Chapter 17-Changes

Elliot sits up in bed and sniffs the air. "Bacon and pancakes!" He said excitedly. He jumped out of bed and realized that Olivia wasn't next to him. He walked down the stairs and into the kitchen. He saw Dickie and Lizzie playing with the twins on the floor next to the table. He looked over at the main part of the kitchen and saw Olivia wearing an apron and flipping pancakes. He walked over to her and wrapped his arms around her waist. He kissed her neck.

"I didn't know you could cook," he said questioningly. "I thought that your eating habits consisted of Chinese takeout and whatever was in the vending machine at work?" He smiled at her and laughed.

"No," she said laughing at him. "I know how to cook contrary to popular belief. If you don't recall I had a mother who had liquid lunches and dinners so I had to fend for myself when I got home," she said turning around and staring him in the eyes.

"I'm sorry baby. I didn't mean…"

"I know. It is ok. Now sit down and breakfast will be ready in a minute."

"You look sexy in an apron by the way," he said smiling.

She rolled her eyes at him and then turned and continued with breakfast. She finished cooking the food and put it on a large plate. There was enough food for a small army.

"Are we expecting company for breakfast?" Kathleen said; as she looked at Olivia put the plate on the table.

"Grandpa and Aunt Alex and Uncle John are coming," she responded with a smile.

"Yeah!" Dickie and Lizzie said excitedly. They picked the twins up and put the in their highchairs. Dickie went to the refrigerator and took out two containers of squashed carrots. He put each of them in front of the twins.

Elliot opened the container in front of Junior and began to feed him. Olivia sat in the chair next to Serena and opened her container to feed her.

Ding Dong!

"I'll get it!" Lizzie shouted as she rushed for the door. She opened it and barreled into Don's chest. "Hi grandpa," she said as she hugged him tightly.

"Hi sweetie," he said with a smile. "Mommy made breakfast?"

"Yup! There is pancakes and bacon!" Lizzie said as she went to John and Alex to give them each a hug.

"Hey how is it going?" Alex said as she gave Olivia a hug.

"Fine. Elliot thought that I didn't know how to cook," she said with a laugh.

"She can cook stupid," Alex said shaking her head at Elliot.

"Apparently," Elliot said stuffing a large piece of pancake in his mouth.

Olivia took off her apron and they all sat down around the table.

"I wanted to talk to you all about something," Don said sounding very serious which worried them greatly. "I am going to be retiring at the end of the year," he began as he looked at the reaction on each of their faces. They seemed confused, scared, and saddened.

"Daddy…what?" Olivia looked at her father like a scared little girl. She knew he was her father and that he would always be there for her but that wasn't the half of it. He had been her Captain, her friend, and her confidant. She loved him more than he could ever know and now he was leaving. He wasn't going to be her Captain and be there to catch her every time she fell. "You're leaving? What about the unit? What about me?" She began to cry.

"Sweetie you know that I will always be here for you, Elliot and the kids. As for the unit they all know that I love them and will never forget any of them. I have been working for the NYPD for well near forty years and I think it is time for me to step down and live out the rest of my life without the hostilities and grief," he said with a deep sigh. He took Olivia's hand and looked into her teary brown eyes and smiled. "I love you sweetheart."

"I love you too daddy," she smiled at him.

When everyone finally calmed down Alex whispered something into John's ear. Olivia noticed this and realized that what ever it was they were going to find out soon enough.

"Everyone," Alex stood up and began. "Since you all are the closest family I have I wanted you to be the first to know," she cleared her throat and then smiled at John. "I got a job offer with the Auditor General's Office in Washington DC," she said excitedly as John took her hand.

"That's great Alex," Olivia said standing up to give her a hug. "So when do you start?"

"I start the first of the year," she said happily as she realized that with Don leaving and her leaving that this was going to be difficult for Olivia to swallow.

"That soon, huh?" Olivia looked at her on the verge of tears again. "So you guys will be moving to DC in a few weeks?"

Alex looked at her friend not knowing what to say. "Yeah I guess we have to leave within the next two weeks. They want me there before Christmas to get situated and acquainted with everyone and everything."

They all looked in the direction of John and Alex. What would Christmas be like without them? They were family too. It wouldn't be the same. They all knew this.