Please please read and review. Bit of a filler chapter but the drama will pick up in a chapter or two
"Good Morning." Liv smiled and Amanda winced as she walked slowly into the kitchen where Olivia was brewing coffee.
"Morning Liv." Amanda said sitting heavily on a chair at the table. Liv placed a cup of coffee in front of her, black, as Amanda liked it. Liv also placed the orange bottle of painkillers in front of Amanda. "I don't need those pills." She complained. "Amanda please, they'll help, and allow you to clear your lungs. The last thing you need is pneumonia on top of broken ribs." Amanda rolled her eyes but washed a pill down with a mouthful of coffee.
"G'monin." Billie smiled walking out of Liv's bedroom rubbing her eyes her stuffed kitten in hand. "Good Morning sweetie, did you sleep well?" Liv asked. "Yes Livia. Did you 'member to get stawbewy yoghurt?" The little girl asked "yes, and some other flavours too!" Liv replied Billie smiled then then looked at her mother "momma feeling better?"
"A little bit sweet girl. Let's go get you ready before breakfast." Amanda smiled at her youngest baby and followed her into Liv's room while Liv went to wake the older children. They got up begrudgingly "good morning, did you sleep well?" Liv asked kissing Noah on the head "ok, I guess." He yawned. "Jess?" She asked Amanda's eldest who shrugged in reply. Jessie went to use the bathroom and brush her teeth. "Mom?" Noah asked tentatively.
"Noah?" His mom replied worriedly "are you okay?"
"I am but Jess kept on crying when she was asleep."
"Oh did she wake you?"
"Yeah but I'm worried about her. She kept telling me not to tell her momma. So I'm telling you instead. Can you make sure she's okay?" He asked concern in his sweet eyes and Liv's heart swelled with how kind and caring her son was.
"How about I drop you at school a little early and then I can talk to Jessie before I drop her off?" Liv asked and Noah smiled nodded and snuggled into his mom and kissed her cheek.
Billie was extremely happy that Liv had bought some strawberry yoghurt and all 3 children had strawberry yoghurt on banana for breakfast. Amanda, on the other hand, was unimpressed that Liv had called Lucy to take Billie to daycare. "I coulda' taken her."
"Amanda you're meant to be resting."
"It's not far!"
"Amanda you're impossible." Liv chuckled shaking her head.
"I'm just bored." Amanda said.
"Only boring people get bored." Jessie said. "That's what you always say mommy."
Liv and Amanda both laughed. "I think she's got you there Amanda. We've got Netflix, Amazon and Disney , I'm sure you can find something to entertain yourself."
"Mommy you could watch Moana. That's my favourite. And frozen is Billie's favourite." Jessie told her mother excitedly.
"And 'punzel." Billie interjected.
"Yeah Billie likes Rapunzel. It's called tangled though. She has magical hair!"
Lucy arrived to take Billie to daycare and Liv was to drop the older children off. She dropped Noah at his school then started to walk towards Jessie's school. "Hey Jess, how're you doing?"
"I'm good Aunt Livvy."
"Noah said that you were a bit upset last night?" Liv asked tenderly. Jessie looked at the floor. "Hey Jess, it's okay, you can tell me sweetie, I just want to help." Liv squeezed Jessie's hand. "I had a bad dream. I'm sorry I woke up Noah. I didn't want to wake up anybody." Jessie whispered.
"Oh Jessie, that must have been scary, can you tell me what the bad dream was about?"
"It was just that me and momma and Billie were getting hurt again." Jessie whispered. "I know I'm staying with you now but we can't stay forever. What if Aunt Kim and Uncle Trey come back and kill me or hurt me real bad."
"Jessie. Listen to me sweetie. I am not going to let you go home until I know it is safe. They don't know where I live. If you see them when you are at school you just need to go tell your teacher, okay. I'm not going to let anybody hurt you, Billie or your mom. And if you have a bad dream you can always come to me or your mommy. You know that right?" Liv asked.
"I guess. But Momma is hurt and you work so much and I know your work is super important so I didn't want to bother you or momma." Jessie whispered again looking at her feet. "Jessie, Jessie look at me honey. You are not a bother, my work is important but so are you. You are so important honey." Liv looked at her honorary niece. It reminded her of the conversation she'd had with Amanda in the hospital. Wishing both Jessie and her mother knew their worth. Jessie was only 6 years old. A kind, funny, intelligent, little girl. Usually so positive and bright. "You're a very important girl Jess, you matter okay, and I love you very much." Liv stopped walking and pulled the little girl into her. Jessie's little face getting lost in Liv's blouse. "I love you too Aunt Livvy." Jessie said extracting herself from her Aunt.
Olivia caught a case at work. Emilie, an 18 year old French girl on her first "no parents" vacation had been raped in a bar restroom, and Liv being the only member of the squad who spoke any French, couldn't get back to pick the children up from school. So she called Lucy to get the older children and Sienna, Amanda's usual nanny to get Billie. "Emilie. L'homme qui vous a blessé. Pouvez-vous le décrire?" Emilie, the man that hurt you can you describe him?
"Il a parlé espagnol, chevaux noirs, yeux bruns, grand, très grand!" He spoke Spanish. Black hair, brown eyes, tall, very tall.
"Mais Olivia. J'étais ivre. C'était de ma faute!" But Olivia I was drunk. It's my fault.
"Non Emilie. Non! Écoutez moi. Ce n'es pas de ta faute. Jamais.La seule personne en faute ici est l'homme qui t'a violée. D'accord?" No Émilie, no! Listen to me, it is not your fault, ever. The only person who is at fault here is the man who raped you. Okay?"
"D'accord j'ai fatigué. Olivia."Okay. I'm tired Olivia.
"J'ai compris. J'ai compris. laissez-moi vous ramener à votre hôtel. Vos amis seront-elles là?" I understand. I understand. Let me take you back to your hotel, will your friends be there?
"Oui, Chloé et Lucille. Elles sont très inquiètes pour moi." Yes. Chloe and Lucille. They are very worried about me.
Liv picked up her coat as Emilie went to the restroom to splash some cool water on her face. "Damn Liv, is there any language you can't do the "this isn't your fault speech in?" Her colleague Fin asked. "Still working on Estonian." She quipped back. "Look, Liv, I can hold down the fort here, you get back to Amanda and the kids. I'll call you if I need you" Fin looked at Liv. "Thanks Fin. I appreciate it."
"Anytime Liv."
Liv dropped Emilie off at the hotel and walked her up to meet her friends. Reminded Emilie that none of this was her fault and told her to call anytime and that she would be in touch tomorrow. "Merci Olivia."
Liv gave her all to the vics, to supporting them and getting them justice. Sometimes she felt like she couldn't do it. How could she be the best advocate and cop for the victims and the best mom for Noah. But it's not like she could stop doing either. Ever.
She got home and Lucy had cooked a chicken and veggie stir fry for all of them. It was pretty late and the children were soon in bed, Olivia reminding Jessie to come to her or Amanda if she had a bad dream.