"I'm leaving for a while," Olivia swung the diaper bag over her shoulder and pushed the stroller toward the door. "Call my cell if you need me."

"Where are you going?" Nick asked eagerly. She'd only been back for three hours and she was already leaving. As much as he knew motherhood could change a person, this wasn't like Olivia at all. "Fin and Rollins are bringing in a guy for questioning on that rape case last night. I was hoping you'd sit in on the questioning."

"Nick," Olivia sighed. "I'll be back as soon as I can." She looked down at her son. "I have to meet with a possible nanny for Noah. The agency called and they could only find one person willing to work for what I can afford to pay. She's supposed to meet me in the park in thirty minutes...neutral ground, you know, " She looked pleadingly at him, "I have to do this today. I can't keep bringing him here with me."

"Yeah, of course…go," Nick nodded. "Good luck."

"Thanks," Olivia pushed her son's stroller through the door, knowing she had let Nick down. It seemed no matter what she did lately, it was the wrong thing.

A while later, Olivia pushed the stroller into the park and over to a bench. She sat down, trying to decide whether or not to take Noah out of the stroller. He loved the baby swings, but she knew she couldn't really interview the nanny and play with her son at the same time. So she faced his stroller toward her and pulled out a few of his favorite toys. The little boy grinned as he chewed on the plastic keys. "We'll play in a while, okay sweetie?" she stroked his brown hair with her fingers.

She pulled out the resume and application the agency had faxed to her earlier that day. The nanny looked promising: Maureen O'Malley, age 29, with a Master's in child development from Hudson University. She couldn't help but wonder why someone with this woman's qualifications would be willing to work for what she had to pay. She knew there were plenty of couples in Manhattan with more to offer. She'd been told as much by the agency. So that, along with the many things she'd seen on the job over the years made her question this woman before she'd even met her. Maybe it was time for her to admit she'd never really trust anyone with her little boy.

"Olivia?" the voice was soft and Olivia glanced up at the blonde with wide eyes. "I can't believe it," the young woman sat next to her. "When the agency called me…I just assumed they were sending me to meet a different Olivia Benson."

"Maureen?" Olivia didn't know what to say. She looked at her ex-partner's daughter, now a grown woman and the shock left her speechless. "What are you doing here?"

"The agency called me," Maureen said matter-of-factly. "About the nanny job. They said you were looking for someone right away and that I should meet with you as soon as possible."

Olivia nodded, "Of course…I'm sorry," she lifted the resume and bit her lip as she glanced at it. "I just didn't realize it was you. The name…you know?"

"My married name…O'Malley," Maureen said gently.

"I didn't know you'd gotten married," Olivia admitted, realizing just how long it had been since she'd spoken to her ex-partner or seen his family. She'd loved them, and it made her sad to admit she'd been cut out of their lives so easily.

"My husband left me last year. He was cheating on me with his secretary," Maureen said sadly. "We had been living in D.C., but after he filed for divorce, I just couldn't stay there. I brought my daughter and moved back home."

"You have a daughter?" Olivia asked.

Maureen smiled, "Kate…she's 1 ½."

"Kate," Olivia smiled.

"After Kathleen died…it just felt right, you know?" Maureen's face saddened.

Olivia's heart jumped. She wasn't sure why she hadn't heard about Kathleen and it broke her heart. Tears stung her eyes, "Kathleen…died? When?"

"Right before Kate was born," Maureen said softly. "I'm sorry Olivia. I thought you knew. I thought Dad would've told you."

Olivia shook her head, "I haven't spoken to him since the day he left." She cleared her throat. "How…how did she die?" She had to ask, even though in her heart she knew the girl had succumb to her mental illness.

"She moved to California right after I got married," Maureen explained sadly. "She had this idea that if she just left New York she could start her life over. It didn't work though and she quit taking her meds, turned to drugs and alcohol. She overdosed."

"God Maureen," Olivia gasped as she tried to hold back her tears. "I'm just so sorry. I wish I had known…"

Maureen forced a smile and looked down at Noah who had given up playing with his keys and was sucking the nose of a teddy bear, "So, who is this little guy?" she asked, changing the subject. "He's what…about eight months?"

"Yes," Olivia smiled and picked the baby up from the stroller. "This is my son, Noah." She brushed the tears from her eyes, relieved that Maureen had changed the subject. "He's the reason I need a nanny," she forced a chuckle.

"He's beautiful," Maureen smiled at the baby. "I can't believe you have a baby."

"I feel the same way sometimes," Olivia laughed. Then she turned more serious, "Are you sure you want to be his nanny? I know I'm not offering much…"

Maureen nodded, "Would you mind if I brought Kate with my while I'm watching him?" she asked. "That's why I'm willing to work for less. I want a job where I can still be with my daughter. A lot of people don't want a nanny with her own child in tow. They think I'll split my focus…but I won't. I promise…Noah will be in good hands."

"I know he will," Olivia handed her son to Maureen. She took the baby and smiled while Noah giggled. "He likes you already."

"He has good taste," Maureen teased. Then she handed the little boy back to his mother. "I can stop by tonight and we can talk more about hours and things…if that's okay."

"Sure," Olivia scribbled her address on a piece of paper and handed it to Maureen, then carefully put the baby back in the stroller. She looked at her watch, "I have to get back anyway." She stood up and started walking away, but then turned back around, "Maureen?" she asked. "How are your parents doing?" She hadn't planned to ask, but after hearing about Kathleen she couldn't help but wonder about Elliot and Kathy. Losing their child had to be the most devastating thing they'd ever gone through.

"They're okay," Maureen said seriously. "Dad's still living in the house in Queens. Kate and I are living there with him. Mom moved to Jersey with Eli last year. She just got remarried."

"Remarried?" Olivia asked.

Maureen nodded, "Dad wasn't too thrilled with the guy, but even he has to admit Mom's much happier now. Plus he gets Eli every weekend and since he's not working so much I swear he spends more time with him than he ever did with us when we were growing up. The divorce was probably the best thing that could've happened to him."

"Is he happy?" Olivia felt the words escape her lips and she instantly regretted them.

Maureen shrugged, "As happy as he can be, I guess. He loves being a grandpa." She smiled. "He's watching Kate for me right now."

Olivia smiled, "That's great. She's a lucky little girl."

"I'll bring her with me tonight," Maureen offered. "So you can meet her while we discuss everything about the nanny job."

"I'd love to meet her," Olivia said honestly. Then she sighed, "Maureen, maybe you shouldn't tell your dad that you are going to be working for me. I'm not sure he would like it…"

"It's okay, Olivia," Maureen reached out and hugged her. "This can stay between us for now. I understand."

Olivia nodded and walked away, unsure how Maureen could understand when she didn't understand it herself.

More soon! I promise...