Disclaimer: well, you know by now that I don't own them, nor do I claim to. So, yeah, anyway, on with the story then.

Summary: AU wherein Olivia is married with two children and Elliot is single. That's basically the only different thing 'bout it, I think.

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Olivia was tired. No, not tired, that wasn't a strong enough word. Exhausted was more like it. Olivia was exhausted. All that she wanted was to go home and sleep. Although she doubted that that was going to happen, even though home was where she was headed.

Sure enough, when she pulled in front of her house she could see the living room light on. She sighed as she turned off the car, it was time for another you-work-to-much speech.

She drew in a deep breath before opening the front door. Chris was dozing on the couch and woke at the sound of the door being opened.

"Do you know what time it is," he demanded.

"Do you?" She snapped, not wanting to argue again.

"Don't get smart with me, woman--"

"I hope you don't expect me to let you talk to me like that. I have a name, and I'll be damned if I let you call me woman."

He sighed, "I'm sorry, Olivia. I didn't mean to snap at you like that."

"I don't care if you didn't mean to, Christopher. Don't."

"I'm just a little frustrated, I'm tired of explaining why mommy is never home to Cassie and Becca. There's only so many times I can hear 'daddy, why isn't mommy ever home? Doesn't she love us?', they shouldn't have to wonder if you love them, Olivia. It's painful for me to have to hear it."

She sat down next to him on the couch, "I can't control my hours, Chris. You know that as well as I do."

"That's different."

"Oh, it is? Just how is 'that' different?"

"When I'm working late it's because I'm saving a life, or more than one."

"Just what the hell do you think I do everyday? Sit on my ass and watch the clock? My job is just as important as yours is."

"It's late, Olivia. I have to get up and be at the hospital early, I can't get into this with you again."

"And why the hell not? You started this conversation, we're damn well going to finish it."

"Fine, you want to talk? Let's talk. Let's talk about how you spend 3/4th's of your day at work and the other at home sleeping, or how my wife's partner sees her more than I do. Or, how we haven't made love in over 4 months. God, Olivia, it's like you'd rather be at work than at home."

"What do you expect me to do about it, Chris? I can't exactly tell the Captain 'no', he's my boss! And it's not as if I'm the only one with a family at work, I can't ask him to make an exception for me, it wouldn't be fair. As for your lack of a sex life, maybe if you weren't such a jackass all the time you'd have one!" She got up from the couch and started to walk up the stairs that lead to her bedroom, Chris stood to follow. She stopped on the top stair, "there's some blankets and pillows in the hall closet, you're sleeping on the couch." She shut the bedroom door and laid in the bed, falling asleep instantly.

When she woke up the next morning she got Cassie up so she could get ready for school. Cassie smiled at her sleepily and asked her where she had been the night before.

"Mommy had to work, honey."

"But, why so late?"

"You'll understand when you're older. I promise. You know I'd be home more if I could, right? You know mommy loves you?"

"I know."

"Then, can I have a hug?"

Cassie smiled and gave her a hug then ran off to pick out an outfit to wear. Olivia went to make her breakfast and saw a note on the kitchen counter.

'Called into work early,' it read, 'you have to drop Becca off at my moms'.

Wonderful. Olivia thought. Just the person I want to see.

Cassie came running down the stairs and immediately attacked her lucky charms. Olivia told her to slow down and went to wake up Rebecca. After getting Becca ready and her eating something for breakfast they got into Olivia's silver Toyota Celica and Olivia drove Cassie to school and then Becca to her mother-in-laws house. Luckily, the woman was too busy for her usual, 'women shouldn't be police officers, it's too dangerous' speech. Nevertheless, Olivia got to work 5 minutes late.

"Finally," Munch exclaimed sarcastically as soon as she sat down, "we thought you'd never get here."

"I'm only 5 minutes late, Munch," she replied deadpan.

"Hope you've got a good reason."

"Chris was called into work early, I had to drop off Cassie and Becca."

Elliot looked up at that, "at your mother-in-laws?"

"Yeah."

Elliot grimaced, "sorry." He had met her mother-in-law at Cassie's 6th birthday party the year prior. Mary had taken it upon herself to tell Elliot just what she thought of Olivia's working as a detective, and how he'd better not try anything with her baby boy's wife. Of course, Olivia had been standing close by so Mary had said it loud enough for her and many others to hear. It was a very embarrassing experience.

"Well, she was too busy to bitch, so I was spared this time," she shuffled papers around on her desk, looking for something to work on, "when is the Crawford trial?"

"2 o'clock."

She nodded and looked down at the paperwork on her desk. She sighed and started to work on it. She could feel eyes watching her and looked up. Elliot was staring attentively.

"What?"

"You look stressed, are you alright?"

"Yeah, I'm fine. A bit tired, frustrated."

"Well, tired I understand. Why frustrated?"

"Chris and I got into another fight when I came home last night, and it just appeared to me that some of what he said WAS right. I spend most of my day at work, even most of my night sometimes, when I come home I spend my time with the girls and getting what little bit of sleep I can. I'm around you more than I am around him and the girls. And maybe his job is more important."

"He told you that his job was more important than yours?"

"Not in so many words, but yeah, he did."

"Well, not to say that his job's not important, because it is. But, come one, what we do is just as important as what he does, if not then more so."

She snorted and went back to her paperwork.

"You don't believe me?"

She looked up at him but didn't reply.

"Alright, then. Let's look at Crawford. He kidnapped and molested 3 little boys. If it wasn't for you he'd he out there now with his fourth victim. Now, I may be wrong, but that seems pretty damn important."

She nodded. "Alright, what we do is important. I know that. But, is it more important than what Chris does."

"Hell yes."

"How?"

"We help people by getting these…monsters off the streets. Keep them from hurting anybody else. What he does is helping, yes, but that's after something has already happened to them."

"Most of the time he keeps it from happening again."

Elliot sat back in his chair and sighed, "it seems to me you've already made your mind up. You think that he, as a doctor, is more important than you, as a detective."

"I don't know if that's it. Maybe, on some level I want him to be right. Like a reason to justify all the fights. I don't know, El. Maybe I should talk to Huang about it. Get some professional insight."

"Maybe. But, maybe you should talk to Chris about it. That might help a little bit.

"I guess you're right."

"Of course I'm right, now stop bugging me and get back to work."

She smiled and went back to her paperwork. At 1:30 she and Elliot got their things together and went to the courthouse where Crawford was having his trial.

The trial went by easily for the prosecution. Alex had more than enough evidence to prove Crawford's guilt, and she did. It only took the jury half an hour to deliberate and come back with a guilty verdict.

"See what I mean," Elliot said when they left the courthouse, "if it wasn't for you he wouldn't be doing 25 to life, you just prevented a number of boys from being future victims of that guy."

She nodded and looked at her watch, "I should be getting home, it's after 6. Don't want another argument. I'll see you tomorrow."

"Alright. Bye, Liv."

"Bye, Elliot."

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a/n: so there it is, hopefully you like it so far and will review and continue to read as I continue to post. Anyway, let me know.