Epilogue
18 Months Later
"This is not something you show up late for El! She flipped the visor down and reapplied some lipstick."
"I can't control traffic!" His voice raised a pitch in exasperation.
She groaned. "Well if somebody," she looked pointedly in his direction, "had let me get dressed instead of pawing off every article of clothing I tried to wear."
He grinned and she rolled her eyes. They stopped at a stoplight and he let his eyes roam over her body. "I didn't hear you complaining twenty minutes ago." He smirked, "Unless you count yelling, "Oh Elliot, and Don't stop Elliot," as complaining."
She felt her cheeks warm and she glared at him. He was right though. They would have been on time if they hadn't indulged in that little romp before leaving the apartment. She felt bad. This was a big day. An important day. And now everyone was waiting on them.
"Hey," he rubbed his thumb over her knuckles soothingly. "It's fine. I almost guarantee Dickie will be later than us."
"You're probably right," she chuckled, "but this is important and I don't want anyone to think we aren't taking this seriously, or we aren't supportive."
"Kathleen knows exactly how we feel, and she won't take our lateness personally." He smirked, "She'll probably figure out why we were late and insist on details."
"Oh God," she groaned. She pulled up her phone. Five more minutes. They would be late, but not as late as she thought.
He changed the subject, "Is Noah mad he's missing this?"
"A little, but his teacher insisted every student attend standardized testing or they would receive automatic summer school. I'm fairly sure that's not legal, but here we are."
Elliot fell quiet and his brow furrowed. She recognized it as his 'thinking face'. Finally he spoke, "Would you ever consider allowing me to adopt Noah?"
Her phone dropped out of her hand. Not because it was an absurd request, but because she had no idea he was even thinking about it and it surprised her. "I hadn't thought about it. Is that something you would want?"
He shrugged, "It would be up to you and Noah, and there isn't any pressure, but adopting Noah would be the greatest privilege of my life."
She watched him keep his eyes on the road, deliberately avoiding her gaze, and she knew he was too nervous about what her answer might be to look at her. She needed time to think, and she knew he would give her all the time she needed. "I'll think about it." She squeezed his hand, "and of course a lot of it is up to Noah, and there will probably need to be a lot of discussions before any choice is made."
He nodded, and gave her a tentative smile, "I figured as much, but it's just something I have been thinking about, and I wanted to start talking about it and see where it leads."
She kissed his hand and realized they had finally made it to the court house. They hurried down the halls until they found the appropriate room.
A sea of Stabler blue eyes darted towards them after their not so graceful entrance. "I'm sorry! Traffic…" Elliot tried to explain but no one seemed to worry over their tardiness. In fact there were smiles all around.
A small tug on her slacks alerted her to the head of bouncing blond curls reaching for her. Olivia happily complied with the two and half year old's request, lifting her up and balancing her on her hip. "How's my Liza girl," she cooed.
The little girl dropped her head to Olivia's shoulder. "Tiwerd." The little girl couldn't quite get those r's right.
"I'm sure you are baby," Olivia rubbed her back. "It's naptime isn't it?" Eliza lifted her head and shook it vigorously. Olivia chuckled at the typical two year old stubbornness.
"Livie?"
"Yes baby?"
The little girl's pudgy hands gripped Olivia's cheeks before she gave her an over exuberant smooch. "Liza?" The little girls blue eyes held hers. "Livie loves you."
"Love Livie," Eliza yawned and dropped her head to Olivia's shoulder. She was certain the toddler would be asleep in minutes.
Elliot rubbed the toddler's back and dropped a kiss on her head. Just then Kathleen approached with an eight month old baby resting on her hip. She reached her free arm out for her dad and gave him a quick half hug before doing the same to Olivia.
Kathleen rubbed Eliza's back, "Looks like someone found her Livie."
"Of course she did." Olivia laid her cheek against the toddler's head.
"Do you mind holding her through all of this? She's so tired and I can't hold Liza and Evie at the same time."
"Of course. I'd love to." Their attention diverted as the judge indicated he was ready to start.
Olivia stood next to Kathleen as the short proceedings began. Elliot's hand stayed at the small of her back, as she bounced and swayed the now asleep toddler. They would have to tease when she was older about sleeping through the entire adoption hearing.
She couldn't help but remember the day she officially adopted Noah, and she read all the same emotions crossing Kathleen's face. Olivia felt tears prick at the corners of her eyes. She and Elliot hadn't made any official steps towards marriage, but they were a family. This was their family.
Kathleen was a bundle of emotion as the judge signed the adoption decree, and Olivia couldn't stop tears of her own. After pictures, snuggles and tears they moved the gathering to Elliot's place.
He and Olivia arrived a little after everyone else because they made a stop to pick Noah up from school. He pouted in the car, mostly because he couldn't attend the hearing himself. However, by the time they arrived at Elliot's, he was in a better mood and excited to see his 'nieces' as he liked to call them.
He hurried into Elliot's apartment, leaving them in the dust. Before they made it around the corner they heard an uncontrolled giggle and "Nowa!"
Her heart swelled while she watched her son lift the toddler in his arms like it was the most natural thing in the world. He said something silly and Liza squealed uncontrollably.
Elliot's arm came around her waist and his lips dropped on her cheek. "You okay?"
She probably cried more than her fair share of tears today, "Happy tears," she reassured. He pulled her into a hug.
He kissed her softly until a very loud Dickie yelled. "Dad! Get your hands off her ass and help me on the grill."
He let out an annoyed sigh and rolled his eyes. "Coming!" He called.
She chuckled at the typical exchange, and retreated to the kitchen wondering if the girls needed any help, but Eli caught her. "Hey Liv," he greeted with a smile. He wrapped his lanky arms around her. "I didn't get a chance to say hi at the courthouse."
She returned the hug and kept her hand on his upper arm. "How'd finals go?" She knew how nervous he was last week.
"Really good. I haven't heard from two classes, but Bs on the others."
"Nice work," she complimented, but then Liz called from the kitchen.
"Liv, can you hold this bowl so it doesn't slip while I pour this?"
She gave Eli's arm a light squeeze before heading into the kitchen.
-000-
Olivia dropped on the bed next to Elliot who glanced up from his phone and laughed.
"Tired?" He asked.
"Exhausted." She confirmed. She loved her crazy, loud, big family, but damn she was tired.
He tossed his phone to the nightstand and held his arms out for her. She laid against his chest and sighed at the perfect contentment she felt in his arms. She closed her eyes and she was sure she would fall asleep right here, but Elliot shifted beneath her and she heard him digging around in his nightstand.
"What are you doing," she grumbled without opening her eyes.
"Sorry. Just looking for something." He must have found it because he quieted and he pulled her closer.
She settled against him and he dropped a kiss on the crown of her head. "It was a good day," he said.
She kept her eyes closed, "It was a perfect day," she murmured.
"I think little Liza has her Livie wrapped around her finger." He brushed his fingers through her hair.
Olivia laughed. "No argument here. She's perfect, and I'm really proud of Kathleen."
"Me too," he agreed. The room filled with a quiet stillness, but then he whispered, "Liv?"
"Yeah?" She was so tired and kind of wished he would just go to sleep.
"Will you marry me?"
What the actual hell? Her head popped up, and he laughed. "What?' she wasn't sure she heard him right.
Now that her eyes were open she saw the ring pinched between his calloused fingers. He was serious. She laughed, "This is how you're asking me?!"
He raised an eyebrow, "Marry me please?" Now he was just being silly. He laid shirtless and she was wearing her most worn out sweats. Not exactly how she imagined this going, but it seemed perfect in its own way. She didn't want a fancy dinner and an uncomfortable dress. She preferred this, laying together in perfect stillness after a day filled with family.
She bit her lip, and let him sweat a little before answering. "Yes," She whispered, and her heart leapt at the light and happiness that filled his countenance.
She kissed his lips, and after a moment he pulled back and whispered, "For better or for worse."
As always, she completed his thought, "Forever."
As always, I reserve the right to add bonus scenes at random :) So follow and favorite so you don't miss anything.
