Disclaimer: I own nothing

Tyler pulled off onto a dirt road about 5 minutes later. Olivia took note of the large wood arch they drove under that signified the Triple B. The fences on either side of the road looked well tended and the grass lush in the late spring. Ahead was a beautiful view of the Mountain range and in the foreground she could see large buildings. She looked around, there were so many of them. She glanced at Tyler who grinned

"Over there is the barn and yards" she pointed to a large red wooden structure that was a couple of stories high "You have the machinery shed, the hay shed, the workshop" she pointed out several other large structures "We have sleeping quarters and living area for our ranch hands, then the big mess hall where they eat. That building back there is my brother Callum's house. We call him Cal" Tyler grinned and Olivia found it infectious and returned it "The massive structure in front is the family home" she pointed out the last building which was a large sprawling house made of stone and wood. Also two stories it appeared to have a main area facing the view of the mountains and two wings coming off at 45 degrees.

"Ma lives in the South wing, I live in the North. When my older sisters come home with their families all the adults are banished to the south wing while me and the kids take over the North. My nephews and nieces get me in a lot of trouble" Tyler chuckled and Olivia had a feeling Tyler got herself into trouble and dragged the kids along with her. She may be Sheriff but off duty Olivia had the sense she was one big kid.

As they pulled up in front of the house Olivia realised it was bigger than she thought, the family must have a sizable spread and be doing well with it.

She didn't wait for Tyler to get out and open the door, even though Tyler grumbled her mama was going to kill her if she was watching. She couldn't help but laugh, Tyler was playing this gentleman cowboy thing to the extreme but she was playing it well.

Olivia opened the door to the back of the truck, pulling out her large duffel but paused when a body brushed against her side and a strong hand plucked the bag from hers and she was gently but firmly moved to the side. When she looked up at Tyler her eyes had gone darker than normal and she was watching her with an expression that Olivia hadn't seen for a while and certainly not on a female. Oh!

Blushing she stepped further back, suddenly seeing all the gallantry shown towards her in a different light. Well who knew small town Montana was so forward? She didn't mind really, it wasn't the first time she had been seen as attractive to the opposite sex, she just hadn't been expecting it was all.

Tyler cleared her throat realising she had given the game away, damn, she had tried to fight it but the brush of Olivia's body against hers had set off fireworks to rival the fourth of July. It was just because it had been so long, no other reason. She'd just have to battle through the weekend and hope Bob could sort out something with the car.

"Well come on, I'll introduce you to the clan, we'll have some lunch, get you settled in and then I'll show you around" she nodded towards the house.

Olivia quickly reached in and grabbed her laptop bag and her backpack and followed Tyler up the stairs. They were greeted at the front door by a woman about her height, salt and pepper long hair, same eyes as Tyler and quite obviously Tyler's mother. Like Tyler she was dressed in wranglers and boots but had a plaid shirt on. Tyler currently wore her gun belt but Olivia figured when she wasn't working she probably wore a belt with a dinner plate as a buckle too. Must be a cowboy thing.

"Hello I'm Judy Bates, welcome to the Triple B. I hope my daughter has been looking after you?" she asked with a smile while shooting her daughter a look. Olivia grinned

"She's been a true gentleman" Olivia nodded and stepped forward when ushered in by Judy

"Ma this is Detective Olivia Benson from New York. She ran into a little car trouble. Bob's picking it up but you know him, probably won't get around to it until Monday" Tyler shrugged and Judy nodded

"Don't worry Olivia, Bob loves his cars, he'll take good care of it, he'll just take his time doing it" she frowned "You don't need to get back to New York do you?"

"Um no ma'am, I'm on extended leave" Olivia admitted but didn't elaborate when mother and daughter shot her curious looks "I appreciate this but don't wish to intrude, I can get a room at a hotel"

"Over my dead body." Judy growled "And call me Judy, ma'am makes me sound like a grandma"

"Ma you are a grandma" Tyler teased and took the backpack and laptop from a protesting Olivia who watched her swagger off down a corridor.

"Excuse my daughter, she loves to stir. Make sure if she tries it on you you give as good as you get, hopefully you can put her in her place a little" Judy grinned and Olivia could say nothing to that. If Elliot was here they'd probably share an amused look and press on. So she figured she would just press on without him and followed Judy into a large Kitchen slash dining area where an enormous table was set for 6 with plenty of room to spare.

"All, this is Olivia" Judy introduced her and all eyes turned her way, 3 males all similar in appearance to Tyler, one older and obviously her father and she'd bet the other two were her brothers. All appeared tall and lean and Olivia knew they would be deceptively strong. "She's a cop from New York. Her car broke down so Tyler brought her here while Bob is fixing her car"

"I bet Tyler's planning to fix Olivia while she's waiting" one brother smirked which earned a slap across the back of his head from his father.

"Watch your mouth in the presence of a lady" the man growled and Olivia again felt like she was caught in the twilight zone.

Tyler came swooping past then and walking up behind her brother put him in a headlock.

"At least I know how to treat women little bro, or so your wife said the last time I was with her" she knuckled the top of his head then dodged his swipe before strolling around the table and taking a seat.

"Oh my God" Judy covered her face in embarrassment "Hank this is all your fault"

"Me? What did I do?" Tyler's father looked surprised while the second brother stood and held out his hand

"Hi I'm Beau. Sorry about the wacky family." He offered a smile when she shook his hand and she pegged him as the quiet one in the family who sat back and watched the action from a distance. Maybe he refereed on occasion.

"Nice to meet you Beau" she smiled at him. He was young, maybe late twenties. The baby she guessed.

"The big mouth is Callum. He's a couple of years older than me, then there's Tyler and we have a couple of older sisters Rebecca and Katrina." His eyes sparkled as he grinned "When Tyler came along dad figured he was going to be lumbered with all girls so got to name her and raised her as a boy. Mum blames him for her '3' sons"

"Oh" Olivia looked at the family who were still arguing noisily. Well all except Tyler who was tucking into her sandwich.

"Come take a seat next to me, I'll try and keep the horde at bay" he ushered her to a seat, sat her while holding the chair like a true gentleman then sat down beside her. He offered her a plate with a selection of different sandwiches and rolls on it and she selected a chicken and salad and smiled her thanks. She watched bemused as he poured her a glass of ice tea from the pitcher and placed it on a coaster. For all their mothers grumbling they certainly had manners and knew how to look after guests.

The arguments lessened and Olivia realised they had been good natured all along, she just hadn't been too sure after her upbringing, it put her on edge even 30 years later.

The sandwich was wonderful and Olivia ate it quietly, listening to the banter. Beau asked a few times if everything was alright but Tyler was very quiet. Olivia caught her looking a few times but Tyler just nodded and turned back to her food.

After the last mouthful was eaten the Bates men did a brilliant disappearing act and even Tyler stood and started to make her way out of the room with a "Thanks ma" thrown over her shoulder followed by a "Come on Olivia. I'll show you your room"

Olivia looked at Trudy who was still eating and then to the leftover food and the plates and glasses strewn on the table. She could not ignore good manners and started to stack the plates

"Good Lord child what are you doing?" Trudy hurriedly stood and grabbed her wrist to stop her

"Doing what anyone with a hint of good manners should be doing" she shot a look at a stunned but slightly contrite Tyler.

"But you're a guest!"

"Yes but not a pig" Olivia was firm and Trudy let go of her wrist "I am also no child, unfortunately at 43 I am well past that and I won't break the dishes" she gave a crooked smile "Well I'll try not to"

"Ok" Trudy nodded and sat to finish her meal "Thank you, and 43 is young dear. I'm 65 and still consider myself a spring chicken"

"Dually noted" Olivia nodded and smirked at Tyler who had returned to the table to collect up the glasses before she walked over to the sink to deposit the plates. With her back turned she missed the look shared between mother and daughter. Tyler sighed, she couldn't hide anything from her mother. She shook her head in answer to the silent question but her mother only smiled her knowing smile and continued to eat.