each time we've spoken, we've put in a token and ridden the tilt-a-whirl/i was giggling and dizzy flirting like a 12 year old girl/the carnival of you and me is coming to town watch how we spin and spin and then fall down/now we just say hello and head for firmer ground-Ani DiFranco, Loom
Olivia sipped the decaffeinated tea and silently cursed not being able to pump caffeine into her tired body. "Stupid baby." she muttered while grabbing a whole wheat muffin and sitting down at the kitchen table.
Her body was tired and sore, despite the extra sleep she had gotten the day before. She felt bloated and grumpy and she wanted to eat a cheeseburger with relish and extra mustard. She was surprised by her sudden craving but the desire did not dissipate.
"Elliot- I need you to do something." she yelled so he could hear her upstairs. Elliot appeared at the overhang that was across from their bedroom door and peered over the kitchen. He leaned on the banister and Olivia stared straight up, mouth full of muffin.
"What's up?" he asked.
"Are you busy?" she responded to his question with another question.
"Not really. What do you need?"
"I know this is stupid and so stereotypical but I'm having a craving and I'm just too tired to go and get it myself."
Elliot smiled and started down the stairs, "What do you want?"
"A cheeseburger... with relish... and extra mustard."
Elliot arched an eyebrow at her request, "Relish?"
Olivia frowned, "Don't make fun of me."
Elliot smiled and held his hands up in a defensive position, "I'm not. It's just that the cravings never cease to amaze me." He grabbed his keys and headed for the door. Olivia caught a glimpse of his scabbing hands and frowned.
"Put some Polysporine on those cuts." she lectured and Elliot examined his knuckles.
"They're not that bad."
"They could still get infected."
Elliot knew better than to argue with Olivia, much less a pregnant woman and even more so, a pregnant Olivia. That was a suicide mission.
"I'll buy some while I'm out." He slipped his shoes on and started to turn the handle on the front door when suddenly he turned around and marched over to Olivia. She recoiled in surprise but was pleased when Elliot leaned down and connected his mouth with hers. Olivia allowed his scent and touch to capture her and she limply put her hand on his neck and pulled him closer before they separated. Elliot smiled at her and kissed her nose, "Is the anything else you want?"
Olivia gave him a pouty smile, "A strawberry vanilla milkshake?"
Elliot nodded and kissed her, lightly, before heading for the door, "I'll be back soon."
"El-"
He turned around to face her and she grinned, "Thank you."
He smiled back at her, "It's my pleasure."
Elliot had returned with two cheeseburgers with relish and extra mustard, as well as two strawberry vanilla milkshakes. He placed them on the kitchen table and Olivia stood and planted grateful kisses all over his face.
"You. Are. The. Best. Man. I. Know." she stated between kisses. Elliot laughed as she sat down and started into the first burger. He then grabbed a glass of orange juice and a muffin and sat down across from her. They sat silently, chewing was the only sound the be heard when Elliot's cell phone rang. He looked at the caller ID and saw Fin's number.
"Hey Fin, what's up?"
"Not a lot. Just wanted to call and tell yah that the witnesses confirmed that Turner deserved every shot we took. Charges were dropped and taken off our records."
"That's good news. Thanks Fin."
"No problem. Oh yeah, Cragen wants us all in by 7am tomorrow. Can you call Olivia?"
"She's probably working right now, but I'll let her know. See you tomorrow." He then hung up the phone and turned his attention back to Olivia, who was leaning back in her chair, sipping milkshake from the straw.
"Cragen wants us at the house by 7 tomorrow." he passed on the message and Olivia nodded. Elliot then watched as realization filled her eyes.
"Oh! I forgot! I talked to Cragen before he went to help you out."
Elliot sat up straighter in his chair, "And?"
"I've been demoted to professional babysitter- Only to work with victims and such, no interrogations or field work." she was frowning but Elliot knew, deep inside, she was relieved, "And we're still allowed to work together. For now."
"What does that mean?" he asked, "For now?"
"We have to undergo a psychological assessment... See if our relationship has anything to do with our job... If we seem healthy enough- sane enough, they might let us keep our positions."
Elliot frowned, "That doesn't make any sense."
Olivia arched her eyebrow as she bit into the second burger, "What do you mean?"
"Of course it has to do with our job. I wouldn't even know you if we didn't work together."
Olivia sighed, "I think they want to know if we would be a couple even if we hadn't worked together."
Elliot's frown lines deepened, "Well, would we?"
It was Olivia's turn to frown, "What do you mean?"
"Well- you're not my typical 'type' Liv..." Olivia continued to chew her food but motioned for him to continue, "You know- perky, blonde, blue eyed, submissive, innocent Catholic..."
Olivia frowned as she swallowed, "So... I'm not someone you would choose? Because I'm brunette and a heathen?"
Elliot realized that her feelings had been hurt by his statement, which was the last thing he wanted to do. He thought for a moment and then smiled when he found the right words, "No. I wouldn't choose you. Why would want to choose you?"
"Elliot-"
"Why would I want to choose the most stubborn, independent, complicated, strong, beautiful woman I have ever seen? Why would I choose someone who intimidates me with her brains and her beauty, every single day? Why would I want to choose someone who I can't have because of our jobs and because she's just too good for me? Why would I be confident or cocky enough to think that she would want me back?" He could see the tears glazing on her eyes and his smile grew, "Why would I pick a woman who wouldn't give me a second glance on the street?" he paused and as he waiting for his thoughts to turn into coherent words, "I have a 'type' that is safe and predictable and attainable... you don't fit into that box Liv... I didn't choose you simply out of self-preservation. But the day I realized you had chosen me- that need for self-preservation flew out the window. I didn't care when you were eventually going to crush me or we lost our jobs... Just the chance to be with you, until the day you realized you were too good for me, was worth it all."
Olivia bit her lip lightly and smiled shyly at her partner, "That day will never come." she whispered before picking up her burger, "And if you say that to the psychologist, we're golden."
Elliot laughed. He knew she had heard him and she had been touched by his sentiments. That everything he said would be cherished for all of their days. So he laughed as she bit into her burger and chewed happily.
"When are we gunna tell Munch and Fin?" he asked her.
"As soon as possible." she decided, mouth full of food, "Why don't we see if they're free for dinner tonight?"
Elliot felt his stomach jump at the idea but knew it had to be done, "Alright, where?"
"Why not here?" she asked, before taking a sip from her milkshake.
"Here?" he questioned as she grabbed a black marker from the drawer behind her.
"Yeah." she said as she wrote on the styrofoam cup that held her second milkshake, "Then they can realize that we're serious and we're not just screwing around. They'll get a clearer idea of what's really happening with us. It might also calm their dirty imaginations down... a bit." She had finished writing on her milkshake cup and she placed it on the table. Elliot leaned over slightly to read it.
"Touch this and I will kill you and make it look like an accident." he laughed as she raised the other milkshake to her lips and stood. She placed the second milkshake in the fridge.
"Call them." Olivia ran her fingers through his hair, "I"m gunna go take a bath."
"What do I tell them?" he asked as she started climbing the stairs.
"Just ask them to come for dinner at your place. Tell them we'll order in. Spend some time together."
Elliot sighed and pulled out his phone when she disappeared into the bathroom, "You make it sound so simple."
Elliot spread out the Chinese take-out containers over the kitchen table. Wine and beer sat on the counter, cooling in ice containers. Olivia was lighting candles and fluffing up the eccentric couch pillows she had collected since Elliot asked her to move in with him. She smiled as she remembered how empty and boring the grand old house had been before she took up residence. The house had been left to Elliot by a wealthy aunt. It was beautiful and full of history. She fell in love the instant she set foot in it. He brought her to check it out during a break at work. The day she moved in she started collecting antiques and other furniture and knick knacks from around the world and the building quickly turned from a house into a home. Photos of their loved ones hung in eclectic frames on the terra-cotta walls of the living room and stairwell. The kitchen had a tuscan flair and the living room was a cross between Victorian and Indian. Yet the mish-mash of cultures and time periods melded together perfectly.
The doorbell jolted Olivia out of her memory and she padded to the front door. She smoothed down her cream halter dress with a brown stitched owl on the bottom corner and turned her silver anklet so the clasp was not visible from her front view. She smirked at herself, wondering why she felt the need to appear perfect for Fin and Munch. She swung the door open and smiled broadly at her friends.
"Hey guys! You're right on time- the food just got here."
"Hey girl. How'd Elliot snag himself this joint?" Fin kissed her cheek as he stepped into the main house. Munch followed suit and Olivia closed the door behind them.
"His aunt left it to him. She had no kids so El was the next best thing."
"Lucky bastard." Fin walked into the kitchen and Elliot appeared at the overhang.
"You talkin' 'bout me?" He asked and Fin nodded.
"Some guys get all the luck." he retorted.
Elliot started his decent down the stairs, "Grab a beer. Grab a Moo Shoo Guy. We can sit in the living room."
Munch and Fin did as they were told and Elliot did the same. Olivia grabbed a container of chicken chow mein and a bottle of water and followed the boys into the living room. The one set of partners sat on the couch, leaving Elliot to sit in the overstuffed armchair and Olivia sat on a pillow in front of him.
"So- why'd you call us here for this detectives meeting?" Munch asked as he took a swig from his beer.
Olivia felt Elliot tighten underneath her. She rested her arms on his legs and turned to face him, "We might as well tell them now." she whispered, "We don't want to be freaking out all night."
"What you two talkin' about?" Fin asked while he attacked his food with clumsy chopsticks.
Elliot nodded his agreement and Olivia turned back to the men sitting in front of her, "Guys... this isn't just Elliot's house..." she started. Instantly both men dropped their chopsticks into their containers and set them aside. Fin took another slug of beer and then crossed his arms over his chest.
"I knew it." he stated.
"You did not." Munch argued, "I'm the one who put money on them living together. You just thought they were sleeping together... You are sleeping together, aren't you?" Munch asked and Elliot groaned.
"A bit personal there John." he stated but the inquiring look did not stop, "Yes..."
"You owe me 50 bucks." Munch stated and Fin frowned.
"Dammit."
"Though I'm glad you're taking this so well, that's not the only reason we asked you to come here tonight." Olivia stated, her confusion apparent in her voice.
"Wait, how long have you two been betting on this?" Elliot asked.
"I dunno... as soon as you and Kathy divorced, the first time around." Munch explained. He peered over his sunglasses as Olivia and Elliot stared at each other in disbelief, "You think we didn't know? We are top grade detectives you know."
"Man, we knew before you knew that you two were gunna end up together in some form. If you didn't end up in a relationship, you were gunna at least jump each others bones." Fin stated.
"Uh- I'm not sure what to say..." Olivia muttered.
"How about telling us why you actually called us here?" Munch asked.
"Um... well... we've been together for about a year now... We live together and we've been doing well. We took the big jumps and we're happy. There have been a lot of changes. And it's been really good. Now we have another change happening." Elliot started. He then squeezed Olivia's shoulders, letting her know it was her turn to take over.
"We're having a baby." Olivia announced causing Fin and Munch to look at each other in surprise.
"You're kidding, right?" Munch asked.
"No John, we are very serious." Elliot stated.
"When are you due?" Fin asked.
"We haven't gotten an official date yet. Sometime in March."
"Does Cragen know?"
"Yeah. We told him yesterday. We have to meet with a shrink and Olivia isn't allowed to do field work or interrogate anymore but she's gunna be with us until it's time for her to go on mat leave."
"Are you guys... okay?" Munch asked. Elliot and Olivia looked at each other and smiled broadly.
"Yeah. We are." Elliot confirmed.
"It's scary but it's amazing." said Olivia.
"We just wanted to tell you before you heard it from anybody else."
"And we hope you understand why we didn't tell you about... us..."
"Hey, it's none of our business."
"So... we're all okay?"
"Well... only if you name the baby after me." Munch stated causing Olivia and Elliot to laugh.
"And I call Godfather." Fin claimed.
Olivia stood and hugged Fin and Munch, "Thank you."
"Congratulations girl. You're gunna be a kick-ass mom."
"And we already know Elliot is a disgustingly good father."
"Thanks guys."
"Now, lets eat this food and drink this beer- the lady excluded- and enjoy our short time off." Fin, Munch and Elliot clinked their bottles while Olivia tapped them with her plastic water bottle.
"To Olivia and Elliot and the little sprout on it's way."
"Here here!"
The rest of the night was filled with jokes and laughter and happiness and peace.
Next: Doctors appointments, a confrontation with Kathy and telling the twins.
So, my keyboard and mouse are broken but I'm really curious about what that Review button is for. Would you be willing to click on it and follow the instructions and tell me what it says? That'd be great, thanks.