So this past week has been crazy. Pre-exam due dates for every project, essay, analysis and so on. I hope you guys aren't too mad. But, to make up for it, I have a special gift... You'll just have to wait and see what it is !
Enjoy !

"They're all asleep," Olivia said as she fell down on the couch beside Maureen. Maureen nodded.

"They're all really exhausted after today. Especially dad," Maureen added.

Olivia took a look at her watch. Elliot had gone into the hospital to fill out some more paperwork and was due to be back at any moment.

When Maureen noticed Olivia was quiet, she decided she'd ask the question that had been haunting her all day. "Is there something going on between you and dad?"

This caught Olivia by surprise. "What?"

Maureen shrugged. "I mean, it might just be me, but it seems like there's something different about you lately, when you're together that is. I don't know, I just-"

She stopped when she heard the apartment door open. This wasn't something she was going to discuss with her dad in the room.

"Hey, how are the kids?" he asked as he took a seat in the arm chair.

All of Elliot's kids, minus Maureen, were currently asleep in Olivia's room. Elliot still couldn't believe how giving Olivia had been, but then again, that's just who Olivia was. Kathleen and Lizzie were asleep on the bed, and they had blown up a single air mattress that fit on the little floor there was in her room for Dickie. Then, she and Maureen had taken the smaller couch from the living room and put the front of it up against the wall to make a bed for Eli, one that he wouldn't fall out of. And as soon as their heads had hit their pillows, they were gone like a light.

"Liv… I don't know how I'll ever thank you for all of this… I mean…"

"A nice breakfast tomorrow morning would be great," she said with a smirk.

He let out a laugh and nodded. "And speaking of which, I left the bags in the trunk of the car…" he gave her a look, and Olivia knew what he wanted.

"I'll help you," she answered as they got up. Maureen had sort of drifted off a little bit, so she didn't even realize when they had left.

As soon as they were out of the apartment, Elliot let out a sigh.

"How are you holding up?" Olivia asked as she rested a friendly hand on his shoulder.

Elliot just shook his head. "I… it's just too much… I mean it's one thing that she ends up in a freaking coma right before our divorce is finalized, so that I end up the one needing to make the tough decisions for someone who I could honestly really care less about right now…" he paused as he thought about what he had said. "Okay, so I still care about her, but only because of the kids… and at this point, the kids don't seem to caring right now about her either but… It's just… Shit, Liv… That man, David… I had to talk to him like a human being and knowing that he was Eli's real father… I just… I don't get it… He doesn't seem the type, and he seems… sorry for what he has done… he was so pale when I went back to the hospital… he has a heart, and he has enough of a heart to tell me that Eli is my son no matter what… He didn't try and go for custody. He didn't want to ruin a family more than he already had… How can I hate a man like him… He saved me from my burning marriage… Not in the greatest way, but…"

Olivia stopped him and pulled the emergency stop on the elevator. "Elliot, don't think about him right now. You're kids are your kids. Every single one of them. They love you and they always will."

"They love you too Liv," Elliot said slowly. He wanted to add that they loved him just like he did, but he couldn't do anything that may run her off. He needed her more than ever right now, but he needed his best friend even more. So when it came down to it, he would let her bring up what else what happening between them.

Olivia nodded. "Elliot, I love them too… And I'd do anything for them. But right now, they need their dad more than ever and you need to be there for them. Laurence called Carlos. He was playing your boss. Said that there had been an emergency in Vermont and that you'd be back hopefully in a week. Take that week Elliot to be with your kids."

Elliot nodded, but then noticed she had just mentioned him. "What… what about you Liv?"

She looked down to the floor. "I'll be going back tomorrow night, to be able to make it for Saturday morning…"

The look on Elliot's face made Olivia want to stay by his side forever. But she knew she couldn't. She needed some time away from him to clear her mind. And this gave him the time he needed with his kids. It was going to be alright.

"If you need me though El, you know how to contact me." He looked up and she gave him a sad smile. "Any more news?"

Elliot slid down the elevator wall and put his head in his hands. "I… Shit Liv…"

Olivia sat down beside him. "What is it El?"

He turned to face her and looked her in the eye. "I… they told me this morning… but I couldn't… not in front of the kids… And… Oh God…."

"It's bad, isn't it?" she asked, not prepared for what he was about to tell her.

"She's pregnant Liv…"

Olivia pulled away slightly from Elliot. "She's… Shit El… This is… woah, flashback…"

Elliot scoffed. "Let's hope."

"What… what do you mean?"

Elliot shook his head. "We don't… I talked to David… and… We don't know who the father is Liv…"

Olivia turned away from Elliot and faced straight ahead of her. "And you're hoping to God it's his, aren't you?"

Elliot nodded sadly. "I mean… it's not that I don't want more kids… I just can't imagine having to go through that again with Kathy after what has happened…"

It was Olivia's turn to sigh. This is why she didn't want to let her walls down with Elliot. She knew, she just knew that once things started to go well with them that something would happen. This was about as bad as it got. Almost.

"How… How far…" Olivia had trouble forming sentences.

"She's three months… Three freaking months! How the hell is she three months pregnant and she hasn't told anyone? Neither one of us… She hadn't told either of us… Shit, this sucks…"

Olivia didn't know what to do. She wanted to comfort Elliot, but at the same time she wanted to get as far away from him as possible so he wouldn't see her get emotional. They had given in to each other, twelve years of having kept it away from him, her feelings, and now…

Shit.

Elliot couldn't handle the silence. So he talked. "The doctor said we'd be able to do a paternity test once she was awake and lucid. They need her consent and they can't get it until she knows what's going on…"

Olivia nodded slowly. She looked up towards the ceiling as she tried to hide the few tears that had started to gather. And as hard as she tried…

"Liv…" Elliot whispered as he looked over towards her and saw the emotion. "Liv, look at me…"

"Elliot," she whispered, her voice cracking. "I… I can't… not right now…"

"What happened last night…" Olivia was waiting for him to say it was a mistake, or that he regretted it. "What happened last night was the best thing that's happened to me in a very long time. And I wish, oh God how I wish that we could just go back to that, be happy with that. But…"

Olivia nodded. "We… we can't think about it right now Elliot… We have to… right now, we need to just pretend nothing happened…"

Elliot turned to face her, confusion written in his eyes. "Why? Why the hell do we need to forget about it Olivia?"

Olivia quickly wiped her eyes dry and faced him. She nearly broke at the expression on his face, but she stayed strong. "Your kids Elliot… Maureen asked me if there was something going on between us. They sure as hell don't need that right now on top of-"

"They need you Liv," Elliot said as he took her hand. "They need you as much as I do. Can't you see that?"

Olivia nodded as she got up. "Yeah, they need me right now. But they need the me they are used to. They need Liv, your partner, your best friend Liv. Not…"

Elliot got up too and looked at her. "Not… Not what Liv?"

"I… don't know… But until this is over, it's nothing… You don't need that right now…" she said this as she put the elevator back in motion.

"That's where you're wrong Liv… I need you… and you know it." Olivia's breath caught in her throat when she turned around and noticed just how close Elliot was. "Liv…"

"Elliot… I… I…"

And just as he was about to lean in and kiss her, the elevator dinged and the door opened. He didn't even have the chance to blink before she was out and headed for the door.

OoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoO

It had been quiet between them since that last moment in the elevator. They had unpacked the groceries from the car and had gone back to the main lobby and waited for the elevator. Luckily, they weren't alone this time so this refrained them from having to talk about what almost happened, and what was happening. When they got back up to the apartment, the eerie quiet had become too much to handle.

"This sucks," Elliot said as he pounded his fists on the counter top.

Olivia rested her hands on top of his. "They're all asleep. Don't wake them."

In better circumstances, this would have warmed his heart, the little things Olivia did for his kids. But at the moment, the electric jolt that her touch had caused on his body was enough to make him go crazy, and all his thoughts other than thoughts of him taking Olivia then and there cleared his mind. She had done this in the past, rested a reassuring hand on his, taped him on the back, little things, but never had he reacted so intensely.

When she looked up and into his eyes, Olivia needed to back away because of the intensity of his stare. It shocked her, he had never been like this in the twelve years they had been partners, yet in one night, everything could change. "Elliot… you need to calm down…"

Elliot shook himself out of this state and the intense stare disappeared. His dark eyes became light again and Olivia let out a breath of relief.

"I… I think I just need sleep…" he said as he walked out of the little kitchen area and towards the living room. He paused in his tracks when he noticed there was a little problem.

Olivia followed him and noticed his hesitation. "Elliot, the mattress is yours. I'll sleep in the arm chair. You need the sleep."

Elliot shook his head as he turned back around to face her. "No. This is you place and you've already done so much. I can't make you sleep on the chair."

Olivia sighed. "When will you understand you'll never win a fight with me?" She said this and couldn't help but smirk.

Elliot let a small smile slip too as he rolled his eyes. "That may be true, but we always find a compromise. Liv…" he paused. "The mattress in big… There's plenty of room…"

Olivia's smirk disappeared. "El…is… is that safe?"

Elliot shrugged. "Don't know… But I guess we'll find out."

Olivia sighed, but agreed. She saw no other solution. Neither one of them would sleep until one gave in, and she knew they were both as stubborn as can be.

She crawled in, just as Elliot did, but made sure she stayed on her side, as far away from Elliot's as she could, and she faced the wall.

Elliot, however, stared at the back of head, wondering if she was having as much of a hard time falling asleep as he was. All he wanted to do was to pull her closer and cradle her in his arms. His hand slid out from under the blanket and subconsciously reached out towards her. His fingers danced lightly on her shoulder, tracing meaningless signs over her exposed skin.

"El…" she mumbled, and this made things get worse. His hand then started to massage her shoulder and she couldn't help but enjoy the feeling. Until reality set in.

Ready to curse him and tell him off, Olivia spun around to face him. Just as she was about to tell him where to go, her mind hit a brick. His gaze was so loving, so caring so… It was that Stabler look that she had fallen in love with so long ago, the look he used when he really wanted to get his way . And once again, it didn't fail to get him what he wanted.

He leaned in forward before Olivia could fight him and left her with a quick, but soft kiss. "I just wanted to say goodnight," he whispered as he traced her cheekbone with his thumb. She stopped him by taking his hand, but didn't make an effort to remove it from her skin.

"Goo… goodnight… Night El…" she whispered, her eyes still locked on his.

He smiled. "Goodnight Liv."

OoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoO

"Libia!"

Olivia rolled over and groaned, wanting the little voice in her head to go away. She needed sleep. Voices were not going to take that away from her.

"Libia!"

The whisper again. But this time, she realized, the voice was not a voice in her head. No, it was the voice of a child, a real one, and when she finally opened her eyes, she realized that the child's bright blue eyes were staring her down.

"Libia?"

Olivia sat up and looked around her. She noticed Maureen on the couch and Eli standing before her, a frightened look on his face. It suddenly all came back to her. Kathy's accident, Eli's birth father, Elliot's kids needing her support…

Than she remembered Elliot.

Shit.

He had kissed her.

Again.

She didn't need this right now. They didn't need this right now and Elliot knew that. Yet he still managed to pull her heartstrings and make her fall for his charm even when the shields were up. Okay, what was left of the shields.

"You okay Libia?"

Olivia turned back to the little boy and realized why she was awake in the first place.

Eli.

"Yes Eli, I'm fine. What about you sweetie?"

He shook his head quickly as tears gathered in the corner of his eyes.

"Hey bud, what's wrong?"

He shivered. "I have a bad dream," he answered as he squeezed his teddy harder against him.

"A bad dream, huh?" she asked as she put her hands on her hips. "I don't think I gave those bad dreams permission into my house. What about you? Do you think they have permission?"

He shook his head quickly.

"What should we do to get rid of these bad dreams?"

Eli threw his arms up in the air. "Call the police!"

Olivia looked at him inquisitively. "Do I count as the police?"

Eli shook his head. "No, the real police silly."

Olivia faked her insult. "The real police? I'm not the real police?"

He shook his head again as a small smile built on his lips.

Olivia let out a sigh. "If I'm not the real police, than who is?"

"The bad dream police!"

Olivia wanted to smile at the child's simple mind. "Well I don't think the bad dream police are available right now. Will I do for tonight?"

Olivia watched as the child paused to think about it for a moment, but nodded quickly.

"Okay then. Well as temporary bad dream police, what is my job sir?"

Eli let out a little laugh at this. "You need to protect me!"

Olivia nodded. "Okay then, and how do I do that?"

"You need to sleep with me and Benny!"

Olivia realized he was talking about the teddy bear who's paw was clutched in his hand. "Okay. But I don't think there's enough room in your bed. Would you and Benny want to stay here with me?"

He nodded quickly as he joined her on the mattress and snuggled into her chest. Olivia immediately wrapped her arms around him.

"Libia?"

Olivia looked down at him as he looked up at her. "Yeah?"

"Can you always be my bad dream police?"

Olivia smiled sadly at him. She knew that she wouldn't always be around while they were staying at her place, and soon he would be back to his own mother, but she couldn't worry him for tonight.

"I'll do my best. But you know, the bad dream police have a lot of work to do to get rid of all the bad dreams."

He nodded, accepting this as an answer.

Just when she thought he was finally asleep, he twisted in her arms so that he was facing her.

"Libia?" he called again as he let out a little yawn.

"Yes sweetie?"

"I love you," he whispered as his eyes fell closed.

Olivia had trouble keeping her emotion at bay. "I love you too," she whispered back to the little boy as she leaned over and placed a kiss on the sleeping form's forehead.

She didn't have trouble falling asleep with the emotion that had taken over her already vulnerable state draining her completely. However, little did she know that, not one, but two others fell back asleep too after witnessing this exchange with smiles on their faces and thoughts running wild through their minds.

OoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoO

Lizzie was the first one awake the next morning. She looked quickly around the room and after remembering everything from the past day, she noticed that Eli wasn't in his bed anymore. She got up quietly, trying her hardest not to wake the other two, without success.

"Lizzie, what… where … it's too early. Sleep," Kathleen whispered when she noticed her sister heading towards the door that was opened just a crack.

"Eli's not in his bed. I'm just going to check up on him."

Kathleen nodded and dropped her head back down on her pillow. However, when Lizzie didn't return immediately, she pulled up the strength to get up and see what was going on.

"Lizzie?" she whispered when she noticed her starring into the living room. "What are you –"

"Shh," Lizzie cut her off, not tearing her eyes from the scene in front of her. "Come here."

Kathleen followed her instructions and did as she was told. She immediately knew exactly what had captured Lizzie's attention and her heart swelled.

"Dad's such an idiot," Kathleen said as she shook her head.

Lizzie finally tore her eyes from the living room floor. "What?"

"He's an idiot. It's obvious he loves her. She's perfect for him, for his life… She's perfect for us Lizzie! We need Liv in our life for good. Look at them!"

Lizzie looked back at the mattress on the floor. Elliot was on his side of the mattress, as promised, but it wasn't that that Kathleen was referring too.

She stood there starring at Eli peacefully asleep, completely comfortable being wrapped tightly in Olivia's chest. He was the type of kid who didn't take well to people he wasn't familiar with, and he wasn't normally the type that would go to someone for comfort. Usually, even Kathy had trouble getting him to talk about the nightmares he had been having lately. But by the looks of things, Olivia had found a way through the little boys shield, thick shield for his age, and discovered a way to make him feel safe.

It made their hearts swell.

"She's always wanted kids," Lizzie whispered.

"And it's obvious she deserves them," Kathleen added. "God, look at him Lizzie! He won't even cuddle with me! He hasn't seen Liv in forever and he already comes to her."

They were quiet for a few seconds before Lizzie nodded towards the door to the apartment.

After taking a quick look at the clock, which indicated it was just shortly after seven, and grabbing the spare key from the bowl on the kitchen counter, Kathleen followed her into the hallway and sat beside her on the floor next to Olivia's door.

Lizzie stared forward for a few seconds while Kathleen scrutinized her. If there was one of the kids that this whole divorce situation was affecting more than Eli, it was Lizzie. She had become reserved since they had found out about Eli's true paternity, even before that. Although the others didn't seem to notice it as much, Kathleen definitely did. She and Lizzie had always shared something special, and she knew that all these emotions flying around them were affecting the young girl big time.

"I know this sounds terrible," Lizzie started hesitantly after a few moments of silence, "but I sometimes wish Liv was our mom. I mean, come on. Think about it. We all love her, and she and dad are so happy together. Have you ever pictured our lives if Kathy hadn't of been in it, and instead, Olivia was our mom?"

Kathleen shuddered slightly at the sound of Lizzie calling their mother by her first name. She had been doing it in her mind for so long, but for someone else to actually say it out loud… Especially while they were having a conversation about Olivia having been their actual mom… As much as she felt guilty for doing it, it felt reassuring in a way. It felt right.

And with that in mind, she nodded. "I… I have…" she said as she looked her sister in the eye. "Lizzie, God, if there was a way we could make them realize they were meant for each other… She could be our mom. She and dad… They're perfect for each other, more than perfect. And it's madly obvious to everyone but them that they love each other more than any man or woman should love someone."

"Do you think… Do you think that maybe they might end up getting together now that Kathy is out of the picture? That maybe… that maybe they'll realize they are meant for each other?"

Kathleen laughed. "If they don't realize it, I'll make them realize it. I just hope it doesn't take too long. Dad needs her at his side right now, with everything going on. It would be ideal if –"

She stopped talking as soon as she heard someone in the porch just on the other side of the wall and watched in terror as that someone opened the door and looked out.

"What are you guys doing out here?"

Both girls let out a breath as Maureen came and took a seat beside them. Lizzie smiled up at her oldest sister. She thought about how much the three of them had grown closer with the years, the fact that Maureen and Kathleen weren't around as often having strengthened their sibling relationship, and she instantly leaned in and brought both of her sisters in for a hug.

"What was that?" Maureen asked as she returned the loving hug.

"I just want you guys to know how much I appreciate having siblings as amazing as you two. And Eli. Even Dickwad. I couldn't have asked for more amazing people to spend my journey through childhood with."

Kathleen smiled down at her younger sister as she ruffled her messy blonde strands of hair. "I feel the same kiddo," she said with a laugh.

Lizzie rolled her eyes and joined in on the laughter.

"Okay, okay. You can try and avoid telling me what you guys were doing out here, but I won't forget and I'll find out eventually."

Lizzie and Kathleen both stopped laughing and looked at each other. They knew Maureen would understand what they were going through.

"We'll tell you," Lizzie said.

"But we need your help."

Maureen looked back and forth between them. "You need my help? For what?"

"Promise you won't get angry?" Lizzie asked quietly.

"Angry…? What are you two up too…"

Kathleen sighed. "We need to make dad and Liv realize that they're meant for each other. We need to find a way to get them together."

Maureen stared at them in shock for a few seconds then laughed.

"What?" Lizzie asked, almost getting a little angry. "Do you not see the way they look at each other? They way the act around each other? The way they treat –"

Maureen cut her off. "Lizzie! I'm not laughing cause I think it's a foolish idea. I'm laughing cause I now know why we're sisters."

Kathleen and Lizzie both gave her a puzzled look. "What are you talking about?"

"We all think too much alike."

Lizzie went wide eyed. "You mean… you've thought about it too?"

"Since I was old enough to realize that dad and Kathy weren't in love like they should be. When things started getting really bad lately, I knew it was only a matter of time before dad turned to Liv. And now it's only a matter of time before they see the big picture."

The three girls exchanged smiles and they all knew that the others wouldn't rest until Liv was officially a part of their family.

They were about to get up and head back inside the apartment when Kathleen spoke up. "Do you guys realize that neither one of you called out mother 'mom'? You both said 'Kathy'. I mean, as much as I still love her and all for having us and giving us a life and whatnot, I feel… I feel…"

"… Like she's not worthy of the title of being called 'mom'?" Lizzie asked, as she scoffed. "I mean, I hate talking about her like this while she's off in some other world in her hospital bed, but… She lost my respect towards her as her daughter the day we found out she had been cheating on dad. He's never done a thing to hurt her, hell, he's hurt himself by making sure he doesn't hurt her, and what does he get in return?"

"A son that isn't actually his, a load of paperwork he never signed up for and kids that feel torn about the one woman they should always feel safe around," Kathleen answered. "I don't know about you guys, but I'm done with Kathy ruining our lives. There I said it. Kathy. Not mom."

Maureen nodded. "As long as she keeps making bad decisions and terrible choices, she has lost all my respect too. Besides, I think the description of 'mom' fits someone else in our lives much better. And I know for a fact," she added thinking about Eli last night, "that I'm not the only one who thinks it."

"So is that a yes to helping us out with this?" Lizzie asked with a smirk.

Maureen laughed. "Honey, if you hadn't of suggested it, I would have. Let's go figure out a way to make the two best people in the world the two happiest ones too."

So the kids approve! Now if only Liv and El could get their shit together... P:
Anyone catch why Eli's teddy's name is Benny? Think about it... And let me know !
Also, your special gift is two chapters in one night ! So stay tuned for chapter 10 (: