Prompt #60: If Ever You're In My Arms Again von Peabo Bryson
Part 2
This Time I'll Love You Better
~oOo~
It had been two days since the shooting, and Elliot was still by Olivia's side, waiting for her to wake up. It had been two days since Olivia's operation, and she still hadn't woken up.
"Hey Liv, it's been two days since I saw your beautiful smile. I'll be looking after you since they're all busy and Cragen just received a report that the people who ambushed us a couple of nights ago were from a gang we bust earlier this year." Elliot moved a piece of Olivia's hair that had fallen on her face as he talked to the sleeping form of Olivia.
Elliot sat back as he just looked at Olivia's face. He couldn't stop his tears from flowing. He rarely cried because growing up with an abusive father, he learned that crying was for girls, and showing emotions made you weak. But he didn't know how many times he already cried over of guilt, anguish, and fear in the two days that he stayed at Olivia's side.
"The kids say that they might visit you a bit later today. They want to leave some flowers and cards for you, it's Valentine's Day after all." Elliot smiled as he fixed the blanket that covered Olivia to make sure she wasn't cold and she was comfortable. Elliot leaned back on the chair as he reached for a book that he saw at Olivia's apartment. He started reading the book to Olivia, making sure he was loud enough for her to hear him reading. Elliot read somewhere that people that are in a coma could hear if someone is speaking to them, he was trying to do whatever it took to wake Olivia up.
After a few hours of reading and a couple of nurses checking Olivia's chart and status, he heard another knock on the door. It was the kids with balloons, flowers, cards, and stuffed toys in variations of pink and red.
"Hey, dad. How are you?" Maureen, the oldest, went to hug her father.
"I'm fine. How was school today?" Elliot smiled at Maureen. The college student smiled as she answered her father's question with the usual 'fine' and 'boring'. Elliot couldn't help but let out a small chuckle as he looked at his kids.
"Mom's outside dad," Dickie stated as he sat on the chair that his dad had occupied earlier. Elliot sighed as he told his kids that they can talk to Olivia but not be too loud. They all agreed as they situated themselves near Olivia's bed. Elliot went outside to talk to Kathy.
"Hey, Kathy." Elliot honestly didn't know what to say to his soon-to-be ex-wife so he just greeted the woman and smiled at her.
"Hey. How's Olivia? Any changes?" Kathy inquired as they sat on the chair available next to each other.
"Still no changes." Elliot huffed as he stared at an empty wall, trying to think of the words he could say to Kathy.
"Elliot… don't. I know and I've accepted it." Kathy looked at Elliot while reaching for his hand and gave it a soft squeeze. To be honest with herself, Kathy already knew what was about to happen and she'd accepted it a long time ago. Kathy had felt how Elliot slowly fell in love with his partner.
"I'm so sorry Kathy for being a shitty husband. I know we vowed 'for better or worse' but I don't want to lie anymore, not to you and especially not to me. You deserve someone who can love you fully and once upon a time I did and I still do but it's not the same as before." Elliot explained as Kathy just looked at him with a small and gentle smile.
"I know and I'm not mad, well not anymore. There are times that I was but I realized that it won't do us any good Elliot. I love you and I still do but not the same as when we were younger. I've learned to accept that you'll get your happiness with Olivia. Maybe the divorce is what we need to be the best parents for our kids," Kathy spoke as she kept on holding Elliot's hand.
"Thank you, Kathy, and I'm so sorry." Elliot looked at Kathy and gave her a firm smile.
"You're welcome and it's time for us to finally have the love we deserve." Kathy hugged Elliot as they stood up from their seats to go back to Olivia's room. They both know that they still had a lot to talk about and they would, but they'll take on any issues one day at a time.
They went back in and the room was full of Valentine's Day decorations. The gifts that the Stabler kids bought were displayed in the corner of the room.
"These are nice kids. Who thought of this?" Elliot grinned as he looked around the room.
"We all did! Hospitals are so gloomy let alone spending this day here, so we decorated but just a little part of the room so it won't be obstructing when the nurses check on Olivia," Lizzie explained as she smiled brightly at Elliot. Elliot couldn't help but hug his youngest daughter.
"I'm sure Olivia will love the gifts and decorations once she wakes up." Elliot sat back on the chair next to Olivia's bed as Lizzie stayed in her dad's hug.
"Mom also brought this cake she made for today, she said we can eat it here," Kathleen said as she unboxed the cake and handed out paper plates and forks amongst them. Elliot looked at Kathy and noded as his thanks to the woman who he once loved deeply.
"Let's eat then. I'll cut the cake." Kathy moved near a small table and cut the cake into slices. She gave the kids and Elliot the cake. It was a chocolate cake with red and pink frosting. They all ate the cake and enjoyed their time visiting Olivia, talking about random things about school and what they were currently busy with. They all enjoyed the time they had, so they didn't notice that it was almost 4 pm.
"Let's go kids. Give your dad and Liv a kiss goodbye. We don't want to be caught up in traffic." Kathy stood up as the kids said goodbye to Elliot and Olivia. Kathy was the last to leave, slowly approaching Olivia's bed.
"Wake up, Liv. Elliot needs you. We all do." Kathy whispered as he squeezed Olivia's hand. Elliot watched the scene and he couldn't help but say his thanks for having a very understanding soon-to-be ex. Kathy gave Elliot a hug as she left the room. Elliot sat down again on the lone chair that was next to Olivia with him whispering that he'll never leave.
"Olivia, I swear to you once you wake up, I'll love you much better. If ever you're in my arms again, Liv, I'll love you much better, I'll hold you forever. Please. This time we'll never end." Elliot sobbed as he held Olivia's cheek.
It had been a few hours now since Elliot's kids and Kathy left. Elliot was busy reading to Olivia when he heard the most dreadful sound he might have heard in his life. A team of nurses and doctors came barrelling inside Olivia's room, handling different medications that could help Olivia.
"Sir, you have to wait outside so we can work on Miss Benson," One of the male nurses stated as he pushed Elliot out of the room.
Elliot was just staring at Olivia the whole time he was being pushed outside. Elliot was finally outside the room, watching the doctors and nurses work on Olivia through the glass window. Elliot could see and hear every move the people inside did as they tried to save Olivia's life.
~oOo~
It had been two years now since that fateful night happened. Two full years of love, pain, and happiness.
"Ophelia, come on! We're gonna be late," Elliot coaxed the young girl to come out of Elliot's closet as they were going to a special event.
"No daddy! Don't wanna!" The stubborn girl huffed as the closet door opened slightly at the little girl's movement.
"Ophelia Eloise Stabler, don't make me count to three." Elliot huffed as well, his patience starting to dwindle. He could see the door starting to open, quickly catching the toddler and tickling her.
"Daddy stop! Tickles!" Ophelia laughed til her cheeks were red.
"Ok baby, daddy will stop now." Elliot smiled as he gave his daughter a kiss on her cheek.
"Where are we going daddy? We're gonna visit mommy?" Ophelia asked as Elliot carried the little girl into her room to get her changed.
"Because it's mommy's special day today ladybug," Elliot answered as he picked up a pink dress with pink peonies printed on it.
"What's the special day about?" Ophelia asked her dad again and Elliot couldn't help but chuckle.
"You're just like your mommy, ladybug. So we have to hurry and get you dressed 'cause mommy misses you already," Elliot answered as he quickly dresses up Ophelia to stop the overflowing questions that his daughter had.
Ophelia and Elliot were now dressed, his kids waiting for them in the living room, bored.
"Finally! Did you give daddy a hard time, ladybug?" Maureen laughed as she picked Ophelia from Elliot.
"I did! It was fun playing hide and seek!" The little girl squealed as the whole family laughed.
"I bet it does, bunny." Kathleen snorted as they all stood up and went to the car to go to the event.
After an hour of driving, the bunch finally reached the 1-6 precinct. They all got out of the car and went inside. The people greeted them as they walked down the corridor.
"Hey." Elliot turned around and smiled.
"Hey to you too, Sarge." Elliot wrapped his arms around the woman as he gave her a kiss.
"El! Bunny's watching." Olivia chastised as she grinned.
"You like it when I romance you." Elliot teased as he laughed.
The Stabler family was now complete. Elliot and his wife Olivia. The couple dated for a year before they decided to tie the knot and a year later, they adopted Ophelia Eloise Stabler.
"Before we go, Elliot, I want to tell you something." Olivia held Elliot's hand as they walked towards the elevator.
"Sure, what is it?" Elliot looked at Olivia as they waited for the elevator. They were going to church to get Ophelia baptized.
"I'm pregnant, Elliot," Olivia said as her eyes misted. Elliot looked at Olivia and lifted her.
"I'm gonna be a dad again!" Elliot shouted as he put Olivia down. Elliot hugged her and kneels in front of Olivia.
"Hello baby, I can't wait to meet you. I promise that you're already loved even before you exist," Elliot stated as he kissed Olivia's still flat stomach. Olivia's eyes teared up as Elliot stood up and kissed her.
The best of romances deserve second chances.
The author of this SVU Love in the Air story will be revealed in March