Conditions Of The Heart

(Chapter Fourteen: One)

It was just after three in the morning when Olivia woke up alone. She yawned and walked down the hallway checking on each of the girls, soundly sleeping in their new rooms. As she entered the kitchen she saw Elliot sitting at the table in the dark."

"El? What are you doing?"

"Just thinking. I couldn't sleep."

"You have been doing a lot of that since the move."

"What?"

"Not sleeping. What's up?" She asked pulling out a chair beside his and sitting down.

"Just nervous about this court thing, I guess. I miss them so bad, Liv. I really want to bring the kids home and give them a real family again. I am just worried it wont turn out that way."

"We have court in two days Elliot. The house and the kids' new rooms are all ready for them. As soon as we find out for sure that they are coming back we can go get them enrolled in school here and everything is going to work out. You'll see."

"I hope you're right, baby."

"Elliot, you are a wonderful father. Any one of these kids would tell a judge that. And this is where they want to be, that have all said that."

"Unfortunately it is not up to me and the kids where they get to live."

"Hang in there," she said softly hugging him.

"I can't lose them, Olivia."

"You wont lose them. If this judge doesn't grant you custody then we will just go there and see them as much as we can. And we'll have them during the summer. It is nowhere near enough, Elliot and I know that, but it is better than not getting to see them at all. You know, if this doesn't work out we could consider a transfer to Chicago."

"You would seriously consider moving to Chicago to be closer to my kids?"

"Of course I would. Elliot, you and these kids are my life, my family. I love them, too. And I would do anything to bring this family together. Even if it meant moving to Chicago."

"I love you so much. You are so amazing, do you know that?"

"I am pretty amazing, huh?" Elliot pulled her to him and kissed her. "Now, can we go back to bed?"

"Sure," he said softly.

The door of the courtroom flew open and Kathy stormed out. Elliot and Olivia had really hoped that she would have brought the children with her when she came back for the judgment, but she didn't.

"Kathy wait," Elliot called following her down the steps of the courthouse.

"You couldn't stop until you had taken them all away from me, could you?" She shouted pointing at him.

"Woa, wait a minute! You were the one who packed them up and skipped the state! You want to talk about taking them away? I went months without even knowing where my children were! Or if they were safe!"

Of course they were safe Elliot! Exactly what kind of a mother do you think I am?"

"I know you are a good mother, Kathy. But you packed them up and just vanished. No calls or letters, no explanation at all. My kids were just gone. And now you are angry at me for trying to get them back?"

"Well, you should be very happy with yourself. You succeeded. In two weeks I will be the one who doesn't get to see my kids."

"You can see them any time you want…here. You will have them during the summer and on spring break. You want more? Move back to New York. Then I will walk right back in there and have them add every other weekend and Holidays. You chose to leave New York, Kathy. The kids didn't. This is where they want to be. And anytime you want to see them you are more than welcome. I will not keep them from you. But if you even think about pulling anything like you pulled with this Chicago move again, I will have your ass thrown in jail for custodial interference! You are not taking my children away from me!"

Kathy stared at him with tears streaming down her face. "Things were fine until she entered the picture," she said nodding her head in Olivia's direction. "After her, what we had wasn't enough anymore. Our family and home, you needed more. You wanted more. You wanted her. Not us. But the moment I try to make a life for us, you jerk the kids away from me. How is that fair?"

"I am not going to fight this same fight with you again Kathy. You know as well as I do that nothing happened between Olivia and I until after you ran off to Chicago to live with your boyfriend. You took the kids and you left. That new life was about you, not this family or those kids. Olivia and I are building a life for all of us, as a family. We bought a new house with enough room for everyone. The older girls are settled and doing very well at work and in college. And in four days when Eli and the twins get here they will already be enrolled in their new school. These kids need a family and Olivia and I are going to give that to them. So you enjoy your four days. Because on Tuesday Olivia and I will be there to pick them up and bring them home." Elliot stared at her for a moment then turned and walked down the courthouse steps to meet up with Olivia in the car, leaving Kathy speechless.

Six Days Later

Olivia looked into the mirror on her visor to see the five children sleeping in the back of the SUV they had rented to bring the entire family back home. She smiled at the sight of Maureen and Elizabeth sleeping with their heads leaned against each other. Between them Eli slept in his booster seat and in the back row Kathleen slept with her head tipped against the window and her earphones on, while Dickie pulled the hood of his sweat shirt down to cover his eyes and folded his arms in front of him just before falling asleep.

"Are you gonna stop and get a room?" Olivia asked looking over at Elliot.

"We're only about two hours from being home. We can stop if you want, But I figured with them all asleep anyway we could just drive it and be home. Let everyone spend the night in their own beds and sleep in tomorrow."

"You want me to drive for a while?" She asked combing her fingers through her hair. "It has been nearly four hours since we stopped last."

"I'm good. I would like to grab a cup of coffee, though. I'll stop the next place I find and top off the tank. Give everyone a bathroom break and get a cup, then we'll be on our way."

Olivia smiled and nestled her head against his shoulder.

"What?" Elliot asked.

"We're finally going to have all of our kids at home," she said with a warm smile.

"I know," Elliot replied. "I am so excited about this. And next week is Christmas. This is the kind of life I have always wanted for them," he said glancing up in the rearview mirror at the Stabler brood asleep in the back of the vehicle. "And I am so happy to be able to share it with you."

"I am honored that you would share it with me."

"I love you, Liv."

"I love you, too. And now that we have all of the kids here, it's like having all of the pieces of a puzzle. And they all come together and make one. We all come together and make one family. I have never had this before, Elliot."

"And you will never be without it again," he said locking his fingers in hers and kissing her lips.