Disclaimer: Still not mine... though one day Mr Wolf and I may come to some arrangement.

You'll notice the chapters coming up vary a lot in length. It's because I write a story in a solid block then split it up as the storyline dictates. I'm sure you won't mind.

Please also check out Daddy, I posted it yesterday. You'll have to go through my portfolio as it's rated M and won't come up on the L&O:SVU story page.

Thanks for all your wonderful reviews, I appreciate them all.

Thanks to ShaNini for being the 300th!

xoxoxinnocencexoxox

In a blur of activity, Olivia, Elliot and the twins had left New York and flown to Orlando. Through a last minute deal, they had secured a room at the Grand Bohemian Hotel and after talking to the kids, had decided on a twin share room, just in case the twins decided to stay with them and not with Kathy at her parents' house.

Not having slept much since Friday, and little in the week before that, Olivia had moved beyond exhaustion to something resembling a zombie. Grabbing a hire car at the airport, Elliot drove to the hotel and checked them in just before five; leaving Olivia there at her insistence … she was in no state to deal with Kathy, not until she'd had some uninterrupted sleep, and maybe a whiskey or three.

Knowing Lizzie would be the one most hesitant about her decision; she took her hand and led her to the balcony.

"Honey, I'm going to stay here while you go and see your mom, okay?" she said gently.

"But why?" she protested.

"Because I need to sleep, Liz, I'm exhausted. And your mom doesn't need me to be there. Do you understand that?" she explained gently.

"Yeah," Liz sighed, "Doesn't mean I like it." Olivia had smile at how much she sounded like her father.

"I know. Will you be alright with your dad and Dickie?" Olivia asked.

"Yeah … I'm alright with them … now…" she said, reassuring herself. "Can I come back here tonight to you or do you want us to stay with mom?"

"That's up to you, honey," Olivia said. "See your mom and decide but know you are more than welcome to come back and I'll definitely be here."

"You sure?" Liz asked. "You don't want some time with dad?"

Olivia smiled. "All I want is for you to be happy and comfortable."

Any further discussion was curtailed when Elliot came onto the balcony.

"Lizzie, we need to go. You ready?" he asked. She slowly nodded and took a few steps towards the doors before running back to Olivia and hugging her tightly.

"One step, right?" she whispered.

"One step, baby," Olivia whispered before kissing her head.

"Let's go, dad," she said, taking a deep breath and steeling herself for whatever lay ahead. Elliot kissed Olivia before heading out with his twins.

By the time Olivia had showered, slipped into her pale pink cotton nightie and slid into bed, she had done nothing but think of Lizzie and how it was all going with Kathy. Realising it wouldn't help her relax enough to sleep, she tried to put it out of her mind, it didn't help and before long she found herself sobbing into the crisp white pillow. She cried out of fatigue, out of pain for Liz, pain for herself, and in the midst of it all, she cried herself to sleep.

Somewhere near midnight she stirred at the sound of the door opening. She blinked several times and focused on the form approaching her, it took no effort to realise Elliot was alone. Watching as he toed off his shoes, and removed his jacket, Olivia remained still, not sure if she was able to talk to him just yet. Disappearing into the bathroom, she couldn't help but smile when he emerged in just his blue cotton boxers and white beater. She watched as he paused between the two queen sized beds in the room, she knew he was trying to decide where he should sleep. To ensure he didn't make the wrong choice, Olivia reached over and pulled back the covers.

"This bed," she whispered and smiled as she watched the grin spread across his face.

Needing no further instruction, Elliot slid into bed and kept moving until he was right beside her, his arms circling her and his lips caressing her head.

"How'd it go?" she asked.

"Well," he began, his voice full of emotion. "On a scale on one to ten, ten being the worst, I'd say it rated a twenty three."

"Oh, that good," she replied, caressing his face.

"Yeah," he said, closing his eyes, willing the memories to fade but they were still too raw. "Kathy … um … did a lot of crying … and yelling…"

"Yelling? At who?" she asked, quickly propping herself up.

"At everyone, at everything, at herself," he said, pulling her back to him.

"How'd Lizzie cope?" she questioned.

"Okay, she wanted to stay with her mom … thought it would be best for Kathy … I told her it was about what was best for her and no one else, but she said she'd stay … she didn't seem convinced but …" his voice trailed.

"But you couldn't make her come back with you," Olivia offered.

"Yeah," he sighed before opening his eyes and gazing at her. "Did you get much sleep?"

"Yeah," she smiled, glancing at the clock. "A few hours."

"Good … I'd love a few hours sleep myself," he said, resting his head on hers.

"Well, how about you snuggle down here with me and I'll make sure you sleep well," Olivia whispered. Elliot wriggled further down into the bed and smiled as Olivia wrapped herself around him, allowing his head to rest upon her breast. He'd never felt more comfortable in his life.

He'd only been asleep minutes before several quick knocks echoed through the room. Olivia eased herself from him and headed to the door. She checked through the peep-hole and smiled when she saw the twins. Quickly she opened the door.

"Hey guys," she greeted in hushed tones before placing her finger on her lips to indicate the need to be quiet.

"Hey Liv," said Dickie, moving into the room and placing their bags near the bathroom.

"I couldn't stay there," Lizzie whispered as she embraced Olivia.

"Why? What changed your mind?" she asked, locking the door behind them.

"It just didn't feel right," she sighed. "You don't mind, do you?"

"Of course not, baby. Your mom does know you're here though, right?" she checked.

"Yeah, she dropped us off. Don't think she was too happy about it, but she did it," Dickie yawned.

"Okay, we can talk about it tomorrow, time for bed."

Dickie came out of the bathroom in his pyjamas and looked from the bed to the girls and back. A quick scan of the room told him there was no sofa or armchair so it was the bed or nothing… which left the problem of his sister. Lizzie and Olivia followed his eyes around the room and Olivia realised the problem before Lizzie.

"Why don't you sleep with your dad, Dickie, and we can share this bed. Is that alright with you, Liz?" she asked and Lizzie quickly nodded.

They were in bed a long time before Lizzie started to speak, well after the soft snores from the adjacent bed told her that Elliot and Dickie were sound asleep.

"Livvy," she whispered, rolling over to face her.

"Yeah baby," she mumbled.

"Can I ask you something?" she asked. "You don't have to answer, I'll understand if you don't …"

"Ask, honey," Olivia replied, rolling onto her side so she could look at Lizzie.

"You know what Steve did?" she began, Olivia nodded. "Have you ever been in that sort of situation … you know … someone doing something you didn't want them too?" Olivia nodded. "Was it years ago, when you were my age or was it, you know, more recent?"

The silence was deafening as Olivia contemplated her answer, she didn't want to lie, she didn't want to tell the truth, she didn't want to be having this conversation.

"It's okay, Liv, you don't have to tell me," Lizzie said and rolled away from her.

"It was recent … really recent," Olivia whispered. "I was undercover …"

"In Oregon?" Liz asked without turning back.

"No, in Sealview a couple of months ago," she answered, her voice breaking. "One of the guards assaulted me," she admitted, her first public declaration that something had indeed happened.

Lizzie rolled back to her. "Did he rape you, Livvy?" she asked; her eyes wide and full of fear.

"No, baby, Fin came in just in time," she replied trying to brush away her tears but Liz reached over and wiped them for her.

"Are you okay, Livvy?" she whispered, her fingers stroking Olivia's hair.

"Yeah, I am … we both are, honey," she replied.

"Why are men such asses?" Liz sighed, slumping onto the bed right next to Olivia.

"Not all men are. Your dad's not," Olivia corrected, pulling the covers up around them.

"I'm glad I've got him," she nodded. "And I'm glad you've got him too."

Olivia held onto her tightly and kissed her head. "Me too, baby, me too."

Elliot woke in the early hours of the morning. Wrapping his arms around his sleeping companion he quickly realised it was his son and not Olivia. He rolled over towards the other bed and was greeted by Olivia's gentle smile, from over the top of his daughter's head.

"Hey you," she whispered.

"Hey yourself," he grinned. "When did this happen?" He pointed to his daughter.

"Oh, not long after you fell asleep?" she replied.

"She okay?" he asked, as Liz rolled over to face him mumbling.

"Yeah, she just didn't feel right so Kathy brought them back," Olivia explained.

Elliot nodded. "It's gonna take a while, isn't it?"

"Yeah, but she's doing well. It's only been a couple of days," she replied.

"Feels like forever," he sighed, running his hand over his weary features.

"Hang in there, El."

Lizzie suddenly propped herself up in bed and looked at her father.

"What's wrong, daddy?" she asked, studying his forlorn appearance.

"Nothing, baby, I'm just tired," he sighed.

Liz clambered out of bed and sat next to him before leaning down and whispering to him. Elliot shook his head but Lizzie whispered some more before sitting back up, pouting and saying, "Please." Elliot shook his head once more but dragged himself up and swung his legs out. Lizzie slipped into his spot and he moved over and slid in next to Olivia; he grinned at her curious expression as he settled next to her.

"My daughter said you are the best person to sleep with and insisted we switch places," he whispered, burying himself beneath the covers.

"Did she just?" Olivia smiled, her hand running from his chest over his shoulder, his arm and to his back.

"Yeah, she said I just had to try it," he grinned.

"Well," she replied, pulling him closer and threading her leg through his. "Guess you should try it then." She reached in and kissed him tenderly. When Elliot began to kiss her back she pulled away. "That's not going to help you sleep, Elliot. Close your eyes."

Reluctantly he obeyed and held tight to her, before long he'd drifted off into a peaceful and dream filled slumber.

Brunch was in the hotel restaurant and Olivia was starving, having missed dinner the night before, and breakfast. She shifted her chair so she was closer to Elliot and held his hand in her lap as they passed the time chatting until the waiter arrived with the food.

"What are the plans for today?" she finally asked, when silence fell upon the group.

"Um…" Lizzie began. "We said we'd go with mom and grandma to the hospital today."

"And then to dinner with them and Aunty Leanne and Uncle Peter," Dickie added, with a roll of the eyes.

"Really?" Elliot questioned, wondering why Kathy would put the twins in any social situation at this time.

"Yeah," Liz sighed. "They're coming to see grandpa and mom thought it would be a good idea."

"What do you think?" Olivia asked, not wanting to interfere with Kathy's plans but wanting to ensure Lizzie was comfortable with it.

"Don't want to go…" her voice trailed. "But I really didn't want to say no." Her head dropped.

"Why not, honey?" Olivia asked, leaning over to her.

"Well, I've really never liked Uncle Peter and Aunty Leanne can be such a pain … I just don't feel like being around people," she whispered.

"Me either," agreed Dickie.

"Well," Elliot began, before pausing. "What if I come and pick you up from the hospital about five, you'll have seen everyone, spent time with grandpa and then you can have dinner with Liv and me?"

Dickie and Lizzie nodded eagerly, both much happier at the prospect of spending time with Elliot and Olivia than the alternative.

The offer, on Elliot's behalf, was the easy part, telling Kathy was not and he wasn't looking forward to it at all. After brunch, he excused himself from the table and went out to the hotel foyer to call his ex-wife in relative privacy. Olivia watched him through the trellis, although she tried not to she couldn't help herself.

Soon after he returned and slid into his seat next to Olivia.

"Mom's alright about it," he reported. "Said she really hadn't been thinking straight and she's sorry."

Liz nodded. "So, she's not mad."

"No, sweetie, she's not," Elliot confirmed. "But she will be here in about twenty minutes to pick you up so we should get back upstairs and get you guys ready."

Olivia grimaced, she knew she couldn't avoid Kathy forever but she really didn't know what to say to her at the moment, or worse, what Kathy would say to her. She was feeling fragile herself this morning and didn't want to endure any emotional scene, particularly in front of Elliot or the kids.

"You okay?" Elliot asked kissing her hand as they stepped out of the elevator on the ninth floor.

"Yeah," she smiled, though it didn't reach her eyes.

"You tired?" he asked, brushing her hair from her face.

"Yeah," she sighed. Tired was the right word. She was tired; physically, emotionally, mentally.

"Well, when the twins go how about you and I slip between the sheets and just sleep?" he whispered as Dickie opened the room door.

"Sounds good," she replied. "Really good."

True to her word Kathy knocked on the door twenty minutes later. She was still wearing her sunglasses and Olivia knew it was to hide her tears. She drew a deep breath.

"Hi Kathy, come on in," she offered, stepping back from the door.

"Hi Olivia," she said quietly, her voice unsteady. She hesitated before stepping into the room.

"I'm sorry to hear your dad's so ill," Olivia said, the sympathy in her voice genuine.

"Thanks," she mumbled. "Um … Olivia, can we talk?" she whispered. "In private?"

"Right now?" she asked, looking to Elliot who was across the room watching them intently.

"No," replied Kathy. "El said he was picking the kids up from the hospital later this afternoon, maybe you could come with him and he could stay with the kids and we could get coffee in the cafeteria if that's alright with you. If you don't want to I understand, I just…"

Olivia nodded before patting her arm. "It's alright with me, Kathy, coffee will be good."

Elliot waited until the elevator doors closed behind Kathy and the twins before he shut the room door and turned his attention to Olivia.

"What did Kathy want?" he asked directly.

"To talk," she replied, taking a sip of her water.

"About?" he probed, moving towards her.

"She didn't say, but I'll take a wild guess and say Lizzie," Olivia answered, offering him her bottle. Elliot took it and had a drink before passing it back.

"Are you going to … talk to her?" he asked, watching her move towards the bed.

"Yeah, she asked me to come to hospital with you. If it's alright with you, I'll grab some coffee with Kathy and you can be with the kids," she said as she sat on the edge and toed off her shoes.

"Is it alright with you?" he countered, sitting down beside her and taking her hand.

"Well, I'm a bit surprised but it's okay," she sighed, resting her head on his shoulder.

He turned his head slightly and kissed her forehead.

"You're hot, Liv," he said before kissing her again.

"You're pretty hot yourself," she smiled, nestling into him.

"Thanks," Elliot smirked before raising her face to meet his. "But I meant temperature wise." He placed the back of his hand across her brow. "You feeling okay?"

"Really tired and out of sorts. Think I might have a bug," she sighed as he wrapped his arms around her.

"Then into bed with you," he instructed, standing her up with him before pulling back the covers. "Have you got something to take? Tylenol? Anything?"

She shook her head. "Finished them last night."

"Well, I'll go downstairs and grab something for you. You get changed and get into bed," he said, heading to the door.

"Yes sir," she chided, throwing him a mock salute. He grinned and left.

Curled up deep under the covers, Olivia smiled when she heard the door open. She forced herself to sit up; watching as Elliot opened the bottle, took out two pills and moved to her. He handed her the water bottle and sat and waited for her to take them.

"Now, sleep," he instructed gently, holding the covers up so she could settle back in.

"Are you going to join me?" she asked, her eyelids heavy.

"You want me to?" he asked, smoothing her hair down.

"Only if you not afraid of catching whatever this is," she smiled wearily.

"Could never be afraid of you, baby," he grinned. "Just give me a minute to get out of these," he added, tugging on his clothes.

Five minutes later, Elliot slid into bed beside her, smiling gently at her as she sleepily opened her eyes and reached up to hold onto him, not wanting him to be as far away as he had intended. Repositioning herself, Olivia rested her head on his chest and sighed deeply, thinking that life should just be this easy. Just the two of them, no one wanting or demanding anything from them, no crime, no responsibility, both relaxed and horizontal. It was with this last thought she finally drifted off to sleep, ready to float into happy dreams, something far removed from her recent slumber induced nightmares.

For the first few hours both slept soundly but by early afternoon Elliot was awake. He lay there for an hour just content to hold Olivia and listen to her breathing, until he realised he needed to use the bathroom. For a long while he held off, not wanting to disturb her but, eventually, he could wait no longer. Raising Olivia's arm from around his waist, he gently eased himself out from under her and slid out of the bed.

Returning from the bathroom, he picked up the TV remote and found the sports channel and lowered the sound. He looked between Olivia and the spare bed, trying to decide which one would be best. Making up his mind he headed to the empty bed, not wanting to run the risk of waking her.

"Don't even think about it," she mumbled as he was about to sit down. Quickly he looked at her, unsure if she had actually spoken.

"Liv?" he whispered.

"Don't think about being anywhere but here," she muttered as she pulled back the covers and waited for him to come over. Grinning he made his way back to her and sat in the bed. "I'll let you sit up," she agreed, as she grabbed a pillow and rested her head on his thigh. Elliot bent down and kissed her once more, noting she still felt hot and clammy. He was glad they were headed to the hospital, he'd have her checked out whether she wanted to or not.

xoxoxinnocencexoxox