How One Became Three [A SVU Fanfiction] ON HOLD

Two

The girls all crashed upstairs in Olivia's room. Casey and Alex needed their best friend now more than they had needed her before. She was their only family at this point, and they were holding on tightly to her. And to Serena.

"Liv," Serena whispered as she walked into her daughter's room. Olivia was laying on the side of the bed that wasn't against the wall, while Casey and Alex slept closer to the wall.

"Yeah?" Olivia croaked out weakly.

"How are you feeling?" Serena asked softly, as she moved to her daughter. She squatted down beside her bed and gently placed her hand against her forehead. Olivia still felt warm, but not as bad as the day before.

"Not good." Olivia coughed.

"I'm sorry... and the girls?"

"They fell asleep as soon as we got in here. They are wondering if anyone is going to claim them." Olivia whispered as she slipped out of bed and onto the floor beside her mother. Serena wrapped her arms around her daughter as she tried to not think about if she had died last night too. 

There was no one that could or would claim Olivia. She'd be in the foster system with no one to talk to or love her.

"I was thinking last night... thinking about the girls. And if no one can claim them I plan on fostering them." Serena breathed.

"Really?" Olivia asked quietly.

"Really, love. Now, go take a shower and I'll get you some medicine."

"What about school?" Olivia croaked out.

"The three of you won't be going to school for a while. I'm going to talk to your principal today."

///

Serena left after her daughter went back to sleep. She was extra careful while driving to the high school because she couldn't leave three girls without a parent. She parked, and as soon as she was buzzed in, the principal was in the lobby waiting for her.

"Ms. Benson." He frowned, and Serena swallowed hard.

"Hey, Mr. Gaines. Can we talk?" Serena asked, and he nodded.

"Of course. This way." He spoke, before moving back towards the main office.

Once settled in Mr. Gaines' office, Serena started to speak.

"So, I know that everyone has found out about Alexandra and Casey's parents."

"We have, and we are all ready to support those girls through everything. Whatever they need."

"I'm currently fostering them. They were going to force them into some random group home and I couldn't allow that. So I don't know what protocol I need to follow in regards to being their guardian." Serena sighed.

"Oh, well... that's probably something to talk to the counselor about. I really have no idea exactly what needs to happen... how are the girls doing?"

"They aren't doing great. They've been staying really close to Olivia. They all shared the same bed, which isn't easy since it's only a double... I know that last night and early this morning they wouldn't eat, drink, or even do more than change clothes and sit by the fire."

"We can offer them counseling... Do you know when they will be back?" Mr. Gaines asked, and Serena shook her head.

"I don't know. I'm going to let them decide... I think. Olivia will be back once she's feeling better."

"Serena... Ms. Benson, if Olivia helps the girls deal with the pain they are going through then she can stay out until they are ready to come back together. We haven't really had students experience a tragedy like this in a while, and we want to make it as easy for them as possible."