Three hours after Olivia had left the apartment she found herself driving back. She was so happy to be done for the week and really surprised that it didn't take longer to put what pieces they could retrieve from the computer together. The roads were pretty clear, so it didn't take her long to get home. She pulled into her regular parking spot; then walked up the two flights of steps to her floor. Olivia knocked gently on Sandra's door just in case Ella was sleeping. Sandra answered the door and pressed her pointer finger to her lips,
"Shh, she just fell asleep."
Olivia walked over and picked up the car seat that held her little girl, along with the two diaper bags.
"Thanks again Sandra, I really appreciate it."
"It was no problem, she was great. Plus, my coworker was over so that was a big help, but either way we would have been fine."
Olivia smiled as she walked out the door then turned around and said,
"I'll see you tomorrow."
Olivia got in the door and placed everything on the floor. She lifted the sleeping baby out of her car seat then brought her into her room to be changed. Olivia then walked into her own room with the baby and gently placed her in the bassinet. She kissed her head and softly said,
"Sweet dreams little one."
She threw on the old t-shirt she still had that belonged to Elliot and some shorts, then slid into bed. She didn't think she would even truly be able to give up Elliot all the way; he would always be apart of her and hold a piece of her heart.
Elliot twisted and turned all night that little girl reminded him of someone, he just couldn't place his finger on whom. He kept trying to push the connection he felt he had with her to the back of his head. But something in his head starting shouting OLIVIA! It was around four when he finally fell asleep. He woke up at eight to the sound of his door buzzer, Dickie and Lizzie. It was his weekend with the twins. He buzzed them in, and then went to change for the day. Elliot was walking out of the room, when his two kids came bursting through the apartment door.
"Hey Dad," they said in sync.
"Hey guys, how have you been?"
Lizzie rolled her eyes and Elliot realized that probably wasn't the best question to ask.
"Daddy, Dickie and I have been talking and we both agreed that we want to come live with you, we hate it with Mom and Grant. They both ignore us most of the time, they are always too busy with Eli and Sarah. We just can't stay there anymore."
"Is that why your mother didn't bring you guys up? She's too busy with the babies."
"Mom didn't bring Lizzie and I, Dad."
"Oh then Grant did, that explains a lot."
Lizzie shook her head at her father.
"No, Kate our 'babysitter' did. Mom and Grant had some appointment for Eli, they were too busy to bring Dickie and I, so they got Kate to bring us."
"Did you guys eat?"
They nodded in sync, they were so different but at times they were so in sync. He loved that about the twins; no matter how far apart they were from each other or how much they fought, they never stayed mad for long.
"How about we head to the park?"
"Dad, the park is for babies."
"Yeah, Dad Lizzie and I are eight now."
"Well, I got a new basketball. I figured we could try it out, ya know shoot some hoops. Then we can go shopping for some new clothes. How does that sound to you guys?"
The twins looked at each other then back at their father.
"Sounds good to us," they once spoke in sync.
"Dad can Olivia come?"
"Uhh, Lizzie…Olivia and I don't work together anymore. What if I call my new partner, Sandra…I bet she'd love to come."
"That's fine but it won't be the same, we miss Liv."
Elliot moved into the other number and picked up the phone to call Sandra. He was hoping that she was home and that she would agree to come. Plus, he didn't know the first thing about shopping for girl's clothes.
"Hello."
"Hey Sandra, it's me Elliot. I was wondering if you would like to come to the park. I have the twins this weekend and they want to meet my new partner."
"Yeah, I don't have anything else planned. What park?"
"It's only a few blocks from my place. Why don't you just meet us at my apartment building and you can follow us there."
"Okay, sounds good see you there."
Elliot was relieved that Sandra had agreed to come. He figured it would be a good idea to get to know her since Cragen said not to drive this one away but he was definitely not going to get attached.
Since Olivia had woken early she turned her iPod on low and listened to it while she read. SheDaisy poured through the speakers and she began to sing along.
"So complicated, I'm so frustrated. I wanna hold you close, I wanna push you away, I wanna make you go, I wanna make you stay," she started crying at the words as she sang.
Olivia heard the baby being to stir in her crib, and then she started to whimper. It was like she was in tuned to her mother's emotions. Olivia wiped her tears then picked up Ella. Let's go get changed and get you a bottle. By seven thirty, they were dressed and fed. Today she was going to look at furniture for her office so Brian from work was going to help her. She didn't want to lead him on because she wasn't ready for any kind of relationship right now. She put a bunch of diapers, bottles filled with formula, a few changes of clothes and everything else the baby would need for their outing out. She was putting the diaper bag and stroller by the door when she heard the knock.
She opened the door to see Brian standing there.
"Hey, I just need to go get Ella."
Olivia went and took the baby out of her swing and placed her in her car seat. She picked up the car seat and the diaper bag, while Brian grabbed the stroller. She closed the door and turned to see that Sandra was leaving her apartment too.
"So Olivia, don't you think it might be a little hard to shop with the baby?"
"Well, I can't just leave her home."
"I'm sorry Olivia but I couldn't help over hearing. I'm headed to the park to meet up with a coworker and his children. I can take Ella with me, if you want."
Olivia glared at Brian for being such a loud mouth, then smiled graciously at Sandra and said,
"That would be amazing. Are you sure you don't mind, this is the second day in a row."
"No, it's fine. She was really good for me yesterday and the fresh air will be good for her."
"Thank you."
They got downstairs and Olivia took the car seat base out of her car and snapped it into Sandra's. While she was showing Sandra how to snap the car seat into the base, Brian put the stroller and diaper bad in the trunk. Olivia smiled at Sandra, a silent way of saying thank you again. They both got in their separate cars and drove in opposite directions.
Sandra reached Elliot's apartment and he and his kids were in the car ready to go, so she didn't have to get out she just turned the car around and followed them. When they reached the park she went to the trunk and pulled out the stroller and diaper bag. Elliot looked at her with a confused face.
"What's up with the stroller you do know my kids are both eight right?"
"Yes Elliot. I told my next door neighbor that I would bring Ella to the park with me. She was going to buy furniture for her home office and the guy I think she is seeing was making a big deal about having to cart the baby around. So I offered."
Elliot unfolded the stroller, while Sandra got the car seat with the baby out of the car. Once the baby was settled, he grabbed the bag with the basketball, football and whatever else the kids had packed for their day outing.
Olivia found exactly what she wanted within fifteen minutes, so she found it pretty dumb that she couldn't have just brought the baby with her. Brian was loading his truck when Olivia's phone went off.
"Hey, Case. What's up?"
"I'm going to go for a run. Want to come?"
"I'm with Brian from work. We are on our way back to my place with the office furniture. Hey Brian, my friend Casey is going for a run, you want to go?"
"Yeah, sure we can drop this off at your house then go."
"We are in. See you soon."
Casey got to the park before Olivia and it's a good thing she did. She was running past the basketball court when she spotted Elliot. She ran over to him and notice his was with his newest partner Sandra, his kids and a baby girl that resembled Ella.
"Hey guys, what are you up to today and who is this little cutie?"
"Hey Case, you know the kids and Sandra. This little cutie is Sandra's next door neighbor's daughter Ella."
"Oh, I see. Well she is just absolutely adorable. Listen guys, I'm meeting some friends for a run. I'll see you later."
Casey ran as fast as she could to her car. She pulled out her cell phone and dialed Liv.
Come on Liv, answer your phone.
"Hey Case, we are pulling in now."
"Change of plans, let's go hang out at your house."
"What's going on Case?"
"Nothing, I'll explain to you back at your place."
They reached Liv's place at the same time. They were up in Olivia's apartment in no time. She asked Liv where Ella was and she told her that she was with the next door neighbor at the park. Casey then told Liv everything she saw at the park.
"Oh my gosh, Case. I had no idea that Sandra was El's new partner."
"Yeah, well I think it's a little weird that your daughter is at the park with her father and El had no clue that it's his daughter."
"And I would like to keep it that way Case, if you—"
The door bell rang and interrupted their conversation, Olivia went to answer and saw through the peep whole El holding the baby in one arm with the car seat on his arm and the diaper bag in it. She ran back to where Casey and Brian were sitting.
"Brian, go answer the door please. Pretend you're my boyfriend and take the baby and her stuff pleaseeeee."
"No problem but once I get back you are so going to explain to me what the heck is going on."