Pretty Poison
(Chapter Five: No News & Good News)
It had been almost three months since they had gotten any new information on their case. Things had pretty much gone cold. And with little to nothing to go on Elliot and Olivia were forced to put the events that took place that evening behind them and try to move forward.
This task proved to be harder for Olivia than she had hoped as she sat on the sofa in her apartment holding a little white plastic stick. Tears of uncertainty began to stream down her face as the word "pregnant" appeared in the little window. She took a deep breath and stared out the window into the rain. How could she have possibly thought they could put this all behind them and not be effected in some way.
She wiped a tear from her cheek and took a deep breath as her phone rang. She opened the phone and placed it to her ear. The sound of his voice was all it took to bring a smile to her face. She was afraid, terrified of what her future could hold. She was in no way prepared for a baby. But listening to the smooth confidence of Elliot's voice, she knew that somehow everything would be alright.
"Hey Liv, I saw I missed your call."
"Yeah, it's no big deal. I just kind of needed someone to talk to."
"Is everything okay?"
"It's okay, El. I'm just kind of having a tough time getting past this, I guess."
"It takes a little while. But things will get better, Olivia."
She closed her eyes as he said her name. She had waited for so long, wanting him to touch her they way he had that night. Knowing how wrong it was for her to want him at all. But now, sitting here talking to him with the little test strip in her hand, Olivia realized that she would never be alone again.
When their conversation had began, she was not sure what she would do. Abortion was not an option. Adoption, possibly. But how could she just give away her baby? Their baby. Elliot's baby. Her best friend and the only man in the world she had ever really allowed herself to fully love. And even if it was only for one night, under the circumstances they were, he had loved her too. And from their union, this child was created.
Olivia pressed her lips together and tried to think of a way to tell him. But there was nothing. She placed her hand against her flat stomach as she took a staggered breath. The truth was, it didn't so much matter what Elliot said because she was going to keep this child. Their baby, their son or daughter. Even if she had to face this alone. She knew in her heart that Elliot would want to be this baby's father. To love it and protect it and she knew she couldn't have chosen a better father for her child. No baby would ever be more loved than this one. Yet, a part of her was still afraid to tell him. And she knew she couldn't do it over the phone.
"I was thinking maybe we could get together tonight. Just talk," she felt her heart pounding waiting for a reply.
She felt as if he could somehow tell. Like somehow her voice was different because for the last ten minutes she had known for sure that she was going to be a mother. Olivia felt a knot in her stomach and for the first time in since she had realized she was pregnant, she felt nauseated as she waited nervously for his reply.
"Of course," Elliot said and she could tell he was smiling. "Why don't you let me buy you a drink?"
"I don't know, Elliot. I'm not really in the mood to go to the bar."
"Dinner then. I'm buying."
"El…"
"I wont take no for an answer, Olivia."
"Okay," she said softly as she felt herself smile in reaction to him. He was the sweetest man she had ever met. And she prayed that having this baby wouldn't somehow come between them.
"But Elliot, I have something I need to talk to you about. In private, not in a restaurant."
"You remembered something?"
"Kind of," she said closing her eyes again to remember the look in his eyes as he was making love to her. "It's just important."
"I won't let you forget."
"Oh, I doubt I will forget," she mumbled softly.
"What?"
"Nothing," she said with another smile as her hand found its way to her stomach once more. "I will talk to you tonight."
"Okay, I will pick you up around seven."
"Okay."
"Olivia?"
"Yes?"
"Wear something dressy."
She laughed. "Okay."
"Bye, Liv."
"Goodbye, Elliot."
She hung up the phone and looked down at her abdomen. "That was your daddy," she said softly with a smile and a small laugh. Part of her still could not believe she was going to be a mother.
Four hours later Elliot knocked on Olivia's apartment door.
"Hey you," he said with a smile as she opened it and stared at him.
"Hi. Just let me grab my purse."
Elliot nodded as she turned and picked up her purse from the sofa pulling it over her shoulder. She looked amazing. Yet somehow, she seemed different. She seemed quiet and almost shy around him tonight.
Elliot held the door open for her as she climbed inside the car and he closed it behind her.
"Are you going to tell me where we are going?" She asked smiling at him from the passenger's seat.
"Nope," he replied shaking his head. "You are at my mercy."
Olivia smiled again as he started the car. They drove for several blocks then pulled up in the parking lot of her favorite restaurant. It also happened to be a rather expensive restaurant.
"Elliot, this is too much."
"No. I think it is just what you need. A night out, in your favorite place to help take your mind off things. Tonight is just about fun, Liv. Relaxing together and time together as best friends. When was the last time you and I did something just for us?"
"I don't know."
"Exactly. Tonight I am treating my best friend to a nice meal with a little wine and if you are really nice, maybe a little dancing."
Olivia smiled again. Why was it Elliot knew how to be exactly what she needed in a man, but no one she had ever dated could figure it out? She wasn't that picky. She just wanted someone who was honest and treated her good and was an all around good guy. It didn't sound so complicated to her.
She tipped her head to stare at Elliot across the table. He was the perfect man. In her opinion anyway. Trust worthy, reliable, an amazing father to his children, he was smart and attractive. He always seemed to know what to do and say to make her feel safe and loved. And after being raised the way she was, she had realized just how important those things were in life. Elliot was the only one person who truly knew her inside and out. He was her partner and friend and family. And until today the only one person she was sure she could not live with out. And now there were two.
Olivia turned her head looking down at her menu, as Elliot looked across the table at her. He hadn't told her, but he himself had began to remember a few things about that night as well. Like the way she smelled and the taste of her kiss. The look in her eyes as they stared deep into his soul while they made love. And the way she felt in his arms.
They had fallen asleep together hours before, after making love. Elliot opened his eyes and moved his arm across her waist and kissed her neck. She rolled over and looked up into his eyes and he kissed her once more. That kiss was the most passionate kiss of his life. She moved her hands over his shoulders as she stared into his eyes and before he knew it, they were making love again.
He had always had a thing for Olivia. Some sort of crush or something. But it was more than that. He loved her. Probably more than he should. She was his friend and family, yet he had always been so very much attracted to her. Elliot wasn't sure how any man wouldn't be. She was incredibly beautiful, sexy as hell, smart and had a heart of gold. But she was also his entire world. Her smiles, to him were like air. It hurt him not to see her happy. And these last few weeks with her in this other place she had fallen into since this mess had happened, were Hell on him as well. That was his real reason for bringing her here today. To try to make her happy, to try to make her smile. But as he watched her across the table, it seemed almost as if she were in another world. Somewhere far away. Somewhere he couldn't reach.
Elliot took a deep breath as the waiter approached their table and took their order. He had attempted to order a bottle of her favorite red wine, but tonight she didn't even want that. Elliot was really starting to worry about her. She had been so withdrawn lately. Closed off from the rest of them. And he wondered if maybe there she had remembered more than she was telling him.
He took another bite of his steak and looked up at her. She was stirring her food around with her fork and hadn't taken three bites of her favorite meal.
"Liv, what's going on with you?"
She looked up at him and smiled.
"Nothing. I'm just tired."
"Ahh, okay."
Elliot leaned across the table and brushed his fingers against her hand.
"I really wish you would talk to me," he said looking into her eyes.
"I want to talk to you. I need to talk to you. I just don't want to do it here," she whispered.
Elliot cupped his hand against the side of her face. "Are you sure you are okay? I worry about you. You haven't been yourself lately."
Olivia slipped her hand below the fancy table cloth resting it on her belly. "I'm fine Elliot," she said staring into his eyes.
"Yeah, I hear that a lot."
"It happens to be the truth."
"I hope so."
Olivia laughed. "You worry too much," she said taking a drink of her iced tea.
"You're my best friend, Liv. It comes with the territory."
Later back in her apartment Olivia was sitting on her sofa as Elliot fixed them both a drink.
"What was it you wanted to talk about, Liv?"
"Oh, umm. I'll tell you in a minute," she said smiling at him. "When you're sitting down," she mumbled.
Olivia took a deep breath and Elliot walked over and sat down beside her.
"Talk to me," he said having no idea how heavy the conversation was about to get.
"Elliot… I…" she paused and looked down at the glass in her hand.
"You what, Liv?" Elliot reached out and placed his hand on hers as she began to cry.
Olivia took a deep breath and looked into his eyes. "I am pregnant," she whispered as her bottom lip quivered nervously.
"Pregnant?"
She nodded her head and just stared at him.
"Well, congratulations," he said with a smile.
"Elliot, it's yours. From that night. That was the only time that I…."
"Really?"
She nodded her head again as she found it hard to breathe.
Elliot was quiet for a moment and his face was blank. Olivia felt her stomach churn and thought for a minute she would throw up right there. She watched him as a smiled slowly spread across his face.
"A baby?"
"Yes."
"I just…I didn't think it could be…. Well, I mean we used condoms." She watched as he stuttered and tried to figure this out.
"Yeah, I know. Apparently one of them didn't work. Elliot, I'm sorry."
"I'm not."
"You're not?"
"Not sorry about the baby, Olivia, no. How could I ever be sorry that I am going to be a father? I'm sorry for the way that things happened. I am sorry that it wasn't some romantic weekend and we both enjoyed and remembered every second of it. Instead, neither of us are really sure exactly what happened and all we have are little flashes of what happened instead of memories. That part, I am sorry about."
"You're not upset?"
"No! Olivia, as far as I am concerned this is good news."
"Really?"
"Yes. We are going to have a baby together." Elliot smoothed his thumb over her cheek and she smiled at him.
"You're really not mad?"
Elliot turned her around and pulled her in against his chest and held her.
"No, I'm excited. Think of how great this kid is going to be?"
"And you are okay with the fact that I want to keep it?"
"I was really hoping that you would. How do you feel about it?"
"I'm nervous, I guess. I have not really had much time to think about it. I had just found out for sure right before I called you earlier. But after I called you I decided this was not the kind of news I wanted to tell you over the phone. I have been nervous about telling you all evening."
"Why would you be nervous?"
"I'm not sure. I guess because you already have five kids, what if you didn't want another one?"
"Liv, it isn't that I didn't want another child. I just didn't think I would have any more. But I want this baby, Liv. And I want to help you raise it, I want to be a part of my child's life."
"Good. Because I really want you there."
Things were quiet for a moment between them, then Elliot smiled.
"We are going to have a baby," he mumbled coming into realization as he moved his hand over her belly.
Elliot kissed her forehead and hugged her. Olivia leaned back against him with her head on his chest as they thought about what their child would be like.