But what if it all works out? Olivia wasn't one to catastrophize things but she had lived through enough trauma not to simply believe things would just work out perfectly either. She wasn't that naive 17 year old trying hopelessly to flee the iron constraints of a house that only served to traumatize her. And yet she had struggled to leave it. Leave her mother. Not just because her mother needed her. But because she needed a mother, she needed someone to care. To take care of her. Maybe that's why her relationship with Bernie was so strong now. Why she spoke to the older woman every week, checked in on her, got deliveries of fresh baked cookies at the squad room from her. And that woman had even Fin under her thumb. She'd make some raspberry jelly thumbprint cookies and he'd come running like his ass was on fire into her office towards Bernie. Her tough sergeant had taken to calling her Momma Bernie too….but then again didn't they all need a little motherly love? Fin had been deprived of it too at an early age. They were pretty cute together, her sergeant and Elliot's mama, huddled together eating cookies and swapping Elliot stories like they were sharing state secrets. Fin and Bernie. Or Fernie as Olivia jokingly teased Fin when no one was around. He'd blush, but he wouldn't protest too much, eventually settling on mentioning how he liked having her around…but would her son ever join her? Olivia couldn't answer that. She didn't know how to answer that because the truth was she still didn't know how to approach the animal that was Elliot Stabler and tell him the truth. That she loved him. That she still loved him. That she had always loved him. Even when she hated him, she loved him.

The next time Bernie had come to the squad room, Fin corralled her into an empty room, and Muncy had followed, the whole story tumbling out. Bernie had looked from one face to the next before tearfully reaching up to cup her grand-daughter's face, studying it, searching it for similarities to her own before pulling Grace into a tight hug.

"Count me in".

At her end, Jet told Elliot that Captain Benson had requested their help on a case, and since she needed tech help as well, she was coming with. Elliot had eagerly followed, and they arrived at the 16th precinct 20 minutes later.

Fin was in Olivia's office with Bernie, having made sure the blinds to the interrogation room were closed first. When Elliot and Jet arrived, Grace led them into the interrogation room, telling them Olivia would be right in to fill them in.

Jet quickly spoke once they were in the room. "I forgot one of my chargers in the car Stabler. I'm gonna grab it and I'll be right back." Once she had exited, she and Muncy waited outside the window, watching, texting Fin to let him know it was time. From Olivia's office, Fin checked his messages and nodded once at Bernie.

"Olivia, sweetheart, can we talk privately for a moment? There's something I need to talk to you about." Olivia looked momentarily startled.

"Of course Bernie. Follow me." Olivia led Bernie into the interrogation room where Elliot was sitting.

"Elliot? What are you doing here?"

Bernie grinned, already backing out of the room. "Work it out you two. Because you're not leaving this room until you do. You belong together. Again. For good." Moving quite spryly for a woman her age, she quickly left the room, where Fin locked it, leaving the two idiots inside agape.

Fin held out his arm to Bernie. "What do you say to some lunch Momma? I think the girls can take it from here."

"It'd be my pleasure, Odafin. Lead the way."

Outside the window, the girls high five each other, staring at their parents' shocked expressions before turning off the two way system for a minute so they could see them through the glass.

Both pairs of eyes looked up at them, both so in sync and about to give them hell. But before they could, Jet spoke. And her words changed everything.