A/N: As always keep the feedback coming. I love reading what you all think and how you feel about certain things. Enjoy!
"Captain..." Elliot breathed out as he turned around to find Olivia, giving her a panicked expression.
Olivia moved towards the door to take it in for herself, she rested a hand on Elliot's back, trying her best to calm down his breathing, "Don..."
Former Captain Donald Cragen moved his eyes between her and Elliot, feeling slightly confused and flustered, "Hello, Liv. I ... uh ... wanted to come and see you. I stopped by the precinct and Fin told me you were on leave, so ... uh... here I am," he looked down at his feet, shifting awkwardly. "It's been a while, and ... um, oh!" he said as he pulled a stuffed teddy bear out from behind his back, "Good news travels fast," he held out the bear to her, the corners of his mouth lifting up into a smile.
Olivia was overcome with emotion as she reached out to take the teddy bear from him, moving her hand to play with the ear. She looked back up at the man who had become her father figure and went to him, hugging him tight, grateful when the hug was returned, "I've missed you, Don."
He rubbed her back, and kissed the top of her head, "I've missed you too, Liv."
Elliot just stood there, taking in the sight of the pair. He was happy that at least when he left, it seemed as though their captain had really taken over for him, and taken care of her.
Once they separated Olivia wiped away a bit of moisture that had formed in her eyes, "So we ordered breakfast and it should be here shortly and Noah should be waking up any minute. If you have time I'd love for you to stay a while."
Cragen smiled from ear to ear, "There's no place I'd rather be," he replied taking off his jacket.
"Great, would you like some coffee? We just made a pot," she told him as she made her way towards the kitchen, getting worried when Elliot wasn't in there.
"Thanks, that would be great," he replied as he took a seat on the couch.
She took him his cup and looked around, still unable find Elliot, "Would you excuse me for a second? I'll be right back."
Cragen nodded and watched her as she walked down the hallway. He had so many questions and concerns regarding Elliot. The last time he saw him was the night of the shooting and the last time he heard from him was when he called to tell him he was turning in his badge. That was one of the hardest days for him. Not only losing a great detective and someone he considered family, but also having to break the news to Olivia that he wasn't coming back was heartbreaking. He knew how much it affected her, even though she tried to hide it. Elliot was like a son to him and he missed him as well, but it couldn't even come close to what Olivia had went through. He was happy to see Elliot again, even under the circumstances, but he wasn't going to just let him off the hook that easily, he had a lot of explaining to do.
Olivia walked into her bedroom and saw Elliot sitting on the bed with his head between his legs taking deep shallow breaths. She moved to him and sat down next to him on the bed, rubbing his backs, "It's okay. I know this has to be a lot for you," she whispered into his ear.
He was still breathing heavily, "Just ... give me a minute," he managed to get out in between breaths.
"Okay," she said as she stopped her movements, "Do you want me to leave you alone?"
His head shot up as he grabbed back her hand, "No," he said almost franticly, "Just sit with me...please?"
She moved her hands to his face, running her hand through his hair. She kissed him softly and then rested her forehead against his, "Okay, I'm not going anywhere."
Elliot kissed her again, forever grateful he had her, "Thank you."
Olivia just held his hand as they sat there for a moment in a comfortable silence. She squeezed his hand, "Do you want to talk about it?"
He shook his head and looked away from her, "I haven't seen or talked to him for so long. The last time I saw him was that night ... and seeing him again just brings back all of those memories and emotions."
Olivia felt for him, he just came back into her life and now he was having to confront the past all over again not even one day later. She took his chin in her hand and moved his face so he was looking at her, "I know how hard this must be for you, so if you want to leave and do this another day ... I understand."
Elliot just looked at her, his eyes pooling with love. He brought his hand up to caress her cheek, "I love you for that, but I think it's about time I stop running."
She kissed him on the cheek and took his hand in hers, "I'll be here with you, the whole time."
He stood up and pulled her up from the bed, bringing her to him. He wrapped his arms around her, holding her tight. He kissed just behind her ear and whispered, "I love you."
Olivia held him tight, wanting to make him feel safe and kissed his jaw, "I love you too." She pulled away and took his hand in hers, "Let's do this."
They walked back out to the living room, hand in hand, to see Cragen , eyebrows raised giving them a questioning look.
They looked at each other before Elliot spoke up, "I think I owe you some explanations."
Cragen nodded, "Yeah, I'd say so."
Elliot let out a deep breath as he and Olivia took a seat on the couch opposite him. Olivia squeezed his hand, doing her best to give him support. He knew that getting Olivia back would eventually entail confronting the people from his former unit but he never expected it to be this soon, but having
Olivia to lean on made a world of difference.
Elliot scrubbed a hand down his face and then looked at Cragen, making eye contact for the first time in years, "Well first of all, I am so very sorry for..."
He was cut off as Cragen waved his hand, stopping him, "Before we get started on the heavy stuff can I just ask you two something?" They looked at each other and nodded back at him, "When did this happen?" He questioned starring at their linked hands resting on Elliot's lap.
They both looked down at their joined hands and then looked at each other. Olivia nodded at Elliot giving him the go ahead, "I ran into Olivia a few days ago and couldn't stay away any longer. I came over last night and we talked."
Cragen chuckled looking at Olivia still wearing Elliot's dress shirt, "Really? That's all you did?"
Olivia blushed slightly embarrassed and uncomfortable with where this was headed, "Uh ... Well..."
Elliot squeezed her hand and then turned to address Cragen, "We're adults, and we don't have to explain anything to you," he said quite harshly, his voice tinged with anger, "but it's not what you think. This isn't just some flash in the pan ... it's so much deeper and so much different than anything I've ever
experienced in my life," he finished, his voice softer as he stared into Olivia's deep brown eyes.
Cragen just sat there, staring at them as they got lost in each other. He brought them back to the present when he started talking, "I didn't mean any disrespect by it. I watched this happen for 12 years, I know what it is, and I don't discredit it for a second." He gave them a slight smile as they stared at him with matching confused looks. "I might be old, but I'm not blind and I know what love looks like. I watched you guys get closer and closer and it was only going to end one way. Or so I thought until you left," he said looking pointedly at Elliot, "but either way, I knew ... or at least I hoped, you two would eventually get it together."
They all sat there as the silence enveloped them before Olivia broke through, "When did you know that..." She was cut off as Noah's whimpers came through the monitor and there was a knock on the door. She have Elliot's hand a squeeze, "I'll get Noah, you get the door." She looked from Cragen back to Elliot, "I think you two have some things to discuss."
She disappeared down the hall as Elliot paid for the food and took it into the kitchen. "We got a lot of food, so if you're hungry, Cap, please help yourself," Elliot yelled back at him over his shoulder.
Cragen made his way into the kitchen and sat on one of the bar stools, "Please Elliot, call me Don. I'm no longer a Captain and you no longer work for me."
Elliot shrugged as he unpacked the food, "I guess old habits die hard."
Cragen took a deep breath trying to figure out the best way to address the elephant in the room, "Okay, I'm just going to get straight to the point. Do you know how devastated she was when you left?" Elliot just stared at him, his face blank. "I had to tell her that her best friend and partner, even though we both
know it was much more than just the job, was never coming back. I watched her walk out of my office, and I followed her to an interrogation room. She didn't know I was there, and still doesn't, but I saw it all. She locked herself in there and sunk down to the ground and just cried." He told Elliot, getting slightly choked up at the memory of watching the woman he considered to be a daughter to him, lose herself.
Elliot couldn't look at him. Although he had already talked all of this out with Olivia, and he knew how she felt, it was just as bad hearing it from someone else. Especially from someone both he and Olivia respected and cared a great deal about. "Olivia and I talked about it all last night and she knows why I did everything the way I did, but it doesn't make it right. I'm sorry that I left it for you to tell her, it wasn't your responsibility, but I appreciate you picking up my slack." He rubbed the back of his neck, trying to release some of the tension, before looking up at Cargen, "I'm sorry I left the way I did, I just couldn't do it anymore, but I'm more sorry for the way I left Olivia. I will regret that till the day that I die and I am so thankful that she has forgiven me for it ... I hope with time you'll be able to do the same?" he questioned, trying to hold back the tears that pooled in his eyes. The last several days have been some of the most emotional ones he's ever had, and he didn't really want to start down that path again.
Cragen looked at Elliot and saw the emotion in his eyes but he wasn't finished yet. He gave him a hardened look, "Do you plan on staying ... permanently?" Elliot nodded his head, "Did you learn your lesson?" He nodded once again, "If you ever walk away from her, or that little boy, you'll have to deal with me."
Elliot gave him another nod, "Don't worry, Don. I wouldn't be able to walk away from her, it was unbearable without her and I already care about Noah very much."
"Then come here, son" Cragen said as he walked around the counter and pulled Elliot into a hug, "It's really good to see you."
Olivia walked back into the kitchen with Noah on her hip "Everything okay in here?"
The two men pulled apart, both taking a moment to get it together before Elliot replied, "Yeah, Liv. We're good, just catching up."
Olivia looked between them, slightly relieved that the tension in the room was gone, "Good. Now how about you guys grab some breakfast, and I'll get Noah fed so he'll be in a good mood for you Don," she chuckled, "You do not want a grumpy baby on your hands."
Cragen chuckled, "Good plan," he smiled as he took in the sight of mother and child, "He is just adorable Liv, I'm so happy for you."
She looked down at Noah, who was just looking around the room, taking it all in, "Thanks Don, I got really lucky with him."
Olivia fed Noah while Elliot and Cragen ate breakfast and continued to catch up. Olivia watched them every now and again and it felt like old times. It was the first time since seeing Elliot again that she saw the old him. The side she only saw while they were at work or around the squad, while the Elliot she's been around for the last day or so, was the side she rarely ever got to see. Granted, for the most part, he was still the same person but after getting only the caring and loving side she felt a deeper connection with him. The man, that to the world would come off as a stubborn bastard, was also the most passionate, and attentive lover she'd ever been with.
She wiped off Noah's face and got him out of his highchair, "C'mon little man, I've got someone very special I'd like for you to meet," she told him as she kissed his cheek. She walked into the living room to make introductions.
Don stood up and took Noah from his mother, "Hello big guy! How are you doing today?" he kissed his head and bounced around the room with him. He tickled his belly and blew raspberries on his cheeks as he went on talking to him, "You know, I never thought I'd see this day. I waited a long time to see your mommy become a mommy and I'm so glad I got to be here for it."
