The air was fresh and clean, nothing like the New York air they had left behind. Olivia took a deep breath and smiled brightly as Bryan and Elliot began unloading the trunk of the car. Mr. Stabler was talking to one of the neighbors, and Mrs. Stabler had gone into the house. Kitty was bouncing next to Olivia, her eyes wide and bright staring at the ocean.

"It's so awesome your grandparents have this beach house." Kitty looked at her friend and nodded, sucking up as much sea air as she could.

"I'm just happy they go on these trips to Florida every once in a while, let us have the run of the place."

Olivia smiled and leaned over the fence. She looked over at Kitty, who's eyes were closed and her hair was flying behind her.

"September and October is the best months to come here. Wait until we go swimming!"

"I'm not going in the ocean." Her brown eyes were big, she hadn't been to the beach in years. Her mother had never really liked the beach, so had stopped taking her there when she turned ten. It didn't seem like a big deal, because it was just a beach. Sand and salt water, that stuck everywhere and dried your skin. Now, however, standing and watching the ocean touch the tide, she couldn't imagine not visiting every chance she got.

"You will." Brown crashed with blue, and Olivia smiled as Kitty winked at her. "Once we all get down there, and Elliot or Bryan toss you into the ocean."

She laughed, shaking her head. A strong hand rested on her shoulder, squeezing it gently. She looked to see Elliot smiling behind her, his eyes focusing on the water.

"Come on, mom wants us to unpack and have some lunch."

"Are we going to the boardwalk?" The girls turned, following Elliot towards the house.

"Me and Bryan are going over to Jeffery's house, see if we can go on the boat tomorrow. Maybe we'll take you guys out tonight." Elliot shrugged, grabbing his duffle bag. He also picked up Olivia's bag, winking at her. "Come on, Bryan all ready bought your bag in cat lady."

Kitty mumbled, and linked arms with Olivia. She gave her friend a wink, and followed her brother. Flipping her hair over her shoulder and she took a sharp breath of air before entering the house.

They were going to have the best damn vacation, so help her.

---

She faked left, turned right, ran down the court, and was about to throw when two strong arms grabbed her around the waist, hoisting her around from the basket.

"Elliot!" She screeched, laughing. Bryan was stalking over to them while Kitty fell over laughing in the background.

"Ellie!" Mrs. Stabler started scolding her youngest son. He still had his arms around Olivia and gave a broad smile to his mother.

"I'm tired of them always winning! It's an unfair match!"

"Maybe," Bryan stated, grabbing the ball from Olivia, debating whether to throw it at Elliot, or tackle both of them to the ground. "If you would practice or watch mine and Olivia's tactics, we wouldn't be having these issues."

Kitty was still on the ground, laughing uncontrollably. Mrs. Stable, who was sitting on the porch, shook her head, sipping her ice tea.

"Elliot! Put her down!" He looked at his mother and smirked. He spun around, making Olivia squeal, only ending with them both sprawled out on the driveway.

"Ow." Olivia was laughing, rolling on to the side, so she laid next to Elliot on the ground. Kitty started laughing even harder, wiping the tears from her eyes.

"Elliot, you're such an idiot." Bryan rolled his eyes, walking towards his mother, the ball in his hand.

"You're too serious!" Elliot laughed after him.

Mr. Stabler walked out, and stared at the three children crumbled on his driveway. He shook his head and looked over at them.

"When did the cool thing become rolling on the driveway?" The three children looked at the taller man, still laughing, but trying to manage themselves. Mr. Stabler shook his head again and looked at his wife who was trying to hide her own laughter. He rolled his eyes and settled on to the chair next to Mrs. Stabler.

Olivia closed her eyes, wiping away whatever tears might have appeared. She sat up and crossed her legs, so that she was sitting Indian style. Elliot was still lying on his back, not a foot away from her, trying to stifle the rest of his laughter. She looked over to see Kitty leaning against the basketball hoop, shaking her head and smiling. Looking back at Elliot, she leaned down on her hands. She would watch some of his track meets when her team had to do laps around the school. He turned his head and smiled at her, his face red from lack of oxygen.

"Let's go down to the beach." Olivia's head swiveled around to meet Kitty's blue eyes. The older girl was smiling brightly. Elliot sat up and began dusting himself off.

"That sounds good." He smiled over to the girls and then got up. "I'll meet you guys down there."

Olivia watched as he left and turned to Kitty, watching as her best friend began skipping down the fence towards the water. She looked back to the Stabler's who were talking amongst themselves. Slowly, she followed the trail made by Kitty, and smiled as she saw the raven haired girl dancing in the water, her shorts and tank top soaked.

"Kitty! It's freezing!"

"SO!" Kitty laughed and splashed about in the water. Olivia rolled her eyes and sat on the sand. Before she knew it, a blur rushed past her, jumping at Kitty so the girl and the blur were under the water. Olivia jumped up, rushing towards the edge. Kitty popped up, laughing, running her hands over her hair to get it out of her face. The next thing to pop up, also laughing, was Elliot. He was wearing a pair of shorts, his smile the size of his face.

"That's refreshing!" He looked over at Olivia, folding his arms. "Come on in!"

She had been wearing shorts, and one of her sweat shirts. Shaking her head she took a few steps back, eyeing Kitty who was ringing out her hair.

"Oh, come on Livvie! The water is only cold for a few minutes." She smiled, nodding towards the ocean. "You need to live, Livvie. Come on."

Olivia rolled her eyes and began taking off her sneakers. Sighing, she removed her sweatshirt and stretched, before taking off and diving into the cold water. She came up for air, squealing and wrapping her arms around her now soaked sports bra.

"It's freezing!" Elliot smiled and walked up to her, he wrapped his arms around her.

"Here I'll warm you up." Olivia smiled and moved into his embrace, only to be pulled against him and plunged into the brutally cold water.

They could hear Kitty's laugh as they emerged from the depths. Olivia pushed away from him and began splashing the water in his face. This was nothing compared to the wave he produced, trying to get her back. He ended up getting both girls, and then proceeded to keep them at arms length as they stalked over to him, splashing at him violently.

"Hey! Hey!" He closed his eyes, and reopened them, only to see two bright brown eyes staring back at him. They were inches apart, and his breath was suddenly caught in his chest. It came on so suddenly, he almost choked when he tried to breathe. This was all short lived, because he found himself inhaling an indecent amount of sea water.

Olivia and Kitty were in hysterics, they clutched their stomachs and leaned against each other to stop from falling. Elliot popped up, coughing and trying to breathe. He hit his chest a few times and then stared at the two girls, especially a certain brunette. Olivia winked at him and then turned, running through the water as fast as she could. Laughing, Kitty turned around and rushed after her friend, their giggles echoing across the water. Elliot rolled his eyes and started running after them.

They were so dead.

---

"Some people sleep, you know." Olivia looked over her shoulder towards the voice. She was sitting on the sand noting that it was well into the next morning, but found sleep. Which was a little confusing, because between all the running, playing, and water, she assumed she would be out cold.

Kitty walked up, a blanket wrapped tightly around her body. She flopped down next to Olivia and yawned. "I rolled over and thought I hit you, so I jumped up, and you weren't there, it was your pillow. What are you doing out here?"

"Thinking." She sighed and shrugged. "I don't know. It's so pretty."

"You know when it's even prettier?" Another yawn escaped her lips. "In the morning, after you get sleep."

Olivia laughed and let her head drop back, looking at the black sky. "Do you remember your dad?"

"What do you mean?" Kitty cocked an eyebrow.

"Before he got switched to desk duty." It was something they rarely talked about, but right now, at three in the morning, the waves crashing around them, it seemed logical.

"I don't remember too much of it." She shrugged, wrapping the blanket even tighter around herself. "I was three and Elliot was about five. Bryan and Mike remember a lot more, they use to tell us stories, when daddy came home really upset from work. How's your mom?"

"She's fine. Drinks a beer in the morning, and by sundown she's on vodka. I'm not even sure she knows I'm not home." She let out a bitter laugh. Kitty looked over at her friend and scooted closer to her.

"You're sixteen Liv. We can tell daddy, he'll get you out, you can live with us." Olivia could recognize the hopeful tone in her friend's voice. A tone she had long given up on.

"I can't leave her Kitty. She's my mother, she needs me." How could she leave the only family she had? The only person that was suppose to truly love her. Maybe she was just scared to leave. Maybe there was more to it then she thought about.

"She treats you horribly. She doesn't need you." Kitty looked down at the sand, and began tracing random shapes. "You shouldn't let her control you."

Olivia sighed and fell backwards, the sky was crystal clear, depicting every star in the sky. It wasn't like this in New York. The city lights never slept, so the stars were never able to shine. She closed her eyes, the salt air filling her lungs.

"It's not that simple Kit-Kat."

---

Elliot laid in bed, listening to his brother's snores. He had almost missed sharing a bedroom. Thank god they had these little trips to remind him of how wonderful it was to have his own room. However, Bryan's deep snores, and the sounds of the beach rather then the city noises were keeping him up.

Slowly he got out of his bed and stretched, looking at the clock next to his bed. It was almost six o'clock. Maybe his dad was up, he could probably convince the man to take him out to breakfast or something. He smirked as he tried to figure out a game plan.

Walking down the stairs, listening to the sounds of his family sleeping was music to his ears. Being the youngest boy, and having a girl born almost two years after you, made it hard to get quietness.

He was startled as he entered the kitchen, and a certain brunette was sitting on the counter snacking on crackers. She looked up at him and smile slightly.

"Morning." Her voice was shallow and full of sleep. He wondered if she had gotten any. It was a new feeling, being concerned and worried for this girl. It had to be because she was Kitty's best friend, that's it. She was like a second little sister to him.

Blue eyes ran over her. She was in sweat pants and a tank top, her curves were perfectly define. Basketball and good genes had turned this girl from the scrawny fourteen year old, who didn't talk, into a sixteen year old goddess. She slid off the counter, to lean against it.

"Why are you up so early?" He shrugged, grabbing an apple from a bowl on the counter. The beach was perfectly visible from the large kitchen window above the sink. The sun was staring to peek out. He turned to her and smirked, taking a bite from the apple.

"Why didn't you sleep?" Her brown eyes grew wide.

"How did you know I hadn't slept."

"Lucky guess. Why didn't you?"

"I guess, because, I didn't." She shrugged, and tried to pass him. He reached out and grabbed her arm, twisting her around to look at him.

"What's up with you?" Brown eyes were wide, bigger then he had ever seen. He had the intense urge to bring her into a hug and never let go. He shook his head and backed away, running a hand through his black hair. "I'm sorry."

Olivia chuckled a bit and smile. "Don't worry about it Elliot. New surroundings, hard to get some sleep." She winked at him and began heading out.

"It's El." She didn't turn around, but he could tell she was smiling. Without a second word she disappeared around the bend. He smirked and leaned against the counter, taking another bite from the apple.

---

The boardwalk was long, she had only been on it once, a long time ago. Mrs. Stabler placed her hand around Olivia, and smiled brightly down at her. Kitty was skipping ahead of them, looking at various trinkets and clothes in the little shops.

"How's my favorite basketball star?" Olivia smiled up at the older woman.

"I'm good."

"Well, very good then. We're going to have to come to one of these games."

"We have a big one in November." A parent had never come to one of her games for her. The Stabler's had appeared a few times, but mostly because Kitty need rides. It was a new experience.

"Well, we'll be there." Mrs. Stabler, smiled brightly and gave her a side hug.

"Mom!" The two turned to look up at itty who was holding up a purse. "Isn't it cute?"

Mrs. Stabler rolled her eyes and smiled down at Olivia. "Where did I get her from?"

"I don't have a clue." Olivia laughed and rushed over to her friend.

"So, mom, do you really dislike Kathy?" The older woman turned and looked at Kitty.

"I don't dislike Kathy. She's a very bright girl." Olivia looked at the woman's face, noting that she may not have completely dislike the girl, but she certainly didn't like her.

"But you don't like her." Mrs. Stable made a noise, that Olivia assumed meant she didn't want to discuss this matter further. "Mom, come on."

"Why are you asking me Katrina?" Her tone was strong, and if Olivia hadn't known her for so long, she would assume the older woman would start yelling.

"Because he was on the phone with her for, like, ever." Kitty rolled her eyes. "I don't like her. She's such a bitch."

"Katrina!" Kitty quickly apologized, looking away from her mother's glaze.

"All I'm saying--"

"Kathy is your brother's girlfriend, and it's none of our business. And besides, I never like any of your brother's girlfriends."

"I bet you'd like Olivia." This made both Mrs. Stabler and Olivia look up. "I bet if Bryan or Elliot liked Olivia you'd be happy."

Olivia's lips were pressed together tightly, she could see the wheels turning in Kitty's brain, but she wasn't a hundred percent on what the hell she was thinking. When she had first met Kitty, she had developed a huge crush on Bryan. He was living at home and going to school, and she loved going to the Stabler's and seeing him. At the time, he was twenty one and getting ready to go off to medical school, he had a girlfriend, and treated Olivia like he treated Kitty. The crush had fizzled the summer after freshman year, when other boys, Olivia's age, became apparent. But Kitty, bringing this up, now, and involving Elliot, was weird.

"Of course I would love Olivia as a daughter-inlaw," Mrs. Stabler winked at her. "But don't go embarrassing her."

Kitty smiled and turned back to the table with purses. Olivia walked up and began looking at the bags as well.

"Did I miss something?" Kitty looked at her, a certain spark in her eyes.

"Yeah, but don't worry, I'll let you in on it later." Olivia stared at her best friend, suddenly confused, and slightly afraid.