A/N: I know. I'm lucky Serena isn't a grandma since it's been so long since I updated. Partners for life means Lewis never stood a chance of getting anywhere near Olivia, so that arc never existed. After this chapter, we will see things through Serena's point of view. The action will pick up and the title will make sense.

Also, I know I need to update Full Circle. I know exactly how I want it to end in the next couple of chapters, I'm just not quite sure how to get there...

Chapter 7

Elliot Stabler's Apartment

140 Metropolitan Ave, Brooklyn

November 26th, 2015

"Okay everyone. Settle down and let's join hands." Elliot was extra thankful this Thanksgiving. He was able to find an apartment that he can both afford and fit all his kids when they came to visit. The divorce took a lot out of him, but he didn't complain. Kathy was his first love and the mother of his five children after all, so he wasn't going to fight her on much of anything except for visitation with Eli (the rest were old enough to come and go as they pleased). Plus, Kathy put up with three decades of his temper, silence, and virtual absence that the least she deserved was to keep the house that she made a home. This third-floor walk-up had a crappy façade that hid a real gem; it was spacious, close to all public transportation, and was within walking distance of the Williamsburg Bridge making his commute to the precinct very quick.

But that wasn't the only reason Elliot was thankful. Maureen was finally getting married. She waited until she finished every ounce of schooling and was steady on her feet in her job before wanting to settle down. She always was a perfectionist. This year at his Thanksgiving table, he had all 5 kids, his future son-in-law, and Olivia with Serena. It has been 6 years since that day in the precinct. 6 years that Elliot was still trying to make amends for. Liv kept telling him to let it go; neither she nor Serena ever blamed him but that didn't assuage the guilt he felt. Serena was now a beautiful 10½ year old who still only wore dresses, whose bangs never quite grew out enough to tuck behind her ears, and who could always put a smile on everyone's face. She instilled a sense of calm in every room, but Elliot still worried about her, and Liv for that matter.

It was a long recovery for Liv's baby but not because of her arm. Fortunately, she didn't need any skin grafts, but the healing process was just as bad as the doctor explained it would be. Of course, Liv didn't leave her daughter's side until she was out of the trauma room. Once Serena was able to "hold the pain in" as she put it, the healing of her arm was textbook. They were both such strong females, always putting up a brave front for everyone else, but he was Elliot and they didn't have to hide or pretend with him. Liv was as strong as one could be for her little girl, however Elliot knew she would often cry herself to sleep well after Serena was out cold. The burns on the upper part of her arm were now nothing more than skin that looked sunburned all year round, but the burns on her lower arm left bumpy discolored scars that she would hide under long sleeve sweaters and various coverings. What put grey hairs on his head was that there was thermal damage to Serena's airways as well as damage to her lungs due to the toxins she inhaled from the homemade fireworks. As a result, her voice was lower and a bit raspy. Whenever she caught a cold, which she was now very susceptible to, she would sound like an 80-year-old who smoked three packs a day for 50 years. She slept with an oxygen mask nearby and kept a "cannula set" on hand in a backpack just in case.

Liv changed after that day. It wasn't just Elliot's perception, everyone noticed and made comments. She took quite a bit of her decade's worth of overtime vacation to care for Serena of course. As far as Elliot knew, she never apologized to the Captain for her accusatory outburst, but he never held it against her either. She was right as far as anyone was concerned. Olivia no longer went on calls when she wasn't specifically on duty at the station or on call, and Serena hardly left her sight. She still had Carmella since Serena didn't play after school sports and couldn't participate in dance or gymnastics and of course, Elliot was the only other one allowed to watch her. They had a very special bond that couldn't be severed, much like Elliot and Olivia themselves did. Unexplainable. Liv still fought for the victims and gave them her all, but they always came a distant second to the wonderful child sitting between Liz and Kathleen.

It was part of the reason he and Kathy divorced. Since the conversation in the hospital corridor, Elliot felt more connected to Serena than ever. He didn't confront Liv about it at the time of course, and once things got back to relative normalcy, he didn't see the point. He couldn't love Liv's kid any more than he already does, and he knew he would always be an important part of her life, so DNA didn't make any difference. He once questioned whether Eli was his son and he came to the same conclusion then, it didn't matter. Liv still seemed as clueless about her daughter's parentage as she ever did and as long as they were both happy, so was he. Kathy, on the other hand, began to put two and two together when Elliot became "unusually attached" and practically lived at the hospital with Olivia. Again, nothing was proven, but accusations were thrown, and one thing led to another until it was all too much to get passed. Years of work absence from his own wife and children plus spending so much time with his female partner and her child was the icing on the cake.

"Eli, would you like to say Grace this year?" Elliot asked his youngest son who was beaming.

"Great Dad" complained Dickie. "Our thanks is going to be a nursery rhyme. Rubba dub dub... OW!" Dickie was cut short by a smack to the back of his head from Kathleen. "What?!"

"Go ahead Eli" encouraged Elliot who shot Dickie a stern look.

"God is great. God is good, and we thank God for our food" Eli finished proudly as Dickie snorted.

Dinner was tasty and a group effort. The girls took care of most of the meal while Serena took care of the pies. She was quite the little baker, often making treats for the squad who would of course gush over them. But they had good reason because they really were delicious! Elliot knew how much Olivia loved his kids, she tried her damndest to keep them close and he felt extra blessed that Serena fit right in with everyone. She was the little sister they didn't know they had.

"Okay, let's go around the table saying what we are most thankful for" Elliot said but was sidetracked by the look on Olivia's face.

"You actually do that?" she questioned. "I thought that only happened on TV."

"Dad makes us do it every year" answered Lizzie. "It always ends up being the same: family, home, jobs, blah, blah."

"Yeah, but this year we have you two" said Dickie as he looked between Olivia and Serena. "So, a little variety should be exciting!"

Liv felt herself blush and she saw her daughter try her best to blend into the tablecloth. Neither of them liked being in the spotlight. Knowing Liv the way he does, Elliot sensed her discomfort. "I'm thankful that my family still enjoys coming together with their old man for food and that we fit around this crappy old table. I'm thankful that Maureen has found her soulmate. And I'm thankful to have Liv and Serena here with us. I know Liv saved my ass, not an exaggeration, more times than you kids will ever know, and I can never thank her enough for that. She made sure I came home every night, even those nights I didn't want to." He made sure to catch and hold Olivia's eyes while he spoke. He wanted to make sure she knew the meaning behind his words and of course, she did.

"Damn Dad!" exclaimed Dickie. "We all knew Liv was brave but how many times has she kicked someone's ass to save yours? How many perps has she shot for you?" This question elicited laughter from the adults at the table while Serena and Eli just looked confused.

"Wait. Momma, do you really sacrifice yourself or run in to save Elliot? I understand that is your job but isn't that what he is supposed to do for you? I mean..." Serena seemed genuinely upset by Elliot's statement. She understood the job of a police officer, and she was infinitely grateful that Liv never got shot or seriously injured but Elliot made it sound like her mother had a bullseye on her back.

"Serena, Elliot and I watch each other's backs. Always have, always will and because of that, no one at this table has anything to worry about" Liv firmly stated as the table grew uncomfortably quiet.

"She's right baby. Partners for life means we always look out for one each other, no matter what." Elliot tried to reassure her. He knew it worked when she looked at him and smiled.

"Yes Elliot. I'm thankful for that too."

"Told ya it would be interesting" interrupted Dickie as the tension broke. Liv kept an eye on her daughter as she knew there would be lots of questions once they got home.

-SVU—

Serena always got a bit melancholy on her birthday. Being such an inquisitive and extraordinarily bright child, she was way ahead of her age group at school. She never wavered on her desire to learn as many languages as she could. She could now fluently speak Spanish, Hebrew, German, and French as well as American Sign Language. Thanks to Carmella and John, she could also read and write in Spanish and Hebrew, but she still struggles a bit to read and write in the other two. Her next conquest is Russian. Uncle Munch beamed with pride, almost as much as Olivia. Her intellectual superiority coupled with her breathing issues, raspy voice, and fashion choices didn't exactly attract a plethora of friends to her. She was invited to parties and never seemed left out, but girls her age should be giggling at sleepovers and watching YouTube videos. Instead, Serena read. She wrote in her journals and she analyzed everything alone.

Olivia wasn't a popular child either, but when you are the daughter of an alcoholic you tend to keep others at arm's length by choice. She worried about Serena, but the child always put her at ease. She never asked for a birthday party and didn't beg for any specific gifts. What kid does that?

"Happy birthday angel!" Liv cried as she crawled into her daughter's bed before the sun came up. She knew Serena would be awake. Like her, the kid woke up as soon as she heard a door open and/or footsteps.

"Thanks" Serena said as she rolled over and Olivia enveloped her in her arms. They both snuggled comfortably in silence. Neither realized they dozed off again until they heard the ringing of the house phone in the living room. Thankfully, Serena didn't have an extension in her room or the volume would have been far more annoying. Liv made an incoherent grunt and reluctantly opened her eyes to see her baby, who in truth was no longer a baby, looking right back at her.

"Good morning Momma" she chirped.

"It will be as soon as the ringing stops and I get some coffee" Olivia mumbled. "What time is it?" she asked as her daughter giggled and stretched.

"If the ringing is any indication, it's time to get up" Serena replied as she slowly sat up. "9:32 by the way" she stated. They both relished the fact that they took off on her birthday. It was Serena's only school absence all year and other than the occasional summer getaway, the only planned day Liv took off work. "It's probably Elliot. Uncle Fin and Uncle Munch always wait until lunchtime to call" she stated as she made her way out of bed and into the living room. The ringing had stopped by then of course.

Olivia made her way to the coffee machine in the kitchen and Serena had just come out of the bathroom when the ringing began again. "Hello?" her mini-me said. "Thanks Elliot." Liv watched her daughter smile and have a pleasant conversation with her partner. Serena was so loved by the men in Liv's life and she felt it too. After she hung up the phone, Serena walked into the kitchen.

"Can we just...stay home today? I know you probably made some grand plans for my birthday, but I'd rather just have a 'snuggle in our pajamas day' with you." Serena had an odd look in her eyes that made Liv think that she knew something no one else did. Old soul indeed.

"I am not going to say no to that" Liv said. After she made her so-not-famous waffles for breakfast, they cozied up on the couch and had a movie marathon. Fin and Munch called at lunch as predicted and Cragen not long after that. Elliot stopped by after work with presents from everyone and stayed for dinner. They all had a small cake before he departed with lots of hugs and kisses. In his eyes, she would always be that beautiful four-year-old. Serena kept in physical contact all day and even climbed into bed with Olivia at night. Liv kept asking about her well-being, but like her mom, she was "fine". She said she couldn't explain it, she just wanted to feel her.

"Again, I say that I will never say no to that!" Little did either of them know that like that birthday seven years ago, their lives would never be the same.

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