A/N: I hope you're all ready for this next chapter, things are not always easy in reality and I hope you feel the emotions I am trying to convey. I hope you're ready to get on this roller coaster of emotions with me.

I was checked over by the paramedics and deemed fit to work, I looked over at Mr Wilson; he had hold of Emily who was still screaming in his arms fighting for her right to die. I walked over to them both, considering I'd just saved Emily's life, I didn't feel happy, or brave, I could see how much being alive was hurting her, I saw the same look in her eyes I'd seen in so many victim's eyes. The not knowing, the not feeling safe and constantly feeling the emotional pain of her attack eating away at her. It always put in me in two frames of mind, is it right to let people, no matter their age take their own life if they are hurting so much? As much as it pained me to see Emily so crushed, I couldn't let her die, not now. Not without justice. "Mr Wilson, are you okay?" I asked.

"We're both fine thanks to you." he replied.

I looked at Emily who was glaring at me, "You should have let me die!" she said coldly.

I knelt down and looked the girl in the eyes, "I know things are hard now Emily, but death is an easy escape. You're worth so much more here, you have friends and family who want to help you, I want to help you. I can't get justice for you, if you're not here."

Emily thought for a minute, "I'm not going to thank you." she said again coldly, "But I get why you did it."

"Can you do something for me?" I asked her.

"What is it?" she asked me in return.

"I want you to stay safe until I catch the guy that attacked you. I need you to promise me that you won't hurt yourself."

"I want to die, everything is messed up now. I'm never going to be able to walk down the aisle an honest, pure woman. I'm sloppy seconds and it wasn't even my choice. I'm damaged goods now, what man is going to want to marry me now?"

I looked at Emily, she was being brought up in a world of purity and I admired her dad for it. "Sweetheart, this doesn't define you as a person, your strength and courage that gets you through this terrible time will define you. You have people here that want to support you including me, but you have to let me. Can you do that?"

Emily had to think for a minute, but she agreed she would stay strong with a small nod of the head. I smiled softly at her and stood back up, I gave my card to Mr Wilson and grabbed my keys from my pocket. I drove back to the precinct as quickly as I could, I needed to know what was going on with Marni. When I arrived I saw Alex sitting at my desk, a smile instantly crossed my lips, then it slipped as I noticed Marni wasn't with her. "Alex..." I said getting to my desk.

Alex stood up, she looked at me with sad eyes, "I'm sorry Liv, I couldn't find her."

I could tell she was disappointed with herself, I took hold of her hand, "It's okay." I said honestly, as much as I was worried, I knew she'd tried her best.

Alex was about to speak when her mouth dropped open and stayed there, "Liv, Elliot's back..." she said slightly shocked.

"I know." I told her, "We've already spoken, it's not a conversation I ever wanted to have with him." I admitted.

"You want to talk about it?" she asked me, I smiled and gave a small confirming nod. "Coffee?" Alex suggested.

"Sounds good to me, I want to take a drive out to Lillian Parks' house." I looked Alex in the eyes and she already knew what I was thinking.

"If Marni's there, we'll find her Liv. I promise." Alex and I left the precinct, I kept replaying the conversation I had had with Elliot in my mind. Alex ran to a small coffee shop, picked up two coffees and got back in the car. She drove to a quiet street and parked up. She turned to face me sipping her coffee, her eyes melted my fear, "So what happened?" she asked calmly.

I took in a deep breath and exhaled it; "He told me he loved me." I watched as Alex's face dropped slightly, I took hold of her hand, "Alex please don't look so disheartened, I told him I'm in love with someone else, that I did a long time ago want to be more than partners; but that's not the case now. He made me feel worthless, being his partner was the longest relationship I've had with a man, well, with anyone really and I was heart broken; but when I look at how I felt then, to how I imagine I'd feel if something ever happened to us..." I took in another deep breath as I felt tears forming in my eyes. "I can't think about us not being together Alex, it hurts to imagine where I'd be without you now."

Alex smiled, her eyes were filled with tears, "I love you Olivia, and I'd do anything for you. It hurt so much watching you everyday with Elliot. I saw the look in your eyes and I had to emotionally detach myself from you. I guess a part of me still feels insecure that you had feelings for him. I wondered if I could ever live up to him."

I smiled softly, "It's good to know you have insecurities, it makes you human. The only feelings I have for Elliot are resentment, and anger. I have no desire to be near him, work with him, or talk to him. I let myself get too attached to a ideal with him, one that was never going to happen. I was stupid for doing it, but it got me here, to this point in my life with you. For that, I don't regret anything."

Alex smiled at me, I leant in and gently kissed her lips, I felt her hand on my knee and that familiar tingle shot down my spine. As our lips locked butterflies flipped in my stomach, I felt the kiss intensify, my hand reached for Alex's cheek. I pulled away from the kiss, I felt Alex kiss my forehead and touch my nose with her forefinger. I smiled and even felt myself blushing, the ice queen I had known in court had a really soft, tender heart. "I hate that you had to be heartbroken to get here," she pushed the hair off my face, behind my ear. "You should wear your hair up more often, it means I can see more of your beautiful face."

I felt myself blush even further, "You're a softy, you know that?" I felt Alex's hand ride up my leg further.

"I maybe a softy, but it's only for you." she leant over and kissed my neck, the same tingle shot through me again. My back arched naturally, I felt her smirk against my skin. "It's so hard to keep my hands off you..."

I let out a small moan, I felt Alex's lips leave my skin; I looked at her, "I know what you mean." I said honestly. There was a silence in the car, but it wasn't awkward, it was a lustful silence. I picked up my coffee and took a mouthful.

"We should head over to Lillian's house." Alex looked at me and I knew what she was thinking, "Are you sure you're going to be okay going back to that house?"

"Honestly, I'm not sure; but this isn't about me, it's about Marni."

Alex started the car and began driving to the house surrounded by flowers. As we pulled up I felt a lump rise in my throat, I found my legs walking me towards the house no matter how much I told myself to stop and take a breather. I felt Alex touch my hand and I seemed to slow down.

"Calm down Liv." she told me, I felt her voice soothing me.

I knocked on the door, straightened my jacket and waited for the old woman claiming to be my mother to open the door. The door cracked open slightly, I saw her old face and felt sick instantly. "Olivia, darling, have you finally come to your senses?"

"Where's Marni?" I blurted laying all my cards on the table.

I saw her face drop then pick back up, she was about to lie. "She's at the shops picking me up some milk, my mobility is poor so I can't go out myself. Please dear, do come in."

I stared at the woman in front of me, "No thanks. When will she be back?"

"There's no need to be rude, I'm your mother, doesn't that mean I qualify for some respect?" Lillian said.

"You're not my mother!" I said this time more angrily.

"Oh, yes sweetie, I am. The sooner you look inside yourself, the sooner you will see me." Lillian slammed the door shut in my face. I stood there shell shocked for a few seconds.

"The nerve of that woman." I spat, I felt my body tremble with anger.

"Liv, have you done the DNA test yet?" Alex asked remembering Lillian had supplied a vile of her own blood.

I shook my head in the negative, "Not yet. I can't bring myself to do it," I paused, "What if she really is my mom?"

"She's never going to be your mom Liv, your mom raised you, put food on the table and put a roof over your head. The only thing that could link you to that vile woman is DNA, and you've already proved through your life, you're nothing like her."

I gave Alex a small smile, I knew she was right; "It doesn't stop the fear that I was lied to my entire life. It was hard enough understanding I was a product of rape; I had to come to terms with that, and my mom's drinking. Why would she lie to me about being raped? Why not just say I was adopted and it was a closed adoption? I don't think I could take another family blow."

Alex opened the car door for me, then went around to the drivers side and got in the car herself. "Whatever happens, you have me. And it's not a family blow, because that woman is not your family," Alex paused, "I'm your family now, and you're my family Liv. I'm not going to let you go through this on your own."

I smiled and leant over towards Alex, she opened her arms and enveloped me into them. I tried not to cry but failed, miserably.

Alex drove the car to my apartment, it had been a long day and I wanted nothing more than to snuggle up to her on the couch with a bottle of wine. We walked up the stairs hand in hand and my mind was finally at ease with the day, although Marni missing was still niggling at me. I pulled out my keys and looked at the bunch spotting my door key; Alex kissed me in the hallway, we turned the corner, as we shared a smile we both saw something that sent chills through both of us. Marni's lifeless body was propped up against my front door, her throat slashed and her blood dripping down the walls.