How One Became Three [A SVU Fanfiction] ON HOLD

Twenty-Four

Olivia stood in front of the mirror and sighed as she saw the faded bruises on her face. She zoned out on the fabric and velcro on the brace that kept her collarbone in place. 

"Hey." Casey spoke softly, as she walked through the bathroom and into the room that her older sisters shared.

"Hi." Olivia replied quickly, as she awkwardly fixed her sweatshirt and turned to look at her sister and niece.

"Are you ready for today?" Casey mused as she watched as Olivia walked over and finished packing her bag.

"Totally." She sighed. Casey looked at Olivia for a long moment before walking closer to her and smiling gently at her.

"He's gone for good, Liv. You can go back to school and enjoy your senior year. Dad and Alex are always telling you about how much everyone misses you." 

"Case, I'm fine. I'll be good. Now, can you excuse me? I need to head downstairs and have Mama force feed me oatmeal... as if I can't feed myself."

///

Olivia left the house earlier than Alex so she could get to class before the rest of the students showed up for the day. She had a lot to adjust too, but she had decided to just say fuck it to feeling bad for herself. She had been hurt, but she was still alive and breathing.

"I knew you were a nerd, but not enough to show up this early to school." Max smiled, as he approached Olivia's locker. She turned her head and took a slow breath before smiling at Max.

They hadn't talked since the night before her attack, so she didn't know if he knew what had happened. She was assuming that he did, since the school had to lock down after her attack because Fisher was still searching for Casey. 

"What can I say? I love school, books, and horribly seasoned school lunches." Olivia replied quickly.

"So, how are you doing?" Max asked, getting straight to what he had wanted to ask for the month Olivia had been recovering from her attack.

"I'm fine... I just needed some time off to help Casey with the baby..." Olivia trailed off, before feeling as Max gently touched her hand as she held onto her open locker door.

"I know that I hurt you... but I have never stopped caring for you. And I went to check on you the morning after Casey had the baby... but instead of finding you I found out that your house was a crime scene." Max breathed, as Olivia shut her locker before nodding slowly.

"Does everyone know what happened? Because I don't want to be treated differently after what happened... I'm still Olivia Gaines."

"Everyone had to know that something happened because Fisher tried to come here and find Casey. They had to lock down the school and..."

"He was a horrible guy, Max. He got shot, and I know that. He went to a prison hospital and given over thirty years in prison."

"I'm glad that you are back. I'm going to give you the space you asked for months ago." Max sighed, since talking about Olivia's attacker drew all of the color from her face and she looked overwhelmed.

"A-actually... Max, can we hang out?" Olivia asked, after Max turned to walk down the hall. He stopped and turned back around before smiling.

"Really? Because-"

"As friends... for now." Olivia breathed, and Max nodded quickly.

"I'd love that. How about I take you and Alex bowling tonight?" He offered, and Olivia laughed and shook her head.

"Max, I can't bowl for months. How about we go to the movies instead? And you don't have to invite Alex if you didn't want too..."

"I want you to feel comfortable."

"Okay, well then me and my security blanket that I lovingly named Alex will be there." Olivia smiled.

///

She pushed herself out of her comfort zone. She joined her school's cross country team and kicked ass, surprisingly. She got her brace off in December, which allowed for her to do more things that she missed out on when she was still recovery. 

Olivia didn't expect to really make it through what happened, but she did. And she was happy and really ready for life after graduation and with Max.

"That wasn't fair!" Max yelled, as his girlfriend smiled from where she stood on the front porch of her house.

"You said that you wanted to race me back from the park!" Olivia laughed, as she stood before running towards her boyfriend and quickly wrapping her arms around his neck. 

"But this race wasn't fair. You are good at long distances, Liv. I didn't want to date a cheater." Max growled, before forcing his lips firmly against Olivia's. They kissed for several moments before honking came from the end of the driveway. Olivia and Max parted before stepping out of the way of Alex's car.

"I guess that I should be heading home, huh?" Max frowned, as he watched Alex park her car, before she and her boyfriend Clark got out and headed towards the house.

"Probably... uh, I did have fun today. Especially kicking your ass." Olivia smiled, as she moved back to her boyfriend and hugged him tightly.

"I'm assuming that today won't be the last day... I'll see you tomorrow." Max spoke, before he went to get on his motorcycle, as Olivia headed into the house. She waved at her sister and her boyfriend before going upstairs to shower and hopefully steal Daisy for a few hours.

"Case?" Olivia asked, as she opened her sister's bedroom door after knocking on it. Casey smiled and waved her sister in, before going back to watching Daisy finish her nap in her crib.

"How was your weird date with Max?" Casey whispered, as Olivia came over beside her and looked down at the redheaded baby that was doing the only thing that kept her quiet. Otherwise she was always gurgling and babbling to anyone that gave her attention.

"It was good... and I really think that the next time I see him will be the time I finally say that I love him."

Hey guys, I'm sorry if this was bad... but I'm hoping to keep it going... maybe. Thanks.