Elliot and Olivia stood holding onto each other for what seemed like forever until she started to calm herself down. Elliot could feel her body loosen as her sobs turned smaller. He had never seen her like this, completely vulnerable and almost broken. It made him want to hold onto her forever and protect from ever being hurt by anything.

When Olivia finally let go of Elliot's embrace he guided her over to the couch. She sat down on the opposite end of the lounge and wiped her tear stained cheeks as she pulled her knees up close to her body. Elliot watched her carefully in her fragile state, witnessing a side of Olivia he has never seen before.

"How did you and Kathy manage having a baby so young?" Olivia finally spoke softly.

Elliot looked over to meet Olivia's eyes, he could see the pain reflected in her usual radiant deep browns. He took a deep breath, "It wasn't easy, believe me. We definitely struggled through a lot."

"But you fought for your kids." She whispered through tears as she looked up at him.

"Liv, we had completely different situations." He replied gently.

"Oh, believe me I know." Olivia replied as she wiped a few stray tears from her cheeks.

"Kathy and I were young and I wanted to do the right thing and what our families wanted us to do." He said. "We had no idea what we were getting ourselves into and all the consequences that followed."

Olivia looked away from him as she wiped her cheeks with the palms of her hands. He was trying his hardest to say the right things and not make her feel any worse than she was already feeling,

They remained silent for a few moments.

"Do you know where her biological father is?" Elliot questioned cautiously.

Olivia shook her head avoiding any eye contact. Elliot felt his stomach drop.

"I wasn't raped if that's what you're thinking El."

A wave of relief washed over him. He wasn't sure how to ask her directly especially with her reaction to the whole situation, which he didn't blame her for.

"He was older." Olivia breathed. "I haven't seen or heard from him since I had found out I was pregnant. I didn't even get a chance to tell him before he up and left New York."

"So he doesn't know he has a daughter." Elliot stated, but the moment those words left his mouth he wish they hadn't.

"That's not my fault Elliot." Olivia spat as she quickly moved from her seat on the couch.

"I'm not saying it is Liv."

Olivia walked back into the kitchen to refill her glass of vodka. She wasn't done drowning her emotions for the night just yet. Elliot followed slowly behind her trying not to overwhelm her as he leaned against the doorframe of the kitchen.

He watched he as she finished he glass almost instantly reaching for the bottle again. He couldn't let her go on like this all night, she had already made her way through half the bottle, not to mention the alcohol she had already consumed before he had found her.

"Liv. I think you've had enough for tonight." Elliot pressed gently.

"What? You think I'm going to turn into my mother?"

"I just think this isn't what you need right now."

"You don't know what I need right now, Elliot. You can't tell me you've never turned to the bottle after a rough day or do you think busting some perps or punching walls fixes everything?"

He sighed feeling defeated against her stubbornness. "I know that you need someone to be here for you right now, someone to talk to and not finding comfort in the bottom of a bottle. You're sure as hell nothing like your mother."

"If I needed someone to talk to I would have called Abbey." She retorted.

"Does she know?" Elliot questioned.

Olivia took a long small sip of her drink. "Yes. That's actually how I met her." She said quietly. "I met her the day I went to tell Emma's father I was pregnant. I nearly passed out in the park and she stopped to help me. She was there during my whole pregnancy, when I gave birth and every day since. So yes, she knows."

Elliot had never known the story to how Olivia met Abbey, he knew they had known each other since she was young but never knew the details considering Olivia had no family.

"I never knew." He said softly.

"Well we don't share everything, Elliot." Olivia began to put her guard up again.

"I guess not."

"Oh don't guilt trip me. You are the poster boy for shutting people out and bottling things up. You didn't even tell me when Kathy left."

"I think we're both good at keeping things bottled up Olivia." He half challenged.

She quickly turned to face him. She felt her emotions on the verge of bubbling over the edge. "And I have every right to! Not everything revolves around you! You don't think I know my daughter will have questions about my past, where my family is or lack there of, family history!" Olivia spat. "How the hell do I tell my daughter that her grandfather was a rapist. That her grandmother was raped and I was a product of that. That's why she became an abusive alcoholic and one of the reasons I couldn't keep her! She isn't going to want to have anything to do with me after hearing all that, if she wants anything to do with me at all after today."

She had finally let it all out, everything had finally hit her and she couldn't hold it together anymore.

Elliot watched her outburst unfold in front of him. Her words spoke the truth of pain she felt of her past and her total existence that she has carried around with her for her entire life.

"Liv, there is no rush to tell her all the details. She just wanted to know you and she is going to love you no matter what. She is going to see what an amazing person you are going to be in her life."

"It's not that simple." Olivia shook her head.

"Nothing in life is simple. You know that from what we see everyday. She has found you for a reason, she wants to know you."

"I ruined my mother's life and now she thinks she ruined mine." She said softly as her tears wet her eyes again.

"It's not the same thing Liv. You made a selfless choice what you thought was best for your baby. You didn't just hand her over." She felt the tenderness in his voice.

"And I've regretted it everyday since." Olivia whispered.

Elliot moved towards her and pulled her into his arms once again without hesitation. He wished he could take all her pain and guilt away. He couldn't understand in that moment the heartache of losing a child, but he could definitely understand the hurt as his heart went out to Olivia. Bottling up every ounce of her pain and emotion for almost seventeen years, being just a kid herself making such a life changing decision.

Olivia tried to break free from Elliot's hold as he held her tight. Even though she struggled she felt so safe in his arms, his touch was gentle as he held her.

This wasn't Olivia though, she didn't allow a man to swoop in a be her big brave knight, even if that man was Elliot. She could take care of herself like she had always done.

She finally managed to bring herself to let go of Elliot's embrace. "Im fine. You can go, El." She said softly as she went back to the lounge.

Elliot followed slowly bensons her giving her some space she so desperately wanted. "We both know you're not."

"Please." She breathed quietly as she pulled herself into a ball on the couch.

Elliot sat down next her, he put his arm around her and gently pulled her into his chest. Her body was tense for a moment before he felt her relax into him as he felt a fresh set of tears on his shirt. Olivia was surprised at how quickly she let herself melt into him. Elliot gently stroked her hair, he took in the sweet scent of her feeling almost guilty. Olivia's body shifted slightly as she curled up closer to him. She was grateful he didn't decide to leave, she didn't know what she would do if she was alone.

Olivia began to calm down as Elliot held her. "I'm always here for you Liv. You can push me away as hard as you want but I'll never leave you." She remain quiet as she lay against Elliot's warmth.

They stayed in that position on the couch for a while. Olivia's breathing eventually slowed downed into an even paced as Elliot brushed the hair out of her face he saw that she had fallen asleep. He gave her a small kiss on her head and continued to rub her back gently.

He thought he would text Abbey and let her know how Olivia was doing. He pulled his phone out and sent off a quick text message, almost immediately Abbey had sent a reply back to him. She was hoping that Elliot would have tracked her down. Abbey knew Olivia just as well as Elliot, if not better. She had taken her on since Olivia was seventeen and knew exactly how Olivia could shut people out so easily.

Less than half an hour later there were keys in the door unlocking Olivia's apartment. Elliot turn as much as his body would allow him while still holding onto Olivia Olivia only to see Abbey closing the door behind her.

"Hey." She said quietly with a soft smile.

"Hey."

"How's she doing?" Abbey asked as she walked towards the pair on the couch.

Elliot drew in a deep breath. "She's taking things pretty hard. I found her at a bar and she kept the party going once I brought her home. Hence the vodka." He gestured his head in the direction of the kitchen counter.

"Ugh, that bad." Abbey shook her head. "I'm sorry I didn't tell you, it wasn't my place. I know she adores you but she needed to be the one to tell you. She been holding onto this for a long time and doesn't talk about it at all but I know she carries around a lot of hurt from it." She spoke as she gently stroked Olivia's hair as she slept peacefully. "She's never forgotten about her."

"I honestly had no idea but I'm surprised she never told me after all this time."

"She trusts you, with her life Elliot. But she has so much guilt from her past. She probably didn't know how to tell you."

"I would never judge her for doing what she did. I always knew she had to grow up quick." He said as he looked down and her and rubbed her back gently.

"You know Liv, she's stubborn and can keep things hidden so well even if it's eating her up inside. She also respect you and your opinion and was probably scared of what you would think of her."

"That wouldn't have changed how I saw her at all. She was just a kid herself and made a tough decision. I just thought she could tell me anything." Elliot paused. "I'm glad she had you through all of that, that she wasn't alone. I don't know how her mom treated her throughout it but she really does adore you."

"I would do anything for her. Same as you would." Abbey spoke as she placed a hand in Elliot's shoulder.

"She has saved my ass more in more ways than one and put up with me longer than anyone else would have. She's a keeper."

"She would do anything for you, El. You're the only man she has ever trusted this much in her life, the longest relationship she's ever had with a man." Elliot looked at Abbey. "Not a relationship as in dating. You know what I mean. Stability, consistency, safety."

"I would never hurt her."

"Not intentionally, no." Elliot gave Abbey another questioning look. "Sometimes you two are too stubborn for your own for your own good and don't see eye to eye. I've seen how you two can be and sometimes you both say things you don't mean, she really does take things to heart even if she doesn't show it."

"I suppose, but I've always got her back and would do anything for her."

"I know you would."

Elliot shifted slightly to move Olivia. "I guess I better get sleeping beauty to bed."

Abbey couldn't help the small smile that formed on her face when she heard Elliot say that.

He gently moved Olivia's body and scooped her effortlessly up into his arms. Olivia remained in her sleepy state unaware of anything around her other than the feeling of Elliot's warmth. As Elliot carried her frame to her bedroom as Abbey followed behind. She could see the tenderness and care Elliot had for Olivia, he held her like she was glass and he was her shield. Abbey pushed open Olivia's bedroom door and pulled back the sheets. Elliot placed her in her bed delicately and pulled her blankets over her body. Olivia shifted slightly in her bed and moved into her pillow.

"I should probably go." Elliot finally spoke after a moment.

"Maybe you could stay, keep an eye on her? She is going to feel like shit in the morning and I've gotta get home to Andrew and the kids. I left him a note but he was already asleep when I left." Abbey replied.

She could tell that Elliot didn't really want to leave her, his protectiveness was in full swing. Abbey had seen the relationship that the pair had developed over the years, being so in sync with each other, ready to do whatever they needed to keep each other safe at all costs. She knew Elliot would never hurt Olivia or take advantage of her fragile state.

"Oh, of course." Elliot replied. He was expecting Abbey to take over his place but was more than happy to take care of Olivia. "I'll just crash on the couch and have the coffee ready in the morning."

"Thanks, El. I'll grab you some extra blankets." Abbey went to the hall closet and took out a blanket and pillow ready for his temporary bed. "You know she is going to be embarrassed in the morning and probably try to down play her feelings. She will do her best to shut you out but just be patient with her, she's held this bottled up for so long and she trusts you enough to finally know." She spoke as she walked toward Elliot standing at Olivia's door frame.

"I just wish she would have told me sooner." Elliot said as ran his hands down his face. "It makes sense now thinking back on things actually. How she would get when people mention her starting a family, the way she would tense up and avoid the topic completely. But the way she is with kids she is an absolute natural." He said glancing over at Olivia's sleeping body.

"She's had a rough journey but she's a fighter and stubborn as hell. She is willing to fix everybody but leaves nothing left for herself."

"Don't we know that all too well."

"Well, I should probably head off now if you think you'll be alright with Liv."

"Yeah, we'll be fine."

"If you need anything just call. Take care of our girl." Abbey said as she gave Elliot a small hug.

"I will. Get home safely." He replied as he walked he to the front door.

Abbey quickly turned to face him, "I know you carry a gun but I can be a hell of a lot scarier when I'm in momma bear mode, Detective." As she shot him a look.

"Noted." He nodded as walked out the door.

"Goodnight, Elliot." Abbey called as she walked the hallway leading to the elevator.

"Goodnight, Abigail." He replied as he smiled and closed the door and made sure it was locked.

Elliot stopped in the kitchen and grabbed a bottle of water and two Tylenol and walked back to Olivia's room and placed them on her side table ready for the morning, she was definitely going to need them after her night. Elliot took one more look and her, she was every bit of the word beautiful even when sleeping. He gently brushed some hair out of her face and placed a small kiss on her head.

"Sweet dreams, Liv." He whispered.

As he was about to leave, Olivia spoke in a soft mumbled voice. "Stay."

"I am, Liv. I'll be out on the couch if you need anything." Elliot replied.

"No. Here." She patted the empty space next to her while remaining half asleep.

Elliot looked at her for a moment before deciding whether it was a good idea or not. He looked at her curled up under the blankets. She no longer represented his badass partner that could run with the boys that put up a strong front. She was vulnerable, soft and innocent, like when a child climbs into your bed during a thunder storm wanting nothing more than safety and comfort.

Elliot walked to the side of the bed and laid on top of the blankets. It almost seemed too intimate to share the covers with her so he kept a safe barrier between their bodies. As he lay down Olivia moved close to him and rested her head on his chest.

"Night El." She said as she drifted back to sleep.

Elliot wrapped his arm around her as his body relaxed with her. He knew this isn't what Abbey meant by staying over to look after her but if this is what Olivia needed right his only goal was to make sure she was safe. It was harmless.

"Goodnight Liv." He whispered so her sleeping form.