Warning for suggestive (but mostly not explicit) themes in this chapter. Enjoy!

They let Joshua take the next day off school so they could spend the day together. Alex had wanted to get things back to normal as quickly as possible, but Olivia had wanted to take advantage of her presence, lest it be stolen from them once again.

Olivia made Alex and Joshua breakfast in bed, and Alex couldn't quite stop her tears when she took the first bite of banana pancake. This was Olivia, always treating her like a princess, making her her favorite breakfast in bed and the three of them cuddling, even when she didn't deserve it. She'd put her family through so much pain, and still they loved her.

Olivia climbed onto the bed and wrapped her arms around her girlfriend and their son, holding them both in her arms. "I love you, princess," she whispered, kissing the crown of Alex's head.

Alex put down her plate and snuggled closer to Olivia, but Joshua prevented her from moving too close. "Joshua sandwich!" he cried, pushing his mothers apart so he didn't get squished between them.

Alex laughed. "Sorry, sweetie."

Joshua picked up Alex's discarded pancake and took a bite, sprinkling crumbs over the duvet. Olivia handed him the plate and shook her head. "Uh uh. Eat over the plate or don't eat in this bed, Josh. This is a no mess zone!"

Joshua grinned, taking another bite but obediently eating over the plate. "Sorry."

The three of them snuggled for hours, just taking comfort from each other's presence. Alex felt just awful. She could have had this a year ago, if only she'd believed in Olivia, and trusted that she would never do anything to hurt Alex. And she knew that. She knew Olivia loved her.

She leaned toward Olivia and whispered, "I'm sorry."

"No, baby, don't be sorry. You're here now. That's what matters."

Alex smiled at Joshua. "Are you still the checkers master, Joshy?"

He nodded enthusiastically. "Will you play with me?"

"Sure."

They spent the day playing checkers, watching movies, cuddling on the couch and laughing. Joshua told Alex all about school, about his friends, about everything he'd been up to for the last few weeks. Alex was just happy to be here – happy that her family still wanted her here.


That night, Alex and Olivia made Joshua sleep in his own bed. "We need some Mommy time," Olivia told him.

Joshua made a face. "Too much information. I'm out of here!"

Olivia rethought what she'd just said, then she got it. "That wasn't what I'd meant at all!"

Alex laughed. "Whatever. It's just as well." She grinned at Olivia. "I think some 'Mommy time' is quite a good idea."

"Mm. Where did you put your glasses?"

"In their case, where they belong. Why?"

Olivia smiled slyly. "'Mommy time' isn't complete without those sexy glasses of yours."

Alex giggled. "Cut it with the euphemisms. If you want to have sex, just say so."

Olivia grinned. "I want to have sex."


Two hours later, Alex was in Olivia's arms, her head resting on Olivia's shoulder. She couldn't get over how good making love with Olivia had felt. There was no pain, no dirtiness that engulfed her like a caul, no sadness, no fear.

Olivia was fast asleep, lightly snoring, her breath tickling Alex's cheek. Olivia's rhythmic breathing comforted her, and she snuggled closer to the detective. Olivia was so good to her. Even when it came to the fading bruises on her back, her arms, her thighs, Olivia had treated them with utmost tenderness, kissing them gently before continuing her trail down Alex's body. Blessed Olivia, who didn't ask, who didn't say a word, whose gaze didn't even linger on the deep contusions marring her fair skin.

She wrapped Olivia's arms more tightly around her and the detective stirred, smiling lazily at Alex, threading her fingers through fairy blonde hair. "That was incredible," she repeated for the third time that evening.

"It was," agreed Alex, then smiled slyly. "Do you think we're diminishing our son's innocence? After all, he's only in the next room."

"Mm. I'm very quiet when I come."

Alex laughed. "No, you're not! You moan all over the place."

"But you love me that way, pardoning any puns."

Alex grinned. "That's right."

"You're incredible, baby. That's what you do to me."

"Aren't there other things that make me . . . incredible?"

"Yes, but your abilities in bed most of all."

Alex leaned in for a kiss. "Love you, Liv."

"Love you, too, baby."

Alex nestled closer to Olivia, her voice barely audible as she said, "I missed you so much."

"I missed you, too, honey. I – I called you. But you never called back. I was going to go see you, but then I read in the newspaper that you'd gotten married and I thought – it doesn't matter. You're here now, with me."

"Forever," promised Alex. "I'll never ever leave you again, Liv. I love you."

"And I love you."

Review if you want to know what happens in the next chapter!