**** Added Author's note on 7/23/19

Please give this story a chance. It starts off light, establishes their lives and then gradually moves into the paranoia and main meat of the story. the it deals with the aftermath. Hold on and I think you'll be pleasantly rewarded. :)

A simple vacation. A once and still-haunting case. A collision between the two. What happens when a name from the past reemerges and seeks revenge on Olivia Benson? A "Love Won't Leave" sub-story involving Olivia and Alex based on the Season 6 episode "Charisma".

"How can you stand it? How can you invite this depravity into your mind, your body, your soul? It will kill you. Every horror, every torment afflicts your body like a cancer. It's devouring you and you can't see it. Open your eyes."

Abraham to Olivia, 2005

1

Olivia continued walking briskly to her Datsun, bags on her right shoulder, phone to her left ear. "I got it, Alex. I'm leaving now. I got stopped by Dr. Prescott and he was telling me about his wife's third trimester. I couldn't just leave."

Olivia reached the car and inserted the key into her retro model and turned it, yanking the handle and pulling the heavy door toward her.

"OK, Liv. I know. But we have so much to do before we leave tomorrow. We haven't even packed yet."

Olivia couldn't help but smile as she threw her things in the back seat and then pushed the seat back and slid in. "Looks like motherhood has made us both procrastinators." She shut the door behind her and inserted her key.

"Looks like it, Babe. Little beings first." A pause. "See you soon?"

"Before you can say Lake George, Al. See you soon." Olivia ended the call and then tossed her phone onto the passenger seat next to her.

They were to go to Lake George for the weekend for a little getaway. With the kids having their own social interactions going on and her brother and sister-in-law offering to take the three Benson-Cabot kids, plus their own, to the beach house for spring break, it was the perfect time to plan a weekend for just the two of them.

Olivia put her car in gear and headed out of the parking lot and onward to the townhouse, ready to spend the following week with the woman she loved.

"Isabel." Alex stood, arms folded, at the kitchen island, staring at her daughter.

"Yes?" Isabel let her thumbs work hurriedly over her phone screen as she ambled into the kitchen space from the stairs.

"Isabel." Alex tried again.

Isabel's digits continued to move.

Alex took a deep breath and then let it out, attempting to find some comfort in this action.

Finally, their blue-eyed daughter looked up. "Yes?"

"Do you have everything you need packed for the week?"

Isabel stood, thumbs hovering, her gaze now on her blonde mother. "Do you?"

Alex smiled and shook her head, flaring her nostrils. "Not the point. What I'm asking is if you do. This is not a battle. Uncle Jonathan will be here any minute." She still didn't know why they allowed all three kids to have their own cell phones, but here they were.

Isabel moved closer to the island and placed her phone on the gray wood, eyeing it one more time. "I'm packed, Mom. I'm just waiting for Gracie and Theo…I've been ready."

"Don't give your aunt and uncle a hard time this week. Listen to them."

"Mom…" Isabel moved closer to Alex now, holding her arms out.

Hesitantly, Alex moved into their daughter's embrace, wrapping her own arms around her.

Isabel continued, "…I promise I will listen to Aunt Casey and Uncle Johnny." She squeezed Alex even tighter and started giggling.

Alex smiled. "Good."

The garage door opened then, the shrieking of the large metal door behind it unmistakable.

"Hey, guys," Olivia breathed, moving to the island and setting her purse and bag onto a stool. "Everything OK?"

Alex attempted to pull away but Isabel had too firm a grip on her as their sixteen-year old continued giggling.

"Isabel…" Alex tried, clenching her daughter's hands and trying to un-grip them. "We're fine, Liv. Isabel…let go…"

Finally, she succeeded in unharnessing herself and pinched Isabel's waist firmly.

"Mom!"

And a wrestling party began—Alex grabbing Isabel's waist and Isabel trying to tickle Alex.

"Good to know," Olivia offered. "Isabel? You packed?"

Alex lightly shoved their daughter away from her, smiling and shaking her head as she moved to the refrigerator and opened it.

"Of course, Mama." Isabel stepped to Olivia now and moved into her to hug her.

Olivia accepted wholeheartedly and wrapped her arms around their daughter sweetly, Isabel doing the same.

"I'm gonna miss you two," Isabel crooned.

"We're gonna miss you, too, my girl." Olivia kissed her temple.

"But not too much," Alex retrieved a food storage container from the large appliance, closed the door, and winked. "Why does your mama get a normal hug and I always get aggressive Isabel?" Alex placed the cold enchiladas on the counter next to the stove.

"Because you need that." Isabel smiled.

"Oh, do I?" Alex raised her eyebrows.

"You need spice," Isabel added.

"Spice?" Olivia questioned now, still holding their daughter.

"Mama's already spicy. Has been. You need more spice." Isabel smiled and closed her eyes.

"You hear that, Al?" Olivia began giggling. "You need more spice."

"Paprika? Oregano? Cumin? Salt?" Alex smirked.

"Oregano's an herb, Babe," Olivia winked. "And salt is a seasoning."

"Of course they are." Alex smiled. "My ever-spicy wife." Alex puckered the air a couple of times.

Olivia moved closer and placed a soft kiss on her lips. "How was your day?"

"Good. But I'm ready to head to Lake George. That's for sure."

"Me, too," Olivia husked, her mouth still close. She kissed her once more and the doorbell rang.

"I'll get it!" Theo's deep voice resounded from the top of the staircase.

"Jeez," Alex said. "Seems like our son is eager."

"His uncle, Babe. He loves Jonathan. And…" Olivia moved to the cabinet and retrieved a glass before beginning to fill it with water from the filter kitchen tap, "…I hear there's a girl in Southampton that he's going to hang out with."

"Who?" Alex questioned looking at Olivia and then a smiling Isabel. "Who, Iz?"

Isabel shook her head and crossed her heart. "I'll never tell. I've been sworn to secrecy."

"Hey!" Jonathan's booming voice entered the space. "How're my two favorite women?"

"Don't let your wife hear that, Johnny." Alex stepped into her brother then, hugging him firmly.

"Never, sis." He pulled away. "Olivia…" he smiled.

"Hey, Jonathan…" Olivia moved to hug him now, as well. "Thanks for taking our teens for the weekend."

They pulled away and Jonathan stood with his hands on his hips. "Anytime. You two are still gonna meet us at the beach house around Wednesday, right?"

Olivia swallowed a sip of her water, nodding. "Yeah. Saturday through Tuesday at Lake George, we'll drive back and then we'll head out there on Wednesday morning for the rest of their break week."

Theo entered the space then, hands in his baggy, black cargo short pockets.

"How's the hospital, John-John?" Alex questioned.

"Busy. As usual. Never a dull moment." He turned to Theo who was now standing next to his uncle. Jonathan slapped him heartily on the back. "You ready to hit the waves with me, bud?"

Theo nodded. "Surf report says there's gonna be five-footers. I can't wait."

"Well, you two be careful," Alex warned. "You're not a teenager any more Johnny."

Jonathan threw Alex an unyielding look. "I know that, sis. We'll be careful." He crossed his heart. "Promise."

"Are we leaving?" Theo asked.

"Slow your roll, Theo," Alex smiled.

"My roll?" he asked, smirking.

"We have to wait for Gracie and then you all can leave us. Where is she?"

Isabel spoke. "Upstairs…still packing. Doing her hair."

Just then, Grace made an entrance, duffel in hand, hair in a ponytail, glasses on.

And Alex's breath caught. Their brown-eyed daughter looked so much like she did thirty years ago. It was uncanny. "Hey, Gracie. Ready?"

Grace nodded and set her bag on the kitchen table. "I had to make sure I brought my philosophy materials for the project that's due the Monday we get back. I think I remembered everything."

"So you're gonna work the whole break?" Isabel asked.

"No…" Grace smiled. "Not the whole break. Maybe three-fourths?"

"Why would they give you a project to do over spring break?" Olivia asked. "Seems a little cruel." She smiled.

"It's not required, but I wanted to get a head start for next year. The junior philosophy teacher, Mr. Lewandowski—which I plan to take as an elective—has asked some sophomores to write a paper to show him we're ready to take his class. So I'm going to."

Alex swallowed the lump in her throat, her pride and adoration swelling inside of her. "That's our girl." She winked.

"Iz? Do you have any classes you'll be getting ready for before the year ends?" Alex smiled at their blue-eyed daughter.

"Of course," she offered. "Memorizing both parts of Fantine and Éponine in Les Miserables. Speaking and singing."

Alex smiled. "My girl. Good for you."

"Well?" Jonathan began, clapping one time and rubbing his palms together. "You all ready?"

"Can we be in control of the music?" Isabel asked.

Jonathan looked at Alex and Olivia and then Alex again before returning his gaze to Isabel. "All show tunes?"

Isabel looked up at the ceiling, thinking. "Fifty percent?" She looked back at her uncle, smiling.

"Thirty-three percent," Theo added.

"Twenty-five percent," Jonathan bargained. "Every four songs." He took Isabel's bag from the table as they strolled slowly. "Your uncle knows good music, too. Right, Theo?"

"You rock, Uncle Johnny."

"Thanks, Bud."

They made their way to the front door and hugs and kisses were had.

"Call us every night. We expect to hear from you." Alex pulled away from hugging Grace.

"We will. And you, too. We want to hear how it's going."

"We will, Olivia agreed.

The door was opened, all kids racing to the vintage Jeep Wagoneer, and disappearing inside the car, but not before some arguing and shoving was had.

"Don't let them control you, Johnny. Stand your ground." Alex warned.

"I got it under control, sis. Sixteen years of doing this? I think I'm good."

Alex smiled sweetly at her brother. OK. You guys have fun and we'll see you soon."

Jonathan smiled, placed his sunglasses back on his face and headed to the car, the sounds of music already coming from the vehicle.

He opened the driver's side, bass and guitar rushing out, and Alex heard him yell something about meeting Casey and Kimberly and Katie, so they can follow them to Southampton in their own car, before they left.

The Jeep was put into gear and Alex and Olivia watched as it slowly moved away from the curb, down the street, and out of sight.

Alex felt Olivia move up behind, her arms slither around her waist, her moth against her ear.

"You ready for just us time, Babe?" She kissed her ear lobe gently, a small poke from her tongue just grazing her flesh.

Alex smiled and clutched her wife's hands. "Absolutely, Liv. Let's pack and then have dinner and relax." She turned in her arms and faced her, placing her hands on her waist.

"Sounds like a plan."

Olivia eyed her wife in the passenger seat of the Rover. She reached over to Alex and placed her hand on her left knee, her left leg tucked beneath her.

"Anything good in there, Babe?" the brunette asked.

Alex shuffled a few papers and brochures. "Beaches, restaurants, spas…seems like we'll have our pick of relaxation, Liv." Blue eyes finally looked into her own.

Olivia smiled and returned her eyes to the road. "Sounds amazing." Olivia watched a motorcycle speed its way around them and then take over their lane. "All I care about is spending time with you, babe." She took Alex's hand then and brought it to her mouth, kissing it gently.

Silence then.

Olivia looked at her right and found Alex looking at her, her expression straight.

"What?" Olivia asked.

"Me, too, Liv. It's been a few years since we've taken a vacation…just you and me."

"And?" Olivia smiled, returning her gaze to the road.

"And we need this. I need just you. Just you and your mind and your…"

"My what, Babe?"

"Your everything," Alex giggled.

"Uh-huh. My everything."

"OK, if you must know…I need you and that still-amazingly sexy body all over me."

Olivia raised her eyebrows and took a deep breath, trying not to smile. " I get it, Al…" and then softer, "…me, too."

"Next exit is ours, Babe," Alex offered.

"Turning now, Al." Olivia put her signal on. "Turning now."

"Olivia Benson-Cabot?" the young man at the desk questioned.

"That's right." Olivia looked at the man quizzically. "B-e-n…"

"I know how to spell it." He continued typing, looking up every now and then to eye she and Alex. "We have you down for three nights?"

"That's right." Olivia answered. "Is there a problem? The online reservations went through didn't they?"

"They did." He typed something quickly. "All set." He looked up at her then. "First time in Lake George?"

"It is," Olivia sensed something from the man who must have been in his late thirties. "My wife and I have never been here."

Matthew, or so his name tag read, continued to eye them almost scrutinizingly. "It's slower than Manhattan, especially where you're from on the Upper East Side. I think you'll find it very calm and relaxing and…" he paused, "…life changing…"

Olivia furrowed her brow, smiling. Why would he mention the Upper East Side, specifically? She looked at Alex next to her and then back at the man. "OK. Life-changing. That's saying something."

"Oh, I think you won't soon forget your experience here at Lake George."

Olivia tried to smile but suddenly felt slightly uncomfortable.

The man continued, "I have no doubt of that."

A/N: OK. Slow build. I know. Interest piqued? This guy is creepy. But it will all come together, all make sense soon. Please follow and favorite and I hope you enjoyed the first chapter.