Disclaimer: Still not mine... though one day Mr Wolf and I may come to some arrangement.
Thanks for the tremendous support. I truly appreciate those who have taken the time to leave constructive reviews.
xoxoxinnocencexoxox
With her two companions finally asleep, and longing for sleep herself, Olivia allowed herself to relax in her crowded bed, but her slumber wasn't nearly long enough as Lizzie started muttering.
"Sssh, honey," Olivia soothed, not able to open her eyes just yet.
"I'm sorry, Livvy," Liz whispered, her voice tinged with sadness and guilt.
"For what?" she replied, opening her eyes and trying to focus on the girl in front of her.
"For coming here … I just didn't know where else to go," she whispered, adjusting herself so she was closer to Olivia.
"You did the right thing," Olivia replied, stroking her hair. "I'm always here for you."
"But I made you share your bed … no one should get into your bed if you don't want them to," Liz said, thinking back to the event which started it all.
"That's right, honey, but I want you here. It's the best place for you," she soothed.
"What about dad being here? Is that okay?" Liz asked. "I know I didn't give you much choice."
"That's okay too; I want him here as well," she replied, and it was the truth. She wanted him as close as possible, not just to comfort him and for him to comfort Lizzie, but to ensure he didn't knock Steve Rowland into next week.
Lizzie paused and thought for a moment. "Um, Liv… you and dad … does he … has he … you know, been in your bed before?"
"No, Liz, he hasn't. This is the first time," Olivia answered, though in her dreams he had made a regular appearance and been wearing much less.
"Why?" Lizzie asked absently. "Sorry," she quickly apologised. "It's just that dad loves you and …"
"Lizzie, he cares about me very much but it's not love," Olivia corrected, her self preservation tactics in place.
"But it is, Liv," Lizzie insisted. "I heard him tell Uncle Joe."
"What?" Olivia breathed out.
"At Christmas, when we were at Uncle Joe and Auntie Margaret's house, dad and Uncle Joe were talking in the living room. Uncle Joe was asking if dad had someone new in his life and dad said no. He asked why and dad said it was complicated and that while there was someone it wasn't going to happen. Uncle Joe said did that mean he was finally going to admit he had a thing for you. Dad said no and Uncle Joe called him an idiot, said he was an ass for not acting on his feelings and he should get himself together. Dad said it wasn't that easy. Uncle Joe said nothing ventured, nothing gained and dad said if he tried and it didn't work he'd lose everything in one hit. When Uncle Joe asked what he meant he said he'd lose both his partner and the woman he loved and when Uncle Joe asked whether they were one in the same, he said yes," Liz explained quietly.
Although Olivia was stunned the cop in her kicked in. "Why were you listening to their conversation?" she asked, her brain in overdrive.
"Caleb and I were sitting on the floor playing Monopoly in the study, which is the next room, I didn't mean to eavesdrop it just happened," Liz whispered. "I shouldn't have told you, should I?"
"It's okay, Liz," Olivia said, trying to come to terms with the news.
"You won't tell dad, will you?" she pleaded in a whisper.
"No, I wont," Olivia promised faithfully. She was more than willing to keep the secret until she sorted out what it meant for her, for them.
When Liz had drifted off once more, Olivia slowly rolled over to be face to face with Elliot prepared to watch him for a while but her heart nearly stopped when he opened his eyes. It was clearly evident by the look on his face, even in the soft light of the early morning, that he had heard his daughter. Olivia stared at him for a long time, not sure of what to say. Her eyes danced with his, when she finally found her voice and went to speak, Elliot gently pressed his finger against her lips and shook his head.
"It's all true," he whispered. "In case you were wondering. But I never meant for you to find out this way … Actually, I never meant for you to find out, period."
Olivia took hold of his hand before kissing his finger. "Ditto," she said, as she pulled his hand away. His brow furrowed as he tried to figure out what she meant. It finally registered.
"You mean you love me too?" he whispered, praying he'd understood correctly. She nodded. "You can say it," he prompted, a wry smile on his face.
"You first," she whispered, needing to hear it from his own lips before she'd even believe it was possible he loved her too.
"I'm in love with you, Olivia," he confessed, pulling her closer to him.
"I'm in love with you, El, very much," she replied, brushing her lips against his, before hugging him the best she could given their positions.
Snuggled into her partner, Olivia inhaled deeply, a strong desire for sleep overwhelming her. She felt his lips press against her head as her arm wrapped around his body holding him securely, she ignored the fleeting thought that this may all be a dream and she'd wake up embarrassed.
Her moments of bliss were interrupted only minutes later by Elliot's ringing cell; it was already eight. She moved with him as he leant back to pick it up from the side table.
"Stabler," he groaned. The conversation was very one-sided and as he concluded the call, Olivia knew he'd be climbing out of bed.
"What's up?" she asked as he rolled back, still holding her firmly.
"Fin was just letting me know that he needs the twins to go in and give their statements and thought it would be best if you came in too," he sighed, looking older than she'd ever seen him.
"What's Steve had to say for himself?" Olivia asked, raking her fingers through his hair, knowing this would put more grey strands through it.
"Confessed," he said. "But apparently he also said a couple of 'additional' things which concerned Fin. He wouldn't say what though."
"What do you think it is?" she asked, turning to follow his gaze as he focused on Lizzie.
"Do you think she told you everything?" he asked, as Olivia turned in his arms to face the youngest Stabler.
"Yes, everything about last night," Olivia said. "You think there's more?"
"God, I hope not," he mumbled into her neck. Not prepared to even contemplate his daughter had been through more than she'd already admitted to.
"Hey, baby," Olivia said, gently running her fingers through Lizzie's tangled blonde locks. "Time to wake up, honey." Lizzie muttered but didn't wake.
"Lizzie, sweetheart," Elliot called slightly louder. "Gotta get up."
Lizzie stirred and stretched as her eyes slowly opened, she smiled sleepily before being fully aware of the two sets of eyes watching her intently.
"Morning," she said, her eyes flitting from her father's face to Olivia's.
"Morning, sweetie," Olivia smiled, her fingers still resting in Lizzie's hair.
"Hey, baby," replied Elliot, reaching to stroke her arm.
"What's up?" she asked, taking in her father's expression.
"Fin called, we've got to go into the precinct, baby," Elliot said gently.
"Why?" she asked, her eyes widening with fear.
"So you can make a statement," Olivia said. "They arrested Steve a few hours ago."
"I don't want to see him. I won't have to see him, will I?" Lizzie gasped, pulling on Olivia's top.
"Of course not, honey," Olivia said, holding her close.
"Good," muttered Liz, as Elliot reached across and stroked her hair.
"Liz," Olivia started. "Look at me, honey." Lizzie looked up at her. "I want you to do something for me, okay?" Lizzie nodded. "I want you to promise me that whatever I ask you, you'll tell me the truth, no matter what it is, okay?" Lizzie paused, it was a promise she didn't want to make. "Lizzie, promise me," Olivia repeated. Nervously she nodded, her eyes darting to her father's face. Olivia gently drew her face back to hers.
"Now, honey, you told me about last night and Steve coming into your room. Did you tell me everything?" Olivia asked gently. Lizzie nodded, her eyes filling with tears as she bit down on her bottom lip to stop it trembling. Olivia felt Elliot's chin press into her shoulder, his breath blowing sharply on her skin as he tried to remain calm. "Okay," Olivia conceded. "Did Steve ever do anything else, not just last night but at anytime?" Lizzie's eyes darted to her father once more before her eyes came back to Olivia's, slowly she nodded and Elliot's grip on Olivia tightened.
"What did he do?" Olivia asked, as she brought her hand to rest on Elliot's which was splayed on her stomach, she squeezed it. Lizzie moved closer to them and spoke only to Olivia.
"There have been a couple of other times he's sort of done stuff," she confessed in a whisper.
"Tell me," Olivia whispered back.
"Um, touching me as he went by me," she admitted shyly.
"What did he touch?" Olivia prompted.
"Usually my butt … you know, pat it as he went by, or pinch it, once it was my breast though," she said, embarrassed by the whole situation.
"What did you say to him?" Olivia continued.
"Um, nothing, I'd just look at him and he'd say it was an accident," she replied.
"What else did he do?" Elliot finally asked, trying to sound more cop and less dad. Lizzie's eyes stayed fixed on Olivia.
"Last week he … um … he came into the bathroom when I was … ah … getting out of the shower and I screamed. He said he didn't mean it but he still stood there and looked at me really weirdly. It kinda freaked me out." She shuddered at the memory.
"Did you tell mom?" Elliot asked, his voice steady but his heart racing.
"He told her but said it was all a mistake and mom just apologised for him," Liz explained.
"Anything else you need to tell us before we go in?" Olivia asked. Lizzie leant in and whispered to Olivia so Elliot couldn't hear at all.
"Okay, honey," she said caressing her cheek before Lizzie climbed out of bed and headed to the bathroom.
"What did she say?" Elliot asked as the door shut. Olivia rolled over in his arms.
"He kissed her, tongue and all," she said and watched his face contort in a mix of revulsion and hatred.
"He's a dead man, Liv, I'm gonna fucking kill him! I swear to god he's a dead man!" he spat, trying to pull away and get up. Olivia tugged his arm and he came back to her.
"That's not going to help anyone, especially your daughter, is it?" she said gently.
"It'll make me feel better," he grumbled.
"Only slightly," she said, kissing his hand. "Your turn to promise me something, El…"
"What?" he asked, knowing where she was going.
"Promise me you won't do anything Stabler-like," she said, as she pulled him to her.
He sighed deeply. "Promise me!" she insisted, "Things will be a whole lot worse for Lizzie if her father is charged with grievous bodily harm, or worse."
As irate as he was, he could see Olivia's point. He knew he'd jeopardise everything if he touched the man but he also knew the fury burning in him had to find an exit. "I promise, Liv," he said reluctantly.
"Good." She kissed him briefly before letting him go and climbing out of bed to face whatever the day would bring.
xoxoxinnocencexoxox