The next few hours dragged. Greatly.
And of course, the snowy weather didn't help.
A break didn't arrive for some long while.
Olivia jumped as her desk phone rang. Her thoughts had once again been with Harper.
Still, she was quick to answer the phone. Especially when she recognized when she recognized the number as a line at 1 Police Plaza.
"Hello?" she answered cautiously.
A young female tone sounded in her ear. "Lieutenant Benson, I'm Charlotte from the Human Resources at 1 Police Plaza."
"What can I do for you?"
"I'm calling at the Chief Of Departments' behest to inform you that the Special Victims Unit is to close down for the time being because of the weather." Charlotte said.
"Wow." Olivia replied. "Anything else?"
"I've been informed to tell you that your department can stay home tomorrow, as well. It's going to take that long for the worst of the weather to pass over."
"And for the snowplows to get the roads to get clear?"
"Precisely."
Olivia had a feeling that Charlotte would have to repeating herself to the rest of the precinct departments in the building, so she said, "Thank you very much. Get home safely."
"Same for you. Good-bye, lieutenant."
They both hung up.
Olivia was hardly across her office when she received visitors in the from of Judge Donnelley and Trevor.
"What's up?" she asked them.
"The roads are still safe to travel on." Trevor told her. "We are going to head out."
Just as Olivia opened her mouth to say something to this, a particularly large chunk of snow broke noisily off her window. They all heard and saw it.
Olivia arched an eyebrow at her companions. "Please tell me that you guys are going to be somewhere nearby. Neither of you live close."
Quickly, Donnelley said, "We were both able to get last-minute rooms at The Hilton. You have nothing to worry about. Is there any news on Harper?"
"No, but I imagine I'll hear something soon. Thank you."
Trevor lit up as an idea popped into his head. "Oh, I hope it's here…"
"Pardon?"
Olivia and Donnelley watched Trevor search his wallet for a few moments, at last extracting a contact card.
"Here you go." he handed it to Olivia. "That's got Maisie's information on it. I've always carried her cards, just in case of an emergency."
"This definitely qualifies as one." Olivia set the card beside her desktop phone. "Much obliged, Trevor."
"You're welcome. We'll be off now."
"Okay. One of you please drop me a line when you get to the hotel."
The attorney saluted her. "You got it, Olivia. Take care."
They had scarce departed the SVU floor when Olivia the received two different texts, one right after the other.
"Cavalo!" she swore in frustration.
"Via? What's wrong?"
Alex and Casey were entering the room now. Each looked apprehensive.
"I just got a message from Human Resources at 1 PP, and I've just seen Trevor and Elizabeth off." Olivia said. "They're going to wait the weather out over at The Hilton because they managed to get rooms."
"Good. That's a relief." said Alex in complete sincerity. "Their welfare had been on my mind."
"I'm still trying to figure out why you swore…" muttered Casey.
"I have a message to deliver to the masses. However... in the space of time it took for Trevor and the judge to leave and the pair of you two arrive, I've received two text messages that I haven't even read yet. Something tells me they're important." Olivia looked closely at Casey. "And you have somethign to say. Spill."
A little put off by Olivia's mood, Casey just answered, "It can wait."
Olivia's phone chose this moment to light up again.
She was ready to throw it. "I swear to God…!"
Alex checked her wife's phone. "They're texts from Sophia and a number you don't have saved. My guess there is Maisie."
"Anything newer?" Olivia huffed.
"No."
Olivia did her best to keep her cool. "Then let's roll out so I can tell everyone what I've been trying say for the past five minutes."
Alex and Casey agreed to this and followed her.
Olivia's message from 1 Police Plaza was well-received. Everyone in the room was dismissed to go home.
In the following flurry of activity, Olivia turned to Casey. "What is it that you said could wait?"
The redhead shuffled her feet. "Forgive me for sounding like a teenage girl, but my dad is on the way to pick me up. I already received an automated message about cutting out early and staying home early."
Olivia connected the dots. "And Senior is going to give you a lift to The Watering Can because it's three blocks away?"
"Correct. Sophia and Melissa are still there."
"Got it." Olivia began to relax. "You guys are going to hole up with your parents?"
Casey nodded. "Yes again. It'll be us them, Savannah, and Abigail."
"Where is your dad now?" Alex asked her.
Casey quickly responded to a new text before saying, "That was him. He's in the lobby."
"Go ahead and go, but please tell us when you're safe."
"That goes without saying." Casey said seriously.
"Of course we'll also keep you in the loop about the Harper business," Olivia tacked on. "But will you please send us a picture of Sophia and Melissa?"
Casey winked. "I can definitely do that, too."
The Cabots thanked her and watched her leave.
Alex turned to Olivia. "Speaking of dads, the nanny just sent word to me about hers."
"Oh? And what did Lucy say?"
"Her father is at the Gymboree building where Noah's class is because he works nearby. Lucy said he wants to take her home. Now she's just waiting on a response from us."
"Hm." Olivia mused. "I was actually going to talk to you about this, anyway. Will you tell her that we'll be headed in that direction in about fifteen minutes?"
"Yes."
Pleased, Olivia finally checked on her waiting texts.
She read the one from Sophia first. I just wanted to let you know that Senior is on his way to collect Casey, and we're closing the shop up early.
Thanks for the update. I appreciate that. Casey just left here with Senior.
Unsurprisingly, Sophia's response was very fast. Excellent. We're safe because we're in the residence, and the whole building is on a generator. Any news about Harper yet?
Safe with at her place with Trevor's wife. They have power. We're going to see them after we get N & S from the babysitter.
Okay. Stay safe, mom. Good luck with Harper.
Thank you. Talk to you later, Sophia Rose.
Olivia moved on to the next text.
It read, This is Maisie. Harper isn't in the pushing stage, but she's asking for people.
Who? Olivia sent.
Alex gave her a tap on the shoulder that jolted her back to reality again.
She said, "I see Dominick and Amanda."
She spotted them at the kitchen table, both in deep discussion about something.
Olivia sighed. "I really hope they don't start arguing now."
Alex was quick to offer a suggestion. "Then let's go get in front of it before they do."
Olivia walked with her wife across the bullpen, into the kitchen. The other couple sobered up at once when they saw who had found them. It was like catching a pair of guilty schoolchildren.
Alex put her hands on her hips. "What's going on in here?"
Carisi heaved a sigh. "We're just trying to decide what we do after we get Jesse and Frannie. They're at Blue's place."
"The Balthazars live close to Central Park." Olivia recalled. "What are your choices?"
"To hope we find a pet-friendly hotel with a vacancy so we can sleep there tonight. Amanda and I don't want to drive out to our house in Queens just now."
"That is a very wise, responsible choice. What's option two?"
"Seeing if we could stay there at the Balthazar house, but we just don't want to feel as if we're imposing." Carisi sighed again. "We're also greatly concerned about Harper."
"We feel obligated to be on standby." Amanda added. "She isn't directly related to me, but I love her as much as I love Sophia. My feelings are all over the place."
Olivia smiled kindly at her. "We love that you love her like that. It means a lot."
Alex tacked on a musing. "From what I've observed, Blue and her husband are very generous. I think they might reach out soon. And speaking of Harper—"
She was interrupted when Olivia's phone chimed with its newest text. It was a follow-up from Maisie.
You, Alex, Amanda, Casey, and Sophia are on H's list of requested people.
S & C are bunkered down elsewhere. I'm with A & A now.
Olivia sent this before addressing her companions. "That was Maisie Langan. She said that Harper is asking for Alex, Amanda, and myself."
"That's that." Amanda said in surprise.
Carisi waved his phone. "Alex must be psychic. I just got a text from Blue."
"And…?" Alex prompted.
"She said that the door is open for Amanda, Jesse, Frannie, and I to crash there because she doesn't want us out on the road."
"Then it looks like the problem just solved itself."
Carisi nodded in agreement and then got to work on a last-minute conferring session with his fiancée.
Olivia knew exactly what choice they were going to come to, so she sent one more message.
Amanda, Alex, and I will be heading out in a minute. See you in awhile.
122 SOUTHWELL
RESIDENCE OF OLIVIA & ALEXANDRA CABOT
Amanda had only ever been to Olivia's place a handful of times in the time that she had known her thus far. Most of those visits had been after Noah's arrival into the picture. Amanda hadn't been to the house on Southwell Street, except to help move things in and then admire it during the housewarming party. Life had gotten in the way after that.
"Amanda? You with me?"
She gave a small start. The kitchen was mostly empty now because Alex could be seen exiting with Noah and Serena. Probably to go upstairs.
"I'm with it, Olivia." she promised. "I was just thinking that I haven't been here that many times."
"We're going to have to change that when the weather is nicer." Olivia said thoughtfully. "All of the babies will be little, but I know that Melissa will dote on Jesse, just like she does with Noah. She's very gentle."
"That's really nice to hear. Blue and my sister were often my only playmates when I was a kid."
"Really?" Olivia said with great interest. "Why doesn't that surprise me?"
Amanda turned sheepish. "They were my playmates because I was that punk child on the playground who always picked fights. Rough childhood, and all that."
"I know the name of that tune because I was also that 'punk child.' Oh, the stories I could tell you."
"Further proof that I was your kid in another life." Amanda looked around. "This house adjoins with Harper's, right?"
"It does." Olivia pointed to a door beside the stove. "We share a basement, and there's a flight of stairs down there that lead to her kitchen. They do know that we're here."
"Outstanding. Where did Alex go?"
"To change the kids' clothes. They ate when they were being looked after by the nanny, but it's almost nap time."
"Which would keep them from underfoot. At least for awhile."
Amanda then sat in the nearest chair, letting out a soft moan when she felt a few hard kicks and nudges. The babies were not pleased about a sudden change in position. Both of them had been asleep.
"I can believe I'll be cuddling with Jesse, and a pair of twins in the spring time." she was half-exasperated. "That's three kids!"
"We've got four." Olivia said calmly. "You and Harper are our unofficial fifth and sixth."
Amanda was humbled on the spot. "Thank you."
Olivia pulled a chair up to her friend. "I've heard from everyone who promised to check in with me, and they all know that I've made it home safe. Have you been in touch with Dominick?"
"Yes." Amanda perked up. "He made it to Blue's place. Now he and Jesse and Frannie are going to be staying there until the roads are safe. Even if it means all night."
"And you will stay here. Maisie, too." Olivia decided. "Even if it means all night. We have the room."
Amanda sent a quick message to Carisi, conveying this update. "Thank you again."
"We've been family since the day Sophia was born—even if we didn't know each other yet."
Amanda looked like she wanted to say something more, but ended up just wrinkling the bridge of her nose.
"The twins are kicking, huh?" Olivia guessed.
"Yeah. My kids are even hitting the same spot." Amanda pointed to the top left part of her baby bump. "They're so much more feisty than Jesse was. She was a dreamboat."
Olivia made an inquiry to keep Amanda from going down a rabbit trail. "Do you have any names for the babies down for sure yet?"
Amanda nodded. "First of all, I'm expecting one of each. We're totally over the moon. Jesse is adorably oblivious."
"Good thing she's cute." Olivia teased gently.
"My son," Amanda made an amused humming noise at this. "Is named for Dominick, who is named for his dad. We're already calling him Trip so we'll be able to tell everyone apart."
"Clever, and Trip is a classic nickname for a son who is a third. You're keeping the tradition up."
"Mhm, especially because Dominick Senior has always loved me like one of his own—Rollins family drama and all."
"So the name is also a tribute to him. That's lovely." Olivia complimented. "What can you tell me about your new daughter?"
"Her name is Billie, for Billie Holiday. We love her work. The name also means protector." Amanda smiled when her daughter moved under her hand. "Our nickname for her is Lady Day. Just like her namesake's."
"I love all of that, and I can't wait to meet them."
Amanda blew out a gusty breath to calm herself. There were more things she wanted to tell her CO about her littlest children, but this didn't seem like the time or place. Maybe tomorrow. After Harper's babies had been born.
"Sometimes I pinch myself. When I first got to New York, I didn't even think I could be loved." she said after a few moments' quiet. "Now I have a family of my own. I'm even getting married."
"Time flies when you aren't looking." Olivia replied softly. "It did for me, and I married my best friend. She is my greatest love in life."
Alex walked in mere moments after this, Noah and Serena in tow.
"What?" she said nervously at the sight of the other two looking overly sentimental.
"I just love you, beautiful." Olivia told her. "Very much."
Alex blew her a kiss before saying, "The kids are dressed in sleeping clothes. You ready to go over?"
"Yes."
Olivia stood and then pulled Amanda to her feet.
"We're going by way of the basement." Olivia told her.
"Because it's a lot safer than using the street." Amanda deduced.
"Gold star." Olivia opened her own basement door and gestured for the blonde to go first. "After you."
Harper was to be found on her bed now, Maisie beside her. She was tired and hot, but trying her best to make something of her current situation. It was only just beginning.
Olivia ventured forward to her little sister's bed. "Hi, sweetheart. How are you?"
"Kinda freaked out." Harper answered honestly on a trembling note.
"I completely understand. All four of us are here for you."
"Thanks. Are the roads at all safe?"
Alex answered her. "I'm afraid not."
Harper tried to keep from crying. "This just isn't all how I imagined having my children!"
Remembering the extremely traumatic events that had surrounded Jesse's birth, Amanda traded places with Maisie to sit beside Harper. It struck her just then how vulnerable her friend was.
"Harper," Amanda said gently. "Will you look at me?"
She did, whimpering with pain as she was hit with a sporadic pain spasm. "Yes?"
"We're here for you, all the way through. No matter what."
Harper gave another whimper of pain as she felt an impatient kick inside her.
"What if it takes all night?"
Amanda removed her suit blazer and guided Harper to lean against her. She held her in a comforting embrace.
"Then we'll be by your side. Even if it takes all night."
