Thanks for all the lovely reviews everyone they make me grin like a Cheshire cat at my computer screen ;) keep them coming!
So Olivia is having a tough time! Poor thing! How does she cope going home to her family before going to court? Well read on to find out!
"Right ready to go?" Elliot asked picking up the car seat that was filled with Olivia's stuff.
"More than ready!" She smiled as she held onto Craig who was sleeping with his pacifier in his mouth.
"Let's go then." He smiled.
As Elliot opened the door for Olivia to step outside she was greeted by a large and loud "Surprise!"
Kathy, Maureen, Kathleen, Lizzie, Dickie, Simon and Serena had been waiting for her to open the door for a long time.
"We thought you might need a rest so we decided to come and annoy you ma'" Dickie laughed but stopped when Lizzie hit him across the back of the head.
"No, we thought you'd want your family around you and so here we are ma'" Lizzie corrected him but it just made her smile to have her family acting as normal and not tip-toping around her.
"I'm glad you're all here." Olivia said as they began to walk out of the hospital.
"Ok we'll see you in the house. Maureen ..." Elliot was digging into his pocket.
"Why don't you get lots of Chinese food for us to have when we get back?" He smiled handing his wallet over to her.
"Ok no problem, come on Kathleen come with me." Maureen smiled dragging her sister by the arm.
"You will be joining us won't you Kathy?" Olivia asked.
"If I'm welcome too." She said blushing.
"You're our family too. Just because things didn't work with Elliot you are still their Mom." Olivia smiled and Kathy smiled back.
"And you Simon?" Olivia asked.
"Of course if that's what you want." He smiled.
"It's what I need." She said.
"Ok see you at the house." He said and Serena automatically tagged along with him.
"I guess she's going with uncle Si." Elliot laughed!
Xxx
Once back at the house Olivia fed Craig and took him to his new crib just as Kathleen and Maureen arrived back with the food. She made sure the baby monitor was on and went downstairs double checking that the front and back door was locked. She then went into the living room to find everyone laughing and joking as Elliot handed plates out and Maureen opened all the food. They'd left an empty space beside Elliot for Olivia who shook her head at the plate Elliot was trying to pass her.
"You need to eat something." Elliot sighed. Olivia took the plate and nodded as Maureen handed her a chow mein, even Kathy's kids knew her inside out.
"I know it's your favourite ma'" Maureen laughed handing her a fork.
"Thanks sweetie." Olivia said placing her fork into the large tray.
She managed a few small mouthfuls but wanted to just sit back and watch her family.
Somehow she didn't even feel herself falling asleep.
"Dad." Lizzie said in a whisper.
"What?"
"Liv." Lizzie said smiling.
Elliot turned to look at his wife and smiled, for the first time in days she looked like she was sleeping peacefully. He gave Lizzie his plate and slipped Olivia's out of her hands and placed it down. He then got everyone to clear a path as quietly as they could and lifted her into his arms. She was so light.
Carefully he carried her upstairs and undressed her before tucking her up in bed. He leant down and kiss her on the head.
"Good night my love." He whispered before leaving the room and going back to join his family.
"Did she wake up?" Simon asked as he cradled Serena who looked like she was about to drift off.
"Nope." Elliot smiled. "Here I'll take her up now." He said extending his arms so that Simon would pass him Serena.
He once again climbed up the stairs, Serena wasn't quite as still in his arms.
"Daddy." She whispered.
"What is it?" He asked softly.
"Your bed?" She asked clearly. Elliot smiled and took her straight into his room placing her down gently beside Olivia.
"I'm going back downstairs, don't wake Mommy." He whispered but Serena had already closed her eyes and fallen straight asleep.
Elliot smiled, he just wanted to climb in beside them and keep them safe but he had guests to talk to so he went back downstairs.
"So is she asleep?" Simon asked when Elliot came in.
"As soon as her head hit the pillow." Elliot smiled. "Thanks for everything you've done Simon and you Kathy and all of you kids, I don't think I would have been able to keep it all together without you." Elliot said.
"Dad, it's not over yet remember, but we're not going anywhere." Lizzie said jumping to her feet.
"I know, but I wish you guys weren't coming to court." He sighed, he had tried to protect his kids from his work.
"We know dad, but we need to be there so we can understand what happened to Liv. We don't want to have to ask her in years to come to find out. Best find out whilst everyone else is and not what's printed in the papers." Dickie said getting to his feet and embracing his father.
"Who's brains did you inherit?" Elliot laughed embracing his son back.
"Yours." Kathy piped in making everyone laugh.
"Definitely not."
"Then he's been spending way too much time around Olivia as she is the only person I know with that much brain." Kathy laughed making Elliot smile, he knew that she was just joking and that the comment was all in good fun and that what made him happiest.
"Right kids are you going back to your mothers or staying here?" Elliot asked. All the kids automatically turned to look at their mother.
"Hey it's your choice kids!" She smiled her hands in the air to show that she wasn't influencing their choice.
"Dad, I think we should go to Mom's you know, it's going to be difficult enough for you two tomorrow without needing shouting at us to get ready." Maureen suggested.
"I think Olivia would like you here to keep her mind off things." Kathy said. "What do you think El?" She asked looking at her ex husband, he'd always known Olivia even before they were romantically involved.
"I think she'd love to wake up to seeing you all here. But, you have to be aware that Olivia has severe nightmares and will wake up screaming multiple times during the night." Elliot explained knowing that his kids needed to know before she woke up yelling.
"Ok we'll stay and we'll meet you at the court tomorrow Mom?" Maureen said turning to her mother.
"No problem now line up and give me a hug before I go." She smiled and her kids did as they were told laughing happily as they did. The happiness for Elliot was short lived when Olivia began screaming. Elliot didn't see his kids' reaction as he jumped up the stairs three at a time.
"I'm here!" He yelled rushing into the bedroom to find not only Olivia screaming but Serena in tears. He'd forgotten when he placed her in bed. He jumped into the bed and grabbed Olivia in one arm and Serena in the other.
"I've got you darling. Liv please wake up I've got you." He said trying not to cry. He heard her whimper which meant she'd woken up.
"Mommy?" Serena asked climbing onto her mother's lap. Olivia grabbed her and held her tight knowing that she could never allow her daughter to go through something like this.
"I'm ok. I'm ok baby." She said holding her daughter. Elliot pulled them both back into his arms and rocked them backwards and forwards as there was a small knock on the bedroom door.
"Come in." Olivia called and in walked the Stabler kids.
"Mom and Simon have gone." Kathleen said climbing onto the bed.
Elliot nodded and watched as each of his children joined them and made sure they had at least one hand on their step-mother.
"You're going to get through this Ma' I know you will." Dickie smiled. "Do you wanna know how I know?" He said a cheeky grin on his face.
"Go on." Olivia sighed knowing that she needed him to make her laugh.
"Because you're a Stabler and we're strong." He said causing everyone but Olivia to laugh. She just grinned at him.
"What?" He said looking at her strangely.
"You're right. I am a Stabler and we are strong. Do you want to know why?" Olivia asked still grinning.
"Why?" Lizzie asked before Dickie got the chance.
"Because we are a family and we love each other and Love is what matters most." Olivia said and no one replied as each one tried to hide the tears built in their eyes.
"Now bed! Or none of you are going to get up in the morning!" Olivia smiled chucking a pillow at them.
"Night Ma' I love you." Dickie said leaning in and kissing her cheek.
"Night Ma' I love you." Lizzie copied.
"Love you too."
"Love you Ma' goodnight." Kathleen said kissing her step mom.
"Love you too." Olivia smiled.
"Good night Ma' and I do love you." Maureen said kissing Olivia and following Kathleen towards the door.
"I do love you too." Olivia replied loud enough so that she heard.
"Maybe Serena should get in her own bed with her music." Olivia suggested knowing the high chance of her waking up again.
"I'll do that then check on Craig, you get some sleep." Elliot smiled kissing his wife.
"Say goodnight to Mommy."
"goo-night Mommy." Serena smiled before jumping into Elliot's arms and allowing him to carry her into his room.
Xxx
Elliot didn't know how long he'd been asleep when he heard Olivia mumbling.
"Don't do this to me ... what did I ever do to you? Not the kids, not my kids. Don't hurt my boy. Don't! Please not my kids! AHHHHH!" She was up again screaming in terror. Automatically Elliot pulled her into a tight embrace and rocked her backwards and forwards.
"I've got you Olivia. You're safe at home in bed. Don't panic! I have you!" He spoke softly until she stopped screaming.
"I'm sorry, I'm sorry." She cried placing her face in her hands.
"Don't be sorry. I've got you." Elliot whispered.
"I'm so sorry." Olivia whispered before pushing herself away from Elliot.
"What's the matter?" He asked thinking he'd said something.
"I just need some air. You get some sleep whilst you can. I'm sure Craig will wake for a feed any minute." Olivia said grabbing her robe.
"Don't, come back to bed, he's not long had a feed." Elliot said extending his hand to his wife.
"I need some air El. You get some sleep tomorrow is going to be a very long day." She leaned over and kissed her husband before making her way downstairs. As she approached the kitchen she saw that there was a light on in the kitchen. Panicking she reached to her thigh for her off duty weapon and found that Elliot hadn't moved it. She took it from its holster and removed the safety and lifted it up just as she would when she was working. When she got to the door she nudged it open.
"Put your hands up where I can see them." She said angrily but quietly as not to disturb anyone.
Two hands jumped to the air.
"Olivia. Ma' it's me Maureen." The voice answered.
"Maureen!" Olivia gasped putting the safety back on the gun and putting it on the table. "I'm so sorry, did I scare you?" Olivia asked worrying that she may have made a huge mistake.
"No, I'm fine I know you're on edge." Maureen smiled. Olivia wrapped her arms around her step daughter.
"I'm so sorry!" Olivia gasped.
"Don't worry about it Ma' I'm fine." Maureen laughed. "I always thought it would be Dad I'd find holding a gun to me though not you!" She was laughing so much she had to clasp her hand to her mouth to silence herself.
Olivia laughed too, just not as much as she was kicking herself. She should have known one of the kids would be up.
"I guess everything seems upside down for you lot at the moment. I know it does for me." Olivia sighed putting her arm around her step daughter.
"I wouldn't say upside down just different, we're just trying to be here for you." Maureen smiled slipping her arm around Olivia's back.
"Thanks, I don't think I would have got through tonight had it not been for you kids. You all give me a reason to keep going." Olivia smiled.
"I'm not a kid anymore Ma'!" Maureen laughed.
"You're a kid compared to me!" Olivia laughed poking Maureen in the ribs.
"Hey! Am not! I'm starting to feel old when I think there is twenty five years between me and Craig!" She laughed.
"25 is not old! I wish I was 25 again!" Olivia laughed.
"Ok I am not old but it is strange to think when Craig is my age I'll be fifty."
"Thanks." Olivia laughed
"For what?" Maureen giggled nervously looking confused.
"Because you just made me realise how old I will be when he is twenty five!" Olivia and Maureen began to laugh again.
"Want some ice cream?" Olivia asked heading over to the freezer.
"Yeah why not." Maureen shrugged. "It's going to be a long night."
Awww see what I did there? Got the title into the story! I'm good :P ;) hahaha! I hope you liked that last bit with Maureen and Oliva, It's totally my fave bit of the whole damn story!
Ok so next up Olivia goes to court but can she handle it? Who does she lean on in her desperate time of need? Well give me some nice reviews and you'll soon find out!
:P