A/n: I hope everyone enjoys this update I know it's long overdue. I'd also like to say: Happy birthday detective Elliot Stabler!

Monday May 23rd, 2022 3:45 PM.

"How was your last day of school?" Liv asked Noah with a smile as they walked into the building and his bus pulled away from the curb.

"It was good we played games all day. Is there any steak left?"

"No sorry you ate it all last night remember?"

"Mmhmm," he said shrugging and Olivia frowned "did you not eat lunch at school?"

"No they only had deli sandwiches and I hate those."

"Well you can't not eat all day honey that's bad for you. How about I fix you a couple chicken fingers? That should tide you over until dinner."

"Okay," he said with a smile as they walked into the apartment "hey Elliot!" he said cheerfully.

"Hey buddy how was school?"

"Good we played games all day."

He nodded "I always loved game day when I was a kid."

"You did?"

"Of course I did it's every kids school dream," he said as Liv smiled at the two of them "you want any chicken fingers El?" she asked.

"Yeah I'll have a couple," he said and she nodded, smiled and walked off.

Once they had their quick snack they ended up playing candy land for a little while then turning on a movie as about half way through it Noah sighed bored "mom can I play on my tablet please?" he asked.

She nodded and sighed "yeah go ahead honey," she said and he nodded and smiled brightly "thanks mom!" he said hopping up and running off to his room.

"God I miss the days when they were content with watching a movie or playing with toys," El said as he wrapped his arm around her.

"Me too it scares me sometimes how much he's on that tablet with all the online predators that are lurking around now days."

El nodded "do you have parental controls on it?"

"I've got it to where he can't watch porn and shit like that on it but besides that no I wanna show him that I trust him."

He nodded understanding "maybe you should check it every once and a while then. See what he's doing it could ease your mind."

She frowned "that's invading his privacy El I don't wanna do that to him."

"He's eight eight year olds don't need privacy especially when it comes to electronics."

"Mine does," she said as she sighed "El I want him to have the space to become his own person."

He nodded "I get that just be careful."

She frowned "what do you mean by that?"

He sighed "you said it yourself there are a lot of online predators out there."

She nodded her head once in acknowledgment "you wanna finish the movie?"

"Of course," he said as she smiled and they finished watching it.

xxxxx

"Dinner's ready!" Liv called at around 6:30 as she put plates of spaghetti and garlic bread on the table.

"Honey you didn't have to fix mine I would have done it," Elliot said sitting down.

"I know but I wanted too. Noah come on honey dinners ready!" Liv called out again.

"One second mom I'm finishing texting Fighterman93!" he called back.

"Fighter man 93?" El said perplexed and Liv frowned "can't it wait until after dinner?!"

"No I just need five minutes mom!"

Olivia sighed heavily to herself "you can go ahead and eat if you want El I don't expect you to wait," she said.

"It's fine I don't mind waiting but he should do what you tell him to do right away baby he's eight," he said shaking his head.

She sighed "Like I said earlier I want him to have the space to grow into his own person but I'm gonna ask him who that is."

"Good," he said and a couple minutes later Noah walked into the kitchen with a smile, plopped into his chair and began to eat.

"So who's fighter man 93?" Olivia asked casually as they all ate their spaghetti.

"Just a boy on Discord. He's really nice."

She nodded "what's his profile picture of?"

"A boy playing with action figures. You don't need to worry mom he's really nice."

Liv sighed "I wanna see his profile when we finish eating."

"Why you've never asked to see them before."

"I've never known of you talking to boys with sketchy names before. If I don't see anything wrong with his profile then that'll be the end of it."

"Okay," he said agreeing begrudgingly and they finished their dinner "you know kid your mom actually goes really easy on you I keep cameras in my house and watch everything my son does on his phone and you wanna know how old he is?" El asked.

"Like five?"

Elliot chuckled slightly "No 15."

"Wow..." Noah said shocked and Elliot just nodded "who wants dessert?"

"Me me me!!" he chanted and Elliot nodded and brought a pack of Oreos over to the table.

After Noah had eaten 4 of them he put his plate in the sink then went right back to his room as Olivia sighed "is what you just told him true?" she asked deciding she'd just check the profile out when she put him to bed instead of argue with him about it.

"Yeah Liv, yeah it is I don't want him doing anything he shouldn't be doing he was hanging around some bad kids."

She nodded "I know El I remember you telling me but cameras? That's not just his privacy you're messing with you've gotta take your mom into account too."

"I don't watch what she's doing Liv just him and to be honest with you I don't really have the time to watch them anyway they're just a scare tactic."

She sighed slightly and nodded "if we eventually move in together we're gonna have to find a middle ground on discipline, one we can both agree on or it'll never work and they'll pit us against each other."

He nodded knowingly "I'm willing to work with it if you are."

She nodded and they cemented their promise with a quick kiss "mom I'm going up to the roof!" Noah called half way to the door.

"Honey you know I don't like you going up there by yourself give me a second and I'll come with you."

"Mom I'll only be up there for a minute..."

Olivia frowned and shook her head perplexed "buddy what's up with you you're acting really shady today," Elliot said.

Noah sighed resignedly and turned around to face them as he had something in his fist "what have you got Noah?" Liv asked.

He sighed again "30 dollars from my piggy bank," he said.

"What do you need that for on the roof Noah?"

"I was gonna give it to fighter man 93."

"Y-You told him where we live?" she asked growing panicked as her face went white.

Noah nodded "it was just so I could give him the money Wildcat gun machine came out the other day and he has an extra copy so I'm buying it from him and he's meeting me on the roof."

"No Noah... No you're not you're not going up there do you understand me?" she said as she then looked to Elliot "call it in, a-and lock the door." she whispered.

Elliot quickly did what she said as Noah's eyes welled up "B-But I want the game..."

"I don't care you should have asked me or Lucy to take you to the store then maybe you could have gotten it but now that's not happening either. He's probably not even a kid Noah have you ever seen his face?"

"No we just text," he said as Elliot looked to her "Svu's on their way in an unmarked car, no lights no sirens and the chain's on the door nobodies getting in here I promise," he whispered.

She nodded then looked back to Noah "bring me your tablet, now."

"This isn't fair!" he muttered as Elliot couldn't keep quiet for any longer "you don't realize how bad what you've done is! You never give your address out to strangers this person, whoever they are could have hurt you or your mom and for what? A thirty dollar video game?!"

"He's not a stranger I talk to him on Discord."

Elliot glared furiously and shook his head "Noah stop arguing with us and go get your tablet," Liv demanded flatly.

He stomped off and Olivia then faced Elliot while trying to hide the trembling in her hands "Elliot calm down," she whispered.

He noticed it right away and gently took her hands in his and squeezed "nothing's gonna happen to either one of you I promise your squad's on their way and I can go check the roof myself if you want me to."

She shook her head "you're off duty and don't have a weapon on you. I-I doubt they'll come here w-we just have to keep Noah inside."

Elliot nodded and rubbed small circles on her hands as Noah walked into the kitchen sullenly "here," he said tossing it down onto the table.

"You need to lose the attitude right now," Liv said as she took it and opened it "what's your password?" she asked.

Noah just stood there and said nothing "password! Now!" Elliot demanded.

"8899," he finally mumbled and she nodded and unlocked it as the chat pulled up right away and someone knocked on the door "Liv it's Amanda open up!" Rollins called.

"I'll get it honey," El whispered and a minute later her and Velasco were in the apartment "what's going on?" Rollins asked.

"This will tell you everything you need to know," Liv said handing her the tablet and Rollins nodded "why did you give it to her?" Noah asked with a glare.

She sighed "because this is very serious," she said as Noah just shook his head "fighter man 93 just messaged again. He asked Noah if he's still coming."

Olivia nodded "say yes then both of you head up to the roof."

"Copy that. Umm if we make an arrest we're gonna need to take the tablet as evidence."

"I know that's fine with me keep it for as long as you guys need to," Liv said and Rollins and Velasco headed off.

"You can't let them take my tablet mom," Noah whispered adamantly.

"Honey I'm sorry but if the person you were talking to was trying to commit a crime then they have to take it and look at it."

"W-What's wrong with buying a video game mom? W-What's wrong with that?" he asked through tears, his anger turning into sadness.

"It's not you wanting to buy a video game that's wrong it's how you went about it, just come with me honey," she said as she then looked to Elliot "please don't let anyone in here besides Rollins Or Velasco while I'm gone, P-Please El," she begged desperately.

"I promise Liv, I swear on my life."

She nodded slightly, he squeezed her hand once then she led Noah into his room where she turned his tv on and pulled up a documentary about online predators "Noah I need you to watch this," she said adamantly.

"W-Why? What does it have to do with aunt Amanda taking my tablet away and you not letting me buy the game?"

"It has everything to do with it sweetie. Just watch it by the time it's through everyone will be gone and me and Elliot will be in the living room to answer any questions you might have."

He just nodded slightly and she pressed play then left the bedroom and went back to Elliot and he took her hand again "They're gonna get whoever's up there baby I promise you that," he whispered.

She pulled away and paced "I-I know they will but the charges may not stick and whoever this is has gone after him once t-they can do it again."

"Hey hey take a breath baby, take a breath we don't even know who it was yet."

"W-We both know it wasn't a boy his age selling him a video game."

"Yeah we do but your squad's on it and I can go up there too you just say the word."

She shook her head "n-no I need you in the apartment El. Please stay here."

He nodded "I'm right here honey. You wanna move to the couch?"

She shook her head and continued pacing "baby please?" he asked.

"F-Fine," she said and he nodded and gently lead her over there and they had a seat.

5 minutes later Rollins knocked on the door and after checking the peephole Elliot let her in "did you get the person responsible for this?" he asked.

She sighed stepping into the apartment "we have a suspect in custody. Jacob Culvers a 32 year old white sex offender who lives two blocks away. He was the only one on the roof at the time. He looked like he was waiting for something or someone but he's denying talking to Noah so we're gonna need to keep the tablet."

Olivia nodded turning on her captain mode "call Jet from OCCB, have her analyze it she's the best tech person in the department. Do you need to talk to Noah?"

"No the tablet should give us everything we need but I'll send Velasco back if we have any follow up questions."

She nodded slightly and sighed "thank you Rollins," she whispered.

"No problem Liv. Umm while I'm here I thought I'd let you know Dr. Lyles from Mercy pled out. He's gonna do 60 days for forcible touching and have his medical license suspended for 1 year."

"He should have gotten more than that," Elliot said.

"I agree but Carisi wanted to spare her having to testify at trial."

"I would have done it," Liv whispered.

"We know we were just trying to keep your stress levels down."

"Well they're up really high right now," she whispered and Rollins just nodded and Elliot stroked her hair "have you guys eaten?"

"We have," El said and she nodded "do you need anything at all before I go Liv?"

"No I think we're good here. Make sure he gets the max Rollins," she said as her head leaned into El's palm.

"I'll try my best and keep you updated," she said as she then left and Olivia sighed as Elliot pulled her close "tell me what you need baby," he said softly.

She pulled away slightly "I-I'm fine El," she whispered fighting tears.

"Baby..."

"I-I can't fall apart in front of you... N-Not again El."

"You have every right baby, every right feel whatever you need to feel it's okay, it's okay ohh baby shhhhh," he soothed when she finally crumbled and he pulled her trembling body against him "I-I could have lost my baby forever... H-He could have been kidnapped or raped or w-worse," she cried.

"I know Liv... Shhh, shhh I know, I've gotcha I've gotcha."

"I-I need him to understand El... I-I need him to understand how serious this was."

"He will honey I promise, I promise he's a good kid, a great kid he'll hate that he caused you this much pain," he whispered while stroking her hair and back.

"I-I've got him watching a documentary in his room about online predators I-I hope it works, I-it has to work I-I can't go through this again, E-El I-I can't go through this again..."

He continued holding her close, stroking her hair and whispering reassuring words in her ear until her tears eventually stopped "I-I haven't told you this b-but he was kidnapped once before."

"My god Liv I'm so sorry... Was it a perp?"

She shook her head "No his maternal grandmother. H-He was to young to fully understand what was happening thank god."

Thank god indeed he thought to himself as he nodded "either way that's horrible I can't imagine what you went through how did it happen?"

She sighed "I felt sorry for her so I let her see him more than I should have although my gut was screaming no a-and she reported him missing then took him to her sisters cabin during one of their overnight visits," she said as she sighed in frustration at her new tears, pulled away and wiped them away "I-I'm sorry El I don't need to keep breaking down in front of you like this I-it's the last thing you need..."

"Baby please don't apologize it's okay I'm here for you now... I promise you I'm here to stay you don't have to hide your feelings from me I can handle them is she in prison?"

"No the state hospital but she won't get out for a while," she said as she went and locked the door.

"That's good, both of you are safe I promise baby."

Another stubborn tear fell as she thought about Lewis waiting for her in her old apartment "I-I know, you want something to drink El? You drank the last of my beer last night b-but I still have wine."

"I don't baby I just wanna hold you can I do that?"

"Y-Yeah in a minute," she whispered as she went into the kitchen to fix herself a glass and he sat there and waited sensing that something more was wrong and hoped that the wine would ease her nerves enough for her to talk to him about it.

While she fixed her wine she composed herself fully as once she was on the couch again she cuddled up with him and they found a comedy to watch but she kept conversation light and despite wanting to Elliot didn't push her "you sure you don't want any wine?" she asked about thirty minutes into it.

"I'm sure baby I only really like beer, scotch or vodka these days, thank you though."

She nodded slightly and her body grew stiff again but before he could question it Noah walked into the living room "t-the shows over mom a-and I didn't know... I-I didn't know people did stuff like that on Discord I-I'm sorry."

Olivia's cell phone began to ring and she motioned for him to sit on her free side "it's okay honey g-give me one second then we'll talk more okay?"

Noah nodded and she sighed and grabbed it "Benson."

"Yeah hi is this captain Benson?"

"Yes how can I help you?"

"I heard about the heart attack you had the other day I just wanna say I'm really sorry my grandpa's had four of em I know they're really rough."

"Thank you, umm may I ask who I'm speaking with?"

"I'm officer Scott Parnell," the man said.

"I thought you were supposed to be in jail?"

"I am, listen I don't have long but we take care of each other as cops and I felt like with everything you've been through I should warn you."

She frowned and stepped into the kitchen "warn me about what?"

"Elliot Stabler is a rat, an undercover I know you love him and I know he's trying to reconnect with you."

"Wait how do you know that?"

"A buddy of mine is keeping me up to date on all the gossip, listen don't tell him the truth about Lewis he'll act like he's all trustworthy then turn on you faster than your head can spin like he did to me and my brothers."

"I have nothing to hide Parnell the truth about Lewis is in the transcripts."

"I understand why you would tell me that and I respect the hell out of you captain that's why I called I don't want you ending up like me."

"O-Okay well I have to go I need to get my son to bed."

"Alright thanks for hearing me out captain, prayers for a speedy recovery."

"Thank you, umm I hope you haven't called me tonight and told me this in hopes of me joining your gang or pulling any strings for you."

"No ma'am not at all I made my bed and I have to lie in it I know that it's just I respect the hell out of you and I don't want to see you in here with me because you were his next mark."

"I understand, good night," she said as she hung up quickly, exhaled deeply then walked back into the living room "everything okay Liv?" Elliot asked.

She nodded "just a strange phone call I'll explain later, Noah do you have any questions about what you watched? I promised I'd answer any questions you had and I meant it."

"N-No I understand everything it said mom I-I'm sorry."

"It's alright honey but when you get your tablet back we'll be making some changes."

He nodded slightly and she slightly smiled "you have time to watch one movie with us before it's your bedtime."

He nodded and smiled a little brighter "can I pick it?"

"Yeah of course," she said and they ended up watching Jurassic Park together as a little family.

9:27 PM.

"So what was with that call earlier?" El asked once Noah had been tucked safely into bed.

She sighed "it was officer Parnell from the brotherhood apparently he has access to a cell phone behind bars."

Elliot nodded and frowned "he was one of em who shot at me what'd he want? Did he threaten you?"

"No he just wanted to inform me that you were an undercover except he wasn't that nice about it when he said it. It seemed like he thought I was oblivious of the hole operation."

He nodded "do you think we should let Bell know he contacted you?"

"I don't think so no maybe tell the prison warden he's got a phone but that'll do it wasn't a threatening phone call."

He nodded "alright I'll call Rikers tomorrow. What do you wanna do now?"

She sighed slightly "honestly El I-I think I just wanna punch in I've got a lot of packing to do tomorrow and I'm exhausted."

He nodded and rubbed her back gently "we've got a lot of packing to do cuz don't think I'm just gonna sit on my ass baby.. But I understand why you're tired tonight's been a hard night you want me to come with you?"

"Please?" she asked in a whisper.

He nodded and kissed her temple gently "lets go baby," he whispered and they headed into her room to lay down, neither one of them thinking to set the sheet up on the couch and rumple it up a little for appearances as it didn't take long at all for the motion of his fingers in her hair to put her to sleep and he soon followed.

12:31 AM.

"No no no no no... I-I'll do anything..." Liv cried out in her sleep as she thrashed around slightly.

Elliot startled awake hearing her cries "shhh, shhh it's okay Liv, it's okay you're safe baby," he murmured.

"No no no no no! L-Lewis n-no E-Elliot!!! Elliot!!! Elliot help!!!"

"Shhhh shhh shhh I'm here baby I'm here I'm right here..." he whispered through tears.

"L-Lewis n-no E-Elliot? Elliot come back! Elliot!! Elliot!!!..." she cried in despair as she then shot awake and reached out franticly while breathing rapidly.

"Shh-shh-shh-shh I'm right here baby, I'm right here it was a nightmare, i-it was a nightmare," he whispered as he pulled her into his arms stroked her hair, it being obvious to him that she wanted the physical contact.

She clung to him tightly for a few minutes while her breathing gradually evened out "I-I know I-I'm sorry I woke you," she whispered once she was a little calmer as she loosened her hold on him.

"D-Don't apologize baby I don't care about that... B-But did I... W-Was I there with you in your dream?"

"K-Kind of b-but you weren't really you."

"What do you mean by that honey?"

"Y-You were in the room with us j-just wandering around it with a blank look on your face. I-It was like you were teleported there or something and didn't know what to do with yourself."

He frowned and nodded as he continued stroking her hair "d-did I recognize you?"

"No I-I don't think you could hear either y-you didn't talk."

"Or respond?" he asked gently.

She shook her head and he just nodded sadly "I'm sorry honey, I'm so so sorry I-I wish I could change things, I-I wish I could make myself be there for you back then."

"I-I know b-but for what it's worth he would have taken me regardless I-I know he would have m-my lights would have blinked before he grabbed me I-I was in the living room before he did anything."

Explains why she was so worried about someone getting in here last night he was waiting for her in her apartment he thought to himself as he just nodded "El I-I'm tired of dancing around this s-so I'll tell you everything if you're up to hearing it," she whispered.

"I'm always hear to listen baby but don't put yourself through remembering it unless it's what you wanna do please the least I can do is wait until your comfortable."

"I-I'm ready," she whispered determinedly as she reached her hand out slightly then pulled it away and rose up "what is it baby? What do you need?" he asked softly as he noticed.

"I-I'm fine," she said and he nodded slightly, sat up too and turned to face her "h-he was a serial rapist and killer, we started out working his case and he was manipulative and kept getting away with his crimes. Eventually I took his win hard so Cragen sent me home and he was there in the living room waiting for me.

After he held the gun on me he knocked me out, tied me to one of my kitchen chairs, gagged me and burned me t-that's how I got my scars."

"Baby I'm so sorry..."

She nodded as she was trembling slightly and her hand went to move again but she stopped herself "h-he kept me there for 2 days and had me drugged almost the whole time h-he forced Vodka, pseudoephedrine and sleeping pills down my throat t-that's why I reacted the way I did when you said something about Vodka."

"I understand baby, I understand I'm so, so sorry I'll never drink it around you I promise."

She nodded slightly "a-after the two days we left my apartment and I guess I was in the trunk of a car for most of that day I-I don't remember most of it b-but that night he raped Vanessa Mayer's mother and made me watch"-

"Vanessa Mayer's the woman we met Saturday night right?"

"Yeah, I-I felt so powerless El I-I wanted to help her and her husband I-I really did b-but h-he had me bound and gagged and I couldn't..."

"I know baby, I know you don't have to explain yourself to me like that nothing that happened that night is your fault honey I promise."

"S-Sometimes it's hard for me to fully believe that. S-So after we left there he ended up driving around for a while, killing a patrol officer then driving to a beach house out on Long-Island and we were there for another day until a maid and her daughter came and I managed to break free from my restraints, subdue him, get them out of the house then call for backup."

He nodded slightly "I'm proud of you baby, really proud I'm pissed that it took them four days to find you but that doesn't change how proud of you I am."

She nodded slightly and sighed "I-I should have gotten away sooner, as for the them finding me part I-I understand why it was the way it was h-he had a two day head start."

He just nodded slightly "well however it all shaped out I'm just thankful that you're alive and beside me right now. Y-You know I love you right?"

Olivia nodded "t-there's more but I'm afraid of overloading you with all of it at once."

Elliot frowned "no Liv don't worry about me if you need to keep talking I can listen for as long as you need."

She nodded "I-I would rather to get the rest of it over with, I-if you need me to stop"-

He reached out and squeezed her hand "I'm fine baby," he whispered and she nodded and kept a hold of it "t-the trial was really hard h-he defended himself and dragged my name through the mud, a-are you gonna wanna read the transcripts?"

He rubbed the back of her hand with his thumb gently "do you want me to read them?"

"T-That's up to you but if you do h-he accused me of a lot of things in them."

Elliot nodded "of course he did perps never take responsibility for their own damn actions... And baby I have no need to read them really I'll only read them if you want me too."

Olivia nodded "h-he ended up being found guilty of assault on a police officer and kidnapping but the jury forewoman believed his bs, took cupcakes with drugs in them to Rikers for him and he ended up escaping and going on another spree."

Elliot nodded "You told me the other night that he killed himself did he do that while on this spree?"

"Yes but no he attacked several people then abducted a little girl so he could lure me to him, h-he killed himself after he forced me to play a game of Russian roulette with him. H-He also tried to rape me while I was there."

Elliot just nodded and pulled her into his arms "I-I'm so glad you're safe and here with me, so so glad baby."

She ended up melting into his embrace "m-me too El, m-me too."

"Nobodies ever gonna hurt you again, never ever again I won't let them."

She smiled slightly, nodded and they kissed tenderly "w-will you be able to sleep if I put a comedy on low? I-I need to be thinking about something else when I fall back asleep."

"Yeah of course baby I've slept more nights in my life with the tv on than off," he said reassuringly.

Olivia nodded, moved back to her pillow and grabbed the remote from her bedside table turning a recorded big bang theory on low "t-thank you for listening to me tonight El, I-I know I was a little evasive earlier a-and that's why he was on my mind."

"You never have to thank me for that Liv, never and if you find that you ever need me and I'm asleep wake me up I don't care what time it is okay?"

She nodded slightly "I'll try and remember that, night El."

"Night baby," he said as he began stroking her hair and she fell back asleep thinking of how safe she felt with his fingers running through her hair and how funny Sheldon Cooper was on the tv annoying his friends with his theremin.

5:35 AM.

"Mom, mom my belly hurts..." Noah wined approaching the bed as he thought it was just her in there because it was dark.

There was no response, just light snoring as he frowned what's wrong with mom? she never snores he wondered as he tiptoed over to the bed "mom, mom my belly hurts," he said again.

There was again no response so he climbed up there "mom, mom!"

Olivia stirred then and the snoring stopped "w-what's wrong Noah?"

"M-My belly hurts."

Olivia sighed, nodded and stretched her arms "I'LL get you some pepto," she said as Elliot's morning alarm went off and he startled awake and looked around "E-Elliot? Y-You're in here? I-I thought..." Noah whispered shocked after nodding to his mom.

"He is honey because I let him be in here it's all a little complicated."

Noah nodded with a thoughtful expression "is he your boyfriend?"

She glanced at Elliot and he gave her a calm reassuring smile "he is Noah yes y-you weren't supposed to find out like this.."

Noah just nodded "was he your boyfriend on Mothers day too?"

"I... I don't know honey."

He frowned "he either was or he wasn't mom."

"Noah honey please..."

"You've never had a boyfriend."

"Yes I have you were just really young."

Noah nodded then sat there for a minute in thought "was Peter your boyfriend?"

"No he wasn't, l-lets get you that pepto sweetie," she said as she glanced at El quickly then got off the bed, relieved that he looked overall calm and unfazed by Noah's questions as Noah nodded and followed her out "did you guys have sex?" he asked.

"No but Noah that isn't an appropriate question to ask adults."

He just nodded "was uncle Rafa your boyfriend?"

"No," she said simply while grabbing the pepto from the medicine cabinet.

"Who was he mom? Who was your boyfriend?"

"His name was Ed and that's all I'll say about him right now."

Noah nodded slightly "did I like him?"

"You did," she said while measuring the correct amount of Pepto into the medicine cup "open," she said.

He opened his mouth and took the Pepto "why is he not still your boyfriend?"

She sighed "because we weren't meant to be together. You like Elliot though don't you?"

"Mmhmm he's fun."

"Good," she said as she slightly smiled and wet a cool rag for him "lets get you back in bed okay?"

Noah nodded and she lead him to his room "sorry I woke you up," he whispered.

She shook her head "don't ever apologize for that baby I always want you to if you need me okay?"

"Okay," he said and she smiled, tucked him in and put the rag around his neck "I love you sweet boy."

"Love you too mom," he said and with that she kissed his cheek and tiptoed out.

xxxxx

"I put on a pot of coffee it's about ready. He okay?" Elliot asked when she came out.

"Thanks yeah I think so it's just a tummy ache probably from the stress of last night."

He nodded "yeah probably. Are you okay?"

"Yeah, yeah I'm fine he asked a lot of questions but I knew they would come sometime. H-He didn't make you uncomfortable did he? Or make you wanna run for the hills?"

Elliot walked over to her and wrapped an arm around her "no baby, no not at all I promise," he said as he kissed her temple.

She nodded relieved and melted into his side "you know if you wanna get a little more sleep you can," she said after a minute.

He smiled "thanks for the offer but I'm good baby," he said and once they had their cups of coffee they cuddled on the couch and watched the morning news.

By mid morning Noah was up and feeling better so they ate breakfast bagels together in the kitchen "Noah honey me and you need to go pack some things," Liv said once the dishes were through as Elliot was in the living room making a few calls.

"Pack? Why?" he asked through a frown.

"You know how I had to go to the hospital the other day?"

"Yeah," he said and she nodded "well they would only let me come home if I agreed to have another adult nearby for a while just in case I were to get sick again and since Elliot has a son too and his house is bigger we're gonna stay there."

Noah nodded, sat there in thought for a minute then seemed to have an aha moment as he nodded several times to himself "is that why Elliot's your boyfriend?"

"No it's not honey it's just why we'll be staying with him right now."

He nodded "how long will we be staying?"

"I'm not 100% sure probably a few weeks or so. You'll have a lot of fun though."

"Yeah?"

Liv nodded "you will he has a nice Terrace that I know you'll love and I won't be working either while we're there so that'll be nice won't it?"

"Mmhmm," he said as his face lit up a bit at that and she smiled "so lets go in your room and pack okay honey?"

"Okay, will I get to see uncle Rafa this summer?"

"I... I don't know sweetie, come on lets go," she said and with that they began packing his things.

xxxxx

"You guys need any help?" Elliot asked a few minutes later as his calls were through.

"We've got it unless you just want to," Liv said with a smile.

"I told you I wasn't gonna sit on my rear today and I meant it. What do you need me to do?"

She smiled "you can help us pack some clothes."

"Alright that works," he said as he kneeled down and put them in the suitcase once Liv and Noah had picked them out "can I take my playstation to your house?" Noah asked looking at Elliot.

He smiled "yeah of course as long as it's alright with your mom."

"It's fine with me," Liv said and they both nodded "mom when will I get my tablet back?" Noah asked.

"When aunt Amanda is through with it."

He just nodded "will that be long?"

"Maybe not but there's no way to know."

He just nodded and conversation became light again while they finished packing his stuff "why don't you play with your legos while me and Elliot pack my bag?" Liv suggested.

He nodded and they left his bedroom "how'd the calls go?" Liv asked.

"Pretty good for the most part the contractor said he'd have my wall fixed by 3 this afternoon."

"That's great, and the call with Kathleen?"

He sighed "mom really likes it at her place she's decided she wants to just stay there."

Olivia nodded "I'm really sorry El I know you guys were growing close."

"Yeah we were but we can still see each other and now the boys won't have to share a room so that's good right?"

"It is but we could have all made it work."

"I know, I am gonna miss her," he whispered as he then sighed and cleared his throat "I spoke to the warden at Rikers too."

"Did he confiscate the phone?" she asked as she rubbed his back.

He relaxed into her touch "he did, I also made it clear to him that the report was anonymous I'm sure Parnell talked to way more people than just you on that phone so maybe he won't figure out it was us."

"That's good, hopefully he doesn't but either way it had to be done. You ready to finish packing?"

"Yeah," he said and she nodded and headed towards her bedroom "should I pack a dress or anything?"

"I'd pack at least one," he said and with that they began to pack her things together.