I know this story is moving slowly, but we will get to Kathy, Bernie and the other kids eventually, promise.

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34. Hug

Olivia and Noah decided on a bag of potato chips and some fruits for Elliot, and Olivia bought a small bag of potato chips for Noah as well. She had a cup of tea herself and was pleased to see that Noah didn't seem bored at all. They had been at the hospital for a few hours already but her boy was very good at entertaining himself. Sometimes she wondered about him growing up as an only child, but Lucy as well as the staff of his day care center all assured her that he played with other children just as happily as he did alone.

His question about a daddy had startled her though. She was only just trying to wrap her brain around the possibility of a future with Elliot, and here was her son, basically asking him to be his daddy. She tried to shake it off, telling herself that Noah hadn't really known what he was saying, but the idea got stuck in her brain anyway. She could see it now. Elliot and Noah were so natural together and she trusted him implicitly with her son. He was still Elliot, with or without his memories.

She wondered how he would respond once he'd read what had been written about William Lewis on the internet. She had seen anger flare up instantly in his eyes. His entire demeanor had changed, almost as if he had transformed in a hulk-like manner, from his calm and collected current self to his angry, frustrated former self. It was all still in there and she wondered how they were going to deal with their tempers in a romantic relationship if more of the old Elliot resurfaced. Because really, she had more than enough old Olivia to deal with as it was.

During the second half of their partnership, Olivia had caught herself a few times, imagining what it would be like to have sex with Elliot. She had tried to suppress those thoughts but they were unstoppable sometimes. She knew the attraction was more than just physical, but that was something she had suppressed even more diligently. She'd first noticed those deeper feelings consciously when Rebecca Hendrix came onto the stage and Elliot showed an interest in her. Although Olivia had done everything she could think of, including picking up someone at a bar for a one night stand, she couldn't deny that what she was feeling was, in fact, jealousy. She didn't want Elliot to notice other women. She wasn't sure if she actually wanted him to notice her at the time, but there should be no room for anyone else, except his family and his partner.

When they'd crash in the crib during cases that dragged on for days, she'd lay there, looking at him sometimes. She'd watch his chest rise and fall while he slept and she imagined what it would feel like to touch it, skin on skin. But she cared too much to actually do it. It was complicated.

And now, suddenly, it wasn't complicated anymore. All their complications had been buried in the past that Elliot had forgotten. He only remembered her and his feelings for her. His love for her. Her stomach clenched at the thought. Would that love survive if more of their complicated past and his childhood demons would come back to him? Olivia had battled on and had found some answers to the questions in her life after Elliot left. Would the wisdom Elliot had found over the past four years help him to deal with his past if it did come back to him?

"Momma, we go back?" Noah asked her suddenly, pulling her out of her reverie.

"Yes. Okay baby. Let's see if the doctor is ready."

She remembered that Elliot had asked her to get him some underwear, and they made a quick stop at one of the shops in the hospital. She bit her lip while considering which size to buy him. She knew it would have to be a large size, and it would have to be able to go over his cast. Although simple briefs might have been easier for him to put on, she was pretty sure he was a boxer brief type. She actually hoped he was. So she decided to bring two large and two extra large boxers for him. She grabbed a few t-shirts as well and then they headed back to Elliot's room.

Olivia was surprised to see Elliot standing next to his bed, leaning against it. Greg was still there but they were done with the exercises.

"Hey. I was waiting for you," Elliot said, smiling warmly at her.

"Yes, he asked me if he could just stand a little longer, so he could give you a proper hug before getting back into bed," Greg added.

Olivia didn't hesitate. Elliot looked even taller than she remembered now that he was standing up, and she wanted to bury herself against his chest. She dropped her bag and her shopping bag and walked up to Elliot, who wrapped his arms around her immediately. It felt so good to feel him against her, even with his leg in a cast and Olivia closed her eyes, wrapping her arms around his torso as well. Elliot buried his face in her long hair and exhaled slowly, his warm breath on the skin of her neck making goosebumps break out all over her body. She was careful not to lean against his injured chest but Elliot pulled her closer to him and she gave in. It had been so long, too long, and she had to remind herself to keep breathing.

"I love you," Elliot mumbled in her hair and Olivia turned her head to kiss his jaw.

"I love you," she answered, resting her head on his shoulder.

She felt something tap against her leg and she looked down just in time to see Noah wrap his little arms around Elliot's right leg and her left leg.

"Noah too," he said happily and all three adults in the room chuckled.

Greg walked up quickly and picked Noah up, setting him on his hip.

"Hey big guy, what did you get for Elliot?" Greg asked him, and Noah actually fell for the distraction.

"Tater chips," he told Greg, "and apple."

Greg walked over to Olivia's bags and picked them up, quickly handing Olivia the boxer briefs while he and Noah checked out the rest of their purchases. Elliot grinned at Olivia.

"You wanna help me get one on?" he asked her, and his eyes twinkled mischievously.

Olivia untangled herself from him and unpacked one of the extra large boxer briefs.

"I'll help you step in because you can't bend that far, but you pull it up," she said sternly, trying to keep her cool.

But her cheeks were already burning because her mind was wandering to what was underneath the thin hospital gown. Elliot cooperated, fortunately. She wouldn't have put it past him to goof around a bit with her, but she guessed he was still in too much pain to take any risks of losing his balance. He stepped into the underwear gingerly while she held it out for him, and she helped him tug it up to his knees.

"It's gonna get tight from here," she said, and they both plucked at the fabric to move it up slowly, until it was finally above Elliot's cast.

Olivia took his hospital gown in her hands and pulled it forward, shielding him from any prying eyes, including her own, while Elliot finally pulled the boxer briefs up the rest of the way. Just when Olivia wanted to breathe a sigh of relief, Elliot leaned forward and whispered in her ear,

"You could have peeked if you wanted to."

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Cocky Elliot is back ...! Reviews make me happy.