So, I still don't think I've recovered fully from Tuesday night. But I'm getting there. Do I have issues or what?
This story just keeps writing itself I tell you. Just when I think in my mind that the end is near, nope not happening. I do have a general idea of what I'd like to accomplish here before I end, I'm just not sure how much longer that'll be.
Vacation time, as some of you know, is drawing near. My last day with computer access is tomorrow. 5:30pm to be exact. I'm hoping to have 1 more chapter posted by then, HOWEVER, if I don't be fair warned that I will be out of town for 2 weeks so the next update will be no earlier than Dec 17.
With that said, please read & review!!!
This one's for Tiptonxprincess, my newest reviewer! Welcome!!!
DISCLAIMER: I own nothing.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Olivia's POV
Maureen, Kathleen, and Lizzie. They all know. Dickie, well I'm not sure about him. I wouldn't be surprised if he did. So, basically we're going to confirm their suspicions tonight. Their correct suspicions. Remind me again why. Oh yeah, because I won't sleep over until then. Lizzie's sitting over there on the couch giving me funny looks. Like she wants me to just say it already.
"El, your daughter's creeping me out." I lean over and whisper to him.
"The other two should be here soon." He says.
Sure enough, moments later Maureen and Kathleen are here too.
"What's up Dad?" Kathleen asks.
"Liv and I have something to tell you." He tells them before calling Dickie in.
Elliot and I stay on the loveseat while the kids all squeeze on the couch. I look across the room at the four of them and am met with four of the biggest smiles I've ever seen. Well, that's good. Right?
"We already know you guys." Dickie says to Elliot and I.
"Know what?" I ask, playing dumb.
"About you and Daddy. Your umm…extracurricular activities of course." Maureen tells us.
"Maur, I think you guys have the wrong idea."
"Dad, please, don't try and deny it." Kathleen says.
"Katie, your dad's not trying to deny it. We just think you have the wrong idea about what's going on." I chime in.
"Liv's right. This isn't some little rebound fling between here and I. I love Olivia." Elliot tells his kids, I'm hoping they'll understand.
"Liv?"
"Yeah Mo?"
"Do you love our dad?"
I turn so that I'm looking right in Elliot's eyes before I answer. No matter how much he can see or can't, it's the gesture that counts here. I want his kids to realize just how deep my feelings are. I want them to realize I'm serious about this. I need him to realize it too.
"I love your dad so much. More than I ever thought possible." I answer.
After my confession the girls all get up and come over to their dad and I. They pull us into a hug.
"It's about time you guys." Dickie says.
Well, I guess we don't have anything to worry about right now. The kids seem really excited that we're together. That I'm grateful for. I am waiting for something to be wrong though. They're happy, things are okay with work, and even though we haven't had his follow up appointment I can tell Elliot is going to be fine. That's way too many good things for the way my life works. There's always at least one bad. It's just a matter of waiting.
"So, what's the plan for dinner?" Elliot asks.
"Chinese!" The kids all yell.
"Liv, you're staying, right?" Kathleen asks me.
"I don't want to intrude, I'm just going to head home." I tell her. "Elliot, I'll be over in the morning for your appointment."
I start to get up off the loveseat so that I can leave. I just get stood up and Elliot pulls me back down next to him.
"Livvie, we had a deal, Baby." He whispers to me.
"I recall saying 'we will see' about it." I whisper back.
"Does this mean we're going to have to watch you two be all mushy all the time?" Dickie asks.
"You have a problem with that?" I smirk.
"Not at all. We're just glad you two finally woke up to what was in front of you all along."
"So?" Elliot asks me.
"Fine, I'll stay for dinner. How hungry are you guys anyway? I know it hasn't been long since your dad and I ate last."
"What are we going to do until then?" Lizzie asks.
"What did you have in mind?" I ask.
"Daddy, how well can you see?"
"Pretty good, why?"
"Good enough for a game of Monopoly?" Lizzie asks, giving me a devious look.
"I can wear my glasses if need be. Everyone else want to play?"
We all agree and Lizzie goes to her room to get the game. When she comes back we decide it would be best to play as three teams. The game can take forever as it is, we don't need to do six individuals.
"I'm partners with Dickie!" All three girls call out.
I can't help but laugh as I see the confusion on Elliot's face. How the fuck did he manage to not play Monopoly with that kid?
"Okay, what's the big deal with being teamed up with Dickie?" Elliot asks as the kids get the game ready and continue to argue over who will be Dickie's partner.
"He is like the God of Monopoly. You've seriously never played Monopoly with him?"
"Nope. As bad as that sounds, I haven't. I take it you have."
I nod. "When I was in Computer Crimes and was with the kids after work all the time. We played like four times a week."
For a split second I swear I see a flash of jealousy in his eyes. I know he wishes he could've spent more time with his kids. I guess I just never thought it bothered him so much that I had that luxury for a short time.
The kids are finally done setting up so we split up in teams. Maureen and Dickie, Elliot and Lizzie, and Kathleen and I. We start the game and five minutes in Elliot gets a chance to see what I mean. Somehow Dickie and Maureen have managed to be up $1500 and working their way towards owning both Boardwalk and Park Place. By the time the game's over, two hours later, Kathleen and I have been bankrupt for about 45 minutes.
"Now can we get dinner?" Dickie asks.
"Sure. Why don't you guys clean the game up while I go order the food." Elliot tells them.
"Hey El?" I call to him as he's leaving the room.
"Yeah Baby?" He stops, and turns towards me.
"Why don't you order it for carry out. I'll swing over and pick the food up. I have a sleep over to pack for tonight anyway." I tell him after I've walked over to him.
"Thank you Livvie. And I don't mean for picking up dinner. I love you." He says before kissing me.
"I love you too."
Elliot finishes on his way out to the kitchen to read the menu and order dinner for all of us. By the time he's done we have the game picked up. Lizzie, Dickie, and Maureen have gone to their rooms to work on homework while Kathleen is sitting on the couch watching TV.
"You probably should leave now Liv. They said it will take 20 minutes. That'll give you just enough time." He tells me.
"Alright. I'll see you guys in about 30 with food for all."
I get up off the couch, walk over and grab my coat. Just as I have my hand on the doorknob I hear my name.
"Liv? Can I go with you?" Kathleen asks.
"Did you finish all your homework?"
"Yeah. I had to stay at the library until Maureen was done in class so I got my reading all done."
"Okay. Grab your coat and throw on some shoes."
She does as I say and 30 seconds later she and I are on our way out the door. We take the elevator down to the lobby before walking out front to get in my SUV. We get almost to my apartment before Kathleen saying anything. But, she finally does.
"Liv?"
"Yeah Sweetie?"
"Umm…why do you think Mom led Dad on like she did? You know, about the baby and all." She ask, very nervously.
"I honestly don't know. Maybe she felt more comfortable raising another child with him. After all, look how great you four turned out." I tell her, trying to help.
Truthfully, I could just hurt Kathy for what she did. Not only to Elliot, but it's become obvious now that it has effected their kids quite a bit too. The worst part with it as far as the kids are concerned? I have a feeling she won't tell them why if they ever actually asked her. While you can argue that it's none of their business, it actually is something they deserve to know. At least the general basics about it. Kathleen seems satisfied though with my answer. I park in front of my building and we go in to pack a bag quickly.
I come out of the bathroom to find Kathleen rummaging through my lingerie drawer.
"Oh! Wear this one for Dad!" She tells me, holding up a red lace teddy.
"Kathleen Stabler!!" I scold.
"Seriously. You should, he'll love it. He is a guy after all. I'm sure you look hot in it."
"Okay. This is a little odd. I'm standing here discussing my lingerie with my boyfriend's daughter. Not just that, but what outfits he'll like. Not only is it weird that my partner is now my boyfriend, but that's just wrong discussing that." I shiver.
"Okay, okay, no more. Hurry up and throw some clothes in your bag. I'm hungry."
I grab some jeans, a shirt, panties, and a bra and throw them all in the bag at the end of my bed. Already in there is my toothbrush, toothpaste, lotion, and shower stuff. I think I've got just about everything. I pick up the bag and Kathleen and I leave to go get the Chinese food.
10 minutes later we're back at the Stabler apartment. I swear the minute I'm in the door the kids are tackling me for their supper. You'd think they hadn't eaten in years. I bring the food in the kitchen and Elliot and I get it all separated out on plates. Well, all of it except ours, which we keep in the cartons. He carries the plates out to the living room for the kids to start eating while I carry my food and his.
Throughout the meal things are relatively quiet. Some small talk between the kids mostly. Once everyone's done we decide to get in pj's and watch a movie before bed.
I head back to Elliot's room with my bag to put on my pajamas. Rummaging through the bag it occurs to me that I never packed any. Fuck! Sleeping naked or even in just my bra and panties with Elliot is one thing. I sure can't go watch a movie with his kids when I'm dressed like that. I head across the hall to try and fix this.
"Mo? Katie? Do either of you have something I can borrow to change into to watch the movie?" I ask after getting their okay to enter the room.
"I'll do you one better." Maureen says as she walks over to the closet.
She reaches in and pulls out my gym bag. I'd been wondering what I'd done with that. No clue how she got it though. Inside was my emergency set of clothes, and a camisole and pair of boxers from Victoria's Secret.
"Thank you so much!" I take the bag and leave.
A few minutes later, the six of us are all sitting or laying around the living room in front of the TV. The guys had taken it upon themselves to pick the movie. Ocean's Eleven. I think I missed the first 20 minutes or so though. All I could do was sit there, looking around the room, just thinking again how perfect this all is.
By the time the movie's ended all the kids are sleeping. I make a move to start waking them up when Elliot stops me.
"Leave them, we'll get them up in the morning. You just come to bed with me." He tells me, walking me to his bedroom.
