Chapter 12

Olivia did some self-thinking and evaluating that night. Elliot was glad to spend some time with his kids- just him and them, but he did miss Olivia. She walked a couple blocks thinking- which wasn't the most enjoyable thing. Whenever she was alone in her thoughts memories of old home life would come back. But now, taking care of Elliot's kids for some time, she knew she had other, more important, things to deal with. Instead of hating her mom for not being the mom she wanted her to be, she thought of how she could be the mom that Lizzie and Dickie needed and wanted. The twins were like her kids now, though she didn't give birth to them, or make them in any way, she had taken care of them. That's all she wanted when she was a kid- was to have someone to take of her. Even if Elliot and her didn't get together, which she figured would occur, she would still need to be there for them. And him. She was gone for longer then she thought and started to head home around eleven. By the time she got to her building, and went up the elevator and got to her door it was around at least one in the morning. She was just about to open the door when she heard her name called.

"Olivia?" Maureen asked as she walked down the hall.

"Maureen? What are you doing here?" She asked surprised, remembering Elliot and her hadn't told Maureen anything that had been going on.

"I was supposed to come this weekend and take the twins. But Kathleen told me what happened" she said looking down.

"I'm so sorry we didn't tell you. There's just been so much going on…"

"It's ok. I'm fine"

"Are you sure? I know divorce isn't easy- especially on the kids" she told her.

"I'm fine Olivia. But, I was thinking, I could still take the twins, and Kathleen, of your hands, so that you could have time alone."

"Alone?" Olivia asked a little quieter.

"Yeah. You know, to figure out what's going to happen to my sisters and brother. And where their going to live, and eat, etc." Maureen smiled.

"Yeah- that might be good." Olivia nodded.

"Can I ask you a question?" Maureen looked away from Olivia.

"Sure"

"How long was dad seeing you?"

"Your dad and me never 'saw' each other. He was very loyal to Kathy"

"But not happily" Maureen finished. Olivia looked away.

"I'm not a kid Benson. So don't treat me like one" she snapped a little.

"Why did you do this?" Maureen glared. Olivia couldn't say a word.

"Why would you do this? Do you know how sad Kathleen is? Do you know how left out she feels because you took in the twins but not her? That dad ran to you, and left her behind. You know what I think? I don't think you care one bit about the twins. You just want my dad. And that's fine. I really don't care about him any more. I care about my siblings. And I'm going to do, and help my mom as much as I can- to make sure that you never get near them again…" Maureen held back her tears.

"And then one day, some day, when you're in your nice apartment with dad, he'll drop dead. And you'll be left with nothing but yourself. And on that day, I'll come to you and you know what?..." Maureen leaned in close and Olivia looked her directly in the eyes.

"I'll ask you if it was worth it. And you know what you'll say?" Maureen asked but before she could continue Olivia wrapped her arms around her. Maureen tried to push her off for a few seconds but soon caved in. She couldn't help but cry and Olivia held on to her tight.

"It's ok" Olivia told Maureen. After a few minutes Maureen got a hold of herself.

"It's not supposed to be this way" She said as the two sat on the floor in the hallway.

"What isn't?"

"Love. Marriage. I always imagined finding that guy- you know? That one guy. One of my friends found that guy, he left her two months later. Another friend of mine also found that guy- he raped her. It's almost like, there's no point. Just learn what you need, do what you can, do it well, and pass over" Maureen smiled, not happily.

"I found that guy once. I knew then and there he was the one" Olivia smiled.

"What happened?" Maureen asked. Olivia let out a deep breath.

"He was married." She said as she looked away.

"I always thought marriage shouldn't stop or get in the way of love. But there's just so many things that go along with marriage. Is it wrong I don't want to get married? Or have a man?" Maureen asked a little unsure.

"Seems like after young girls get out of the Disney- princess theme, they realize they don't need to be saved by any man. They don't need to be with a man or woman even. I never, ever, thought I'd actually… well you know"

"Fall in it?" Maureen joked. Olivia smiled.

"You know I'm grateful he doesn't know." Olivia told Maureen. Maureen knew she was speaking of her dad, she knew from the start that they had always clicked.

"I hate to break it to you Olivia, but he knows"

THE NEXT MORNING

Maureen had slept on Olivia's couch. And since Elliot was asleep with the kids in Olivia's bed, she slept on the floor. Elliot was surprised to come out of Olivia's room to see her and Maureen cooking.

"Maureen!" he asked excited.

"Dad!" she exclaimed and gave him a hug.

"What are you two doing?" he asked as he looked at the mess in the kitchen.

"We're cooking" Olivia smirked. Her face was patted with baking soda, along with Maureen's.

"You're cooking?" Elliot asked surprised.

"Yes" Olivia said proudly.

"You?" he asked again. She slugged him on the shoulder and Maureen stood next to Olivia.

"I'm teaching her" Maureen said proudly.

"Yes. And what a good teacher she is" Olivia put her arm around Maureen.

"Well she learned from the best" Elliot smirked. Olivia shook her head.

"You're full of it" she muttered.

"Oh yeah?" he asked.

"Yeah" She said turning back around to face him.

"Well…" he said reveling the box of baking soda in his hand. Olivia started to smirk.

"Want to say it again, this time to my face?" he asked as Maureen backed away a little- not wanting to get dirtier- and knowing her father would do it. Olivia took a step forward, and licked her lips before she talked.

"You are full of it" She said again. Maureen started to smile as Elliot shook his head and looked away.

"Well, now you're asking for it" he told her before he dumped some of the powder on the top of her head. Olivia tried to get a hold of him, as Maureen tried to get the box back.

"Got him!" Olivia smiled as she held him in an arm lock. Maureen poured the white powder on to his head and he closed his eyes tightly. After only a minute the kitchen was twenty times dirtier- and the twins were starting to get up.

After they said their hello's to Maureen, she announced to her dad that she was taking them for the weekend. He was surprised but went to go help the twins pack what clothes they had with them. Olivia was cleaning up the kitchen as best she could.

"Sorry I'm leaving you with this mess" Maureen said trying to help still.

"Don't worry about it- I'll just have your dad do it later" Olivia smirked.

"Maureen… I care about the twins as much as I do for you and Kathleen. She's just older, and to be frank, I think she'd rather stay with her mom."

"I know. I'm sorry about that. I was just… you know, venting. Listen Olivia, Kathleen likes you a lot. Even though, I know, she doesn't show it. Just maybe, invite her here once in awhile, or take her with you and dad and the twins if you go any where. I think she'd really like being with dad and her sister and brother" Maureen told Olivia and she nodded. Maureen got up, she couldn't help it, and the two hugged. Elliot came out to see them hugging and they separated soon.

"You guys ready to go?" Maureen asked excited.

"Not yet!" both of them exclaimed as they ran over to Olivia. They wrapped their arms around her tightly and she hugged them back.

"You two be good to your sister" she smiled and they nodded. After Elliot walked them down to the car he came back up a little blue.

"You ok?" Olivia asked.

"Yeah… let me help you out there" he smiled as he picked up a sponge.