Cat's Cradle
Silence rang through the apartment for the first time in what Olivia felt was forever. The hustle and bustle of the day drew to a close, where the door wasn't opening and shutting, and her ear wasn't being talked off by many a person coming to the apartment. The only sound was two sets of lungs, taking in air, and expelling carbon dioxide. Two very different breathing rates, one slow and shallow, the owner fast asleep, her's slow and steady, taking in a yawn, she looked around the darken hallway.
Life had gone into a spiral this past year, everything that she knew had changed, and everything that was normal was sent into a clusterfuck, as her life took a different turn after turn, after turn. Some good turns, and some not so good turns, sleepless nights, and more tears than she wanted to admit. She thought she lost control, the control she needed to steady her life. There was always something new, everyday, that changed her view on the world, and herself.
Thirteen years ago, she took the transfer to SVU, and was given a new partner, a partner who became so integrated into her life and being, the world almost crumbled to pieces when he got up and left her. Just left. That's when it all started, when her world began its upside down, side turning, spiral making, turmoil induced, life changing year.
Olivia turned down the hallway, and peered into the newly converted office to bedroom. Nothing, no body occupied the room, but the soft snores from her bedroom made her aware of just how much her life had changed. Opening her hall closet, Olivia looked at the laundry, more than she ever dealt with, usually once a week, maybe, she'd do laundry, but now, she was doing laundry almost everyday. Dishes were piling up in her sink, food in her fridge, casseroles in the freezer from the wives of the precinct. The men merely supplied her apartment with flowers, and liquor, which now sat on the top most shelves of the kitchen cabinetry.
Kathy Stabler dropped by earlier in the day, she was the one who brought groceries, saying she understood how it was, and fresh food, and not take out, and boxed Hamburger Helper was the way to start this new life. Having Kathy in her apartment was weird, the woman who once almost died in her arms, who asked if she was sleeping with her husband, and the mother to her godchild. Now the ex-wife of her former partner, it was definitely weird having the woman in her space. She never imagined this scenario, of her offering Kathy some tea-no more coffee, just tea now-while her apartment looked like it had been hit by a tornado. She was the ex-wife of her best friend, who once asked if she slept with him… This was the woman who routinely referred to her as "the work wife". This was the woman who attempted to blame her for the disintegration of her marriage.
Closing the closet door, Olivia moved into the livingroom, and sighed. She was staring at a mess, the latest load of clean laundry in the hamper on the couch, a few blankets on her chair. Dishes from her dinner earlier sat on the coffee table, papers too, from the last case she took. She was due in court in two days, so spread on the table, was notes, forms, and files. Some stained now, her scribbles on every page.
She moved to the laundry basket, and sat on the couch, pulling the first of the garments out to start folding. The click of the lock on the door caught her attention, as she looked towards the door, and back at the piles. Continuing folding the laundry, the door opened and closed, as she felt the familiar essence and comfort of her partner. After the years, she knew he was in the room, knew his comfort presence from a mile away.
"Hey," he said softly, dropping his coat on the counter and opening the fridge, pulling out the jug of milk. It was better than water, and would hopefully sooth his day.
"Hey, there's a plate in the microwave," Olivia smiled as she continued to fold the laundry, taking in a yawn.
"I'm starved," he mumbled pouring a glass of milk. It would have to do, he'd love a beer, but Olivia didn't want to tempt herself, he got it.
"How was court?" Olivia asked standing up and moving to the kitchen, taking the glass of milk he poured she stole a sip and leaned on the counter.
"Long, Matthews is going down, without a doubt," he replied pulling out a fork from the drawer. "Who made this?"
"Manchester's wife," Olivia replied leaning forward and grabbing a fork out of the drawer. "Hamburger Macaroni," she added with a smile. "Did Matthews confess?"
"No, but defense has nothing to say he didn't do it," he replied as Olivia nodded. "Sleeping?"
"Yes, finally."
"Good," he smiled as the beeping of the microwave signaled his dinner was finished reheating. "I saw Cragen today."
"Oh?" Olivia asked, knowing that Cragen was stilled not the most pleased with the man standing in front of her, even her at the moment. He was coming around though, he never could stay mad at Olivia, who was slowly trying to convince Don that he did nothing to warrant the distaste.
"He said to give you his best, and whenever you're ready to come back, he'll take you in a heart beat."
"He understands why I left, he has to. Munch and Finn know, they agreed with me every step of the way," Olivia explained exasperated.
"Don't attack the messenger Liv," he said holding up his fork in defense. "Just telling you what he told me."
"I know, I'm sorry," Olivia defeated. The stress of the past year took its toll on her, her emotions were still running high, and the lack of sleep the past two weeks made it worse.
"How was your day?" he asked as Olivia smiled and looked around the room around her.
"Good," she smiled as cries came through the muffled walls of the apartment. Sighing, she groaned and looked at the bedroom down the hall.
"I'll get her," Elliot smiled with a wink as he moved down the hallway, following the sound of the cries. Opening the main bedroom door, he saw Olivia's bed, and beside it, in the bassinet, laid the source of crying. "Oh hello there little one." Not expecting a response, Elliot leaned over and picked up the infant, who now was two weeks old. Thick brown hair covered the infants head, piercing blue eyes stared back at him, with tears stained cheeks.
The baby stopped crying, and started to whimper, as Elliot cradled the young baby in his arms. "Why are you crying? Did you miss me? Because I certainly missed you."
Olivia stood in the doorway, following Elliot to the bedroom, and looked at the reason as to why her life had changed. He was holding the love of her life, the infant who took up residency in her body for 8 months. "Now why doesn't your Mama have you in your room?" Elliot asked turning around, looking at Olivia.
"We're not there yet," Olivia smiled looking at the two standing in the bedroom. Elliot always looked good holding children, they always loved him, and just looking at him made her heart skip a beat. How they got here was still beyond her.
"Stella, Stella," Elliot smiled lifting the newborn to his face, placing a soft kiss on her nose. "When did you feed her last?"
"About an hour or so ago," Olivia smiled moving over and coming into contact with her new family. "Hi sweetheart," she whispered softly. "She's in love with you."
"She is," Elliot smiled looking down at the infant. "She has good taste, like her Mama."
"Kathy came over today," Olivia said out of the blue, as Elliot handed her Stella, and she moved to sit on the bed, as she pulled out her left breast to begin feeding. She felt the unusual sensation of Stella started to suckle, and clamp down her gums, as her eyes fluttered shut.
"Um, why?"
"She said she understood how hard it was to have a newborn, without the father around, so she picked up some groceries," she explained looking down at her daughter, suckling away on her breast.
"She was looking for evidence that we were together while we were partners," Elliot explained as he started to undress. The suit he wore was becoming bothersome, and he started to drop his dirty clothes in the hamper in the ensuite.
"I understand why she would, you're her ex husband," Olivia defended. "She…"
"She was always jealous of you," Elliot continued, talking over Olivia, as he grabbed a pair of sweats from the dresser. "She was always, and I mean always asking me, if there was anything between us."
"I would never ask you to break your marriage vows," she whispered looking up from Stella, into his eyes. "Never."
"You never did," Elliot replied sitting at the edge of the bed. "You know, she looks just like you."
"She has my mother's eyes," Olivia mumbled staring down at the closed eyes of the infant. Elliot smiled and moved to sit next to Olivia and Stella, draping an arm around her shoulders.
"No, she's you, through and through," Elliot replied as he kissed Olivia's temple. Olivia looked at Elliot and smiled, resting her head against his shoulder. Life had certainly changed, and she was certainly a different person, he was too. When did life change so much, and so fast that made them where they were?