Olivia stood in the kitchen when she heard the lock turn and Amanda pushed through the door, arms full of groceries. Her phone was at her ear making her trek to the kitchen arduous. Olivia came around the counter to grab some bags. She was moving around more, but her body felt slow. Amanda saw what she was doing and awkwardly waved Liv away. "I got this," she mouthed, before giving attention to her phone call.

"Hey, I'm at Liv's now, just give her the Tylenol and take her temp in a couple hours. I'm sure it's just another ear infection. Yeah. If it gets worse, yes. Okay. Love you too." She hung up the call and dropped the groceries onto the counter.

"Billie has another ear infection?," Liv asked.

"Probably. It's the third one this year. Sonny's taking the day to be home with her." Amanda smiled to herself. "She's a daddy's girl for sure. She would take him over me any day."

"That's sweet." Liv loved seeing Amanda so happy. Olivia started peeking in the bags. "You didn't have to get all this," she commented.

Amanda laughed, "Uh, yeah I do. There is no food in this apartment." Just then Amanda squinted at something, "Oh my god Liv, is that a hickey?"

Olivia's hand flew to do the base of her neck. "Shit."

Amanda grinned smugly and Olivia felt her cheeks flush a little. Amanda laughed, "I take it things are going well with Elliot."

Olivia tried not to be mortified by Amanda's knowing smile. "Yeah. It's been good. He's been so good with Noah …"

Amanda cut her off, "And good with you apparently."Liv glared in her direction and Amanda just laughed. "Come on. Relax, I think it's sweet."

"I gotta cover this up before Noah tries to figure out what it is."

Amanda seemed to find way too much humor in the situation. "You probably want to do that. Although, I'd pay to see you explain that one."

Liv groaned. "I'll be right back."

-000-

Later in the afternoon Amanda rubbed her eyes and shut her laptop. "I can't read anymore. I have good students this semester, but fifty essays gets tedious."

"I can imagine," Liv agreed. "I need Fin to bring me some more files. I finished what I could do with what he brought me. I swear I've signed a thousand papers at this point. I'm still not caught up on all the things that need to be signed."

"I would offer to sign things for you, buuuuuuut we are cops and that would probably be a bad idea."

"I wish." Liv flipped through a few more papers. "Did you buy ice cream or anything? We both need a break."

She laughed, "Did I buy ice cream? Girl, I bought three different flavors."

Olivia grinned, "What kinds?"

"Mint chocolate chip, cookie dough, and this random new flavor. I don't know, it looked good." Amanda made her way to the fridge. She turned back to Olivia, "Get yourself to the couch or something. You have been sitting in that chair for forever. You gotta be sore."

Oh how well she knew her. "Yeah," Olivia said sheepishly. She stood slowly, and got herself to the couch, and propped her legs up on the ottoman. "Can you grab me my meds? I missed a couple this morning.""

Amanda pulled out the ice cream and set it on the counter. "Not to tell you what to do or anything, but I'm pretty sure you're supposed to take those first thing in the morning."

"You're as bad as Elliot."

Amanda feigned offense, "Take that back," she laughed.

"Okay Okay. I'm sorry." She teased. "I have been good about it, but this morning was a little crazy and I missed a couple."

"Are they still in this cabinet?" Amanda opened the one closest to the sink.

"Yeah, top shelf."

"Got 'em." Amanda brought the bottles to Olivia with a bottle of water. "What ice cream do you want?"

"Um, the mint chocolate chip I think." She separated out the pills she needed and popped them quickly into her mouth.

"On it."

Amanda scooped some ice cream and brought the bowl to Liv. She snagged the pill bottles and returned them to their perch on the top shelf in the cabinet. She scooped herself some ice cream and joined Olivia on the couch.

They ate their ice cream in silence for a moment before Amanda asked, "What's the plan? You know, for you and Stabler. After this week I mean?"

Olivia spooned another bite of ice cream, "What do you mean?"

"Well, does he plan on still staying most nights? Or is that going to be too much too soon? I'm just curious."

"We haven't really talked about it actually."

"What do you think you want?" Amanda took another bite of her ice cream.

Olviia thought for a moment. "Honestly? I have no idea. I know I'm still going to need a lot of help, but its not like we are going to live together or anything. WAY too soon for that."

"Is it though?" Amanda thought aloud.

Olivia shot her a scolding look. "It is." She said firmly.

"Hey. I mean you have had decades to get to know each other. On the job, you were together more than most people who cohabitate. It's not like you would be moving in together after a week of knowing each other."

"Nope. I can't even think about that right now."

"Sorry. I was just curious."

"It's fine. This has already accelerated much faster than I anticipated, and I need to wrap my head around where we are at now before thinking about next steps."

"I hear ya." Amanda laughed, "I have been there, but I do have to say that any progress between the two of you is seems accelerated compared to the last twenty years." Amanda shot her a mischievous look.

Olivia laughed. "Oh, shut up and eat your ice cream."

-000-

The evening was more complicated than most days. Since Noah had dance, there were extra drop offs and pick ups involved. Olivia worried, but her crew seemed to have it all planned out before she had a chance to ask.

Because of the craziness, Olivia had a little bit of time to herself between Amanda's exit, and Elliot's arrival with Noah. It was a little weird. Since the accident she had very little time to herself. She needed help with everything so someone always had to be there. It didn't really give her any time to regroup before more people showed up. She loved her people. All her people, but the quiet was nice, at least for a little while.

The quiet lasted about twenty minutes before an enthused Noah bounded through the door. "Hey Mom! Elliot and I got dinner on the way home. We grabbed your favorite pasta from the Italian place you like."

Noah started for his room, but Olivia called him back, "Hey! Give me a hug before you drop all your stuff and shower."

Normally, he would roll his eyes at the request, but today he happily complied. She pressed a kiss onto his head before she shewed him towards the shower.

Elliot set the take out bag onto the counter before coming back to kiss her. "You don't have to remind me to come kiss you."

"I don't?" she said coyly.

He pressed another lingering kiss to her lips before saying, "Never." He kissed her again before heading back to the kitchen to get her food. "Do you want this on a plate or straight from the box?"

She turned so her arm rested on the top of the couch and said, "I'll live on the wild side. Just bring me the box and a fork."

He grinned, and complied with her request. After handing her the box of food he dropped on the couch beside her.

"Tired?" She asked, slightly amused.

"You know," he rubbed his forehead, "I had five of 'em and I forgot how exhausting the rush between activities was."

"Well," she gave him a sly sideways look, "I'm not sure how much shuffling between activities you had to do."

He let out a light chuckle. "You're right. I let Kathy be the taxi," he admitted.

Olivia was tempted to ask him how he'd feel about doing all of this again for a sixth kid, but she held herself back. Didn't she just tell Amanda thinking of the future terrified her? The thing was, when Elliot sat next to her, it didn't feel terrifying.

He scooted closer to her and dropped an arm around her shoulder, pulling her a little closer,

"Oh," she laughed, "Thanks for this by the way," she pulled the collar away from her neck, revealing the now obvious hickey. He laughed and she smacked his arm, "You could have at least warned me! Amanda pointed it out before I even saw it!"

"Sorry." His face didn't look sorry. It actually looked a little self-satisfied. She wacked him again for good measure.

His eyes danced with mischief before he dropped his lips to the other side of her neck, "Maybe you need a matching on the other side," he whispered before giving her neck a soft kiss.

She closed her eyes and savored the feeling of his lips on her skin. "Honestly, it wouldn't bug me, but," she opened her eyes, "I think I'd prefer them in less obvious places," her voice was breathy and a little seductive.

"Oh yeah?" he grinned.

"Yeah."

He kissed her deeply and whispered, "I can definitely do that." His lips roamed down her chest, causing her breathing to quicken, but the sound of the shower shutting off made him immediately withdraw. She gave a disappointed sigh, and pulled him closer so she could kiss him quickly.

He let out a breathy laugh, "I forgot about this." He motioned towards the hall bathroom, "kids interrupting at the most inopportune times."

She laughed too. "That might get a little frustrating."

He turned into her with his arms on either side of her on the couch. "You have no idea," he kissed her quickly, "but," that look that made her heart pound crossed his face. "We can always make it up to each other later."