Chapter Thirteen - Acceptance

Olivia and Huang stood on Dana's front stoop. He was still watching her and she knew it. He couldn't help it. She knew that part of it was to help her and the other was just pure fascination. She tentatively raised her left hand and knocked on the door.

"Remember: we are doing this at your pace," Huang stated.

"I know," Liv answered as Dana answered the door.

"Come on in, y'all. We are in the back. Can I get you anything?"

"No, I'm good," Huang stated as he made his way to the rest of the group.

"Thanks, but I'm good," Liv answered.

"Liv, sugar, it's okay to be scared. No one is going to think less of you here. We are all your friends. Having a kid is going to change everything. I want you to know that I am here to help you in any way I can," Dana told her.

"I just want to see my son," Olivia stated as they walked into a sun room in the back of the house.

Liv stopped in the doorway. A flood of emotion washed over her. She looked around the room to see who had all made their way over to Dana's. There was Dana and a man she assumed was Dana's husband. Huang had come with her. Russell and Ike were there. It was then that Liv noticed that Abbie and Alex were together talking, standing over a bassinette.

Alex turned at that moment to see the uneasiness in Olivia's eyes. She smiled, trying to calm her. She touched Abbie's arm, who had turned to face Olivia as well. Abbie smiled at her and crossed the room.

"Hey, New York," Abbie said in greeting.

"Hey there, Tex," Liv replied, slightly relaxing.

"Come and meet your boy. You did good with that one. He's already a lady killer," Abbie said, reaching out for Liv's hand.

Liv took Abbie's hand and let herself be led over to the bassinette. She looked down into it and smiled at the baby. Abbie didn't let her go, as they both stood there. Alex watched her from the other side. Liv looked up into Alex's sapphire eyes and saw nothing but love reflected.

Silently, behind her, Liv felt the mood in the room change. She didn't feel them leave. She didn't hear the rest of the group leave the room. She just knew that they had. Dana was giving her time with the two people that knew her the most.

"He's beautiful," Abbie stated.

"He is, isn't he?" Liv replied.

"Do you want to hold him?" Alex asked her.

"No," Liv answered quickly.

"It's okay, Liv. You aren't going to hurt him. We'll help you. But, I am sure that he would like to be held by his mother. It would do you both good," Abbie stated.

"Yeah, I think it would. Why don't you sit in that chair there," Alex said, pointing, "And, I'll bring him to you. That way you won't have to worry about your arm getting tired because you are standing."

Olivia gave Alex a pleading look. Alex wasn't going to let her get out of it and she knew it. Liv took a seat on a couch. Alex leaned over the bassinette and picked Alexander up. . She went to Liv and placed him in the crook of her arm and made sure that he was supported before Alex sat down with her. Abbie pulled a chair up next them and waited.

Liv watched the ease and grace that Alex possessed as she held Alexander. The depth of love that Alex gave her was reflected in the way she moved and held him. It made Liv's heart soar. She began to think about everything that she had done wrong in her life to deserve everything that was becoming so perfect.

Tears filled Olivia's eyes. Her heart was breaking and she finally knew what pure love was. She was holding it in her arms. She looked from Alexander's sleeping face up into Alex's loving, supportive face.

"Thank you," she told her.

"For what, Liv?"

"For being her for me. For loving me despite everything. For being you," Liv said with a slight laugh.

"Are you okay?"

"Yeah, I think I am," Liv answered.

"Liv, I know that you need to bond with your son and all, but there are things that we need to talk about. Stop, before you say anything. I don't care about the case or the operation right now. I am only here about Alexander."

"Liv, Abbie came here to facilitate all the paperwork for the adoption of Alexander. She is a federal lawyer for the government. She has been given permission from the State Department to represent you on a federal level concerning the guardianship of Alexander. They all agree with us, that the paper work is authentic and legal. The FBI will vet you as being Julie Seabrook while undercover, if that ever becomes an issue," Alex explained.

"No one is fighting it?"

"No, Liv, they aren't," Alex answered.

"Olivia, I need to know what name you plan on him giving him so I can file the appropriate paperwork. Once I get them finalized, I'll have you sign them before I go to New York to file them for you. I was hoping to head to New York for the weekend anyway. I'd be back here with all the legal paperwork for you by next Friday," Abbie told her.

"That sounds great. I do have a name for him though. I thought of it while I was with Huang earlier. It just made sense to me and it flowed right out. I want to know what you think about it," Liv stated as she stared down at him again.

"What is it, Love?" Alex asked her.

"I want to name him Alexander Donald Benson."

"That sounds lovely," Alex replied.

"Just out of curiosity, where did the Donald come from?" Abbie questioned.

"From Cragen. I owe him so much. He has been like a father to me for years," Liv replied.

"That's nice. I'm sure that he'll be honored. Whatcha plan on calling him? Alexander? Alex? Donald? Don? Donnie?" Abbie inquired.

"I was thinking more along the lines of Xander."

"Sounds good," Alex responded, "I need to go make a few calls. Think you two can behave for a few minutes?"

"Yeah, I think we're good," Abbie answered for them, smiling up at Liv, who was watching Xander.

"Stabler," Kathy answered the phone.

"Hey, Kathy, it's Alex Cabot. Is Elliot home? I need to talk to him, please."

"Yeah, he's here. Everything okay? Is this about a case?" Kathy asked.

"No, it's about Olivia. I'm going to need some help with her this time. I'm a little over my head and I've gotten more than I bargained for. I need Elliot to help me," Alex replied.

"Wow, okay, hold on."

"Stabler," Elliot stated taking the phone.

"Hey, Elliot, it's Alex."

"Cabot? You okay? You back from the Congo?"

"I'm fine, Elliot. And, yes, I'm back. I have been back for some time now. I back at the DA's office trying cases."

"I retired."

"This isn't about a case, Elliot."

"Liv? Did something happen to Liv? What happened?" he asked the worry in his voice very noticeable.

"She's okay. Well, she's getting better. But, I need your help."

"What?"

"I need your help with something that pertains to Liv's new situation."

"What do you need, Alex?" he asked.

"Long story short, she went undercover for the FeeBees. Some serious shit hit the fan and she ended up with a child. We've gone over all the paperwork and he is hers now. I need your help getting her ready to bring the child back to New York," Alex told him.

"I'm sorry. I think that you just told me that Liv had a kid. I mean you just told me that Liv has a kid. What the hell kind of operation is the damn FBI running?"

"I'll let her tell you that, but for right now, I need your help."

"Yeah, sure, anything. Liv knows that. Just one thing, Alex. Well, two," Elliot said.

"Yeah?"

"One: what's his name? And two: where are they going to live? Cause I went to her apartment a couple of weeks ago, to apologize and it was empty. It's been cleared out. The sup said it's been like that for about two years…you know, shortly after I retired," Elliot stated.

"The FBI boxed it up and put it storage. For now, she'll be living with me until she is well enough to be on her own, again, if she wants. I need you to help me make my apartment baby ready and baby proof. She has named him Xander," she explained.

"When you coming to town?"

"Carmichael and I should be in town by the weekend to file some paperwork concerning Liv's case. I can meet with you this weekend. Abbie told Olivia that we'd be back by the end of the next week. Is that enough time?" Alex asked worried.

"Should be fine. Call me when you get to town. Have you told Cragen, yet?"

"No, he's next on my list."

"Do me a favor, though," Elliot stated.

"What's that?"

"Wait to tell Munch until I'm there. I want to see his face. I can wait to hear the theories he has on this. I'll talk to you this weekend, Alex. Take care of yourself and take care of Liv," he replied, before hanging up.

"Captain Cragen, how can I help you?"

"Don, it's Alex."

"How is she?"

"She is good. She's getting better, every day. She can't wait to come home."

"Good. Good. How are you?"

"I'm good, Don. I'm going to need some help with something. It's kind of major and something that only you and 1-6 can handle. Up to it?"

"Is it a case?" he asked.

"We'll call it that."

"Alex, you need to give more information. I can't help you if I don't know what is going on. Does this have to do with Liv?"

"Yeah, it does. Look, I can't explain over the phone. I need you to have Munch, Fin, Rollins, and Amaro at the precinct Saturday morning. I'll explain everything then."

"Saturday morning?"

"Yeah, I'm flying in for the weekend. I have some things that I need to take care of at the courthouse. Plus, I want to give everyone an update on how Liv is doing."

"You could just tell me," Cragen stated.

"I could, but I can't. I … it would be better if I told you in person. But, don't worry. I promise that Liv is alright and getting better. She should be able to come home soon."

"Alright, Alex, I trust you. We'll see you Saturday. You might want to bring breakfast, cause you know they are going to be cranky for having to come in that early on the weekend."

"No problem," Alex replied as she hung up her cell phone.

She made her way back to Liv and Abbie. She nodded silently at Abbie that everything was a "go" back in New York. Now all Alex had to do was tell Olivia that she was going, too. She knew that Liv would take it hard, like Alex was running away, but she would just have to explain it to her. She needed to check on the case load and make sure that the DA wasn't going to fire her for taking so much personal time. She would tell Olivia about the living situation as well. She knew that Liv would probably balk at the idea of living with her and losing her apartment, but the reality was that Liv really didn't have a choice.

She smiled at Liv. Liv smiled back, with tears in her eyes. She was just so damn happy, Alex would tell her, but she would wait until they were back at the FBI apartment, alone. Right now, Liv needed to be with her son. She needed to bond with him. Alex could only hope that it would their relationship as well.

She loved Olivia and because she loved Olivia, she loved that boy. Alexander was named after her and he couldn't fight his biologics. But, she knew that Olivia and she could provide for him a home of love and warmth… When did I become so domestic? Alex thought, looking into Xander's soulful brown eyes as he woke. His smile was Alex's undoing. She knew in that moment. She would fight for him as long as Olivia would allow it. And, she hoped that would be a long time.