A mother for Bella

Sequel to A home for Nathan

2 of 4 in series

Chapter Four

After dropping Nathan off at school Olivia took Bella with her to the precinct knowing she had to get some work done. Bella was being particularly clingy and teary. She sat on Olivia's hip as she walked to the squad room her tiny head buried in the crook of Olivia's neck. Elliot smiled at them but seeing how exhausted his partner was he could tell it hadn't been an easy night.

Olivia shifted Bella to the front of her before sitting down. Bella kept her arms wrapped around Olivia's neck and her face hidden. Olivia felt helpless and just got on with some work making sure to kiss Isabella's head and stroked her back and ask her questions every now and again.

When Olivia's office phone rang Elliot's interest peaked when she turned to the side so her back was to most of the bullpen and she seemed to be having an intense conversation.

"Why after all these years?" She hissed.

"Oh is that what they said?" She snapped. "She's perfectly fine with me and my Son… yes I have a son and had you stayed in touch you would have met him… oh like you told me you were married or even getting married… I was busy… what? … Don't you dare do this to me Simon… oh so you say but when you and Lucy … don't cut me off like that… Yes I love her… no but neither did you…Oh so now I should have because his daddy raped his mommy too? Just because your Mom had consentual sex with our father it doesn't change a thing Simon…whatever… no come to the precinct… yes she's perfect… I'll make this clear though, one sign you're fighting me for custody of Isabella and there goes your chance of getting to know Nathan…fine… ok… yes I'll see you later… bye." She hung up the phone with a slam before turning back to her desk.

That was when she realised something on the bottom of her jumper felt warm and wet. Bella was fast asleep on her chest and that was when Olivia realised Bella had wet herself.

"El could you give me a hand?" Olivia asked looking at her partner as she held onto Bella and stood up.

"What's up?"

"Bella's had an accident, I've got a change of clothes for her in the car could you go and get them while I take her up to the showers?" She asked throwing him her car keys.

"Of course I will." Elliot smiled before watching her go.

Once Olivia and Bella were both all cleaned up Bella seemed to be in a brighter mood. Elliot agreed to stay with Olivia while she explained their biological relationship and Simon to the little girl before he turned up at the precinct.

"So my Daddy, you and Uncle Simon are brothers and sister?" She asked to clarify.

"Yes that's right." Olivia smiled.

"And Uncle Simon is coming here?" Isabella asked.

"Yeah he wants to meet his niece." Olivia smiled.

"So does that mean I'm your niece too?" The five year old inquired innocently.

"That's right." Olivia grinned.

"But I wanted you to be my new Mommy… like you are to Nathan." Isabella said with sadness in her bright brown eyes.

"I want to be your new Mommy too." Olivia smiled.

"You do?" Isabella's face brightened up again.

"I do Bella, I love you very much." Olivia told her and the five year old bobbed her head with a wide grin on her face.

"Am I allowed to call you Mommy like Nathan?" Isabella asked so innocently.

"If you want to you can." Olivia replied running her hand through Isabella's brown hair wondering how much Lucy would compare the little girl's looks to Simon, it was obvious that the little girl inherited her father's looks, she was a double of Olivia and seeing a picture of her late brother she could see aspects of herself in him.

"Yes!" Isabella grinned wrapping her arms around Olivia tight. "Does that mean Nathan will be my big brother like Daddy was yours?"

"That's right." Olivia smiled tickling Isabella's stomach.

"And they won't take me away from you ever?" Isabella asked still excited.

"I don't know yet Isabella. I'm going to try and make sure you stay with me forever and ever." Olivia said and it was enough for the five year old who jumped on the small cot excitedly.

When Olivia carried the tired five year old down to the bull pen on her hip she froze when she saw Simon and Lucy stood by her desk. Taking a deep breath she continued to walk confidently to them trying to mask all fear and doubt she had in her mind.

"Olivia." He smiled.

"Simon." She replied less enthusiastically.

"It's good to see you." He said giving her an awkward hug which happened to include the half asleep Isabella. "You've met Lucy of course." He said pulling his wife a little closer.

"Not like this, hi Olivia." She smiled shaking Lucy's hand.

"I know who you are, our daughter is named after you." Lucy smiled.

"You didn't mention you had a daughter Simon." Olivia smiled turning to look at her brother.

"I know and I'm sorry." Simon apologise. "This must be little Izzy."

Isabella reacted quite oddly. She wrapped her hands tight around Olivia, buried her head into the crook of Olivia's neck and began to sob hysterically.

"Bella baby what's wrong?" Olivia asked stroking her hand through Isabella's hair and bouncing her hips softly. "Bella… hey baby girl… what's the matter?"

"He called me Izzy." She hiccupped. "That's what my old Momma called me…"

"Oh baby girl, he didn't know." Olivia said softly as she rubbed her cheek into Bella's.

"Oh sorry." Simon said to Olivia but she brushed it off.

"Hey Isabella Simon and I bought you a present." Lucy said stepping behind Olivia with a pink gift bag. "You want to have a look inside?"

Slowly Bella's head lifted from Olivia's shoulder but her grip didn't loosen around Olivia's neck.

"Bella baby you want to sit there while I go talk to Uncle Simon?" Olivia asked pointing at the victim chair beside her desk. "Elliot is just there and Aunt Lucy will stay with you?"

"And we can see what's in the bag?" Lucy coaxed and Bella's little head bobbed in reply and Olivia placed her on the chair while Lucy took Olivia's desk chair and moved it towards the little girl handing her the gift bag.

"Is that your son?" Simon asked picking up a picture of Olivia and Nathan from her desk.

"Yeah Nathan, he's twelve." Olivia replied. "Same age as Lucy's son right?"

"He's nearly twelve now yeah." Simon smiled putting the picture down.

"Have you got a picture of your daughter?" Olivia asked and Simon smiled and pulled his wallet from his pocket opening it to the picture of a beautiful little girl.

"Olivia Francis Marsden, she's three now." Simon said proudly. "She was named after you Liv." He told her.

"You didn't stay in touch." Olivia said with a hint of sadness in her voice.

"I wanted too." He told her. "I just didn't know what to say to you Olivia, hey my dad raped your mom want to have a relationship? I mean come on, you didn't make the effort to stay in touch either."

"I worked my ass off proving your innocence in a rape case, I was suspended for a month for helping you skip bail because I had to come clean to IAB or I would have landed on the stand in court and it would have come out there. I could have lost my badge Simon!" Olivia snapped angrily.

"You did more than just prove my innocence Olivia. You saved my relationship and my life, I'm nothing like my father." He said with so much conviction in his voice. "I'm here to help you." He said suddenly. "Help you get custody of Bella."

"Why?" Olivia asked.

"They called, CPS, said that I was more suited to taking custody of Bella as her biological family, I told them about you and then they told me that she was already with you but that you weren't the best candidate but other than me and you they can't find anyone else biologically related to her." Simon explained. "When I said she was probably better off with you they said you weren't suited, your job, your home conditions, your lack of family ties, I want to help you win and keep her Olivia, she belongs with her family and I will take her if they won't let you keep her but I am willing to fight on your side until we get there."

"You mean that?" She asked.

"Yes. You're my sister Olivia and I told you before I could never lie to my sister." He told her again with the strength and the conviction behind his voice and she saw fire in his dark brown eyes.

"What do I do?" Olivia asked.

"First we write a list of why they don't think you're suited to have her and one by one we eliminate them, we can do this Olivia and just by me being here, being your family ties, that one thing off the list." He told her and she gave him a nod before taking a deep breath and hugging him tight.

"Thank you." She smiled.