"Elliot," Olivia whispered. "Elliot," she shook his shoulder.
"What?" Elliot moaned, still mostly asleep.
"Elliot, wake up," Olivia's whispers were getting more desperate.
"I'm awake," he whispered back.
Olivia reached over and turned the light on the nightstand on. Elliot closed his eyes tight and covered them with his hands. "Turn it off, please Liv. What time is it? What's going on?"
Satisfied that Elliot was awake enough to pay attention she turned the light back off and propped her head up on Elliot's chest. "El, I want to adopt Calvin, legally."
"What time is it?" Elliot repeated.
"It's 1:15," Olivia said sighing. "I'm sorry Elliot. I can't sleep. I'm trying to figure out how I can help him best. If I adopted him then he couldn't be taken away from me, he would know I wanted him and that I'm not going to send him away. Does that make sense?"
Elliot rubbed Olivia's back. "Yah, I know what you're saying," he told her. "But is that even possible?"
"His mom is a junkie and his dad is in jail. I don't see why not."
"True," Elliot paused. "I think you should go for it, just be prepared if things don't work out like you hope," he told her. He ran the back of his hand down Olivia's face.
"I know," Olivia said, taking a deep breath. "Thanks El."
Elliot brought her hand to his lips and kissed her. "I'll always be here for you," he whispered.
She pressed her body against his and tried to go to sleep.
Calvin's first week at his new school seemed to go well. He was a little behind in his school work compared to the other students but he made a couple friends and didn't get into any fights. Olivia was pleased when an entire week passed and she didn't receive any calls from his school. She was even more pleased that Calvin seemed to be happy at this school and was starting to fit in.
Elliot's children moved in with him that weekend. Olivia had avoided the subject of her and Calvin moving in. She knew Elliot would bring it up eventually but she wasn't quite ready to talk about it yet.
After Elliot's kids moved in Calvin started taking the bus to his house after school. He had a blast being with the Stabler children. There was always something exciting going on. Dickie loved having another guy around. His sisters knew how to get on his nerves, but he and Calvin tormented them right back. Olivia was more at ease knowing Calvin had somewhere to hang out after school.
Elliot was pleased at how everything was working out. He was happy to have Calvin over to his house each day. He knew he would be safe and happy there. After Kathy had left with his kids he had spent a lot of time alone in his empty house and although the quiet time was nice sometimes, he missed all the life and activity of having his family there. He didn't want Calvin to go through the same thing.
Elliot and Olivia were heading out to lunch on Thursday. They had just closed the case they were working on and looking forward to the start of their three day weekend as soon as they finished up the rest of their paperwork that afternoon.
"El, do you want to come over tomorrow... maybe we can talk," Olivia said. She struggled to get that sentence out but was proud of herself for actually managing to do it. She was finally ready to talk to Elliot about moving in with him. She was nervous as hell. Her previous relationships had almost always ended in disaster; she couldn't let that happen to her and Elliot.
"I'd love to," Elliot said. He guessed Olivia was ready to talk about moving in with him. He had been patient with her and given her space and time to think. He said a quick prayer hoping she would give it a chance. He had faith they could make it work but he knew Olivia would be a little bit less optimistic about it. He wondered if the reason Olivia's relationships never worked out was because she was meant to be with him. The sound of her phone ringing interrupted his thoughts.
"Benson," she chimed.
"Detective Benson, this is Mrs. Walker, Calvin's guidance counselor."
Crap, Olivia thought do I even want to know what happened?
"Is everything ok?" Olivia asked.
"Yes, yes, everything is fine. I'm just calling to talk to you about Calvin's school work. He's a little behind in school, which is completely understandable since he switched schools, but I'm afraid instead of paying attention and applying himself to his work he has decided to take on the role of class clown."
"Oh no," Olivia said even though she was relieved nothing had happened to him and that he hadn't gotten into any fights.
"He might need some extra help with homework until he can catch up with the other kids. His teachers are going to write his assignments in his day planner to help him remember."
"Wait, not paying attention, and not remembering, are you saying he has ADHD?" Olivia asked.
"No Detective, I don't think that's the case with Calvin. I think he's just trying to hide behind jokes and humor so the other children don't look down on him. With a little extra help I think he can get caught up in no time."
"Thank you Mrs. Walker. I'll have a talk with him."
"Thank you Detective."
"Calvin has decided to be the class clown," Olivia told Elliot after she hung up the phone. Elliot tried to control himself but he laughed. "Hey!" Olivia said, poking at Elliot's arm. "You will not encourage him."
"I'm sorry Liv. What's going on?" Elliot said, trying to get serious again.
"He's a little behind after switching schools and missing so many days. His school counselor said instead of applying himself to his work he's goofing off."
"Better than getting into fights," Elliot said as he pulled up in front of their favorite little diner.
"That's true. His teachers are going to write in his day planner so I know what we need to work on at home to get him caught up."
"He'll get caught up," Elliot reassured her.
"I know," Olivia said nodding her head.
They ate lunch, then returned to the precinct to finish up their paperwork.
"Do you want to stay for dinner?" Elliot asked as they were driving to his house.
"I don't think so tonight, El. I want to get Calvin home and figure out what's going on with him, make sure he did his homework and stuff. Are we still on for tomorrow?"
"Yah, I'll come by after I drop the kids at school."
"Elliot," Olivia paused. Elliot looked over at her. "Thanks for understanding."
Elliot rubbed Olivia's arm as he pulled into his driveway.
"I hear you're keeping all your classmates entertained," Olivia said to Calvin once they arrived home.
Calvin smiled at her and shrugged his shoulders. "They like me Olivia, they think I'm funny."
"I'm glad you're fitting in Kiddo, but you can't disrupt class. You've gotta do your schoolwork or you're going to be a funny 40 year old stuck in the 9th grade. Ok?"
"Ok," Calvin mumbled. "Sometimes it's just too hard."
"Well that's what I'm here for. Two heads are better than one, we'll figure it out. Now let me see your planner please." Olivia patted Calvin on the shoulder as he moped over to his backpack and retrieved his planner.
Olivia checked the homework Calvin had done while he was at Elliot's house and helped him finish up the rest. She made him ravioli for dinner and then the two of them went on a walk.
Olivia heard her door buzzer right after she poured Calvin a bowl of cereal.
"Who is it?" she called into the intercom.
"It's me Liv," Elliot answered.
Olivia buzzed Elliot in and unlocked her front door for him.
"You're early," she said as he entered.
"Lizzie had a meeting before school so I dropped the kids off early. I figured maybe I'd swing by and give Calvin a ride to school. I haven't seen him all week." Elliot ruffled Calvin's hair.
"That's nice El," Olivia said. "I appreciate that." She took his jacket from him and hung it up then went into the kitchen to pour him a glass of orange juice.
"I hear you're a funny man at school," Elliot teased Calvin.
Olivia gasped and snapped Elliot with the kitchen towel. "I told you not to egg him on," she said through gritted teeth.
"Sorry," Elliot said smiling. He looked down at Calvin and saw him giggling. "You gotta pay attention and do your school work Buddy," he told him, trying to make up for his previous comment. He sat down at the table with Calvin and took a drink of the orange juice Olivia had given him.
"I know," Calvin said.
Elliot looked at Olivia and smiled. She shook her head at him but couldn't hold back a smile. Calvin finished his cereal and brushed his teeth.
"You be good today," Olivia told him as she handed him his jacket. "If I don't get any calls well go pick out a guitar for you this weekend, ok?"
"Ok, I will," Calvin promised. He gave Olivia a hug.
Olivia kissed the top of his head and told him she loved him as he walked out the door. She rolled up the kitchen towel she still had in her hand and snapped Elliot's butt as he followed Calvin out. "See you when you get back," she said smirking at him.
She grabbed Elliot's glass of orange juice to finish and sat down on the couch to wait for him to return.