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A few days later, Bella was sent home. Jack and Elliot had packed things up so they could stay at his and Olivia's house. Most nights, Olivia and Bella fell asleep in the living room watching movies.
Elliot woke up one morning to find just Olivia on the couch. He went into the kitchen to find Bella curled up at the dining room table drinking coffee. She smiled lightly when she saw Elliot. "Hey Dad."
Elliot kissed his daughter's head. "Hey, how you feelin?"
Bella hesitated. "I'm getting there." She ran her finger along the rim of the coffee cup. "Are you guys off again today?"
"Yep, I'm very happy about it. I get to spend it with me daughter now. Plus, I think your brothers and sisters are coming over today." Elliot said pouring his own cup of coffee.
"That's good." Bella said. A few moments later, she was completely zoned out.
Elliot watched as she gripped the coffee cup just a little tighter. Her jaw went slack and she was starting to sweat. "Bella... baby, come back to now. Bella?"
Bella snapped out of it and looked at her father. "Sorry, I just zoned out."
"Bella, come here." Elliot said holding out his arms.
Bella let a few tears drop as she was hugged by her father. "Dad, I'm fine."
"You are not fine, Bella." Elliot said tearing up himself. He hated seeing his daughter so broken. "You're safe, but you are not fine."
Bella let out a sob and she hugged her father tighter. "You don't know that."
Elliot scoffed at his daughter's words. "My god, you are so your mother." Elliot pulled his daughter back to look into her eyes. Her eyes were scrunched up and her mouth was open slightly. "You don't have to have this strong personality around me. I'm your father and I love you no matter what."
"I have too. I need to be strong for Jack and our baby and Dickie and-" Bella was cut off by Elliot pulling her back into her chest.
"No, you don't. We don't expect you to keep it all together every single moment of every single day. It doesn't work. Believe me, I've tried. I tried staying strong for your mother when you went missing. Bella, sometimes we all just have to let go and be ourselves." Elliot whispered hugging his daughter.
"You need to move, Dad. My leg hurts." Bella said.
"Sorry." Elliot said letting go of her.
Bella cuddled into her father's side. "Thank you."
"You don't need to thank me, Bella. I'm your dad; I will always be there for you." Elliot said kissing her head. "C'mon, let's go watch some TV until the rugrats get here." Bella chuckled as they walked into the living room. Elliot sat in the recliner with Bella. "By the way, nice feety pajamas."
"Thank you. Dickie and I got matching ones last month." Bella smiled overlapping her left leg with his right.
Elliot kissed her head and put his arm around her. "I swear, you guys are closer than your mother and I sometimes."
"Well, he's barbie buddy." Bella smiled drifting off.
Olivia woke up as soon as Bella was asleep. "Hey."
"Hey, how'd you sleep?" Elliot asked.
"We need a better couch. My back is killing me." Olivia said rubbing her back briefly. "How's Bella?"
"Uh... she's you." Elliot said.
Olivia rolled her eyes. "Okay, just because she says she's fine doesn't mean it's like me." Elliot just looked at her with a smirk on his face. "Okay, I'll admit, that's me. She's still not saying anything."
"We need her to talk soon. Cragen still needs her statement. He's been waiting for us to call, but he needs it by Friday." Elliot said.
"I'll talk to her tonight." Olivia sighed. "Ouch!"
"What happened?" Elliot asked.
Olivia stood up. "I just stubbed my toe."
"Are you okay?" Elliot asked.
"I'm fine." Olivia said. Elliot smirked with a cocky look in his eyes. Olivia walked by him and slapped his forehead. "Cocky bastard."
"Last time you said that, you were very happy with me." Elliot smirked covering his head.
Olivia smirked and whispered in his ear huskily. "Well, don't expect that for a while."
Elliot's eyes widened and he whimpered as he watched her walk away. "But baby."
"Don't but baby me." Olivia said wagging her finger. She turned her head and showed off her devious grin before going into the kitchen.
An hour later, Elliot was asleep with Bella. Maureen, Kathleen, Lizzie, Dickie, and Cory knocked on the door. Olivia answered and smiled as they came in. "Hey guys."
"Hey Mom, how's Bella?" Dickie asked.
Olivia tilted her head to the side. "Uh, she's... me, I guess."
"I'm fine." All five Stablers guessed.
Olivia smiled. "You guys are brats. Come on, Jack and Bella made brownies last night."
They all went into the kitchen right as Elliot woke up. He groaned softly and rubbed Bella's back. "Bella, I love you more than life itself, but you're like me. You're a heater and I need to stop sweating."
Bella groaned and rubbed her face. She slowly opened her eyes to look at him. "Hey."
Elliot smiled down at her and kissed her head. "Hey, time to get up." Bella rolled her eyes, but got up. "Hey, help your father up."
Bella chuckled as she helped her father up. "You're losing it old man."
"Hey, I'm not that old." Elliot commented. "I think the rest of your brothers and sisters are here."
"What tipped you off? The pile of shoes on the floor or the three cars out front?" Bella teased.
"You are such a brat." Elliot smiled following her to the kitchen.
"Whatever turd." Bella said.
Olivia smiled as she saw them walk in. "There they are."
"Hey guys." Elliot smiled as he dug into the pan of brownies.
Dickie vacated half of his chair. "C'mon Bella."
Bella sat down next to him and he put his arm around her. Bella kissed his cheek. "Hey barbie buddy."
"I will never live that down." Dickie chuckled.
Lizzie smiled. "You've been barbie buddy since she was three. It's been twenty-three years. I would think you'd be used to it by now."
"I am; I just never thought it would last this long." Dickie chuckled.
"Oh, you love being barbie buddy." Maureen smiled.
"It's better than stinky pants." Cory scoffed.
Bella laughed. "In our defense, you did smell really bad at times."
"I did not!" Cory defended himself.
"Cory, I changed your diapers. You could've used that smell as a weapon." Olivia chuckled.
Cory rolled his eyes. "Thanks Mom."
"Hey, your mother is just telling you the truth." Elliot smirked as Olivia got up and sat back down when he was in the chair.
Olivia wiped her hands on a napkin. "Why are you so sweaty?"
"I was in the same chair as Bella. According to you, we're walking heaters." Elliot said eating his brownie.
"I know. She kept me warm last night." Olivia smirked. "You usually do that."
Kathleen held up her hands. "Woah, woah, woah, you're crossing a boundary now. We've set rules."
"Yeah, yeah, but of course it doesn't apply to you." Olivia said.
"Well, duh!" All four of her daughters said at the same time.
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