Chapter Five

That weekend, Olivia and Amanda took Aaliyah on a girl's day. They got Aaliyah's nails done and then got in the car again to pick out a few new pieces for her room. Liv even agreed to help her paint it.

"Amanda?" Aaliyah asked.

"Yeah?" she said.

"Do you have kids?" she asked from the back seat.

"I do. I have two daughters, one's a few years older than you, and my other daughter is around your age," she replied.

"Do they have names?" she added.

"Jesse and Billy."

"I like those names."

"Thank you. Your English is getting better," Amanda mentioned.

"My other daddy taught me Swedish and English and Italian. Elliot and Eli now speak English with me all the time."

They arrived at the store and picked up a few things for Aaliyah's room. They got some new paint for her walls and a few things to hang up. Olivia dropped Amanda off at her place and drove Aaliyah back home.

"Olivia do you have any kids?"

"I do. I have a son named Noah, he's 8."

"Where's his daddy?"

"His father wasn't a good man. We don't talk about his parents that much. I looked after him like Elliot looks after you and now I'm his mommy."

"My daddy wasn't a good man too. He's not here anymore. And my mom too. But you're a good mommy, Olivia."

"Thank you, Aaliyah." Olivia pulled the car into the parking spot outside the Stablers' apartment. She got Aaliyah out of the car and they made their way in. Olivia got the room ready to paint and together, it didn't take them long to finish the small room.

After the paint dried, Olivia hung up some pictures and finished decorating the room. By the time she was done with everything, Elliot had arrived home. Olivia closed Aaliyah's bedroom door behind her to great Elliot.

"Hey, how'd it go?" Elliot asked.

"Really well," she replied.

"Elliot," Aaliyah said running up to him, with Elliot catching her.

"Do you want to see your room?" Liv asked. She nodded her head.

Liv showed the two of them two Aaliyah's room. The room was painted in light creme with one wall sporting floral wallpaper.

"Wow!" Aaliyah said.

"Liv, you did a great job," Elliot said.

"Thank you." Olivia almost blushed at the compliment.

"Can I take you guys to dinner?"

"Pizza?" Aaliyah asked.

"Pizza's ok with me," Liv agreed.

Elliot drove the two of them to a small pizza place. They had just begun eating when Aaliyah shocked them with a question.

"Are you boyfriend and girlfriend?" Elliot choked on his beer.

"No, we are not," he replied after his coughing fit had stopped.

"You ask a lot of questions," Liv laughed. "How old are you again?" Olivia asked.

"Three," Aaliyah replied.

"Well you're a very wise three-year-old," Olivia added.

Back home, Elliot put Aaliyah to bed. He then walked out to the living room where Olivia was sitting on the couch. "After several rounds of more questions, she's finally asleep." He grinned and Olivia laughed.

"Well, I probably should get going. I need to go home and say goodnight to Noah before it's too late," she said.

"Of course," Elliot said. "I'll walk you out." Elliot followed Olivia to the door.

"Goodnight," he said in a soft voice.

"Goodnight," Olivia said.

"I'll see you tomorrow?"

"Always."