Chapter 4
Rebecca and Olivia loaded up Rebecca's Dodge Caravan with their things and prepared to make the 2 hour and 29 minute drive from Manhattan to Albany, where Rebecca's parents and siblings all live.
"So, Rebecca, what kind of reception should I expect from your family?"
"It won't be a warm one I'm afraid, I haven't seen any of them since September of '98."
"Wow, that's a really long time, what are the people of your family like?"
"Spoiled and uptight, they wanted me to be like them and be a lawyer, but I decided not to go that route and joined the Police Academy and then the STARS recruited me soon after." Rebecca said with a hint of sadness in her voice.
Olivia felt bad for her beloved, she knew all too well the pain of being rejected by her Mother growing up.
Liv reached over and took Rebecca's right hand, giving it a gentle squeeze.
"Don't worry babe, I'm here for you." Olivia tells her girlfriend reassuringly.
Meanwhile, Marlene Chambers and her of nine months Darius Mills Chambers are bringing in drinks for the cookout.
"I understand that Rebecca is coming this year." he states.
"Don't remind me." Marlene says bitterly.
The mid-morning sun shone brightly as Olivia, Noah, and Rebecca arrived at the Chambers residence. Rebecca led Olivia, who was carrying Noah in her arms up the marble walkway to the entrance to the back yard where the rest of Rebecca's family and friends were already enjoying themselves.
Darius is helping Thomas flip the burgers and pork chops on the grill while Janet and Jolena are in the kitchen helping Janet prepare the drinks and the plates.
"Hello everyone, long time, no see." Rebecca greets her family and friends.
Everyone stops what they're doing and stare at Rebecca.
"Rebecca, how have you been? It's been ages!" a bubbly redhead with large DD breasts and hazel eyes bounded up to Rebecca and Olivia.
"Hello Miranda." Rebecca said with a subtle roll of her eyes.
The busty redhead bounded off a moment later without acknowledging Olivia or Noah, which angered Rebecca.
"Who was that?" Liv asked as she adjusted Noah's position in her arms.
"Miranda James, daughter of ChemSAT President, Theodore James. She's just a bubble head."
"Now, is that any way to talk about such a dear friend Rebecca, I thought you had better social graces than that?" Rebecca's Mother, Janet asks as she walks up to Olivia, Noah, and Rebecca with a glass of lemonade in her hand.
Again, Rebecca rolls her eyes.
Janet turns her attention to Rebecca's companion and the baby boy in her arms.
"Rebecca, who are your guests?" Janet asks as Andrew, Thomas, and Marlene come up the trio.
"This is Olivia Benson, Mother and her Son, Noah."
"Why are they here? Aside from being your guests?" Jolena asks, earning her a stern look from her Father, though he was thinking the same thing."
"Olivia and I went to college together, we recently reunited and I expressed my romantic feelings for her and she has accepted them." replied Rebecca.
"So, the two of you are a couple now or something?" Marlene inquired.
"Yes." Rebecca said proudly.
Thomas turned his loaded gaze on Olivia, who met his gaze evenly.
"Whose child is that really?"
"Excuse me, I adopted Noah, he's MY Son." Liv retorted angrily.
"What do you do, Benson?" Thomas inquired a moment later.
"I'm a Police Officer with the NYPD."
"Of course you are, do you work with Rebecca on that STARS team?"
"No, I work in Special Victims, I am the Commanding Officer of the unit."
"Oh, you are, eh? What's your rank?" Jolena chimes in.
"Rebecca, could you take Noah for me please?"
"Sure sweetie." Rebecca says before taking Noah away from Liv.
Olivia pulls out her wallet with her Lieutenant's shield and ID in it.
Rebecca couldn't suppress the smile that lit up her face when she saw her snobbish family put in their places by her girlfriend.
"Liv, what would you and Noah like to eat?" Rebecca asks.
"Can I have a hot dog and some chips please?" Noah chirped shyly.
Rebecca smiled at the adorable toddler.
"Sure Noah, come on." Rebecca said before offering her right hand to him.
Olivia smiled as she watched Rebecca and Noah walk over to the grill to procure a hot dog for him.
"Never thought I'd see the day when Rebecca Chambers would enjoy the company of a child." Olivia hears Marlene say with a touch of sarcasm in her voice.
"Noah is special, he has an ability to draw people to him."
Marlene scoffs at the older woman's comment just as Rebecca and Noah return, hot dog acquired.
"Did you thank Ms. Rebecca and her Father for the hot dog, Noah?" Olivia asked her Son, who nods excitedly.
"Good." she says with a smile.
Later on...
With Noah taking a nap up in Rebecca's room, Olivia and Rebecca decide to sit out on the veranda together and look at the sunset when Darius and Marlene came up to them.
"I heard that you were All-State Conference Champion in basketball while you were in high school, Benson. That true?"
Darius asked, eyeing Olivia suspiciously.
"It is, why is that important?" Liv replied.
"The Chambers Family always has a couple's basketball game where we bet 1,000 dollars just for fun, Rebecca always backs out because she never had the money...or a partner." he says smugly.
"Are you two in?" Marlene inquired.
"Sorry, I have to decline." Olivia says politely.
Rebecca just glares at her Sister and Brother in-law.
Just then, Rebecca's phone buzzed.
"I'll get Noah." Liv says quickly before rushing inside to retrieve her Son.
