Olivia woke to the sound of coffee brewing and the smell of pancakes drifting into the bedroom. She considered staying in bed until Elliot came in to wake her but decided to go ahead and get up. She made her way to the kitchen and found Elliot and Calvin cooking together.
"Good morning Sunshine," Elliot said, smiling at her. "Are you ready for some breakfast?" he asked as he poured her a cup of coffee.
"Yes, everything smells delicious," Olivia told them. She took the cup of coffee from Elliot and gave him a quick kiss.
"It is!" Calvin exclaimed.
"Really?" Olivia asked laughing. "Did you already try them?" She walked over to Calvin and kissed the top of his head and then ruffled his hair.
"Of course," Elliot told her. "We had to make sure they were edible," he said, winking at Calvin.
"The kids have a half day today. We need to pick them up at Kathy's around lunch time. I was thinking after that maybe we could grab a couple pizzas and have a picnic in Central Park, enjoy this nice spring day, maybe take the Frisbee and a football, does that sound like fun?"
"That sounds great El," Olivia said, setting the table for breakfast.
"Calvin?" Elliot asked. "Is that cool with you?"
Calvin nodded his head while piling a generous portion of pancakes on his plate. Olivia was pleased to see him eating so well but was a little concerned about how quiet he had been lately. She hoped a weekend with Elliot's kids would get him to open up a little bit. Calvin devoured his food quickly and then headed into the family room and turned on guitar hero, leaving Elliot and Olivia alone in the kitchen.
"I'm worried about him, El," Olivia confided.
"What do you mean?" Elliot asked, taking another bite of his pancakes.
"He's so quiet."
"I think he's doing ok. He's been through a lot Liv. It's gonna take some time. He's adjusting to a new parent, a new school, a whole new routine. He'll be ok," Elliot tried to comfort her.
"Ok," Olivia hesitated "I'm just a little worried he's keeping too much bottled up inside."
"He'll settle in, Liv. Trust me," Elliot said as he took her plate with his and loaded them in the dishwasher. Elliot walked over behind Olivia's chair and rubbed her shoulders. "Try not to worry so much," he whispered to her before arching his head around and kissing her cheek. He put one finger to Olivia's chin and guided her head to face his so he could reach her lips. Olivia opened her mouth to him and he accepted her invitation to share a passionate kiss.
"Off we go," Elliot said as he backed out of the driveway. He adjusted the rear view mirror so he could see Calvin as he started down the street. "Did you grab the football Calvin?" He saw him nod his head in the mirror. He looked over at Olivia who was looking at him and thought about the conversation they had just had earlier that morning.
They picked up Elliot's kids and the pizzas before heading to Central Park. After they ate Maureen, Kathleen and Olivia played with Eli on the playground while Elliot played football with Calvin, Dickie, and Lizzie. Then Lizzie wandered over to the playground and Dickie and Calvin decided to throw the Frisbee back and forth. Elliot and Olivia sat at the picnic table and watched the kids playing and having a good time. They decided to treat the kids and take them to the Central Park Zoo before they piled in the mini-van and headed home.
Elliot stopped at Blockbuster on the way home. He sent Dickie and Calvin in to pick a movie out. He was hoping they would bond. He knew it wouldn't hurt for either of them to have another friend. They two returned with School of Rock and the first Pirates of the Caribbean.
When they got home the kids scattered. Kathleen headed for the computer, Maureen got her homework out, Lizzie played with Olivia and Eli in his room and Dickie turned on guitar hero. Elliot headed to the kitchen to get dinner started. As he was filling a pot with water for the macaroni and cheese Calvin appeared out of nowhere.
"What's up Bud?" Elliot asked cheerfully. Calvin shrugged his shoulders and started chewing on his lower lip. "Are you looking for Liv?" he asked, wondering what was up with Calvin. Calvin shook his head no. Elliot put the pan on the stove and turned the burner on. He walked over to Calvin. "Do you want to talk?" he asked him quietly.
"Daddy!" Lizzie yelled as she skipped into the kitchen.
Elliot took a deep breath and squeezed Calvin's shoulder before turning his attention to his daughter.
"What do you need Babe?" he asked her. Lizzie wrapped her arms around her Dad and hugged him.
"I love you Daddy," she said smiling.
"I love you too Honey," Elliot said hugging her back. He kissed her forehead and smiled at her. "Can you do me a favor?" he asked.
"Anything," she replied.
"Can you go ask Liv to come here please and can you play with Eli for me?"
"Uh-huh," Lizzie hummed as she took off back down the hall.
Elliot dug out two boxes of macaroni and cheese from the cupboard, then got a couple packages of hotdogs out of the refrigerator. Calvin stood in the kitchen as still as a statue, watching.
"What's up El?" Olivia asked as she walked into the kitchen.
"Can you finish up dinner, Liv?" Elliot asked. "Calvin and I are going to find somewhere quiet to talk."
"Sure," Olivia said hesitantly. "What's going on? Is everything ok?"
"It's ok Liv," Elliot reassured her. "I promise."
Olivia didn't want to pump Elliot for information in front of Calvin. She trusted him completely but it was difficult for her to just watch as the two of them walked away.
"Grab your jacket Calvin. Let's go out back," Elliot told him as he tossed Calvin his jacket. Calvin stood with a blank expression on his face and watched his jacket fall to the floor in front of him.
"I don't want a jacket," Calvin said quietly. His eyes were wide open and his gaze pierced Elliot's bright blue eyes.
"Ok," Elliot said as he hung the jacket back up. He pulled on his own jacket before leading Calvin out the back door to the patio.
"What's going on Calvin?" Elliot asked him softly. Calvin continued staring into Elliot's eyes, saying nothing, his face expressing very little emotion. Elliot walked Calvin over to the edge of the deck and sat down. He motioned for Calvin to sit next to him. The sun had almost completely set and the breeze was cool against Elliot's face.
"Aren't you cold?" Elliot asked, trying to get Calvin to talk about anything.
Calvin shook his head no. He was quiet for a moment. "It makes me feel alive," Calvin said, barely audible. He had turned his gaze off into the distance.
"What do you mean?" Elliot asked, encouraging him to express his feelings. Elliot wasn't qualified to be Calvin's shrink but he was hoping he knew enough to be able to get through to Calvin a little bit. Calvin shrugged his shoulders again. Elliot turned towards Calvin and put his hand on the boy's shoulder. He kept his voice soft and gentle. "I've met a lot of people who have been through terrible things Calvin. You're holding up better than most adults. I know you're a tough kid, I have no doubt about that, but you can't keep everything bottled up inside you, Son."
Elliot heard Calvin sniff his nose and saw a tear roll down his cheek. He put his arm around Calvin. He could feel how rigid his body was. "I'm here for you Calvin. I want to help you. You can tell me anything. You can talk to Liv, you can talk to your counselor, there are a lot of people who"
"I don't want to talk to anybody else," Calvin said sharply, cutting Elliot off. He began rocking his body back and forth as his anxiety level increased. "I..."
Elliot waited for Calvin to continue. When the silence went too long he asked, "What is it Calvin?"
"I'm so messed up Elliot," Calvin blurted out as tears spilled onto his face. "Nobody wants me. Nobody will ever want me. I don't belong anywhere. I don't fit in anywhere." Calvin stood up and began pacing around the yard. Elliot watched him and listened patiently. "I don't know what I did. I let that man take me and I let those boys do those things to me. Why? Why did I do that? What's wrong with me Elliot?"
"Calvin," Elliot said quietly, "nothing is wrong with you. This isn't your fault."
"Then why did I let it happen?" Calvin yelled, interrupting Elliot again.
"Calvin, come here. Come over here and listen to me for a minute," Elliot said patting the deck next to him. "You didn't do anything wrong. You didn't let this happen. You did everything you were supposed to do, you survived."
Calvin dropped his head into his hands. Elliot could see him shivering so he took off his jacket and wrapped it around Calvin's shoulders. "Your Mom was really sick Calvin. It wasn't that she didn't want you. Some bad stuff happened to her too and she just couldn't deal with it. She loves you." Elliot paused and let Calvin process what he said. "You know what else? Calvin?" Elliot tried to catch his eyes but Calvin wouldn't look at him. "Olivia loves you too. You mean the world to her. And I love you Calvin, I love you like you're my own son. You fit right here with us. With me and Olivia, and Dickie, and Maureen, and Kathleen, and Lizzie, and Eli," Elliot named off each person slowly. "We are all here for you Calvin. We love you and we care," Elliot said as he rubbed Calvin's back. "Ok?"
Calvin finally looked at Elliot with a pained look in his eyes. He slowly nodded his head.
"Ok," Elliot said. "Now go in there and give Olivia a hug! She's worried about you."
Calvin half smiled at Elliot then got up and headed for the door. Elliot followed him. Right before they reached the door Calvin turned around and hugged Elliot. Elliot squeezed Calvin tight and kissed the top of his head.
"Come find me anytime you need to talk," Elliot told him.
Calvin found Olivia in the kitchen and gave her a big hug.
"Are you ok Sweetheart?" Olivia asked him.
"Yes," Calvin answered. Olivia looked up at Elliot and he smiled and nodded his head, motioning that everything was ok.
When Elliot and Calvin finished dinner everybody gathered in the family room and Dickie put in School of Rock. The kids fought over who was going to sit next to Olivia. Calvin sat on one side of her and Kathleen sat on the other side. Lizzie sat by Elliot and rested her head on his shoulder; Eli sat in Elliot's lap. Dickie spread out on the floor and Maureen sat in the recliner.
When the movie was over Elliot put Eli to bed. The kids decided they were going to stay up and watch Pirates of the Caribbean. Elliot and Olivia disappeared into the bedroom.
"What's going on with Calvin?" Olivia asked. She had been waiting all night to talk to Elliot and finally had the opportunity.
"I think he's worried, he's trying to process everything that's happening, he's scared. He's just trying to deal." Elliot relaxed on the bed next to Olivia. Olivia scooted close to Elliot and cuddled up to him. "He blames himself," Elliot told her.
"What'd you tell him?" Olivia asked.
"I told him it wasn't his fault. I told him we're here for him and we love him, at this point I don't think we can tell him that enough. He needs to know he belongs and he's loved."
"I'm worried," Olivia said. "He's got an appointment with his counselor on Monday evening." Olivia laid in Elliot's arms, thinking. Elliot ran his fingers through Olivia's hair.
"Elliot?" Olivia asked. "Why won't Calvin talk to me about any of this stuff?"
"I think part of it is he's afraid you're going to see some form of weakness in him and he doesn't want that. I think he's worried about being unwanted and possibly being sent away again."
"And?" Olivia asked.
"I'm not sure, I kind of wonder if he has questions he's too embarrassed to ask, maybe he's trying to find the courage. Questions about sex and stuff, you know? I wonder if Vivian ever had 'the talk' with him."
"Should I have 'the talk' with him? I don't want to freak him out, but I don't want him to be unaware either," Olivia told Elliot.
Elliot thought for a moment. He held Olivia close to him and kissed her forehead. "Why don't you let me try to talk to him? It may be less awkward for him coming from a guy." Elliot was worried Olivia would get angry or defensive at his suggestion but she was surprisingly calm.
"I don't know what I'm doing Elliot. I've totally screwed up with Calvin," she told him, her voice starting to crack.
"You didn't screw anything up. Come on now, you know that."
"He's so broken and I don't know how to fix him," Olivia said as she began crying softly.
Elliot brushed the tears from Olivia's face. "Liv, you love him and you're doing everything right. You have him in counseling, his grades are starting to improve, he's eating again," Elliot guided Olivia's face towards his so he could look at her, "he's healthy, he's happy. You've gotta give him some time Liv, and you have to give yourself some too. You're both adjusting to this new normal."
"Thanks El," Olivia said softly. "I don't know what's wrong with me."
Elliot smiled at Olivia and pulled her into his chest again. "Nothing's wrong with you Liv," he told her. "Being a parent is difficult, you're always worrying, always second guessing yourself. And to complicate things even more, you have a traumatized teenager, but I promise you, you're doing great."
Olivia wrapped her arms around Elliot's chest. "I don't know what I'd ever do without you El."
"I'll always be here for you Liv."
Elliot and Olivia were lying in bed holding onto each other when there was a knock at the door.
"Come in," Elliot called. He looked towards the door and saw Lizzie standing there.
"Daddy," Lizzie said.
"Yah Babe?"
"We've been talking, and, um, we wanna come live with you."