Prompt #44 - Soulmates AU
From the Heart
~oOo~
November 1st
"Noah, you need to write your letter to Santa. I need to mail it in the morning after I drop you off at school," Olivia called from the dining room as she sat out a few pages of paper, a pen, and colored pencils.
"Coming," Noah yelled as he ran from his room into the dining room.
"Do you know what you are asking for this year?" Olivia asked as she put a pepperoni pizza in the oven for supper.
"Sort of. Mom, you can't look. It's between me and Santa," Noah said as he wrote on his paper.
"I promise, Honey. When you are done, put your letter into the envelope and seal it. Then I will address the envelope and you can pick out the stamp you like. I got some Christmas stamps yesterday," Olivia said as brought two glasses of root beer to the table.
"Do you want anything for Christmas?" Noah asked as he quickly drank his glass of milk so he could have some root beer.
"I already have what I always wanted. I'm your mom," Olivia said as she brushed her left hand through his hair.
"Mom." Noah laughed and rolled his eyes.
"Ok, hmm. Please ask Santa if he could bring me something from the heart. Santa always knows the gift we need each year. Sometimes it is something fun or silly. Sometimes it is something more meaningful that we don't even know we need until we receive it. Santa reminds us to never lose hope no matter how old we are." Olivia jumped up from the dining room chair as the oven timer went off. "Pizza time!"
~oOo~
Elliot arrived at the Ritz diner a few minutes early. He was meeting Don Cragen for lunch. Since Elliot had been back in New York they met weekly at the diner. He really valued having his guidance and friendship. Losing his dad at an early age he looked to Don as a father figure and role model. Don was also always quick to put him in his place if he needed it.
"Can I please have a window seat towards the back? One more person will be joining me," Elliot said to the waitress at the front counter.
"Yes, follow me." The waitress led Elliot back to a table near the back.
"Hey." Don Cragen waved while walking into the diner just as Elliot sat down. "Trying to show me up and for once being the early one," Don teased as he sat down.
"I know I'm always running late. But my resolution for next year is to be five minutes early." Elliot laughed.
"Can we get a wager on that? I will give you a month." Don laughed.
"Hey. At most I've been five minutes late and I always call or text," Elliot said as he looked at the menu.
"You are always so gullible." Don laughed and took a drink of his water.
"Good one. So what are you ordering?" Elliot asked as the waitress came to the table.
"I would like a Philly Cheesesteak and a coffee shake. Your turn," Don said as he handed the waitress his menu.
"A Wisconsin burger with a chocolate shake. Thank you." Elliot smiled at the waitress as he handed her his menu.
"Please put both orders on my bill. Thank you," Don said to the waitress who left to place the order.
"Thanks, Don. Next week it's my treat. So how has your week been?" Elliot asked as he put his phone on silent. When he was with family, Elliot always gave them his undivided attention. One exception was an emergency at work he was on call for. The loss of Kathy reinforced his family and friends would be his top priority.
"It's been good. I spent the weekend at my sister's cabin up north. It was nice catching up with her and my nieces. I will go back for Thanksgiving. Just starting to think about Christmas presents. Any idea what you and the kids would like for Christmas?" Don asked as he looked out the window to see a lady dressed as an angel walking by.
"I would like you to have Christmas dinner at my apartment with us. That's enough of a gift for us." Elliot said as the waitress came with their food and shakes.
"Thank you," Don said as the waitress handed him his plate of food and shake.
"What do you want for Christmas, Don?" Elliot asked as he took a bite of his burger.
"Two things. One something you can buy in a store. The second one I'm not sure I should say. It's personal. But it would mean everything to me if it would happen." Don sighed as he looked at Elliot.
"I will always do anything for you. All you have to do is ask. You are—" Elliot paused as tears came to his eyes. "You are family. The only grandfather my kids have ever known. I love you like a father. Dammit, I wasn't expecting to be so emotional today."
"I love you as a son as well. I love this new emotional Elliot. It's good to tell people what they mean to you," Don said as he looked at Elliot.
"What can I buy in the store?" Elliot asked as he drank his chocolate shake.
"I would like one of those stream things. I want to get Netflix," Don said as he dipped a french fry in ketchup.
"Stream things?" Elliot laughed. "There are a few different ones you can get. There is Roku, Amazon Fire Stick, or Apple. Any preference?"
"I prefer anything but Apple. They are too pricey. I don't want you spending a lot of money," Don said even though he knew Elliot would get the best product regardless of the price.
"I use Roku and love it. But I will look into all the options." Elliot got out his cellphone adding a note on Don's Christmas present so he wouldn't forget. "Now tell me about the second present," Elliot said curiously.
"I'm not sure I should say anything," Don said quietly.
"It means something to you if you mentioned it. What is it?" Elliot asked again.
"It's about Noah," Don said as he grabbed an envelope out of his coat pocket.
"Is he hurt? What happened?" Elliot's voice raised louder than he thought. Customers around them turned to look. He suddenly fell into a panic thinking something happened to Olivia's son.
"Noah is fine. But I want you to do something for me this Christmas. Promise me before I tell you," Don said nervously.
"Anything. I promise. I'm just relieved Noah is ok." Elliot sighed a deep breath of relief.
"Every year Noah writes Santa his Christmas wish list. Liv sends me the card. Then I get the presents and deliver them on Christmas Eve. This year you need to do it. Remember you promised." Don slid the envelope across the table.
"What is in the envelope?" Elliot asked cautiously as he picked it up and held it in his right hand.
"You need to read Noah's letter. I think you are the only one who can do this," Don said as he took a bite of his Philly Cheesesteak.
Elliot opened the envelope and pulled out the letter. He was very quiet as he read it. Putting it back on the table, he closed his eyes, contemplating. "Don, I'm not sure."
"You need to try. I don't want you to look back and regret this chance. I can help you come up with a plan," Don said as he gave Elliot a reassuring look.
"Ok, I'm not sure what will happen but this will definitely be a Christmas to remember." Elliot laughed nervously. He was both a bit excited and nervous about fulfilling Noah's Christmas list.
~oOo~
Elliot called Olivia in the morning leaving a voicemail to see if he could take out Noah for dinner and a movie on Friday. As today was only Tuesday, he was hoping it would be enough notice that she would say yes.
It had been just under two years since Kathy's death and Elliot and Olivia's relationship had been complicated. Honestly, it had always been complicated.
Once a month on the weekend, Elliot met Olivia and Noah for breakfast. They would catch up on things they had been up to. Their relationship was not what it had been before but it was comfortable even if it wasn't as close as he would like.
Don was right. Elliot had to try. At worst, he would find that too much time had passed for them to be anything more than casual friends. At best, maybe they could be close again. Either way, at least something would happen and they had clarity.
~oOo~
"Hello," Elliot answered his phone on the third ring. He almost didn't hear it. He had just gotten home and put the phone on the kitchen counter when he went to change into a pair of grey sweatpants and a white t-shirt.
"Elliot," Olivia responded.
"Hey. How has your day been?" Elliot asked, trying to make some small talk.
"Fine. I don't have time to talk, busy day at work. What would you like to do with Noah?" Olivia replied sounding very tired.
"I'd like to take him for pizza and a movie on Friday. I'm thinking about four to five hours. Would that be ok?" Elliot asked.
"He would love that. I work the late shift on Friday. Could you pick him up at five from boy scouts and keep him until ten-thirty when I will get home? That will save me a night paying for a sitter." Olivia asked.
"Yes, that would be perfect. Thank you for letting me take him for the night," Elliot answered excitedly.
"I will text you the address to pick him up on Friday. Noah will have his key so if you get done early you can come to the apartment. Thanks for asking. Bye." Olivia hung up before Elliot had a chance to say goodbye.
~oOo~
Friday came quicker than Elliot imagined. He was excited to spend time with Noah tonight. As he pulled up to the boy scout leader's house, Elliot saw Noah outside playing with two other boys. He smiled and waved as Noah ran to the car followed by the boy scout leader.
"Hey, I'm here to pick up Noah. Olivia said she told you that I was coming. Elliot Stabler." Elliot shook the man's hand as Noah got in the passenger seat of the car.
"Are you excited for tonight? It's just us guys," Elliot asked as he put Noah's backpack in the back seat.
"Yes," Noah screamed.
"Great." Elliot laughed. "Let's go eat first. What is your favorite kind of pizza?"
"I like cheese and pepperoni the most," Noah said as he put on his seat belt.
"I love that too," Elliot said as he started the car and drove away.
"Cool. What movie will we see?" Noah asked.
"I was thinking of Star Wars. The movie is on at the theater tonight. Have you ever seen it?" Elliot asked.
"No. Mom doesn't like stuff like that," Noah said as he looked out the window.
"Every boy has to see Star Wars. The movie is about the battle of good vs evil, family, loyalty, and trust," Elliot said as he looked at Noah.
"Cool," Noah said and smiled at Elliot.
"We are here and I'm hungry. " Elliot pulled into the parking lot.
"Can we play a game?" Noah asked as they walked into Jake's pizzeria.
"Of course. Today is your day." Elliot quickly placed the order for two large pepperoni pizzas and two root beers. Elliot and Noah played three games of foosball while waiting for their food.
"Why did you get two pizzas?' Noah asked curiously.
"Your mom and I used to come here all the time when we were partners. She would make me pick it up on my way to work. Or we stop here for lunch or dinner. This is her favorite pizza. I got the second one so we can heat it up for her to eat when she gets home." Elliot quickly grabbed a piece of pizza.
"Mom will love that. She hates to cook." Noah laughed at Elliot making a funny face.
An hour later Noah and Elliot had left the pizzeria and were on their way to the movie theater. Elliot had the pizza in an ice cooler in his trunk along with three extra bottles of root beer.
"Now tonight is one of the most important decisions you will have to ever make. Are you a Jedi or a Sith?" Elliot asked as he winked at Noah.
"I will wait to see the movie before deciding," Noah said as they walked into the theater.
"Good. It is important to make your own decisions. I will let you know what I am after the movie. Now should we have popcorn or candy?" Elliot asked as he and Noah walked up to the concessions stand.
"Popcorn, please. Can we get Reese's Pieces for mom?" Noah asked as he grabbed his bottle of water.
"Sure. Can I please have two bags of popcorn, two bottles of water, and one box of Reese's Pieces?" Elliot quickly paid the employee and they headed to their seats.
~oOo~
Elliot and Noah arrived back at Olivia's apartment a little before ten. After the movie, they stopped at the grocery store for vanilla ice cream, fudge, caramel sauce, and some oreo cookies.
"Let's put the ice cream in the freezer for a few minutes," Elliot said as they walked into the apartment.
"Ok." Noah put the ice cream in the freezer and the bag of ice cream toppings on the counter.
"Noah, would you like to hang out like this each week?" Elliot asked as he put the pizza and root beer in the fridge.
"Yes, it was fun," Noah said as he ran into the living room.
"Me too. Can you do me a favor? Please go put your backpack and coat where they belong. Then get your PJs on. We want to show mom how well we get along." Elliot walked into the living room and sat on the couch.
"Sure." Noah jumped off the couch grabbing his coat and backpack as he raced into his bedroom. Five minutes later he was back in the living room dressed in his PJs.
"Wow, you are really fast. Could you have a superpower? Maybe your nickname should be Flash. I promise I will keep your secret and not tell mom," Elliot said quietly as he heard the apartment door open.
"Thanks." Noah laughed as he ran to the door to greet his mom.
"Hey, Honey. El, thanks for tonight," Olivia said as she walked into the apartment and closed the door. "Did you have fun tonight, Noah?"
"Yes, we saw Star Wars. I loved it. Elliot, I've decided I'm a Jedi," Noah said excitedly as he swung his hands back and forth.
"Good choice. I'm a Sith. Darth Vader is my favorite character. Since we are on opposite sides we need to have a battle," Elliot said as he smiled.
"Looks like you both had fun tonight. Good," Olivia said as she sat down at a chair at the dining room table and took off her shoes.
"Did you have dinner yet?" Elliot asked as he got up from the couch and walked into the dining room.
"I was thinking of grilled cheese," Olivia said as she pulled her hair into a loose ponytail.
"We brought you home something and picked up dessert. I will make it if you would like to go get changed," Elliot asked as he looked at Olivia.
"That would be amazing. I am so tired. Today was a long day. I will be back in a few minutes. Noah, can you please show Elliot where everything is," Olivia asked as she got up and walked to her bedroom.
Ten minutes passed. "Liv, time to eat," Elliot called. He then got out some bowls and spoons for the ice cream.
Olivia came out dressed in a pair of black sweatpants and a pink top. "Smells good. Pizza?" Olivia asked.
"Noah, can you get the ice cream and toppings please?" Elliot called as he got the pizza out of the oven.
"Coming" Noah called as he raced into the kitchen.
"Liv, I have a surprise for you," Elliot said as he carried the pizza pan into the dining room placing it down on the hot pad.
"Is this what I think it is? You and Noah went to Jake's? I can't remember the last time I went there." Olivia asked as she grabbed herself two pieces of pizza.
"Really? It is your favorite pizza place. I would have thought you would go there all the time," Elliot asked curiously.
"No, that was a place we went together. After you left I stopped going. I moved on," Olivia said as she gave Elliot a stone-cold stare.
"Here we go," Noah said as he came in carrying the tub of ice cream and bag of toppings.
"Noah, how much would you like?" Elliot asked as he started scooping the ice cream.
"Two scoops, please. All the toppings," Noah said as he opened the bag of Oreo cookies.
"Noah, can you please go pick a movie and we will be in there in a few minutes. You can eat your ice cream in the living room as long as before bed you put your bowl in the sink. Deal?" Olivia asked Noah.
"Deal," Noah said as he grabbed his bowl and started walking into the living room. "Thanks, Elliot," Noah called back as Olivia gave her son a look.
"I think we should talk for a few minutes," Olivia said as she turned back and looked at Elliot.
"That doesn't sound good," Elliot said knowing exactly what Olivia's tone meant. Elliot was in trouble.
"No, it is a warning. Don't play games with my son. If you can't commit to being a part of his life then don't do this again," Olivia said as she took a sip of her drink.
"Liv, I promise. I am committed to you and Noah. Give me a chance to show you. I would like to take Noah each Friday night," Elliot said as he looked at Olivia.
"One chance. If you hurt Noah you will not get another chance," Olivia said, returning Elliot's look.
"I promise," Elliot said as he smiled trying to break the tension between them. He knew if he messed up this time Olivia would be done for good.
"Good. Let's go join Noah and watch the movie." Olivia smiled at Elliot as she stood up from her chair.
~oOo~
For the next six weeks, Elliot and Noah spent every Friday night together. He would either pick Noah up at school or boy scouts. Each week they go to a new place for dinner taking turns picking the restaurant. After dinner, they would go to Elliot's apartment, going through all the Star Wars movies. After the movie, they would play a game and then have dessert.
Elliot always had Noah home by ten. Then he and Olivia would spend a few hours talking. If she worked the late shift, Elliot made Olivia dinner. He would always surprise her with what he was making. Olivia did the same by bringing home a bottle of wine and dessert.
Elliot was happy. He couldn't remember the last time he had felt happy and completely at peace. He looked forward to every Friday. Each week it felt like they grew a little closer. Olivia was letting her guard down with him.
He was falling in love. He never expected to want another child. But the more time he spent with Noah the more he wanted to someday adopt Noah and become his dad. He wanted his kids and Noah to spend time together and become close. A few times Dickie and Eli joined them on Fridays to watch the weekly Star Wars movie. Both were planning on joining to watch the Mandalorian show with them.
Elliot's feelings for Olivia were more complicated. Did he love her? Yes. Would she ever forgive him enough to open her heart to love him? He wasn't sure but he had to try. He decided he would tell her on Christmas Eve.
~oOo~
Christmas Eve
Elliot stopped at Don's house earlier in the day.
"I'm scared. What if she says no?" Elliot asked as he looked at the ground.
"What if she says yes? Are you willing to give up a chance at love with your best friend? Elliot, Kathy would want you to find love again," Don said as he handed Elliot a beer.
"I know it's just hard." Elliot paused. "It's scary trying to start over again. I met Kathy when I was seventeen. I'm not sure I'm what Olivia wants or needs. But I love her with my whole heart," Elliot said as his eyes teared up.
Don replied, "Thank god. I always knew you both loved each other. Sometimes people come into our lives for different reasons. All those years ago you were on different paths but needed each other to grow and learn in your careers and it was meant to be a friendship. Now twelve years later. The exact length of your partnership. You both have a chance for something more. Love. Go for it, Elliot. I would want nothing more than to see you and Liv together," Don said as he gave Elliot a reassuring hug.
To lighten the mood after their talk, Elliot and Don watched the college football game. They had fun eating snacks and cheering on the close game. It helped Elliot relax before going to Olivia's apartment.
~oOo~
A few hours later just before seven, Elliot stood outside of Olivia's apartment building. He and Olivia had decided they would have dinner and exchange presents tonight. Elliot would sneak up Santa's presents after Noah had gone to bed. This would also be when Elliot would tell Olivia how he felt. To say he was nervous was putting it mildly.
"Hey. Are you ready for some fun?" Elliot asked as Noah opened the apartment door.
"Yes and opening presents!" Noah said as he ran to Olivia's bedroom to tell her Elliot was there.
"I brought pizza dough and toppings so we could make homemade pizzas. I also have two packs of sugar cookies for dessert we can decorate. Santa loves cookies," Elliot said as he laid out the pizza items on the dining room table.
"Santa does, huh?" Olivia winked as she walked into the room.
"Umm, yeah." Elliot felt at a sudden loss for words. The closer Olivia walked towards him the more nervous he got. Was Olivia always this beautiful? She was wearing a black sweater and a pair of jeans. Why was it so hot all of sudden?
"Elliot, why are your cheeks all red?" Noah asked as he came up to the table.
Olivia laughed as she walked into the kitchen to get the pizza pans and cookie sheets. "Noah, I forgot the spoons and butter knives. Can you bring three of each please?"
"Thanks," Elliot said as he took the pans from Olivia. "Noah, let's go wash our hands quickly before we start cooking."
Olivia smiled as she saw Noah and Elliot walking into the kitchen. It made her happy to see how close they were getting. "Hurry up, guys. I'm hungry," Olivia said as she got everything ready to make the pizzas.
~oOo~
Two hours later they had finished eating and decorating the cookies they just made. "I think we should leave Santa two cookies and a piece of chocolate," Olivia said as she placed them on a plate.
"I think Santa would like four cookies and two pieces of chocolate. He is a busy guy tonight," Elliot said as he added two more cookies and a piece of chocolate.
"Sure, Santa can save some for later." Olivia laughed."Noah, what should we give Santa to drink?"
"Hmm, I know," Noah said as he raced into the kitchen. "A can of coke. Santa drinks it all the time on TV."
"Great choice, Noah. Coke is my favorite as well," Elliot said as he smiled at Noah. He then turned and looked at Olivia. As their eyes met it felt like they shared a moment.
"I think it's time for presents!" Noah said as he bounced in his chair.
"Yes, it is. Please go get your PJs on while we pick up the table. In ten minutes we will do presents," Olivia said as she stood up and started picking up the plates.
"I will be back," Noah said as he raced into his bedroom.
"Liv, here let me help you," Elliot said as he started picking up the table and carrying things into the kitchen.
Olivia followed Elliot into the kitchen."El" Olivia said as she walked behind Elliot touching him on the shoulder.
Elliot felt his heart race faster as he felt Olivia touch his shoulder. He slowly turned around coming a few feet away from Olivia. "Liv," Elliot whispered.
"Thank you," Olivia said as she fought back tears.
"I'm ready. Come on," Noah called from the living room.
"Liv," Elliot said as he stepped closer to Olivia.
"We should go. Noah is waiting," Olivia said as she quickly left the kitchen.
~oOo~
"Who is ready for presents?" Elliot said as he left the kitchen.
"Me! Can I give Elliot his gift first?" Noah asked as he walked to the tree.
"Sure, Honey," Olivia said as she sat on the couch.
"I picked it out myself," Noah said excitedly.
Elliot opened the gift and saw a t-shirt wrapped around a box. He turned over the black shirt revealing a Darth Vader picture on the front of the shirt. The box was the board game Risk with a Star Wars theme.
"I love it, Noah. I will wear the shirt all the time. This game will be fun. We will try it next week. Thank you." Elliot smiled at Noah who was beaming.
"Now your turn," Elliot said as he handed Noah a long tube.
Noah opened up the package revealing a poster of Star Wars: A New Hope. "Cool," Noah said as he ran over giving Elliot a hug.
"I will get the poster framed so we can hang the poster in your bedroom. I have one more present that your mom can open. Something we all can do together," Elliot said as he handed Olivia an envelope.
"Elliot, you didn't have to buy us a gift. Everything you have already done is more than enough," Olivia said as she touched Elliot's right wrist as she looked at him.
"I want to," Elliot said as Noah sat down on the right side of Olivia.
"Mom, open it. I want to see what Elliot's gift is," Noah asked as he looked at Olivia.
"Honey, you open it," Olivia said as she handed Noah the envelope.
Noah ripped up the envelope and handed Olivia the three tickets that were inside.
"We will do one each month. I hope you like it. It's something all three of us can do together. This will also include dinner and dessert," Elliot said as he was looking at Olivia holding the tickets in her hand.
"Mom, what are they for?" Noah asked.
Olivia turned over the tickets reading each one aloud. "Aladdin, Lion King, and Wicked. Noah these are Broadway musicals. This is a very special gift from Elliot."
"Wow. I have never been to Broadway. Elliot, will you come with us?" Noah asked.
"Liv, do you want me to go with you?" Elliot asked Olivia who had been very quiet since opening the gift.
"Please excuse me for a minute. Noah, in a few minutes you need to go to bed," Olivia said as she got up walking into her bedroom, and closed the door behind her.
~oOo~
Elliot was worried. Did he give too much? Did Olivia only want a casual friendship? Had Elliot misread the signals the past few weeks that she could be interested? Elliot waited five minutes and then walked to her bedroom door knocking on the door.
"Liv, are you ok? Can I please come in so we can talk?" Elliot asked as he felt panicked.
"I'm fine. Could you please put Noah to bed? I will be out in a few minutes," Olivia replied with a raspy voice as if she had been crying.
"Yes, take your time. I hope you are ok." Elliot walked into the living room. "Hey, buddy, it is time for bed. Tonight is my turn to put you to bed."
Noah jumped up following Elliot into his bedroom. Noah turned on his world globe light which lit up the stars and planet glow in the dark stickers on the ceiling. He then turned off his bedroom light.
"Elliot, come lay on my bed. It is the best place to see it," Noah said as he got in bed laying on top of his covers.
"This is cool Noah. I love looking at the stars," Elliot said as he laid on the bed. "Are you excited for Santa tomorrow? Remember he won't come until you are asleep."
"I love Santa. He already made my wish come true. This is the best Christmas," Noah said as he looked at the ceiling.
"Noah, it has meant a lot to me spending the past few weeks with you. You are a very special boy. Thank you for being my friend," Elliot said as he turned and looked at Noah. No matter what happened with Olivia he would always be in this boy's life.
"I love you, Elliot," Noah said as he snuggled into Elliot laying his head onto Elliot's chest.
"I love you too. I will stay here until you fall asleep." Elliot laid there for the next twenty minutes as Noah fell asleep. He then quietly got up placing a blanket over Noah before leaving his bedroom.
~oOo~
Elliot walked back into the living room where he saw Olivia sitting on the couch.
"Can we talk?" Olivia asked.
"Yes, I would like to know what I did wrong?" Elliot replied coldly with his arms folded.
"Please come sit. I was surprised by your gift. I'm sorry," Olivia said as she moved over on the couch.
"Liv, if you don't like the gift I can get something else. Or if you rather it just be you and Noah going. That is fine as well." Elliot walked to the couch and sat down.
"I like the gift. But it's too much. Spending each week with Noah. That already means a lot to the both of us. He talks nonstop about everything you do together," Olivia said as she moved some hair behind her left ear.
"I love spending time with Noah. I wanted to give a gift we could all do together," Elliot said as he rubbed the back of his neck. "Please accept it."
"Elliot, what has changed? Why do you all of sudden want to spend more time with us?" Olivia asked curiously.
"I always have. I was never sure you wanted me to," Elliot said as he tapped his right foot on the floor.
"What?" Olivia answered, guarded. "You leave for ten years without a word. Then you come back. I'm supposed to make you feel welcome?" Olivia shook her head.
"Why are you pushing me away tonight? We have been growing closer," Elliot asked as he felt confused.
"If I let my guard down—" Olivia paused as her eyes teared up.
"Please come to Christmas at my apartment tomorrow. The kids and Don are coming too. I want you and Noah there. You are my family," Elliot said as he moved closer to Olivia.
"Elliot," Olivia said as she closed her eyes.
"I will be back in a minute. I need to get the gifts to put under the tree," Elliot said as he walked into the kitchen getting the Santa presents he hid earlier.
"I'm not sure we should go tomorrow. I don't want Noah getting mixed messages," Olivia said as Elliot walked back into the room carrying the presents.
"What mixed messages would Noah get?" Elliot asked as he placed the presents under the tree.
"I don't want Noah getting his hopes up," Olivia said as she looked out the window.
"I will never hurt Noah," Elliot said as he sat back on the couch.
"Elliot, you can still hurt people unintentionally even if you mean well," Olivia said as she looked at Elliot.
"Finally, the truth. This isn't about Noah. This is about me and you," Elliot said as he looked directly at Olivia.
"Tonight was nice," Olivia said quickly changing the topic.
"No, we need to talk about this. I am done playing things safe so I don't upset you. The only way we move forward is to talk things out," Elliot said as he bent his head down and closed his eyes.
"How do I know tomorrow you don't leave? With no goodbye?" Olivia asked.
"I won't. I promise," Elliot pleaded.
"You already have when you disappeared for three months. I had no idea where you were. I was worried you were hurt," Olivia said coldly.
"I was undercover. I'm sorry. I didn't know that would upset you. We were only meeting once a month for breakfast. We were only casually talking," Elliot said as he realized how that hurt her. He knew Olivia had abandonment issues from her mom.
"Thank you for the apology. You never answered my question. What has changed?" Olivia asked.
"You know I have lunch with Don every week. Well at the beginning of November, a few days before I asked to meet Noah for the first time, Don made me read Noah's letter to Santa. He said I was the only one who could fulfill his wishes this year." Elliot already knew this part of the reveal wasn't going well by seeing the expression on Olivia's face.
"What? I thought you were only delivering his presents because you were coming over for dinner tonight. So the past few weeks was a sense of obligation? A favor for Don?" Olivia glared at Elliot.
"No. Noah's letter made me realize how much you mean to me. It gave me a chance to know your son better. I love spending time with him. It also made us closer. Fridays are one of the days I look forward to the most because I get to spend time with you and Noah." Elliot rested his right hand on the couch.
"Liv, you matter to me. Noah matters to me. I plan on continuing to show you through my words and actions. You are a priority. We have a second chance. I don't want to look back and regret not trying to see what our relationship could be." Elliot took out Noah's letter from his back pocket holding it in his left hand.
"I am at a loss for words," Olivia said quietly.
"Did you ask Santa for a gift from the heart this year?" Elliot asked nervously.
"Yes, I did," Olivia said curiously.
"My Christmas gift to you is my heart. I love you with my whole heart Olivia. I know I am far from perfect. I will treasure you every day we are together. We both have a past but I want us to build our future together. I love Noah and someday, I want him to call me dad." Elliot finally took a breath. He had been thinking of what he should say the past few days. "If you would like to give us a chance. Please come to Christmas at my apartment tomorrow. If you don't come, nothing will change. We will always be friends. Please read Noah's letter." Elliot handed Olivia the letter. "Goodnight, Liv." He got up quietly grabbing his presents and walked out of the apartment.
~oOo~
Complete and utter shock. What just happened? Did Olivia just hear Elliot say he loved her? She opened Noah's letter and her heart swelled with pride. How was she so lucky to be the mother of such a special boy.
Forty-five minutes later Olivia got up from the couch. She saw something on the dining room table. Elliot's car keys. Why didn't he come back?
Olivia laughed as she opened the door. Elliot was sitting against the wall across from the door. "El, are you missing something?" Olivia asked as she dangled his car keys in her right hand.
"Yeah, I noticed that when I got to my car. I was trying to play hard to get. It would've worked if I had kept my car keys in my pocket." Elliot laughed as he got up from the floor.
"Did you mean what you said?" Olivia asked as she stepped closer to Elliot.
"I love you. Always and forever." Elliot's left hand brushed Olivia's left cheek.
Olivia whispered, "I love you too."
Elliot leaned in giving Olivia a kiss on the lips. It was everything he had hoped it would be.
"We will be there tomorrow for Christmas. Can you make blueberry pancakes for breakfast? I should get to bed. Noah will be up early," Olivia said as she walked back to the door.
"Pancakes and Charlie Brown at ten. You know what this means right?" Elliot asked playfully.
"What?" Olivia asked.
"Mommy was just kissing Santa Claus!" Elliot laughed as Olivia winked at him as she shut the apartment door.