When Essence got to the precinct her heart began to race. It felt like it was going to hammer through her chest. She squeezed Olivia's hand tighter. She instantly felt it and squeezed back to reassure her that everything was going to be ok, that she wasn't going anywhere. "Honey are you sure you're ready to do this?" Essence felt her stomach drop several stories. "I...I am not sure." She managed to choke out as the tears were starting trickle down her face. "We don't have to do this if you're not ready..." Essence nodded and agreed. "Can we please hold off? I changed my mind. Please." Olivia could see the pain in her face. How damaged she had become. It was breaking her heart and she wanted to pick up all the pieces and fix what had been done. "Of course you don't have to we can turn around right now and we can go to the Café if you would like. Court is not for another hour."

"Please can we?"

"Of course honey."

Olivia and Essence turned right around and headed back out the door and started to walk to the corner. When they got there they took a seat outside but they were both unsure of what to say to each other. "Olivia...I am sorry for the way I acted towards you. It's just so hard and I don't understand why. Everything bad just kept happening in my life and I always dreamt of the day I would meet you but I never imagined it would happen like this." Olivia felt the tears forming but took a deep breath in and out.

"I should have never given you up. It was the wrong thing for me to do and I don't know if I will be ever able to forgive myself." Essence could tell she was being sincere. 'Maybe I should give her a chance' she thought to herself, 'having a mom wouldn't be so bad and she's a cop and genuine so she wouldn't hurt me.' Before she could say something else a waitress came out. "What can I get you ladies?" Essence honey you can go first. "Just water with lemon please." Olivia looked over to the waitress, "I will have a coffee with 2 sugars and 2 creamers." The waitress finished writing down there order. "I will have these right out to you both."

Olivia and Essence both looked at each other and looked away.

"Sweetheart are you sure all you want is some water?" Olivia asked.

"Yeah, I don't have much of an appetite right now. Thanks anyways." Essence said. She pulled out her phone and started playing Mahjong.

Olivia watched her daughter play with her phone and was thinking about what to say to her. She had so much to tell her. She just didn't want to overwhelm her.

The waitress brought them their drinks and left.

Essence looked up at her Mother and chewed her bottom lip. She had so much to say but she knew none of what she wanted to ask was appropriate for a corner Café. "So...how long have you been doing this?" She asked.

"How long have I been a cop?" Olivia asks.

Essence nods.

"I've been a cop for 23 years. I've been with SVU basically since I finished my training." Olivia said.

"What made you want to...um...work the kind of cases you work?" Essence asked.

"Sergeant Karen Smyth, she trained me, she recommended me for the unit when I was finished." Olivia said. She felt like she was being too professional with her daughter, she also wanted to share her real drive for doing what she does but she didn't think Essence was ready to hear it yet. She looked at the time on her watch and saw it was time for them to head to the courthouse, "It's time to head to the court house are you ready to go?"

Essence chugged the rest of her water, nodded and stood.

The ride to the courthouse was silent but not uncomfortably so.

Alex met Olivia and Essence outside the courtroom. "Hey, we're just about ready to get started." She greeted Olivia with a kiss on the cheek.

Essence's eyes went wide. 'Whoa...my Mom is gay?...OMG did I just refer to her as my Mom?...Yes you did Essy...OMG I need to stop talking to myself.' She had a full blown conversation with herself.

"Essence this is Alex." Olivia said with a large smile on her face.

"Hi..." Essence said shyly.

"It's nice to meet you Essence." Alex said with a friendly smile on her face.

She looked over at Olivia and began to go over what would happen. "Ok, this should be really easy. The foster parents walked out on her and the state doesn't have anywhere to put her. The social worker has already gone over all the paperwork and at this point they would be more than happy to reunite Essence with her biological parents."

Olivia nodded. She looked at Essence and saw the pained look on her face. "Al, did you have to say it like that?" She asked.

"I didn't mean to. I'm sorry honey." Alex said looking at Essence.

Essence straightened up. "It's whatever. Can we go in now?"

Alex held the door open for Olivia and Essence to pass through and walked in behind them.

The social worker was up front talking to the judge, otherwise the courtroom was empty.

The whole proceeding only lasted about ninety minutes.

Essence agreed to live with Olivia and court was adjourned.

Olivia's rights were reinstated and she left the courtroom feeling like she was on cloud nine.

They headed out Olivia's car. Essence just wanted to get home. She was so exhausted though she immediately just felt into a deep sleep in the car. She felt at peace for once even if it's just in this moment.