Olivia had a field day shopping for Melissa.

Sure, she happily played the doting aunt to Jesse Rollins, but Jesse was a baby yet and easily amused by Frannie Mae the dog, who hardly left her side, or else her ExcerSaucer. Melissa Benson was three, very bright and talkative, and she loved to play.

That made shopping easier for her, all the way across the board.

When Olivia visited Melissa after her shopping excursion and told her that she was taking her home for the night, the little girl was thrilled. She was equally thrilled for the new outfit and shoes that she got to wear after she was discharged because it had been awhile since she'd had new things like that, and she even stayed surprisingly still when Olivia styled her gorgeously thick and long brown hair into a very adorable fishtail style.

As they left Melissa's room in the children's wing for Sophia's on the other side of the building, it suddenly dawned on Olivia that she was getting to take care of a little girl for the night; this had been a want of hers ever since baby Hope had passed away.

This was why she let Melissa do most of the talking for awhile.

When they finally reached Sophia's room, Olivia was genuinely surprised to see Casey at Sophia's bedside, chatting with her, as if they'd known each other for years. She was definitely pleased to see that Sophia was enjoying her company.

Noticing that Melissa had become nervous now, Olivia gave her a gentle nudge forward. "Go ahead, baby girl. Go say hi to mama."

That seemed to unfreeze the toddler because she broke into an extremely sunny smile and ran into her mother's room, giggling.

"Mama! Mama, I'm here!"

Sophia changed lanes in her conversation with Casey when she saw her daughter and gushed, "Hi, sweetheart! I'm so happy to see you! Hey, if you ask Casey for a boost, I bet she'll give you one!"

The little girl cast an imploring look at Casey. "Help me up, please?"

The redhead was unable to resist because when she looked at Melissa, she saw a miniature version of Sophia.

"Okay, cutie! Here you go!"

Casey lifted Melissa on to the bed and watched as she hugged hugged Sophia lovingly, but also very gently as she heeded her injuries. Melissa and Sophia became lost in their own world for a few moments, and Casey fell in love with the sight of it.

Olivia watched as her offspring and her offspring's offspring interacted with each other, and it made her heart go light because it was extremely comforting to see that after all these years of wondering if any biological child of hers would be capable of love at all, when she, Olivia, had been conceived in equal parts anger and fear.

Then there was Casey, who was watching the two of them with what Olivia could only call heart eyes.

Olivia cleared her throat. "Hi, everyone."

"Hey, mom!" Sophia chirped. "Casey came to hang out, and she brought me flowers and a stuffed elephant!"

Olivia may not have known her daughter long, but she immediately saw that she was hiding something. Casey's abrupt nervous expression was also a clue.

"So I see; that's really very nice." Olivia turned to her her friend. "Case, can I borrow you for a second?"

Pleased that she hadn't addressed her by her full name again, Casey nodded and said, "Sure," as she got up and followed Olivia out into the hallway, just out of sight of Sophia's room.

"What's up?" she asked nervously.

"You tell me: are you crushing on my firstborn?"

Like a deer caught in headlights, Casey turned bright red when she realized that she couldn't avoid the answer. "I'll be honest, Olivia, and say that yes, I am crushing on your firstborn. I'm going to be even more forthcoming when I also say that I'm very attracted to her."

"She's going through a traumatic upheaval!"

Which you don't know the half of, Casey thought. "I'm totally aware, but I got her to smile and think about something besides her plight."

"Okay," Olivia said haltingly. "I'll give you that one."

"I've been hanging out with Sophia for over an hour, just being a friend, but I'm getting a mutual attraction vibe from her, and not just because she's hormonal and pregnant."

"But because you're genuinely attracted to her."

"You got it."

Olivia was quiet, and Casey suddenly realized that it was because this was the first time the older woman was facing the experience of one of her kids in a relationship. All of a sudden, Casey was almost struggling to contain her amusement

"Okay," Olivid finally said. "I have two rules. Are you listening?"

Casey bobbed her head. "Yep."

"One: Sophia's off-limits like that until after we catch Gunner DiMaggio and put him behind bars for good, and two: if you ever break my daughter's heart, or even my granddaughter's heart, I'll set Fin after you. Am I understood?"

"One hundred percent, but Olivia?"

"Yes?

"Odafin has always been like a marshmallow around me, and he'd never hurt me, especially now."

Olivia surveyed her friend, something clunking into place at the last second. "Casey, are you pregnant?"

"Uh-huh! I had to take matters into my own hands, but tomorrow makes fifteen weeks!"

"Congratulations!" Olivia hugged her friend, happy for her. "Who all knows?"

"My family, Alex, too, Sophia, and now you… Liv? Are you alright?"

Olivia had pulled away from the hug slowly, feeling for the umpteenth time that day, in a daze.

"Yeah, I'm fine. I just need a drink…"

"Well, don't even start that until Melissa and Noah are in bed for the night, and you've broken up with Tucker."

Immediately, Olivia groaned. "Thanks, killjoy, for the reminder."

"Sorry." As a peace offering, Casey added on an afterthought. "How's this—when we go back in, I'll take Melissa to get something to eat while you have a chat with Sophia. She told me some things I think you should know."

"Because I'm her mom?"

Casey nodded. "Once more, you are correct. Now put a smile on your face because we don't want to spook Melissa."

Olivia assumed a friendly expression. "I'm good. Let's go."

"Melissa," Casey called to her when they went back in. "Are you hungry, sweet pea?"

Melissa nodded seriously. "Uh-huh!"

"Why don't you ask mama if you can come with me to get food?"

Melissa immediately turned to Sophia. "I can go, please?"

"Sure, but mind your p's and q's, and don't forget to tell Casey thank you!"

"Okay, mama!"

After planting first a kiss on Sophia's cheek and then on her baby bump, Melissa slid off the bed and then skipped over to Casey, taking her hand. When they were gone, Olivia sat at her daughter's bedside.

"Casey didn't go into details," Olivia began. "But she said there are some things you told her that she thinks I should know because I'm your mother."

Sophia had been anticipating this. "Okay, but it's a lot."

"Lay it on me."

Sophia told Olivia everything.

By the end, Olivia was at a loss for words, but only because she was digesting everything Sophia had said, and she was also in awe of the strength her daughter had to keep her head up.

Sophia scooted over to the far side of her bed and said tentatively, "Mom, will you hold me?"

"Of course." Olivia moved on to the bed and took her daughter into her arms. "Of course."

After all these years in the police force, and the last eighteen in the special victims unit, Olivia knew that there were some people who preferred not to be touched after a traumatic event and that there were also those who craved nothing but attention and affect after something like this. Obviously, Sophia fell into the second column, but Olivia didn't mind—she hadn't seen her daughter for twenty-five years, and in those twenty-five years, her daughter hadn't gotten anywhere near the affection and love that she deserved, so now, Olivia was determined to make up for it as best she could.

"I'll take care of you and your family." Olivia said at length. "We'll help you through the case, but I was already thinking about moving to a townhouse at some point, because Noah is getting bigger, and also because I want to adopt again."

Sophia smiled. "So Noah can have a playmate?"

"Yep." Olivia confirmed. "I know you haven't had a chance to meet your brother yet, but when I start the adoption process, would you like another baby brother, or a baby sister?"

Sophia's response was immediate. "A sister, so I can teach her to spoil Noah."

"Oh, is that the only reason?" Olivia teased lightly.

"Well, it's also because baby girls are a joy, but also because you can finally see what it's like to raise one."

"I'll keep that in mind." Olivia pressed a kiss to her daughter's crown to keep herself from getting too emotional. "After everything that's happened with you, especially with your housing situation, though, Sophia, I'm going to make sure the next place we move to will also have room for you and Melissa—I would like for you two stay with us until you're on your feet again."

"Really? Are you sure?"

"I am absolutely sure." Olivia said seriously. "You aren't used to people being nice to you, are you?"

"I'm really not." Sophia admitted. "I always grew up looking over my shoulder because when I wasn't being abused, the kids in the group homes would pick on me or beat me up."

"What on earth for?!"

"I was short, scrawny, and always had my head in the clouds because I would hide and read as many books as I could, just to escape. I also didn't hit my growth spurt until the summer of seventh grade."

"I am so sorry that you were hurt so badly, and I'm going to give you everything you missed as a kid, including a home with me for as long as you need."

Had Sophia been on her feet, she would have been shuffling her feet because she was all of a sudden overcome with bashfulness. "Can I just make one request, please?"

"Of course."

"Can I have my own room? I live in a studio apartment, and I've been sharing close quarters with Melissa for literally her entire life to date."

Olivia had already been to Sophia's place to investigate her bedroom area, as it was the crime scene, so she had a very good idea of the size her daughter was talking about. "So like any normal human being, you would like the luxury of privacy."

"Bingo."

"I'll remember when I start looking at townhouses." Olivia told her. "Did anything else happen in your chat with Casey? That story you shared about the forget-me-nots and unintentionally meeting her parents is adorable."

Sophia pointed to the business card that Casey had left for her. "She told me to go visit her parents when I'm clean of the pub, or on my feet again—they're hiring."

"That's really good news!" Olivia gave her daughter a quick hug. "What are Casey's parent's names? I've never meet them."

"They're called Augustín and Violet; his parents came from Slovakia, and hers came from Ireland… Guess what?"

"I couldn't possibly."

"Casey isn't their only child."

Olivia grew taken aback. "She isn't?"

With a soft giggle, Sophia said, "Including Casey, there are eight Novak children, including two sets of twins."

Olivia stared.

Sophia began to count everyone on her fingers. "It goes Junior and Ellington, Virginia and Beatrix, Tiffany, then Casey, Savannah, and at the bottom is Abigail."

"So that means there are seven daughters and one son?"

"Yep, and according to Casey, Savannah is my age, and Abigail is almost twelve. Casey understands about having much younger siblings." Pausing, Sophia gave her mother another one of her soul-searching looks. "Are you an only child?"

Olivia felt her heart clench. "I'm not… I have a half-brother named Simon, but he's in jail now. I'll tell you the story at some point next year when we can both drink, but not before."

"I'm sorry." Sophia said hastily. "I didn't mean to upset you."

"But you didn't." Olivia reassured her. "I just haven't thought about my brother in awhile."

Comforted, Sophia changed lanes again. "Mom, what's going to happen tomorrow, after I get released?"

"I'll pick you up and take you over to the pub so you can clean out your things and get your severance package. After that, I'll take you to the precinct."

"So you can introduce me to the rest of the squad?"

"Uh-huh. They're all very curious about you."

"The feeling is mutual. What about Melissa, though?"

"I've already called Noah's nanny—her name is Lucy—and she's agreed to take Melissa tomorrow, as well, and for as long as you need. I'll make sure you meet her, so don't worry."

Sophia already liked this whole idea, so she asked, "How long has Lucy nannied Noah?"

"Just about as long as I've had him, and he loves her."

"Okay…"

Sophia's thoughts were distant, like she'd suddenly been distracted by something.

"What is it?" Olivia asked.

"It's been a hell of a day, is what. I'm still trying to catch my breath."

"Then how about you tell me some good things? That should help."

Most days found Sophia Benson as an optimist, so even though she'd been put through a wringer, she still thought of things very easily. "Missy and I found Casey and Alex, and they brought you to me; I've made friends with Casey, and I really like her a lot, plus, Melissa also seems to like her; Casey pointed me in the direction of her parents, who are hiring at their shop, which means I finally have a chance at a normal job; I found out that I have a baby brother, and I've always wanted a brother; you're in love with Alex, which will mean only good things after today; you're a police officer in the best squad in the whole city, and that makes me so proud because I've had the utmost respect for all types of law enforcement and firefighters for most of my life now; and you're back in my life, which means that we can really get to know each other now."

Sophia laid her head on Olivia's chest, wanting to hear heartbeat.

Olivia immediately began to stroke her daughter's hair as she thought back to the last time they'd been like this: it was in the minutes after Sophia had been born, and she was preparing to let her go for what she'd thought would be forever. Now, they were together again, and Sophia was grown up and was a mother, too.

The pair stayed quiet together, just enjoying each other's company, until Casey returned with Melissa.

After that, it was a flurry of activity with Casey and Olivia tag-teaming in getting Melissa ready to go, and then further convincing Melissa that she was going home with Olivia but could see Casey another day. In the end, Olivia bribed her grandbaby by promising her that if she hurried, she could see the rest of the new clothes and shoes she'd bought for her when they got to her place, and that she could also meet Lucy and Noah. Melissa was all-too-happy to cooperate.

Upon Sophia's invitation, Casey stayed until visiting hours were over. They chatted with each other about everything under the sun because they were curious each about each other and neither wanted to say good-bye just yet. By the time Casey left, there was no doubt in either woman's mind that they definitely had some kind had some kind of attraction to each other, and they were both definitely interested in exploring it. They just didn't know how to admit it. Yet.


APARTMENT OF OLIVIA BENSON

706 WEST 92nd STREET

MANHATTAN


As it turned out, Melissa liked Nanny Lucy immediately, and she grew enamored with Noah just as quickly. Mostly because he was blown away to have a playmate show up out of nowhere who wanted to play with him and give him kisses, Noah followed Melissa around the apartment like a duckling, happy to be with her and not even his usual self. He was… calmer. In fact, if Noah showed Melissa a picture book, she would drop everything and look at it with him, narrating the story to him (even though she couldn't read yet). Olivia couldn't even believe her luck when after dinner, neither Melissa nor Noah fussed at her about bath time or going to bed.

They even fell asleep in Noah's bed together.

Well, Olivia thought. If I'd known how much Noah would get along with a companion this close to his own age, I would have looked into adopting sooner.

By this point of the night, Olivia knew that she should call Ed to break up with him, but her eyes were drawn to the sonogram that Sophia had given her of her baby.

Every time Olivia looked at it, it just took her breath away.

That was the first picture she had of her second grandchild—her second! It was hard for her to wrap her mind around the fact that she was a grandmother, but at the same time, it filled her heart with a lot of joy.

KNOCK-KNOCK!

Startled out of her thoughts, Olivia set the sonogram down on the coffee table and went to answer the door.

Olivia felt her stomach drop a little bit when she saw who had come calling, but still, she plastered a smile on her face.

"Ed, hi!"

"Hi, Olivia. Is it alright if I come in?"

Olivia nodded and opened the door a little wider, waving him in. "Of course. I was just about to call you, actually."

Because he had visited Olivia's apartment so often, Ed took off his shoes and jacket, putting them away in their proper places. The chat he intended to have with Olivia was probably going to take awhile.

"Do you want to sit?" Olivia asked.

Ed shook his head. "Not yet. This is about Arizona—I had to pick today, Olivia."

She grew sardonic. "Oh, really? And which was it—Phoenix or Flagstaff? Why couldn't you pick a regular place to retire to, like Florida?"

"Fist of all, Florida wasn't even on the table, and second, the place I picked was the one that had the best place to offer."

"You picked Flagstaff, didn't you?"

"I did."

Olivia pinched the bridge of her nose briefly. "And you were going to tell me this, when?"

"This only went down an hour ago! I'm being transferred in three weeks, Olivia, and I came to tell you that I need an answer to my proposal."

"No." she said shortly.

Thrown for a loop by the bluntness, Ed echoed, "No?"

"No." she repeated. "New York is my home, and I can't just leave, especially on short notice. The squad would fall apart without me and Amanda would stage a coup faster than you can say 'Arizona,' plus, Noah would be heartbroken if we left Lucy."

"Please." Ed scoffed.

Olivia had been grasping at straws at that last one, and they both knew it because they'd been gone in Paris for just over a week before the little boy had even thought of his nanny.

"I can't leave." Olivia said firmly. "I won't."

Ed began to realize he was fighting a losing battle. "What happened? Did I give you too much time to think?"

"No, Ed, you gave me just the right amount of time, and for that, I thank you."

"Am I not enough?"

That question almost broke Olivia's heart. Almost.

Ed tried again. "Then what? Did you not enjoy Paris?"

"I absolutely did, and pardon me for being cliché, but we'll always have Paris."

"Want to throw me a life jacket? I'm drowning."

"Something happened today, and 'epiphany' doesn't even begin to cover it."

Spotting Melissa's shoes on the shoe rack, she plucked them off the shoe rack and held them in her palms, wordlessly. The shoes were electric-purple Converses, with rainbow ribbon shoelaces, exactly something a little girl would love. Melissa had been giddy with joy about them.

"Olivia, whose shoes are those?" Ed asked cautiously. "Are you pregnant, or something?"

Olivia almost broke down crying at that sorrow the question brought her, but she kept it together, "No, I'm not. These shoes belong to Melissa, my granddaughter."

"I beg your pardon? For that, you'd have to have at least a grown daughter who has given birth."

"But I do—I have a twenty-five year old daughter, and I gave her up for adoption when she was born. She's called Sophia Rose Benson, and through a strange twist of events, strange twist of events, she's back. My main concern is helping her get better because a terrible, terrible thing has happened to her, and I have to take care of her."

Before Ed could say anything, a small voice filled the air.

"Nana Livvy?"

Melissa had woken up and come to see the source of the noise. Now she was in her Frozen pajamas and rubbing her eyes as she stood in the doorway between the main hallway and the front of the apartment.

Olivia immediately turned bright and sunny, cooing to her, "Hi, baby girl! Did you wake up?"

Melissa nodded and asked around a yawn, "Wh-what's goin' on?"

"Don't worry." Olivia walked over to her and took her by the hand. "Come on, I'll put you back to bed."

Too drowsy to argue, Melissa let Olivia bring her back to the bed she was sharing with Noah.

When Olivia returned, she found Ed staring at something on the coffee table. She could have kicked herself when she realized what it was.

But she remained as mature as she could. "What do you have there, Ed?"

"That's a sonogram." Ed pointed to the one left on the coffee table. "I thought you said you aren't pregnant."

"I did, and I'm not."

Ed blew out a breath, and that was his undoing.

Olivia scowled and angrily pointed a finger at him. "And what is that supposed to mean? Did you really think that I'd let Noah stay an only child? And what if that sonogram had been mine?"

Ed really wasn't sure what question to answer first. "Noah has always been enough, and neither of us are exactly young anymore."

"Age is just a number! I may have started late having kids again, but Sophia has already helped steer me in the right direction and get my prioroties in order!"

"Do those priorities include me?"

Olivia put her hands on her hips and raised her eyebrows. "This from the guy who made a major life choice without even calling the one he was supposed to make those choices with?"

"That's rich: you have a twenty-five year-old secret!"

Olivia gave a huff of indignation. "Her name is Sophia, and the sonogram is hers! If you can't even say her name, then that's it! We're done!"

"Fine!" Ed held out a hand. "Then at least give me the ring back!"

"I don't have it."

Ed's hand dropped. "What?Where is it?"

"Alex has it."

"Alex? As in Alex 'The Ice Queen' Cabot?"

Olivia rolled her eyes. "Really? Nobody calls her that anymore, and she's actually really nice!"

"I'm going to take a gander and say that she's known about Sophia, too, huh?"

"Since 2000."

"What?! Anything else you want to say?"

By this point, Olivia had advanced on Ed, forcing him to walk backwards towards the door, collecting his shoes and his jacket in the process. Now, he was on the threshold of the apartment entrance, and Olivia had a hand on the front door. Their relationship was officially burned to the ground by now, but Olivia felt she had to get in the last licks, and so she did.

"I had fun with you, Ed, and we will always have Paris, but being with you blinded me to the fact that I had to do what felt right for me and for Noah. After just a half hour with Sophia after twenty-five years apart, I've had a wake-up call and realized that I'm in love Alex Cabot! It's only ever been her!"

She slammed the door in Ed's face and stalked over to the couch. Normally after a break-up, she would cry and mope for awhile, but now she just felt relieved.

As she sat on the couch, thankful for the fact that Melissa and Noah were both sound asleep now, her eyes fell on her phone, still beside the sonogram, where she'd left it.

I wish Alex would call, she thought.

Suddenly—

Her phone started making noise at her, indicating a text from Alex, although she'd gotten confused: instead of Sinatra's 'Fly Me To The Moon,' it was 'Bad Blood' by Taylor Swift.

Realizing that Amanda had gotten hold of her phone again (because Carisi wouldn't dare touch it, and Fin would have changed Alex's ringtone to 'Barbie Girl' by Aqua, Olivia actually smiled as she picked up her phone and read Alex's message.

Did it happen yet?

Yes, Olivia sent back.

Are you okay?

Olivia hesitated for a second. I don't know. Stay with me tonight, please?

Of course. I'll be there in 15 minutes, Via xo

Olivia's heart jumped at those last two letters, but impressing herself, she managed to keep her cool again and she answered, See you soon, Allie-cat xo