Title: For Better or Worse

Genre: Hurt/comfort/romance

Rating: T

Amanda is relieved to hear Olivia's key turning in the lock of the front door as she gently tucks the blankets over her daughter's tiny slumbering body, securing the covers snugly between Jesse's neck and shoulder.

"Is that Mama?" Noah asks groggily from his own little bed that is set up a few feet away from Jesse's. "I want her to say goodnight to us."

"I'll send her in very soon, buddy," Amanda promises in a whispered tone as she drops a tender kiss onto Noah's forehead and begins creeping quietly from the room. "Just let me say hi to her first, okay?"

Noah nods tiredly as he rubs a fist over one drooping eyelid and she is pretty sure that he will be sound asleep before his mother even steps foot inside the room. She wants to see how Olivia is doing before she has a chance to say goodnight to the kids, knowing how tough this past week has been for the lieutenant and concerned that her stress levels are rising to the same point that they were around the time she was sick with bronchitis.

They have been so busy lately, trying to get settled in at Olivia's place and get everything unpacked while continuing on with their demanding jobs and raising two extremely rambunctious children, and their squad had recently been hit with a very rough case that they were able to wrap up just in time for the weekend. Even though today is Saturday, Olivia had decided to go into the precinct to tie up some loose ends on the case and attend to a few other tasks, and Amanda is aware of just how exhausted she has recently become again.

As soon as she steps foot into the living room, she recognizes the drained expression on Olivia's face; the specific look that states just how overwhelmed she is with life in general at the moment. Amanda knows that she is the only one who is privileged enough to see the more vulnerable side of the brunette's personality, but that it can still be difficult to get Olivia to open up and admit when she needs help with something or wants to talk. It has been a learning process for both of them in this new relationship; weathering the highs and lows together with their family as they stumble along and try to figure things out, but even during their toughest times, Amanda has never been happier.

"Um, excuse me, girl, you're in my spot," Amanda says wryly as she strides over to the couch and comes to a halt near Olivia's slumped form on the cushions, Frannie having taken up her usual position right next to the older woman with her furry face tucked into Olivia's shoulder.

The dog has become very attached to Olivia since they had all started living together, taking it upon herself to regularly shove Amanda out of the way and drape her body over Olivia's lap whenever they are watching television or having game night or any other activity that involves sitting down. Amanda admits to being slightly jealous at her previously loyal pet's switch in adoration and attention but can't really blame Frannie for wanting to be so close to Olivia, as that is what everyone in this home seems to want; time spent cuddled up in the safe and secure presence of the older woman.

"Alright, girl, you're doing my job," Amanda chastises softly as she gives Frannie a gentle nudge. "I'm the one who's supposed to be doing the comforting around here."

"I don't need to be comforted," Olivia grumbles in disagreement, Amanda's lip quirking up at the side when she notices the adorable pout on the other woman's face and the way her arms are crossed sullenly over her chest.

"Yes, you do," she argues with a knowing smirk, plunking herself down on the couch as soon as Frannie vacates the piece of furniture with a disgruntled look thrown in her direction. "You're tired and grumpy and stressed and you need some love."

"Why is everything always about sex with you?" Olivia chides with a roll of her eyes as Amanda wraps an arm around her shoulder and slings a leg over denim-clad thighs to press their bodies together, Olivia having gone to work in more casual clothing that day. "You can't possibly still be in the mood."

"Liv, there's rarely a time when I'm not in the mood," Amanda confesses with an arched brow, remembering with acute clarity what had taken place in their bed that morning as they had both needed to burn off some steam, a tendril of heat simmering low in her belly at the thought. "But that's not the kind of love I'm talking about. I'm referring to the snuggly kind."

"When did you become so soft?" Olivia chuckles in fatigue, Amanda feeling the taller woman melting bit by bit into her embrace as she massages the knots out of the back of her tight neck. "You didn't used to be like this."

"Being with you has mellowed me out a bit, Liv," Amanda replies tenderly, placing a light kiss on the side of Olivia's head and another on her cheek, acknowledging that she isn't quite the same hard-ass she used to be. "You've turned me into a cuddle monster."

Olivia breaks into low laughter at this response and inclines her head just enough for her mouth to meet Amanda's, their lips caressing together in a gentle kiss before pulling away slightly to rest their foreheads against one another. "Okay, that was a really cheesy answer but I'm glad you want to cuddle. I could use a hug right now."

"Ah, so you admit it. You've had another hard day, huh?" Amanda observes sympathetically, feeling a sharp tug on her heart when Olivia nods in return. "Do you want to talk about it?"

She pulls Olivia impossibly closer when the older woman simply shrugs and sighs in response, pressing another lingering kiss to her forehead. "Don't shut me out, honey. Talk to me. I don't want you to get sick again because you're so stressed out and bottling everything up inside."

Olivia nods once more, this gesture appearing even wearier than the previous one, and Amanda feels the full weight of the other woman's body sinking deeply into her own. "Thank you, Amanda. I just don't want to be a burden to you after you've spent all day with the kids. You were busy too and you don't need all of this negativity." Her voice is a barely audible whisper full of exhaustion and a hint of sadness that is likely due to the case they've been dealing with, but Amanda's heart swells at the undercurrent of appreciation and concern that she can hear beneath.

"You are anything but a burden, Olivia, and obviously things aren't going to be positive all the time, especially considering what we do for a living," she assures the older woman in a loving tone. "I'll tell you what; I'm going to open a bottle of wine and make some popcorn, and then I'm going to listen for as long as you need to talk." She pauses briefly to lean back and smile at Olivia, stroking a soothing hand over rumpled dark hair when brown eyes lock onto blue.

"We're in this together now, Liv; good or bad, for better or worse."