I'm SO sorry for the dreadful delay. I've just been terribly busy here, but I swear I will try not to leave it so long again. Here's the next chapter, if anyone's still interested! ;)

"So?" Robyn looked round anxiously as Amy let herself in through the door.

Amy smiled, tiredly, as she shucked off her coat. She had spent most of the morning in lawyer's offices, and she was exhausted. She took Robyn in her arms, and kissed her. "I missed you," she said softly. She smiled at Robyn's impatient expression. "It was good. I think. Alex said it went well. She was amazing Rob. I never knew she could be that scary. She says we've got them on the run. She's expecting a settlement offer by the end of the week."

"So it could be over by Friday?"

"No. Alex says they'll aim low. She says it'll take a few weeks of negotiation. But she says I don't need to go any more. She'll handle all of that."

"Where is she now?"

"She went to meet Olivia for lunch. She said she was going to pick up Lily from Carolyn's after that, but I told her we'd do it. Is that okay? I can go on my own. Just, after all she's done for me, I just wanted to help her out a little."

"Of course we'll go. I wanna see Lily anyway, I didn't see her this morning. We can maybe take her swimming or something, so Alex can spend some quiet time when she gets back."

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"To the Ice Queen!" Olivia laughed, as she raised her glass, as they all ate together that evening.

Alex scowled.

"Oh I'm kidding, baby. I know you hate that name. But it's the first time Amy's seen you in action, and she said you were scary."

"Real scary," Amy grinned. "If I were their lawyer, I'd have agreed to anything."

Alex gave a small smile. "That's what I'm hoping!"

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Olivia ran her hand over Alex's belly in wonder. "I swear it wasn't here this morning," she tenderly caressed the small bump.

Alex smiled. She had thought the same thing, but hadn't said anything. She was excited to finally see some evidence of their baby, and she loved the look on Olivia's face as she stroked her belly softly. "Will you make love to me?" Alex whispered.

Olivia smiled lovingly. "You're not too sore?" she asked solicitously, as she very gently cupped one of Alex's breasts, dropping a tender kiss on the nipple.

"I'm okay," Alex gasped at the touch of Olivia's tongue. "Just take it slow," she pulled Olivia's mouth back to the nipple, whimpering as her lover's tongue flicked out once more. "I just want to feel you. I've missed you today."

"I've missed you too, baby," Olivia said, running a hand through Alex's luxuriant blonde locks. "But you're exhausted today, I can tell. We'll make this quick, huh?" she slid a hand up a slender thigh. "Then we can both sleep. It's Friday tomorrow, we can stay up as late as we want," she slid down Alex's body, dropping tender kisses as she did so. She grinned when her eyes lit upon Alex's engorged, glistening center. "Fingers or tongue?" she asked.

"Both," Alex gasped. She was on a hair trigger and knew it wouldn't take long. She cupped the back of Olivia's head, crying out as she felt the first touch of her tongue. Olivia was such a considerate lover, and she always seemed to know exactly what Alex wanted. When Alex wanted her to take charge, Olivia always knew. Other times, she was unbelievably gentle, coaxing Alex lovingly to conclusion, always making sure that Alex was happy. Alex had never felt safer than she did with Olivia; she knew that nothing Olivia ever did would make her in the least uncomfortable. And tonight, Olivia was urgent yet tender, her tongue claiming Alex firmly but with such love, such passion. In minutes, Alex was convulsing in Olivia's mouth, her cries muted by the hand she stuffed into her mouth. Olivia slid her talented fingers into Alex, and a second climax and a third followed hard on the first.

Olivia smiled as Alex came down from her high, climbing up Alex's still-trembling body and pulling her into a tender embrace. Alex seemed fragile today; Olivia couldn't quite put her finger on it, but she could tell that she wanted to be held even as her body twitched with aftershocks.

Alex snuggled into Olivia's loving arms. She knew she should reciprocate, but she was suddenly overwhelmed with fatigue. But she hated to be selfish. "You," she said, her voice thinner than she expected.

Olivia knew what Alex was thinking. "Not tonight, baby," she held her closer. She kissed her tenderly. "I want you to sleep now. You need to relax. Take care of The Passenger," she placed a soft hand protectively on her belly. "I'll drop Lily off with Sarah and Jay tomorrow."

"I can do it," Alex protested, her words almost slurring with tiredness.

"I know you can, but I don't want you to. You're working at the shelter in the afternoon, so you should sleep late. Don't argue with a detective," she teased. "Don't forget I'm armed and dangerous."

"Okay officer," Alex smiled as she snuggled further into her wife's arms, her hand closing around a soft breast. "Love you," she was asleep.

"I love you too, baby," Olivia whispered. "More than you can ever know."

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"Well, if the damned zipper worked, I wouldn't have a problem," Abbie said testily, as Caryn took a wailing Daniel from her.

Caryn sat and balanced the child on her knee, leaving one hand free to work at the jammed zipper on his winter coat. "I know, baby boy, I know. We'll get you out of here, and that'll cheer you up. It'll cheer your Mommy up too," she smiled at her girlfriend, who was close to tears. "There," the coat finally gave way. Caryn reached out for Abbie and pulled her down on the couch next to her. "Here, Daniel, give your Mommy a cuddle. She didn't sleep last night, and I'm guessing she has one of her headaches right about now."

Abbie nodded miserably.

"I wish you'd take a Tylenol," Caryn said gently, as the passed the child to her.

"Not while I'm breastfeeding," Abbie's voice was shaky. "Hey Danny, you don't want Tylenol, do you?"

"Then miss a couple of feeds."

Abbie looked appalled.

"I'll do you a deal," Caryn spoke softly and kindly. "You give Daniel a feed before he goes down for his nap. Then we'll pump if there's anything left. Then you take the drugs and you get some sleep. And when Daniel wakes up, we're going to go out, and give you some time to yourself."

Abbie started to shake her head, but the pounding in her skull only increased, and she felt her stomach lurch. "Okay," she whispered. "I don't think he's real hungry."

"Well he can just have a little," Caryn was already unbuttoning her shirt. She eased a breast out of the maternity bra. "Sore nipples too?" she touched a nipple tenderly.

Abbie gave a small, hollow, chuckle. "It seems like everything hurts today," she admitted, feeling tears spring unbidden to her eyes.

"Oh Abs, that's okay. It's been a hard week. Daniel hasn't been sleeping, and you've slept even less than he has."

"It's not his fault," Abbie said.

"I know, honey. But his fever's gone now, so he'll sleep better. It's just you we need to take care of," Caryn smiled as she watched her son latch on to Abbie's breast.

"'m'okay," Abbie lied.

"I know. I know. Humor me, huh?"

It wasn't long before Daniel had had his fill, so Caryn gently took the sleepy child, changed his diaper and put him down for a nap. She returned to Abbie, who was still sitting, unmoving, on the couch, her shirt still open. Expertly, Caryn operated the breast pump, trying not to react to the tears that fell slowly down Abbie's face. "There," she said a few minutes later. "We got nearly half a bottle. And there's more in the fridge. We have plenty to last us until the morning."

Abbie nodded, not even really understanding the cause of her misery.

"This is normal," Caryn said very softly, gesturing to the pile of baby books on the coffee table. "New mothers spend a lot of time feeling down."

"But he's six months old," Abbie hiccuped.

"And you haven't had a good night's sleep since he arrived. And your hormones are still way out of whack. You'll feel better after a few hours sleep," Caryn put a hand lovingly on her cheek. "And once your headache's gone," she passed her two Tylenol. "Don't even," she warned, as Abbie opened her mouth to protest.

"'kay," Abbie said softly, swallowing the tablets and accepting the glass of water offered.

Ten minutes later, Abbie was tucked up in bed. Caryn came out of the bathroom with a damp washcloth which she lay tenderly over Abbie's brow. "Sleep," Caryn whispered.

"Stay?" Abbie knew she was being weak and pathetic.

"Of course," Caryn kicked off her pants and slid into bed, smiling as Abbie lay her pounding head on her thigh. Caryn wiped her face with the washcloth, before folding it again and placing it back on her forehead.

"Love you," Abbie slurred, as sleep began to take hold.

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"Teflon!" Munch bellowed when he saw Alex enter the squadroom a couple of months later. "You're looking good, counselor," he nodded to her bump which was now unmistakeable.

"Hey, John," Alex smiled back.

"Your wife is out with her other spouse right now," he teased. "Stabler got a lead they're chasing up."

Alex grinned. She knew Munch was just playing with her. "Actually, it's you I came to see."

"Couldn't resist his skinny ass?" Finn called out, a grin on his face.

"Can you blame her?" Munch pretended to be affronted.

"Boys, boys," Alex admonished, as she sat in the chair next to Munch's desk.

"When are you bringing Benson Junior in again?" Finn demanded. "Cragen was just saying he hasn't seen her for weeks."

Alex smiled again. She knew from Olivia that Cragen was in court all day, so he couldn't have been the one complaining; she also knew that Finn adored Lily. "Is that the same Captain Cragen who is in court for two days straight and who hasn't been in today?"

Munch laughed. "Busted!" he called over to Finn. "It's true though, Alex," he added. "We all want to see her."

"She's on a playdate today. I'll bring her in next week, I promise. She misses you all too."

"So to what do I owe this pleasure?" Munch enquired.

"I need your advice. Well, your help. It's a client at the women's shelter. Only it's not a woman. It's a man being beaten regularly by his wife. I tried to tell him he's not alone, but he won't accept that, and he won't do anything about it. But last week she fractured his wrist, and I think he's finally starting to see sense. But I think it would be a great help for him to meet with an SVU detective, in an informal setting, just to talk it through. But it has to look as though it's an accidental meeting, or he'll run scared."

"Why aren't you asking Olivia her advice?" Munch wanted to know.

"Yes, why aren't you asking me?" Olivia's voice came from behind Alex.

Alex leapt to her feet, almost as if she were scalded. "Liv! I thought you were out."

"So it would seem," Olivia sounded slightly tense. "Alexandra, what is all this?"

Alex glanced over at Munch, and he nodded. She pushed Olivia slightly, toward the interview rooms, guiding her into the first empty one she found. She hated the look of hurt on Olivia's face.

"Liv," she started.

"No, Alex. I'm sorry. I overreacted. I know you'll have a good reason. And Munch may be a better person to deal with this. Let's face it, he's been doing this longer than I have," Olivia tried to keep her voice light and friendly, but Alex still detected the slight wobble.

Alex took both of her hands. "Nobody is better at the job than you are. Nobody. And I'm not saying that as your wife. I'm saying that from years of watching you; with victims, with perps. Nobody does it better than you do. And I would much rather have you do this than Munch. But it's gotta be a guy, Liv. This guy has been intimidated by his wife for years. Frankly, I'm surprised he even talks to me as an attorney. I guess I'm all he could get. He can't afford to pay for a lawyer, and he came to the shelter as a last resort. And maybe me being pregnant helps. His wife never hit him while she was pregnant. It was the only time she didn't."

Olivia looked deep into her eyes. "Tell me," she said, softly.

"He started coming three weeks ago," Alex saw the surprise in Olivia's eyes that she had never before mentioned it. "He didn't want to, but a teacher at his son's school made him, threatened she'd call the police otherwise. I tried to tell him about you, that my wife would be able to help, and he got spooked. So I didn't mention you again. And I gave him my word that I wouldn't tell you about him. I guess I've broken that promise now," she looked briefly miserable.

"Nobody else needs to know," Olivia squeezed her hand. "I'm so sorry, Lex. I guess I … I was jealous. Pure and simple. I didn't want you going to anyone but me. I'm sorry, baby."

Alex smiled. "Don't be sorry. I quite like it. I like that you want to be the one there for me. And you are Liv. I can't do anything without knowing you're behind me."

"Right back atcha, counselor," Olivia smiled. "Forgive me?"

Alex shook her head. "Nothing to forgive," she said. "Maybe you can do it now? I need Munch to drop by the coffee shop where I meet Kevin and pretend it's an accidental meeting."

"Coffee shop? Not at the center?"

"The women at the shelter don't like having a man around. And he's not comfortable around too many women. It's a good compromise. So will you help me persuade Munch?"

Olivia smiled. "You won't need help. Munch would walk over burning coals for you Alex. There's nothing he wouldn't do for you, surely you know that?"

"Except accept it when I tell him he can't have a warrant," Alex laughed.

"That was before."

"Before what?"

"Before we got together. Before we had Lily. He's a total pussycat now. About you, that is. You and Lily, neither of you can do any wrong. He still argues with me."

Alex laughed. She pulled Olivia into a hug. "I love you, Liv. And I value your opinion above everybody else's. Never forget that."

Olivia nodded, burying her face in Alex's neck. "I'm a control freak," she admitted.

"Yeah," Alex chuckled. "And I love it. C'mon, let's watch and see if Munch really will do whatever I want."

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"I told you," Olivia said smugly to Alex later that evening. "I think John Munch has a thing for you."

Alex laughed. "A thing? Really, Liv, what are we, teenagers?"

Olivia grinned. "You almost look young enough," she said, eyeing Alex's luscious body.

Alex turned, her hand on her stomach. "Well I'm damned glad I wasn't six months' pregnant when I was a teenager!"

"I'm so sorry I missed Lily's bedtime," Olivia was serious again. "I really wanted to make it back on time, but we were so close to breaking him."

"You got him, didn't you? And now he's signed a confession, so it likely won't even have to go to trial. Lily understands. So do I."

Olivia nodded. "I know. But I wanted to be here. I hate not playing my part in this family. Some days, I feel I'm leaving you to cope alone. I should be more … present."

Alex took her in her arms. "Olivia. Don't ever say that. You're a wonderful mother to Lily, and there has never been a better wife than you. Never. The job you do is so important, and it's only because you care that you occasionally have to stay out late. But when you are here, you more than make up for it. Lily adores you. Sometimes I sit back and watch her face when I hear your key in the lock, and it makes me want to cry. Don't beat yourself up, baby."

"I hate letting you down," Olivia's voice hitched.

"You have never let us down. Not once," Alex kissed her softly. She could taste the tears on Olivia's lips. She pulled back, and used her thumbs to wipe the tears from her face. "Hey, sweetie, what is this?"

Olivia shook her head. "I don't know," she admitted.

"You're tense," Alex said. "C'mon, I bought some new massage oil the other day. Let me do your back and neck for you."

"I'm okay," Olivia said. "Anyway," she forced herself to smile. "I know your massages."

"You don't like my massages?" Alex teased.

"Oh I like them. I like them a little too much," Olivia's smile was genuine this time. "It's where they lead that's the problem..."

"That's a problem?" Alex said, an innocent look on her face.

"Maybe problem's the wrong word...," Olivia looked at her watch. "Though it is early. I suppose we have time."

"Time for … a quick problem?" Alex was laughing openly.

"Oh it won't be quick," Olivia caught her hand and pulled her toward the bedroom. "That much I can promise you."

"I'll hold you to that, detective," Alex was already stripping off her shirt.

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It was nearly three hours later that Olivia pulled a panting Alex into her arms, her own breathing still erratic. She cradled Alex tenderly, one hand absent-mindedly caressing a soft breast. "These have grown again," she said with a smile. "Are they sore?"

"A little. No," Alex felt Olivia's hand move away. "Don't," she pulled her hand back in place. "You don't hurt me. I love to feel you."

"I really am sorry about earlier," Olivia started to speak.

"If you mention that again, I'm gonna hurt you," Alex's tone was menacing. "I'm only going to say this once more. You didn't do anything wrong. I love you, Liv. And you love me. That's all we need. Well, apart from Lily."

"And The Passenger," Olivia's hand drifted to Alex's belly.

"And The Passenger," Alex smiled.