Beautiful Stranger

(Chapter Fourteen: Compromise)

Christmas break was just around the corner and Elliot and Olivia had been successfully living together for about four months now. Olivia yawned and shut off the alarm clock as she sat up and smiled over her shoulder at Elliot.

"You set the alarm on a Saturday?" He growled, opening only one eye to look at her.

Olivia laughed. "I have some errands to run and then I'm having lunch with Casey."

"I thought we slept in on Saturday?"

"El, it is ten o'clock. We did sleep in. I have to get in the shower. I'm gonna start some coffee, but you can go back to sleep if you want." She leaned down and kissed him tenderly. "I know you had a late night last night."

"Stake outs suck," he barked as she combed her fingers gently through his hair to calm him.

"I'm sorry I woke you," she whispered.

Elliot wrapped his arms around her and pulled her back to him.

"Don't be," he said gazing into her eyes. "I love you."

"I love you, too."

"You know, now that we are awake…." he said laying her back onto the bed to seduce her.

At eleven thirty Olivia climbed out of bed and headed for the shower. She dressed quickly and placed a soft kiss on Elliot's lips as he snored in the bed. He was so exhausted from working late nights all week.

She walked toward the bedroom door. "Bye baby," she heard from behind her.

"Bye," she replied blowing him a kiss from across the room.

Olivia walked to the kitchen and fixed herself a cup of coffee then headed out the door to start her day.

"It's is freezing out there," Casey said stomping the excess snow off her designer boots before sitting down at their table.

"It is almost Christmas Casey, it is supposed to be cold."

"I know that, smart ass. But I don't have to like it."

Olivia laughed at her as they placed their drink order. A few minutes later he returned placing a glass of iced tea in front of Olivia and a scotch on the rocks in front of Casey.

"A little early, isn't it?" Olivia asked watching as her friend downed the drink like one big shot.

"Hey, I am off the rest of the afternoon. Besides, I need something to warm me up!"

"So, what do you and Mike have planned for Christmas?" Olivia asked as her salad arrived.

"We're going skiing in Aspen. You and Elliot aught to come along. Mike's firm booked a cabin at a ski lodge. It says it sleeps six people, there should be plenty of room."

"Can't, we're doing Christmas dinner with the kids. I already ordered the turkey."

"It's a good thing you decided to order the meal. I could not imagine you cooking Christmas dinner for seven people."

"I didn't order the meal. I ordered the turkey, from the butcher. I pick it up today. I am cooking the entire meal." Olivia paused for a moment and studied the look on Casey's face. She could tell Casey wasn't sure if she was joking and was waiting for the punch line. "I'm serious, Casey. I have been researching recipe's online all week."

"Okay," Casey said as she returned her attention to her plate of food.

"Okay? You don't think I can do it?"

"I just never really pictured you as type who cared about family."

"That is because I never had a family to care about. I do now. Elliot and the kid's, they are my family."

"Have you ever cooked a turkey before?"

"No, but how hard could it be? I know how to read. Just follow the instructions, right?"

"I guess so. What about a pie? Have you ever made a pie?"

Olivia stared at her giving her a stern look. "Okay, I get it. I have never done this before and it is going to take some work. But I love Elliot and the kids and I want to do this for them. I can do it, Casey."

"And Elliot thinks this is a good idea?"

"He doesn't know yet. I want to surprise him."

"Oh, he'll be surprised."

"Ha, ha," Olivia spat. "I am going to tell him today when I get home with all of the food. I think he will realize how committed I am to him and the kids and he will fully support me in this. I want to start new traditions, for us with the kids. I want us to feel like a real family."

"And you think the kids will be alright with this?

"I'm sure. The kids are great. And I get along good with them."

"That is good. It can't be easy trying to make a life with a man with five children."

"Sometimes it is difficult, yes. But these are five great children."

"I hope it all works out good for you. But if things change…there's always Aspen."

Olivia laughed and smiled. "Thanks Casey."

That afternoon Olivia returned home and began to put away the groceries. Elliot came in from the bedroom.

"Hey baby, you still sleeping?"

"No, there was a game on. I was watching form the bedroom. What is all of this?"

"Well, I thought since this was our first Christmas together with the kids I would cook Christmas dinner."

"And you already bought everything?"

"Yeah, why? You don't think it is a good idea?"

"Honey, I just wish you had said something."

"I wanted to surprise you." Olivia stood there feeling humiliated and trying not to look disappointed.

"Baby, I don't have the kids for Christmas. Kathy and I alternate and this is her year. But we could still have a dinner, just you and me."

"I have all of this stuff," she said pointing to the counter. "And a twenty four pound turkey."

Elliot sat down on a barstool and pulled her to him kissing her. "I love you. And this is the sweetest thing anyone has ever done for me and my kids."

As hard as she tried not to Olivia began to cry.

"Hey now," Elliot said wiping away a tear.

"I'm sorry," she said softly clearing her throat. "I just wanted so bad to make this perfect. For us. For our first Christmas together as a family. I pictured this big dinner and all of the food. The kids all smiling and tons of gifts under the tree. Maybe it is because I have never really had that, I thought…"

"It was a wonderful idea," Elliot said kissing her forehead.

"Casey invited us to Aspen to go skiing and stay at a cabin with she and Mike for Christmas. I told her we were having this big dinner," Olivia chuckled.

"What about this….I have the kids this weekend instead of Christmas. What if we have our Christmas with the kids early? The dinner, the gifts, everything. Here, together as a family. Then next weekend, on Christmas you and I can do something special. Just for us."

"Aspen?"

"If you want to go to Aspen, then yes."

"Really?"

Elliot nodded his head. "I love you Olivia. And I love that you want so badly to do something this amazing for my kids. You are absolutely right, we need to have a family Christmas. With the tree and gifts and the big Christmas dinner."

Olivia smiled. "I'd better put this stuff away," she said as Elliot kissed her lips.

"I'll get this. You go call Casey and tell her that we're going skiing in Aspen for Christmas."

Elliot hugged her and kissed her tenderly. "When I am done here I will call the kids and let them know that we are celebrating Christmas this weekend."

Olivia smiled. It was nice to finally know how it felt to be part of a family.