A/N: I know that it took my awhile to update this story. I had too many ideas floating through my head and I knew that if I didn't get them down, I would have forgotten them and some good stories would have been lost to the muses forever. Over the course of writing this story, I planned on turning it into a novel (changing a lot of it), but now, I am not. I think that it almost at its conclusion. The only problem that I am having with it is I am not sure how to end it. Should they just go home? Should they go home but something happen at the trial to bring them back? Or, should they go back to New York and possibly in the future the trial becomes a sequel? So, now, I am leaving this option up to those that are actually reading this story. This is now up to you all who like to review. Please review and let me know what you think of the story and the direction that you think it should go. I am going to complete it here for now. I am sure that I will be adding to it in the future. (Meaning in the next few weeks) Thanks for reading, ~JET

Chapter Forty-Six - Home

Olivia sat in the nursery with Xander. She couldn't believe how big he was getting. His dark brown eyes smiled at her and she smiled down at him. She couldn't help but be happy when she looked into his face. She still thought that it was remarkable that he looked like her, even though he wasn't hers. The slightness that he looked like Frankie gave her pause every now and again, but then again, she could have sworn that he was a good mix of herself and Alex.

She couldn't help but love the boy. She still could believe that he was hers. Abbie had made the adoption legally binding and filed it as a closed adoption. Liv never asked how many strings that Abbie had to pull to get it done. She was just thankful that it was one last thing that she had to worry about when everything was said and done.

The only thing that Liv worried about now was the trial. She understood why Abbie was trying to get them to plead guilty. She knew that it was better for everyone involved, but there was still part of her that was worried they would get off on some crazy technicality. She knew it wasn't good but she would spend hours lately sitting in Xander's room, watching him sleep, reviewing the case over and over again in her head, trying to make sure that everything that she did was by the book and within the law.

It had been many a morning with Alex watching her from the doorway that she had been found like that. Alex would just smile at her and then check on the baby. She knew that Alex knew that look in her eyes. Alex had it too. They knew too much about each other not to know.

She knew that they would have to pack up everything soon and go back to New York. She missed the City, the noise and its smells. She needed to feel like she was home. She wanted home, whatever the hell it was or where it was. She had Alex and Xander. She had finally found her home with them and her brain and heart finally relaxed into a rhythm, again. She was beginning to finally feel like herself again, like she did before everyone left her…

"Dana approved us to leave. She said that there is some paperwork you have to sign, but after that we are free to leave. Once everything clears up paperwork wise, we can be on our way. She is in meetings and briefings most of the day, but she said that we could come in the early afternoon if you wanted," Alex told her.

She nodded, but said nothing. Alex could read her thoughts. She knew that it seemed too easy.

"Baby?"

"Yeah, Alex?"

"You sure you're ready to go back to New York? We could go back to the Cape if you want. I think some time completely away from everything would be good for us," Alex told her.

"That sounds like a plan," Liv answered.

"You sure? I know that you wanted to go back to the City. I know that Cragen can't wait to have you back. He misses you, you know?"

"I do."

"Did he tell you the news though?" Alex asked her.

"No, what news?"

"Seems he went down to One PP and threw his weight around. He told them that he was tired of the FBI stealing one of his best detectives. He didn't care that you were on loan or whatever. He wanted you back and he wanted you to stay."

"He says that every time," Liv stated, laughing.

"Yeah, well this time they must have reviewed your jacket and talked to Dana."

"Why you say that?"

"Don told me that he has a new shield for you when you get back if you want to come back to SVU. If not, you will have your choice of assignments. They are leaving it up to you."

"A new shield? What the hell is wrong with the one I got? I didn't die. They don't have to reissue it back to me or anything. I don't understand."

"Seems they pulled some strings and got certain requirements waved on your behalf. Seems your jacket is stellar. You have plenty of field work, a high collar to conviction rate, and time in service that you've earned it. I can't imagine why it surprises you," Alex told her.

"What are you talking about, Alex? I don't get it. I already have my gold shield."

"Yeah, but does it say sergeant on it?"

Liv just stared at her. She couldn't believe that they would do that. She got a promotion without even being there. Yeah, she had done the time and a lot of field work, but that was just…

"You're kidding, right?"

"Nope, Cragen thought it would be a good change of pace for you. You'd be in the office more, but you could stay in SVU. You would still get field time but not as much. You've earned it"

"I…I don't know what to say."

"Plus, it is an added bonus for me."

"Why is that?"

"It means that you'll be home more."

"Oh, Alex, I'm sorry. I never thought of it that way. I thought about retiring. I have done my twenty. I could just stay home and stay with Xander. I know that you want to go back to work."

"That isn't going to be a problem."

"How so?" Liv asked.

"Well, while I was back in New York, I talked with the DA and the UN. I will only take the cases that I want and I'll only be an alternate. I have chosen to stay here in the States. I don't think I could handle the…misfortune of the Congo again. I will help them in any way that I can, but I will do from an office at the UN Attorney General's office," Alex told her.

"Why didn't you tell me?"

"It was going to be a surprise, but I know how you worry. I knew that I needed to let you know now. Don't worry about me. I'll still tear them apart in court, but now, I'll help younger minds do it. It is kind of a promotion. I can still help prepare the cases, but I won't be the one actually trying it. Plus, it will help me groom some young minds for the trials and tribulations that come with being a prosecutor," Alex explained.

"But, you love being in the court room," Liv stated.

"I do, but that isn't necessarily where I need to be anymore."

"Why not?"

"Because my place is beside you and Xander, now. The halls of justice will still continue to work whether I am in them or not, Liv. I was thinking that I might try to put a bid in for a judge's position. That way, I would still be in court, but not trying it."

"Could you do that?"

"What? Be a judge? Yeah, the only problem is that I am going to have to work on my political game if I want to do that. I will have to shake a few palms and kiss enough babies, but at least if I throw my name into that hat, I wouldn't have to actually run for office," Alex told her.

"Well, that is a plus."

"Yeah, I don't think that I ready for the public life as a DA. I think I would rather sit at home with my growing family and let others deal with all the nastiness of the trial. I don't know if Donnelly will help me or not, but I think it would be interesting," Alex explained.

"I don't know what to say."

"Don't say anything, Liv. It is just an idea. Why don't we wait until we get home to decide what we are going to do with our lives? Trying to plan things out here without knowing what is going on in the City and how it is going to affect us is like knowing the verdict without any evidence or clues to a crime. It just doesn't work," Alex replied.

"You and your analogies," Liv stated in response and laughed.

"You never complained about them before."

"Oh, babe, I am not complaining. I just love how they always revolve around law. You can take the lawyer out of the courtroom, but you can't take the law out of the lawyer," Liv mused.

Alex laughed with her because she knew that it was true. The law was really all she knew since college and she could turn your words against you and use some quick quip or analogy against someone in a heartbeat. It was how her head worked.

"Don't be upset. I think that it's cute. Plus, you're the only one that could get away with some of the things that you've pulled in a courtroom."

"True, but I think that comes from being for a long line of lawyers," Alex said.

"It doesn't hurt that your uncle is still a sitting judge."

"I don't know if I like what you are insinuating with that comment."

"I know that you have only ever used him to get some of our warrants. I would never accuse you the untouchable Cabot of pork-barrel politics. Besides, you are Teflon. If someone ever dared to accuse you of misconduct, it wouldn't stick."

"Why not?" Alex asked, suddenly curious.

"Because, you, my dear, have never done anything that could be construed as malicious."

"That remains to be seen," Alex told her.

"What does that mean?"

"I am still working with Abbie on this case. I still want them to pay. Who is to say that I won't try to pull some strings to make sure that it happens?"

"Because the Alexandra Cabot that I love wouldn't do that. She might think it, but in the end, she fights for justice and truth. Especially if she knows that she doesn't like it, she'll dig her heels in and fight like a cornered cat. Or, have you forgotten the case against Zapata?"

"No, I will never forget that case."

"Good because I haven't either."

"Liv, promise me one thing," Alex stated.

"What is that?"

"Promise me that this is your Zapata and we are going to go down a road like this again."

"I promise. I don't think that I could handle another case with this much bullshit. Okay, let me rephrase that: I don't think that I want to handle another case with this much bullshit. I like them where we have to investigate, but not to this degree. I'll leave the cases like this to younger generation. I don't have anything to prove anymore," Olivia told her.

"I am glad that we have both out grown that need," Alex replied.

"I don't think we out grew it per say. I think we realized that there is more to the life than always searching for the next horizon and the glory that may be upon it. We have found the happiness that we were looking for. But, then again, I think that it true what they say," Liv said.

"Yeah, Liv, and what is that?" Alex asked, watching her chestnut eyes with wonder.

"Happiness sometimes finds you in the most unlikely of places. It is up you whether you decide to keep or blindly go in search of the happiness that you think you need. I found my happiness early on; I was just too dumb to realize it until I lost it. And then once I had another chance, I was too scared to do anything about it. I let it walk away again."

"You are talking about me, aren't you?"

"Can't get anything past you, can I, Counselor?" Liv questioned her.

"Nope, not anymore," Alex told her with her sapphire eyes dancing with joy.

Liv gathered her up in a full body hug. She didn't wait to kiss the woman that gave her the happiness that she had been long for so long. Alex gave her a sense of home and family, a family full of love and loyalty, a happiness that would endure any test and a hardship. It was what they both needed. And, now, they were going to fight for it with their entire beings.