Disclaimer: Still not mine... though one day Mr Wolf and I may come to some arrangement.
xoxoxinnocencexoxox
Three months later
It was the first real taste of summer as Olivia juggled the bag of groceries in one hand and her keys in the other as she stood on the steps of Elliot's house. Just as she inserted the key into the lock the door was pulled opened by Dickie.
"Hey Liv," he greeted, grabbing the bag from her. "Let me take it."
"Hey honey, how are you?" she asked, moving in and closing the door behind them.
"Good now we're on vacation," he grinned grabbing the bag.
"Bet you are," she smiled, following him into the kitchen.
"Livvy," Lizzie squealed, hugging her tightly. "I've missed you."
"I've missed you too, baby. Work has been very busy," Olivia said, kissing her head.
"Yeah, so has school – but it's all done now," she replied, the traditional vacation grin in place.
"Need some help here?" Olivia offered, gesturing to all the salad fixings on the counter.
"Nah, we've got it covered," Lizzie said. "Don't we Dickie?" He nodded.
The twins had invited Olivia to a barbeque lunch at Elliot's and promised they would do it all, washing up included. Elliot had little say in it but made them promise they would not light the barbeque until he got home, after having been called unexpectedly into work that morning at the 12th precinct to finalise some paperwork.
"Well, can you use these?" Olivia offered, emptying the contents of the grocery bag onto the counter.
"Sure can," Dickie said, scooping up the giant pack of peanut M&M's, his favourites, and stuffing it up his red t-shirt. "I can definitely use these."
"They are for sharing, Richard," Elliot's voice boomed, startling them all.
"Damn," he grinned. "No harm in trying."
"Hey, dad," Liz greeted him.
"Hey, Liz, got everything under control?" he asked, moving across the kitchen to Olivia.
"Sure have, dad," she replied, picking up the cutlery. "Just going to set the table. Dickie, grab those," she ordered, pointing to the condiments and napkins. Dickie rolled his eyes but obliged, he'd spent his life taking orders from women.
"Hi baby," he grinned, turning his attention to Olivia.
"Hi yourself," she replied, hooking her arms around his neck and drawing him closer.
"Been here long?" he asked as his lips brushed against hers.
"Uhuh," she replied, her lips claiming his. A long, leisurely kiss ensued before the back door swung open.
"Ready to turn …" Dickie began before realising what he was interrupting. "Ah god, not again," he whined, throwing his arms up. He loved his dad and he loved Olivia, and he was glad they were together, but they were way too old to be making out like this…again.
"Were you after something, son?" Elliot asked, pulling away from Olivia as she used her thumb to wipe her lipstick from his face.
"Everything's ready to go, we just need to fire up the barbeque – when you're ready of course," he added for good measure, quickly ducking as the dishcloth Elliot tossed at him sailed passed.
"What's taking so long?" Liz called from the back.
"They were otherwise occupied," Dickie yelled as he made his way out to his sister.
"Again!" Lizzie exclaimed, with mock exasperation.
"I know – and at their age," Dickie replied.
Olivia laughed and pushed herself away from the bench. "It's so good to see them so happy," she said, straightening up Elliot's shirt.
"It is, isn't it?" he grinned. The normal teenager banter delighted him, though he would never admit it. The past three months hadn't been easy but it looked like they were all getting through it.
"Are you calling me old?" Elliot called, grabbing Olivia's hand and making his way to the yard.
"If the shoe fits," Dickie retorted. Elliot grabbed him in a headlock.
"Want to reconsider?" Elliot asked, mussing his hair, something he knew his son hated.
"Oh okay," he conceded. "You're not old… you're young."
"That's better," Elliot grinned, letting him go.
"For someone of your advanced aged," Dickie added quickly, moving away from Elliot's reach.
Elliot shook his head and smiled.
"Doesn't matter, El, I love you anyway," Olivia said, kissing his cheek. "Regardless of your age."
"Hey, don't you start," he said, turning to face her. "After all there's only a couple…"
"If you know what's good for you, you won't finish that sentence, Stabler," Olivia jokingly warned.
"You're what's good for me," he whispered, ducking in for a quick kiss.
"Can we puhlease do something about lunch," Dickie interrupted.
"Okay, okay," Elliot conceded. "But one day, you'll find a girl who…"
"He already has," Lizzie interrupted gleefully. "Jessica Wright"
"Shut up," Dickie retorted.
"Jessica Wright, hey?" Elliot said, moving over to the barbeque and lighting it. "And who exactly is Jessica Wright?"
"Nobody," Dickie said quickly, a blush creeping into his cheeks.
"She was in his Algebra and Geography classes…" Lizzie began.
"Lizzie…" Dickie warned.
"And she's …" Lizzie continued. "Oh, okay," she said, looking at the panic on her brother's face. She knew while it was fun to kid him about these things, he'd done so much for her in recent months that she owed him.
The day passed quickly and as Olivia slid into Elliot's empty bed, she couldn't help but smile at just how much she had enjoyed herself.
"Smiling at anything in particular?" Elliot asked, coming into the room and surprising her.
"Life," she sighed.
"And is life good?" he asked, slipping into the bed beside her.
"It's certainly improved a hell of a lot," she replied, snuggling into his side.
"Yeah it has," he agreed kissing her head.
"The kids seem to be doing well," Olivia said, running her fingers up and down his chest.
"I think it's got a lot to do with the fact they're sleeping well. They've been here since vacation started and have spent the whole night, every night, in their own beds," he replied, raking his fingers through her hair.
"What do you mean?" Olivia asked, propping herself up. "I mean I know Liz had a lot of problems being back in the house, but I thought things improved with the room swaps and new furniture."
"It helped, but once Liz started sleeping through the night in her own room, rather than with Kathy in Mo and Kat's room, Dickie would go in when she was asleep and sleep in her armchair, or on the floor," Elliot explained quietly.
"Really, how do you know?" she asked, entwining her fingers with his.
"Kathy told me. I don't think she's slept through the night in the last three months, she's up at every sound, checking everything's okay with Lizzie. I think the only time she allows herself to sleep is when the kids are here," Elliot yawned and stretched.
Olivia shifted in the bed and studied him, her mind going into overdrive. The serious look on her face worried Elliot.
"What is it, Liv?" he asked, propping himself up to face her.
She said nothing.
"Liv, baby?" he said quietly, stroking her face. "What is it?"
"I was … um … just thinking," she began hesitantly. "What if the kids moved in here, on a more permanent basis?"
"I had thought that myself, but working Homicide is just as bad as SVU, I can't guarantee when I'd be here," he said, laying back down, folding his hands behind his head. "They are better off with Kathy."
"What if Kathy moved in here too?" she said so quietly he thought he'd imagined it.
"Huh?" he said, staring at her.
"What if Kathy moved in here too?" she repeated with more confidence.
"Kathy? You're suggesting my ex-wife moves in with me?" he asked incredulously, sitting up.
"Not exactly," Olivia replied. "I was thinking that maybe you could then … well, you might consider moving in with me," she said shyly.
"You want me to move in with you?" he asked, not really believing they were having this conversation. True they had been together three months and true he loved her more than ever but they still hadn't consummated that love so her suggesting moving in together was a huge surprise.
Olivia sat up crossed legged in the middle of the bed, needing distance from him to have this conversation.
"I've … um … been doing a lot of thinking lately … well, actually, I've been going to counselling," she said, staring at the sheet beneath her. "And, um … well, the thing is …"
"Counselling?" he interrupted, sitting up and facing her. "Why didn't you tell me?" he asked, using his finger to draw her face up to his.
"Well," she said nervously, "It's only a recent thing … three weeks … six sessions…"
"Why didn't you tell me?" he asked again, a softness to his voice.
"I don't know …" she answered, making eye contact with him. "I guess the sessions can be pretty exhausting … I've got a lot to work through, in case you didn't know…" she added for humour, he didn't smile. "And I didn't want to have to rehash things again…I'm sorry…"
"Don't apologise," Elliot interrupted, reaching across to kiss her forehead.
"I wanted to tell you … I guess I'm not just there yet …" Olivia admitted, her hair falling across her face.
Elliot opened his arms and she moved into him, lying back down on the bed with him. "In time, Liv, in time." He kissed her forehead and couldn't help but smile, they'd both come so far and he knew her just telling him she was in counselling was hard for her.
"So, about moving in …" she said hesitantly.
"Well, I'm all for that," he grinned. "I'll talk to Kathy about her plans and whether she wants to live here with the twins…"
"And if she doesn't?" Olivia asked, wondering if it all hinged on Kathy.
"Then I'll speak to a realtor about renting this place out…or maybe you can move in here and we rent yours out," he smiled before leaning down to kiss her.
"Good," she mumbled.
It was nearly three when Olivia stirred, only to be fully woken by the sound of the television on downstairs. She eased her way out of bed, grabbed Elliot's robe and headed down.
"Hey kiddo," she said when she spied Liz sitting on the sofa, wrapped in a blanket.
"Sorry, is it too loud?" she said, grabbing the remote and hitting mute.
"No, no," Olivia said, dropping down on the sofa beside her. "You okay?"
"Yeah," Lizzie nodded, snuggling into her.
"Then why are you up in the middle of the night?" she asked gently.
"I wanted to talk to you," she replied, pulling the blanket tighter.
"And you couldn't do that in daylight? Olivia asked, shifting to make herself more comfortable.
"Not with them around," Lizzie whispered, nodding up to where Elliot and Dickie slept. "And I knew you would be awake at some stage."
"So what's up, baby?" Olivia asked, stroking her hair.
"I miss not talking to you," Liz sighed deeply.
"I'm always here for you, Lizzie," she said. "You know that, right?"
"Yeah, I know it," she agreed. "How are you doing, Livvy?"
"I'm doing well," she replied.
"You're still not sleeping properly, are you?" Lizzie asked.
"No, but it's getting better," Olivia admitted.
"How's work?" she continued.
"Well, it's not the same now that your dad's in Homicide at the 12th but it's going okay, just busy," Olivia answered, wondering where Lizzie was going with her questions.
"And how is it having Fin as a partner?" Lizzie asked, playing with the buttons on Olivia's pyjama top.
"Good," she said.
"Good," echoed Lizzie before silence descended.
Olivia stretched out on the sofa and Lizzie curled into her, bringing the blanket up over them both.
For several long moments Olivia allowed the silence to linger, wanting to wait for Liz to speak but as time passed it didn't seem like it was going to happen.
"What is it, baby?" Olivia asked tilting Lizzie's head up. "What's wrong?"
"Well, um…" Lizzie started as her eyes filled with tears.
"What?" she prompted in a whisper.
"You know Jason Delaney, the boy I told you about the other week?" she began and Olivia nodded. "Well, we were all at Sarah Bradley's place the other day and he … um …he…" her voice trailed.
"What did he do?" Olivia asked concern etched across her face.
"He kissed me," Lizzie said breathlessly.
"And?" she prompted, unsure as to whether Lizzie was distressed by it or not.
"And … it was okay," she nodded, as if trying to convince herself.
"Just okay?" Olivia asked.
"Well, it was sort of nice … a bit odd at first, you know with his braces, but …yeah…" she explained hesitantly.
"Well, that's good, isn't it?" she asked, rubbing her arm.
"It was … at first…" she admitted quietly. "But then … it … um… wasn't so good."
"Why? What happened?" she asked, pulling her closer.
"Well, the kiss was okay and I was okay with it …" she began. "But then he moved his hand up under my shirt and … I sort of freaked…"
"Sort of freaked, how?" Olivia asked gently.
"I jumped up and made some excuse and ran home and hid out in Dickie's room," she admitted, holding tighter to Olivia.
"What do you think it was about what Jason did that upset you?" Olivia asked, paraphrasing her own therapist.
"I'm not too sure," she admitted. "I just think I wasn't expecting it and when I felt his hand there I couldn't help but think of him."
"And what did that make you feel?" Olivia prompted.
"Icky, I think is the right word – you know, just weirded out," she yawned.
"Yeah, I know," she agreed. "How do you feel about it now?"
"Okay I guess…" she yawned again. "It does get easier though, doesn't it?"
"What do you mean?" Olivia asked.
"Well, it can't have been easy for you, you know with dad, in that way, after Sealview," Lizzie said, sleepily.
"It's different for me and your dad," Olivia said. "But yeah, it is getting easier."
"It should…you guys practice enough…" she trailed before sleep claimed her. Olivia couldn't help but smile.
xoxoxinnocencexoxox
Thanks once again for your continued support and encouragement for this story, it means so much.
The updates will be slower than the rest of the story as I need to write them and it is getting to the very busy end of school year, in addition to having some personal issues. But I promise the story will be finished and updates will be regular. Having said that, those people reviewing just to tell me to update are not helping matters. I appreciate that you love the story but I will update as soon as I can, telling me to do it won't make it happen any faster and will just serve to annoy me.
love Nettie
xoxoxox