A/N: hello everybody!
so, here is the next chapter and I hope you'll like it. Reviews will be gladly appreciated, but they are not a must.
this is going to be a long story, that will develope in "slow motion". Kind of. next there is a lot to come and I'm trying my best to keep you entertained.
that said I wish you all a good time reading and if anyone feels like it - you can also message me. I won't bite, you'll see.
much love, raven
-CHAPTER 5-
Elliot's and Kathy's Christmas shopping had been rescheduled four times 'cause whenever a date had been set something had come up at work.
And all that horror had practically killed the whole holiday spirit, at least for the ones that were in "Santa mood".
Olivia clearly wasn't, but now that it were just five more days 'till Christmas, she felt even more sad.
But one the other hand it would be over soon.
Watching "The Polarexpress" with the Stabler children didn't really cheer her up though.
For once she wasn't a child anymore and she didn't believe in miracles either and second she never had been much of a Christmas person.
She never had a family to celebrate it with and all memories she had from her childhood were her drunken mother, who never really had gotten her presents. In the best case she had left her alone, she hadn't hit her.
And that was practically everything Olivia had wished for on Christmas anyway.
"Why are you so sad, Auntie Olivia?"
Maureen had sat down on her lap from one second to the next without a warning.
"I'm not sad, Sweetie...it's just...I miss my friend, you know..."
She had spoken it out loud before she could have thought about it.
"Where is your friend? Is he dead?"
Olivia cringed at the question, but Elliot's daughter couldn't possibly know. He didn't talk to his children about work, plus he would, under no circumstances tell anybody about Alex being in the Witness Protection Program. It was way too important to stay silent about it and they both were aware of that.
"No, my friend just moved to another town. Far away in fact", Olivia answered when she noticed the worried look on Maureen's face, "Don't worry, Sweetie...I'll be fine."
-
By the time the credits rolled over the screen Kathleen and the twins were asleep, just Maureen was watching Olivia closely.
"It's okay to miss someone, you know... the little girl whispered, trying not to wake her siblings.
"You are right, Sweetie."
"Maybe it's like in the movie...if you wish for your friend to come back hard enough and truly believe in it...maybe that friend will come back one day..."
"Maybe", Olivia answered, trying to keep the tears from running down her face.
That would be too good to be true.
-
Elliot had been standing in the doorframe for a while, hearing his daughter and Olivia talk and although he knew he shouldn't have listened he was glad that his partner had at least told someone, even if it was his nine - year - old daughter.
-
Maureen Stabler had begged her father to take her shopping the next day 'cause she wanted to buy a present for Olivia, but she had refused to tell her dad what it was. She even had insisted to pay it with her pocket money, which had been the biggest surprise, but it had made Elliot very proud.
In fact he was impressed by his oldest daughter and her actions.
-
The Stabler Christmas was something Olivia had never experienced before.
She had been there to give the kids some presents and chat for a while, but this year she had been invited to celebrate with them for real.
Which meant she had to spend the night at their house and that was something Olivia hadn't expected.
But all the cooking, baking cookies and everything together with Kathy and the kids worked its magic and Olivia finally felt a little bit better.
She just wished Alex would be there.
With all of them.
Maureen had offered that she could sleep in her room with her, so Olivia would have company and since she had seen the hope and joy shining in the little girl's eyes she hadn't dared to say 'No'.
-
They all had sat in the living room for a while that evening and had played some games.
The whole room had been filled with laughter and Olivia had watched her partner, who seemed to be so unbelievably happy to be able to spend time with his family.
It touched her heart to see Elliot so at easy 'cause at work they didn't get much to smile about.
When the twins had finally fallen asleep Olivia had volunteered to tuck Kathleen and Maureen in, so Elliot and Kathy would have some time on their own, which they had been very thankful for.
-
DECEMBER 25
Olivia woke up to the excited screams and giggles of the Stabler twins and moaned. Taking a look at the clock on Maureen's nightstand she realized that it wasn't even 6 am yet and the little girl was lying right next to her, snuggled up by her side and that caused Olivia to actually smile.
She had slept well for once, no nightmares, no jumping up, sweating like a pig, in the middle of the night and she was grateful for that, more than anything.
Maureen started to stirr right that moment, a huge smile on her face, "The twins are up already, aren't they?"
Olivia nodded and laughed when she heard the Stabler kids squeal out of joy from downstairs, "They sure are."
That said the detective and her little roommate jumped up and headed downstairs to join the rest of the family.