A/N: Okay you guys… I think this chapter is going to be the last one. It might be pretty long. I cannot tell you how much I have loved writing this story and how much I am looking forward to writing the prequel (which will be called "Montana." Thank you, Dick, for the idea!). Your reviews have been awesome, I'm so glad you all loved Kelli so much. I saw a pic once of Chris, Mariska, and Sophia – Soph (I say like I know the kid) has totally been the inspiration for Kelli.
Dedication: My girls! Most especially RACH for the brilliant idea of "the parent trap." Also, like I said – Miss Sophia Eva Pietra Meloni!
Disclaimer: Only my overactive imagination is mine!
--
The flight home is better, Kelli is sacked out sleeping this time instead of asking me every five seconds if we're there yet. The only reason I'm not happier this time is because I know I'm running. I do that. I admit it. When things turn to shit, I hit the road. I've been talking myself into this since last night. Since the fight with Elliot. I had to go. I love him too much to stay a day longer. I can't really explain how I feel, to be quite honest, I'm not even sure I understand it myself. I don't know if Elliot will ever be able to get over the fact that I kept Kelli from him for so long, and I can't fight with him about it day in and day out. I had originally thought we'd at least stay until Kelli's kidnapper got put away, but it's not like I can't call the girls and find out how it went. He confessed, he'll plead guilty, it'll be pretty open and shut.
I know running isn't fair to my baby. But I have no plans to keep her from her Dad. And when I think she's old enough to understand (is twenty-five too young?) I'll explain to her that her mommy and daddy just didn't love each other. Which will be another lie, but hell. What else can I tell her? She'll never be old enough to understand that the reason I took her home early is because I love her daddy too much. So much it scares me.
The little pixie stirs in the seat beside me and wipes the sleep from her eyes. I run my fingers through her long brown hair and smile. "How'd you sleep, punkin?"
"Okay. We home yet?"
"Almost. We'll be in Missoula in a few minutes, and then Miss Dana will come get us and take us home."
"Is Daddy going to be there when we get there?"
My heart busts open. "No, baby. He won't. But he'll call soon."
"But how come he's not going to be there?" she asks, her big blue eyes full of tears, one sliding down her soft cheek.
"Honey, Daddy lives in New York, we talked about that."
"I didn't get to say goodbye. I want my Daddy," she says, more tears sliding down her cheeks.
"Baby, I know you do. I know, honey." I don't know what else to tell her, so I pull her into my lap in an attempt to rock her and comfort her. She pushes against me and squares her shoulders, her little jaw tightening.
"I want. My daddy."
I've never seen her like this. So indignant. So angry. So… Elliot. I begin to cry in earnest, still trying to comfort my daughter who wants nothing to do with anyone who isn't her daddy. What have I done?
--
A few minutes later when we land, she's still glaring at me. My child has never acted like this before.
"Do you have all your stuff, Kellibean?" I try to ask lightly so as not to irritate her further for my grave sin of being her mother instead of her father.
"I can't find my blanky," she says.
"Did you have it when we got on the plane?" I ask, dread building in my stomach. We left in such a hurry and I didn't check to make sure she had it. I'm sure it's still at the hotel.
"I don't remember," she says quietly.
I sigh and try not to be irritated. It's my fault. I rushed her out of there like the cops were chasing us. Which… they sort of were.
"It's okay, honey. I'll call the hotel and see if they can send it to us."
"Maybe Daddy could bring it," Kelli suggests.
A-ha. She left it on purpose. So we'd either have to go back and get it or Elliot would bring it.
"Kelli," I begin, looking in her big blue eyes. "Did you forget your blanky on purpose?"
"No," she says quietly, looking down at her shoes.
"Kelli, remember what we said about lying?" I ask gently.
"Why did we have to go away from Daddy?" she asks, avoiding my question.
Bingo.
"I'm sorry, honey. You can see your daddy soon, I promise," I swear to her, even though I'm not sure how soon it will be. "I'm going to call the hotel and see if they can send you your blanky, okay?" I ask.
She nods quietly, still not speaking to me unless I ask her a direct question.
"I don't want you to ever lie to me again, is that understood, young lady?" I ask.
She nods again. "Yes, Mommy. I'm sorry."
I pick her up and gather my carry-on bag and my purse so we can get off the plane. Once we're on the tarmac walking to the airport, I dial the number for the 4 Seasons that I had stored in my phone while we were in New York.
"Thank you for calling the 4 Seasons, this is Rachel, how may I direct your call?"
"Can I have housekeeping, please?" I ask.
"One moment."
"Housekeeping, this is Kinsey, how may I help you?"
"Hi, Kinsey, my name is Olivia Benson. I was in 6340 for the past few days. I think my daughter might have left her blanky in our room. It's really soft, green with yellow edging. It has her name, Kelli Serena, stitched on one corner."
"Oh yes, she did! I sent it down to the front desk. Rachel told me that your husband came and picked it up shortly after you left," Kinsey replied.
"My husband," I say, knowing instantly she's talking about Elliot.
"Mhm, he said his name was… now what did Rachel say…"
"Elliot," I supply.
"Elliot! Right. Anyway, he has it."
"He's not my husband," I say.
"Oh. Um, I'm really, really sorry, Ms. Benson. I just thought, I mean, he was here, and um…"
Great. I just made myself sound like a hooker and Elliot sound like some random John.
"No, no, it's okay. He's just a very good friend. It's nothing like that," I cover quickly.
"Oh. Okay. I'm sorry, still. We shouldn't have just given the blanket to him."
"It's okay. I can get it from him. Not a big deal. Thank you, Kinsey."
"You're welcome, Ms. Benson. Have a nice day."
"Thank you," I say with a sigh and hang up. Turning to Kelli, I tell her, "Daddy has your blanky."
"Will he bring it to me?" she asks.
"You can call him and ask him," I say, punching his speed dial number and handing her the phone.
Still holding her on my hip, I hold my breath while she waits for him to answer. After a few rings, I hear his voice mail pick up.
You've reached the voicemail of Elliot Stabler. Please leave a message at the tone and I'll return your call as soon as I can. Kelli looks disappointed as she waits for the beep.
"Hi Daddy! Momma said you had my blanky. I wanted to call you and ask you if you'd bring it to me. I love you! I miss you! I want you to come visit me! I love you! Bye Daddy!" She flips the phone shut and hands it back to me. "He didn't answer," she says seriously.
"Sorry, babe. He'll call you back. Help me look for Miss Dana," I say.
Kelli's big blue eyes scan the small crowd of people before they finally land on my boss. "There she is!" she screeches. She wiggles out of my arms and runs for Dana. "Miss Dana!" she squeals. Dana scoops Kelli off the ground and hugs her tightly.
"Hi baby girl," she says in her soft southern accent. She looks at me with the same animosity my daughter has been dishing out. "What have you done?" she asks.
"Nice to see you too," I say.
"He's on his way here," she says as quietly as she can, probably praying that Kelli isn't paying attention.
"He's what?"
"Let's get you home, okay Kellibean?" she asks brightly.
"Dana," I say warningly.
"Later."
I trail quietly behind them to baggage claim, Dana and Kelli chattering away about the good parts of our trip to Montana, meeting her daddy, her aunts and uncles, the Stabler Sisters Club, never touching on the kidnapping. The whole way, I'm wondering when she talked to Elliot. What he said. How he sounded. If he… missed me.
I gather up our luggage and fall into step behind Kelli and Dana again. We walk out to short-term parking to the car and get Kelli buckled into her car seat. It's a few hour drive to Jackson, and she'll be out like a light soon. Hopefully then, Dana will tell me just what the hell is going on.
--
Sure enough, about ten minutes on the interstate and she's out like a light.
"He's what?" I ask, trying to drag my boss back into our earlier conversation.
"On his way here. He called me at SIX O'CLOCK this morning, Miz Benson. You know how I feel about mornings."
Dana is the least morning-person I've ever met. I do, indeed, know how she feels about mornings.
"Anyway. He went to the hotel to get you guys for breakfast, hoping he could smooth things over. Much to his surprise, YOU WERE GONE. Care to explain what happened?"
"Not really. It's a long story."
"Olivia. I'm not asking you as your boss. I'm asking you as your friend. This is your opportunity to vent."
"I know. And I appreciate it, don't get me wrong. But all it is is that we got in a big fight, he accused me of being irresponsible, and I left. End of story."
"You ran. Like you ran to Oregon."
"You needed me in Oregon."
"You have always used that as an excuse. And yes, I did. But you did it for you too. To run."
I sigh and lean my head against the window. She's right. I run. It's what I do.
--
Two hours later, we're home, Kelli tucked in bed from her long day and her second experience of jet lag.
"I'm gonna go," Dana says, heading for the door.
"Okay," I agree. "I'll come in tomorrow morning."
"Take a damn day off, Liv. Jesus," she smiles.
"Maybe. I'll think about it," I say.
"Let me know what you decide," she says.
"I will," I say, closing the front door behind her and heading for the living room. I flop down on the couch, and groan at the fact that it's only nine here. Crap. Maybe I'll just go to bed early. Haven't done that forever. It's completely slipped my mind that Elliot was on his way here until I hear the doorbell.
I push myself up from the couch and head for the entryway.
I open the door and find myself melting simply at the sight of him.
"Hi," I say.
--
A/N: The end. HA! You weren't expecting this were you? You guys thought I'd wrap it up and put a nice smutty bow on it and hand it to you!! Hahahaha! You know I'm far too diabolical for all of that. You'll have to wait. You don't even know what he said to her when she opened the door, and you won't! For a while! I've got another story I want to do, I want to finish Karaoke at Maloney's (don't worry it's like another chapter and then it's done), and I'm going to write Montana. But there WILL be a sequel to this story. But until then, wait. Hahaha! I love you guys and I cannot wait for the reviews on this! XOXO, Kinsey