RESIDENCE OF SOPHIA BENSON & CASEY NOVAK

5555 COMMONWEALTH STREET

MANHATTAN


Finally, the work day was over, and it was evening. Sophia was home, and getting ready to go out to dinner.

Casey sat on their bed and watched Sophia (kind of hungrily) as she rifled through the closet in just her bra and underpants, looking for something that would be appropriate to wear out.

Of course, Casey knew Sophia had to go, but she was tempted to keep her home and have sex, or even just some heavy petting. So much of the emotion she was feeling from the day, especially the memories that just the mention of Dana Lewis brought up, was fresh yet in her soul. She felt like she could cry at the drop of a hat. The only reason she had been keeping it together was because she hadn't wanted to freak Melissa out, and she'd gotten home from work before Sophia had.

More than anything, though, Casey wanted to take Sophia on the bed, and make Sophia forget her name. She was good at making that happen. She also wanted Sophia to help her forget her name. But that would have to wait.

Especially because Sophia was being uncharacteristically quiet.

"What are you thinking?" Casey asked her.

"Just that it feels weird to go out while we don't know where Aria's and Serena's mothers are."

"I can understand that guilt because I feel it, too, when I have to leave the squad during crunch time. I leave them, knowing that I have a bed and warm home waiting for me, even though they're all still burning the midnight oil."

"How do you handle the guilt, or at least the justification to walk away?"

"I tell myself that I did my part, and that if Olivia and her squad need me, they'll call." Casey sighed. "I know I'm not exactly a regular civilian because of my job, and that you're definitely a regular civilian, but does it help?"

"Yes. Thanks, Red."

Sophia emerged from the closet, a few outfits in her arms and she set them down on the bed before kissing Casey soundly on the lips.

"You always know just what to say." she kissed Casey more, going lower. "I wish I had time to take you like I wanted to."

"Great minds think alike… oh…"

Casey's voice came out in a soft moan when Sophia began to openly place hot, lusty kisses on her cleavage. She moaned more when Sophia began hitting her sweet spot.

Thankfully, Melissa was already asleep for the night, so they could get frisky without running the risk of her walking in. Sophia continued down Casey's body, and when she got to her thighs, she nipped gently with kissed and then slid a hand under her skirt waistband. Her hand came to rest on Casey's core; she had her spellbound. They both loved to touch each other, but Sophia had never touched her like this before. Casey had wanted it, but was in no hurry to push her. The fact that Sophia had gotten to this level by herself melted her heart.

"What do you think?" Sophia asked. "Should I keep going?"

"Yes, please."

With that, Sophia removed Casey's skirt and this time, put a hand under the hem of her underpants. Quite lovingly, she put her hand back where it had been and began stroking Casey between her legs. The redhead became spellbound once more, and even pulled her underpants down.

"I love you, Casey." Sophia told her. "I love you."

Casey spread her legs and guided Sophia's hand so it was moving in a way that she liked.

"I love you, too, Sophia. I can't until forever with you. Oh!"

Sophia had picked up the pace, and was now even doing a trick with her fingers. Casey began moaning more, and felt gravitated to the spot because it felt so wonderful. Even her moans were being punctuated with small gasps of pleasure.

No words were spoken for a few moments, while Sophia worked. Then she sang softly to her.

Tell me I'm your baby

And you'll never leave me

Tell me that you'll kiss me

Forever

Whisper that you love me

That you'll never leave me

Be mine for always

I'll be yours forever

Ooh, ooh

Ooh

Ooh, ooh

Ooh

Tell me I'm your baby

And you'll never leave me

Tell me that you'll kiss me

Forever

As the song finished, Casey couldn't hold on any longer.

"Oh, Sophia!" she cried before falling back on the bed as she came.

"I love you, beautiful." Sophia wiped Casey's brow and then kissed her on the lips. "I'm going to go clean up and then get ready to go."

Casey said nothing to that, only because she was seeing stars, and she knew exactly what was going to happen when Sophia came home.


By the time Sophia left the house, she was dressed in a nice blouse and skirt, tights, and leggings. On her her feet were here favorite warm boots, and for good measure to go along with her jacket, she would be making use of her hand muffler, since she could never keep track of gloves or mittens for too long. Her hair was done up in a braid, and her makeup was done just right in a way that said she was about to go have dinner with her mothers. She just didn't know yet that what she was going to learn tonight would change her life.

With one last kiss to a still-dazed Casey, Sophia put on a jacket, gathered her purse and keys, and stepped outside to catch a lift.


THE NIGHTINGALE

GRAND CENTRAL STATION DINING CONCOURSE

MANHATTAN

7:00 PM


Apparently, Alex Cabot was a foodie.

Upon invitation from Olivia to come along to dinner when they realized they both had important things to tell Sophia, she picked out a restaurant on the dining concourse at Grand Central Station. It was called The Nightingale, and served slightly upscale, but still very delicious food. Alex had even put her foot down about being the one to pay for their food and drink.

However, she was feeling a little nervous about what she had to tell Sophia, so she wasn't there when Sophia arrived to the table.

"Is that Alex's jacket?" Sophia pointed to a jacket draped over the back of a third chair.

Olivia nodded. "I hope you don't mind—I have some things to tell you about, but so does she. She just has the jitters right now."

"I've handled everything else life has thrown at me; anything that comes from Alex, I can take. I love her as much as I love you."

"You're a really good daughter, Sophia." Olivia patted her offspring's hand, and then looked around. "Look. Here she comes."

True enough, Alex was returning from a corridor at the back of the dining room that Sophia presumed led to the restrooms. She was dressed nicely, and all traces of nervousness were gone.

When she sat in her seat, she smiled at Sophia. "Hey, you. Do you mind me coming to dinner, too?"

Sophia shook her head and returned the smile. "Not at all. Are you okay, mom?"

"Yep!"

Alex was met with two identical 'as-if' expressions.

"Okay, okay." she sighed. "I'll share, for sure, but Olivia should still go first."

This time, the lieutenant tripped over air because she'd been pondering a sore subject—Simon, her brother. Ever since she'd mentioned to Sophia that she wasn't an only child, she'd been wondering when the right occasion to talk to her daughter about her uncle, and the train wreck that he was. Tonight was the night, but she only just came to that conclusion as Alex deiced that she was going to be the first one to talk.

Finally, she said, "Sophia, how much do you know about Alex's original run with SVU?"

"Everything," Sophia replied. "Including why she was forced out."

"The adventure I'm about to fill you in on happened while she was gone—maybe a year or so after Casey showed up."

Sophia put her drink down. "What happened?"

"It involves us meeting Dana Lewis on a case, and then finding out along the way that she was undercover FBI the whole time."

"What the hell. How does it end?"

"With Dana asking me to go undercover in Oregon to fight against hippie ecoterrorists. I had successfully infiltrated them undercover here, without really trying too hard."

"You did what, with whom because why?"

"Buckle in, kid. This is going to be a bumpy ride."

Apprehension turned into incredulity as Olivia regaled Sophia in the squad's adventures—and misadventures—with Former Special FBI Agent Dana Lewis. However, she also told Sophia about Dana's downfall. By the end, Sophia felt sorrow for Dana Lewis.

"It's a shame about her downfall and being put away, but it sounds like she was good before that… her track record for injuring Elliot notwithstanding." Sophia sighed heavily. "I believe the squad will find her and Bella, and I believe that she will hold Serena again, but now I really have to know—is the baby going to be a Benson or a Cabot?"

At this, Alex answered first. "About that… Sophia, your mom and I are more than ready to be her mothers, but only so long as you're prepared to be Serena's big sister."

Sophia's heart skipped a beat, and she turned to Olivia. "I'll admit that I felt a little jealous when I saw you holding Serena earlier."

"Because she looks like you?"

"And because you probably got to hold her longer than you held me when I was born." Sophia let out a shaky breath and offered Olivia a smile. "But now I understand why you felt a pull to Serena—her mother is very special to you."

"She is…" Olivia said softly as she did her best from being swept away in the emotion.

"But it's because of that, and because I know you have more than enough love to go around for any kid that takes your heart, I got over the jealousy."

Olivia let out a breath. "Oh, thank you, Sophia Rose."

Olivia's offspring winked at her. "You're very welcome."

"And sibling rivalry and jealousy is quite normal."

"That's what Amanda told me when I talked to her about my feelings. I realized that she's right."

Sophia turned back to Alex.

"I'm so ready to be Serena's big sister, but is Noah aware of her yet?"

"No." Alex confessed. "I think your mom has another thing she wants to talk you about."

Over the main course of dinner, Olivia told Sophia all about Simon, and how she'd met him. She even told Sophia who they had in common and why. Sophia also learned about Simon's kids, Ty and Little Olivia, and because Olivia was in such a sharing mood, she told Sophia of baby Grace, the premature daughter of Gladys Dalton. Olivia still visited the little one's grave, and even had her blanket in a memory box, despite having been her mother for only a day. Last but not least, Sophia learned about Calvin Arliss, although Olivia hurried over him because she didn't want to have a breakdown in public over another lost child.

While it was true that Sophia adored her mother, and was extremely proud of her for being an upstanding member of the NYPD, her admiration and respect grew for her even more that night.

The family chose to skip dessert so they could get to Noah and Serena in due fashion, so after their table had been cleared, and the server had taken the attorney's charge card to pay with, Alex handed Sophia a present.

It was a sonogram.

"Oh, is this the baby?" Sophia asked, turning to mush as she took it and looked it over.

"Yes." Alex chirped. "We were keeping the gender and the name secret, but now that Serena is here, our priorities have changed."

Sophia realized that this was what Alex had come to dinner to tell her, so she sat up straighter. "So do Noah, Serena, and I have a new brother, or a new sister?"

"A new sister. She even has a name."

Sophia could hardly stand waiting. "What is it, please?"

"Diana Pearl."

Of the three women at the table, Sophia was the first one to break from the emotion.

But only because she was filled with nothing but joy.


MERCY GENERAL HOSPITAL

PEDIATRICS INTENSIVE CARE UNIT

365 WEST 32nd STREET

MANHATTAN


Of course, Noah had been very surprised when his mothers returned home with Sophia in tow, but he was even more surprised when Olivia told him they were going to meet his and Sophia's new baby sister.

In a private room at the hospital, Olivia sat in a rocking chair, and Noah was on his tiptoes beside her, to get a look at Serena. She was tiny, and asleep, but he didn't mind her.

"What do you think, buddy?" Olivia asked him. "This is your sister—Serena!"

He regarded her and then very delicately, placed a kiss on the baby's forehead before looking back up at Olivia. "I love her."

Olivia's heart soared. "Oh, I'm so glad, Noah!"

The little boy just made a trilling noise of approval and then crossed the room, over to where Sophia was. He leaned against her and held up his arms, letting out a tired whine.

It was past his bedtime, and he'd reached his limit of being awake.

"I know that sound." Sophia scooped her brother up and set him on her hip. "Rest your eyes now, Noah James. I've got you."

Sophia began rubbing his back, and this put him on the express train to Snoozeville. He was out like a light, his head on her shoulder.

Sophia sat on the window seat behind her, and adjusted Noah so that he was comfortable. She also felt Agnes and Esme moving around inside her, curious about who was invading their personal space. Thankfully, they weren't kicking her or each other. Again.

Sophia couldn't wait to hold her daughters, but she could make up for it with Noah.

And maybe Serena.

"Mom," Sophia called softly to Olivia. "Is it okay if I hold Serena, too?"

"Sure, sweetheart. Here you go."

Olivia deposited Serena into Sophia's arms. The baby didn't stir, and just like she had with Noah, Sophia lulled her sister to sleep with ease, too. She was a pro at this.

"You okay?" Olivia asked.

Sophia smiled at her. "Yeah, I'm okay, mom. I'm just really happy, and I fell in love with being a big sister all over again."

"That makes me so happy. Do you need anything?"

"I have an idea for something neat; a picture to send to Casey. And Amanda."

"Oh?"

"There are two sonograms in my purse—the one of Diana, and a new one that I just got in the mail today from Beth Anne, of the triplets."

Olivia smiled. "Would you like me to get the pictures, so we can take a picture of you with all of your little siblings?"

Sophia blushed. "Yes, please."

Olivia did just that, and then occupied her with sending it to the people she knew would appreciate it the most. Alex put the sonograms back, and then thoughtfully spread a blanket from the closet over her children. They all became extremely content.

Sophia even became lost in her own world, caught up in listening to the sound of her siblings breathing.

And that was alright with her.