With Kathleen leaving by the end of the week, Elliot had planned for his date with Olivia to be on Friday night. They had spent his first few days just getting reacquainted and being in each other's space. Elliot knew that Olivia's guard was up and he understood it. Every minute he spent with Maleah he fell more and more in love with her. Despite Olivia stating she was all Stabler, all he could see was her in their daughter.
"Hi Ladybug, are you hungry?' Olivia asked picking up her daughter from her cot and bringing her to her chest. It was barely dawn and Maleah woke like clockwork for breakfast with her Momma. Olivia loved mornings with Maleah, well she loved all moments with Maleah but the mornings before anyone else was up was her favourite time.
"You know, you're getting too big too quick my little love. Whilst I can't wait to see your life unfold Mommy would like for you to slow your roll a little okay? I love you sweet girl, more than you could ever begin to fathom. I love you up to the moon, around the stars and back agin. You are Mommy's greatest gift."
"She's lucky to have you," Elliot said softly from the doorway as he watched Olivia rock Maleah as she fed,
"I think we're lucky to have each other, aren't we lady bug?"
"Liv, I always knew you'd make a great mother and you are. More than I could have ever imagined. You were born to be a mother, Maleah's mother."
"Best thing ever," Olivia murmured bringing her lips to her daughter's forehead.
Olivia took Kathleen shopping leaving Maleah with Elliot to bond. She also wanted to take Kathleen out to thank her for love and support.
"Thank you for coming Leen, and spending so much of your break here."
"You're so welcome. I can't imagine being anywhere else. Getting to be here and seeing Maleah be born, best moment of my life thus far. Don't tell the others, but she may just be my favourite sibling. If I didn't already commit to an internship I would be here for the rest of the summer."
"We will be back in the city in no time. You will see your sister in a few weeks." Olivia promised.
"You and Dad okay?'
"Your Dad and I will always be okay Leen,"
"That's not what I meant." Olivia chuckled,
"Oh I know. We can only take it one day at a time."
"He loves you,"
"I know kid. I love him too. It's just not that simple. I feel like we're going backwards here."
"You deserve to be swept off your feet Olivia Benson. You just need to let him. You both deserve that chance to be happy."
"I hear you kid, I'm not running. I just need for the lady bug and I to get our groove. Then I can think beyond that."
By the time they got back to the house their arms were loaded with bags. Olivia had taken Kathleen to the outlets and taken her out to lunch.
"You ladies have fun? Buy out the stores?" Elliot asked amused,
"We were quite restrained thank you." Kathleen answered with a smirk,
"I also got a few things for Maleah. How was she?'
"Perfect." He replied,
"Wow Dad, other daughter in the room." Kathleen teased.
"I'll leave you two to discuss this further. I am going to check on the the ladybug," Olivia said patting Elliot on the shoulder as she passed him.
"I was kidding Dad," Olivia heard Kathleen assure her father.
"I just like messing with you."
"You have a mean streak, you know that right?" Elliot replied draping an arm around her shoulder.
Olivia walked in just as Maleah woke up. Olivia smiled at her daughter and picked her up from her cot. Maleah gurgled contently at her mother. Her blues eyes piercing right through Olivia's heart.
"You my lady bug are a heart breaker. Your father is going to go into an early grave between you and your sisters."
"She will never date. Like ever." Elliot said from behind her,
"Don't worry Sweetie, we have some time to work on. Your sister's will help you." Olivia assured her daughter as she went to change her.
"I'm going to go and grab stuff for dinner, you good for Steak?" He asked.
"Sounds great. You should have told us, we could have picked it up on the way home."
"It's okay. I wouldn't mind the walk."
"You okay?" She asked looking at him. Elliot nodded and kissed her temple.
"Yeah, I need to check in with Cragen too so I'll be killing several birds with one stone."
"Say hi to Grampa,"
"I will. Have you sent him a photo today?" Olivia shook her head,
"Not yet,"
"I'll send him the one I sent you whilst you guys were shopping."
"Grampa will love that one. He's counting down the days until he gets to hold you again little one."
"Yes, you already have Grampa wrapped around your little finger. God help us all." Elliot added,
"Yes, let's pretend he is the only one." Olivia teased.
"Allow me a moment, please." Olivia laughed as she finished up and brought Maleah to her chest rubbing her back.
Kathleen, Olivia and Maleah sat on the couch and watched a movie while Elliot was out. Like Elliot, Kathleen enjoyed watching Olivia embrace motherhood. She knew without a shadow of doubt that Olivia would have been more than fine to raise Maleah on her own if she had to. She guessed that had Olivia believed that it would jeopardise their family, their happiness, she would have stayed away without ever mentioning Maleah. To protect her, and to protect them all. Had that been the case, she would have just disappeared from all of their lives for what she believed would have been for the greater good. Like her father, she knew jut how close they had all come in losing her altogether therefore she couldn't blame her father for not wanting to let her out of his sight.
"You're thinking way too loud Leen," Olivia said coaxing her out of her thoughts.
"Get out of my head then," she retorted with a laugh,
"Not my fault that the door is wide open,"
"Well didn't anyone ever tell you it was impolite to use your super power for evil?" Kathleen answered. For as long as she could remember, Olivia had read her without effort. She figured it was because she was her father's counterpart.
"Hey, I'm just sitting here innocently trying to watch a movie and I can't hear a thing because you're whirring beside me Little Stabler,"
"If I hadn't come,"
"Leen, I would have eventually told you. Maybe not right out of her popping out, but you would have known. I know I could have raised her on my own. I would love her enough, we would make the best of it. But I couldn't do that to your Dad. I would have told him. I would have given him the choice to be a part of her life. Which is why I called him. That day she was born, he had messaged me out of the blue. I hadn't heard from him since I left, but on the day of her birth he sent me a message asking me to hear him out. I took that as a sign. I would never have taken the choice from you or your siblings to have a relationship with her. I loved your father, so to me, she was conceived in love. I have no regrets. I have never and would never have been ashamed of her existence. I want to protect her from other people's judgement and perception but she is the best thing that's ever happened to my life. She is the best of me."
"Liv, you know he has no regrets right? Well not about you. He regrets that night with Mom, especially after he finally bit the bullet and kissed you. He regrets not choosing you that day in your apartment but he has never regretted you."
"I know,"
"You're real convincing Benson," Kathleen said nudging her with her shoulder.
"It's complicated Kathleen,"
"Is it though?" Kathleen replied.
"Right now, it is."
"I get it. I promise." Kathleen assured her placing a hand on her arm.
When Elliot arrived with dinner supplies Liv handed Maleah to Kathleen so she could help him in the kitchen. She could see that he was deep in thought.
"Everything okay?" She asked,
"Yeah. Liv,"
"Elliot,"
"I know you and I are taking things slow, and I will take this as slow as you need us to. I'm not here to rush you. But I was wondering if you would be okay with me staying until the end of the summer, until you're ready to come back."
"What about work?" Olivia asked surprised,
"I haven't taken any time off in awhile. I had set aside a few weeks to help with the baby but I had cancelled when it was becoming increasingly clear that Kathy wasn't carrying my child. I just don't want to miss a day with her, with you."
"This is what you wanted to talk to Don about?"
"Yeah, I wanted to make sure it was something that was possible before I brought it up with you. If you don't feel comfortable, I respect that. But Liv, I want to be here. Please." Olivia sighed,
"Elliot, I would never deprive you of time with your daughter. She's yours every bit as mine. If you want to stay for her, I won't stand in your way. You have always been a great father, and Maleah is lucky to have you."
"Liv, to be clear. I want to be here to be with Maleah yes, but I am here every bit for you. Because I want to be here with you. With or without Maleah. I was ready to get in a car or a plane that day I had sent you a message to be with you." Olivia gave his arm a squeeze,
"Okay El,"
On the day of their date Elliot was a jumble of nerves. It would have amused Olivia if she didn't feel just as nervous. At lunch Kathleen looked from one to the other and shook her head trying not to laugh.
"Relax you two. It's not like you've never been out on a date before." Olivia and Elliot froze,
"Wait, have you?" Kathleen asked,
"Errr, officially no. We went out to dinner, or lunch, but it was usually around work. We'd hang at each other's places or go for a walk but I don't think we've ever called it a date, per se." Olivia explained. At that Kathleen smacked her father's arm,
"Kathleen," he admonished,
"Oh don't you Kathleen me. You know better Stabler." Olivia pursed her lips trying not to laugh. As if on cue Maleah began to cry from her room so she had excused herself leaving the Stabler's to their own accord.
"You've never asked her out on a date? I know you've been out of the game in decades Dad, but I expected more from you. You wonder why she has doubts?" She whispered,
"You never even bothered to woo her."
"Leen, it wasn't like that. We were working all the time."
"Do better Dad. You have a window here, don't waste it. You want her, you want this, you better come up with the goods because if you don't I'm totally on her side."
"Like you aren't already," he challenged with an eye roll,
"Well had I known you were being a neanderthal I would have publicly announced it,"
"Hey," Elliot protested
"I love you Dad, but come on. If that was me in Liv's shoes and you're my father."
"I get it kid, I do. I have every intention of wooing her."
"Good. Good talk Dad.. Good talk." Elliot threw a napkin at his daughter in response as she stuck her tongue out at him. Elliot leaned over and kissed her cheek.
"Thanks kid."
"Anytime Daddy,"
