"How is she?" Carolyn asked, as Sarah released her from a warm hug.

Sarah smiled. "She's good," she said. "She's just gone out to get the newspaper; she'll be back any moment."

Carolyn smiled. She could see how relieved her daughter was. "So you had a good time at the cabin?"

"It was wonderful. Just what she needed. Just what we both needed. I've just made some tea, here," she poured and passed her a mug.

The door opened again, to admit Jay, who was bearing the newspaper and a bunch of freesias. "Hey, Carolyn," she kissed her on the cheek. "What a lovely surprise. You will stay for lunch?"

"I don't want to intrude..." Carolyn demurred.

"You're not intruding. It's great to see you. We want to show you our photos from the trip. The lake looks so beautiful in the spring."

"The neighbors will be glad it wasn't snowing this time," Carolyn said, drily.

Jay handed the freesias to Sarah, who smiled and mouthed her thanks.

Sarah looked askance. "What do you mean? It never snows in May!"

"Thank goodness. Then there was no risk of another pornographic snowman!" Carolyn's eyes twinkled with mischief.

Sarah nearly spat out her mouthful of tea. "Mom!" she shrieked.

"What? You thought I wouldn't notice it?" Carolyn was laughing.

"I'd forgotten about it," Sarah said. "With Jay being so sick, and ..." she looked over at her lover, who was convulsed with laughter. "I don't know why you're laughing," she said, darkly, "it was your idea in the first place."

Jay lowered herself onto the couch, tears of mirth streaming down her face. "I...," she gasped, unable to catch her breath, "it's just..." laughter took over once more.

"Did the neighbors really see it?" Sarah was the first to recover.

"I highly doubt it. The nearest neighbors are nearly a mile away," Carolyn smiled. "I was just teasing you."

Jay grinned widely. "That's it. You are definitely staying for lunch now. That's the least we owe you. I haven't laughed like that for ages!"

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"I'm just leaving now, honey, do you need anything?" Olivia always tried to call Alex when she was on her way home. "Hey, is Lily okay?" she could their daughter sniffling.

"She'll be fine," Alex said, holding Lily close in her lap. "She had a little meltdown, is all. We can't find Harry Hedgehog anywhere. We think he may have gotten lost in the park."

"Poor baby," Olivia said. She knew how much Lily loved the stuffed toy that Jay had given her when she was just a couple of months old. The toddler always insisted on taking him to bed with her, and she knew she would have trouble sleeping without him. "We'll try and find a new one tomorrow, huh?"

"That's what we've said, isn't it, Lily? We'll go out and buy a new hedgehog tomorrow," Alex soothed.

"I want Harry," Lily buried her face in Alex's front, her tears soaking her t-shirt.

"I know, baby. We'll see you soon, Liv," Alex said before she hung up the phone. "I know it's awful, Lily. It's so sad when you lose something precious, I know."

"Will he be okay?" Lily asked. "He'll get cold in the park."

Alex rocked her. "You know what I think?" she spoke softly.

Lily looked up at her mother.

"I think Harry has been found by a nice little girl. Maybe she's a little like you? And the little girl will have taken him home with her, and she's going to love him, and make him happy. So he'll be in a nice warm apartment, or maybe even a house, right now, being taken care of."

Lily nodded, her sniffles slowing. "I miss him," she whispered.

"I know, sweet baby. And he's missing you too, I'm sure," she kissed her on the top of her head. "What we need to do now is find you someone else to take to bed with you. What about Kanga?" she held up a toy kangaroo.

Lily shook her head. "Barney," she pointed at the huge dinosaur in the corner of the room.

"He's a little big, don't you think, sweetie? If he goes in the bed, where are we going to put you?" Alex smiled.

Lily gave a small smile. "Susie Snake," she pointed at the fluffy snake that lived on the bookshelf most of the time.

Alex smiled, and hugged her tight. "That's a good idea. Now Lily, I know it's bedtime. But your Mama's on the way home, and I know she'd love to see you when she gets back. Why don't we have a special treat, and we'll sit on the couch and read some stories together until Mama gets here? Then she can take you, and Susie Snake, to bed. Would you like that?"

Lily nodded solemnly. "Mommy?" she said.

"Yes, my angel?"

"I'm sorry."

"You don't have to be sorry, sweetie. You got sad because we couldn't find Harry. You're allowed to be sad. It'll make you happy to see Mama though, won't it?"

Lily nodded.

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When Olivia arrived home 20 minutes later, she was enchanted to see Alex holding their daughter in her lap. Lily was swaddled in a warm blanket, and Alex was talking quietly to her.

"Mommy?" Lily's voice was sleepy.

"Yes, sweetie?"

"Do you take toys to bed to sleep?"

Alex smiled, not realizing that Olivia was standing in the doorway, watching them both.

"I used to, when I was a little girl," Alex said.

"What do you do if you get scared at night?" Lily asked. "I hug Harry."

Alex smiled at her. "I'm very lucky. If I get scared, or lonely, I can hug your Mama."

"What if Mama's not there?"

"Shall I tell you a secret?"

Lily nodded.

"Sometimes, when Mama's not there, or if she's going to be home real late, I take one of her t-shirts to bed with me. So if I get lonely or scared, I hold it to my face and it makes me feel all better."

"So that's why I can never find a clean t-shirt when I want one," Olivia said, a laugh in her voice.

Lily looked up. "Mama!" she cried, holding her arms out.

Olivia approached the couch, and took Lily in her arms, cuddling her tight. She smiled lovingly at Alex. "Hey, chipmunk," she held Lily close. "I'm so sorry you lost Harry."

"S'okay, Mama," Lily tried to be brave.

"You know you can always come in to us if you're scared? Any time?"

Lily nodded.

"I'm just going to check on the laundry," Alex said. "Be right back."

A minute later, Alex was back, smiling broadly. "I have something I want to show you both," she said. "Come with me," she walked back to the utility room where the washing machine was on its final cycle. Olivia followed her, Lily still in her arms. "Look," Alex said, pointing at the glass front of the washing machine.

Olivia crouched down and peered. After a few seconds, she let out a bark of laughter. "Look, Lily. Do you see there? Do you know who that is?"

Lily looked closely. "What is it Mama?"

"Look again, peanut. In the corner there. I think your Mommy has just found Harry the Hedgehog!"

Lily's face split into a wide grin. "Harry!" Her expression clouded over. "Will he be okay? He's all wet?"

"He'll be fine, Lily," Olivia reassured her. "In fact, he's going to be all clean and lovely when he comes out. We'll hang him up to dry in the bathroom, and tomorrow morning, he'll be all ready for you to play with again."

Alex had to turn away to hide her tears. The sight of her fiancée holding their beaming child was almost too much for her. Olivia noticed the glistening in her eyes, and she smiled. She had had a shitty day at work, but coming home to their family, and seeing their daughter's face light up with delight had made everything good again.

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"You have to be kidding me," Abbie said grumpily. "No way."

"Abbie," Caryn cajoled.

"It's not happening. A baby shower. Me! Can you imagine?"

"Your friends want to do it. They want to wish you luck. It's traditional. And the baby will be here in three weeks. We're running out of time. So everyone's coming over next Friday.

"Everyone who?" Abbie's voice held a tinge of ice.

"Alex. Olivia. Sarah. Jay. Melinda and Rosie. Amy and Robyn. Carolyn. And Louanne."

"Your assistant? Why would she want to come to my baby shower? She barely knows me."

"But she knows me. And she knows how excited I am about this baby. She has to listen to me talking about it all day long, and now she wants to come over and show her support. And we're doing it," Caryn was firm. "I'm not turning these people away."

"The lesbian mafia," Abbie grumbled, darkly.

"I don't think Carolyn or Louanne would like to be included in that description," Caryn kept her tone light. "Look, it was Teflon's idea. She wants you to know how pleased she is. This is a big deal for her; she's making a real effort. Don't you think it would be easier for her to pretend this whole thing isn't happening?"

Abbie looked shamefaced. "I didn't think," she said quietly. "I'm sorry."

Caryn smiled. "I know you hate things like this. But I'll do you a deal. You smile nicely and tell everyone how happy you are to see them, and I'll make sure it's something you're gonna enjoy."

"So not the traditional baby shower then?"

Caryn shook her head and smiled. "Far from it. I swear. You'll enjoy it. I have a real good idea."

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"Teflon!" Caryn bellowed down the phone.

"Caryn," Alex smiled as she passed Lily a piece of jigsaw. "It's your evil auntie Caryn," she told her daughter.

"Hi Vilanti!" Lily called.

"It's about the baby shower," Caryn got straight to the point. "She's being difficult. God help me, those hormones of hers are driving me crazy. So I want to do something different. So tell me, do you and HC play cards?"

"I ran the bridge club in my sorority at Harvard," Alex told her.

Caryn rolled her eyes. "Give me strength. Poker, Teflon. Real cards. Do you play?"

"I have, once or twice. And Olivia used to play all the time with the guys on a Friday night."

"That's good enough for me. We're playing poker on Friday. Don't tell Abbie."

"Does she like poker?" Alex asked.

"She loves it. She's a demon. I want her to do something she enjoys at her shower, and I just know discussing layettes and onesies isn't going to cut it."

Alex smiled. "We'll be there. We'll try and get some practice in before then."

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I'll be late. I'm so sorry. Another two hours should do it. I'll get there as soon as I can. O. xxx

Just be safe. We'll see you later. A. xxx

Alex sighed as she tucked her phone back in her pocket. She turned her attention back to the assembled company, and accepted a glass of wine gratefully. "I'm so sorry, Liv's just texted. She's stuck at work. She'll get here as soon as she can."

"What's wrong, Teflon? Need her to hold your hand at the poker table?" Caryn teased.

"I think I'll be okay," Alex smiled.

Just under two hours later, Olivia arrived, smiling as Caryn let her into the apartment. She kissed her on the cheek, and proffered a bottle of Wild Turkey.

"I think I'm gonna need that," Caryn said, darkly. "You never told me your girlfriend was a hustler. She's cleaned us all out. It's just Abbie left in the game with her, and she's nailing her ass to the wall."

Olivia looked over her shoulder, and grinned at the sight of Alex, with a huge mound of chips in front of her. Alex looked up at her and smiled. She turned to Abbie, and gave her an evil grin. She spread her cards on the table. "Full house," she said, trying not to smirk too obviously as she gathered up the remaining chips.

Abbie threw her cards in the air, dramatically. She burst out laughing. "You got me, Teflon," she said. "You got me good. I thought your game was bridge?"

"It is," Alex grinned. "It's true, I did run the bridge club at Harvard. I learned poker from my brother and his friends, when I was eleven. By the time I was thirteen, I was beating them all.

"Does anyone ever beat you?" Abbie asked.

"Olivia can. I won't play with her any more. She always knows when I'm bluffing, damn her," Alex blew a kiss at her lover.

"Ditto," Olivia laughed. "But we make a great team."

"Another game?" Abbie suggested.

"Oh no," Alex said. "I'm not risking all this," she picked up a fistful of poker chips.

"How much is each chip worth?" Olivia asked, a little worried at the huge stack that Alex had in front of her.

"One cent. We each put in a dollar. So your girlfriend is going home with an impressive nine dollars, leaving the rest of us destitute," Louanne laughed.

"I always knew she was ruthless," Caryn pretended to be pissed.

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"Just over two weeks?" Olivia said to Abbie.

Abbie nodded. "It's scary," she admitted.

"Is Caryn taking care of you?"

Abbie smiled softly. "She's been amazing. I've been a royal bitch, and she just takes it. Or she fights with me, but I think that's only when she can see I'm riled up and ready for a fight. But we always make it up. She's been super-supportive. She's going to be a great mom."

"So are you, Abs," Olivia told her.

Abbie looked worried. "I don't know. I'm too selfish. Putting someone else first all the time, it's … it's not me, you know?"

Olivia laughed. "It's not me either. But it's not like that. You'll just look into that baby's eyes, and...," she looked at Abbie. "Just let nature take its course. And let Caryn help you all she can. You are going to be so tired, you can't even imagine how tired you're gonna be. But it's worth it, Abbie," she took her hand. "It's the best thing you'll ever do."

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"That was a hell of a shower," Abbie took Caryn in her arms after everyone had left.

Caryn smiled. "Do you feel okay?" she placed a soft hand on her huge belly.

"I feel great," Abbie said, feeling a stirring at Caryn's touch. She kissed Caryn deeply, holding her as close as her belly would allow. "You feel great, too," she whispered.

Caryn laughed. "Again, Carmichael?"

Abbie pouted. "C'mon, CW, it's been ages," she lied.

"It has been exactly five hours and twelve minutes," Caryn pointed out drily.

"|That is ages," Abbie argued. "You want it as much as I do. I can tell."

"And just how do you know that?"

"First, you didn't disagree. Second, you're wearing that shirt," she fingered the soft fabric that Caryn knew drove her wild, "and you left the top three buttons undone."

"Do you have any further evidence to present to the court?" Caryn teased, her voice lower than she had expected.

"I certainly do counselor. If you weren't hoping to get laid," she slid a hand inside her shirt, "then why would you wear my favorite bra?"

"Busted," Caryn breathed, as Abbie's fingers started to massage the soft flesh. "You have me bang to rights. So what are you going to do about it?" she asked, seductively.

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"Tomorrow?" Olivia was excited for Alex.

"Two days a week; maybe more if I'm needed, on an ad-hoc basis. It'll be great, Liv. I want to get out there again. And the women's shelter really needs someone who can give legal advice. On all sorts of things. It'll be good to get Lily back into a routine too. I've loved spending all week with her, but I need to get out too. Talk to adults. Maybe make a difference."

"You'll make a real difference," Olivia said, putting her arm around her waist. "I'm so proud of you, Alexandra. I know it's been awful, some of it. But you've worked so hard, and here you are, all ready to take on the world again," she smiled. "The legal system should worry. Alex Cabot is back. I mean Alex Benson, sorry. I keep forgetting. I love that we all have the same name now. It makes it all feel... legitimate."

"It'll be even more legitimate in three months," Alex grinned. "When I'll be able to tell everyone you are my wife. My wife," she mused. "That sounds so good. My baby-mama, and soon my wife."

Olivia swallowed. "Did you think any more about...?" she hesitated.

Alex nodded. "I still don't know. I do know she wouldn't come. But … maybe … it's sort of like an olive branch. And it makes a decision for me. For us. If my mother won't accept our wedding, our family, then we don't ever have to think about her again."

"But you do think about her. I know you do. And I'll bet Carolyn does too."

"Carolyn has had a different experience with her. And she knows that much of her own prejudice was based on fear. She's trying to understand what motivates her."

"Whatever you decide, I'm behind you," Olivia said gently.

Alex nodded. "Can you imagine ever turning your back on Lily?"

"Imagine if she comes home at 17 and tells us she's engaged to a 58-year-old Scientologist?" Olivia teased gently.

Alex burst out laughing. "I guess we'd try to talk her out of it...," she grinned. "But to cut her out of our lives?" she became serious again. "I just can't imagine it."

"And that, Alex, is why you're such an amazing mom," Olivia smiled.

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"The invitations have arrived!" Alex grabbed Olivia's hand as soon as she came home late. "Come see."

Olivia smiled. "I'm sure they're great," she said.

Alex pouted.

"I'm sorry," Olivia said quickly. "Let me see them." One of the few things that Olivia and Alex had disagreed about was the arrangements for the wedding. Neither of them wanted a big wedding, but Alex had argued that doing things 'properly', including sending printed invitations, legitimized the whole process.

"I don't want people to think this is any less a wedding than a straight one," Alex had said, voicing the fear that had been lodged at the back of her mind.

Olivia, Alexandra and Lily Benson

invite you

to the wedding of Olivia & Alex

which will take place on Saturday 4 September at the Lakeview Hotel, Ontario, at 2pm.

No gifts, no dress code.

Olivia looked over at Alex, seeing the anxious look on her face and smiled. "They're perfect. Classy. Elegant. Just like you, baby."

Alex beamed. "I still want the wedding to be low-key. I want everyone to relax, and have fun."

"It was such a good idea of yours to include Lily on the invitation," Olivia smiled.

"Graham and Carla are coming up, to visit Mom. Next week," Alex sounded anxious. "I was talking to him just before you got home. He agrees we should give her one last chance to be part of the family. So," she picked up an envelope, on which Olivia saw Alex's mom's name in Alex's elegant handwriting. "He's going to give her this. In person. So she can't make out she never received it. And then we'll know."

"Then we'll know," Olivia agreed softly. "And then we'll deal."

"Did you eat?" Alex looked at her watch; almost 10pm.

Olivia nodded. "Chinese, in the car. Ugh," she remembered.

"Come to bed then? Let me give you a massage, I'll bet you're stiff as hell."

"That would be great," Olivia smiled. "My neck has been playing up again today."

"I'll fix that for you."

"You have magic hands," Olivia allowed her to lead her to the bedroom. She kissed Alex deeply.

Alex smiled.