June 6th, 3:50 PM, Manhattan Nu York.
"That bed looks really nice El I think it'll look great in our room," Olivia said as they were driving away from the mattress store with all of their purchases loaded on the tailgate.
"Sure does I agree it will. I'm just sorry we couldn't buy the matching end tables."
Olivia shook her head slightly "don't be silly El we spent more than enough and I think it'll match well enough anyway."
He sighed "maybe it will I didn't expect the bed itself to cost 1,500 dollars."
Olivia nodded "neither did I just think about all of the deep restful sleep we'll get to have on it."
Elliot sighed happily and let his head relax into the headrest "it'll be like heaven, we'll make new memories," he whispered.
Olivia smiled and nodded "absolutely," she said as after a few minutes she sighed "El what are we gonna do with the old one?"
Elliot sighed and laid his free hand on her shoulder "we're not gonna keep it I don't think either one of us would be able to stand to look at it."
Olivia nodded her head in agreement "should we maybe call Maureen? See if her and Carl would want it?"
Elliot nodded "maybe assuming all goes well when we get home if it triggers you to badly I won't wanna keep it in the house till they can come to get it."
Olivia nodded slightly "I promise El I'm gonna try my best not to let that happen."
Elliot began rubbing her shoulder then "I know you will baby but if it happens it happens and it'll be okay."
Olivia nodded her head slightly "are you gonna set up the new bed tonight?"
"I'm not sure baby I'm taking tonight one step at a time just like you are I wanna be wherever you need me."
Olivia nodded "I'm trying to just pretend that we got this new bed because we wanted to and that we weren't not home b-because I was hurt there maybe if I pretend enough it won't register when we get there."
Elliot gave her a sympathetic expression as he pulled into the parking lot of the home depot "that could work or the memories could just flood back to you harder." He turned off their truck and leaned closer to her "baby I want more than anything for this to go smoothly for you but I need you to know that it'll be okay for you to feel whatever you need to feel okay?"
Olivia nodded her head slightly "o-okay," she whispered as she then rolled her window down to let some air in while Elliot drew little tally marks on an old receipt.
"El what are you doing?" she asked a minute later confused at the purpose of them.
Elliot said nothing, completely focused on drawing them "okay I'm ready," he said a minute later opening his door with the receipt in his other hand.
Olivia got out of the truck and gave him a puzzled look while taking his offered hand as he just smiled "the tally's are to tell me how many keys I need when we get up to the key counter."
"Ahh gotcha," she said with a slight smile as they entered the store.
Olivia and Elliot spent a little time in the store as they bought a new garden hose, a couple flower pots and some more gardening soil before making there way to another isle where they bought new deadbolts and door knobs with locks for there front and back doors "do you want one that locks for our bedroom?" he asked softly.
"n-Not right now," Olivia said heavily.
Elliot nodded, gave her a gentle kiss on the temple then stroked the side of her cheek reassuringly "how about a chain? For our front and back doors?"
Olivia nodded "please," she said and he nodded and grabbed two.
Olivia sighed in relief when they were placed in the buggy "y-you don't think these will scare Izzabella do you?"
He sighed "hopefully not but if they do we can just tell her that they're there for our safety."
She nodded slightly "good idea. Is that all we need?"
"I just need to go down one more isle baby. Are you starting to hurt?"
She shook her head "no no I'm fine El I was just curious."
Elliot nodded and kissed her head with a slight smile then they went to the paint isle "why don't you pick the color you want?" he suggested softly.
"Are you sure about this El? W-We've already spent so much today and we don't have to have it."
"I'm sure baby," he whispered as he then gently pulled her close "I want the walls to look different too that way there aren't any physical reminders. I-I want us to be able to build knew memories."
Olivia nodded several times then hugged him tightly "I-I love you El."
"I love you too sweetheart," he said as once they agreed on the color paint they wanted they headed to the check out line.
"We're buying all of this and I need 10 keys cut out for these locks please," Elliot said putting it all on the counter then pointing at the deadbolts and door knobs.
"10? You want 10? The guy at the counter asked shocked.
Elliot nodded "yes I want ten, is that gonna be a problem?"
The man took a closer look at them then his expression morphed from confused to sympathetic "no sir, no it won't be. I'll need a few minutes though."
Elliot nodded "that's not a problem," he said as they sat down on a bench nearby to wait "I thought she was tortured with keys why would he want ten of them?" the woman behind the counter whispered.
"I donno Brandy but who are we to judge? Everyone grieves in different ways."
She nodded "yeah I guess so," she whispered and Olivia sighed from the bench "I guess they recognized us."
Elliot just nodded and rubbed her back not to surprised "what do you want for dinner tonight honey?"
"How does lasagna sound?"
"That sounds great," he said as a few minutes later the keys were made and they payed for all their stuff and left.
"I think I'm gonna call Lizzie, see when and where we should pick them up," he said as he finished loading the car.
Olivia nodded "sounds good El," she said as he smiled and made the call once in the truck.
"Hello?" Lizzie answered on the 4th ring.
"Hey honey it's me, me and Liv are about finished with our errands and we wanted to see where you guys are so we can pick you up?"
"We're just here at central park, Mr. Amaro said it was okay for us to stay there today but I thought it'd be a little weird since he wouldn't be there so we left and have just hung out here all day."
Elliot frowned slightly but nodded "how did you get there?"
"We walked, I didn't have the money for a cab and Mr. Amaro lives close to it so."
Elliot sighed heavily and nodded "please tell me you guys ate something?"
Lizzie nodded "I didn't wanna go into his fridge or pantry with out him being there but a man's been here all day giving away free donuts so we ate some of those."
"You guys have only eaten donuts today? That's all nothing else?"
"Yeah," she said as he then heard Izzabella in the background "Lizzie! Lizzie can I have another one?"
"I don't know if that's a good idea sweetie you've already had seven."
Elliot frowned and sighed heavily "we're five minutes away from you guys we'll swing by McDonalds okay?"
"Okay dad, should I let her have another donut?"
"What kind of donuts are they honey?"
"The ones you get at the crispy cream she's had 4 glazed ones, 2 chocolate ones and 1 chocolate icing filled one."
"No honey, no don't she doesn't need any more tell her to hang on a few minutes and we'll get you both some real food okay?"
"Okay dad, I hope we didn't do anything wrong."
"It's okay honey this was the first time you've ever done something like this before and watching a little one takes practice, I'm pulling out from the home depot now can you guys meet us at the entrance to the park?"
"Yeah of course we'll head that way now."
Elliot nodded "great, have you guys had anything to drink today honey?"
"No everything costed money and I only have 35 cents."
Elliot frowned but just nodded "we'll be right there honey," he said as when the call ended Olivia looked to him "do I even want to know?"
"No," Elliot said heavily "but the short version is they walked to Central park, have been there all day and have only eaten donuts that I assume someone was there to give to the homeless, they didn't even have money for something to drink, I just hope they don't both get sick."
Olivia nodded and sighed "Nick should have just let them stay at his place I wonder why he wouldn't?"
Elliot sighed "apparently he offered but Lizzie didn't wanna impose."
Olivia frowned but nodded "I'm glad she's gonna be staying with us for a while El we've got to help her come out of her shell a bit and become less submissive."
Elliot nodded "I couldn't agree more, when she told me she hoped they hadn't done anything wrong that broke my heart."
Olivia nodded sadly "do you think Jim could have abused her mentally?"
Elliot teared up "god I hope not," he whispered.
Olivia just rubbed his shoulder gently for a minute as as soon as he parked the truck at the meeting spot Izzabella ran towards it, sweat pouring down her face "mommy! Daddy!" she cried happily.
Elliot got out of the truck and scooped her into his arms "hi baby! We've missed you guys so much," he said as he held and hugged her tightly while Lizzie hugged Olivia on the other side.
"I've missed you too daddy," she said as her tummy growled furiously against his chest.
Elliot rubbed her back for a minute then handed her off to Olivia to hug while he hugged Lizzie "Liv says she feels a lot better," she said with a smile.
Elliot smiled "she does honey thank you for being so understanding this last week."
Lizzie nodded her head "if it were me in the hospital like that I'm sure you'd be by my side too."
Elliot nodded "you bet I would, why don't we head to the McDonalds and get you guys cooled off in the truck hmm?"
Lizzie nodded her head with a slight smile as she then glanced around a bit "nice new bed dad."
"Thanks honey," he said with a slight smile as once everyone was buckled up in the truck they headed off.
"You wanna get anything here Liv" Elliot asked as they got close.
Olivia shook her head "I'm gonna wait on dinner you're a much better cook than the kids at McDonalds."
"Aww thanks baby," Elliot said softly as his heart again melted at her complement and she just smiled, leaned over and kissed his cheek.
"Thank you for choosing McDonalds may I take your order?" the person in the drive through said once they were pulled up to it.
"Yes sir I need 3 cheese burgers, a large fry, a medium sweet tea and a small Fruitizz please."
"That'll be twelve seventy seven drive around."
Elliot sighed but nodded and pulled the truck around "it's gone up hasn't it?" Olivia whispered knowingly.
Elliot just nodded "everything has," he said grimly.
Olivia just nodded and touched his shoulder as a couple minutes later Izzabella and Lizzie were eating their food and they were back on the road "this is the best burger ever!" Izzabella said as she was scarfing it down.
"I'm glad you're enjoying it baby, slow down though you're gonna make yourself sick," Olivia said having been watching her through the rearview mirror.
Izzabella nodded slightly and slowed down as as Elliot crossed a busy intersection his phone rang "will you get that for me Liv?" he asked.
"Sure," she said as she then took it "Elliot Stabler's phone," she answered.
"Hey Liv it's Nick. I was calling to see if you guys heard from the kids I just got home from work and they aren't here."
"Yeah we have them we picked them up from Central park, we do need to stop by there though and get the stuff of their's that's still there."
"Yeah of course stop by whenever we'll be here all night. Do you guys think you can watch Zara tomorrow?"
"Umm I don't see a problem with it but you'll have to ask El."
"Okay I will it's just she seems to really enjoy playing with Izzabella and she'll be back home with you guys, my mom's sick with the flu right now and Cynthia only agreed to today."
"I get it Amaro we're almost there just ask El okay?"
"Ask El what?" Elliot asked as the traffic had calmed considerably now.
Olivia smiled and put the phone on speaker "I was hoping you guys could maybe keep Zara for me tomorrow while I work? She really enjoys hanging out with your daughter and I don't have anyone else to ask."
Elliot nodded "it's the least we can do after everything you've done for us, make sure you send her with a bathing suit though."
"Will do, can I bring her there early?"
Elliot smiled slightly "tell ya what Amaro we're about to pull up at your house so we can work out an arrangement and ask each other everything we need to inside okay?"
"Sounds great, see you in a few," he said hanging up as Liv and El smiled.
"That's the house right there," Lizzie said pointing and Elliot nodded and pulled into the drive way "have you ever been here before Liv?" she asked.
"Actually no, no I haven't," she said as Elliot turned the truck off.
"Why not? I remember you used to eat thanksgiving dinner with us sometimes when I was really little."
Olivia sighed slightly "back then I didn't have a family like I do now and since me and your dad were really close friends he wanted me to be able to celebrate the holiday with someone."
Lizzie nodded "but aren't you and Mr. Amaro close friends?"
"We're friends but nowhere as close as me and your dad were back then besides I have a family now and I never had any reason to come here."
Lizzie nodded her head slightly and a slightly strange silence descended upon them all "everybody ready to head inside?" Elliot asked after clearing his throat slightly.
Olivia nodded her head and got out of the truck as Lizzie followed and Izzabella saw Zara playing on her swing and darted over to her "I'm so happy she made a friend," Elliot said with a smile watching.
"Me too," Olivia said as a minute later the three of them went to the front door and knocked.
"Come in," Amaro called and Elliot slightly smiled and opened the door "nice place," he said as they stepped inside.
"Thanks it's not much really and mom helped me with the painting."
"Well we think it's really nice," Olivia said with a smile as her and Elliot sat down on the ssofa and Lizzie went to grab their stuff.
"Thank you really if I didn't tell you before your place is really nice as well."
Elliot smiled "thanks Nick, I'll be completely honest with you though most of the place was already painted for us."
"Ahh I see sounds like you two took the easy road," he said teasingly.
Elliot chuckled "ohh trust me Amaro you wouldn't wanna see the place if I painted it all I have a heavy hand I already fear our bedroom will look terrible."
"Aw it'll look great El I plan on helping anyway," Liv chimed in.
"You won't be for at least two more weeks baby," Elliot said as he gently kissed her temple.
Olivia sighed heavily "come on El..."
He shook his head "sorry we have to stick to the docs orders sweetheart."
Olivia sighed and gave him her best pleading look "ohh baby your killing me with that look please stop that?"
"Fold and I will," she said knowingly.
"I'm, not, folding," he said between giving her gentle kisses and she ended up returning them in kind as Amaro cleared his throat loudly and they pulled apart "so Zara, you guys said you'd keep Zara?"
"Zara, mmhmm," he cleared his throat slightly and shook his head getting it back on track "y-yeah we'll keep her for you it's the least we can do."
Amaro nodded "I really appreciate that, my shift starts at 8 can I have her there around 7:15?"
Elliot sighed "we may not all be up then but I'll get up for long enough to settle her somewhere, will she have breakfast before she gets there?"
Amaro shook his head "probably not only because I don't wanna really wake her up I can send food with her though."
"No no you don't have to I was just asking so I'd know, I understand you not wanting to wake her up too but please make sure she'll know where she's gonna be? , I don't want her to wake up confused and scared that'd make for a bit of a bad morning."
Amaro nodded "you're right it would don't worry I'll tell her."
Elliot nodded "thank you. Does she have any allergies?"
Amaro chuckled "you're thorough aren't you?"
Elliot nodded "I've got five kids remember?"
"I actually didn't know that, I knew you had kids just not the exact number and she doesn't, not that I know of anyway."
Elliot chuckled slightly then nodded in relief "I think that's all I needed to know, we probably should get going," Elliot said realizing it was a little after five.
Amaro nodded his head as Lizzie could be seen walking into the living room with the packed bags "good luck with the painting and if you guys need any help at all let me know."
"We will Nick thank you, we'll see you tomorrow," Elliot said with a smile as he and Liv stood from the couch.
"That you will, have a good night," he said as once Elliot and Olivia were out the door they gave each other a smile "I think tomorrow is gonna go great," Elliot said.
"Me too," Olivia said and Elliot nodded and smiled "I'm gonna go get Izzabella from the swing so Zara will maybe see me as a little less of a stranger."
Olivia nodded "sounds good El she said as he smiled then made his way over to the swing set "Izzabella it's time to go honey."
Izzabella frowned a bit as she was enjoying playing with her "I know you're having fun baby I'm glad you are but it's starting to get a little late and I have dinner to make and things to do. You'll see her tomorrow I promise."
"I will?" she asked brightly as Zara looked surprised as well.
Elliot nodded "you will, so whatcha say we head home now?"
Izzabella's face lit up even brighter "home?"
Elliot nodded "yes home our air conditioner is fixed."
Izzabella jumped up and down excitedly then quickly hugged Zara "I'll see you tomorrow!" she said brightly.
Zara nodded "okay, I don't know how it'll work though daddy won't be here. Do you think we'll be here by ourselves tomorrow?"
Izzabella shrugged and Zara just smiled "if we are I know how to cook pop tarts."
Izzabella smiled brightly, nodded then ran over to Elliot "Zara said she'll fix us pop tarts tomorrow," she said.
Elliot chuckled and scooped her into his arms "she won't be cooking any pop tarts Zara is gonna stay with us tomorrow like you stayed with Mr. Nick for the last few days," he said as he carried her to the truck.
Izzabella just nodded and smiled brightly "someone looks happy," Olivia said with a smile from the front seat.
Elliot nodded and smiled "she found out our plans for tomorrow."
Olivia nodded "did Zara find out too?"
Elliot shook his head "it's not my place to talk to her about it she seems to think that they'll be here by themselves tomorrow. She told Izzabella that she knows how to cook pop tarts."
Olivia just chuckled slightly and Elliot smiled while shutting Izzabella's door "Lizzie you ready honey?" he asked seeing her looking at Amaro's small garden.
"Yeah," she said as she climbed into her seat in the truck and they headed out.
"Where are we going?" Lizzie asked noticing they were driving deeper into Manhattan instead of towards Queens.
"I need to pick some things up from captain Cragen's it'll only take a minute," Elliot said.
Lizzie nodded her head and Liv looked to him "I know we have a lot to do tonight El but I'd like to walk in and see him for a minute if he's there."
Elliot nodded and gave her a gentle squeeze of the shoulder as when they pulled in she sighed when she saw his car wasn't home "sorry honey," he said sympathetically.
Olivia shook her head and gave him a small smile "there's no telling how many cases he's working I understand."
Elliot nodded slightly "maybe we can invite him over for dinner next time he's off work? I know you don't remember that much about your time in the ICU but the pull you feel right now to talk to him is on target."
Olivia nodded slightly "that would work. What happened El? Did we fight or something?"
"No no it was nothing like that I promise. I'll tell you about it once we're in bed tonight okay?"
"Okay," Olivia said as Elliot slightly smiled, kissed her temple then stepped out.
"Everything okay Liv?" Lizzie asked slightly confused.
"Yeah I think so."
Lizzie nodded with a slight smile as a few minutes later Elliot could be seen stepping out of the house and putting the key back underneath the doormat "people should never keep their keys there," Lizzie mused.
Olivia nodded "I definitely agree with that sweetie," she said as Izzabella glanced over "why not?"
"Cuz it can be dangerous anybody can just grab it and walk into the house," Lizzie said as Olivia couldn't help but shutter.
Izzabella frowned "but why would anybody do that?"
"Cuz not all people are good like us," Lizzie said as just then Elliot opened her door and handed her the bag from CSU "put this under your seat please and don't look inside it."
"Okay," Lizzie said as she took it and did as asked while Elliot got back into the truck with Izzabella's presents "you okay baby?" he asked Olivia softly noticing she was zoned out.
Olivia still trembled slightly and didn't seem to notice him as he frowned "Lizzie what happened while I was out of the car?"
"Nothing really we ended up talking a little about how people shouldn't keep there keys there, Liv was talking then she wasn't."
Elliot frowned and sighed "she was triggered, Izzabella look at all those beautiful flowers," he said pointing.
Izzabella's eyes darted over to them and he sighed in relief "Liv baby you're safe, you're here in the car with us he isn't here."
Olivia didn't respond as she was breathing rapidly and her eyes were unfocused "sweetheart please come back to me, you're safe honey, you're safe I'm here," he whispered as he gently stroked her hair and turned his body to where he'd be eye level with her.
Olivia, feeling the familiar feeling of his fingers stroking her hair began to slowly start to come out of it and her breaths became a little more normal "that's it baby I'm here keep taking slow deep breaths you're doing great."
Another minute or so passed and her eyes slowly opened "hey baby," he said softly as he gave her a gentle smile.
"I-It happened again didn't it?" she asked through an exhausted sigh.
Elliot nodded "you were triggered yeah, it's okay though you're safe, we're good," he said softly before kissing her forehead.
She nodded slightly "I-I didn't say anything right? Izzabella didn't?"-
Elliot shook his head "you didn't and I got her to glance over at the flowers. Everything's fine I promise."
Olivia nodded her head and sighed in relief before leaning it back on the headrest as the flashback took a lot of her energy "are you sure you still wanna go home tonight? If not we can call Cragen, I'm sure he'd let us stay here."
"Yeah I'm sure El I'm okay now just tired."
"Alright," he said softly but warily as he drove off and rubbed her arm slightly.
"Dad is Liv okay?" Lizzie asked quietly when Olivia began snoring slightly.
"Yeah I guess something you said must have put her mind back on what she went through."
Lizzie frowned "I-I wasn't trying to upset her."
"I know baby and Liv does too," he said quietly.
Lizzie nodded her head relieved and the rest of the drive to their local grocery store was silent "I've gotta go in here and get some things I'll be right back girls," he whispered after parking.
Lizzie gave him a nod and Izzabella didn't respond at all since she had fallen asleep too as Elliot just smiled, got out and gently shut his door not wanting to wake either one of them.
About 30 minutes later he walked out with four bags of stuff "did you buy the hole store dad?" Lizzie asked chuckling as he crammed the bags in between the two back seats.
"Actually no believe it or not," he said with a slight smile as he stuffed the last bag underneath Izzabella's seat then got back into his seat and drove off.
Lizzie just smiled "how'd you do all that in 30 minutes dad? It always takes mom at least an hour."
He smiled "it's all about knowing exactly what I want, not chatting with people, not looking through the clearance isles to much and not dilly-dallying around."
Lizzie nodded her head and smiled "you'll have to teach mom your methods then."
Elliot chuckled "sorry but that's one thing that isn't happening."
Lizzie just nodded, gave a small sigh then yawned "you gonna crash on me too?" he asked teasingly.
"Nnhnn," she said as she shook her head then yawned again "ohh I bet you will Liz."
"Nope I'm not gonna."
"Yes you are, I'll bet you a nickel that you fall asleep before we pull into the driveway."
Lizzie went to say something else but her eyes closed and he just chuckled "what's up?" Olivia asked half asleep.
"Lizzie fell asleep, was adamant she wouldn't then she did."
Liv chuckled then smiled "how long was I out?" she asked as she stretched her arms slightly.
"About 45 minutes. Are you feeling a little better now?"
She nodded slightly "mmhmm I'm getting butterflies about walking into the house but that's probably just because we're getting closer to it."
Elliot nodded and rubbed her shoulder "I'll be right there with you and holding your hand I promise baby."
"M-Maybe I won't need that. I'm hoping I won't not that I don't enjoy holding your hand," she clarified quickly.
"I know what you meant baby," he said as he gently squeezed her shoulder while turning onto their road.
Olivia just smiled slightly and let her mind focus on his hand as as they passed the McGuire's home the couple gave them a friendly wave.
Olivia waved back with a smile and a minute later Elliot had the truck parked "we've got a lot of stuff to carry in so I was thinking how about you sit with Izzabella out on the deck while me and Lizzie do that? We can ease you into this?"
She nodded slightly "okay I-I'm fine with that."
Elliot nodded, slightly smiled and gently kissed her on the temple "b-be careful going in there El," she whispered.
"We will baby don't worry," he whispered softly.
Olivia nodded slightly "I-I know my fear isn't rational El I just can't help it."
"I understand baby," he said as he then woke Lizzie and Izzabella up and climbed out carrying some bags.
"We're home mommy! We're really home I can't believe it!" Izzabella said cheerfully as Lizzie followed Elliot out carrying some bags of her own.
"We sure are honey, how about we get out and walk around while daddy and Lizzie get all the stuff in hmm?"
"Okay," she said eagerly as she unbuckled herself and got out once Liv opened her door "lets look at the flowers you guys planted a little while back, see if they bloomed," Olivia said as she took her hand with her good one and lead her around to them as they were near the deck.
Izzabella smiled eagerly as she was walking so fast she was practically dragging Olivia along "look mommy look!" she said excitedly pointing at the flower buds.
Olivia nodded "I see that those are called blooms," she said as she then noticed a full flower and showed it to her.
Izzabella smiled at it in amazement "me and daddy made those?"
"Sort of you and daddy planted them but the soil and water are what made them grow."
"What's soil?"
Olivia smiled "it's just another word for dirt."
Izzabella smiled and nodded her head contentedly as after a couple more minutes they made their way onto the deck and sat in lawn chairs as Olivia turned the radio that was on the table on low.
xxxxx
"Dad that smell is awful," Lizzie said as they were putting groceries in the freezer.
He sighed "yeah I know baby some things aren't meant to go on a frying pan and metal is one of them."
"There was metal on the frying pan?" she asked shocked.
"Yeah," he said through a heavy sigh as he plugged in their sensi, put in the vanilla raspberry one then tossed the frying pan into the garbage can.
"Dad why'd you throw it away? Nothing looked wrong with it."
"Because I can't look at it, can you put those in Izzabella's closet for me baby?" he asked pointing towards the presents the squad gave her.
"Sure, how did I not notice the smell before?"
"Because Liv had fallen and you were to scared to realize," he said as once she nodded he went upstairs and put the bag from CSU in there bedroom closet and lined the paint cans against the wall.
Once he finished with that he worked like a man on a mission as he swept and mopped the entire downstairs then doused the living room in airfreshener "okay honey go ahead and go get Izzabella, bring her in me and Liv will come in in a few minutes."
Lizzie nodded slightly "okay... Dad are you okay? Do you maybe need to sit down you did all that really fast."
"Yeah yeah I'm fine baby, I'm good go on."
"Okay..." she said warily as she hesitantly left and Elliot quickly scanned the room for any other triggers he may have missed as when he didn't see anymore he sighed in relief, put the lasagna in then went outside as Lizzie and Izzabella were walking in.
"Well I've been afraid of changing cuz I built my life around you, but time makes you older, children get older I'm getting older too," he heard Olivia singing as he smiled and sat down in the chair beside her.
She sang a little more of the song then when she noticed him she blushed and stopped "don't stop on my account Liv," he said with a smile.
Olivia just smiled as she sighed contentedly "the flowers you guys planted are blooming nicely."
"That's great I was hoping they would."
Olivia continued to smile "Izzabella seemed amazed by the blooms," she said as she slowly stood from her chair.
Elliot stood too and gently wrapped his arm around her waste and she leaned her head on his shoulder instinctively "she probably was, I love her innocence so much Liv," he said as he swayed with her slowly.
"Me too if only it could last forever..."
"Right," he said as he continued to sway with her gently and he rubbed her back for a few minutes while they listened to several slow country songs.
"Y-You ready to head in El?" she asked after the 5th song ended.
"Only if you are," he whispered as he kissed her temple.
"I-I think I am," she said as she moved her head from his shoulder and linked her arm with his.
Elliot smiled slightly, kissed her temple then began walking slowly forward "tell me if at any point you need to stop and remember it's okay to feel whatever you need to feel okay?"
"Okay," Olivia said as she walked with Elliot at his pace trusting him with everything she had and before she knew it they were at the porch and walking up the steps.
Once they were standing on the porch her body froze and her eyes were glued to a spot just to the right of the door "baby baby it's okay I promise Ryan's at home safe with his parents," he whispered soothingly.
Olivia trembled slightly reliving the memory "I-I remember h-he shot him a-and h-he landed right there a-and there was nothing I could do to help him..."
"I know baby, I know I'm sorry you both had to go through that, so so sorry," he whispered as he pulled her into his arms just as he heard the timer for the oven going off.
Olivia cried silently into his shirt as he swayed back and forth with her gently, stroked her hair and sent Lizzie a text asking her to take the lasagna out with his other hand.
About five minutes later Olivia calmed "s-sorry about that El," she whispered.
Elliot shook his head "didn't I tell you it was okay to feel whatever you needed to feel?" he asked gently.
"Y-Yes," she said.
Elliot nodded "then don't apologize," he whispered as after a few more minutes they finally opened the door and stepped inside.
"Wow... I-I wasn't expecting this," Olivia said shocked to see the floor spotless and the home smelling fresh and like itself.
"I guess the cleaning fairy came in and worked some magic while we were gone," Elliot said kissing her temple as Lizzie shook her head and chuckled "no dad slaved himself almost to death while you were outside is more like it."
"Lizzie," Elliot admonished and Olivia frowned slightly "Elliot you didn't have to..."
"I know I didn't baby but I wanted to," he said as he stepped away from her slightly, locked the door then checked to make sure it was locked three times "whose ready to eat?" he finally asked.
"Me me me!" Izzabella said as she cheerfully jumped up and down and Lizzie and Liv both nodded with slight smiles.
"Sorry but it's just Stouffer's if I would have made it from scratch tonight we wouldn't be eating until 11," Elliot said.
"It's okay El really you've done so much today I'm surprised you're still standing."
He smiled "I'm nowhere near finished trust me, Liv do you feel comfortable eating in the dining room?" he asked through a whisper.
"I do, you've done plenty for tonight though El I promise you."
Elliot just smiled, kissed her temple then walked beside her in there and the four of them ate their food.