Prompt #23: Broken and Beautiful by Kelly Clarkson
I'm Tired
~oOo~
I know I'm Superwoman, I know I'm strong
I know I've got this 'cause I've had it all along
I'm phenomenal, I'm enough
I don't need you to tell me who to be
"I'm tired." She muttered the words under her breath while continuing to carefully apply make-up to her face. "Can I just be tired? Can't I just be tired for five seconds? Can't I just rest for five seconds? Deep breath, Benson. You've got this."
Noah quietly peeked around the doorway of his mom's bathroom. She was getting ready for work. They'd already had an early breakfast. Poor mom.
The past few months had been tough on her. He'd seen her struggling. She'd even gotten sick last week and never caught the flu.
Or, at least, she never admitted it.
Backing quietly out of the room, Noah decided he had to do something. It was a few days before Valentine's. It had to be enough time to give her a special treat; she deserved it.
First, Noah decided to call in reinforcement. He had two group chats on his phone. One for the Stabler siblings and one for his mom's squad. They'd help him give her the best day ever.
They had to. Everyone loved his mom. She was the best.
Can someone just hold me?
Don't fix me, don't try to change a thing
Oh, someone just know me
'Cause underneath, I'm broken and it's beautiful
2023 had not started out great for Olivia. But she held out hope things were getting better. The BX9 issue had finally been dealt with, Noah was settling down after the attack, and her relationship with Elliot had progressed beyond their uncomfortable stalemate into a tentative romance.
She felt so damn tired lately. Nothing had been easy in the past couple of years. She felt like she just couldn't catch a break or find time to take her breath before the next catastrophe happened.
"You okay, Liv?"
She opened her eyes to find Fin watching her with a concerned look. "Fine. Just tired."
"Why don't you cut out early?"
"Can't. Meeting with McGrath an hour." Olivia glanced down at the photo of Noah on her desk. "Fin?"
"Yeah?"
"Has Noah talked to you about anything bothering him? He's been…sneaky and quiet. I'm worried." Olivia had caught him having whispered conversations while on his PlayStation. "I was hoping maybe he'd spoken with you? I know you guys play games together sometimes."
"He hasn't mentioned anything out of the ordinary. Want me to have a chat with him? Some things you don't wanna say to your mom, Liv." Fin was always calm, but he seemed a little too calm to her. "I'll text your little man."
"Fin? What's going on?"
"Nothin'." He was out of her office before she could ask a follow-up question.
Something was definitely going on. Noah had been acting strange. And Fin definitely knew why.
I know I'm Superwoman, I know I'm strong
I know I've got this 'cause I've had it all along
I'm phenomenal, I'm enough
I don't need you to tell me who to be
With meetings and a new case, Olivia didn't get a chance to figure out what was going on with Noah. She arrived home to find him studiously working on his homework. He showed her the valentine's cards he'd written for his friends.
She'd forgotten tomorrow was the fourteenth.
Valentine's day.
She tried not to think about her new relationship with Elliot. It was a commercial holiday. It didn't matter.
That's what she kept telling herself.
Can someone just hold me?
Don't fix me, don't try to change a thing
Can someone just know me?
'Cause underneath, I'm broken, and it's beautiful
The smell of coffee and roses woke Olivia up. She opened her eyes and leaned up, glancing around in confusion, when she spotted multiple bouquets in her bedroom. A cup from her favorite coffee place sat on her nightstand.
Olivia sat up slowly. "Noah?"
He poked his head into her room a second later as if he'd been waiting outside. "Mom?"
"Noah. What's going on, sweet boy?"
"Happy Valentine's Day, mom." Noah bounded into the room and leaped onto the bed. "I planned the whole day. Uncle Fin made sure you don't have to go into the precinct. It's all taken care of. Do you like the coffee? See all the flowers? Elliot brought them when he came to help with breakfast. He said he'd see you later."
"What have you planned?" Olivia grabbed the coffee. She took a sip and prepared herself for not being in control of her day. "What are we doing first?"
"Breakfast. I made breakfast. Elliot helped." Noah bounced on the edge of her bed. "Hurry, mum. You're going to have the best day ever. You're going to be so relaxed. I promise. Make sure to wear the outfit on your bed, mom. You gotta wear it."
Her little whirlwind raced out the door. Olivia drank more of the coffee. It was made just the way she liked it.
I know I'm Superwoman, I know I'm strong
I know I've got this 'cause I've had it all along
I'm phenomenal, I'm enough
I don't need you to tell me who to be
Breakfast was simple but delicious. Noah beamed with pride when she mentioned how good it was. He was practically vibrating with excitement at whatever else he had up his sleeve for the day.
She'd barely finished her coffee when Noah dragged her toward the door. "Where's the fire, sweet boy?"
"You have an appointment." Noah dashed away to grab her coat and purse. "There's a car waiting."
"A what?"
"C'mon, mom."
Deciding to surrender to the chaos, Olivia allowed Noah to drag her out of their apartment into the elevator. She found Kathleen and Lizzie waiting with a chauffeured vehicle when they got downstairs. She glanced behind her to see Noah greeting Richard Stabler with a secret handshake. Her son had obviously put a lot of thought into his grand plan.
"You're going to a spa, mom. Richard's going to hang out with me. Bye, mom." Noah raced off, leaving her to stare at the grinning Stabler girls.
"Ready? He's got us booked into this exclusive spa for the full treatment." Kathleen rattled off the name of a place that Olivia knew required reservations several months in advance. "He said his Uncle Nick knew somebody who worked there."
Uncle Nick?
She could only shake her head in amazement. How many people had Noah reached out to in order to make Valentine's Day special for her? Her sweet boy. She took the tissue Lizzie handed her, swiping at the tears in her eyes.
They received royal treatment at the spa. Olivia hadn't felt so pampered in ages. She'd had a massage. Her nails and hair had been done. She walked out of the place feeling like she was floating on a relaxed cloud.
Lizzie and Kathleen said their goodbyes. Olivia was driven a few blocks to a brunch place that she'd talked about visiting for months. She thought she'd be eating alone, only to find Noah had thought about everything.
"Captain." Olivia blinked a few times, trying to reel in her emotions at seeing Cragen and Munch at the table. "John. Surprised to see you two at a brunch place."
"Your son drives a hard bargain. And his puppy dog eyes are impossible to resist." Cragen motioned for her to take a seat.
"Maybe he's been genetically…"
"John." Olivia interrupted him with a laugh. "Just admit you adore my son."
"He's yours. Of course, we adore him."
Brunch was delicious. Olivia immensely enjoyed the food and the company. It was wonderful to catch up with her old friends, even if they teased her about Elliot a little too much for her liking.
It was two in the afternoon when Olivia was driven down West 48th. She'd wondered about the dress that Noah had put on her bed. A little fancy for the spa and brunch, but apparently, a Broadway matinee was on the agenda.
Olivia was reaching for the door handle when it was opened for her. She found Elliot waiting, all dressed up in one of his fancy suits. He had a hand out to her. "El. You and Broadway?"
"I've been told Hadestown is good." Elliot took her hand and helped her out of the vehicle. "Happy Valentine's Day, baby."
"Elliot."
"Noah said you deserved the world today. You deserved to be pampered. To be treated like the amazing woman you are. I'm hoping all of us have helped you slow down and take a breath." Elliot looped an arm around her waist. He drew her closer. His lips found hers in a quick kiss. "I love you."
"I love you too." Olivia had only recently gotten comfortable with being allowed to say those words to him. "But really, you voluntarily going to a play?"
"I'll be sitting beside the most beautiful woman in the room. I don't give a damn about what's happening on the stage." Elliot shifted his hold on her a little, walking her towards the theatre doors. "Just relax and enjoy yourself, Liv."
"I can't believe Noah did all of this for me."
"He's your son, Liv. I'm not surprised he's as thoughtful and loving as he is." Elliot opened the door for them. "And I was happy to help make today special for you."
"El."
"You're going to have to accept that I'm in love with you. And I'm going to do everything I can to make your life better." Elliot turned towards her, drawing her in for another kiss. "Happy Valentine's Day."
Can someone just hold me?
Don't fix me, don't try to change a thing
Can someone just know me?
'Cause underneath, I'm broken and it's beautiful
The author of this SVU Love in the Air story will be revealed in March