A/n: I hope that everyone who is reading this story is still enjoying it. I'd love some reviews and feedback they encourage me to keep writing. Happy reading everyone.
"You lose the tablet for one week Tie I mean it we don't hurt people," Tracie could be heard saying as they walked onto the deck.
"P-Please no mommy I-I wasn't trying to hurt her I-I just wanted to make her laugh."
"That's not how you make people laugh son I'm really disappointed in you," Simon said.
Tie teared up more and Elliot sighed "at least they're doing something about it," he whispered to Liv.
"True but isn't that a little to harsh?"
Elliot shook his head "if he was my kid he'd probably be grounded for a month."
She sighed "you're bias because I'm your wife pretend for a second that you don't know me. Is it to harsh?"
"Pretending I don't know you is really hard when we're holding hands," he said teasingly.
She nodded slightly and went to pull away taking his comment as serious "hey hey I was just teasing baby, just teasing," he said as he pulled her closer "and no it's still not to harsh of a punishment he really scared you."
She melted into his side "t-true he did but he's just five he didn't know any better."
Elliot nodded slightly "it's not our call baby," he whispered as he kissed her temple "but think about it this way if he ever ends up in a situation where he can make this choice again he'll remember today and how much trouble he got into."
She nodded "you have a point there. You ready to sit down?"
"Yeah just give me one minute."
Olivia nodded as Cragen saw them and waved "hey Liv you wanna eat with me?" he asked.
"I-I can't eat right now but I'll sit with you," she said as he nodded and Elliot took his opportunity to sneak away "Carisi I wanna talk to you for a minute," he said approaching him.
"Okay," he said nodding warily and Elliot nodded "not here."
Carisi nodded and stood as Elliot lead him into his outdoor shed "what the hell were you thinking?" he demanded.
"What do you mean?"
Elliot glared "handcuffs aren't toys what the hell were you thinking letting Tie play with them?"
He sighed "I-I didn't see the harm in it I didn't know he was gonna handcuff anyone with them."
Elliot nodded "even so you shouldn't have even had them out here in the first place do you not remember how Olivia reacted to seeing them last time?"
"I do but that was a day after what happened I thought she would have been over it by now."
"Over it?!" Elliot glared "that's something she'll never be over and if that's what you think then maybe you're in the wrong damn line of work!"
"I-I'm sorry I just..."
"You just what?!"
Carisi shook his head slightly and stepped back a few paces "I didn't mean any harm I-I just wanted everything close to me incase I was called out."
"Yet you handed them to a five year old to play with. Doesn't sound like you needed them that close to you to me."
"I-I'm sorry," he said again.
Elliot nodded "how about you tell Liv that? After all she was the one who was traumatized as a result of your careless actions not me."
"I-I can do that. I'll do that that's not a problem."
Elliot nodded "you better mean it too."
Carisi nodded slightly "please calm down Mr. Stabler you're scaring me and if you're scaring me then you'll definitely scare her."
"I'm completely calm," he said.
"Y-You don't seem that way to me. Are we done here?"
"Yepp," Elliot said giving him a curt nod as they exited the shed and he headed towards the house.
xxxxx
"You sure you aren't hungry Liv? This barbecue is amazing," Cragen prodded as he ate.
"I know it is I wish I could I just still feel to nervous I don't think it'd settle right."
He nodded "how much have you eaten today?"
She sighed "I had a bologna biscuit at around 9:30 then a few grapes at around 1."
"That's all? Maybe you're queazy because you're hungry here," he said as he stood and fixed her a generous plate of everything.
"Cap..." she said through a sigh.
Cragen shook his head as he handed her the plate and she nibbled at it a bit "Olivia?" Carisi said walking over hesitantly.
She turned and glanced at him silently "I'm sorry, I'm really really sorry for what happened I-I just wanted to say that."
"I forgive you just please tell me it taught you something?"
He nodded "handcuffs aren't toys and they don't belong at gatherings like this."
She nodded slightly "did El give them back to you?"
"No and as mad as he was when we spoke I didn't ask him to."
She nodded slightly "I'll have him get them back to you."
Carisi nodded "thanks I appreciate that," he said as a still sniffling Tie walked over "aunt Livia?" he whispered.
"Yes buddy?" she asked turning her gaze towards him as Carisi walked off.
"I-I'm sorry I-I hurt you I-I only wanted to make you laugh," he said through tears.
She held her arms open and he ran into them as she pulled him close and rubbed his back "I know buddy, I know it's okay."
"M-Mommy said I scared you and hurt you b-but I-I didn't wanna do that I-I just wanted you to laugh."
She nodded slightly "I know honey maybe next time you see me you can get uncle Elliot or your mom and dad to help you think of something funny that you could do that'd make that happen today you just didn't pick the right thing."
He nodded slightly and regained his composure as he then looked at the nonstick gauze curiously "what's that?"
"It's like a big bandade buddy," she said as she smiled when she saw Elliot fixing his plate as he was now dressed in her favorite marines teeshirt of his and a clean pair of blue jeans.
Tie nodded "do you have a booboo?"
She nodded "yeah but it'll be better soon. Did you eat?"
He nodded "mmhmm."
She nodded "how about dessert did you eat dessert?"
"Nnhnn," he said and she nodded "why don't you go have some then?"
"Okay," he said as he moved from her arms and ran off as Elliot sat down beside her with his food as he had a barbecue sandwich, cold slaw and some fruit salad "I see your appetite came back?" he said with a soft smile seeing her huge plate.
She chuckled "not exactly," she said as she pointed at Cragen who was now conversing with Munch.
Elliot chuckled slightly and nodded as she ate a bit more barbecue "it's really good El," Liv said.
"Thanks baby," he said with a smile.
She nodded as she tasted the cold slaw he made then ate the rest of her barbecue "do you want the rest of this? I can't eat any more right now."
"I doubt I can eat it all but I'll taste your potato salad it was all gone when I made my plate."
She chuckled and nodded "I'm glad it was a hit," she said as she scooted her plate over.
Elliot smiled "I tell you all the time that you don't give yourself enough credit," he said as he tasted it.
She nodded "and I always think you're just being sweet."
He shook his head with a soft smile as once they both finished eating they moved from the picnic table and pulled the lounge chair towards the rest of the group and curled up in it together as when Olivia got a whif of his old spice she smiled and leaned into him more.
Elliot smiled with his arm wrapped around her as he stroked her hair "something smells nice," Rollins commented as they were sitting close to her.
"Uhhh thanks," Elliot said.
Rollins frowned "why are you thanking me? It's just the air don't you all smell it?" she asked looking at the others.
"Nah," Fin said as Liv rose her head slightly "it's his cologne.."
"Ohh," Rollins said blushing embarrassed and Liv just nodded "what kind did you use man? Clearly I need to start," Amaro said as Carisi's phone rang.
"Old Spice," Elliot said as Amaro nodded then they all grew quiet "Manhattan Special Victims Unit detective Carisi speaking," Carisi said.
"How is he getting work calls on his personal cell?" Elliot asked Cragen.
"There's this cool thing now called call forwarding we decided to use it."
"That's really neat it takes away the use of sitting at the station all night when we're on call we can just divert the calls to our cells instead," Olivia said.
"That's true but IAB will never go for it long term."
"You never know captain on call detectives eat a lot of food from the break room it'd help the budget a lot."
"It'd save on the maintenance of the cribs too," Elliot chimed in.
Cragen nodded "you two have good points," he said as Carisi looked to him "it's the 27th precinct they found a vic. Mallory Whitlock, 28 found naked in her living room with a bullet in her head do we take it?"
"Are there any signs of sexual assault?"
Carisi asked the person on the phone then shook his head "no she's just naked."
Cragen shook his head "tell them to call homicide for all we know she was killed while heading to or getting out of the shower."
"Copy that," he said as Olivia turned slightly so she could face Elliot "honey you really need to give him his cuffs back," she whispered.
"They're just fine in the house until he leaves," he said adamantly.
"I know I just"-
"You forgive him and I don't yet," he whispered then kissed her temple gently "even if I wanted to give them back to him right now I couldn't because I don't know where the key is."
She nodded "do you think Tie knows where it is?"
"Maybe," he said.
She nodded and moved back into their cuddling position deciding they could worry about it later "mommy! Daddy can I have more poppers?" Izzabella asked running over.
"Of course baby the case is open just grab a hand full," Elliot said pointing.
She nodded, grabbed some then ran back over to where Simon, Tracie, Bernie and the kids were "she's got amazing manners," Carisi said.
Liv and El smiled "that's one of the perks of her just being around us so much she hasn't learned much bad behavior," Elliot said.
"Ah I'm sure she's tried some things," Rollins chimed in.
"Of course she has all kids do but I'll tell you her not learning a tun of bad habits from other kids has helped out a lot."
She nodded "I bet it has," she said as the chatter then tapered out once more, everyone just quietly enjoying the sound of the radio and the feel of the evening breeze.
7:30 PM.
"We should really think about heading out if we're gonna shoot off all those fireworks," Cragen said as Munch and Fin nodded their heads in agreement.
Elliot sighed as he was stroking Liv's hair gently and steadily "I don't wanna wake her," he whispered.
"You could carry her to bed, let her sleep," Cragen suggested.
Elliot shook his head "she wants to be a part of all this too just give her a little while longer this is normal after she's had a bad flashback it takes everything out of her."
He just nodded as all of their expressions became sympathetic "how many of them has she had?" Amaro asked.
"Quite a few in all but this was her first one in two weeks."
He frowned and nodded "maybe this was just to much for her today," Munch said.
Elliot shook his head "it wasn't to much that little boy just didn't know how to behave."
"Kids are like that though they aren't all little angels like Izzabella," Rollins said.
"I know that more than anyone I've raised 5of em," he said as Olivia stirred slightly "welcome back," Cragen said with a smile.
Olivia blushed and raised off El's chest embarrassed "h-how long was I out?"
"Almost an hour," he said and she blushed again "hey don't be embarrassed it's alright," Elliot said.
She nodded slightly and he slightly smiled "you feel any better?"
"A little," she said as he nodded and kissed her temple "you ready for fireworks Liv?" Cragen asked.
"Yeah I like the view," she said with a smile.
"How about the noise?" Rollins asked.
She chuckled "haven't decided yet. El are we taking chairs for everyone or beach towels?"
"Beach towels would be easier. We can still take this chair though."
"No that's okay unless you just want to."
Elliot nodded "it would be a pain in the ass to load it."
She nodded "the decisions made then," she said with a smile as she stood from the chair "Rollins come help me get these beach towels?"
"Sure," she said nodding and Carisi took that moment to cut in "I need my cuffs too in case we get called out."
"We never could find the key but Rollins can grab them while they're in there," El said as both ladies then headed inside.
8:10 PM.
"My goodness this landscape is so beautiful," Bernie commented as the caravan of cars got closer to Vally falls.
"Sure is," El said agreeing with a smile.
"You can't be comfortable dear," she said as her focus drifted from the view to him and Olivia was leaning against him slightly from where she was sitting in the middle.
"I'm fine mama," he said as Liv was trying to move "you're fine baby," he whispered softly.
Olivia relaxed back against him "you sure Elliot? When Joe was around your age his back started getting bad I don't want that happening to you," Bernie said.
"You've all gotta stop worrying about me so much you know that? Although it touches my heart that you all care so much..."
"We'll always care," Liv said and Bernie nodded "damn right we will you've gotta take care of me when I'm old."
Elliot chuckled "like you'll ever move out of the house and let us."
"Ohh you'll have to move there."
"Yeah maybe but thankfully we have several years till we have to worry about that hmm?"
Bernie nodded "I'm gonna live till I'm 120."
"That's a really good goal to have," Liv said as they parked "everyone ready to get out?" El asked.
"Yeah," Lizzie and Bernie said as Lizzie helped Izzabella out of the back and Bernie moved from the passenger seat "you got the bug spray right?" Liv asked.
"I did I brought the beer too. Hey mama help Liv carry these beach towels please!" he called.
Bernie nodded and grabbed two and Liv grabbed the other two as the two of them spread them out over the ground and everyone else got out of their cars and walked over.
Elliot sat the case of beer down in front of one of the beach towels then helped unload the fire works "okay everyone listen up!" he called over the chatter which had started once he, Fin and Munch were through.
Everyone quietened and he slightly smiled "so here's where we're at! Jon went overkill on fireworks and we have so many here that it's gonna take hours to shoot them all off as you all see!" he gestured at the huge pile wildly "so here's the plan! Me and Liv are gonna watch the kids and I need everybody that's over the age of 15 and comfortable using lighters to all come over here and help light these fuses! We aren't gonna do em one at a time or it'll take all night! People are gonna hear all these fireworks going off and I'm sure a ton of em will come and watch since this park isn't nearly as crowded as Macys and I could care less about that but no one under the age of fifteen is to come anywhere near these fireworks! Anybody got any questions?"
Simon stood "what are we doing if we don't light fireworks?"
"Helping me and Liv with the kids."
He nodded as him, Fin, Tracie, Amaro, Rollins and Carisi each walked up and took a section and Elliot smiled "kids if you haven't already please have a seat on one of the beach towels!"
"Mine are already on them," Tracie said and Amaro nodded "Zara was too last time I saw her."
Elliot nodded, quickly sprayed bugsprey on to the kids then made his way back over to Liv "hey baby," he said with a soft smile sitting down as his knees cracked.
"Hey," she said then glanced at him worriedly "you okay?"
Elliot nodded, kissed her temple then pulled her into his right side as little Olivia walked over tentatively "hey there," he cooed.
She smiled shyly and reached out towards him "you want me to hold you?"
She nodded and was glancing around at the unfamiliar park and the large piles of fireworks "okay come here honey," he said.
She walked closer and once he could reach her he pulled her into his other side "this is all new to you isn't it sweetheart? You're gonna have an amazing time watching all the colors I promise," he cooed as Liv smiled fondly at how quickly he was putting their niece at ease.
"Mommy it looks so cool! There's so many!" Izzabella said running over to them in awe as she glanced around.
"There sure are you're gonna see tuns of reds and greens and blues, and even more colors that I'm not thinking of right now..."
"Really?" she asked surprised.
Liv nodded "you're gonna love them honey."
Izzabella smiled and nodded as the first whistling rattler was lit "whoa!" she said with an enamored smile.
"You like that?" El asked seeing her face.
"Mmhmm they're so cool daddy!"
He smiled and nodded "why don't you sit down and watch then?" he suggested as he pointed to the closest open space on a towel.
Izzabella nodded and sat as a couple roman candles were next to go "I love the colors," Liv said.
"Me too," he said as he stroked her back absent mindedly.
She leaned further into his touch and the next few minutes were quiet as they lit small fountains, combs and other small quiet colorful things "you gonna fall asleep?" he whispered as her body was leaning against him more.
A pack of fire crackers went off and she jumped slightly "no, no I'm not," she said sitting up straighter.
He continued to rub her back as when a mortar, 3 whistling rattlers and artillery shell went off at once little Olivia began to cry "shhh, shhh it's okay sweetheart. It's okay," he cooed as he wrapped both arms around her and rocked gently back and forth.
More whistling rattlers went off and she cried louder "shhh, shhh shh you're safe sweetie nothings gonna hurt you just look at the colors. See they're so bright?" he cooed.
"They're beautiful... I see red and blue and purple and yellow... You see those?" Liv asked softly.
Little Olivia continued to shake and cry in his arms "I can cover your ears. You want me to cover your ears?" Liv asked softly as El continued to rock her and rub her back.
"M-Mama, mama mama! U-Unca Elit want mama, mama!"
"Shhh, I'll get her for you sweetie, I'll get her for you it's okay shhh," he soothed as he tried to put her down.
Regular bottle rockets, whistling rattlers , roman candles and combs were all going off at once now as she refused to let go "honey it's okay I'm just gonna get her that's it I'll be right back in a second..."
"S-Scared s-scared bye bye... Home home bye bye wanna g-go h-home home..."
"I know sweetheart I know... I know shhhhh," he murmured as he gently pried his shirt from her grip and placed her in to Liv's open arms "shhh, shhh I know I know you're safe I know," he continued murmuring.
She didn't stop crying but began gripping Liv's shirt as Elliot took his chance to sneak off "Tracie! Tracie!" he called loudly over the noise.
Tracie turned away from the fireworks to face him "you're daughter's scared to death she's crying for you," he said getting right to it.
"Shit... Shit okay where is she?"
"Liv's got her over there on the blue beach towel."
Tracie nodded and stepped away as Elliot followed close behind her "h-home home... A-Aunt Livia I-I wanna go h-home home... B-Bye bye..." Little Olivia cried.
"Your mommy's coming baby, I see her right now uncle Elliot is bringing her to you," she soothed as two artillery shells went off at once.
When the shells went off she had an accident on herself and became even more hysterical "honey it's okay... Shhhh you couldn't help it it's okay it's okay," Liv reassured.
Berni nodded in agreement from where she was sitting as she sipped on a beer "your parents, aunt and uncle wouldn't let you be here if you weren't safe sweetheart!" she called as Tracie ran over "comere baby, comere you're okay everything's okay," she soothed as Liv passed her over and Elliot retook his seat.
Little Olivia clung to her mother tightly as they moved to the car and Liv checked her clothes over to make sure the accident didn't bleed through "she's to scared Liv, to timid for her age it worries me," Elliot whispered.
"I know but she's been through a lot for her age El."
"You're right she has but I still don't like it."
She nodded "I know," she said as families were starting to crowd the park "looks like you were right about people coming to watch the show."
Elliot nodded through a sigh at this point wishing he hadn't been "where's sissy?" Tie asked running over to them.
"Your mom took her to the car," Liv said.
"Why?" he asked.
"Because the noise was scaring her a bit why don't you go and sit back down buddy?" El suggested.
He nodded and ran back off as Liv and El sighed in unison, cuddled back up together and watched the colors.
9:40 PM.
A little over half of the fireworks had been shot by this point, Tracie had given Olivia some noise canceling headphones to use and cleaned her up and Liv and El found themselves content watching the sky light up with beautiful colors and feeling the comfortable light breeze against their skin.
They hadn't noticed the huge bucket of sparklers that was placed in front of their beach towel a couple minutes ago until Tie, Zara and a few other kids from the neighborhood swarmed them "Mr. Elliot! Mr. Elliot will you light us all a sparkler?" Zara asked cheerfully.
"I don't have a lighter honey. How did all these get over here?"
"Yes you do it's right there," a boy who looked to be around 11 years old said pointing at a lighter which was laying beside the bucket.
Elliot frowned and sighed "how did all these get over here?"
"Mr. Brown played eany meany miny moe and he landed on you guys!" Zara said with a bright smile.
"Whose Mr. Brown?"
"He's his daddy," Zara said pointing at the boy.
Elliot sighed "he should have asked first," he grumbled as he then looked to Liv relieved that she was still completely focused on the view and sounds as he kept his right arm in the same position preying she just wouldn't notice "okay this is how we're gonna do this. You're all gonna line up in a straight line. When it's your turn you'll grab one from the bucket, hold it out to me and I'll get it going for you make sense?"
All but the 11 year old boy nodded "you're supposed to grab them for us," he said.
"If you want me to do this you're gonna follow my rules understand?"
The boy nodded and he sighed, grabbed the lighter and held his left arm as far away from Liv as he could as he lit Zara's sparkler and motioned for her to hold it away from her body "see that El? Wow!..." Liv exclaimed none the wiser as a huge mortar was lit.
"Sure do it's beautiful," he said with a smile.
"Your arm seems tense you okay?" she asked still looking at the fireworks.
"Yeah I'm good baby don't worry," he said while lighting Ties.
Liv nodded and relaxed as he smiled and rubbed her hip while lighting the next few sparklers as he relaxed when he realized his plan was working.
"I want another one I want another one!" a boy who looked to be about five yelled a few minutes later.
"It's not your turn buddy!" El called.
"I don't care I want another one!"
"You'll get another one when it's your turn," he said firmly.
"Nooo!" he yelled stomping his foot up and down.
Elliot shook his head "alright mr. you might get away with that at your house but you're not gonna get away with it with me, back of the line!" he demanded pointing.
The boy stomped his feet, waved his fists around then fell to the ground throwing a fit "what the hell's going on?" Liv asked.
"Kid refuses to wait his turn," El said unaffected continuing to rub her hip.
"Wait his turn for what?" she asked as she then noticed him lighting another sparkler , saw the fire and backed away slightly.
Elliot immediately put the lighter down "everyone go back to your parents!" he called.
"But why?" one kid asked as a couple more began to cry "no El, no they don't have to do that I'm f-fine," she said shooting him a fake reassuring smile.
"I won't do anything that I know scares you Liv I won't," he said adamantly.
"I-It doesn't scare me, not really."
"It does honey you backed away from me," he whispered.
"I-It was just a reaction I'm sorry."
He shook his head "nothing to apologize for baby."
She nodded slightly "please just go ahead and keep going El I-I don't want a big thing started over this."
"But I don't want you to be afraid."
She nodded and leaned back into him as she gave him a determined look "I swear I won't let the fire get anywhere near you baby, I swear on my life okay? And I'm sorry, I'm sorry," he whispered wrapping his arm back around her and finally relenting though he was furious with this Mr. Brown.
"I trust you and it's okay honey I know it wasn't your idea," she said as he nodded "everybody line back up!" he called but just then a decent sized rock hit him in the head and everyone backed up.
"El! Honey are you alright?" she asked worriedly as she saw Berni reprimanding the kid who threw it as it was the same boy from earlier.
"I'm fine baby... Shit damn ungh..." he muttered as he rubbed his head.
"Should we go home? I can drive us home."
"It was just a little rock honey it's nothing I promise," he said as Zara walked over "Mr. Elliot are you okay?"
"Yeah I'm fine sweetie," he said as he rubbed the spot one more time then grabbed the lighter and extended his arm.
She held the sparkler out and he lit it for her as Liv stayed mostly relaxed "you're safe baby it won't touch you," he whispered reassuringly.
"I-I know. Are you sure your head's okay?"
"Positive baby," he whispered and things around them became calm once more.
xxxxx
"I talked to the kids parents but they didn't seem all there," Berni said as she grabbed another beer from the cooler.
"What do you mean they didn't seem all there?" Liv asked.
"They seemed slow. Like mentally slow I dunno how to describe them."
Elliot nodded understanding "if that's true then it explains their kids horrible behavior they probably haven't taught him any better."
She nodded "the dad said he would keep him over there with him but I already saw him wander off again so who knows."
"Well he's not welcome back over here not acting like that we can't be responsible for him," she said as at this point she wasn't even giving the sparklers any thought and he smiled slightly agreeing and kissed her temple "mama have you seen Izzabella?" he asked.
She nodded "she's over in your captains lap she's been dozing on and off."
Elliot nodded relieved that she was in good hands "are you sure your head wasn't hurt to bad Elliot?" she asked.
"Yeah I'm sure I promise," he said as she nodded, sat back down and continued watching the fireworks.
11:20 PM.
"Okay everyone it's finale time!" Munch called loudly enough for everyone to hear during a moment of quiet "has everyone enjoyed themselves tonight?!"
"Yeah!!!" Most everyone cheered loudly as all the sparklers were gone now, had been for almost 30 minutes and Liv and El were enjoying themselves as much as everyone else as he even drank 2 beers.
"That's great to hear! Make sure you all think about giving a small donation to the Manhattan Special Victims Unit okay?! Even if it's just one dollar we'll thank you! I'll stick around here for a while to take donations!"
"Jon!" Liv, El and Cragen called in unison from their beach towels.
Munch just chuckled at them "who's ready to hear the biggest boom you'll ever hear in your life?!" Fin called.
Everyone cheered and a mortar, 2 packs of fire crackers, artillery shell and 2 whistling rattlers were set off at once to finish the show "everyone have a nice night!" the gang called when the fireworks were through and it was time to leave.
The crowd cheered again as Liv and El stood in sync "you care to drive baby?" he asked.
She shook her head with a smile and reached for his keys as he handed them to her "I'm gonna go get Izzabella from Don you got this?" he asked pointing at their bag and beach towel.
"Yeah," she said picking them up "I'll go ahead and start the car. You ready Bernie?" she called.
She nodded with a smile and carried her beach towel "the fireworks were so beautiful tonight!" she said as they walked.
"Yeah they were my ears are ringing though."
"Mine too but it's worth it we only get to see them once a year."
"That's true. Have you seen Lizzie?"
"She saw one of her friends here and went over to watch with her."
Liv nodded, put their stuff in the truck then hopped into the drivers seat as Lizzie got in the back "I had fun tonight," she said.
"Me too sweetie," she said while cranking the car and a couple minutes later they were all heading home.
xxxxx
"Can I stay here tonight?" Berni asked as it was a little after midnight now and most everyone had said their goodbyes and left.
"Yeah of course just let me make the guest bed for you," Elliot said.
She nodded as Izzabella cried tiredly in Liv's arms "El I'm gonna take her on up, check her for ticks and clean her up then put her to bed," Liv said.
"Kay I'll see you up there," he said with a tired smile as Simon looked to him "can I stay too? I had 7 beers," he said as Tracie and the kids had already left.
"Yeah as long as you're fine with sleeping on the couch."
"That's fine with me I just need to sleep somewhere."
Elliot nodded "the spare sheets and blankets are in the Lennon closet upstairs."
Simon nodded and walked up as Berni walked over to him "Elliot where will I sleep?"
He gave her a soft smile "in the guest bedroom. Come on I'll show you," he said as he locked the house up then walked upstairs and she followed him with a smile.
Elliot put fresh sheets on the bed quickly then spread a comforter over top of them "you think you'll be comfortable mama? Is there anything at all that you need?"
She smiled "I'll be fine son this is a really nice room you have here thank you for doing all this for me."
"Thanks and no problem. There's a bathroom right across the hall and me and Liv will just be a couple doors down."
She nodded, got underneath the covers and yawned "goodnight Elliot."
"Night mama," he said as he left the room, brushed his teeth then stripped down to his boxers and crawled into the empty bed holding his arms open with a smile.
1:06 AM.
Olivia walked into the bedroom and dressed into her pajamas quietly seeing that Elliot was asleep and not wanting to wake him today was a good day but I'm glad it's over she thought to herself as she eased on to her side of the bed and stifled the sound of her yawn.
I can't believe Simon came either, or that they brought the kids I'm so glad Elliot got to meet them despite what Tie did. Hmmm how close can I get to El without waking him? she wondered as she got underneath the blanket and slowly scooted closer.
Her left side eventually brushed against the fingertips of his outstretched hand and she exhaled slightly this'll do she decided determinedly as she relaxed the best she could into the pillow and let the sound of his snores lull her to sleep.
2:55 AM.
"N-No... p-please no..." Elliot heard Liv cry out as he went to stroke her hair but frowned when he realized she wasn't in his arms "shhh, shhh you're safe baby I'm right here everything's alright," he murmured softly.
"N-No... N-No p-please n-no w-why? P-Please W-why N-No..."
Elliot swallowed hard, at this point knowing she was having a nightmare "Liv wake up baby... Wake up this isn't real its just a nightmare honey, just a nightmare."
Another minute passed before she finally startled awake "hey Liv easy... Easy baby I'm right here it was just a nightmare, just a nightmare," he murmured.
"E-E-Elliot?"
"I'm right here baby, right here comere," he murmured softly.
She scooted the rest of the way over and laid her head on his chest and he stroked her hair gently "I-I'm sorry I woke you," she said after a minute.
Elliot shook his head adamantly "no I'm sorry for falling asleep before you were able to make it to bed. Why'd you lay all the way over there?"
"I-I didn't wanna wake you you were sleeping really well."
He nodded slightly and continued stroking her hair "you know you could have right? I wouldn't have minded," he whispered.
She nodded slightly and he nodded and pulled her closer to him "you wanna tell me about the nightmare?"
She sighed slightly but gave him a small nod "i-it was a lot like what happened earlier b-but the person was faceless. T-They came from out of nowhere."
He nodded attentively "did the person's voice sound like anyone that you know?"
"T-They didn't talk."
He nodded "so you saw there body but no face?"
"I-I guess I-I don't know..."
He nodded slightly and kissed her temple "you're safe baby I promise... No one's ever gonna hurt you again."
She nodded slightly "I-I know. I love you El."
"I love you too baby, so so much."
She nodded, smiled slightly and focused on the steady sound of his heartbeat for a few minutes "El?" she whispered in case he had fallen back asleep.
"Hmm?" he asked softly.
"What time do we see Lindstrom tomorrow?"
"1 o'clock."
She nodded slightly and sighed "we don't have to go if you don't want to," he whispered.
"I-I probably need to."
"Only you can make that choice baby."
She nodded slightly "I'll decide once I wake up again."
Elliot nodded "that works for me baby all I absolutely have to do tomorrow is find Lizzie a used car unless we wanna let her drive the truck back and forth to majorette practice."
She shook her head and he gave her a knowing smile and kissed her temple "I love you baby."
"Love you too El," she whispered and not even a full minute later she was back asleep.