Maureen walked into Eli's room and saw her father and Olivia lying in each other's embrace. She smiled when she saw the smile that spread across their faces. She knew her dad was never really happy with their mother, somehow she always knew he liked Olivia. She walked over to Eli's crib and picked him up, carrying him out of the room, giving her dad and Olivia some sleep, something she knew they needed.
She walked downstairs with Eli, and pulled out a bottle of formula in the microwave for 15 seconds and fed it to her baby brother. He was such a wonderful baby. She smiled down at her two day old brother. She did miss her mom, but her dad was right, she wasn't mourning, she was celebrating.
Elliot slowly woke and saw the back of Olivia's head, with her soft hair tickling his nose. He smiled and pulled Olivia to him tighter. She mumbled lightly and woke too. She turned into his arms, and faced him. "Good Morning." Elliot said holding her tighter.
"Hi." Was all she said. She smiled up at him, as he kissed her forehead gently.
"One of the kids took Eli downstairs, I'm guessing so we can sleep."
"Well, it feels good, to sleep again." She snuggled into his chest and he held her tight. "I'm hungry."
"Come on, I'll make breakfast, well brunch," he smiled and let her roll off of him.
They got downstairs and saw Maureen talking to the other kids, as Eli gurgled in the bassonette next to her. As soon as they entered
the room, the kids stopped talking, "What's going on?" Elliot asked confused.
"Nothing" Maureen said quickly. "What's for breakfast?" Sh tried hard to change the subject.
"No, no no, tell me whats going on?" Elliot stood, arms crossing across his chest.
Maureen looked, one at a time, to her other siblings. "Maureen!" He said at a tone a little higher than before.
"Ok, guys you might want to sit down, all of you." Elliot looked at Olivia and they reluctantly sat down on the couch, Olivia stuck between Dickie and Elliot. Dickie leaned against Olivia and she wrapped an arm around him.
"We are extremely sad about mom, we miss her. It was a terrible accident, but everything happens for a reason. Kathleen and Dickie came to me and Elizabeth with an idea, we've discussed it, and feel we need this. If you don't want to, we completely understand." The last statement directed toward Olivia.
"What is it, Maureen?" Olivia asked, still holding onto Dickie.
"We would like you to adopt us, all five of us." Olivia jaw hit the floor, and she tried to say something but all that came out was air. She looked at Elliot and he saw tears in her eyes. Elliot was just as shocked as she was.
"El?" Olivia took his hand
"Liv, I had no idea, I swear."His voice broke as she squeezed his hand for comfort. He squeezed back, letting her know that he was there.
"El, are you okay with this?" She looked from Maureen's hopeful face, to elliot's shocked face.
"Maureen, you guys thought of this on your own? Do you guys really want this?" Elliot asked.
"We need a mother figure, now that mom is gone and we could think of no one better than Olivia." Maureen smiled, and Olivia looked back to Elliot.
"What do you think, El? They are your kids and your decision affects mine." Elliot held her hand ever more.
"I think Maureen is right, there is no one better suite for this, than you." Elliot smiled, Olivia smiled back.
"Than my answer is….I would be honored." Dickie hugged her, from his position next to her, as his sisters came and toppled Olivia, everyone started laughing and Elliot cut in.
"Let's go celebrate."
"Are you sure?" Olivia said lightly. Elliot nodded and walked out to the kitchen and picked up the phone. She wanted to follow him but the kids piled on to her, so she couldn't move. He smiled and talked with someone on the phone. More than likely making reservations, at some awesome place in the city.
"So Olivia, how does it feel getting five kids all at once?" Maureen smiled and the other three laughed.
"It feels pretty darn good." Olivia smiled a mega-watt smile, toward her soon to be adopted daughter. "Maureen, are you sure you want to do this so soon, after your mom?"
"Yeah, we miss mom right now, but you have always been like a second mom to all of us. We would love it if you would do this for us."
"Nothing would make me happier than to be your adopted mother." Elliot made his way back as his four oldest children hugged Olivia. He smiled at her and she smiled back into his direction.