Thanks again for the awesome reviews. I am so glad people enjoyed the talk. Here is a short chapter...it is a lead into a bigger one with much more going on, but unfortunately I haven't had much writing time today. Hopefully the next part will be up tomorrow. I hope you enjoy this little bit...

It was nearly three weeks later, Christmas Eve, and Olivia found herself sitting at Mercy Hospital waiting for Fin to show up. She wasn't supposed to go out on cases…not at all…but this time she'd had no choice. Amaro had gone to California to spend the holidays with his daughter, Rollins wasn't answering her phone, and Fin was spending Christmas Eve with his son. She was the only one on duty, and even she had been at home, packing up presents to take to Elliot's house in Queens, when the call came in. A woman, mid-thirties, raped and beaten by a coworker during an office Christmas party. After all her years working crimes like this, she knew the holidays brought out the worst in people. It was sickening. She finished packing up her car, and drove to the hospital, knowing she was on light duty but not wanting to pull Fin away from his Christmas celebration. She knew he didn't have enough time with his son anyway. They needed this time together.

After talking with the woman, holding her hand during the rape kit, and hearing from a witness who was at the party, she knew they had to pick up the guy. It was clear what had happened. She thought about doing it herself, for about a second before she came to her senses and realized that talking with a rape victim at the hospital was nowhere near the same as trying to arrest a rapist. She couldn't do that, it was too risky, so she called Fin and after he yelled at her for going to the hospital alone he told her to sit there and wait for him. So that's what she'd been doing for the past half hour, going over the notes she'd taken when she interviewed the victim, and watching the snow pile up outside the window.

"Damn…it's coming down out there," Fin stomped snow off his boots and pulled off his hat as he walked in the room. He looked at Olivia sitting in the waiting room. "What the hell did you think you were doing?" he asked with frustration.

"I couldn't get a hold of Rollins," she explained.

"Yeah…I think she was going to some holiday thing for Gambler's Anonymous," Fin said. "But you should've called me."

"You needed time with Ken," she insisted. "And this wasn't a big deal."

"Like hell," he argued. "Light duty means you don't go out and get involved in the investigation. You know that. You have to keep that baby girl safe."

She put her hand on the firm roundness of her stomach, barely concealed by her sweater and definitely growing more noticeable over the last few weeks. She'd taken Elliot's advice and bought a few things a couple of sizes larger than her old clothes, but even they were getting tight. The jeans she was wearing were being held together with a safety pin since they wouldn't button anymore. She figured she'd take advantage of the After-Christmas sales to pick up some maternity clothes. It was time, and even she could admit that. "The baby is fine," she insisted as she grabbed her coat and buttoned it up, wondering how much longer she could get by without getting a bigger one. It was tight, but would work for now. "She just wants to get home and have Christmas with her family," Olivia gave a nervous smile.

"Where's Noah?" he asked, suddenly realizing it what Olivia's first Christmas with her son and she was spending it working.

"In Queens…with Elliot and the rest of the Stabler clan," she smiled. "El knew I had to get some things done today and I was on duty anyway…so he decided to keep him, but he promised they'd wait for me to decorate the tree and leave out cookies for Santa." She looked at her watch, "So I'd better hurry."

"All of the Stablers?" Fin asked. "So, Elliot told the kids? How'd that go over?"

"I have no idea," she admitted. "He was supposed to tell them today, before I show up over there. Give them time to calm down and get used to things. If it's not going well, Noah and I may just drive back home."

"Well good luck," he smiled. "I'm sure they'll warm up to the idea eventually. You'd better get going though. The snow is a mess and if you don't head out you'll get stuck here," he took the file from her and looked through it. "I'll take care of this…Merry Christmas, Liv."

"Merry Christmas," she reached out and hugged him and then headed to her car.

It took twice as long as usual, but Olivia finally pulled up in front of Elliot's house. The Christmas lights were sparkling on the outside of the house, and with the drifting snow she couldn't help but think it looked like a Christmas card. She could imagine the happy family, inside decorating the tree, singing Christmas carols, and drinking hot chocolate…and she wanted nothing more than to be a part of that. She wasn't sure the Stabler kids would be open to her as a part of their family though…and she couldn't blame them really. She just hoped they'd accept Noah and the baby. Her kids needed a family more than she did.

She opened the car door, debating whether or not to take in the packages she had piled in the backseat and deciding against it when her foot slipped on the icy street. She held onto the car for support until she could regain her balance and then started slowly to the house. She was scared of falling, but the sidewalk was as icy as the street and there was nothing to hold onto for balance. She stopped, trying to figure out the best way to get into the house when Elliot opened up the door and made his way over to her. "God…I was worried sick. This weather is crazy. I wish you would've come sooner," he took her arm and she let him guide her toward the house.

"How did it go?" she asked with anticipation.

He shook his head, "Liv…there's a problem," he stopped on the porch and looked at her seriously. "I didn't get to tell them anything."

"What?" she asked. "So what…am I supposed to go in there and pretend like there's nothing between us? Are we gonna tell them together? What was the problem anyway?"

"Kathy's here," he looked petrified, like she might go off on him and she had to laugh. Leave it to his ex-wife to ruin their family time…but then again, wasn't that what Kathy had accused her of doing for years? "Her plane was delayed because of the snow. She brought Eli over, but she can't get a flight out for Florida until morning. I'm so sorry…"

"She was going to Florida?" Olivia asked. "Is her husband here too?"

Elliot nodded, "Paul…yeah. I just didn't want to tell the kids in front of her, Liv. Do you understand?"

"Of course I understand," she nodded. "But are you sure Maureen hasn't already told her?"

"I'm sure," Elliot added. "So, maybe we just get through Christmas Eve and then we can tell them tomorrow? I told them you were coming to get Noah…and you'd probably stay because of the storm. They seemed to buy that."

Olivia nodded reluctantly, "So…do I wear my coat all night or what?" she asked. "I think they might notice otherwise."

He laughed, "Liv…you don't have to wear your coat. I don't think they'll notice."

"Are you kidding me?" she asked. "El…I've gained eight pounds…and it looks like more. I'm huge…"

"You're not huge," he put his arms around her and pulled her into a kiss. "You look sort of chubby…"

"Well thanks a lot," she snickered.

"What I mean is, Kathy and the kids haven't seen you in years Liv. They'll probably think you've gained some weight, but they won't suspect anything else until we tell them," he smiled. "I'm sure of it."

"Okay," she sighed. "Let's just get through the night."

"You're sure you can handle this," he asked. "I don't want to ruin your first Christmas with Noah."

"As long as I'm with you and Noah…this will be perfect," she smiled. "Now I really need to get inside. I have to pee…"

He laughed, "What else is new?" It seemed she spent half her time in the bathroom lately, both day and night. He couldn't remember the last time he'd slept through the night because it always woke him up when she'd get out of bed to go to the bathroom. "Come on," he took her hand and kissed her once more. "In case I don't get to tell you tonight…I love you."

"I love you too," she sighed. "Merry Christmas."