Wow, chapter 11! When I started writing this I never thought the story would go this far but I guess the charachters have just taken over my brain. Thanks for all the awesome reviews on this story and the two song fics that I posted the other day. I had to get those out of the way before more of this story would come through. This is just going to be a sweet little chapter with Olivia spending some quality time with Ethan. This chapter is also set about a month and a half down the road from where we started so we are in September.

Olivia sat next to Elliot on the wagon seat, Ethan was playing in the back. She was going home with Elliot for the first time since their almost three months of courting and she was nervous. She knew that it was only for the day and then Elliot would drive her back to her grandfather in town but it made a woman nervous when she was going into a mans home for the first time, not to mention the home that a man had shared with his decesed wife. So far she and Elliot had never discussed his first wife and Ethan's mother beyond, her name was Kathy and they had been married for four years before she was murdered by Indians. Olivia wasn't sure if she and Elliot would marry but she had a hard time imagining moving into a house where another woman had lived and sleeping in a bed where another woman had slept, but felt it was a situation that would be dealt with if it ever arrived. The reason Olivia was going home with Elliot was to cook for his thrashing crew. The grain had already been cut but now it had to be thrashed from the stalks so that Elliot could use some of it for feed, some for seed and the rest he would sell to Olivia's grandfather in town.

Once they arrived at Elliot's house Olivia was surprised to see that it was two stories, with a wide front porch that was well shaded, there was also a hen house, barn and corrals. Elliot stopped the wagon in front of the house as he would be taking it to the field and said to Ethan, "Ethan, I want you to stay here and help Ms. Olivia. Fetch things from the cellar for her and show her around the house. If you need me I'll be in the field."

"Yes, Pa."

"Will you and the men be coming to the house for dinner Elliot?" Olivia asked.

"No. They all packed a lunch bucket. We will all come to the house for supper though and then I will drive you back to town if that is all right." Elliot said as he climbed down from the wagon. "You and Ethan can just fix something for yourselves for dinner."

(A/N: Where I am from dinner is the noon meal and you eat supper at night. I just thought I should clear that up in case anyone was confused!)

"Alright." Olivia said. She allowed Elliot to help her down from the wagon and watched as Ethan ran into the house. The boy had been surly all morning and she wondered what was wrong with him, so she asked Elliot. "Elliot is there something wrong with Ethan?"

"Oh, he's upset that I told him he had to stay at the house today. He wanted to come to the field with me but I just don't want him out there around all the machinery. He's only eight years old he needs to take the time to be a boy."

"I feel the same way. Do you mind if I try to talk to him?" Olivia asked.

"No please feel free. Maybe a different perspective on things will help ease his mind." Elliot said. then he moved up beside her and removed his hat. Then with his free hand he took her hand. "Have a good day Liv. I'm sorry your first visit out here has to be to work."

"That alright El. I don't mind and I'm glad that you feel comfortable having me out here. I know men are judged by how well their wives can cook." Olivia said and then regretted using the term "wife".

"That's another thing we need to talk about when all this fall work is finished with." Elliot said before kissing her soundly on the mouth and climbing back on the wagon. "Don't forget if you need anything ask Ethan and if his attitude doesn't improve tell me and I'll tan his hide for him,"

Olivia watched Elliot drive away a hand on her lips where he had kissed her. She still felt giddy when Elliot kissed her. It was unlike anything she had ever experienced before in her life. When Elliot was out of sight she lifted her skirts and walked into the house. Ethan was no where to be seen so Olivia set about baking some bread and then cookies. A short while later she heard foot steps on the stairs and then heard, "That sure smells good, Ma. I mean Ms. Olivia."

Olivia turned to find Ethan standing in the doorway, tears running down his face. "Oh, honey, what's wrong?"

"I'm sorry Ms. Olivia. I had no right to call you ma like that."

"It's ok honey." Olivia said pulling the boy into a hug. "I'm sure you miss your ma very much."

"I almost can't remember her Ms. Olivia. That's the horrible part." Ethan cried. "You would think that a boy would remember his own Ma." He pulled away from Olivia.

Olivia pulled out a chair, motioned for Ethan to join her and then filled a plate with some the cookies she had just baked. "Set down Ethan. Have you talked to your father about this?"

"With Pa? No." Ethan said as he sat. "Talking about Ma makes him sad, and since he's been courtin you Ms. Olivia, Pa has been happy. Happier than he has been since Ma died."

"And you don't want to ruin your Pa's happiness by talking about your mother?" Olivia asked.

"That's right. I want him to be happy and stay with you. I like you a whole lot Ms. Olivia. Your awful nice to me and you treat me just like I was your own boy, like a real Ma would."

Olivia was touched and recalled Elliot's earlier words. Then she said to Ethan, "Thank you Ethan. I do wish you were my own little boy. If I had one I would want him to be just like you. But why don't you tell me about your mother." She urged.

"I don't remember much about her. She had blonde hair and blue eyes. She smelled like flowers and she was always happy except when Pa was workin' on a wild Saturday night."

"Well you were a small boy when you lost your mother, Ethan. But you know that she will always live in your heart. Even if your father marries again and you get a new mother, she always be here." Olivia said, touching Ethan's chest right above his heart.

Ethan got up from his chair then and hugged Olivia. "I love you Ms. Olivia. I hope you and my Pa get married someday."

Ethan and Olivia spent the rest of the day together and Ethan told Olivia that in a few weeks he would celebrate his ninth birthday and that he would be in fifth grade when school started that fall. Olivia asked him how he got to school everyday and Ethan drug her outside to show her his pony, Scout.

By the time Elliot and the rest of his thrashing crew arrived for supper that night, Olivia and Ethan had a great camaradarie going. After meeting Scout and Ethan's dog Rusty that afternoon, Olivia had Ethan help her clean the house by beating the dirt out of the parlor rugs and scrubbing the floors in the kitchen. Elliot was impressed by how much the two had done that afternoon and liked how having a woman in his house made him feel. It felt good to come home to a meal that he didn't cook, fresh bread and cookies. Olivia had also left fresh flowers on the kitchen table.

Olivia served up beef roast, beans and boiled potatoes along with the bread she had baked earlier that day to Elliot and his crew. She was happy to see the men eating so hearty and talked to them all as they thanked her for the meal and each carried a cookie or two with them. Once all the men had left, Olivia said good night to Ethan whom Elliot was sending to bed and then went out to the wagon where Elliot helped her in. "Did you have a good day with Ethan?" he asked.

"Oh, yes, it was perfect. We had a wonderful time. Do you plan on doing anything special for his birthday?"

"We usually just have Mrs. Munch bake a a cake." Elliot said. "Why? I'm suprised he even mentioned it."

"Well I'd like to bake his cake for him, if you'd let me." Olivia said. "And have a small party for him."

"I guess. Did Ethan ask you to do all this?"

"No. He just mentioned that his birthday was coming up in a few weeks and I would like to do something special for him."

"Oh. Ok. Yes, I guess you can do that for him. He's got a couple of weeks until his birthday though." Elliot said.

Elliot and Olivia where both disappointed to see the street lamps of town. When they reached the back of Olivia's grandfather's store, Elliot said, "I want to thank you again for all you did today. It was really wonderful."

"Thank you for asking me. I enjoyed helping and I enjoyed being able to spend some quality time with Ethan."

As Elliot helped Olivia down from the wagon he said, "I'm glad to hear that."

After he lifted Olivia down he didn't let her go but took her arm and helped her up the steps that led to her back door. "Olivia, I know I'm nothing but a dirty cowboy standing here but I have a decision to make and before I can do that I need to ask you a question."

Olivia had a feeling she knew what that question was so she looked Elliot straight in the eye and said, "Yes, El."

"Olivia Benson, I love you, do you love me?" Elliot said.

"Yes, Elliot. I love you, even if you are a dirty cowboy." Olivia said.

"Do you love Ethan?"

"Yes, Ethan too."

"Ok, good. Now I can go make my decision." Elliot siad. He kissed her good night in the shadows so that someone wouldn't accidently see and try to say that Olivia was acting like an undecent woman. Then Elliot stood there until Olivia went in the door and he heard her greeting her grandfather.

He climbed back into his wagon and his heart felt lighter. Now he just needed to talk to his son and see what he thought but he had a feeling that he would be driving over to Dalton to make special purchase.

Olivia went into the house, "Hi granddad!"

"Livie! How was your day with Elliot and Ethan?"

"Oh just wonderful granddad. What a special little boy Ethan is!"

"Yes I knew he would capture your heart. So has Elliot asked that special question yet?" Percy asked, a twinkle in his eye.

"No granddad and you know that he wouldn't without talking to you first."