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Prompt #28: Elliot takes Noah shopping to pick out a Valentine's gift for Olivia.

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Wednesday, February 9th, 2022

"Thank you for picking me up, Elliot," Noah said as he grabbed his bag and waved goodbye to his friends, before walking out of his school, Elliot in tow.

"Anytime Noah, you know that. I'm sorry your mom couldn't pick you up though like she planned," Elliot said, as they started walking in the direction of the car.

"It's alright, I wanted to talk to you anyway."

"You did? What did you want to talk about?"

"Well…it was really to ask you a favor. I meant to ask you this Monday when we were at your house for mom's birthday. I wanted to know if you would help me get my mom something for Valentine's day?"

"Of course, Noah. If you want to, we can go right now since your mom isn't going to pick you up till later tonight. Do you know what you want to get her?"

"No, she's really hard to shop for. She always says she loves anything I get her, but I want to make sure it's special," he says, letting out a sigh as they approached the car. Elliot unlocked it and opened the door for Noah who got in the car, placing his bag beside him.

"I have a few places we can check out."

Seeing Noah nod, he double-checked that he was buckled in before closing the door and getting in the driver's side.

EO

Arriving at Manhattan Mall, they got out of the car, going past the double doors, and walked up to the mall map.

"There's a couple of different places to check out. I was thinking of checking out the boutique, what do you think?"

"Yeah, I think that would be good. Mom brought me there a few times and they have everything!"

"Sounds good," Elliot said, as they got on the escalator which brought them right outside the store.

"I'll follow your lead, Noah," Elliot said, as he followed Noah into the first aisle.

EO

An hour later

"Noah, we've been here for an hour already, why don't we check out other stores?" Elliot asked, rolling up his sleeves, crossing his arms as he leaned against the wall, watching Noah stare at the shelf in front of him.

"No, not yet! I think I found something. Can we get this?" Noah asked, picking up the jewelry box in front of him, giving it to Elliot to check out.

Turning it over in his hand, he smiled at it, his reflection showing in the silver of the square box.

"Of course, we can. Your mom is going to love this. And you see this sticker on the tag? They will even engrave her name on it. Sounds good?"

"That's perfect! I can't wait for her to open it. Now that we have my gift to her, what are you getting her for Valentine's Day?" Noah asked, taking the item back from him to hold as they walked towards the front of the store.

Shocked, Elliot looked at him curiously before asking, "Why would I get her something for Valentine's Day?"

"Well, don't boyfriends and girlfriends get each other stuff?" Noah questioned, looking up at him.

"Well, yes, but you know we aren't a couple. We are just good friends."

"Yes, you are. Grandma B and Kathleen said so when we were at your house. I overheard them talking in the kitchen."

Elliot's jaw dropped at hearing this. "Noah, I…Uhm, I don't know…"

"NEXT!" the clerk's voice rang out, bringing him back to reality. He went and paid, waiting for the engraving to be done.

After they got their purchase, Elliot brought Noah to the food court, sitting him down at a table.

"Noah, listen, about what you told me in the store…"

"It's okay. Like I said, I heard what Grandma B said, and it's fine with me."

"Your mom and I aren't together, Noah. But if we did one day want to be a couple, would that be okay with you?"

"Yeah, I already thought you two were a couple."

"Listen, if we do become boyfriend and girlfriend one day, you need to let me know if you have any issues with it. Okay?" Elliot said, with a seriousness he hadn't heard from him before.

"I get it. I promise to tell you, but I'm fine." Noah said, rolling his eyes, once Elliot looked away.

Turning back to look at him, Elliot said to him, "Noah, I hope you know this, and I want you to never forget it. No matter what happens with me and your mom, I will always be here for you. Anytime you need me, I will be here for you. You are stuck with me kid. No matter what happens…we are family forever."

"I understand. Family forever," Noah said as he smiled and nodded.

'Adults are weird', he thought, getting up to head back to the car with Elliot.

"You still never told me what are you getting my mom."

"You will find out later, but don't worry about it. I already have something that I bought for her," Elliot said, thinking about the item that sat in the box next to his old badge on his dresser.

EO

Valentine's Day

"Now that we finished dinner, can I give you my gift?" Noah asked his mom, as he sat across from her.

Seeing her nod, he got up and ran to his room to get the wrapped package.

Seeing Elliot begin to clear the table, she began to get up to help.

"Nope, sit down. I got this," he said, glancing at her, with a knowing look.

Sighing, she sat back down, rolling her eyes as a smirk formed on her face.

Hearing Noah's footsteps coming back down the hallway, Elliot quickly put the dishes in the sink, before going to sit back down.

Coming over to his mom, he handed her the wrapped gift, and a handmade card.

"I got you this for Valentine's Day, Elliot helped me get it for you."

"Aww, thank you, Noah, this is so sweet." She turned to look at Elliot. "Thank you for taking him, you didn't have to."

"It's fine, you know I love hanging out with Noah. Now let me see what you got."

Liv opened the card and read it before giving her son a hug and a kiss on the top of his head. She then began ripping the paper off.

Seeing the beautiful jewelry box, she smiled, as her fingers etched her name on the top. She carefully placed it down, before grabbing Noah into a big hug.

"Thank you so much, Noah, I love it! I am going to use it every day. Thank you, my sweet boy."

As they broke from the hug, Noah looked at Elliot, signaling it was his turn.

"I may have got you something too," Elliot said, giving her a nervous smile, his heart quickening with what he was about to do.

Olivia looked at him, suspicious about what was about to happen.

"You didn't have to do that, Elliot. The fact that you took Noah to get a gift was more than enough."

"I know I didn't have to, but this is something I actually got for you a while back."

Taking the box out of his pocket, Elliot placed it down on the table in front of Olivia, signaling for her to open it.

Looking at the small black box he placed in front of her, she gasps, tears gathering in her eyes, as her mind begins to race, wondering what it was.

"Elliot…" she said as she lets out a breathy gasp.

She reached forward, slowly opening the box. Seeing a gold ring, the phrase Semper Fi engraved in it staring back at her, she looked at him questionably.

"I love it, Elliot. It's beautiful. But, why do I have a man's wedding band?"

"It's a promise. To always be there for you and Noah. To be there for our family. But, it's kind of a selfish thing. The ring is mine, and I want you to hold on to it for me. I have the matching woman's ring. I bought it in the hopes, that one day, when you are ready, we can exchange them…in front of our friends," Elliot explained, his voice raspy, tears in his eyes, as he saw her put her hand over her mouth in shock.

Overcome with emotion, she just nodded at him, tears beginning to fall down her face.

Seeing her nod, he moved forward, and hugged her, rubbing her back, before they broke apart, realizing Noah was still there.

Unsure of how he was going to take this, she looked at her son. "Noah…" she said, knowing this was probably a lot to take in.

"It's okay, Mom, Elliot explained it to me already. I know."

"He did?"

"Yeah, he told me you two were friends, even though I thought you two were together already. I'm fine with it, Mom."

"I hope I didn't overstep, Liv. I wanted to make sure he knew, no matter what, that he comes first."

She looked over at Noah, and seeing he was happy, she turned back to look at Elliot.

"You didn't, and thank you. I appreciate it. I am so glad you two get along so well," she said, wiping her eyes.

"Hey, Noah, remember what I told you earlier? No matter what happens…"

"We are a family forever."