AN: Alright back to the important things. You know, cause having a baby wasn't important. KIDDING! I love your reviews. You guys rock my socks.

Ol' Blue Eyes

"Do you ever get scared," Kathleen asked as she stood next to Olivia in the pink and purple nursery.

After a week of care, Olivia and Ella were released from the hospital. The whole family introduced Ella to her new home and her new bedroom. Elliot made sure to unpack everything that he could, so that the house was in place for their first day back.

Olivia held Ella's leg up as she changed her diaper, and she paused after Kathleen's question. "Scared how?"

Kathleen twiddled with a fuzzy bear lying next to Ella's head. "You know, like during a case, or like last week when…the…with the gun."

"Sure I do." Olivia pulled the diaper tabs and looked into Kathleen's eyes. "Do you need to talk about last week?"

Kathleen shrugged. "I don't know, I just wondered how you handled it. You seem so un-phased. I don't think I would …I mean, I wasn't even in that car, and I…well I'm finding myself petrified to leave the house alone. I went to a party last night and on the way home I almost had a mental break down. If anyone saw me they probably thought I was crazy. I was looking behind me every five seconds and jumping at every movement. It was ridiculous. I felt like a little girl stuck in the big black basement only this time the monsters were real."

"Oh sweetheart that's normal." Olivia touched her hand and rubbed her back while Ella kicked and grunted next to them. "I may seem un-phased, but trust me I have my fair share of nightmares. I guess you could say that I've built a tolerance for certain things. I deal with that kind of fear on a daily basis, so it's different for me. You can't beat yourself up. It's a normal reaction. You have to learn how to calm yourself. Find your strong side. If you can control yourself, you can control the situation."

Olivia lifted the baby and pulled Kathleen on the floor where Ella's blanket lay neatly in a square. "I'm gonna tell you something, but you have to promise never to tell your father."

Kathleen smiled and lifted an eyebrow. "Ok."

"He would make fun of me forever and I just can't give him that kind of satisfaction."

"Ok, I won't tell anyone," Kathleen grinned.

"When I was a little girl, one of my favorite movies was this Frank Sinatra flick called 'The Detective'. It had Mia Farrow, Lee Rick, Ralph Meeker, so hot, and then there was Jacqueline Bisset. It was a classic. I wanted to be Jacqueline Bisset so badly. I would make my friends call me Olivia Bisset, and I cut my hair to look like her in high school. She was this strong woman with a gun. I just loved it. My point to this is, when I'm in scary situations, well not so much any more, but when I first started my job, I would think about Jacqueline Bisset in that movie. I would secretly repeat to myself over and over again. What would Jacqueline Bisset do? What would Jacqueline Bisset do? What would Jacqueline Bisset do? She wouldn't cry. She would hold her car keys between her knuckles and punch that guy right in the gut." Olivia made a motion with her fist and really got into the idea of being an unafraid woman warrior.

Kathleen laughed and rolled over on her side. "You're right, I should keep that a secret."

"You laugh, but it works. It's all mental," Olivia smiled. "What are you doing Tuesday night?"

"Ah…nothing."

"You should come with me to my women's defense class."

"Really?"

"It's the last class for this group, but you can meet some really lovely women and learn a few moves. You'll feel better."

"Yeah, I think I could do that. Thanks, Liv. I feel a little better already."

There was a light tap on the door and Elliot poked his head in. "Hey, Don is here. Are you up for some company?"

"Certainly," Olivia smiled.

The trio of fearless ladies made their way to the kitchen where Don Cragen sat drinking a glass of water with Maureen and baby Benson.

"Hey, look at you two," Don smiled. "You never looked happier, Benson, or should I start saying Stabler. I got your invitation in the mail yesterday."

Olivia hugged Don with one arm and laughed. "Cap, you can call me whatever you want."

Don wiggled Ella's hand and made baby noises in her face. "Look at you. You are so cute, aren't you? And you know it already, don't you? Don't you, you little peapod you?"

Elliot sat in a chair like the man of the house. He had a toothpick in the corner of his mouth and his hands behind his head. "Alright Cap, simmer down. We don't want her to get an ego on top of the stubborn genes."

Don laughed at Elliot ", Yeah, we wouldn't want her to end up like you."

"Ohh, burned," Maureen replied from her corner of the kitchen.

Olivia handed Ella to Don and leaned on the counter with delight. Don was the closest thing to a grandfather Ella had, and so far he was filling the shoes nicely. He bounced her around and laughed like a little old man.

"So how are yeah, Don," Olivia asked.

"I'm hanging in there. I've had better weeks."

"What's wrong now," Elliot said in a harsh tone.

Don slowly stopped bouncing and looked around at the kids and the babies. "Ah, it's nothing. We'll talk later."

"No, we'll talk about it now. Kathleen, Maur."

They already started to file out before he could finish.

Don handed Olivia the baby. He sat down at the table and put on a serious face. "Lake gave me his two week notice."

"What?"

"Elliot, I know. It wasn't you. He's transferring to Miami. He's got family down there."

Olivia stood in the background slowly rocking Ella and pretending to stay out of it.

Elliot pulled the toothpick out of his mouth and dumped it in the trashcan. "So now what?"

"Well, I was talking to Casey about it." Don looked away from Elliot and tried to stay as authoritative as possible. "She said that the only thing illegal about our old situation is if you sign that marriage certificate."

Olivia looked up from her daughter's face and froze in Don's direction.

Elliot glanced at Olivia and then back to Cragen. "What are you gett'n at?"

"It's only if you think you can handle it, and if you want to choose to live a certain way, of course. But look at Goldie Hawn and Kurt Russell. They've been unofficially married for years and they seem great."

Olivia sat in the chair next to him. Her eyes burned Don's skull.

Don paused waiting for their reactions. They were speechless, so he kept on talking. "Look, I never would have asked, and normally I would say this is a bad idea, but let's face it, there are exceptions to every rule, and you two have been married for years. Am I right?"

Olivia nodded and vaguely replied a ", yes."

"Liv, if you want the job. It's yours."

"Yes, yes. I want the job. Elliot, do I want the job?

"I suppose you do." Elliot wasn't as ready to hop on board as quickly as Olivia. He wasn't so sure that avoiding a legal document would be the easy answer to their detective dreams, but he saw the excitement in her eyes and didn't have the heart to say no.

Don noticed it and called him out. "What's wrong Elliot?"

" I just…um…you know, what happens when I want to call her my wife?"

Don crossed his arms and shrugged. "Don't bring it up at work and if it slides out don't make a thing of it. If the state doesn't recognize you two as one person, then you can still go to court and remain witness' for each other."

Elliot turned to Olivia and touched her arm. "Olivia, what's gonna happen when we have our first big fight and then have to go to work? Are you going to begrudge me all day and then bring it home?"

Olivia sat up straight in defense. "It wouldn't be the first time we worked under resentful layers, and why are you pointing the finger at me? You've had plenty of stubborn silences. "

"That's my point, Olivia. It's going to be really hard keeping home at home and work at work. Are you ready for that? Because I don't think you know how hard that can be."

"Why are you so against this all of the sudden? I thought you wanted this?"

Elliot ran a hand over his forehead. "I do. I just want you to be aware of the dangers."

"Elliot, we'd be forced to work it out. That's what we do. We work it out. It's the best part of our relationship."

Don put his hand in the middle of them. "If I didn't think you two could handle it I never would have came to you. You're right Elliot, it's going to be tricky. Liv, I want you to really think about this. I mean, let's face it, the first lawyer that finds out you have a baby together is going to use that against you in court. You'll have to always be prepared to defend your actions. You'll have to keep your personal life private. I may even start splitting you up on the difficult casework. That way if you have to testify Fin or Munch will be there to back you up. It's not a simple answer, but I can't tell you how much this unit needs the both of you. The people I've interviewed thus far couldn't handle the stress. They're crazier than the perps."

"And frankly I'm sick of getting used to flighty partners," Elliot grunted.

They all sat in silence.

Don pushed his glass on the table and then stood up. "I'll give you a few days to think on it. No need to answer me right away."

Don headed for the door and Elliot lifted his eyes from the table and watched Olivia's thoughts. He wanted her back. He wanted her to be happy. He turned is chair around to stop Cragen. "Cap. She'll do it."

"Are you sure," Cragen responded.

"Elliot, we can think on it. There's no need to be irrational."

Olivia held Elliot's ol' blue eyes with her Jacqueline Bisset browns and he couldn't resist feeling the strength to try it. The idea was insane. It was dangerous and it was unheard of. For the first time in his life he put two feet on the ground and made their decision.

"Liv, I know you. You're sure. Cap, she's sure. I'm sure. I want to do it. I want you to do it. We'll do it."

Don laughed and let out a sigh. "I knew you would. Detectives, it's good to have you back!"

AN: Alright drop me thoughts. I know I'm pushing the limit with this idea- but I don't care. I hate that our EO is subjected to one life or the other. Screw reality---this is fanfic - I'm giving them their dream.