My 40th chapter, congrats to me! Anyway, Dick Wolf owns. Enjoy!

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Since she uncovered those documents she's been silent, just stunned into quiet. She hasn't stalked Harlan or even called to check on him, nor has she checked on Olivia although she hasn't stopped thinking about her. Instead she's just been moping around the giant house where she found those papers, trying to understand how the information could be true; she looked through family photos; the one above the mantle in the family room, her mother was pregnant, she carried her. Every picture she can find during that time says so so why were these documents saying otherwise?

Over the last three days, she tried having a séance to ask her parents what it all meant but the woman she hired to conduct it couldn't get a connection to them. She then called a medium who could talk to the dead but quickly found him to be a liar when he said that her father had died in a car accident. Finally she got fed up and tried a Oujda board like the one she would use to talk to William but again, nothing. Her parents must be unreachable for whatever reason, she thought and she went back to moping around the house.

This morning however, she decided to call Marilyn. Why hadn't she thought of it before? Marilyn Binks had worked closely with her parents since 1980 and if there were secrets, she knew them.

When Bronwyn called and ordered her to come to her parents house, Marilyn was surprised that Bronwyn was even there and when she showed up some time later, Bronwyn wasted no time.

"Tell me what you know about these documents!" She said upon returning from upstairs where she checked on her baby who was in the nursery. She handed them to Marilyn who immediately went silent upon seeing them.

"Where did you get these?" Marilyn asked.

"Never mind where I got them, tell me what you know!"

"I don't know anything!"

"Don't lie to me! I found those with my father's things; in a lockbox so they definitely mean something. Now you tell me, am I adopted and who is this Johnnie Lee Floyd?" She asked.

"Bronwyn; you have a hearing coming up. This is ridiculous-"

"It is not, and you will not bully me into silence. Now I will ask you for the last time; what do these papers mean?"

Marilyn was quiet for a moment during which she sat down and crossed her legs. Ever the lady, she was always reserved.

"You're parents tried for years to get pregnant; there was even a miscarriage in 1981 and finally, they gave up trying and decided that they were enough for each other. Then in '83 your mother met Johnnie Lee. She came here to work as a maid but she was pregnant and desperate, she was in trouble and couldn't keep you."

"So she gave me up." She whispered, more for herself than for anyone to hear. Suddenly the picture in the lockbox making sense; the beautiful woman in the picture, was her birth mother.

"She gave you a chance! Johnnie Lee was a disadvantaged woman with no skills, no smarts, nothing to offer you and she knew it. That's why she gave you up."

"And my mother, Hughette. Her pregnancy?" Though she already knew the answer but she needed to hear it.

"She faked it…" Bronwyn got up from where she sat on the settee and went to the window where she could cry. Marilyn suddenly felt sorry for her and got up, coming over and offering her a hand and a tissue. "Bronwyn, try to understand, Johnnie Lee was afraid for life, she was afraid for you; she begged your mother to do this, to go along with faking a pregnancy so there would be no suspicions."

"Of what?"

"What?"

"You said 'she was afraid for her life and begged my mother to fake a pregnancy so there would be no suspicions' ...suspicions of what and by whom?"

"I…"

"Will you stop it?" She yelled, turning away from the window and towards Marilyn. "Don't lie to me!" Marilyn, deciding it's best to just come clean, walked the room still struggling with it and with tears in her eyes began to speak.

"Your mo- Johnnie Lee, she was an abused woman and when she found out that she was pregnant, she ran, came to New York and met your mother and father. She didn't want to risk your father ever finding either of you..."

"Who was he?" It was a question that Marilyn hadn't been prepared for; not that she had been prepared for any of today but for Bronwyn to ask this question.

"Why is that important?"

"You know don't you?"

"No, I don't!" she yelled. "I know exactly what was told to us; what Johnnie Lee wanted us to know and nothing more."

"I don't believe you!"

"It's the truth! And another truth; I was not the one who handled the adoption, my father was!"

"How convenient being that he isn't here anymore!"

"Can't win them all, can you? Now I've told you everything I know…" She said but Bronwyn appeared to not be paying attention. "Bronwyn?"

"I heard you." But it came calmly; too calm for the woman who was practically hysterical moments ago.

"Are you alright?"

"I'm fine. Like you said, can't win them all, right? By the way, I'll be moving in here permanently...you can go now!" Marilyn stood, stunned at Bronwyn's sudden turnaround but just as quickly decided that she didn't want to be anywhere near this house right now and was more than happy to go.

"Come to my office, there are things we have to discuss for the hearing. I'll call you when I'm free." She said, quickly gathered her things and left.

Maybe this daddy thing could bring some joy if Marilyn used it in the right way. And what better joy than getting off scot-free?

"Did you see the paper this morning? They're already making her out to be some distressed heroine, it makes me sick!" Fin spat. The Ledger was two full pages discussing the upcoming trial and according to them, Bronwyn was a hero.

"She's a hero... Risked her life to save the Sergeant!" Nick was sick about it. "Just imagine if they knew what really happened or that Harlan was her father. They already think she's this saviour, they'd give her a fuckin medal!"

"If they knew he was her father, they'd just make it a torture story and she'd be the victim, oh, she didn't know. Meanwhile, Liv is suffering from what that bitch didn't know."

"Hopefully they find out in the trial."

"Let's hope, but listen, I gotta go" He said, with Murphy trying to get his attention "Murphy's callin"

"Okay, well Elliot should be here soon so I'll see you in a bit!" He ended the call only to turn around and find Liv standing there by the kitchen. "Liv...hey, I didn't hear you come…"

"I had to pee...who were you talking to?"

"Just Fin"

"you said Harlan is her father, who? Whose father is he?"

"Liv, I didn't mean for you to-"

"Nick, please... Whose father is he?"

Nick looked away for a moment and then back at Olivia. "Bronwyn"

"Freed?!" Olivia was obviously floored.

"Apparently, she doesn't know it but..." Olivia stood there rubbing her belly.

"I think I need to sit down!" she said as she moved to sit on the sofa with Nick's help.

"Are you…?"

"I'm okay, I just…" She took in a deep breath in through her nose. "Bronwyn is Harlan's daughter? That nutjob is that monster's kid?" Nick noticed that there were tears in her eyes.

"Liv?"

"What does that mean for my daughter? Three for three and they're all crazy!"

"It doesn't mean…"

"It doesn't mean she won't be! William, Harlan and now Bronwyn? Nick, she wasn't raised by them, she didn't know them but somehow she found her way to them! What if my baby grows up…"

"Liv stop it! She won't okay? She won't."

"You don't know that."

"And neither do you. Liv, she's her own person" he said with his hands on her belly. "She's not William or Bronwyn or Harlan… Tell mommy that you resent the implications!" He said to the baby who gave several kicks beneath his palms.

"See" This made Olivia laugh briefly though her tears before she got up and went back to her room. "Liv don't shu-" but she had already closed the door.

Once inside and still crying, she put her arms around her baby and held her tight. "I wanted better for you!"

"Liv...I; have you...thought about this baby; could she be mine?"

She heard his voice so clear again but she knew she couldn't put herself through the heartache. It was why she had the doctor seal the paternity results in an envelope almost two weeks ago instead of reading it to her; she couldn't face it, even with this news about Bronwyn. If she opened it… She quickly put the envelope back down on the dresser. She just wasn't ready.

"We'll be alright" she told her baby in a whisper as she lovingly caressed her and in tears. "I promise!"

Later that evening at the restaurant…

"She's better some days, some days not so much but we're all trying to keep her spirits up… Easier said than done, Cap. You know what would be good for her is if you could come down… I sure wish you could. I will, I will. Okay Cap, take care!" Elliot said before he ended the call and put the phone back in his pocket, just as Olivia came back to the table. He got up to pull her chair out, smiling at how beautiful she looked, wearing nothing special just a simple white shirt and a pair of jeans but she was gorgeous nonetheless.

"What?"

"Nothing" he said taking his seat "you just look beautiful"

"Please, I'm seven and a half months pregnant and fifty pounds heavier!" She said with her hand resting on her belly.

"And you're still the most beautiful woman I've ever seen." She let her head drop and smiled.

"Thanks El!"

"What's wrong?"

"Who said anything's wrong?" She asked as she put a forkful of pasta in her mouth.

"You did from the moment I walked in the door today. What is it?" She swallowed her food and took a moment to sip her water before answering."

"I just… I found out something about Bronwyn that I'm having a hard time processing. Harlan, he's her father."

"I...knew that." He said though now, looking back he was suddenly remorseful that he didn't tell her when he saw her drop her napkin into her plate.

"Did everybody know except me?"

"It wasn't like that Liv; we just decided that now wouldn't be the right time to tell you!"

"And when exactly would be the right time? You know what? I'm tired, take me home!"

"Liv…"

"Now!"

The next morning and Olivia was in bed, still asleep when she was awakened by the bell ringing at the front door.

She opened her eyes, dreading getting up. She was so comfortable right now and she really didn't want to move…

"El…" She called, then just as quickly realized that he had left for the day. She let out a sigh and lay there for another moment before she forced herself to get up; not an easy feat with her belly being so big and throwing off her equilibrium but she finally shuffled to her feet and headed for the door, scratching her itchy belly through her shirt and yawning as she made her way through the living room.

It was a minute before she made it to the door, the ringing now more insistent.

"Hold on, almost there!" She called and finally reached the door. "What'd you, forget your key?" She asked as she undid the locks and opened the door.

"Surprised to see me?" Harlan said. He grabbed her before she could scream and pushed his way inside, slamming the door behind him.

She woke up and nearly jumped out of her skin, sweat on her brow, gasping after a slight scream escaped her. Surprised to see that it was morning.

"Olivia…?" Elliot called from the hall outside her room.

"I'm, I'm okay" she said, her breathing labored, looking around the room.

"Are you sure? I heard you scre…"

"Yeah, I just...I thought I'll be out in soon!" She said, reaching for her belly to calm Serena while her tears flowed though she tried not to cry them. Elliot stood at her door.

"If you're okay…"

"I am." She said cutting him off and trying to keep her tears at bay. "I'll be out soon." She repeated.

...

Coming into the kitchen where Elliot was, she came around to sit at the counter. She was obviously tired, having gotten hardly any sleep last night and Elliot could see it as he put her tea mug in front of her and filled it with boiling water from the kettle.

"Thank you" she said just above a whisper. Staring down at her cup.

"Good morning...or should I say?" Elliot asked. He knew that she'd had a rough night but he tried to get her talking anyway but she wouldn't. Instead she held her tea mug in her hands and watched the seeping liquid inside as she let it swirl around. Tears coming to her eyes but she didn't cry them. Elliot watched her as he stood there on the other side of the room by the stove.

"I'm just a little tired."

"Liv..."

"Elliot don't! I'm okay!"

"You're not okay… I wish you'd talk to me."

"I just wanna be left alone, that's all; can you understand that?" She said as she got up.

"Olivia, I'm sorry about-"

"It's not that."

"Then…?"

"I saw him."

"Is that what you were dreaming about?" She got quiet, sitting back down.

"I saw him, El. He was here, in this apartment!" She whispered through her tears, shaking. She couldn't tell him that this dream had been one of many episodes she'd had where she'd seen the men who'd raped her but she was just as shaken.

"Come here" he said and held her. "It was just a dream, that's all. Just a dream. You're safe."

But was she?

"So do you tell her today about your plan that you haven't even told us about?" Kevin asked Marilyn, wondering where they were going today.

"No, and be sure that you both keep it quiet. I won't be using that tactic until it's necessary." Marilyn said just as Bronwyn arrived at her office.

"Hello Kevin; David. Im sorry Marilyn but I got here as soon as I could. You want to tell me why you all couldn't just come out to the house?" Bronwyn said as she sat down at the conference table in Marilyn's office after she parked the stroller by the leather sofa.

Kevin Logan and David Pierce, her other lawyers on the case were already gathered at the table and looked at Marilyn for an answer to Bronwyn's question.

"Time" Marilyn answered and quickly changed the subject, annoyed that Bronwyn brought the jar to this meeting but deciding to ignore it as she instructed her colleagues to do as well. "Now if we're all ready, we can get down to business.

The movers had taken the last of the furniture to put in storage and moved to Elliot's what she was taking with her, mainly just boxes, and now that the place was empty and she stood in the living room silently saying one last goodbye, it was bittersweet. She'd had some good times here, bad ones too she thought as she gently stroked her ever growing belly. It had become a habit and she briefly wondered what she would do about it when Serena came and giggled to herself; delighted that the baby seemed to be sleeping.

"Ohhh you fuckin bitch! Give it to daddy!" He yelled before he came, first inside her then pulled out and emptied the rest on her face while another took his place ready to enter, slamming into her as she pulled at the ropes that tied her arms and legs down and cried. She wished she would die.

"Hey, the car is ready." Elliot suddenly appeared through the open front door, scaring her and she turned from where she stood at the window.

She tried to steady her breathing with Serena now actively moving, her hand moving up and down attempting to calm her. "It's okay, Elliot just caught us off guard." She said softly to the baby causing Elliot to smile.

"I'm sorry, Liv. I didn't mean…"

"It's okay, actually" she said, wiping her tears. "I'm glad you came back up." And she took a folded envelope from her back pocket, handing it to him.

"What's this?"

"The paternity test results...I've been holding on to them for a long time, afraid to look, afraid...would you read them?"

"Now?"

"I have six days before I have to go to that sentencing and see those men again. I have to sit there and try not to think about their hands; their bodies all over me while they sit and tell me and the court how sorry they are when the truth is, the only thing they'll be sorry about is the fact that they got caught… If there's anything that can give me some hope…"

"You sure?"

"Gotta face it sometime, right?"

"Right!" He said, sounding unsure if this was what she wanted. He already knew what could happen if the test told her what she already believed and he wanted to spare her that but at the same time, he knew that he couldn't and with this in mind, he opened the envelope and took the paper out and read it to himself while she stood there. Finally, she got tired of waiting for him to say.

"El?"

"It's inconclusive" He handed her the paper. She looked at him and then at the paper in her hands.

"Liv, this doesn't mean..." She was silent and blinked back more tears as she read the results.

"Can you take me out of here? Can we go? I just...can we go?" She said as she headed for the door. Elliot stood there momentarily and took a deep breath, dragging a hand down his face before he followed her.

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More to come.