Chapter Seven:
The following morning, Olivia was woken by a small body curled up against her side, and another curled up next to her on the floor. Gently, she attempted to extricate herself from the grasp of her children's bodies, but in the process seemed to wake up her two children.
"Livvie?" she heard Bella whisper, her voice full of sleep.
"Good Morning, honey," Olivia replied gently, stroking the girl's hair as she snuggled further into Olivia's body.
"Livia," she heard another quiet voice state.
"Good Morning to you too," Olivia stated, her other hand rubbing the small child's back, "You wanna sleep in a little longer?"
Both children nodded, while Josh said, "You comfy, Livia," and with that the children fell asleep. Olivia continued to stroke her children soothingly, as she felt her heart break further with the consequences of the decision she had made last night.
A knock at her door broke her out of her trance, and she once again attempted to extricate herself. This time she was successful and she opened the door to find Elliot holding a brown paper bag and the smell of croissants present.
"What are you doing here?" she asked, moving aside so that he could enter, "Keep your voice down, Josh and Bella are sleeping in here."
"I'm here to bring you breakfast," he said, holding up the bag for her inspection as he entered and headed in the direction of the kitchen so they could talk uninterrupted.
"Why?"
"Liv, you know we have to talk about this."
"I know," she said, although she was fully aware that she would have to inform him of her decision and the fact that he knew of her decision.
"Why Liv? Why can't you risk it?" he said, hurt evident in his voice though he tried to hide it.
"Elliot, you know my past. You know how many times people have hurt me. I'm sorry, but I can't take that chance. I can love you from afar because that's what I've done for so long, but if you hurt me; I won't survive Elliot, I'm in too deep," Olivia explained, tears running down her cheeks.
Before Elliot could respond to her speech, two little children raced into the room, screaming "Livvie" and "Livia".
Quickly she wiped her tears and bent to face the children.
"You want some breakfast?" she asked.
Both children nodded, but Josh noticed her tears and turned angrily to Elliot, "You hurt Livia. GO AWAY!" he yelled.
"Honey," Olivia turned Josh toward her and noticed that he had tears in his eyes, "Elliot didn't do anything. I just hurt myself."
"He good?" he asked, innocence radiating off him.
"Yes, he's good," she turned and gently lifted Bella into her arms before seating her on the bench in the kitchen and turned to Josh, doing the same. Then she faced the two children and asked, "What do you want for breakfast?"
Both children looked at her in utter loss. It was clear that neither had ever had the opportunity to choose before and had no clue how to deal with it. Olivia's heart cracked as she looked at the children.
"Pancakes? Eggs? Sandwich?" she asked and Bella softly whispered, "Pancakes?"
"Of course," she gave each child a kiss on the forehead before turning to get the appropriate ingredients only to discover that Elliot had already started. Without thinking, Olivia gently kissed his cheek and after realizing what she had done, turned sharply, a blush creeping up her cheeks.
"So, what sort of pancakes do you want?"
"Dunno," Josh said before continuing, "What we do today?"
"We're going shopping to buy you some clothes and other things for your rooms, and then we are going apartment shopping," suddenly she turned to Elliot and asked, "You're still coming, right?"
"If you want me to,"
"I do."
He nodded before continuing to make the pancakes. Olivia turned back to the children and said, "Come on Bella, you have a shower. Josh, you wanna stay here with Elliot?"
After a few tense moments, Josh nodded and Olivia swept Bella into her arms and left the two in the kitchen.
A few minutes later, a clean and freshly dressed Bella entered the room with Olivia. She then picked Josh up and turned to Bella.
"Are you okay to stay here?"
Reluctantly Bella nodded, and once again Olivia left, returning once more with a clean Josh and herself both dressed.
"Breakfast's ready," and they all sat down, Olivia helping Bella and Josh use the cutlery provided for them. As soon as breakfast was over, Olivia told Josh and Bella to go and get their shoes and to come back so she could tie them.
After both children left, she turned to Elliot and engulfed him in a kiss so passionate, his head spun. Regardless of the fact that he knew of her decision, he returned the kiss with equal passion. When lack of oxygen became a problem, they broke apart, panting, foreheads pressed against each other.
"What was that for?" Elliot asked, still stunned by her actions.
"I'm an idiot to think that I could ever love you from the sidelines again. I don't care if you hurt me, I just want to be with you. I'm sorry, El, please?"
"Olivia, there was never a question," he said before tenderly kissing her once more.
Before they could deepen the kiss, the two children entered the room. Elliot helping Josh and Olivia with Bella. When they were ready, Olivia moved to open the door but was stopped by Bella's voice, "Uppie, Livvie?"
Olivia turned back and lifted the little girl into her arms. Elliot did the same with Josh and was surprised when the boy snuggled comfortably into his arms.
"So, what are we doing first?" Elliot asked as they took the lift to the ground floor of Olivia's apartment building.
"Clothing," she responded as they began to walk down the street, Elliot and Olivia carrying both children and holding each other's hands, looking every bit the family.