A/N: Thank you guys for your feedback and for reading! I'm looking forward to where this is heading. Sorry for the late update though.. I've been sick so I apologize for any mistakes I missed. As usual- Dick Wolf owns these characters!! R and R!
Elliot POV
Wednesday, 2:36PM, OCCB office.
Two more days. Two more days until I get to see her. And meet her son. Again. More in depth this time. And- I was still reeling from our kiss. I can't stop thinking about her. I wonder if I'll get another chance.
"Stabler?? Have you heard a word I've said?" Ayanna spoke up, louder than usual, pulling me from my reverie. I look up at her, "Yes, the paperwork is on your desk already, Sarge. And as far as the surveillance on Carbinetti's people, we haven't gathered enough intel. We've got loading dock footage and deliveries being made, but we haven't been able to establish ties to the weapons and ammo being exported. We'll keep on it." Ayanna gives him a quick nod. "My office, detective." Fuck. I follow her to her office, and she shuts the door behind her. "Elliot, what's going on?"
"Nothing, what are you talking about?"
"I really need you focused right now. I don't know what is up with you, but you seem awfully... distracted. Just.. get your head in the game, alright? Oh, and while you're at it, Captain Benson has requested these files..." as she picks them up and hands them to me. "Drop them by SVU on your way out."
"Yeah, Sarge." I don't know what to say at this point. I'm trying not to look too happy, but yet again I can't stop the smile that stretches across my face walking out of her office. I haven't had much chance to talk to Liv after our kiss the other night, just a couple of texts here and there. I have so many scenarios running through my mind. And as I'm walking into SVU squad room, I run straight into Fin. "Stabler, how's it going?" I hold up the files in my hand. "Just dropping these off to Liv, she in her office?" He nods. "Yeah, she's in there with the Chief. Might wanna give them a minute. So, how are things going with you and Liv?" Leave it to Fin, always straight to the point. "You know they're going alright. We're making progress." He laughs, "I'd say, by that goofy ass grin you're wearing. That's good, Elliot I'm happy for you guys. All I can say it's about damn time." I give him a look. "What's that supposed to mean?" He stares right through me. "If you don't know, don't expect me to spell it out for you." He laughs again.
I look up in time to see the Chief walk out of Liv's office, her following him. I'm forever in awe of this woman; the way she handles herself, what she's accomplished, and her beauty- she takes my breath away. "Better wipe that drool off before she sees you." I give Fin a glare. He walks off, laughing to himself. Damn wise-ass. "Elliot?" I look over to her, and she directs me toward her office. "These are the files you requested." She takes them. "Thank you. How are things?" She takes a seat behind her desk, and pulls her reading glasses off. "Good. Things are good. How are you, Liv?"
Olivia POV
"I'm good. Just been busy between work, I got the Chief crawled up my ass, and Noah has dance practice all this week. Tired, but good." I had seen him watching me earlier, talking to Fin. The look he was giving me after I came out of my office made me feel flushed. I just hope he didn't notice. I wanted to keep my personal life out of my office. Because God forbid Amanda and Fin bombard me- speak of the devils. Outside my window right now the two are looking in here, talking to each other. "Good. Are we good?" I know what he's asking. And the answer is yes. "El, we're good." I give him a smile. He nods. "I gotta go. I'll text you later." He gives me the famous Stabler smirk, and winks at me just before shutting the door to my office. I can't help but smile.
As I was getting settled into my paperwork, I hear a knock. "Captain? Our Vic is here, with her mother." Rollins says with a grimace. "Rollins put the mother in a separate interview room." This mother was one of the ones who tried to speak for her daughter for everything, and if they were together, we'd get squat. "Already on that. So, what'd Stabler want?" She asks with a smirk on her face. I glare at her over the edge of my glasses. "Dropping off the case files." She nods. "So... you guys been talking?"
"Rollins, yes things are fine. Now go sit with the Vic and see if there's anything significant she can remember about Monday night. This is the third time this son of a bitch has struck, let's try to prevent a fourth. And have Fin talk to the mother." She nods and leaves my office.
Rollins POV
"Yep, there's something definitely going on with them." I tell Fin, as we're walking toward the interrogation rooms. He laughs. "Rollins, of course there is. There's always something going on with them." Hmmm. He continues. "Even when they were partners there was always that. I know the rumor mill has bets on whether or not they slept together, but knowing them both, they didn't. Olivia would never be a home wrecker, and Elliot would never disrespect his family that way. Incredible bond. Made them incredible detectives. Although, when Elliot separated from his wife, I thought that they might get together, but didn't happen. Him and Kathy... reconnected. She got pregnant, and he went back home. And then Liv ended up saving Kathy and the baby. It's just a long story. But when he left, well you got here for the tail end of that." Wow. I knew their bond went deep, and it was nice having an insider's view of how things went down. "But now, there's nothing standing between them." I note, my brain churning. "Except each other, old habits die hard." Fin adds, and with that, he disappears behind the door.
Elliot POV
His apt.
I got dressed a little early, I guess you could say I was excited. And I was. This was important. I had to make a good impression on Noah, and I know how important it would be to Liv. She's a wonderful mother, and I always knew she would be. "Elliot, where are you going?" I look behind me to see my mother standing in the doorway of my bedroom. "I'm taking Liv and her son Noah out to dinner tonight. Are you still planning on going out with Kathleen?" The two of them, always thick as thieves. I'm glad they are close.
"Yes, she supposed to be here in a little bit to pick me up. So, Olivia, huh? I've always liked her. She's a good woman." I smiled. Liv wasn't just a good woman, she was the best woman. "She's always cared about you, ya know. I got a woman's sense, I know." I turned to face her. "Yeah, Mama I know about your sense. How do I look?" I dressed in some slacks and a V-neck sweater. With a blazer. "You look good. Handsome. I knew she was a good one, back in the day. Understood why Kathy had issues with you and her working together." Now she caught my attention. "Mama what are you talking about?"
"Oh, you know, when Katie was in jail. Olivia came and got me and took me to see her and talk to her, convince her to take the deal. We talked, I showed her pictures. She was as good natured and compassionate as she was beautiful, and she cared for you."
"What the hell just happened?"
"Maybe God remembered how cute you were as a carrot."
Holy hell. How did I not put that together at the time?
"I didn't know she did that." Mama shrugged. "I asked her not to tell you. But, I figure now I'm old and it's ancient history." There's knocking at the door, and we walk out of my bedroom. "That's probably Katie. Get that will you while I grab my bag?" But she's already inside, she has a key. "Hey Dad- where are you going? You look nice!" I hug her. "I'm just going out to dinner."
"With Olivia!! And her son!" Mama calls from the other room. "Dad, really?" Kathleen asks. "Yes I'm just-" she cuts me off. "No, Dad, it's all good. You know that we love Olivia. And if that's what you wanna do, then I'm all for it. She's good for you. Helps you and gets through to you when we can't. And all I want, is for you to be happy. So, with that being said, don't screw this up."
Olivia POV
Friday 5:30pm- Olivia's apt.
"Noah, are you getting dressed? He'll be here shortly." I wanted to make sure he was actually going, and I was presently surprised to see him sprint out of his bedroom, fully dressed. "Yeah, Mom I'm ready. I wouldn't make you late for your date." I whirl around, and make eye contact with my sweet boy. "It is not a date, it's just catching dinner with an old friend." It's his turn to eye me incredulously. "Dinner with an old friend that you want me to meet? Ok, sure Mom." A smile swept across my face and he continued. "He is important to you isn't he? Elliot?"
"Yes, he is. We were best of friends and partners for 12 years. A lot of history." He sits down on the couch. "Why did he leave?" I wasn't sure I was ready to answer his question. But, nonetheless, I knew that he'd keep asking until I gave him an explanation. "Well, Noah, back then, there was a shooting that happened, and it was all very complicated." He chuckles. "I think complicated is just a word adults use to avoid things. Did you and Elliot talk about it?" Wow. My own kid trying to school me. "We have." He shakes his head. "No when the shooting happened?" I couldn't help the smile that appeared on my face, and I was saved... by a knock on the door. "That's probably him." I walk over and open the door and it's Elliot.
Hey, Liv. I know I'm a little early." He leans in with a sort of side hug and whisper in my ear. "I missed you." I felt a shiver run down my spine at the proximity.
"No, it's fine, come on in. Noah, you remember Elliot Stabler.." I watch him walk over to shake Noah's hand. "Hey, Noah! How are you?" He smiles down at Noah. "Hey Elliot, I'm good, how are you?"
"I'm good, buddy. So, are we ready to go?" I give him a nod. "Let me grab my jacket real quick." I grab my jacket and we leave, and I can't help feeling a little nervous as Elliot puts his hand on the small of my back. I'm really hoping that Noah and Elliot hit it off.
We arrive at this little Chinese joint in the downtown area, and I am watching for Noah's reactions to everything. He and Elliot had some small talk on the way over, talking about his dancing, and what exactly Elliot does, and some about Elliot's kids. And he seemed like he was good. We get seated, and make our orders. And everything was good, until I spilled egg drop soup on my skirt.
Noah POV
"Oh man! Excuse me." I'd never seen Mom so nervous before. She went to the bathroom to try and clean herself up, leaving me with Elliot. And, I liked Elliot. He seemed like a good guy. There were two things I was sure of, one- Elliot liked my Mom. And two- she liked him. More than in a "just friends" way. I know that Mom never forgot him. She doesn't know, but I know about that box in the back of her closet. Has their pictures from before I was born. I had questions. So, I figured now was a good time to ask them. "Elliot, can I ask you a question?"
"Sure. What you wanna know?"
"Do you like my Mom?" He smiles. "Yes I like her, we're friends." I roll my eyes. "No, I mean you like like her, don't you?" He takes a sip of his drink, and it takes him a minute to answer me. "I won't lie to you, yes I do." I like that he told me the truth. Point one for Elliot. "Does my Mom know?" He nods. "I think she does. I hope so."
"And you've always cared about her?" He nods. "Yes."
"Elliot, why did you leave your best friend?"
A/N: I'm going to stop here for now. I don't know if it's me being sick, or what but I'm finding it a challenge to write from Noah's perspective. So any advice on that would be greatly appreciated!! Thank you guys so much!
