Chapter 5

**OLIVIA**

"Hey Liv," I felt a hand gently skim over my face. "You have to wake up Liv. Everyone here is waiting for you." I heard Elliot take a deep breath. "I love you Liv, I need you. I can't raise four fully functioning kids by myself."I felt him move my hair out of my face. "I have one very distressed little boy here and he is having a hard time. We both already know he is a momma's boy, and you're his momma Liv," my little boy, I hated knowing that I was the reason he was so upset.

I felt him kiss my forehead and my brain went into overdrive, thinking about the possibilities.

I was so tired I fell back to sleep, not waking up until I heard a different voice.

"Hey Olivia," it was Cragen. "You are going to have to wake up. You are like the daughter I never had, and Elliot, oh god, I don't think he will fare well without you. Neither will those kids. You should have heard Dickie in the waiting room. Elliot had to explain who Kathy was when Dickie asked and when Elliot told him that Kathy was his biological mother Dickie freaked and yelled at Elliot. Then paced for two hours until he was finally tired enough fall asleep. That little boy misses you Olivia; and Elliot, he really loves you Olivia, the way he watches you and keeps you safe, just the way he looks at you can see the love he has for you. I know you feel the same way." I had my eyes open looking at him as he finished his sentence. He was looking down.

"I know, I have loved him for years." I whispered. His head snapped up.

"Olivia!" he checked me over now that I was awake. "I'll be right back," he ran out and I looked over at the recliner pushed up to the side of my bed.

I gently ran my hand through Dickie's soft blonde hair. He is a very light sleeper and I knew it would wake him up. He looked up and smiled, I quickly put my finger to my lips cautioning him to be quiet. I motioned for him to climb up on the bed. When he was fully up on the bed I looked back and Elliot was still asleep.

"How are you baby boy?" I whispered. He wrapped his little arms around me tightly and snuggled down into my side. "I's good," he whispered.

I looked up when I heard the door open and Cragen and a doctor walked in.

"Hey Doc," I whispered.

"Well it's nice to finally meet you Ms. Benson." He talked to me for about ten minutes before he looked down at Dickie.

"He definitely looks like a mama's boy. He and your other kids were very worried about you."

I was about to correct him and tell him they were Elliot's kids but Cragen gave me a stern look so I thought again.

"Thanks, they really are good kids; they've been through a lot recently." I tightened my hold on Dickie.

"Well I'll be back later to check on you." With that he walked out and the door shut loudly behind him.

Elliot sat up quickly looking down not realizing I had Dickie.

"Hey El," I looked at him waiting for him to notice I was awake.

"Olivia!" he cupped the side of my face. "I'm so glad you're okay," he sighed and I gently moved my arm away from Dickie and put my hand on the back of Elliot's neck. Before I could let my brain over think what I was doing I quickly leaned up and pulled him forward pressing my lips against his. I went with my instincts and ignored my brain. He relaxed into the kiss almost immediately.

When I pulled back I rested my forehead against his. I could hear my heart monitor accelerate. When I opened my eyes to look at him he was already staring at me. He sat on the bed next to me and I pulled him close enough to hug him. This time, unlike all the other times we've hugged, neither of us let go.

"I was so scared El," I turned my face into his neck, "I didn't know if Kathy would go into the woods after them, but then they came back out to me, I was afraid they were gonna sit there and watch me die, and from what the doctor said I was basically dead. I was afraid you would hate me if they got hurt. I can't lose your kids El, I can't lose you. I was afraid I would never see you again or get to tell you I love you." A few tears fell from my cheek and onto his neck.

He pulled me back and wiped the tears off my face. "I could never hate you Liv. Lizzie and Dickie are safe and out of harm's way." He smiled, "I love you too Olivia." He kissed me but this time it wasn't slow and sweet it was more passionate, and desperate.

"FINALLY!" we broke apart startled by the shout. I looked over and all the kids, except Dickie, were still sleeping. I looked back at the woman with the big mouth.

"Well hello to you too Case." I said sarcastically.

"Sorry. Hey Liv!" she said sheepishly.

"You guys find Kathy yet?" I asked.

"No, but Fin and Munch are working your case as we speak." Casey answered.

"Why is it my case? Shouldn't it be the kid's case?"

"Well their names are on the case but I just kind of grandfathered you in." Casey dismissed easily.

"Okay, I'm glad you all are here but I need to get up to pee." I started to sit up.

"Oh!" Casey helped me stand up and I wobbled. Elliot steadied me and I stood for a minute taking a few deep breaths. The hole in my stomach was throbbing.

"Thanks El,"

When I got done I walked to wash my hands and I listened to everyone talk. Elliot, Casey, and Cragen, were talking about random things until I heard a new voice.

"Where's Livia," Maureen asked, her voice holding a note of panic.

"I'm right here Mo," I said walking gently out of the bathroom.

"Livie, Livia!" Mo and Kat shouted. They both ran and slammed into me. I froze and gasped in pain as they hit my incision. The pain must have been written across my face because Elliot ran over and scolded the girls.

"MO, KAT! Remember she just had major surgery less than 24 hours ago." they both let go and I worked on controlling my breathing; in and out, in and out.

"I'm sorry," both girls backed up, a little teary. I took one final deep breath.

"It's alright, come here." I waved them over but they just looked at me. "You won't hurt me, just come here." They both walked slowly forward and I wrapped my arms around them.

"Are you guys okay?" they both nodded.

"I missed you Livie," Kathleen whispered.

"Missed me? I've only been asleep for a day," I looked to Elliot, "Only a day right?" he nodded.

"See there, only a day." She squeezed me a little tighter and I braced myself.

"Yea but I haven't seen you for days before this." I leaned down and kissed her head.

"Alright girls, why don't we let Liv sit down?" I nodded, that sounded like a really good idea.

I sat down and the girls sat next to me. I had all the kids on the bed with me, except one.

"El, bring her here," I motioned to Lizzie who, being the heavy sleeper she was, was still sleeping.

Elliot picked her up and she was facing away from me. "Lizzie look," Elliot pointed at me but she just shook her head and laid it on Elliot's shoulder.

"Lizzie," I called softly and she whipped her head around, hitting Elliot in the face with all her hair.

"Mama!" she scrambled to get to the bed so Elliot set her down and she stopped moving.

"You's hurt?" I nodded, "Just a little bit." She backed up.

"It's alright sweetie, you won't hurt me, come here."

"You's pomise?" I nodded. "Yes I promise." When she got close enough I pulled her to me so she was in my lap with Dickie. I was sitting in the middle of the bed and Elliot was sitting behind me. I had the twins in my lap and the older girls on either side. Lizzie said something and her brother made a smart remark about. It made us all laugh and Casey mumbled under her breath.

"Where's the camera when you need one?"

A few hours later

The twins and Kathleen had gone across the street to the park with Casey, and Elliot had gone down to the cafeteria, leaving just me and Maureen.

"Hey Livia,"

"Yea Mo?" I turned to look at her.

"I was wondering." She trailed off.

"Wondering…" I prompted.

"Well the twins already call you mama so I was wondering if Kat and I could call you mom too." She started talking really fast and her voice turned into a whisper.

"Awh Mo, I would love if you called me mom, but shouldn't you ask your dad about this first?"

Elliot appeared leaning against the door frame.

"She did, I told her she had to ask you." He pushed off the door frame and walked over to the bed.

"You really don't mind if all your kids call me mom?" I was a little bit surprised. I thought Elliot might have ill thoughts towards it after he tried to convince the twins that I was Livia. It was what he did next though that really surprised me.

He leaned down and kissed me. I looked up at him when he pulled back. "No, I don't mind because they're not just my kids anymore, they are our kids. You have them just as much as I do. The twins don't even know who Kathy really is, nor do they really care too. Mo and Kat love you to pieces, and you have done so much more for them than Kathy has ever done." He smiled and moved my bangs out of my face.

I pulled his head down and kissed him hard, this time he deepened the kiss farther than before and I had butterflies in my stomach.

"Thank you," I smiled and leaned my head against his.

"Oh. My. God," we both slowly turned to the door having completely forgotten that there was one kid in the room and that the other ones would be back soon. Kathleen was standing in the door way her mouth open. She looked around us to Maureen, "Did that really just happen?" she asked her older sister who was also sitting there just gaping.

"Yes, TWICE!" Maureen squealed and Kathleen joined in. I could feel the blush burn my cheeks and I buried my face in Elliot's neck. I heard and felt him chuckle.

"Shut up," I laughed into his shoulder and he just tightened his embrace.

"Does this mean you guys are dating?" Maureen asked a bit hopeful. I looked up at Elliot questioningly and he smiled before looking back to Maureen.

"Yea, yea it does Mo," Mo and Kat started to squeal again.

"Do you know how long we have been waiting for this?" Kathleen asked excitedly. We both shook our heads.

"Four years! But then the twins were born and we thought it would never happen, but then there was hope again when you and Kathy divorced."

I snuggled into Elliot's chest behind me. "Mama!" I heard the footfalls of little feet before I heard the voices.

They came running into the room and attempted to climb up on the bed. Casey gave them a helping hand and they crawled right up into my lap.

TBC