Chapter 4: Set Up or Step Up

Emily and Olivia arrived at the Stablers around 6:30 pm. Elliot was just putting the meat on the grill "Hey Liv and Miss Emily." Elliot said as they walked into the house. Emily waved at him.

"Hey El, so what's for dinner?" Olivia asked.

"Mommy can I go upstairs with the other kids?" Emily asked.

"Sure baby, be careful OK." Olivia told her.

"I will." Emily shouted over her shoulder.

Emily was upstairs in a matter of seconds.

"What do they," Liv pointed towards the ceiling, "have planned?" she asked.

"They just want to spend time with Emily." Elliot recounted.

"If you say so." Olivia told him as she followed him outside.

Elliot threw several burgers and hot dogs on the grill. "Would you like a beer Liv?" He asked

"Yes Please" Liv answered

UPSTAIRS

"Do you think it will work?" Dickie asked his sister

"I hope so, Dad needs to start dating again." Maureen told Dickie.

"And I want a daddy." Emily blurted out.

"How do we get them together though." Kathleen wondered.

"Dad's either going to have to step up or be set up with Olivia." Lizzie said.

"Tonight at dinner we need to start set our plan in action" Maureen stated.

"What plan would that be?" Lizzie asked.

"Just get them spend as much time together outside of work as we can." Maureen simply stated.

AROUND THE TABLE

"So kids what's up?" Elliot asked "None of you are speaking."

The kids just sat and stared at their half empty plates. "Mommy can I be done?" Emily asked.

"I guess honey" Olivia said as she looked at Emily's plate.

"Go clean your face and hands." Olivia told her.

"I can help." All four Stablers blurted out.

UPSTAIRS

The five children ran for the stairs. Once upstairs the kids started giggling "It worked !" They all said giggling together. "Emily now you remember what to do now right?" Lizzie asked.

"Yeah, I go downstairs and ask my mommy if I can spend the night..right?" Emily asked not sure.

"Yeah that's right" Lizzie responded "Go on, go ask" Emily jumped off the bed and ran downstairs.

DOWNSTAIRS

Olivia and Elliot were sitting on the couch talking about the events that had just transpired.

"Do you think they are trying to have something between us?" Olivia asked.

"No! My kids don't want me to date..and you are a new mother that's the last thing you need right.." Elliot said.

"Yeah"Liv said trying to sound sure of her self, but really thinking that she wanted to gave somebody to come home to every night and someone that Em could call daddy.

"MOMMY!" Emily yelled from the stairs.

"What..what's wrong Em?" Olivia asked worriedly jumping from the couch.

"Can I spend the night with Lizzie?" Emily asked.

Olivia looked over at Elliot confirming her thought. Elliot just shrugged his shoulders. "Sure baby do you want me to stay too?"

"Hold on I'll be right back" Emily ran upstairs "Lizzie my mom wants to know if I want her to stay too."

"YES!" The four Stablers yelled loud enough for Olivia and Elliot to hear

"I guess you have two more for the night Mr. Stabler."

"Fantastic." Elliot responded

"What about night clothes for you and Emily?" Elliot asked "I'm sure Dickie has a shirt Em can wear though." Elliot said

"I have my workout clothes in the car I can sleep in those. I didn't get chance to go to the gym today so they are clean." Olivia pointed out

"You want to take my bed?" Elliot asked "I can take the couch"

"NO Elliot I would never put you out." Olivia said " We can share the bed we are just friends. Friends sleep together all the time." Olivia said.

BEDTIME

For once Liv didn't have a hard time getting Emily down. Liv walked into Elliot's bedroom and looked at the bed and swallowed hard. Elliot came out of the bathroom in just his boxers. Liv stared at him

"See something you like?" Elliot asked breaking Liv out of her daze.

Liv darted into the bathroom to change. "Get a grip Liv, he's your partner, your best friend." Liv told herself. Liv changed into her clothes and walked back into the bedroom. Elliot was already laying down.

"You OK Liv?" Elliot asked.

"Yeah." Liv went to the other side and got into bed. Elliot rolled over and stared at Liv. Liv reached over and gently rubbed Elliot cheek.

"Thanks for letting us stay here tonight" Liv said.

El leaned in and gave Olivia a quick kiss. "Your welcome now please go to sleep" Elliot said. Liv rolled over facing the opposite direction and tired to go to sleep.

Liv laid in the staring at the clock on her side of the bed watching the minutes tick by. She finally succumbed to sleep about 30 mintues after laying down.