[This is the last chapter, for the time being, though I plan a sequel at some point. I have a different plot that I can't get out of my head, so I think I'll be writing a separate story soon, before I return to this little universe. Thanks so much to everyone for all the feedback and support, it has made all the difference.]

Alex heard the soft tap on the door, and smiled as her sister Carolyn ushered in their daughters, shushing them to remind them to be quiet.

Alex smiled at them all as they shrugged off warm coats and boots, her heart filling as she watched Lily's efforts to keep Maisie quiet.

Carolyn kissed Alex on the cheek, and looked down fondly at the slumbering baby in her arms.

"Here," Alex said as she passed him over to her. "I'll get some tea."

"How is she?" Carolyn asked as she took the child.

"She's good. Better now that her milk has come in; she's more relaxed now. She's just napping," Alex gestured to their bedroom where Olivia was finally sleeping. The trauma of the birth had combined with the residual symptoms of the concussion, and she had been feeling very low.

"They are bonding though?" Carolyn followed Alex into the kitchen, keeping her voice low.

Alex smiled. "Like you wouldn't believe," she said softly. "She's an amazing mom, even after everything. And this young man," she leant over to touch her son's cheek, "he just loves his Mama." She switched on the kettle. "So how were the girls?"

"Angels," Carolyn laughed. "Lily won't stop talking about Oliver, she's so excited. Maisie too, though I don't think she really knows what's going on. But they loved seeing Joe and Vanessa and the girls – Tommy too, of course. Vanessa says I should take them to the coffee shop for lunch tomorrow. I said I'd ask you if that was okay."

"Okay? That's fantastic," Alex breathed. She was so grateful to Carolyn for helping out, and she knew how much the girls loved seeing Joe and Vanessa. She wanted to keep things as quiet and easy as possible for Olivia, but was determined that their daughters shouldn't feel left out. So it was perfect that Carolyn was spending so much time with them and making them feel special.

"So, Maisie Moo," Alex said as she returned to the living room and scooped up the laughing toddler in her arms. "Did you have a good time?" she settled on the couch with her, patting the seat next to her. "I need a hug," she instructed Lily, smiling as the child scrambled up on to the seat and cuddled up to her. "Was Wiggle a good boy?"

Maisie nodded.

"Wiggle had fun in the park," Lily said. "Didn't he Maisie? Maisie threw a stick for him and he brought it back."

Maisie grinned. "Wiggle is a good doggie," she pronounced, wisely.

"Tommy is walking real well on his leg," Lily told Alex.

"Room for a little one?" Olivia's voice rang out from the other side of the room.

"Mama!" Lily explained. "Mommy said you were sleeping."

"I was," Olivia kissed Alex softly. "And now," she grinned as she settled next to Lily. "Now I wanna see my girls. You remind me of your Mommy in those glasses, Lily, you look really cute."

Oliver began to whimper gently in Carolyn's arms. "I think maybe somebody's hungry," Carolyn smiled. She brought the child to Olivia and lowered him into her arms.

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"He's asleep," Jay pulled the door to Tommy's room so that it was almost shut.

Sarah was standing in the living room, holding an envelope in her shaking hand. "When did this arrive?" she asked in a quiet voice.

Jay sighed. "It was in the mailbox this morning. I was just going to tell you. I wanted him to be in bed first."

"It's from Children's Services," Sarah's voice was small and scared. "Baby, what if...? I mean, he's been our son for 10 months now. I don't even want to think about life without him."

Jay took her in her arms and held her close. "I know," she whispered into her hair. "But," she pulled back and looked deep into her eyes. She pushed a strand of hair behind her ear. "C'mon. It's going to be good news. It has to be. We haven't had any problems. And he's healthy. And happy. You should have seen him laughing in his bath today."

"But that's it. I didn't see him. I was still at work," fear gripped Sarah's heart. "Suppose they look into that?"

"You're nearly always home for his bath. Way before that. You've had a busy week. Everyone has those from time to time. C'mon, we're being dumb. We need to open it."

"You do it," Sarah shoved the envelope in her hands, and walked away to sit in the armchair.

Jay nodded. She knew how much Tommy meant to her wife – hell, to both of them. But they had no reason to imagine that it would be bad news. All their visits had gone well, and even when they had been surprised by a visit when Jay had been attempting to bake with Tommy, resulting in them both being covered in flour, the official had laughed with them both rather that criticized.

Jay forced open the flap of the envelope. "It's okay," she said quietly. "It's good, baby. It's so good. They want us to attend a hearing. An adoption hearing. In six weeks. They are inviting us to make an official application to adopt him. They even congratulate us on the success of our fostering. He's going to be ours, sweetheart," Jay dashed away tears. "He's going to be our son."

Sarah leapt up and flung herself at Jay. She kissed her deeply. "Our son," she said quietly. "Our son."

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Vivian Gardiner took a deep breath as she pushed open the door to the classroom. She had had a long day, and she wasn't sure she had the energy to teach a class that afternoon. She had the beginnings of a headache and was uncharacteristically grumpy. She forced a smiled onto her face. "Hey everyone," she smiled. And then she saw her again. The quiet redhead was back, and when she smiled back at her, her whole face lit up. Viv tried to remember her name. Novak, that was it. Casey Novak. "We're going to talk about contemporary art today. I hope everyone's okay with that?" The murmurs of assent lifted her heart. She was glad she had come. She loved the enthusiasm that came with adult education – everyone who was there really wanted to be there. And art was everything to her, and she loved to share her passion.

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"Child trafficking," Elliott muttered. "Christ, I hate these cases."

Munch nodded in agreement. "They are a bitch to crack too."

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"So?" Caryn demanded when Abbie came through the door. She loved the way she looked when she was all dressed up for court – so efficient, so elegant. So goddamned hot.

"I won," Abbie had a smug grin on her face. "What?" she mock-pouted, as she lifted the four-month-old baby from Caryn's arms and held her close. "You expect anything less?"

Caryn laughed. "Nope. Maddie and I were just debating the likelihood of you winning, and we agreed that the defense didn't have a hope."

At that moment, four-year-old Daniel came hurtling out of his room. "Mommy! Ma and I have been drawing pictures, and I drew a picture of you, wanna see it?"

"Of course," Abbie passed the baby back to Caryn so that she could give her full attention to her son. "Show me!"

Caryn laid little Madeleine down in her crib, her eyes rolling as she heard Laurel's cry. "Okay, baby, I know, dinner time," she unbuttoned her shirt. "I swear living here has turned me into a dairy cow."

"You're the one that wanted to breastfeed," Abbie teased.

"Next time I make a decision like that, shoot me," Caryn grumbled as she adjusted the child to her breast. She looked down into her face and smiled. She wouldn't miss this for the world. She thought back to life five years ago, and her heart skipped a beat at the randomness of everything. If she hadn't gotten back in touch with Abbie... She had never imagined it was possible to be this happy. Exhausted, short-tempered, sore – but so happy she could burst. "Hey Carmichael," she called over to Abbie.

Abbie looked up from the table where she was admiring Daniel's artwork. She quirked an eyebrow.

"Gotcha a surprise. Kitchen drawer, top left."

Intrigued, Abbie withdrew a four-inch-square box from the drawer. "What is this?" she asked.

"What, you're clever enough to win a major case against a triple murderer, but you can't work out how to open a box?" Caryn deliberately sounded exasperated. She loved to make romantic gestures, but she could never get past the embarrassment so she would let her jokey persona take over.

Abbie opened the box, to reveal a beautiful, silver watch. Just three weeks ago, she had broken her old watch, and hadn't gotten around to replacing it. This one was stunning – elegant, yet practical."

"CW, this is … this is amazing," Abbie was almost lost for words.

"S'gottan inscription," Caryn smiled as baby Laurel slipped off her breast, instantly asleep.

Abbie turned the watch in her hand and looked at the back. My heart, always and for ever. She unclasped it and put it on her wrist. Her throat constricted. "Look Danny," she showed him the watch. "Look what your Ma got for me."

Daniel smiled. He had no real interest in his mother's watch, but he could tell that she was happy.

Abbie took Caryn in her arms, being careful not to disturb the sleeping baby. She kissed her, softly at first but then more thoroughly as Caryn responded.

"So you've got no excuse to be late now," Caryn teased.

"Late for what?"

"Saturday evening. Amy and Rob are coming over to babysit. You and I are going to dinner," Caryn smiled. She kissed her. "Dinner. Dancing. And," she leant in and whispered, "Debauchery."

"The three Ds!" Abbie laughed.

"Will you wear your red dress?" Caryn's heart beat a little faster at the thought. Abbie looked unbelievably hot in that dress.

"I'll think about it," Abbie teased.

"Will you not wear it later too?"

Abbie grinned. "I think that can be arranged, counselor," she said.

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"You look beautiful," Alex said quietly as they got into bed that night.

Olivia scoffed. "I'm still the size of a house, and I have barely had time to comb my hair this week."

"You," Alex kissed her. "Look," she kissed her again. "Beautiful." She sat back and gazed at her wife. "Well, baby, we did it. Somehow."

"Did what?"

"We built the perfect family. You, me, the girls. And," she lifted Oliver out of his crib. "This little man."

Oliver looked up at her calmly. Slowly, his face creased and he smiled.

Alex's eyes went wide. She nudged Olivia. "He smiled!"

"Lex, he's only just five weeks old. He's too young to...," she looked down as Oliver smiled again. Olivia looked at Alex, and back at their son.

"Drive? Drink? Get married?" Alex teased as she finished the sentence for her. "It seems to me that your son is more than ready to show us just how happy he is to see us!"

"Our son," Olivia stroked his cheek. "Our son."

END