Title: Stones in the Road
Series: Give a Little Bit
Author: Megan Faye
Rated: PG
Disclaimer: I don't own anything here.
A/N: Sequal Give a Little Bit This song just reminds me of a picture of Mariska Hargitay, and inspired this story.
"Elliot?"
"Got a spare room that needs a little bit of pink?" he asked. John furrowed his brow. "I got you a meeting with the social worker. She'll be here tomorrow to see Hannah's room, your living conditions, and you need a room for her."
"She doesn't like pink."
"I also brought yellow, and Fin, Maureen, Lizzie, Dickie, and a truck with Kathleen's furnature ready to move in. Show me the spare room." Munch let them in and down the hall to his office.
"All this can go into my room. Let me clear a space in there." Munch went in one direction while Elliot went in the opposite to help move the furnature up.
Munch was glad his desk was on castors; it was a quick move into his room. He was a complicated gentleman, who lived in a simple condo. He had very nice things, just not a lot of things. Simplicity was best for him. Now, things had definitely changed for him. He wanted things a little more complicated. Hannah needed a home where she would be safe, loved, and properly cared for by someone who she could trust. He pulled books off the shelves and moved them onto his bed. John listened to the movement in the living room. His friends were pulling in lots of 'Little Girl' things, and doing a lot of work and he didn't even know if he was going to be legally allowed to adopt the child.
After an hour, the room was cleared, and ready for painting. The last bit of furnature was up, and they were able to lay the drop cloth on the floor. Everyone grabbed rollers and painted. The room was painted quickly with all the help around. While the first coat of paint dried, they worked on putting together the book shelf in John's room that had been taken apart to move, and set up his computer. It was just over 6 hours later that the room was painted, furnished, and almost ready for Hannah. Lizzie and Maureen hand painted the bed frame white, and put little blue and lavender flowers on in the same shades as the bed set they picked out for her. The room was beautiful.
"What's missing?" John asked.
"Toys and books." Maureen pulled in a box and filled a shelf with her old books from her childhood. "Lizzie and Kathleen weren't into reading as much as I was, so they are in really good condition. Some are new." She pulled a few stuffed animals out and arranged them on the shelf, and turned on the white lamp. John smiled. The light was just right, and the girls had painted the plain shade with the same flowers that were on the bed. Hannah liked blue and yellow. The touch of lavender here and there that Lizzie and Maureen had insisted upon added a very 'young lady' feeling to it.
"Its perfect."
"Dad said she was small, so I got my old clothes to give her," Lizzie said. She was always short for her age, so her clothes from a few years ago may fit the small girl. "They're size 8. Think they'll fit her?"
"I hope so," Elliot said. "You have the meeting ar 8:00 am tomorrow. Call me after, I got work tonight. We're going undercover for a sting."
"Good luch, schmuck."
"You're lucky you have an early appointment tomorrow, or it'd be you. This is your case I took over, buddy."
"Thanks, Elliot."
"Anytime, John. Come on, Fin...Maureen, can you take them home?"
"Sure, bye Dad. Good luck tomorrow, John."
"Thanks for your help guys." Maureen and the twins left.
"We gotta jet, too, Munch," Fin said. "Have a good night sleep, you lucky bastard."
"Go bust a sex offender."
"El?"
"Go back to sleep."
"What time is it?"
"Just past 7:30." Elliot tucked himself into her arms. "We got 5 guys headed into Randy's apartment looking for Hannah and the girls. Total break down. They were sick freaks who started crying and whimpering about how they didn't really know what was going on." Olivia turned in his arms. "I'm taking today off. Missed you too much last night."
"I have an appointment," she said, pulling herself begrudgingly from his arms. "Want me to leave Allie with you, or should I bring her with me and Eli?"
"As much as I miss the monkey, I gotta get some sleep."
"Well, we can always try out that double stroller," she said smiling. "What time does John meet with the social worker."
"Half an hour. He'll call me after." As Elliot pulled Olivia's pillow into his arms and snuggled down, his cell phone rang. "Of Course."
"Want me to get it?" Elliot rolled himself over to the bedside table.
"Stabler. Better be important."
"Elliot, its Cragen. Another twist in the case."
"Can you tell me in 5 hours?"
"No, we need you now." Elliot groaned. "All nighter?"
"Just got into bed."
"Get a couple of hours. I'll handle it for now. I can try and stall Novak with baby pictures of Eli."
"You do that, and I won't need to come in for a month. Call me when stalling doesn't work." He hung up and seached the bedroom for his wife. Olivia was not there, and the shower was running. Elliot let his eyes droop closed when a shrill cry from across the room snapped them open again. "Morning, buddy," he mumbled, lifting the newborn baby into his arms. He wandered sleepily through the apartment, dropped a bottle from the fridge into the bottle warmer, and found the changing table in the nursery. When he finished the diaper duty, he felt arms around his leg.
"Hi Daddy."
"Morning, Allie."
"Hold me?" She asked, arms up. "Daddy, hold me!" she whined.
"I can't right now, Monkey. I need to feed Eli."
"Daddy," she whined. She started crying loudly, tugging on him and pushing in front of him. Elliot stepped around her and pulled a bottle from warmer and took a spot in the rocking chair. "No Eli! My Daddy!" she yelled as she tugged on Eli's arm. Elliot knelt down in front of the two year old, and craddled Eli protectively.
"Allie, I need to feed your brother. When he's done eating, I'll put him in the swing and we can play. All right?" Allie tried to climb up his leg for him to hold her. "Liv, help," he called. As there was no answer, he got creative. "I got an idea."
"Dadddddyyyyyy," she cried. Elliot sat in the rocking chair and pulled Allie onto his lap.
"You can feed your brother, Big Girl." Elliot held Eli in Allie's arms and helped her position the bottle. "What a good helper," he mumbled through a yawn. Allie laid her head back into he chest and studied the little invasion that was curled up onto his lap.
"Daddy?"
"Hmm?"
"Sweepy?"
"Yeah, Peanut. Daddy's sleepy."
"It okay, Daddy. I feed Eli." Elliot chuckled and kissed her head.
"Allie, you crack me up."
"Down," she said wiggling. Elliot maneuvered Eli in his arms so the Allie could run off. Elliot dozed while Eli sucked on the bottle. His eyes flew open as Liv took the baby.
"Go to bed, we're headed out."
"What time s'it?" he asked groggily.
"About 8:30. John's calling my cell phone, and I told Cragen you'd be there at 3:00 for a few hours, but you were taking the morning to sleep of the under cover sting." Elliot smiled weakly. "I love you, El."
"You too."
John sighed as he unloaded the grocery bag. He had no idea what the kid would like. She was Jewish, but probably wasn't used to a Kosher diet. However, he bought a variety of foods, Kosher and regular. She was nine years old, but so small. After talking with her pediatrician, he bought Pediasure, and other fatty foods for her, to get her weight up. The social work would be bringing her over soon, and he wanted everything yo be just right. Kathleen and Maureen taught him how to braid hair, in case she asked for it. Hannah's hair was so long. She'd spent a week in a small group home while John worked things out with her social workers, and found a private school close to the station house. His next order of business was to change work schedule to more reasonable hours. He wouldn't put her in after school care unless he absolutely needed to. As it was the summer, the private school would allow her to start in their summer program. It would be a fun summer for her. Every Monday, they went horse-back riding. Tuesdays was a trip to the movies, and afternoon was music. Wednesdays were swimming. Thursdays were computer days, and Fridays were library days. Every morning there was class, but not as intense as their school year. He was please with it, and it was 10 minutes walk from work.
She'd have to wear a uniform, but he got her measurments from her doctor. He'd bought a closet full of new clothes for her, all were clean, tags removed, and very nice. Nothing was at all reveiling, all her skirts would fall close to her knee, where, in John's opinion, they belonged. When he bought the school jumpers, he looked at the sizes the doctor gave him. She was still way too small for Lizzie's clothes, and she needed new. Hannah looked as though she'd never had anything new in her life. Now she would. Even though the matress was firm and in prestine condition, Munch wanted to give her a soft bed, and sent out for a new one with a pillow top, extra soft. He was determined to spoil this child, even if it meant spending his entire pension on her.
There was a knock on the door, and John felt nervous. He'd hoped Hannah would be happy with her new home, but he was terrified she'd reject him as a father. John took a deep breath and opened the door.
"Hi, Hannah. Come on in, sweetie." The child's eyes were big. She was proudly wearing the Star he'd sent her, along with the new clothes. John gave her social worker a duffle of her new clothes along with a new gold Star of David. It was the first gift she'd ever remembered getting from anyone.
"Hannah, John and I need to talk. Can we show you your room?"
"Its right in here." John took her hand and lead her to the beautiful room. When he opened the door, Hannah cried softly. "What's wrong?"
"This is for me?" John knelt down and wiped the tears from her cheeks gently.
"Of course it is, Hannah. Don't you like it? If you don't we could always change it..."
"Its so nice, John," she said, looking around. Her eyes met his. "Why?"
"Because no one did before, and I wanted to show you that you are loved." She hugged him. "Why don't you go play while I talk to your social worker. Okay?" She nodded and sat on the bed. "There's a doll house in the closet, filled with dolls, waiting for you to try it out." John opened the blinds to allow the sunlight to brighten the room. "I'll be back in soon."
"Okay," she whispered, overcome by the sudden change in her life. John nodded and went back into the living room
"She's still unsure," the social worker told him. "Hannah's been through a lot."
"I know. I was one of the officers who pulled her out of there."
"So I hear. You changed her room since our visit."
"I bought a new book shelf, new books, more toys, and a new matress."
"And painted her name on the door."
"I want her to know it is her room, and she is welcomed here."
"John, you're a good man. Don't rush her though. If you push too hard, she'll break."
"I've got a really great psychologist who's willing to meet with her as often as she needs, even going to her school if she's comfortable with it. You've met with her principal, right?" John asked, pulling a school folder out with all the information the social worker would need for the state to be satisfied.
"Yes. Her testing will be done gradually. She's never been to school, doesn't read well, and has no idea about math aside from making a bottle means 8 ounces of water and 4 scoops of formula. You'll have to remind her to bathe and wash her hair daily, and make sure she doesn't hord food or clothing." John nodded.
"I've gotten all the vitamins her doctor requested, along with Pediasure milk shakes, and Pedialite juice. What does she like to eat?"
"Not much. She'll eat anything, but only a bite or two. Don't force her to finish, but require she eat at least two bites of each portion you put in front of her." John nodded again. "If you have any concerns, call me."
"Thanks." John showed the woman out and went back to Hannah's room. He knocked gently. "Hannah? Can I come in?"
"Yes," came her soft relply. John opened the door and Hannah was still seated on the edge of her bed staring around the room.
"Would you like something to eat?" Hannah's pig-tails bobbed up and down as she nodded, bringing a smile to John's face. "Come on," he said, hand out for her to take.
"Can I have a cup of coffee?"
"What?"
"I like coffee this time of day, or I get sleepy."
"Why don't we have lunch and a milk shake instead?" She nodded.
"Can I bring this?" she asked, holding up the stuffed dog that sat on her bed.
"Yes, you can bring him."
"Does he have a name?"
"Cujo."
"Like the evil dog from the movie?" she asked, voice shaking.
"No! No, but we'll change his name. How about you name him.
"Charlie Chaplin, from the movies."
"Charlie Chaplin?" Hannah nodded. John mentally kicked himself. The kid had seen a Steven King movie, and he'd already managed to scare her. "My friends are coming over for dinner at the park to meet you. Do you remember Detective Elliot Stabler? He's helping me put your Daddy in jail."
"Is he the one who has a new baby?"
"Yep," John said as he poured her a cup of the milk shake. "Drink that, please." She took a tentative sip, and looked up at him. "How is it?"
"Its good." She drank the glass down. John smiled and went to work on a cheese sandwich.
"Detective Stabler is coming over with his wife, and two of his kids."
"How many kids does he have?"
"The man has six. Maureen is 24, Kathleen is 21, Lizze and Dickie are 15 now, Allie is 2, and Eli is 4 weeks old." He placed the cheese sandwich in front of her, drops a few carrots on her plate, and grapes. She ate quickly. "Slow down a little. You'll make yourself sick." She slowed a little, but still guarded her food out of habit.
"Thank you," she said as she finished.
"What would you like to do before my friends meet us at the park? Do you want to go play there for a while befor you meet my friends Fin, Captain Cragen, and Casey. You've met Casey." She nodded. "Great. Olivia will be there with Allie. There will be quite a few people there, Elliot, Liv, Maureen, Kathleen, Lizzie, Dickie, Allie, Eli, Cragen, Fin and Casey. Will you be okay with them there?" Hannah nodded. "Fantastic."
"John?"
"Yes?"
"Are you my new Daddy?"
"I'd like to be, but it takes time for paper work to be filed, and when its all done, probably in about 6 months, you;ll change your name to Hannah Grace Munch, and then I'll be your Daddy. For now, I'm you legal guardian."
"What's the difference?"
"Paperwork."
"John?"
"Yes?"
"Do I have to sleep in your bed?" John's stomach flipped over. She was asking if she should expect the assult she'd suffered for years in her father's home. John knelt next to her and lifted her chin so her eyes met his.
"No, Hannah. You have your own bed, where you, and only you will sleep. I have my own bed. You can sleep on my bed when I'm not in it, but the things your dad did to you, they're never going to happen here. Do you understnd, Hannah?" She nodded lightly. "You don't have to be afraid of me. I will never hurt you, I will never leave you, and I will never let anyone hurt you like you were hurt by your father."
"Do you swear?"
"I swear." Hannah threw her arms around him tightly. It seemed to be good enough for her.
The park was full this time of day with children Hannah's age. Olivia would be over with Allie and Eli as Liv wanted to out of the house for a little while today. Eli was doing well, it was warm and sunny, and Allie Needed to be outside. John was pushing the swing with Hannah when he saw Allie bouncing around next to Olivia as she pushed the stroller.
"Uncle John!" Allie squealed, running to him. He caught her before she ran in front of Hannah's swing and gave her a hug.
"Hi, there, Monkey. Hannah, sweetie, this is Allison. We call her Allie. This is Aunt Olivia, and the littlest member of the group, Eli."
"Hi, Hannah. I'm Olivia." Hannah gave her a weak smile. "I brought some snacks. Would you like to sit with us in the grass and have some Goldfish crackers?" Hannah looked up at John, who nodded lightly and followed Olivia to a big tree. He helped her pread the blanket while Allie ran around Eli's stroller. "Allie, come eat."
"She has pretty hair," Hannah said softly. "Like my sisters did."
"I think you have very pretty hair, too," Oliiva said, touching a curl. The girl stiffened. "Would you like it braided like Allie's?"
"No thank you."
"Maybe for school," John suggested. "Olivia's oldest daughters taught me how."
"Speaking of oldest daughters, Maureen's meeting us here after her last class. She's got something she wants to run by me."
"Nice. Better be that guy, Luke."
"I hope so. Once we meet him, that means she's really interested. Did you know Cassidy put the moves on her?"
"That boy doesn't know when he's crossed the line."
"When I told Maureen that I dated Brian, she started gagging that she had dated one of my old boy-friends."
"Who's Maureen and Brian?"
"Maureen is my 24-year-old daughter," Olivia said, showing her a picture from her wallet.
"And Brian Cassidy worked with me, Elliot Stabler, and Olivia."
"Oh," Hannah said, connecting the dots to who was who for the moment. She popped another goldfish in. As John and Olivia talked and watched Allie in the sand box a few yards away, Hannah dozed off on the blanket. After an hour or so, Allie and Eli were asleep as well.
"She's beautiful, John," Olivia said, looking the child over.
"The sales woman though I was creepy, buying all these little girls clothes. When I explained that I was adopting a girl, and she needed nice new clothes, she thought I was even creepier."
"You did very well." Olivia noted that even though Hannah wore summer clothes, it was a long pleated shirt, a blouse, stockings, and white Mary-Jane shoes. "She's very well dressed."
"I couldn't see putting her in what these stores call shorts! Girls today show way too much skin, and its not something she needs right now. Later on, maybe school uniform shorts, and later, jeans and t shirts. For now, though, were talking knee-length dresses. Call me old fashioned." Olivia chuckled.
"She seems to like her new wardrobe though, right?"
"Before we left the house, I had a talk with her about clothes, and what little girls are not supposed to show. She can pick out anything in her closet that she wants to wear, I get final approval, and when she's ready to get new clothes, she can pick them out. For now, to make it easier for her, I'll pick out what she wears in general, and she picks the day to day things."
"And she's okay with that?"
"She is okay with that. She told me she never had more to wear than her mother's old T shirt, and occasionally, a man would leave a coat there, or a pair of shorts. When we found them, the girls were huddled under a filthy sheet, naked." Olivia's stomach turned. "Further investigation; there were shoes and long coats in the closet, so they could go outside when they were told. Hannah hadn't been outside in 5 months. The babies aren't her sisters, a woman just moved in here with a new baby, and eventually had the twins." Olivia found herself ready to cry.
"Poor girls."
"She said it started when she was four or five. They had them so screwed up, she didn't know the other girls names."
"My god," she whispered. "Where are the others?"
"Ana and Lilly are in temporary foster care; the foster-parents hope to adopt. Hope is still hospitalized, but they've found an adoptive family for her as well. Faith is in foster care, but until her behavioral issues are assessed, she may not be adopted. Its a pretty bleak out-look for a two-year-old. She can't speak, and hardly maintains eye contact. Most people don't want a troubled toddler."
"I know a couple who would love a second child," Olivia said, thinking of Kathleen and Rose.
"They just got Alexander, and I can't see her doing well with a family with other children. She needs to be an only child. Know any couple without a 2 month old baby?" Olivia shook her head. "I was lucky to get Hannah, and the adoption may not even go through. I want to be able to focus on her completely for a while."
"You mean spoil her rotten, like you have Allie."
"Exactly."
Hannah awoke to the sounds of laughter. It wasn't something she was used to, but it was a welcomed change in her life, much like the smile on John's face when he saw her dark eyes staring up at him. She was warm, she discovered. Someone had put a blanket over her.
"Hey, doll face." Hannah froze. There was another man on the blanket. "I'm Don Cragen."
"Dad, can you just call her Hannah?" Olivia whispered. "Her father called her every pet name in the book, and she's still pretty timid." Cragen's eyes closed.
"I'm sorry, Hannah. I didn't mean to worry you. We're all here, now. Would you like some dinner?" She sat up.
"I didn't realize you were so tired, Hannah. We'd have stayed home a while had I known," John said, handing the girl one of her Pediasures. "This one's strawberry. Give it a go!" She smiled when she saw the shake and drank it quickly. "Hey, slow down, my friend. You'll make yourself sick."
"So, Hannah," Lizzie said, calling her attention. "Wanna listen to some music? I broght my mp3 player and speaker dock."
"What kind of music?"
"All kinds. I have this one guy on here, Elton John. He plays the piano. Oh my God he rocks."
"Can we, John?" Kathleen asked. "No worries, we'll look out for her. We'll go as far as the next tree."
"Go be girls," he said, smiling. Hannah followed slowly behind Lizzie, Rose, Kathleen and Maureen. "So, you guys all met her social worker, didn't you."
"Yep."
"Guilty."
"How'd you guess?"
"I have Hannah, and there's no way I'd have been given a little girl with her history without help from above."
"I pulled strings," Casey added. "A lot of strings...a 300-thread count."
"I pulled favors I wasn't even owed," Cragen said, smiling. "We knew she'd be better off with you than in a group home."
"So, how is she?" Elliot asked. "She seems great now, but at home, is she okay?"
"No, she asked me if we were going...to share a bed..." John whispered.
"Jesus."
"I told her that things like that wouldn't happen any more, but I'm not sure she believes me. She looked so scared when Don called her 'Doll face.' Hannah's going to need a lot more therapy. She's been meeting with a child psychologist the whole time she was in foster care. He told me Hannah responded well." The group nodded as the passed food around. "Is this kosher?"
"Yep, whole meal is, as requested. I didn't know you followed-"
"I want Hannah to follow the traditions for a while, until she tells me otherwise." The group nodded. John looked over at the groups of girls as the music drifted over to the picnic. There, between Lizzie and Kathleen, Hannah was dancing, laughing, and having fun for the first time in her life. Her pig tails bounced as the tune of Crocodile Rock flowed through the park. He stood and wandered over. Maureen took John's hande and pulled him into the dance. None of his friends had ever actually seen John Munch relax, play, and dance with a group of children. Fin snapped several pictures to taunt him with later. The old man had changed in a matter of weeks since meeting this kid.
"John?" came a soft voice. John pulled himself sitting up and reached for his glasses. He tapped the lamp on his bedside table and looked around. Hannah was standing at the door.
"Hannah? Is everything okay?"
"I can't sleep." John climbed out of bed and pulled a robe on over his silk pajamas. He took Hannah by the hand into the living room and turned on a light.
"Would you like a hot chocolate?" he asked, headed towards the kitchen. He caught a glimpes of the clock. It was 10:30 pm, and she'd waited a full 2 hours to tell him.
"What's that?"
"Its better than coffee."
"John, nothing is better than coffee."
"You've been around Olivia way too much." In truth, they'd only met earlier that afternoon. "Did they really give you coffee?"
"With cream, one sugar, and an ice cube." He rolled his eyes. Hannah cast her eyes down in shame.
"Sweetie," John said, lifting her chin and bringing her beautiful eyes to meet his. "If you would like coffee, you may have coffee. Its up to you. However, I would recommend hot chocolate for sleeping." He warmed the milk and looked for the mix he'd bought that morning. Upon its retrieval from the cabinet, the microwave beeped. He mixed the powder with the milk, added a little sugar, and some whipped cream. He tasted it for temperature, and brought one to Hannah, saving the other for himself. "Try that on your taste buds." She sipped at it willingly. In that first day, she'd tasted new foods, new drinks, and so far, the only thing she didn't like was grape juice.
"Oh, my God, that's good stuff," the child said. "I've never had this before!"
"Glad you approve, my pint-sized friend."
"Hey, John?"
"Yes?"
"Can I call you Papa?" John felt a content feeling wash over him. "I don't want to call you Daddy because Daddy was a dip-shit."
"Yes he was, but please don't use that language. You're nine."
"Sorry."
"And yes, you may call me Papa."
"Papa," she said softly. It fit him better than 'Dad,' that was for sure.
"Tomorrow is Tuesday, and I have to go into work for a few hours."
"Okay."
"I'm going to take you to your new school, so when we get up, you'll need to wear a uniform. You were okay to skip today, because its summer, but tomorrow, you'll have to go to school. Its movie day, so I'll give your teacher money for snacks, and a drink. You're seeing the movie Ice Age 3."
"We get to go to the movies?" she asked, blown away by the news. "Like in a movie theater?" John grinned.
"I never told you about your school!"
"No, just that I get to go," she said, smiling.
"This is what the summer program is like. Every morning from 8:00 until noon, its regular class, to help you catch up. After that, you have lunch and a chance to rest. At 2:00, the group leaves on a field trip. On Mondays, they'll take you to the stables for horse-back riding. Tuesdays, you get to go to the movies. Wednesdays is swimming lessons. Thursdays are computer days, and on Fridays, you go to the library. One of those days is also Music class if you're interested."
"What if I get tired?"
"The teacher will page me, I'll come and get you, and you can sleep at my work."
"You won't be mad?"
"I won't be mad."
"Swear?"
"I promise. If you want me to come get you at any time, I'll be there, Short-cake."
"No one ever called me Short-cake before."
"May I call you Short-cake?" Hannah thought about it a moment before nodding. "Maybe tomorrow, I'll get you a peice of Strawberry short cake so you know what it is you're being called..." Hannah smiled. "Go brush your teeth and get to bed. I'll clean up and come read to you some more."
"Night, Papa."
"Night, Short Cake." Father-hood was really settling in to john quite well.
"Kathy, come in!" Olivia said, showing her husband's ex-wife into the apartment. Kathy had never seen it, and Lizzie and Dickie were still home, a full 4 and a half weeks after Eli was born.
"How is he?"
"Loud. No question, he's got a good set of lungs." Kathy gestured, silently asking if she could hold Eli. Liv nodded and gratefully handed the baby over. Allie was still in her room crying that her mommy was feeding Eli. "Allie's having problems adjusting. She was kicked out of her daycare until she stops biting."
"Maureen was like that when I had Kathleen."
"MOM!" Lizzie hollered from her room.
"Yeah," Kathy and Olivia answered in unison. Lizzie and Dickie both came out upon hearing Kathy's voice.
"Sorry, habit," Kathy said gently.
"Its okay."
"Hi Kathy," Dickie said politely. "Mom, I'm headed up town to Trevor's."
"Who?"
"Trevor Langan, the attorney? I'm interviewing him for a school project."
"Remember, he's...sleezy."
"He's a lawyer. Name one-"
"Alex Cabot, and Casey Novak." Dickie froze.
"But you can't name three." Olivia laughed and handed him cab fare.
"No subway! You have cab fare and lunch money." Dickie gave her a hug, and a quick nod to Kathy. "Call me if you get stuck somewhere, and don't accept anything from Trevor. He's...icky." Dickie laughed as he headed out. "Lizzie, what did you need?"
"Cab fare. I'm meeting Casey down town for lunch and our interview."
"That's why Dickie chose Trevor."
"Casey already agreed to meet with me, and we can't interveiw the same person." Liv pulled more cash from her purse, handed it off to the young girl and waited for a response. "First, thank you. Second, No subways, no busses, take a cab, call you if I get stuck someplace. You'd rather drive all night than me take the subway. And third; Have fun, and if Casey offers me lunch, its okay, she's not a sleeze bag."
"They listen!" Liv hugged the girl. "Have fun."
"Its homework."
"Its Casey!"
"Okay, I admit, its sounding a lot more fun than Trevor." Lizzie grabbed her back pack and headed out the door.
"Bye Mom, Bye, Kathy," she called. Olivie felt herself relax. They didn't call Kathy 'Mom.'
"So," Liv said, walking towards the kitchen. "Would you like a cup of coffee?"
"Sure."
"You know, I miss coffee, and quite girls days." Allie had stopped screaming and wandered back out to her mother. "Allie, you need to go take you nap, baby. I'll turn on your music, why don't you lay down on Daddy's side of the bed?" Allie nodded, still a bit upset. Liv put the girl in the master bedroom and turned on her CD player. She shut the door and finished fixing Kathy's coffee. "Did I mention I miss quiet?"
"You'll get used to the noise."
"God I hope so." They sat on the couch. It was still awkward between the two women.
"So, they call you Mom."
"Yeah."
"I suppose I had that one coming."
"No. I don't think you did," Liv said, coming to the realization that Kathy was their mother, and was making an effort to fix her mistakes. "It wasn't right of me to allow them that. You're their mother, and letting them call me Mom has done more damage for all of you than good over the last year."
"There is no reason we can't both be Mom," Kathy offered. "Alexander has two Moms, why not our kids? Granted we're not sleeping together."
"Sorry, Kath, you just aren't my type."
"You know, I am totally okay with that." The two laughed. "You know, I never thought I'd be sitting in your home holding your baby, laughing with you."
"I never saw this either. I never thought I'd have kids."
"Why? You were more of a mother to my kids the minute you and Elliot became partners. You went to more of their soccer games, cheerleading try outs, football games...you were at Maureen and Kathleen's proms as chaperone." Olivia laughed at the memory. She'd finally gotten to go to a prom. She'd been asked to chaperone by Elliot. Maureen would have died if he'd been at her prom. So Olivia went with Cassidy. She had a chance to get all dressed up and she felt sexy, in a hot dress, carrying a gun. Overall, it suited her personality well.
"I always saw myself as not good enough. My mother was a drunk, my father was a rapest, and I didn't want to pass that on."
"You know, Elliot's father was a child molester who beat the hell out of him every day of his life, and his mother was a door mat. Look at how well Elliot turned out."
"I never knew that."
"You weren't there. He and I grew up together. Elliot's never directly told me any of this, but his sisters did, and the bruises told me plenty. Its why he's been in SVU so long. Let me guess, he said he was there because he wanted to clean up the streets for his own children." Olivia nodded as she wiped a tear. "He may not have the same tragic child hood you did, but they were damn similar, and he understnads you more than you could ever know." Olivia nodded again, silently.
"So...would you, um...like another cup?"
"No thanks. I should get going. I just came by to see how Eli was, save you a trip to the doctor..."
"Well, if you ever want to stop by just to talk, the door is always open." Kathy smiled gratefully, and laid Eli down in his bassinet. "Give me a call and we'l do lunch some time."
"Same goes to you, Liv."
"So, why did you choose this career?"
"I needed to see that the people who make mistakes get a fair trial, and a second chance if they deserve it," Trevor answered. His office wasn't as nice as Casey's, and the cookies that he offered were an off-brand.
"If you could be a DA, or an ADA, would you be?"
"No."
"You could make so much more money-"
"Dickie, I'm going to tell you something very important. There are more import things than money. I own 5 nice suits, and the rest are ragged jeans, and t shirts. There are people out there who are sick freaks, as your parents would say. But then, there are people who genuinely make mistakes. Look at your mother and Olivia. Kathy hurt you guys very badly, am I right?" Dickie nodded. "If we were to go by the letter of the law, she'd be in prison."
"Probably," Dickie whispered.
"But her lawyer knew it wasn't what she needed to get better. She needed to be at home, seeing a good shrink, and you and your sisters needed to be able to heal with Olivia and Elliot. If it wasn't for her lawyer, who does the exact same job as I do, she would be in jail."
"Is it true that in prison, they gang up against people who are in for crimes against children?"
"They've killed women in prison for less than what your mother did. Olivia thinks I'm a dirty lawyer, but she can't see things from my side of the table. If she did, her job would be compromised. She's got to believe that every person they arrest is guilty and malicious, or else, those who are, walk free to hunt the innocent." Dickie nodded and took notes. "Liv called me a sleeze ball, sleeze bag, and things like that, didn't she?"
"Yeah."
"Good. It keeps her perspective."
A/N: Chapter three is in the works!