Be Careful What You Wish For

(Chapter Ten: Magic)

Elliot opened his eyes and kissed the top of Olivia 's head. I could get used to this, he thought to himself as he smiled down at the beautiful woman still sleeping in his arms. He smoothed his thumb over the warm golden skin of her bare shoulder and placed a soft kiss on it. He had never seen another woman half as attractive as she was, he wasn't even sure there were any other women in the world as wonderful as she was. He was the luckiest man in the world.

Olivia moaned a little as she stirred and opened her eyes.

"The fire went out," Elliot said softly as she smiled up from under him.

"The power is back on," she replied with a smile as she pointed to the clock on the DVD player across the room. "And there is still plenty of fire here to keep us warm," she said raising up to kiss him and pull him suggestively down to her.

Olivia giggled playfully as Elliot pulled the blankets back over their heads.

Two hours later Olivia awoke as the alarm clock on her cell phone sounded.

"What time is it?" Elliot asked as she slid to the edge of the sofa bed and wrapped the sheet around her body.

"Seven thirty," she replied walking to the window to peek outside.

"How does it look?"

"Cold," she replied looking over her shoulder at him with a sarcastic smile.

"Smart ass," Elliot teased.

"It's beautiful. Everything is white. Looks like it finally stopped snowing for now."

"That's good."

Olivia picked her clothes up from the floor as Elliot watched.

"Are you getting up?" she asked.

"I'd rather you came back to bed," he said patting the space beside him where she had once laid.

Olivia smiled leaning forward to kiss him.

"We can't now, we're supposed to have breakfast with Fin. And I need you to take me by my apartment first so I can take a shower and change clothes."

"Or we could shut off our phones and climb back under the covers, just forget about the rest of the world and enjoy an entire day to ourselves."

"That sounds really great, El. But we have to start telling people about this baby before it gets here. And don't think for a second that I have forgotten about the surprise you promised me."

Elliot smiled.

"Compromise," she said with a smile. "Grab some clothes and when you take me back to my place we can share a shower."

"I have a shower."

"But I don't have any clean clothes here. And I don't think I can wear your pajamas all day."

"Maybe you should start keeping some clothes here," he said waiting for a reaction from her.

Olivia looked up at him and smiled.

"Are you sure you're ready for that?"

"Of course I am ready. I am crazy about you. I love you."

"I love you, too. I guess I am just a little nervous that if we keep moving things along this fast we might curse ourselves."

"I think we'll be just fine," Elliot said kissing her tenderly. "I'm just saying maybe you could bring some of your things over here. That doesn't mean that you would be obligated to stay over if you didn't feel like staying over. All it means is that if you do choose to do so, you will have clean clothes to put on after you shower. I'm not trying to make you feel rushed."

"You don't," she said with a soft smile. "But if I am going to start keeping clothes here, you should pack a few things to keep at my place, too. You know," she said smoothing her hand over his cheek as she stared into his eyes, "just in case you should stay there some time."

"Alright. I'll get up and you can help me decide what to keep at your apartment."

"Start with this shirt," she said picking up the shirt she was supposed to have slept in the night before and smelling it.

"I don't really wear that one anymore."

"Not for you. For me," she said with a smile. "It is comfortable to sleep in and it smells like you."

"You like it that much," he said kissing her lips, "it's yours."

They packed up a few of his casual clothes and a couple suits for work then headed across town to her place. Olivia started the shower as Elliot hung up his suits in her bedroom closet. She had just finished shaving her legs when he stepped into the shower behind her.

"There you are. I was starting to get a little lonely in here," she said with a sexy smile.

"I'm here now."

"Good," she whispered as she wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him.

After a little steamy hot sex in the shower, Elliot poured some of her shampoo into the palm of his hand.

"It always gets me how great women's shampoo smells. Fruity and flowery."

"You got a thing for shampoo?" she asked as he lathered up her hair for her.

"Not really. But a lot of men's shampoos stink."

"Stink?"

"Well, yours is all relaxing, like aromatherapy. And usually mine is like an overpowering cologne smell or ocean breeze. Which by the way, smells nothing like the ocean."

Olivia smiled.

"Poor baby. You can use my jasmine shampoo if you'd like. I'll share with you."

Elliot laughed.

"I think you have ruined this one for me anyway."

"I ruined it?"

He smiled a guilty smile.

"From this day forward the smell of jasmine scented shampoo is going to be a major turn on."

Olivia laughed.

"So from now on when you smell jasmine you will think dirty thoughts of me?"

Elliot smiled.

"Dirty naked thoughts," he admitted.

"Good to know," she replied with a sultry smile.

After their shower, Elliot called and set up the breakfast meeting with Fin while Olivia blow dried her hair.

"I don't know why you have to put on make up, you look fine without that stuff."

"You don't like my makeup?"

Elliot stopped for a moment to carefully assess the situation. The wrong reply could quite possibly get him into trouble.

"I think you look beautiful either way. But we are just going to meet Fin and honestly, I am not even sure if he notices when you wear makeup."

"I notice. I just want to look nice. I want to look my best, look good. When I look good, I feel good about myself."

"You always look good," Elliot said with a wink. "But we have to meet him in half an hour."

"I am almost done."

"Okay, I just watch the weather report while you finish up."

Olivia smiled. He was being so patient with her. Most men would have stood in the doorway complaining until she had either finished getting ready or just given up. But not Elliot, he was different. He was kind and patient, loving and understanding. He was the kind of man that restored her faith in the fact that there were still good men out there, they just happened to be hidden in the mix with all of the bad ones.

"Almost done?" Elliot mumbled to himself as he checked his watch fifteen minutes later. "It's a good thing Fin knows her well enough to know we are probably going to be late."

"I'm ready," she said walking into the living room as he turned off the television and stood to look at her.

"Does this sweater look alright?" she asked looking down at her heather grey V-neck sweater that fell just below her hips.

"You look nice," he finally spit out after staring at her for a while.

"Well, I have it in blue also, if you think that would look better with the dark jeans."

"I really like what you are wearing," he said leaning forward as if to kiss her. Elliot brushed the tip of his nose against her cheek as he whispered in her ear. "You look amazing in everything that you wear. You are the most beautiful woman I have ever seen and I thank God every day for bring you into my life."

Olivia smiled as he softly kissed her cheek.

"I love you," he said softly as she pressed her lips together. "And I really like that sweater."

Olivia blushed a bit as he kissed her tenderly.

"Thank you. I love you, too. We should get going, we're running late."

"It's Fin. I am sure he is expecting us to be late," Elliot said holding her coat as she slipped into it.

"Very funny."

At breakfast they sat and made small talk for a while as they waited on the food to arrive. Fin suspected something was going on by the way Elliot placed his hand in the small of her back and lead her into the room.

"So what'd you wanna talk about?" he asked sawing off a bite of rare steak with his knife as Olivia stared at his plate.

"Liv and I just wanted to update you on our situation."

Fin smiled and looked up at her, but she couldn't break her stare.

"You guys are together now? Like a couple?"

"Is it that obvious?" Elliot asked. "What is it written across my forehead?"

"It's all over your face man. You're happy. And it isn't hard to see that she lights up when you're around too. Don't worry, I'm not going to let your little secret slip. But I think it's great."

"Really?" Elliot asked smiling in relief.

"Yeah. I ain't seen you smile like that in years. Have you thought about how you're going to break the news to Cragen?"

"We're working on it. But first we wanted to fill you in on all of the news."

"There's more?" Fin asked cutting into his eggs as the golden yolk spilled out onto his plate.

Olivia fidgeted a bit in her seat as she stared at his food.

"An what might that be?" Fin asked.

"I'm pregnant," Olivia blurted out leaping from her chair and running for the ladies room.

Fin looked shocked for a moment as he tried to figure out what had just happened.

"Pregnant? That didn't take long."

"It happened that first night back in Chicago."

"That was months ago. You're just now finding out?"

"No, you're just now finding out. She and I have known for a while now."

"What are you gonna do?"

"We're gonna have a baby," Elliot said looking at his friend as if there were never another option. "We have agreed on that from the start."

"So you are going to have a baby? And you are dating? Congratulations, man."

"Yes. And yes. We are still really getting to know each other, but things are going well."

Fin nodded.

"Cragen is going to shit!"

"Thanks for the support," Elliot said standing up and dropping his cloth napkin onto the table beside his plate. "I'm gonna go check on her."

Elliot made his way down the hall toward the ladies room. He waited for a moment outside the door, then knocked as he pushed it slightly open.

"Olivia?"

"I'll be out in a minute," she said from a stall in the back of the room.

"Are you alone?"

"I think so," she groaned as she flushed the toilet and came stumbling out of the stall.

"You doing alright? I can take you home if you wanna lie down."

"I'll be okay, I just need a few minutes. I thought I was past this part. Then the blood from his steak and the eggs," she groaned again placing her hand against her stomach.

Elliot leaned forward and kissed her forehead.

"Are you sure you're alright?"

"I'm fine. I'm pregnant," she said as she exhaled. "And apparently I should just get used to the morning sickness."

Elliot watched as she leaned over the sink and rinsed her mouth out.

"What did Fin have to say about the big news?"

"Congratulations."

She looked up at him.

"Really?"

"Really. Then he said Cragen was gonna shit."

Liv smiled resisting the urge to laugh. She took a deep breath and leaned against the wall for a moment.

"You go on back out there. I'm okay. But I really appreciate you checking on me. I'll be back out in a minute. I just want to freshen up a bit," she said unzipping her purse.

"Alright. Can I get you something? Do you want me to order you different food?"

"Maybe some club soda and crackers to settle my stomach. I don't think I will eat anything right now," she said forcing a smile. "I think I'll wait until lunch."

"Alright," he said kissing her forehead again as he moved toward the bathroom door.

"El?"

"Yeah, baby?"

She smiled softly as she stared into his eyes.

"I love you."

"I love you too, sweetheart."

Elliot walked back out to the table.

"She doing alright in there?" Fin asked.

"Yeah. Just a bit of morning sickness. You should order something else."

"What? I'm still eating."

"Look man, she can't handle the blood and runny eggs right now. She'll be back out her in a minute."

"Well, what am I supposed to do? It's a twelve dollar steak."

"I'm paying," Elliot insisted. "Just cover that up," he said tossing his napkin over the plate.

"Hey!"

"Here, take my pancakes," he said handing Fin his plate of untouched food. "Blueberry."

Elliot flagged the waitress and ordered Olivia's soda and crackers. He handed her Fin and Olivia's plates to take away from the table as well.

"Hey you," he said as she walked back toward their table. "Feeling better?"

"Yeah. I just wanted to brush my teeth," she said giving him a quick kiss.

"Minty fresh," Elliot said with a smile.

"Better than before," she said as he pulled her chair out for her. "I am really sorry about that, Fin."

"No, I'm the one who should be sorry. I never would have ordered that if I had known."

"I thought I had gotten past the nausea, but it still sneaks up on me from time to time."

"When is the baby due?"

"The end of April. I am just under five months along."

"Do you know if it's a boy or a girl?"

"Not yet," Olivia said with a smile as she looked over at Elliot.

"Well, congratulations."

"Thank you," she said with a smile.

"Don't worry, I wont say anything."

"We plan to tell everyone soon," Elliot said taking a sip from his coffee.

"We just wanted to tell you first. Since you have kind of known about us all along," Olivia continued.

After breakfast, Elliot took Olivia back to her apartment where they laid down together to take a nap. When they woke up he made them some lunch, then they were off again.

"You're still not going to tell me where we're going?"

"Nope."

Olivia laughed as Elliot parked the car.

"You brought me to the park?"

"You ever played in the snow in Central Park?"

"No."

Elliot opened the car door and stepped out. Olivia watched a bit confused as he walked around and opened the door for her.

"You coming?"

Olivia laughed as he helped her from the car.

"The park looks completely different when it's covered in snow."

"It's beautiful," Olivia said slipping her arm in his as she laid her head against his shoulder.

They walked around for a while and sat on a bench to watch some ice skaters. Across the way a group of children were preparing for a snowman building contest and a few others were playing on a sled.

Elliot slipped his hand in hers and they kissed as the snow began to fall once more. The sun was shining and everything around them glittered and sparkled. The day was magical and one of the best that they had shared together as a couple.

They played together in the snow. Running and laughing and chasing each other. They threw snow balls and tackled each other playfully as they rolled around in the snow together. Elliot had never seen her smile so much or laugh as hard as she did then.

"That's it," he said. "I'm done! I'm done! I can't get up!"

Olivia laughed and stood over him pulling on his hands until she had pulled him to his feet. Elliot hugged her and kissed her and they laughed together as they stood brushing the snow off each other.

"You keep making me laugh I'm going to have to pee," she said as he kissed her tenderly.

Elliot memorized everything about the way she looked in this moment. The sunlight seemed to dance off her hair, bringing out the chestnut and copper strands. She was the most beautiful thing he had ever seen and he couldn't imagine being more in love with anyone than he was with her right now.

"Let's get hot chocolate," he said leading toward a nearby vendor.

They walked for a little while sipping cocoa and talking about the future.

Elliot stopped and she smiled as she stared into his eyes.

"I love you so much," she said with a smile.

"And I love you."

As they stood talking something caught her eye. A man walking with his little boy. Olivia tipped her head and studied them for a moment. Elliot watched her carefully as she dropped the paper cup into the snow by her feet.

"Liv?"

She couldn't speak. She just stood there with her eyes locked on the man and his son.

"Nicky," she whispered.

"I know," he replied.

"Elliot, what did you do?" she gasped as a tear slid down her cheek.

"It's alright," he said as the man approached them.

"How did you….?" she gasped.

"I am very persuasive when I want something."

"Nicky?" Olivia said as she walked slowly toward the boy.

The child stopped and stared at her for a moment, but didn't speak.

"Nicky, it's mommy," she said softly dropping to her knees in the snow.

"Mommy?" he asked softly.

Olivia drew a staggered breath between her tears as she opened her arms to the child.

"Mommy," he said running to her as she closed her arms around him.

"Oh sweetheart," she whispered to the little boy, "mommy has missed you so much."

"I missed you mommy. Where did you go?"

"Mommy had to go away for a while, Nicky. Daddy explained that to you," David said from behind the boy.

"Mommy's here now baby," she said softly hugging her son as she stared up at her ex-husband, "and I love you so much."

"I love you, too."

"Nick, this is Elliot," David said. "He's mommy's friend."

"Hi Elliot," the little boy said smiling up at him.

"Hi there. Hey, why don't you and I go over here and you can help me build a snowman while your mommy and daddy talk?"

"Okay," he said with excitement in his voice. "Can I daddy?"

"Go ahead. But stay right there where I can see you."

"I will," he said running a few feet ahead of Elliot.

Olivia stood and watched as Elliot played in the snow with her son.

"You said you would never let me see him again. That was the last thing you said to me," she said softly as she wiped the tears from her cheek with the back of her glove. "What made you change your mind?"

"Your boyfriend is very persistent. For weeks he followed me around. When he finally convinced me that you would pose no threat, I agreed to bring Nick here today."

"Thank you," she whispered.

"Your prints are on file with the F.B.I. and you work for the N.Y.P.D. You can't go anywhere they can't find you."

Olivia turned and looked at him.

"You spend the rest of the day with him. Meet me back here at seven o'clock and don't be late."

Olivia looked at him in disbelief.

"I won't be."

"I am giving you a chance, Olivia. Don't make me regret it. Or so help me God I will leave the state with him and you will never see him again!"

"David, I'm not going to take him. I missed out on two years of his life. I don't want to miss anymore."

"If this works out well, we can arrange for you to spend a few more afternoons with him. He deserves to know his mother. Maybe after a while, if it's alright with Nick we can work out some kind of custody arrangement. Every other weekend or something."

"Thank you," she said staring at him.

"Seven o'clock."

Olivia nodded as David stepped toward the spot where Elliot was playing in the snow with Nicky. Olivia watched as he knelt and spoke to his son for a moment.

Olivia walked over and hugged Elliot.

"Thank you," she mouthed smiling up at him.

"You're welcome," he whispered as he winked at her.

"Mommy, look at our snowman."

"That is very good."

"Daddy said I can stay with you and Elliot for a little while."

"Only if you want to," she said staring into her own brown eyes.

"I want to," he said with a smile.

"Give me a hug pal," David said as he knelt to wrap his arms around his son. "Now, Elliot has my cell phone number if you need me."

"Okay. Bye daddy," Nicky said waving to his father.

"Seven o'clock," Olivia said as David stood and looked at her.

"Nicky, it's getting kind of cold out here," Elliot said. "What do you say we get a cup of cocoa and go to the magic house?"

"Yeah!" the little boy said as a huge smile crossed his face.

"I don't know how to thank you," Olivia said with a smile as Elliot opened the car for her.

"You just keep smiling like that," he said as he handed her the little bag that contained Nicky's birthday gift. "I love you, Olivia. And there isn't anything in this world that I wouldn't do for you."

"I love you too," she said kissing him tenderly. "And you just made me and that little boy, very happy."

"You're his mother. He needs you in his life."

"And I need him in mine. But this never would have happened if it hadn't been for you. David would never listen to me. If it had been up to him, he probably never would have given me a second chance."

"Let's get this little man to the magic house," he said as she climbed into the car.

"Nicky, I was thinking after the magic house maybe we could go somewhere and get something to eat," Olivia suggested looking at Elliot. "Do you still like pizza?"

"I love pizza!"

Elliot laughed.

"So do I," he said with a smile as he started the car.