Author's Note: Being sick sucks. I'm supposed to be going to the doc's sometime today but until I'm in the car, going down the street, I'm going to write. I haven't been able to as much as I used to because of school (senior year, NHS, Marching Band) and Bruce (my writing computer) died on me. So, today, I'm going to raise this story from the dead and then probably put up some new stuff. I've bitten by the Janet Evanovich bug (Ranger/Stephanie, FTW) so that should factor into matters. This story will be finished soon (along with a couple of my other ones) so just hang in there and thank you all for your patience.
Disclaimer: "Honestly, it's not mine!"
Kathy Ryan watched from down the street as her youngest daughter ran around with the rest of the Marching Band, laughing and happy. She watched as her son joked around with the soccer team, his father's charisma and devil may care grin lighting up the area. She watched as her ex-husband sat in the bleachers, watching the rehearsal with hawk eyes, ready and willing to spring into action if the need came up.
Most of all, she watched her.
It had been 4 months and 5 days since she had officially stolen her husband. It had been 3 months and 2 days since she had moved in, taking her rightful place as mother to the kids. Not even Kathleen supported her anymore. The almighty Olivia had gotten to her and now just like the rest of her family, worshiped the little hussy. Kathy couldn't understand it. Olivia was the daughter of an alcoholic, she did a man's job, and she wasn't even that pretty! Okay, that last one wasn't true but Kathy looked better! How could she have such pull over anyone, any man, she met? And why couldn't she have just left Elliot alone?
Because Elliot didn't want to be left alone. He wanted to be with someone who understands him, who doesn't try to hold onto him so tightly that he crushes like a bird…
She took a hearty swig out of her flask of Jack and sighed heavily. It was over. She knew it was over. Everyone knew it was over. The gossip mill churned overtime with updates about the two of them. How Olivia was Kathleen's sponsor, how Dickie had picked her to write a school newspaper article on, how Lizzie had broken out of her shy shell, how Maureen and her jogged every day in Central Park…Kathy knew it was over but she just couldn't ignore the urge to fight, to not let Olivia win…
Elliot pressed a kiss to her cheek and Olivia blushed, leaning her head onto his shoulder.
Even from a distance, Kathy knew what he said to her.
"I love you."
She nuzzled his throat and Kathy pulled away from the school, having seen more than enough.
She couldn't let Olivia win.
She just couldn't.