OK, MASSIVE author's note before I lead you into the longest and final chapter of the redux.

First off, let me just say that you all are the best therapy for depression I've ever experienced. Things are finally manageable again, and a lot of that is because of your kind words and positive thoughts.

Secondly, I would like to send a shout out to my friend Rachel, whose band Visqueen played its final slow last Sunday. I had seen them play 20 times and while I understand the need to move on, I'm still kind of sad. Cam is based on Rachel, and Visqueen's drummer Ben is the inspiration for Peter. I figured Rachel and Ben have a sibling-like relationship, so I'll draw from people I know. Rest in peace, Visqueen. You've rocked me more than you'll ever know.

And finally, thank you for your continued readership. I could write all this and keep it to myself, but it's the reactions from people like you that make sharing it so much fun. I hope I made you happy with this latest cabinverse installment, and the good news is that I've already got another cabinverse fic idea rattling around in my head. And there is no bad news, so it's win-win.

Finally part two, I didn't proof read this very well, so I apologise in advance if I screwed up. You're all very bright and hopefully can figure out what I meant if I did.

Olivia took the keys and went to the car to get the bags while Alex, Josie, and Cam got the guest room ready. Caroline and Mag were turning everything off and locking up.

When Olivia came back into the house, she was greeted by Caroline standing next to the door. "I just wanted to see if you needed anything before you turn in for the night."

"I think we've got everything we need, but thanks for asking." Olivia smiled as Caroline put her arm around her shoulders as they walked down the hall toward the bedrooms.

"If you change your mind, just ask. We want to make sure you're comfortable here," Caroline said as they stopped in front of the door to the guest room. She gave Olivia a squeeze before releasing her.

The look of kindness and concern in the older woman's eyes made Olivia start to tear up. "Thank you," she said quietly, trying to keep the shakiness caused by trying to hold back tears out of her voice. "This is the best Christmas I've ever had."

Caroline looked at her with a a slightly bemused expression. "Really? Getting belittled by your girlfriend's grandmother makes this the best Christmas ever?"

Shrugging, Olivia decided just to explain why even getting verbally abused by Ivy Cabot still made this a wonderful holiday. "I'm the product of my mother's rape and she became an abusive alcoholic to cope with my existence. Christmas was another excuse for her to get smashed at the bar and come home and-" she cut herself off before getting into the ugly details. "I was just happy if the day passed without too much trouble."

Much like Alex had reacted while Olivia explained her life story at the cabin, Caroline didn't freak out or show pity. Instead she smiled warmly at Olivia and laid a hand on her shoulder. "It doesn't matter to me how you got here. You don't deserve to be judged for things that were beyond your control. I know Alex would do anything for you, as would the rest of this family. We take care of our own."

As a tear streaked down Olivia's cheek, she smiled an embarrassed smile at Caroline because she had couldn't find the words to form a response. Her heart felt like it would burst from joy and she just continued to smile as the door opened and Alex appeared behind them.

"Liv! Did you drive back to Manhattan to get our pyjamas?" She saw her mother and Olivia looking like they were sharing an emotional moment, so she quickly changed her tone. "Um...I'll just be brushing my teeth if you need me."

"Don't go. We were just saying goodnight," Olivia said, never taking her eyes off Caroline.

Caroline leaned in and kissed Olivia's cheek. "Goodnight, dear." She stepped over to Alex and did the same. "Goodnight, Alex," she said quietly and headed to her bedroom.

Alex closely regarded Olivia's face, noting the slight red of her eyes and the rapidly drying track of a tear on her cheek. She took Olivia's hand, bent down to grab the bags in the other hand as she pulled her through the doorway with Olivia kicking the door shut behind them.

The bed had been turned down and the air mattress on the floor was made up with several quilts and pillows. Josie and Cam were finishing up in the bathroom as Alex put the bags on the bed and took out what they'd need for the night.

"It's all yours," Josie said as she and Cam came out of the bathroom. When Alex and Olivia had gone in and closed the door, Josie turned to Cam and whispered, "Wanna mess with 'em?"

Cam's face took on a mischievous look. "You know it!" she whispered back.

When Alex and Olivia had both changed into their pyjamas, Olivia brushed her teeth while Alex washed her face. Hearing the sounds coming from behind the closed door, they stopped what they were doing and looked at each other quizzically.

"OH, CAM! THIS IS JUST LIKE THAT CAMPING TRIP! TAKE ME, YOU RED HEADED BEAST!"

Next they heard an exaggerated moan from Cam, followed by what sounded like bare skin squeaking across the surface of the air mattress. Olivia pointed to the door and made an air-humping gesture at Alex, who put her hand over her mouth to keep from laughing out loud.

"I LOVE IT WHEN YOU BITE MY NIPPLES!" Cam shouted.

Both Alex and Olivia were trying hard to keep quiet. They knew that the whole exchange was most likely for their entertainment, but that didn't mean they couldn't play along.

Olivia rinsed her toothbrush and put it back in the case as Alex stood next to the door. "OLIVIA, I LOVE IT WHEN YOU TOUCH ME THERE!" She paused to see if there would be a reaction, but when she heard nothing, she decided to keep going. "YOU'VE NEVER DONE THAT BEFORE! WHERE'D YOU LEARN THAT?"

"DO ME IN THE SHOWER! I WANNA FEEL YOUR WARM FRONT PRESSING ME AGAINST THE COLD TILES!" Olivia added.

Alex had an idea. "I NEED TO BE ARRESTED, DETECTIVE. DON'T FORGET TO HANDCUFF ME."

Olivia gave her girlfriend a thumbs up. "YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO REMAIN SEXY. ANYTHING YOU SHOUT DURING CLIMAX CAN AND WILL BE USED AGAINST YOU IN BED OR BENT OVER THE DESK IN YOUR OFFICE."

"I'VE BEEN VERY NAUGHTY THIS YEAR," Josie said loudly.

"HOW NAUGHTY?" Cam asked.

"LET ME SHOW YOU," Josie growled before the sounds of furniture repeatedly banging against the walls drifted into the bathroom.

The knock on the bedroom door startled Cam and Josie. Josie tentatively opened the door as Alex and Olivia exited the bathroom. Caroline and Mag stood in the hallway clapping.

"Sorry to interrupt the festivities, but one of us had to get up at 5am to get everything ready for today and she's exhausted," Caroline said with a sly smile as she took in the blushes on everyone's faces.

"Excellent show, girls. It was like an old radio show, but X rated," Mag stated.

Alex nodded slowly. "I, um...think we're...uh...done for the evening." She turned to look at Olivia. "We should get to sleep too. Need rest to drive back tomorrow," she finished lamely.

Caroline winked at her daughter. "Goodnight, girls. Sleep well." She closed the door and left everyone looking sheepishly at each other. A minute or so later, they all burst out laughing.

"You guys are gross, you know that?" Alex pointed at her cousin.

"Oh, please! Olivia's freaky Miranda rights made me uncomfortable in ways I've never been before!" Cam replied.

Olivia grinned widely and took a bow. "Thank you."

Alex punched Josie playfully on the arm. "Red headed beast, huh?"

"You don't even know!" Josie purred, earning a glare from Cam. "Get her all hot and bothered and she's like an untamed-" A pale, freckled hand suddenly covered her mouth.

"That's enough, Josie. Show's over," Cam chided her fiancee before slowly removing her hand.

"TIGER!" Josie finished before tackling Cam onto the air mattress and wrestling her as they both giggled hysterically.

Alex and Olivia both laughed and went back in the bathroom to finish getting ready for bed, leaving the door open this time.

When they returned to the bedroom, Josie and Cam were snuggled together under the covers looking sleepy. Olivia crawled into bed as Alex turned out the light and joined her. They settled into a spooning position (Alex taking the big spoon role) and sighed dreamily as they settled in.

The silence surrounded them for a beat, then Josie's voice broke it. "Now who's gross? 'I love you, Olivia! I love you too, Alex! Smoochy smoochy!'" she mocked.

Olivia laughed. "We didn't even say any of that!"

Cam piped up. "You didn't have to. Your sweet sigh said it for you."

Rolling her eyes even though she couldn't be seen, Alex let out a frustrated sigh. "Go to sleep, you two. You can mock our relationship in the morning...preferably after I've had coffee and can formulate a witty retort."

"We love you both...even if you are sappy as hell," Cam offered.

"We love you, too," Olivia said. "And don't have sex on that air mattress, OK? Those tiger claws might puncture it and there's not enough room in this bed for all four of us." Alex and Josie laughed, while Cam made a humph sound.

###

When Olivia woke up the next morning, she noticed that their sleeping position had changed and she was now the big spoon to Alex's little spoon. The blonde was still asleep and Olivia savoured the feel of the woman in her arms. She listened carefully for sounds of Josie and Cam, but heard nothing. Not wanting to break the spell, she laid there for a few more minutes until Alex began to stir.

Alex woke up to the feeling of Olivia's body enveloping her as much as was possible. She felt Olivia nuzzling the exposed skin on her neck and shoulders and pulled their joined hands to her mouth to kiss Olivia's knuckles as a thank you for the affection. "Good morning, Liv."

"Good morning, baby. How'd you sleep?"

Alex turned over in Olivia's embrace and stroked the detective's soft cheek. "The same way I always do when I sleep with you: perfectly."

"Glad to hear it," Olivia whispered and leaned in to place a soft kiss on Alex's lips. "I think Josie and Cam are up already, so we should probably get up too."

"Those two wake up at 3am no matter what." Alex stretched out in a cat-like manner before tossing back the covers. "Come on. I smell coffee."

Arriving in the kitchen with bed head and bare feet, Alex and Olivia headed straight for the coffee pot and poured two mugs full of the gourmet blend that Caroline always stocked up on. Josie and Cam were leaning against the counter sipping their own mugs of coffee while Caroline and Mag worked on cooking breakfast.

"Morning, girls," Caroline chirped as she flipped pancakes on the skillet.

"G'morning, mom," Alex said as she passed behind her mother to lean against the counter next to Josie and Cam.

"Pancakes OK with everyone?" Caroline asked.

Olivia smiled and nodded. "I don't know about anyone else, but I'm more than OK with pancakes."

"Good," Mag said and then winked at Olivia. She placed a plate stacked high with golden brown pancakes on the centre island next to a dish of butter and a syrup decanter.

"There's orange juice in the fridge if you'd like. Everybody help yourselves. Breakfast is informal this morning," Caroline said as she turned off the stove and took the utensils to the sink.

One by one they filed into the living room with their plates and beverages. Everyone was happily eating when there was a knock on the front door.

Caroline put her plate on the end table and stood up. "I'm not expecting anyone." She opened the door to see Ivy standing on the porch. "Hello, Ivy," she said evenly.

"May I come in?" the old woman asked.

Caroline took note of the tone of her voice. It wasn't anywhere near the adversarial demeanour she had come in with the day before. Caroline wasn't sure what was going on, but she wasn't going to let Ivy berate anyone and no more feelings would be hurt if she could help it. Opening the door wide enough to let her mother-in-law pass through, she stepped aside and Ivy entered the living room.

Alex immediately put her plate down and stood up. "Come to put Olivia down some more? Well, we're not gonna take it. Get back on your broom and fly on home."

Ivy pursed her lips. "I deserve that." She was clearly uncomfortable, but she knew this had to be done. "Alex, Olivia, can I speak to you two alone?"

Shaking her head no, Alex looked at her grandmother like she'd grown a second head. "No, you can't. You didn't have a problem saying anything in front of everyone yesterday, so you can say whatever it is you've got to say in front of everyone today."

Caroline moved to stand next to Alex, while Olivia shrank back into the sofa cushions. Josie and Cam balanced their plates on their knees and watched as the formidable Ivy Cabot looked like she wanted to disappear.

"OK. I came to apologise. I was grievously out of line yesterday and I'm sorry. Olivia, I have no right to judge you for any reason. It's clear how much my granddaughter loves you and I should be overjoyed that she's finally found someone who makes her happy. It's wonderful that you do such a thankless job and try to make the world a better place. Without you, Alexandra wouldn't have a job." She smiled Alex, whose hardened look had given way to one of confusion. "And Alex, I need to apologise to you not just for last night, but for the last several years. You were right to point out how your grandfather would be appalled by my behaviour."

Alex put up a hand to signal for her grandmother to pause. "What brought this on? Yesterday you hated us all for not living up to your expectations and today you're here with your tail between your legs begging for our forgiveness?" she asked, getting progressively angrier as she spoke.

"I thought about you comparing your grandfather to Jesus as Eric drove me home. And he also pointed out that it was a pretty accurate comparison. I loved him so much, Alex. You're a lot like him, you know. I read some of the letters he wrote me when we first started dating and remembered exactly why I fell in love with him. My parents weren't exactly thrilled that I wanted to date a labourer's son. He didn't come from much, but he shared what he had with people who needed it more. He had a strong work ethic and even when he made his fortune, he retained his humility. He was always a carpenter's son at heart."

By this time, Josie had tears streaming down her face. She adored her grandfather and he adored her. Caroline and Mag both had tear filled eyes. Alex's anger had drained to near non-existence. She had seen the pain her grandmother was in as she described her relationship with her deceased husband.

Ivy took a shuddering breath to try to steady herself. "He built me that cabin with his own two hands. He said it was to impress me, but he really meant that it was to try to win favour with my parents. I thanked him, of course, but I told him he didn't have to impress me with building me anything. He'd already impressed me with his heart."

Now everyone in the room was crying. Olivia had stood up and put her arm around Alex's waist, pulling her close to her side. Mag used a napkin to dab the tears from the corners of her eyes. Caroline swiped at the tears as they rolled down her cheeks, and Alex was smiling as tried to blink her tears back.

"I know I've been hard on you, Alex. Pushing you to a political career and demanding excellence. I saw a lot of myself in you and I wanted you to have the career I was supposed to have, according to my parents. It was a different time back then, and women weren't much more than nurses and secretaries if they had a career outside the home. They wanted me to be a doctor or a lawyer. I defied them by marrying your grandfather. I hated how it felt to have someone plan your life for you regardless of what you desire, and I did the same thing to you, Alex. And you too, Josie. You own your own business and you do what you love. I'm sorry. I'm so, so sorry." Ivy Cabot broke down and cried.

The first person to hug Ivy was Alex. There was no hesitation in the four steps it took Alex to get to her grandmother. Olivia was the second person to hug Ivy. She threw her arms around her girlfriend and the old woman and squeezed for all she was worth. In a matter of seconds, the rest of the family had gotten in on the hug. They stood as a conglomeration of arms and mingling tears of forgiveness in the middle of the living room.

When everyone broke apart, Caroline patted Ivy on the back. "Thank you for coming today. I know that was hard for you. No hard feelings, OK?" Ivy nodded. "Would you like some pancakes? We have plenty left over."

"No, thank you. I should get going. My conscience wouldn't let me rest and I had to come here before I lost my nerve." Ivy turned to go to the door, but just before she reached for the door knob, a hand reached out and took hold of her wrist.

"Thank you. I hope I'll see you again," Olivia said softly to the old woman.

Ivy smiled and put her hand over Olivia's. "You will, dear. You will." And with that, Ivy opened the door and left the house.

"I could be snide and liken that to A Christmas Carol, but I won't," Alex said as she and Olivia settled back onto the sofa.

"I think that's pretty much what happened from the sounds of it," Caroline mused. "She shot her mouth off, went home, was visited by ghosts in a manner of speaking, saw how bleak the future would be if she didn't change her attitude, and had a change of heart."

"Wait, would that make me Tiny Tim?" Olivia joked.

###

When breakfast was finished and the dishes were in the dishwasher, everyone set out to get dressed for the day. Alex and Olivia packed their bags and staged them next to the door. Once again everyone was hanging out in the living room.

"Thanks again for inviting me. I know I keep saying that, but I really am thankful for all you've done for me. You're such an accepting group of people," Olivia said.

"The pleasure was all ours, Olivia," Mag replied. "We wouldn't do well if we weren't so accepting. Deep down, we're all a little different, as you probably have noticed," she added with a smirk.

Cam winked at the detective. "Josie and I put in a good word on your behalf before you got here."

"It's just...you're OK with Alex being a lesbian and being a public servant when she could have a rich banker husband and be a high powered attorney in private practice."

Alex put a hand on Olivia's thigh. "But I don't want any of that. I want you and I love my work with SVU."

"Besides," Caroline interjected, "we knew Alex was gay probably before she even realised it herself."

"Really?" Alex and Olivia said in unison.

Caroline shrugged. "Yeah. When she was five her favourite movie was Mary Poppins. She told me she was gonna marry Julie Andrews."

"I remember that! You didn't tell me that girls couldn't marry girls; you said, 'Honey, I think she's already married.'"

Olivia grinned widely at Alex. "That is so adorable."

"We just wanted Alex to be happy with who she is and go after what she wants," Caroline stated. "Life's short so why deny your pursuit of happiness and fulfilment to please someone else?"

"My sentiments exactly," Alex said as she leaned over to kiss Olivia's cheek. The brunette blushed slightly.

Josie looked at her watch. "What time do you guys have to head out?"

Checking her watch as well, Olivia scrunched up her face with displeasure. "Pretty soon. I really don't wanna leave," she whined.

"You can come out here any time you like," Caroline pointed out. "We don't need a holiday as an excuse to get together."

Alex and Olivia stood up and headed toward the door. Josie and Cam followed, with Caroline and Mag bringing up the rear.

"And this goes without saying, but you're welcome at our place any time, too," Josie pointed out.

Olivia hugged Alex's cousin. "Thanks, guys." She then hugged Cam and Mag. When she pulled back, she turned to Caroline. "I don't even know where to begin."

Caroline pulled Olivia into her arms, rubbing her hands up and down the detective's back. "Well, begin by saying you'll come up and cook with me sometime."

"I'll come up and cook with you sometime," Olivia obeyed.

They split from their embrace and Alex took Olivia's hand in hers. "I think we should hit the road. I love you all. I'll call when we get home so you know we made it safely, OK?"

"You'd better. Bye, girls. Love you," Caroline said as she watched Alex and Olivia open the door and head out to the car with their bags.

"Love you too!" Olivia shouted before getting in the car.

Josie, Cam, Caroline, and Mag were standing on the porch waving goodbye as Alex eased back out of the driveway. They waved and blew kisses, which Olivia returned, as did Alex, until they were out of sight.

When they reached the corner and turned to make their way to the road that would take them back to Manhattan, Olivia reached across the centre console to place a hand on Alex's thigh. "Merry Christmas, Peaches."

"Merry Christmas, Cupcake. Love you."

Olivia looked out the window and marvelled at how she could feel so good from having had a wonderful time with the Cabots and still feel so disappointed from having to go back home to work. "I love you too, Alex. I always will," she replied, leaving her hand on her lover's thigh the entire drive back.