Except for Kara, nothing's mine.
Olivia smiled as the passenger side's door opened.
"Hey, thanks for agreeing to having dinner with us," she said as she helped Elliot with the huge pizza box.
"It's always a pleasure to see that little ball of life," Elliot chuckled.
"Maybe sometimes a little too big for her size," she laughed as she started the engine.
Elliot smiled at the thought of having dinner with Kara, the 7 year-old that Olivia adopted a few years ago. She was always hyper and funny when they had dinner, Elliot always wondered if she really ate anything.
It was awkwardly quiet for a few moments before Elliot broke the silence.
"Liv, is everything alright?"
Olivia took in Elliot's questioning eyes before turning back to face the road.
"Kara's been having…well, trouble at school," she replied with a weary smile, "she knows she's adopted and that her parents died in an accident, but the kids in school are picking on her for it…" Olivia sighed as she turned right. "I just…sometimes I wonder if I'm doing the right thing. I mean, am I too selfish? I brought her into an incomplete home when she could've been brought into one with both parents,"
Elliot took Olivia's hand and gave it a small squeeze, "But no one will love her as much as you do Liv," he said, giving her a warm smile.
Just then, the back seat door opened.
"Elliot!"
"Hello Kara!" Elliot turned to great the little girl, "do you think it's okay if I have dinner with you today?"
Kara's eyes sparkled at the word of Elliot coming around for dinner.
"Well…." she pondered mockingly trying unsuccessfully to hide a smile.
"Please? I brought pizza," Elliot played along, showing off his puppy-dog eyes.
"Is it cheese?"
"Extra cheese,"
"Is it okay, Mommy Livvy?"
Olivia smiled warmly at the young girl, "It's your call, K,"
Kara bounced up and down in the backseat excitedly.
"Guess what Elliot? Mommy Livvy bought me a new doll yesterday!"
"Really? Is it better than the one I gave you last week?" Elliot loved Kara and to Olivia's dismay, showered her with gifts as if she hadn't received enough from Munch, Fin, Cragen and Olivia herself.
"Tara, the one Mommy Livvy bought me can talk and Kristy, the one you gave me, can grow her hair so they're both really really cool," Kara analyzed from the insights of a 7 year-old.
The little chatterbox continued rambling on and on about her dolls. Elliot was an equally good audience, ooh-ing and ahh-ing in all the right places.
Olivia smiled at the image in the rear-view mirror, Kara adored Elliot and Elliot loved her like she was his own child. And for as much as Olivia knew, Elliot was the closest thing to a father figure that Kara ever had.
Sooooo......whatcha guys think? Should I continue? reply reply!