July 20th, 8 AM.
Olivia groaned disapprovingly on El's chest hearing his alarm go off as she reached out slightly and turned it off "sorry baby," he muttered through a sigh.
She yawned slightly and cuddled back into him "it's alright," she mumbled.
"You want me to stay home? I can call Jon, cancel and stay home."
She shook her head while stretching her arms "you made a commitment and you've gotta keep it."
"You and your impeccable morals," he teased with a smile and she kissed him lovingly "you wouldn't have me any other way," she flirted.
"Nope," he said lightly as he returned the kiss then his face sobered "but Liv if you're not ready"-
"I'll be fine honey I promise Don's gonna meet us at the McDonalds for lunch so Izzabella can play in the playhouse then I thought we might go for a walk in the park then swing by the zoo or Chuck E Cheese."
Elliot smiled "that sounds like an amazing idea baby but you've gotta snap some pictures if she pets any of the animals at the zoo I wanna see it."
She nodded "you know I will. Umm what do you want for dinner?"
"Anything's good baby you know I'm not picky."
She nodded "I'll either fix spaghetti or pizza."
"Either one will be great," he said as he wrapped his arms around her tighter and kissed her temple several times "I don't wanna get up..." he grumbled.
She smiled and burrowed further into him "well then it's a good thing you decided to set your alarm 20 minutes early isn't it?"
"Mmhmm," he said nodding as he stroked her hair gently.
"Nnhnn you'll put us both back to sleep doing that," she said interlocking her fingers through his on top of her head.
He chuckled and smiled "What if I told you that that was exactly what I was going for?"
"Then I would tell you that you're a naughty man Elliot Stabler," she whispered.
He gave her a sexy smile and she returned it in kind tonight's the night she decided in her head as they enjoyed their last few minutes together before preparing to embark on their first full day apart since Lewis.
9:50 AM.
"Hey hey no we don't throw Cheerios," Olivia said frowning at Izzabella as a car horn honked outside.
"But I wanted to try and catch them mommy..."
"That's what balls are for not Cheerios," she said as Elliot walked over stepping through a pile of them "what happened here?" he asked through a frown.
"Izzabella thought she'd throw some Cheerios and see if she could catch them," Olivia explained.
Elliot nodded then frowned at Izzabella "you know better baby. You're gonna help mommy clean that mess up."
Izzabella frowned at him and he nodded firmly "you are," he said.
She continued to frown but nodded begrudgingly and he kissed her head "I love you kiddo. You be good for mommy and grandpa Don."
"Love you too daddy," she said and the horn honked again as he walked over to Liv and pulled her into his arms "if you need anything, anything at all you call me," he said softly.
"I will," she said as she hugged him tightly.
"Promise me baby. Please promise me."
"I promise El. You promise not to worry about me to much okay?"
"I promise to try," he whispered as he kissed her temple then pulled away.
"Okay fair enough. Uh El I forgot to ask do you want Lizzie to go with us or stay here?"
"Ask her what she wants to do when she wakes up," he said and she nodded "I love you guys," he said when the horn honked a third time.
"Love you too!" they both said and he checked to make sure he had his phone then left the house.
xxxxx
"What the hell took you so long?" Munch asked as he drove off.
"I was making sure Liv didn't need anything and telling her and Izzabella bye you know they come first."
He nodded "I know I know it's just we have so much to do. I rented a U-Haul and trailer for the day and you'll be making several trips to second hand stores and the land field."
"Don't you have to have a CDL license to drive those?"
"No you don't thank goodness," he said and El nodded "she already has everything sorted into piles right?"
"No not yet I'll have to help her with that. She'll need breakfast before we can do anything though."
Elliot nodded "alright well you have me until 6:30 tonight then I have to get home."
Munch nodded "we should be done by then for sure."
"Good," El said and they went into small talk for a few minutes then into a comfortable silence and before he knew it they were at Gwen's apartment.
xxxxx
"Gwen I wanna introduce you to my friend Elliot Stabler he's gonna be helping us move you out today," Munch said.
"Hi," Elliot said and she just nodded "I remember him he was there at the disappearing building. Are you gonna disappear me? Because I'm not gonna let anybody disappear me."
"No ma'am... No ma'am I'm not I'm just here to help you two that's it. What happened to your couch?" he asked seeing holes in it.
"Why do you wanna know?"
"It was just an icebreaker ma'am."
She nodded slightly "there were trackers in it and I found them. I found them and took them out."
Elliot sighed slightly, frowned and tilted his head shocked and a little perplexed "I fixed you a bagel Jon," Gwen said.
"Thank you," he said and Elliot smiled and looked at Gwen "I know you're gonna eat before you work but is there anything that I can go ahead and load up now? The sooner I get started the quicker I'll be able to finish."
"No, no we don't do anything until after I eat the disappearers are able to distract me easier when I'm hungry."
Elliot nodded "okay okay that's fine but I promise you have nothing to worry about with me I don't wanna disappear you I don't even work there anymore."
"That's what Jon said once before too."
"Well I'm telling you the truth. May I sit down?"
Gwen nodded her head as he sighed, sat on the ottoman and played solitaire while they ate wondering what the hell he had gotten himself into.
McDonalds, Queens New York, 12:12 PM.
"Hey cap thank you for meeting us here," Olivia said as Izzabella was sitting beside her and drinking a fruitizz quickly.
"It wasn't a problem though you should probably slow down there little miss," he said ruffling Izzabella's hair "the playhouse isn't going anywhere."
Izzabella just cont sipping on it quickly and Liv sighed "Izzabella Margaret," she said sternly and she slowed down "I think she's just testing her boundaries I usually don't have her by myself," Liv explained.
"That makes sense have you guys ordered yet?"
"Yeah we're just waiting on it to come out me and her are gonna share a 20 piece chicken nugget."
Cragen nodded "I think I'm gonna order a big mack, be right back," he said walking off as she smiled and her and Izzabella played some games of I spy.
When Cragen came back he joined in too and they played until they got their food "these are the best chicken nuggets ever!" Izzabella exclaimed.
"They are huh? Well don't tell daddy that he'll be crushed," Liv said through a chuckle.
Izzabella touched her finger tips to her lips and Cragen smiled "this big mac isn't to bad either."
Liv nodded "the food's not bad I'll give them that."
"Hey I told you to choose where ever you wanted and you chose here so."
She smiled "I picked it for her. How have you been doing?"
"Good we've had a dry spell the last couple days at work which has been nice."
She nodded "the calm before the storm probably."
"That's exactly what I'm afraid of. Where's Elliot's other daughter?"
"At the house she didn't wake up until 11:30. Asked me to pick her up after."
Cragen nodded "it sounds like she's starting to enjoy her vacation a little to much."
"Yeah maybe so but she deserves it her step dad was a real hard ass."
"That's what I heard. Just don't let her take advantage Liv."
"She's Elliot's daughter cap and I love her like she's my own we're gonna support her for as long as we can and it's not like she's doing nothing she's a god send when we go to therapy, watches Izzabella with no complaints."
"That's good to hear," he said as Izzabella looked to Liv "mommy mommy can I go play now?"
"Sure baby just stay where I can see you and don't talk to any grownups you don't know."
She nodded and ran off as Liv looked back to Cragen while watching her in her periphery "uhh cap? If you guys aren't busy at work why couldn't Jon find anyone else besides Elliot to help him today? I know you two are close."
He nodded "Gwen's crazy that's why none of us wanted to be around her."
Liv frowned and nodded "crazy how?"
"You've gotta remember her Liv Jon's ex wife? The one who helped with the Peter Harrison case?"
"Ohh god... El's gonna lose his mind. I wish we would have known..."
"You never asked."
She nodded "good point," she said as she sighed "maybe she's mellowed out a bit?" she asked hopefully.
He shook his head sympathetically "I'm sorry to say she hasn't she was evicted from the building for the disabled she's been living in for continuously scaring the other residents. She wouldn't leave them alone and kept harassing them with her theories until she was finally kicked out."
Olivia sighed "it seems like she needs help, real help if she did that once what's to stop her from doing it again and being in the same exact boat a few months down the road?"
"Nothing, absolutely nothing," he said as he sighed "you want a milkshake? I'm gonna go order one."
"Yeah chocolate please," she said handing him a 5 dollar bill from her wallet.
He handed it back "it's on me," he said stepping away before she could give it back and she just put it back open mouthed.
They had their shakes and were drinking them with in 5 minutes as they stayed in a comfortable silence until Cragen finally broke it "Liv are you 100% sure you aren't ready to go back to work? I'm not trying to rush you at all it's just once I extend your leave there's no changing your mind you'll have to wait until it's over."
"Captain I'm sure me and El tested it and it didn't go well."
"What do you mean you tested it?" he asked with a furrowed brow.
"I held his registered personal fire arm, holstered it to my hip and all that stuff like I was on duty."
Cragen nodded "and seeing it was hard for you?"
"No I was fine with that it was when he brought out the handcuffs that I couldn't handle it."
Cragen nodded "if he handcuffed you and it scared you that's okay you won't have to be cuffed on the job undercover operations like that are optional."
"He didn't cuff me he wanted me to cuff him and I couldn't do it. I-I couldn't touch them."
Cragen nodded "then maybe you aren't quite there yet and that's okay."
She nodded slightly "that's the conclusion we came to too and when I talked to the therapist about it yesterday he said he wasn't surprised so."
"He did?" he asked shocked.
"Yeah he said for me to have met that deadline I should have exposed myself to them sooner and he encouraged us to keep trying."
"Are you going to?"
"I-I don't know I mean I've thought about trying to handcuff a manikin or something like that first but I don't know if that would work either."
"Well that depends on what the root of the problem is if it's being afraid of cuffing someone who can fight back then yes it should but if you can't touch them at all then"-
"It wouldn't. I'm not afraid of El though I know he wouldn't resist me while trying to see if I could do it. The truth is I was afraid of hurting him."
He nodded "does Elliot know that?"
"Yeah I told him while it was happening."
He nodded "well I'll extend your leave out to October first. I would like for you to consider taking the Sergeants exam while you're on leave though."
"I-I don't think that's a good idea cap I don't know how I'll be doing mentally even then I may have to take even more time than that."
"If you do that's totally fine I just want you to have the option of running a patrol sector if you get bored at home, wanna work and aren't ready for SVU and if you do end up going back to SVU then hey that's even better because you'd be the best possible person to take over when I'm gone."
"Actually Elliot would be," she whispered wistfully.
"He wouldn't be he's to confrontational and you know it."
She sighed "yeah maybe but he would have run things right and gotten bad guys off the street."
He nodded "he would have and you can too. Have confidence in yourself Olivia."
She nodded slightly "you've given me a lot to think about, can I think about it and let you know?"
"Yes of course, the test is on August 21st though so you need to decide fairly quickly so I'll have time to get you the study materials."
She nodded "I'll let you know with in the week captain."
"Sounds great, and no pressure either way Olivia if you say no this time there's always next rotation," he said as he finished the rest of his milk shake.
She nodded finishing hers too "I'll definitely think on it you have my word."
He nodded with a smile, glanced at his watch then stood from his seat "I've gotta go meet Eileen at the airport but I'm glad we got to do this today."
"So am I. I hope you guys have a great rest of your day together you deserve it."
He smiled "we will and umm good luck with Elliot when he gets home tonight."
She chuckled and smiled "no luck needed I'm gonna buy him a six pack, fix him the best dinner I know how to make then follow that up with a back massage by the time I'm through with him Gwen Munch will be the furthest thing from his mind."
Cragen chuckled and nodded "it sounds like you've got everything figured out. Bye Liv!" he called as he threw his stuff away then left the restaurant as she went over to where Izzabella was and played with her a little bit then they left to pick up Lizzie as while they drove she jammed to Elliot's classic rock station.
Old apartment of Gwen Munch, 1:45 PM.
"Unless you've got babies that come around to see you often you should donate that," Elliot said pointing at a box which was filled with nothing but onesies.
"I can't donate them my information is inside the fabric and any fabric with my information in it has to stay with me."
"Ms. Munch that's impossible those clothes were all made in a factory somewhere none of those people knew who you were."
"Yes they did they're disappearers all of them, all of you! You all wanna disappear me and I won't let you I'll stop you! I'll stop you!"
"Hey hey listen to me listen to me I don't wanna disappear you... I really don't and neither does Jon we're just trying to help you downsize the things you're taking because your knew apartment is smaller do you understand that?"
She sighed slightly and hung her head "I-I don't wanna move they're making me move, they're making me move so they can get me off my game because I'm to smart for them here. I'm to smart for them here so they're moving me there so they can disappear me there."
Iyiyi he thought to himself as he massaged his temples for a moment "me and Jon don't have any part in that we're just trying to help you we're on your side."
"No one's on my side no one understands what the disappearers are capable of."
He nodded "okay okay you win we'll find room for the baby clothes okay? Lets just find some stuff I can throw out sound good?"
"Okay," she whispered as he sighed in relief and with a little cajoling she allowed him and Munch to load some old pizza boxes and other garbage on to the U-Haul to be taken to the land field.
Once they finished with that he moved to her massive pile of magazines "these can all go too yeah? We don't need to take them to the new apartment right?" he coaxed.
"Some of them can go but most of them have to come. Let me just check them all for secret information," she said grabbing one and reading the first page thoroughly.
"We really don't have time for that," he said as his phone dinged and he grabbed it from his pocket right away and looked at it pics as promised face blowing a kiss emoji, smiling face with hearts emoji the message read as it was from Liv and there were 3 pictures attached.
Gwen nodded "they'll all have to come then," she said.
"They can't I've seen pictures of your new living room and they won't fit in there," Elliot said while opening the photos as the first one was of Liv, Lizzie and Izzabella smiling and standing beside the monkeys, the second was of Izzabella smiling and petting a hamster and the third was of her petting a goat as he put hearts on all 3 pictures then replied to the message with smiling face with hearts and face blowing a kiss emojis.
"Elliot's right Gwen," Munch said as she was shaking her head franticly having not even heard him "you know what the apartment looks like? How do you know what it looks like?" she asked as she became even more paranoid when she saw his phone out "you can't be using that in here I have secret information in here and you've seen to much... I've told you to much! You better not tell the disappearers about me!" she shouted as she reached to grab his phone.
Elliot stepped away from her and kept his phone out of reach "stop," he said firmly as Munch put a hand on her shoulder.
"I won't stop! I won't let you tell the disappearers what you know! I want you to leave! I 'I want you to leave right now!"
Elliot nodded "I don't have a problem with that, you take care of yourself," he said moving to go as Munch moved to follow him "Elliot! Elliot no Elliot wait!"
"She wants me to leave I'm leaving I've got a million other things I could be doing right now and she's beyond reason I don't know how to deal with her," he said once they were in the hall way.
"You were doing really good until she saw your phone maybe just don't use it in there?"
"It was Liv she sent me pictures of them all at the zoo I wasn't gonna not respond to her and you can't expect that from me."
"Ohh they're at the zoo? That's great to hear I hope they're having a good time."
"They are and I'm missing it because I'm hear trying to help her and she's not appreciative at all. I've been here for almost four hours and we've gotten absolutely nothing done I just," he raised his hands and shook his head "I'm sorry Jon I really am but I'm not the right guy for this and you're gonna have to get her some professional help."
"You are the right man Elliot you're not letting her walk all over you... You've negotiated with her and gotten some done the truck's a quarter of the way full and you only started doing the talking ten minutes ago I couldn't get her to let anything go in two hours."
He sighed "it's a quarter of the way full of pizza boxes, paper plates and candy wrappers we haven't even made it out of the living room and kitchen area yet and even if I do stay you only have me for a little over four more hours there's absolutely no way we can finish."
"We can if you come back and help me tomorrow."
"Jon she doesn't want me here any more she asked me to leave and I'm needed at home today was just a one time thing for a friend because he asked for my help and had no one else."
"I still have no one else and she'll let you back in Elliot she's just scared you've gotta see that."
He sighed and nodded "I see it and it breaks my heart but she wouldn't feel that way if she let the proper professionals help her."
"I know," Munch whispered tearfully.
Elliot nodded then sighed seeing Munch in tears as his resolve wavered "alright alright I'm not coming back tomorrow but I'm already here now so if she'll let me back in I'll do as much as I can until 6:30 unless something happens okay?"
Munch nodded and with that he opened the apartment door and went back inside as Elliot followed in behind him "I thought I told you to leave," Gwen said.
"You did and if that's what you really want then I will but I thought we were making a good team you and me we got rid of a lot of stuff."
She sighed "we were but then you were talking to the disappearers about me and I can't let you do that."
"Gwen I wasn't talking to the disappearers."
"Yes you were you were using an iPhone and disappearers are connected to the iPhones even if you didn't mean to tell them about me they can hear all about me anyway."
You're doing this for Munch Elliot. You're doing this for him what would Olivia say to her in this moment? he asked himself in his head as he looked at her with as much compassion as he could muster "listen to me I promise you no disappearers can hear us my camera isn't on and I'd never take pictures of anything of yours with out your permission. I was on my phone because my wife messaged me she took our little girl to the zoo. Would you like to see the pictures?"
"Y-You have a little girl?"
He nodded with a smile "her name's Izzabella, she's three. I've also got 4 other kids which are all grown up now."
She nodded her head several times "I've always wanted a little girl."
Elliot nodded his head sympathetically and pulled up the picture of her petting the hamster "this is her," he said with a smile.
"She's adorable I love her braids."
He smiled "Liv's definitely good at putting them in. Listen though I showed you this so you'd know if you see me on my phone again I'm just checking in on them okay?"
She sighed warily but nodded her head slightly "don't let the disappearers get to her okay?"
"Don't worry I protect my family with my life any disappearers that might come around will have to go through me."
"Good," she whispered and he slightly smiled "lets get back to work now okay? We still have a lot to do and not a lot of time to do it in."
Gwen nodded slightly "okay but I have to keep the magazines."
Elliot nodded "I'm not gonna make you give away anything you don't want to I'm here to make suggestions and help that's all at the end of the day everything here is yours."
Gwen nodded her head slightly and shook his hand as they then began sorting through the rest of the small stuff in the apartment.
Queens zoo, 2:45 PM.
"Where do you guys wanna go next? We can either go to Chuck E Cheese or the park," Liv asked as she pulled out of the zoos parking lot.
"Chuck E Cheese!" Izzabella cheered and Lizzie chuckled from beside Liv "I figured you'd say that," Liv said.
"We never ever go there, please mommy? Please?"
Olivia looked to Lizzie briefly "you okay with that sweetie?"
"Yeah of course I still like some of the games there. How much are tokens?"
"One dollar gets you four of them but I'll give you both ten a piece."
"So I'll get 40 tokens?"
"Yeah unless you wanna buy more that's your choice, we have to be gone by 4:15 though."
"Can't we just bring a pizza home from there? That way we can stay longer?"
"No sweetie your dad deserves a home cooked meal he's worked really hard today."
She nodded "what are we gonna have?"
Olivia smiled "spaghetti, garlic bread and asparagus."
"That sounds really good I bet dad will love it."
She smiled and nodded "I think he will too," she said as Izzabella piped up again from the back "are we going there mommy? Are we going there?"
"We are baby," she said with a smile and the rest of the drive there was monopolized by Izzabella's excited chatter.
Once they were inside the building Olivia bought the tokens right away "you wanna hang with us or go on your own?" she asked Lizzie.
"I might do a little of both," she said with a smiled.
"Sounds great," she said then looked to Izzabella "what do you wanna do first?" she asked.
Izzabella stood there open mouthed as she happily gazed at all the different choices unable to decide "how about we do this? Daddy told me once that you like this," Liv suggested pointing at the skeeball machine.
Izzabella nodded, let go of Liv's hand and jumped up and down in excitement as Olivia smiled and retook her hand "lets go then, and keep a hold of my hand sweetie," she said as they walked towards the game.
Izzabella nodded and they ended up playing several rounds and winning the grand prize once "lets see what else we can play!" Liv suggested excitedly as she stuffed the tickets they had won into her purse.
"Okay!" Izzabella said and they walked around for a few minutes until she pointed at one of the trucks "I wanna ride on there," she said.
Olivia nodded and they got in the small line as Lizzie was playing a more teen appropriate arcade game beside them "I've won 65 tickets!" she called with a smile.
"That's great! We have 24!" Liv said.
"Nice!" she called as Liv smiled and moved Izzabella forward in the line "mommy?" she asked a bit quieter.
"Yeah?" Liv asked softly noting the change in her voice.
"Where's daddy?"
"He's working with uncle Jon remember?"
She nodded slightly "will he be here soon?"
"No but he'll be home in time for dinner."
She nodded slightly "I miss him."
"I'm sure he misses you too baby," Liv said as it was now her turn to ride on the truck "we can try calling him in a bit okay?"
"Okay," she said with a slight smile as Liv smiled, helped her onto the truck then put in the tokens as by the time the ride had started she was smiling huge again.
They ended up playing several more games together after that and Izzabella ended up with around 50 tickets in all "Lizzie how are you doing?" Liv asked her as she had been playing one game the entire time.
She smiled "I have 133 tickets."
"Wow that's impressive! It's 3:45 though so lets get our picture taken together then cash these in."
"Okay," she said as they moved to the picture booth and took a great picture together then went to the prize counter as Lizzie ended up giving Izzabella 40 of her tickets "what do you tell your sister?" Liv asked with a soft smile.
"Thank you," Izzabella said excitedly.
"You're welcome," Lizzie said as they both got as much candy as their tickets would buy then headed out to the truck "can I play my playlist over the radio on the way home?" she asked as they walked.
"Yeah sure as long as you know how to set it up me and your dad aren't good with that kind of stuff."
"I do I promise," she said as Liv nodded, buckled Izzabella in then they drove off.
"Why are we here?" Lizzie asked as Liv parked in the parking lot of the Queens ABC store.
"I'm just buying your dad a 6 pack I'll be right back," she said with a slight smile.
"He won't drink it he almost never drinks beer anymore."
"He might want it today the woman he's helping move is crazy."
"Oh no..." Lizzie said as Liv just nodded "I'll be right back. Lock the doors."
"Okay," she said as she locked them once Liv was out then jammed to a Britney Spears song as not even 3 minutes later Liv was back with the six pack as she unlocked the truck when she saw her "that was fast," Lizzie said.
Liv tossed the beer behind the seats and nodded with a slight smile "you know I don't dillydally," she said simply as she hopped back in the truck and drove off.
"True you don't," she said and Liv just nodded and smiled "do you know what we're having for dessert?" Lizzie asked.
"I think I'm gonna make a chocolate cake."
Lizzie nodded as her mouth watered "that sounds really good."
"Yeah I agree. Izzabella what do you think of that honey?"
"Mmm chocolate," she said with a smile as Liv nodded and silence descended upon them all as they got closer to the house.
Once they were parked and the truck was off Liv sighed heavily and sat there for a moment as the seen felt awfully familiar to her and she looked around at everything closely "Liv you okay?" Lizzie asked after a minute.
"Y-Yeah I'm fine sweetie when you locked the house and met us out here earlier what lights were still on?"
"I don't remember," she said through a shrug.
She nodded slightly and sighed again as she opened her phone's notification center and looked at all of her notifications from motion central as when she saw the last one was at 1:15 she sighed in relief what if the app missed it though? They aren't perfect she told herself as she then looked to the girls "why don't we all go check on the okra? It hasn't been picked in several days w-we might could pick some."
"Okay sure but don't we have to have something to put it into?"
"Yeah... Yeah I guess we do w-we can just walk around."
Lizzie frowned slightly "I thought you needed to start dinner now? And that's why we came back when we did?"
"I do I just... I just," she sighed "come on girls."
Lizzie stepped out while sighing slightly as Izzabella got out eagerly "I wanna jump on the trampoline mommy can we do that? Please can we?" she begged.
"Yeah sure baby," she said as she took her hand and lead her over there "daddy doesn't hold my hand," Izzabella commented nonchalantly.
"He doesn't? Well lets just do it my way today sweetie," she said picking her up and sitting her on the trampoline "take your shoes off and hand them to me please."
Izzabella nodded and handed them to her "thank you honey," Liv said as she laid them on the ground, climbed up there with her, kicked hers off then zipped up the net "you ready to jump?"
"Yeah!" she said with a bright smile as Liv nodded, stood and they began to jump together while Lizzie texted on her phone nearby unnoticed.
"Higher mommy! Higher higher higher!" Izzabella chanted excitedly a few minutes later as she was sitting now and letting Liv bounce her.
Despite being out of breath Liv obliged and jumped higher "this is sooo fun mommy!" Izzabella exclaimed.
"Yes it... is," she panted as her phone started ringing "please don't stop mommy," Izzabella implored.
"I have to... check it," she said between breaths as she stopped jumping and grabbed her phone from her pocket "hello?" she answered with out looking at it.
"Hey baby it's me. Are you alright?" Elliot asked as his voice was soft but contained a hint of worry.
"Yeah yeah I'm fine just a little out of breath I didn't realize the trampoline was such a workout."
He chuckled slightly "it definitely can be. Lizzie texted, said you were acting a little strange were you triggered? Do I need to catch a cab?"
"No no I'm okay El she shouldn't have bothered you I'm sorry she did."
"Don't apologize baby," he said as shouting could then be heard in the background "sorry honey give me one second."
Liv nodded to herself and kept the phone to her ear "we've already been over this you can't take it there's not room for it and you already have one," she heard him say, presumably to Gwen as the sound was slightly muffled.
"But it has trackers in it! It has trackers in it and this one doesn't because I took them out I want this one!"
"It doesn't though! It doesn't I've told you 50 times today that it doesn't!"
"Don't yell at me, disappearers yell disappearer! Disappearer! You pretended to be my friend but I know what you are now you're a disappearer!" Gwen yelled and with that Liv quickly hung up, her mind not being in the right space to hear the arguing "mommy do you need a hug?" Izzabella asked noticing her hands shaking.
"I-I'd love that sweet girl," she whispered as Izzabella nodded, flung herself into her arms and Liv caught her and hugged her tightly.
The hug lasted a couple minutes as Lizzie ended up walking over to the trampoline "hey Liv you okay?" she called.
"Y-Yeah, yeah I'm fine sweetie. I wish you wouldn't have worried your dad though he's busy."
"I was worried, still am honestly."
Liv just nodded slightly and sighed "I'm fine sweetie, l-lets just head on inside dinner won't fix itself."
Lizzie nodded and started stepping away "wait let us get down," Liv said as Izzabella frowned "I wanna jump more mommy..."
"Maybe later," she said as once they both got their shoes on she held Izzabella's hand and kept her close to her side "stay right beside me okay? Lizzie stay behind me."
"Why?" Lizzie asked.
"Please just do it," she whispered imploringly as Lizzie nodded and a minute later they were on the porch and she shakily unlocked the door but left it closed "you have to open it silly," Izzabella said through a chuckle.
"I know baby just give me one second," she said as she ignored the notification they triggered from motion central, pulled up her phone's key pad and dialed 911 with out pressing send "now we can open it," she said as she sighed in relief once they were inside and no one was waiting there for them.
"You okay Liv?" Lizzie asked sighing in relief when she felt the cool air inside the house.
"Yeah," she whispered as she turned to Izzabella "are you honey?"
"Mmhmm," she said with a smile as Liv let her hand go just as her phone began to ring "hello?" she answered.
"Baby it's me... I'm sorry you had to hear that I just got in a cab I'll be home soon."
She sighed "you didn't have to do that El... Is Gwen okay?"
"It depends on how you define okay she needs serious mental help it's a miracle we accomplished as much as we did."
"I could tell honestly, what all did you guys get done?" she asked as she put the phone on speaker, sat it on the counter then put his beer in the fridge and began food prep.
"We got a truck full of garbage hauled to the land field and a load of old clothes and shoes donated to the second hand store on Broadway and 5th, theres still a lot of clothes and stuff to go through the big stuff really slowed us down."
"What do you mean?"
He sighed "her new apartment's fully furnished but she wants to take the old appliances and furniture with her anyway."
"Can she do that?"
"No there's no room for them."
Liv nodded "you'll just have to tell her that."
"I did, 50 times but she only hears what she wants to hear. Ugh this traffic's unfucking believable," he muttered through a sigh.
"I know, don't worry about me though I'm fine I promise."
"I... I can tell you are now but I was worried."
"I'm sorry El, really I-I was doing so well until we got here then I just..." she sighed "I'm really sorry."
"Don't apologize baby you know I was thrilled to get out of that apartment," he chuckled slightly but then quickly sobered "I hate it when you're scared though."
"I know," she said as she went to say something else but Izzabella ran in "mommy mommy is that daddy?"
"It is," she said as Elliot smiled over the phone "hey kiddo!"
"Hey daddy! I miss you!"
"I miss all you guys too baby, I'll be home soon though."
"Okay, I got candy."
"You did?"
"Mmhmm lots of candy, bye daddy!"
"Bye baby, love you see you soon!" he called as Liv smiled "dinner should be done in about an hour."
"Sounds great, I'll be there in around 20 minutes or so."
"Okay, love you El."
"I love you too baby, see you shortly," he said as he hung up and she focused fully back on food prep as she was now on the cake.
5:35 PM.
The front door opened and Elliot smiled smelling amazing aromas right away "hey!" he called cheerfully while locking the door behind him.
"Daddy!!!" Izzabella squealed in delight as she raced into his arms.
Elliot caught her, hugged her tightly for a minute then kissed her head and sat her down "how was your day kiddo?"
"I got bunches and bunches of candy! You wanna see?"
"Sure," he said with a smile and she nodded and showed him the bag full "woah... That is a lot. What else did you do today?"
"I saw a elephant! It went," she tried to make the sound an elephant makes with her mouth.
"Wow!... You really heard that?!"
"Mmhmm, play with me?"
"Maybe in a little while," he said as he gave her a final kiss on the head then walked past her, quickly greeted Lizzie then headed into the kitchen.
"Hey," Liv said with a bright smile sensing him right away.
"Hey baby, sorry I'm a little sweaty," he said then pulled her into a gentle embrace.
She returned it in kind "I don't care," she said as he nodded and they exchanged tender kisses "it was weird with out you with us today," she said once their mouths had broken apart.
He nodded "it was weird for me too not being with you guys."
She nodded "what time do we lose you tomorrow?"
"Huh?" he asked puzzled.
"I assumed since you guys didn't finish today that you'd have to finish tomorrow."
"Jon and Gwen do I don't I only committed to one day if he can't handle it he'll just have to hire a mover or something."
Liv nodded and sighed "I feel bad for them El I really do."
"So do I but she needs real actual help. Dinner smells amazing baby."
"Thank you, it's spaghetti with asparagus, garlic bread and chocolate cake."
He nodded with a smile "mmm sounds amazing," he said as she smiled and pulled away from him slightly to get his beer out of the fridge "I'm not sure when you wanna drink these but I figured you deserved them after today," she said sitting them on the counter.
"Ohh thank you baby you didn't have to get them though you know I don't have to drink..."
"You're welcome El and I know but I'll be fine if you do I promise."
He nodded hesitantly then kissed her temple "I'm just gonna drink one," he whispered.
"Drink however many you want to honey," she said as she turned back to watch the food and he smiled, opened his beer and took a sip "you need me to do anything?" he asked.
"No just relax you deserve it everything'll be ready soon."
"Alright, thank you baby," he said again and he ended up sitting at the kitchen island and sipping on the beer while dinner finished.
A little while later they were all eating at the table "this is amazing Liv!" Lizzie said with a smile.
"Thank you sweetie I'm glad you like it."
"I really do," she said as Elliot nodded in agreement with a smile and before to much longer Izzabella was finished "I want candy mommy," she said.
"You can either have candy or cake you choose."
She shook her head "I want both."
Liv shook her head and Izzabella frowned and looked at Elliot "either one or none we're good either way," he said.
"Cake," she whispered and he nodded "that's what I thought. When everyone's through eating I'll fix us all some."
Izzabella nodded and once dessert was done it was time for their nightly movie which they had put into their routine a couple weeks ago "who's turn is it to pick tonight? I forgot I'm sorry," El asked.
"Don't be sorry, it's yours," Liv said with a smile while tossing the dishes into the dish washer.
He nodded and smiled slightly "I'll go find one," he said as he ended up settling on finding Nemo while Lizzie made the popcorn.
Once everyone was settled he pressed play as since the movie was more for Izzabella than anyone else Olivia and Elliot focused more on each other "Cragen wants me to take the sergeants exam," she whispered after a little while.
"Yeah?" Elliot asked as he smiled slightly.
Olivia nodded "mmhmm I'm not sure if I want to though."
He nodded "what's holding you back?"
She sighed "I don't know how much more time I'm gonna need off work for one."
He nodded "if you take the test will they expect you back right away?"
"The way I understood it no he said it would be sorta like a fallback plan if I can't get over my fear and still wanna work but I don't know El... I really don't."
He nodded "you'd make one hell of a sergeant baby I have no doubt about that."
She smiled slightly "so you think I should take the test?"
He rubbed her back "I think you should do whatever you wanna do," he said softly.
She nodded "I'd love to lead SVU one day but I think it would feel strange."
"Any first position you would have as sergeant would feel strange at first no matter what it was... If you set your mind to it though I know you could do it and you'd be a natural at it."
She smiled "if I do this and wind up leading SVU one day I'll remember everything you taught me, I'll do my best to make you proud."
"Baby you already make me proud, so proud I'm proud of you every day," he whispered as he pulled her into his arms.
She wrapped her arms around him too "that means a lot to me, really El but leading a precinct? A squad of my own? T-That's a whole different thing."
He nodded "I know, baby I know , listen though if you do this I want you to leave my ways behind you, don't let them hang over you please..."
She sighed "I wanna keep your legacy alive there you can't be forgotten you made a huge difference."
"And the difference you can make is endless, it's endless baby I think you could probably change the entire rape culture if you put your mind to it."
She sighed "that's sweet of you to say El and it's always been a dream of mine you know that."
He nodded "I do but I'm not being sweet I'm telling you the truth," he said as he heard a loud throat clear "yeah Lizzie?"
"The movie's over. Did you even see the last scene?"
"No we were talking sorry, Izzabella time for bed baby," he said as he gave Liv a quick kiss "continue this later?" he asked.
She nodded "of course El, I'll take her though you just relax."
"I've barely lifted a finger all night Liv."
She just smiled, nodded and pecked him on the lips "come on kiddo," she said to Izzabella as while they went through her bedtime routine she thought long and hard on what Elliot had said.
9:30 PM.
"Can I try one of the beers? There's still four of them left," Lizzie asked seeing Liv walking down the stairs.
"No, no you can't," El said firmly from his spot on the couch.
"Why not dad? I know you're not gonna drink them all."
"Because you're not 21 yet. If you still wanna try it on your 21st birthday I'll buy you one then."
Lizzie just nodded and sighed "I'm gonna go chat with Samantha."
"Alright, night honey I'll probably be in bed before you're off."
"Night dad, night Liv love you guys."
"Night sweetie we love you too," Liv said as she yawned and El did too "you wanna head on upstairs?" he asked.
She nodded and they headed up there in sync as Elliot immediately brushed his teeth to get the beer off his breath and she was touched by the gesture as she searched through the cabinets and smiled when she found what she was looking for "whatcha got there?" he asked with a curious smile once he was finished.
"A surprise," she said stuffing it in her pocket as once they were in the bedroom and standing by the bed she smiled "I'm gonna take the sergeants test," she whispered.
"Good," he said softly and she smiled, stood on her tippy toes and kissed him gently but passionately.
He returned the kiss in kind and a minute later she broke it to remove his shirt and he rose his arms to help her "baby?" he asked questioningly.
She smiled and pulled the massage oil from her pocket "lay on your stomach," she said softly.
"Oh baby..." he said as he laid down and his heart melted when she started his back massage "I didn't realize how much I needed this," he whispered as his muscles were really tense.
"I'm sorry I neglected you for as long as I did I"-
"No baby don't apologize... Ahh that feels amazing keep going," he said as she was massaging the tension points with moderate pressure.
She nodded and obliged "I love you so much El," she said as she worked.
"Love you... too baby," he said and a few minutes later she had him roll over so she could do the fronts of his shoulders "you're so handsome," she whispered becoming slightly distracted by his muscles and abs as arousal shot through her.
He smiled "and you're the most beautiful woman I've ever seen."
She smiled but shook her head slightly and continued his massage "no you are," he said adamantly.
She leaned forward and kissed him as this time tongues entered the picture and they explored each others mouths and a minute later he pulled his mouth away from hers enough to speak "baby?" he asked softly, unsure on how far she wanted things to go as his hand had a gentle grip on her shirt.
Olivia nodded "yes I-it's time El," she whispered.
"You sure? There's no set timeframe baby."
"Yeah... I'm a little nervous but I want to, I want to more than anything," she whispered as she kissed him again.
"If it helps I'm nervous too," he said softly as he gently removed her shirt and bra then returned her kiss as he then moved his lips down and started kissing her neck gently.
She moaned slightly and got a little louder when he began sucking gently as he moved his lips before they could cause any marks and before long she was laying down and he was kissing down her entire body.
She wrapped her arms around his back and enjoyed the sensation as when he got to the areas of her skin which were scarred he kissed them just like he had kissed the rest of her body as it was like they weren't there at all to him.
Eventually he made it to her waist and she rose her hips so he could remove her pants and undergarments as while he removed hers she removed his and they both tossed them to the floor "how do you wanna do this?" he asked softly as he rubbed and tapped her peaked nipples gently.
She moaned slightly and her eyes widened in pleasure from the sensation as it took her a second to respond "I wanna be... on top," she managed to say.
Elliot nodded and went back to kissing her neck while he quickly lubed up as he then laid down and she straddled him "this okay?" he asked as he had a gentle grip on her hips and was rubbing them with his thumbs.
She nodded and kissed down his chest for a minute then rose her head and looked into his eyes "your pace baby, we go at your pace," he said softly as he returned her gaze lovingly and they kissed sensually as she slid on to him and they made love.