Chapter Six
The next day, Elliot had headed back to Queens to get some of Eli's stuff. He had also told the kids to come over to Olivia's when they could get a chance, because they had something super important to tell them. He had also made sure that they weren't going to the house in Queens, so they wouldn't find out about Kathy before he could tell them.
Casey was visiting Liv at the apartment. She had also wanted to see Eli. ''Hey, so what happens now? Are you and Elliot going to get a bigger place? You're going to have to have a place for Dickie and Liz, too.'' She said.
Olivia nodded. ''I know. El doesn't want to keep the place in Queens. He doesn't want the kids to remember that that was where Kathy died. He's calling a real estate agent today while he's out there. He's getting some of Eli's stuff.''
Casey had called in sick that day so she could help Elliot and Olivia out. There wasn't much she could do about Harris and Rook yet. They were still looking for them. She wanted to be there for her friends. Especially since Olivia had just gotten out of a coma and now had a baby to help take care of. ''So, when are you and Elliot going to be getting engaged?''
Olivia looked at her. ''I don't know. We haven't talked about that since we found out about Baby Benson Stabler. There's a lot going on, Case. I don't expect him to ask yet. I think we're definitely headed towards that, but it's not anywhere in the distant future. I'd be surprised if he asked right now.''
Speaking of Elliot, he was just finishing on gathering up Eli's things. He'd grabbed as much as he could, and the crib. He'd had to dismantle it, and it wasn't going to fit in his car. He was just pulling out his phone to call Fin when he showed up. ''What are you doing out here?'' He asked, surprised.
Fin said, ''I'ma wondering what yo're doin' out here. It's still a crime scene.'' He figured Elliot was just getting some of Eli's stuff, but he couldn't just linger. They were still checking on it.
Elliot tried not to get angry. He knew how hard Fin was working to find Harris and Rook. ''I had to get some of Eli's things. We have to take care of him now, and he's still a baby, we need baby clothes and diapers and stuff.'' He could feel tears stinging his eyes. He hadn't really cried yet. He felt he should have cried by now. He knew Livvy was just waiting for him to. She was waiting for him to completely break down, and he didn't want to do that. He wanted to be strong for his kids. ''I actually need your help. Eli's crib won't fit in my car, even being dismantled. Will it fit in yours?''
Fin took a glance at it. It was sitting on the porch. ''Sure, it should. Yo' need anything else?'' He asked. He could tell Elliot was barely keeping it together.
Elliot said, ''Actually, I need you to come to a jewelry store and help me pick out an engagement ring for Livvy.'' He went to pick up one side of the crib.
Fin went to help him, and he couldn't say that he was surprised that Elliot was wanting to get a ring. ''Yo' aren't plannin' on axin' her anytime soon, are yo'?'' He asked, hoping that his friend would say no.
Elliot said, ''No, of course not. I'm just going to get it. I'll ask her soonish. I want to make sure that the kids will be handling Kathy's death OK before I spring more information on them. We aren't planning on telling them about the baby yet, either.''
They finished loading Eli's crib into Fin's car, and headed back to Manhattan. Elliot called a real estate agent on the way and made an appointment for the following afternoon. He also called a funeral home to make arrangements for Kathy. It would still be a couple of days, Melinda was still doing all her tests. Then they went to a ring store, and Elliot found something beautiful that thankfully, he could make payments on. They let him take it, though. It was a beautiful 14 carat diamond with a gold band. It was very simple and elegant, just like Livvy. He thought she'd love it. He slipped it into his jacket pocket, making a mental note to move it somewhere else, because Liv liked to wear his jackets.
Fin helped him carry everything up to the apartment, and they found the girls watching Eli bouncing around in his car seat. Olivia hadn't had anything else to put him in. Luckily, Elliot had also brought his swing. He placed it on the floor by the couch and put his son in it. ''He loves that thing.'' He said, as he gave Olivia a kiss.
Elliot asked, ''You didn't have any other visitors while I was gone, did you?'' He leaned all the crib parts against the living room wall. He'd put it together in a little while, before Eli's nap.
Olivia shook her head. ''No, but Maureen called, and she said that she and Kathleen are going to pick the twins up from school, and then they'll be over. I think they might have an idea that something's up. It wasn't in the papers this morning, was it?''
Elliot shook his head. ''No, I made sure that until a cause of death was officially determined, it wouldn't be there. I wanted to make sure that we could tell the kids first.''
Olivia said, ''Did you talk to a real estate agent?'' She picked up the bags that Elliot had put Eli's things in and took them to the second bedroom. ''Where are we going to put the twins? We have no room for them, and they're going to have to stay here tonight.''
Elliot, luckily, had followed her. ''I don't know, they can camp out in the living room for a couple of days, and we'll just keep an eye out for something. I really think it's going to be better if we get a house, 'cause it's going to cost less in the long run.''
This made Olivia's eyes well up. For years, she had been dreaming of a house in the suburbs, kids running around the yard, and Elliot. Now, it was here. It was hers. She was really sorry about Kathy, well, she was trying, but she couldn't help be happy about what she was gaining. ''OK.'' She managed to say without her voice wobbling.
Elliot helped her put the clothes in the dresser. ''I'll see if Fin can help me put the crib together before he leaves.'' He kissed her cheek and headed back out into the living room.
Olivia finished putting everything away and went back out to talk to Casey. ''Casey.'' She started, but Casey held up her hand to stop her. She was watching Elliot and Fin arguing about what the best way to put the crib together was. She sat back down on the couch and watched Eli gurgling away. She was sure the fight was a funny one, but she was marvelling at the fact that she was now going to be the mother that Eli remembered. He was too young to remember Kathy later on down the road. He was going to grow up knowing that Olivia was his mother. It didn't matter if they told him that he had been born by someone else, for all intensive purposes, she was his mother now. It was a little overwhelming, and she almost started crying again.
Casey stopped watching as the boys started carrying the crib parts in the bedroom and turned to her. ''So, what did you want to tell me, Livvy?'' She asked.
Olivia turned to her, her eyes bright. ''I just wanted to tell you that Elliot is making all my dreams come true, and he doesn't even know how wonderful he is.'' She tried to keep the tears out of her eyes as she continued, ''I asked him where we were going to put the twins, 'cause there isn't really room. He told me that he's got a plan for us to get a house together. Ever since I met him and fell in love with him, that is what I have been wanting. A family and a house and Elliot. This is really happening, Case. I mean, I'm sorry that it's happening faster than it was supposed to, but I can't help but be happy.''
Casey smiled at her. ''I'm happy for you, Liv. I really am. Are you worried about what you're going to tell the kids? You're basically Eli's mother now, too.''
Olivia smiled. Casey always could tell what she was thinking. ''I'm not. I'm going to let Elliot take the lead and then see what happens. I'm not sure how they're going to take it. I just want them to know that I'm here for them. And yes, I am Eli's mother now, but the other kids might not take that too well. They're already not happy that Elliot and I are together.''
Casey smiled back at her friend. ''You can do this, Liv. You're going to make a great mother. These kids are going to be in great hands. And don't forget about Baby Benson Stabler.''
Olivia smiled and ran her hand along her stomach. She could hardly believe that she and Elliot had their own little baby growing in there. She was so happy. She felt a little guilty for feeling so happy when so much had happened, but she couldn't help it. ''I know, I don't even care what I have. I just want a healthy baby. All I wanted was it to be Elliot's, and it already is.'' She could feel tears trying to fill her eyes again.
Later that afternoon, the kids were on the way up to the apartment. Elliot and Fin had finished the crib and Fin had gone back to Munch to find Harris and Rook. Elliot had cleaned up the apartment, and put Eli down for his nap, insisting that Olivia take it easy. She watched him, happier than she had ever been in her life. Elliot let all four of his elder children in and they stood, not sure what to do.
Elliot said, ''Kids, go on and sit down. Livvy and I have something to tell you. You all came straight here after school, right?'' He asked, giving them his patented Stabler "you better have done what I asked" look.
Maureen answered that one as they all stayed standing. ''Yes, Dad. Look, just tell us whatever it is you want to tell us. I have things to do, and we all have homework we need to get to.'' She stopped speaking as she spotted her baby brother's swing. ''What is Eli's swing doing here?'' She asked incredulously.
Elliot stole a look at Olivia, and then turned back to face his children. ''That's got to do with what we have to tell you. Something happened last night. Someone whom we've been chasing stabbed and killed your mother last night.'' He said it carefully, and waited for what they were going to do and say.
Dickie grabbed his twin's hand and kept a stoic expression, as sixteen year olds were wont to do. All three of his sisters' eyes filled with tears. Liz gripped her brother's hand back and leaned her head on his shoulder.
Maureen wiped her eyes and folded her arms. ''So, what happens now? Are you keeping the house?'' She had set her jaw defiantly, and Elliot could just tell she wasn't going to like what he was going to say.
Elliot shook his head. ''No, I didn't want that house to have any bad memories for you guys, so I'm selling it. Liv and I are going to look for a house together. I know that this is very sudden, but there's nothing else to be done. Our apartment isn't big enough for the twins and Eli, so we're going to start looking for somewhere to live. You can be angry, you can be upset, you can be whatever you want, just know that Liv and I are here for you, and we're doing what we think is best.''
Kathleen folded her arms tightly, too. ''Dad, what if we wanted the house? We grew up there.'' She wasn't even sure she still did want to live there, but she was angry that he had made this decision with Olivia before consulting any of them.
Elliot said, ''Kathleen, you and Maureen are both in college, and living in the dorms. All you need is some place to come to. It doesn't matter if it's that house or a new one. I don't want to live there. I want Livvy and I to have a fresh start. I can't live there, knowing that's where your mother was killed. You guys aren't the only ones who lost someone. Just because your mother and I weren't together anymore doesn't mean that I hated her.'' He tried to keep his composure. He didn't want to cry in front of his children.
Maureen said, ''So Dickie, Liz, and Eli are going to stay here with you and Olivia? What, Mom dies and then we get Olivia? No one can replace Mom.'' She said. She knew she sounded like a four year old, but she couldn't help it. This was a lot to deal with.
Elliot said, ''Olivia isn't trying to replace your mother. But you are going to have to deal with the fact that Liv and I are together. And it is a lot to take in, having to stay here and getting a new place, and losing your mother. But this is the hand that we've been dealt. We're just going to have to make the most of it.''
Olivia watched as Maureen and Kathleen stormed out of the apartment, muttering things she and Elliot couldn't hear, and the twins, knowing that they had no choice in the matter, headed into the kitchen. She looked at her boyfriend, and she could see the hurt on his face. She pulled him next to her on the couch, and she wrapped her arms around him while he cried. She was going to be there for him. No matter what.