A/N: I know it's been a while and I'm sorry. I've had this chapter outlined since before the last update but simply lost all interest in writing it, these things just happen. I figured there hadn't been enough of how they balanced working together and their home life so I threw that in this chapter. Let me know what you think. Enjoy!

Chapter 35

It had been three months since Joey was born, three wonderful months if you were to ask his mothers'. Seeing as neither had any experience with a baby it was a learning experience, but Laura was always ready to help or give motherly advice. While both were used to being woken up in the middle of the night by a ringing phone, Olivia more so than Alex, they were not fully prepared for being woken up every few hours by a cry. They had both taken six weeks off from work to adjust as well as have time to bond with their son.

Like they had found out in the hospital Joey was a very happy and even tempered baby. The only times he got upset was when he was in need of a clean diaper or was hungry. Alex liked to joke his appetite was definitely something he had gotten from Olivia. He was a very good eater and they had started giving him cereal in his bottle a little earlier than they thought they would need to seeing how his formula just didn't hold him over.

Returning to work was something both Alex and Olivia struggled with. Not only had they gotten used to being able to spend the day together they loved spending time with their son. The day they were to return to work neither wanted to go but they knew that the longer they put it off the harder it would be to go back. The one thing they didn't have to worry about was who would care for their baby boy. Laura was all too happy to be her grandson's babysitter, with Bill's wife Helen offering to watch him if Laura needed a break. Most mornings Laura would come over to their apartment to save Alex or Olivia an added trip to her house. She would occasionally take Joey to the park just to get him outside or just take him out for a walk. She also liked to take him shopping or to lunch with friends, ever the proud grandma she never passed up the opportunity to show off her precious grandson.

When it came to Tiffany they were not surprised that she had not come around to see the baby. Alex had talked to her on the phone and Olivia had talked to her a couple times and while they were on maternity leave had drove over and took the teen to lunch. The teen explained that while she knew she had made the right decision she still wasn't ready to visit with him. She assured them she had seen a couple of the pictures Alex emailed to June and commented how happy he looked with them. Right now she was focusing on her senior year and applying to colleges.

Now that it was no longer just the two of them they had begun the search for a bigger apartment. They were looking for a two bedroom but didn't rule out a three bedroom. When Laura asked why they said it would be nice to have a guest room, although neither would admit it they hadn't yet ruled out adding to their family down the line. As Joey grew they had moved and rearranged their bedroom some more to make room for a crib and moved his bassinette to the living room. For two people who had no experience with babies both had fallen into the role of mommies' quite well.

Alex was exhausted as she walked down the hall toward their apartment. Joey had not slept well the night before which meant she and Olivia didn't either. Olivia was called out around four thirty and Joey woke up again at five refusing to go back to sleep and was only content when he was in her arms. Alex decided that since she was up she could hold her son as she reviewed the cases she would have in arraignment that morning. Her day grew progressively worse when she saw she would be going up against Trevor in arraignment. She asked for remand but Judge Preston denied her request and set bail. Her only relief was when she asked for a restraining order for the victim the judge did grant it. As she made her way down the hall toward the elevator she was aware of Trevor chasing after her. She had hoped that the door would close before he had a chance to get onto the elevator but as her day was going he stepped on just as the door closed. Seeing as they were the only passengers they argued all the way to the ground floor with Trevor calling out he would be calling her to discuss a deal.

Alex sighed as she stepped into the apartment and saw her mom holding her son as she fixed dinner. "Hey." Alex said as she greeted her mom and kissed her baby on the head before washing her hands. She shrugged her suit jacket off and tossed it over the counter onto one of the bar stools before taking Joey from her mom. "Hi baby." she whispered as she kissed his cheek. Joey's face lit up and he smiled as he looked at his mommy. This was Alex's favorite part of the day, before being launched into everything that needed done she loved those precious first moments when she returned home of cuddling with her son.

"Soup is almost ready and there is a salad in the refrigerator." Laura said as she moved about the kitchen. She watched Alex carefully as she cooed and loved on her son. She had always thought that Alex would make a good mother but she was amazed at how well she had taken on the role.

"Thanks Mom." She looked back at her baby studying his face for a moment "He looks tired. Has he not had a nap?"

"He's had several today, it's all I could do to keep him awake this evening. He's just had his bath and I was about to give him a bottle and put him down for the night." She stepped over and took his hand in her own "He's a little stuffy, I think he might be taking a cold."

Alex leaned in and pressed her lips to his forehead "He feels a little warm, should I give him some Tylenol?"

Laura chuckled at the look of confusion on her daughter's face. Alex was very intelligent but she did struggle a bit when it came to caring for a baby. Her maternal instincts had kicked in though and often times she knew what to do, she just wanted her mother's reassurance. "I checked his temperature a little bit ago. He had a low fever but I went ahead and gave him a dose."

Alex thanked her mom one last time before the older Cabot left for the night. Alex laid Joey in his bassinet while she changed clothes then fixed his evening bottle. Alex sat curled up on the sofa and stared at her son as he hungrily downed his bottle. His skin tone had evened out after he was born and while it wasn't as dark as Olivia's, or Tiffany's, he did have a light olive complexion. He didn't have much hair but what little he had was dark brown. Alex loved to watch his facial expressions as several of them were very similar to Olivia's, especially when he was frustrated. His eyes however were one of their favorite features, they had been dark blue almost black when he was born but had turned to a brilliant, bright blue. Olivia often commented that they couldn't have been closer to the same color as Alex's if she had given birth to him.

After putting Joey down Alex ate the dinner her mom had made before settling in on the sofa with the paperwork from the day. As her mind began to drift over the events of the day she blew out a frustrated breath at the memory of her fight with Olivia. As if her day hadn't been bad enough the fight over a warrant that afternoon with the brunette had been the final straw.

Alex sat at her desk and patiently listened as Elliot and Olivia laid out their case for a warrant. When they finished speaking she leaned back in her chair and sighed "You don't have enough evidence."

"What?" Elliot asked with an incredulous look.

Alex shook her head "I'm sorry but no judge is going to grant a search warrant based on what you've just told me." she knew they were both exhausted after their early morning call out. A little girl had been kidnapped from her home, luckily they found her unharmed this morning on a subway platform. They believed the kidnapper was the mother's ex-boyfriend whom she had kicked out when she found out he was on the sex offender registry. The girl, who was only six, was unable to describe her kidnapper since he was wearing a mask. She said he kinda sounded familiar but at the same time she didn't recognize the voice.

"Alex…" Olivia started but was cut off.

"Have you two considered the father?" both looked at one another before looking back to the blonde "I talked to the Captain a little bit ago. He said that the parents were in a custody battle for the girl. The father was suing for custody after finding out the mother had been dating a sex offender. He also wasn't at work last night which they said was unusual because he never misses a shift." She held her hands out as if making her point "Reasonable doubt. I'm sorry detectives but no judge is going to issue a warrant." She leaned on her desk with her hands folded in front of her "Now if you can find me more evidence that points toward the boyfriend I'll be more than happy to get you a warrant."

Olivia was fuming by that point, she didn't know why Alex wouldn't listen "He's our guy Alex!"

Elliot had been around both ladies long enough to know they were barreling toward an argument. He decided it would be in his best interest to leave. Just like when dealing with wild animals he quietly stood and slipped from the room, neither noticed he had left.

It wasn't long before both were pacing the room like caged animals, the argument growing more heated with each passing moment. Both knew that it was their lack of sleep from the night before as well as the bad day they'd both had up to that point that was causing their tempers to flair.

"What part of I can't get you a warrant don't you understand Olivia?" Alex said with a raised voice.

Olivia ran her fingers through her hair before spinning around to face her partner "I know it's him Alex. My gut tells me it's him!"

Alex shook her head as she looked at the brunette "Your gut? Seriously Olivia? I can just imagine Judge Petrovsky's face if I told her I needed a warrant based on your gut." She shook her head "I'd get laughed out of the courthouse."

"What, don't trust my instinct?"

Alex whirled around and pinned the detective with a sharp look "Don't even Olivia. I trust your instinct more than anyone's, more than my own sometimes. I just can't do that when it comes to the law. You know that!"

Deep down Olivia knew Alex was right but it still didn't keep her from getting angry. All she knew was there was a man out there who had kidnapped once today and she was sure he would do it again. She spun around and stormed out of the office slamming the door behind her.

Alex was so mad she was shaking. She grabbed one of the pillows from the small sofa and squeezed it tightly before throwing it back down allowing all her frustration to finally escape.

Olivia took a deep breath as she entered the apartment. Even though it had been hours since they had last seen each other the tension from their argument was still there, in fact it could be cut with a knife. She walked behind the sofa and dropped a kiss to the top of Alex's head "The little man already asleep?"

Alex nodded without looking up "I think he's taking a cold, he's running a low fever." she watched as Olivia headed toward the bedroom to change.

Olivia walked in their bedroom and stood next to the crib and looked at her son. She leaned over the railing and kissed his cheek, noticing he was still a bit warm. She changed and walked back into the living room.

"Mom fixed dinner."

Olivia simply nodded as she made her way to the kitchen and heated up a bowl of soup. She sat at the counter and flipped through a magazine as she ate.

"What's your problem Olivia?"

Olivia took a deep breath refusing to take the bait. She placed her dishes in the sink and looked in the refrigerator to see how many bottles Joey had before making up some for the next day.

"Olivia you have to understand I couldn't get a warrant based on what you two brought me."

Olivia left the bottles and formula sitting on the counter as she stormed in to face the blonde "Do you not trust me?"

Alex slammed the folder she was holding onto the coffee table "Are you mental? We've already been through this today. I trust you! Olivia I trust your instincts more than I trust Elliot, Munch and Finn combined!" she ran her hands over her face "I know you want to nail the guy, so do I, but I can't just hand over a warrant every time you want one."

"Yeah well don't worry about it. We got the warrant and searched his place. He had her schedule written down and pictures of her at the playground and outside their apartment."

"How did you get the warrant?" Alex asked slightly surprised.

"Casey got it."

Alex bristled slightly at the mention of her coworker. She liked the red head and they had become friends, but Alex was very competitive. She knew Olivia didn't mean it that way but it felt like Olivia was saying Casey was the better attorney. It only served to make her angrier. "How?"

"One of the neighbors came home from work and told us he saw him sitting in his car just down the street. He didn't know they had split up so he didn't think anything about it. He's sitting in Rikers as we speak."

"Good."

Both grew quiet again for a bit, Alex went back to her paperwork while Olivia went back to making up bottles. Finally Alex decided to speak again "Look Olivia I wanted to get him as badly as you did. I hope you understand why I couldn't get it for you."

"Yeah, I get it." Olivia said as she entered the living room and began checking Joey's diaper bag to see if it needed refilled. Once she was finished she realized she wasn't far off from saying something she would regret "I'm going for a walk." Olivia slipped on her tennis shoes and a jacket and headed out.

Alex jumped slightly as the door closed. It wasn't a slam but it was hard enough to wake Joey that only caused her to become angrier. She took a few calming breaths as she walked into their room to pick the crying infant up. She had learned he could pick up on their emotions and if they were upset it only upset him even more.

"Hey baby. Shhh, it's okay." Alex whispered as she gently bounced her son to try and calm him. She could feel he was still warm but it hadn't been long enough she could give him anymore medicine. She got a cool washcloth from the bathroom and began running it along his face and head before unbuttoning his pajamas and wiping his chest and back. The cool water seemed to help and he began to calm down.

Alex opened her eyes not realizing she had dozed off. She smiled at the sight of her son sleeping on her chest. As she ran her hands over his back she could feel the heat radiating off of him. She wrapped an arm around him as she sat up. Alex looked around the apartment and could tell Olivia wasn't back yet. It was almost midnight the brunette had been gone for a couple hours. Joey woke from Alex's movement and began to cry, which quickly turned to screaming. Alex grabbed the thermometer and put it in his ear, 103.4. Alex began to panic. She quickly placed Joey in his car seat and gathered his diaper bag before leaving the apartment. She hailed a cab and called Olivia after buckling the car seat in. "Liv Joey's sick. I'm taking him to the hospital." In her hurry to leave she failed to notice Olivia's phone laying on the kitchen counter.

Even though they only lived a few blocks from a hospital Joey screaming made it feel as if it took hours to get there. Alex did everything she could to calm him as she registered him and was asked to take a seat in the waiting area. She checked her phone and saw there had been no reply from Olivia. Alex's irritation with the brunette grew with each passing moment. Yes she was still angry over the argument and part of her understood Olivia wanting to leave to cool off, but to stay gone for hours and now not answering her phone, Alex was at her breaking point. She called her mom and told her what was happening, Laura informed her that she would be there as quickly as possible. Alex decided to try the brunette again only there would be no holding back this time. "Look Olivia I know you're pissed, so am I but our son is sick. I'd really appreciate it if you would get your ass down here now."

Olivia kicked herself as she walked down the street. In all honesty she knew Alex couldn't get them a warrant, she simply allowed her determination to get the bad guy to get in the way. As she passed an all-night drug store she reached into her pocket to see how much money she had, that was also when she realized she had left her phone at home. She immediately pictured a fuming Alex trying to call her, she hoped Alex had seen it on the counter and wouldn't be mad that she wasn't answering. Olivia walked into the store and found a small display of flowers. She picked a bouquet of mixed flowers and was about to pay when her eyes landed on a teddy bear. Olivia smiled and picked it up for Joey. She pictured stopping in on her way home from work as he got older to pick out a small toy.

Alex paced the small exam room trying to make Joey more comfortable but she was quickly realizing no matter what she did nothing helped. By the time the doctor entered the room Alex was in tears right along with her son. The young woman introduced herself and went about checking the infant over.

"He has a respiratory infection and antibiotics will clear that up. What I'm concerned about is the fever. It's very high even for an adult, let alone an infant."

"What can you do?" Alex asked in a fearful voice.

"I'm going to get a nurse and a few things. We'll give him another dose of medicine and an ice bath."

"What do you mean an ice bath?"

The young woman smiled "It's not as bad as it sounds. We'll take ice packs that have been wrapped in towels and pack them around him." She looked at the tearful woman in front of her "Ms. Cabot I understand you are scared and worried but I believe this will work, and it's the quickest way."

Alex waited until the doctor left the room and dialed Olivia again "Olivia please, it's serious. Joey is very sick. I need you, we both need you."

Olivia entered the apartment as quietly as possible so she wouldn't wake Alex or Joey. She put the flowers in water and picked her phone up and noticed the three missed calls from Alex. As she made her way through the apartment she began to worry when she noticed Joey's car seat wasn't in the corner where it always sat, and the diaper bag was missing as well. She ran to the bedroom and began to panic when she realized her family wasn't at home. She pulled her phone from her pocket and replayed the messages. She was out the door before the first message stopped playing and by the last message the fear in Alex's voice had ripped her heart out. She stepped out and waved down a cab, mentally berating herself all the way to the hospital.

"Hey baby, you're okay." Alex whispered as she kissed Joey on the head. He was still crying but he had begun to calm a bit and Alex was sure it was from exhaustion. He was now lying in a crib with ice packs lying around him. When the doctor first put them against his skin his cries had returned to screams as ice touched overheated skin. Alex smiled as she ran her finger along his hand and he wrapped his fingers around hers. She looked up when she heard the door open.

"Alex?" Olivia cautiously stepped into the exam room. She was halfway expecting something to come flying at her head at any moment. She quickly made her way across the room and pulled the blonde into her arms. "What's wrong, is he okay?"

"I don't know." Alex buried her face in Olivia's neck. She took a moment to just breathe while Olivia rubbed her hands over her back. When she pulled back she explained everything the doctor had said.

"Is his fever coming down?"

"The doctor should be back in a bit to check it again."

"I'm so sorry I wasn't here. I left my phone on the kitchen counter, I didn't realize it till I came back."

Alex shook her head "Don't worry about it."

"No Alex I really am sorry." Olivia said in a tearful voice. "I should've been here for both of you and instead I was wandering around the city."

Alex sighed "Look Olivia we were both pissed off. As mad as I was when you left maybe it was better than us having another blow up and Joey having to hear it."

"That's why I left, you know I don't want him growing up in an environment that is even remotely close to the way I grew up."

"I know, and he won't."

Olivia kissed Joey on the head before sitting down in the chair next to the crib. She pulled Alex down onto her lap and wrapped her arms around her waist. Alex rested her head on Olivia's shoulder as they both watched their son sleep.

They were startled when the door opened and his nurse entered along with Laura. While the nurse went about checking Joey over Laura comforted his parents. "Are you two okay?"

Alex and Olivia smiled at one another, amazed at how well the older woman knew them. "We're fine."

"No you're not." She grinned at the look of surprise on their faces "You've got a sick baby and I know how stressful that is. I also know you've been fighting."

Alex's jaw dropped "How?"

Laura laughed "When I called Olivia earlier to ask her a question I could tell she was mad. Then when you came home you looked as if you could spit nails. Only one person can get to you like that, and it's Olivia."

Their conversation was interrupted by the nurse "His temps down to 101. The doctor will be back in shortly. I removed the ice packs and if his fever stays down she'll let him go home." The sigh of relief from all three ladies could've been heard throughout the entire hospital.

Alex, Olivia and Joey finally returned home at almost five in the morning. Although he was still running a fever and sick Joey was sleeping quite peacefully, it was something his mothers' hoped they would be able to do soon. Both had been up for twenty four hours straight and the stress from their fight the day before as well as Joey's visit to the ER had taken their toll. They wanted nothing more than to curl up in each other's arms and sleep.

Alex changed Joey before laying him in his crib. She ran her fingers across his forehead and along his cheek, smiling at the little twitches on his face as she did so. She leaned in and placed another kiss to his forehead, whispering she loved him as she did so. Her heart melted though as she turned to grab a change of clothes. Olivia was sitting on the edge of the bed barely able to hold her head up or keep her eyes open.

"Hey," Alex whispered as she sat down and pulled the brunette into her arms "Why don't you go to sleep for a bit? I'll stay up and keep check on him, besides he'll probably be hungry soon."

Olivia shook her head "I have to call the captain and let him know I won't be in today." She grinned at the look of surprise on Alex's face, she never called in for work. "I just can't do it, not today."

Alex kissed her lightly "After you call the captain I want you to go to sleep. I'll stay up to feed him plus I need to call Casey and ask her to cover for me today and then call the office so they know I won't be there." She was taken by surprise when she felt Olivia's lips on her own. It didn't take long for Alex to lose herself in the feeling of Olivia's lips moving against hers.

"I'm sorry Alex, I'm so sorry." Olivia took Alex's left hand in her own pulling it up to her lips and kissing the ring she had placed there years ago. "I'm sorry for the way I acted yesterday and I am sorry I wasn't here last night when you and Joey needed me. It won't happen again, I promise."

Alex looked at their joined hands for a moment. She had always been amazed at how they seemed to fit together perfectly. "I'm sorry to Olivia. Instead of just letting it go last night when you came home I had to stir it up again. I wasn't angry you left, I know you did it so Joey would not hear us fighting. We both did something we promised we would never do, we let work come between us at home." she sighed as she reached up and pushed a few stray strands of hair from Olivia's face. She loved that Olivia was growing it out again. "So let's promise right here, right now, that we will never allow work to come between us again. We can argue till we're blue in the face at work but when we walk through that door it's as if it never happened. When we're here we're Alex and Olivia, Joey's mommies' not ADA Cabot and Det. Benson."

Olivia grinned "I think that's a great idea. Besides, as proud as I am to be called Det. Benson I like the title Joey's mommy even better."

Alex kissed the brunette again before leaving to call Casey while Olivia called the captain. She could hear Joey begin to whimper in the other room and quickly heated a bottle. When she returned the bedroom to feed him her heart melted and her eyes welled up with tears. Olivia was laying on the bed with Joey resting on her chest. Alex walked over and climbed into bed before carefully lifting the infant into her arms. As she fed him she thought about how happy she was to have the two people she loved more than anything in the world curled up with her.

By the time Joey finished eating Alex was barely keeping her eyes open. She did something they swore they wouldn't start, but she figured one time couldn't hurt. Alex settled down into the bed and rolled onto her side laying Joey between her and Olivia. She fell asleep loving the fact that the last thing she saw before closing her eyes was Olivia and their son.