One Heart
Summary: See ch1
Disclaimer: Not mine
A/N: ENJOY the next chapter, still some more fluff for a few chapters
What Would Have Happened?
After dropping Maureen off back at her dorm and Elliot's other kids back at Kathy's house Elliot and Olivia were pretty tired.
They decided to stay at Elliot's since it was closer to Kathy's house. (Even if it was only about ten minutes closer than Olivia's) The two were sitting on the couch absentmindedly watching some Sunday night drama. Olivia had her head propped on a pillow that was on Elliot's lap, and he stoked her hair lovingly.
"Hey Liv?" He asked in a whisper.
"Yeah?" She answered.
"Why didn't you ever tell me you were engaged?" He asked. He wasn't angry with her, and she knew it, but he wanted to know.
"I dunno." She answered with a shrug. "I guess I never really thought it was important enough to mention." She said, sitting up. "The only reason I even said yes was because I wanted to get away from my mom. I mean, I was sixteen. It wasn't like I loved him or anything." She explained.
"You ever wonder what would have happened if you did?" Elliot asked.
"Sometimes." She answered honestly, snuggling against Elliot's chest and allowing him to wrap an arm around her to pull her tightly to his chest.
"And, what do you think?" He asked
"Well, I probably would have moved into his apartment, completely ending any chance at a relationship with my mother. I probably wouldn't have gone to college, because we'd have no money. And, being that I was never really in love with him to begin with, I probably would have ended up divorced with three kids and a job as a waitress in a dive of a place to try to support them." She sighed. "What about you? You ever wonder what would have happened if you hadn't have slept with Kathy that night?" She asked.
"Sometimes." He answered honestly. "I wouldn't have had Maureen, or any of my kids for that matter. I'd most likely have broken up with her before I left for the Marines. Maybe I'd have gone to a real four year college, maybe not, but I think I'd still have been a cop." He answered truthfully. Then he smiled, and added. "Being that I'd be a single guy with no kids, I think I'd have ended up eating in a little dive of a place every night, and who knows, maybe I would have asked out this cute little waitress who worked there to support her threekids."
"Elliot." She laughed and swatted him playfully on the chest.
"What?" He asked, looking down at her. "I truly believe that no matter what path we would have chosen that we would have ended up right where we are, together." He told her. "Do you think you would have been happier?" He asked.
"You wouldn't have been." She answered. "I mean, I can't imagine your life without your kids in it."
"I didn't ask you if I would have been happier. I asked you." He corrected her.
"I don't know." She shrugged. "I mean, I may not have gotten along with my mom, but I cherish those few years we had before she died. If I had gotten married we would never have had that. And I don't know what I'd do if I hadn't had the chance to be a cop. I wouldn't have the guys in my life, or Casey's friendship." She offered.
"But you wouldn't have dated all those scum bags." He answered for her. "And you'd have been a mother to three kids."
"First of all, I'd date all the scum bags in the world as long as it leads to you. And second of all, yeah, being a mom would be great, but I don't know what kind of life I would have been able to give them without a college degree and all." She answered honestly.
"You still want to be a mom?" He asked, bluntly.
"I, I don't know El. I guess I never really thought about it." She lied.
"Yeah ya have Liv. Don't lie to me." He called her on it.
Olivia sucked in a deep breath before answering. "I've always been afraid to have kids. Afraid I'd turn out to be like my mother, or worse, my father." She sighed. "But then, you came along." She smiled. "And you showed me how great it could be to be a parent. More importantly, you showed me that I don't have to be my mother."
"So?" Elliot pushed. "Do you want to be a mother?"
Olivia wasn't sure where he was going with this. Sure, she realized they would have to talk about this sooner or later; she just wasn't prepared to do it tonight. She wanted to tell him the right thing, but at the moment she wasn't sure what that was, so she opted for the truth.
"I do." She breathed. "I would love to be a mother. To raise a child, and take care of it. To hold it, and feed it, and watch as it take its first steps, and says its first words. I would love to show a child all the love in the world and more." She said honestly. "But I would rather be with you." She added in a whisper.
"What do you mean?" Elliot asked, straightening her up so that he could look into her eyes.
"I mean, I don't know where this relationship is going, but I love you Elliot. If we do end up… staying together forever; having you in my life is more important than being a mom." She clarified.
"What if I wanted to have a baby?" He asked. "I mean, if we… stay together forever?" He asked. Neither of them wanting to say the word marriage.
"Would you?" She asked.
"I dunno. I mean, I do kinda miss having a baby around." He said honestly. The truth was, he and Kathy were thinking about having one more baby before things went to hell with their marriage.
"You do?" Olivia asked, almost shocked. "But El, your youngest kids are practically teenagers."
Elliot just shrugged his shoulders. "I think I may still have one more go in me." He smiled.
Olivia couldn't stop the wide smile from encompassing her face. She threw her arms around Elliot's neck. "I love you." She whispered into his ear. "Even if this doesn't work out, I think I will always love you."
"Good, because I think I will always love you too." He smiled. "Now come on, let's go to bed."
TBC... REVIEW!
