Disclaimer: SVU and all of its characters were created by and are the property of Dick Wolf. I make no profit with this story, which is my own original work.

Olivia awoke early Friday morning, practically buzzing with excitement. For the first time in as long as she could remember, her lack of sleep the night before had absolutely nothing to do with stress or negativity. Rather, she was solely focused on everything that would be happening today, the most important of all her reunion with a certain boy who she had missed so very desperately these last few months. Getting to see Calvin again would most definitely be one of the highlights of not only the entire weekend, but quite possibly the greatest thing to happen in quite some time – save for what had transpired between her and Elliot.

Not surprised in the least when her phone rang, Olivia was more than ready to greet her partner via video call. If he was feeling even half as energized as she was about the move today, it made sense that he was already awake and ready to start the day. Plus, she could never turn away his companionship, not even at this early hour.

"Morning, El."

"Morning. I knew you'd be awake. Are you climbing the walls yet?"

"Not quite. But I am looking forward to seeing Calvin later, as you probably already guessed."

Elliot's answer was a knowing smile, followed by a comment that he would try and stop by for a visit before heading to her apartment to get starting on boxing up her belongings.

"El, no. Not that I wouldn't love to see you, but don't run yourself ragged on my account. One of us in the hospital is bad enough. I'll be fine, and I'm going to have plenty of company later. Plus, if you really want to see me, we can always have another video call. If all goes well, I'll be out of here soon, anyway."

No matter how much he wanted to, the points that Olivia had made were hard to argue with. Elliot did have one request, however, something that was puzzling to his partner, but she agreed to comply with nonetheless. All he wanted was for her to send him a message once she got back to her room after her morning dialysis session and had completed her bed bath for the day. He also made mention of the fact that she might want to wait until later before having any coffee, a suggestion that struck Olivia as highly suspicious, but she had no trouble agreeing to.

"If you say so. I don't often like having coffee before I go down to dialysis anyway. It's not always wise to consume too much liquid before being attached to machines for a duration of four hours."

"That makes sense."

Though she hated to put Elliot on hold for any reason, Olivia had a pressing need to ask her partner to wait for her, and she knew he wouldn't mind. Making her way to the bathroom, she quickly used the facilities and washed her face, wanting to freshen up a bit before the breakfast trays arrived. Then, she settled herself in her favorite chair and resumed her conversation.

"So, El, I'm going to take a page out of your playbook and make sure you're eating something this morning. Don't take your cues from me, because we know how well that ended up."

"I'm eating, Liv, I promise. It's not exactly health food, but I'm stopping for a bacon, egg, and cheese bagel along with a cup of coffee on my way to run a few errands before heading over to your apartment. Thanks to my amazing kids, most of my place is already packed up – I only have a few odds and ends left to tackle."

Before Olivia could answer, someone from dietary appeared in her room, depositing a tray in front of her. She thanked them, then propped her phone up against the water pitcher so she would have both hands free to focus on her meal.

"Speaking of food, mine was just delivered. I find it funny with so little to focus on here, I always seem to forget what I ordered the day before until it arrives. Seems like this morning's fare is a cinnamon raisin bagel with cream cheese – much like I usually select, as variety is hard to come by here – a Greek yogurt, and some strawberries."

"Sounds good. You just need to put up with the hospital food for a little bit longer, Liv. You're in the home stretch now."

"I know. I try not to remind myself of that too often, for fear of jinxing myself."

As much as Elliot wanted to keep talking, he had to go, as he wanted to be on the road as soon as possible, plus he still had to stop for his own breakfast. He promised to call later, though, and made sure to insist that Olivia give Calvin his best. It was no secret he had missed the boy as well. Even though she was mostly on her own that morning, it was with a smile on her face that Olivia headed down to dialysis a short while later, counting down the hours and minutes until later that afternoon.

Whether it was purely Olivia's imagination, or a matter of actual fact, she wasn't certain, but that morning's dialysis seemed to drag on indefinitely. Given how much she wanted the session to pass quickly, she was willing to wager it was the former, and that the four hour duration had not somehow lengthened in any way. At any rate, it did eventually come to an end, and Olivia found herself back in her room. Once there, she rushed through the rest of her usual routine, opting to apply a hint of makeup today since Calvin would be visiting. Even though her complexion had greatly improved since she had been so ill, she didn't want to look sick in any way when the boy came to see her. It would be bad enough that the visit had to take place in a hospital setting, but there was nothing that could be done about that.

Ready for the day at last, Olivia remembered her partner's words from earlier, and sent off a message to Elliot's phone. She was pleasantly surprised to get an almost immediate reply, having expected him to be too busy to respond. He still wasn't disclosing just what he planned to surprise her with, only that he told her to expect a delivery to arrive shortly. More curious than ever, Olivia debated whether or not to interrogate her partner further, only to decide against it. Not only would he not tell her anything anyway, but it would be nice to have something else to look forward to to help alleviate her anxiety as she waited for Calvin and the Drecker's to show up at the hospital.

As it turned out, Olivia didn't have to wait long, before someone appeared in her room, bearing a cup of coffee and a pastry from her favorite bakery. Naturally, Elliot had already cleared everything with her nurse, so the mid morning treat was well within her dietary restrictions – not that she'd expect anything other than total dedication from her partner. Often it seemed he was more diligent when it came to diet than she was. Not that she didn't pay attention – she was more than cautious – but Elliot had done plenty of research. He was the best advocate that anyone could ever ask for.

After enjoying a burst of caffeine and a sweet treat, Olivia opened her laptop. There was still plenty of time to kill and a lot of nervous energy to burn off. She didn't exactly feel like pacing the halls, so keeping herself occupied by searching for more ways to decorate her new home seemed like the best possible idea that she could think of. Plus, it wouldn't do her any good to leave her room around this time of day anyway, as her doctors were likely to pop in for morning rounds, and she didn't want to have to make them track her down.

A chime from her phone captured Olivia's attention, and she felt the excitement swell within her as she read the message. Virginia Drecker was letting her know that they were taking Calvin to the prison for a short visit with his father prior to bringing him to the hospital. They expected to arrive sometime after lunch, which was precisely what Olivia had imagined would happen. She hoped seeing his father would not upset Calvin too much, but was determined to do everything in her power to cheer the boy up, including spending some of their time together allowing him to choose whatever he wanted to decorate the room at the brownstone that he could call his own.

So lost was Olivia in her daydream, that she didn't hear the knock on her door, nor the approaching footsteps until the individual in question was right by her side. Admonishing herself for her startle response, she was instantly apologetic to Dr. Campbell, but the cardiologist was not in any way offended. The reports continued to be positive, and while she still needed to maintain regular checkups upon her discharge, it had been officially determined that more extensive cardiac rehab would not be a necessity. Obviously, Olivia wouldn't be able to return to the more excessive workout regime she had maintained prior to her illness – at least not right away – but if she continued with her daily walks and gradually worked to build back up her endurance, there would be no issues.

As it so often seemed to happen, the visits of her morning doctors happened yet again in rapid succession. Not long after Dr. Campbell had departed, than Dr. Abrhams arrived. As was always the case when the nephrologist came to see her these days, the man was smiling, and it never failed to make Olivia smile in return. While he didn't have the ultimate good news to impart in terms of exactly when she would be discharged from the hospital, the wheels continued to turn in a positive direction, and she was closer than ever to that goal. The patient liaison was working tirelessly to secure a spot in an outpatient dialysis center, and was confident that one would open up shortly. With the most recent report, she might be allowed to go home as early as Monday, have Tuesday off to rest, and resume dialysis again on Wednesday. As heartening as that was to hear, Olivia didn't want to get her hopes up too much, but she still wanted to believe in the possibility.

On her own at last, Olivia was grateful for the opportunity to breathe. Not that she faulted Elliot for not being here today, but she never took her partner's presence for granted. Sometimes the plethora of information was so much to absorb all at once, it always helped when there was someone else there to listen. But it wasn't as though Elliot was slacking off, as his reasons for not having come to visit – something she had actually had to dissuade him from doing – were the most noble and loving. Because he and the rest of her self made family cared so much, she didn't have to expend a single stress or worry about moving her things, it was all being handled for her. All she had to focus on was continuing to get better – and getting to see the one person who she had been missing so desperately.

Another incoming text on her phone, this time from Kathleen, made Olivia smile. The younger woman was letting her know that her only class for the day had just ended, and that Maureen had just picked her up. The two were now on their way over to Olivia's apartment for their own private task of boxing up the Detective's more personal belongings – a chore that had been specifically assigned to them by Olivia herself. The eldest Stabler daughters also promised to make sure that their father stopped in his work long enough to eat lunch and didn't overwork himself. Satisfied that the moving situation was well under control, Olivia decided to pass what little time remained until her own meal arrived by reading.

Much the way it had happened with breakfast, Olivia's lunch was not a memorable event, either. She was so preoccupied with seeing Calvin that she had made her way through the meal like an automaton. It wasn't that her appetite was necessarily lacking – because it wasn't, but rather that her attentions were merely focused elsewhere. Thankfully, Elliot was well attuned to her needs as always, and had taken some time out of his own lunch break to call again and check in. Apparently Maureen and Kathleen had held true to their promise, and made their father carve some time out for himself to refuel his energy before diving back into the job of packing up his partner's apartment.

Not long after Olivia hung up, she was certain she heard a familiar voice echo in the hall. Convinced it was just her mind playing tricks on her, she easily dismissed it as a figment of her imagination. It was only when the sound of footsteps drew closer that Olivia held her breath and dared to hope, and when Calvin appeared in her room, she was unable to hold back her cry. With a mixture of disbelief that this reunion was actually happening, combined with the pure joy she felt in her heart, Olivia opened her arms, and they were soon filled as Calvin raced to embrace her.

"Easy, Calvin."

Admonished gently by his grandmother to be more careful, Olivia didn't hesitate to assure everyone in her room that she was more than fine. The last time the boy had ran to her like this, he was being taken away, but she didn't want to focus on that.

"He's fine, he didn't hurt me. Look at you! I swear you've gotten so much taller since I've seen you last. Oh, how I've missed you!"

"I've missed you, too, Olivia."

After what seemed like ages, not that Olivia was complaining, Calvin finally pulled back from the embrace, only to see that the woman he had been missing so much was wiping tears from her eyes. Worried that he had hurt her after all – even though he was equally emotional, he didn't hesitate to check in.

"Are you sure I didn't hurt you?"

"I'm fine, sweet boy. These are happy tears, I promise."

Taking a moment to interject into the conversation, Virginia Drecker stepped forward to formally introduce herself. Even though she and Olivia had previously spoken on the phone and via video call, this was their first time meeting in person.

"Detective Benson, it's a pleasure to meet you."

"Likewise, and please, call me Olivia. Will your husband be joining us?"

"No, he went back to the hotel to rest. Calvin and I will stay for awhile, and then if its all right with you, I will have him visit you again tomorrow while we go back to the prison again to see David."

Olivia had no problem whatsoever agreeing to that. Typically, children of Calvin's age needed to be accompanied by a parent or guardian when visiting patients, but they had already spoken to not only her nurses, but doctors as well. Considering the special circumstances of the arrangement, no one had a problem with the young boy spending some time at the hospital. The staff had already offered to have a tray sent up so he and Olivia could enjoy lunch together.

"Calvin, sweetie, I know we just got here, and you want to spend time with Olivia, but how would you like to run down to the cafeteria or the vending machines and get yourself a treat? We didn't get to stop for dessert after lunch."

Calvin accepted the bills his grandmother was handing out to him with a knowing look.

"You know, grandma, if you wanted to talk to Olivia in private, all you had to do was say so. But I'll never say no to candy. Olivia, can I buy you anything? What about you, Grandma?"

Barely holding back her grin, Olivia shook her head to refuse the more than generous offer.

"No, thank you. I appreciate you asking though."

Satisfied with the answer that Olivia had given him, Calvin turned to his grandmother for her response before leaving. What he wasn't expecting was to get a dose of the truth along with her reply.

"Nothing for me, either. And you're absolutely right, we just need a few minutes. But I promise you'll still have plenty of time to visit, both today and tomorrow."

Temporarily mollified, Calvin headed out of the room, leaving the two women alone to talk. Only once she was sure they were alone and able to speak privately did Virginia move closer and take the chair next to the Detective, and Olivia knew that whatever Calvin's grandmother wanted to talk to her about, it was a very serious subject indeed.

"Olivia, how are you doing, dear?"

Still not knowing what the other woman wanted to talk to her about, Olivia had a feeling that answering honestly was of the utmost importance – not that she had any reason to lie.

"Much better, thank you. The doctors are even saying that I could be discharged from the hospital as early as Monday. My health is actually at the point that I'm well enough to leave now, the one thing holding them back is the matter of finding me a place with an outpatient dialysis program."

"I'm glad to hear it. I'm sure you must be wondering why I wanted to speak to you privately. I hope you won't think me rude, or feel ambushed in any way, but something has happened recently that my husband and I haven't talked with Calvin about yet. Not only were we hoping to have your help with that matter, but I hope to ask you for something, but I don't want you to feel that we are overstepping, especially after what you experienced with what happened with Vivian."

Equal parts confused and curious, and feeling something akin to a spark of hope flickering deep within, Olivia knew that whatever Virginia wanted to ask her, she'd simply have to hear her out.

Though it took her a moment or two to find her voice, there was no doubt in the certainty in Olivia's tone when she spoke.

"Whatever it is, I'm here to listen. You know I care about Calvin very much, and I'll do whatever it takes to make sure he gets what he needs."

"That's what I was hoping you would say. As much as it breaks my heart to admit this, we recently heard from Vivian, and she has relinquished all parental rights."

To say that Olivia was shocked was an understatement. But given Vivian's chemical dependency issues, she wasn't surprised by what had transpired, effectively putting the Drecker's completely and solely in charge of Calvin's care. From what Virginia had said, all that was needed was their son's signature, and they would officially be adopting the boy. The only thing that was confusing to the detective is what her role was in all of this. She didn't have to wait long, however.

"We hate to ask, but neither I nor my husband are as young as we used to be. We can tell how much Calvin loves you, and your feelings for him are obvious as well. What we would like to know is if you would be willing to be named as guardian again, but in a more official capacity? That way, if anything were to happen to us, we'd know with confidence that Calvin would be well taken care of."

For several moments, Olivia was convinced that she was dreaming. That was the only logical explanation for what had just happened. Because there was no way that Virginia had just asked her to be Calvin's guardian again. But it was real. And even though a small voice inside her told her she should wait and ask Elliot for his input, there was no doubt for Olivia what her answer would be.

"Of course. Whatever you need."

"Thank you. My husband and I will be going back to the prison tomorrow. Now that Vivian has officially terminated her right in writing, we just need David's signature to formally adopt Calvin, but of course we're going to want his opinion as well. Our goal is to name you as guardian, with the intent that if anything ever happens to us, you would become his primary caregiver."

Still feeling like she was living inside a dream, Olivia could only nod her agreement. There was more she wanted to ask, but there was a small part of her that was afraid to voice her requests. Thankfully, Virginia had indeed thought of everything.

"Of course, we've seen just how much our grandson has flourished again since regaining contact with you, and that was with just a few phone calls. We have every intention to keep communication between the two of you as open as possible, from letting Calvin talk to you whenever he wants, and even encouraging visits."

"I would love that. Elliot and I already plan to set aside one of the rooms in our new brownstone specifically for Calvin to have as his own. I thought that tomorrow, he and I could do some online shopping so he could decorate it just the way he wanted."

"That sounds fun. Of course, my husband and I would be happy to contribute to any expenses."

Olivia shook her head and held up her palm.

"I appreciate the offer, but that won't be necessary. I love Calvin as though he were my own, and I know Elliot developed a bond with him too during the time he stayed with me. We'd be honored to give him this."

"Of course."

Before either of the women could say another word, Calvin reappeared, and judging by the items he carried in his hands, it seemed that he had been quite successful in finding a large supply of treats to snack on. But that wasn't all he had bought. With a grin, Calvin walked over to Olivia to present her with a small balloon, on which were printed the words "Get Well Soon". Olivia accepted the gift with a hug.

"Thank you, sweet boy. You are so thoughtful."

"I just wanted to give you something to make you smile."

"And you have."

Virginia cleared her throat, and Olivia's eyes flew to meet the other woman's. She was aware that the older woman wanted to tell her grandson about what had happened, but surely she wasn't going to break the news now, was she? An almost imperceptible shake of the head let Olivia know that she had indeed misread the situation, and she had to hide her sigh of relief. It would make sense that Virginia would want to talk to her son first, and get all the necessary arrangements out of the way before telling Calvin what had happened. But then, what was so important?

"If you two will excuse me, I'm just going to give you both some time to visit privately. I know you'll have most of the day together tomorrow as well, but I know how much you wanted to see Olivia, Calvin. I'll be in the visitor's lounge if you need me, and we can head back to the hotel to see your grandpa when it gets closer to dinner, how does that sound?"

"Okay, grandma."

Once they were on their own, it was like a switch had been flipped in Calvin. He took the chair next to Olivia, and turned into a complete chatterbox. After talking nonstop for almost fifteen minutes straight without hardly stopping for breath, the boy revealed something that while not necessarily surprising, reminded the Detective just how perceptive he had always been.

"I know why my grandma wanted to talk to you in private, Olivia. I wasn't supposed to overhear, but I did anyway. I just don't know how to talk to them about it. I know my mom ditched me again, only this time it was for good. The thing is, I don't want to stay in Vermont. I want to come and live with you. But I don't want to hurt their feelings, either. What am I supposed to do?"

At first Olivia wasn't sure how to respond, but she knew Calvin deserved more than just silence. In her heart, her first instinct was to immediately say 'yes' to his request, but that was not something within her power to grant, no matter how much she may want to. What she could do, however, was offer reassurance, which is exactly what Calvin needed most.

"Calvin, sweetie, I'm so sorry that you had to find out that way. I can't imagine what that must have been like for you. You have to realize that I would love for you to come and stay with me, but I just don't know if that would be possible."

The boy's eyes started to tear up, and Olivia felt herself getting emotional all over again, too. She hated to be the cause of heartbreak, and even though there was a small voice in the back of her mind – that sounded suspiciously like Elliot – telling her to use caution for the sake of her own health, there was no way she could turn her back on Calvin now. But, she also couldn't tackle this conversation alone.

"Okay, as much as I want to spend time with just you – and I know you want that, too – I think this is something your grandma needs to be here for. She needs to know that you know. If you want, I can even help you tell her. But why don't you go to the visitors lounge and ask her to come back, so we call have a talk together?"

"All right."

With a sniffle and harsh wipe of his eyes, Calvin left the room to do as Olivia had asked, leaving the Detective alone for a few minutes so she could attempt to regain her own composure. She was trying her hardest to remain strong, not just for Calvin's sake, but for Virginia's as well, as the older woman would no doubt be thrown for a loop not only by the fact of the information her grandson had discovered, but his request.

A few moments later, Calvin returned, with a very confused Virginia beside him. One look at Olivia's face, however, and the other woman's fears were confirmed. Without a word being said, she knew that her grandson was aware of everything without having been told, and her heart broke. What she wasn't expecting was for the startling news that the boy was about to reveal.

"I told Olivia that I heard you and grandpa talking the other day. I know about Mom, that she doesn't want me anymore. The thing is, and please don't be mad at me – I don't want to stay in Vermont. I want to go and live with Olivia again."

Even though Virginia Drecker was anything but old and frail, the way the other woman practically collapsed into a nearby seat as her legs all but gave out on her had Olivia more than concerned. She was even debating whether or not she should press her call button or summon one of her own nurses to get some assistance. But after several nerve-wracking seconds of silence, Virginia was able to speak.

"I'm sorry you had to find out that way, Calvin. Your grandfather and I weren't deliberately trying to keep things a secret from you. We just wanted to wait until we had more information before we told you the news."

"I understand. I'm not mad at you, I'm angry with her. Also, please don't think I don't love you and grandpa, you've been so nice to me, but Vermont isn't home. I'd still want to visit. I don't even know if what I want is possible, or if it even matters, but I couldn't keep quiet."

Sharing a quick glance, the two women spoke in unison.

"Of course what you want matters!"

No matter how much she wanted to reassure Calvin, Olivia knew she couldn't overstep here. There was a very delicate balance at stake, and it was taking every ounce of willpower she possessed to not hold her breath. But when it came down to it, all she really wanted was what was best for Calvin. Thankfully, Virginia must have planned for this very circumstance, as she seemed much better prepared.

"I'm not going to give you an answer one way or the other now, Calvin. I'm sure you can understand that this isn't something that can be decided immediately. What was going to happen tomorrow is that your grandfather and I were going to go back to the prison to talk to your father again about formally adopting you, but you've definitely given us some things to consider. I'm not going to guarantee that you'll get what you want, but what I can promise is that we will always listen, and your feelings are important in this."

Hugging his grandmother with nearly the same ferocity he had thrown himself into Olivia's arms not that long ago, Calvin's relief was obvious. Olivia could practically see the weight lift off the younger boy's shoulders as his burden was lessened. There was still a lot left up in the air, but to know that his opinion mattered meant a great deal.

Wiping his eyes again, Calvin made certain that his grandmother was in no hurry to leave, and that he would still get some private one-on-one time with Olivia. Once that was confirmed, he excused himself long enough so that he could use the restroom to gather his composure, leaving the two women alone. Unsure of how to start the conversation, but feeling the need to verify that she hadn't influenced the boy's line of thinking at all, Olivia was the first to speak.

"I hope you know, Virginia, that this came as a complete surprise to me. I've known Calvin missed me, of course I've missed him as well – terribly. But I would never try and take him away from you. All I want is what is best for him."

"I know that dear, but thank you for saying so. This isn't the first time Calvin has spoken about wanting to live with you again, even if it is the most vocal I've heard him about the subject in awhile. I didn't want to say anything until after I've talked with my husband, but the two of us have been considering a move to the city. Not only was Calvin happier here, but we were wanting to reunite the two of you long before this happened."

Unsure of what else to say to that – and still afraid to let herself hope. Olivia managed a nod.

"I know you'll need to talk with your own partner, especially now that the two of you will be involved in a relationship and sharing a home, but we'd had the idea of a potential for shared custody – where if we found a place near where you live, that Calvin could split his time between the two of us. Of course we would still want to be involved in his life, but there is no denying the impact that you've made."

"I would never try to take him from you. I will speak to Elliot, but just know that we will do whatever is necessary. Calvin's well being is the only priority I'm concerned with."

Virginia got back to her feet, and Olivia stood as well. The two women embraced, a mutual understanding and bond forming between them. No matter what decisions were made, it was clear they were determined to present a united front.

The rest of Olivia's visit with Calvin was magical, even if it didn't last as long as she would have liked. She wasn't disheartened, though, because she knew he would be returning again the following day, and she would get to spend even more time with him before he ultimately returned back to Vermont with his grandparents on Sunday. As much as Olivia wanted him to stay, she knew Calvin had to go back to school, and would never want him to miss out on his studies strictly for her benefit. Selfishly, she hoped that whenever Virginia and her husband went to talk to David privately at the prison, that everything would go positively, and also that Vivian would not somehow find out about what might potentially happen. Because, no matter what the woman had done in regards to surrendering her parental rights, Olivia had a feeling if she knew that Olivia would potentially be involved in her son's life once more, she might swoop back in to cause havoc, merely out of spite alone.

Now, it was early evening hours. Dinner had come and gone, and Olivia was trying to reflect on the day and unwind in the hopes of getting some sleep when she crawled into bed later. The last thing she was expecting was another visitor of any sort, so when her partner walked into the room a few moments later, pulling her from the more intrusive thoughts that were trying to invade her mind, she was equal parts relieved and annoyed.

"Elliot? What are you doing here? I thought I told you to go home and rest after you were done moving things for today."

"You did. But I also got your messages, and I knew my partner needed me. So I decided to come by here on my way home, spend some time with you first."

It was such a thoughtful gesture, that despite her initial irritation that he hadn't listened to her wishes, Olivia couldn't be upset. Plus, there was no way she could deny how much her partner's presence meant to her. It was exactly what she needed to not only become more grounded, but after everything that had transpired, she needed to talk to him, too.

"I'm glad you're here."

Crossing the room to greet Olivia with a warm hug and a kiss to the cheek, Elliot ultimately situated himself in the closest seat. Taking his partner's hands in his own, he steadied his gaze so that his blue eyes were looking directly into her brown, and with nothing but total sincerity in his voice, issued a gentle command.

"Talk to me, Liv."

It all came pouring out then, as Olivia allowed herself to unburden all her hopes and concerns to the man who was quickly becoming so much more than just her partner and best friend. Elliot didn't interrupt her once, simply listened intently until she was finished, then reached up with one hand to wipe away a stray tear that had dared to fall.

"It's going to be okay, I promise you. Whatever happens, I've got your back. Not only that, but if the Drecker's decide that they want us to be an instrumental role in providing a home for Calvin, then that's what we'll do."

The use of statements like 'us' and 'we' were not lost on Olivia. She wasn't surprised at all by Elliot's level of commitment without hesitation – after all, he had been just as fond of Calvin as she had been when she had initially taken care of the boy, taking him under his wing much the same way she had always accepted the Stabler children. It made sense that Elliot would welcome any child that Olivia considered her own.

"I just need you to do something for me. Let me carry this with you. I don't want you getting sick again, and I know you don't want that either. It may not be an easy road, I'd hate to see you shoulder this burden all on your own. You don't have to, and I'm not going to let you. All I ask is that you let me help."

"I will. I don't think I could do this without you, El."

Enfolding Olivia into another embrace, Elliot held her close. He also said a quick prayer, not only for Calvin's benefit that the boy would get what he wanted, but also asking God to protect his partner's heart and give her strength to endure whatever might happen.

"Is there anything else you need to talk about?"

"Not right now. In fact, I want to focus on anything but that. I won't get any sleep tonight otherwise. Maybe we could watch something before you have to leave? That is, if you don't mind?"

"Of course not. I'm here for as long as you need me to be."

Even though she typically tried to avoid it unless it was while she was sleeping, this time Olivia opted to move to the bed, under the condition that Elliot join her. It was a difficult squeeze, but they managed to make it work, and with her laptop situated on the tray table, the two of them were able to cuddle up together and find something guaranteed to take her mind off of everything else. Safe within her partner's arms, Olivia was able to breathe easier, and she knew that no matter what happened, everything would be all right, because she didn't have to face it alone.