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Rory held onto Macie's hand as they padded down the hall to where Olivia was sleeping. Elliot was downstairs preparing snacks for the girls, after Rory insisted she would watch Macie when they woke their mother up.

"Is the baby still in her belly?" Macie whispered as she and her big sister stopped outside the closed door. Rory looked away from the handle and to her baby sister.

"Yeah, the baby is still in Mama's belly," Rory whispered back.

"I'm glad we didn't lose him and Mama... I wanna meet our brother," Macie sniffled, a few tears slipping down her freckled cheeks. Rory quickly dropped her sister's hand and pulled her into a tight hug.

"Please don't cry, Macie. Everything is okay," Rory replied bravely, her cheek resting against Macie's hair.

"I'm scared, sissy," Macie whimpered, her face buried in Rory's t-shirt.

"We don't need to be scared anymore. Mama is back for good," Rory whispered, giving her sister a tight squeeze. They stood in the embrace for a few moments, parting only when Olivia opened the door from the inside.

"Were you two coming to visit me?" Olivia asked, her voice full of sleep. She woke to the sounds of her daughters talking and tried to wait for them to come into the room, but she grew impatient.

"Mama!" Macie sobbed, shoving past her sister and hugging her mother's legs tightly. Olivia ran her fingers through Macie's hair before squatting down and holding her close.

"It's okay, baby. Please don't cry... I love you, Macie Leigh," Olivia breathed, her hand rubbing her daughter's small back. She looked back at Rory and saw her daughter wipe tears from her cheeks. Olivia reached a hand out to her eldest, but Rory took a shaky breath and turned towards the stairs.

"Rory?" Olivia asked, her arms still wrapped around Macie.

"I-I need to help Elliot," Rory mumbled, running down the stairs.

///

Olivia snuggled her youngest for a while before taking her downstairs to where Elliot and Rory sat at the island. Olivia watched as Elliot rubbed Rory's back while Rory cried silently.

"Is everything okay?" Olivia asked. Elliot kissed Rory's temple before standing and pulling the stool out for his wife.

"No, it isn't okay. Macie and I are going to eat her snack on the back porch before playing on the swing set for a bit. You need to sit down and talk to this little girl," Elliot said. Olivia nodded slowly as Elliot approached her and grabbed Macie's hand.

"I tried to get her to come to me... I wasn't ignoring her, Macie just attacked me with a hug," Olivia whispered, feeling as if Elliot was angry at her. She couldn't control the way her daughters reacted to seeing her for the first time in a week.

"I know, she told me. But it's important she gets time to talk to you right now. I've got Macie, because Rory needs one-on-one time with you," Elliot breathed. Olivia nodded slowly, accepting a light kiss from her husband as he squeezed past her.

Olivia got herself a bottle of water before sitting beside Rory. She stared at the bottle for a few moments before reaching over and grabbing her daughter's hand. She noticed the chipped nail polish from the night before the kidnapping.

"I'll have to fix your nails tonight... Maybe change the color," Olivia breathed, her thumb rubbing the top of Rory's hand.

"I'm okay," Rory whispered.

"Baby-" Olivia started, but Rory interrupted her.

"I needed you first," Rory huffed, turning to look at her mother with bloodshot eyes.

"I know."

"You hugged Macie, but didn't hug me!" Rory exclaimed.

"I tried to, but you ran away," Olivia sighed.

"I'm a big girl, but I was scared!" Rory yelled, a fist slamming against the counter. Olivia took a shaky breath, her hand moving to her daughter's back.

"I was scared, too, Rory. Scared I'd never see you, Macie, or Elliot ever again! I'm sorry I didn't push Macie away and grab you," Olivia frowned.

"I didn't want you to do that, Mama! You used to hug us together! Why didn't you hug me?!" Rory sobbed. 

"Honey, I tried! You are so upset right now and need to take that anger and confusion out on someone, so you are yelling at me! It's okay, but we need to talk about everything you are feeling. The lack of a hug isn't what is really bothering you!"

Rory scrambled from her stool, barely making it to the door before Olivia grabbed her. She stopped her daughter from running away and forced her into the tightest hug she could muster. Rory struggled to free herself before giving up and clinging to her mother. Olivia settled their bodies onto the floor and rocked her daughter.

"You are so brave, Rory. You stayed strong for Macie through the kidnapping and thinking I was dead... I am so proud of the amazing girl you are and cannot believe I am lucky enough to be your mother. You don't need to stay strong right now, pumpkin. Let everything go and know I'll be supporting you no matter what," Olivia breathed, her eyes burning with tears.

Rory buried her face in her mother's shirt as she sobbed loudly. Olivia hadn't seen her daughter like this before. Rory was very much like her and hid her emotions so others didn't think she was weak.

"I-I can't lose you again, Mama. Not after what Daddy did to you... and now Uncle Lewis? I need you, Mama..." Rory whispered.

"I'm going to try my hardest to stay in your life no matter what. Even if that means leaving the NYPD and being home all the time. You, Macie, and your baby brother mean so very much to me, and I want to stop hurting you. I try not to, but the past chases me and I can't always outrun it."