[I'm so very, very sorry for the delay. This is the worst time of the year for me at work, and it's been crazy! I never intended to keep everyone waiting this long, my apologies. xxx]

"Olivia's like a mom to her," Carolyn spoke quietly, gesturing with her chin to the couch where Sarah was snuggled in Olivia's arms.

"She loves you too, Caro," Alex said quietly. "More each day."

Carolyn tried to smile. "We're getting there," she said. "I'm happy she's formed such a bond with Olivia. With you too, Lexie."

"They have a lot in common," Alex said. "Olivia knows just how she's feeling." She looked over at her lover, and her heart broke anew at the painful history she had had to endure. Alex hated that Olivia's childhood had been so traumatic, and marveled at how she had overcome everything to become the loving, compassionate woman that she was.

Carolyn nodded. "Jay's good for Sarah, huh?" this time her smile was genuine. "She was real worried about her. She'll always take care of her."

"She will," Alex agreed. "She loves her. It's kinda cute how much in love they are."

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"You think you can sleep?" Olivia asked Sarah, solicitously.

"I think so. Jay'll be over after her shift anyway. Are you sure you don't mind her coming over so late?"

"She can come whenever she wants. You should really give her her own key," Olivia suggested.

"Can I really do that? Are you sure you and Alex don't mind?"

"Of course we don't mind, sweetheart. Jay's one of the family now. Here," Olivia reached into a drawer, "this one's spare. I'll get another spare cut next week. C'mon," she pulled Sarah to her feet. "You need to rest," Olivia was worried by the dark shadows on Sarah's face.

"'kay," Sarah agreed. She stood up and stretched, trying to stifle a yawn. She took her empty mug into the kitchen, where Carolyn was cleaning up. "G'night, Mom," she said.

"Goodnight baby girl. You'll call if you need anything, won't you?" Carolyn looked at her closely.

Impulsively, Sarah pulled her into a hug. "I need you," she whispered, holding tight. "I'm so pleased you've come back into my life. I missed you, Mom."

"I missed you too," Carolyn blinked back tears. "Hey," she smiled. "Are you going to let me tuck you in? Like I used to when you were small?"

"I'd like that," Sarah's throat constricted. "I'd really like that."

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It was 1.36am when Jay slid in the bed next to Sarah, trying not to disturb her.

Sarah turned immediately and burrowed her face into Jay's front. "Love you," her voice was muffled. Her hand sought out Jay's, and she clasped it firmly to her.

Jay slid her other arm around her girlfriend and pulled her tight. "Sleep, baby," she whispered.

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"Next week," Alex's voice was clipped.

"You'll miss her," Caryn said, unusually gently.

"I'll be at work too," Alex was defensive.

"But she's been waiting at home for you every day, for months," Caryn reminded her. "She won't be at home when you get there, or not every day. I think you've gotten used to having Hot Cop waiting for you each night."

Alex opened her mouth to issue a denial, and then she shut it, and smiled ruefully. "I have. You're right, Caryn. But she has to go back to work. She loves her work, even though it tears her apart sometimes. You should see her in action. She's … well, she's amazing," Alex couldn't hide her admiration for her lover.

"You don't like her being out there," Caryn said astutely.

"I don't like it when she gets hurt. Or puts herself in danger."

"Do you trust her to take care of herself?"

"I do. Even more so, now we have Lily. But she can't control every situation. Nobody could. And I hate it when a case eats at her. She gets awful nightmares."

"And you don't?" Caryn's tone was teasing, but her words deadly serious.

Alex smiled again. "Point taken. I'm sorry, you don't need to hear all this."

"I rather like it," Caryn surprised herself by her reaction. She grinned. "God, this is hokey as hell. I used to sneer at couples, it was all too 'cutesy' for me."

"I remember!" Alex laughed.

"It never appealed to me. I've always liked … variety," Caryn winked. "Love 'em and leave 'em. Be honest up front, never commit yourself. Never put your own heart on the line. Just party, party, as often as possible."

"You've certainly done your fair share of partying," Alex smiled.

"I have. And I've had some great times. But now, when I look at you and Olivia, part of me is jealous as hell. I'm 37, Alex. I'm no longer the cute, sex bomb I used to be."

"You still look good to me," Alex replied, honestly. She appraised Caryn covertly, and could see that the woman still had all the qualities that had attracted her in the first place. She didn't begin to compare to Olivia, but then nobody measured up to her. Alex smiled, thinking of Olivia, and her firm, luscious body.

"You're thinking of Hot Cop again," Caryn accused, a twinkle in her eye.

"Sorry," Alex grinned. "My mind … it wanders."

"Always to her," Caryn said. "That's what I think I'd like. Somebody's whose mind always wanders to me, who smiles when she thinks of me. Who misses me even when we're in the same room. I've seen that look in your eye, Alex, when you think nobody's looking. You want her all the time, don't you?"

Alex nodded. "I love her," her voice cracked.

"And you deserve her. You deserve the best. You both do."

"Have you never been in love, Caryn?" Alex wanted to know.

"Once. Only once. Properly, that is."

"What happened?"

"I never told her. I left her."

"Why did you do that?" Alex asked.

"It wouldn't have been fair to her. She was a player. Like me," she said, a little sadly. "She just wanted some fun. I went into it with my eyes open, we never promised each other any type of commitment. It was the best six months of my life. But I couldn't bear to be with her, knowing I was just her … plaything. So I dumped her. She was pissed. Pissed as hell, actually," Caryn winced as she remembered that last, terrible fight. "I knew if I stayed with her, I wouldn't be able to hide my feelings. I'd tell her I was in love with her, and I couldn't do that."

"Why not? Because she might leave?" Alex sounded incredulous.

"It's stupid. I know that. I was frightened of losing her, so I pushed her away. It's too late now, anyway," she took a deep breath. "And I've had some great times since …," she blinked away tears. She pulled herself together. "Some of the ladies I've been with have been truly magnificent," she touched Alex's hand gently.

Alex remembered back to that one passion-filled night. Caryn had been almost insatiable in bed, but she had remained kind and considerate, and made sure that Alex was okay with everything. She had never made Alex feel uncomfortable. Alex felt that, when Caryn finally met the right person, she would be a wonderful partner.

"You be good to her, you swear?" Caryn demanded, almost harshly.

"To Olivia?"

"Of course to Olivia!" Caryn retorted. "To her, and to that gorgeous little sprite. You don't know how lucky you are, Teflon."

"I do. I'm the luckiest woman in the world."

Caryn nodded. "Just you keep remembering that." She stalked off, ostensibly in search of coffee.

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"She said that?" Olivia said.

"Why does that not surprise you?" Alex asked.

"I'm more surprised that it surprised you," Olivia smiled. "You usually read people so well. She's lonely, Alexandra. And a part of her is envious. I mean," she grinned, "can you blame her? She sees what a hot fiancée you've got and it makes her jealous!" she ducked as Alex swatted her.

"Hey, here they come," Olivia smiled as the door to the apartment opened, revealing Carolyn pushing baby Lily in her stroller. "Did you have a fun afternoon?"

"We had a wonderful time, didn't we Lily?" Carolyn addressed the baby as she unstrapped her from her seat. She pulled her out, and passed her to Olivia, who accepted her joyfully. "We have some news for you," Carolyn smiled. "For all of you. Where are the girls?"

"They've been helping Joe install a new shower," Alex laughed. She had just spent fifteen minutes on the phone to Sarah, who had regaled her with tales of Joe forgetting to shut off the water before Jay turned the wrench. Alex had been able to hear Jay cursing in the background, as she apparently changed out of her soaked clothes. "They're on their way back now. Sarah says we're not to laugh at Jay's wet hair. What news do you have?"

"I want Sarah to be here to hear this," Carolyn was unusually animated. "And then you all have to come with me. It'll only take an hour."

"We'd need two cars," Olivia said.

"Please?" Carolyn pleaded. "This is very important to me."

"Of course we'll come," Alex squeezed her hand.

"Come where?" Sarah demanded, as she came through the door, a grumpy Jay just behind her. Jay's hair was still damp, and her feet squelched.

"I'm not going anywhere until my damned feet are dry and warm," Jay snapped.

"I have some woollen socks right here," Olivia gestured to the pile of clean laundry. "They're wonderfully warm." She passed Lily to Alex, as she rooted in the clothes. "Here," she passed them to Jay, whose expression softened.

"I'm sorry," Jay said. "I'm being a bear. It's just too damned cold out there to have wet feet, and I didn't have any spare shoes at Pop's. I'm going to leave some there after this," she smiled. "These are great," she fingered the soft wool.

Olivia pushed her into the warm armchair. "I'll get you a towel. And some tea," she said.

Jay took the towel gratefully. "So," she forced herself to smile, "where are we going?"

Carolyn smiled nervously. "I bought a house," she said.

Alex spun round, astounded by the news. "You bought a house?" she asked. "What about the apartment?"

"I'm selling it. I know I should have moved back there ages ago," her chin started to wobble.

"No you shouldn't," Olivia said firmly. "You're welcome here for as long as you want."

Carolyn nodded. "You have all been unbelievably kind. And I've loved being here. But it's time … it's time for me to reclaim my life. But I couldn't bear going back to the apartment. I know he watched me there, or somebody did for him. I can't get that out of my mind there. So I've been looking for somewhere new, and I found it. It's about a half hour out of the city. It's a small house. It's in a real nice neighborhood. And it has a yard that Lily can play in when it's warmer. You liked the yard, didn't you Lily?" she smiled at the baby.

"You took Lily there?" Alex asked.

"We went today. I wanted her to see her room. It's nearly ready, the decorators have almost finished. I want you all to feel you can come and stay with me, whenever you want."

"Lily has her own room?" Sarah grinned.

"You all do," Carolyn looked a little embarassed. "I know, it's dumb. But there are four bedrooms, and the decorators were coming in, so I chose a room for each of you. Yours and Jay's," Carolyn addressed Sarah, "is nearest the stairs, so Jay doesn't have to worry about disturbing anyone if she's on an early or late shift. And yours," she smiled at Alex, "is next to Lily's. I've put in a baby monitor, so you can hear her from your room. You don't have to come stay though," she looked worried. "Only if you want to. I just thought maybe you could all come to me for Thanksgiving next year, and then you can stay after if you want."

"It sounds wonderful," Olivia spoke softly. "Really wonderful. How long have you been planning this?"

"Two months. It all happened real quick. It's a great house."

Jay was lacing up her sneakers. "Let's go!" she declared. "I wanna see this place!"

"There's a study downstairs," Carolyn said. "It's quite big. I thought your Dad and Vanessa could maybe sleep in there, once I get a bed. There's a shower room downstairs, so he'd have all the facilities. If they want to come to Thanksgiving, that is," she was starting to get flustered.

Jay pulled her into a hug. "It sounds perfect," she whispered. "All the family together."

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"I love how Lily gets the biggest room!" Olivia laughed.

"I thought that I could put another bed over there," Carolyn nodded to the side opposite the crib. "Lily will be out of that crib before we know what's happened. The crib can stay there, just in case you ever decided to increase the family," she smiled at Alex.

Alex just looked stunned. She reached for Olivia's hand.

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Alex climaxed convulsively, her breath coming in short gasps as she fought to regain control.

Olivia grinned as she held her lover, who slumped, still panting, onto her front. Olivia moved a sweat-soaked lock of hair behind Alex's ear, and kissed her so sweetly and tenderly that Alex whimpered anew.

"That … you … you are super-hot, you know that?" Alex's voice shook.

"Nobody's as hot as you are," Olivia ran a finger lovingly across a pink nipple. "I just have to think about you, and I'm gone. I've never met anyone like you, Alexandra. And knowing that you chose me, that makes me happier than anyone deserves to be."

"That's how I feel about you, Liv. And you've given me Lily. Perfect, beautiful Lily. The greatest gift you could ever give me. I want to do the same for you, Olivia," Alex looked deep into her eyes. "Did you hear Carolyn? She thinks we're ready for more kids. I want to have a baby, Olivia. Our baby. I want to give you another child." She looked up and saw tears streaming from Olivia's face.

"I want that too," Olivia gulped. "I've been thinking about it for a while. I don't want Lily to be an only child. I want her to learn to share. I want her to have a brother or a sister, so they can take care of each other when we're no longer around. And I can't think of anything more exquisite than a child that comes from you," she flattened her palm and drew it tenderly across Alex's belly. "Are you sure, sweetheart?"

"I've never been more sure of anything. Except when I said I'd marry you. That one was a no-brainer," Alex smiled. "Shall we do it, Liv? Shall we have another child?"

"Oh God yes," Olivia breathed. "With all my heart, yes!"