Hey kids. Wow I am up to chapter 5 when this story popped into my head the other day I never thought it would get this out of control. I know I am probably driving everyone nuts by not allowing El and Liv to fall madly in love but this thing takes time. I hope you like the new chapters that are up 3 & 4 and now dang here is 5. Keep the reviews coming my goal is to see 100 reviews on this and it will be longer than the other things that I have written. I will be adding a lot today and then I'm gonna be busy but don't loose faith in me as I will be back with more!

Olivia watched out the door everyday and looked up everytime she heard a wagon creak its way into town. Each time she looked up she hoped to see Elliot and Ethan Stabler but each time she was disappointed to see that it was only another farmer and his wife. This continued for the two weeks left in June until one hot day a few days before the fourth of July dance Olivia heard horses trot up to the hitching rail. She didn't look up this time, expecting it to only be some of the cowboys that had begun to frequent town on a more regular basis. Then she heard foot steps on the hard wood floor and to keep from being rude she looked up and said, "Hello."

She was taken by surprise to look up into the blue eyes of Elliot Stabler. "Hello Ms. Benson."

"Hello Mr. Stabler. Hello Ethan."

"Ms. Benson." Ethan greeted.

Then Elliot said to Ethan, "Ethan why don't you run down to Oliver and Emily's and play a while. I'll be down to pick you up shortly."

"Yes, sir." Ethan said and turning on his heal ran out the door. "Bye Ms. Benson!" he called over his shoulder remember his manners.

"How have you been Ms. Benson?"

"Fine, and you Mr. Stabler?"

"I've been well." Elliot replied. "Ms. Benson, I came in here today with the intention of asking you a question."

"Oh, well what would that be?" Olivia asked. She tried to keep the excitement out of her voice because she was almsot sure that Elliot was there to ask her to the 4th of July dance.

"I was wondering if you would like to have dinner with me on the 4th of July and then attend the dance with me." Elliot asked. Then he stood there, trying hard not to hold his breath as he waited for her reply. Then as a last minute thought he said, "If you already have a suitor calling please just tell me and I'll leave you be, Ms. Benson."

"No, no, there's no suitor calling. I would love to go to dinner and the dance with you Mr. Stabler. What time shall I be expecting your call?" Olivia asked. It was all that she could do to keep herself from dancing around the room and grabbing him and kissing him. She knew that that would be unlady like of her and she would never dream of doing it but her emotions wanted her too.

"Would six o'clock in the evening be alright?" Elliot asked.

"That would be fine." Olivia said. Now she had to decide what to wear, why she was happy that he hadn't waited any longer to stop by and ask her. "Would you like to come to the setting room for a glass of lemonade, Mr. Stabler?"

"That sounds fine, Ms. Benson." Elliot said. He allowed her to lead him to the back where she and her grandfather lived behind the store. She lead him to a small setting room and offered him a seat and then he watched her as she retreated to the kitchen. A few minutes later she bustled in with a tray that held a frosty pitcher of lemonade, glasses and cookies.

Olivia served him and then sat in the chair opposite his. "It's nice to see you again, Mr. Stabler."

"As it is you Ms. Benson." Elliot replied. He wondered when they would get beyond the formality of the Mr and Ms bit and begin using each others first names. His question was answered with Olivia's next words.

"Please call me Olivia. I can't bear to be called Ms. Benson."

"Alright, then please call me Elliot." Elliot said.

The two finished their lemonade and cookies and then Elliot rose. "Well I'm sorry to eat and run but I must go get Ethan."

"What do you plan to do with Ethan during the dance?"

"He'll go stay with the Much children. I doubt that John and Casey will be in attendance. That is the one downfall of being the town sheriff you have to patrol all the social events rather than attend them."

"You sound as if you know first hand how that works Elliot." Olivia stated.

"I do. I was the sheriff until four years ago I came home to my ranch to find my son scared and crying and my wife murdered by raiding indians. It was then that I decided that I needed to get my priorities straight and look after my son and ranch and give up the lawman's way of life."

"I see." Olivia said.

"I'll call for you on the fourth at six." Elliot said and made his way out the door. He knew that he had left abruptly but he didn't want to answer any more questions at the time about his former life with Kathy and Ethan. If he was going to move on then he had to put those thoughts out of his head. It seemed to him that he was moving on, however slowly, he had asked Olivia if he could escort her to dinner and the dance and that would be enough to get the ladies of the town talking and he and Olivia would be paired in their minds if they weren't all ready. He thought about stopping by John's office and then thought better of it. He needed to get back to the ranch so he went directly to John and Casey Munch's home and went to the door.

Emily the Munch's daughter answered the door. "Hello Mr. Elliot. Are you looking for Ethan?"

"Hello Emily. Yes is he here?"

"Yes, he's out back with Oliver. Please come in and I'll go get him."

Elliot followed the girl into the house and was met by Casey. "Why Elliot! What a surprise. I didn't expect to see you for a while."

Elliot smiled and aske, "Why? I only went to the general store and told Ethan that I would pick him up here shortly."

"Oh, well I was just under the impression that maybe you had come to do some courting. Really, Elliot it is way past time for you to be showing intrest in some of the young ladies in town." Casey said in a scolding tone. "Ethan needs a mother and you need a wife."

"So, I've been told." Elliot said. "I was, for your information, just down talking to Ms. Benson about escorting her to the the fourth of July dance."

"Oh, that sounds wonderful, Elliot. Did she accept your invitation? I really do think she is a sweet girl." Casey said. She laid a hand on her rounded stomach where is stood out under her dress.

"Yes she did. That is the other thing that I was going to ask you about. Would you mind watching Ethan that evening for me?"

"Of course not. Ethan is like one of my very own children. He is always welcome to stay here. Why don't you just send his night clothes in with him as well and he can stay here that night. I'm sure you'll get home late and I wouldn't want him to be disturbed. Children need their rest, it is very important." Casey told him.

Then Ethan came in trailing Emily with Oliver at his heels. "Are you ready to go son?" Elliot asked.

"Yes, pa." Ethan said. Then he turned to his friends, "I'll see you again soon."

"Ok, Ethan." Emily said, smiling at her friend.

"Bye Ethan." Oliver said.

"What do you tell Ms. Casey, Ethan?" Elliot said to him.

"Thank you Ms. Casey for allowing me to come over and play."

"Your welcome Ethan. You come again anytime you want to ok."

"Yes, ma'm." Ethan said.

That evening on the way home Ethan asked his father, "Pa, are you and Ms. Benson going to the dance together."

"Yes son we are."

"Oh good. I was worried that you might not ask her. She is really nice isn't she Pa?"

"Yes, she's very nice."

"And pretty. Ain't she pretty Pa."

"Beautiful."

"Are you gonna tell her she's beautiful pa?"

"I think that would be a little forward son." Elliot said.

"Why's that Pa?" Ethan said. To him if you liked someone and you liked how they looked you told them.

"Because it's rude Ethan. If I knew Ms. Benson better then it wouldn't be such a big deal but I don't know her that well."

"Are you going to get to know her better, Pa?"

"I hope to, yes."

"Do you think you'll marry her some day and she'll become my new Ma?"

"Ethan that is really putting the cart before the horse there. Where do you come up with these questions?"

"I dunno. I just do, I guess cause I wonder about so much stuff. You always told me that questions were the way a man learned things."

"I guess I did. Well, son, lets look at this way, if, now I'm saying if, I court Ms. Benson and we get along well for say a period of time of two or three years then yes I could see myself marrying her. You have to realize son, people don't fall in love over night."

"But you told me once that you knew you loved me the minute you saw me so how does that work?" Ethan aksed, confused.

"It is different with your children Ethan. You share a deep bond with them from the time they are concieved, so I would know that I loved you from that time on. You were a part of your mother and I. It doesn't work that way in other relationships."

"Oh."

"Do you understand son?"

"I guess."

"Alright." Elliot said. They had arrived home and he changed the subject then, "Ethan I want you to go fill the wood box while I care for the horses and feed the milk cow."

"Yes, Pa."

"And son." Elliot said before he walked away.

"Yes, Pa."

"I love you boy but stop trying to play matchmaker." Elliot said before he walked into the barn to do the chores.