Marcus took off his tie and blazer after attending Serena's funeral. He couldn't believe she died. He wasn't that close to her but she was still his mother in-law.

Olivia came into the room. "Can you unzip my dress?"

He went over and unzipped the back. "Are you ok?"

"I'm fine." She answered and pulled the dress off.

"Look…I was talking to Elliot at the funeral and he said you won't talk about it and you're just forcing yourself to work. Your captain gave you time off."

She glanced over at him. "Now you have a problem with this also?"

"I have a problem with you burying this deep inside. You haven't shed a tear Olivia." He unbuttoned his shirt and took it off.

"So I have to cry now? People mourn in different ways." She defended.

"You haven't mourned."

She finally turned toward him. "Can you please just drop this? I am not in the mood to argue with you about this."

"Fine." He answered. "You know it's not healthy to keep this inside."

"Marcus." She whispered warningly.

He held his hands up in surrender and left the room.

Olivia took a deep breath and got dressed in one of Marcus's wife beaters and a pair of blue jeans. She left the room and went into the kitchen.

Marcus was in the living room reading a letter. "Baby?"

"Yeah?"

He held up the letter. "We got approval to adopt Jaime." He smiled.

She smiled. "Awesome."

"Look if you're not ready now because of what happened-"

"Marcus." She groaned. "C'mon don't start."

"Alright, fine." He shook his head and sat down. "Can you get me a t-shirt?"

"You are so lazy." She shook her head and went to the bedroom to find him a shirt. She tossed him one and went to the kitchen to make food.

He watched TV for a couple of minutes until he got bored. He got up and went to kitchen with her. "Need help?"

"No." She answered.

He wrapped his arms around her waist. "I can help in other ways."

She smiled a little. "Not in the mood."

"Oh you suck." He began nibbling on her neck. "But your Teddy bear wants you." He whispered in a baby voice.

"Later, I'm really hungry now."

"Oh me too." He pushed himself against her body.

She instantly felt his hardness against her. "Baby c'mon."

"You come first." He whispered seductively.

She laughed a little and pushed him off. "Later. I promise."

"But later won't be fun." He gave her a kiss on the cheek.

"I know." She teased and returned the kiss. They heard a knock on the door. "Get the door."

"Why me?"

"Be a man." She smirked. "I'm scared. Protect me Mr. Teddy Bear."

"Oh I will." He slapped her butt and went to the door. He opened it and spotted Scott standing there with Jaime holding his hand. "Hey guys."

Scott smiled a little. "Sorry to intrude but there was an incident at the shelter and they called me to take Jaime. Figured you might want him."

Marcus smiled a little. "This brat? Of course." Jaime grinned. "Let's get some cookies while Olivia talks to Scott ok?" He led Jaime in. "Liv." He called over and motioned to the door.

Olivia went to the door and smiled seeing Scott. "Hey, come in." She led him in and closed the door. "What happened?"

"There was an assault near the foster home; they needed to clear out all the kids. I was put down as Jaime's back up cause the owner knows me. You guys don't mind taking him?"

"No. Of course not." Olivia answered and glanced at Marcus and Jaime playing cards in the living room. "Let's talk in the kitchen."

Scott followed her. "I heard you guys are becoming his guardians."

She looked over. "Yeah. How did you know?"

"Who do you think convinced ACS to let you have him? I know the commissioner of ACS personally."

She grinned. "Thank you."

"Not a problem." Scott looked at Marcus and Jaime. "They seem good together."

"Yup." Olivia nodded. "You want to stay for dinner? There is plenty of food."

"No, I can't, I have a patient to check up on. Thank you though." He nodded. "I'll send someone over tomorrow to bring Jaime's stuff."

Olivia nodded and walked him to the door. "Sure. Thanks again."

"No problem." He nodded and looked over at Jaime. "Hey Jaime? I have to go. If you need anything just let Marcus or Olivia know ok?"

Jaime nodded. "Ok." He waved. "Bye Scott."

Scott waved and left the apartment. Olivia closed the door and went to the living room. "What you two playing?" She down on the couch. Marcus and Jaime were sitting on the ground playing cards on the table.

"Poker. I'm winning." Marcus smirked.

"No you're not!" Jaime yelled. "I win." He put his cards down. It was all different ones.

"Now why do you win?" Marcus questioned.

"Because I win." Jaime grinned.

Marcus shook his head. "Alright. Just this once."

Jaime grabbed Marcus's wrist and looked at his watch. "What time is it?"

"Almost seven. Why?"

"My show is about to start." He answered and grabbed the remote. He turned on the TV and sat down in front of it to watch his cartoon.

Marcus picked him up and placed him on the couch. "Not so close to the TV."

Jaime nodded and kept his eyes on his cartoon. Marcus and Olivia went to the kitchen to get the food ready. "So where adopting him?" Olivia smirked a little.

"Yup." Marcus nodded. They heard a knock on the door. "I'll get it." He went over to the door and opened it. He froze seeing who was at the door. "Dad."

The older man smiled a little at him. "You're a hard man to track down Marcus."

Marcus gulped a little. His father had his green eyes and dark black hair combed to the side. He looked pretty good for his age. "What are you doing here?"

"I can't see my son?" He tried to come in.

Marcus got in his way. "This isn't a good time."

Olivia came to the door. She didn't know who it was because Marcus didn't keep pictures of his abusive father. "Hi."

The older man smiled. "You must be Marcus's wife. I'm his father, Troy Nichols."

Olivia nodded. She knew Marcus took his mother's maiden name when he moved away from his father. "How can we help you?"

Troy smiled at Olivia and glanced at Marcus. "I guess we know who wears the pants in this relationship."

"Leave." Marcus whispered.

"Is that your son?" Troy motioned to Jaime watching TV. "Blonde hair?" He looked at Olivia. "Cheated on my son? I don't blame you."

Marcus grabbed him by the shirt and shoved him out of the doorway. "Stay away from my family Troy."

"Troy?" He asked. "Did you grow a pair of balls?" He slapped Marcus across the face. "You don't talk to me that way."

Olivia went over and stood in front of Marcus. She could still see he was scared of his father no matter how many years passed by. "Mr. Nichols, we would appreciate it if you didn't come back."

"Olivia stay out of this." Marcus told her and rubbed his red cheek.

"Yeah Olivia, this is between me and my useless son." Troy answered.

Olivia glanced at Marcus. Marcus nodded a little. "Take Jaime to the bedroom."

Olivia took a deep breath and did as told. Even though she wanted to, she knew it wasn't any of her business to interfere. She went over and took Jaime. "C'mon honey, let's watch TV in the bedroom." She carried him into their bedroom and closed the door.

"Invite me in Marcus." Troy ordered.

Marcus moved out of his way. "What do you want? Money?"

Troy came in and looked around. "Nice place."

"What do you want?"

Troy looked over at him. "To get to know my grandson."

Marcus shook his head. "No."

"Have you forgotten your manners Marcus Nichols?"

"You know I don't go by your last name anymore."

"Why is that?"

Marcus smiled a little. "You seriously asking me that? You were an abusive father and a worthless human being."

Troy went over to him. "You better watch who you are talking to boy."

"What? You want to hit me? I'm not five anymore. I will fight back."

"You could have fought back when you were 15, you still didn't do it. You just cried." Troy shoved Marcus. "C'mon Marc, fight. Show me the man you became."

Marcus shook his head. "I'm not you. I'm not going to punch you for no reason."

"You wait until Olivia leaves you, and how you have to take care of your son by yourself. We'll see how you will deal with it."

"I would never hit my son." Marcus answered. "Get out of my apartment."

Troy laughed a little and punched Marcus in the stomach. Marcus instantly dropped to his knees. All the pain he escaped for twenty years was coming back. A punch from his father hurt physically and emotionally.

"C'mon Marcus." Troy stood over him. "I thought you were a man now."

Marcus coughed a little. "Why did you come here? To bully me? Don't you have a bar you can go drink?"

Troy kneeled down by him. "I came to tell you you're a brother. Half brother but still."

Marcus looked up at him. "What?"

"My girlfriend gave birth to a baby girl two weeks ago. Congrats big brother."

Marcus shook his head. "You can't be a father. You don't deserve to be."

Troy grabbed him by his shirt and yanked him up. "And you do? You can't even fight back. I told you Marcus, you will never be anybody. I wish I never had you."

Marcus nodded. "Me too." He slugged him across the face and tackled him down. All the dishes that were on the table went flying off the table and smashed on the ground.

Troy punched Marcus across the face. "Look at that son; you know how to fight like a girl."

Marcus grabbed a jagged edge of the plate that broke and went to hit him but felt someone grab his arm. He looked over at saw Olivia holding him.

"Don't." She answered. "He isn't worth it." She pulled Marcus off his father.

Troy laid on the ground holding his broken nose.

Marcus sat on the ground and caught his breath. "You so much lay a hand on that girl, next time I see you will be to shoot you in your fucking head." He got up. He wiped his bloody lip and grabbed Troy by the collar. "Get up you little bitch." He yanked him up.

Troy finally got to his feet. Marcus dragged him to the door and threw him out. "Nice fight son."

Marcus kneed him in the stomach. "Stay away from my family." He went into the apartment and slammed the door closed. He locked it and slid down the door. He watched his hands shake.

Olivia kneeled down by him and placed ice on his knuckles. "It's ok baby."

"I never hit him before."

Olivia nodded. "I'm proud of you." She whispered and placed a kiss on his temple.

Jaime came out of the room even if Olivia told him to stay there. "Hey who broke the dishes?" He looked at the kitchen.

"Marcus fell." Olivia answered and took the little boy in her lap. "Why don't you give him a hug?"

Jaime crawled on Marcus's lap and hugged him around the neck. "It's ok, I fall all the time."

Marcus smiled a little and rubbed his back. "Thanks buddy."

--

Olivia woke up in the middle of the night and glanced at Jaime sleeping. He crawled in bed with them after he had a nightmare. Marcus wasn't in bed anymore.

Olivia placed a small kiss on Jaime's head and covered him with the blanket. She got out of bed and went outside. She finally spotted Marcus sitting on the stool at the counter top staring at his coffee. "Hey baby."

He looked up. "Hey, why are you up?"

"I felt that I had too much room, normally I'm cuddled up against you." She smiled and sat down by him. "What's wrong?"

He shrugged a little. "I'm worried."

"About?"

"My dad told me I have a half sister. A baby sister." He shook his head. "He hit me…imagine what he would do to her."

Olivia stroked the back of his hair. "You shouldn't be worried. That isn't your problem."

He looked over at her. "Do you even believe in what you're saying?"

"No. I'm just trying to make you feel better." She answered.

He nodded. "Something has to change."

"I agree."

"Arrest him."

"What?" Olivia questioned.

"For assault. I have a bruise to prove it. I want him arrested for trespassing and assault." Marcus answered.

Olivia nodded knowing Marcus was trying to do anything to get Troy away from his little sister. "Tomorrow morning, come to the station and make a formal complaint. But Marcus, he will probably only get probation."

"Would he be in the system?"

"Yes."

"That's all I need." He answered. "For someone to pay attention for the first time."

Flashback

Marcus sat in the precinct waiting for the detective to talk to him. He was only 14 but he was sick of getting beat up by his dad.

A man came out. "Marcus?"

Marcus quickly got up. He didn't have any bruises on him since his body learned to recover quickly. He was getting beat up ever since he was old enough to talk. "Yeah."

"Come on." The detective made him sit down. They sat across each other. "So what's going on?"

"I heard you can arrest someone for beating up their kid."

"Is it you?"

Marcus shrugged a little. "Is it true?"

"Yeah. Tell me what happened."

"I get beat up. My dad is a drunk."

"Do you have bruises on you?"

"No."

The detective nodded. "When was the last time he hit you?"

"Last night."

"Why?"

"I didn't clean my room."

"What's your dad's name?"

"Troy Nichols."

The detective nodded and got up. "I'll be right back." He went over to his computer for a while and then finally came back. "Your dad is a former US Coast Guard? With a purple honor heart?"

Marcus nodded. "Yeah. So?"

"Look Marcus, we can't arrest your dad."

"Why not?"

"There is no case here. You don't have evidence, your father is a good man and you have been in trouble with the law before. Even if I could arrest him, no one would charge him."

Marcus stared at him. The same thing happened when he told his teacher in school what was going on at home. No one believed him. He just had to get used to getting beaten up until he was old enough to leave. "Ok." He got up and left the precinct.

End Flashback

Olivia stared at Marcus for a little while. "Let's go to bed."

"I can't sleep." He answered. "You go ahead."

"You need some sleep. I don't want you looking like Dracula in the morning." She smiled.

They heard Jaime from the room. "Daddy?"

Olivia looked at Marcus. "That's you."

Marcus got up and went into the bedroom. "Hey buddy, what's wrong?"

"Where is everyone? I can't sleep." Jaime answered and held out his arms to Marcus.

Marcus went over and hugged him. He got in bed and let Jaime lay down on his chest. "We're here. Go sleep." He gently stroked his hair.

Olivia came into the room and got on the other side. "Hey Jaime, why you stealing daddy from me?"

Jaime giggled a little. "There's room for you too mommy."

Olivia felt a huge smile appear on her face. This was the first time Jaime called her mommy. She loved being called that. "Yeah there is baby." She kissed him on the head and cuddled closer to her family.