Chapter 6

The next morning Olivia was up before everyone. She was dressed and making breakfast. Having kids was different. She couldn't just grab her coffee and go. Amanda woke up, got dressed and helped her out. She woke up Quinn and Kyle and got them rolling. Amanda headed to work, because Olivia would be a little late dealing with the school stuff.

Kyle was an easy drop off. Quinn needed more attention. Olivia gave them the paperwork and before she left the teacher asked to speak to her. Olivia watched outside the window in the door. Quinn sat quietly and worked on her papers. Olivia thought she was adorable as she chewed on her lip while she thought. "Ms. Benson?"

Quinn's teacher gave her a lot of positives. "She's smart, very smart. Her reading is amazing for a seven year old, her math skills are even better. Do you see her now?" Olivia nodded. "I can give her work like that all day, but school has changed since you and I. When we have a whole or small group, Quinn doesn't get that everyone just isn't as quick. She becomes frustrated with the normal seven year old brain. Usually I give her something else. She has friends, they love her."

She explained she told Mrs. Cleary the same thing and offered gifted testing, but she never signed it and Quinn started acting out even more. "I think the punishment was my fault." Olivia didn't agree, it wasn't her fault. She signed the papers, told her teacher to please let her know about her behavior, and left before she saw her.

She finally was able to make it to work and help with the case. Things took a huge change when Stevie Harris was found dead after apparently trying to help them get Prince to talk. Fin spoke to the team on the phone, "We have a foot print and it matches a Prince Miller shoe." Cragen nodded, and told them to pick him up. Olivia and Fin left. "Liv, how was last night?" Fin was her friend. She explained Quinn was harder than Kyle.

She also told him Amanda slept over. Fin's eyes shot up. "She was on the pull out sofa. Geez Fin, I do have a seven year old in my bed." Olivia didn't say anything about the kiss. "She has a story and I don't think it's good." Fin saw the same thing, but he also thought Olivia could help her.

They picked up Prince and he was almost shocked hearing the news. He went willingly and she asked Fin to make a stop. Prince saw his old coach with other young boys. "He's taking them on their first road trip tomorrow." Coach waved at him and Prince returned to the car. Olivia's phone rang. "Benson."

It was a young woman named Lucy Huston. "Hi, Tracy Harrison gave me your number. She and Simon said you may be looking for a nanny." She explained she used to live and work for her and watch Ty, but since she was pregnant and staying home now, she needed another job. Olivia asked her to come by on Saturday. She gave her the address and said they could definitely talk.

Fin pulled up and they got up. "Olivia!" Quinn ran and hit her, almost knocking her over. "Umm ice cream before dinner?" She looked at Simon. He laughed saying he was just a big brother and that's what they did. "Hey your Prince Miller! Can you sign my ice cream cone?" They all laughed at her giggle. Turns out Quinn loved basketball. She gave out his stats from the season. "You know Prince, you should work on your left and you could score more. They all know you're going right." Everyone just stared at her.

Quinn waited with Simon and she finished her ice cream. Kyle was at baseball practice so she enjoyed her other big brother. They saw Prince come out. The shoe print wasn't his. His manager crossed his legs in the interview and noticed he was wearing a similar shoe. He killed Stevie and Prince saw the light. No one wanted the truth except the police who were trying to stop Coach Monster. That's what Prince called him. "I'll do it." They went to pick him up immediately and the news broke.

Prince saw Quinn wearing his jersey that went past her knees. She bounced a basketball that the manager had given her. She dribbled it between her legs. She was really good. "Simon catch!"

Prince picked her up, "Tell you what, how would you and your family like floor seats to our first game next month?"

Quinn was so excited, "I've never been to a real game! I need lots of tickets though. I have Olivia and Kyle and Simon and Simon's family and Fin and Amanda and…" Olivia stopped her and Prince just laughed. Prince promised to make it happen.

Olivia was happy she made it through the day and helped someone as normal. She also realized the day wasn't over. She had to run and pick up a teenager from baseball practice. She hadn't even looked at the paperwork for Simon's condo, and Amanda was standing there at her desk like a lost child. It was hard, all of it. Simon offered a solution, "How about you look at this tonight and I'll bring Tracy and Ty over tomorrow for dinner? They want to meet you all anyway."

She sighed, "I have Lucy tomorrow." He smiled and shrugged explaining they could bring Lucy, she lived with them. She was only 20, but very responsible. Olivia took a breath and relaxed. She grabbed the envelope and Quinn's hand.

Fin was gone, he had a date with Phoebe, Amanda smiled and waved. "Amanda, wanna come with us, pick up Kyle, and help me make dinner." Quinn jumped up and down repeating "Sleepover! Sleepover! Sleepover!" Amanda smiled that she wasn't left out even with Olivia's busy new life.

They climbed in Olivia's new Sergeant's SUV and picked up a nasty Kyle. Quinn frowned, "You stink! Ewww! Get away!" Olivia corrected her quickly saying that wasn't nice and to stop. Kyle thanked her for paying the fees, but Olivia told him to thank his new big brother Simon.

The fees were a lot, Meredith hadn't been doing anything since last school year. He even missed playing travel ball over the summer according to his coach. "I don't stink, we are just working on batting practice and weights. I'm just a little sweaty and I love hugging you." Quinn squealed, hurting everyone's ears.

Olivia turned to Amanda, "See a mess, still wanna be my friend?" Amanda looked back at Kyle tickling Quinn and her laughing, then back at Olivia. "Absolutely."

It was Friday night. Kyle was sent to the shower and Quinn the tub. Olivia started browning beef for spaghetti. She put Amanda on salad duty when she saw she didn't know anything about cooking. "Wash everything good." She showed her how to stir the meat. "See, this is easy." She had the sauce going with meatballs and made Amanda take care of the rest. "Let it warm, watch that one because she's trouble, and I'm taking my shower first because I'm the oldest." Olivia winked, "Don't worry you can't burn it."

When Olivia finished, she touched Amanda's shoulders from behind and Amanda flinched. Olivia noticed it but didn't react so she wouldn't react. "I've got the rest and you have 10 minutes before dinner, hurry." Amanda left quickly and Olivia fixed garlic bread. "Kyle! Quinn! Set the table, let's go!"

Quinn held a glass with ice for Amanda's drink. "Amanda, do you want tea, water, or soda? Olivia said I can't have soda, but you and Kyle can." Amanda told her to pick, so of course she didn't get soda. They all ate and laughed as a family. Olivia watched Amanda carefully especially after the shoulder incident.

Olivia looked at the paperwork. The condo was beautiful and furnished for the most part. The bedrooms were all empty except for the one he was in. It was perfect. She could take the other three for Kyle, Quinn, and the baby. Amanda looked at Quinn and Kyle watching a movie on the couch and quietly asked, "When are you telling them about the baby?"

Olivia shrugged, she wanted them more settled, but she wouldn't have a choice with her growing bump. "The dad is David Haden." Olivia watched Amanda turn to shock. "See a mess, I warned you. We aren't together or in love. The sex was good though, really good." Olivia said it, because Amanda had to know. It was a test of their friendship. Amanda frowned a little, but she knew she couldn't be mad. She had her flings that were the same. She smiled hoping maybe one day. "You know, I won't have an extra room, but you have a place Amanda. You can even share my bed if I can get Quinn out of it."

She saw Kyle stand up with a knocked out Quinn. Olivia told him to put her in the bed. Once she was out, she was out. "Night Olivia and Amanda." She looked at the time and it was 9:30. The week must have been hard on both of them.

Olivia signed the documents and placed them in the envelope for the bank. Amanda was curious, "I know your mom isn't alive either. You don't talk about her much, but was your dad nice?" Olivia looked up and realized Amanda didn't know. "Not really. He had problems I guess. I hope Quinn never has to know the truth. Simon's mom and Joseph were together. They made a family. He raped my mother and she was never the same."

Olivia told her everything. Amanda heard her nightmare of a life and her life wasn't a fairytale either. Amanda thought it was most of the source of her problems, but if Olivia could beat why not her.

She grabbed her hand, "Liv, I'm sorry, but I'm not, because you're here. You have touched so many lives and look at what you're doing for Quinn and Kyle." Olivia smiled. "And me. Liv, I'm glad because I needed a friend."

Olivia took a chance, "Since we're friends, do you want to tell me what's really going on? The tensing up, the nightmares?" Amanda took a deep breath, but she wasn't ready. "It's okay. I'm here when you are ready."

The rest of the weekend went smoothly. Olivia met Tracy and Ty. They also met Lucy and Olivia thought she was perfect. Kyle was extra helpful to her. On Sunday they had a shopping day. With the colder weather coming everyone needed more clothes.