"Hello... Elliot's house of ecstasy." He answered the phone after letting out a grunt. Currently he was lying in bed at the condo, naked with Chester who was equally nude. The two men had just finished making love, so Elliot was in a very good mood and enjoying the "afterglow". However, his mouth fell open when he heard the voice of his boyfriend's mother on the other end of the line. "Elliot, its Victoria. I'd like to speak to my son." Pulling a face as only he could he passed the phone to Chester? "It's your mother."
Chester made a face at his lover. He's probably in for a good yelling now. "Uh Hi mom..." Chester said into the phone.
"Nice to hear that you're keeping Elliot so happy." Victoria said, she was trying her best to be serious but then started to laugh. "It takes a lot of nerve to answer your phone like that. Listen I am just calling to confirm that I have your address right." She quickly rattled off the information and added. "I wanted to send you both a care package. Also, I'd like for you to either come home to Landford or I can travel to New York. It's been three months since you got engaged, I'd like to see one of my son's married before I die."
"Yes the address is right, I'll try to get some time off mother I'm a cop we don't normally get long vacations." Chester told his mother rolling his eyes slightly.
"Well I would think that whoever is in charge would understand if you are going on a honeymoon... Speaking of which I have been doing some research... I spoke with Barbara Collins, she's a travel agent. If you want I could get you a great deal on a trip to Hawaii." Victoria continued to prattle on. "Also, the minister at First Methodist Church is willing to conduct the wedding ceremony, and get this I managed to talk the Landford Country Club into allowing us to use one of their banquet halls for the reception..."
"Mom I'm hanging up now you know this state hasn't legalized same sex marriages. Love you, good bye." He said before hanging up. "Dear god she wants to run everything..." Chester muttered hating how controlling his mother was.
Elliot had gotten out from under the comforter on the bed and padded naked to the master bathroom and started the shower. "She's just excited is all... She can't be all that bad. A wedding is a wedding even if it's not considered legal. But from what I have been hearing on the news it's very possible that Senator Clinton is going to really start looking into legalizing gay marriage in New York." He put his hand under the water to test how hot it was. "Are you going to lay there or come get cleaned up?"
"I get that, but dammit, I don't want her rushing this we haven't even set a date." Chester muttered from the bed.
"Next you will be telling me that she's picked out what she thinks is best for our wedding party to wear." Elliot laughed. He just couldn't see that his future mother-in-law was that controlling of a person. "She loves you that is all that matters. Just be glad for small favors she didn't bring up going before the council of elders again. But, then, you didn't give her a chance did you?"
"She doesn't listen and I wouldn't put it passed her to do just that you don't know her the way I do. She's completely controlling!" Chester growled.
"Well we will face that fight together when the time comes." The older man walked back into the bedroom. "Now up... out of the bed and into the bathroom. Your all sticky and a very dirty boy." He gave the firm flesh that made up Chester's behind a playful swat.
"Mmm you like me dirty though." He smirked teasingly rolling away from the swatting and bounced off the bed to make his way to the shower.
Elliot followed like a well-trained puppy. Soon both men where under the hot water taking turns lathering up and rinsing off. When they finally turned off the water and stepped out of the tub and shower enclosure they reached for towels in unison and started to dry off. Elliot moved to put has arms around the younger man from behind as they stood before the mirror. He grinned. "I am still amazed at times that you and I ended up together. Sometimes I wonder what it is that you find so appealing about me. I mean I am no spring chicken by any means when it comes to age." Elliot gazed intently into the eyes of his man's reflection in the mirror. "I just hope that the day never comes that you realize that you might have made a big mistake." It was very rare for Elliot Stabler to bear his soul like he was doing. To voice his inner most fears. "You have no idea how much I have come to love you Chess. I can honestly say I think my world would be shattered if I lost you now."
A mischievous glint entered the younger man's eyes. "Oh, I've already made a huge mistake. I should have given you my heart long ago." Chester grinned.
"You are a total sap..." Elliot grinned and then nuzzled Chester's neck for a few moments. As he let go and backed away he took hold of the towel that was wrapped around his boyfriends waist and gave it a tug; looking over his shoulder as he started to pull on a pair of clean underwear. "You just look better naked. Like a living statue." Elliot was just about to reach for his pair of discarded jeans when there was a knock on the front door of the condo. Knitting his eyebrows together he quickly pulled up his pants, pulled the fly and did up the clasp. Walking bare chested to the door he opened it and was surprised to find his ex-wife standing in the hallway. "Kathy!?... Well this is a surprise!" He stepped aside to let her enter. "Why are you here? Is there something wrong with the kids?"
"Dickey's been acting out, he's demanding to live with you and I'm not sure why he's acting out like this." Kathy told him honestly.
Elliot walked down the hallway of the condo in front of Kathy and quickly pulled the bedroom door shut just in case his other half was still indecent. "I will put on a pot of coffee. Have a seat in the living room." He was just filling the coffee makers water tank when Chester appeared fully clothed and tossed him a t-shirt. "Kathy's in the living room." He quickly told the Native American what she'd said to him about his son as he pulled on his shirt. "I will be right in with the coffee. Go sit with her."
Kathy was just sitting and fretting over what to do about her son. Had she done something to make him hate her? It was frustrating. The still beautiful woman did smile at Chester in greeting as he joined her in the living room.
A few moments later Elliot brought in three cups of coffee along with cream and sugar on a tray. "I am sorry that the biscuits are not homemade." He put the tray down on the coffee table and sat in his recliner. "I don't have your talent for baking." He gave a little wink to his ex-wife. "Now when did this all start with Dickey? He seemed fine at Kathleen and James' reception. If course that was a month ago. I have only seen him once since then. Chester and I have been swamped at work. I am sorry."
"Actually, it started right after the wedding. Ever since you don't come over as often as he's used to seeing you, I think he just misses you." Kathy said hopping that was all it was so that or he probably hated her.
"I have feeling that might be the reason. If you like I can clear this weekend and come pick him up after school? Maybe if I sit down with our son I can find out why he's acting the way that he is?" Elliot could see how much pain this situation was causing for Kathy. He reached over and took her hand in his own and give it a little squeeze. "Don't worry I'll get to the bottom of this..." To change the subject to a lighter tone he smiled. "How are the kids getting along with Spike?"
"Thanks Elliot." She said sipping the doctored coffee. "They love the dog. Play with him every day and they are pretty good about remembering to take care of Spike." She smiled softly.
"How many times have they forgotten about keeping the backyard cleaned up? I would like the truth. Have you been covering for the any one of them? If so, I will have a talk with them and give them a gentle reminder to keep on top of that little chore."
"Nope, I haven't been covering for any of them. But they aren't very good about the messy end. I tell them and after a couple of days. I send them out there with shovels and trash bags to get it all and watch while they do it while lounging, getting sun and sipping lemonade." She grinned wickedly.
"Well eventually they will realize it's easier to pick it up as soon as Spike makes a... Well... A deposit." He laughed and wrinkled his nose. "I am sure that Dickey will want to bring Spike with him when he comes over this weekend. We'd be happy to have both boys. That reminds me... We are going to have to make a call to the vet soon. Spike is coming up to the age where it's a good idea to think about having him neutered." Again Elliot wrinkled his nose and saw Chester do the same. After all they were both males. "Personally I am of the opinion to let Spike keep what he was born with."
"You would be, unfortunately, your children aren't very good at keeping the gate locked. I don't need some neighbor coming to me with a complaint that our dog knocked her dog up." Kathy said with dry humor. "I'm thinking we should have him snipped."
"Well then we will have to get them in to the habit of making sure the gate is locked." Elliot said. He'd never been one to play God when it came to animals. "I am sure if I explain it to our son he will understand. Men are rather protective of that part of their body even from a young age." Elliot thought for a moment. "Besides I think it's only fair that we allow Spike to have at least one litter of puppies."
"Oh and who or where are we going to get his wife from, considering he likes to dress up in dresses I don't think it matters" The family dog was very tolerant when it came to the children, even allowing Lizzie to dress him up. "He looks really cute in Lizzie's Tutu."
"I am sure that both Spike and Dickey will love being in an all-male household for a few days. When did you want me to pick our son and the dog up?"
"You can do so anytime." She shrugged, she knew her kids hated the fact that their parents lived in separate households. "You could pick the kids up from school for once would be nice." She added.
The father narrowed his eyes at the sideways swipe that he'd just been hit with by his ex-wife. "I have wanted to pick up the kids from school in the past but I have been told by the office at the school that they are only authorized to put our children on the bus or release them into your care personally." Without meaning to Elliot's voice started to rise. "I am their god dammed parent to Kathy!"
"Don't start yelling at me Elliot Stabler. Maybe if the teachers knew who you were they'd have you on their list as well you never show up to any of their functions with me! Not even before our divorce!" She yelled back tired of being accused of being the bad guy all the damn time.
Elliot let out a snort of disgust. "Do you know how that feels for a member of the New York Police Department? To have some officious homophobic cunt of a secretary tell me that I am not allowed to see my children!"
"Stop yelling at me! Dammit!" She growled ready to kick him in the shins. "Look I don't know why she won't let you take them home. You're listed as their father. Maybe show some ID or something, or even show up for career day on Tuesday." She told him trying to keep from yelling at him just because he was acting like an ass doesn't mean she was going to.
Taking a breath to calm down he gave a dismissive wave. "It doesn't matter. Personally I think it's time we look at pulling the twins and Maureen out of St. Mary's Catholic and look in to putting them in to a public school." This was a can of worms that had been festering between the divorced parents for some time. Elliot had been of the opinion that his children would receive a better education at a public school where they'd be taught tolerance and forgiveness. Rather than religious hate filled dreck taught by the nuns at St. Mary's.
Kathy opened her mouth to argue then closed it with a frown. She sighed, Elliot unfortunately might be right on this one. Ever since Maureen's friends had found out about the cause of the divorce Maureen had been having a hard time at the catholic school. It wasn't any easier for Lizzie either she's come home in tears because of some of the things the kids were saying about her father. Dickey's had been in one really bad fight which she hadn't told Elliot about, which caused her to bite her lower lip thinking about finally telling her ex-husband. After all if Dickey was going to stay for a few days during March Break with his father. It stood to reason that Elliot was going to notice the shiner and split lip. While Dickey had come out on top of the fight the school had actually suspended him until a week after spring break. "Um about that." Kathy explained to Elliot what's been going on waiting for him to explode in anger unintentionally cowering slightly.
Much to the shock of both his current partner and his ex-wife, the man just stumbled back and flopped into his recliner and put his face in his hands. When Elliot finally spoke his voice sounded broken and defeated. "Putting all of that aside... All the damage that I have caused... I knew it was a bad idea to leave the kids in that school. At first I was willing to defer to your judgement about them losing their friends by transferring out mid-semester, but if what you've told me is true then our children need our support now more than ever." He looked at his ex-wife. "Kathy if you can do some research and find the best public school that is close to the house I'd be very grateful."
She was definitely taken aback by his complete turn temper wise. Dumbstruck, her jaw hung open but she gave a nod. "I can do that." she finally said in a soft voice. Her job gave a little more leeway since she worked for herself really.
"Thank you." He nodded and forced a smile to come to his face. "I am sorry for getting upset. It was uncalled for." If there was one thing that Elliot Christopher Stabler could not and would not tolerate was his children being harassed or bullied. "I will talk to Dickey about the fight and remind him that violence is not the answer. Have you spoken to the other boy's parents about this?"
"Yes, and I got nowhere, the boy's parents are highly religious." She sighed.
"I am not surprised." He looked at Chester and his gaze softened. "We both knew this might happen at some point." While his children still had a hard time accepting his partner as a parental figure. Chester had come to see all of Elliot's children as a big part of his life. "You have some say in this to?"
"Trust me if I had any objections you'd have heard them by now." Chester said very much in agreement.
"Then it is settled." Elliot said as he stood up once more to walk Kathy to the front door of the apartment. "Tell Dickey that I will be over to pick him up on Friday. He is to have Spike ready to go too." He didn't hesitate to give his ex-wife a little peck on her cheek as he held the door open for her exit. "Thanks for stopping by Kathy."
"Alright will do." Kathy said grabbing her coat and purse giving Chester a hug and a peck on the cheek then hesitated in doing the same to her ex-husband. He may have no problem doing so to her, but it just remind her that they were no longer together. She managed to do it though then hurried out the door before she made a fool of herself crying.
(Author's Note... I know that I have not added this little tag to any of the previous chapters.. However.. Any reviews or comments are gratefully accepted.. would love feed back from anyone that takes the time to tell me what they think... Thanks and I hope you continue to enjoy the story...