Chapter 3

"Oh my god, Olivia. Do you see the waves?" Lola said excitedly. "They're huge."

"They really are." Liv said smiling. She kinda really liked a holiday with kids, especially with Lola. She is such a happy bundle of energy and makes you look at everything through her kid eyes.

Elliot asked Lola if she wanted to play tag with the waves. She wasn't sure what he meant so he explained the pretty simple rules to her- If the water reaches your feet, you lose. She was super excited and asked if Liv and Sarah wanted to join, but Liv wanted to talk to Sarah and knew that Elliot tried to give them some space by distracting Lola.

"Maybe later. I wanna talk to Sarah." "Okay." Lola said while running towards the water with Elliot.

Liv turned to look at Sarah and found her staring at her with fear written all over her face

"You…wa.. wanna talk to.. me?" she stuttered. Liv smiled at her comfortingly.

"If you don't mind, I would like to."

"Uh no. It's fine." Sarah said nervously.

"You wanna go over there and sit down?" Liv asked pointing at some beach chairs. Sarah nodded shyly.

After they sat down Liv said, "I wanted to talk to you and tell you that I really hope it is fine with you that I am here with you guys and I wanted to apologize for all the fighting with your mom. I know it sucks and I really try not to.."

"It's not your fault." Sarah said suddenly.

"Well that's sweet of you but it kinda is. She only acts like this because I am here."

"But you were invited to this holiday. She wasn't." Liv smiled.

"So, you don't mind me being here?" she asked carefully. Sarah looked at her remorsefully.

"I am sorry for behaving like a bitch. I know now that you didn't do anything wrong and that my mom has lied to me about you. She is such a liar. I was so dumb to believe everything she said. You don't deserve her treating you like this and neither did you deserve me being so mean to you. I am really sorry. I totally understand if you can't forgive me but.." Liv interrupted her,

"Honey, there is nothing to be sorry for or to forgive. I am just happy that we can get to know each other now. What do you say, fresh start?"

Sarah got up and hugged her tightly. "Thank you so much." Liv was more than surprised but she gladly hugged the girl back.

"But you really shouldn't be mad at your mom. I am sure she didn't mean to lie to you. She just.." she was interrupted by Sarah again.

"I can't believe that you actually defend her. She lied to me and made me hate you. I can't understand why she did it. Dad said that jealousy makes people that way but that's just not right."

"Well, of course it is never good to lie but sometimes we feel like we need to do it. I guess your mom needed your support, she needed someone who hated me with her. Did you ever feel like you are alone and that no one understands you?" Sarah nodded.

"Well, maybe that's how your mom felt like after she and your dad separated. She really needed you to understand her. So she told you her truth, the way she feels about me."

"So you think she didn't mean to lie. She just needed me on her side?" Liv nodded smiling.

"Well, I do get that. I still think it wasn't right but I kinda understand it. Thank you."

"You're welcome." Liv said.

She turned to the water to watch Elliot play with Lola but she couldn't see Elliot, only Lola who tried to build a sandcastle. Suddenly she saw a shadow behind her. She startled.

"Oh my god, El. You crazy?!"

"Sorry." he said laughing. Sarah got up laughing too and walked over to Lola.

"Thank you." Elliot suddenly said.

Liv looked at him confused.

"For talking to Sarah?" she asked.

"Yes and for making her not hate her mom. You have every right to talk bad about Kathy but you just prevented a really bad fight between mother and daughter. So thank you."

"It's nothing, really. I just want her to be fine and hating her mom won't help anyone."

"Olivia look!" Lola shouted. Liv got up and walked over to her followed by Elliot.

Two hours later they were finally in their hotel room. Liv was exhausted. Today was way too eventful and all the arguments with Kathy were really energy- sapping. She realised that the pajamas she had packed weren't really covering much. She thought she would have a room on her own, so she did pack the short silk ones.

"El?" He entered the room with his toothbrush in hand. "Yeah?"

"Can you lend me a shirt? I didn't pack the right kind of pj's for company." He started to laugh.

"Sure. Help yourself." he said pointing at his suitcase. A few minutes later he reentered the room.

Damn, she looked way too good in his shirt. He always wondered what she would look like in one of his huge shirts. God Stabler. Get it together. He lay down in the bed.

"You know what. I am curious now. What kind of pj's did you bring?" Liv threw a cushion at his face. He started to laugh again.

Liv lay down on her side of the bed next to him.

"I am so exhausted."

"Me too."

It was kinda weird to lie next to him in bed. Although they were best friends and partners they weren't used being close like this. Sure they had to play being a couple undercover a few times but this was different. It wasn't work. But to her surprise, Liv liked it and that made her feel even weirder.

"Good night." Elliot said.

"Good night." Liv said.

The next morning Elliot woke up with Liv cuddled up against his chest. He knew she would be embarrassed when she wakes up like this but he enjoyed it way too much to move her before she wakes up. He has never seen her like this before. She looked so beautiful and peaceful. But there wasn't much time for him to enjoy the view and the proximity to her because Liv woke up shortly after him and as soon as she realized who she was cuddled up against she moved to her side of the bed.

"I'm sorry." she said embarrassed.

"Don't worry. I am a pretty comfy pillow, I was told." She shot him a look that said, Seriously? Get over yourself!

He started to laugh. "You know, you can look at me like this for as long as you want but I wasn't the one who was cuddled up against your chest."

"I know that, thank you." she said feeling awkward.

She went to the bathroom to get away from him. She was way too embarrassed. She hasn't slept this peaceful in months and it weirded her out big time.

When she came back to the room, El was still lying in bed.

"You planning on getting up today?" she asked laughing.

"Don't know yet." he said grinning. "It's way too early. We won't meet the others for breakfast for another 2 hours."

"I know, but I want to take a run at the beach. I love to watch the sun rise over the ocean." she said smiling.

"Sounds good. You mind me tagging along?" he asked.

"Of course not, but hurry up." she said while pulling his covers away.

"Hey. I am getting up. Don't stress me." he said laughing.

A bit over an hour later Liv was stretching at the beach. She really enjoyed their run. El slowed down a bit so she could keep up although she told him to go as fast as he wanted.

"I hope you enjoyed it too although you had to slow down for me."

"Sure, I didn't really have to slow down. You're pretty fast." She grinned at him.

"Lair! I mean I know I am fast but come on. If you really want to, you could outrun me easily."

She bent down to stretch her leg. Elliot couldn't help but stare. She totally bent down in front of him. Damn! She looked amazing. Her ass looked amazing.

He really had to stop staring. He felt like a pervert already.

"I'll go back to our room. Is it okay if I shower first?" he asked.

He really needed a cold shower to clear his head. She looked up at him.

"Sure, I think I am going to take a swim in the ocean anyway."

They were at the breakfast buffet first, so they decided to start eating while waiting for the others.

About 10 minutes later the others entered the room.

"Wow, you two look fresh as daisies." Kurt said yawning. Liv smiled.

"Well, we woke up early and went for a run at the beach."

"I woke up like 30 minutes ago, well to be honest I am still sleeping." he said laughing. Kathy listened to their conversation and she seemed to be on edge already.

Sarah sat down next to Liv with her breakfast in hand and said, "I would love to join you on your morning run tomorrow." Liv smiled at her. It was so nice to finally be able to talk and get to know her.

"Well, I would like that too but you have to ask your parents first." Kathy just laughed scoffing.

"What is your problem now?" Elliot asked angrily. Liv closed her eyes and took a deep breath. Oh my god, this woman would attack her only for breathing. She really didn't know what to do anymore and it was annoying the shit out of her. She needed to distance herself for at least a minute, so she got up to get some more orange juice. She really didn't want to listen to their fighting anymore. Sarah got up and followed her.

"You know that this isn't your fault, right?" Liv just looked at her sympathetically.

"No, really, I mean it. They were like this before they got divorced. Mom just loves to nag and dad can't do anything right. We are used to it. Don't worry. But Kurt looks pretty uncomfortable." she said grinning. Liv started to smile too.

When they came back to the table Elliot and Kathy both seemed to be pretty angry. Kurt looked at Liv seeking for help. She smiled at him.

"Any plans for today?" she asked carefully trying to end this weird passive aggressive silence. Kurt looked at her thankfully.

"Well I thought Kathy and I could check out the region a bit." he suggested carefully.

"Sounds great, I thought about spending my day at the beach with a book. Never have the time to read in New York and this gives Elliot and the girls some time alone." El looked at her confused. Kathy seemed to be pleased, well as pleased as she can be with Olivia around.

After breakfast on the way to their hotel room, Elliot asked her if she was okay and that she really didn't have to spend the day alone. He and the girls would be happy to spend it with her.

"El, that's really sweet of you but I think it's best if I back down a bit. This breakfast was way too loaded again. I really want the girls to have at least one day with you and without fighting. And honestly, I need a break too." He looked at her worriedly and apologetically.

"Don't worry so much. I am more than fine on my own. Enjoy the day with your girls and without Kathy." she added winking. He smiled.

Liv really enjoyed her alone time at the beach. She read, went for a swim in the ocean every now and then and bathed in the sun, a lot. Suddenly she heard a very familiar voice behind her. Elliot.

"Hey, what are you doing here?" she asked surprised.

"They girls wanted to go to the beach." he said pointing to the water where Sarah and Lola were playing.

"They look happy. Did you three have a good time?"

"Yes, we did. Thank you again, I think it was a really good idea to spend some time alone with them. How was your day?"

"I am glad you had a great time. I had a pretty nice day too. Very relaxing. Thank you." she answered smiling.

They sat there watching the girls for a while until Lola approached them.

"Olivia, do you wanna come to the pool with us later? We could dive from one end to the other again." Lola asked with a bright expecting smile.

"I guess we could do that." Liv said smiling. "Yey." Lola said cheerfully.

"Guys, I am pretty hungry. Let's go back to the hotel and eat something." Elliot said.

The others were hungry too so they grabbed their stuff and walked back to the hotel.

After lunch they went to the pool to relax a bit but Lola was talking a mile a minute. She told Olivia about her friends at home and about school and and and. It was incredible how much energy this kid had. After a while Sarah plugged in her earphones because she couldn't listen to her little sister anymore.

"Do you know this movie where the people are dancing in the water?" she didn't wait for Liv's answer and continued talking, "I saw it when Sarah watched it. But she didn't let me watch much. She said I am too young", she made a cute pouty face, "but well I saw this one part where they were dancing in the water and it looked really cool. Sarah, what was the movie called?" Sarah didn't hear her because of her earphones.

"Sarah!" Lola shouted while making big gestures with her hands to get Sarah's attention. Sarah rolled her eyes and put out one of her earphones, "What?" she asked annoyed.

"What was the name of the movie you've watched? You know the one where they were dancing in the water!"

"Dirty Dancing." she answered annoyed. Liv held back a laugh.

"Do you know this one?" Lola asked her excitedly.

"I do." Liv said still grinning. Elliot looked at Sarah unsatisfied.

"You let her watch 'Dirty Dancing' with you?"

"Of course not! She entered my room and saw the scene where they were practicing the lift in the water and she liked it so I let her watch this one scene. Like I would want to watch a movie like this with her." she mumbled the last sentence while shaking her head in disbelief.

Liv smiled at Elliot and he shook his head amusedly while smiling back at her.

"Daddy, can you do the lift with me?" Lola asked excitedly. Now Liv couldn't hold back anymore, she started to laugh audible. Elliot grinned too.

"Of course I can, honey." Lola jumped up and ran towards the pool.

"Come on!" she shouted. The others looked at each other amused.

"God, this girl is way too hyperactive for me." Sarah said while plugging her earphone back in.