28. Content
Olivia feels a lot better after her nap. She has a dull headache but she blames the eventful couple of days they have been having. While she was asleep, Elliot has been checking out the neighborhood and she likes how excited he is about the bars, restaurants and delis that are within walking distance of the apartment building. He's found a 24 hour Healthy Market a block up the street and there's even a pet store close by. They had known about most of these places, but seeing everything first hand has made Elliot even more excited about it. The Italian restaurant across the street is a disappointment since it's mainly a pizza takeout, and Elliot tells her he has made reservations at the steakhouse two doors down instead. Olivia doesn't mind. She knew he would want to go there eventually and she's currently getting ready to go out.
The place is still filled with boxes but they are going to continue unpacking the next day. Olivia is just rummaging through the boxes and suitcases that hold most of her clothes. She's already in love with the big built-in closet in her room. Elliot has exactly the same room as hers, only mirrored. It will be strange to know he's just on the other side of the wall, with only about two feet between their heads when they go to bed at night. She wonders if she will be able to hear him move around in bed and she tells herself not to dwell on that while she's getting ready to go out to dinner with Elliot.
Olivia is a little nervous about it. They've had meals together countless times and they are usually comfortable with each other. She just worries if that would change if they allowed for something to grow between them that went beyond friendship and simply sharing an apartment. And she isn't really sure what Elliot has planned for her.
Olivia smooths her long, soft, light blue sweater over her protruding belly and black maternity pants. It's still a charming belly for now but she knows she is going to get huge before she'll ever get her figure back. It's worth it, naturally, but it may not be the best time to think of new or shifting relationships. It will be best to take it slow and get used to their new living arrangements first. For all she knows, Elliot's flirting has been innocent all along.
When she fished some clean underwear out of her smaller suitcase earlier, she'd spotted one of her little friends, that's helped her alleviate stress on lonely nights a few times. Her body may be busy growing a new person, but she still has needs. She reminds herself that the bathroom in this place is at the other end of the apartment. Maybe she can take the toy with her tonight … She expects that Elliot will want her to keep the door unlocked again, but this bathroom has an actual bath so if she promises him she will sit in the tub, it will be the perfect excuse to lock the door.
Olivia sits on the bed and shakes her head. She shouldn't be thinking like this. She got herself knocked up by one man and is now sharing a place with another, and she has sex on the brain? How does that look for a sex crimes detective anyway?
A soft knock on the door startles her out of her thoughts.
"Liv. You ready?" Elliot asks through the door.
"Just about," she answers quickly.
She opens the jewelry box that's on the bed next to her and chooses a simple pair of earrings that go well with her necklace. She hasn't put pictures in the locket yet but she has worn it every day since she got it from Elliot. She smiles at him when Elliot opens the door and peeks around it, hoping he won't pick up on her nervousness.
"I'm decent El. Come on in."
Elliot watches her attentively as she puts her jewelry box away and stands up.
"You look great," he tells her. "I'm glad you got some more sleep."
"Thanks. I feel better too. But I have no idea how I look, to be honest."
She gestures around the room.
"No mirror."
"You don't need one. You always look great," Elliot says and Olivia busies herself pushing her suitcases into a corner before looking at her partner again.
"You won't think that once I'm the size of an elephant," she tells him, and she actually means that.
Elliot grins and steps aside to allow her to leave the bedroom ahead of him.
"I'm sure I will," he tells her. "Pregnant women are always beautiful."
"Please tell me that when I'm so bloated I can't even walk normally anymore," Olivia sighs.
"I promise," Elliot says solemnly.
"I'll hold you to that."
Olivia makes a quick stop in the bathroom, and when Elliot offers her his arm before they leave the apartment, she accepts it with a smile.
Dinner is relaxed, and Olivia doesn't really know why she is surprised about it. They both may have a lot to process but she soon finds that they are still the same Benson and Stabler they used to be. Elliot tells her jokingly that they need to be on their best behavior since this is their new neighborhood and people are going to know soon enough that they're cops. Olivia responds by tossing a piece of salad at him, that actually lands in his soup of the day. They both laugh out loud and the apprehension finally leaves her body. They have a fun, relaxed evening after that. They chat about a lot of things, some serious and some light and Olivia feels content when they stroll back home after dinner. She had insisted on paying for dinner, which hadn't been cheap, but Elliot had wanted to hear nothing of it. She'd already paid for the new dining table and six chairs, he argued, to which she had replied that he had paid for the bunk bed, which was almost as expensive.
"That's for my own kids," Elliot had muttered.
"So are most of the six chairs," Olivia had countered. "We're in this together El. Better get used to this now, or we're going to have arguments about money every week."
That had been the end of the conversation, although Olivia knows it won't be the last time they will have this discussion. But for now, they're good. She accepts it when Elliot takes her hand as they walk back to their building. It's just a few yards but she know he is protective of her. She realizes she hasn't objected as much to his protectiveness since getting pregnant. After all, she has a little life growing inside her now, that needs extra protection. It's Saturday night and the streets are busy. Even the sports bar next to their building is packed and it feels nice to be holding hands. People will think they're a couple and that will keep most of the unwanted attention away from her.
They walk up to their floor and grin when they both pull out their keys. It's as if the two keys underline once more that they're both home now.
"Go ahead," Elliot says quietly, placing his hand on her lower back.
"Home sweet home," Olivia mumbles.
When she sees her furniture, still placed a little haphazardly around the room, she sighs. It's not home yet.
"We should have hooked up the TV earlier," Elliot says. "You wanna do that now?"
"Sure."
They toss their coats in the corner where they plan to place a coat rack soon, and Elliot pushes the TV stand against the wall separating the living room from his bedroom.
"Here?" he asks.
"Perfect."
They manage to create a cosy little sitting area with the furniture from Olivia's old place, and after Elliot finds out where their cable comes into the room, he manages to get the TV up and running as well. They agree that the music installation is something for another day. Olivia gets them both a drink and they sit down on the couch. Olivia looks up at the light bulb dangling from the ceiling, which is the only light source in the room aside from the TV.
"Wanna go lamp shopping tomorrow?" Elliot asks.
"Definitely."
She has no idea where she's put her candles and makes a mental note to search for them first thing in the morning. They choose a TV channel together and settle in in silence, just taking in their first evening in their new place.
"It needs some decorating but I think I can get used to this," Elliot tells her after a while.
"Yeah. It's gonna be nice."
"And soon we'll have tater boy here, tossing his toys everywhere."
"I can't wait."
Elliot holds his hand out to her and Olivia smiles, silently giving him permission to touch her belly. He places his warm hand over it and Olivia covers his hand with her own.
"I know we're gonna need some time to adjust here and find our bearings, but you know I'm here for you, right? For both of you."
Elliot's words feel like a warm blanket being draped around her and she bites her lip to keep her chin from trembling. His words convey so much. He knows she needs time. They both need time. A lot has changed in their lives over the past months, and most of it had been completely unexpected. But they're still here and they're still together. Best friends. Partners. And they know they can still count on each other. That's all that matters right now and Olivia nods.
"I know. Thank you, Elliot."
She is thanking him for everything he's said and everything his words imply, and she knows he knows it. They sit together contently, surrounded by boxes that still need to be unpacked, but for now, this feels right. Olivia's 'need' to take a bath has dissipated during the evening and she smiles at herself. Here she is, almost cuddled up with one of the handsomest, well-built men she knows, and she just feels … content. Not restless or jittery anymore. Not horny either. Just content. She knows it's not going to stay that way but for now, she relaxes into that feeling of contentment. No matter what happens from now on, she doesn't want to lose her friendship with Elliot. When it comes down to it, he's the longest relationship she's ever had with a man, and she fully intends to keep it that way.
...
More soon. Your thoughts are appreciated.