A/N: Everything is starting to settle down around here. I can only hope it will all be sorted out by the end of the week. Of course...I'll have to start writing during the day. I'll be taking calls all night. I wonder if I'll get days off. Anyway, enjoy. Not much fun in this one, but I'm working on it. I won't let you down.

They all sat down to eat together. Olivia sat with the twins on either side of her. Even the younger children could feel the tension between their mother and their father's partner. They did their best to make it more comfortable.

"Did you shoot anyone at work today, Dad?" Dickie asked.

"No." Elliot answered, taking a bite of the food that sat in front of him.

"Oh...I just lost interest."

"I never had interest." Lizzie announced.

"I have to admit I was mildly interested." Kathleen interjected.

"Well, I didn't shoot anyone."

"How about you, Liv?" Dickie asked.

"Um, no. Not today." She told him.

"That means you have before. Was it awesome?" He wondered.

"Dickie!" Kathy scolded.

"No. It wasn't. It was horrible and I hope it never has to happen again." Olivia answered Dickie's question.

There was an awkward pause. "I learned about the female anatomy today. I've never heard someone say the word 'vagina' so many times in my life." Kathleen said, looking up from her plate.

Everyone else remained silent. Suddenly Olivia began laughing. Kathleen smiled in her direction.

"I'm sorry." Olivia said through her laughter. She calmed down soon after and resumed eating in the awkward silence.

After dinner the kids had begged Olivia to stay and watch a movie. She eventually agreed and sat on the couch with Lizzie between her and Elliot.

"What are we watching?"

"Rocky Horror Picture Show!" Kathleen grinned.

"No!" Elliot yelled.

"Yes. If you're worried about the twins...they've already seen it. Three times." She said as she pushed the tape into the VCR.

Elliot looked at his two youngest children. They smiled back.

"Whatever." Elliot conceded.

They all sat and watched the movie in pleasant silence. After it had been playing for a while everyone yelled in unison.

"Janet! Dr. Scott! Janet! Brad! Rocky!" This made everyone laugh.

Even Kathy found it amusing. She was sitting in the corner of the couch next to Elliot. 'This isn't so bad...'She mused.

After the movie they sat around talking about everything and nothing. It was nice. Olivia had missed spending time with Elliot's kids. They were smart and cute, a little crazy, and just amazing. 'Like Elliot.' She thought. Olivia smiled down at them. Just then she realized something.

"Oh God, it's late. I better get going." She said looking over at the clock. She was half way to the door when she heard Elliot speak.

"Uh, Liv? Forgetting something?"

"Like?" She asked.

"Like...The fact that I drove you here." He supplied helpfully.

"Right. Wanna give me a ride back then?" She gestured to the door.

"Sure, just let me get my keys."

"NOOO!" Olivia and Elliot turned quickly to see what was wrong.

"Liz? Are you ok?" Elliot asked kneeling down at her side.

"No. I want Olivia to stay the night. Please?" Asked a wide eyed Elizabeth.

"You'd have to ask Liv." He gave his daughter a gentle push in Olivia's direction.

"Please Olivia?"

"I don't know sweetie. I think that might be a bad idea." Olivia replied, looking up at Elliot and Kathy.

"Don't be ridiculous. Please, stay." Kathy said, though she didn't like the idea at all.

"I don't have anything to sleep in and I really don-"

"Please?!?!?!" Lizzie asked again.

"...I guess so." Olivia said. Who could say no to all that cuteness? It's impossible.

"Then it's settled. Extra pillows and blankets are in the closet on the right." Kathy said, motioning towards the hall.

"Yay!" screamed the little ones. Kathleen let out a sound of joy that was slightly less enthusiastic, but happy nonetheless.

"Ok, ok. Settle down, it's time for bed." Kathy told her children.

They all groaned and headed for the stairs, waving good night to the adults.

"I guess I'll just..." Olivia trailed off as she pointed and walked towards the hallway.

Elliot made his way up stairs, followed by Kathy. A few moments went by, then Elliot reappeared.

"Here." He said, thrusting some clothing into her arms.

She held them up and examined them.

"What? You want me to do your laundry?" She asked with a slight laugh.

"No. They're for you to sleep in. Put them on. The bathroom is just down that way." Elliot pointed further down the hall.

"Oh. Right. Ok." She handed him the blanket and pillow. "Could you set these on the couch for me?"

Elliot nodded and Olivia turned to walk away.

"Liv?"

"Huh?" She turned back around.

"Sorry about the tonight. I know it was awkward and uncomfortable." He told her.

"It wasn't so bad. I promise." She said. She then turned again and padded to the bathroom.

Elliot set her pillow and blanket on the couch and proceeded to arrange her sleeping area. By the time he finished Olivia was just coming out of the bathroom.

"You didn't have to do that, El. I could have managed, you know?"

"Eh, I just felt like it. Good night, Liv."

"Night, El." With that Elliot went back upstairs and Olivia went to the couch.

Just knowing that Olivia was downstairs, asleep, on his couch, kept Elliot awake all night. It was a foreign concept. He could get up and watch her sleep if he really wanted to. That sounded like a bad idea, even in his own head. If she were to wake up to him standing there, he was sure it would give her the creeps. Olivia Benson. The closest thing to perfection he'd ever seen.

Elliot shook his head. He tried to think of something else. Anything that would calm his restless mind. Another half hour went by and he still couldn't sleep. Finally, Elliot decided he could use some water. He got up slowly, being careful not to wake his sleeping wife, and tip toed down the stairs.

Once he successfully made it to the bottom of the stairs without waking anyone else in the house he silently congratulated himself. Then he went on in the direction of the kitchen. He halted his approach when he noticed the light was on.

"Liv?" He asked, taking another step toward the kitchen.

He looked over his shoulder. She wasn't on the couch. Elliot poked his head through the kitchen door. Seeing that it was indeed Olivia, he entered.

"Liv? Are you alright?" He asked as he approached her.

"I'm fine." She whispered, turning on the bar stool, that sat at the island in the middle of the kitchen.

"Why are you whispering?" Elliot asked.

"I don't know." She said in her regular voice. "Worried about waking people I guess."

"What are you doing?"

Olivia raised a glass of water off the counter. "Water." She told him.

"Oh, me too." He said as he reached in the cupboard for a glass.

"Couldn't sleep?" Olivia asked.

"No. You?"

"I woke up. Couldn't get back to sleep."

"Bad dream?"

"You could say that..." she took a sip of her water. "Why couldn't you sleep?"

"I don't know." Elliot lied. He filled his glass with tap water.

"That must suck."

"It happens." He drank the entire glass of water without stopping for air, then filled his glass again.

"Thirsty?" She laughed lightly.

"A little. What was your dream about?" He asked, taking a much smaller drink this time.

"Nothing. It's not important. I'm gonna head back to bed...couch."

Elliot laughed a little at this. "Night."

"G'night, El."

Yup. I have a feeling you're going to be loving me very, very soon.