See, I'm crankin 'em out now! Here's another longer one for ya.
Sorry if this chapter seems a little cheesy...but I figure, once in a while we can all use a little good cheddar!
Chapter 10 ---- The One?
One week later, Olivia pulled up to Elliot's apartment building after work. He'd left first, and she was supposed to follow him, but she'd gotten held up finding a file for Munch, who still didn't know about the two of them. It was eleven thirty when Olivia finally got out of her car and made her way into the building and upstairs. She exited the elevator, preoccupied with finding her key, and almost missed the hooded figure standing in front of the door she was headed towards. Her hand drifted to her gun on her hip and she cleared her throat.
"Is there something I can help you with?" She asked, trying to keep her voice steady. The hooded figure jumped and whirled around, the hood slipping down to reveal a mass of long blond hair. "Kathleen?" Olivia asked with a relieved sigh, pressing a hand to her chest and dropping the other from her gun.
Kathleen hung her head. "Hi Olivia. What are you doing here so late?"
"I think that's my question kid." She answered, pocketing her keys and joining the teenager by the apartment door. "Is everything okay hon?" She asked softly, placing a hand on her shoulder when she saw tears glistening in her eyes.
"N-nick and I broke up." Kathleen said softly, her voice shaking slightly with unshed tears.
"Oh honey, I'm sorry." Olivia wrapped her in a quick hug before retrieving her keys and unlocking the door. "Let's go inside and we can talk okay?"
Kathleen nodded and followed Olivia into the apartment.
"Hey there b-"
"Elliot," Olivia interrupted quickly. "Look who I found outside."
"Katie?" Elliot asked in surprise. "What are you doing her baby doll? Is everything okay?" He asked in concern, hurrying over to hug his daughter.
"Sort of. I was just gonna crash here for the night, if you don't mind." Kathleen said softly.
"Of course I don't mind honey. Does mom know you're here?" He raised an eyebrow at her.
"I told her I was hanging out with Jenny tonight, and that I'd come here after, since her house is closer to here."
"Okay then it's fine. I'll get you some blankets for the pull-out."
"Thanks daddy." Kathleen said softly as Elliot disappeared into the other room. Olivia shifted slightly where she stood off to the side.
"I'm just going to go then. I can talk to your dad later." Olivia said, getting ready to leave.
"Wait." Kathleen turned, stopping her. "I still want to talk with you. I'd rather talk to you about it than daddy."
"Sure honey, I'll stay as long as you need me to."
Elliot returned with some blankets and a pillow. "Here you go kiddo."
"Thanks Daddy."
"You need anything else? You wanna talk?"
"No it's okay. 'Livia and I are gonna stay out here and talk though."
"Okay baby." He pressed a kiss to her forehead and hugged her, shooting a questioning look over her head to Olivia who shrugged and shook her head. "Night Katie, you know where to find me if you need anything."
"I know, and thanks for letting me stay."
"You know you're always welcome her Katie-bear." He said tenderly, using his old childhood nickname fore her.
"I know." She smiled. "Now go, we can't have girl talk with you around." He laughed and obligingly left the room, closing his bedroom door behind him. Both women settled onto the couch and got comfortable. After a few moments of silence, Olivia cleared her throat and raised an eyebrow at Kathleen.
Kathleen took a deep breath. "I, uh. I kinda lied earlier, when I said Nick and I broke up."
"What do you mean?" Olivia asked in confusion.
"He-he broke up with me," she said softly, tears beginning to fall down her face. "B-because I wouldn't have s-sex with him." She buried her face in her hands, her tears falling faster.
"Oh honey." Olivia whispered, scooting closer and pulling her into a hug. "I'm so sorry." She held her and rubbed her back for a few minutes until her tears subsided.
"It just hurts so much Liv. I-I thought he loved me."
"I know honey, but it'll get better."
"I don't know. I really loved him."
"I know you did Katie, and it may not seem this way, but it will get better. You'll get over this boy, and there will be others."
"Uh-uh. I don't want to feel like this ever again. It sucks." She said vehemently.
Olivia chuckled. "Oh I know, believe me, I know. I've been there more times than I can count. But it'll all be worth it eventually."
"So every time I get a boyfriend it'll be like this? Doesn't seem like the greatest system if you ask me." Kathleen muttered as she shifted so she could lay down on the couch, her head on Olivia's lap.
"It won't be every time. Sometimes you'll be the one to break his heart, or it just won't work out. Yes there'll be times when you'll get your heart broken, but you'll pull yourself together and move on. Eventually you'll find the right one."
"Really?" Kathleen asked skeptically.
"Katie, this guy, if he can't accept you for who you are and who you want to be, he's not worth your tears. Someday, you will find the one who is, but he's the one who won't make you cry." Olivia answered sincerely.
"Do you really believe that? That there's a guy out there somewhere that makes all this worth it?"
Thinking of Elliot, Olivia smiled, "Yeah I do kid."
"Have you found him yet? Your 'one' I mean."
"I used to think I never would, but lately, I think I have." She said with a small smile.
"How do you know though? That he's really the one for you?"
"Oh honey, I don't think there's ever a hundred percent guarantee, people change throughout the years. But I think that when you do find that guy, you'll know it. He'll be the one you just can't live without. He'll accept you for who you are, and at the same time, help you grow to the person you want to be." A dreamy look settled across Olivia's face as she went on, running her hand through Kathleen's hair as she spoke. "He'll love you unconditionally, and he'll be able to express it, whether it be through flowers or a simple phone call or look across a room. He'll know when you need comforting and when to back off and let you be. You'll know you've found him, because when you're with him, it seems like everything's going to be okay, no matter how bad its been." She trailed off with a small smile, looking down at Kathleen who was watching her.
"I'm glad you found your guy." She said quietly.
"Me too Katie, and I'm sure you will too. Just remember you've got plenty of time. For now, focus on school and figuring out who you are and who you want to become. That way, the guy you find can complement you, rather than needing to complete you."
"Thanks Liv." Kathleen said on a yawn, letting her eyes drift closed as Olivia pulled the blankets around them both and settled a hand on her back before falling asleep herself.
-------------------
Hours later, around three in the morning, Elliot tiptoed out of his bedroom, throwing a jacket on over his jeans and T-shirt before donning his badge, holster and gun. He was surprised to see Olivia asleep on the couch with Kathleen. He crept over quietly and tapped Olivia's shoulder, pushing her hair out of her eyes as he crouched down beside her.
"Liv?" He whispered, he waited a moment when she stirred then called her name again. "Olivia?"
"Hmm...El?" She whispered sleepily.
"Hey." He whispered back with a smile. "I thought you were gonna go home."
"I was, we just got started talking and ended up falling asleep right here I guess."
"It's okay, its actually a good thing."
She was beginning to wake up more, and took in his appearance. "How come you're all dressed? Cragen call you in?"
"Yeah, gotta meet Fin down by the docks. Some fishermen found our body from the Dickerson case." She winced a little, the boy had been missing for weeks, so there had been little chance of finding him alive, but Olivia had been holding on to the smallest sliver of hope. Elliot smiled sympathetically, then stood, gesturing for her to follow him. Slowly she stood up, gently moving Kathleen's head and laying it on the couch before pulling the blanket over her and following Elliot out the apartment door and into the hallway.
"Well?" She asked expectantly, and was startled when he leaned forward and quickly kissed her. "Whoa." She laughed.
"Sorry, been wanting to do that all day." He grinned and she laughed again. "I just wanted to talk to you about the morning."
"Yeah?"
"Can you get Kathleen to school for me? I probably won't be back in time, and I know she doesn't have the car. I don't want her walking."
"Of course not. I'll drive her, it's fine. Does she have everything she'll need?"
"She's got an extra uniform in the hall closet and her backpack's by the door. Seniors get off campus lunch so she and her friends will go buy lunch so you won't have to worry about that. Her school starts at 8:20.
"Okay, no problem. What about Cragen? I won't make it back to the station on time."
"When I get there I'll explain the situation with Katie and tell him I called and asked you to drive her. It should be fine."
"Okay, so I'll see you at the house then?" She asked.
"Yep." He kissed her deeply before pulling away with a groan and starting down the hall. "Oh, and Liv?" He called softly, turning to face her. "Take my bed, no need for both of you to be on the couch." She smiled and nodded, waving goodbye and blowing a kiss to his retreating back. Smiling to herself, she opened the apartment door, closing and locking it quietly behind her before turning and gasping.
"Kathleen! Oh my goodness, you scared me. I thought you were still asleep."
"Nope." She responded softly.
"You okay Kathleen?" Olivia asked when she said nothing else.
"Daddy's the one you were talking about. Isn't he?"
"What-what do you mean?" Olivia asked, trying to stay calm, now that Kathleen had heard them talking.
"The 'one' Liv. That was Daddy you were describing," she said slowly, as the realization hit her. "That's why you were here so late, and why he didn't seem surprised to see you. You've been dating my dad!" She exclaimed accusingly.
"Katie..." Olivia began.
"Is it true?"
"Well yes, but-"
"How long?"
"Kathleen-" Olivia tried again.
"How long Olivia? How long have you been dating?" Kathleen asked softly.
Olivia took a deep breath. "A little over a month," she answered slowly, waiting for a reaction.
"A month? You guys have been together for over a month and no one told me?" She cried, getting upset.
"Kathleen honey, calm down. We haven't told any one yet, you're the first to know. No one else knows, I promise you." Olivia assured her.
"Oh. Why?"
"Huh?"
"Why haven't you told anyone if it's been a month?"
"We don't want to risk our partnership. Relationships between partners are against the rules of the force." Olivia explained.
"Oh. But how come you haven't told any of us?"
"Honey, we just wanted to make sure that it was going to work. We didn't want you guys to get hurt or get your hopes up if things didn't work out between us romantically. We were actually talking about telling you kids when you all came to visit him next weekend."
"Oh."
"Are you okay with all this?"
"Yeah, I guess. I just wish I'd known. Am I gonna have to keep this a secret?"
"For a few days at least, if you don't mind. We'd like your brother and sisters to hear it from us."
"Okay. Are you still going to hide it from the guys at work?"
"For a little while at least. We want to be able to work together as long as possible."
"Makes sense." Kathleen said, thoughtfully, and they lapsed into silence. "Can you help me make the pullout?" She asked a few minutes later, turning to Olivia. They stood and made up the bed, and when she was settled against the pillows, she looked up at Olivia curiously.
"What?"
"Just wondering where you're going to sleep."
Olivia blushed slightly and Kathleen smirked good-naturedly. "Your dad said to take his room. He won't be back this morning." She added hastily. "Oh, and I'm taking you to school, so be ready."
"No problem. Night Liv." She said, snuggling into the pillows.
"Night Kathleen." She answered with a smile, making her way to Elliot's bedroom and closing the door behind her. She grabbed the shirt and boxers he'd laid out for her before, and changed quickly, sliding under the covers. His pillows smell like him, she realized as she smiled, burying her face in the pillow and closing her eyes, falling asleep quickly.
I know that was a little heavy on the dialogue, but it had to be done. Hope you enjoyed it. The next chapter is a little shorter, but has some R rated stuff in it. I'll figure out how to divide it so you can read around it with out missing anything important if you don't want to read it. It's not as graphic as the first one, but still a little bit. Please review, and I'll get the next one up as soon as possible!