Olivia woke up to her alarm clock. She rolled out of bed and padded into the bathroom. As she finished with each item, she tossed them into some still-empty boxes. She pulled on sweatpants, a tank top and a pair of old runners. Then she placed a call to the squadroom. Her moving crew was standing by.

Munch and Fin drove the rented van to the mini-storage. Elliot stepped out into the hallway, carrying a suitcase. He turned around when Olivia didn't seem to be following him. She was standing in the doorway with her back to him.

"Olivia?" She didn't answer. He put the suitcase down and turned her around gently. He saw that she was crying and drew her into a hug. "It's okay. It's okay," he whispered. Olivia let herself be comforted momentarily, then pulled away, wiping her eyes with the back of her hand. She hadn't thought that it would hurt, but leaving the place that had been her home for over three years was painful nonetheless.

"I'm all right," she said softly. Elliot nodded, only half believing her. He followed her out to her car, which she had packed with more boxes and bags; the things that she would need for the next four days. They met Munch and Fin at the storage. Cragen had been super-generous and allowed them all the day off. However, when they had finished, Elliot and Olivia headed to the precinct anyway, hoping that the extra work that night would earn them a late morning the next day.

**********

Elliot's house was, luckily, a lot different than Olivia remembered it from the last time she had been there. That had been a hell of a day.

The day Kathy was supposed to move out, they had dawdled at work. Elliot hadn't wanted to come home early; he had said goodbye to his children that morning and expected them to be gone by the time he got home. Still, he was dreading the idea of going home at all. Olivia had sensed his tension and correctly guessed the cause.

"Hey, what do you say we pull an all-nighter?" She suggested.

"I really should go home."

"I'll come with you. We'll take the files. We're really close here, I can feel it," she stated with conviction. Elliot had agreed, and felt slightly better knowing that he wouldn't be alone. The drive to Queens seemed lengthened by his anticipation of the house. How much would she have taken with her? Where was he going to sleep from now on? He didn't think he could handle sleeping in his own bed, with Kathy's presence still there somehow.

As they pulled up to the house, it became horribly clear that they were too early. Neither of them spoke as Elliot slowly parked. He got out of the car.

"Stay here," he told Olivia. She saw him go into the house. Worried, Olivia stepped out of the car and stood on the sidewalk. Davy and Lizzie came running out of the house, followed by Kathleen, walking sullenly.

"Aunt Olivia!" Davy and Lizzie called, hugging her legs. Kathleen stood on the lawn with her arms crossed, glaring at her. Olivia could hear the voices in the house escalating.

"What are you doing here?"

"This is still my house!"

"You gave it up!"

"Why the Hell did you bring her here, Elliot? What do you think that's going to do to the kids?"

"What's that going to do to the kids? All I've shown them is that I'm dedicated to my job. Isn't that better than showing them that you can't handle living with that?"

"Dedicated to your job?! And that justifies you bringing home your little whore!" Olivia's eyes widened in anger. She felt a metallic taste in her mouth. Davy clapped his hands over his ears. Lizzie clung onto Olivia. Olivia put her hands on their shoulders as the shouting continued. A few minutes later, Kathy came storming out of the house.

"Kathleen, Davy, Lizzie, get in the car," she shouted. "Get your hands off my children," Kathy said to Olivia, her voice full of venom. Olivia was frozen to the spot as Kathy drove off. When she regained her senses, she headed into the house after Elliot. She didn't see him at first.

"Elliot?" She called. He was standing in the dark living room.

"Go home."

"Do you want to talk?"

"Go home."

"Are you sure?"

"Go home!" He yelled, turning on her. Olivia was entirely sure, in that instant, that he was going to hit her. She braced herself internally, her mouth filling with the metallic taste of fear. Elliot lowered his hand when he saw the look of panic cross her face and realized what he had almost done. When his hand returned to his side, Olivia turned. She ran. She ran all the way to a convenience store ten blocks away. She called Munch in tears to pick her up, although Elliot didn't know that.

Olivia cringed at the memory of it. Elliot seemed to remember as well.

"It's a lot different than last time you were here," he said.

Indeed it was. All signs of Kathy's inhabitation had disappeared. The kids' bedrooms were the same as they had left them, but Elliot slept in the former spare room now. Olivia set herself up a bed on the pull-out couch.

"Let's call it a night, okay?" Olivia said. She was exhausted from moving, as was Elliot.

"Sure. Goodnight."

**********

Upcoming: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday (probably)

Be patient, and please review.