A/N: I wrote a blurb about this on Twitter and it grew into these eleven pages. In honor of 14 years since Paternity aired. Enjoy. Please review :)
It was a stupid school project. Ask your parents about their blood type. Then find your own blood type through a finger prick. And find the likelihood of your blood type due to your parents' genes.
AB positive. His mom was O positive. The universal donor. She gave blood often so he knew her blood type already. But when he asked his dad, Elliot said he was A positive. According to the punnett square, it was biologically impossible for him to have AB positive blood. That is...unless...his parents weren't who he thought they were.
"Hey, son!" Elliot greeted him as he walked through the door after school. His dad had been gone for months on an undercover mission for work and he missed him so much. Sure they fought at times but after losing his mom he wanted to keep his dad close…all he had left. Well there were his siblings too. He thought of his brothers and sisters...all had light hair and light eyes. He didn't notice the differences often, when your siblings are over a decade older than you and you only remember seeing them on holidays.
"Son?" Elliot shouted, as the teen was lost in thought and didn't acknowledge him the first time.
"Oh hi...dad, sorry."
"That's alright, how was school?"
Eli walked to the fridge and pulled out a soda. His eyes gazed at a photo on the fridge. It was last month at a birthday dinner for Kathleen. He was sitting next to his dad, Kathleen was on the other side and next to their dad was Olivia. Olivia...maybe she should ask Olivia? Could he trust her? Would she even know anything?
"It was school, ya know biology projects and algebra. Tons of fun." He slammed his backpack onto the counter and pulled out his homework binder.
"Biology project? You gotta dissect a frog or something? I had to do that. Ya know on the job I've seen a lot of stuff, but I wouldn't want to do that again."
"Yeah, something like that," the teen shrugged and opened his notebook to start his homework.
"Alright kid, good talk," Elliot chuckled and scuffed up the boy's hair before heading out of the apartment.
A few hours later, Elliot came home with some pizzas. Kathleen greeted him at the door and helped him carry them to the kitchen.
"Where's your brother?"
"Oh, he's locked in his room. Hasn't come out all night."
"Eli?" Elliot knocked on the door, concerned because he saw his son earlier and he seemed fine. What could've happened in a few hours? When he heard no response he knocked again. "Son? You OK?"
Elliot put his ear to the door and that's when he heard his son on the phone. He trusted his kids, knew they were smart and reasonable. He wouldn't be doing anything wrong, he thought, but he also felt he had been absent long enough that his son could be acting out. So, he listened.
"Ok. I will. Thanks, Olivia." He heard his son say. Olivia? The door opened and Eli popped out in a rush, nearly crashing into him.
"Who you talking to in there?"
"Just a friend from school, dad. Do I smell pizza?" Hoping he could change the subject and try to forget about it for now.
"Hmm, well come eat some dinner. What's on the agenda tonight?"
"Actually, can I go to Ian's? We have to study for a history test."
"Ian's, huh?" He eyed his son curiously, checking for a hint that he was lying. Eli looked back at him just as intensely. When you're the youngest son of a detective, you learn a thing or two from your siblings about how to lie.
"Yeah. And I know, curfew is at 9. See ya, dad." He grabbed his backpack and walked out the door with a slice of pizza in his hand.
Elliot looked over at Kathleen who shrugged. She didn't seem to think her brother was up to anything, so Elliot decided to just let it go for now, as long as Eli got back by curfew.
Olivia sat in the corner of the small diner. She'd been anxious since Eli called her and asked to meet-up. Although she literally helped bring the youngest Stabler into the world, he was so young when they left the city that the boy didn't remember her and she truly didn't know much about the boy. But he called her, said he needed to talk about something and knew his siblings often turned to her in times of need, so he felt she could be trusted.
"Hey, Olivia." The boy greeted Olivia quietly and sat across from her.
"Eli, hey. Are you hungry? I can order you something."
"No thanks, I'm fine." He took a deep breath and ran his hand through his shoulder-length hair.
"So, is everything ok? I mean is it your grandma or your dad? Your siblings?" Olivia had the faintest idea what the boy could want. They were all struggling with the recent loss at Wheatley's trial. Losing your mother was hard enough, watching her murderer walk free was like losing her twice.
"Everyone is fine. We're hanging in there, ya know." He reached for his backpack and pulled out a piece of paper, sliding it across the table to Olivia who read it over and looked at the boy with wide eyes.
"Eli, is this…" This couldn't be right. She remembered the day Elliot told her Kathy was pregnant. The day that the last veil of hope for her to finally be able to act on her feelings was crushed. Kathy was pregnant, Elliot was staying with her and she had to tuck her heart away, put her head up and move on like nothing was wrong.
"I know that my sisters come to you for help, and I...I felt like I could trust you and I didn't know who else to turn to." Olivia reached for the boy's hand and gripped it tightly, reassuring him that he was safe and she was going to help him through this.
"Are you sure this is right?"
Eli nodded in response, "my mom was O positive and my dad...Elliot...is…" his voice began to crack and Olivia finished the sentence for him, "A positive." The same as her.
"Elliot is your dad, Eli. He might not share your DNA, but he's your father and I know how much he loves you. I was there the day you were born...I saw how scared he was and then how relieved he was when you were OK. You and your mom both."
"My mom told me the story once of how you saved us." Eli smiled softly and reached for the paper from Olivia. The paper that revealed Elliot was not his biological father, not according to his blood type.
"I was terrified," Olivia laughed nervously.
"Olivia, what do I do?"
"Well...there's only one way to know for sure. We can do a DNA test. I can make sure it's done discreetly."
"I was hoping you'd say that. I actually stole his toothbrush." Eli smirked and slid two ziploc bags over to Olivia. One had Elliot's toothbrush and the other had a q-tip Eli had swabbed the inside of his cheek with.
"I'll run them tonight." She tucked the bags safely into her purse.
"I already lost my mom…" Looking down Eli began to wipe his eyes as tears threatened to spill.
Olivia got up and sat next to him, pulling him in for a side hug. "It's going to be OK. I promise. Elliot loves you and he's not going anywhere." As Olivia hugged the boy her mind momentarily drifted to memories of the day he was born and how she held him close as a tiny, scared baby. She had never been more terrified in her life than the moment she was trusted with this brand new life; albeit momentarily. But he was Elliot's son and if anything happened to him she would never forgive herself and he would never forgive her.
The next day Olivia got the results back from the lab. It confirmed the 9th grader understood his homework; Elliot Stabler Jr was not the biological son of the man he was named for. Sighing, she sunk down onto her couch and put her head in her hands. How was she going to tell Elliot that his dead wife had lied to him all of these years? That fourteen years ago when they both silently, unspokenly accepted that they would never be; could never be it was all based on a lie. Fourteen years ago...almost to the day.
Olivia waited in the hallway, anxiously awaiting news on the new baby and his mother. Her breath hitched as Elliot walked towards her, looking exhausted but relieved.
"How's the baby?"
Elliot breathed out a sigh of relief as his eyes ran over his partner, grimacing slightly at the blood on her shirt. "Great."
Olivia smiled as their eyes connected briefly and she saw a different energy about him. Instead of the intense, serious partner she knew for the last nine years he was more soft, his eyes a lighter shade of blue. Elliot loved being a father and he was a damn good one. She knew Eli had not been planned, but she also knew that Elliot was completely in love with his new son - and she was happy for him. She really was. His son was healthy, his wife was alive and
Elliot walked past Olivia, heading to check on Kathy when he paused and grabbed her arm, pulling her into a hug. He had almost lost his wife and son, but he had almost lost her too. And the thought of that...the thought of losing her was a thought he couldn't bear. As he held her tightly for the first time he sighed at how perfect she felt in his arms, as if she belonged there. He could feel her heart beating against his chest as he pulled her in closer, never wanting to let her go; this amazing woman who had a piece of him that he could never get back. This woman who had just saved his wife and child and he did not think he could love her anymore than he did as she stood there wrapped in his arms. But he had to let her go. He had to say goodbye, so with a heavy sigh he reluctantly let her go.
But this wasn't about her feelings, this was about Elliot and his son. Pouring a glass of wine, Olivia took a generous sip before she dialed Eli's number.
Eli took the news about as well as she expected. While they both were fairly confident before the DNA test, the results just provided confirmation. Eli's birthday was in two days and the boy decided he didn't want to ruin the dinner party he knew that Elliot and Kathleen had planned for him, so he was going to wait to tell Elliot the truth. Olivia wondered if she should tell Elliot herself; this was going to destroy him in more ways than one and after everything that had happened recently she honestly wasn't sure that it wouldn't break him.
A few nights later Olivia walked up to the apartment she had only been in a handful of times. Elliot was having a small get together for Eli's birthday, much to the teen's chagrin. Olivia knew that teen boys didn't want family dinners for their birthday, they wanted to be with their friends. But she sensed that after everything that happened while he was undercover, he just wanted to keep his family close. That family included her, according to him when he called to invite her tonight.
"Elliot, it's his first birthday without his mom. He should be with family."
"You are family…"
He heard Olivia sigh on the other line and he shifted the phone to his other ear. "Liv...you were there when he was born. You saved his life. You're his family too."
She knocked on the door and was greeted by a very bubbly Kathleen, who immediately pulled her into a hug, "Olivia, you're here!"
"Kathleen, hey! She walked into the apartment and smiled as Elliot caught her eye across the room.
"Thanks for coming." Elliot took the gift from her and placed it on the counter before taking off her coat.
"Such a gentleman." Olivia smirked as he hung up her coat.
"Olivia, hey" Eli walked into the room, nervously fidgeting as he pulled at his shirt.
"Hey, Eli! Happy birthday!" Olivia smiled and pulled him in for a hug. Elliot watched with a grin at the exchange. His older kids knew Olivia, they loved her and were accepting of her being in their life….in his life. Eli, however, was too young to remember her and having just lost his own mother, he had been the most reluctant to form a bond with Olivia. Amusing since she was the reason he was living...she literally saved his life and he would never forget that, Olivia risking her own life to save his son.
"Thanks." He nodded and then turned to go back to his video games in the living room. Olivia stood with Elliot and Kathleen, making light conversation as Bernie finished cooking dinner.
After dinner they sang happy birthday as Eli stood at his cake looking unamused at their horrible pitch. His eyes glanced over to Elliot when they finished singing and it was time to make his birthday wish. He looked up at Olivia after he blew out the candles. She nodded at him slightly, letting him know that she knew what he wished for and would try her damndest to make it come true. 'Don't let this ruin my family'.
Olivia's gift was saved for last, not without her boasting out a "best for last" comment.
"A drone? That's so cool!"
"Yeah? I know he's a few years younger, but Noah suggested it. He said all the cool kids these days fly drones." Olivia shrugged as Elliot smirked at her from across the couch.
"I've always wanted one. Do you know how to work it?" Eli began to rip open the box.
"Sure do. Noah got one from his uncle Fin, so he's given me some flying lessons."
A few minutes later, Eli and Olivia were out on the balcony as they tried to figure out his new drone.
"There you go!" The drone was flying in even circles around the corner.
"How do I tell him?" Eli introduced the elephant in the room, the topic she was worried would come up sometime tonight.
"I can talk to him if you want," she offered. She honestly hoped he would let her break the news to Elliot. She didn't know how he would take it and knew better than anyone how it felt to not be accepted by a parent.
"You know, Eli, I never knew my biological father."
The teen turned to her curiously and landed the drone at his feet. "You didn't?"
"Actually I never knew my dad at all. But, I had my mom who loved me the best she could and then I met my old captain, Cragren. He was the closest thing I ever had to a father; he loved me, protected me and always looked out for my best interest. Sound familiar?"
Eli sighed and sat down in one of the chairs by the garden. "Elliot is my father."
"He is. I was there the day you were born, I saw the look on his face when he learned you were going to be okay. He won't love you any less. But if you want to learn who your biological dad is, he'll support you and so will I. Okay?" The boy nodded and she pulled him in for a hug. He was fourteen years old, but she still saw him as that tiny infant she helped deliver on that cold, terrifying day. She knew back then that she would do anything to protect him, and she felt the same way now. Especially with Kathy gone. She would never try to replace his mother, but she was open to being anything he needed from her.
As the two walked inside the apartment they saw the group of Stabler siblings hovered around a photo album with Bernie.
"Eli's first poop," Lizzie giggled as she held up the photo.
"Ugh, please stop" The teen scoffed as he ripped the album from his sibling's hands. His eyes landed on the photo on the open page in front of him. It was at the hospital when he was born, Kathy was holding him in her arms, Elliot stood next to her smiling proudly.
Eli got up and went to his room, slamming the door behind him, leaving Elliot and everyone else in the room confused.
"Eli! Open up! Everyone is here for you, that was rude." Elliot yelled as he knocked at the door.
"Here." Eli huffed as he slid a piece of paper over to Elliot.
Olivia ran to his side, grabbing his arm as he sank to the ground. She sat down next to him, leaning against the wall as he handed her the piece of paper.
"I know, Elliot. I know."
"What do you mean, you know? You knew about this?" He glared at her with an intensity she hadn't seen in a while, his justified anger swirling within him. He stood and walked outside, slamming the door behind him.
"What was that about?" Kathleen asked as she glanced over at her other siblings who looked equally concerned.
Olivia ignored their questions and followed Elliot onto the terrace. He was sitting at one of the two chairs by the garden, his head in his hands.
"El…"
"Go away." He grumbled without even moving. He had just learned that his youngest son, the one he initially questioned, the one who had just lost his mother - he wasn't biologically his.
"Elliot…" she ignored his request and sat at the chair next to him, reaching out to take one of his hands in hers.
"He's not my son…" The pain in his eyes was enough to break her heart. "I asked Kathy if he was mine…she lied to me. To all of us."
She looked into his eyes, reaching to cup his cheek with her other hand. She wanted him to see her, really listen to her as she spoke to him. "He IS your son."
Elliot turned his head, avoiding her glare as he fought back tears. He couldn't look at her. He felt guilty fourteen years ago for being in love with her and he felt even worse for thinking about it right now, how different things could've been if Kathy had been honest with him. Because he loved Eli...he never regretted his son. His son.
Kathy placed the baby into his welcoming arms and he smiled as he cradled his son to his chest.
"Hey little man, welcome to the world. I'm your daddy." His eyes took in the boy's tiny features as his wife watched from her hospital bed.
"You are his father." He recalled Kathy saying to him.
"I know." Honestly, from the second he held that boy in his arms he knew he was his father. Eli was his son, whether they shared blood or not. Nothing could change that.
"Do you remember the case we worked that day?" She stroked his fingers with her thumb.
"Tommy…"
"You said it yourself: Jake wasn't his biological father, but he's the only father Tommy knew."
"And you," she gripped his hand tighter, "you are Eli's father. You are his father and he is your son, in every way that matters."
Elliot turned to her and sighed, his hand reaching out to cup her cheek, "but I…"
She placed his hand over hers, caressing his fingers as she spoke. "It doesn't take blood to make a family, look at me and Noah."
Elliot pulled away from her, his eyes wide as he stood, "Noah is adopted?"
Olivia looked at him, confusion painted over her face. Surely he knew that Noah was adopted? They never had a conversation about it, but she knew Fin had given up a very brief update on her life, and well since there was never a mention of Noah's father, she assumed he knew.
"I just, I thought maybe…"
"Maybe his father was a deadbeat like mine?" She chuckled nervously. Now wasn't the time to get into the whole story of Noah and how he became her son, but she would tell him one day. It was her favorite story to tell, how she found this abandoned boy whose parents were identical to her own.
"Well, yeah...you told me you got turned down for adoption, so I just assumed." He shrugged, furrowing his brows as he sat back down next to her.
"It's a long story, and I'll tell you the whole thing one day. But Noah was always meant to be my son, just as Eli was meant to be yours. Whether Kathy knew the truth or not, she wanted you to be his father. And you are." She reached for his hand and intertwined their fingers as he looked down somberly and sighed.
"Does this change how you feel about Eli?" She knew the answer, but she needed him to realize it himself. This new revelation changed everything, but in some ways it changed nothing at all.
"Absolutely not," he looked up at her, shaking his head, "I love my son."
"I know you do, El. This doesn't have to change anything."
"You ran the DNA test?" Eli had trusted Olivia with this. Part of him wanted to be upset that she didn't tell him, but mostly he was just thankful. So damn thankful that Olivia always loved his children as much as he did. Eli was struggling with his mother's death, the loss at the trial, and now this. And in the midst of it all, Olivia was always there, not just for him but for his kids.
"I'm sorry I didn't tell you. He said since his siblings always seem to come to me for help, he thought he could as well."
Elliot stood, pulling Olivia up with him as their hands remained tangled. Tucking a strand of hair behind her ear he looked down at her. Ten years had passed, but as soon as he came back into her life she never left and all he could think was how much he didn't deserve her. He didn't deserve her devotion, her grace, her goodness. But he was going to fight like hell to earn it...to be everything to her that she was for him.
She bit down on her lip as she looked up into his blue eyes, growing in intensity by the second. He leaned in slowly, brushing his lips against hers softly, sucking softly on her bottom lip as his hands reached up to cradle her face.
They pulled away slowly, staying wrapped in each other's arms.
"Thank you." He whispered.
"For the kiss?" She chuckled.
"For being you. For being here with me. For...so many things I can never repay you for." He sighed, looking down as he absentmindedly ran circles over her hips with his thumbs.
She smiled and kissed him again quickly, already in awe at how normal it felt to be kissing him. "Let's go back inside, check on Eli."
"Hey…" Eli greeted them solemnly from his spot on the couch.
"Eli…" he sat down next to the boy and put his arm around his shoulder. "This doesn't change anything, OK? I know you're confused and hurt, but your mom loved you very much. There's a reason she chose to let me be your father and I'm so damn glad she did. Ok?"
"Okay." He nodded quietly as Elliot pulled him in for a hug.
"Happy birthday, Eli." Elliot playfully tussled up the boy's hair.
"Thanks, dad."
Olivia smiled from across the room at the exchange. It wasn't going to be easy, but she knew the two were going to be just fine.
