Prompt #Candle

Vanilla Twilight

~oOo~

But drenched in vanilla twilight

I'll sit on the front porch all night

Waist deep in thought because when

I think of you, I don't feel so alone

"Vanilla Twilight" - Owl City

~oOo~

Kathleen first noticed the candle in his office, largely out of place, when she came to Rome. It marked a stark contrast in a room full of dark browns, brass, and blues where maps, pushpins, and photos littered the walls. The candle was burned almost completely down, wafting a slightly spicy vanilla scent, an unexpected element to an otherwise decidedly rugged workspace.

She was only a little surprised to find it there. While her father was what some people would call "traditionally masculine", she also knew that in his center was a fundamental security in that masculinity, enough so that he embraced what people around him loved without ever thinking of how it would play against some sort of gender notion. He had, after all, three daughters, and he had never shied from enjoying the things they had loved when they were growing up. If he wanted a scented candle to spruce up the place, why not, she thought?

Noting the brand, she picked one up for him at the local bath and body place, and it became their little holiday tradition. She got him a new candle each year, and he always gave her in return a rueful smile, simply grateful but otherwise hard to translate.

"Thanks, 'leen," he said, opening the small gift bag on Christmas Eve. "You always know when I'm ready for a replacement."

"I wasn't sure if you still needed it this year, honestly," she said. "Your workspace is probably a bit different than it was in Italy."

He nodded. "Yeah, Sloot would have a field day with seeing me lay out anything involving the word 'fragrance' on my desk." Kathleen snickered. "I still use it, though. I just burn it in my bedroom these days," he said. Keiran came bounding between them on the couch. Elliot scooped up his grandson, who squirmed and giggled, "Grandpa!" before settling on his lap.

"I'm pretty sure Santa told me he was going to skip your house if you don't finish up your veggies from earlier," Elliot told the boy, whose eyes went wide.

"But I hate carrots!"

"Dad, quit teasing the boys," said Maureen from across the room. "Kieran, Santa is too busy to see if you've eaten your carrots right now. But he'd probably want you to have a few more bites, so come back over to the table." Keiran scurried back over to the table and, with a theatrical face, took several bites of carrots before shooting off into the living room to play.

"It's pretty amazing to be back all together," he said to Kathleen. "I just wish your mom…"

Kathleen reached over and grabbed her father's hand. "I know, Dad. I miss her, too." She squeezed his hand and he gave her a warm smile.

Changing the topic, Kathleen said, "I really think Olivia and Noah enjoyed themselves earlier." Elliot's eyes brightened, and his first full smile bloomed since she had sat down next to him.

"They did, didn't they?" he said. Kathleen thought back to the earlier chaos that had littered the apartment — Lego build battles, cookie decorating, Mario Kart, and glasses of wine. Kathleen knew the relationship between Olivia and her dad had been tense for so long now, but this evening, she had felt a shift, an ease that hadn't been present since the days when her family would pop into the precinct to see the two working like a well-oiled machine. But there was also a different vibe, one that came with uncharacteristically shy smiles from her father and a lightness from Olivia she hadn't seen in months.

"Noah's a great kid," she said. She had always appreciated what Olivia had done for her as a teen, and it was no surprise to her that she was raising such a nice young man as Noah. He had been a bit overwhelmed at first, but he soon had jumped into the chaos with the best of the Stabler clan, building the tallest Lego structure in the yearly Topple Tower contest. "I'm picking him up Monday so he can go sledding with us for the afternoon."

"He definitely is something. I always knew Liv would be…" He stopped, looked over at his daughter, and fell back into a more reticent smile.

Kathleen hated seeing him close down like that, so she decided to take a chance. "It's okay, Dad. You know that, right?"

His eyes looked at her, questioningly.

"It's okay for you to love Olivia," she clarified. She knew she was taking a chance by bringing up something he held so private, but none of them save Eli were children anymore, and she wanted him to know they all just wanted him to be happy.

He didn't look up, but he grabbed her hand again, squeezing it before he moved to stand. "Thanks again for my candle, honey."

~oOo~

Just parking. Be there in several minutes!

Olivia looked at her phone, then called to her son. "Noah! Kathleen is almost here!"

"I'm coming!" he responded. "Do you think Eli would let me borrow that game he was telling me about the other night?"

"Doesn't hurt to ask," she said. "He said he'd loan it to you if you wanted." Olivia smiled, thinking about how well Noah had fit in with the Stabler clan. She'd be lying if she said it didn't give her a bit of pause to see him connect so quickly, but she also didn't want to deny her boy friendships that provided him with such excitement. Outside of Amanda's kids, Noah didn't have too many opportunities to bond with other kids outside of school and dance class.

She thought about their visit on Christmas Eve and how easy it had been to just enjoy the scene around them. Elliot had been sweet, almost nervous, and even his quick aside to let her know about Richard Wheatley being released didn't seem to stop him from trying to make her feel welcome and wanted in the Stabler family environment. She had found herself relaxing in his company for the first time since he returned, and it was a release she hadn't even known she needed. By the time she and Noah had left, she felt hopeful for the future of their friendship, or, as he had put it, "whatever this is."

Noah was bubbly and excited the entire way home, eager for sledding plans with the twins and game nights with Eli. While she was worried about him being overly attached, she knew she couldn't be earnest about moving a relationship with Elliot forward without giving things an honest chance.

But her feelings were one thing — she wouldn't stand for her son's to be trifled with. Elliot had better not screw this up, she thought.

A soft knock interrupted her thoughts, and Olivia opened the door in welcome. "Hey, Kathleen. Come on in!" She ushered her into the apartment. "He's just putting on his jacket. He shouldn't be but just a few minutes."

"No rush. Eli's picking up some rental equipment and meeting us out there." She reached for Olivia's hand and gave it a quick squeeze. "Thanks for coming to our party the other night," Kathleen said. "It really meant a lot to us to have you both there."

"We enjoyed it," Olivia said. "You all have had a rough year. It was nice to see everyone be able to share some happiness."

Kathleen wandered the living room, stopping at a knick-knack shelf. "You know," she said, amused, "I buy a candle just like this one every single year." She smiled, touching the candle and inhaling the familiar scent.

"It's always been my favorite," Olivia said. "I used to drive your dad crazy whenever we'd work on cases together. I'd insist on burning it and he'd always pick on me about it." Olivia took a moment to remember those easier days when he'd moan about her "making her place smell like a coffee shop" with his teasing smile that made her heart race.

Kathleen grinned wide, turning to Olivia. "Something tells me he wouldn't mind it too much these days." Olivia quirked her eyebrow in question, a small smile also lifting the corner of her lips, but Kathleen didn't offer more than that.

She touched Olivia's arm. "Seriously. I know my dad can be an ass sometimes, but thanks for giving him, us, really, a chance to make things right. You've never stopped being important to him. To all of us."

Before Olivia could form a reply, Noah bounded out from his bedroom, bundled up and eager to go. "You ready?" Kathleen said. Noah nodded excitedly, then gave Olivia a hug.

"Do what Kathleen says, okay?" said Olivia. "And don't wander off! Stay with Eli and the twins at all times!"

"I will, Mom. Bye!" The two bundled out the door in a whirlwind, and then, it was quiet.

Left to her thoughts and an empty apartment, Olivia walked over to the candle. She lit it, then turned on her favorite playlist. As "Trouble" began playing softly in the background and the scent of spicy vanilla permeated the room, she moved to the couch, picked up her phone, and called Elliot's number.

"Hey, El. How would you like to meet me for dinner Thursday night?"