Chapter Text
Thirty-seven years later, Olivia took her son, Noah to lunch at their favorite Bistro.
While waiting for their food, Olivia and Noah heard one of the employees call out, "Cagney?"
The name sounded familiar and Olivia's eyes shot up in time to see who claimed the order. The woman looked vaguely familiar, but as soon as the next order was called out, Olivia knew who it was. The name on that order was 'Lacey.'
"Mom? Are you ok?" Noah asked.
"What? Oh, yes. I'm fine buddy. I just… thought I saw someone I used to know."
"Like Elliot? That guy we saw in the park who used to work with you?" Noah questioned.
Olivia shook her head. "This is someone I knew before I knew Elliot. When I was in highschool."
"Oh. So a looooong time ago," Noah quipped.
Olivia gave her son a playful shove and retorted, "Hey! I am NOT that old YET, young man!" Noah just laughed. Their order was called out then, and Olivia went up to get their food. As she sat down a voice inquired, "Olivia?"
Olivia looked up and smiled.
"Detective Cagney. Detective Lacey. It's great to see you again." She quickly stood and hugged them both.
"Wow. I guess I predicted right when I said you'd end up in charge of your own squad," Christene pointed out.
"I've been keeping her updated on you. I've read all about you in the papers over the years," Mary-Beth explained, grinning.
"Well, It wouldn't have happened without the two of you. Especially you, Detective Cagney," Olivia told the two women.
" We're just Christene and Mary-Beth now.I actually retired at the rank of Lieutenant,though. Mary-Beth retired first…" Christene began.
"I never went past Detective second Grade. I had a daughter back in '86. I left when she was five to be a mother full-time," Mary-Beth cut in.
"Then she joined me at the D.A.'s office a decade later. We both retired from there fifteen years ago. I moved to California to be near my brother five years ago and Mary-Beth is still in Queens," Christene continued.
"That's wonderful. I'd like for you both to meet my son, Noah.
"Hi," Noah said with a wave.
"Hiya, Kid," Chris said to the boy.
"Hello, Noah. You've got a pretty great mom, you know that?" Mary-Beth added.
"Yup," was Noah's response.
"So, Noah, how old are ya? Chris asked.
"I'm almost nine," Noah informed them proudly.
"Hey, why don't the two of you join us? I'd love to catch up," suggested Olivia.
"Sounds great," Chris agreed for her and Mary-Beth. The three women talked and caught up. Mary-Beth talked about her kids and grandkids, Chris talked about her life with her brother and his family in California,and Olivia talked about adopting Noah and juggling motherhood and her career. At one point, after sending Noah to the counter to order dessert, Olivia told her two old friends about her mother.
"It was good for a while. Then after several years she fell off the wagon. She died falling down some subway stairs. She was drunk."
Chris nodded emphatically. "With Charlie, he stumbled and hit his head on his coffee table. I found him on the floor after several hours." Noah returned then, so the conversation ended.
As the group was preparing to go their separate ways, Olivia turned to the two former detectives with tears in her eyes.
"You both came into my life when I needed someone who cared. You two and Simone helped me out of a dark place. I meant it when I said I wouldn't be who I am today if you hadn't come into my life. You inspired me. Christene, you are part of why I joined the force. I learned so much from you. "Mary-Beth, because of you inviting me to stay with you that weekend, I got a taste of what it was like to be a part of a real family. Your kindness meant everything to me. I just feel so blessed to have the chance to thank you both for all you did for me.
"We didn't do all that much. You did all the hard work. We just planted the seed," Christene replied.
Olivia placed a hand over her heart. "That is so important. So, thank you."
Mary-Beth simply nodded and Christene squeezed the younger woman's hand.
Then, Olivia hugged them both again and Noah told them it had been nice to meet them. After saying their goodbyes, the four headed off in different directions. As Olivia walked with her son to the park to meet Amanda Rollins and her girls, Olivia thought about what could have happened to her if Christene and Mary-Beth hadn't been so supportive of her.
She was once again reminded of how grateful she was that these women had come into her life at just the right moment and had helped her survive the repercussions of being a product of her mother's pain.