Author Note: Hi everyone! I am adding the final two chapters over the next few days. Thank you for reading. I appreciate your likes and comments.
For the last six weeks, Elliot and Noah spent every Friday night together. He would either pick Noah up at school or boy scouts. Each week they do a new place for dinner taking turns picking the place. After dinner, they would go to Elliot's apartment. They were in the middle of watching the Star Wars movies. After the movie, they would play a game and then have dessert.
Elliot always had Noah home by ten. Then he and Olivia would spend a few hours talking. If she worked the late shift Elliot made Olivia dinner. He would always surprise her with what he was making. Olivia did the same by bringing home a bottle of wine and dessert.
Elliot was happy. He couldn't remember the last time he had felt happy and completely at peace. He looked forward to every Friday. Each week it felt like they grew a little closer. Olivia was letting her guard down with him.
He was falling in love. He never expected to want another child. But the more time he spent with Noah the more he wanted to someday adopt Noah and become his dad. He wanted his kids and Noah to spend time together and become close. A few times Dickie and Eli joined them on Fridays to watch the weekly Star Wars movie. Both were planning on joining to watch the Mandalorian show with them.
Elliot's feelings for Olivia were more complicated. Did he love her? Yes. Would she ever forgive him enough to open her heart to love him? He wasn't sure. He had to try. He would tell her on Christmas Eve.
Christmas Eve
Elliot stopped at Don's house earlier in the day.
"I'm scared. What if she says no?" Elliot asked as he looked at the ground.
"What if she says yes? Are you willing to give up a chance at love with your best friend? Elliot, Kathy would want you to find love again." Don said as he handed Elliot a beer.
"I know it's just hard." Elliot paused. "It's scary trying to start over again. I met Kathy when I was seventeen. I'm not sure I'm what Olivia wants or needs."
"I love Olivia with my whole heart," Elliot said as his eyes teared up.
Don replied "Thank god. I always knew you both loved each other. Sometimes people come into our lives for different reasons. All those years ago you were on different paths but needed each other to grow and learn in your careers and it was meant to be a friendship."
"Now twelve years later. The exact length of your partnership. You both have a chance for something more. Love. Go for it, Elliot. I would want nothing more than to see you and Liv together." Don said as he gave Elliot a reassuring hug.
Elliot and Don watched the college football game. They had fun eating snacks and cheering on the close game. It helped Elliot relax before going to Olivia's apartment.
A few hours later just before seven.
Elliot stood outside of Olivia's apartment building. He and Olivia had decided they would do dinner and presents tonight. This would also be when Elliot would tell Olivia how he felt. To say he was nervous was putting it mildly.
"Hey. Are you ready for some fun?" Elliot asked as Noah opened the apartment door.
"Yes, and opening presents!" Noah said as he ran to Olivia's bedroom to tell her Elliot was there.
"I brought pizza crusts and toppings so we could make homemade pizzas. I also have two packs of sugar cookies for dessert we can decorate. Santa loves cookies." Elliot said as he laid out the pizza items on the dining room table.
"Santa does huh?" Olivia winked as she walked into the room.
"Umm, yeah." Elliot felt at a sudden loss for words. The closer Olivia walked towards him the more nervous he got. Was Olivia always this beautiful? She was wearing a black sweater and a pair of jeans. Why all of sudden was it very hot?
"Elliot, why are your cheeks all red?" Noah asked as he came up to the table.
Olivia laughed as she walked into the kitchen to get the pizza pans and cookie sheets. "Noah, I forgot the spoons and butter knives. Can you bring three of each please?"
"Thanks," Elliot said as he took the pans from Olivia. "Noah, let's go wash our hands quickly before we start cooking."
Olivia smiled as she saw Noah and Elliot walking into the kitchen. It made her happy to see how close they were getting. "Hurry up guys. I'm hungry." Olivia said as she got everything ready to make the pizzas.
Two hours later they had finished eating and decorating the cookies they just made. "I think we should leave Santa two cookies and a piece of chocolate," Olivia said as she placed them on a plate.
"I think Santa would like four cookies and two pieces of chocolate. He is a busy guy tonight." Elliot said as he added two more cookies and a piece of chocolate.
"Sure, Santa can save some for later." Olivia laughed."Noah, what should we give Santa to drink?"
"Hmm, I know," Noah said as he raced into the kitchen. "A can of coke. Santa drinks it all the time on tv."
"Great choice Noah. Coke is my favorite as well." Elliot said as he smiled at Noah. He then turned and looked at Olivia. As their eyes met it felt like they shared a moment.
"I think it's time for presents!" Noah said as he bounced in his chair.
"Yes, it is. Please go get your pj's on while we pick up the table. In ten minutes we will do presents." Olivia said as she stood up and started picking up the plates.
"I will be back," Noah said as he raced into his bedroom.
"Liv, here let me help you," Elliot said as he started picking up the table and carrying things into the kitchen.
Olivia followed Elliot into the kitchen."El." Olivia said as she walked behind Elliot touching him on the shoulder.
Elliot felt his heart race faster as he felt Olivia touch his shoulder. He slowly turned around coming a few feet away from Olivia. "Liv," Elliot whispered.
"Thank you," Olivia said as she fought back tears.
"I'm ready. Come on." Noah called from the living room.
"Liv," Elliot said as he stepped closer to Olivia.
"We should go. Noah is waiting." Olivia said as she quickly left the kitchen.
"Who is ready for presents?" Elliot said as he left the kitchen.
"Me! Can I give Elliot his gift first?" Noah asked as he walked to the tree.
"Sure honey," Olivia said as she sat on the couch.
"I picked it out myself," Noah said excitedly.
Elliot opened the gift and saw a t-shirt wrapped around a box. He turned over the black shirt revealing a Darth Vader picture on the front of the shirt. The box was the board game Risk with a Star Wars theme.
"I love it, Noah. I will wear the shirt all the time. This game will be fun. We will try it next week. Thank you." Elliot smiled at Noah who was beaming.
"Now your turn," Elliot said as he handed Noah a long tube.
Noah opened up the package revealing a poster of Star Wars: A New Hope. "Cool," Noah said as he ran, over hugging Elliot.
"I will get the poster framed so we can hang the poster in your bedroom. I have one more present that your mom can open. Something we all can do together." Elliot said as he handed Olivia an envelope.
"Elliot, you didn't have to buy us a gift. Everything you have already done is more than enough." Olivia said as she touched Elliot's right wrist and she looked at him.
"I want to," Elliot said as Noah sat down on the right side of Olivia.
"Mom, open it. I want to see what Elliot's gift is." Noah asked as he looked at Olivia.
"Honey, you open it," Olivia said as she handed Noah the envelope.
Noah ripped open the envelope. He handed Olivia three tickets.
"We will do one each month. I hope you like it. It's something all three of us can do together. This will also include dinner and dessert." Elliot said as he was looking at Olivia holding the tickets in her hand.
"Mom, what are they for?" Noah asked.
Olivia turned over the tickets reading each one aloud. "Aladdin, Lion King, and Wicked. Noah these are Broadway musicals. This is a very special gift from Elliot."
"Wow. I have never been to broadway. Elliot, will you come with us?" Noah asked.
"Liv, do you want me to go with you?" Elliot asked Olivia who had been very quiet since opening the gift.
"Please excuse me for a minute. Noah, in a few minutes you need to go to bed." Olivia said as she got up and walked into her bedroom closing the door behind her.