Disclaimer: Yes, once again I must tell you that I do not own Strong Medicine or any of it's characters. If I did, I'd be doing a mighty large happy dance right now. I also do not own Olivia Benson, or Elliot Stabler – although I did name my kittens after them. (Just kidding). But – I'm afraid I must let you know that I do own Mariska (Olivia's daughter), Andy's twin sons (Patrick and Richard), the families' e-mail addresses – but not - and this plot line. So don't steal them from me. Or I'll steal your socks. Yes, those nice pink polka dotted ones that you love so much.

Andy sat on her cot after a long day of training, and checked her e-mail. She saw that she had 3 new messages.

" To:

From:

To:

From:

To:

From:

End of messages."

After she read each message, Andy replied to each one.

" To:

From:

Lizzy;

I want you to know how sorry I am that I've had to leave you all. I wish I could be back with you guys. But unfortunately, I'm not, so we're all going to have to make the best of it. I trust you're doing your homework, and helping Milo and you sister and brothers. You're such a good girl, and I want you to know how much I love you. They let me send one video home a month, so be looking for it in the mailbox soon. I love you.

Mommy"

" To:

From:

Jesse girl – You're so brave and helpful. I admire your courage, and hope you'll stay strong for me while I'm gone. I'm passing the position of woman of the family to you, and I'm sure you'll do a wonderful job. Thank you for calling Walker for me – she's been a wonderful friend – and I'm sure she and her family will be dropping by a lot. I know that Christmas will be hard without me this year…but I've already bought everyone's presents. They're all wrapped in the shelving unit off of my closet. Don't forget to help Milo decorate the house and put up a tree. And make sure to e-mail me pictures. I don't know how often I'll be able to e-mail you. We're in training right now, so I'll be able to write every night, but once they deploy us into the desert, it might not be very often at all. I just want you to remember that I love you more than anything in the world Jesse girl, and I'll never stop loving you. Just think – I'm not home to monitor your curfew, so go have fun. Just don't do anything I wouldn't. I love you!

Mommy"

" To:

From:

Dearest –

I've heard that today wasn't too easy on anyone. I wish I could be there right now helping you tuck the boys into bed. It's about a 22-hour time difference I think, so you guys are about a day ahead of us. I'm sure the boys will be just fine for you. They've always been perfect angels, so I can't imagine that they'd act any differently now. Just don't let them talk you into giving them too many cookies! I'm giving you permission – even though you don't need it! – to sleep in my bed as often as you like. I know that if you were gone – I'd want to cuddle into your sheets and smell your scent on the pillows. But of course, I'm the one who is gone. I wish there were some way I could be back there with you. And Christmas is coming up soon. I've told Jesse where I've hidden all of the presents. Don't worry – they are all bought and wrapped. Even yours – so no peeking! I hope you'll all decorate the house and put up a tree even though I'm not there. Well, I've got to go. It's taps time. I'll talk to you later. I love you so much – the boys too. Give them kisses for me.

Love always – Andy."

Andy lay back on her cot and sighed. She missed her family so much. She put up her laptop and took out the picture of her family and studied it. Olivia, her bunkmate came in a few minutes later with red eyes. Andy sat up and smiled sympathetically at her.

"E-mails?" Andy asked her knowingly.

Olivia nodded. "Elliot said that Mariska sang the alphabet for the first time today…and I wasn't there to see it," she said wiping her eyes. Olivia came and sat down next to Andy. "It's going to be really hard on Elliot. We just moved down to Philly from New York City, so we don't know very many people yet. We don't know anyone. We haven't even found a daycare for Mariska yet," Olivia told Andy.

Andy smiled. "Where in Philly do you live?" She asked Olivia, wondering if they lived near each other.

"We just bought a large house in the Enchanted Oaks subdivision. We're on Moonlit Drive," she told Andy.

Andy smiled. "That's such a coincidence! We live on Enchanted Oaks Circle!" She said happily. "I'll give Milo your phone number. Maybe your daughter and husband can come over some time. I'm sure Patrick and Richard would love another playmate, and Milo can talk to Elliot, if you like," Andy offered.

Olivia smiled. "Oh, that would be really great! We've tried to find playmates for Mariska, but so many people in the neighborhood have been so rude and snooty towards us…so we haven't had much luck," Olivia said truthfully.

Andy laughed. "I know what you mean," she said as taps began to play. "Well, it's lights out," Andy said as she crawled under her army-issued blankets.

Olivia got up, and got into her bed right next to Andy's. The lights went out in their room, but they continued to talk late into the night.