A/N: Yeah I had to split this bad boy up into two chapters.
"Mom… oh mom you look so much better," Dickie said, pulling the sitting up Kathy in for a hug.
"Thanks Dickie," she muttered.
"What's wrong?" He frowned, pulling back.
"Your father has been with that bitch non stop since the accident. Even had the audacity to bring her in here ," she said, fire in her eyes.
Dickie sighed. "Mom… she's working the case, and...we have bigger things to worry about… like you getting better," he said, trying to smile.
He'd taken the brunt of her renewed anger towards Olivia since they decided to come to the states and proceed with their divorce.
He hadn't seen the woman in nearly 10 years, and yet she was just as he remembered her: kind, caring, and forgiving.
"Taking her side already?" Kathy spat.
"Fuck's sake mom," he shook his head, standing.
"Go ahead, go run to your little bastard sister and her slut mother," she hissed, venom seeping from every word.
Dickie slammed his hand on the wall, spinning back to her. "You're sick. I can't take this shit anymore," he said, storming out of the hospital room.
"Go to hell Richard! You're just like your father!" She cried after him
Dickie had collapsed into someone's chest.
His head was spinning and his face was hot and his throat stung from whatever he'd just screamed but he couldn't remember.
As his world came into focus, he recognized the familiar, small hand rubbing his shoulder; recognized the one under his shirt on his lower back; recognized the voice bringing him back to his current plane of existence and the warm arms wrapped tightly around him.
A voice that was so deeply familiar to him; one that had helped him and raised him in so many ways through the years; a smell that was home and a warm and calming presence that made him so jealous of his younger siblings that would get to have love and only love as they grew up.
The words that the voice was speaking became less fuzzy, and he forced his eyes open to find a mass of chocolate and caramel hair in his face.
"I'm here… we're here… Dickie we're here and we love you… you gotta calm down… gotta breath for me baby," Liv whispered, brushing his hair back soothingly. "Breathe for me."
"Mom…" he sobbed, pulling in stuttered breaths.
"Your mom is here… I'm here… dad, too. Sarah is here and your baby sister and Eli," she whispered softly.
Her back was to Kathy and the Elliot's, and she made eye contact with a clearly distraught Sarah and Emma, who like her mom, had gone into survival and recovery mode.
"We love you Dickie," Emma whispered, laying her head on his shoulder. "So much… you're the best big brother and protector… you love us so much and you have the biggest heart. We're here…"
"And not to mention the best daddy," Sarah whispered, finally finding her voice. "The best almost hubby and provider… our world, Dickie," she whispered, taking hold on his hand when he reached for it.
"Mom…" he stuttered again, but instead of pulling away, buried his head further into Olivia's shoulder.
"She's here…" Liv whispered.
"No… mama," he choked out, squeezing her tightly.
Liv breathed out a soft sob, too, and kissing his head. "I'm here… not going anywhere…"
Eli approached him slowly and knelt beside him. "You want me to go get your baby girl?" He asked softly, looking to Sarah who nodded.
"Y-yes," he asked, sitting back just a bit to look at his brother, before shaking his head again. "N-no… no I actually don't want her around her," he seethed at Kathy.
"You wanna call and talk to her?" He asked gently and Dickie nodded, wiping his eyes and trying to control his sobs.
Sitting beside him on the floor, he FaceTimed Noah, who answered wearing a princess crown and feather boa.
Both boys burst into laughter at the sight of their little brother, who panned down to Teddy in his lap who was dressed similarly.
"Where's the queen?" Eli asked, giving Noah a look that said "we'll talk later."
"Anna Kaaaate, Uncle Eli and Daddy are on the phone," he called.
The 14 month old appeared quickly in front of the camera, gasping. "Dada!" She squeaked.
"Hi baby… you having fun with Uncle Noah?" He asked, his entire body calming as soon as he laid eyes on her.
"Ya!!" She smiled, pointing to the boys.
"Oh man… you have the best friends there," he smiled, wiping his eyes. "I miss you baby… you know how much I love you?"
She giggled and leaned in, giving the phone a kiss before toddling off.
Noah turned the phone back to him and Teddy. "You okay buddy?"
Dickie laughed softly. "I'll be okay…"
"Well, I love you! And so does Teddy, right Teddy?" Noah turned the phone to Teddy's face.
He was sporting the signature Stabler pout and sucking on his binky.
"He's tired," Noah said, brushing his hair back. "Alright well… keep me updated. Love you guys."
"We love you, Noh," Eli nodded, and Dickie waved. "Love you buddy," they said before hanging up.
Pulling up Sam's number, Eli looked to Liv and El. "I have a feeling this Is gonna be a long night. I think Sam and I should keep at the kids tonight," he said, glancing to his brother and sister-in-law.
"Eli that's too much," Sarah began and Liv nodded.
"Sar, mama… twins are in Sam's room with us. Teddy and Anna Kate can sleep in their cribs and we'll toss Noah and Emma on the couch or air mattress. I'll get them to school and home in the morning, okay?"
Sarah looked down at her partner who was getting ready to breakdown again and nodded. "Okay… just make sure Sam is okay with it."
Emma spoke up for Liv and El. "I'll help. Do it. Call her," she directed, getting up to get a bottle of water for Dickie.
Eli started to walk back to his room, but turned back swiftly to Kathy, finally letting his calm demeanor drop ever so.
"Years of emotional abuse and your "last" words to him are that? You're fucked," he shook his head.
"Eli," El started, but all three Stabler, or soon-to-be Stablers shot him a look. He held his hands up in mock surrender and stood, crouching down before his son.
"C'mere boy," he whispered, and Dickie moved from Liv to his dad, grabbing fistfuls of his shirt and breaking down once again.
"I've got you baby boy… I've got you… breathe for me okay?"
Eli walked into his room and dialed Sam with a shakey breath.
"Hi baby… you okay?" Came her nervous voice. "You're on speaker."
"Yeah… yeah, no I just… this is gonna be a super long night here, for the oldest siblings at least and… would it be okay if Emma and the little ones stayed at your place with us tonight? I'll come home before bedtime with Emma and we can help-"
She cut him off. "Eli, of course. Stay as long as you need. Harley and her mom will stay and help me do bedtime with everyone."
He breathed a sigh of relief. "Thank you baby… and thank you Harls and mom," he said, smiling small when they called "you're welcome."
"I figured Ted and Anna could sleep in the twin's cribs since they're in with us. I'll bring an air mattress for Em and Noah. Can you just ask Noah what he wants for school tomorrow?"
"Sure I'll have him text you," she paused taking him off speaker. "Doing okay?"
"No," his voice cracked, "but trying. I gotta go, I'll keep you updated. I love you and tell the babies I love them."
"I will… I love you and they love you so much, daddy."
"Love you, Samaroo… bye baby," he sighed, hanging up.
Harley looked at Sam with a knowing smile. "I know we have bigger tea to discuss buttttt…"
"Post-partum hormones," she joked, waving her off and settling back with EJ.
Harleys mom had gone to check on Teddy, Anna Kate and Noah, and Harley sat beside her with Joey.
"Dad Eli is pretty hot," she said and Sam giggled. "Like… so hot."
Eli returned to the living room, giving everyone a thumbs up and settling on the couch beside Dickie and Emma.
Kathy was pacing, and turned quickly when he there was a gentle knock on the door.
"I got it," Liv whispered, standing and going to the door with Elliot in tow.
All three girls were there, Katie and Mo with their guys, all clearly already having been told.
"Mama is it true," Liz asked, just above a whisper.
Liv sucked in a huge breath and nodded slowly.
She rushed inside, screaming. "You fucking bitch!!!!!!"
"Woah, Woah, Woah," Eli said, catching her in his arms before she could get to Kathy who was crying again.
Eli, who was almost as tall and just as built as Elliot, had trouble containing her rage and the strength associated with it.
"You god damn fucking bitch!!" She screamed, and Dickie stood quickly, to help Eli hold her back.
"You lying narcissistic cunt!!! I fucking hate you!!!!"
"Hey hey…" Dickie whispered to her, wrapping her in a tight bear as Eli spoke softly to her.
"Lizzie… Lizzie breath… this isn't gonna solve anything. This changes nothing. We're all here. Emma is here. We still have Noah and Teddy and Mama… it's okay," he cooed softly, the boys both sinking down with her as she lost it.
Liv was hugging a sobbing Maureen at the end of the hallway as Elliot led in an ever-stoic Beau and Katie.
"You have to breath," Liv whispered, pressing the oldest to her chest and putting her hand on her belly. "You have to breath… can't be this upset for baby… it's not healthy okay?" She whispered. "Deep breathes."
"B-b…" she tried, sucking in deep breaths as Carl rubbed her back, concern etched all over his face. "Baby girl," Mo finally got out.
Kathy gasped, sitting down and breaking into tears as Emma glared at her.
"Baby girl?" Liv asked with a big smile. "Oh baby that's wonderful… little baby girl…"
"Lizzie you hear that? Another girlie for you to recruit," Dickie said into her hair, making her laugh softly through her sobs.
"Poor EJ & Teddy," Eli mused, making her laugh a little louder and relax more.
"You wanna go sit next to Emmy?" Dickie whispered and Lizzie nodded. They helped her stand and then sit, and she cuddled in with her baby sister.
Liv got Mo calmed down and brought her over slowly to the closest couch and sat with her.
El stood in the middle of the living room, crossing his arms and looking at his ex-wife.
"Start talking, Kathy."
The room was so quiet you could hear a pin drop, and Kathy cleared her throat, finally speaking in a small voice.
"I'm sorry… all of you I… I'm sorry and just…" she held up a hand. "Just… I don't deserve it but let me… try? Try to explain?"
Liv and El looked around to all of their kids and Kathy looked back to Liv waiting for the go ahead.
When she received it, Kathy looked down and then backup.
"I um… I need you all to know that I love you all… I never stopped even when I… when I was away I truly love you all so much. You're my babies and… I'll never claim to be mother of the year or even… a decent one. But… I do love you all. And I know that I haven't been the mother any of you deserve or treated your right at all… especially you, Dickie."
Emma scoffed and Kathy took a deep breath. "I'm so sorry… for… for everything," she whispered.
"This is pathetic. Don't bullshit. We're all adults here." Eli said, standing up with his arms crossed.
"Tell them why you left, Kathy," Olivia said.
"I left because of you."
"You and Elliot were already getting divorced."
"I know but… I… he and my kids fell back into you. Immediately. Like no time passed. I was angry and depressed and insecure… I saw an out and I took it. And then I stayed."
"And now?" Emma said with the same ferocity as her mother.
"Now I… I saw I had grand babies, from an old friend that's friends with Dickie. And I," she sighed. "I just came back. I didn't think I just came home."
"You came home to different people… and new people… people who are happy together. What's your endgame? You plan on destroying us?" Eli asked.
"No," she breathed and then shook her head. "Yes. At first, yes. But.. seeing you all and the life you've built and… Teddy and meeting Emma…"
"You're so full of shit," Lizzie said.
"Get some help and come back to us," Kathleen said, speaking for the first time. "Check yourself into a place where you can realize dissect what you've become and why. List out all your faults and how horrible you were… to all of us in the last 4 years by doing this, and to Dickie. To dad and Eli… to Olivia and Emma- then? Come back to us."
"I…" Kathy began, shaking her head. "They cheated," she started, stopping just as fast when Liv whipped her head towards her and stood up.
There was a new fire in her eyes, and in her anger she towered over the small woman who shrunk further back in her spot on the couch.
"Yes, we did. One time. And for that situation, the worst possible thing happened- I got pregnant. But that worst possible outcome made the most incredible little person… who's a part of your children. A part of their father. I regret every day, Kathy, that I did that and hurt you so deeply. But I don't regret my daughter, and you will keep her name out of your mouth. Because you know what? All of the shit you've put our kids through in the last 4 years? Every horrible thing you said to our son. How you treated our baby boy," she pointed from Dickie to Eli, "it more than evens out mine and Elliot's ONE indiscretion."
She was yelling now, her cheeks hot and her voice in the deep tone she reserved only for the worst of the worst perps.
"And you know what Kathy? Kathleen is right. How dare you come in here without even a shred of genuine regret and or explanation?!"
"Baby," El said softly, standing behind her and putting his hands on the small of her back and hip.
"No," she shrugged him off, and Kathy took the opportunity to stand, too, in an attempt to be on equal ground.
"Don't act like you weren't waiting in the wings," Kathy hissed.
"Waiting in the wings? Kathy I hadn't spoken to the father of my child in 10 years. I went through a pregnancy alone. Labor and delivery? Alone. Raising her? Alone. And you knew the entire time. I wasn't waiting, Kath. I was surviving."
Kathy faltered a bit, saying nothing, and Liv continued. "But aside from me? Your FIVE children!!! You left your FIVE children. And didn't just leave- pretended you fucking died!!!! Left them in harms way… are you kidding me Kathy?!"
"I know," she croaked out.
"Do you?! Because you're sitting here, blaming everyone and everything else instead of taking responsibility for your actions!!"
Her voice had grown hoarse and Kathy collapsed back on the couch in tears.
"C'mere…" El whispered, "take a breather, c'mon," he said into her ear, nodding to Eli to control the situation while he brought Liv to their bedroom to calm down.
"She's right," Eli said simply. "She's right and you're wrong… about so many things I just…" he shook his head.
"What is your endgame Kathy. What do you want to walk away from this with?"
"A chance," she said, eyes trained to the ground. "A-and I know that… none of you can probably give me that right now or ever but… I… wanna try… I wanna learn about you all and get to know the people you've become and get help."
"I don't believe you," Dickie said. "I just don't."
"None of us do," Mo whispered. "What you've done? It's unforgivable."
"What can I do?" She asked softly.
"Got a time machine?" Liz asked.
"Let us get it all out," Kathleen said, her resolve finally breaking.
Kathy looked up at her and nodded.
"Do it."
TBC