One Night Stand

(Chapter Twelve: Mending The Past)

It had been a few months since they had moved into the new house. While Elliot was speaking to real estate agents about a new apartment they came across a house for sale that just happened to be perfect. The new house in the suburbs had plenty of space for the entire family and it a large fenced in back yard for the kids to play in.

Elliot and Olivia still slept in separate bedrooms just down the hall from one another. Things had been going really well with the girls and the nanny situation. Olivia had gone back to work and they had even managed to slip off and have a romantic first dinner alone together.

Elliot watched as Olivia buckled the girls into their seats. She smiled and cooed at her daughters as they kicked and smiled back at her.

"Okay, mommy needs to pack some extra diapers and wipes. Yes, I do."

Isabella looked at Olivia and laughed.

"So you decided to have lunch with your mother after all?" Elliot asked.

"Yeah. I have been having lunch with my mother for a couple of months now and I think she has made a lot of progress. They are almost seven months old, I think maybe now would be a good time to bring their grandmother into their lives."

"I agree."

"You do? You don't think it's too soon?"

"Liv, I trust your judgment. I know that you would never bring her or anyone for that matter, around the girls unless you were completely sure that they were going to be a good influence in their lives."

"You should come with us. I would like for you to meet her, too."

"Someday, I promise. But I think maybe this lunch should be about her and the girls. But I am only a phone call away if you need me."

Olivia smiled.

"You are always so supportive about everything I do."

"We're a team. I think it is important to support each other in the decisions we make for our kids. You're always supportive of me."

"I try to be," Olivia said with a smile. "You have a lot more experience at this parenting thing that I do. So it is easier for me to trust in the things you do, because you know what you are doing," she laughed.

"I know you are a good mother and I know you only want what is best for our children. I know how much you love them and all that you would do to protect them. I know, because I am a parent too. And that is all I need to know."

"Well, are you sure you don't want to go with us, daddy? It's not just lunch, you know? After we eat we are going to the zoo with grandma."

"Sounds like fun. But I really think this time would be better for you and the girls to spend the time with her. I thought maybe, if this goes well today at lunch we could plan a family barbeque for a weekend we have all of the kids. And we could invite your mother so that she can meet the entire family."

Olivia smiled.

"That sounds nice."

"The weather is getting warmer and it will be nice to have a family get together and take advantage of the new back yard. What do you think?"

"I think it's a great idea. Can you help me put the girls in the car?"

"Yeah," he said picking up Isabella's car seat and following her to the car. "You girls be good and have fun with mommy and your grandma," he said kissing each of his daughters goodbye.

Olivia smiled as she watched him with them.

"Do you need the big stroller?"

"No, I have two umbrella strollers. I think that will be okay."

"Alright. Have fun and call me if you need me," he said placing a soft kiss against her lips. "I will. I'm sure we will be fine."

"Maybe tonight when all of this winds down we can put the girls to bed a little early and have a nice dinner alone together."

"That sounds amazing."

"I will even cook. Maybe grill us some steaks and open a bottle of wine."

Olivia smiled.

"I can't wait," she said softly kissing him as she climbed into the car.

Half an hour later Olivia pulled into the parking lot of the restaurant where she was supposed to meet her mother. She unbuckled the girls seats and carried them inside.

"I have a reservation for Benson," she told the hostess as the woman showed her to their table.

To her surprise, Serena was already there.

"Darling hi," Serena said standing to greet her daughter with a hug and a kiss on the cheek.

"Hey."

"Ma'am, will you be needing a high chair?" the hostess asked.

"Umm, yes. Two please," Olivia said sitting one of the car seats in a chair as Serena pulled back the receiving blanket covering it to catch her first glimpse at her granddaughter.

"Look at you," she cooed looking down at the baby girl. "Absolutely beautiful. And you look just like your mommy when she was a baby. Yes, you do. And who is this?" she asked as the baby smiled at her.

"Sophie," Olivia said as she uncovered Isabella. "And this is Isabella."

"I don't know how you tell them apart."

"I'm their mother, that's my job. Well, one of them anyway."

"Can I hold her?" Serena asked looking at one of the babies.

"Sure. Luckily we all took a good nap this morning and we are in a great mood today," Olivia said picking up Isabella and handing her off to her grandma. "Here you go Izzy. Sit with grandma."

The baby smiled and cooed.

"I think she likes me."

"Of course she does."

"How are they doing?"

"Really good. They just had their six month check up and they are right on track."

Serena watched as the waitress sat two wooden high chairs beside their table.

"They sit okay in those? They look like they are for bigger babies."

"There is a trick," Olivia said flipping the chairs upside down and setting the girls seats between the bars on the bottom.

"That's clever."

"Elliot showed me that one. And it's a godsend. There is hardly a restaurant in the city that has enough room for two car seats at a table, let alone three."

"What do the other kids think of these little angels?"

"They love them. All of the kids get along great."

"And how are things with you and daddy?"

"Elliot, mom. His name is Elliot," Olivia replied squeezing a slice of lemon into her glass of water.

"How are things with you and Elliot?" she asked again.

"Good," Olivia replied picking Sophie up and holding her in her lap. "We have gone on a couple of dates, but we are taking things slow."

"Slow?"

"Yes. Slow. Our main focus is on the kids and making this extended family thing work for everyone involved. Romance and relationships are the last thing on my mind right now."

"Olivia, there is nothing wrong with dating the father of your children. If you are interested and he is interested, it is healthy for the two of you to have a little grown up time alone together."

"Yeah, I guess you're right."

"Just for God sake darling, make sure you use some kind of birth control. I think the last thing you need right now is another pregnancy. Not that I don't adore the beautiful grandbabies you have given me."

Olivia laughed.

"Trust me, I am in no way ready for another pregnancy. I have my hands full with these two. And should I ever decide to have another child I fully intend to plan the next pregnancy. But with seven children it is more than difficult to find a moment alone together. We have the other kids every other weekend and once school is out we will have them two days during the week as well."

Olivia tipped her head noticing the rain beginning to fall outside.

"It's raining," she sighed.

"Looks like we might have to postpone the zoo for another day," Serena replied. "Maybe this time Elliot could join us."

She watched as a smile crossed Olivia's face at the mere mention of his name.

"You sound happy," Serena said still studying Olivia.

"I am. I am very happy. I finally have my family," she replied before the realized what she had said. "I….I…." she stuttered for a moment trying to think of a save.

Serena exhaled.

"I guess I deserve that. I know that things were never easy for you. And I suppose it would have been better for you to have had more of a family structure growing up. But I messed things up so badly with you I would have to think that having a second child would have just made matters worse."

"I don't want to fight, mom. I know things between you and I have always been very different than with most mothers and their daughters….and they always will be. I didn't mean it to hurt you and I guess I didn't think about the way that sounded before I said it. I merely meant that I am glad that my children have both their mother and father in their lives. I know how hard it is for a child to grow up without a father. I think of how things could have been different….better…. for you and for me, if circumstances had been different and I'd had a father there when I was growing up….if we'd had more of a family."

"Every day of your life I wished circumstances could have been different. I did what I could with what I had. I am not going to pretend that I was ever the best mother to you. I know there were so many times that you needed me and I wasn't there for you. But there has not been a single moment that I did not love you. I have made a lot of mistakes in my life, Olivia. And the biggest of all is not telling my beautiful daughter every single day how much I love her. The alcohol was a sickness. It crept in and sort of took over. It made things better for a while…..or so it seemed. But I have been sober for a long time now, I want to fix the things that have been broken between us for so long and I want to make a fresh start with you….for you and for these precious little girls."

"I know you do, mom. I do, too. I know how hard this must have been on you, to kick an addiction you have had most of your adult life. I know it isn't easy."

"It isn't easy," Serena said reaching forward to take Olivia's hand in hers, "but definitely worth it." She paused for a moment as she looked the twins over once more. "I am so proud of you baby. I know I have never really told you that. Everything you have set out to do, you have accomplished. Your school and career and family. You are such a good mother."

"I try to be. They are my world. I couldn't imagine my life without them in it."

Serena smiled a warm smile as she kissed Isabella's forehead and handed her back to Olivia.

"I'd really like to see more of you. All of you," she said as Olivia buckled the baby girl back into her seat.

Olivia stood for a moment studying her two sleeping infants then smiled back at her mother.

"What about lunch sometime?"

"Lunch seems to work well," Serena said with a nod.

"No, I mean lunch at the house. With the girls and Elliot and I."

"I'd love to meet him."

"I'll have to talk to him first, of course. But I think it would be good for the two of you to finally meet each other."

"I think you're right. If you think it's a good time."

"Well, I know it has taken a little while, but you and I seem to be doing really well at mending our relationship. You are still sober and have now met the girls. I think that meeting Elliot is the logical next step. I know that our rocky past will always be there, but that is all behind us now. I am trying….I want us to try, to build a better and more stable future together. You are my mother and I guess I kind of like having you around again. I know it is good for the girls to have their grandma in their lives and I think that you will really love Elliot."

"He takes very good care of all of my girls, I like him already."

Olivia smiled.

"He is a good father."

"And husband?" Serena asked raising an eyebrow as she looked back at the sleeping babies.

Olivia smiled.

"Ahh, so you have at least thought about it?"

"Of course I have, mother. He is their father and my best friend and I have been more than a little bit in love with him for years. But we are finally starting to get our lives back on track. Things between he and I are great where they are. We are close and we are raising our daughters together. I don't think that we should try to rush into anything and end up complicating things with feelings and emotions that we may not be ready for. If it happens, it happens. And I am sure it would be wonderful."

Serena smiled.

"This is the father of your children we are talking about dear. It is only natural for you to have some kind of romantic feelings toward him. He cares about you and he's a good friend, a wonderful father…..attractive?"

"Very," Olivia gushed with a smile before she realized it.

"Then there would have to be something wrong with the man if he didn't fall in love with my beautiful daughter."

"Mom! Let me worry about my love life, okay?" Olivia replied laughing off the little fantasy in the back of her mind.

"Okay. I just thought that maybe you could use a little push. But I see you have got everything under control."

"Yes, I do."

"Alright," Serena said standing to help Olivia carry car seats from the restaurant.

"I'll talk things over with El and I'll get back with you. I really want you to meet him."

"I love you, darling," Serena said hugging her daughter tight.

"I love you too, mom."

Serena stared into the backseat for a moment before kissing each baby on her little forehead.

"And grandma loves you too, my little angels. You be good girls for your mamma."

Olivia smiled as she watched her mother interact with the babies.

"Are we still on for lunch on Thursday?" Olivia asked realizing how attached she had become to their mother, daughter time.

"I wouldn't miss it for the world," Serena replied waving as she climbed into the back of a taxi cab and disappeared into traffic.