A/N: So I've been trying to study for finals all night, but this idea was nagging at me for some reason so I thought maybe if I wrote a few lines just to have the idea for later, I would be able to study, but a few lines became an entire chapter and the makings of my next fic. But I won't be able to update this or There You'll Be until after my finals are all done so it'll be a little over a week. Read and review everyone:)

Disclaimer: Olivia's milkshake brings Elliot to the yard and he's like "Wanna get it on?" and Liv's like "I wanna get it on, but Dick Wolf will fire me from my job."

Chapter 1: Licorice, Surprises, and Forced Smiles

She had never told anyone straight out, but they all knew. Those blue eyes and that set jaw; they'd all seen it before. Other than his nose and the natural highlights in his hair, every physical feature on that boy belonged to his father.

He leaned back in his chair watching through the window in his office as she sat with the giggling boy bouncing in her lap. He found it amazing how that boy could be so energetic at 7:30 in the morning. He watched as her eyes twinkled as she played with them, but he knew that once he was gone, that twinkle would fade.

He knew she was glad she had her son, but he also knew that she wanted the boy's father back more than anything in the world.

He sat watching her there for several moments before he felt a weight in his lap.

"Hi Grampa."

Cragen looked down and smiled at Jonathan who was sitting in his lap, chewing happily on a licorice stick.

"You sure your mom lets you eat those so early in the morning?" Cragen smiled.

Jonathan nodded. "Mhm. Mommy says I'm the only one who eats these anyway."

Cragen chuckled. "She's right."

"Mommy wanted me to tell you that she's gonna take me to school now." Jonathan hopped off of Cragen and continued to chomp on the licorice stick.

"Alright. Have a good day, Jonathan."

Jonathan skipped over to the door then turned to face Cragen again.

"Grampa?" The older man looked up from his work.

"Why is mommy sad today?"

"What do you mean?"

"I went into mommy's room and she was crying. I asked her if she had a booboo but she said she didn't."

Cragen licked his lips. He knew that today was going to be a hard day for Olivia…for all of them actually. Six years ago today was the day Elliot Stabler had been shot and killed. Sighing, he looked at the boy he considered his grandson.

"Sometimes grown ups just need-"

"Ready to go, Jonathan?"

Cragen smiled up at Olivia who had just entered his office. She returned the smile and ruffled her son's hair.

Jonathan nodded and pulled the licorice stick out of his mouth and stuck it in his pocket.

Olivia smiled at her son and playfully swatted him on the butt. "Go give Grampa a hug."

Jonathan skipped over to Cragen and hopped in his lap, emitting a soft grunt from the older man. "Bye Grampa."

Cragen released the boy. "Bye Jonathan. Have a good day."

Jonathan gave a final wave at Cragen and skipped his way in front of Olivia out of the office.

This was going to be one hell of a day.

"Good morning."

Olivia looked up at her partner, Greg Weston, as he walked into the precinct and threw his jacket down at his desk.

"Hey."

Greg was a good cop and a decent guy, but he was nothing like Elliot. He didn't take his coffee black, he was neat, he didn't chew on pens and straws, he wasn't family-oriented, he just…he just wasn't Elliot.

Olivia's partnership with Greg was rocky for a while. First when she had just returned to work and found that all of Elliot's belongings were placed in a box by her desk and there was a stranger sitting in his seat. She had been hysterical and started screaming at the man, telling him that he could never replace Elliot and that he would never be as good as Elliot.

Cragen, who had heard Olivia screaming, had dragged her out of the precinct and held her as she cried hysterically. He had sent her home for another two weeks and when she returned, she was the same collected cop she was prior to Elliot's death.

After several months, Olivia and Greg had fallen into a comfortable routine. Nothing like the one she had with Elliot, but still, Greg was a good cop and they were able to work without tearing each other's heads off. He stayed out of her personal business and vice versa.

The two were fine as partners until one day Greg chose to ask Munch if he knew whether or not Olivia was single. Munch, who had been pretty decent to Greg, considering the situation, from the moment he got there, was furious and proceeded to give him a nice looking shiner.

When Olivia had asked Greg how he got the shiner, he had only stared at Munch, slightly intimidated and sunk lower in his chair. And with that, Olivia knew.

"Hey, you okay?"

Olivia looked up at Greg and realized she'd been staring at him. "Yeah, I'm fine."

Greg knew what today was. He could tell on everyone's faces. On this day, Cragen spent most of his day in his office, Munch and Fin always came in late to work, and Olivia always dozed.

From what he had heard, Elliot Stabler had been a good cop known for his temper. He had the most collars in the unit, Olivia barely trailing him. He and Olivia had been partners longer than anyone else in the unit and he knew they had a bond that went a lot further than just partners. And from the few times he'd seen Olivia's son and pictures of Elliot, he could tell that the boy was as much Elliot's as he was Olivia's.

Greg nodded and sat in his chair. "Any new cases?"

"Nope, not yet. Today's just a day for paperwork, I guess." She shrugged.

"Alright, I'm going to go use the john. Be right back."

At that moment, Munch walked in, bag of bagels in hand.

"Morning, Liv." He said, placing a bagel on her desk.

"Hey John. You went already?"

He nodded. "Yeah, I saw Fin just getting there when I was leaving so he should be here in half an hour or so."

Placing down her pen and leaning back in her chair Olivia sighed. "I'm taking Jonathan today."

"His first time?"

Olivia nodded. "Yeah, Jonathan's got a surprise for him, too, but he won't tell me what it is."

John smiled. "If it's like anything I ever gave my father it's probably a crappy piece of macaroni art. But then again, your kid's a lot more artistic than I ever was."

Olivia returned his smile and glanced up above the door where a framed picture of Elliot sat. She'd read the plaque beneath it hundreds, probably thousands, of times.

Elliot Stabler. 1961-2007. Father, police officer, friend. You will be missed.

Closing her eyes, Olivia forced back the tears that always threatened to spill out each time she read it. She felt John's hand give her shoulder a gentle squeeze.

"We all miss him, Liv."

Olivia nodded slightly and opened her eyes. "I know."

Recollecting herself she smiled up at John. "Thanks."

"It's what I'm here for."

"Good morning, Munch."

John looked up at Greg, who was just walking in. "Morning, Weston."

"Where's Fin?" Cragen bellowed as he walked out of his office.

"He's at the cemetery. He'll be here in a bit." John informed him.

Cragen nodded. "We've got a case, guys. Munch, Weston, get over to 82nd and Broadway. There's a dead Jane Doe with signs of rape. Check it out."

The two left the room and a confused Olivia stood and walked over to Cragen's office.

"Cap, what's the deal?" she asked, closing the door behind her.

"What are you talking about?"

"Weston's my partner, why'd you send him out with Munch?"

Cragen licked his lips and sighed. Suddenly, Olivia knew exactly why Cragen hadn't let her go.

"Cap, I'm fine. I know you're concerned about me because of…what today is, but I can work. I'm okay." she told him with a half-forced smile.

"Olivia, I just think…I think it's better if you're on desk duty for today."

"Cap-"

"That's an order, Olivia."

Olivia nodded solemnly and cursed under her breath.

"What was that?"

"Nothing." she mumbled.

And with a slam of the door, Olivia left Cragen's office.