A/N your patience is always valued, your reviews are appreciated. This chapter is full of fluff and progression. Let's go!
April..
"Go under and then over," Olivia stood behind Elliot at the bathroom counter while he attempted to braid Katie's hair before their soccer game this morning. She made a promise that first month or so of seeing each other, that she would teach him and here they are. Look at how far they have come since then.
She guides him all the way until he finishes the end of the braid and it's a bit wonky compared to the one she did on the other side, but he is getting the hang of it.
"How's it looking?" He looked at both his girls in the mirror.
"Livia's looks pretty," Katie beamed in the mirror and fiddled with the perfectly weft braid.
"And how about daddy's?"
"Yours looks a little silly," her tiny nose scrunched up as she looked at it. "Can you fix it?" She turned around from where she sat on the counter and looked at Olivia for help. Her big blue eyes pleaded and it made her chuckle looking at Elliots defeat.
"Daddy will get better with more practice," she kissed the crown of her head and started taking down Elliots effort.
"I didn't think it looked that bad," he tried defending himself.
"It's not like Livia's," Katie counters and he soon realized this was a battle he just wasn't going to win.
"Alright alright," he held his hands up and moved to the side so Olivia could rebraid her hair. "How about I go make one of my famous smoothies for you then kiddo?"
"Extra star berries?" Strawberries, she meant. He never corrects her because he thinks it's the cutest thing ever.
"Extra star berries coming up," he kissed her head and then Olivia's before running off into the kitchen.
….
There's a chill to this morning and she's never been more comfy than now, in Elliot's hoodie that she's matched with a black puffer vest. She feels at the height of her mom glory as she cheers on Ophelia and Katie, who are playing little league soccer. They look so tiny on the field kicking the ball around. Suddenly she can see ten years from now, both of them still attached at the hip playing the game together. She'll be over 50 and maybe a few extra kids at her side cheering their sisters on. She could get used to this.
Elliot sits next to her doing much of the same, trying his best to not embarrass them but he's struggling. Not that he was trying very hard not to. The hoodie he wore had both girls' jersey numbers on the back of it. He surprised her this morning when he threw it on. This was only the beginning of his antics, she thinks. She's looking forward to the future even more if it means more hoodies for her to steal.
One row below them and a few people over, David and Giselle sit. It was Ophelia's weekend with her father. She had missed her this morning and it sends a pain in her stomach thinking about Giselle being the one getting her ready this morning. Her hair is in two braids too just like Katie.
They brought the baby with them this morning. David Alexander Haden Jr. She got a glimpse of him below her, wrapped in a plush blanket in Giselle's arms. He looked exactly like David. The new baby made him a little softer, a little more bearable during drop off. They sent her flowers and a few gifts worth the price of her rent alone. A thank you for saving their baby's life. It was an odd feeling. They were good for the time being.
"Go baby go!" Elliot yelled and shook her from her thoughts. She looked up and saw Ophelia making her way to kick a goal. The four of them cheered the loudest when she shot the ball swiftly and made a point for her team.
"Go Opie!" She said loud enough for her little one to look over and she jumped in the air in excitement. Katie ran over to hug her with the rest of her teammates before they got back to the game.
And then it's only moments later when their morning takes a turn for the worse.
Children somehow becomes the strongest people in world when it comes to hanging on or throwing anything, and in this case when they kick a stupid soccer ball.
Katie chased after the ball like everyone else and it was when a kid from the opposite team kicked it that their entire day had been rocked.
The ball met her face in an instant, no time for her to duck away to avoid it. She was on the ground and a puddle of tears completely freaking out when she touched her head and blood covered her tiny hands. Olivia and Elliot raced to the field pushing everyone out the way who crowded over her.
"Katie," Elliot is quick to scoop up his little girl.
"Daddy," she cried and reached for him to grab her. It was a horrid sight to see. The blood that ran down her face made his stomach churn.
"I'm here baby," he stood holding her in his arms while Olivia took a look. She called for the first aid kit and got to work getting her cleaned up as best she can, but the blood just kept coming.
"It hurts," she's sobbing and Elliot's fighting like hell to keep his shit together.
"I think we need to go to the ED," she looked over at him just as distraught. He nodded in agreement knowing the wound was too deep.
"It's gonna be okay," he reassures Katie who's calmed a bit but still tried to catch her breath. The tears still came and Olivia felt a burn in her throat just looking at her.
"God, Opie?" Olivia looked around forgetting she had witnessed this all go down too.
"We got her Olivia. You two go on," David yelled from the sidelines on his knees comforting their own daughter. She was a little shaken seeing her friend hurt so badly.
"I love you Opie!" Olivia blew her kisses and hesitantly ran after Elliot who was halfway to his truck already.
….
She held her in the waiting room, Katie demanded Olivia was the one to do so. It surprised her and Elliot when she cried for her after the accident. She held sterile gauze to her forehead in an effort to stop the bleeding. Just by one look at it she could tell stitches would be needed. They went to her hospital she worked at and we're lucky enough to get called back in less than half an hour. Ophelia stayed back with her father against her own wishes, but having her here felt like it would do more harm than good to see Katie in such pain.
They moved into an empty bay. Olivia sat on the bed with Katie sitting across her lap, her head against her chest. Elliot sat close by in a chair with nothing but worry etched across his face. He's got his elbows resting on his knees as he hunches over with his face in the palm of his hand, watching his little girl closely. She is safely in Olivia's arms and content despite the little under half of an inch gash to her head.
This is the woman that brings her comfort. Never in a million years would he have thought that woman would be anyone but Kathy. It brings him slight grief with great relief in knowing he has somehow found the most perfect woman to be in their lives after their biggest loss. She is caring, selfless, and makes sure you know you are loved. Much like today, the way she holds Katie close, rubs her back gently because she knows how much that comforts her. It was when the tears soon stopped after she ran into Olivia's arms, that he was once again reminded from the universe she was the perfect one.
There's a light knocking on the door. "Hi Katie," Olivia's favorite peds nurse, Cassie, entered the room with her butterfly printed scrub top. She's a young twenty something that's just as good at her job as a woman twice her age. Olivia sometimes finds herself admiring her. "I'm Cassie. I'm the nurse that's gonna take a look at your forehead," she took a seat on the rolling stool and sat right in front of them. "Can you tell me what happened?" Katie shys away closer into Olivia.
"Her forehead collided with a soccer ball during her game this morning," Elliot spoke up.
"Ouch, I bet that wasn't too fun. Do you mind if I take a look?" Katie nods in agreement and Olivia removes the blood returns and even she knows that's a bad sign. No success in stopping the bleeding since it started almost an hour ago. The cut went right across her the end of her left eyebrow.
"How long has it been bleeding like this?" Cassie grabbed fresh gauze to put some pressure back on it.
"Since it happened. Are you thinking…" Olivia sighs with regret.
"I think so," Cassie takes a look over at Elliot. "I think stitches will be best for this one. We'll leave them in for about a week. I'm sure Olivia can take them out at home for you."
"I don't want those!" Katie protested and her eyes welled up again with tears.
"Hey honey, what if- what if I do it instead of Cassie? Would that be better?" she calmed instantly at the mention and nodded profusely. Olivia's shoulders shrug when she looks over at the nurse and she nods in agreement too. One of the perks of not only working here, but being skilled at her job too. A year in trauma taught her a thing or too at the beginning of her career.
"I'll go grab a suture kit and numbing cream."
"Great. I'll get her cleaned up with some normal saline," they communicated between one another and she looked over at Elliot, who somehow managed to have a smirk on his face. "What?" she asks softly.
"Nothing- just, you're gonna stitch my baby up and make her all better. It's cute and kinda sexy you can do that," he whispers the last part and it makes her chuckle.
"You're ridiculous," she rolls her eyes and stands with Katie in her arms. "Sweetheart, I'm going to lay you here and we'll get you looking better here soon. Okay?" Surprisingly she lets her separate from her and Elliot is quick to stand next to the bed to take his turn holding the gauze. Olivia left to go gather more supplies.
"Olivia is gonna put stit-ches in my head?" She struggles on the word stitches, and God he thinks he will hate it when his daughter becomes a proper speaking adult.
"Mmhmm, it will help your owie heal faster. You'll look like Frankenstein for a little bit," she giggled.
"That's silly daddy," she beamed. "I love Olivia times one thousand. Can she be my bonus mommy already?" He sighed wishing he could make it all happen with the snap of his fingers.
"I'm working on it," and God was he ever. His mind goes back to the jewelry store he had gone to on his lunch break just for fun. He had slowly begun the search for the perfect ring if he truly was going to make it happen by the fall like they had talked about.
One thing about Elliot Stabler was that he was a man of his word. Especially to the women in his life.
….
"Two more stitches honey," Olivia moves her tools carefully through the wound as she sits eye level with her. She's thankful for modern medicine. Katie can't feel a thing when she threads the sutures through as she busies herself with an apple juice.
"I think the question now is what can't you do?" Elliot sat right next to her and watched carefully.
"I'm a woman full of many tricks and specialties," her eyes look over at him playfully. "All done," she placed a few steri-strips on the closure. "You were so brave," she reached and held her hands in hers.
"Will I have an owie forever?"
"It'll leave a little tiny scar, that's all. You'll have one to match mine," Olivia tucked her bang behind her ear to show the tiniest scar under her right eyebrow. Elliots always noticed it but he's never thought to ask about it. He kissed it sometimes when they're a few inches apart in bed. There was a time he thought to ask but it was when he pulled back to look at her he saw a sadness there that told him, not yet.
"You're still beautiful Livia," Katie reached to touch the scar on her eyebrow. "Like a princess," she adds and Olivia thinks she's just about to melt right then and there.
"You're so sweet baby," Olivia pulled her in for a hug and held her for just a second longer. "How about we go get some ice cream since you were so brave today?" Her blue eyes lit up then and looked over at her father for approval.
"I think that sounds like a great idea," he held his hand up and Katie high fives him.
"I'll go get the paperwork."
…
When he entered he saw his daughter snuggled deep into Olivia's side, finally sleeping after they administered her nighttime pain medication. She hovered just above Katie, resting her head in her hand as her bent elbow held her up. Her eyes just watch her sleep and her hand rubs her back softly. It's quiet all except for the radio that plays softly. The room is lit up only by the nightlight he keeps on for Katie in case she has a nightmare and comes into his room. The stars cover the ceiling and the vision before him looks magical.
"Hey," she says just above a whisper. Her eyes flash up to meet his and he imagines just for a moment that this is what it will be like when they bring their own baby home. She'll be in their bed just like this, fresh faced and in an oversized shirt of his, snuggled up to their newest addition. It makes him swoon at just the thought.
"You two look cozy," he lifts off the door frame and comes to stand at his side of the bed.
"I figured one night with us was earned after the day she's had," her lips pressed gently against her forehead.
"I think so too," he crawled into bed and snuggled up close to them both. "I don't think I would have gotten through today without you," he admits. Her face softens even more and she reaches to splay her hand along his cheek. "Thank you for everything."
"Stop thanking me," she pulled his face closer to her and kissed his lips soft and quickly.
"You literally stitched my baby's face back together," he says as if he still can't believe that happened today.
"And she was so brave through it all," she tilts her head to look at Katie, who has barely budged between them. "I should check on Opie," she was staying at David's for the night. Unusual for a Sunday but after their chaotic day, Katie just needed a little extra one on one time tonight. With David Jr in the picture now, Opie didn't mind getting extra time with her baby brother.
"I texted David, she's already in bed," Olivia can't help the shock that rushes over her face. Her eyebrows raised and her eyes widened when she paused to look at him. "What? We can be cordial when it comes to Opie."
"I know I'm just- shocked you texted him. Even more shocked he responded," they all had each other's numbers in case of an emergency but she never thought Elliot would reach out.
"I'm texting whoever I need to to check up on my girl," he states matter of factly. As if it's the most obvious answer in the world. Like she's supposed to expect him to treat her little one like his own. The irony of that thought isn't lost on her as she laid in bed with his little one, holding her just as close as her own.
"I love you so much," the words just tumble out of her mouth at this point. That's all she can muster up to say without getting too sappy.
"Can I ask you something?" His voice softens.
"Mmhm," she cautiously agreed but she knows she can trust him.
"The scar on your forehead," he reached with his own freehand and his hand cradled her jaw so his thumb traced over the scar. "Who did this to you?"
It was the who that made her shudder. He didn't ask what happened or how it happened, but who the hell had put their hands on her.
"Serena," her voice breaks. She looks at him with a solemn smile. Her eyes have begun to moisten and instantly he regrets asking.
"I'm sorry I shouldn't have asked-"
"No, I kinda brought it up today. I know you've been wondering," she laid her hand over his on her face. "She came at me with the broken neck of a bottle. Got me real good. I was 17 maybe, trying to run off with a guy way too old for me. Anything to get away from her," her cheek turns so she can place a kiss to the palm of his hand.
He is quiet for a good moment. He's angry at a woman who has been long gone for years. A woman that Olivia still somehow loves, still misses, despite how horribly she treated her.
"I had to get three stitches that night," she's a little teary eyed but she won't dare let them fall.
"I'm sorry Liv," he says as if it's any of his fault. She's never understood that. When people say sorry. It wasn't their fault something terrible happened to her. But she gets it. You wish you could have saved the one you love.
"It's okay. Look at me now," she says triumphantly. The same way she's had to say it out loud to herself every now and then. Her childhood haunts her every now and then to this day, but all things considered it didn't end too badly. She's more than Serena ever made her out to be.
"Look at you now," he leans in and manages to snag a kiss to her nose. "Thank you for sharing that with me."
"Thank you for being patient," she reaches to pull him closer and gets her lips to his. "If Katie was awake right now, she would be so offended there's been no kisses for her," she jokes and they both leaned down to place a kiss to her cheeks.
He pulled the covers over the three of them and watched the ceiling full of stars until he found sleep.
…..
May…
The weeks fly by and before he knows it, it's Mother's Day- again. He appreciates the holiday, the opportunity to show his mother extra love on this day. But it pains him all at the same time when he packs the same bouquet of flowers he always picks up and makes the trek to the gravesite of the mother of his child. He hasn't brought Katie here just yet. He still thinks she's just too young. At least that's what he continues to tell himself. She knows her mommy isn't here anymore, that she is in heaven, but he's not sure how to twist the story of her being buried six feet underneath the ground just yet.
Elliot replaced the flowers from the holidays with the new bright carnations, said a prayer, and sat for a few minutes in silence. He hoped wherever she was she understood his choice to move on, to let himself fall in love again, that she found comfort in letting Olivia step into Katie's life. It was then he felt a warm breeze circle around him and the sun broke through the partly cloudy day. He felt her here.
It was the okay he needed.
….
Summer is approaching but the rainy days still linger. The brief moment of sun is long gone as the streets begin to glisten from the brief rainfall. It's mid-Sunday morning once he gets back home. He's got another bouquet of flowers in his hands- peonies, Olivia's favorite. It's an array of pinks with a few white ones in the mix. She asked him not to get her anything and he kept his word this time around. He was slowly learning that quality time meant the most to her these days. But flowers were a tradition. He got them for his mama, for Kathy still every year, and now Olivia.
When he opens the front door to his apartment he's met with the double door leading to his patio wide open. Once he makes it to the doorway he sees all three of them kneeled over the flower bed that hasn't been touched since early fall of last year. They don't hear him so he stays back and watches for a moment. The girls are both still in their pajamas with an added pair of yellow rain boots. Olivia's in much the same with black boots of her own. Her hair is thrown up in a clip and their girls have fresh bedheads, their curls frizzy all over their heads.
"What are you three doing out here?" He spoke up and Ophelia and Katie were quick to run over to him to tell him good morning. He had left long before anyone else was awake today. He missed this.
"We're planting a flower for mommy," Katie's eyes light up as she looks up at him. It takes a few extra seconds for what she just said to register. Mommy to her is Kathy. He looked over at Olivia who was standing just a few feet from him now. She smiled so softly at him and confirmed with her eyes that he heard her right.
"For mommy? Which one did you pick for her?" He's kneeling now on one knee, all be damned the dampness of the ground.
"We got her Violets. Livie says they grow every year," he is well on the way to tears but he's got to hold it together for his daughter. She understands she has a mommy, knows she isn't physically here, but that Kathy can see her from heaven. It is what works for them now until she gets older and she has questions.
He thinks what gets him the most is that Olivia thought of this all on her own. It makes him want to launch himself at her, hold onto her, and never let go.
"That was very nice of Livie," he pushes her hair out of her face and kisses her forehead. "I know mommy will love seeing them from heaven," his voice cracks the slightest but he clears his throat to edge it away.
"It's all done," Olivia came closer and scooped Ophelia into her arms. She says it like what she's done is no big deal. Like her honoring his late wife, the mother of his child, is just a routine thing she's done every year for the past decade. He's incredibly moved inside. This is the woman he's going to marry and god dammit he doesn't think fall can come soon enough.
"You're just," he can't manage to find any better words to say. He's on his feet now with Katie in his arms. They stand each with a girl on their hip, both of them well on their way to being too tall to be picked up anymore. He kissed her lips quickly and the girls giggled at the sight like always. "Happy Mother's Day," he huddled them all together. Their hugging and holding Olivia close. It's all a sight for sore eyes.
"Happy Mother's Day mama," Ophelia snuggled closer to her and she's well on her way to tears with Elliot.
"Happy Mother's Day mommy Livia," Katie says and neither of them bother to correct her. The bond is there. The love is there. And all be damned if anyone says it's too soon. Katie is hers just as much as Ophelia.
"Oh, I love you two so much," she wishes they weren't so big so she could hold them both. It always scared her to give Ophelia a sibling, wondering if there was ever going to be enough room in her heart to love another baby. Katie has proved her wrong from the very start. It's not that you try to fit anymore love into your heart, it's that your heart somehow manages to grow bigger.
…..
The day has been nothing short of sweet. An early family dinner on the terrace with Bernie that led to a quick trip to the park. Elliot kicked a soccer ball back and forth with the girls while Olivia and Bernie hung back on the park bench. Families around them did much of the same to pass away the time of the Sunday scaries.
Now they're back at his place except for Bernie who turned in for the night and went back to her apartment a few blocks over. The girls are in Elliots bathroom suite making the most out of their time left before bedtime. Olivia drew them a bubble bath and added in their favorite toys to keep them busy for a while.
"I need to go back to my place. I'm a week behind on laundry, my rooms a mess. I blame you," she attempted to sound annoyed but her voice is laced with a sultriness that makes his body tingle. They're tucked away in the kitchen, leaving his bedroom and bathroom door open so they can still hear the girls.
"If taking the blame means I get you here most nights then it's worth it," he's right behind her, his chest against her back and hands wrapped softly at her hips. She's attempting to pack the girls' lunches for tomorrow but his lips ghosting her neck are making it insanely difficult.
"My beautiful apartment just sits six nights a week now."
It was something that just happened naturally. His place was bigger. He had three bedrooms, a terrace, and an insanely delicious wine selection. They worked better together in the same space. He made them coffee in the morning, and she made the school lunches. Dinner wasn't always on her to make. They rode together for school drop off. Their girls were inseparable. She isn't sure the idea of getting them a bunk bed will go over well.
"You know there's a solution to that, right?" His voice is soft in her ear. Prepping her with sweet talk before he asks a huge question.
"Hm?" Her lips curl up into a smile when his lips find her neck.
"We pack up both you and Ophelia and move you into here- officially," her body does a horrible job of hiding her panic at his suggestion. He felt her tense up and her breath catch the slightest but it didn't worry him. He knew. It's been less than a year but more than six months but they're both grown adults. They've done marriage. The kids. The whole nine yards. Moving in together would be the easy part at this point to him.
"El…" she abandoned the lunch boxes all together and turned in his arms to face him. "Are you serious right now?" Her eyebrow arched like it always does when she's unsure.
"Olivia," he says because she should know the answer to that already. "C'mon," his fingers toy at the edge of her cotton shirt she wore. "You're not gonna make me wait until we're married are ya?" That same boyish grin from the very first moment she saw him appears and she knows she's done for.
"No," the corners of her mouth lift. "David's gonna have a field day with this one," she chuckled and leaned in until her forehead pressed against his. "I'm scared," she admitted.
"David is shacking up with his baby mama in the house you made. He doesn't get to be mad," he tilted his head up to press his lips to her forehead. His hands move to settle along each side of her face, his thumbs stroking her temples softly. "Do you trust me?" He pulled back to take a look at her. Her dark eyes were soft as ever when she met his blues.
"I do," her fingers reach to grip lightly at his shirt.
"Then let's do this together. Hm?" They sit for a moment. She's smiling all over again knowing no matter how pissy this might make David, the answer will be yes. Being here with them makes her happy and most importantly, it makes Ophelia happy too.
"Okay," she says simply. He moved to wrap his arms around her, squeezing her close to him and it made her squeal. He spins her around in the kitchen like they're in some hallmark movie.
Once she's placed firmly back on her feet he kissed her deeply. His hands hold her flush against him while lips lay claim on her. He can never get enough. The way her curves fit perfectly in his hands. Her hair, that is straight in the mornings but wildly wavy from the New York humidity by the end of the day. Her brown eyes tell her mood by the way they darken on command. She's his.
"We're gonna build a life here until we grow out of this place," they swayed, still latching onto one another.
"Grow out?" Her eyebrows raise and she's grinning from ear to ear.
"Yeah, where am I gonna put the dog and the trampoline?" He counters and she's laughing now. It's music to his ears. He knows she's nervous about this big change.
"I love you and Katie. I'm excited for this," she admits and hugs him close again.
"Mommy!" Ophelia called from the bathroom and they're moment was interrupted but for all the best reasons.
"We're coming!" She yelled back and took one last look at her man. He's got this glint in his eyes and he's terrible at hiding how damn happy this just made him.
"Our girls are calling for us," he says but barely moves.
They take in just a few more seconds before they step into another new chapter in their lives.
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