Fate

A/N: Picks up right where chapter 4 left off. So most people guessed: Beck, Jo, even Hendrix. Well here's the real answer… ;) Drum roll…

Chapter 5: Shocked

"So uh Noah, I mean Oliver," Barba spoke, aware his friend in the passenger seat had just been stunned into silence by the confessions of the young boy.

"What course is your Dad taking at this seminar?" Barba asked, looking at the lad in his rearview mirror.

Oliver thought about what Noah had told him, "Mmmm, something about negotiations, learning how to lessen a problem, not blow things up even more."

Olivia chuckled darkly, Barba gave her a small smile. From what he had heard about the Captain's former partner, he could definitely use that kind of training. "Well that sounds…promising."

The trio sat in an awkward silence as Barba pulled into the parking lot of the lavish hotel.

"Is there a particular place where we are meeting your Dad?" Barba inquired as they got out of his car.

"I think at the kids area? They have a daycare center set up for the officer's children Noah said," Oliver replied.

Barba nodded but turned back towards his car when he noticed Olivia wasn't beside him.

"Liv?" Barba called, walking to stand in front of her.

Olivia glanced at Oliver, "I'm sorry," she released an unsteady breath. "I-I uh, can you, can you take him?" Olivia asked, looking at Barba.

Oliver and Barba looked at each other before their eyes fell on Olivia.

Barba unlocked his car, "Oliver can you just give us a minute?" he nodded towards the open door of his vehicle.

Oliver didn't put up a fight, hopping back into the car without question.

Barba shut the door gently, "What do you want to do Liv?"

Olivia shook her head, she ran her hands through her long brown locks, noticing her hands were shaking. "I thought I could but I don't think I can, it's too soon, I just, I don't think, I can't-"

Barba cut her off, she was spiralling right in front of his eyes. He grabbed her wrists and held her hands between his own. "Hey, hey, look at me, it's okay. I can take him, why don't you wait in the lobby and I'll take him to the daycare, get your son back alright? It's going to be okay Liv," Barba tried to reason with her.

Olivia slowly nodded, "Yeah, yes, okay. Just say you're my partner or whatever if anybody asks."

Barba gave her a sad smile, she clearly wasn't thinking properly because the word 'partner' meant something very different at this kind of conference, "You mean boyfriend."

"Yes, in case anyone asks, I doubt Stabler or any attendant would let you just walk off with my son otherwise," Olivia explained.

Barba nodded opening the car door and gesturing for Oliver to come out. "Of course, come on let's go before we're late."

The trio walked into the posh hotel, immediately seeing signs for the conference.

Olivia briefly heard Barba explain the situation to Oliver but she was too distracted, eyes darting around the lobby, praying she didn't run into anyone she knew. She wondered if this was the closest she and Elliot had been in the past decade. They were in the same city, the same block, the same hotel. Olivia's thoughts were interrupted by a small cough.

"Um I'm really sorry for all the trouble I've caused you Ms. Benson, but I'm not sorry I met you. Noah's a lucky kid, I've always wanted a Mom, and Noah hit the jackpot with you," Oliver told her quickly turning and running towards Barba who stood a few feet away.

Olivia breathed heavily, tears forming in her eyes. Noah was her sweet boy, but Oliver was proving to her that despite possibly being more mischievous, he was equally as kind. She could say many things about Elliot Stabler, but he was a good father if nothing else.

Olivia watched the two men walk away, whispering a 'goodbye Oliver,' when they walked out of sight.

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"So buddy you looking forward to our trip at the end of the week?" Elliot asked who he thought was Oliver, as he walked him to the daycare.

Noah furrowed his eyebrows unsure of what Elliot was referring to, "Uhhhhh."

Elliot glanced down at him, his hand resting on Noah's shoulders, "Don't you remember?" he asked, giving his shoulder a gentle squeeze.

"Sorry I guess I forgot?" Noah replied sheepishly.

Elliot chuckled, "That's alright bud, but it's a bit of a Stabler tradition, spending the last few days of March break in the Poconos."

Noah perked up, this was a detail, and a rather large one at that, that him and Oliver had missed.

"Oh yeah, can't wait Dad," Noah beamed.

"Checking in for Oliver Stabler," Elliot told the receptionist at the entrance to a large conference room which had been designated as the daycare area.

Noah looked around but so far he hadn't seen Oliver or his Mom.

"Alright buddy, I'll pick you up later, be good okay," Elliot ordered, before bending down to give him a quick hug.

Noah gave Elliot an extra hard squeeze in case this was the last time he saw him.

Noah waved back to Elliot's girlfriend who was waiting for him a few feet away. He watched as they walked away, the woman grabbing Elliot's hand, pushing her body into the side of his.

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Olivia wandered around the lobby, wringing her hands. How long would it take Barba to switch the boys? Would Elliot be mad, sad, or disappointed that she didn't show up. Olivia snorted, well if he had a problem it's not like he couldn't contact her. Noticing that most of the conference was taking place on a different floor, Olivia felt confident that she wouldn't run into anyone she knew.

Olivia wondered, what would happen now? Would they all just go their separate ways? Pretend they didn't exist? That didn't make much sense. The boy's were brothers and knowing the other existed, she didn't think they could keep them apart.

Olivia leaned against a wall outside the cluster of elevators. She was looking out towards the street, noticing the weather complimented her mood.

The sound of a woman giggling caught her attention. Olivia looked towards an elevator her stomach dropping as she stared into the shocked eyes of her old partner. Olivia's jaw dropped unable not to notice the woman wrapped around her ex partner. Elliot released the woman's waist, his mouth opening and closing, it looked like he whispered her name, leaning forward and reaching out, the door closed before anything more could happen.

Olivia released the breath she didn't realize she was holding. Elliot Stabler was in the building. But he seemed surprised as hell at the sight of her. And her son was nowhere in sight. Olivia sighed, she had been played by a pair of 8 year olds. If she had to guess Stabler had no idea their son's switched places and even less of a clue that she would be at the hotel that morning.

Olivia rubbed her hands over her face. She knew that woman. Yes she was older, but Olivia didn't come across a lot of females in policing. She was trying to remember if she had ever shown an interest in Elliot back when she was around but truth be told she couldn't recall.

There were a few things Olivia knew for fact, as she reached into her pocket to call Barba. One: her son had an identical twin brother. Two: they had switched places. Three: her ex partner was the father of her son's twin brother. Four: Elliot Stabler was currently in the same hotel as her, completely shocked by her appearance. And lastly five: her ex partner was dating Monique Jeffries, or so it seemed.

A/N: No one guessed Monique! I never said they were partners, I just said they worked together after his partner left. Shorter chapter but wanted to move the story along. Now everyone knows who Elliot's mystery girlfriend is. What will his reaction be to Olivia and finding out his son is a twin?

Hope you enjoyed the surprise, leave kudos or a review if you liked the twist.