Elliot was still in a state of shock! Maureen walked into the room with her youngest brother on her hips. "Daddy, I think Eli is running a fever" she said pulling Elliot out of his daze.

Elliot stretched out his arms and took him, and he felt it with out a thermometer that his son was burning up. "Daddy I want mommy" he cried. Elliot looked down in his son's face he saw it there the look he knew so well. He missed her, and with out thinking he blurted it out. "Me too baby" he said walking to the cupboard to find his medicine. Elliot took his time and tried with all his might to get his son to swallow the medicine, but nothing all he did was cry and spit it out. "Eli please" Elliot pleaded, but all he did was cry louder.

"Dad maybe we should take him to the doctor" Maureen suggested.

"He doesn't need a doctor he's just spoiled Olivia spoiled" Elliot said looking at his youngest child.

"Dad what is wrong with you?" Maureen demanded picking up her brother and trying to give him the medicine. "Come on Eli open up." Maureen pleaded but her only response was his cries. "Shh shh come on Eli please open wide" Maureen begged again, but it was the same crying she got for a response.

Kathleen pushed the doors open and her eyes filled with tears. "I hate men!" she screamed and stormed up the stairs. Soon the doors opened again and in walked the twins arguing.

"How could you?" Elizabeth screamed at her twin brother

"How could I what you said you liked him I only gave him the message" Dickie replied, quite confused.

Nothing in the house was normal, Elliot sighed and tried picked up his son and he watched as his youngest child recoiled and cling to his sister. "Eli come…" but before she could finish her question her brother and sisters were once again the sitting room bickering.

"Everyone cut it out!" Elliot screamed. Picking up Eli he walked into the sitting room.

"She started it" Dickie said pointing at his twin.

"No I didn't you talk too much!" came her reply and once again everything was chaos.

Elliot was more than a little confused as he held his son in his hand. "Why are they like this?" Elliot asked Maureen, who gave him a slow smile.

"Dad, you have to spend time with them to understand them. And all you do is work, they need their father." She answered softly.

"Am I a bad father?' he asked his voicing catching, with emotion.

"No dad, you just forget that you need to cuddle and kiss us, you forget to ask about our day at school, you forget" she said.

"But I'm busy, thing were different when-" Elliot paused he couldn't call her name not yet, not after she felt him.

"Yes dad things were different when Liv around cause she remembered to do all the things you would forget and then the kids would cuddle and kiss you when you came home, but now no one cuddle's them when they get home, they all miss her and I think you miss her." She said giving her father an impulsive hug. "Dad, why did she leave?" Maureen asked wiping a tear that had fallen.

"I don't know we had a fight and I woke up and she was gone" he replied his voice filled with a pain he was trying to hide.

"Dad you are in love with her aren't you?" Maureen asked looking into his eyes.

"She's my best friend, she been with me through hell of course I do" Elliot said trying to find some justification for the way he was feeling about Olivia.

"Dad you loved her as more than a friend, and I know something happened between you two while were went to visit Mom's family. Did you tell her how you felt?" Maureen asked with wisdom she hadn't known she possessed, but grabbed hold of it.

"No, how could I, she wouldn't listen to me, wouldn't look at me" he said honestly wondering when did she get so smart.

"How could you let her go with out a fight? She loved you she thought the sun and moon rose and set in your eyes" Maureen asked the knowledge slipping away, leaving her with only raw emotions.

"Well she told me a different tale, she said she hated me" Elliot replied walking away.

"Dad! She gave up everything thing for you and us, how could you be so blind?" she asked and took her brother who had begun to fuss again. The door open and in walked the subject of their conversation.

"Hey guys" Olivia said trying to sound happy, and they all gathered round her.

"Go get her dad" Maureen whispered and went to get her hug.

"Mommy!" Eli screamed and leaped into Olivia's arms.

"My baby," Olivia said and hugged him "Eli baby are you feeling okay?" she asked looking into his little face that seemed drawn.

"I missed you mommy" was the only reply she got causing tears to flood her eyes and break all that was left of her heart

Thanks for the reviews. I hope you like this chapter

-Ali