Captain Don Cragen had returned from his 5 day seminar. After the morning's meeting of the minds the team took to their seats finishing up paper work and reviewing leads on cold cases. It was the first time in a very long time that no sex crimes were reported in the Manhattan area in the past 48 hours.
"You two, aren't you late for court?"
"Leaving right now Captain." As they walked out Nick gave her his subtle reminder.
"As soon as we finish in court I'm going to talk to him." He smiled and she rolled her eyes trying to conceal her smile. The sooner Olivia was done running down perps and jacking up felons against walls the happier Nick would be. He told her often how nervous he was every time they went out on a call. Two hours later Olivia found herself in the Captains office.
"Olivia what can I do for you?" She entered closing the door behind her. Don Cragen always knew when anyone entered and closed his door it was a serious matter at hand.
"Captain, how was your seminar?"
"The usual too many cops bound in one room and too many bars in the hotel." Olivia managed to allow a tiny smile on her mouth.
"This looks serious have a seat." She took a seat.
"Captain I'm not going to beat around the bush. I'm expecting a baby next March, well actually I'm expecting two. My son through a surrogate mother is due November 5th and this baby," she touched her stomach, "is due around the 10th of March." Her captain looked at her across his executive desk, his fingers smoothing his lips. Olivia raised her eyebrows; her eyes were full circles of anticipation.
"Well I guess congratulations are in order." He stood prompting Olivia to stand as well.
"You know the drill." He came from around his desk standing about two feet away from his detective.
"Yes I do but can I ask to please have this week to see if we can close this current case?"
"Which is?"
"The Hamilton case." He had to think for a second. His forehead puckered and he pressed his thumb to the corner of his mouth.
"The others take the beat you stay back and do the interrogations if it comes to that."
"Captain nothing will happen if I'm just knocking on doors." She pleaded.
"It's not open for discussion. I'll contact 1pp to get Nick a temp."
"Thanks." A small smile formed on her mouth then she proceeded to walk out.
"Olivia do you want to use your maternity leave consecutively?"
"I can do that?"
"I'll put in a special request to the chief of d's." Olivia was really smiling now.
"Congratulations."
"Thanks Captain." Don reached his arms out and Olivia hesitated a second before closing her arms around him. Nick smiled from his desk watching the interaction.
"What's that all about?" Amanda inquired.
"I'll let Liv tell you." Fin and his partner stared at one another. Olivia came out to the open.
"Nick says you have something to tell us Liv. Please don't tell us you're retiring already and if it's Amaro you're sick of I'll be your partner." Nick shook his head, lowering it chuckling.
"Hey what am I chopped liver?" Amanda said surprised.
"No that would be me." Munch said bowing his head coming into the gathering.
"It's nothing of the sort." She told them. Olivia had preferred not to say anything about her own baby until she was finished with the first trimester. Expectant mothers are always superstitious but having to say the same thing over in another month seemed odd. "I'm pregnant and I'm expecting a baby in November via surrogacy and then my own baby next year." The smiles and congratulations were contagious as Amanda rose from her chair hugging her first then the cavalcade followed. Nick looked at Fin as he walked by Nick's desk.
"I'm the preferred partner she tells me everything." Nick said patting Fin on the back. Fin sneered at Nick.
"So you begin desk duty today." Nick said to his partner.
"Don't look so overjoyed you don't know who your temporary partner is." Olivia never ended up closing the Hamilton case but still kept focus on it. Thursday rolled around the day of Maria's chemo and radiation treatment. Olivia noticed him look at his watch a dozen times.
"Why don't you be the bigger one and call her parents."
"No they'll cherry pick what they want to tell me. I'll be right back Liv." She watched him go. She used the opportunity to use the ladies room.
"Who's the father of Liv's baby?" Fin asked his partner. She looked at him with curiosity as well.
"Other than a woman's age and her weight you never ask who the baby daddy is." Fin's mouth fell slightly ajar at her retort.
"Uh huh…yeah." Nick returned and he looked madder than a messed with hornet's nest.
"Everything ok." Olivia looked around the side of her computer at him.
"I'm going to go for a drive I need some air." Olivia started to go after him but didn't want cause any unwanted stares. It waited till later that evening.
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Nick hit the gym while Olivia dined alone. She was pushing the settings on the dishwasher when she heard him enter. "I saved you some dinner."
"Thanks." Not much was said while she watched him devour his dinner. Afterwards they retired to the patio.
"I still should have been told…why wasn't I told? Suppose something went wrong." He hit the pole supporting the retractable awning with the side of his fist. Olivia sat in her chair and jerked back a little bit. She had never witnessed a shred of his multicultural temper and hoped tonight was not going to be a start.
"Nick I know you care about Maria, not as you once did and that's why that makes you who you are. There's not a malicious hair on your head but baby you have to understand that you and Maria lead separate lives now and while I know it would have been the right thing to do to let you know, she really doesn't owe you any explanation." Nick stood with his arms crossed leaning against the pole. Olivia came to him and stood behind him sliding her arms around him playing with the button just below the others that were unbuttoned. Her head came to rest on his shoulder.
"But nothing did so be grateful for that." She kissed the side of his head. "So she doesn't have to go through radiation?"
"No because radiation therapy is not effective for advanced stages. Vital organs are involved so apparently a high dose can't be safely delivered."
"We just continue to pray Nick every day that she's that much closer to remission." Nick continued to stare out into the back yard.
"I need to mow the grass."
"This weekend you can, right now just come sit with me. I want to show you a few cribs in the catalogue that came in the mail last month." She led him by the hand to the canopy swing. Her leg lazily lay across his as he caressed her thigh and knee. "I like this one and I like that one. What do you like?"
"I like em all a crib is a crib to me."
"Typical male response."
"Ok I don't like light colored wood or white I prefer dark stained." She turned her head to him.
"We're getting somewhere now." She said flirtatiously. "We can go shopping Saturday…huh?"
"Sure."
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They started their Saturday morning at a local chain restaurant for breakfast. "Feels weird I don't have Zara this weekend."
"I know but I'm not sorry that I have you all to myself for a weekend." They smiled as they dug in to their breakfast. Today was Maria's birthday and this was the first birthday that he wouldn't be celebrating with her. Later at the store Nick made his excuse to use the men's room. They were almost settled on the mellowed cherry wood. He came from the bathroom and took a sip of water from the fountain then pulled his phone from his pants pocket. It went to her voice mail.
"Hey Maria it's me…I uh just wanted to wish you a happy birthday and I'm glad you're surgery went well. Well that's it please say hi to Zara for me and tell her I miss her…bye." He made his way back to Olivia and the sales person.
"We set?" he asked.
"I think so the mellow cherry wood right?"
"Yeah I like that one it's almost matches the rocking chair and dresser, do you?"
"I love it!" Olivia couldn't wait to get home and put it together. She moved close to him on the drive home lacing her fingers with his.
"The only thing that is wrong with a store like that is everything that you buy you have to assemble yourself."
"Is there anything you don't complain of?"
"What? Why do you say that?"
"No I 'm just saying I just didn't feel you were into this today. Physically you were there but mentally I don't know."
"Oh come on Liv you can't be serious. A crib lasts two years it's not a long term purchase like a car."
"Nick!" Olivia scowled at him.
"Oh jeeze I said the wrong thing."
"Yeah you did. I thought this was as important to you as it is to me."
"It is I'm sorry." Olivia remained silent the rest of the way home. Nick brought the crib inside while Olivia busied herself in the kitchen. An hour later he summoned her to the nursery.
"Ta-da!"
"Wow it looks great!" She stood from the doorway admiring his craftsmanship. She had a handful of cookies that she had been munching on.
"Craving?"
"Frosted oatmeal cookies…yeah." She bit the one she just examined giving him the rest turning his baseball cap around to the front.
"I am into this Liv all of it."
"I know sometimes I have to take a step back and tell myself this all happened so fast for you." Nick moved took a few steps closer touching her belly. She looked so cute in her denim overall shorts with his baby inside her. She was almost 6 weeks along now. They basked in each other's happiness as soon to be parents. Nick planted a sweet kiss on her lips.
"Am I out of the dog house now?"
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It was August now and the date for Nick's custody hearing was upon him. In a way he was happy that he agreed with Maria to file in the District of Columbia Civil Court rather than New York. D.C. divorce laws were not as stringent as New York laws and the parents only had to show proof of separate living quarters and no consummation between the parents for a year in which Nick and Maria already had as of May 2012. Since there was a young child involved they were ordered by family court to attend counseling for 6 weeks to hopefully reconcile their differences. Nick was allowed to participate in online courses as well as in person with Maria which he did on Fridays before he picked up Zara. Today was the day a decision was to be made to decide which parent was to regain full custody of their daughter.
Nick was nervous standing next to his lawyer as he waited for the judge. The next sounds he heard rang loud in his head. The bailiff came out the side door.
All rise. The honorable Martin Bronish presides.
"Good afternoon ladies and gentleman. While it pains me as to why we're all here today, I am ready to render my verdict in the case of Amaro vs. Amaro. The judge shuffled the papers in front of him and did something on the computer in front of him. "Ms. Amaro I wish you all the best in your recovery process God speed to you."
"Thank you your honor."
"Mr. Amaro you have demonstrated before the court of a worthy parent to have full custodianship of your daughter. Giving up every weekend to tend to a 6 year old is commendable in the court's eyes and I do sir commend you and I commend both of you for sparing your child anymore hurt than she already displays by acting with civility towards one another. More and more fathers are stepping up as you say to the plate to take on a more responsible role in their children's lives which pleases me. I'm a father of 7 all of whom are grown, married and on their own thank the Lord. A mother's love from womb until that last apron string is cut free is undeniable and that is not to say without judgment that a father's love is anything less but in the child's best interest I am awarding sole and physical custody of Zara Angelina Amaro to Maria D. Amaro."
Nick wanted to vomit right then and there. "Mr. Amaro you will have consecutive weekend visitation not commence before 3:00 p.m. on Friday's and not to exceed past 6:00 p.m. on Sunday's. Family court will help you in deciding the calendar which will reflect all major holidays to be jointly shared. Thank you counselors this court is adjourned." The banging of the gavel was deafening to Nick. Maria hugged her lawyer and Nick was slow to shake hands with his as he stood frozen, shocked and dismayed. Maria's mother came forward from her seat to hug her daughter. Maria being weak from her treatments was helped along by her mother and her lawyer. She avoided making eye contact with Nick as she exited the courtroom. His lawyer and hers would finalize the calendar with family court. Olivia had a hard time physically reaching Nick when he returned to New York later that evening. She lay holding him and that was all she could do to help his numbness subside.
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Hannah and her family traveled to Brooklyn for a cook out at Olivia's. Three months to go now before a healthy baby boy would be Olivia's. Hannah brought a cake that was called punch bowl cake. It was layered with pieces of sponge cake, mixed fruits of strawberries, kiwi's, blueberries and bananas and lots of whip cream. Since Nick was in Washington Olivia was not going to touch the grill so Hannah's husband did the honors. Olivia fawned all over her three kids that aged in range of 9, 7 and 5. Two girls and the youngest was their son. Some people were just born to be a parent. The girls had all kinds of questions for Olivia who didn't seem to mind answering anything about her job.
"Girls leave Olivia alone." Their mother said giggling at their novice reporter skills.
"Oh its fine I don't mind." All throughout the day Hannah studied Olivia and knew her hunch was spot on. When they got ready to head back to Connecticut, Hannah waited until she and Olivia were alone.
"So how far along are you Olivia?" Olivia was taken aback with the question. She looked at her friend.
"How did you know?"
"Olivia most women don't bend over like that only a pregnant woman would and when you passed on the wine I knew then." Olivia smiled at the woman's revelation.
"I'll be 8 weeks on Tuesday." Hannah smiled wide coming over and hugging Olivia.
"Congratulations!"
"Thanks."
"Listen Olivia next month my girlfriends are putting together a shower for you."
"Oh thank you Hannah."
"I'll email you the particulars."
"Ok."
"Thank you for having us you have a lovely home and I just love that crib, beautiful wood." Olivia smiled. She saw Hannah to the door and waved good bye as the family drove away.
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"She's finally asleep." Nick said closing the hotel suite's bedroom door. He took the two pillows housekeeping left and placed them on the couch along with a blanket.
"Nick thanks for allowing me to tag along for dinner."
"It was Zara's idea. How long are your parents in Italy for?"
"Two more weeks, still it was nice so thanks."
"Don't mention it."
"Nick, I know the hearing two weeks ago didn't go as you had hoped for, but for Zara's sake let's try and do more things together."
"Maria I don't think it's a good idea to fake anything for her sake. She's of age of reason and I will remain cordial to you in front of her but I'm not comfortable being part of any fiasco." Maria took off her head scarf and ran her fingers through her hair. A clump ended up in her hand.
"I don't know why I bother with this it's all going to fall out eventually."
"And it will grow back."
"Maybe." She retied her scarf.
"Maria don't talk like that. Strength and faith will get you through this."
"Nick you didn't have your reproductive organs taken from you, you have no idea what it feels like to not feel human."
"You're still a woman Maria minus a uterus all it means is that you can't have any more children. Were you planning on having anymore?"
"It's late I'm going now." She grabbed her purse and cane and hobbled out the door. The man from Maria's office that she was seeing has become distant now that he's discovered she has cancer.