A/N: Hi guys, I know a lot of you have been asking about this story, so I'm updating. I'm currently updating Amaro's Secret as well, so some of my fics have been put in the shadow of the Writer's Block and of course, my one shot, the Pendant. I have also been planning a new fanfic called The Seeker which will be an E/O story, but before I begin yet another new story, I want to finish at least three of the in progress fics. Anyway, I hope you enjoy this update, and I promise to update Amaro's Secret very shortly; I'm already two pages in, so it won't be long.

I looked at the woman who claimed to be my mother, I was dumbfounded once again. "Who are you?" I asked shocked.

"I'm your mother dear. You see the photos of you as a baby, why not come in and sit down, we should talk." Lillian seemed far too calm and relaxed to me; like it was all planned.

I didn't want to go back into this woman's house, I couldn't face this woman knowing what she was claiming, but I did. I went in and sat on the couch. Lillian followed me in, she sat down and took a photo frame from her small side table. "This is you." she said handing me the photo, I took it reluctantly. "You were three hours old. This is the first photo of you ever taken."

"What are you talking about?" I asked.

"You're my daughter." she replied, her voice so sweet and soft, like a Grandma who offered cookies and warm milk.

"I got that much, what I want to know is why you're telling me this now." I put the photo down, my three hour old self face down on the coffee table.

"I read about you recently in the newspaper, I thought it was about time you found out the truth. I was sure as soon as I saw you that you were my daughter. My mother forced me to give you up when you were born, but before I had the chance, you were kidnapped. I thought I'd never see you again. Then a few years later a woman started sending me photos of you, I knew it was you. I knew I had to talk to you."

I looked at the woman, I had no idea what to say, then the word vomit shot out; "You're lying. You're not my mother, my mother died."

"No, the woman that kidnapped you died. You're my daughter." Lillian told me.

I sat pinned to my chair, my mind seemed to be moving so fast it was a blur. "None of this makes any sense, my mother..." Lillian cut me off mid sentence and mid thought.

"I was raped Olivia, you are a product of rape. I wasn't married so my mother told me I had to give you up, that you were the devil child. Times were very different then, I believed her, it didn't matter that I loved you from the minute I saw you, you were not planned and conceived out of wedlock. I had no choice but I had a plan, I planned to escape, to run away with you, take you somewhere no one would find us. That was before that woman came into my room at the hospital, she snatched you. I couldn't move, I had a rough labour, I was lucky to be alive. I screamed but was ignored, the doctors thought I was one of those girls who had sex for fun. They thought I was scum, and not worth the bed I slept in. You were gone."

I felt a swarm of butterflies in my stomach, angry like hornets; once again I sat and listened, it was all I could do. I opened my mouth but no words came out, I stood up and ran to the front door, I opened it and left it open; I couldn't get to the car quick enough. I opened the door and sat in, I felt my body slump as tears took over me. I closed my eyes and couldn't stop crying. The pain ripped through my chest as my heart shattered.

I jumped as I heard a knock on my window, a young girl stood looking at me. I rolled down the window and looked at the girl, I wiped my tears away and gave a small, yet confused smile. "Can I help you?"

"Mrs Parks asked me to give you this, she said you should get a good sample of DNA from it."

My heart somehow shattered more, Lillian was really trying to prove her parental responsibility. Why else would she have given me her DNA? My mind began spinning again, then something inside me clicked. "Does she hurt you?"

"What?" she asked startled.

"I'm a detective, I just need to know if she hurts you." I almost pleaded with her.

"No, she doesn't. Mrs Parks is a fantastic foster mom and I love her." the girl walked away but I couldn't help but think how rehearsed she sounded.

I drove home to my apartment, I took a longer route home; when I pulled up I looked up to my apartment and saw the light on. I had forgotten about Marni and Alex, and now I felt even worse. I now had to be a saviour, a friend and all I wanted was a friend.

I walked into the apartment and gave an exhausted smile to Alex who was curled up on the couch snuggled under the blue blanket. "Where's Marni?" I asked softly.

"She's asleep, I said she could stay in your room, how did it go?" she asked me.

I tried to speak without breaking down but couldn't, I sat on the couch and burst into tears. "She claims to be my mom, she said I was a product of rape, her mother forced her to give me up, but I was kidnapped before she had a chance to run away with me." I blurted, I realised Alex couldn't make sense of what I was saying.

"Liv, do you believe her?"

"She gave me this." I said showing her a vile of blood. "She said there should be enough DNA in there to prove she's my birth mother." I broke down again, everything seemed to be going wrong. I felt Alex wrap me up in the blanket, I felt like a child again as I rested my head on her chest. She snuggled me into her and held me tightly.

"I'm here for you Liv, whatever happens, I'll be here. Every step of the way." I managed a small smile, Alex was the tough ADA, the blonde powerhouse, but she was completely different now, she was soft, calming and secure. I felt a shift in my mood, I exhaled deeply, then realised what I was feeling. Lust.

"I know." I finally replied, "Thank you." I felt Alex kiss the top of my head then we snuggled further. She didn't reply and I didn't say anything else. I put my arm across her stomach, I found comfort in her breathing, I could hear her heartbeat, and to my surprise it sped up as I moved my arm. I didn't know what to think, but my thoughts were completely overtaken by lust. I looked up at Alex, I saw her eyes and found myself attracted to her further.

"Are you okay?" she asked me softly.

I nodded, "Yeah." I muttered, I shouldn't be, but I was. I felt safe in her arms, and it didn't seem to matter what had happened, the break up, the confusion with my mother, I felt nothing but lust for Alex. She stroked my face and I caught her licking her lips. I felt a tingle run down my spine, was she feeling the same attraction? Or was it all in my head? I didn't know but as I felt her hand run down my face again, then to my neck I closed my eyes softly. I felt Alex's lips on mine, butterflies shot into my stomach. I kissed her back, the kiss became more passionate, she pushed me back so I was laying on the couch on my back. She looked into my eyes, right then and there, I knew I wanted her.

"Are you sure Liv?" she asked me.

I smiled softly and kissed her, "I'm sure." I replied.

I woke up the next morning still snuggled up to Alex; I smiled thinking about last night, that one woman had taken away all my fear, all my confusion and turned it into something amazing. Alex had made me feel safe, and loved. She was everything I needed, and wanted, yet never realised.

I remembered Marni and my mind went mad, how had I forgotten her? I was so wrapped up in my night with Alex, I'd forgotten I had someone to look after.

I got up and knocked on my bedroom door, I opened it and saw Marni still sleeping; she rolled over and looked at me through hazy eyes.

"Miss Benson?" she asked, "Is everything okay? Do you want me to leave?"

I smiled softly and went into my room, I sat on the edge of the bed, "No sweetheart, I just came in to check on you."

"Did you see Mrs Parks? Is she angry with me?" Marni asked me, she seemed scared and that hurt.

I laid down beside her and looked up at the ceiling, as did she. "I saw her, she's not angry with you. I think she's angry with me, but I do need to ask you something, you don't have to answer straight away." I rolled onto my side and looked at her, "I want you to stay here for a while, I don't want you to live with Lillian any more. It's not safe there."

"Are you saying this because of my medical condition? Because I don't know when I'm really hurt and could..." I listened to Marni and realised she couldn't finish her sentence.

"No, I'm asking because I don't want you growing up in her house, being beaten and tortured. You deserve to be happy, you deserve a normal childhood." I paused for a minute, "Do you go to school?"

"No, Mrs Parks promised to home school me, but she doesn't." then Marni surprised me, "She adopted me from England, she adopts other girls from France. I think she's trying to replace you, and no one can, not in her heart. She uses us as her mules; I told you she's mean."

"I know you did. What do you mean mules?" I asked.

"Miss Benson, Mrs Parks is not a sweet old lady like she appears to be. She is manipulating, she would never admit this, but my parents were murdered, I think she had something to do with it. She adopted me, and now when she gets the new girls, I have to train them."

I felt concern rising in me further, "Train them to do what?"

"Swallow. She uses us as drug mules, she pimps us out as sex slaves to rich men. Anything she can do to make money, she will."

I swallowed the lump in my throat, forcing myself to accept what Marni was telling me, "Marni, how old are you?" I managed.

"I'm fourteen." she replied. She was so soft in her words and so trusting. It amazed me that someone with such loss could trust so easily, but then it dawned on me, that when everyone in her life currently had mistreated her, she had nothing to lose.

I looked at Marni and felt a strange connection to her, like I wanted to mother her. I felt responsible for her, even though I'd met her less than twenty four hours ago. I could hear Alex moving about in the living room, "Give me a minute, I need to talk to Alex then I'll make you some breakfast."

Marni smiled and thanked me, I got up and walked out to Alex, closing the bedroom door. I found myself feeling uncomfortable, I didn't know what to say. Being speechless was becoming a regular thing with me. "Did you sleep well?"

Alex turned to me, she walked over to me and took both my hands; she smiled her beautiful smile. "Liv, I don't regret last night. I love you Olivia, I have for a long time." Alex looked sad suddenly, I could see it in her eyes, she was worried she'd scared me by telling me she loved me, the truth is, I was scared of being love, for the fear of being hurt, but something inside me told me that Alex would never hurt me.

"I don't either." I told her honestly, "I don't know what to say, or what to do now, but whatever I do I hope it's with you."

Alex's sad expression was replaced with a smile and right then and there it was confirmed to both of us that no matter what happened from here on in, we had each other and a new and strengthened bond had been created.