Disclaimer: I do not own the show Law and Order SVU or characters, all rights go to Dick Wolf.
Chapter 1
Olivia rocked a sleepy Noah in her arms. She brushed his brown hair carefully as she felt him snuggling in her neck. "Shhh it's ok Noah." She put him down in his crib and rubbed his stomach over his fleece dinosaur pajamas. "You know Noah, we're so happy you are in our family." She wondered how he would grow up and how he would feel to know that he was adopted. She was hoping for adoption, they were unable to locate any remaining family other than Ellie and she was gone now. She also hoped that one day she could explain Ellie's love for him.
Noah slowly closed his eyes. Olivia also wondered if she took on a bit too much. Just a year ago she had been kidnapped at gunpoint in her apartment by that psycho William Lewis. She didn't even feel bad that he blew his brains out the second time he got her. She fought her way through all the pain.
She was now in charge of the squad. Nick was stripped of his detective badge and demoted. Amanda was a ball of trouble as always. Olivia smiled thinking of her. She had feelings for her, feelings she had never felt for a woman before. although she knew Amanda didn't go that way. Hell she didn't either, but it was something about her. Amanda slept with men for sure, even Nick. She shook her head, Amanda was just a lost kid in a 28 year old's body. That was the other kicker, their age difference would never work.
She was a Sergeant Olivia Benson and in charge of the unit that was now very short staffed. Fin was her one stable as always and thank goodness for him, because the new detective that was joining the team, Dominick Carisi had a long way to go. She turned on Noah's nightlight and quietly closed his door. She sighed seeing two troublemakers waiting for her in the living room. "Who wants to go first?" They looked at each other and squinted.
Lucy turned to Olivia, "I signed the note." Olivia laughed at the 19 year old. She met Lucy Huston when she was a kid who lived in Olivia's old building. Olivia met her when she had her daughter Riley 7 years ago. Riley was a complete slip up. Kids weren't even on Olivia's radar. They definitely weren't on Kurt Moss' radar. Olivia looked at her firecracker of a kid. She had her face and hair, but those blue eyes were his. When Riley's temper showed, her eyes almost looked darker.
Lucy originally babysat for money, but after she graduated high school the money came in handy. "I'm aware of that. The teacher called me, because Riley thought she got away with it. You see Luce, when she doesn't have a consequence, the bad behavior doesn't stop." Olivia looked at Lucy for an answer, "Why? I was home yesterday. I wasn't even at work. You don't have that as an excuse. What are you hiding?"
Riley smirked. Lucy knew she had to tell. "I dropped out of school. I don't have a place to live and Riley found out and was gonna tell you. I promised to sign your name if she didn't."
Olivia was very confused at first, but then quickly upset. "First of all!" Her tone was serious, they both straightened up. She looked at Riley, "We don't blackmail people." Riley frowned and her blue eyes looked sad and watery. "Second of all!" She turned to Lucy, "Why wouldn't you tell me? Lucy what happened?"
Lucy started crying. She explained her mom's boyfriend was a problem. He had money but he wouldn't give her any and her mom just put her out. "Now I have to figure out what I'm going to do. I couldn't ask you, because you have Noah now."
Riley felt bad. She was just a kid and didn't understand Lucy's pain. She was spoiled and got everything she wanted even from her dad. Even though Kurt wasn't present, he always sent presents. "I'm sorry Lucy." Riley loved her. They were like sisters. She turned to her mom, "I'm sorry mommy."
Olivia knew she needed to talk to Lucy. "Did you do your homework?" Riley answered quickly with a yes. "Go put that iPad on my bed, take your bath, and go to bed." The tears fell after that. Riley turned to leave and do what she said. She was lucky to get away without a spanking. "Hey! Where's my goodnight kiss?" Riley wiped her eyes and hugged Olivia tightly while apologizing again.
Olivia patted the couch. Lucy sat beside her. Olivia really took her on as a teenager to babysit because she knew her home life wasn't the best. Truth was Olivia was more of a mother than her mom. Olivia guided her through the teenage years and even helped her get scholarships. "I'm disappointed that you didn't feel you could tell me. I thought we were closer. The scholarships weren't enough?"
Lucy frowned, "We are close, but I didn't want to burden you. No, they put them on hold for a year, maybe I can go back." Olivia was a detective, she didn't feel like Lucy was explaining everything, but she didn't feel the need to push her tonight. Olivia pulled her up and told her to follow her.
Riley was twisting in the bed, still awake. "Ri, come sleep with me. Lucy's staying with us for a while." Riley smiled wide. Olivia didn't know what made her happier, Lucy staying or sleeping in her bed. Riley had been acting out since Noah joined the family. It was a weird relationship. She was happy about being a big sister, but she wasn't used to losing Olivia's attention. Olivia told Riley to go get in her bed. "Luce, are you good?"
Lucy was used to Riley's bed. They had many sleepovers with Olivia working so much. She had been around more since Noah. "Yeah Liv, I'm good." Olivia nodded, asked for her goodnight hug, and turned to leave. "Liv?" Olivia turned around. "My mom isn't a bad person." Olivia waited for Lucy to talk. "The building was pretty bad. Our neighbor kept messing with me. She told me to come stay with you. She said you were better for me." Tears fell. "I thought she was kidding, but when I came back my stuff was outside. The neighbor told me. He uhh."
Olivia stopped her, "Lucy, did he hurt you?" Lucy shook her head. She explained it was just weird, but she didn't want to be near him or her boyfriend. She begged Olivia to leave it alone. Olivia agreed since she was safe with her. "Ok, get some sleep. Love you Luce." Olivia didn't know what building they lived in anymore. She had moved and so had they.
Riley was out cold. Olivia thought about her last year. She loved her job but with her daughter acting out, adding Noah, and now even Lucy, Olivia was a spread thin. She kissed her daughter and whispered reassuringly to her, "I promise everything will be okay. I love you Ri." She snuggled next to her and held her while she slept.
The next morning she got up early. She kissed Riley and checked on Noah. With him still sleeping, she checked on Lucy. She stopped at her door when she heard her talking. "Nina, please tell me you aren't doing what I think you're doing." She could only hear one side of the conversation. "He's dangerous! Have you seen my mom?" Olivia knew she shouldn't listen, but Lucy was hiding something. "Olivia can help. She'll bust my ass for lying but I'll tell her if you need help." Olivia shook her head and knocked loudly. "Got to go!" She smiled and tossed the phone. "Morning Liv."
Olivia gave her one chance, "You want to tell me what's going on? Who needs my help and why will I bust your ass, because we can arrange that?" Lucy swallowed hard. Olivia Benson was not to be fooled with. "Ok, have it your way. Get Noah and Riley up and ready."
Olivia walked away and made a decision. She picked up her phone while making breakfast. "Hey Kurt, it's Olivia." He was always cool and laid back, like nothing bothered him. Olivia was never afraid to ask him for anything. He asked how Riley was doing. "She's fine, acting up in school, but fine. "I need your nanny, full time for Noah all day and Riley before and after school." He agreed and promised to send Sienna. "Send her to the squad please, I'm taking Noah to work." He asked if Lucy was sick. "Nope, she's just acting up too and living with me now. She needs to be in school." She told him about her problems. He said he would try and find a solution. She thanked him and said goodbye.
Breakfast was quiet except for Noah babbling. He didn't know they were in trouble. "Riley, get your stuff." Lucy stood up because she usually took her and Noah. When she had class Noah went to daycare by the hour. She turned to stop Lucy, "You do the dishes, clean up, and stay here.
Lucy held up her hands, "I'm not taking them? What am I, grounded or something?" Olivia informed her she was and warned not to challenge her. It was like a 30 second stare down, but Lucy knew better.
Olivia put Noah in his stroller and Riley stood there chewing her lip. "Luce, I'm taking Riley to school because I have a conference with Miss Morgan. Sienna will be coming to watch Noah and cook dinner. Unlock your phone and hand it to me." Lucy handed over her phone, grabbed the towel to do dishes, and rolled her eyes. Olivia clicked through things while warning her about her eye rolling. When she was done she handed her the phone back. "Hey! Where's my goodbye hug?" Lucy hugged her and Olivia hugged her tighter. "I know you're hurting about your mom, but I need you to be honest with me. You're in trouble and I'm here." Lucy wouldn't budge, so they left hoping the day to think would be enough.
Olivia pulled up to the school and after signing in they made their way to the classroom. Riley pouted the whole way. "Mommy, I want Lucy to watch me, not Sienna." Olivia warned her to knock it off. They entered the classroom. "Mommy, can I take Noah over here?" She got permission from Miss Morgan first, then agreed. She told her not to take him out of the stroller though.
Miss Morgan sat down with a folder. She was young and this was her first year of teaching. She had her things very organized though. "Ms. Benson it's good to see you again." She looked at Riley to make sure she wasn't listening. "Riley is very bright. I would like to test her for the gifted program. It will help her I think during the school day. I'm more concerned with her behavior."
Olivia agreed with that. "This last year has been tough. I was attacked as you and now Noah has joined us. I'm working on it, but I haven't exactly put my finger on it yet. She did have to spend a lot of time with her father. She knows who he is but he doesn't visit often or have a scheduled routine. She had to stay with him for months while I dealt with the man who kidnapped me." Olivia remembered it happening and she was just glad Lucy and Riley weren't there when it happened. "Maybe she misses him more because they had that time together."
Miss Morgan disagreed, "Actually, I don't agree. Last week I was called to the art room." She pulled out some drawings. Olivia knew what she was looking at right away. She flipped through at least ten drawings. They all were similar. It was Olivia and in every picture she was bleeding from someone hurting her. "I pulled her to the side. I asked her what was going on." Olivia was very concerned, Riley hadn't said anything and Olivia felt guilty because she was so busy with work. "She loves her dad and whatever relationship they have, but she really needs you. She told me that she was scared that you could die because you have a dangerous job. I think being pulled to live with her dad was traumatizing for her."
Olivia looked at Riley playing with Noah. She looked so happy. Riley was really just like her, she hid her pain. She was too young for that. "Thanks Miss Morgan. Do you mind if I just take her with me? I have a friend who I would like her to see. It would make me feel better." She agreed and before they left Olivia signed paperwork for gifted testing. "She'll be back tomorrow."
Olivia put everyone back in the car and headed to work. "Mommy?" Olivia looked in the rear view mirror. "Where are we going? I can't go to school because I was bad?"
Olivia decided to talk to her. "Ri, why did you draw those pictures of me?" Riley frowned and just shrugged. "Baby, talk to me. I want you to speak to my friend Dr. Olivet." Olivia had already texted her 911. "Ri, please."
Those blue eyes shot up, "Mommy, I don't want you to die. I love daddy but I don't want to live with him. I don't even get to see Lucy when I'm there and I don't like Sienna." Olivia froze knowing Sienna was coming to get her and Noah. "And what about Noah? Daddy won't take him. Sienna told me that."
Olivia stopped, "What did you say?" Riley explained in 7 year old words what she saw while she spent some time with Kurt. It sounded like they were in a relationship. "Sienna likes daddy, she told me not to really, ummm bad word stuff up." Olivia asked what bad word. "No mommy! You'll spank me!" Olivia promised not to but she wanted to know. "Fuck. She said not to fuck stuff up."
Olivia couldn't believe what she was hearing. Riley continued, "Lucy doesn't even say that word. And Sienna spends daddy's money. She spent a lot of money every day and she told daddy she bought me all this stuff, but I didn't get anything. I tried telling him and she spanked me mommy."
Olivia turned around, "Did you tell daddy?" Riley shook her head, she was scared and never told him. "Okay baby. Will you read to Noah for me?" Riley smiled and grabbed a book from her bag. Olivia texted Sienna that things changed so she didn't need her anymore. Then she sent a text to Kurt, "I need to see now!"
