Chapter 6: Annual Picnic

Queens SVU Squad Room – 2 Weeks Later—Friday, July 1st 3:30pm

Elliot and Mike were busy doing paperwork for their case on the attempted rape suspect who preyed on young women in the Queens area. The perp ended up getting off and received 6 months probation instead of being found guilty. It wasn't fair, but Elliot and Mike had to deal with it and all of the other suspects they would come across.

"So, are you coming to the picnic on Sunday?" asked Elliot, changing the subject so that they could focus on something else besides their work.

Mike looked up from his paperwork, "Yeah, I'm bringing my mom and my sister. They have been talking about it all week. What about you?"

Elliot grinned, "The whole gang will be coming. Oh, by the way, Olivia said she called you the other day about your mom keeping the baby. We talked about Kaitlyn staying with your mom during the day and we both would love to have her baby-sit."

"That's great. My mom can't wait to see the baby. She's always loved babies so I'm sure she will fall in love with her."

"I'm looking forward to meeting her and your sister."

SVU Squad Room – 5:15pm

Olivia and Faith stood up from their desks and went to their lockers to grab their stuff and head home. It had been a long day for both of them and ever since Liv had came back to work after having Kaitlyn, she wanted to get things done if she could so she could go home early to her. Faith could relate to Olivia, being a mom as well.

"You guys coming to the picnic at the river?" Olivia asked Munch and Fin.

"I'll be there and I plan to play the part of Uncle Munch and entertainer."

"I'm coming too," added Fin.

Olivia and Faith laughed at Munch's comment, "See you guys then." They left and walked out of the squad room.

Hudson River – Sunday, July 3rd – 5:30pm

The festivities at the annual Fourth of July picnic were gearing up into full swing as Elliot, Olivia, and the gang arrived. They unloaded blankets, lawn chairs, a table, a diaper bag, and the stroller out of the Kia Sorento. Olivia lifted Kaitlyn out of her car seat. She had her dressed in a light blue creeper outfit with a matching shirt and shorts with daisies on the front. As they made their way through the crowd, a band was playing nearby. Kids were playing Frisbee, volleyball, and softball, and other cops, paramedics, and firefighters were eating hamburgers, hot dogs, sipping on drinks, and chatting with each other. Elliot and Olivia were glad to see their fellow detectives having a good time outside of work.

"Dad, can I go play Frisbee over there?" asked Dickie, pointing to a nearby field.

Elliot looked up from setting up the lawn chairs and turned to his son and nodded, "Yeah, but stay close where I can see you, okay."

"OK, Dad."

"I'm going to go play volleyball with Mikayla," said Lizzie, referring to one of her friends, whose father was a homicide detective in one of the neighboring precincts.

Elliot nodded his approval and Elizabeth ran straight towards the volleyball net. He watched until she found Mikayla and they started hitting the ball. Maureen and Kathleen stayed behind to help Olivia fold out the blanket on the ground. Both of the girls were wearing flag T-shirts and denim shorts while Olivia wore a light pink tank top and khaki shorts and Elliot wore his trademark upside down baseball cap with a blue shirt and shorts. They all sat down in the lawn chairs with Olivia standing Kaitlyn up in her lap. Kaitlyn squealed happily as she felt the sun and the breeze blow on her face, making them all smile and laugh. Olivia moved the stroller in front of her and put the baby in there with a few toys. She pulled down the cover to keep the sun out as Kaitlyn cooed and kicked her little bare feet excitedly in the air.

About an hour later, Sandoval came over with his mother and sister. He greeted Elliot, Olivia, Maureen, and Kathleen and introduced the two most important women in his life to them.

"Oh, she is so beautiful," said Sandoval's mom, Rosa, referring to Kaitlyn.

"Thank you," replied Olivia.

"Do you mind if I hold her?" asked Mike's sister, Elena.

Olivia hadn't let anyone she barely knew hold her daughter, but Elena would be helping Rosa keep her soon so she thought that it would be okay to let her get acquainted with the baby and handed her to Elena.

"Hi sweetie," said Elena, softly to the baby. "You're so cute." Kaitlyn smiled and made little noises with her hand over her mouth.

Olivia smiled at the interaction as Elliot came over to let her know that he was getting some burgers. After he left, Kaitlyn began to get fussy so Olivia told her that she may be tired or hungry and took her daughter back. She took a bottle out of the diaper bag and gave it to her.

Meanwhile, Munch, Fin, a few other detectives and their families came over to visit for a little while and see the baby. Then, Faith finally arrived with little Jacqueline in tow.

"Hey guys," called out Faith.

"Hi Faith," said Olivia. She introduced her to Elliot and his kids and Kaitlyn and peered at the smiling baby in her partner's arms. "This must be Jacqueline," she said to the baby, tugging at her leg lightly.

"It's nice to meet all of you," said Faith. She turned towards Jacqueline, "Yes, this is my little angel child."

"I have another hamburger if you want it," Elliot smiled and handed it to Faith. "I knew that we would probably have some more visitors."

"Great. Thank you." She took the burger and parked Jacqueline's stroller next to Kaitlyn's and sat down on the lawn chair after Olivia and Elliot both insisted that she stay around with them.

As the adults and kids ate their burgers, they watched as Kaitlyn and Jacqueline played on the blanket and became acquainted with each other by cooing and babbling as their way of communication. Kaitlyn tried to crawl over to the other baby, but she rolled over on her back. She wailed a little before Elizabeth turned her over back on her belly so she could see all of them. Olivia and Faith agreed that they should have a play date for the babies and maybe with being around another baby, Kaitlyn could start crawling early.

It was around 9:30 when the fireworks began. Dickie and Elizabeth sat down on the blanket while everyone else was in their lawn chairs watching the fireworks light up the sky. Olivia and Elliot looked at each other and smiled. They had enjoyed the whole day of fun at the river.

"This is a perfect ending to a perfect day," murmured Elliot.

Olivia nodded, resting her head on his shoulder and sighed as she watched the fireworks. "This day was definitely one of the best."

TBC