Pure and Simple
Epilogue
Three Weeks Later
Stabler Residence
Queens
4:30 PM Saturday
Elliot took down some bowls for himself, Olivia, and the twins so that they could make sundaes. Lizzie and Dickie had practically tag teamed him over the ice cream, and he gave in, despite Kathy's orders that they wouldn't be allowed to partake in anything remotely fun because of their slipping grades. Yet somehow, the twins managed to wear him down, and they had been studying and making up their assignments for most of the day, so he went to the store and bought stuff for ice cream. And ordered pizza.
"Okay, if either of you let this slip," Elliot began to warn, but couldn't think of anything else to add. "Yeah, whatever."
Olivia just looked at him and he shrugged.
"Okay, who wants the Double Chocolate Chip?" He asked.
"I do," Dickie announced. "With tons of nuts and fudge."
Lizzie and Olivia opened up the vanilla and scooped some into their bowls.
"While you're over there making girlie sundaes, dad and I are going to make the ultimate sundaes," Dickie teased. "These are going to be like…Super Bowl Sunday sundaes."
"Yeah and you two are going to be too full for the pizza when it comes," Olivia said. "It's all about portion control, which unfortunately, your dad has none of."
It was nice to spend a Saturday off with Elliot and his kids. Olivia loved being around the twins because they were so much fun and they were hilarious when they were together. She'd been manipulated in several board games with them, and they also told her that The Game of Life was a horoscope in disguise. When she ended up unmarried with no children, retiring in a condo, and broke, she believed them.
Elliot warned her about his twins' antics.
Maureen's wedding was next Saturday at her church, and she and her mother had been frantically running around the city getting everything together and making sure everything was alright with her wedding dress. Elliot took Chris out with Munch, Cragen, and Fin one night to "bond." The women knew better.
All in all, nothing could persuade the young couple from not getting married now. They were both brimming with excitement, and Maureen was glowing. Elliot thought he would have a heart attack at any moment as the day drew closer and closer.
The twins talked animatedly about what happened at school and Olivia listened with plenty of interest, feeling as if she had been assimilated into the family. She loved that feeling, and she felt that it would make the transition with her relationship with Elliot that much easier because they didn't have to sugar coat anything.
The pizza arrived just as they were finishing their sundaes and the twins, who seemed to be in a constant state of hunger, immediately began to pick up pieces of pizza.
After everyone was completely full, the twins fell asleep on The Sound of Music leaving Elliot and Olivia to finish the film.
They looked at each other and smiled.
"So, now what?" He asked.
"I don't know," Olivia sighed quietly. "Just one day at a time I guess."
Elliot nodded, looking at the paling bruise on her neck, battle scars, and he knew that everyday wasn't promised to them.
"Yeah, that sounds okay," he said, and she smiled.
End