
"How do you know these things?" Olivia demanded. "You're like some kind of domestic goddess."
Alex grinned, as she picked up her keys. "I'll be right back," she kissed her lover.
"Don't forget your coat," Olivia called. "It's icy out there."
"Got it," Alex grabbed it from the hook by the door and let herself out.
Three minutes later, there was a knock on the door.
"What?" a half-dressed Olivia laughed. She shrugged on her robe. "Did you forget your wallet?" She strode to the door, stopping out of habit to look through the peep-hole. Instead of seeing Alex as she had expected, however, she saw a young blonde woman, dressed in jeans and a thin sweater. She looked damp and very cold.
Olivia opened the door. "Hello?" she said.
The girl looked at her. "Does Alex live here?" she asked, through chattering teeth. "Alex Cabot?"
"Yes," Olivia replied. "She's just gone out. She'll be back in a few minutes. Are you okay?" she could see that the girl was freezing. "Come in," she put her hand on her arm. "Geez, you're soaked," she said, guiding her in to the apartment. "Come in and get warm."
"I don't mean to intrude," the girl said. She was 19 at most, Olivia guessed, probably younger. "I just didn't know where else to go."
"Sit," Olivia led her to the couch. She pulled the comforter round her shoulders. "Stay there a moment," she dashed into the bedroom. She emerged a moment later, clutching a towel, a t-shirt, warm sweater and jogging pants. "Here," she thrust them at the girl. "I've got to finish dressing. You take these and put them on. We'll put your wet clothes in the laundry."
The girl looked up at her. "You don't even know me," she said.
"I don't need to know you," Olivia's tone was gentle. "You look sick, you need to get warm. Once you're warmed up, you can tell me what you're doing here."
The girl nodded.
"I'll be right back," Olivia said. "Okay?"
When Olivia came back, the girl was still sitting on the couch, seemingly not having moved. She was staring sightlessly at the wall.
"Hey," Olivia said, "you didn't change."
The girl looked at her, but didn't seem to be understanding her words. More worryingly, she had stopped shaking. "Oh shit", Olivia thought. "Hypothermia."
"Okay," Olivia was brusque. "We need to get you out of these things," she sat next to the girl. "Will you let me help you?"
The girl looked at her again for a few seconds, then finally nodded.
Swiftly, Olivia pulled the girl's sweater and t-shirt off. "I'm taking your bra off," she told her, "it's soaking."
The girl nodded as Olivia slid the straps down her arms, trying not to react to the horrific bruising down her back. Olivia dried her off, and helped her into the clean t-shirt and sweatshirt. She undid her damp jeans, and slid them off, followed by her underwear. She was businesslike as she dried her off and helped her into the jogging pants. "Socks!" she exclaimed, and shot into the bedroom. She was back in a moment, with the warmest socks she could find, which she slipped on the girl's icy feet. She went to the linen closet and returned with a thick quilt, which she wrapped round the girl.
Olivia then went to the kitchen, where she heated up some milk. She filled up a mug, spooned in some sugar, and took it to the girl, setting it on the table next to the couch. "Hey," her voice was soft. "Do you think you could manage some warm milk?" she put her hand gently on the girl's arm, and was relieved to feel her shivering.
The girl nodded. Olivia sat next to her, and helped her wrap her shaking hands round the mug, keeping hold.
After a few sips, the girl turned to Olivia. "Thank you," she whispered.
"You want to tell me your name" Olivia asked.
"Sarah," she said in a tiny voice.
"Hi Sarah," Olivia's tone was warm and kind. "I'm Olivia," she said. "It's good to meet you. So you know Alex, huh?"
"She's my niece," Alex's voice came from behind her. "Oh my God, Sarah," Alex approached and knelt in front of her. "What happened? Are you okay?"
"Auntie Alex?" Sarah said, and her eyes filled with tears. The tears spilled over and started to roll down her cheeks. "I didn't know what to do. I'm sorry, I..." her hands shook, and Olivia took the mug from her to stop her spilling.
Olivia got up from the couch and pushed Alex down in her place. Alex took the sobbing girl in her arms, and held her. The comforting gesture somehow opened the floodgates, and Sarah started to weep in earnest, shaking with cold, her body wracked with gut-wrenching sobs.
Olivia stood and watched, horrified at the misery she witness.
"Carolyn's daughter," Alex mouthed to Olivia.
Olivia remembered the one occasion when she had met Carolyn, in Alex's flat. She had thought then that she was a cold, controlling bitch, and she also remembered Alex referring to her poor relationship with her own daughter.
"It's okay, Sarah," Alex was whispering to the frightened girl. "Whatever it is, we'll make it okay. I swear to you."
Olivia nodded. She went to the phone. "Hey Melinda," she said when it was answered. "We've got a bit of a situation here. Alex's niece arrived, unexpectedly," she lowered her voice. "I think something may have happened. We're not going to be able to make it. No, I think we'll be okay," she replied to Melinda's offer to come over. "We'll call you if we need to, is that okay? Thanks so much, and I'm sorry to let you down. We'll see you soon."
She returned to the couch, where Sarah was finally starting to calm. "I'll light the fire," she said to Alex.
Alex nodded. "Thank you," she said quietly, brushing the hair from Sarah's pale forehead. "She needs to warm up."
After nearly an hour with the fire blazing in the grate, Sarah finally stopped shaking. She was still as pale as milk, and the look of misery on her face remained. "How are you doing, honey?" Alex asked softly.
"Okay," Sarah said. She tried to sit up, but Alex put a restraining hand on her shoulder.
"You stay like that for a while longer," she said gently.
"I didn't know where to go," Sarah whispered.
"You did right to come here," Alex said. "Didn't she, Liv?"
"Yes," Olivia said. "We'll take care of you Sarah. Whatever's happened, you're safe now."
"Can I stay?" Sarah sounded anxious. "Just for a bit?"
"You stay as long as you want," Olivia said. "You're welcome here. And you're safe."