Fate

Chapter 8: The Cabin

True to his word Elliot had messaged Olivia the details. They were all planning to go up Thursday morning and to drive back Sunday night, hoping the boys would crash and sleep well, before returning to school the following Monday.

The drive up was awkward as Noah had asked why Uncle Barba was coming with them.

Olivia didn't know how to explain to her young 8 year old son, that Barba was pretending to be her boyfriend to give her emotional support as well as making Elliot flustered for reasons she didn't want to dig into. So she did her best and asked that Noah not expose them, she didn't want to go to the cabin alone and this was the only way she could bring another adult. He seemed genuinely happy about it though, stating it was like an undercover operation and he wouldn't 'blow their cover.'

The three pulled up to a large log cabin, seemingly in the middle of nowhere, in the Poconos. It was situated on a beautiful clear crisp lake that was currently frozen over in the middle of March. Elliot explained they often went skating on it, and cut a small hole to go ice fishing. The Stabler's had rented this cabin once a year for many years, while the oldest five children were growing up. He told her it would be the first time he could take Oliver and he was very excited too.

"Wow, looks nice," Barba declared as they got their luggage from his SUV.

Before Olivia could reply a familiar voice was addressing them, "Here let me help you with those, glad you guys could make it. Did you have trouble finding the place?" Elliot asked while offering to take Olivia's suitcase.

"I've got it actually," Barba intervened, knowing it would be what any real boyfriend would do.

Elliot paused in his actions.

"And no," Barba continued as he rolled Olivia's suitcase and his own towards the cabin's front door, "We had no problem finding this place, your directions were great."

"Good, good," Elliot said as Noah ran towards him.

"Elliot!" Noah exclaimed, throwing his arms around Elliot's ribs in a crushing hug.

Elliot chuckled happily, "Noah, how was your week, I missed you buddy!"

"It was okay," Noah shrugged as he let go of Elliot. "I couldn't wait to come here though and see you and Oliver."

Elliot thought his son's ears must have been burning as he suddenly appeared at his side.

"Noah!" "Oliver!" the boys grinned widely before embracing each other in a firm hug. Elliot squirmed, it was still weird to see the two children in the same space.

"Let's get everyone inside, outta the cold," Elliot ordered, nudging the two kids towards the door as well.

Olivia and Barba were already standing by it, waiting for the other three before entering.

"I should've let him grab your luggage just to see him bend over to grab it," Barba whispered to Olivia.

Olivia's eyes darted from the trio to Barba, "My boyfriend shouldn't be having those thoughts."

Barba shrugged, "Can't help that I have eyes and he has a firm, very squeez-"

"Do not finish that sentence," Olivia whispered sternly. She already knew this was going to be a long four days and she wondered why she even agreed to it. But as her eyes fell back on the two approaching boys who were chatting animately, she remembered, she was doing this for her son. So he could spend some time with, and get to know his brother. She glanced up at the log cabin, it was large, surely she could avoid Elliot in it as much as possible.

EoEoEoEoEoEoEoEoEoEoEoEoEoEoEoE

The next twenty minutes were awkward as they chose their rooms.

Thanks to Barba's quick lie of being her boyfriend, they had to share a room or else it would look weird. Elliot supplied them with a room with a queen sized bed. All the other bedrooms aside from the primary, had bunk beds or twin beds. The room was very nice and had a bathroom right across the hall. Unfortunately it also shared a wall with the primary bedroom. Olivia just prayed the wooden walls were thick because she didn't need to hear Elliot and Jeffries.

Barba dropped his phone, and as Elliot graciously bent to pick it up, Olivia rolled her eyes and discreetly elbowed Barba in the ribs as he checked out her old partner's sizeable ass. She herself couldn't help sneaking a peak, it had been so long since she had seen that ass. Despite his teasing Olivia knew Barba was right, her partner did have a great butt for a man.

Elliot stuttered as he motioned towards the bed and asked if it was alright. Barba noted he definitely seemed like he didn't want to think about himself and Olivia sharing that bed. Throwing an arm around her waist and resting his hand low on her hip Barba answered, "Yes it'll be perfect I'm sure, right sweetie?"

Olivia had to hold back another eye roll and smiled widely at Barba, "Absolutely hunny." Elliot left them alone to unpack, stating he was going to check on the boys.

Barba and Olivia took a few minutes to put some of their clothes in the dresser and closet.

Olivia sat on the bed, fidgeting nervously as Barba came to sit beside her.

"You got this," Barba encouraged her.

Olivia nodded, "Just seeing him again, being in the same space as him…"

"Are you ever going to tell me what happened between you two?" Barba inquired, rubbing her sweater clad shoulder.

"Maybe one day," Olivia smiled sadly.

"Or perhaps you could explain how a married father of five shattered your heart?" Barba pressed.

Olivia sighed, "Not today Rafael, not today."

EoEoEoEoEoEoEoEoEoEoEoEoEoEoEoE

Elliot had guessed right in assuming the boys would want to sleep in the room with bunk beds. He didn't know what it was about a bunk bed but all his kids seemed to love them.

The four adults gathered in the main living area, and stared out at the deck and frozen lake. It was nearing lunchtime already.

"I'm gonna get started on lunch, sandwiches okay for everyone?" Monique asked, wanting to break away from the awkward group.

Olivia nodded and smiled, "That's great for us."

Barba had his arm looped around her shoulder, he leaned in and pecked her cheek, "Let me help you," he spoke up, turning to follow Monique over to the kitchen, leaving Olivia to steam, alone with her old partner.

Olivia rolled her eyes and sighed heavily, looking out at the hot tub on the deck, it was probably the reason Elliot had told her to pack a swimsuit.

She could feel somebody's eyes on her and she assumed they were Elliot's as she glanced at him in her peripheral vision. But she was surprised to see him standing with his arms crossed, feet shoulder width apart, still looking out at the lake. She looked behind her at the kitchen and caught Monique studying her, her eyes trailing up and down her body.

Olivia faced the sliding doors again, she couldn't blame the woman for sizing her up. She couldn't imagine what Jeffries was thinking about this whole situation.

"So uh thanks for coming this weekend, I apprec-"

Olivia cut him off, "I didn't do it for you. I did it for two reasons and their names are Noah and Oliver. That's it."

"Oh, right, right… the boys, so how'd that happen, I mean, why Noah? Why the name Noah?"

Olivia shrugged, "Actually I didn't name him. When I found him he didn't have a name, it wasn't until we found his birth mother that she told me his name was Noah."

Elliot had been sipping from a bottle of water, he sprayed it as he heard her statement.

Coughing to clear his throat he choked, "You met their birth mother?!"

Olivia nodded slowly, "Ellie Porter. Although I don't think she knew about Oliver. I think she was so high or drugged when she had them, that she didn't know he even existed. Then again I don't know if his birth father did either to be honest."

"I'm sorry," Elliot grumbled, "You know both their birth parents?"

Olivia sighed heavily, "Knew."

"What?"

"Knew, I knew them. You don't have to worry about any birth parents ever showing up to take him away from you. They're both deceased. He had her killed, and he was one of the largest human traffickers on the east coast. My partner shot and killed him in a courthouse shooting. He knew he was going down so he grabbed an officer's gun and opened fire."

"Jesus Christ! So their mother was a drug addicted sex worker, and their father was a sex trafficker and rapist I assume?" Elliot exclaimed angrily, his fists clenched at his sides.

Olivia quirked an eyebrow, "Does that change the way you-"

This time it was Elliot cutting her off abruptly, "Don't you dare," he said, raising a finger, "It doesn't change a thing about my son. I just… never knew anything about where he came from, I never looked into it because it doesn't matter to me, you proved to me early on in our partnership that it doesn't matter who you come from."

Olivia smiled slightly, actually happy with his response. "Well one thing I can tell you, is they do have a psychologically unstable grandmother who is currently in a hospital for the foreseeable future as she tried to kidnap Noah a couple years ago."

"I'm sorry what?" Elliot's jaw dropped.

"Yeah, I guess I was so desperate for some sense of family, when she showed up I slowly let her in, let her spend time with Noah, as soon as I let my guard down slightly, she kidnapped him. I found him in the end and she was sentenced to a mental health ward, but it definitely messed me up for a while, probably still has, just another person to let me down…" Olivia trailed off, realizing how much she had confessed.

Elliot sighed and leaned from one foot to the other, uncomfortable with her statement.

Olivia scratched her brow, "Again though, I don't think she knows about Oliver."

She saw Elliot nod in the reflection of the door.

"Speaking of, why?" Olivia inquired in a hoarse tone.

Elliot furrowed his brows as he turned his head to look directly at her.

"You asked why Noah, why, why Oliver?" Olivia whispered between them.

She watched him gulp loudly and open and close his mouth a couple times.

Olivia rolled her eyes and sighed before turning to walk away. He never could open up and it was obvious that hadn't changed in a decade. She was surprised to find a hand on her bicep pulling her back towards him. She leaned back against the door to put some distance between them as he placed a hand by her head.

"I always wanted to name Eli after you. Especially after you saved his and Kathy's lives but she insisted on Eli… When I found Oliver, it was like I was given a second chance. He was my second chance. I figured if I could raise him to be even half the person you are, that he'd turn out to be pretty amazing," Elliot explained, staring at a spot on the wall beside her head.

Olivia's brows rose in surprise. She obviously recognized the similarities in their names but she never thought Elliot would just outright admit it. This time it was she who was fumbling for a response but she didn't have to as two rambunctious identical boys trotted into the large open kitchen/living room.

"Dad we're hungry!" Oliver declared loudly as he and Noah settled on a couple chairs in the kitchen.

Elliot gave Olivia a final heated stare, glancing down her body once before locking eyes with her again, "I don't know if I've said it yet, but, you look good Liv."

Olivia gaped at him as he turned and replied to Oliver in the kitchen. She couldn't even recall what he said to them as she replayed the conversation they just had in her head.

She sighed and closed her eyes, leaning her head against the door. This was going to be a long four days, yes indeed. She thought she could hide in this large cabin and avoid him but that plan was quickly failing already.

A/N: Up next Thursday evening. What happens when alcohol loosens their lips and actions.