"Here we go" Elliot lifted a still sleeping Noah out of his booster seat, while Olivia carried Noah's backpack full of Noah's things- his pajamas, and his stuffed toy Eddie.
Elliot carefully deposited Noah in his bed and slipped the little boy's sneakers off. Olivia placed Eddie next to her sleeping son, and the two former partners looked at the cherubic child. Olivia glanced over at Elliot, and had a fleeting moment of this was something that he'd done countless times with all of his children. "And here he is, doing it for Noah and me" she sighed inwardly. She looked at him, "Do you have to get back to the bureau?"
"I – uh" Elliot glanced from Noah to Olivia, "I do, but- you've got work as well"
"Fin's in charge" she explained, "but won't you get in trouble with your supervisor?"
"Porter can handle the workload" Elliot grinned, "but" the smile faded, "I do have to get back. I can't go on playing truant and expect to keep the job"
"I wouldn't want you to be on thin ice with your CO" Olivia conceded
"Thanks" he nodded, "and I'm sure you run a tight ship" he meant at SVU
"I do" she agreed, "and I shouldn't ask so much of Fin"
"He's good, he's trustworthy."
"I know" she nodded, "but thank you so much for being here, today"
"I meant what I said" Elliot referred to earlier that day, "I'm here for you, and for Noah" he motioned toward the napping boy, "for anything"
"Your kids" she began, "I'd hate to keep you from them" she headed to the door; he followed her.
"Dickie and Elizabeth are grown up" he explained, "Eli's almost ready for middle school. I won't shortchange my kids, or my grand kids" he went on, "but I've got another chance to be back in your life" he looked squarely at her, "I won't let that slip away, ever again"
She walked him to the front door, "I'll see you" she smiled
"Not if I see you first" he grinned.
With that, he was gone, but thankfully, Olivia felt, not forever.