A/N: Hello my lovely readers, here is a brand new chapter for you all to enjoy. In this chapter there is discussion between our favourite pair, a new arrival and well...a bit of a significant move forward at the end. Everything is heading in the right direction for our favourite duo but...that is all i'm going to say on that. Please let me know what you thought by leaving me a review! I love to read them and I'm so glad so many of you are so interested and loving this story as i'm honestly loving writing it all. Updates may be slower during the week, as i'm currently working almost full time and preparing to move overseas at the end of the week but i plan to try and get you an update every weekend and i'm going to try my hardest for during the week too. I quite often find myself writing or editing upcoming chapters during my lunch breaks at work ;) So please, just be patient with me as i try manage everything. However leaving me a review at the end of the chapter with your thoughts would really help me out, so please feel free to do so. Until Next Time ;)


Chapter 18: Alex

Olivia stood with Elliot, just to the side of the entrance of the police precinct, talking. Olivia knew she really had to leave soon as her face was sore, so she needed to take her make-up off and finish getting her place ready for Alex tomorrow. But Elliot seemed really desperate to talk with her so she was hardly going to brush him off. She wouldn't be that rude and she did want to hear what he wanted to tell her.
"So, I just want to say that I'm so sorry with everything that happened yesterday" Elliot started.
"Elliot, it wasn't your fault. You have nothing to apologise for" Olivia tried to comfort him.
"But you were looking after my children and attacked by my previous nanny Dani" Elliot continued to explain but Olivia could read from his body language that he was feeling guilty over this all which he didn't need to. She didn't blame him for anything that had happened, it would have happened likely either way with how Dani was, Dani was the one to blame in all of this, not Elliot.

"Elliot, I'm fine" Olivia replied as she reached out and placed her hand on his arm lightly. She looked him straight in the eyes, trying to tell him that she was fine, and they would be fine.
"No you're not. That eye looks really painful for you, and I hate the thought you might be any more pain from damage she's done. I hate that this is all my fault as she had acted out against me and I promise you now that I'm going to make sure she pays for what she has done" Elliot stated as he placed a hand on top of Olivia's which was on his arm, giving it a soft squeeze. Olivia was conflicted on how to respond, the pain she had from yesterday was really nothing compared to things that had happened in the past. But she didn't want to bring all of that up to Elliot as it wasn't really things that he needed to know.

"It's really not that painful, it looks worse than it actually is. I have already given everything to the police about what happened and I know that you'll follow up on your end in regards to what needs to be done still. Please don't beat yourself up over it as none of this is your fault and I don't blame you at all. I blame Dani and I can't stand to even look at her right now" Olivia explained, she really didn't blame Elliot at all and honestly she really wished that he would stop beating himself up over it all, she didn't need to do any of that.
"Are you really sure we can't take you out to lunch or coffee or something?" Elliot didn't want Olivia to leave just yet, he wanted to spend more time with her.
"No, thank you though. Believe me, I have a million things to do before my friend gets here tomorrow. Look after those two and I know you'll all be fine"
"Who is going to look after you though? If you're so focused on looking after others?"
"My friend is coming to New York to check in with me. But don't worry I'll be fine. If you need me though, you have my number and I'm only a phone call away" Olivia said giving Elliot's arm one more soft squeeze in support and then started to pull away to leave. But Elliot wasn't finished with her just yet, he pulled her closer to him by the arm again and hugged her close. He had just wanted to give her something to show he cared about her and a hug seemed the least confrontational at the moment. Olivia was shocked initially but the hug felt really nice and she really liked this feeling of being in Elliot's arms and she relaxed into the hug at that moment. It only asked a couple of seconds and they pulled away again shortly after so they could head to the twins so Olivia could say goodbye like she promised Elizabeth she would.


Olivia had to admit she had been rather touched by Elliot's concern about her and the way that he was so determined to make things right with her. It was almost like he wanted to make sure that she didn't think any less of him, but Olivia couldn't see how that would even be possible. Elliot had to be one of the best men that Olivia had ever known and she admired the way that he cared so much, especially about her. When he hugged her, Olivia honestly felit this sense of a calming wash right over her in a way that she'd never felt before. It was almost like the feeling of him holding her like this was doing something for her in terms of healing or relieving any added anxiety she was feeling. The minute they pulled apart, Olivia wanted him to pull her in again but he didn't and Olivia didn't feel right pulling him in, and felt wrong for wishing that he would. Olivia hadn't stopped thinking about the feeling of being held by Elliot for the entire taxi ride home from the precinct and most of last night. These thoughts had her questioning whether she was starting to develop something more than just friendly feelings towards Elliot, and something more than she originally thought was possible.

She never would have thought that these feelings she was having would eventuate into something more than friends, something that she would spend time dreaming about at night. But that was exactly what had happened, she had dreamt about Elliot last night and she'd dreamt that he didn't just hug her yesterday but kissed her too. Her thoughts about him like that were part of the reason that she'd been trying to avoid him yesterday, as it was only the night before that which Elliot had been in her dreams with his worried face when he arrived at the hotel with her hurt. Olivia wanted to think that there was something going on between them but she didn't want to admit to having those feelings. So, she simply decided that she would just try and avoid Elliot all together or not think about him more than she had to. Thankfully with Alex coming into town and Chloe to take up her time, that should be relatively easy.

Olivia stood, holding Chloe on her hip, at the arrival gate to the plane which had recently arrived. They were waiting to see Alex walk out of the entrance doors off the plane. Chloe was fascinated by every single person who was walking up the arrival walkway, she was quite the people watcher and she was excited to see her aunt. Alex and Chloe weren't siblings but due to being best friends, Alex had always been referred to as 'aunty alex'. Olivia was pointing out different things to the little girl as they stood there. Olivia had taken Chloe on the plane when she was about 6 months old, when they moved to New York and then they went on a plane again last Christmas to go back home and visit Olivia's father and everyone for Christmas. But Olivia knew that the next time she had to take Chloe on a plane, Chloe was going to be more of a handful, simply by how interested in everything about this airport and the planes, she currently is. However Olivia also knew that her little girl was going to love the whole experience of flying on a plane when that time came again.

"Al!" Chloe shrieked as Olivia looked where the little girl was pointing, sure enough her best friend was just walking up the walkway and towards where they were standing.
"Go get her!" Olivia said as she placed Chloe on the ground and watched her run, over to Alex, who had bent down to catch her in time before the little girl tripped. Chloe wasn't the most stable on her feet at this stage, she could walk though and was alright most of the time but she did have issues from time to time. Olivia smiled softly as she watched Alex and Chloe interact, she even managed to capture a picture of the warm welcoming that Chloe gave Alex. She would send that to Alex later as it was simply adorable.
"She spotted you before anyone else did" Olivia remarked as she walked over to where Alex was standing holding Chloe, and hugged her as a greeting.
"You found your aunty Alex didn't you, you found her and you got to her before mommy" Olivia smiled at her daughter before the trio headed out towards the direction of baggage claim. Olivia was so glad to see her friend and was really looking forward to spending time together in New York.

Elliot: Just a quick message to say that I really hope you're starting to feel better and I hope your friend got here safely. I know you are going to have a lovely time with them and I hope they look after you Elliot texted and Olivia had to admit, she was a little surprised to get the text from him but she appreciated it.
Olivia: Thanks! My friend just arrived actually and I can tell you that Chloe is so excited to have her 'Aunty Al' here with us Olivia replied, attaching the image she had taken earlier of Alex and Chloe as Alex arrived.
Elliot: That is really cute! You picking her up now? How's the face feeling? Elliot replied again almost instantly.

"Who are you talking to, that has you so engaged on your phone right now like that?" Alex remarked as they stood waiting for her bags to come through.
"No one" Olivia denied.
"Uh uh...Sure. I think your mommy might be keeping secrets from us Miss Chloe" Alex remarked as she continued to hold the little girl.
"It's just a school matter, I have a teaching student right now and as I'm not there so she wanted to check in about a few things" Olivia lied, she could tell Alex did not believe her at all right now though. The look with the slight raised eyebrow was almost Olivia's signature look and Alex had learnt to use it well to her advantage. So Olivia knew what Alex was thinking right now.
"Sure it is, I doubt you pay quite so much attention when it is really work stuff but if you really don't want to tell me who it is your talking with, I would push" Alex remarked and Olivia knew this wasn't entirely true. Alex was going to drop the subject for now but she wouldn't drop it entirely, there would be more discussion later.

Olivia: Yeah, Chloe and I are at the airport with her, just waiting for her bags now. Apparently paying so much attention to the phone and talking with you like this has her suspicious though, and I blame you for it. The face is still sore but it's manageable. The actual swelling has gone down quite a lot and makeup is covering up whats left. How are the twins? Olivia replied again, wanting to reply to Elliot's message but still not trying to be too distracted by it.
Elliot: Well, I simply wanted to make sure that you were ok. I don't think we are really being that suspicious. We can be if you want to be though ;) Glad to hear the face is getting better, a black eye isn't exactly the latest fashion trend, I for one like your normal face much better. The twins are good, Richard slept right through last night but Elizabeth was still up a few times Elliot quickly replied as Olivia helped Alex to collect her bag from the luggage carousel and they headed in the direction back to the train station to head in the direction of home.


The news about the events in the hotel was really spreading like wildfire, there were already several videos circulating on the web about it and the hotel had to go into damage control methods to make sure that no serious reputation damage was done for the hotel. But just like the information had spread over the internet like wildfire with this age of technology and the fact everyone has a camera now, the information of the attack had reached his family as well as friends and Elliot had faced numerous calls from his siblings and everyone to check that he and his children were ok. The one he hadn't had a call or a message from just yet, but the one person he was expecting to hear from was his mother. He was waiting for the call where his mother would grill him about how he could put his kids in such a position like that. She would tell him that she expected better from him and that he should know to do all the background checks for anyone he hires to look after his children. But Elliot had done that and he'd never seen any of this coming, there were no signs of anything that Dani would do, she had simply flipped out and gone on a rampage. But deep-down Elliot knew that he really should have known better. Elliot was prepared for the impact from his mothers call though and knew it would come sooner rather than later. It was just a question as to when.

He had contacted Olivia simply because he'd been thinking about her this morning and he wanted to talk with her. But he wasn't entirely sure how to start the conversation which is why he'd started asking about her friend. Elliot really wanted to invite Olivia over for lunch or dinner tomorrow, he wanted to spend more time with her and found himself thinking either lunch or dinner would be the best option in terms of invitations that she might accept. Elliot planned to ask under the topic of simply saying thank you for everything that Olivia had done for his children and himself before the attack and to show how much he appreciated her. But really, his intentions with the lunch or dinner invitation was the fact he just wanted to spend time alone with her. Whilst they really wouldn't be completely alone if Olivia did agree to come over, as the twins would be here, it was the best thing he could really think of at this time and hoped she would agree. He had watched hi phone like a hawk after sending the last message to her, waiting for her response but it never came. He figured she must simply be busy but he was just going to have to take a chance and he had typed out the following message before hitting send.
Elliot: I know your probably busy with your friend and you can definitely say no. But would you want to come to dinner tomorrow night? The kids and I would really like to have you over to show our appreciation for everything you've done for us? If dinner won't work, what about lunch?


A/N: Well, what is Olivia going to say to that?