Chapter 25 - Astonished
Stabler Lake House
Thursday, July 3
The family volleyball tournament was a blast. Olivia absolutely loved it. The friendly competition, the good natured ribbing and joking. She thought the last time she had played volleyball was at an NYPD spring picnic the first or second year she was a detective. There were enough people for four teams and they had played several matches. She and Rhett were on a team with Emily, her husband, Mark, Aunt Lynn, Kathleen, Justin, Maddie and Peter. They came in second place. Uncle James and Elliot's team won.
Olivia had tried joking with Kathleen and even asking for some pointers about serving but she pretty much ignored Olivia during the whole game. Maureen on the other hand had sidled up to her during the changing of sides and asked her if she was okay. Olivia asked her what she meant but before she could answer, Uncle James came up behind her and started talking to them. Maureen excused herself and Olivia had not been close enough to talk to her since then.
Supper was a bit late that evening and consisted of sandwiches. A wide variety of meat and every kind of trimming were there for the picking, laid out on the huge butcher block in the center of the kitchen. Turkey, ham, roast beef, pastrami, salami, pepperoni, onions, pickles, tomatoes, peppers, olives, lettuce, Swiss, cheddar, provolone and pepper jack cheeses. Several kinds of chips and breads from which to choose and of course, all the condiments. The idea was for each person to build their own sandwich. Even the youngest children were allowed to make their own. The only requirement was that you had to eat whatever you made.
Joey, Dee and Morgan had returned late that evening, in the middle of the sandwich supper. Morgan's MRI showed nothing out of the ordinary and the ER doctor felt certain she just had a stomach virus. Since she was still throwing up some, she was lying on the love seat in the living room with an aluminum bucket at her side.
The sun had finally faded from the sky and the evening was pleasant. Several adults and kids sat on the front porch to eat and Rhett and Olivia were among them. After she finished her meal, she joined in the conversations for a bit, but she really needed some time alone. Having lived by herself for so long, she was not used to so many people and she needed some space. To breathe. To think. To just be. She still had not really had time to process that Rhett and Elliot were brothers.
She leaned over to Rhett and whispered in his ear. "I'm going to take a walk...probably down to the lake. I need some quiet."
"Hmmm...I'll go with you." He started to get up.
"Uh...no. Please...if you don't mind, I just need a little time alone, okay?" Kissing his cheek, she ran her hands over his broad shoulders.
Worry instantly filled his face. "Everything okay?" He took her hand in his. "You okay?"
"I'm fine...just not used to so many people and so much chatter. I just need a little quiet. That's all." She pulled her hand from his, cupped his chin with it and kissed him. "I won't be long."
"Be careful...don't get too close to the water..." He warned, taking her hand once again.
"Rhett, I'm a big girl and an excellent swimmer. Captain of the swim team, remember? I'll be fine." She grinned as she headed down the steps and into the darkness.
On the Dock
Thursday, July 3
She walked slowly down the grassy hill from the house to the lake. The night air was cooler than the day, but still comfortable even with her tank top and shorts. It was July after all. There was a single wooden swing hanging from a huge oak near the water's edge. She down on it, barely swinging and looked out over the lake. There were a few dots of light here and there, indicating homes across the way and a couple of moving points of lights from boats passing in the night.
The sky was lit up by the moon surrounded with millions of stars. She was mesmerized by their twinkling beauty and astonished at the sheer number of them. Rarely did she see any stars in the city, let alone such a magnificent display as she now enjoyed. What would it be like to live somewhere like this, she wondered? If she did, she knew she would find her way out here every night, to relax, to ponder, to think. Then her mind turned to the more serious issues at hand.
She could not believe Rhett was Elliot's brother. She should have known. Should have realized something. Sensed it. Shouldn't she? Maybe she did and just did not understand it at the time. Maybe that was why she fell for him so quickly. Why they seemed to have known each other forever. Why they clicked so well. Why she felt a bond with him that she had not felt since she met Elliot. Rhett's and Elliot's eyes were nearly identical...that blue was so unusual. And the whole family had them. She had kept thinking how his eyes were so familiar.
She remembered the night she saw him kiss Emily and thought it was another woman. He had stood with his feet wide apart and his hands on his hips and she wanted to hit him because that was how Elliot stood when he was angry and she was mad at him and Rhett both. She remembered how his eyes had narrowed and changed colors just like Elliot's. Yes, she should have recognized the similarities long ago. They were so blatant now. She and Elliot had confessed their feelings for one another only days ago. But, what did it matter? It was too late. It had been too late the minute he told her Kathy was pregnant. And now he was with Kathy again. They had Eli and she had Rhett. She had fallen in love with him. Deeply.
She was so confused about it all now. Not about her feelings. She would always love Elliot. But they could not be together. She wanted desperately to belong somewhere. To have a family. When they turned her down for adoption, she thought she would die. Maybe now, she could have her own. Rhett wanted children as much as she and she was sick of being alone. And she did love Rhett. Very much. And she still wanted to marry him. It was just that now that she knew she would be marrying into the Stabler family, it presented a myriad of problems. Or at the very least some extremely awkward situations. She was sure Kathy was simply ecstatic about the idea. Right. No doubt Elliot had told Kathy about her engagement. And Kathleen would be thrilled as well, if she didn't already know. Kathleen already blamed her for her parents' earlier separation.
She knew this was tearing Elliot up...he hated every guy she dated. He had been devastated to find out she was engaged..and now that it was his brother...she wished she knew what to do or say to him to make things better. She knew this was just another knife in his heart. She needed to talk to someone. She pushed the button on her watch, it lit up revealing the time. Nine forty. Casey would still be up...maybe she should give her a call.
She stood up from the swing and walked down to the dock. The moon reflected across the water in a shimmering path of light that looked as if you could step out onto it and walk to the moon. She went to the end of the dock and leaned against the wooden railing. The only sounds were the soft lapping of the water against the pilings, the creaking of the boat straining at its moorings, the steady chirp of crickets and the harsh, intermittent croak of a lone bull frog. The fragrance of honeysuckle filled the air. It was so peaceful here.
"When I was a kid...I'd sneak out in the middle of the night to come down here and lie on the dock and stare up at the sky. I still love it." He spoke softly and quietly.
Startling at the sudden sound of his voice, her heart constricted but she somehow managed to cover her fright. Now if only she could slow her heart down and convince her lungs to resume breathing, she might survive whatever was about to transpire. He was somewhere behind her...lying down...maybe ten feet to her right. Trying to remember if there were benches on the sides of the dock both behind as well as to her right, she mentally placed him and her escape route. She remained silent.
"It's beautiful out here, isn't it?" He spoke again, still quiet, still from the same place. So, she at least knew he had not moved. Had not come any closer. She did not want to be faced with what she went through earlier this afternoon with the sun screen. She could not go through that again. Especially, not out here in the dark. Alone.
"It is." She answered, barely audible. It took great effort to force the words from her mouth.
He did not speak again right away and the silence stretched out before them, heavy and tense. Endless. Filling the night. Filling the space between them and around them. There was a time when their silences were comfortable. When, in the silence they could say everything they needed to say, could find companionship and acceptance and safety. Nothing felt safe about this silence. Nothing at all. Now, she wanted to turn and run back to the house. To true safety. She wished Rhett would come looking for her. Anything to avoid this confrontation, to avoid Elliot just a little longer. She dreaded this silence, yet when he spoke, she wished he had not.
"Why, Liv?" His voice was still quiet, but now laced with undeniable pain.
"Why? Why what?" She frowned in confusion, though he could not see her. Her voice was quiet.
"Why my brother? You could have any guy you want." He asked, his raspy voice, hollow.
Any guy she wants? What a joke? The guy she wanted for nearly nine years, still wanted, was behind her on the deck. He was married. He had a wife. He had five kids. He had a world to which she did not belong. Would never share. No. She could not have any guy she wanted.
"You're wrong, El. I can't have any guy I want." She whispered to the lake, her voice floating over the water.
"What do you mean?" He had moved but not closer. She thought he might have sat up.
"You know what I mean. And there's no need to even go there, now, is there?" Sorrow and regret filled her voice.
He sighed heavily. "Why...why d-did it have to be my brother? You trying to hurt me as bad as you can, Liv? Huh? Is that it?" His voice was harder now, demanding, though he tried to maintain a low volume.
He had moved again. This time she was sure he was standing. And there was no mistaking the anger that had crept into his voice. Anger had crept up on her as well. She whirled around to respond to him. He was standing about six feet from her. He had changed clothes, now wearing a mustard yellow t-shirt, tight enough that even in the dark, she could see the outline of his muscles in the shadows cast from the moonlight. The jean shorts he wore were cutoffs and he was barefoot.
"I didn't know he was your brother, Elliot!" She snapped at him, running her hand through her hair.
Even in the moonlight, she could see the glare he sent her way. "You know it, now." He growled. He was standing, feet wide apart, fists curled by his side. His classic angry stance.
Her hands flying everywhere, she growled back. "What? I'm supposed to give up the best thing that has ever happened to me because he turned out to be your brother? Are you kidding me?" She snorted and turned back to the lake. "This isn't all about you, Elliot."
"The best thing? What about me? What about what we have, Olivia?" He had taken a couple of steps closer and was only a foot or so from her.
She turned to him once again, looking him over from head to toe and back to meet his eyes. "What we have? What do we have, Elliot?" Sarcasm coated each word. "Confessions of forbidden feelings that we can't act on? A couple of stolen kisses? That's not much to live on. Trust me, I've been trying to do it for years."
She saw him wince at her words and hated herself that she hurt him again. "Not much...not much..." Dragging his hands over his face and head, he whispered as though to himself, not her.
When he looked up at her, the pain was etched in every line of his face. "How...how am I suppose to do this? See you at every family function...with him. With my brother. Spend my days with you knowing you belong, not just to someone else, but to my brother. How do I live knowing you'll never be mine, Olivia? Tell me how!"
Never dropping her gaze, she stepped within inches of his face. Even out here, in the dark, with only the light from the moon, his eyes were so blue. "The same way I have for the past eight or nine years, El."
She stepped around him to leave, but he caught her arm, roughly pulling her to him. Their lips were inches apart. So, close Olivia could feel the warmth of his breath and smell the gum...Spearmint...he must have been chewing recently. Her heart was pounding and the blood rushed to her head causing her to feel unbalanced. Or was that just because of Elliot's close proximity. She could not remember when he had begun to have that effect on her. Just as he leaned closer, bringing his lips within millimeters of hers, she jerked away from him.
"Get your hands off me, Elliot." She hissed, her eyes narrowed. He stared at her and then backed up a step, his hands held slightly up in surrender.
As she turned to go, Elliot spoke one last time, pleading. "Olivia, don't. Please don't do this."
Olivia walked off of the dock. Just as she got to where it connected with the ground, she paused, startled for the second time that evening. For just a few seconds, she met the blue eyes that were intently watching her and Elliot, then she lifted her head just a bit higher, looked away and continued back to the house.
Elliot felt hot tears that had welled in his eyes, spill over and run down his face. He sniffled and swiped at them with the back of his hand. He didn't hear her footsteps, rather he sensed a presence. Thankful that she had come back, he turned quickly, whispering her name almost as though it were a prayer.
"Olivia..." He turned and came face to face with Kathy.
She glared at him. "What's going on, Elliot?" Kathy voice was a mixture of frustration and resignation.
His mouth fell open in shock and he could not speak. He tried again, finally able to form words. "Nothing. Nothing's going on, Kathy." He pushed past her but she caught his arm.
"What I just saw was not 'nothing', Elliot. I have a right to know what is going on." She looked him straight in the eye.
"Kathy..." He warned between clenched teeth. "Drop it." He could not deal with her right now.
He pulled her hand from his arm and started walking down the dock. "You're jealous. Jealous of your own brother. How pathetic." She snorted.
He froze in his tracks. He wanted to hit something. Badly. He was breathing in through his nose with sharp, rapid bursts. He thought his chest would explode with anger. His hands fisted at his side and he felt the blood slamming into his head with such force it caused a tremendous pain with each beat of his heart.
Kathy now walked past him. "Olivia loves Rhett." She laughed, but there was no humor. "After all these years, she doesn't want you. Get over it." She had some nerve.
He could not stop himself. He snatched Kathy by her arm, making her turn around. Then he grabbed her shoulders and began to shake her violently. "Shut up! You hear me, Kathy? You shut up!"
"Elliot! Let go of me! Elliot! You're hurting me!" She cried out.
"Sonny! Take it easy!" Rhett's booming voice thundered over Elliot and Kathy's.
He had come looking for Olivia. And when he saw two people on the dock, he thought they might have seen her. He knew the woman was not Olivia, because he could see the silhouette of her long hair. Elliot let go of Kathy so quickly, she lost her balance. Rhett reached to steady her, glaring at Elliot.
He looked down at Kathy. "You okay?" She nodded. He let go of her and turned his heated focus on Elliot. "What's the problem here?"
"Believe me..." Kathy's voice dripping with sarcasm. "You don't want to know." She looked at Rhett and then Elliot as she left the dock and headed back up the hill to the house.
Rhett turned back to Elliot, just as Elliot was about to pass him. He took a step sideways, blocking his exit. "You didn't answer me. What's going on, Sonny?"
Elliot glared at his brother, his eyes narrowed. "It's none of your business." His voice was a low, guttural sound. "Get out of my way."
He stood his ground. "Look, I don't mean to pry, but, if you need to talk about things between you and Kathy...or anything...I'm here for you. That's all." Rhett hated that things were so bad between he and Sonny.
Elliot tossed his head back in a mirthless laughter. "You've been gone for over twenty years and you expect to march back into our lives, into my life, and say 'hey, I'm home...come on, now, let's pick up where we left off...let's be brothers again...I'm here for you...'? Ain't gonna happen, Bro!" Elliot pushed him aside and went up to the house, heading for the back door.
xxxxx
Stabler Lake House
Thursday Night, July 3
Olivia could not find Rhett when she returned to the house and she was ready to shower and settle down for the night. The day had been long and her encounter with Elliot had worn her down emotionally. Dickie brought her bag in for her and Marie insisted she have her own room, since she was a guest and showed her a small guest room on the lower floor. Though she wanted to be near Rhett, she was thankful that she was going to have her own private area. She had just come from the bathroom down the hall and was unpacking her suitcase, when she heard a soft knock at the door. She grabbed her blue cotton robe and tied it around her over her tank top and boy shorts. Opening the door slightly, she saw Rhett.
"Hey, baby. Mom said you came in about twenty minutes ago." He whispered.
She opened the door all the way, standing to the side to let him enter. "Yea...I'm really tired."
She kissed him on the cheek as she closed the door. He grabbed her to him. "Went looking for you." His hands traveled up and down her back and she melted into him.
"Mmmm...sat in the swing and then down at the dock for a while." She murmured against him, just a hint of his cologne still evident in each breath she took. "It's beautiful out there."
"At the dock? You must have seen Sonny and Kathy, then, huh?" His voice was low.
She tensed. She hoped Rhett did not notice. She couldn't lie...what if they told him they saw her? "Uh...yea...I saw them." She kissed his neck, hoping to distract him from this conversation.
He groaned at her touch. "They were having a knock-down, drag-out fight when I saw them." His hands were now tangling in her hair.
"Uh-huh...that's Elliot and Kathy." She really wished he would change the subject. Or just hush.
"I sort of butted in, because Sonny was getting kind of rough with her." He kissed her forehead and temple.
She pulled back from him. "What? What do you mean 'getting kind of rough'?"
"I don't know...he was yelling at her and had her by the shoulders, shaking her pretty hard." He leaned down to kiss her, but she turned away.
"Did he hurt her?" The frown on her face deepened. She could not believe what he was telling her.
She had heard that their fights could get pretty bad, but she never really thought about it getting physical. She was used to Elliot's yelling, very used to it, but she could not imagine him physically hurting her or Kathy or any woman. She was very concerned if that had happened because it would mean he was on the edge.
"No...she said she was fine." He smoothed her hair back and stared at her. "You seem upset. I'm sorry...maybe I shouldn't have shared that with you."
"Oh...no...no. It's just that...I...I...can't see Elliot ever getting physical like that with Kathy." She looked past him as she explained.
"But you don't seem surprised that they fight..." He observed.
"They fight all the time." Just like he and I fight all the time. They are miserable together. Just like he and I are miserable together. "What were they fighting about?" She was not sure she wanted to know.
"Don't know. Kathy said 'believe me you don't want to know.' Any idea what she meant by that?" He cocked his eyebrow at her.
She bit her lower lip and then released it. Okay. That was enough. She did not want to think of Elliot or Kathy or fighting anymore. She knew they were fighting about her. Her and Elliot.
"No. No idea. Enough about them..." She framed Rhett's face with her hands and pulled him to her in a long, passionate kiss. When he finally broke away, they were both gasping for air.
"I better head upstairs and get a shower before all the hot water is gone." He kissed her quickly on the lips and then the tip of her nose. "I love you, Liv."
She hugged him tightly, burrowing into his chest. "I love you, too."
Stabler Lake House
Friday, July 4
Olivia had slept late. Late for her. She awoke to the sun streaming in through the window's slatted blinds. It would be another beautiful day. Turning to the bedside table, she covered the clock, shielding it from the sunlight so she could read the time. Eight thirty-seven. She could smell the wonderful aroma of coffee and she wondered if Marie had some tea she could make. When nothing else could get her up and moving, the thought of that first jolt of caffeine did it. She took a quick shower and within ten minutes was in the kitchen with Erin, Marie, Maureen and Dee.
"Good morning." She smiled at the women sitting around the breakfast table.
"How did you sleep, dear?" Marie asked smiled.
"I must have slept wonderfully because I never sleep this late." She smiled and stretched a bit.
"Would you like some coffee?" Erin stood up and went for another mug.
"She only drinks tea." Maureen looked at her, expressionless.
"Oh...well...I'm sure Mom has tea around here..." She found a box and handed it to Olivia.
"Thanks...I'll just heat up the water in the microwave." She took the mug from Erin, too.
After about thirty minutes of conversation between them, thirty minutes in which Maureen was unusually quiet, Kathy appeared at the doorway with Eli. She and Olivia locked eyes, and Olivia smiled at her. Kathy tried to smile back, but it was in vain. Marie stood up and announced it was time to get to work on the lunch preparations. She already had the potatoes boiling for the potato salad. Emily and Aunt Lynn came in the back door, sweaty from an apparent run.
"Oh...if I had known you were running this morning, I might have joined you." Olivia told them.
"Didn't know you were a runner. Well, there's always tomorrow." Emily told her, wiping her face with a towel.
"Great. Count me in." Olivia stood up and took her mug to the sink. "What can I do to help you, Mrs. Stabler?"
"Marie. I told you to call me Marie. Unless you want to call me 'Mom'." She put both her hands over her face and laughed.
Everyone looked around at Olivia. The blush ran up her neck and face immediately, the heat of it almost unbearable. She opened her mouth to speak, but closed it again, because she did not know what to say. Rhett wanted to announce their engagement today, the 4th, because their first date had been on the 4th of May. They planned to do it when everyone was gathered for lunch.
"Grandma...Liv and I are going for a walk. We'll help when we get back. You don't mind, do you?" Maureen spoke up, surprising Olivia.
"Not all, sweetheart. Take your time." Marie smiled as she waved them off and moved a pot from the stove to the counter.
Maureen grabbed Olivia by the arm and pulled her outside and down the front porch steps. Olivia still had not said anything after Marie's remarks.
The Woods
Friday, July 4
"You don't mind walking with me, do you?" Maureen asked quietly, glancing sideways at Olivia.
She was taking Olivia on a path along the lake away from the house. It was quiet and still relatively cool outside. The sun was bright, but there were big, puffy, white clouds dotting the sky.
"Of course not. I guess I am a little surprised that you asked me." She looked over at Elliot's oldest child.
She looked straight ahead and had no response, so Olivia spoke again. "I mean, you've pretty much ignored me since I've been here..."
Of all of Elliot's children, she was closest to Maureen. She came to Olivia about things that she would never tell her parents...not in this lifetime, anyway. Olivia provided an objective, yet seasoned view point and advice on a wide range of subjects. Maureen saw her as her friend and Olivia enjoyed her company. Olivia could not remember the first time she realized Maureen sensed the bond between she and Elliot, but she knew she was quite young. Through the years, Maureen had hinted at things, but Olivia never gave her anything substantial to go on. When Kathy left Elliot, Maureen had tried to get her to make a move toward Elliot, to let him know how she felt. She suspected Maureen pushed Elliot to the same. The fact that he had not, said all she needed to hear. And broke her heart.
"Liv, I'm sorry...I just...don't...I...it's...it's..." Maureen was shaking her head as she stammered.
"Complicated." Liv used her old standby word. "It's okay. I understand."
"To say the least." Maureen agreed, she pulled her hair back behind her head with her right hand.
"I know it was a shock seeing me with your Uncle Rhett. Believe me, no one was more shocked when I found out he was your Dad's brother." Olivia had picked up some stones and threw them at the lake. She snorted, thinking about yesterday when she realized that Rhett and Elliot's family were the same.
"Uncle Rhett's totally awesome! But Dad's got a grudge against him...you know, about him leaving home and staying gone so long. Dad says he's mad that he left Grandma like that...but I really think he's mad that he left Dad like he did. Dad said they were best friends growing up." She had picked up some stones now and she and Olivia were having a silent contest to see who could throw the farthest.
Olivia pondered that information and could see that being the real reason. Elliot did know how to hold a grudge. Especially, if he felt wronged. She knew he still had not completely forgiven her for going to computer crimes. Or Oregon. Or Porter.
"How long have you been dating?" Maureen stopped and looked at Olivia.
"Only two months...two months today. But, it seems like I have known him forever. And you're right, Maur...he is totally awesome!"
"You two seem really happy together." She told her.
"We are. Very happy." Olivia looked at her, smiling.
"You're gonna marry him?" She threw her last rock into the lake and watched as the rings rippled out from the entry point.
"Yes...I am." She held out her hand to show the engagement ring.
"Oh, my! Liv, it's gorgeous! I've never seen one with emeralds." She held Liv's hand, turning it one way and then another, watching the diamonds sparkle in the sunlight.
"We met in May so he had those two diamonds replaced with emeralds. May's birth stone." She explained.
"Oh, that is so romantic!" Maureen smiled from ear to ear.
Olivia laughed. A deep, joyful laugh. "Rhett is very romantic. He even writes me love poems."
"Poems? I am so jealous!" She started walking again.
A few minutes later they came to a massive oak, fallen in the woods, stretching out over the lake. Maureen stopped and ran her hand along the bark. Olivia picked a wildflower from underneath the tree and smelled it, taking in it's fresh fragrance.
"Liv...is it possible to be in love with two guys at the same time?" Maureen innocently questioned her.
Olivia's breath caught as a slight gasp escaped and she was sure Maureen heard both. Her head involuntarily snapped up to look at the young woman. Her brilliant blue eyes, so like her father's, pierced Olivia's brown ones, making it nearly impossible for her to maintain eye contact. She was astonished at the blatant question. Shaking her head ever so slightly, she opened her mouth several times before she was able to speak.
"Is it possible to be in love with two guys at the same time?" Her voice was but a pale whisper as she repeated Maureen's question. Was it possible to be in love with two brothers, she asked herself? Was it possible to be in love with her Dad and her uncle, was what Maureen was really asking? And they both knew the answer.
A/N: Well, it looks like everyone wants Elliot to put their sun screen on them...think I'll take him to the beach this summer! And I surprised a lot of you...but quite a number of you figured it out...or thought you had it figured out...Rhett and Elliot being brothers, that is! Yea...let's keep it in the family! Wonder how it will all play out. Just throwing this out there...what do you guys think of a character...gulp...biting the dust...you know...dying?
Work has thrown a wrench into my writing time the last couple of day...and since I'm a Fed...I can not write at work, unlike some of my favorite authors on FanFiction!
My heart is bursting with the overflow of your prayers, concern and thoughts for my mom and friend. I will let you know when we know anything else. Waiting on appointments right now. Blessings to all of you! " ) Bensler
BiggestSVUFAN - Thanks for the title for this chapter and thanks for reading and taking time to review.
Metal Chick CRISIS 2040 - Please tell Dick about me! I hate to toot my own horn...most of the time!
MegMann - I hope your husband continues to do well. I wanted to email you, but it was not listed. Thanks for the encouragement.
davesgurl05 - I am honored to be the first author you have reviewed. Thank you!
Marie2185 - You hit the nail on the head, girl! Elliot DOES act like Liv is his property! I have never realized that in quite this context.
LivNel4ever - you are right! Rhett and Elliot are a lot alike and we do tend to fall for the same type of person each time...Liv just didn't realized that Rhett was like a surrogate Elliot. Maybe, dare I say it, even better.
MHFever - since you also write, isn't it amazing how you can get caught up in these stories and 'three completely fictional characters'. And what's more, we can make them do anything we please!!
svuaddictonesix - Your detailed reviews are just what an author needs! Sometimes I tend to get caught up in details...I like them. But I need to work on balancing the details with conversations and such. Thanks!
Veiled Obsessions - Wow! I find myself scanning the reviews in the hope that you have graced me with one of yours! Your insight into the story is amazing... 'Either way, she's going to shatter the family; by marrying the brother and adding herself into the Stabler clan, or by having an affair with Elliot.' Thanks for taking time to review, Veil!