"She's barely eating. And she hardly sleeps," Robyn tried to contain herself. "I mean … I know she's trying. But there's something going on."

"Something more than the rape attempt?" Olivia pushed her gently. Privately, she agreed with Robyn. Amy's state of mind was worrisome, and Olivia knew that they would have to get to the bottom of it if she were to feel any better.

Robyn nodded miserably. "It's almost like … the attack … it's like it blew the lid off something. Does that make sense?"

Olivia nodded. "Does she know you're here?"

Robyn shook her head. "She thinks I'm at the station house. I said I had to check on next week's rotas. I am going there, though," she put her hand in her pocket and pulled out a crumpled envelope. "I'm putting in my resignation."

Olivia looked momentarily shocked.

Robyn shrugged. "I can't leave her. I must go, actually. If I'm out for more than an hour or so, she gets real agitated."

Olivia passed her a card. "See if you can get her to see Dr Lindstrom. He's the best. And he knows his limitations too, so if they don't click, or if he thinks someone else would be better, he'll fix that up. You'll get there, Rob," she touched her hand gently. "You love her."

Robyn nodded. "I do," she whispered.

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"Well, like a kinda cousin," Alex said to Lily that evening. "That's what Tommy will be." She had just spent the past half hour explaining the process of adoption to Lily.

"So Tommy's going to be Jay-Jay and Sarah's son?"

"That's right, peanut. To start with, he'll stay with them, to make sure he's happy there. And they'll get lots of visits from the people in charge, to make sure it's all going well. And then, after a few months, if everyone is happy, they'll ask if they can adopt him. And, once that's all finalized, he'll be theirs."

"Their real son?" Lily pushed.

"Absolutely," Alex said firmly. "He may not be their biological son, 'cos neither Jay-Jay or Sarah gave birth to him, but he'll be their real son. In all the ways that matter."

"You don't have to give birth to the baby to be a real mommy, do you Mommy?" Lily had just realized something, and she looked anxiously up at her mother.

"Of course you don't," Alex hugged her tight. "That's why I'm your Mommy just as much as Mama is. You know how much I love you, don't you baby?"

Lily grinned. She loved this game. She held out her hands as far apart as she could. "This much!" she declared.

"And so much more," Alex hugged her again.

"So when is Tommy coming home to Jay-Jay and Sarah?" Lily wanted to know.

"They're going to get him tomorrow."

"And that's why their apartment is going to get bigger?" Lily sorted the information in her mind.

"Exactly right. Now, shall we go join Maisie and your Mama in the bathroom? I think Mama may need some help with the bubbles."

Lily scrambled off the couch, and scampered toward the bathroom. "It's okay, Mama," she called. "Mommy's coming. She can do the big bubbles."

Olivia looked up to see her elder daughter at the door, and reached out her hand for her. She pulled her into her lap. "Look, Maisie," she gentled the toddler with her other hand. "Look who's coming to join you in the tub!"

Maisie grinned, her two bottom teeth showing. "Lill-la," she said, still not quite able to pronounce her sister's name. She saw Alex as she edged into the bathroom. "Mommy!"

Olivia looked up gratefully. "The bubble queen is here," she teased, as she stripped Lily's clothes from her, and deposited the smiling five-year-old in the bath. She levered herself off the bathmat, gesturing to Alex that she could take her place. "Over to you," she smiled, settling herself on the closed lid of the toilet. She rested one hand lovingly on Alex's back, and watched her bathing the two laughing children. Some of life was real tough, she mused, but sometimes she was infused with happiness. "Love you," she whispered into Alex's ear.

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2.24am

Sarah rolled over, and realized the bed was empty next to her. She had barely dozed all night, so she knew Jay couldn't have been absent long. She felt the empty space, which was still slightly warm under her hand.

Jay was standing in the kitchen, staring intently at the kettle, which was just started to hum. "At least you're not drinking the single malt," Sarah said drily, laughing as Jay startled.

Jay smiled back. "Tea. Want some?"

Sarah nodded. "Couldn't sleep either, huh?"

"Too excited," Jay smiled, as she reached into the cupboard for the mugs, throwing in the tea bags and reaching for the milk. "It's … suddenly … it seems real," she smiled, trying to mask her anxiety at the enormity of the change about to take place in their lives.

"Oh it's real, sweetheart," Sarah watched as Jay made the tea, unhampered by her disabilities. Jay was rapidly learning her way around her balance problems, and getting used to having fewer fingers on her left hand.

"He's going to be our boy," Jay sounded awe-struck.

"And that's just great," Sarah smiled. "We'll do our very best for him. I know we can never make up for the awful things that have happened, but we'll do all we can to make him happy."

Jay passed her her tea. She steadied herself against the counter, and took Sarah's face softly in both hands. She kissed her. "You are going to be the hottest mom on the block," she said, smiling as a tell-tale blush of arousal crept up Sarah's neck.

Shakily, Sarah set her mug down on the counter. "You know … seeing as we're not sleeping anyway … I mean, it's going to be hard, at least the first few days, until we know how well he sleeps. How about you and I spend a little time together?" she tugged impatiently at Jay's singlet, laughing as Jay teasingly blocked her attempts to remove it. Sarah grinned at Jay's tactics, and started unbuttoning her own nightshirt to distract her.

Jay's mouth went dry, as Sarah slowly shrugged out of the garment, leaving her standing in front of her, wearing nothing but a smile. Sarah reached out and cupped the back of Jay's head, drawing her into a mind-blowing kiss. Jay dragged her singlet over her head in one swift move, smiling as she felt Sarah lowering her boxer shorts. "In the kitchen?" she gasped, her arousal having rocketed at the sight of Sarah's luscious breasts and erect nipples.

"It wouldn't be the first time," Sarah's voice was husky with anticipation. Lithely, she hitched up so that she was sitting on the marble counter, facing her wife. "Unless," she touched Jay's cheek lovingly, "you wanna drink your tea instead?"

"I think I prefer your plan," Jay could feel her own nipples tighten, as she positioned herself between Sarah's legs. Very gently, she pushed them apart, trying not to moan at the sight in front of her. "We can always make fresh tea," she felt Sarah's hand on the back of her head, and allowed herself to be guided into place.

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Jay cried out with ecstasy, as Sarah brought her to a third climax in the shower. Usually, she hated that Sarah sometimes had to support her physically, but this time, as she collapsed in her arms, she felt nothing but joy. She knew that her own infirmities were lessening all the time, and she had just had tangible proof, yet again, of how much her wife loved her. And wanted her, too. They had resumed their very active love life so completely that she was no longer in any doubt that the damage wrought by her illness made her any less attractive to Sarah.

While she was still a little shy about her hand in public, she had stopped hiding it from Sarah, and Sarah rejoiced in her regained confidence.

Wrapped in towels, they made their way back to bed together, where they abandoned the towels and held each other close. "Our tea got cold," Jay said, a smile tugging at her lips.

"Yeah," Sarah agreed happily. "It did."

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Olivia snatched the phone off the nightstand. "Benson," she hissed, hoping not to disturb Alex, her heart sinking as she felt Alex move next to her. She got out of bed, and slid into the living room.

Alex reached for her glasses, and peered blearily at the alarm clock. 4.25am. Damn. She shrugged on her robe, snagging Olivia's in her hand, as she followed her wife into the living room.

Olivia was still talking urgently on the phone, so Alex draped her robe over her shoulders, and made her way into the kitchen, where she switched on the coffee maker with practiced ease. She dropped some toast into the toaster.

Olivia appeared at the door. "That was Elliott. They've found another body. I've ..."

"Gotta go," Alex finished for her. She stepped forward and kissed her tenderly. "Go. Shower. You can have your toast and coffee in the car. He is picking you up, right?"

Olivia nodded.

"I'll do him some too," Alex said.

Six minutes later, Olivia was back in the kitchen, her hair damp. She carried her boots. She took a grateful swig of her coffee as she thrust her feet into the boots. Her phone beeped. "He's here," she said.

Alex put a paper sack in Olivia's shoulder bag, which she pulled over her neck, so the strap crossed her body. She thrust two travel mugs into her hands. "Toast is in your bag. Be careful, you swear?"

Olivia nodded. "Always," she kissed her again. "I'll call you."

"You'd better had," Alex said.

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Jay lifted Tomász into her arms, and hugged him tight. "I know it's a little scary," she whispered into his hair. "But we're going to do all we can to make sure you're happy with us. And, when you feel ready, you're going to meet all our friends, and they'll be your friends too. You already know Lily, huh?"

"I like Lily," Tomász said. "She was real nice to me. And she's funny. She said I can play with her dog."

"With Wiggle? You sure can. Any time you want. We'll go over and see them soon, they live just across the road from us. And we'll come back here, see all the friends that you've made. And you and I can use the hydrotherapy pool they have here at the hospital, so we both get real strong. So, big man, we've signed all the papers. You wanna hang tight there, while I carry you to the car?"

Sarah felt anxious at the idea of Jay carrying him that far, but she saw that she was well balanced on her cane, and she knew that she wouldn't take any risks, especially not with such a precious cargo. The look on her wife's face was one she would never forget.

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"Mama?" Maisie demanded, crossly. She hadn't seen Olivia all day, and she missed her.

Alex pulled her into her lap. "Your Mama had to go to work real early today, and she's still there. She called earlier to say she won't be home tonight. But she told me to tell you how much she loves you, and Lily, and she'll get home just as soon as she can.

Maisie's face crumpled.

"Oh baby, I know. I'm missing her too. But what your Mama does is real important, and sometimes it takes a few days to catch a bad guy. But Lily will be back any minute, she's just finishing her swimming lessons with Katie. So we can all play together before it's time for bed. How does that sound."

Maisie buried herself in her mother's front. Sometimes only a hug from one of her mommies made things better.

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Abbie made it home after 8pm that night, to the relief of her girlfriend. Caryn had spent half of the day chasing their two-year-old son around, and the other half feeling nauseous and grumpy. She had wished that it had been Abbie's turn to stay home and take care of Daniel; sometimes a day arguing with the homicide detectives felt like a pleasant change. But their job share was going well, though it did sometimes mean extended case handovers at home when neither of them wanted to talk about work. But that was the price that they paid for their domestic idyll, and neither of them would have it any other way.

"You look awful," Abbie took in her girlfriend's pallor and grumpy expression.

"Stop with the smooth-talking," Caryn said, as she pulled Abbie to her and kissed her deeply.

Abbie pulled back, and looked closely at her, relieved to see that nothing serious seemed to be awry. "Long day?"

Caryn nodded. "I missed you. So did Daniel."

"And the mini-me's?" Abbie teased, as she ran a hand over Caryn's belly.

"Antsy," Caryn said shortly. "Your children have been playing football all day."

"My children?" Abbie suppressed a smile.

Caryn glared.

Abbie held up her hands in mock-surrender. "My children. Gottit. So, you want chicken stir-fry tonight?" she held up a bag from the market.

Caryn's eyes filled. "Oh shit. I meant to cook. It's my turn. Abs, I'm sorry, I should ..."

Abbie caught her around the waist, and pulled her into her arms. "You should take it easy. I could tell you were having a tough day. This is easy for me. You sit. I'll cook."

"I'll chop," Caryn insisted.

Abbie could tell that she didn't want to be alone. She nodded.

Caryn sat at the kitchen table, knife in hand, while Abbie browned the chicken. "So how was your day?" Caryn asked, realizing with shame that she hadn't even asked.

"It was fine. I missed you a lot today," Abbie smiled. "And Daniel. The detectives are working on a new case, though. You remember little Tomász?"

"The little guy the girls are adopting?"

"That's the one. Turns out his mother's death, and his baby sister's, were likely due to arson. Also, and for God's sake don't tell them this, they were already investigating his father's death last August."

"That poor little boy," Caryn instinctively put her hand to her stomach.

"He'll be okay now," Abbie smiled. "Sarah and Jay are smitten."

Caryn smiled.

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9pm

I'm so sorry, baby. We've got another lead. We're sure this time. I can't leave.

I understand, and the girls will too. Just be careful. Call/text me any time. Love you.

Love you too. xxx

Alex put her phone back on the nightstand. She understood that Olivia could no more have left an active investigation than she could walk on water. The perp was a particularly evil bastard, and Alex knew how important it was for Olivia to be able to concentrate on getting him.

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2am

We got him! Just got to break him now. We're all fine. Gonna catch a couple of hours in the crib while Munch and Finn take the first shot at him. xxx

Alex smiled as she read the text. She typed a message: You're my hero. xxx

7am

"Is Mama here?" Lily asked.

"Not yet, peanut. They caught the bad guy, though, so she'll be home soon."

"Will she come with me to get my glasses today?" Lily's chin wobbled.

"I'm sorry, Lily-bean. Mama will be real tired when she's done today, so I think she should probably sleep, don't you? We'll go together, huh? Then we can both surprise her with our glasses when we get home!" Alex tried to make it sound like a fun outing.

Lily smiled. She knew that outings with her Mommy were always fun.

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3pm next day

"Rosie, you're wonderful," Alex said, relieved. "Liv's on her way home, but she's shattered, she's barely slept in three days. If you can hang on to Maisie, we'll pick her up after we get back from the eye doctor. So Liv can get a couple of hours sleep before we get back. You're a lifesaver," she hung up the phone. "Okay, then, Bean, you ready?" she winked at Lily, who smiled back happily.

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4.40pm

"Is Mama home?" Lily asked, as Alex reversed into their parking space under the apartment.

"She is baby, and I'll bet she just can't wait to see you in your glasses," Alex smiled.

"But won't she be asleep?"

"She might," Alex admitted. "But she said you can wake her."

Lily shook her head. "No, that's okay. I'll wait for her to wake up."

"You can come with me to pick up Maisie then. I'll bet, if we ask nicely, Gracie and Katie will let you have a play on their trampoline. Would you like that?"

Lily grinned. Alex got out of the car and unbuckled her daughter. She was just about to lift her out of her seat, when she felt her arm being grabbed roughly.

"Where is she?" a male voice spat.

Alex turned, and paled when she recognized the face from photographs she'd seen on Casey's desk.

"Stay in here, whatever happens!" she commanded Lily, as she shut the door again rapidly.

"Fucking dyke, you're hiding her from me," Charlie's words were slurred, and Alex could see from his eyes that he was high.

"She's not here. I'll call her on the phone, if you like," Alex tried to sound conciliatory.

Before she knew what was happening, she felt herself being lifted in the air as Charlie threw her viciously toward a concrete wall. She felt his foot connect with her head, and then the blackness overtook her.