A/N:
Dedication: To my girl bandbi – I'm truly honored that her first "beta-ing" experience was for my story! Love ya girl!
Disclaimer: Only my overactive imagination is mine… and Liv and Elliot's daughter. Wow. I have a daughter that also belongs to Elliot. Yay for me: )
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We're back in the Touareg, headed back to the hotel. Kelli is sound asleep in the back seat, after being worn out by her sisters and her dad. They kick grown men out of the ball pit at Chuck E. Cheese. I didn't know that. I mean, I figured, but I hadn't ever seen it happen. Until tonight.
I rest my head against the window and gaze out to the rainy streets of the city I love. I'm almost excited to get back to Montana so we can be back here as soon as possible. I called Dana earlier today and she said she wasn't in any hurry to get me back, but that she was ready for me whenever I came home. And that she was excited to see Kelli. And then she reamed me for not calling as soon as we found her. But like I said; my boss delivers an ass chewing like most people make polite conversation, so it wasn't that big of a deal.
"Whatcha thinkin' about?" Elliot asks, reaching over to take my hand. I automatically tangle my fingers with his. Like I've been doing it for years instead of days.
"Going home," I say quietly.
"I don't want you to go," he admits.
"I want to go so I can get back here as soon as I can," I smile and squeeze his hand.
"What if Kelli wants to stay in Montana?" he asks.
I shrug. "We'll cross that bridge when we get there," I say.
"That's kind of your attitude about everything isn't it?" Elliot says sarcastically.
I'm a little surprised by his comment. It's like he just… snapped. I had forgotten his capability to do that. I turn my head in his direction and ask, "Just what is that supposed to mean?"
"Exactly what I said," he mutters.
"I'm sorry, I thought we got all of the Kelli stuff taken care of," I say. "I didn't realize you were still bitter," I mutter.
"Bitter?! Excuse me? I think I have a right to be a little bitter, Olivia. You didn't tell me we had a kid for six years."
"Yes, and? We've discussed my reasons."
"Actually, no, we really haven't. You keep saying you didn't tell me because I left. And I apologized for that. But, I'm sorry, my leaving really doesn't give you the right to just not tell me we have a child!"
"Elliot, I'm sorry! I screwed up! I should have told you! I'm a horrible person! Is that what you want me to say?"
"I would just for once like to see you take some responsibility for your actions!"
"Oh, and you don't think raising your daughter for the past six years was responsible? Well pardon me all to hell, Mr. Father of the fucking year!"
"What's the real reason you didn't tell me, Liv?" he asks quietly.
"Because, Elliot. I told you. YOU. LEFT. ME."
"Olivia, if you think for one God Damned SECOND that I would have left if I had known we were going to have a baby, you're fucking crazier than I ever gave you credit for."
"And if you had loved me, you wouldn't have left," I say quietly. I'm guilt-tripping him and I know it.
"I DID LOVE YOU! I DO LOVE YOU! EVEN THOUGH YOU MAKE ME SO FUCKING CRAZY I CAN'T STAND TO BE IN THE SAME ROOM WITH MYSELF, I LOVE YOU!"
"Then why did you leave?"
"BECAUSE YOU PUSHED ME AWAY!" he screams.
"Yeah well. Call it a test. You failed."
"Olivia," he says, calming down a little. "The minute I told you that I thought we should go back to New York you shut down. Just like you always do."
"I learned from the master," I say bitterly.
"Daddy? Mommy? Why are you yelling?" Kelli asks, our shouting match tearing her from her dreams.
"Mommy and Daddy are just having a disagreement, baby," I start.
"Mommies and daddies do that sometimes, honey. It's okay," Elliot soothes her. For a moment, I'm irritated. But she's his child. He has every right to try to calm her down.
"Okay, Daddy," she says and goes straight back to sleep. The irritation boils again. For the past six years, all she's needed has been me. And now here he is, being all…him, and she's in love with her daddy. Dana was right. She's just so happy to have him in her life she doesn't see anything else.
"We're here," he says quietly, cutting the engine and opening the door. I open my door and get out to open the back one to get my daughter. Her dad already has her in his arms, her head resting on his shoulder, her little mouth open on a snore.
"I'll take her," I say. He looks like he's going to fight me on it, but thinks better of it and hands her over.
"This isn't over," he says.
"It never is," I mutter with a sigh.
"Olivia…"
"I know, Elliot. I know, okay?"
"I love you, Liv."
I sigh again. Me too. Sometimes I just don't like him very damn much.
"I love you," I reply, heading for the door to the hotel.
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The next morning, I wake up feeling absolutely drained. I had cried myself to sleep for the first night since the night after Elliot left Montana. Sitting up, I swipe my hair out of my eyes and think about our fight. Suddenly I know what I need to do. I get out of bed, pulling on my robe and head for Kelli's room.
"Baby," I say, sitting down on the edge of the bed. She wakes slowly, turning over on her back to look up at me.
"Hi, Momma," she says with a sleepy smile.
"We're leaving, today, Kelli. We're going back to Montana."
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A/N: Hi. It's me. The e-vil author. I just want you to know that it broke my heart to write that fight. Read it and review it anyway, okay? I love you all. Thanks for being so patient with me this week!