Once Olivia and Alex had succeeded in also putting Noah to bed, they were with Harper in the living room, camped out in front of the electric fireplace. Alex was on the couch, examining the paperwork regarding Harper's inheritance and things related to it, but the heat from the fireplace, combined with a gently kicking baby was making her sleepy. It was taking a lot of will to stay with it.

Meanwhile, in sticking with the theme of taking care of her sister, Olivia made sure Harper was comfortable on the couch before working on giving her a manicure. She was perched on a low foot stool and hard at work, but also didn't mind being at both her sister's and her fiancée's beck-and-call if they needed something. This was just a regular family night—or as regular as anything in the life of Olivia Margaret Benson would ever be—and she loved it.

"Xander would have loved you two." Harper remarked at one point.

"Oh, really?" Olivia was nearly done with adding the top coat of Harper's right foot, as she'd already completed the left. "What was he like?"

"Around new people, he was quiet and polite, but once you got him to open up, he was warm, kind, very handy, and very funny. Xander was also ridiculously tall."

While Alex and Olivia were both already above average in height, Harper's own height was nothing to sneeze at—she was an even six feet.

"He was almost seven feet tall; it was the Irish blood in him."

Alex whistled a long, single-noted note. "Wow. Junior and Zoelle are going to be big."

Harper grunted when she felt a tiny elbow jab her sharply in the side. "Oh, don't I know it."

"Anything else you want to share about your husband?" Alex asked quickly, wanting to distract Harper from anything that could send her into crying jag.

"Try as he might, Xander never learned how to whistle. He also had an irrational fear of geese."

"Geese." Alex parroted blankly.

Harper giggled. "Yep. I was always extremely entertained when we were ever near any at Central Park."

"Then while we're on the topic of irrational fears," Alex continued cheekily. "I'll have you know, Harper Atticus, that your badass big sister is afraid of snakes."

"Oh, really?" Harper asked, with vested interest now.

"Oh, yes."

Olivia inserted herself into the conversation, providing context. "We were going for a nature walk the other day, and a snake slithered across our path. What did Alex do? She cooed over it like it was something cute and furry."

"Alex, what the hell?" Harper protested to the woman beside her.

"She also," Olivia continued. "Picked it up to show Noah, and the snake liked it!"

"Did Noah like it, though?"

"Yes!"

"Alex, what the hell?" Harper demanded, turning to her.

Alex rolled her eyes at her companions. "The snake wasn't poisonous!"

Harper instantly changed lanes to snickering and quipped, "It's like we've got Bindi Irwin and Indiana Jones. She isn't scared of snakes, and he's terrified."

"Oh, thanks for the comparison, baby sister." Olivia said in a playful, sarcastic manner. "I'll have you know that blondie has coulrophobia."

Harper laughed more. "What ruined you, Alex? Chucky, or It?"

Recognizing that she was boxed into a corner, Alex told the truth. "It. Don't tell me—you like scary movies?"

"Not pure horror, but yes. I'm an avid Hitchcock fan, and I've seen The Shining an unhealthy amount of times. Oh, and lots of Stephen King flicks." Harper paused, thinking. "A few years ago, I had to get my appendix taken out, and I was laid up in bed. There was a Jaws marathon on, and I watched all of them. In a row. Now, I love them. But in reality, sharks terrify me."

"You are so complex." Olivia marveled.

Harper shrugged. "I love movies, music, and storytelling. I can also sing, and play the piano. After the babies come, I'm going to go back to school so I can be a music therapist."

"Hey, good for you." Alex praised, mostly pleased that they had moved away from the topic of scary movies. "Do you have any longterm plans yet, surrounding that?"

"To get into the doctoral program at Columbia University, eventually. Doctor Harper Atticus Bailey has a nice ring to it, don't you think?"

Alex nodded. "I definitely think so."

"Me, too." Olivia agreed. "Whatever you need, especially for school, we've got your back."

By now, Olivia was finished with painting Harper's toenails, and had carefully secured the toe separator sandals she was already wearing.

"Would you like me to do your fingernails, too?"

Harper perked up. "Okay, sure. Thanks."

Olivia began the process, and then said, "We need to start talking about some serious things, Harp."

"Like where I'm going to live."

Beside her, Alex nodded and looked though the papers again. "I'm a little sleepy, so I can't do all the math right now, but it looks like, you could get a townhouse like this one. The one to the left of us, on the end, is on the market."

"That would be fun." Harper looked to Olivia. "Would it weird you out to have your baby sister and her kids living next door?"

"Not at all." Olivia said honestly. "It would actually make me really happy."

"Me, too." Alex told her. "Also, the laundry room in the other house merges with ours, but we haven't had to share yet because the place has been empty for awhile."

"I'm actually really liking this idea now." Harper said in the tone of thinking out loud.

"Any particular reason why?" Olivia wanted to know.

Harper laughed nervously. "Except for two specific chunks of time with Xander, I've actually never lived in a proper suburbs-type house."

"Where you the rest of the time, then?"

"In apartments, or group homes in the city—after Xander and I met, we refused to be moved without each other. It was like survival instinc—ooo… okay, okay…"

"You alright?" Alex and Olivia asked in unison.

"Yeah." Harper arched her back. "Zoelle is just expressing her unappreciation of me getting mushy."

"Then I'll get us off this rabbit trail, or whatever." said Alex with authority. "Houses in the suburbs are out because you're a city girl, so townhouses are in the 'definitely' column… because why?"

"The space, mostly, since I basically live in one room. Xander and Zoelle are already cooped up as it is, but at some point, I want them to be able to have their own bedrooms."

"Those are valid reasons. Are you claustrophobic?"

"Unfortunately, yes."

Olivia smirked. "That's officially three for three on irrational fears."

Alex worked her way in before Olivia and Harper could start teasing each other.

"What are you doing tomorrow, Harper?"

"Just Lamaze class, at five-thirty. That's going to be weird to do alone…"

Finally finished with painting Harper's fingernails, Olivia set them under portable UV lamps she'd borrowed from Alex's own extensive nail kit, so they could dry faster. Then she sat back in front of Harper.

"If you don't mind big sis cramping your style, I'd be happy to come along to help."

Harper grinned. "You could never cramp my style, Olivia but I would love it if you came."

As the sisters made plans for the next day, Alex realized that once again, the conversation had gotten away from her.

She cleared her throat. "What I was going to say, Harper, is that you should save some listings that you like, and then stop by my office tomorrow. I can help you prioritize everything."

"Okay, but are you a math whiz, or something?"

Alex winked. "Besides a law degree, I also have a major in mathematics. My parents also called me Zeta when I was little."

Harper just stared, unsure of what to make of that last part.

"God, I know there's a math joke in there, somewhere…" Olivia murmured.

Alex continued to struggle with being amused and exasperated at how everyone else's maturity had taken a nosedive. "Trust me, there is. What else is on the agenda? Did either of you get something for Serena to wear for Dana's funeral while you out shopping?"

"I did." Olivia confirmed. "I got something for Noah, too, since he's growing like a weed."

"Very good." Alex approved and then turned back to Harper. "What about you? Any last piece of pressing business?"

"I need to call Trevor to tell him about Zoelle…"

"We can take care of that tomorrow, too."

"Well, alright, then." Harper chirped, pleased by the progress that had been made. "Then that's that!"


OFFICE OF ALEXANDRA CABOT

27 MAIDEN LANE

11:27 AM


The next morning, Alex and Olivia helped Harper narrow done her choices of new places to live. She'd had a lot of ideas, but eventually narrowed it down to three addresses. It didn't escape anybody's notice that the townhouse at the end of Southwell Street was at the top of her list.

When they finally finished, a new problem arose: though pleased to be with people she loved, Serena was whining almost without taking a breath. But nobody could figure out why.

"I can't believe I've having two of them!" Harper groaned. "Xander and Zoelle keep kicking me and each other because they can't stand the sound of Serena's whining!"

Similarly, Alex was experiencing discomfort and gliding her hands over her big belly, but wrinkling the bridge of her nose.

"Diana is on the same wavelength! Via, make Serena stop!"

"Hey," the lieutenant protested. "I'm doing my best! Serena is just in a seriously bad mood!"

Olivia was already pacing the office, holding Serena and soothing her. But no dice. She was also contemplating just leaving before Serena could start squalling.

"Alex, I—oh, boy."

When it came to her family, Alex had an open-door policy about her office, and as was her way, Casey chose an interesting moment to arrive.

Upon Casey's arrival, Serena zeroed in her and reached out. Casey felt surprised, especially because she could feel baby Henry stretching around inside her, but she quickly set aside the folders she'd been carrying, and took Serena from Olivia.

"Hey there, little friend." she said gently to the baby. "You're okay. Just relax."

Almost immediately, Serena stopped crying, yawned, rested her head on Casey's shoulder, and began to doze. Because of the big, noisy family she came from, she'd always been very good with kids of all ages, but it had her in a daze that the little one in her arms was going to be her sister-in-law after she tied the knot with Sophia. Her life was trippy, but she loved it.

When she looked away from Serena, it was to see that Olivia, Harper, and Alex were all staring in amazement.

"What?" Casey asked in bewilderment.

"Serena's been acting like Princess Crankypants." Olivia explained quickly. "She's been driving us, and even the babies bonkers."

Before Casey could go further, yet another visitor arrived.

"I thought I heard a crying baby…"

It was Trevor. Second only to Casey, he had a talent for showing up around Olivia and her friends at unexpected times. Today, he had a briefcase in one hand, and a jacket slung over his arm, but an amused expression on his face.

"Did you need something?" Alex asked in surprise.

"No." he admitted. "I was in the building for something else, and I followed the sound of baby cries over here."

"Because the interesting stuff always happens here, doesn't it?"

Trevor laughed, and then turned to Harper. "I was about to call you, actually."

"Really?"

"Uh-huh. Maisie wanted know if you were available for dinner tonight—she wants to meet you."

Olivia, Alex, and Casey each knew that Trevor was married and had a family, but they had never even seen his wife before. They were hanging on to every word being exchanged between Trevor and Harper now.

"I was going to call you, too." Harper told him. "There are some things we need to talk about before I start work."

Trevor cross the room and extended a hand to Harper. "Would you like to discuss them over lunch? It's on me."

"Alright." Harper took Trevor's hand and let him pull her up. "I'm in. Thanks, Trevor."

She turned to the others, who were now looking on in disbelief because they each had their own memories of Trevor being difficult in years past.

"He's my friend, and I will be working for him!" Harper said in exasperation to them. "Just go with it!"

"Okay, okay." Olivia sighed and then hugged Harper. "Call me later about Lamaze class?"

Harper saluted. "You got it."

When they left, things were quiet a beat before Olivia spoke.

"Times are changing. Does anyone else feel it?"

Casey nodded. "I do, every day. Your daughter finds your way into your life, you find out about a sister you never knew, and you have a tiny new daughter, too."

"Casey and I are back for good, we're all mothers, and each of us are engaged." Alex added. "We're all even going to be related, after the weddings happen."

Olivia blew out a breath. "Now my own pregnant sister is genuinely friends with someone who was on the squad's list of 'sworn enemies' for years."

Olivia looked at the others, even laughing softly when she saw that Serena was now fast asleep in Casey's arms. But as always, her heart filled with love for her family—all parts of it.

"Did either of you ever think our lives would turn out the way they have? With all three of us together again?"

"Honestly, no," Alex replied. "Especially considering that the first time Casey and I worked together, it was because of a wave of darkness that hit all of us."

Casey smiled at Olivia. "But Alex and I have always had you in common. I just think that we needed to be apart so that things could fall into place now, the way that they have. I wouldn't change this bond for anything, though."

"Both of you," she indicated both Casey and Alex. "Changed my life."

"And you changed ours." Casey told her.

Alex kissed Olivia's cheek. "You definitely did. Thank you."

It was true—times were changing for Olivia, and for everyone in her life.

But for once, instead of things being uncertain, she knew that she was finally at the beginning of her happy ending.