All I Ask [A Bensler Fan Fic]

Chapter Thirty-Nine

It was weeks before Casey went to trial for attempting to kidnap Evie. Trevor fought her on her decision to plead not guilty, since there was video proof that she tried to grab Evie. Trevor begged and pleaded with Casey to just change her plea, but she was stubborn. 

"Liv, maybe you shouldn't go today," Elliot spoke, as his girlfriend got ready the morning of opening statements. 

"Why shouldn't I go? Lizzie has been trained to take care of Evie when she has seizures, and Kathy has volunteered to be on call in case she needs help," Olivia replied, as she secured her hair with a clip. Elliot met Olivia's eyes through the mirror and gave her a worried look.

"Liv, this is going to be stressful. I know this pregnancy has been easier on you mostly, but that doesn't mean going to court and listening to your ex try to justify kidnapping our child is a good idea..." Elliot trailed off slowly. He didn't want Olivia to get angry at him for being protective of her and their unborn baby.

Olivia turned around slowly and smiled at Elliot. She reached out and gently caressed his freshly shaven cheeks, before leaning close and kissing him softly. Once they parted, Olivia spoke.

"Thank you for being worried, but I'm fine. Our baby is fine. I will make it through this trial easily."

"Not as easily as you expect... Liv, Barba is calling you to the stand. We've been trying to avoid it, but you dated this woman. You know her in ways that many of us do not..." Elliot trailed off.

Olivia sighed softly before nodding.

"Amanda told me. She and Fin met me outside of my doctor's office and told me. They knew you wouldn't break the news to me until the last possible minute, so they jumped the gun and told me. Barba emailed me the questions he'll ask and I've been preparing my answers while Evie is napping, or at night when the baby is keeping me awake," Olivia replied.

"Love-"

"Don't apologize, Elliot. You were just trying to protect me. But this has gotta happen. I'm hoping that if I tell my side of the story, then she'll change her plea and take a deal. That she'll run away," Olivia spoke. She leaned forward and kissed Elliot again, then turned and walked from the bathroom.

"You are taking this very well, Olivia!" Elliot exclaimed.

"I kinda have to, babe. If I didn't, then I may completely shut down. I can't do that since we have lots of kids and family to stay strong for."

///

Olivia and Elliot were both placed in a room to wait until they were called. Barba promised to call Olivia first, since Evie needed her.

Elliot paced the room, and Olivia sat and scrolled through baby clothes on her phone. She was very well prepared for the questions that Barba had to ask her, but not the ones that Trevor would. Yet she was certain that she'd do a good job and Casey would either change her plea or get some time in jail for what she did.

"Olivia?" Barba's assistant, Regina, spoke as she opened the door.

"How is it looking?" Olivia asked as she silenced her phone and stood slowly.

"Opening statements went very well. Now it's just time for you to bring it home," Regina smiled.

"I will bring it home," Elliot said with a nervous grin.

"I guess we will see, huh?" Olivia teased. She gave Elliot a quick kiss before following Regina from the room.

Olivia sat on the stand and shifted a few times as Barba prepared for his first question. Once he was ready, he turned to Olivia and gave her a polite smile.

"Ms. Benson, we are here because Ms. Novak pleaded not guilty to attempted kidnapping of your daughter, Evie Stabler. Correct?" Barba asked, and Olivia nodded.

"Yes."

"Now, how do you know Ms. Novak?"

"Casey and I used to work together when I was employed with the NYPD. She was the ADA for my unit. I was the only female detective in my squad, so she and I bonded and became close friends. When I became pregnant with Evie, she and I moved from the city together," Olivia spoke, unsure if she should bring up their romantic relationship.

"Ms. Benson, your relationship changed upon arrival to your new home, correct?"

"Yes. We dated when we moved to Arizona..." Olivia trailed off awkwardly.

"And you two planned on raising Evie together?"

"Yes, sir. We planned on raising Evie together, but that changed before I even gave birth," Olivia spoke, her eyes locked on Barba. 

"How did that change?"

"I proposed to her, but she didn't want to marry me. Our relationship was very strained, and we were barely on talking terms the day I went into labor with Evie."

"Was she there when Evie was born?" Barba asked.

"She was, and so was Evie's father, Detective Elliot Stabler."

"What happened during your labor and delivery?"

"We all fought, and Casey was very rude with Elliot. She wanted him to leave, but I wanted him there. I almost died after having Evie, and Elliot was the only one to be there for our baby. He took care of her, while Casey tried to block him completely from seeing me." Olivia frowned, her eyes finally drifting to Casey.

The woman she once loved sat with tears slipping down her cheeks. Olivia didn't feel bad at all, since Casey did this to herself. She turned Olivia down when she proposed, and she was the one to threaten Elliot and ignore Evie after she was born. Casey caused their relationship to end, and Olivia didn't feel like she was missing out on anything since they broke up.

"Ms. Benson, did you ever start the process for Casey to adopt Evie Stabler?"

"No, we didn't."

"Did you ever promise that she'd be Evie's other parent?"

"Yes. But that changed when she changed. I no longer felt safe having her be my partner and Evie's parent," Olivia sighed.

"What did she do?"

"Objection!" Trevor yelled out of nowhere. Everyone turned to look at him, and Barba sighed.

"I'm done with my line of questioning, your honor," Barba smiled, as he turned and shot Trevor a look and sank down behind his table.