Author's Note this is starting where chapter eight left off.

Disclaimer I don't own any of the following material. The characters are a copyright of NBC/ Dick Wolf. The plot's all mine though

`'`'`'`'`'`'`'`'`'`'`'`'`'``'

The room was silent and awkward after Casey stormed out.

"Proud Luke? Now I have to og fix your mistake, again. She doesn't need that right now, she needs support. If your not going to support her, the leave." Joe said as he left after Casey.

"Lucas, the baptism's tomorrow at 2. You need to be there. Be on your best behavior, and NO FIGHTING or bickering. If that means no talking to her, so be it. Goodbye" Beth said.

Luke just got up and left.

"I should go tal-" Olivia began before she was cut off

"no, joe's got it. He always knew what to say to calm her down." Beth said. "Olivia dear, could you help me with some dishes?"

"Sure" Olivia said getting up off the couch as she and beth got up to do the dishes, leaving Elliot and Pap alone to talk, probably about golf or fishing.

Once they were alone I the kitchen and the dishes were finished, beth turned to Olivia to talk to her.

"Olivia, do you know who Cara's father is?"

"No, I never met him. They dated for a little while. Casey said he left when she found out she was pregnant." Olivia answered.

"hm. She told me they were engaged."

"oh, um well they prob-"

"Olivia you don't have to lie for her. I don't really care that much, you know? Casey thinks I do. I feel like she's hiding something. She just, she's so worried I'll judge her and hate her. She's my only daughter Olivia. How could I hate her? "

"she just really wants you to be proud of her" Olivia answered honestly.

"I know hubris is a sin, but I brag about her all the time. She's my little girl. We raised her to be accustomed to quiet country life. Then she just up and goes off to New York City to study law. Now our little farmer girl's working for the Manhattan DA's office, putting away the worst criminals there are. We're so proud of her, but I don't think she know's that. Don't tell anyone I said this, but she could, loose her job and her home, move in with us, make us raise her baby , and become a hooker and she'd still have accomplished more in her life than Luke has. That's why he's so cruel to her. I love all my children to death, but Luke just doesn't know when to stop, and, as you saw, their little tiffs end up hurting each other. "

"she's a wonderful person. She loves you guys a lot. I can tell she really misses you. She just doesn't want you to be ashamed of her."

Their conversation ended when Casey and Joey walked back inside, laughing. They had red noses from being out in the cold. Beth turned instantly into an over protective mother.

"Have you two been outside all this time?" she asked

"mom, where do you think our little Casey went when she was pissed off other than O'Malley's Ice Cream Shoppe. A small banana ice cream later and it's all better" he said with a wink.

"oh, shuddup, I wanted to see if they were still open" Casey said giving Joe a light slap.

"That, or did you just want to look into David O'Malley's big chocolate brown eyes?" Joey asked sayin the phrase 'big chocolate brown eyes' like a love struck teen.

"Casey do you still have a crush on that boy? I remember he took you to the prom. You know you broke that boy's heart when you went off to NYU. You know he's still single? And he asks about you whenever we bring the kids over for ice creams" beth said

Casey blushed. "Mom-"

"oh Casey calm down it's not like I'm arranging your marriage. I just saying, while your I town throw the kid a bone. At least go to dinner with him." Beth suggested.

"that's a great idea! I'll dial for you so you can set it up!" Joe said as he grabbed the phone.

"joey don-" he held the recievr to her ear

"joey im not going out with him just because you- hello? Um hi Dave it's Casey. Ha, yeah. Listen I was just wondering if you wanted to go out to dinner tonight. Great. Yeah. Ok I'll see you at 7." She hung up the phone. "Joey I hate you."

"no you don't. you quite thankful I set this up. If you didn't want to go out with him tonight then you wouldn't have set it up."

"he was on the other line, what was I going to say?"

"you could've said something else and you know it. Face it kid, you LIKE him!"

"you're such a child joseph, I swear." Casey muttered as she left the room.