So, is anyone wondering if we're going to see more of Miguel down the road? Maybe we will … But first, our non-couple has to get through the holidays and to the custody hearing.
There will be a few little time jumps to move the story along, I hope you won't mind.
...
24. Happy new year
Olivia wakes up in her own bed the next morning and can't help wondering how she got there. Could she have slept that soundly, that Elliot had been able to steer her into the bedroom without waking her? Or even carry her? She can't imagine it but she has to admit, she has slept better than she has in weeks. She's still in most of her clothes so she assumes that she has indeed been transported while at least half asleep. Only her sweater has been taken off and nothing else.
When she wanders into the living room after freshening up and changing, Elliot's already up and making them breakfast as usual. He looks rested too and she's glad. It will be good to have this reprieve before tensions start rising again as they approach the custody hearing.
They would both have been on call this year, but Cragen has decided to switch shifts around due to Olivia's pregnancy. She tries to object, feeling the need to be treated like everyone else, but her coworkers as well as the Captain are all unanimous. She will have Christmas Eve as well as Christmas day off. The team will only be on call for emergencies, so she wouldn't have much to do anyway because of her modified duty.
Since Elliot doesn't have a family dinner to get home to like previous years, he's not so lucky and Olivia feels disappointed. While she's trying to keep Elliot at arm's length for now, she had looked forward to spending Christmas with him and Maureen, something Elliot had hinted at over the past week. When Alex calls her and asks if she can come over on Christmas Eve with a present for her and the baby, she gladly accepts. Elliot smiles at her and tells her he's glad she won't be alone.
"It would have been nice to have you there too," Olivia admits.
"Next year," Elliot says, and he speaks with such conviction that she has no choice but to believe him when he adds, "it'll be us and our kids."
"I hope so," she says quietly.
She can picture it now, the twins playing with her little baby boy, Kathleen fussing over him like a big sister …
"We'll make it happen," Elliot says and Olivia nods.
"We will."
…
Olivia has a relaxed evening with Alex, who has gotten her and the baby the cutest matching bonnets, scarves and mitts Olivia has ever seen.
"I would have gotten Elliot a set too, but I wasn't sure if that would be too forward," Alex says dryly and Olivia rolls her eyes.
"That's a yes then? No movement at all on that front?" the attorney inquires.
"Even if there was, I wouldn't tell you at this stage, Alex. We're strictly in the friend zone until the custody hearing is over. Casey's orders."
"And how is that working out?"
"Fine," Olivia says quickly. "We've been doing it for five years after all."
"Right," Alex says, watching her friend attentively. "But after the hearings?"
Olivia sighs.
"I don't know Alex. Honestly. I've got these pregnancy hormones messing me up as it is and Elliot seems to …"
When she stops talking, Alex asks,
"Seems to what?"
Olivia shakes her head.
"Doesn't matter. We haven't talked about it. Right now, we're just two friends helping each other out financially by sharing an apartment."
"Right," Alex says again. "Of course you are."
Olivia urges her friend to drop the subject and they decide to watch a corny Christmas movie together until it's time for Alex to leave for a late date.
Olivia is already sleeping by the time Elliot gets home on Christmas Eve and they exchange gifts the next morning. Olivia has gotten Elliot a set of frames for the pictures of his children and has framed Elizabeth's drawing already, so he can hang them on the walls of their new place. Elliot has gotten Olivia a locket pendant to put on her necklace, that will hold two small photos. For her mom and her son, Elliot tells her. They share a friendly hug and then go out for tea in the city before Elliot has to be back at the station at noon.
Elliot seems to have accepted that they need to put up all their walls again, shielding them from getting any closer, at least until the hearing is over. His hand on her back every now and then during their work day isn't unusual. He's been that way from their very first year together. And it works. They manage to live side by side, right up until the department's New Year's Eve party.
...
It won't be a big party, since most of the NYPD is working overtime this night but Olivia is looking forward to it. She is still able to move around but she knows that will start to change soon. She wants to dance while she still can. Finding something to wear has been a challenge, but she has managed to find a flattering black dress that drapes elegantly around her body in several layers and ends just below the knee. It leaves her arms bare and she will wrap an elegant black shawl with golden glitters around her shoulders for warmth. The golden glitters match her earrings as well as the pendant she got from Elliot for Christmas. Her oversized black pantyhose still fits over her belly and she has decided to wear two-inch high heels for the occasion. Her hair has grown out far enough for her to be able to pin it up partially and when she looks at herself in the mirror, she has to admit she is glowing. Pregnancy does look good on her.
Elliot has sent his suits to the drycleaners and has told her he'll change at the station and meet her at the party, which is being held on the top floor of the 1-6. It isn't a date, Olivia tells herself, and coming in separately will make it look even less like a date. Still, she is looking forward to spending this special evening with her coworkers, but especially with Elliot. He called his children earlier and again, Dickie hadn't wanted to talk to his father. Kathy had taken the phone away from Elizabeth after just half a minute and they are both glad that at least Kathleen has her own phone. Kathleen isn't mincing words with her brother but there seems to be no getting through to the ten-year old, who is utterly disappointed in his father and believes his mother without question. This party will help Elliot get his mind off of things for a while. It's only nine days now until the hearing and she wants him to have a good time tonight.
She is chatting with Casey and Fin when Elliot enters the room and she does a double take when she sees him standing tall in his tuxedo, scanning the room. She knows he's looking for her and when their eyes meet, his face lights up. He smiles walking up to the small group and feigns shock when he notices the warning glare Casey is giving him.
Fin, who is oblivious to the interaction between the other three, greets him with a firm handshake. Fin is wearing a tuxedo too and however different both men are, they seem to be bonding instantly over their matching attire.
"Would you look at us, Liv," Fin says with a grin. "It's gonna be impossible for the ladies to choose between us."
Olivia laughs out loud, but her smile fades when Fin corrects himself.
"Nah, who am I kiddin'? I don't stand a chance with you against this guy. How 'bout you, Novak? Wanna dance?"
"Ugh," Casey sighs and Fin makes a gesture as if asking them, what did I do?
"It's not you Fin," Casey says with a sigh while standing next to him and looping her arm through his. "You two, just know that I'll be watching you!" she warns Elliot and Olivia before walking over to the dance floor with Fin.
"Maybe you shouldn't. Deniability, remember?" Elliot calls after her but Casey is not amused.
"El," Olivia says softly.
She's all for distracting him from his concerns about his children but they still need to be on their best behavior. Elliot wraps his arm around her waist and rubs her side gently.
"Don't worry Liv. I'll behave. People here gossip too much as it is. I just want to have a fun evening with my partner and roommate and not have to think so much, okay?"
"Okay," Olivia mumbles hesitantly as she is being guided towards the dancefloor as well.
She isn't sure what 'not thinking so much' will entail, because she needs to stay alert at all times, especially when Elliot holds her close like he's doing now. He's a good dancer but she is aware of every square inch their bodies are touching. He can't really get around her belly at this point and she feels like she's squished against his hard, muscular body. The only upside of that is, that other parts of her body are shielded from too much contact at this point.
They greet several other dancing couples on the dancefloor and chat a little with Munch and his dance partner Rita Calhoun, who explains her presence at the NYPD party by telling them she's actually Ed Tucker's plus one. When both Detectives raise an eyebrow simultaneously, Rita explains that it was the only way for her to get in and all four of them chuckle. Still, as the evening progresses and more alcohol is consumed by most of the guests, they see Rita hanging on Tucker's arm more often, and the man is clearly interested in having his way with the defense attorney.
"Wouldn't be surprised if Tucker got laid tonight," Olivia muses as she and Elliot head over to the bar.
Elliot just chuckles and winks at her, then holds up his glass to Tucker by way of greeting. Tucker's triumphant grin confirms their suspicions of the Lieutenant's plans of the evening.
"I can think of better ways to ring in the new year," Olivia says, shivering at the thought of seeing Lieutenant Tucker out of his clothes.
"Hmmm, you sure?" Elliot asks her suggestively.
"Better ways than sleeping with Tucker? Absolutely!"
Elliot laughs out loud then and hands her a glass of grape juice.
"I agree. You can do a lot better Liv," he tells her with a wink, and Olivia just shakes her head.
A while later, Munch drops by again and asks Olivia for a dance. The band is playing laid-back jazz music as they approach the new year and Olivia enjoys being whirled around the dancefloor by her friend. She hasn't had any alcohol but feels a little lightheaded anyway. When she misses a few steps, she admits to Munch that she's feeling a little dizzy. Munch escorts her back to her partner immediately, telling both of them that Olivia might need to sit for a while. Olivia thinks they are overreacting but lets Elliot lead her to one of the smaller tables anyway. He gets her some water before he joins her.
"It's gonna be 2004 soon," he says as he sits down next to her.
"Yeah. A new year, and a year with lots of changes."
"Change isn't easy but I think most of the changes we're facing are good ones, right?"
Olivia rubs her belly and smiles.
"For me, yes. But for you?"
She looks at her partner, who is watching the dancing couples on the dancefloor. She wonders if he's thinking of Kathy. His wife would have been his plus one tonight if she hadn't gotten herself pregnant …
"We have to make do with what's thrown at us," Elliot says after a few moments. "But in the end, I think the changes will be good for me too."
"You really mean that?"
Elliot reaches for her hand and she lets him take it.
"I do," he says softly. "I hate what my divorce is doing to my kids, but for me? I think I've known for years that this was going to happen one day. I was so tired, Liv. Tired of trying to carry the load for both of us. I was doing it for the kids in the end, not for her. It hasn't been for her for a long time."
"I'm sorry El," Olivia says quietly, stubbornly ignoring the glimmer of hope that is starting to glow brighter in the back of her mind.
She shouldn't be happy about the death of his marriage or the pain he and his children are in because of it. But his words, combined with the feeling of his thumb gently caressing the inside of her hand … she just can't help it that she feels hopeful.
"Don't be," Elliot says firmly, and she's almost disappointed that he pulls his hand away as he sits upright and rubs his palms over his thighs.
"If anything, I should thank you for speeding up the process and convincing me that it really was a hopeless situation."
"I never meant to …"
"Liv, stop. Please. I know that. You did nothing wrong, okay? Kathy and me, we got it wrong. Not you."
Olivia wants to cling to his words but she knows she will still feel some form of guilt about the situation, and she will always wonder if Elliot and Kathy would ever really have broken up. Elliot isn't a quitter. Never has been. He just feels forced to quit now.
She stands up again when the host of the party announces that they are almost ready for the countdown from 10 to zero, to ring in the new year. Elliot quickly moves next to her, still concerned about the dizziness she had experienced earlier. The host urges everyone to come closer to the modest stage and then points up at several branches of mistletoe above the part of the room where everyone is now standing.
"Don't hold back, lovely people. Let's ring in the new year in style," the host says cheerfully.
Elliot wraps an arm around Olivia's waist and grins at her as he pulls her sideways with him gently, until he is standing directly underneath one of the branches. He looks up, wiggles his eyebrows and then shrugs with one shoulder as if to say that nobody can blame them for kissing underneath the mistletoe. The countdown starts and Olivia bites her lower lip. She feels a little lightheaded for a different reason now.
"Ten! Nine! Eight! Seven! Six! Five!"
She suddenly feels a hand on her shoulder and before they know what's happening, Casey squeezes herself between them, and when everyone cheers "Happy new year!" she plants a firm kiss on Elliot's lips.
"Happy new year, and you can thank me later," she tells Elliot while pushing him backwards until he is no longer underneath the mistletoe.
Olivia laughs out loud at Elliot's stunned face and then steps close to him to give him a warm hug.
"Happy new year, El," she mumbles near his ear.
"You too," he replies.
"Casey's right you know."
"I know."
They break apart and join their coworkers to exchange their best wishes for 2004. Olivia and Casey exchange a look of understanding before hugging each other. Just nine more days, Olivia thinks. They can do this. Just nine more days …
...
A/N: Leave it to Casey to make sure they stick to their agreement until the hearing! Please review.