A/N: Part 4 of what I'm calling the "Starting Over Series"
Read Feelin' Good, Booty Call, and This is Heaven first.
3 chapter story- might be another set of stories after this. Idk.
Please review!
It was nearing 8pm.
The SVU squad had been nonstop for 12 hours, working to hunt down a missing kid.
Liv had long forgotten about the letter Eli slipped in her purse and hadn't eaten since her protein bar earlier that morning.
It was around that time that she finally checked her phone to see a bunch of texts and goofy pictures from her boys.
O: So sorry guys. Today is crazy and we are still looking for the child :( Missing you guys extra right now.
El: We're watching the news. Saw your press conference- super star.
O: Haha. Wish I didn't have to do it.
El: I know baby. We love you and we're proud of you.
O: Love you guys so much.
N: Love you mom!!!!
Eli: Love you Livvie
She smiled small at her step son's pet name for her and then remembered the letter.
"Shit," she muttered, reaching for her purse as Fin came in solemnly. "Liv… they found him, he's gone. We have the dad in custody. Poor mom was out with the search party who found him so she's been notified. We got unis bringing dad in."
Letting out a deep sigh, she put her head in her hands and tears rushed to his eyes.
"Press wants an update- Chief just called," Fin sighed and Liv nodded, standing after a minute as Amanda and Velasco came in.
"Waiting for you on the steps Captain," Amanda said and she nodded, heading down.
At home, the boys were playing cards with the news still on in the background. "Liv's on TV," Eli said and El sighed as the three looked towards the TV.
They watched as she took to the podium and subconsciously rubbed her thumb over the E on her ring finger. El knew her like the back of his hand, and by her body language, knew the worst was coming.
"Hi everyone. I'm Captain Olivia Benson of Manhattan Special Victims. It's with a heavy heart that we announce we've found the body of missing boy, Jack Stevenson. We have a suspect in custody, and his family has been made aware of the discovery. His mother was with the search party who discovered him. We extend our deepest condolences to all who love him, and my team and I will be working alongside the district attorney's office to bring the perpetrator to justice. We do have a suspect in custody, so there will be no further comments at this time and I won't be taking any questions until the conclusion of our investigation. Thank you."
She finished, heading back inside.
Eli frowned and looked over at Noah who was leaned into Elliot. "That sucks," Noah said softly and El nodded. "It does. It really does," he sighed.
The perp arrived at the station house and was placed in the interrogation room at around 9:30.
"Any chance he asks for a lawyer?" Liv said, gathering the evidence they'd collected over the day, including a photo of their suspect and his little boy smiling.
"I don't think so," Amanda said, "he's a model sociopath. I think he's itching to share all the details."
"And I don't think he's going to make it quick," Velsaco sighed.
She nodded. "Amanda, head home and be with your girls, and send Carisi here. Fin you're coming in with me, Velasco, you watch," she nodded.
The seasoned detectives made their way in the room to begin what would end up being a 6-hour interrogation, ending with a confession and all the gory details of some past crimes.
It was close to 3:30am when they emerged and he was taken to holding. Directing everyone to leave and take the next day, or rather that day, off, she sat back at her desk and let her emotions go.
She was used to hard cases, but this one was hitting differently and her heart was in pieces, both for the boy and his mother.
When she got her self under control, she sat back in her seat and sucked in a breath, picking up her phone and smiling through tears at the individual texts from all of the kids and El.
El: So sorry baby. I love you so much
N: Love you mommy you still did a good job today
Eli: Love you Livie I'm sorry it ended bad
K: NY is lucky to have you and so are we. Love you.
D: Tough break today, but strong as ever, as per usual. Love ya
M: Liv, I'm so sorry. Love you.
L: You're super woman and I know you'll get this guy and make him pay. I love you!
She texted El with a sigh.
O: U up?
E: What am I a booty call??
O: Haha
E: Make you smile at least?
O: Yes baby. I'm on my way home. You been waiting up?
E: Of course. Be safe, see you when you get here.
She went to put her phone in her purse, suddenly remembering Eli's letter again. Taking it out and opening it, tears came to her eyes as she started to read.
Livie-
I know you've been really worried about how I'd feel if you and dad got married. And I was too for a while. I thought maybe it'd change our relationship or he'd forget about mom.
But as you both have shown in the last year, that's pretty impossible. You and him have both kept mom's memory alive, and you're always there for me when I get sad or miss her.
You've never tried to replace her, and have become one of my best friends because of it. I feel like I can go to you for everything and you always will have my back and support me. You're a huge role model in my life and always amaze me with your dedication and love for everyone around you.
You also make dad really happy, which makes me happy. All my siblings love you, and Noah too, and I think that's really awesome because most of my friends who have a stepmom hate her haha.
Anyways, I just wanted you to know that I love you so much and it'd be an honor to have you as my official step mom/second mom, and you and Noah as official Stablers. So this letter is officially giving you my blessing for you to say yes to dad when he asks you.
I love you and can't wait for the future
Love,
Eli
He was half asleep on the sofa when she came in, bleary eyed, sore, and starving.
Startling awake a bit when he heard her, he gave a sad smile and stood to wrap his arms around her.
"Hi love," he whispered and she responded with a squeeze before pulling back and beginning to speak.
"I know," he whispered nodding. "Go see your boys."
She gave a thankful smile and reached into her bag, handing him Eli's now open letter to read before rushing off to their room.
Opening the door slowly, she watched them as they slept, counting their breaths and smiling fondly at the memory of doing that when they were little. Noah, when she first brought him home, and Eli when she'd watch him as a baby.
She sat gently on the edge of Noah's bed, brushing his hair back and giving him a few kisses before moving to sit on the ledge of Eli's raised loft. "What no hair playing for me," came his sleepy voice that caused her to smile.
Moving up beside him, she gently brushed his hair back and kissed his head. "Sorry… I didn't want to wake you," she whispered and he shrugged. "Never sleep well when you or dad are at work late," he mumbled and her heart melted.
"Thank you for my note… Eli that was so sweet and I can't tell you how much it means to me and how important you are to me," she said softly, taking his hand.
He squeezed it and smiled. "Love you, Livie. Glad you're home," he whispered, drifting back off.
"Love you son," she said just below a whisper, letting a few tears fall.
El was in the kitchen making her a sandwich when she came out with tears in his own eyes. "Baby I'm too tired to eat," she whispered and he gave her a look, pulling her close.
"Please eat it?" He whispered, "then we go cuddle in bed and sleep till noon?"
She nodded quickly before collapsing into sobs in his chest. "I couldn't save him… I couldn't save him," she gasped and he held her as they sank to the floor.
"Shhh…. Sh, sh, sh… You're okay baby, I've got you," he cooed, rubbing her back gently and letting her get it all out.
He spoke quietly to her until she calmed down, telling her all about their day; Noah mastering his double back flip, Eli beating them both in cards. How much he loved her, how Eli's note made him cry and proud at how mature their son was.
When she finally relaxed, she looked up at him and gave a small smile. "I don't know how I survived without you for so long," she whispered.
He gave her a squeeze and kissed her head. "You're a badass that's how. Now cmon, let's eat and go to sleep.
She was asleep the moment her head hit her pillow and stayed that way until around 10:30 when she felt soft kisses being trailed from her collar bone up her neck, and became aware of the heavy and familiar body hovering just above her's.
Smiling small, she let out a content sigh. "Morning," she croaked out, her voice thick with sleep.
"Morning gorgeous," he said against the chord of her neck as he kissed it slowly.
"Boys?" she whispered and he moved to the spot behind her ear he'd discovered on their first night together. "Getting you a surprise," he said a little louder, signaling they were alone.
As he kissed up to her lips, she pulled her eyes open slowly to meet his that seemed to sparkle more than usual due to the sun streaming through the window. "They just left," he added with a half grin.
His grin was contagious and caused one to spread over her face as she started kissing him lazily, allowing a hand to go to the waistband of his sweats.
Laying half way on top of her, he dragged his hand up her body to her breast, the rough pad of his thumb scraping her already distended nipple through her thin, silky camisole, and probed her mouth with his tongue.
She allowed a quiet moan to escape her mouth as her hips rolled upwards into his waiting and throbbing cock.
Her other hand dragged down his body and pushed his sweatpants down just enough, and with one strong hand, he did the same with her silky panties.
"Mhm," she moaned against his lips that never stopped moving in tandem with her's, and reached between them to guide his cock to her entrance.
With a slow thrust of his hips, he pushed in through her wet folds and let out a moan of pleasure that was simultaneous with hers.
They'd had a lot of sex in the year and a half they had been together, but each time still managed to feel like the first.
She matched the thrusts of his hips in a slow dance as their lips moved at same lazy pace. When he felt her begin to clench, he expertly sped up, not losing any of the passion they were fucking with. Her lips finally broke from his and her face contorted in ecstasy as her body arched up into him and she quietly gasped his name several times.
"Elliot. Elliot. Elliot," she whined out as she worked through her orgasm and his free hand moved to support the small of her back.
He was close, but knew he could draw one more explosion out of her, so he nudged her leg to the side ever so slightly, allowing his pelvis to better bump her clit as he thrusted.
She wrapped a free hand around the base of his neck, and the other landed on his cheek, pulling his face back to her's and crying out into his mouth as she grew close again.
Quaking and quivering around him, he detached her lips from her's and rested his head softly on her forehead. "Cum for me again, Liv," he said in a deep and husky voice.
"I can feel you," he continued, "I can feel how tight you are around me. How much your pussy is shaking and how much your body needs to cum again," he said, now moving his hips in long, drawn out and deep thrusts. "So do it," he commanded.
Her head and eyes both rolled back, and she let out a soft gasp each time he bottomed out in her. Finally, her body jolted again when he pushed all the way into her, and she clenched tightly around him, keeping him in place as they came together with soft moans of each others names.
Eyes lulling shut from the intensity of her releases, he kissed her slowly and pulled out. She watched him and smiled small when he grabbed a pair of her pajama pants and dressed her in them.
"I'll wake you up when they get home," he whispered kissing her softly.
"I love you Elliot," she smiled sleepily, drifting off to sleep.
"I love you more baby," he whispered.
When she woke next, Noah was gently rubbing her arm.
She smiled and sat up slowly with a yawn. "Hi baby boy... c'mere," she whispered and he crawled into her lap snuggling in.
Eli came to the door and grinned. "Hey Livie," he said, walking over and hugging her tightly.
"Hi sweetheart," she smiled up at him.
"We have a surprise for you," Noah said nodding outside towards the patio.
"Oh?" She chuckled, "where's dad?"
"You'll have to see," Eli smiled.
"C'mon mom!" Noah said excitedly and she laughed softly. "Hang on, let me get dressed a bit."
They waited outside the room before escorting her out to the patio.
She stopped in her tracks just before crossing the threshold of their French doors that led to the patio, and the smile that appeared on her face was radiant.
TBC.