Well hello there.

She was full on waddling at this point into the squadroom.

Four more weeks, she kept saying to herself but she was officially over this.

Olivia was on strict desk duty and tried her best to refrain from even being at the hospitals for statements. It was obvious that maternity leave was the next best thing for her, but she couldn't imagine just waiting at home for this baby to come. Work kept her busy even if it was mainly just paperwork.

"Good morning, Liv!" Amanda sat at her desk already getting a start on her day.

"Is it?" Olivia bit back and waddled her way to her office and slammed her door shut. She was in a horrid mood and didn't really have a reason why other than she was the most uncomfortable she had ever been. She collapsed into her office chair and just sat for a moment as she caught her breath and rubbed along her swell.

"You wanna talk about it?" Amanda had entered without even knocking. She didn't take any of Olivia's mood swings to heart. It was almost a year ago that she had been in the same exact spot she was in. She took a seat across from her with the donut she had bought this morning with Olivia in mind.

"I'm sorry for snapping at you," she breathed heavily as the baby kicked her hard on her side. "This morning had just been one of the worst I've felt. I yelled at Peter for no reason and left him on bad terms," she really was being a bitch this morning.

"Well…" Amanda handed over the donut and Olivia accepted it no doubt. "I know it's annoying to blame it on your hormones, but I mean that really is it- that's all. Our bodies are changing and getting us ready to squeeze an eight pound baby out. So yeah, we're a little irrational sometimes," that earned a laugh from Olivia. Amanda was good at that. She always found a way to make Olivia feel so much better, which she wouldn't have ever imagined their relationship being like.

"I guess I should apologize to Peter, huh?" Her eyebrow rose and she half smiled when she took a bite from her donut. This morning she was getting dressed for work and in so much pain. Peter had pushed for her to stay home and catch up on resting, of course she told him no but he kept on pushing at her.

"No way! He's the reason you're in this position," Olivia chuckled and realized Amanda was partially right, but she was going to call Peter and make things right from this morning. He did so much for her throughout these last nine months, and her yelling at him was the last thing he deserved.

"You are so right but I think I'm still gonna call him," Amanda scoffed and playfully rolled her eyes at her. He was fifty percent responsible for her being in this predicament, but he had been such a trooper through her hormonal mood swings.

"You must really love that man," she shook her head and chuckled.

"More than he'll ever know."

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

It was only seven in the evening and Olivia was already home having dinner with Noah. It became a mandatory thing between her and Peter that she be home no later than 6. It gave him peace of mind that she wasn't overworking herself. Which she didn't have any intention of fighting him on. It became a countdown to how much longer it would be until she was officially full term and could go into labor at any moment.

She sat on the couch in the living room watching the news while Noah sat at the island of the kitchen working on his spelling. Olivia normally stayed away from the news after spending her days surrounded by the crimes in the city already. She had heard through the grapevine that Rob Miller could possibly be let out on bail, and it had her a bit on edge. In the back of her mind she knew he would find a way to ease his way into being let out on bond.

Peter reassured her that he and his team wouldn't let Rob get away with anything. As much as she trusted Peter to be true to his word, she knew Rob Miller a lot more power than Peter could control.

"In the latest news today, Rob Miller, who was held in federal custody, has been released today on bail," she felt her heart drop to her stomach hearing the words flow from the tv.

"No fucking way," she said under her breath and sat up in her seat.

"What's wrong mama?" Noah picked up on her change in demeanor.

"Nothing baby," she looked over her shoulder at him and turned up the corners of her mouth.

"Are you mad at me?"

"No Noah. I'm not mad at you at all," she hurriedly turned down the volume of the TV and used the arm of the couch to help her to her feet. Her body sat on the edge of the bar stool, leaning just the slightest to give Noah attention. He was working on his spelling words, and she was so proud of him for doing most of them on his own.

"How do you spell believe?"

"Well how about we sound it out?" Olivia tried her best to focus and listen to him work on his spelling, but her attention was still drawn to the TV mounted above the fireplace. She couldn't believe it but she also could. There was always this possibility but she had hoped it had happened a lot later, not while she was due to give birth honestly any day it felt like.

She heard the key to the door turn and was thankful Peter had gotten home just in time before her anxiety set in. When he appeared at the end of the hallway leading from their door and past the kitchen, she seen by the look on his face that he had heard the news too.

"Hey dad!" Noah looked up from his homework and Peter came over to kiss the top of his head. This was all the difference after having a hard day. He was so used to coming home to this same condo except it was dark and no one was there waiting for him.

"You working on your spelling?" he peeked over his shoulder. Noah nodded, a furrow in his brow as he worked on writing out one of his last words.

"How're you?" he kissed Olivia's temple and ran a hand over her swell before going around the island and into the kitchen to grab himself a beer. It had been a long end to his night.

"I'm guessing things didn't go well after hearing about Miller?" she turned off the TV and turned to look over at him standing on the other side of the island. His hands spread on either side of him and his head hung between his shoulders.

"We're gonna get him," he said looking over at her. He felt some strange need to protect her and Noah. Miller assaulted a well known attorney. He didn't want a well known lieutenant to be next.

"This couldn't be more perfect timing," she said sarcastically and ran a hand over her belly.

"I'm gonna order for a car to be outside the building at all times."

"For once I'm not going to argue with you," Olivia was far from scared but she had Noah to think about, and their baby who was yet to be born.

"All done!" Noah dropped his pencil completely oblivious to the conversation going on around him.

"Great honey. How about we go get ready for a bath?" She kissed the top of his head and followed him to his room, finding it best to discuss this breaking news at a later time.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Noah has a half day today at school, therefore Olivia took it upon herself to have a half day at work as well. She made an effort more than ever these days to spend as much time with him as possible. Once noon came around she picked him up from school, and went to lunch together. She shot a text to Peter hoping he would be able to meet them for a quick bite, and was happy to see he was headed their way.

"Do you think I should get the spaghetti?" Noah looked over his menu thoughtfully as he sat across from her.

"You always get spaghetti," she shook her head at him grinning and returned to looking at her own menu through her glasses.

"Should I get something else?"

"You get whatever you want," she took a sip from her hot tea still trying to warm herself up. Noah tried to focus on choosing what to order before their waiter came, but he had gotten easily distracted by the bearded man staring at them from afar.

"Mom?"

"Yes?" Olivia hadn't even looked up from her menu.

"Who's that man that keeps looking over at us?" Before she could even look over her shoulder towards where he had been, she was met with the hand of Rob Miller on her shoulder. Almost instinctively her body moved out of his grasp and up at his cold and heartless smile.

"Lieutenant Benson, it's good to see you."

"Rob, what are you doing here?" She felt knots forming in her stomach just being in the presence of this monster.

"This must be your son Noah?" He completely ignores her question and zoned in on the little boy sitting across from her.

"Are you a friend of my moms?"

"I am- a good friend. My name is Rob Miller," he extended his hand out to him. The use of the word good is not lost on her. She looked up at him as he shook Noah's hand, debating on telling off the sick SOB in front of her son.

"I suggest you walk away and quickly before we both end up making a scene in this restaurant," Peter had appeared behind Olivia, and she had never been more relieved to feel his hands on her shoulders.

"Just when I thought we could all put things behind us," Miller took a step further back and placed both of his hands in his pockets.

"Don't ever approach Noah or Olivia again. If I find out that you did-"

"You'll what?"

"Please Rob just go," Olivia held up her hands in protest. Not here. Not in front of Noah. He was at an age where he understood a lot more of what was going on.

"I'll be seeing you all a lot sooner rather than later," Rob stood and looked coldly over at Peter, making his heart nearly pound out of his chest. It's a protective feeling he hasn't felt before- at least not since Pam.

"I can't wait," Peter grinned over at him confidently not backing down one bit. Olivia felt his hands that rested on her shoulders finally relax when Miller back away from them, and successfully exited the restaurant. Peter waited until he saw that asshole completely round the corner outside, before taking a seat.

"Is he a bad man?" Noah looked over at Peter with inquisitive eyes.

"Let's just say he's definitely not a friend of mommy, and if you ever see him again you get an adult right away," Olivia tried to keep her tone light and free of worry and panic. He was a smart kid and picked up on everything.

"He doesn't sound very good at all."

That was for damn sure.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

They spent the entirety of their lunch avoiding the discussion of what had just happened with Miller, in an effort to keep Noah as far away from it all as possible. It had sent them both into a frenzy though. Olivia had been communicating nonstop with Fin while she was home. Peter did as much as possible to get information on the trial, and going over the details of Nikki's case nonstop. This case was different than the others. Not only was Miller a man with power; he was a man who had power within law enforcement. Admittedly, it helped a lot having Peter so close to her and being able to work as a power team. It gave her peace of mind that they might actually have a chance at putting him away.

In six months time everything will be so much more different. She'll have to put her trust in someone else to help her squad successfully put perps behind bars. Peter put an offer on a floor in a building in lower Manhattan, and she knew it was only a matter of time before he would be approved. Olivia was happy for him, this was for the best, but it left her anxious knowing she'd be walking alongside another ADA.

"Something told me to come straight here to find you," Olivia looked up from the rocking chair she sat in in the nursery. It's where she tended to go lately when she needed to find some quiet.

She was dressed in a silk nightgown and a black fluffy robe, with her hair only being held up by a clip. Her heels rocked her lightly back and forth with her hands running along her swell. Olivia was so big now. It would quite literally be only a few weeks until he would come to her just like this, but with their child nestled close to her instead.

"Anything new come up? Nikki still gonna testify?" He came over near her and leaned slightly against the crib with his arms crossed over his chest. Peter was still dressed completely in his suit, but his tie had been loosened and she could tell his day had gone downhill since running into Rob.

"She's given me her word that she still is but my gut is telling me to prepare for the inevitable. Trial starts next week," that's how it was with every victim. Their confidence could easily be dismantled and cause them to pull back from testifying. In this case Nikki was the only ounce of solid evidence they had.

"Why did this have to happen now?" Olivia looked up to whatever higher power may be above her, and prayed that this would all be over before the baby came.

"Look, I could sit here and tell you not to worry about this, but I know that's the complete opposite of what you'd do. I do want you to promise that you won't overwork yourself. Send your squad out to do all the heavy lifting," Peter pleaded with her. There's a moment of pause between them and he knew the wheels were just churning in her mind. "Olivia…"

"Fine," it was hard for her to agree but it wasn't just her life and health at stake anymore. This was her case. She was there by Nikki's side from the very moment she was admitted to the hospital. Olivia wanted to witness firsthand seeing this bastard go to jail. He'd wrecked so many lives- including theirs. Now that he was out she feared him getting a hold of Noah, or sending eyes out to keep tabs on her. She was far from scared but she definitely was left concerned.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

This morning had started just like any other. Peter woke her up, made her and Noah breakfast, and drove them both to school and work along with their assigned squad car trailing behind them. When she finally stepped off the elevators and onto the floor of the precinct everything had changed. Fin hadn't called her early this morning when their newest case came in. He didn't want to worry her about it, and quite frankly, he didn't want to deal with her showing up to the scene.

A teenage girl had been murdered. They had their theory that she was killed and pushed out of an airplane, dropping thousands of feet into the water. They managed to identify the body of Lindsay Parker, aged 16. Each one of them protested against Olivia going, but she wanted to be the one to break the news to her parents. She felt...helpless? These days she did less and less, especially with Nikki's ongoing case and her limited ability to help.

"You sure about this?" Amanda stood at the car door with it open to help Olivia step down out of the SUV. Olivia sat in the driver's seat taking calming breaths and running her hands along her swell. A Braxton Hicks coursed through her body for the second time already this morning, and she knew it had to be the stress of the last few days.

"I'm good, I just need a minute," her head laid on the head rest, her eyes closed as she tried to get it together.

"Liv, you know we've got this. This new case and Miller...you should be focusing on this baby!" That's what everyone wanted wasn't it? It's what she wanted for Amanda around this time in her pregnancy. She knew it was always out of concern, but nothing about just sitting at home waiting for labor sounded good.

"I appreciate your concern but I need to do this. I've been cooped up in my office these last few months, hounding you guys to get shit done. I'm useless around here and being a little hands on, especially right now is keeping me sane!" She blew out a deep breath sending her bangs flying up and she reached out her hand to Amanda for help down.

She understood the helplessness. Being stuck in between still being able to work, but also being too limited to what you were able to do.

"It'll all be over soon," Amanda ran her hand over Olivia's belly referencing not only the baby coming, but the case too.

"Let's get this over with," they approached the two story tan colored house. It had four columns perfectly even surrounding the front porch, that had beautifully manicured plants and bushes. This family definitely lived as cookie cutter as they came, and Olivia felt heartbreak knowing they were here to ruin that.

They knocked and rang the doorbell only waiting seconds before they were greeted by who she assumed was Hugo Parker.

"Hi I'm Lieutenant Benson and this is Detective Rollins-"

"Please tell me you found her! Vanessa, it's the police!" He shouted over his shoulder and stepped further back into their house to see if his wife may have been coming. It was moments before the thin blonde haired woman came shuffling around the corner and into the foyer.

"Please tell me you found her!" She hurried to her husband's side.

"Lieutenant...detective," Olivia thought she was suddenly in some sick nightmare when she seen Miller come around the corner too. She felt her stomach turn and she genuinely felt like she was going to be sick.

"What are you doing here?" She tried to keep her tone in check remembering the reason they were here.

"I'm just here to help, Lieutenant," he said simply. Miller didn't even bother to look in any other direction that wasn't Olivia.

"Rob has been a very good friend and attorney to the family for over a decade," Hugo added completely oblivious to the added tension to the room. "When Lindsay didn't come home we gave Rob a call," he still had his gaze locked into her and she wasn't backing down. It made her physically sick to even be in the same room as him, but she wouldn't let him ever know that.

"We need to speak with you about Lindsay," she broke their stare off and looked over at Vanessa and Hugo. Her eyes shifted between them and Rob, hoping that they understood that this would need to be discussed in private- family friend or not. Olivia wants to convince herself that this is all just some ill timed murder that Miller had been connected too; but there was an aching gut feeling that there some shadyness to this case that involved him.

Olivia and Amanda followed them into what appeared to be a sitting room. Miller followed not too far behind but kept his distance. They each settled onto the couhes, sitting adjacent to them and Miller stood behind against the wall listening in. Olivia ran her hand alongside her belly and closed her eyes for a moment to focus on breathing, suddenly feeling nauseous- it didn't go unnoticed by Amanda.

"Lindsay was supposed to be in Sag Harbour spending the weekend with her friend Brook. When we called her we got no answer, and when we called the house her parents said they were told the girls were spending the weekend here," teenagers lie, it was normal but the question was where did these girls go?

"We're going to need their contact information."

"Of course- we didn't call the police because Lindsay comes home late from parties all the time. We didn't want to embarrass her, but when it had been a day since we heard from her we called Rob Miller. He hired a private investigator for us to find where she was," there was a brief silence between them all and Olivia knew what would have to be said next.

"Did you guys manage to find Lindsay? Is that why you're here?" Olivia looked over at a Amanda briefly before reaching for the iPad they had brought along with them to ID Lindsay's body.

"That's part of the reason we're here but-" Olivia opened up a photo of Lindsays body from the shoulders up. "Is this your daughter?" She held up the iPad for Vanessa and Hugo to see. None of this ever got easier no matter how long she had been doing this job.

"Oh my god!" Hugo grabbed ahold of the iPad to get a better look.

"No, that's not our daughter! That's not Lindsay," Vanessa shook her head in denial, not wanting to believe that their daughter wasn't going to be coming home.

"What happened to our daughter?"

"We aren't exactly sure but we are working around the clock investigating this," Hugo handed the iPad back to her. "I'm so sorry that this has happened," Olivia offered her condolences. It was always heartbreaking, you never knew if the parents would handle the news of their child being gone well.

"What can we do to help? We want to get justice for our daughter, and for whatever son of a bitch who did this to go behind bars."

"If you could get us access to her social medias, her cell phone records, contact numbers-"

"I can get all of that for you," Rob interjected. Olivia held back from rolling her eyes. It wasn't the time or the place to tell him off.

"And what about her body? What are we supposed to do?" Hugo asked as he tried his best to comfort Vanessa who had been in full on tears. This deliverance of bad news never seemed to get easier.

"We will help you both get through all of that. Here's my card," Olivia began to stand with the help of Amanda grabbing a slight hold of her elbow to help her up. She dropped off the small rectangular paper and followed Amanda out the door. Just like she thought she heard Rob following behind them.

"Hey, I'm gonna meet you outside," Olivia looked over at Amanda who had a look of confusion on her face. She wasn't sure if this is the part where she intervenes and stops Olivia, or give her control she so desperately needs.

"Okay, I'll be waiting," she went ahead and pulled open the door.

"Do your clients know that you're a criminal?" She asked quietly. They were still in the Parker's home and as much as she loathed him she wouldn't go so far to disrespect them.

"They know that I was falsely accused...shouldn't we be focused on Lindsay? They just lost their daughter," there he goes trying to drive the direction of the conversation. Olivia is slowly learning his pattern, his constant need for control; that way he gets his way and continues to live with blood on his hands.

"She's my top priority but I need to know what exactly your role is in all of this? You're released on bail and exactly one week later your client's daughter ends up dead," She stepped closer to him.

"This is all just a tragic coincidence," he retorted not flinching one bit at her speculation.

"Yeah right," she scoffed.

"You know Lieuteniant some would say that you're showing signs of police bias," there he goes hinting at threats if he doesn't get his way.

"Okay," she chewed on the inside of her cheek and regretfully decided this is the moment she would walk away. He would see his day in court soon and finally pay for the pain he's caused. Olivia backed away from him despite how much she wanted to break his jaw. When she turned her back she felt the eyes of him burning into her and without looking back she opened that front door, and got the hell out of there.

XXXXXXXXXXXXX

Despite their interviews with Brooke, they were at a complete stand still. There was no solid evidence, nothing that led them to Rob Miller being apart of Lindsays death. They had shown a picture of him to Brooke and it was obvious that she didn't just know him- but had been shaken up by him. She denied ever seeing him and more specifically at the party they were at. The girls had gotten into trouble at a party full of predatory men in the Hamptons. Drugs, exchanging money, and underage girls had all taken place there. Yet, the one thing Brooke wouldn't admit to was seeing him.

Rollins and Carisi had even gone up to Green Haven to speak with a perp from their past that Brooke was able to ID. He had almost the same reaction as her. He wasn't going to testify against Rob Miller, even if it meant a shorter sentence for him.

Through this all she couldn't help but think about Noah. Everyone they had spoken to was terrified of Miller and it worried Olivia that maybe she should be a little more worried too. He wasn't stupid, he knew that they were looking into him, and from experience Olivia knew he would do anything to stop them from finding anything. She thought back to the night Peter had been pulled over with Noah in the car. It was a message from Miller and she was sickened to see what his next message would be.

" , no baby yet?" Mark one of the helpers during pickup greeted her as she waddled her way over to him. Instead of sending Noah off with Lucy today she felt it was best for him to be with either her or Peter until they had a better understanding of the case they were dealing with.

"Not yet. Just a few more weeks," her hands held the underside of her belly that had become so much heavier. "Is Noah out here?" She looked around for him and didn't see her curly haired child running around. He looked at his iPad and saw that he had already been checked out.

"It says here that Noah was picked up already."

"No that can't be right," panic had set in immediately.

"We got an email from you saying he would be picked up by one of your guys today. Two uniformed officers came maybe 30 minutes ago."

"I-I didn't send that," she stammered on her words as she tried to calm herself. This had to be Miller, he'd taken her son!

" I'm so sorry!" Mark tried to apologize but she wasn't having it. She reached for her phone in her back pocket and called the 1-6.

"Special Victims, this is Amanda-"

"It's Olivia, Noah isn't at his school. Send out an all city alert-"

"Olivia he's right here with me," she said calmly. "Everything is fine, we've got him. Two unis from the 21st said you approved his pick up today. Noah sat hi to your mama."

"Hi mom," she heard him say in the background and she felt her legs go completely numb. Noah has been taken away from her before and she wouldn't dare let that ever happen again.

"I'll be right there," she hung up and moved as fast as she could to get to her car before she saw Miller standing across the street. She was raging and if it was up to her she would use her gun to end all this right now.

"You son of a bitch!" She yelled as she approached him. "You sent unis to pick up my son?"

"Relax. Noah's fine," he was leaning against a black Town car dressed in his usual get up with a smug grin across his face.

"Don't you ever even think about my son again!"

"Or what?" He chuckled. "You're gonna empty your clip on me?"

"Don't test me," she was on the job and she didn't want to give him any type of leeway, but when it came to her son- her children, there were no boundaries.

"All you need to do is drop the charges and all of this will be over with."

"Not a damn chance!" She glared at him with so much hatred before turning her back to him and heading for her car. Once she hopped into the front seat and started the car she sat for a moment gripping the steering wheel, her knuckles turning white as she tried not to work herself up.

XXXXXXXXXXX

After checking up on Noah at the precinct she made sure to send him along with Lucy, making sure they had detail following them back to the condo. It was clear that she needed to cut her day short soon, but she wouldn't until she completely briefed her squad on her theories. If she was going to leave this early today she wanted to have peace of mind that they were all on the same page. Peter was there of course to observe any thing that may lead to solid evidence that Miller was behind this muder.

"Brooke put Alex Kay at that sex party, who put Miller at one in the Hamptons last September," Amanda stood that their board of photos they had thrown together, trying to physically connect the relations of everyone involved.

"Yes, which lead to this and hear me out," Olivia stood in front of everyone pacing with a hand to her aching back. "Miller was at that sex party and seen that one of his clients daughters was there, and panicked."

"And what evidence do you have of that?" Peter sounded irritated with not just this case but with her and the team as well. She took a step back mentally before jumping to conclusions. He wasn't upset with her.

"Well right now there's a few holes-"

"A few?" He had cut her off. A deep pause followed and the squad room fell silent. They had a stare off and the way he glared at her- she was officially fuming.

"My office, counselor?" She didn't even wait for a response and headed into her office, hearing his footsteps on her heels. Amanda, Fin, and Carisi looked on feeling awkward when the two of them got into it.

"What's the deal with you? Who's side are you on?" Olivia half shouted as he slammed the door shut.

"Not Rob Miller," He stalked his way towards the middle of the room where she stood, barely a foot away from her. His face contorted at her accusatory attitude towards him. It wasn't his soon to be wife that was looking back at him anymore.

"Well it doesn't appear that way," she snapped back. For some odd reason she wanted to cry. It hasn't been this way for them in quite some time, and she's beginning to see how conflict of interest will start to wreck them.

"Are you accusing me of something?"

"I'm only asking, Peter," her face became flushed as her breathing picked up. They were actually fighting. Olivia paced with both hands running along her belly, and Peter had noticed the added stress he was putting on her. He hated every single bit of this too. Going head to head with her today wasn't exactly on his list of things to do.

"I know that Miller is behind Lindsays murder, and Nikki's assault," she turned to face towards him. Her fingers pressed on her knitted brows, frustrated as ever.

"And exactly how do you know that?" Peter looked across at her with his hands stuffed into his pockets. He doesn't want to be upset with her but fuck, he kind of is.

"He-" this isn't how she planned on telling him, not while he was already so upset. "He sent unis to pick up Noah from school today. He was there. He told me to drop the charges against Nikki!" That was it. This wasn't just about the case anymore, it was about the safety of his fiancé and their kids. Whatever ounce of resistance he had left was completely gone out the window.

"Olivia, why didn't you tell me about this!"

"Because it wasn't relevant to the case!" She shouted back at him. He was flushed with red and his lips curled as he refrained from saying anything he would regret. This wasn't just business anymore, it was personal and he needed Olivia to get it through her head.

"Olivia…" he paused and took a deep breath. "It is completely relevant to the case! He threatened you and threatened Noah, our son," it hit her then square in the chest. It's become more than just about the case at this moment. He's lost his entire family, and after finally gaining a new one, it's already been threatened.

"I know I just…" she sighed into her hands and ran them over her face. The tears had fallen over and she feels so stupid for putting her son- their son's life on the line. It felt like no big deal at the time, just a guy with a lot of pull trying to prove something.

"Rob Miller is a criminal and we have nothing. He's gonna get away with all of this. And I'm scared he's going to hurt Noah," her lip quivers and she feels her cheeks dampen. She moves to take a seat on the small sofa in her office, physically feeling the weight of it all on her shoulders.

He feels the same variation of emotions stirring within himself. Peter doesn't want to argue, he hates having to be so hard on her when it comes to their conflicting roles at work. "Every minute detail is pertinent," it's all he can really say. He doesn't want to hark on her, Olivia knows she messed up. All he wants now is to just comfort her and put this tiff behind them. He went to sit next to her and pulled her into him, her head resting against his shoulder.

"I don't know what's wrong with me. I should've told you about that and I'm sorry ," she used the sleeve of her blazer to swipe away her tears.

"It's okay you know we just- need to work on communication," he kissed the top of her dark waves and sat for a moment until he heard her sniffles lessen.

"I love you," she says because she needs to hear him say it back. Olivia knows he does but that voice in her head still came back from time to time, haunting her and telling her she wouldn't ever be loved. She needs to hear him to know that everything between is still okay.

"I love you," he answers. She looked up at him with a hint of a smile on her lips and he met her for a much needed kiss. "We better get back out there."

XXXXXXXXX

It's later in the day and Peter sits in the garage of their condominium, taking a moment of silence to himself. Olivia had gone home hours ago and he was left at work to figure out how to get this case over with and behind them. They were having a baby any day now it felt for chrissakes! It may have sounded selfish but all he wanted was to help put the finishing touches on the nursery, help his love get through these last few weeks before she brought home this new life. He was more than willing to do just about anything to see Rob Miller go behind bars.

He had met with Nikki very discreetly once Olivia had left and made arrangements with her. Peter had made the regretful promise that he wouldn't make her testify in court, but on one condition. He handed her five thousand dollars cash in an envelope and put his trust in her to do the right thing with it. This would be the end all be all to this case. He tried his best to always be an honest man in relationships and in the courts, but he wasn't putting his family at risk anymore. If it meant holding back this bit of information from Olivia to keep her and Noah safe, then he would do it.

It was just past 10 when he took the elevator up to their home with a bag full of her favorite cravings, hoping to make this shitty day a little better for her. When he entered and saw her wrapped in a blanket on the couch already asleep, he almost didn't have the heart to wake her up. He moved about in the kitchen as quietly as he could but she had become a light sleeper since becoming a mom.

"Hi," she peeks over the couch with mussy hair and sleep still evident in her eyes.

"I didn't mean to wake you," he held up a bag of chips and peanut butter. "I got you a few things," she smiles at him and his heart warms. It is much better than seeing her be as upset as she was earlier. Olivia moved from the couch and over to him in the kitchen to snag her goodies, and wasted no time dipping the salty chip into the jar of peanut butter. She's had this craving for so long and Peter was still disgusted by it.

"Don't look at me like that," she licked a bit of peanut butter from her thumb.

"I will never understand how you can crave these things and find them so good," he dug his hand into her chips and the deathly stare she gave him made him instantly regret it. "Note to self, don't touch your pregnant wife's snacks," she can't help but grin when he says 'wife'. He had gotten in the habit of it and although they were miles away from walking down any aisle, she loved to hear him say it.

"You are absolutely right!" she chuckled and went to kiss the corner of his mouth. "Thank you for this," she took a seat at the breakfast bar. "Any breaks in the case?" She hates to bring it up but it's killing her inside to know. Earlier today she had decided for herself that it was best if she took a few steps back from this for the sake of her health. Olivia didn't want to freak him out but she had been having those braxton hicks all day, and she was fearful this baby was coming sooner.

"I just spent the rest of the afternoon building on Rob's motive to kill and working on getting anyone to testify against him, and placing him at the party," it's short and simple and the truth at least partially. "Let's not talk about work until the morning when we're back on the clock," he gently dismisses her prodding. "I just want to focus on you, Noah, and the baby ," it had been all talk about Rob and the case, but he wanted to make sure he didn't lose sight of what was the most important thing right now.

"You're right," she breathed deeply. They would regret not cherishing these last moments with Noah being an only child before their family grew by one. Olivia hated that Rob was ruining this for her, and she knew she would have to make the choice to not let him.

"I bought cookie dough too. How about we make some of those tonight?" It really was the little things and she knew he was just trying to normalize these last few weeks as much as he could.

"Mmm, do we have ice cream?" she scooted out of her chair and came back around the island to him.

"Glad I bought some a few days ago," he pulled her into his arms and felt his body completely relaxed when he wrapped her arms just beneath his shoulders. Her cheek rested against the expanse of his chest and she gently exhaled. "What's going on inside that head of yours?" Every little change in demeanor he would notice about her and sometimes she wishes there were things she could keep hidden from him.

"Despite how horrid this past week has gone, I'm still somehow so incredibly happy. I get to come home to Noah and you, and if that doesn't make me the luckiest-" her words are cut off with a kiss from him and her body warms at the feel of his lips on hers.

This is home. Not just the physical extremities that surround them but the love that they have built inside of it this past year.

"Don't forget that I get to come home to you guys too," he adds and brushes her hair away from her face. "I love you, Olivia. Despite your seriously weird pregnancy cravings," he placed a kiss to her nose and she rolled her eyes playfully before releasing her hold on him.

"Okay, but at least try it," she went to grab the chips and peanut butter and coated a chip. Olivia didn't give him a chance to reject it and instead shoved one into his mouth when he tried to stop her. "It's amazing right?" She can't help the laugh that escapes as a series of reactions play over his face. He chewed it and forced himself to swallow despite his disdain for it.

"I will never steal a chip again if you promise to never make me try another craving," he shook his head and went to grab a bottled water from the fridge.

"You're ridiculous," she mocked him and went to turn the oven on. "Now how about those cookies?"

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

It's the next morning full of the same bullshit as the day before, and Olivia feels her mood completely shift when she finds herself in her office thinking about this ongoing case. Peter had rushed to work earlier than usual this morning and he assured her it would all make sense later. Whatever that meant.

Almost as if he had been reading her mind she heard a knock on her door and was pleased to see it was him standing there, his hands in his pockets like always.

"Hey," she looked away from her laptop and pushed her glasses on top of her head. "We missed you a lot this morning," her hands rubbed her swell from top to bottom.

"I was out getting an arrest warrant for Rob Miller," he moved to stand in front of her desk and placed his palms flat on the top of it.

"You what? How?" That got her attention. She sat up quickly with confusion marked on her face. This was a rapid change in their investigation with Lindsay's murder, and Olivia wanted to be sure she heard him right before allowing that much needed sigh of relief.

"Olivia, I'm going to need you to just trust me on this."

"I guess I don't have a choice do I?" She wanted to be happy about the warrant- she really did but something about this just didn't feel right.

"The Parkers are here," Fin popped in and they both followed him out to the bullpen.

Vanessa and Hugo were shuffling in and lo and behold Rob was following behind them. Olivia saw Peter stand up much taller and stiffen up at the sight of him, and made sure she stayed behind him. This is the day he's been waiting for- they all have and although he may not be going behind bars officially, this damn well was a start.

"Mr. and , we may have found a suspect," Peter spoke up as they gathered around.

"Really? Who?" Vanessa asked.

"Your lawyer, Rob Miller."

"On what grounds?" Rob pushed himself forward and stood directly in front of Peter, making them eye to eye.

"Doesn't matter right now because thanks to this warrant your ass is all mine," Olivia unhooked her cuffs and placed his hands behind his back. "Rob Miller, you are under arrest for the murder of Lindsay Parker," she felt the sweet satisfaction of locking each cuff around his wrists. "Take him away," Fin helped her out and took a hold of his forearm to take him to the tombs.

This was it. This case along with Nikki's were moving forward and come Monday his victims would get the chance to be heard. It was Friday which meant he would have to spend the weekend in the tombs and go straight into court bright and early Monday. It brought her great joy to know he was going to be sitting in his sorrows for the next 72 hours. She doesn't know exactly how Peter managed to pull this off but like he said, she needed to put her trust in him.

"How did this all happen?" Hugo asked panicked.

"Amanda do you mind taking them back to my office? We can explain everything to you from beginning to end," Olivia waved towards her door and was happy to see they obliged.

"After we talk to them, how about we go home and worry about all of this on Monday?"

"I would love that more than anything. I'll wait for you out here," he kissed her temple swiftly as she hurried into her office, and felt guilt flooding through his system. He may have gotten that warrant but she had no idea how at risk this case was now that he did that; and Peter prayed to God that she would never find out.

The last time I updated was exactly two months ago and I'm so sorry :( I struggled to write for the longest but I am back. There is either one more verrrrry long chapter or two short ones left to this. I wrote a new story about Bensaro, and I'm brainstorming a new Benstone or EO fic too. Hope to see you guys there. Thanks for all the reviews (even the adamant requests to update). xo.