Olivia read through her note twice, although by the end, it was more a full-blown letter. She was also filled with so much emotion that she wanted to cry.
After what seemed an eternity, Olivia put the missive back and turned to Sophia, still in the rocking chair.
"Sophia," she said, trying not to cry. "I need to hold Serena."
Olivia's tone didn't leave room for any suggestion. In fact, it was full of command.
"Okay, mom. I think Casey can help me out here."
A few moments later, Sophia had her shirt and things back on, while Olivia now the one in the rocking chair, holding Serena skin-to-skin, too. The second Sophia put Serena on Olivia's chest, the baby relaxed and even began smiling; Olivia was far less tense than Sophia had been. She would have dropped off to sleep if she hadn't been so interested in her.
Meanwhile, Olivia was hugging Serena, and giving her kisses as a torrent of emotions coursed through her body and mind.
Alex just stroked her fiancée's hair. "What is it?"
Olivia answered her question with one of her own. "Will you get Serena's bottle and pull up a chair? This affects you, Sophia, Casey, and me, but especially the two of us."
Alex did as asked, and while Olivia held Serena, Alex began feeding her bottle to get her started. However, Serena found her hand and held on tight, and immediately, Alex was just as taken with Serena as Olivia was. Clearly, something special was about to happen.
Sophia watched her mothers fawn over Serena, and just for the briefest of moments, she felt a brief stab of jealousy. But then she dashed the feeling away again, just as quickly, because she loved her life. And Serena was only a baby.
Rolling her eyes at her spaced out family, Casey picked up the paper and began reading aloud.
Olivia,
It's Dana. I know you never expected to her from me again, but I have a favor to ask, and if you're reading these words, then I'm dead or almost there.
This baby girl is my darling Serena Diamond Lewis. She's the last good thing I did, even though she was made against my will with a guard here called Bishop. My husband and my two older kids left me after you put me in jail, and none of them want to know me. I haven't seen any of them since I was pregnant, and asked them to take Serena. They said no.
The only reason I still have my girl is because she has trouble feeding, and I don't know how to help her yet. But Serena is the light of my life.
She'll be three months old on the first of November, and she loves being held, being sung to, and to be given kisses. Will you adopt her, Olivia? Please? I wouldn't ask anyone else, and you're her last best hope. If you don't, then Bishop and his goons will hide her for good.
You don't have to because of how I burned you, but if you decide you will take my daughter, then this is me saying that I, Dana Marie Lewis, am bequeathing custody of my daughter, Serena Diamond Lewis, to you, Olivia Benson.
I don't mind if you even become mama because she'll never be able to remember me, but tell her that I loved her more than anyone, and that I named her Serena Diamond because she gives me peace, and she's precious to me like a diamond.
I really have to go.
Thank you.
—Dana Marie Lewis
Casey put the letter down, and immediately hugged Olivia.
She remembered Dana very well, although more as the enigmatic FBI agent who was half the reason that the courtroom shootout from twelve years ago had even happened. She also remembered that Elliot had a tendency to become physically injured whenever Dana was around because of the woman's well-meaning, but extremely reckless nature. Casey also remembered that because of Dana, Olivia had gone on an undercover mission to Oregon and come back a different person because she'd found herself.
Now, Dana was in some serious trouble—maybe even with Bella Carisi—and here was little innocent Serena, in desperate need of a new family, new parents, and a new life.
Olivia really was her last best hope.
Sophia gave a pointed cough to remind them that she hadn't left. "Who is Dana, please? What did she do?"
Olivia let out a shaky breath. "She's someone the squad knew a long time ago, and she gave me a kick in the pants when I didn't realize I needed one. Dana is also one of the biggest heartbreaks of my life."
Taking this in, and trying not to see Olivia's very sad expression, Sophia regarded Serena for a second time. Trouble feeding or not, Serena had guzzled her milk formula down and since been burped and cleaned up. Now, she was fast asleep in Olivia's arms and even resting one of her tiny hands on an upper part of one of the lieutenant's breasts because she found it comforting.
And even though there was the 'all babies look alike rule,' Sophia could see that just by happenstance, the baby had the same tan complexion as herself and Olivia.
She was also yawning and smiling in her sleep as Olivia and Alex took turns giving her kisses and caressing her little cheeks.
Once more, Sophia felt jealous.
"Did I just hand you my new sister?" she finally asked.
Alex looked up at her. "Maybe."
Olivia looked up at her, too. "Call me after you get off work, and we'll meet. I'll tell you about Dana."
"Okay, but what about Bella?"
"We'll worry about her, Sophia. You—"
DING!
Olivia's phone beeped with a new text. Alex read it for her.
"It's from Amanda. She says that she's on the way up here with Doctor Larom." she told Olivia.
"Is Amanda coming to get my statement?" Sophia wanted to know.
Olivia bobbed her head. "Yes. She just had somethings to attend to at The Watering Can first."
Alex got to her feet and stretched. "Then I'm going to go check on Dominick and Aria."
"I'll be right behind you."
This was from Casey, and when Alex nodded in acknowledgment, Casey turned to Sophia.
"Can we talk somewhere else?"
Out in the hallway, Sophia pulled her girlfriend aside, out of the main flow of any foot traffic.
"What's wrong?" Sophia asked her. "Did Dana do something to you, too?"
"Not on purpose, but yes. Remember the story about the courtroom shooting?"
"I do." Something clicked in Sophia's brain. "Wait—was she the one who…?"
"She wasn't the primary shooter, no, but thanks to her presence and actions, I fell the wrong way and got hurt."
Sophia grimaced. "Stitches, or a scar?"
"Both, and because of that scar, I fall under the category of 'people who have body joints that act up when it's cold outside.' In my case, it's my left shin."
"Does it stiffen?"
"Yeah, and sometimes my thigh does, too."
Sophia spoke hurriedly, spotting Amanda coming down the hallway with Doctor Larom. "We can talk about this later, and if your leg—or any part of your body, for that matter—is 'acting up,' I'll take care of you."
Sophia's tone came out in a purr, and Casey knew exactly what she meant. Her pulse quickening, and baby Henry kicking, Casey gave Sophia a kiss.
"I'll call you later, lover." she said. "I love you."
Sophia returned the kiss. "I love you, too."
She watched Casey go, and finally, Amanda and Larom reached her. The latter looked around, curious.
"Where's your mother?"
Sophia pointed to the door. "Minding the baby."
Larom nodded in understanding. "Thank you, for everything you've done, Sophia. Aria and Serena could've turned out really bad, but thanks to you, they didn't. They'll be fine. I'll go check on Serena again, but you're free to go whenever you wish."
"Thank you."
The doctor nodded and took her leave.
"Come on." Amanda told Sophia. "I know a place we can talk."
Amanda led them down the hall to a conference room she knew about, and when they were both comfortable on a sofa, she began.
"How are you?"
Sophia shrugged. "How should I feel?"
"Most people who find babies like you did today feel stressed out."
"Because they want to help as much as they can?"
Amanda nodded. "Bingo."
Sophia sat back and examined her feelings. "I'm relieved that Aria is safe, and that Dominick is with her. I'm relieved that Serena is also safe."
"Serena?" Amanda echoed.
"The baby…"
Sophia sighed as yet again, she remembered being jealous.
Amanda put her 'big sister' hat on. "Alright. What's wrong?"
"You should talk to Olivia to get all the details, but she and Alex are hopelessly in love with Serena. They might even adopt her."
"But…?"
"Serena's got the same skin tone as me, and my parents positively fawned over her. I think Olivia was just in another world because Serena must look like I did at that age."
Amanda digested her sister's words, but called her on her undertone. "Sophia Rose, are you jealous of Serena?"
"I don't know." Serena confessed. "Maybe? But she isn't even my sister. I didn't feel any jealousy towards Noah—and I still don't—because he's already two, and then Beth Anne's triplets and the baby that Alex is carrying haven't even born yet."
"Sibling rivalry is very normal, my friend."
"Are you sure?"
Amanda nodded. "I am. I love Kim, because she's my sister, but we fought viciously when we were little. And we were so scrappy. Call my mom or Blue—they can tell you all kinds of stories."
"Okay." Sophia said. "That makes me feel better, Amanda. Thanks."
She blew out a breath when she felt two tiny pairs of heels kick her.
"Too bad Agnes and Esme missed the memo; they're kicking each other and me. Again. They're actually much calmer at the store."
"Then tell me about what you saw behind it."
Sophia promptly told Amanda everything she could remember.
"I didn't see anything like a suspicious person," she said when she was finished. "But you know the blanket I found in the stroller?"
"Yes, I do."
"Serena doesn't have it now, but I'd hate for her to lose it because I didn't say something."
Amanda patted her sister's arm affectionately. "I'll see to it that she gets it back. Anything else?"
"I would appreciate finding out where Aria will be sleeping tonight, just for my own peace of mind, what with Bella being MIA, and all."
"I'll keep you in the loop about that, too."
"Thanks."
"You're very welcome." Amanda got to her feet and help Sophia up, too. "You know, with all the help you keep giving us with cases, you might have missed your calling to be a detective."
Sophia laughed. "Aria and Serena are just lucky that I enjoy being a florist a lot more. Speaking of which…"
"Of course." Amanda held the door open for Sophia. "I'll call you later."
Sophia approved of this and gave her sister a hug before she took her leave, too.
Amanda went back to Serena's room and knocked on the door. She entered the room when Olivia gave her permission, and she even closed the door behind her again, but her heart jumped into her throat when she turned around.
Olivia was cuddling with Serena yet, and still, Serena was fast asleep on Olivia's chest. Both of them looked like the epitome of contentment. For a scene like this, Amanda didn't blame Sophia for the jealousy, but she wasn't going to say anything because it was up to Sophia to work through that on her own.
"Amanda," Olivia said when she moved closer. "Come say hello to Serena Diamond Lewis. Her mother is Dana."
Amanda knew all about Dana Lewis, even if the only period of time she'd been around her was to watch her downfall. She'd never forget how heartbroken Olivia had been after.
"Oh, my God."
Olivia nodded. "Yep."
"What would you like me to do right now?"
"Be my partner for the rest of this case; the others won't quite get it. And please just sit with me."
Amanda immediately sat in the chair that Alex had been using earlier.
"Serena is beautiful." she offered.
Olivia nodded and gave Serena's forehead a kiss. A happy sigh could be heard from the baby.
"They say all babies look alike," Olivia said softly. "But I can't get enough of Serena right now. Sophia looked just like this when she was born."
To keep from accidentally saying something she shouldn't about Sophia's jealousy, Amanda changed lanes.
"Five more minutes?" she asked.
"Five more minutes." agreed Olivia.
