The apartment is quiet, save for the occasional sound of dishes clinking as Olivia Benson moves through the kitchen. Her eyes are tired but filled with an unmistakable sense of determination. Her heart had been through so much over the years, yet this time, the weight of it all feels different. This time, she’s not alone. There’s a child in the other room, the one she’s promised to care for—her newly adopted son. The trauma in his eyes is a silent scream she understands too well, and as he sits on the couch, fidgeting with the blanket in his hands, Olivia feels a deep ache for the child who has yet to trust anyone fully.

She takes a moment to steady herself before walking into the living room. Her heart swells a little at the sight of him, his small form curled up in a corner of the couch. But there’s something in his eyes that says he’s not used to being cared for, not used to being allowed to just... be. He looks up at her as she enters, his expression guarded, the walls still very much up.

"Hey, kid," Olivia says gently, sitting beside him on the couch, her hand resting lightly on the back of his. "Dinner's almost ready. You okay?"

His gaze flickers toward her, the tension in his body slowly starting to ease as he nods. But Olivia knows better than to think this is enough—she can see the tremble in his hands, the way his eyes keep darting to the door, as if he's ready to run at any moment. It’s a new phase in both of their lives, one that Olivia is committed to helping him through, but she knows it’s not going to be easy. He’s been through more than she could ever imagine.

Just as she’s about to speak again, the door to the kitchen opens, and Amanda Rollins steps in, her presence immediately filling the room with warmth. The boy looks toward her, a brief flicker of recognition in his eyes, as if she’s someone he can rely on, too.

"You doing okay, bud?" Amanda asks